An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The next day, an old man passed through several encampments and entered the Luo Tian Society’s territory under the watchful eyes of many Ice Fortress cultivators.

”Isn’t that Tian Xingzi from the Falling Cloud Sect?” someone whispered.

A nearby cultivator frowned as he watched the old man’s figure. ”That’s him. He’s only at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but he was exceptionally promoted to elder of the Falling Cloud Sect. Even if he’s the lowest in rank, he’s no ordinary figure.”

Tian Xingzi hadn’t been particularly famous in his early years. Though listed as a True Inheritor, he had made no remarkable progress in cultivation, spellcraft, or even in the Falling Cloud Sect’s proudest field—puppet arts. Yet, he had spent years roaming outside, handling various affairs on its behalf. One way or another, he had made a contribution significant enough to be appointed as the only Initiate ever to hold the title of elder in the Falling Cloud Sect’s history.

Now, watching him stride into the Luo Tian Society’s camp, the many vassal forces stationed near the Ice Fortress were visibly stunned. They had expected visitors to appear after Luo Chen’s astonishing battle above the floating island, but none had imagined that the first would be someone of such standing.

Inside the Luo Tian Society’s quarters, Luo Chen looked at the familiar figure before him and broke into a smile. Tian Xingzi was not wearing the golden mask he had always worn back at Dahe Market, yet Luo Chen recognized him at once. ”Elder Tian, your visit brings great honor to our humble Luo Tian Society.”

Tian Xingzi chuckled and said, ”Fellow Daoist Luo, for you to spare time to meet me despite your busy schedule, I am deeply honored.”

”Please, have a seat,” Luo Chen said with a courteous gesture.

Once they were seated, he had expected a few words of polite exchange, but Tian Xingzi went straight to the point. ”Murong Yuan?”

Luo Chen let out a quiet laugh. ”Haha, merely an alias. I must apologize for the deception, Fellow Daoist.”

He had long known that his cover identity from the Precious Dragon Black Market would not last forever, especially after so many business dealings with Tian Xingzi. It might have passed at first, but as the two handled large quantities of medicinal ingredients, the truth was bound to the surface. At the time, Dahe Market had only a few major factions, and among them, only the Luo Tian Society possessed the capacity to consume such vast amounts of ingredients for pill refining.

At the time, Luo Chen’s Dao title, Dan Chenzi, had already begun to spread, and it did not take much effort to connect the dots. The only remaining uncertainty Tian Xingzi might have had back then was a single detail. Now, seeing that Luo Chen did not deny it, Tian Xingzi nodded slowly, confirming what he had long suspected. ”And that Foundation Establishment friend of yours...?”

”I am that Foundation Establishment friend of mine,” Luo Chen replied calmly.

Tian Xingzi nodded slightly. He wasn’t particularly surprised. He had once suspected as much but later dismissed the notion. Yet as the Dao title Dan Chenzi grew increasingly renowned across the Jade Cauldron Domain, the guess he had set aside turned out to be the only logical one.

He studied Luo Chen, and a look of admiration surfaced on his face. ”In just over a decade... Your progress is remarkable, Fellow Daoist.”

Luo Chen smiled faintly. ”If I’ve come this far, I owe it in no small measure to those Foundation Establishment pills you once sent.”

”It was just three Foundation Establishment pills. Hardly enough to claim any credit,” Tian Xingzi said with a light laugh.

Luo Chen’s smile faltered for the briefest moment. Three? But I only received two!

Tian Xingzi didn’t notice the subtle change in Luo Chen’s expression. It lasted only a heartbeat before Luo Chen’s warm and enthusiastic smile returned.

Seeing that the mood was pleasant and that Luo Chen had no intention of dismissing the history they shared, Tian Xingzi got straight to the point and brought up old matters again.”I’ve admired your alchemy ever since Dahe Market. Now, the name Dan Chenzi echoes across the Jade Cauldron Domain. Truly, your trip to Green Pill Valley was like a flood dragon going to the sea!”

”You flatter me,” Luo Chen said with an easy smile.

”These are no empty words,” Tian Xingzi replied earnestly. ”Take your Blood-Burning Pill, for instance. Though it’s only a first-tier pill, you managed to refine it to supreme grade, which makes it effective even for early-stage Initiates. That’s something most second-tier alchemists can’t achieve.”

Here comes the real business, Luo Chen thought, but kept his calm and steady smile.

Tian Xingzi felt a faint pressure in his chest but still pressed on. ”Do you still have more of those supreme-grade Blood-Burning Pills? I’m willing to pay the price of a second-tier pill for them.”

”About that... I will have to apologize. You should know my current position,” Luo Chen said awkwardly as he glanced outside at the towering Ice Palace.

Tian Xingzi sighed inwardly. He had expected as much, yet a trace of disappointment still surfaced. As he thought, even if Luo Chen could refine those pills, their number must be limited. After supplying the Ice Fortress, there would certainly be no surplus left for him.

Thud!

Tian Xingzi looked curiously at the jade bottles Luo Chen had just placed on the table.

”What’s this?” he asked.

”Well, I don’t have many supreme-grade Blood-Burning Pills left, but these three are for you, Fellow Daoist. You can give them to your juniors as life-saving tokens.”

Tian Xingzi hesitated, touched by the gesture. ”This doesn’t seem right. I’ve done nothing to deserve such generosity.”

Luo Chen smiled faintly. ”Is our relationship so transactional? This is merely a gift between friends. What, now that you’ve become an elder of the Falling Cloud Sect, you’ve forgotten about this young friend of yours?”

Tian Xingzi blinked, then broke into hearty laughter. ”Hahaha! I’m not that kind of man!”

With that, he accepted the Blood-Burning Pills without another word.

”Speaking of which, your Foundation Establishment should have been an occasion for me to offer a gift. I didn’t expect you to be the one giving instead.” Tian Xingzi shook his head, then suddenly said, ”I hear your people have been searching for an Initiate named Wang Yuan?”

Luo Chen’s expression turned serious. ”You know something? Please, tell me everything you can.”

”I don’t know much,” Tian Xingzi said apologetically. ”But my sect’s scouts did catch wind of some information about him. Tell me, are you aware which of the nine mountains remains unoccupied by either side?”

Luo Chen hesitated. ”The ninth mountain?”

Tian Xingzi nodded seriously. ”That’s the one...”

***

Tian Xingzi departed soon after. He had arrived in high spirits, and though the greatest purpose of his visit had not been fulfilled, the meeting had gone pleasantly well. With just a small piece of intelligence, he had managed to obtain three supreme-grade Blood-Burning Pills from Luo Chen. Most importantly, he had maintained a friendly relationship. That ”young friend” he had once called out hadn’t been in vain after all.

Yet what Tian Xingzi regarded as a trivial tip turned out to be a timely blessing for Luo Chen.

”President, is it true there’s news about Palace Leader Wang?”

Inside the room, Xu Haizhen, Duan Feng, and a now-mobile Li Yingzhang looked at Luo Chen expectantly. Under their gaze, Luo Chen gave a slow nod. ”There is indeed some news.”

The three men’s eyes lit up with excitement. Wang Yuan’s strength had been proven time and again over the years. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the Luo Tian Society’s greatest force, after Luo Chen himself.

Back during the night battle on the seventh mountain, Min Longyu had activated a grand formation that wiped out five early-stage Initiates. Afterward, Wang Yuan held the rear, single-handedly fending off three mid-stage Initiates and even one at the late stage. Such power was nothing short of jaw-dropping.

If they could locate Wang Yuan and bring him back, the combined might of the president and his most formidable subordinate would give the Luo Tian Society enough strength to stand firm even against enemy squads led by grand cultivators in the coming war. But while their faces brightened with joy, Luo Chen’s expression remained somber.

Could it be...?

Just as unease began to stir among them, Luo Chen shook his head. ”He is not dead.”

Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, Luo Chen continued, ”But if his current status is leaked, it could place the Luo Tian Society in a precarious position.”

”Huh?” Xu Haizhen frowned. ”What do you mean?”

”Could it be... he’s in serious trouble?” Duan Feng asked cautiously.

Luo Chen sighed softly. ”You think he wouldn’t be back now if he weren’t in serious trouble? You see... Even if someone kills descendants of Golden Core cultivators or True Inheritors of the Sword Sect during battle, it still falls within the rules of war. Life and death on the battlefield are natural. But this...”

He paused, then quietly said, ”There are those rumors about the Blood Devil...”