An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

It had been quite some time since Tao Yisheng completed his ten-year guard duty in Yuanzhao and arrived in Tianlan Immortal City.

To Luo Chen’s surprise, Tao Yisheng had not hurried back to Green Pill Valley. Instead, he had rented a long-term cave residence on Tianlan Peak. That unexpected decision only deepened Luo Chen’s curiosity about the hidden motive Tao Yisheng was concealing from him.

Whenever their conversations arrived on top-grade pills from Green Pill Valley, Tao Yisheng would always avoid the subject. Yet when the topic shifted to alchemy, he became enthusiastic, almost too eager to share and debate.

Luo Chen played along, meeting with him every few days to exchange views on alchemy. Over time, he realized that Tao Yisheng’s skills were far below what he had first assumed. The title of second-tier alchemist had not been earned through genuine ability. Luo Chen had been misled only because Tao Yisheng was well-versed in theory. Growing up in an alchemy-focused sect, he had been immersed in those teachings since childhood. Only now, through their exchanges, was he beginning to turn theory into practice.

Luo Chen represented the opposite extreme. He was certainly unable to recite obscure doctrines, but when it came to hands-on refinement, he had no equal. It was that relentless effort which had propelled the Luo Tian Society from a minor rogue cultivator faction to its current strength. Every milestone they had reached and every inch of ground they had gained was rooted in Luo Chen’s alchemy effort. Even when compared to sect-trained alchemists, his terrifying level of experience would have placed him among the very best.

Tao Yisheng was not the kind to keep things buried. For him to remain silent on certain matters, his elder sister must have warned him strictly beforehand. That only made Luo Chen more intrigued about the secret they were concealing. Just because they didn’t speak of it didn’t mean Luo Chen had no way to find out.

***

A year had passed.

Inside Cave Residence Bing Seventeen, the glow of spirit lamps lit the stone walls. Sima Huiniang stood before Luo Chen, giving a report in a steady and measured voice.

”Thanks to Luo Net’s intelligence division, we’ve managed to piece together most of Green Pill Valley’s inner workings. Just like other major sects, Green Pill Valley divides its Foundation Establishment cultivators into inner disciples, True Inheritors, and the Dao Scion. Anyone who advances from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment automatically becomes an inner disciple. Only the most exceptional, those with genuine potential to reach Core Formation, are elevated to the rank of True Inheritors.”

It was clear that she had done her homework, and as she spoke, the structure of Green Pill Valley became increasingly clear to Luo Chen.

“Once those inner disciples fall behind, they are quietly set aside,” Sima Huiniang went on. ”They’re reassigned to other roles such as serving the True Inheritors, managing the outer sect, or sent to oversee businesses in the other domain, much like Miao Wen from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. However, the True Inheritors are a different matter entirely. Unless they are summoned for important matters, they can devote themselves solely to cultivation.”

At this point, Sima Huiniang paused. Her expression grew more serious. ”That much is easy to understand. But then there is the Dao Scion.”

Luo Chen’s interest sharpened. ”What makes that one so different?”

Sima Huiniang’s expression grew serious. “In a major sect, the Dao Scion is the one chosen to be nurtured into a Golden Core cultivator. Only one is appointed in each generation. Once they are chosen, the sect will divert all necessary resources toward them.”

Luo Chen raised a brow. ”Cultivation resources?”

”Not just that!” Sima Huiniang’s tone carried clear emotion. ”They are also given manpower. Once someone becomes the Dao Scion, the majority of Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect are assigned to serve them. Before long, the Dao Scion becomes the most powerful figure beneath the Golden Core elders. Golden Core elders personally coach them on how to reach that level. They’re also given a third-tier cultivation cave residence! I’ve even heard that the sect prepares a life-bound enchanted treasure for them in advance, ready to be used the moment they reach the Golden Core Realm.”

Even someone as composed as Luo Chen could not help swallowing hard.

So this was the privilege of a Dao Scion in a major sect. Without lifting a hand, they commanded countless cultivators, received inexhaustible resources, cultivated in third-tier spirit lands, and even had their life-bound enchanted treasure prepared in advance. What kind of business-class treatment was this?

Meanwhile, Luo Chen was still managing affairs, fighting battles, and scheming to seize every advantage he could. In the end, all his struggles did not amount to even a fraction of what these Dao Scions were granted freely.

He shook his head, drew in a deep breath, and asked, ”So you’re saying Tao Wan is competing for the Dao Scion position?”

Sima Huiniang brushed a strand of hair from her lips, then nodded. ”At first, I wasn’t sure. According to earlier intelligence, Green Pill Valley had already appointed its Dao Scion for this century. It was that so-called master of both alchemy and swordmanship, Dan Yangzi. But for reasons I am not sure of, he was stripped of the title a few years ago and demoted back to a True Inheritor. That sudden change threw the factions within Green Pill Valley into turmoil. Rumor has it the sect now intends to appoint a new Golden Core Dao Scion.”

Whoosh!

Luo Chen’s eyes widened in shock. At last, he understood the reason Tao Yisheng and his sister had avoided the subject for so long. It was all because of that coveted position!

”I only learned of this recently,” Sima Huiniang said calmly. ”It slipped out during a casual conversation with Shi Boying of Ice Fortress. Based on what she said, I feel that is probably what’s going on.”

Luo Chen pondered for a moment, then asked, ”Is there a definite timeline for when the new Dao Scion will be chosen?”

Sima Huiniang replied, though her tone held some uncertainty. ”According to Shi Boying, Dan Yangzi was stripped of his position about seven years ago. At the time, Green Pill Valley announced it would reappoint the Dao Scion ten years later. That means the selection should take place in three or four years.”

”Three or four years...” Luo Chen repeated the timeframe under his breath. ”Do you know how Green Pill Valley makes its choice?”

”That part is fairly well-known,” Sima Huiniang replied with a faint smile.

”Uh... it is?”

”Every time Green Pill Valley selects a Dao Scion, they invite cultivators from allied sects to observe the ceremony. It serves as both a show of strength and an opportunity to build networks for the future Dao Scion. Over time, the selection methods have become widely known.”

At Luo Chen’s urging, she explained in detail. The process resembled the True Inheritor duels of other major sects but carried one additional element—alchemy.

”It isn’t really unique,” she said. ”Many sects add specialty trials. The Falling Cloud Sect hosts a famous puppet race, while the Flame Alliance holds artifact creation challenges. Since some True Inheritors focus only on cultivation and lack other skills, those sects allow them to enlist assistance for certain trials.”

At that point, Luo Chen fully understood the Tao siblings’ intentions. They had set their sights on his alchemy skills. What puzzled him was why they had not simply said so from the beginning.

Luo Chen frowned deeply, falling into thought.

Sima Huiniang sat quietly to the side, understanding that now was not the time to interrupt. She had done her part by presenting the intelligence, and it was now up to Luo Chen himself to unravel the deeper implications.

After a long silence, Luo Chen reached a realization. A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like Tao Wan would surely have an extensive network. As a disciple of Green Pill Valley, she should have been able to find capable alchemists without difficulty. Even her brother, Tao Yisheng, had been grounding his theories in practice over the past year and was now on the verge of becoming a true second-tier alchemist. Clearly, many options surrounded her. Which meant he was not her only choice.

Tao Yisheng’s constant discussions of alchemy had not been simple exchanges. On the surface, he had sought to refine his own skills. In truth, he had been probing Luo Chen’s ability. Only after confirming that would his sister be willing to work with Luo Chen and discuss terms.

Once Luo Chen understood this, all his earlier doubts melted away.

Seems I’ve been a bit too conservative in my approach so far, Luo Chen muttered to himself.

He pressed his lips together, recalling a year’s worth of alchemical exchanges. He certainly hadn’t been generous enough to share everything. That was to be expected. But if he wanted them to truly value him, he had to show more.

I need to start showing some real skill, he decided quietly.

A clear plan began to take shape in his mind.

Sima Huiniang noticed the lines of tension easing from his brow. With her experience reading people, she immediately knew her president had found a solution. To her, there was nothing in the world that could truly hinder him.

Luo Chen exhaled and turned to her. ”How are things in the society lately?”

Sima Huiniang smiled lightly. ”As you predicted, ever since the Foundation Establishment Ceremony ended, our business ventures have faced almost no resistance. The new ventures have also begun to stabilize and grow. As long as this momentum continues, it’ll snowball into something massive. Even if you personally stop refining pills, the Luo Tian Society will still rake in wealth like never before.”

Her words brought a bright smile to Luo Chen’s face. All his careful schemes had not been in vain. An organization could not depend solely on one man. The old model had been unsustainable. This was true organic growth.

”The only regret is Palace Leader Bian Zhen,” Sima Huiniang added with a sigh. ”He failed his Foundation Establishment attempt. A Foundation Establishment pill wasted, such a pity.”

Luo Chen had already heard of Bian Zhen’s failure. He shook his head. ”Failure at Foundation Establishment is common. So long as one survives, that alone is a blessing.”

Within Luo Tian Society, they had already gained considerable experience with Foundation Establishment breakthroughs. Even in failure, as long as one did not stubbornly force through, the right spirit medicines could preserve life.

As for the wasted Foundation Establishment pill? Luo Chen felt nothing about it. For cultivators like him, who had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, such pills no longer mattered, especially since he could refine his own variant, the Imperial Nectar.

Sima Huiniang, however, viewed matters differently. From her perspective as a director, both pills and people were resources. A failed breakthrough did not simply waste a pill; it meant the loss of a potential Foundation Establishment cultivator. That was the true cost.

”Who’s next on your list for Foundation Establishment?” Luo Chen asked.

Without hesitation, Sima Huiniang replied, ”I am deciding between Qin Liangchen and Sima Xian. Which do you think should go first?”

Luo Chen thought for a moment before answering. ”Both are already over sixty. A few days will make no difference. Right now, the society needs manpower. The Glorious Light Palace manages the outer hall, and it cannot afford to be understaffed. The Battle Palace, on the other hand, does not expect major conflict. Let your elder brother go into seclusion first and attempt his breakthrough.”

Sima Huiniang’s eyes lit up. “Alright, then I’ll follow your decision.”

Seeing her so agreeable, Luo Chen chuckled and shook his head. “Make sure the necessary resources are prepared. Your brother has done much for me over the years. He shouldn’t be slighted.”

“I understand,” Sima Huiniang replied softly. “Not just him, I’ll take care of Palace Leaders Qin Liangchen and Murong Qinglian as well.”

Before he even realized it, her slender figure had already settled lightly onto his lap.