An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Just then, an unexpected voice rang out. ”If no one else is interested, I’ll take the rest.”

For a moment, Four Seas thought he had misheard. He looked at the man in white and said, ”Wilderness Hermit, do you truly mean that?”

Luo Chen smiled. ”With everyone here listening, would I joke about something like this?”

The hall fell silent as everyone turned toward him. There were a thousand stalks remaining, and that amounted to exactly 100 million low-grade spirit stones. Although everyone present had accumulated considerable wealth over the centuries, producing such a sum at once was not that easy. Even someone like Old Ghost Nan Qi, who had only recently secured a territory and had yet to develop its resources, would likely struggle to gather that much even if he emptied his entire fortune.

Once Four Seas recovered from his surprise, he cupped his hands toward Luo Chen. ”Then let me thank you on my friend’s behalf.”

Afterward, he led Luo Chen into a side hall and brought out all the remaining Grandspirit Grass. The pale herbs were still rooted in shallow beds of soil and looked much like young rice shoots.

”They’re worth so much because the roots are still intact,” Four Seas explained. ”With the right technique, you might even be able to grow a whole new crop from them.”

Luo Chen nodded. Given his expertise in cultivating spirit plants, he naturally understood the value of what lay before him. Without another word, he immediately took 100 million spirit stones from his storage ring, packed them into a storage pouch, and handed it to Four Seas.

After confirming the amount, Four Seas asked, ”Do you have anything suitable to store them in? I have a few spatial treasures you can use. They aren’t as good as the Boundless Pouch, but they should be enough for now.”

Luo Chen smiled. ”There’s no need to trouble yourself. I have just the thing for it.”

Four Seas frowned, though he did not press the matter. He left the side hall to give Luo Chen the privacy to store his purchase.

Once Luo Chen was alone, he looked over the thousand stalks and could no longer suppress his joy. He had attended the gathering in search of soul essence, yet before even seeing any, he had stumbled upon something nearly as valuable to his cultivation.

Grandspirit Grass was one of the substitute primary ingredients listed among the Monarch’s fourth-tier alchemy formulas. It could be used to refine the Grand Origin Pill, a cultivation pill especially suited to Sages.

To be honest, he had never expected to rely heavily on pills after forming his Nascent Soul. With his current physique and spirit roots, he was confident that he could reach the late stage within two or three centuries through ordinary cultivation alone. His natural aptitude now placed him above most so-called geniuses, so his progress would certainly not be limited by talent. Instead, the real constraint came from his cultivation technique, which could no longer keep pace with his growth. And if these pills could shorten that process, there was no reason not to use them.

This truly is an unexpected windfall!

Luo Chen took out a formation disc and set up a concealment formation before using the Penglai Eightspire Pavilion to collect every last herb.

Outside, Four Seas had not gone far when he sensed the concealment formation rise behind him. He slowed in surprise, but only a short while later, the barrier faded, and Luo Chen stepped out of view.

That brief interval confirmed what Four Seas had suspected, though he kept it to himself. ”Fellow Daoist, let’s go back together.”

***

While Luo Chen and Four Seas stepped away to complete the transaction, trading in the hall continued as usual, though the attention of the gathered Sages had already begun to drift. From time to time, some people quietly sent voice transmissions to Resonant Jade, hoping to learn more about Luo Chen’s background. Yet Resonant Jade could only offer a helpless smile, as he knew little more than they did.

Their curiosity was hardly surprising. Luo Chen had only recently formed his Nascent Soul, yet he had shown no fear before the renowned Heaven Splitter and even overpowered the man’s Domain. Soon afterward, he had casually spent 100 million spirit stones, as if the sum meant nothing to him. No ordinary rogue cultivator could have both that level of strength and that kind of wealth.

Four Seas, in particular, had even more reason to doubt Luo Chen’s claimed identity. After sensing the concealment formation outside the side hall, he was very sure Luo Chen possessed a spatial enchanted treasure capable of storing those spirit plants. By then, he was all but certain that Luo Chen was not a rogue cultivator at all but a powerful expert from some great force traveling under an alias.

Because of this, everyone paid particular attention to Luo Chen during the subsequent trades in the hope of uncovering at least some of his background. Yet no matter what treasures appeared, he remained seated perfectly still and made no further offers. High-tier ores, corpses, bones, and even inner cores of powerful demonic beasts and even damaged True Artifacts failed to draw an offer from him.

Rather than easing their curiosity, his indifference only deepened it. True Artifacts were considered the standard items for Sages, but not every Sage possessed one. A top-grade enchanted treasure could be tempered into a True Artifact through lightning tribulation, but surviving the tribulation was already difficult enough in and of itself, and few cultivators had the spare strength to refine a treasure at the same time. Those who failed to do so during their breakthrough often spent decades or even centuries nurturing one afterward with their Nascent Soul and the power of heaven and earth. Not displaying interest in other items could be chalked up to putting on a show of power, but if Luo Chen showed no interest even in the True Artifacts brought out for trade, the most likely explanation was that he already possessed something suited to him!

Luo Chen truly was not putting on a show; his lack of interest was genuine. His journey through the Land of Fallen Devils had yielded no few high-tier plants, rare ores, and other valuable materials. Although he still needed stronger items, damaged True Artifacts were of little use to him, especially when their attributes did not suit his cultivation. Rather than spend resources on treasures he did not need, he was content to wait for the one thing that had brought him to the gathering: soul essence.

Resonant Jade had not deceived him. A few of them did offer soul essence for trade, but only in small quantities that fell far short of Luo Chen’s needs. What surprised him was that Old Ghost Nan Qi bought nearly every portion that appeared.

Luo Chen quietly took note of this. Does he also know how to use soul essence?

Just as the first stage of the trading was about to end, Netherfire, who had remained quiet for a long time, finally straightened his back. ”I have a large quantity of soul essence to trade.”

A glazed bottle appeared in his hand. At that moment, Old Ghost Nan Qi immediately rose to his feet. ”I want it. Name your price.”

Netherfire glanced at him. ”You don’t even know what I want in return.”

Old Ghost Nan Qi chuckled. ”You’re looking for something that can heal your injuries, aren’t you? I have a third-tier Fire-Devouring Gu that can consume the Sourceless Flame inside you. Combine that with Heaven Splitter’s Nine Hells Immaculate Wind, and you should make a full recovery. What do you say?”

Netherfire turned toward Heaven Splitter, who responded with a quiet snort but did not deny the claim.

”So the two of you came prepared.” Netherfire paused. ”Hmm...”

Is he going to back out now? Old Ghost Nan Qi’s expression immediately changed. He had gone to great lengths to bring Heaven Splitter into this deal, all so he could obtain the soul essence Netherfire had accumulated over the centuries.

Before Nan Qi could press him for an answer, Netherfire turned to Luo Chen. ”Wilderness Hermit, may I speak with you privately?”

Luo Chen had been wondering what he could offer to compete with Old Ghost Nan Qi’s. He had not expected Netherfire to approach him first.

That makes things easier! In that case...

”Of course!”

Still holding the glazed bottle, Netherfire rose and slowly made his way out of the hall. His steps appeared weak, but every place his feet touched was left blackened and scorched. Luo Chen studied the footprints for a moment before following him.

Back in the hall, Old Ghost Nan Qi’s face had darkened. He had planned everything carefully, only for someone to suddenly get in his way.

Heaven Splitter was confused at first, but a possibility soon occurred to him. The more he considered it, the more likely it seemed, but at the same time, it made no sense. Has Netherfire lost his mind? He’d rather trust a complete stranger than me? And how can he be so sure Wilderness Hermit can help him?