An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

There were countless mystical flames in the world, so many that even the Holy Lands could never hope to catalogue them all. Yet among the endless varieties, a few legendary flames were so famous that even low-tier cultivators knew their names. The top three were the Nirvana Sacred Fire, said to reverse life and death; the Sun Divine Fire, whose radiance drove away all evil beneath heaven; and the Vermilion Bird Sacred Fire, capable of burning all things in existence. For millennia, cultivators had debated which of these three flames deserved to be called supreme, and a consensus had never been reached.

To cultivators at Luo Chen’s level, however, such arguments held little meaning. In their eyes, mystical flames were no different from spells or enchanted treasures. Their true power depended not on the flames themselves but on the person wielding them. The Withering-Flourishing True Fire was a perfect example. After years of nurturing and countless refinements fueled by demonic beast life force, its power had long since surpassed what it had once been in Incense Burning Valley. The Withering-Flourishing True Fire had just advanced to the fourth tier back then; now, it had reached the middle stages of the fourth tier.

More importantly, it possessed an astonishing reserve of life force, a foundation that even Luo Chen found difficult to measure. Whenever he refined a living demonic beast, he only received a tenth of the extracted life force. The majority had always been devoured by the true fire itself. Yet that small portion alone had been sufficient to nurture his powerful fourth-tier physique. From that, it was easy to imagine just how titanic the fire’s own foundation had become.

Yet despite all that, Luo Chen was still shocked upon hearing the mention of the fifth-tier Vermilion Bird Sacred Fire.

”Is that true?”

”Why would I lie about something like that?” the Flesh Ganoderma replied in a low voice, with a hint of fear visible in its eyes. ”If there’s one thing I fear most in the Heaven of the Five Elements, it’s the sleeping Iron-Devouring Beast in the Thousand Blade Mountains, but the Vermilion Bird here is a close second. The strange thing is that this bird wasn’t even here a thousand years ago. It only appeared after the Monarch died. Somehow it took over the Beacon Platform and started spawning fire sprites.”

The more it spoke, the more puzzled it seemed by the matter. Luo Chen had originally intended to ask a few more questions, but since the Flesh Ganoderma clearly knew little about what was going on, there was no point. Rather than continue pressing the issue, he shifted the conversation to another topic.

***

”Wow! A legendary Flame Core! I can’t believe there’s one here!” Devil’s Cloud exclaimed. He immediately descended from his cloud and snatched up the treasure.

The core looked red-hot, and it indeed radiated intense heat. It was a fourth-tier treasure! Yet surprisingly, Luo Chen just glanced at it from the side and said nothing. Devil’s Cloud cautiously stole a look at him before carefully putting the Flame Core away.

His wariness was understandable. Ever since entering the Heaven of the Five Elements, Luo Chen’s actions had become increasingly overbearing. First, he had forcibly taken the supreme-grade Nine-Sun Geng Metal. Later, he had claimed the yellow earth crystals. Each time, he had simply taken what he wanted without even asking. Under Luo Chen’s overwhelming pressure, Devil’s Cloud had always been forced to yield.

Yet after entering Blazing Purgatory, Luo Chen’s attitude had completely changed. As they traveled toward Vermilion Bird Mountain, they encountered all manner of fire-attribute treasures along the way, but Luo Chen ignored every single one of them.

What’s gotten into him all of a sudden? thought Devil’s Cloud.

A while later, he descended once again and collected a large quantity of top-grade Fire Spirit Diamonds. This was precisely the material Luo Chen had searched for most desperately when he was crafting his life-bound enchanted treasure, yet within Blazing Purgatory, they seemed to be everywhere.

Even so, Luo Chen merely glanced at them before looking away.

The Flesh Ganoderma, who was also secretly observing him, was equally puzzled. That’s weird. He’s never been a generous man. Why would he pass up something this valuable? Could he be after something else?

Luo Chen paid no attention to their reactions. Ever since demonstrating his strength and forcing the Flesh Ganoderma to swear an oath, he had firmly established himself as the unquestioned leader of the group. There was no need for him to concern himself with what they thought. Ironically, this was the position Ding Yi had intended to occupy, yet in the end, Luo Chen was the one to do it.

As they continued forward, he looked around the landscape while also extending his divine consciousness as far as possible to explore the surrounding region. In the meantime, he kept pondering on what the Flesh Ganoderma had told him earlier. The Thousand Blade Mountains are rich in mineral deposits, and the Quicksand Sea has Skyloam. As for Blazing Purgatory, its real treasures aren’t these fire-element ores or Flame Cores. They’re the Sourceless Flames!

According to the Flesh Ganoderma, Blazing Purgatory had once served as Heaven Refiner’s personal repository and breeding ground for Sourceless Flames. It didn’t know why the Monarch had collected so many different varieties, but as a result, countless such flames were still hidden throughout this land. The fire-attribute ores and Flame Cores found everywhere were merely byproducts formed around them. Naturally, Luo Chen was aiming for the Sourceless Flames.

”Are they really that well hidden?” he muttered to himself. He continued to search the surroundings, all while monitoring the subtle reactions of the Withering-Flourishing True Fire within his body.

Suddenly, a burst of activity erupted nearby.

Devil’s Cloud had discovered yet another treasure and was already rushing toward it. Luo Chen casually glanced over, intending to ignore it as he had the others. Then something caught his attention. Beside the rim of a volcano stood a crystalline tree. Its branches and leaves were translucent like glass, sparkling brilliantly beneath the firelight. Even at a glance, it was obviously an extraordinary treasure worth a fortune.

Whoosh!

Devil’s Cloud, who had just taken out a small shovel and begun digging enthusiastically, froze in surprise when Luo Chen landed beside him. ”Devil Lord, do you want this...”

”Ignore me; just keep going.”

Devil’s Cloud blinked in surprise but obediently continued. However, under Luo Chen’s watchful gaze, he found himself digging far more cautiously and slowly than before.

Luo Chen frowned. ”Just dig that out already.”

Feeling the pressure in Luo Chen’s voice, Devil’s Cloud had no choice but to speed up. As the upper soil was dug away, the roots beneath the tree gradually came into view.

”Hm?”

Devil’s Cloud cleared the remaining surface soil and stared at the layer beneath. Multicolored sheets of crystal glass lay spread deep underground. The roots of the tree resembled blood vessels, extending downward through those colorful crystalline layers. At the sight of this, Luo Chen could no longer suppress his excitement.

As expected, this is the legendary Glazed Fire Cedar! Wherever such a tree grows, there must be Glazed Flame!

Over the years, Luo Chen had never stopped reading. The texts he studied were not limited to cultivation techniques but also included medical and alchemical classics, artifact creation manuals, and countless miscellaneous records detailing local customs and all manner of resources. While much of the information was difficult to verify, they had undeniably broadened his horizons. In spite of his young age, his breadth of knowledge was in no way inferior to a veteran Adept three or four centuries old. In some respects, he knew even more.

Thus, while Devil’s Cloud merely regarded the tree as a fire-attribute plant, Luo Chen actually knew both the reason for its existence and the essential substance required for its growth, Glazed Flame!

It was not one of the well-known Sourceless Flames, but rather something that only appeared in ancient legends. According to the stories, there had once been a mountain known as Fine Jade Mountain. The entire mountain was crystal-clear from top to bottom, so transparent that one could see directly into its depths. Deep at the core of that mountain dwelled a strange Sourceless Flame. Any living being touched by even a wisp of it would turn into glass. Because of this, no one dared approach the mountain. Even powerful ancient beasts avoided it. As the ages passed, Fine Jade Mountain eventually disappeared from the world, but the flame remained.

There must be one here!

While Luo Chen pondered, Devil’s Cloud finally pulled the Glazed Fire Cedar free and raised it triumphantly. The next moment, Luo Chen took a deep breath and struck the ground with his palm.

Devil’s Cloud froze in surprise. ”Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?”

Luo Chen jumped back up from the crater he had created and frowned at the fragments in his hand. Then he shot into the sky, raised one palm high overhead, and drove straight downward. With the support of his vigorous blood qi, boundless strength surged through him as he unleashed the Mountain-Breaking Form!

BOOM!

In the next instant, Devil’s Cloud and the Flesh Ganoderma watched in horror as the mountain that had once borne the Glazed Fire Cedar began to tremble violently. Massive chunks of earth peeled away from the surface, revealing brilliant layers of crystal glass that reflected crimson firelight. Struck by the Mountain-Breaking Form’s devastating force, those crystalline layers began to crack apart.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In only a few breaths, the once-crystalline mountain became riddled with cracks and split apart. Luo Chen snorted coldly and stomped downward. The mountain beneath him immediately collapsed like a sandcastle.

”As expected, it’s here!”

At the center of the shattered crystal floated a beautiful flame. Luo Chen examined it for a moment before shaking his head slightly. ”Unfortunately, its tier isn’t very high. It’s only around the second tier.”

A trace of disappointment crossed Luo Chen’s face, but it quickly gave way to excitement. ”Heh... Well, second tier is fine. It’ll be easy to deal with. If it was any stronger, things would become troublesome.”

This flame was particularly dangerous; fourth-tier and even third-tier specimens were likely extremely difficult to handle. A second-tier one was comparatively easier to subdue.

Having lost the protection of the crystal mountain, the flame seemed to sense danger and attempted to flee. Before it could escape, however, a pressure resembling the might of heaven and earth descended from above as the Infinite Blaze Prison spread outward and enveloped a hundred-zhang radius.

Within the Domain, Luo Chen opened his mouth and exhaled. The Withering-Flourishing True Fire flew out joyfully and spread out like a net. Sensing danger, the Glazed Flame erupted with dazzling brilliance. Wherever its power touched, the azure flames solidified and transformed into pieces of crystal glass. Yet the overwhelming difference in tier rendered such resistance futile, and the Withering-Flourishing True Fire completely surrounded the Glazed Flame.

Only then did Luo Chen sit down cross-legged atop the shattered mountain and begin using the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture to accelerate the absorption of the flame.

Although much had happened, from the moment Luo Chen struck the mountain to the capture of the Glazed Flame, hardly a few breaths had actually passed. It was so quick that Devil’s Cloud and the Flesh Ganoderma could only watch from the sidelines, their eyelids twitching in shock.

”What’s he doing?” Devil’s Cloud asked in confusion.

The Flesh Ganoderma replied hoarsely, ”It looks like he’s trying to refine that Sourceless Flame into his primordial true fire.”

Devil’s Cloud’s eyes widened in disbelief. ”How is that possible? A cultivator’s true fire is unique. How can you fuse it with an external flame? Is he trying to get himself killed?”

”Nothing is impossible. Someone has done it before.”

”Who?”

The Flesh Ganoderma stared fixedly at Luo Chen. ”What do you think the Heaven of the Five Elements was built for? And why do you think it’s called a purgatory?”

Devil’s Cloud’s heart skipped a beat. ”Are you saying the Heaven Refiner did the same thing? That he created this place and nurtured all these Sourceless Flames just so he could devour and refine them?”

Perhaps the familiar scene had stirred some forgotten memories. The Flesh Ganoderma’s expression turned dazed as it mumbled words Devil’s Cloud could not understand. ”The Nine Refinements Art... the flames and smoke of war...”

Eventually, it looked around blankly. ”All of these are merely leftovers...”

But even the leftovers of a Monarch were an unimaginable opportunity to a mere Adept.

Half a day later, Luo Chen finally finished devouring the Glazed Flame. The aura of the Withering-Flourishing True Fire had clearly grown stronger, and above him appeared the faint image of a green tree. Countless branches spread from the tiny tree—strands of incomparably pure flame. The crimson-robed Daoist remained suspended in midair, gazing at the emerald fire tree above him with a thoughtful expression.

Seeing the scene, Devil’s Cloud recalled what he had witnessed earlier. ”I see... So while we were waiting back then, he was devouring a Sourceless Flame?”

The Flesh Ganoderma shivered uncontrollably, as though it had encountered a natural predator.

Meanwhile, the Soul-Nurturing Wood hanging on Luo Chen’s chest also became restless. Han Zhan stared at the little fire tree’s projection, his soul surging with emotion. Damn this Heaven of the Five Elements! This isn’t just a land of resources!The powers of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth are everywhere in this place! Given enough time, you could comprehend them one by one and maybe even touch the fundamental Laws of the Heaven of the Five Elements itself! Damn it! Why don’t I have a physical body? Why do I have to miss out on something like this?!

***

Luo Chen’s side hustle became more and more erratic. And with that, the reason behind his earlier behavior became obvious to everyone. Along the way, he showed no interest whatsoever in the rare treasures they encountered; all of his focus was devoted to searching for the Sourceless Flames hidden throughout the region.

Those flames were concealed incredibly well. Yet, somehow, Luo Chen always made a beeline for the nearest one, as if he had a map inside his head.

Once again, when he stepped into a magma-filled valley and used the Infinite Blaze Prison to capture a swarm of dancing fire butterflies, the others stood outside the valley entrance and watched in silence.

***

Third-tier Red Lotus Earth Fire, second-tier Glazed Flame, first-tier Variegated Devil Butterfly Flame, third-tier Amber Flame, one random second-tier devil flame, and a third-tier one!

Two months later, Luo Chen took stock of the Sourceless Flames he had gathered along the way. Most of them were varieties he could identify, though a smaller portion remained unfamiliar. What they shared in common was a powerful devilish aura. Some carried an aura that felt similar to He Yuan’s, yet was far more intense.

His mood grew increasingly upbeat. Throughout these two months, he could clearly feel his primordial true fire growing stronger with each new flame it devoured. As a result, fire-attribute techniques like the Azure Yang Great Handprint and Solar Flare had also become noticeably more powerful.

When the group once again stopped beneath a cloud bank stretching thousands of li, the long-silent Flesh Ganoderma finally spoke. ”How long is this one going to take?”

Luo Chen looked up at the sky and replied softly, ”Quite a while, I’d say. I can sense that the Sky-Burning Fire here is exceptionally high tier. These days, you can’t find anything like this in the outside world.”

The Sky-Burning Fire nearby was probably at the fourth tier, and not among the weaker ones either. Refining a Sourceless Flame of that level would not only take a great deal of time but also involve considerable danger.

The Flesh Ganoderma lowered its voice. ”Vermilion Bird Mountain is just a couple hundred li from here. Are you still going to delay things? The Five Elements Lotus concerns your Nascent Soul Dao!”

Luo Chen smiled faintly. ”Advancing to Nascent Soul is certainly important, but how can I ignore an opportunity placed right before me? I can feel it. This journey through Blazing Purgatory will bring immense benefits to my future cultivation, and I absolutely cannot miss it!”

The Flesh Ganoderma opened its mouth as if to argue, but in the end said nothing. ”Then be careful. Devil’s Cloud and I will go on ahead and wait for you beneath Vermilion Bird Mountain.”

”Mm.” Luo Chen nodded lightly.

Then, right before their eyes, a qi armor formed over his crimson Daoist robe, while the Moonbreak Wings unfurled behind him. At the same time, the Infinite Blaze Prison expanded around his body, wrapping him in azure flame. This was the second form of the Infinite Blaze Prison, the True Fire Form!

Without waiting for a moment longer, he directly plunged into the sea of crimson clouds. The moment he entered, the endless clouds erupted into violent turmoil! Strange phantoms rose and fell throughout the crimson clouds. Some resembled galloping steeds, others old hounds. Roc-like birds spread their wings, while ominous owls cried out.

It was clear that the fourth-tier Sky Burning Fire hidden within the cloud bank had gained sentience, and it was powerful.