An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”You did well,” Luo Chen said evenly. ”Stand off to the side.”

Upon hearing this, Bu Junjie’s face lit up with excitement. He quickly and obediently stepped aside.

Even as Luo Chen spoke, the Qi Refinement cultivators of the Luo Tian Society began emerging one after another from the encampment. Each of them stood with defiant glares, united in silent fury, eyes fixed on the cultivators surrounding their camp.

Luo Chen’s gaze swept calmly across the scene. Two organizations were standing before him. At the forefront stood the Qu family. Further behind, members of the Divine Water Sect were observing the scene with faint amusement. All were vassals of the Ice Fortress, and they had their eyes set greedily on the Luo Tian Society’s territory.

With Luo Chen’s arrival, the surrounding atmosphere slowly fell into silence. The air hung thick with tension. It was calm on the surface, yet sharp as a drawn blade.

”Bullying people with numbers? Fellow Daoist, you truly have no shame,” Luo Chen said.

Though his voice was calm, his words struck like a blade, drawing murmurs from the Qu family cultivators. Qu Zhenbiao’s face twitched. It was the first time someone had publicly accused him of being shameless. He drew in a deep breath, forcing down the anger in his heart. With a cold, almost mocking smile, he replied, ”Respect is earned through strength. You look young, Fellow Daoist. I assume you haven’t cultivated long and you are still unfamiliar with the ways of the cultivation world?”

Luo Chen raised a brow. ”Oh? So you intend to bully me because of my age?”

Qu Zhenbiao sneered. ”What bullying are we talking about? Spirit land belongs to the capable. Before, the Luo Tian Society held this place with Foundation Establishment cultivators. Now one is gone, one is injured, one is missing. Yet you still cling to this territory? That’s nothing but a waste of resources.”

A slow shake of Luo Chen’s head followed. ”Whether it is waste or not, that is not for you to decide. The Ice Fortress will make its own judgment.”

”And if the Ice Fortress chooses not to intervene and leaves the matter to us?” Qu Zhenbiao pressed.

That statement sent another ripple through the crowd. It meant the Qu family’s attempt to seize the Luo Tian Society’s territory had already been tacitly approved by higher sect authorities. For a moment, Luo Chen remained silent, his eyes drifting toward the towering Ice Palace in the distance.

Opposite him, Qu Zhenbiao sneered repeatedly. Further behind, the Divine Water Sect cultivators exchanged uneasy glances. It seemed the Qu family had moved ahead of them. Yet in this situation, how would this newly arrived Initiate of Luo Tian Society respond?

Under the many watching eyes, Luo Chen suddenly smiled. ”And what if I do not wish to negotiate? What then? Will you rob me by force, or will you stake your life on a duel?”

Qu Zhenbiao blinked, stunned. As if he had not heard clearly, he asked reflexively, ”What did you say?”

Luo Chen did not answer.

Within the Qu family ranks, cultivators muttered in low voices.

”This newly arrived kid from Luo Tian Society is truly shameless! He just clings on like a damn parasite. Does he think no one can do anything to him?”

”If he doesn’t have the power to keep his land, he should just leave it to those who can!”

Hearing the comments behind him, it was only now that Qu Zhenbiao fully registered what had happened. He scoffed. ”You’re talking about shamelessness, yet look at how shameless you are, Fellow Daoist.”

”Not as shameless as your honorable self.” Luo Chen shook his head. ”After all, I would never publicly bully the weak and spew bold words like a petty villain.”

”You—”

Once again, his past actions were being thrown in his face. Qu Zhenbiao felt the sting of humiliation rise. He regretted the path he had taken to assert dominance, but... things were already in motion.

He took a slow breath and steadied himself. ”May I ask your name, Fellow Daoist?”

”That would be Luo Chen.”

”Fellow Daoist Luo, I’ll ask just once again, are you yielding this land or not?” Qu Zhenbiao snapped, his voice firm.

The demand left no room for ambiguity. Behind him, two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Divine Water Sect exchanged startled glances.

”Luo Chen...Could it be...” one of them murmured, recognition dawning in his eyes.

”Yes, the junior at the Qi Refinement Realm called him ’President.’”

”Let’s not interfere, just observe for now.”

Luo Chen’s gaze flicked subtly toward the two whispering cultivators, then shifted back to Qu Zhenbiao. ”And if I refuse to yield, what will you do? If you stir conflict, aren’t you afraid that Adept Ruthless, who granted us this land, will hold you accountable?”

He had spoken hastily, the words tumbling out like knives, but every word pierced Qu Zhenbiao like a blade. His expression froze. Because he knew that... Fairy Ruthless was absent from Golden Sand Floating Island.

After the Flame Alliance shattered the formation on the seventh mountain, the Four-Sect Alliance had deployed Adepts to guard both the fifth and sixth Mountains. That absence was precisely why he had dared come here to provoke trouble.

But if Luo Chen resisted and he seized the land by force, when Adept Ruthless returned, he would pay the price. Everyone knew the Luo Tian Society had deep ties with the Ruthless Lineage. In fact, the Luo Tian Society was the lineage’s only current vassal! In short, he could provoke them, but he could not afford to go too far.

Damn this shameless bastard! So many people watching, yet he dares speak of squatting on land he doesn’t use, Qu Zhenbiao cursed silently.

Just as he hesitated, Luo Chen suddenly laughed. ”Of course, I admit I am not as shameless as you, Fellow Daoist. So I’ll give you a chance.”

”You’re the shameless one, damn it!” Qu Zhenbiao snapped. This time, he lost his temper and cursed outright. ”Enough! That’s it!”

”One move.” Luo Chen’s expression turned cold, and he said, ”One move to decide the outcome. Life or death is left to fate. The loser will leave and never appear before the winner again.”

”You arrogant little brat!” Qu Zhenbiao roared with rage.

Luo Chen let out a cold laugh and rose into the skies, treading on the wind, leaving no doubt as to his intentions. This would be a battle fought in the air.

With the crowd watching, Qu Zhenbiao could no longer back down. He shot upward without hesitation. Once they were in the skies, he readied himself to unleash more threats, but his words caught in his throat the instant he noticed the weapon in Luo Chen’s hand—a long sword colored black and red.

Qu Zhenbiao’s eyes widened—it was an enchanted treasure! But it wasn’t the fact that Luo Chen had an enchanted treasure that shocked him; it was how decisively he had drawn it, which meant he truly intended to kill.

At that moment, he quickly reined in all his anger and entered full combat readiness. He too took out an enchanted-treasure flying sword, crystalline blue and brilliant like glittering ice. ”Then let’s fight!”

Without the slightest hesitation, he channeled his spirit power, pouring it steadily into his sword. This was a duel of a single strike, as agreed. There would be no probing, no trading of blows, no clever tricks. It would be a contest of raw power!

Across from him, the young man grasped his long sword, but instead of gathering spirit power, he began to move strangely. It looked as if he was writing a piece of calligraphy... or rather, more like a mad calligrapher splashing ink in a frenzy.

Such movements from the two were, of course, impossible to hide. On Golden Sand Floating Island, a wave of noise instantly broke out. Many cultivators stepped out of their dwellings, craning their necks to watch the duel. Those who had seen Luo Chen at the docking platform earlier, in particular, erupted in astonishment.

Whispers spread quickly through the crowd as speculation swirled. Some spoke of his fame as an alchemist; others questioned his temperament. Dan Chenzi just arrived and he’s already picking a fight? What a temper he has!

At the Luo Tian Society encampment, all three factions looked up in silence, not daring to breathe too loudly. Only the two mid-stage Initiates from the Divine Water Sect exchanged a hushed spirit consciousness voice transmission.

”Isn’t Dan Chenzi too arrogant? He’s just an alchemist, how could he dare to go all out against a sixth-stage Initiate like Qu Zhenbiao?”

”Junior Brother, the Qu family is not from Tianlan Immortal City. It’s one thing if they don’t know what Luo Chen is capable of, but how can you be so ignorant?”

”Hm? What do you mean?”

”Have you forgotten? Before he became known as Dan Chenzi, Luo Chen was famous under another title!”

”Hiss...The Fire Spirit Lord!”

Back then, by the banks of the Qinhua River, his fire arts had dominated the field. In that battle, the Fire Spirit Lord had not even relied on enchanted artifacts, yet he had singlehandedly suppressed and slain three early-stage Initiates and a mid-stage one. His display had awed the countless onlookers along both shores and protected his friend’s family from ruin. How could someone like that be mistaken for a frail alchemist who couldn’t fight to save his own life?

The cultivators of the Divine Water Sect now turned fearful eyes toward the black-red sword in Luo Chen’s hand. The Fire Spirit Lord had drawn his enchanted treasure, and that act alone signaled his lethal intent.

Qu Zhenbiao had truly kicked an iron plate.

***

Above, the sky shimmered gold, flooded with brilliant light. Qu Zhenbiao looked up sharply, his eyes locking onto Luo Chen. ”You’re too naive, Junior. Trading killing moves, do you take this for some sect tournament?”

With a harsh shout, he released his flying sword. The sword light howled, brimming with killing intent. Yet its offensive might was far from overwhelming—he hadn’t gathered power for a killing move, but rather aimed to interrupt Luo Chen’s activation of his own strike. If his move succeeded, Luo Chen would be injured by the backlash. Whether he lived or died, the result would still count as defeat.

Under Qu Zhenbiao’s proud gaze, the flying sword streaked forward until it was less than a zhang from Luo Chen. Yet even at this close range, Luo Chen remained utterly motionless, not even summoning a defensive enchanted artifact.

”You’ve lost!” Qu Zhenbiao declared triumphantly.

The moment those words left his mouth, a blue light screen appeared in an instant.

There was no explosion. The unstoppable flying sword suddenly slowed as if it had been trapped in a quagmire. Its speed plunged until, having stabbed the barrier, it crept forward like a snail.

Qu Zhenbiao’s expression shifted drastically. What kind of defense spell is this? This is insane; it even stopped an enchanted treasure! When did he even activate it? He didn’t form a single seal or chant an incantation! Was it a talisman? A self-activating defensive treasure?

While he stood frozen in shock, a blazing crimson sun began to rise slowly from amidst the swirling yellow sands. Along with it came those cold, indifferent eyes.

”Of all the petty clowns in the world, you’re the least amusing,” Luo Chen said flatly.

As those words fell, the sun descended! From the tip of Luo Chen’s sword, the blazing sun flew and exploded directly above Qu Zhenbiao’s head!

Boom!!!

An unimaginably fierce wave of spirit power erupted without restraint. The raging heat seemed as though it could burn the world to ashes. Even space itself rippled and warped, like shimmering water under scorching light. The defensive enchanted artifact Qu Zhenbiao hastily pulled out barely lasted a breath before it melted away.

”AAAHHHH!!!!”

A pained scream tore through the sky. The devastating force of the blast came crashing down upon him, poised to annihilate him from existence.

”Enough!” A sudden cry echoed from the distant palace, a cold shout that cut through the sky. From the peak of the massive, black Ice Palace, a streak of light shot forth, and in an instant, the fiery sky was instantly extinguished.

Qu Zhenbiao’s life had been spared, but he was far from fine. His body plummeted down like a kite with a snapped string. He vomited mouthfuls of blood, accompanied by bursts of flames.

High in the sky, Luo Chen reached out and grasped Qu Zhenbiao’s flying sword. His expression remained utterly calm, as though he had foreseen this outcome all along.

At that moment, with a sword of water in one hand and a sword of fire in the other, with his long black hair whipping in the wind, Luo Chen looked down coldly over the entirety of Golden Sand Floating Island. The fear in their eyes, the shock written across their faces... none of it escaped his notice.

”Hmph!”

He let out a dismissive snort and didn’t spare Qu Zhenbiao another glance. Instead, he descended straight back to the Luo Tian Society encampment.

”Long live the President!”

”Long live the President!”

”Long live the President!”

There were only a few dozen people, yet their cheers roared like a tidal wave. Luo Chen raised his hand, gesturing downward. The cultivators of Luo Tian Society immediately fell silent, gazing at him with eyes full of admiration.

He turned around and looked toward the group from the Qu family, which included another Initiate. ”Are you still here? Do you want me to escort you or what?”

The Qu family cultivators flinched and instinctively stepped back, but the Initiate halted after a single step. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak, ”Fellow Daoist Luo, I ask that you return the Qu family’s Nine Stream Spirit King Sword.”[1]

Though the words were firm, to the ears of those watching, it sounded almost like pleading. Luo Chen casually twirled the sword in his hand. The azure blade gleamed in front of him.

”So it’s called the Nine Stream Spirit King Sword. A fine name for a fine sword. What a pity that such a fine sword was left to gather dust. Your family head is unworthy of it. Now get lost. I won’t be seeing you off.”

As soon as he said this, the faces of the Qu family cultivators turned from pale to ghostly. Everyone had seen the battle in the sky with crystal clarity. It had been agreed to use one move and decide the outcome, but their very own family head had resorted to underhanded tricks, attempting to disrupt Luo Chen’s enchanted treasure strike. Had he played fair and exchanged killing blows, even in defeat, he wouldn’t have lost so miserably. If not for the intervention of the Adept from the Ice Fortress, he would likely have died on the spot.

It really was no exaggeration to say that the treasure sword was gathering dust in his hands. Yet letting their family’s ancestral weapon fall into another’s hands was something the Qu family could never accept. They wanted to argue, but when the Initiate met Luo Chen’s cold, unfriendly gaze, his courage evaporated and he fell silent. He shrank back like a cicada in winter[2], and retreated step by step.

The Qu family cultivators withdrew in silence, their defeat undeniable. Luo Chen turned his gaze toward the remaining threat—the Divine Water Sect. But before he could speak a word, the two mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators had already cupped their fists and bowed with impeccable courtesy.

”Greetings, Fellow Daoist Dan Chenzi,” one of them said with a warm smile. ”Xu Xiang offers his respects.”

”The Fire Spirit Lord’s fame is clearly well-earned,” added the other. ”Greetings, I am Luo Jiangnan, the sect leader of the Divine Water Sect.”

Luo Chen tugged faintly at the corner of his mouth. He knew full well they hadn’t come with kind intentions. But now, faced with their respectful bows and courteous tones, there was little point in making enemies of men who knew how to retreat with grace. He held a sword in each hand and was obviously unable to return the salute, so he simply nodded and replied with a measured voice, ”If time permits, we should have a little gathering.”

The implication was clear: I don’t have time for chit-chat. But the two cultivators from the Divine Water Sect didn’t take offense. They smiled and departed with their disciples.

Only then did peace fully return to the Luo Tian Society’s encampment, and only then did Luo Chen let go of his cold and ruthless demeanor. A warm smile, like a spring breeze, once more graced his face.

”Everyone, go and rest,” he said, his tone soft but firm. ”Old Xu, tally up those who were injured. I’ll treat them later.”

With those simple instructions, Luo Chen turned and stepped into the stone hut, the heavy door closing behind him.

Outside, the tension that had weighed down the Luo Tian Society cultivators dissolved. Unable to hold back any longer, they gathered in excited clusters, their voices rising in animated conversation. Some, more expressive by nature, even invited their friends to drink and celebrate.

Today’s battle had been truly invigorating. It wiped away all the recent gloom that had clouded the Luo Tian Society.

Inside the stone hut, a crisp, resonant metallic note echoed as Luo Chen drew a blade. ”The Hornless Dragon Sword is gone, but I just happened to find this Nine Stream Spirit King Sword. Yingzhang, do you like it?”

1. The word for “stream” here is also the surname of the Qu family. ☜

2. 噤若寒蝉 (jin ruo han chan) is a Chinese idiom that describes someone who cannot speak or act due to overwhelming fear. ☜