An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”The Grand Alchemy Institute is the very essence of our Green Pill Valley,” Tao Wan said. ”All cultivators within are seasoned alchemists, and three third-tier grandmasters preside over it—Qing Dan, Xing Yun, and Chi Ding. The elder who invited you earlier to join as a guest alchemist is none other than Adept Chi Ding himself. Once you enter the Institute, you will be free from the chaos of the outside world and the power struggles within the sect. Your only responsibility will be to devote your life to the Dao of alchemy.

”You’ll refine pills in bulk for the sect’s profit, study ancient alchemical formulas, and create new ones through research. Naturally, the benefits are considerable. In terms of cultivation resources, you won’t need to worry. At minimum, you’ll be supplied one top-grade Ascending Dragon pill each month.”

At the Tao family’s platform, Tao Wan enthusiastically explained the workings of the Grand Alchemy Institute to Luo Chen. From the third-tier grandmasters down to the elderly first-tier alchemists, she laid out everything in detail. She held nothing back when it came to the rights and obligations.

Luo Chen frowned deeply after hearing everything. The Grand Alchemy Institute isn’t as ideal as I imagined. All things considered, it sounds more like a glorified tool shop than a sanctuary for alchemists. And only one Ascending Dragon Pill per month? Granted, there is access to a trove of alchemical formulas for study, which might justify the trade-off. With those formulas, I can simply refine them myself. That alone might be worthwhile.

He fell into deep thought, and no one dared to disturb him. It had already been several hours since he had refined the Dustfall pill and claimed victory in the third match. When Elder Chi Ding had extended the invitation, Luo Chen had replied that he would think it over. Realizing it was too difficult a decision to be made on the spot, the elder had allowed him to step back and rest.

Now, after hearing Tao Wan’s explanation, Luo Chen found himself at a crossroads. Joining the Institute would provide access to countless formulas for study and would likely remove future cultivation bottlenecks. Yet its utilitarian nature meant he would often have no say in his own fate. He knew better than anyone that his own aptitude demanded vast resources to cultivate efficiently. If he couldn’t engage in external business, the Luo Tian Society he had painstakingly built would be neglected, and he’d lose a massive income stream. That society was the foundation into which he had poured his heart and soul.

Most importantly... Do I even have a say in this? Luo Chen lifted his gaze toward the Celestial Palace suspended high in the sky. A pair of cold, indifferent eyes had remained fixed on him since the very first round of contests. In name, he already belonged to the Ruthless Lineage of the Ice Fortress.

He glanced at Tao Wan, who was practically glowing with excitement, and silently reached a decision. He would not enter the Grand Alchemy Institute.

With Tao Wan, a Grand True Inheritor, as his connection in Green Pill Valley, he had sufficient leverage already. Rather than bind himself to rigid sect rules, he preferred the relative freedom of the path outside.

Moreover, sect disciples weren’t as glamorous as they appeared. The so-called abundance of resources was, in truth, more myth than reality. Green Pill Valley held more than a thousand Initiates, among whom hundreds of late-stage experts, and over a dozen Golden Core Adepts. Such numbers demanded an immense supply of resources. Even if distributed according to rank and cultivation realm, the actual allotment for each disciple remained limited.

The fact that Tao Wan and Dan Yangzi themselves had to fight personally for the title of Dao Scion just to secure greater resources spoke volumes. If even core disciples found resources lacking, what could he expect as an outsider?

Having made up his mind, Luo Chen felt a weight lift from his heart. Only then did he turn his attention to the intense alchemy competition still unfolding on stage.

”True Inheritor Tao, I’ve taken first in all three rounds. What do you think your rank will be?”

Tao Wan thought for a moment before replying with some uncertainty, ”I should at least reach second place. As for first... that depends on the eldest senior brother’s performance in this final round.”

Luo Chen’s triple victory carried enormous implications. Tao Wan, originally ranked fourth, could now leap straight to second, perhaps even challenge for first. If Dan Yangzi managed to retain his consistent second-place standing in the third round, then that chance would vanish. But it was obvious to all that Dan Yangzi was struggling.

”Another failure!” Tao Wan whispered, unable to hide her excitement.

Luo Chen pulled Tao Yisheng aside and asked, ”How many times has Dan Yangzi failed?”

”Since you stepped down, this is his third failure,” Tao Yisheng answered, both excited and a little dejected. That contradiction in his expression surely had its reasons.

Luo Chen couldn’t be bothered to probe further. He looked at the struggling Dan Yangzi onstage and shook his head with regret. He could tell that Dan Yangzi hadn’t fully grasped the formula. Though steady, his technique lacked precision, and his handling of finer details was visibly rough. Most importantly, he was obviously unfamiliar with it!

From the very first step to the last, Dan Yangzi moved with the hesitant rhythm of someone walking through a half-learned process. His refinement lacked the natural flow of practiced repetition.

Of course, Dan Yangzi had been worn down by the wheel battles over the past half-month. Each day, he endured relentless challenges and still needed to reserve time for meditation. When could he have studied two new alchemical formulas?

And studying them was only the beginning. True mastery came from refining, again and again. It took repetition before one could truly improve. All of that required time that he simply did not have!

”I wonder what mistake your senior brother made, to not only be stripped of the Dao Scion seat but even be forbidden from using his true fire in the second round,” Luo Chen murmured to Tao Yisheng

Faced with that question, Tao Yisheng had no answer.

Tao Wan said from the side, ”If I can ascend to the position of Dao Scion[1]perhaps then I will be able to find out.”

Could she succeed? There was indeed a very good chance.

As night deepened, the second competitor to refine the Dustfall pill finally emerged. To everyone’s surprise, it was not Dan Yangzi or even the talented Xuan Yunzi. The one who succeeded was Fu Huai of the Fu family. For the second round of alchemy trials, he had wisely chosen to focus all his effort on the most crucial third phase, the refinement of the second-tier pill. With the full support of the Fu family behind him, the formula had been studied to perfection, and apparently, he had even managed to refine it before the competition.

Now, he had secured a strong result for the Fu family. Having placed fourth in the previous two rounds, his final ranking was bound to be impressive.

At that moment, someone instinctively glanced at Dan Yangzi. He remained silent, still struggling to refine the Dustfall pill. It looked like he was only a step away from success, yet that one step felt like a vast chasm.

By dawn, Xuan Yunzi became the third to succeed. As time trickled on, Huang Hezi and Ling Zhizi also succeeded one after another. Of the remaining four, three surrendered and forfeited. With five wins and four losses, all were declared failures and were unable to advance their rankings. With that, the top five winners were officially determined.

Elder Chi Ding of the Grand Alchemy Institute approached Dan Yangzi. ”What was the point of all this suffering? With your talent, you could have excelled in cultivation, alchemy, or even leading a sect. But you insisted on claiming all of them. This is the consequence. In the three rounds of competition, had you simply let go of one, you would have had a real chance in the end. But you demanded everything. Dan Yangzi, can you accept your failure now?”

Dan Yangzi said nothing. He continued refining the pill within the Glazed Child Cauldron.

A trace of irritation flickered across Chi Ding’s face. ”You inherited your father’s title as Adept Dan Yang. You were destined to lead Danyang Peak. Why involve yourself in these power struggles? To us alchemists, such things are meaningless—huh?”

He paused in astonishment. A faint yet rich pill fragrance wafted out.

Dan Yangzi’s voice rasped, hoarse but firm, ”Elder, please determine the pill grade.”

For once, Chi Ding fell silent.

***

Before the eyes of thousands, the elder of the Grand Alchemy Institute announced the results of all three events from the second round, finally revealing the overall standings.

First place went to Dan Chenzi without question. With three decisive victories, no one could dispute his dominance. Second place, however, surprised many. It was not Xuan Yunzi, who had consistently taken third in all three rounds, nor Dan Yangzi, who had scored two seconds and one sixth. Instead, the honor went to Fu Huai of the Fu family.

The outcome shocked many, though just as many found it reasonable.

”I told you, the third round’s second-tier pill refinement is always the most important for ranking. He placed fourth in the first two rounds, then second in the last, which vaulted him straight to second overall. The Fu family made the right move,” someone from the crowd said.

When the rankings appeared, the nine True Inheritor disciples wore wildly different expressions. Tao Wan and Fu Li exchanged a glance and nodded in mutual understanding. He Yuanqing and Shangguan Yan, once ranked second and third, now wore sullen faces.

As the rest of the standings were revealed, their worst fears became reality. Third place went to Xuan Yunzi, who had managed a top-three finish in every round. Fourth went to Dan Yangzi. Fifth belonged to Huang Hezi, whose record consisted of one loss, a fifth, and a fourth-place finish. All others beyond that were considered losers. The rankings of the Grand True Inheritors behind them would not shift significantly. As a result, the top five standings now underwent a massive reshuffle.

With a wave of Elder Chi Ding’s sleeve, the nine tall platforms rumbled. Some rose, while others sank. Under countless nervous gazes, Dan Yangzi’s once-high platform slowly descended. In his place, Tao Wan’s platform rose until she stood at the very top.

At that moment, Tao Wan was first. Dan Yangzi stood second, He Yuanqing third, Fu Li fourth, and Shangguan Yan fifth.

Tao Wan naturally beamed with joy. The others, however, were not nearly as pleased.

”He Yun, you’ve ruined me!” He Yuanqing’s face twisted in anger. He had hoped to enter the final round as the top contender, but now he was only third. That meant he’d have to fight at least three people to even have a shot at seizing the top prize.

In contrast, Fu Li remained calm. Fourth place was a solid result. Though the Dao Scion seat was likely out of reach, he had still demonstrated the worth of his family, and it could lend some assistance to his allies. By comparison, Shangguan Yan, who had once proudly held third place, had now slipped to fifth. Her face was pale, her lips pressed tightly together. She said nothing.

That must sting, Fu Li thought, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he glanced in her direction.

Beside Shangguan Yan, Huang Hezi turned on his heels, his face like thunder clouds, and swept away in silence, his sleeves whipping behind him in a storm of indignation. A clear sign that relations between the two were far from harmonious.

***

After the second round concluded, there was only a brief intermission. It was not intended for the Grand True Inheritors to rest, but for the elders of Green Pill Valley to prepare the final dueling platform.

The nine tall platforms gradually merged together under the mana of the Golden Core Adepts. Before long, a dueling arena nearly a thousand zhang wide and long took shape.

At this time, the Grand True Inheritor disciples descended from their platforms and gathered in groups based on their affiliations. They began discussing strategies for the imminent True Inheritor duels and how best to counter their opponents. Several wore dark expressions, especially those whose rankings placed them in the middle.

Ironically, the two lowest-ranked disciples showed no resentment at all. They chatted cheerfully with one another.

”Senior Brother, it has been ages since we sparred. Please go easy on me later.”

”Junior Brother, you’re too modest. Let’s just agree not to go all out.”

”Perfect, perfect!”

For them, securing the title of Grand True Inheritor already proved their capabilities. From here, a decent display of strength would suffice. Becoming the Dao Scion? That was a dream they did not even dare entertain. The title of Grand True Inheritor already guaranteed preferential access to resources.

Luo Chen stood with the alchemist from the Fu family, quietly discussing something, occasionally glancing sideways at the others. Inwardly, he shook his head. The Dao Scion competition in Green Pill Valley certainly had grandeur, but its intensity was lacking. Though sect disciples might scheme against each other, there were at least some boundaries. By contrast, for rogue cultivators like them, competition often meant fighting to the death. The brutality far surpassed that of any sect tournament.

”Fellow Daoist Dan Chenzi, your alchemy techniques truly command my respect!” Fu Huai praised. ”Even though I was confident in refining the Dustfall pill, I was still uneasy, yet you succeeded in a single try!”

Luo Chen offered a modest smile and waved his hand humbly.

Fu Huai continued, ”After this, many will surely value you highly. You would easily qualify as an honored guest in any major sect.”

Three consecutive victories had crushed his peers. Dan Chenzi’s alchemical techniques had already become renowned throughout Green Pill Valley, and soon his name would echo across the entire Jade Cauldron Domain. Enthusiastic invitations would flood in the moment the True Inheritor Sword Duels ended. In fact, some had already begun even before the duels began.

”Shangguan Yan, what are you doing?” Tao Wan’s voice cut through the air as she blocked Shangguan Yan’s path. Behind her stood Luo Chen and Fu Huai, their conversation interrupted.

Shangguan Yan giggled lightly. ”What else? Master Dan Chenzi is so impressive. Naturally, I wish to consult him about alchemy.”

”You’re not welcome here,” Tao Wan said coldly.

Shangguan Yan frowned. ”You are only the first-ranked True Inheritor, not yet the Dao Scion. Must you act so high and mighty?”

Tao Wan bared her white teeth in a sarcastic smile. ”Yes, I am not the Dao Scion yet. But you are fifth among the True Inheritors. Can you even reach me in the duel later? Coming over now... are you trying to make up for regrets in advance?”

Shangguan Yan’s face darkened, and her jaw clenched. Trembling with anger, she glared at Tao Wan before flinging her sleeve and storming away.

Watching her go, Tao Wan let out a breath of relief. Yet when she looked around, she noticed that many of the other Grand True Inheritors occasionally cast their attention toward Luo Chen. The realization made her heart tighten.

Luo Chen’s importance had already grown beyond that of a supporting outsider. With his alchemical talent, he was worthy of being welcomed as a guest of honor by any major sect. The Tao family alone would not be able to retain him. But if she became Dao Scion of Green Pill Valley, she might have the authority to keep him. At the very least, she could not allow him to fall into the hands of her rivals.

Shangguan Yan’s probing had only been the first attempt. How was she to handle those who followed? More importantly, how could she secure Luo Chen for herself?

As she pondered, a disciple arrived with an announcement. The arena was ready, and the True Inheritor Sword Duels were about to begin.

The Grand True Inheritors began moving at once. Luo Chen followed behind, prepared to observe the third round. But just as he stepped forward, someone blocked his path. ”Master Dan Chenzi, the Adept requests your presence.”

”Which Adept?” asked Luo Chen.

”The one from the Celestial Palace!”

Luo Chen’s expression faltered briefly. He had known this moment was inevitable, yet this time, ascending to the Celestial Palace would no longer be a step into the unknown. From now on, everyone would be forced to take him seriously.

1. The raws used ”True Inheritor,” but since Tao Wan holds that title and it is what qualifies her to participate in this competition, I believe the correct term here should be ”Dao Scion.” I have amended accordingly. ☜