An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Many looked puzzled until he continued, ”I haven’t seen your fire spells yet, but I can tell that water-element spellcasting is as natural as breathing for you. Moreover, the Great Handprint of Primordial Qi is a technique that can embody all five elements. You chose to cast it as a wood-element spell because you wanted to bind your opponent. I believe you could just as well use earth energy to suppress, fire to blast apart, metal to shred to pieces, and water to slow down. Tsk tsk. Such attainment in spellcraft would rank first even within my sect!”

As in all walks of life, amateurs see the spectacle while experts see the skill. Jin Buque’s remarks served as the perfect commentary, laying bare the subtleties within that fleeting clash.

Luo Chen smiled faintly. ”Fellow Daoist, you overly flatter me.”

”Flattery it might be, but not undeserved,” another voice interjected. This time, it was Diwu Qi. ”You are truly remarkable. At Foundation Establishment, you dared to fight Adepts. Now that you have formed your core, your strength has grown even further. To remain confined here at Danxia Peak would be a waste of your ability.”

The others caught the undertone in his words. But before anyone could comment on it, Diwu Qi went on, ”Fellow Daoist Jiang Yu and I have established Stormwind Manor. We intend to make our name in the upcoming Frontier War. Fellow Daoist Luo, would you be interested in joining us to claim a third-tier spirit land in the Howling Moon Mountain Range?”

The open invitation sent a stir through the crowd. If three Adepts joined forces, their combined strength would rival that of an established major sect.

Yet before Luo Chen could answer, Fairy Fengyue, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up, ”Fellow Daoist Luo, the Pill Cauldron Pavilion of Windflower Palace still lacks a vice president. There is no need to fight for anything; if you join us, spirit veins and pills will never be in short supply.”

The moment she opened her mouth, Diwu Qi immediately fell silent. Stormwind Manor’s backing came precisely from Windflower Palace, and he dared not compete with them. Truth be told, he had never expected Fengyue to even be here, let alone make such an offer, or he would not have made a fool of himself.

”Haha,” Jin Buque let out a hearty laugh. ”Aren’t we overlooking a little detail? Fellow Daoist Luo founded the Luo Tian Society, which now stands among the ranks of proper sects. From what I know of him, he is not someone who would abandon his own people for personal gain.”

Fengyue was started, and Diwu Qi frowned as well. Indeed, if Luo Chen joined Stormwind Manor alone, that would be one thing. But if the entire Luo Tian Sect joined as well, their combined strength would surpass his and Jiang Yu’s. In that case, would their alliance still be called Stormwind Manor, or would it just become a bigger Luo Tian Sect?

Jin Buque ignored their dark looks and said, ”Fellow Daoist Luo, why not join my sect instead? Then you would not need to fight for your life in the Frontier War. As for your sect, I can simply send people to help relocate it entirely. The Five Elements Domain is vast, and we can easily find a third-tier spirit vein for you.”

At those words, every face in the hall changed. What outrageous terms were these? Yet the Five Elements Divine Sect envoy was talking in a perfectly casual manner, as if he wasn’t saying things simply unthinkable to the guests here.

Suddenly, some recalled what Jin Buque had said upon arrival—specifically, how he had singled out Luo Chen’s aptitude. He possessed a five-element spirit root. In the eyes of most cultivators, such a constitution was useless. Yet within the Five Elements Divine Sect, rumor held it was a gift no less than a heavenly spirit root. Could it be that Jin Buque had recognized this and offered such generous terms for this very reason?

In truth, even Luo Chen himself was shaken to the core when he heard the offer. If he joined the Five Elements Divine Sect, pills like the Five Elements Divine Pill would surely never be in short supply. The sect even offered to arrange a third-tier spirit vein for the Luo Tian Sect’s relocation, and he knew that this was no exaggeration. The temptation was so great that his throat went dry.

Jin Buque watched him with clear satisfaction. He was sure of victory; he’d made an offer no one could refuse. Especially someone who had been a rogue cultivator without backing for most of his life.

Yet the outcome defied all expectations.

”Thank you for your kind offers, Fellow Daoists, but today’s ceremony is not the occasion for such matters. Everyone, let us continue drinking,” Luo Chen said evenly, lifting his cup with a calm expression on his face.

Diwu Qi let out a quiet breath of relief. Tao Wan’s expression softened as well. Fairy Ruthless glanced at Luo Chen in surprise; clearly, she hadn’t expected him to refuse. Fengyue’s eyes shifted back and forth between Luo Chen and Jin Buque, as if some thought had begun to take shape in her mind.

Only Jin Buque frowned, his gaze fixed on Luo Chen. After a long moment, he drew a deep breath and forced down the restlessness in his chest. He hadn’t expected that someone would truly hold firm against such temptation. Still, Luo Chen had only said that today was not the time, not that he declined. He was certain that Luo Chen would not be able to reject his offer for long!

***

The grand ceremony concluded perfectly.

News soon spread that representatives of five upper sects had come to congratulate Dan Chenzi. From that day on, Luo Chen’s name truly took its place among the upper ranks of cultivators in the Jade Cauldron Domain.

During the celebration, many sought to win his allegiance, yet it was the Five Elements Divine Sect’s extravagant offer that stirred the greatest uproar. Everyone wondered what Luo Chen would do.

But the man of the day no longer had the time or mind to care about such matters. Right now, he was in a much more important place than the party hall—the bridal chamber.

For the first time in a long time, he had tasted the rare blessing of sharing his bed with both women. Yet after a night of passion, he was now sitting on the bed with his brow furrowed.

Gu Caiyi lay against his chest, idly tracing circles with her fingertip. Sima Huiniang sat by the dressing table, brushing her hair while scrutinizing the troubled look on Luo Chen’s face.

”Is it wise to leave those people waiting?” she asked.

”It’s not, but rushing to deal with them would be worse,” Luo Chen replied.

Sima Huiniang couldn’t help asking, ”What do you think of Jin Buque’s offer?”

”I honestly can’t tell what’s behind it, but it doesn’t feel right.”

As he spoke, he rose from the bed. Gu Caiyi rose as well and helped him into his robe.

A multicolored pill fell into Luo Chen’s hand—it was the Five Elements Divine Pill! As he looked at it, the pill felt unnaturally heavy in his palm.

The generosity of the offers he had received far exceeded what could be considered normal recruitment incentives. It was as if a pie had fallen from the heavens straight onto his head. Any ordinary man would have been struck senseless. Even Luo Chen found it difficult to comprehend. But now that he had calmed down, the unease only grew stronger.

After a pause, he said quietly, ”It’s better to refuse.”

”Won’t that offend the Five Elements Divine Sect?” Gu Caiyi asked.

Luo Chen shook his head. ”That’s nothing to worry about. My name carries some weight now, and they won’t dare act rashly. Besides, the Five Elements Divine Sect lies far from the Jade Cauldron Domain. It is well beyond their reach. And most importantly...”

Sima Huiniang smiled faintly. ”During the Frontier War, humans are forbidden from killing one another.”

”Exactly. The Nether Origin Sect decreed this, and the Five Elements Divine Sect wouldn’t dare defy a holy land just to avenge a petty grievance.”

Gu Caiyi murmured, ”That’s true. If a sect killed someone just for refusing an invitation, its reputation would collapse overnight.”

The higher a cultivator’s power and status, the more rules constrained them. Without such order, the cultivation world would descend into chaos. The Divine Transformation holy lands sought a world of balance and discipline, not one torn apart by senseless bloodshed. If it ever became otherwise, it would no longer be a world of cultivation but a realm of devils!

”What about the other forces?” Sima Huiniang asked again.

Luo Chen thought for a moment. ”Those who truly wish to cooperate will wait. Those who genuinely want to form ties won’t rush.”

The two women understood at once. They had seen everything that happened earlier that day and knew full well the standing Luo Chen held now. He stood at the peak of attention and lacked no allies. Letting others wait would only help him figure out who was sincere and who was not.

”Anyway, let’s not talk about that anymore,” Luo Chen said. With a twist of his wrist, two jade boxes appeared in his hands. ”These are my wedding gifts to both of you!”

The two accepted them and instinctively lifted the lids. Inside each box rested a smooth and round pill gleaming with radiant luster.

”What is this? It feels incredibly potent!”

Luo Chen met their gazes and smiled faintly. ”It’s a Nether Origin Pill, a third-tier pill for breaking through. Since you’ve chosen to follow me, I won’t let you be wronged. Now that Yao Mingyue and Yuan Xiaoyue have reached Foundation Establishment, they can share your burdens and give you more time to cultivate. One day, I hope to see you both form your Golden Cores and hold another grand celebration.”

He said all this in a lighthearted manner, but the two women were not ignorant. If such a pill were ever revealed to the world, countless Initiates would fight for it and turn the land into a storm of blood and chaos. Yet Luo Chen had given these pills to them so casually! For a moment, emotion uncontrollably surged within their hearts.

Luo Chen smiled and shook his head. Then, he beckoned toward Sima Huiniang. ”Come here! Our wedding night is not yet over. Let us enjoy it to the fullest.”

After more than thirty years of seclusion and bitter cultivation, a little indulgence was absolutely warranted. Sima Huiniang rolled her eyes at him but stepped gracefully toward the soft bed. By the time she got there, soft murmurs and gasps had already begun to sound.