An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

On this day, the sun shone bright. It was an auspicious date, and the day indeed looked auspicious.

At dawn, Qin Yuanjiang was pulled by Ruan Huan’er to the vast square newly opened at the foot of Danxia Peak. He felt a little helpless about it; he could have joined his martial uncle and arrived in proper form, yet his junior sister had insisted otherwise.

”What’s the fun in joining the main procession? It’s just lights flying back and forth. We might as well arrive early and watch the event from another angle.”

That did make sense, though. That kind of formal participation really held little novelty. The Falling Cloud Sect had hosted Core Formation Ceremonies before, and guests came in an endless stream. After seeing it a few times from the host’s viewpoint, it no longer felt special. Qin Yuanjiang also wanted to see for himself how splendid his Uncle Luo’s ceremony would appear when viewed from start to finish.

The two had arrived early, but others had come even earlier. Many low-tier rogue cultivators near Tianlan Immortal City had rushed to the peak at dawn to join the bustle.

For such cultivators, the chance to witness an Adept’s Core Formation Ceremony might never come again in a lifetime. To see it with their own eyes would become a story to tell for the rest of their lives. And if they were lucky enough to catch the eye of a powerful figure and gain something from it, that would be a blessing beyond measure.

Blending into the crowd of rogue cultivators, the two of them waited for the ceremony to begin. Yet as the sun climbed higher, nothing unusual appeared on Danxia Peak aside from the gradual clearing of cloud and mist. The lack of overt manifestations stirred up discussion instead.

”How strange,” someone muttered.

”I heard that seventy years ago, when the Luo Tian Sect held the Foundation Establishment Ceremony for Sect Leader Sima Huiniang, it was magnificent. There were immortal cranes to greet guests, divine rainbow bridges, all that. Why is it so plain this time?” a man remarked.

”Right. It makes no sense to be grand back when it was only the Luo Tian Society, then turn frugal after becoming a formal sect!” another said.

Snatches of conversation drifted into Qin Yuanjiang’s and Ruan Huan’er’s ears. His junior sister tilted her head curiously. ”Right, that makes sense. Shouldn’t there be great formations, golden lotuses, auspicious clouds, and so on to mark the grand occasion?”

Qin Yuanjiang felt puzzled as well. After thinking for a while, a thoughtful look crossed his face. He slowly said through a voice transmission, ”When you’re weak, it’s natural to put on a grand façade to bolster your presence and momentum. But once true strength has been established, there’s no need to flaunt it or make a show of force. Besides, today’s celebration centers on Uncle Luo himself. Whether the ceremony is lavish or simple matters little to him; such things are like a passing breeze. And also...”

He then pointed toward themselves. ”Among those attending today, there will be guests from the big sects, including our own. In fact, they will probably all send Adepts. In front of such powerful figures, no one will care how grand a display Luo Tian Sect puts on.”

Hearing this, Ruan Huan’er suddenly understood. She glanced at the lesser second-tier spirit environment of Danxia Peak and said with a grin, ”That’s true. The peak here is beautiful, but the spirit vein’s grade is too low. There’s no way to put on much of a show.”

Had Luo Chen been there, he would certainly have agreed. Everything Qin Yuanjiang said reflected his own thoughts perfectly. As for that final remark and Ruan Huan’er’s observation, those also held true, and Fairy Ruthless had said as much. With only a first-tier spirit vein, what grand spectacle could truly be arranged? A hollow display before such distinguished guests would only invite ridicule. True propriety lay not in wasteful extravagance, but in refinement.

Amid the murmuring crowd of rogue cultivators, guests at last began to arrive. Flying boats streamed in from every direction without end. After they landed on the square, one powerful Initiate after another looked around, then rose in streaks of light toward Danxia Peak. Before long, a stentorial voice began intonating ceremonial announcements.

”The Kang family of Taishan Market congratulates Adept Luo Chen and offers a Warm Yang Jade as a gift!”

”The Luo family of Luosha Market congratulates Adept Luo Chen and offers three pieces of Profound Luo Gold Crystal!”

”The Chen family of Tianyi Market congratulates Adept Luo Chen and offers a pair of third-tier demonic silkworm eggs!”

”Kuang Zhou, a rogue Initiate from Tianlan City, congratulates Adept Luo Chen and offers an eight-hundred-year spirit herb...”

”Qin Yousheng, a rogue Initiate from Tianlan City...”

Each booming proclamation announced, one by one, the guests’ names, their background, and the gifts they had brought.

Many of the cultivation families were familiar to the low-tier rogue cultivators in the crowd. They all knew that these families had long been loyal allies of the Luo Tian Society. It was only natural that they would come to celebrate, and the gifts they brought were anything but ordinary. For example, Profound Luo Gold Crystal was a third-tier mineral condensed from the essence of the Luo family’s famed second-tier Profound Luo Gold, and was said to be highly suitable for life-bound enchanted treasures. It was only supplied to Ailao Mountain, the sect that protected them. To offer three pieces at once showed true sincerity.

Amid the growing noise, curious voices began to rise.

”Why are there so many rogue Initiates here to offer congratulations?”

”There are even Initiates from other domains, and some are late-stage grand cultivators!” another exclaimed.

These doubts were gradually answered by others.

”Didn’t you know? Ten years ago, when Senior Dan Chenzi succeeded in forming his core, he recited a poem. It’s said that the poem contained the mysteries of Core Formation. Countless rogue cultivators benefited greatly from it. In that sense, Senior Dan Chenzi has become a teacher to all these people.”

”So these powerful rogue cultivators are here to return that kindness,” replied one.

”Or perhaps they’re also hoping to use this chance to enter Luo Tian Sect,” snickered another.

As soon as that information circulated around, the crowd erupted. A single poem had contained the secrets of Core Formation! Though few had realized it at the time, Dan Chenzi had indeed become something of a master to countless Initiates in the immortal city that year.

Now, a few helpful individuals began to recite the Core Formation poem from memory, drawing nods and sighs from those nearby.

”I always thought Senior Dan Chenzi’s poem was just elegant; I never imagined it held such depth. I’ll be sure to pass it down to my descendants. Perhaps, in a few hundred years, my family will produce an Adept.”

”Haha! If that day comes, Li Qiang, you’ll have to come to Danxia Peak and kowtow!”

”That would be a must. I am not an ungrateful man,” replied Li Qiang.

”Tsk, tsk... Senior Luo has always been generous toward rogue cultivators. If we were to join the Luo Tian Sect, wouldn’t he teach us for free sometimes?” someone remarked.

”Hehe, that’s true,” another said. ”Even if he doesn’t reveal everything, Senior Luo is broad-minded and loves to guide his juniors. Everyone knows that.”

”I can vouch for it. Of the Luo Tian Sect’s twenty-five Initiates, most were promoted from within. No ordinary sect would ever provide so many Foundation Establishment resources so generously.”

”What a pity. If I had come to Tianlan Immortal City earlier and joined the Luo Tian Society back in the day, I might have been their twenty-sixth Initiate by now,” another lamented.

***

In the midst of the noisy chatter, Ruan Huan’er’s cheeks flushed. She tugged lightly at Qin Yuanjiang’s sleeve. ”Your uncle not only has great fame, but such a good reputation as well!”

Qin Yuanjiang felt a touch of excitement himself. He recalled how, even when his mother had left, Luo Chen had sent her off with a generous gift. He could not help praising him and said, ”Uncle Luo is indeed very generous!”

As she listened to the praise echoing through the crowd and watched the streams of light soaring toward Danxia Peak, Ruan Huan’er’s eyes shone with anticipation. ”I really want to see for myself what kind of person your Uncle Luo is to deserve such high praise.”

Qin Yuanjiang smiled and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ”No rush, no rush. These are only the Initiates. The Adepts will arrive soon, and since our Falling Cloud Sect is an upper sect, Martial Uncle Qu will surely be mindful of the order of appearance.”

Ruan Huan’er gave a soft hum of acknowledgement. Some rules were almost never spoken aloud, but everyone understood them. The weaker forces would appear first, and the stronger ones later. That way, the lesser wouldn’t be neglected, and the greater wouldn’t have their prominence overshadowed. Of course, that was unless a close ally appeared early to lend presence to the occasion. The next announcement belonged precisely to such an ally.

”The Ice Fortress’s Adept Ruthless congratulates Adept Luo Chen and presents two bottles of Ice Soul Jade Essence!” the herald proclaimed.

Ice Soul Jade Essence was a fourth-tier material useful both in medicines and as an offensive means, and they offered two bottles at once! The Ice Fortress that had once been Luo Tian Sect’s patron truly acted with grandeur.

After the Ice Fortress, Ailao Mountain and Green Pill Valley arrived in succession. Notably, Green Pill Valley sent none other than its new sect leader, Adept Tao Wan. Such regard for Luo Chen astonished the crowd. Yet when someone mentioned that sixty years ago, Luo Chen had played a major role in helping Tao Wan surpass her fellow True Inheritors and seize the Dao Scion’s seat, everything seemed perfectly reasonable.

Near Danxia Peak, brighter streaks of lights surged one after another. They were flying toward the mountain in waves.

”Diwu Qi, patriarch of the Fifth Family of the Windflower Domain, congratulates Adept Luo Chen and presents a piece of Celestial Meteoric Iron!”

When they heard that name, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd. Diwu Qi was a famous Adept of the Windflower Domain. Years ago, he had seized the Flame Alliance’s Incense Burning Valley and established a new force named Stormwind Manor, together with another Adept. Over the years, many powerhouses of Windflower Palace had resided at Stormwind Manor, which showed that Windflower Palace stood firmly behind them. No one had expected him to come as well.

”Cen Qiuzi of the Divine Talisman Domain congratulates Adept Luo Chen and presents a millennial spirit herb!”

Another Adept from a foreign domain was here, and as it turned out, this was just the beginning. Soon after, several more Adepts from other domains appeared one after another. By the end, even some of the names being announced were unfamiliar to the low-tier cultivators of Tianlan Immortal City.

One example was an Adept named Fu Jiusheng. Few had ever heard of him. Yet he acted with remarkable generosity, presenting a complete third-tier alchemical formula. The entire crowd erupted in gasps. Everyone knew how strictly alchemical formulas were regulated in the Eastern Wilderness, even more so than cultivation techniques or secret arts. And this was a third-tier formula! It was common knowledge that Luo Chen bore two Dao titles, one of which was a pill master title. A formula like this was more valuable than anything to someone like him.

No one had expected so many Adepts, whether from faraway families or among the rogue cultivators, to personally arrive and congratulate Luo Chen on his Core Formation.

For the first time, the gathered cultivators truly understood how exalted the status of a master alchemist was within the cultivation world. He did not need to seek out connections; others would come to him of their own accord to form ties. And this was just shortly after his successful Core Formation—given a few centuries more, the name Dan Chenzi would surely resonate across the Eastern Wilderness. Foundation Establishment disciples would fill his sect, Golden Core allies would number beyond count, and even the Nascent Soul upper sects would extend invitations for him to serve as an honored guest.

No sooner had someone mentioned Nascent Soul upper sects than one representative arrived! Amid the crowd, Qin Yuanjiang and Ruan Huan’er felt a jolt in their hearts. They exchanged a glance and shot into the sky together.

From the direction of Tianlan City came a brilliant beam of light. It was vast, majestic, and filled with boundless mana. With a single sweep, it picked the two of them up and sped straight toward Danxia Peak.

Not long after, a solemn voice resounded through the skies over Danxia Peak.

”Elder Qu Xibai of the Falling Cloud Sect congratulates Adept Luo Chen and presents a third-tier puppet!”

In that instant, the area outside Danxia Peak fell completely silent.