An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Just as Luo Chen had said, those who genuinely wished to befriend him would not mind being left waiting for a few days. After all, everyone knew he had only just emerged from Core Formation seclusion and had countless matters to attend to.

As for those whose interest was shallow and who were there merely to show their faces left Tianlan that very same day. Rather than linger in the city, it was better to head straight for the war front. By now, the Frontier War was raging with intensity.

Between these two groups were those who harbored uncertain and tangled intentions. Among them was Jin Buque, the man who had offered that extravagant gift at Luo Chen’s Core Formation Ceremony!

”What has Luo Chen been up to lately?”

”According to our men, he has been spending most of his time at Danxia Peak, receiving visitors. We’ve identified most of them; they were rogue Initiates hoping to join the Luo Tian Sect, and a few Adepts who wished to form ties. For example, Diwu Qi has visited three times. The last time, he seemed to be in a good mood when he left, so it seems their talk went well.”

Inside an inn in Tianlan Immortal City, Jin Buque listened in silence as his disciple finished the report. By the end, his brows were knitted tightly in a deep frown. Luo Chen’s actions clearly aimed to use the momentum of his Core Formation to strengthen the Luo Tian Sect.

Those seeking to join the sect were likely late-stage Initiates, all striving for their own breakthrough. With such cultivators joining his ranks, the Luo Tian Sect would soon gain a solid footing, and its future would be secured.

Though no one kept exact numbers, it was common knowledge that only one percent of cultivators managed to break through to the next realm. Out of a hundred Qi Refinement cultivators, only one achieved Foundation Establishment. Out of one hundred Initiates, only one formed a Golden Core. The numbers were, of course, just a broad estimation, yet the pattern was there. For example, Green Pill Valley had tens of thousands of members, but only a thousand Initiates. And though it was a great alchemical sect with a plethora of resources, it had produced only fifteen Adepts.

The same would naturally apply to Luo Tian Sect. The sect had over five thousand disciples, but only twenty-five Initiates as of now. But if their foundation continued to strengthen and a few dozen more advanced, then even setting aside the outlier that was Luo Chen, they were bound to produce a second Adept within a century.

”It seems Luo Chen has no intention of submitting to anyone. He means to stand on his own.”

Upon hearing his murmurs, the disciple beside him cautiously added, ”That seems to be the case. Fairy Fengyue of Windflower Palace also visited Danxia Peak once and left with a calm face. It appears Luo Chen turned down their invitation to join Windflower Palace as the vice president of their Pill Cauldron Pavilion.”

After speaking, he asked hesitantly, ”But the Luo Tian Sect has no third-tier spirit vein and not even a second-tier one. How can he possibly strengthen his sect?”

Jin Buque glanced at him as though looking at a fool. The disciple froze for a moment, then his eyes lit with sudden understanding. He blurted, ”The Frontier War!”

”It seems you’re not entirely hopeless after all,” Jin Buque sneered.

From the earlier intelligence, he had already pieced together much of the greater picture. Luo Chen might have refused the invitations of the upper sects, but he was quietly forging alliances with individual Adepts—Diwu Qi, for instance. They had likely made a good deal; otherwise, he would not have left Danxia Peak in such good spirits. At the same time, Luo Chen maintained friendly ties with the local major sects.

Thus, Luo Tian Sect’s rise was already taking shape! As long as they secured a third-tier spirit vein in the upcoming Frontier War, Luo Tian Sect would gain the foundation it needed to ascend.

A few centuries later, the Eastern Wilderness cultivation world would surely see the birth of a new major sect. And the word surely was no exaggeration. After all, Luo Chen himself was an exceptional alchemist. With his skill and resources, nurturing two or three other Adepts would be no challenge. It was said that he had already begun training new alchemists, and talents were developing under his guidance. He truly knew how to make full use of resources, and his vision reached far indeed.

That makes my earlier offer seem abrupt and far too shallow.

A trace of regret surfaced in Jin Buque’s heart. He had assumed someone like Luo Chen, born as a rogue cultivator, would have short vision and be easily tempted by a windfall. Now he realized Luo Chen had the means to create his own fortune. A third-tier spirit vein? He could claim it with his own sword. As for cultivation pills, there would be no shortage of people eager to present him with third-tier alchemical formulas. When it came to connections, any wise person would prefer the network they built themselves over one offered by a distant sect like the Five Elements Divine Sect.

”I underestimated him,” Jin Buque said quietly. ”No wonder he stays still, knowing full well I’m waiting in Tianlan Immortal City, yet making no effort to visit.”

Gradually, the pieces fell into place in Jin Buque’s mind.

The disciple beside him couldn’t help but ask, ”Elder, Luo Chen is only an Adept. They call him a master alchemist, but can he even refine third-tier pills? Is he really worth such attention?”

Jin Buque waved his hand dismissively. ”You don’t understand. Go.”

Still filled with doubt, the disciple bowed and withdrew from the room. Jin Buque walked to the window and gazed toward Danxia Peak, hesitation flickering across his face.

After a long moment, he shook his head. ”In any case, I have already shown goodwill. That will make it easier to approach him in the future. Besides, this boy’s path has gone astray. He may possess five spirit roots, but who knows whether he truly meets the requirements? For now, I will treat this as a casual move on the board. When the Grand Elder awakens, he will know how to bring the game to its end.”

***

At Danxia Peak, in the Luo Tian Sect’s Grand Hall, Luo Chen was engaged in a cheerful conversation with Fu Jiusheng.

Luo Chen said, ”I have already come to terms with Fellow Daoists Diwu and Cen. If you join us as well, our alliance will number five Adepts in total. With such strength, we will be on par with an established major sect and we can secure great rewards in the Frontier War.”

Fu Jiusheng visibly hesitated. ”Stormwind Manor already has the old Incense Burning Valley of the Flame Alliance. Why would they still look for another third-tier spirit land?”

Luo Chen had long been aware of the reason, so he explained with a smile, ”Incense Burning Valley was only a temporary encampment that the Sword Sect lent to Windflower Palace. Stormwind Manor was only keeping the place for them. Now that the main forces set out for the Howling Moon Mountain Range, the Sword Sect will reclaim Incense Burning Valley, and Stormwind Manor will have to seek another spirit land.”

”I see, so that’s how things are.” Fu Jiusheng nodded in understanding.

He weighed the alliance carefully. The Luo Tian Sect stood at its center, with Stormwind Manor and the Cen family of the Divine Talisman Domain gathered around it. Three Golden Core forces were nothing to scoff at. If he joined as well, his familiarity with the wild mountains would give them a certain advantage in the Frontier War. After considering it for a time, he finally made his decision.

”I am willing to join,” he said at last. ”Now that I have formed my core, a spirit land has become indispensable. Since the opportunity has come, I will give it my all.”

Luo Chen smiled when he heard those words. In a short time, he had used the prestige of an alchemist to gather a formidable alliance. With support from the Ice Fortress and Green Pill Valley, he felt confident that he could claim a third-tier spirit vein in the Howling Moon Mountain Range. Moreover, the leading force in this Frontier War came from the Falling Cloud Sect. With his ties to them, even if conflict arose with other powers, that sect would likely remain neutral if not inclined toward him. That alone removed a great deal of risk.

The Five Elements Divine Sect had indeed offered him generous terms. Yet the more he thought about it, the less he dared to accept. To gain something, one must first give something in return. If he wanted the third-tier spirit vein they offered, he would surely have to pay a corresponding price. At best, he would become a tool, a glorified pill cauldron for the sect. At worst, he’d end up owing a debt whose cost he could not foresee. He had spent too many years living beneath others. If he moved into the Five Elements Divine Sect, then both he and his people would be at their mercy.

”What I seek now can be taken by my own sword. There is no need to bend or yield!”

Luo Chen’s sword had already been forged. Its edge was not steel, but power, reputation, and skill in alchemy. These three were his blade, and he would not hesitate to wield it. Whenever possible, he would not beg others. He would wait for others to come to him.

After agreeing on the time to convene officially, Luo Chen personally escorted Fu Jiusheng off Danxia Peak. The alliance would not be established immediately because of matters concerning Cen Qiusheng. His plan was to relocate the entire family, and that was no small task. Cen Qiusheng had gone ahead to assess the situation in detail. Now that the alliance had been agreed upon, he was eager to return and bring his people over.

Once the alliance was formally established, the cultivators of the Cen family, Stormwind Manor, and the Luo Tian Sect would gather as one and march together into the Frontier War!

Though Fu Jiusheng had departed, there was still someone waiting for Luo Chen on Danxia Peak.

***

Luo Chen made his way step by step toward the summit. Amid the drifting sea of clouds, a tall and graceful figure stood against the wind, her gaze fixed on the boundless mist below.

”Sorry to keep you waiting,” Luo Chen said.

”It’s nothing,” Tao Wan replied. ”You and I are different. When I formed my core, the elders of my sect handled all the formalities for me. You had to manage all those Adepts yourself.”

Tao Wan turned and looked at Luo Chen with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She said, ”To be honest, I had not expected you to refuse Windflower Palace and the Five Elements Divine Sect.”

Luo Chen only smiled and offered no explanation. Tao Wan did not press for details either and instead asked, ”Have you decided about that matter?”

At the mention of business, Luo Chen’s expression turned solemn. ”Although I reached the Golden Core Realm, I’m still not at the level where I can even refine third-tier pills properly. How could I possibly attempt a fourth-tier one? And it is a Nascent Soul breakthrough pill, one of the most difficult fourth-tier pills. Isn’t your sect’s Supreme Elder expecting too much from me?”

Had any Adept overheard their conversation, they would have been astonished. A Nascent Soul Pill! Everyone knew that the only ones with the methods and capabilities to refine such a pill were Divine Transformation holy lands like the Nether Origin Sect. The rumor of Green Pill Valley having a formula was known to all by now, but if the world heard that such a small sect wanted to attempt to refine a pill, a lot of people would laugh themselves silly.

Yet they were truly preparing to do it! That alone convinced Luo Chen even more that when the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect attacked Yuanhua Mountain, they had not acted without cause. The rumor was true, and Green Pill Valley indeed possessed a Nascent Soul Pill formula. And now, they had come to seek Luo Chen’s help. It also explained why every other sect had sent random elders to offer their congratulations, while Green Pill Valley had sent their newly appointed sect leader. The matter was simply too important to entrust to anyone but her.

Tao Wan showed no surprise at Luo Chen’s hesitation.

”I am not a third-tier alchemist, so I do not understand the intricacies involved. But since the Supreme Elder believes you can do it, there must be a reason. From what I’ve heard, it may be related to the primordial true fire you possess.”

”The primordial true fire?” Luo Chen’s brows arched as a trace of surprise flickered across his face.

Tao Wan nodded. ”Our sect has been preparing for the refinement of the Nascent Soul Pill for many years. We already have five third-tier alchemists, and each one commands a primordial true fire.”

Luo Chen’s expression shifted slightly. ”Is Dan Yangzi among them?”

”Yes,” Tao Wan replied.

That confirmation made Luo Chen all the more aware of the Green Pill Valley Supreme Elder’s unshakable resolve. The Jade Cauldron Domain was famed for its rare and wondrous flames. In particular, Green Pill Valley possessed several Sourceless Flames, and so had the Flame Alliance.