An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Chapter 419: You Make the First Move, I’ll Strike Back Hard, Luo Tian Society’s Counterattack in Three Waves! (II)

Late into the night, the Grand Hall of the Luo Tian Society blazed with noise and energy. Luo Chen sat in the main seat, calm and composed as usual.

In front of him, the room buzzed with lively chatter and excitement. Every high-ranked member of the Luo Tian Society was present, except for Sima Huiniang: Elders Wang Yuan and Min Longyu, along with Hall Leaders Duan Feng of the Artifact Hall, Qu Lingjun of the Alchemy Hall, Bian Zhen of the Medicine Hall, Sima Xian of the Battle Hall, Murong Qinglian of the Merit Hall, Gu Caiyi of the Gold Hall, and Zhou Yuanli of the Enforcement Hall. Even Xu Xiaoliu of the Outer Hall had arrived.

Besides them, all the senior stewards from every hall had also gathered. Among them were Qin Liangchen, Su Xiaolin, Sima Wenjie, Feng Xia, Liu Qiang, and others, all cultivators at the ninth stage of Qi Refinement.

A fierce pride stirred in Luo Chen’s chest as he surveyed the formidable gathering of talent and power. Not long ago, the Luo Tian Society could barely nurture a single Foundation Establishment cultivator. Ninth-stage Qi Refinement experts had been few, and Luo Chen himself had only been at the eighth stage when forced to take the lead.

But times had changed. Now, they had four Foundation Establishment cultivators, seven Hall Leaders, and thirty-six ninth-stage Qi Refinement elites across their inner and outer halls. More than a hundred late-stage Qi Refinement disciples filled their ranks beyond that.

Back at Dahe Market, this would’ve been enough power to contend with the five major cultivation families and two large factions. It would not have been an exaggeration to say they could summon the wind and call forth the rain.

Even here in Tianlan Immortal City, where Qi Refinement cultivators were as common as weeds and Foundation Establishment cultivators crowded the streets, they had become a force to be reckoned with. So long as a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator did not appear, Luo Chen feared no one.

And yet, there were still fools who considered their foundation shallow, their rise unstable. In the chaos of the city’s shifting power, some dared to try and fish in turbulent waters, hoping to profit from the Luo Tian Society’s moment of vulnerability.

That was absurd. If anyone had the right to snatch chestnuts from the fire, it was Luo Chen himself. And now, someone had tried to steal from him during the blaze? Unacceptable.

So what now? Kill a few Foundation Establishment lackeys and call it even?

Luo Chen was not that kind of man. If he had to act, then he would reclaim the loss and take some interest too. If they started the first battle, he would end the war.

When Luo Chen raised his right hand slightly, the hall fell into silence at once. That single moment was enough to show how absolute his authority had become.

He didn’t waste words and went straight to the point. “If some dares to strike at us, they’d better be prepared to pay the price when they fail. I don’t know if they’ve thought this through, but I’ve thought it through for them!”

Luo Chen’s gaze swept over the room, and he called out, “Wang Yuan!”

Wang Yuan rose from his seat. He would never allow his brother to lose face on such an occasion.

Luo Chen commanded, “Dan Yuanzi provoked me at the Qinhua River, seeking to harm our Luo Tian Society allies. Now that he lies dead, there is no longer any need for the Danyuan Sect to exist. Take men to storm the Danyuan Sect, destroy their Dao legacy, and seize their assets! Bring the Alchemy Hall and the Medicine Hall with you; they’ll act under your command. Not a single brick or grain of pill dust is to be left behind. Leave at dawn!”

Wang Yuan clasped his fists and responded solemnly, “By your command, President!”

As soon as Wang Yuan received the order, Qu Lingjun of the Alchemy Hall and Bian Zhen of the Medicine Hall stepped forward to stand behind him. Of the two, Qu Lingjun was visibly the most excited.

The Luo Tian Society had fought many battles in its history, yet he had always been too young to take part. Even during the recent conflict at the Gaoling Plains, he had merely been a protected spectator, kept far from harm.

Now, at twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, he had already reached the seventh stage of Qi Refinement. Under Luo Chen’s guidance, he had stepped firmly into the late stage of Qi Refinement. Among his peers, he was no small feat. At last, he could hold his ground.

A man needed to see some blood! And today, he would join Elder Wang Yuan, the strongest after his master, on an expedition. Just the thought alone sent a thrill through him.

Qu Lingjun recalled Luo Chen’s command, and his blood surged with excitement. It’s time to raze mountains and annihilate sects, to destroy their Dao legacy and seize their wealth!

To him, it was nothing short of a dream come true.

Of course, he also understood why his master had sent him to follow Wang Yuan. It was because Luo Chen and Wang Yuan were the closest of allies. With Wang Yuan watching over him, he would be well protected. At the same time, his alchemy skills were outstanding, and the Danyuan Sect happened to be a small sect focused primarily on alchemy. This trip would be the perfect opportunity to show off his knowledge and collect every single alchemy-related resource.

I should bring along Big Brother Tang Quan and Ma Shoupu, Qu Lingjun thought. Tang Quan has years of experience, and Ma Shoupu is no weaker than any Medicine Hall expert when it comes to identifying herbs. That way, our Alchemy Hall won’t gain any less than the Medicine Hall.

Just like him, Bian Zhen of the Medicine Hall was also brimming with excitement, quietly planning his own moves. With Yuan Dongsheng still away at the Li family, he decided to bring the Medicine Hall’s mid-stage cultivators, as well as Steward Feng Xia. Not only did she possess exceptional knowledge of medicinal herbs, but she was also the Dao companion of Hall Leader Duan Feng. With that connection, Elder Wang Yuan would certainly not stand idle if danger threatened her.

While they were making their plans, Luo Chen continued issuing orders.

“Sima Xian!”

“Present!” Sima Xian stepped out from the crowd.

Luo Chen met his gaze and said with gravity, “I’m giving you full command of the Battle Hall. Lead your forces to the Jade True Temple and Sky Eagle Peak. Can you do it?”

A flicker of unease crossed Sima Xian’s face. The Jade True Temple had deep roots, while Sky Eagle Peak was the seat of the Ying family, famed for breeding flying spirit beasts. To attack both with only the Battle Hall felt like a mission with barely one chance in ten of survival, let alone winning.

But this was no time to retreat. With so many watching, and Luo Chen’s eyes locked onto his, he couldn’t show the slightest doubt. For his own pride, and for the sake of his younger sister, Sima Huiniang.

Sima Huiniang as the Director of the Luo Tian Society, had not been present during its greatest crisis. Though she had gone into seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment, her absence still left room for gossip. As her elder brother, Sima Xian had to step forward.

Facing Luo Chen’s expectant eyes, Sima Xian clenched his fists tightly. “I swear not to fail!”

“Good! Very good!” Luo Chen nodded twice, his eyes gleaming with approval.

Not only him, but many others in the Grand Hall gave Sima Xian newfound respect. Few would have dared to take on such a task. Yet in their hearts, a question lingered.

Why did the president assign such a dangerous task to Sima Xian alone? Could it be to calm the unrest caused by Huiniang’s absence, using her brother as a gesture of reassurance to the Luo Tian Society’s members?

As doubts flickered through the eyes of many, Luo Chen acted as if he’d read their thoughts and said plainly, “Relax, I’m not sending you to your death.”

Clap! Clap!

He clapped twice, and a figure strode into the hall from outside.

“President Luo, I’ve arrived.”

All eyes turned to the figure. Murong Qinglian gasped. “Senior Xing, what about your injuries?”

Xing Zhonghan waved off her concern; his eyes burned with eagerness. “My wounds may be heavy, but they won’t stop me from destroying the Ying family!”

Luo Chen gave a satisfied nod, then looked back at Sima Xian, who was beaming with joy. “Go without worry. Fellow Daoist Xing will accompany you.”

“Thank you, President! Thank you, Senior Xing!” Sima Xian bowed deeply, gratitude plain in his voice.

Even if injured, a Foundation Establishment Initiate was still an Initiate! With such a presence to crush the opponents’ morale, and the enemy lacking clear leadership, panic would inevitably spread. Besides, his Battle Hall wasn’t just for show. They were cultivators trained in battle, for battle. Soldiers shed sweat a thousand days for moments like this. It was about time the people of Tianlan Immortal City realized that the Battle Hall of the Luo Tian Society was forged through blood and fire.

Luo Chen’s gaze swept the hall and landed on Duan Feng, who looked eager to fight. But Luo Chen shook his head. The man’s spirit power was depleted, and he would need days to recover.

At last, his eyes settled on Min Longyu. “I’ll assign cultivators from the Enforcement and Artifact Halls to you. How about a trip to the Geng family?”

Min Longyu gave a relaxed chuckle. “No need, I alone will suffice!”

He was clearly confident, and Luo Chen appreciated that, but some things still required a warning. “Do not commit unnecessary slaughter.”

Min Longyu frowned but nodded in agreement.

Just then, someone stepped forward. “President, we have over a hundred cultivators from the Outer Hall, ready for battle!”

It was Xu Xiaoliu. He and Su Xiaolin each served as one of the two main stewards of the Outer Hall. At present, the Outer Hall had yet to appoint an official Hall Leader, so Xu Xiaoliu held real authority in practice.

Luo Chen smiled at him. “Of course, I haven’t forgotten. There are one hundred thirty-seven people in the Outer Hall. You and Su Xiaolin will each select fifty to follow Elder Wang and Hall Leader Sima Xian. They’ll assign your tasks. Any objections?”

Xu Xiaoliu and Su Xiaolin exchanged a glance, then nodded firmly.

Luo Chen pressed on with his orders. Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi were assigned to lead the Merit and Gold Halls, handling logistics. They would pilot the society’s medium-sized flying boats, transporting supplies and tending to any wounded.

Additionally, Zhou Yuanli would lead experts from the Enforcement and Artifact Halls to provide central support and reinforcements as needed.

By the time he finished, the full mobilization plan for war was complete.

“I want all targets taken down within three days! Can you do it?”

There was no hesitation. Within the Luo Tian Society Grand Hall, dozens of cultivators shouted their response in unison.

“We can!”

Luo Chen gave a grim, satisfied smile. “In that case, we depart early tomorrow!”