An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Hearing these words, the other three instantly took the pills more seriously. Third-tier cultivation pills were extremely rare to begin with, and the few good formulas were monopolized by the great alchemy sects. Minor sects like theirs had no channels to obtain a stable supply. On the rare occasions they managed to get some, it was through black markets, auctions, or exchanging with peers. But through channels like this, the quantity that could be obtained was extremely limited.

Now that Luo Chen could refine this kind of pill, if they could establish a stable supply arrangement with him... Compared to that, a single third-tier low-grade cave residence paled in value. Besides, Luo Chen was not refusing to let them use it. They would simply take turns. As they silently weighed the gains and losses in their hearts, their thoughts kept spinning.

A faint trace of regret rose in Luo Chen’s heart. Just as Fu Jiusheng had said, the Starfield Pill was good, but it was excessively moderate. In comparison, the Five Elements Divine Pill, which followed the same philosophy of balanced pharmacology, was far stronger. Indeed, he had finally taken the pill given to him by Jin Buque as a Core Formation gift. He had inspected it a while back and found no issues, so he had tried it.

His evaluation of the Five Elements Divine Pill was... outstanding. If the Starfield Pill was classified as low grade among third-tier pills, the Five Elements Divine Pill would be top grade, perhaps even supreme-grade!

If only I could refine Five Elements Divine Pills... My cultivation speed would absolutely skyrocket. It’s incredible how it manages to balance all five elemental attributes while at the same time maximizing the potency of each. I wonder what the formula looks like and who could’ve created something so brilliant...

As he pondered, he also watched the others’ expressions. When he saw that they seemed to have come to a decision, he smiled and asked, ”So, how does my arrangement sound?”

Fu Jiusheng spoke without the slightest hesitation, ”I will naturally follow your arrangements, Supreme Elder.”

When nothing’s going on, I’m Fellow Daoist Luo. The moment benefits are involved, I’m suddenly the Supreme Elder. You really are the kind who doesn’t even get out of bed unless they smell money. Luo Chen’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing and shifted his gaze to the remaining three.

Cen Qiusheng let out a sigh. ”At my age, I no longer have any hope of making further progress. Having a share in that cave residence of yours is already more than good enough for me. Now that there is the Starfield Pill on top of that, all the better. I have no objections.”

”And what about the two of you?” Luo Chen looked at Diwu Qi and Jiang Yu. The two of them had always been on the same side, so it was rare to see them arguing like they’d done today.

Diwu Qi and Jiang Yu exchanged a glance, then he probed cautiously, ”Fellow Daoist, would it be possible for you to provide a steady supply of Starfield Pills in the future?”

When he saw Luo Chen frown, he hastily added, ”Of course, not for free. We’re paying good spirit stones. Perhaps... five thousand. How about that? If that does not work, we can still discuss it.”

What an attitude. Luo Chen had never seen Diwu Qi so accommodating. Even the price he offered was fair. On the market, third-tier cultivation pills normally cost seven or eight times as much as second-tier ones. Since they were scarce despite high demand, the price tended to rise even further in black markets and auctions—in fact, tenfold could be considered very reasonable!

Given the consumption of an ordinary Adept, taking one bottle a month, or one bottle every two months, would amount to only thirty to sixty thousand spirit stones a year. At the rate an Adept could amass wealth, that price was bearable. Rogue Adepts were exceptions, so Fu Jiusheng could count his lucky stars now that he’d joined the Luo Tian Sect.

Luo Chen fell into deep thought. He had originally planned to sell a batch of Starfield Pills from time to time, not to earn spirit stones, but simply to recoup his costs and solidify his reputation as a master alchemist. But now that he thought of it, it seemed more appropriate to meet internal demand first. The Luo Tian Alliance had been formed around securing a third-tier spirit vein; their interests were aligned, yet people’s hearts were hard to gauge.

Judging from the storefront struggle, Diwu Qi and the others were still not entirely on his side. If he used the Starfield Pill to win them over, it would undoubtedly bind this alliance more tightly. Compared to reputation, strengthening the alliance was clearly the better choice.

Before long, Luo Chen made up his mind. ”Selling Starfield Pills to you guys is doable, but providing a stable supply is something else. In alchemy, failures are inevitable, and I cannot guarantee success every time. And even if I could, the recipe of the Starfield Pill is just too complex. If I rely only on the disciples of the Luo Tian Sect to gather the ingredients, we simply don’t have the manpower. If you want pills, you will have to send some of your own people to help collect the ingredients. If you can accept these two conditions, we have a deal.”

After he finished speaking, he looked at them calmly. Just as he had expected, even with the supply being unstable and the need to help gather ingredients, Diwu Qi and the others voiced no complaints and agreed on the spot. When he noticed them reaching for their spirit stones...

”Hold on, hold on. The first bottle is a gift. Let’s say it’s a little something to celebrate our collaboration.” Luo Chen waved his hand. He did not seem to care in the least that he had just given away twenty thousand spirit stones, and he rose to his feet right away.

”Now, take me to see that generous gift the Falling Cloud Sect sent over.”

***

Moonbreak had been modeled after other grand immortal cities. Although the land had not yet reached the fourth tier required for a true grand immortal city, the number of third-tier cave residences already far surpassed ordinary immortal cities like Tianlan, which only had three. Given time, and under the nurture of the Falling Cloud Sect, Moonbreak could one day even boast an artificial fourth-tier cave residence.

Standing on one of the three solitary peaks in the city, Luo Chen looked around. In the distance, he saw figures of cultivators coming in and out of a cave residence. It was obvious that another major sect was also in the midst of moving in.

Luo Chen remarked inwardly, Han Zhan sought a fourth-tier spirit land in the Jade Cauldron Domain for so long and found nothing. Yet once the Frontier War began, in only two years, he gained an immortal city already showing signs of reaching the fourth tier. If that’s the case, why did he trouble himself so much before?

Despite saying so, Luo Chen understood the situation clearly. Without the Jade Cauldron civil war drawing the Divine Transformation holy land’s attention, and without that holy land dispatching twenty-seven sects to jointly participate in the Frontier War, the Falling Cloud Sect could never have gathered so much manpower and resources to construct such a massive city in such a short time. Indeed, it’s the child who cries loudest that receives the milk.

Luo Chen shook his head and turned toward Fu Jiusheng, who was approaching.

Fu Jiusheng bowed slightly as he reported, ”The handover is completed. This is the cave residence key and four subkeys.”

Luo Chen accepted the four tokens with satisfaction. They bore the Falling Cloud Sect emblem, and in the corner was Skysail City’s tricolor brocade sail. This clearly signified that the residence belonged to the Falling Cloud Sect and had been constructed with Skysail City’s assistance.

As for why there were only four subsidiary keys, it was an unspoken reminder that the cave residence’s owner was not to allow too many low-tier cultivators inside. This was likely to prevent reckless absorption of the city’s spirit energy and potential damage to the underground spirit veins.

”Understood. Thank you,” Luo Chen said as he prepared to leave.

But when he noticed Fu Jiusheng’s hesitant expression, he stopped. ”Is there something else?”

Fu Jiusheng swallowed dry and said, ”Supreme Elder, about the Starfield Pill...”

”Five bottles,” Luo Chen stated as he raised his hand. ”Every year, I will give you five bottles for free, as an additional benefit beyond your guest elder’s salary.”

Fu Jiusheng’s eyes brightened immediately, and he cupped his fist. ”Thank you, Supreme Elder.”

Luo Chen patted his shoulder. ”No need to be so polite. You and I walk the same path, and now you are a comrade of the same sect. As long as there’s food on my table, there will be a share for you.”

Fu Jiusheng showed a moved expression, though Luo Chen could not tell whether it was sincere. Luo Chen did not mind and continued walking as he said, ”When I am in seclusion or away from the sect, I will need you to look after the disciples.”

”Of course.”

”If possible...” Luo Chen paused.

Under Fu Jiusheng’s curious gaze, Luo Chen gave a faint smile. ”Your skills are outstanding, whether in herb gathering or formations. Letting them rust would be a waste. Have you never thought of finding one or two talented disciples to pass them on to?”

Fu Jiusheng froze in place, his expression shifting uncertainly. Luo Chen only chuckled softly and said nothing more as he entered Cave Residence Jia Eight.

Those earlier words carried intention. Although Fu Jiusheng was a member of the Luo Tian Sect on paper, he was ultimately still just a guest elder, a paid specialist who resolved problems in exchange for reward. He was not truly one of their own. But if he was willing to leave behind a legacy within the sect, their relationship would naturally grow deeper. It would also show whether he intended to draw closer to Luo Chen and integrate into the sect of his own accord.

Luo Chen had made his stance clear. As for Fu Jiusheng’s own stance and the choice he would make, that remained to be seen.