An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Tian Xingzi’s visit came without warning. Luo Chen, however, did not seem surprised. It was not that he had foreseen Tian Xingzi specifically—even if it had not been him, it would surely have been a cultivator from the Falling Cloud Sect, sent from the Precious Dragon Black Market.

The source of Luo Chen’s confidence lay in the centennial Lightning Essence he had placed up for auction. Such a rare material carried a fatal allure for Golden Core cultivators. In the past, he had not fully grasped its weight. Yet after witnessing Fei Ming of Ailao Mountain set aside his pride and status to befriend him, all for the sake of securing an extra cluster of Lightning Essence, he now really understood its true value.

Nor was its appeal limited to Adepts. Even Sages, if they encountered such a treasure, would not let it slip away. Tian Xingzi’s arrival made it clear that his purpose lay with this Lightning Essence.

”Are you here to buy it for your sect ahead of the auction?” Luo Chen asked.

Tian Xingzi nodded; he had no intention of skirting around the topic. ”The Precious Dragon Black Market facilitates exchange and earns a little in spirit stones and information, but that’s not the main purpose. Our main task is to gather specific resources for the sect’s experts. The centennial Lightning Essence is excellent, and we want it. Name your price.”

Luo Chen only smiled and shook his head. ”Apologies. I do intend to sell this Lightning Essence, but it must be through auction.”

Tian Xingzi’s brows furrowed. They were confident of winning it at auction, but that path would cost more and risk complications. It was for this reason that he had chosen to approach Luo Chen privately and try to cut in ahead of time. Yet Luo Chen insisted on selling the Lightning Essence by auction. That left him at a loss.

”Not only that, but the lot has to be labeled as coming from the Flame Alliance. Also, word has to be released that the Flame Alliance has more of that,” Luo Chen said.

Tian Xingzi looked startled. He studied Luo Chen with suspicion and asked abruptly, ”Do you intend to stir up trouble for the Flame Alliance?”

”And you don’t?” Luo Chen countered. ”If a snake is left alive, it will bite again. After the damage you’ve dealt them, do you really think the Flame Alliance will simply let it go?”

Tian Xingzi gave a cold snort. ”The Flame Alliance was never a true sect, only a league of rogue cultivators without cohesion. If they were slaughtered, so be it. My Falling Cloud Sect stands as an upper sect. Would they dare to speak of revenge?”

”Heh.” Luo Chen chuckled softly and said, ”Fortunes shift over decades. Who can guarantee that the Flame Alliance will not one day produce a dazzling figure like your sect’s Sage Han? Should such danger not be strangled in the cradle?”

The cultivation world had never lacked tales of vengeance and the revival of sects. Even in recent history, the rise of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and the ascent of the Falling Cloud Sect had both been driven by a generation of talents or a single peerless individual. Taken to the extreme, what Luo Chen did now was simply backlash caused by the Flame Alliance’s failure to annihilate the Luo Tian Society in the past.

Tian Xingzi hesitated and said reluctantly, ”This is not a matter for me to decide. Besides...”

He paused for a moment and admitted, ”Our sudden strike earlier has already turned the other sects of the Jade Cauldron Domain wary as startled birds. Even if we wish to continue targeting the Flame Alliance, we can no longer resort to force.”

”You may not be able to, but I can,” Luo Chen raised his voice and said. ”I carry a deep grudge against the Flame Alliance. Let me serve as your blade and finish them once and for all.”

”You?” Tian Xingzi looked at Luo Chen with doubt.

Luo Chen gave a solemn nod. ”Yes, me. I even brought out a treasure as valuable as the centennial Lightning Essence, capable of enhancing life-bound enchanted treasures. That alone should prove my determination for revenge.”

Tian Xingzi studied him with a thoughtful look. He knew much about Luo Chen’s enmity with the Flame Alliance, and it was truly the kind of feud that could end only with death.

Luo Chen was merely at the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet the Flame Alliance had dispatched two Adepts to kill him. Nowhere else in the Jade Cauldron Domain could one find such treatment for a cultivator of his level. Truly, they bore a deep grudge against him. Yet even so, they had failed to kill him. To the Flame Alliance, Luo Chen was a thorn of humiliation poking them in the ribs. To Luo Chen, the Flame Alliance was a sword hanging by a thread above his head. In light of these considerations, his actions here made perfect sense.

All at once, Tian Xingzi broke into a laugh. ”Young man, your tongue is sharp. You almost led me by the nose. My purpose in coming here is the centennial Lightning Essence, not to discuss with you the grand matter of destroying the Flame Alliance.”

But although he was laughing, a chill stirred quietly in his heart. Luo Chen had grown more shrewd and calculating with each passing step. Even he himself had nearly fallen into Luo Chen’s schemes. It might well be that this very visit had been within Luo Chen’s expectations. After all, it was Tian Xingzi’s own maneuver at Dahe Market that had handed Luo Chen the embroidered ball token of the Precious Dragon Black Market. Luo Chen had used that embroidered ball as bait, deliberately luring in members of the Falling Cloud Sect.

As Tian Xingzi pondered in silence, a flower shaped like a camellia and streaked with faint silver appeared in Luo Chen’s hand.

”What is this?” Tian Xingzi exclaimed in surprise, ”You actually still have a centennial Lightning Essence?”

Luo Chen smiled with quiet satisfaction. ”I never said I had only one. After all, I was the first to enter the Divine Transformation pocket world. I didn’t get much else, but I did manage to gather several clusters.”

Indeed, he had quite the stockpile. Those of millennial age numbered only eighteen in total, but the centennial and decennial ones were far more plentiful. Of course, he would never admit to that.

Luo Chen still made a show of restraint. ”Well, in all fairness, I don’t have many centennial Lightning Essences left. I already sent some to Ice Fortress and Ailao Mountain. These two were meant for my life-bound enchanted treasure after I formed a core, but since this is about dealing with the Flame Alliance, I cannot afford to keep them.”

Tian Xingzi gave a nod. ”Seeing as you’re showing it to me now, should I consider that you’re selling it outright?”

”Yes!”

”For what price?”

”A barter!”

”That is reasonable. Speak then. What do you want? I will see if I can find it.”

Luo Chen did not hesitate, for he had long since prepared for this moment. ”I want the insights of cultivators who formed their cores using Beaded Curtain Lock. I want detailed reports of your recent attack on the Flame Alliance. Lastly, I want the Precious Dragon Black Market to release a message during the auction—one month from now, a formidable enemy will descend upon Incense Burning Valley seeking vengeance!”

Tian Xingzi frowned. ”You ask for too much!”

Luo Chen shook his head and replied evenly. ”It is not too much. A centennial Lightning Essence is worth this price. If you doubt me, you can ask your sect’s Sage.”

Tian Xingzi fell silent. After a long pause, he reluctantly cast another glance at the Lightning Essence. ”Wait for my news!”

”I shall await good tidings,” Luo Chen said.

With a flick of Luo Chen’s wrist, the pale-silver Lightning Essence flower vanished into his storage pouch.

***

After seeing Tian Xingzi off, Luo Chen received three more distinguished guests at the guesthouse in the city. Qiu Daochun and Che Xiang arrived first; both stood at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm. They were grand elders of cultivation families and acted as vassals of Green Pill Valley. Luo Chen had heard of them before.

Luo Chen had heard of them before. Che Xiang, in particular, had only recently formed his core, right after Luo Chen participated in the Dao Scion competition. Tao Wan, the fresh Dao Scion, had even attended Che Xiang’s Core Formation Ceremony in person.

The third guest, however, was somewhat unexpected: Dan Yangzi!

Had it been Tao Wan, he would not have been surprised. After all, Green Pill Valley had entrusted Tao Wan with the task of dealing with the Flame Alliance. Yet the one who came was the eldest senior brother of her generation, Dan Yangzi. That caught him off guard.

Dan Yangzi did not explain why he’d been sent; he simply asked for news of Luo Chen’s progress. Luo Chen replied with confidence, ”Everything is proceeding as planned. I have already contacted the Ice Fortress and the Falling Cloud Sect, and I have gathered a force of formidable rogue cultivators. When the time comes, we will storm Incense Burning Valley and annihilate the Flame Alliance!”

Dan Yangzi asked in puzzlement, ”Why not contact Ailao Mountain? They are the Flame Alliance’s true enemies.”

”You said it yourself, they are the Flame Alliance’s enemy. Why do I need to contact them myself?” Luo Chen countered.

Dan Yangzi nodded in understanding. Seeing Luo Chen’s calm confidence, he said in a low voice, ”Very well. Then, when the time comes, we shall wait for your rallying cry.”

With those words, Dan Yangzi departed together with the two Adepts. Luo Chen watched their figures fade into the distance and blinked. Dan Yangzi’s cultivation speed truly astonished him. Barely ten years had passed since the Dao Scion competition, yet he had already achieved Perfected Mastery of Foundation Establishment. Maybe it was because he had long stood at the ninth stage, but this pace seemed even faster than that of Tao Wan, the Dao Scion. Whether it was the result of remarkable talent or special resources provided by Green Pill Valley, or maybe both, Luo Chen could not tell.

Luo Chen muttered to himself, ”This works to my advantage. With him there, our chances of victory will only increase. Next, I only need to wait for the Ice Fortress, the Precious Dragon Auction, and the Falling Cloud Sect. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly.”

***

On the streets of Skyfire Immortal City, life bustled with unexpected vigor. Although the Flame Alliance had suffered a devastating decline, the city nearest to their domain had not declined. Instead, it had grown even livelier.

The unfamiliar faces made it clear that most of those flooding into Skyfire Immortal City were outsiders. The sly, ruthless glints in their eyes warned the locals that these arrivals had not come with good intentions.

Dan Yangzi walked along the busy street accompanied by two vassals of Green Pill Valley. A Sound Isolation Barrier enveloped the three of them, woven jointly by two Golden Core Adepts, ensuring that unless a cultivator of a much higher realm deliberately tried to eavesdrop, no one could overhear their discussion.

Che Xiang glanced around with interest at the lively streets and unfamiliar customs. Since forming his core, this was his first time traveling outside. Of course, such a summons was not something he could refuse. He had already used the excuse of consolidating his cultivation to avoid fighting for Green Pill Valley on the Jilei Mountain battlefield. This time, he could no longer shirk responsibility.

Suddenly, he overheard Qiu Daochun speaking with Dan Yangzi.

Qiu Daochun said, ”You didn’t need to come. I would have avenged Little Ming myself.”

”Little Ming was my younger brother. He died at the hands of the Flame Alliance’s Dao Scion. How could I let anyone else avenge him?” Dan Yangzi retorted.

Qiu Daochun let out a sigh as he looked at this distant junior. Dan Yangzi had once held a brilliant future, yet because of his brother, even the position of Dao Scion had been stripped from him.

”Tell me, what mistake did you make that angered Green Pill Valley enough to strip you of the Dao Scion title? The rumors say you gave your brother a cultivation technique reserved only for the Dao Scion. Is that true?”

Dan Yangzi avoided the question, and Qiu Daochun did not press further.

As the atmosphere grew awkward, Che Xiang raised a new topic. ”I’ve been in seclusion for years, yet I did not expect the Jade Cauldron Domain to still produce so many talents. Just strolling through Skyfire Immortal City, I’ve already seen quite a few juniors at the late-stage of Foundation Establishment. Tsk, tsk. Weren’t people saying that the civil war wiped out decades of talent in the Jade Cauldron Domain?”

Qiu Daochun shook his head. ”It was merely the chaff that was swept away. Besides, many of these juniors in Skyfire Immortal City come from outer domains, not our Jade Cauldron cultivators.”

”Is that so?” Che Xiang murmured. Yet soon after, he shook his head. ”Right, as you say, those with deep roots will definitely survive the storm. And speaking of that, from what I see, this Luo Chen is truly remarkable. To unite so many forces on his own shows extraordinary courage and strength, and confidence as well.”

Qiu Daochun gave a dismissive snort. ”Luo Chen has accomplished enough to justify such confidence. It is only natural.”

”Yes indeed.” Che Xiang sighed with feeling. ”He is so young, with such a bright future. If he succeeds in forming a core, he might even have a chance at reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.”

”I beg to differ,” Qiu Daochun replied.

Che Xiang looked at Qiu Daochun in puzzlement, and Dan Yangzi was equally bewildered. Though his ties with Luo Chen were not close, he held a measure of admiration for this peer who had once surpassed him in alchemy. He believed that if there were no restrictions, his own alchemy was no weaker than Luo Chen’s. Yet at that time, he had still lost. In his view, with the Ice Fortress standing behind him, Luo Chen’s chances of Core Formation remained strong.

To the two men’s confusion, Qiu Daochun said calmly, ”Confidence can lead to success, but also to downfall. At such a young age, he has already taken on matters far beyond his realm. His ego is swelling.”

Che Xiang shook his head. ”Swelling ego? I don’t think so. If I had made a name for myself at his age, slaying Adepts on the battlefield, I would have been even more arrogant. From my brief observation just now, he still knows his limits.”

Dan Yangzi spoke up as well, ”I often hear of his deeds within the sect. The elders frequently praise him. He doesn’t seem the way you make him out to be, Uncle Qiu.”

Faced with their differing opinions, Qiu Daochun chose not to argue. In the end, he offered only one final remark. ”In my view, he is dangerous right now. It would be best not to become too deeply involved with him.”

***

Ten days later, Luo Chen received one piece of good news after another.

On behalf of the Falling Cloud Sect, Tian Xingzi had been authorized to start a collaboration with him. In exchange for a centennial Lightning Essence, he provided the insights into forming a core with Beaded Curtain Lock, along with valuable intelligence. At the same time, Fairy Ruthless arrived personally in Skyfire Immortal City. She promised to lend her strength and even settled nearby to ensure his protection.

Luo Chen also obtained intelligence from Xing Zhonghan regarding Ailao Mountain. The reports confirmed that Ailao Mountain had already begun to move against the Flame Alliance on multiple fronts. Most notably, the Flame Alliance had fully withdrawn from the Blackwater Marshes, surrendering resource grounds abundant in rare materials such as Black Devil Mire and Tracing Mud to Ailao Mountain.

”I knew it. When a whale falls, a million small fish thrive[1]. The Flame Alliance’s decline is already evident, and the other great sects could never remain idle.”

Luo Chen’s spirits soared. With Falling Cloud Sect’s report in hand, his gaze drifted far toward the depths of Skyfire Immortal City.

”The black market auction should be underway tonight. This auction will become the final straw that breaks the Flame Alliance’s back. Qin Tairan... Everything you’ve done to me, I will soon do to you in kind. I wonder, what are you feeling now? Can you remain calm?”

Even as he murmured these words, fireworks seemed to bloom within his eyes.

Boom!

From the heart of the city, a deafening roar erupted, accompanied by a surge of power. ”Wretched scum! How dare you cause trouble in the Flame Alliance’s domain!”

1. 鲸落、万物生 (yī jīng luò, wàn wù shēng) expresses that the end of one large entity can give rise to countless new beginnings. ☜