An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Since the day Luo Chen had first embarked on the path of cultivation, he had relentlessly pursued every possible method to accelerate his progress. From internal breakthroughs to external aids, he had experimented with countless approaches, each with its own demands and intricacies.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, he discovered something striking. Cultivating in a spirit land yielded results that far surpassed those of consuming ordinary low-grade pills.

Mathematically, if a single low-grade Ascending Dragon pill provided one unit of spirit power, then a single day of cultivation in a second-tier top-grade cave residence could yield four or even five units. The difference was staggering.

This was why Luo Chen found it perfectly reasonable that the Falling Cloud Sect had dared to provoke the far stronger Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. In the entire Jade Cauldron Domain, there existed only one fourth-tier spirit land. If the elders of Falling Cloud Sect wished to advance further on the Great Dao, cultivating in mere third-tier spirit veins was far from sufficient.

Of course, that Luo Chen could achieve five units of spirit power a day did not mean that others could do the same. His foundational advantages were simply too immense.

First, he possessed the core technique of a Nascent Soul-level sect, a divine soul far surpassing his qi cultivation, and a physique that was both resilient and powerful. In addition, he had access to external aids such as Divine Fiery Incense, Divine Ice Jade, and the Ice Silkworm Meditation Mat.

His desire for top-grade pills was simply an attempt to hasten his progress by alternate means. Yet now, even on the most fundamental path, he had discovered another opportunity to advance.

At this moment, the top-grade Blood Fiend pill he had consumed unleashed a terrifying medicinal force within him. That force, containing both life and death and seemingly connected to primal creation itself. It rampaged through Luo Chen’s ninety-nine-percent-unlocked meridians; it was like a flood dragon striving to become a true dragon, crossing mountains and seas with unstoppable force.

Wherever it passed, it swept clean, like overflowing water! His already-wide meridians now grew even broader. It was only because Luo Chen had grown accustomed to this violent force for over a year, repeatedly repairing and strengthening his meridians, that he could endure it now. Otherwise, he would have been torn apart by this dragon-like torrent.

Luo Chen activated the Divine Breaker of Malevolence and guided the medicinal power with absolute precision, barreling through until it crashed into his final narrow meridian.

Boom!

A thunderous roar seemed to erupt from deep within him.

”Mmgh...” Luo Chen let out a muffled groan. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his lips.

In the next instant, the blood-red light surrounding him abruptly retracted. His entire body surged with blood qi. The torrent drew strength from the lingering power of the Blood Fiend pill and poured into every meridian he had opened. Each channel, whether broad or narrow, firm or rugged, was swept clean and forced fully open. The scene resembled a massive water network flooded for the very first time.

Once the current had passed, the blood qi sank back into flesh and bone.

Luo Chen’s meridians glowed with a translucent crimson. Every drop of energy within ran smooth and unobstructed, like streams of flowing water. The Meridian Unblocking stage was complete. All one hundred meridians stood open.

Luo Chen’s eyes opened widely, and for a moment, he nearly howled to the heavens, but he forced down the impulse. He glanced at his system panel.

Blood River Realm (45/100)

As expected, once his meridians had been fully unblocked, Physique Refinement had advanced by a small stage. Yet this was not what caught his attention the most.

Pure wood-element spirit energy, guided by his Perfected Mastery Heal, spread throughout his body. The minor wounds caused during the breakthrough slowly vanished under its influence.

When his body finally returned to its normal state, Luo Chen closed his eyes again. He steadied his breathing, quieted his thoughts, and emptied his heart of distraction.

The Eternal Youth Evergreen Sutra had changed. What had stood at Perfection level only moments ago now displayed ”Grandmaster.” With the completion of Meridian Unblocking, this Foundation Establishment core method from a Nascent Soul-level sect had advanced alongside him. It was two blessings at once!

Suppressing his excitement, Luo Chen calmly began cultivating.

Spirit energy drifted in from the surrounding air. It slid into his body like rain seeping into parched soil. His vast divine soul expanded outward, manifesting as invisible waves of spirit consciousness. These waves moved tirelessly, grasping at every loose strand of spirit energy and pulling it into him.

With both methods applied at once, the meridians that had once been unable to bear the strain now felt no burden at all. There was even a faint sense of hunger, as if a broad waterway were being filled by nothing more than a thin trickle of water.

Not enough. Still not enough. Nowhere near enough.

Luo Chen desperately drew in spirit energy from his surroundings.

Within his sea of qi, a spirit cloud began to condense.

Drip!

A single drop of supremely pure spirit liquid fell.

***

Two and a half hours slipped away in a flash. Luo Chen opened his eyes at last, unable to conceal the ecstasy blazing within them.

”It’s double! It freaking doubled!”

He felt it clearly: His cultivation speed had doubled! Each cycle now channeled more than twice the spirit energy it had before! If he set aside the time required for refinement, the sudden acceleration felt like being shot out of a cannon. His sea of qi, once no more than a small pond, now swelled like a reservoir that had suddenly received the torrent of an ocean.

Luo Chen could no longer hold it in. He cast Perfected Mastery Sound Isolation Barrier.

”Aaaaahhhh!!!”

He let out a long, euphoric howl!

Ever since advancing to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, his progress had slowed to a painful crawl. That suffocating stagnation had finally ended. By his estimate, reaching the fifth stage would no longer demand four or five years. With the aid of a few second-tier low-grade pills, he could advance within two or three years.

The news filled him with unshakable joy. He could not help laughing.

When the excitement passed, Luo Chen carefully examined his condition. His lips curved into an irrepressible smile.

By his calculation, his current pace would carry him to Perfected Mastery of the Foundation Establishment Realm in only two or three hundred years. By comparison, the moment he became an Initiate, the path had stretched impossibly far. His best estimation had been somewhere around two thousand years. Now, it had shortened to a mere fraction of that.

The transformation was monumental, and it had been hard-won through relentless effort. No one but he could ever comprehend the countless days and nights he had poured into cultivation, nor the endless plans he had devised to push himself forward. At last, he could truly see hope of reaching the next level.

He chose not to continue cultivating. The sudden burst of power had been exhilarating, but it left his sea of qi and divine soul strained. Though his body had healed significantly after unblocking all meridians, there could still be hidden injuries.

He left the meditation chamber and prepared a healing solution blended from supreme-grade Golden Jade Liquid and essence-nurturing liquid. Then, he immersed himself in the bath.

He closed his eyes. His face was calm and composed, yet the faint upward curve of his lips revealed the elation that lingered within his heart.

***

By the next morning, Luo Chen awoke from the medicinal bath.

The once-milky liquid had become clear and crystalline as its medicinal power was fully absorbed into his body. Seemingly inexhaustible strength coursed through his limbs.

With a single thought, pure spirit power surged out of his sea of qi, roaring through his newly widened meridians.

”Indeed, Wang Yuan wasn’t lying! Once all the meridians are connected, it doesn’t just improve cultivation, it massively boosts combat output too.”

The volume of his instantaneous output had increased, and so had the speed. As a direct consequence, his spells could now be cast faster and with far greater might. Even when controlling ordinary enchanted artifacts, the resulting power far exceeded that of others in his realm.

”This transformation has completely changed my overall combat capability,” he murmured, his eyes flashing with clarity. ”I should rent a training ground.”

Since Tao Yisheng had gone into seclusion, Luo Chen had free time to use as he pleased. He immediately sent out a Sound-Transmitting Paper Crane to notify Wang Yuan, then headed alone to the Debate Platform.

***

Beyond the walls of Tianlan Immortal City, a streak of light cut across the early sky. A figure rode a flying sword, moving swiftly with practiced ease.

From time to time, other Foundation Establishment cultivators caught sight of the silhouette. Once they recognized the markings on the rider’s robes, they quickly veered aside to give way.

The emblem of Green Pill Valley shone brightly on the flowing cloth, a symbol no one dared to offend.

The rider was a Foundation Establishment True Inheritor of Green Pill Valley. The light streaked swiftly across the thousand li Bamboo Sea, racing toward a distant destination.

If Luo Chen had been present, he would have been shocked to recognize the traveler. It was Tao Yisheng, who was supposed to be in seclusion. From his hurried pace and thinly veiled excitement, it was clear that something major awaited him at the sect.

***

Green Pill Valley had once seemed tranquil, its political maneuvering hidden beneath courteous smiles and polite words. Yet as the competition for the Golden Core Dao Scion drew near, the atmosphere grew increasingly volatile, like the prelude to a volcanic eruption.

Many late-stage Foundation Establishment grand cultivators began moving across the region. Even those at the ninth stage abandoned seclusion to rally supporters. Some were cultivators with formidable combat strength, while others were skilled alchemists. There were also many cultivators skilled in social finesse, weaving their way with ease among every side.

Among these grand cultivators, Tao Wan’s camp appeared relatively calm, but that was really only by comparison. By now, the number of Foundation Establishment disciples gathered under her banner was already considerable. Among them were no fewer than three second-tier alchemists.

One elder, though only in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, had earned a place among the Green Pill Valley’s Seven Prodigies. His reputation rested entirely on his flawless mastery of alchemical techniques. He was also the one Tao Wan relied on most for the coming Dao Scion competition.

During a brief pause in their busy schedule, Tao Wan gathered her people to discuss strategy for the selection that would take place in two years.

”Senior Sister Tao,” one cultivator said with confidence, ”this time, the position is as good as yours. There is truly nothing to worry about.”

”Absolutely,” another chimed in. ”With Senior Brother Qi standing guard, no one will dare get close enough to challenge you. And when it comes to alchemy, Senior Brother Huang Hezi is second to none. With him on your side, your victory is all but certain.”

”Senior Sister, in my opinion, the only thing you need to consider is your final opponent in the sword duel. Everything else is already settled.”

Inside the hall, everyone was chatting enthusiastically.

Tao Wan sat at the head with her usual proud expression. Yet as she listened to their confidence, she felt far from assured.

She spoke slowly. ”I have received news. Senior Brother Dan Yangzi will still be participating in this Dao Scion competition. Given that, do any of you still feel confident?”

The lively atmosphere in the hall vanished in an instant. Even Huang Hezi, one of the Seven Prodigies, could not keep his expression from changing.

”Wasn’t he stripped of his eligibility?” someone asked at last, their tone tinged with disbelief.

Tao Wan’s gaze remained steady as she replied, ”The thoughts of our sect’s elders are beyond us. These are turbulent times. Senior Brother Dan Yangzi may have made a mistake, but his strength and reputation remain. It is not strange for him to be granted another chance.”

Her tone was calm and composed. Yet, as Tao Wan looked around at her shaken allies, whose confidence had been shattered at the mere mention of Dan Yangzi’s name, she felt a quiet sorrow rise in her heart.

The Tao family had once been among the great families of Green Pill Valley. But ever since their lone Golden Core cultivator passed away two centuries ago, the family had steadily declined.

Even though she had reached the ninth stage of Foundation Establishment, she still could not gather even a third of the influence her family once commanded at their peak. Part of the reason was the absence of a new Golden Core cultivator. Yet it also stemmed from her own choices, as she had poured all her energy into cultivation and neglected the building of connections and alliances. Now that a rare opportunity had finally arrived, she wondered if she could truly win with only the people currently under her command.

Just as her heart grew heavier, a streak of light descended outside the Grand Hall. Before the figure had even steadied his steps, a familiar voice rang out.

”Sister, Dan Chenzi truly possesses extraordinary talent! He will definitely help you take that position!”

The words echoed through the hall. Tao Wan’s expression shifted slightly, and she instinctively glanced toward the others. As she had feared, Huang Hezi and the other two alchemists immediately displayed visible displeasure.

Anyone named Dan Chenzi was clearly an alchemist. Why, then, was she seeking help from such a person when she already had three alchemists by her side? The implication was plain.

Under the weight of their pointed stares, Tao Wan’s face darkened. She glared at the newly arrived Tao Yisheng and snapped, ”Who told you to come back? Get yourself back to Tianlan!”

Tao Yisheng froze where he stood. His once-joyful expression was shattered, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

***

After hastily smoothing things over with her gathered Foundation Establishment cultivators, Tao Wan returned to her cave residence.

With just one glance, she spotted Tao Yisheng standing gloomily at the entrance. Suppressing her anger, she said coldly, ”I already rented a top-grade cave residence for you in Tianlan and made sure you were not lacking in cultivation resources. Why did you come back?”

Tao Yisheng remained silent. His lips stayed pressed tight, and his face carried a look of grievance.

Tao Wan rubbed her temples, sat at the stone table, and poured herself a cup of cold tea. Without sparing him a glance, she continued, ”Reviving the Tao family, seizing the position of Dao Scion, breaking through to Golden Core, and taking command of Green Pill Valley. This has always been my dream. But the way there is more dangerous than you can possibly imagine. Only with you away could I act without hesitation. That’s why I sent you to Yuanzhao after your Foundation Establishment. Even when your guard duty ended, I still did not summon you back. And now, not only did you disobey my orders by returning without permission, but you even spoke out of turn and disrupted morale. Yisheng, you are not a child anymore. Can you act with some maturity and caution?”

Tao Yisheng turned around. His face was pale, and his eyes were red. ”Am I really such a burden to you?”

”That was not what I meant,” Tao Wan said, her tone softening slightly as she met his gaze. ”But today, you truly acted recklessly. Huang Hezi is a renowned master whom I spent a great deal of effort to win over. And now, with just one sentence, you offended him. Do you even understand the consequences?”

”In front of Dan Chenzi, he dared to call himself a master of alchemy?” Tao Yisheng scoffed, his voice sharp with disbelief.

”Shut up!” Tao Wan snapped, her tone cutting like a blade.

”I will not! You were the one who asked me to stay in Tianlan Immortal City and assess Luo Chen’s alchemy skills. I rushed all the way back to report my findings, and now you refuse to hear them? If that was the case, why did you assign me this task in the first place?”

Faced with her brother’s sharp retort, Tao Wan’s expression only grew colder as she said, ”A mere rogue cultivator dares to measure himself against someone like Huang Hezi? A man who devoted his entire life to the Dao of Alchemy? Do not be absurd.”

Those were her true thoughts. She had never once favored Luo Chen, even though Tantai Jin had recommended him to her. The reason she had given Tao Yisheng the task of evaluating Luo Chen’s alchemy skills had been nothing more than a way to keep him occupied.

Compared to Luo Chen, whose origins and background were a mystery, Huang Hezi stood on an entirely different level. He had been born and raised in Green Pill Valley, and after achieving Foundation Establishment, he had thrown himself wholly into alchemical research, to the point of neglecting his own cultivation. He refined mid-grade second-tier pills with ease and even achieved respectable success with top-grade ones. His cultivation had stalled at the third stage of Foundation Establishment, but his reputation in alchemy was unquestionable.

Compared to that, what did Luo Chen have to offer?

Tao Yisheng looked at his sister, still proud and utterly unshakable, and let out a quiet breath. He had grown used to this over the years. Since young, she had always been like this. She treated him well, and her care was genuine and warm. Once she set her mind on something, however, she almost never changed it.

This time, though, she was truly mistaken, and he was firmly convinced of that.

He clenched his fist and spoke up decisively. ”Please, Sister, trust me just this once. Luo Chen’s alchemy skills are truly formidable. Otherwise, Senior Sister Tantai would never have gone out of her way to recommend him to you. Even Fairy Ruthless holds him in high esteem. That alone should tell you he is extraordinary.”

Tao Wan’s expression shifted slightly, a crease forming between her brows. In all the years she had known her younger brother, he had never defied her like this. Yet now, for the sake of an outsider, he stood unyielding.

Her lips trembled ever so slightly, but her voice remained calm and proud. ”Very well. I will give you a chance. Tell me everything you have discovered. I want to see what sort of peerless genius could impress you to such a degree.”