An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Across Tianlan Immortal City, scenes similar to the one at the Lianyun Trade Alliance were unfolding within many factions, both great and small.

The Chang family of Changliu Gorge, for instance, had long carried a grudge against the fallen Geng family. They possessed only a single Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet even they received an invitation from Luo Chen.

The Yuhua Sect had once quarreled bitterly with the Hu family of Sandalwood Hill over a pill transaction, but Luo Chen still extended his courtesy to them as well.

Most unexpected of all was the Zheng family of Rolling Dragon Ridge. Despite their past conflicts with Luo Chen, a gold-embossed invitation lay neatly on Patriarch Zheng Kejian’s desk.

It was not even limited to Tianlan Immortal City’s local powers. Several of the major Foundation Establishment forces from the surrounding regions also received an invitation. Among them were Iron Sword Hall, the Luo family of Luosha Market, and the Chen family of Tianyi Market.

***

On Danxia Peak, the Succession Palace remained calm and quiet, a sharp contrast to the bustling preparations for the upcoming grand ceremony outside. Inside, Luo Chen sat across from Wang Yuan. The two shared a pot of wine as they discussed alchemy.

“I tested your Blood Fiend pills,” Wang Yuan said, swirling his cup. ”They match the effects recorded in the formula... and maybe even surpass them.”

Luo Chen held the Golden Bamboo Pen, a top-grade enchanted artifact, and slowly wrote across the paper. His voice was steady. ”Tell me the exact effects.”

Wang Yuan was not surprised by his demand. Back when Luo Chen had refined the Blood-Burning pill, he had pressed for every detail in much the same way. With patience, Wang Yuan recounted his recent experiences with the Blood Fiend pills, leaving nothing out.

By the end, his tone grew animated. ”With fifty of those pills, I could push straight past the middle stage of the Blood River Realm in one go! After that, all I would need to focus on is comprehending the four essences of light and dark in pill transformation.”

”Wow, it’s that effective?” Luo Chen paused, blew gently to dry the ink, and set the record aside with great care.

Wang Yuan leaned forward. ”You’re familiar with the progression of the Blood River Realm, aren’t you?”

Tendon Transformation, Marrow Cleansing, Organ Refinement, Meridian Unblocking, and Aperture Opening.

These five stages formed the foundation of the early and middle stages of the Blood River Realm. Luo Chen understood them well. After advancing to Foundation Establishment, he had already completed both Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing. His daily practice of the Five Organs Nourishment Fist focused on refining his internal organs and nurturing qi. As for Meridian Unblocking and Aperture Opening, he had already begun as well. The perfected Eternal Youth Evergreen Sutra allowed him to steadily expand his meridians and apertures.

Wang Yuan went on, ”My external physique is as good as it can be! With the Divine Channel of Malevolence, I’ve already opened more than half my apertures. After Foundation Establishment, I tempered my tendons, cleansed my marrow once more, and refined my organs to perfection. These Blood Fiend pills, with their surging vitality and fierce fiend qi, scour the inner meridians clean. They are divine spirit pills, perfectly suited for the Meridian Unblocking stage.”

Luo Chen recalled the alchemical notes he had studied. They did indeed describe the pill as overflowing with blood qi, able to connect all meridians into one harmonious flow.

”You may walk the path of Qi Refinement,” Wang Yuan said with conviction, ”but I suggest you try the Blood Fiend pill anyway. Once your meridians are fully connected, your control over both vitality and spirit will soar. For instance...”

As he spoke, he lifted his hand and extended a single finger. A beam of blood-red light flared instantly!

Luo Chen’s eyes widened. ”Divine Blood Tribulation Finger?”

Wang Yuan smiled faintly. ”You didn’t expect me to activate it instantly, did you? I used to need time to gather power before I could strike.”

The sight left Luo Chen astonished. He understood just how devastating that spell was, and he knew that Wang Yuan had never been able to unleash it so effortlessly in the past.

”So this is the power of fully connected meridians,” he murmured.

Wang Yuan withdrew the fearsome blood qi, his tone calm once again. ”I have only opened part of them. Once they are fully linked, the results will be even greater.”

After hearing all this, Luo Chen felt eager to try it himself. Both the Eternal Youth Evergreen Sutra and Wang Yuan placed high emphasis on meridian unification. He longed to experience that sense of complete mastery for himself.

With that, their discussion on pills came to a close. Wang Yuan set his cup aside, and his gaze sharpened with curiosity. ”There’s something I don’t understand. Making such a spectacle of this celebration... it doesn’t seem like your style.”

”Oh?” Luo Chen looked at him with a half-smile. ”And what do you think my style is?”

Wang Yuan didn’t hesitate. ”You’ve invited so many factions to attend Director Sima Huiniang’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony. It’s far too high-profile, far too ostentatious. That’s not how you used to act. You were alawys calculated, you always moved carefully. Take the Jade Essence pill business, for example. You expanded slowly and quietly, and it wasn’t until much later that you teamed up with the Zheng family and edged out the competition. Although... Well, you did host a similar ceremony back in Dahe Market, after your own breakthrough.”

Luo Chen remembered it well. At that time, he had indeed hosted a grand Foundation Establishment Ceremony, inviting influential figures from all around.

Wang Yuan lowered his eyes with hesitation flickering in his gaze. ”Perhaps... the circumstances now are different?”

Luo Chen laughed heartily for a few moments before reining it in, and a faint smile lingered on his lips. ”Exactly! I haven’t changed, but the environment and the times have.”

He lifted his wine cup, rose from the couch, and raised it in the direction of Dahe Market. ”In the beginning, you and I were both weak, so we had to act with caution. But now I’m midway through Foundation Establishment, and you can rival the strength of an Initiate too. It is time to act boldly and without fear! The place may have changed, but the essence remains the same.”

He turned his cup again, pointing it toward Tianlan Immortal City in the distance. Luo Chen spoke with ease, radiating calm and confidence. “When I first arrived in Tianlan Immortal City, the Luo Tian Society only had me as an Initiate. No matter what I tried to do, I was constantly obstructed. Under such conditions, how could I not move cautiously and proceed step by step? But now, aside from those few factions with late-stage Initiates, who in Tianlan can rival the Luo Tian Society?”

Wang Yuan fell silent, lost in thought. After a pause, he asked tentatively, ”So now... it is time for us to act boldly and maneuver freely?”

Luo Chen drained his cup in one smooth motion, his eyes shining. ”Exactly! The cultivators of the Luo Tian Society rose from humble places because they were united in purpose and united in effort. Today, we have five Initiates on Danxia Peak. More importantly, we have the backing of a Golden Core sect. If we stay cautios and hesitant even with such strength, we will only fall behind and be looked down upon.”

Power dictated stance. In the Eastern Wilderness, no Qi Refinement faction dared flaunt authority, and no Nascent Soul sect had ever secured its place through modesty or courtesy.

Luo Chen’s words pierced straight to the heart of the matter. It was not his personality that changed, nor his way of seeing things. It was simply that their new strength and the new environment demanded different tactics.

Wang Yuan was no fool, yet he had never thought deeply about such matters. Now, understanding dawned, and agreement spread across his face. Indeed, if the Luo Tian Society continued to act as cautiously as before, it would only invite underestimation and misunderstanding. Needless conflicts would inevitably follow, born from others’ misjudging their true power. One must know where they stand and make sure others know as well. And the Luo Tian Society now sat firmly in a place of power.

Seeing Wang Yuan deep in thought, Luo Chen couldn’t help but smile. What he had spoken of was only the broad strategy, but when it came to the specifics of the ceremony, there was much more to say. This ceremony would separate friend and foe, establish the society’s position within Tianlan Immortal City, and transform recent gains into tangible power.

Every single faction invited had been chosen with care. Some would become allies, others had to be marked early as rivals, and still others might turn into lucrative business partners. The last category was especially important. If this ceremony could solidify such connections in a single day, it would save immeasurable trouble in the future.

Deals involving tens of thousands of spirit stones, finalized in a single day? To some, it might have sounded like fantasy. To Luo Chen, it was entirely possible.

Most crucial of all, this ceremony gave the Luo Tian Society the chance to leverage outside strength to its own advantage.

”Let’s hope everyone who should be here arrives,” Luo Chen murmured.

His dark eyes shimmered with anticipation for the ceremony to come.

***

”Hey, did you hear? The Luo Tian Society of Danxia Peak is hosting a Foundation Establishment Ceremony.”

”What’s there to hear? It’s been the talk of the city for a month already!”

”Making such a fuss over a mere Foundation Establishment... that Luo Tian Society is nothing more than a backwater group without heritage.”

”Uh... Fellow Daoist Zhao, since when did you get so arrogant?”

”Arrogant? Hardly. I may not be an Initiate, but it’s not like I’ve never seen one. I’ve even met Golden Core cultivators before!”

”So, are you heading to Danxia Peak later for the spectacle?”

”Uh... yes, actually. This kind of event doesn’t happen every day.”

The voices belonged to two Qi Refinement rogue cultivators, and they were far from alone. Across Tianlan Immortal City, countless curious cultivators were already making their way toward Danxia Peak. Everyone wanted to see how a modest Foundation Establishment faction dared to behave.

For most residents of the city, witnessing a Foundation Establishment Ceremony was nothing unusual. Yet rarely had anyone seen it celebrated on such a grand scale. When Zhao Dongchuan and his companion Wang Ke arrived at Danxia Peak, the sight stunned them: The base of the mountain was already crowded with rogue cultivators. A glance showed hundreds gathered already, and the number was still rising.

Zhao Dongchuan let out a low whistle. ”All this, just to watch?”

His companion Wang Ke chuckled. ”Rogue cultivators have it rough. When there’s finally a chance for excitement, who wouldn’t come to enjoy themselves?”

Someone nearby added in a casual tone, ”The Luo Tian Society has made plenty of enemies. Who knows, maybe there will be action today.”

Zhao Dongchuan and Wang Ke exchanged a glance and saw each other’s eyes gleaming with anticipation.

While they waited, the marketplace at Biyou Valley, below Danxia Peak, had already come alive. Stalls lined the streets, selling all kinds of Luo Tian Society specialties. Celestial beans, popcorn, milk tea—everything was available, and at only a spirit stone or two for a bundle. Many of the cultivators lined up, arms full of snacks, munching and chatting as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Voices roared and laughter echoed in all directions. It was a lively, bustling scene!

As the morning rolled around, the first official faction arrived. A dark cyan flying boat cut through the clouds, majestic as it descended. At its bow stood a handsome middle-aged man with his hands clasped behind his back and his long sleeves fluttering in the wind.

The rogue cultivators below all looked up.

“Wait... isn’t that Senior Wei Bufan from Xuchen Mountain?”

“Yeah! What’s he doing here?”

”Didn’t the Wei family’s strongest elder, Wei Tuo, die at the hands of the Luo Tian Society’s leader during the Qinhua River battle?”

”I remember that! That battle was what truly established the Fire Spirit Lord’s fame.”

”For Senior Wei Bufan to personally attend this ceremony, could it be that the old grudges have been set aside?”

“Hehe, clearly you have no idea. Even before that war ended, the Wei family from Xuchen Mountain had already bowed their heads and sued for peace. They offered a pretty hefty compensation too.”

“Fellow Daoist, what kind of nonsense is that? Where did you even hear such a ridiculous story?”

The rogue cultivator being questioned grew flustered. “I swear it’s not just gossip! My great-uncle’s son is an outer disciple at the Luo Tian Society, he said it himself. Apparently, the Wei family sent their second elder with several hundred thousand spirit stones and even a Foundation Establishment pill as an apology.”

But unexpectedly, the more he explained, the less anyone believed him.

”That’s even more ridiculous. Even if you sold the entire Wei family, you wouldn’t scrape together that much.”

”Utter nonsense. By that logic, we might also believe my neighbor who joined the Luo Tian Society. She claims the Fire Spirit Lord personally invited Senior Wei Bufan!”

Everyone burst into laughter. No one took it seriously. How could someone as powerful as the Fire Spirit Lord stoop so low to make amends?

While the crowd jeered, Xuchen Mountain’s flying boat drew steadily closer to Danxia Peak. The vessel descended with quiet grace, settling onto a broad platform prepared by the Luo Tian Society.

At that very moment, a swirl of multicolored clouds gathered above the peak. Before the astonished gazes of the watching cultivators, an arched bridge of condensed mist unfurled downward as if connecting heaven and earth. Seven-colored clouds twined and danced across its surface. From a distance, the sight resembled a rainbow draped over the mountain.

On the landing platform, Wei Bufan stepped forward with Second Elder Wei Ping’an and the younger Wei Yungao following behind. He glanced briefly at the crowd of rogue cultivators below but remained silent. With both companions in tow, he mounted the rainbow bridge and strode into the mists beyond.

As their figures faded into the mists beyond the bridge, a grand voice echoed forth. ”Senior Wei Bufan of Xuchen Mountain, welcome to Danxia Peak!”

The words drifted like a whisper from the heavens, yet rang like thunder beside the ear. The surrounding rogue cultivators stared in stunned silence.

“What an entrance!”

“What kind of spell was that? That rainbow bridge was incredible!”

“Could it be the Luo Tian Society’s famed Seven-Colored Danxia Grand Formation?”

“Must be. I heard it was adapted from the Min family’s old mountain-guarding formation. Its defenses are stronger, and it’s said to be powerful enough to obliterate Foundation Establishment cultivators outright.”

“Tsk tsk... Who would’ve thought such a formation would appear in a so-called shallow-rooted upstart faction?”

“And you call that shallow-rooted? Perhaps your standards are too high, Fellow Daoist.”

“How is it not? Wei Tuo is dead, and Xuchen Mountain has fallen to the level of a third-rate faction. The caliber of your guests reflects the stature of your host. Do I really need to spell it out?”

The sharp retort came from Zhao Dongchuan. With his rare skill in spirit plant cultivation, he lived comfortably despite his lack of affiliation.

The cultivator who had challenged him fell silent. After all, it was true. Nascent Soul sects would never befriend lower-tier factions except as vassals. Golden Core sects, too, had their pride. When they opened mountains and built sect halls, they did not associate with the weak.

These days, Xuchen Mountain’s prestige had faded, while the Luo Tian Society’s roots still appeared shallow. One domino toppled, and others naturally followed.

As Wei Bufan disappeared into the mist, streaks of light shot across the sky. Two more Foundation Establishment cultivators, each with a young disciple, descended at Danxia Peak. Without hesitation, they stepped onto the rainbow bridge and vanished into the mists.

Outside the peak, a rogue cultivator recognized them.

“That’s the patriarch of the Chang family from Changliu Gorge. He’s at the third stage of Foundation Establishment. I heard he once fought the Geng siblings two-on-one and held his ground.”

“The other one... is that the sect master of Yuhua Sect?”

“Exactly. No one else in the city has those two long white whiskers.”

“Unbelievable. The Luo Tian Society has only been in Tianlan Immortal City for a few years, yet already so many factions are attending.”

“Hehe, they’re all just third-rate small factions,” Zhao Dongchuan interjected, his words dripping with disdain.

Dozens of glares fell on him, but he only shrugged. Facts were facts. Without the presence of mid or late stage Foundation Establishment factions, the Luo Tian Society’s influence could only go so far.

Just as he smirked inwardly, a massive flying boat surged through the clouds, its fierce aura pressing heavily on the gathered cultivators. The vessel’s overwhelming presence parted the mist and bore down straight toward Danxia Peak, bypassing the rainbow bridge entirely.

This guest was not arriving in peace.

Right then, a crisp crane’s cry echoed from deep within the fog. A cultivator seated cross-legged atop a majestic white crane flew out from the bridge with a beat of wings. His eyes gleamed with a piercing brilliance. The white crane beneath him was clearly a second-tier spirit beast.

His voice rang clear as he faced the oncoming vessel. ”I am Xu Haizhen of the Luo Tian Society’s Beast Palace. Greetings, honored guests from the Lianyun Trade Alliance!”