An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Time passed slowly, yet in the blink of an eye, half a year had already gone by.

News of a Divine Transformation pocket world emerging from the Jilei Nine Mountains had spread across the entire Jade Cauldron Domain. The standoff between the two upper sects had created a rare window for countless rogue cultivators seized upon.

For a time, it seemed as if every cultivator in the Jade Cauldron Domain had begun to converge on Jilei Nine Mountains. Even from two neighboring domains, those close to the region, waves of cultivators set out in hopes of claiming a share of the fortune. During this time, the war between the two upper sects finally eased and began to subside. Rogue cultivators gradually began to return to their respective immortal cities.

Outside Tianlan Immortal City, atop Danxia Peak, all Initiates of the Luo Tian Society had gathered beneath one roof. That day, Chu Kui emerged from seclusion, fully recovered from his serious injuries. Facing the hall full of Luo Tian Society Initiates, he revisited the events of that fateful battle—the battle where Dan Chenzi took down Di Wanyun. It was a feat overlooked by the world that was now shared in unprecedented detail.

”I know more about Luo Chen’s capabilities than anyone here,” Chu Kui said calmly. ”He had a clear chance to escape, yet instead, he chose to remain behind and set up a killing formation. That alone proves he had planned something deeper. There’s no need to worry too much.”

”How can we not worry!?” a crisp female voice echoed through the hall. Gu Caiyi’s concern was plain for all to see. ”That was a thunderstorm capable of killing an Adept. What kind of backup plan could possibly survive something like that?”

Duan Feng stepped forward and asked, ”Min Longyu, you were the one who gave the President that formation disc. Did it provide him with means of withstanding the thunderstorm?”

At once, countless eyes turned to Min Longyu. Min Longyu drew a deep breath and answered quickly, ”There was, but if Fellow Daoist Chu’s account is accurate and President truly drew down the thunderclouds that had built up for centuries over the ninth mountain, then the techniques he could access through the formation disc couldn’t have dissipated even a tenth of it.”

At those words, everyone’s hearts sank. Gu Caiyi stepped forward, declaring, ”Whether alive or dead, we must find him!”

Her long, narrow eyes swept across the assembled Initiates. ”Don’t forget, without the President, none of us would be here. Who among us hasn’t benefited from his kindness?”

No one could remain seated after hearing that.

”I’ll go. I’m well-versed in formations. Even if I know just a little, it might make a significant difference in such a place,” said Min Longyu.

”I was stationed there for three years. I’m very familiar with the terrain around the Jilei Nine Mountains. I should go too,” Duan Feng added.

”The President saved my life, and he is a benefactor to the Li family. I must go find him,” Li Yingzhang said sincerely.

One declaration after another echoed through the grand hall. In the end, a low female voice cut through them all.

”Enough!”

Gu Caiyi turned sharply, locking eyes with the woman above. ”Sima Huiniang, what do you mean?”

Sima Huiniang met her gaze for a moment, then looked away. Her eyes landed on the man who had been silent this whole time. ”Palace Leader Wang, you said earlier that you and the President were the first to discover the place?”

Wang Yuan lifted his head and spoke slowly, ”Yes, Luo Chen told me that the key to opening the gate lay within the clouds. He was already planning to use that lightning to open it later.”

Sima Huiniang nodded. ”Which means the President deliberately chose Trapping Hollow Valley as the battleground.”

Just as Gu Caiyi was about to interrupt, Sima Huiniang pressed on, not giving her the chance. ”Do not believe yourselves to be more intelligent than the President. Every step he takes carries purpose. On every step of his journey, no matter how dangerous, he’s always made sure to prepare fallback plans.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Back when they annihilated the Fu family, he had already counted on Miao Wen siding with him, and he’d acted without fear. When storming Xiaohuan Mountain, he had secretly contacted the Nangong family in advance and prepared the profit shares from the pill business to unite the other Initiates. Even upon arriving in Tianlan Immortal City, surrounded by enemies on all sides, he made thorough preparations before walking alone into that meeting and fighting alone at the Qinhua River.

No one would ever believe that Luo Chen was some reckless fool who only knew how to charge blindly into danger. That wasn’t something he would do. If anything, it was more like something Wang Yuan and the others might pull. Chu Kui had also mentioned that Luo Chen had a chance to flee back to the protection of the Four-Sect Alliance’s Golden Core elders. So, if he had chosen to make his stand at Trapping Hollow Valley, it must have been for a reason.

While everyone was still pondering, Sima Huiniang spoke again after a brief pause, ”Under the storm summoned by a third-tier grand formation, whether Adept or Initiate, survival chances are slim. But the President had the formation disc in his possession. With it, he could have diverted part of the lightning. If, at the most critical moment, he used the power of the storm to open the gate and slipped inside, then it might not have been as dangerous to him as we think.”

At these words, realization dawned on them all. Everyone knew that the gate had opened because of him, but what if the gate had actually opened for him? The ninth mountain was indeed dangerous, but if that was the case, then perhaps he was safe inside! And the course of that incident did seem to align with that theory. When Fairy Ruthless returned to Tianlan Immortal City, she had personally said that the pocket world’s gate had opened the moment the lightning barrage descended.

“But it’s still only speculation. What if we’re wrong?” Gu Caiyi asked anxiously, her brows furrowed.

Sima Huiniang shook her head. “We must believe in the President. Besides...”

At that, she opened her palm, where a strange ripple of energy flickered and danced. Chu Kui blurted out, ”The Spirit-Link Gu!”

”Yes,” Sima Huiniang nodded. ”The Spirit-Link Gu you gave me back then as a Foundation Establishment gift. After years of nurturing, it has reached the second tier. At this level, it can sense life and death. And right now, it’s still alive, which means the President is still alive.”

Seeing the others still puzzled, Chu Kui promptly explained the nature of this strange Gu worm from the Southern Frontier. At the first-tier, it could create resonance between the users’ hearts and spirits[1]; at the second tier, it could detect whether one of the two was alive or dead. If nurtured to the third tier, it would evolve into the infamous Devil-Heart Gu. Upon one host’s death, the other could absorb their entire lifetime of cultivation. Utterly bizarre and terrifying!

After hearing the explanation, everyone visibly relaxed. Luo Chen being alive was undoubtedly the best news of all. No wonder that for the past half-year, even as unease spread through the Luo Tian Society, Sima Huiniang remained as steady as Mount Tai.

Gu Caiyi, meanwhile, felt a pang of both joy and jealousy.

Xu Haizhen, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up. ”With the President absent, the Director has the final say. Director Sima, please tell us what we should do next?”

Though Sima Huiniang’s cultivation was not remotely the highest among those present, her standing was undisputed. Over the years, she had become Luo Chen’s most trusted confidant and the central pillar of the entire Luo Tian Society, more crucial even than powerhouses like Chu Kui or Wang Yuan.

Facing their expectant gazes, Sima Huiniang showed no hesitation. Her tone was clear and calm. ”Three things! First, assign the Foundation Establishment Pills earned through battlefield merit. We need to use them to strengthen the Luo Tian Society. Second, although the war between the upper sects is paused, many of their vassal forces have suffered heavy losses. This is our chance. We must expand, occupy, and grow stronger. I don’t want the President to return to a stagnant, or worse, declining society. Third, and most importantly, though the President is alive, we must send people to find him and provide support.”

Each point was delivered with precision, the instructions crisp and clear. As everyone nodded in agreement, they couldn’t help but secretly admire Sima Huiniang’s composure under pressure. She truly thought of everything.

Under her direction, the search party to rescue Luo Chen was quickly assembled. The group couldn’t be too large. Too many powerful cultivators already surrounded the pocket world; if the Luo Tian Society sent too many people, it would only stir up unnecessary trouble. Still, their strength could not be compromised.

Chu Kui was the first choice. He had fought beside Luo Chen countless times and understood his combat style and habits better than anyone. If anyone could find him, it was Chu Kui. Wang Yuan would also be joining. Having grasped the transformations of blood qi and refined the Bright Force and Dark Force, his combat power rivaled that of an eighth-stage Initiate. With his titanic physique and close combat prowess, he was a nightmare for opponents who relied on enchanted artifacts. With Wang Yuan present, there was no need to worry about small-scale encounters.

”Elder Min, you are in complete control of the grand formation here on Danxia Peak. You are capable of withstanding any Foundation Establishment enemy. You are the strongest shield of our Luo Tian Society. Under normal circumstances, you should never stray far from the base, and that was always the President’s arrangement for you.” Sima Huiniang paused briefly, and when she continued, her tone was laced with gravity. ”Especially now that I’m sending Elder Chu and Palace Leader Wang out, you should be the one to remain behind.”

She paused again, but just as everyone thought she would name someone else, she continued, ”But compared to the Luo Tian Society, the President’s safety matters far more! Even if our society is disbanded, it can always be rebuilt as long as he lives. But if we fail to recover him, then no matter how long the society endures, even for centuries, it would be meaningless. That is why I am sending you to join Palace Leader Wang and Elder Chu. Do you have any objections?”

Min Longyu responded firmly, ”None at all!”

Sima Huiniang swept her gaze across the others. ”Any objections to my arrangements?”

They looked at the three selected—Wang Yuan, the Luo Tian Society’s strongest fighter; Chu Kui, the foremost rogue cultivator of Tianlan Immortal City; and Min Longyu, the formation master. Such a lineup was the best Luo Tian Society had to offer. Even by the standards of the outside world, it was an overwhelmingly powerful team.

Everyone voiced their agreement. Even Gu Caiyi gave her approval.

”Then from here on, let each of us fulfill our roles!” Sima Huiniang declared, flicking her sleeve and moving on to finalize the plans for the future.

1. 心有灵犀 is a phrase referring to mutual understanding, made popular by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Shangyin. It’s said that the rhino (犀) horn has spirituality, and that there is a white thread/sinew at its core that links its root to its tip. In the same manner, there is a virtual thread connecting two hearts (usually of lovers) as one so they understand each other without words. ☜