An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Late at night, inside Cave Residence Jia Eight of Moonbreak, Luo Chen sat cross-legged, palms and soles turned upward in the traditional cultivation posture. His right hand formed an orchid seal while his left hand formed a fire spirit seal.

Mana slowly coursed through his meridians according to Wood Ignition as a powerful force continuously drew in the surrounding spirit energy. His immense divine consciousness also spread outward like a great net. Each time it retracted, it swept up another surge of spirit energy.

Spirit energy in its purest state was intangible and invisible, but due to Luo Chen’s sheer absorption power, it actually turned into a small swirling dragon. The dragon appeared in green and red, the colors of wood and fire. The remaining three elemental energies were mostly pushed aside, with only a small amount drawn into his body.

During the Qi Refinement Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm, a cultivator could only use their core cultivation technique one cycle at a time. After reaching the Golden Core Realm, the strength of the divine soul allowed people to use their technique continuously for short periods. The efficiency of absorbing spirit energy increased greatly. It was one of the fundamental changes brought about by Core Formation.[1]

Wood Ignition was far more complex than his old core cultivation techniques, but by this point, Luo Chen’s divine soul was comparable to that of a mid-stage Adept. Even with the added complexity, he could still run five cycles before taking a break.

After five full cycles, Luo Chen opened his eyes. His lips parted slightly and a stream of gray-white qi flowed out, forming the image of a dragon.

As he observed the state of his body, he showed a satisfied smile. As expected, for high-tier cultivators, a spirit land mattered far more than pills. In just one night of cultivation, the increase in his mana rivaled the effect of a painstakingly refined Starfield Pill. Pills had many limitations and were troublesome to refine. A third-tier spirit land had far fewer restrictions in comparison. Especially over long years of cultivation, the benefit of a spirit land surpassed pills entirely—unless it was a supreme pill like the Five Element Divine Pill.

What am I even thinking... Better forget about the Five Element Divine Pill for now. Raising my proficiency in the Starfield Pill is what truly matters. The Luo Tian Sect already gathers the ingredients for me, and now Stormwind Manor and the Cen family are helping as well. I can refine freely and push my proficiency higher. I just wonder when the Falling Cloud Sect will mobilize. Will I have enough time?

While thoughts drifted, Luo Chen used the Fine Dust Primordial Art again. Although it was a Core Formation technique, the system had rated it as a Supreme Path technique for a reason; its effects extended far beyond Core Formation. Even after reaching the first stage of the Golden Core Realm, Luo Chen could still make use of it. It expelled pill toxins, condensed mana, and purified it.

Although Luo Chen’s progress was slow, his foundation grew deeper and more terrifying with this steady cultivation. Over months and years, he even faintly sensed a small improvement in his divine soul.

With Beaded Curtain Lock, he could divide his divine soul and refine his mana. Stilling Wind and Waves allowed him to rein in his restless thoughts and steady his will. Added to that was Divine Breaker of Malevolence. Having integrated the essence of these techniques, the Fine Dust Primordial Art naturally came to possess a soul tempering effect.

In Luo Chen’s view, if someone with an innately powerful divine soul practiced this technique from an early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, they might form a Golden Core naturally upon reaching Perfected Mastery, without going through all the trouble of Core Formation. Yet such prodigies were exceedingly rare in the cultivation world. Even the Falling Cloud Sect might not encounter such a disciple in a good century. Thus, his speculation remained little more than fantasy.

After completing another round of Fine Dust Primordial Art, Luo Chen did not stop cultivating. He rested for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, then closed his eyes again. His fingers shifted steadily as he formed hand seals, and a faint azure firelight began to gather around him. The flickering flame seemed to breathe; each flicker caused the air within the chamber to warp ever so slightly.

This was Myriad Path Convergence. Luo Chen used the technique to draw upon his Withering Flourishing Fire and temper his physical body. Cultivators valued the divine soul and mana far more than the physical body, yet after experiencing the benefits of a strong physique, Luo Chen had no intention of giving up Physique Refinement entirely.

Of course, focusing primarily on Physique Refinement was impossible. For Luo Chen to devote as much effort as Wang Yuan did would not be worthwhile. The path of physique cultivation was unclear and relied too heavily on combat. Luo Chen disliked fighting and killing, and he did not wish to follow Wang Yuan’s path of breaking through in battle. That was far too dangerous. He preferred advancing steadily and polishing every technique to perfection before confronting an enemy.

***

After a night of arduous cultivation, Luo Chen stepped out of the chamber the next morning still looking spirited. His energy did not come from effortless cultivation, but from the lingering joy of suddenly acquiring a cultivation land of his own. He did not leave the cave residence. Instead, after passing four rooms, he entered a spacious side hall.

Clang!

A rather inaesthetic furnace landed heavily on the floor—Luo Chen’s damaged alchemy treasure, the Shangshu Cauldron. Once mana flowed into it, the cauldron rose to a full zhang in height.

It seemed that the sound of it hitting the floor had been loud enough, as the doors to the four rooms opened at once. Wang Yuan, Chu Kui, Xu Haizhen, and Zeng Yilong all stepped out together.

”Supreme Elder, are you going to refine pills?” Zeng Yilong asked curiously as he watched Luo Chen’s movements.

Luo Chen nodded with a smile. He first opened the cauldron lid, then took out various medicinal ingredients from his storage ring and arranged them neatly by category. During this process, he also checked how well the ingredients had been pre-processed. It was a good habit he had built over years of alchemy: Before any refinement, he had to inspect the ingredients. No matter how refined his technique was, poor materials meant failure. He would never accept a single rotten ingredient ruining an entire batch.

Zeng Yilong looked around in confusion. ”This cave residence has no way to draw earth fire. Supreme Elder, how are you going to refine pills?”

Puff!

A soft sound echoed as a flame curled around Luo Chen’s fingertip.

”With this,” Luo Chen replied with a smile.

Zeng Yilong’s eyes widened in realization. It was his first time seeing a primordial true fire.

”Is there anything you need help with?” Xu Haizhen asked.

Luo Chen waved his hand. ”Go tend to your own matters. I’ll be staying in the cave residence to refine pills for the next while. If something comes up, I’ll call for you.”

The group nodded and dispersed. Luo Chen inspected the Shangshu Cauldron briefly, then drew out a pile of materials from his storage ring and assembled a simple alchemy chamber.

”It’s nowhere near the quality of Ailao Mountain’s alchemy chambers, but it will do for now.”

Luo Chen could not help but miss the alchemy chamber he once had on Tianlan Peak.

Unlike the Jade Cauldron Domain, the Howling Moon Mountain Range lacked abundant earth fire. Because of this, most cave residences in Moonbreak had no channels to draw earth fire. It had to be said that this was a pity; even the best chef couldn’t make a rice bowl with no rice. Fortunately, Luo Chen had the Withering Flourishing Fire.

Once everything was ready, Luo Chen controlled his flame with one hand while guiding medicinal ingredients into the cauldron with mana. He had to raise his proficiency with Starfield Pills and worked to prepare resources for his future cultivation.

***

Time passed slowly as Luo Chen refined pills without distraction.

Two days later, a voice transmission talisman spun around the protective formation outside Luo Chen’s cave residence. The formation opened, and the talisman flew inside.

Before long, Luo Chen stepped out of the cave residence looking fresh. His hair was tied in a high topknot beneath a jade crown and two white ribbons. Combined with his youthful face and tall, slender figure, anyone would have praised his fine appearance.

With a sweep of his crimson, gold-trimmed sleeves, Luo Chen descended from the solitary peak. Yet he did not head toward the city. Instead, he flew toward another peak. As he traveled, he scanned his surroundings and noticed many streaks of light; judging from the powerful fluctuations of mana, they were undoubtedly Adepts.

”The Falling Cloud Sect invited quite a few people to this meeting.”

Luo Chen sighed softly and quickened his pace. After only a few breaths, he stopped before a palace gate. Once there, he handed his invitation to an Initiate guarding the entrance. Then, he stepped through the gates.

The moment he stepped inside, Luo Chen raised his brow. Over a dozen strands of divine consciousness swept toward him. He narrowed his eyes and instantly released his own divine consciousness in response. After a brief contact, the probing divine consciousnesses withdrew, and someone let out a soft sound of surprise.

Luo Chen followed that sound and lifted his gaze. An old acquaintance stood there!

”Dan Chenzi, over here!” the man called out.

With curious gazes falling on him, Luo Chen walked over. ”Fellow Daoist Fei, I trust you have been well.”

The speaker was none other than Fei Ming, the Ailao Mountain elder. The man’s gaze swept up and down Luo Chen in a manner entirely unbefitting of a formal encounter, but he was, after all, an old acquaintance. After a brief examination, he clicked his tongue and said, ”You know, I wasn’t really sure at first, but it’s really true. You are only at the first stage and yet your divine consciousness matches mine entirely. I have to say, it’s really impressive for someone so young.”

Luo Chen smiled without replying. When he first entered, those dozen probes were not only to find out his identity but also to judge whether he qualified to have a voice in this conference. In such a situation, his cultivation stage meant nothing. Thus, he released his divine consciousness at full strength, without holding back. Only by doing so could he gain everyone’s approval.

Fei Ming asked with curiosity, ”Did you cultivate some divine soul secret art? How is your divine consciousness this strong?”

Luo Chen remained silent. Fei Ming realized that he was being too blunt and did not press the matter further; he allowed the topic to shift as Luo Chen casually brought up the construction of Moonbreak.

Twenty-seven sects had jointly built the city. The Falling Cloud Sect and Skysail City were the leaders, and Ailao Mountain had also contributed significantly. This topic was naturally among Fei Ming’s interests, and he spoke with enthusiasm.

During their conversation, more Adepts arrived outside from time to time.

Fei Ming noticed Luo Chen’s curious glances, and he began introducing the newcomers. ”Pearl Returning Pavilion sent the deputy pavilion master, Ethereal Rivers. We think he’s a man, but that’s about it. No name, no face. I mean, members of that sect rarely show their true appearance. Many even suspect that these people are actually high-ranking members of other sects.”

Luo Chen felt a flicker of surprise. The deputy pavilion master of Pearl Returning Pavilion could well be a high-ranking cultivator from another sect? Yet he understood the logic a moment later. Such an assassin organization was not suited to the classic sect inheritance structure. It made perfect sense if it consisted of experts from various sects. Some cultivators lacked talent in the myriad immortal disciplines yet excelled in combat. By joining Pearl Returning Pavilion anonymously, they could take missions to earn resources while tempering themselves. It was a win-win, and it explained how a devil path force no larger than a major sect could survive within the cultivation world with no issues.

Fei Ming continued, ”Dreamspring Cave sent two people—their sect master, Sinan, and Elder Jadewater Dragon. The latter was likely brought here to broaden her horizons. She only formed her core a few years before you.”

1. It’s stated in a previous chapter that Luo Chen could go through as many as ten cycles of his former cultivation technique. Not sure where this is coming from. ☜