An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Ever since transmigrating and inheriting everything from this body, his proficiency had only increased under the condition of success.

So, he had never considered the possibility that failure could also increase proficiency.

But, thinking carefully, why shouldn’t failure also increase proficiency?

Success was never achieved outright but was built upon a series of failures.

Although the experience gained from failure was minimal, wasn’t that small experience still part of success?

It was like learning to drive, a novice certainly couldn’t maneuver tight canal turns.

But a successful hill start, a proper parallel park, and a smooth acceleration were all small successes, weren’t they?

It was precisely these minor successes that eventually accumulated to create a seasoned city driver or the king of hairpin turns on Mount Akina.

And there was one more thing!

It wasn’t as though he had never had complete success!

He did have one!

The system achievement point had helped him directly reach beginner, which effectively represented one successful experience.

Why was it that only sects and cultivation families could support official alchemists, while rogue alchemists were so rare?

The reason was actually quite simple, the initial investment was just too great.

It was to the extent that an alchemy apprentice would repeatedly fail without seeing any hope of success. With the significant early-stage costs, the rogue cultivators had no choice but to give up.

But individuals with sects and families were different; they had the financial resources to support this constant early-stage failure.

As long as an alchemy apprentice succeeded once, that one experience would make future successes a natural outcome.

This was why those who succeeded always continued to succeed.

As for Luo Chen, he actually had a force backing him up, allowing him to skip the early investment phase of failures and go directly to beginner!

And besides, this system was far more powerful than any sect or family.

Some people truly lacked talent, but if Luo Chen could reach Beginner level, it meant he did have some talent.

Of course, this Beginner level relied on the achievement points earned by leveling up each skill proficiency.

Therefore...

”All my success came from my own hard work!”

After discovering his proficiency was increasing, Luo Chen’s mood, which had already improved somewhat, brightened even more.

He was practically buzzing with energy, like he’d been injected with adrenaline, and couldn’t help but howl excitedly!

However, having understood the principle that haste makes waste just yesterday, he knew that in his current excited state, attempting alchemy wouldn’t be wise.

So today, he planned to do something else to balance out himself.

What should he do?

Practice martial arts!

To be precise, he should practice Lightness Technique.

He knew his own matters best, his level wasn’t high, his enchanting power wasn’t abundant, and his low-grade flying sword was just for show; he hadn’t even learned the Traction and could only swing the sword by hand.

The previous original Luo Chen had merely gone to the outskirts of the mountains to help others carry demonic beast meat back to town.

In this situation, what would provide the best chance of survival?

The answer was, of course, to be able to run!

Ideally, the best way for a Qi-Refining cultivator to escape would be a Swift Talisman, or briefly flying with an enchanted artifact, or at least using the Wind-Riding.

But unfortunately, Swift Talismans were outrageously expensive, and most people couldn’t afford one.

The enchanted artifact demanded the use of Traction in perfect harmony, yet its effect was not even as good as the Wind-Riding.

However, Luo Chen could not afford the common skill of Wind-Riding as one manual alone cost tens of low-grade spirit stones. And so, he could only set his sight on the lightness skill of secular martial arts.

Although it was only mortal-grade martial arts, it wasn’t without its uses, especially since it didn’t rely on spirit power.

Luo Chen didn’t have much spirit power to begin with, and low-tier rogue cultivators weren’t much better off. Many times, battles for them had simply involved standing in one spot and attacking.

So lightness skills that didn’t consume spirit power still had their uses!

Sitting at the doorway, he unfolded a lightness skill manual that he bought from the market for ten liang[1] of gold.

The Carefree Wander

What an impressive name! Luo Chen exclaimed inwardly.

The introduction of the manual was equally impressive: ”Ride the natural balance of Heaven and Earth, harness the six energies, and wander the infinite!”

Of course, it was really just the founder’s grand fantasy.

After carefully reading it a few times, Luo Chen decided to try it out, not with his hands, but his feet!

This was not a combat-oriented lightness skill with peculiar footwork, but rather a travel-style skill, focused on borrowing and releasing force, adjusting body posture at high speed, and coordinating with rhythmic breathing to achieve fast, long-distance running.

At first, Luo Chen felt a bit awkward with it.

All that talk about borrowing and releasing force sounded rather suspicious, what did it mean to harness the six energies!

But after running all morning on the plain across the stream, he started to gain some insight and began muttering to himself as he practiced.

”When the wind is strong, adjust your posture, shift with the wind, and don’t go against it.

”If there’s a branch or a slope, use it to leap; when landing, either release the force to land lightly or use it to rebound and accelerate.

”Keep your breathing rhythm steady, stay calm, and although it may not be carefree, strive to do your best with a steady heart.

”Hey, I’ve got to say, this lightness skill really has the right feel to it.”

When Luo Chen stopped for lunch, he glanced at his proficiency panel.

In the spells section, a new entry appeared Carefree Wander: Beginner (13/100)

Holding a large bowl, Luo Chen chuckled and muttered to himself again, ”I’ve reached the Beginner level, and my proficiency is increasing quickly!

”Cultivation is like a turtle’s crawl, while martial arts soar like a roc—I must be a one-in-a-million martial arts genius!”

Unfortunately, martial arts couldn’t grant longevity; otherwise, Luo Chen would have considered becoming a Martial Sage.

In the afternoon, he practiced the Carefree Wander for another half day, becoming more adept as his proficiency steadily rose.

During a break, Luo Chen reflected and attributed his progress to his current physical strength.

With spirit rice and demonic beast meat every day, and the Long Spring Art circulating his spirit energy, even if he were a pig, he’d be a spirit pig.

With a stronger physique, wouldn’t he naturally have better control over his body?

It was like those basketball stars in his previous world; did you think they achieved greatness purely through skill? No, first, they had to have a body full of talent.

Even those considered less talented among the stars had bodies stronger than most professional players.

His physical strength was now strong enough that using a body-training manual wasn’t an extraordinary feat—it was merely a way to develop his body’s natural potential.

In the evening, Luo Chen soaked in a one-meter-deep stream, digging up a pile of yellow mud.

Then, relying on memory, he molded a clay figurine.

Phoenix eyes, arched brows, dignified and imposing—any art school girl would have praised his skill.

”Holy Ruler Deity Guan, just wait—I’ll stick a beard on you tonight and carve you a Green Dragon Crescent Blade!”

While he muttered to himself, a few beastly roars echoed from the forest several li away on the plains.

Then, several streaks of light shot out of the forest with a swoosh.

Luo Chen quickly stood up in alert, went back into the house, grabbed his enchanted sword, and shut the door tightly.

On the plain across the stream, those streaks of light had already landed among the weeds, gazing into the depths of the mountains.

1. A unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (old) ☜