An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Those who truly wish to master a craft must be fully devoted to it. Put plainly, anyone who can elevate a single skill to the level of starting their own lineage must have come to cherish it from deep within. Even if they first took up that craft merely to make a living or for some other purpose, as they grew more familiar and their skill deepened, a genuine and instinctive fondness for the craft would have naturally taken root.

Luo Chen was like this. Min Longyu was like this. Huyan Zhuo was the same. Heaven Smelter, who had enjoyed the standing of a supreme master artisan for hundreds of years, was even more so.

No matter how many indignities he had endured before, no matter how great the psychological gap between his past and present... the moment he began working on an artifact, his entire bearing changed. He became solemn and dignified, as though he was not merely crafting an item but performing a sacred ritual.

Luo Chen had once personally observed Duan Feng craft artifacts. The techniques were flashy, with numerous tools, secret methods, and rare materials used without restraint. By contrast, Heaven Smelter’s skills appeared plain at first glance. He began with the low-tier materials such as black iron, black lead, and copper essence, then progressed to second-tier materials like Quicksand Fine Gold and Profound Luo Gold...

From low to high, the process advanced in a clear and orderly sequence. The way he did things seemed exceedingly simple; he relied only on his true fire to slowly temper the materials, remove impurities, and prepare them to a usable state. Yet it was precisely within this simplicity that the depth of his skill became apparent.

That Soft Lightning Sand is a third-tier mineral. Despite its name, it is extremely hard and normally requires special spirit beast urine to process. Yet in Heaven Smelter’s hands, it really flows like sand.

Luo Chen had previously heard Duan Feng and Gongsun Qian of Hundred Forge Mountain discuss the processing of Soft Lightning Sand, and he was aware of how tedious and complex it was. For Heaven Smelter to handle it so effortlessly was genuinely astonishing.

Truly worthy of being a grandmaster artisan!

As Luo Chen marvelled inwardly, Heaven Smelter’s preparations continued without pause. Time passed quietly, and before anyone noticed, half a month had slipped by.

”Next, we process the five primary materials. Let’s start with Geng Metal,” said Heaven Smelter as his true fire coiled around a fist-sized piece of Geng Metal.

”The five elements’ materials are processed through the cycle of mutual restraint first, and only then can we fuse them one by one through the cycle of mutual generation. That’s the only way to reach the core idea of primordial unity.”

Halfway through, Heaven Smelter suddenly tossed it aside. ”The rest is on you!”

Luo Chen froze for a brief moment, then hurriedly used his mana to catch the half-processed Geng Metal. He summoned Withering-Flourishing True Fire to slowly temper it. As Heaven Smelter took out Black Sinkwood, he continued, ”A life-bound enchanted treasure is best refined with its owner involved from the start. It makes a huge difference later. I won’t explain further; you’ll see for yourself.”

Luo Chen acknowledged softly, ”Thank you for your guidance, Senior.”

After Black Sinkwood came Cold Marrow, followed by Fire Spirit Diamond. Tracing Mud required little processing, as it had already been refined by Ailao Mountain before being sold and was almost ready to use. As for the Fire Spirit Diamond, its processing posed no difficulty for Heaven Smelter. However, ten days later, he stared in surprise at a deep-crimson piece of mineral in his hand.

”How strange! Truly strange!”

Luo Chen looked over curiously. It was the odd-looking Fire Spirit Diamond he had obtained earlier from the treasury, the one that contained a droplet of unknown blood-like liquid. ”Senior, what is wrong? Is there a problem with the quality of this Fire Spirit Diamond?”

Heaven Smelter shook his head as confusion flickered in his eyes. ”No, that is not the problem. This Fire Spirit Diamond is of exceptional quality, the finest I’ve seen in many years. What puzzles me is... hmm... how should I put it...”

The more he thought, the deeper the confusion in his eyes grew, yet his grip on the Fire Spirit Diamond tightened instead of loosening. ”What was that feeling just now? Why can’t I grasp that flash of insight? Where did it go wrong?”

Muttered words continued to spill from his lips without pause. Before long, his speech degenerated to near growls, and a faint trace of madness surfaced in his eyes.

Luo Chen began to panic. ”Senior, if it truly will not do, then don’t use this Fire Spirit Diamond. Use another one!”

”No!” Heaven Smelter suddenly raised his head, bloodshot eyes glaring. ”How could it not be used? I can feel it. If this Fire Spirit Diamond is added to the treasure, the effect will be beyond anything you can imagine. But what is it, exactly? Why can’t I sense it anymore!?”

Waves of mana surged out from his body and began spilling uncontrollably into the surroundings. This was unmistakably a sign of cultivation deviation. Luo Chen felt a chill run through him. What exactly was that droplet of blood, to cause even a Sage to lose control!?

In the next instant, a cold voice rang out. ”Calm down!”

At the same time, a slender finger pressed against Heaven Smelter’s brow, and another hand took the Fire Spirit Diamond from his grasp and brushed over it casually. At once, its aura was completely sealed off, and Heaven Smelter gradually calmed down.

Hooo, hooo, hoooo!

The old man gasped heavily as he looked at the Fire Spirit Diamond with lingering fear. He could not help raising his head toward the newcomer. ”Azure Frost, do you know the origin of that droplet of blood?”

”I don’t,” Azure Frost replied flatly, then she tossed the Fire Spirit Diamond back to Heaven Smelter. ”Focus on crafting the artifact. Don’t dwell on other matters.”

Heaven Smelter lowered his head and gazed at the Fire Spirit Diamond now isolated by the void power with a trace of regret on his face. He knew that he might have missed the greatest opportunity of his life. That opportunity had not been the droplet of blood itself, but the fleeting flash of insight that had appeared and vanished without warning. Because of that interruption, his mood had grown somewhat dejected.

The subsequent fusion of materials was carried out without much spirit. It was only after he finally threw the Fire Spirit Diamond into the massive refinement furnace that the gloom of the previous days was completely shaken off.

”Some things are best left in the past. Chasing them obsessively only brings needless suffering.”

Luo Chen nodded at his side, finding himself in full agreement.

Heaven Smelter looked at Azure Frost. ”Can you temporarily return my life-bound treasure? I will need it soon.”

Azure Frost nodded. She was not afraid of him causing trouble. Even without the restrictions within his body, and even if he had been at his former peak, Heaven Smelter would have been unable to take even one strike from her, let alone in his current state.

With the Wind-Lightning Hammer back in hand, Heaven Smelter began working on the large batch of Profound Link Celestial Crystals that Luo Chen had taken out.

Bang!

A hammer strike carrying the power of wind and lightning fell squarely on the precious Profound Link Celestial Crystal.

”This Profound Link Celestial Crystal is the most common type of heavenly material, yet its uses are many. It can channel qi, soften materials, absorb spirit energy, and neutralize impurities. More importantly, it can bring together materials of different attributes, and it even has a bit of growth potential. Any Adept crafting a life-bound enchanted treasure will use this. It’s the most basic material, and also the one you can’t do without.”

At this point, Heaven Smelter’s eyes showed satisfaction. ”You prepared very well. The quantity is more than sufficient. It’s just a pity that you lack an earthly treasure.”

Luo Chen felt helpless. True heavenly and earthly treasures were not something easily obtained. Just assembling this batch had already drained not only his personal resources but also those of the Luo Tian Sect, and even some of Green Parasol Mountain’s treasury. ”If you could add Living Soil[1], that would be perfect.”

”Living Soil?” Luo Chen asked in surprise.

Heaven Smelter nodded as he smashed the Profound Link Celestial Crystal, pouring the powder into the massive furnace engulfed in blazing flames. ”That’s right. It’s an incredibly precious material, known as the Mother of Earth. The Tracing Mud you used, if you trace it back far enough, is nothing more than a diluted version of that.”

Luo Chen committed the name to memory. If he ever encountered it in the future, he would definitely obtain it.

”Alright. Next comes the crucial stage of forming the enchanted treasure embryo. For the next three months, don’t allow anyone to disturb me.”

Luo Chen was puzzled. ”Are we not adding the Millennial Lightning Essence and Ice-Essence Cold Marrow?”

Heaven Smelter burst into laughter. ”The Primordial Unity formation has not even been inscribed yet. How could we add such materials? Just wait.”

Luo Chen understood and withdrew for the time being. Three months was nothing. He could afford to wait.

***

Inside the cave residence, Luo Chen stared at the status panel.

Realm: Golden Core Stage Two (80/100)

Only twenty points to go before breaking through to the third stage! Based on his cultivation speed, he estimated that it would take at most another half year to advance. And this was without relying on pills at all; it was achieved purely through diligent cultivation.

”A supreme-grade third-tier spirit land, combined with the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture... at this rate, even cultivators with actual heavenly spirit roots would struggle to keep up. In all my years of cultivation, I’ve never enjoyed it this much.”

For a time, Luo Chen found himself somewhat immersed in this environment where he could ignore worldly affairs and focus solely on cultivation. But he knew very well that this was merely the proper maintenance Nether Spring granted him as a useful tool. But even though he was also a tool, Heaven Smelter did not enjoy such treatment. The difference lay simply in the fact that Heaven Smelter was hard to control, while Luo Chen was weaker and easier to handle.

”Why am I overthinking it? Even if I really end up building my future among demons, I still have to stand above the rest. I can’t let my cultivation fall behind.”

Luo Chen let out a self-mocking chuckle and started cultivating again. In an instant, the spirit energy within the cave residence surged violently toward him. The moment it entered his body, it was wrapped and refined by blazing Withering-Flourishing True Fire.

Before he knew it, Luo Chen’s mindset had undergone a profound shift. From his resistance to acceptance, he came to fully understand his situation through the words of Heaven Smelter, Han Zhan, and the others. Now, he had even begun preparing for long-term plans among the demons: cultivating, researching the Transformation Pill, and refining Imperial Nectar.

1. 息壤 (xī rǎng) is a mythical self-growing soil described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. It increases endlessly and never depletes. When the mythological great flood occurred, it was said that when the water rose one chi, a dike made of Living Soil would rise one chi as well. ☜