An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”My younger brother has an urgent matter at home. I’m selling a ticket—highest bidder wins!”

At these words, the crowd fell silent. Then, it erupted into chaos.

”One hundred spirit stones, little brother. Sell me the ticket!”

”One hundred? Brother, you’re too stingy! I bid one hundred and one!”

”Hah, a bunch of paupers. I only came late. One hundred and fifty—sell the ticket to me.”

”Fellow Daoist, how about one hundred and sixty? That’s quite a sum!”

”I bid one hundred and seventy!”

”One hundred and eighty, no more. Kid, you’d better take the offer. The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect disciples are watching nearby.”

At the center of the crowd, Luo Chen wore a conflicted expression.

”If not for an urgent matter at home, I wouldn’t want to miss this grand event. Sigh… Fine, one hundred and eighty going once, one hundred and eighty going twice, one hun…”

”Two hundred!”

Whoosh!

Two diamond-shaped crystals flew swiftly through the air and hovered silently in front of Luo Chen.

Mid-grade spirit stones!

These weren’t just two hundred low-grade spirit stones. On the black market, they could fetch several times their value in low-grade spirit stones.

Luo Chen looked up to see a burly man, over two meters tall and as massive as a bear, striding toward him. Without a word, he extended his hand and took the jade token serving as the ticket from Luo Chen’s grasp. This time, Luo Chen didn’t feign any pretense and obediently handed it over. He simply didn’t dare to resist.

In fact, even if he had continued bidding, no one else would have dared to raise the price. This was because the burly man exuded the might of the Foundation Establishment Realm, resembling a humanoid demonic beast. After securing the ticket, the burly man walked straight into the passage under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

As for Luo Chen, he was left being envied by many early-stage Qi-Refining cultivators. He had earned a hundred spirit stones with a single transaction. Who would have thought there was such a profitable business in the world?

Luo Chen cupped his hands in acknowledgment but said no more, squeezing his way out of the crowd. After some time, ensuring no one was watching him, he quietly approached the passage entrance.

”The Poshan Gang’s iron token—can I enter with it?”

The ticket seller was a Foundation Establishment cultivator who stared at Luo Chen with a penetrating gaze. The cultivator scanned the token with his spirit consciousness, confirming it was valid as a free family pass, and waved him through. ”Get in!”

Luo Chen lowered his head and scurried inside. What kind of attitude was that! Don’t think just because you’re in the Foundation Establishment Realm that you can act like this. As a ticket seller, shouldn’t you treat a customer like me with respect? No professionalism at all. This Debate Platform will go bankrupt sooner or later if run like this.

Muttering to himself, Luo Chen activated his Carefree Wander and Wind Control as he moved forward. This passageway was ridiculously long! It was wide and seemingly endless, glistened with a glass-like transparency. When Luo Chen finally emerged from the passage, it felt as if he had run from the outer district all the way to the inner city.

However, when he saw the Debate Platform, he couldn’t help but gape in astonishment. ”This is the Debate Platform?”

In his line of sight, a towering stage stood at the center of the venue, with a massive stone stele rising a hundred meters tall behind it.

The stele loomed imposingly, emanating a powerful aura that seemed to captivate the soul.

An enchanted treasure! The stele was undoubtedly an enchanted treasure!

”The Elite Prodigy Board?” Luo Chen blinked and then looked to both sides.

On either side, grandstands appeared carved from the mountain walls, with rows of stone chairs neatly arranged, numbering over ten thousand in total. Among them were ten elevated areas, separated by walls and protective formations, their interiors hidden from prying eyes.

A familiar feeling washed over him.

Isn’t this just a supersized football stadium?

No, wait—it’s more like a cultivation-themed coliseum.

The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect must have hollowed out Fallen Phoenix Mountain; otherwise, where else could they find such a massive space to build the Debate Platform?

Luo Chen muttered a few complaints, glanced around, and headed toward the eastern stands.

The path was crowded with spectators, most of whom were cultivators from other regions. Local cultivators had limited spending power, likely accounting for only a few thousand tickets; the bulk came from wealthy outsiders.

As he passed one grandstand, Luo Chen quickened his pace and remained silent. This was because the grandstand was where members of the Dajiang Gang had gathered.

”When will the fight start? Second Brother Gao will definitely crush that guy with the broken blade.”

”By the way, who’s Min Longyu? Does the Dajiang Gang even have someone like him? Can he beat the Devouring Heart Tiger, Han Dang?”

”Who knows? I only know Yang Rusheng is strong—a renowned rogue cultivator from Tianye Market.”

”Let’s hope we win. I bet two hundred spirit stones on the Dajiang Gang.”

What a bunch of losers!

They’re bound to lose everything one day!

Luo Chen cursed silently before being stopped by someone.

”Fellow Daoist, this is the Poshan Gang’s viewing area. Please find another place to spectate.”

Unfazed, Luo Chen calmly produced his iron token. The man looked at it and let out a surprised ”Huh. This is Protector Wang’s token? When did he start taking in subordinates?”

After scrutinizing Luo Chen for a moment, he said, ”Follow me!”

Feeling a bit nervous, Luo Chen followed closely behind him. They walked along a pathway leading upward and soon reached the highest point.

”Boss, this person seems to be one of ours. He’s carrying Protector Wang’s token, but I’ve never seen him before.”

Mi Shuhua turned to look, his kind eyes resting on Luo Chen.

Without hesitation, Luo Chen handed over the iron token. This was the token Wang Yuan had personally delivered to his first home back then. Wang Yuan had even said he would look after him from that day forward.

”So it’s Little Luo. You’ve joined the Poshan Gang too?” The one speaking was Murong Qinglian, who was seated nearby.

Luo Chen chuckled, ”Wang Yuan is my big brother. I forgot to mention it before.”

Mi Shuhua examined the iron token and nodded. ”Sit next to Qinglian.”

Luo Chen nodded repeatedly and moved to sit beside Murong Qinglian.

Once seated, he looked curiously at the sea of people around him, feeling quite excited. Seated nearby, aside from Murong Qinglian, was a young man with a face as fair as jade.

”You’re Wang Yuan’s subordinate?” A cold voice came through, carrying a faint trace of hostility.

Luo Chen was momentarily stunned. Big brother, if you have a grudge against Brother Wang, don’t drag me into it! I’m not a fan of collateral slapstick drama.

”Ke Yuelin, be polite to Little Luo!” Murong Qinglian scolded.

To Luo Chen’s surprise, the young man didn’t dare to disobey her.

”I just wanted to get close to him. I didn’t realize he had connections with you sister-in-law.”

Murong Qinglian said calmly, ”He’s your sworn elder brother’s subordinate and also our neighbor. You should indeed get closer to him in the gang from now on.”

Qin Liangchen’s sworn brother? The thought flashed through Luo Chen’s mind.

At the same time, a gentle voice transmitted directly into his ears. ”Ke Yuelin is currently the leader of the Poshan Gang’s Seven Tigers Hall and has inherited Old Qin’s Broken Jade Tiger title.

”Originally, he was supposed to participate in the fight this time. But your big brother, Wang Yuan, rose quickly and took a spot, so he might be a bit dissatisfied.

”But don’t worry. With me and Old Qin around, he won’t dare to do anything to you.”

It was Murong Qinglian’s voice. Luo Chen looked at her gratefully and nodded.

So it turns out that, unknowingly, I have quite a high status in the Poshan Gang!

Big Brother Wang Yuan is a Protector. The neighborly couple seems to hold significant positions in the gang too.

As he pondered these thoughts, white mist suddenly rose from all directions in the venue. The cold and tranquil temperature seemed to soothe the restless minds of everyone present. Then, a clear sound of a zither emerged from the dense white mist. Soon, a graceful figure dressed in a flowing immortal gown emerged from the mist, floating lightly.

Luo Chen’s eyes widened. Isn’t that Gu Caiyi?