An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”Physical cultivator!”

”Brother Wang, you’re actually a physical cultivator!”

The crowd exited through various passageways, flowing continuously like a stream. Luo Chen followed among the Poshan Gang members, enthusiastically voicing his admiration.

Wang Yuan maintained his disinterested demeanor, as if the powerful and victorious figure who had commanded all attention earlier wasn’t him at all. Around him, other gang members also shot occasional glances of respect towards Wang Yuan.

Physical cultivators were once known as Physical-Refining cultivators in ancient times, standing on equal footing with the Qi-Refining cultivators of the era. However, as times changed and the rapid advancements in enchanted artifacts, enchanted treasures, array formations, and talismans, Physical-Refining cultivators gradually dwindled.

In the present day, pure body cultivators were rare. Even those who practiced physical cultivation were usually dual-cultivators, supplementing their body refining with other techniques. As a result, anyone who followed a slightly more orthodox physical cultivation path would already be regarded as a true physical cultivator.

Nevertheless, physical cultivation remains a domain beyond the reach of rogue cultivators. The resources required to refine the physical cultivation are far beyond what ordinary people can afford.

No one expected Wang Yuan to quietly embark on such a path. However, from the looks of it, his approach isn’t that of a pure Physical-Refining cultivator, as his combat methods still bear traces of traditional cultivators.

Faced with Luo Chen’s amazement, Wang Yuan suddenly sighed. Luo Chen was puzzled and curiously asked, ”Brother Wang, why are you sighing? You won! And you won so decisively, even leaving your name on the Elite Prodigy Board.”

Beside him, Zeng Wen chuckled and added, ”Exactly! Maybe when you leave the Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect will send someone to invite you to join them.”

Wang Yuan simply shook his head. He glanced at Luo Chen. “Later, come back with me to the main hall. As my only junior, it’s about time the others get to know you.”

Mm-hmm. Luo Chen nodded repeatedly. At that moment, he no longer feared Gao Tingyuan. He had backing now! He had connections!

Brother Wang was incredibly strong, strong enough to crush devil cultivators who could rival sword cultivators. The Poshan Gang was also strong, winning five out of nine matches. The gang would likely enter a new phase of rapid growth. This was great, Luo Chen could definitely ride this wave.

For so long, Luo Chen had struggled as a loner, weak and without support. On the path of cultivation, he had no guidance, no help, and life had been truly hard. He had thought about joining a cultivation family or sect, but he feared being reduced to a mere tool.

Now, it was different. Brother Wang, though somewhat aloof, carried himself with great ambition and broad vision. With his protection and a bit of his own cleverness, Luo Chen felt confident he could thrive.

Lost in such thoughts, the group left Fallen Phoenix Mountain and arrived at the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion in the inner city.

As soon as they stepped out, a raucous scene greeted them.

”Seven hundred! I earned seven hundred spirit stones! I’ve made it big this time, I’ve really made it big.”

”That Devouring Heart Tiger—why did I go all in on him?!”

”The Poshan Gang won, and I lost. Looks like I’ll be mining for the Li family from now on.”

”Years of savings, all gone in a day—boohoo!”

”Wang Yuan, curse you to die a terrible death!” The nearest person held his betting slip, weeping bitterly, cursing Wang Yuan as he cried.

As fate would have it, Wang Yuan was standing right next to him. The man kept cursing until he noticed Wang Yuan, forcing his tirade to a halt. He tried to squeeze out a smile but ended up looking more miserable than if he had lost a parent.

At that moment, Luo Chen felt no sympathy. Fools who gambled were bound to meet a bad end. Even though he trusted Brother Wang the most, he had never placed a single bet.

Small hills rolled gently alongside flowing streams, while verdant trees wove together into a lush canopy. Bamboo and wooden houses dotted the landscape, scattered like chess pieces across a board.

At the heart of it all stood a towering pavilion. Before it stretched a bluestone-paved square, nearly half the size of the Debate Platform.

This was Luo Chen’s first time visiting the Poshan Gang. The scene before him made him question if he had stepped into the wrong setting.

Shouldn’t there be fortifications, watchtowers, and rows of blades and spears, exuding the grandeur of a powerful gang? Why did it look so peaceful?

Upon remembering that this was a cultivator’s faction, it suddenly made sense. Fighting to the death was for the sake of competing for cultivation resources outside. At home, naturally, there should be an atmosphere suited for quiet cultivation.

Following Wang Yuan and the others into the main hall, Luo Chen didn’t speak much, merely looking around curiously.

During this time, Mi Shuhua appeared briefly to arrange the funerals and posthumous matters for the fallen cultivators, then hurriedly vanished. It was said he had gone to negotiate the handover of waterway transportation with the Dajiang Gang.

By evening, Mi Shuhua returned to the main hall with a look of excitement. A banquet was held, with wine flowing freely to celebrate their victory! Dish after dish infused with spirit energy was brought to the tables, with most attendees being late stage Qi-Refining cultivators.

There were over two hundred people in attendance. There were a few mid stage Qi-Refining cultivators like Luo Chen, mostly family members of gang members. Blending in among them, he stood out somewhat but didn’t seem out of place.

Many people were aware that he was the junior of the Protector, Wang Yuan. Today, Wang Yuan had won the final battle, becoming a major contributor to the Poshan Gang’s success, and everyone was willing to show him respect. Naturally, they extended this courtesy to Luo Chen as well.

The celebration banquet lasted late into the night.

When Mi Shuhua called for an internal meeting, Luo Chen knew better than to not attend.

Wang Yuan approached him and asked, “Are you heading back to the inner city, or staying at my place for the night?”

Was there even a need to ask? Who would walk the night roads at such an hour!

Although the outer district previously had patrols, now that the grand opening ceremony was over, it was said that the Golden Core Adept of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect would soon return to the sect. With this, whether the patrols in the outer city would continue was uncertain.

”Big Brother, go early and come back soon. Tonight, I’ll share a bed with you!”

”Scram!” Wang Yuan laughed and cursed before turning and walking away.

After he left, Luo Chen, led by one of the gang members, arrived at a residence belonging to Wang Yuan. ”Protector Wang doesn’t usually stay here. He only rests here occasionally when attending to internal gang matters.”

”Fellow Daoist, may I know your name?” Luo Chen smiled warmly at the man before him. The man’s cultivation level was not high, only at the fourth stage of Qi-Refining, even a stage lower than Luo Chen’s.

Such individuals, in the talent-filled Poshan Gang, were merely at the bottom tier, slightly better off than those early-stage Qi-Refining members in the outer circle.

”I’m Lu Yanzai.”

Luo Chen enthusiastically shook the man’s hands. ”Fellow Daoist Lu, a pleasure to meet you!”

Seemingly unaccustomed to such warmth from a cultivator, Lu Yanzai looked awkward, unsure whether to pull his hands back or leave them as they were. This was the only junior of Protector Wang!

No one had expected Wang Yuan, once relegated to handling the gang’s dirty work, to rise so quickly.

First, he had achieved remarkable feats during the conflict with the Dajiang Gang, then he was promoted to Protector. Now, he had even publicly killed a devil cultivator, earning instant fame. Even the Elite Prodigy Board established by the Debate Platform had a place for him.

Luo Chen didn’t prolong the awkwardness and quickly withdrew his hands.

As they walked, he began asking about the Poshan Gang’s situation.

”The Poshan Gang is thriving so well. You must be living quite comfortably! The glory belongs to Protector Wang and the Hall Leader Luo. We minor rogue cultivators just band together for a stable cultivation environment.”

”Don’t they organize regular hunts in the mountains? With experts to protect you, the harvests must be decent, right?”

”They’re okay, barely enough to make ends meet. But the demonic beasts in the mountains are extremely fierce. When we encounter second-tier beasts, the losses are often heavy. And if we’re unlucky enough to face a third-tier beast, it’s usually a complete wipeout.”

Luo Chen’s eyelid twitched as he listened.

So, the Poshan Gang wasn’t easy to deal with after all! The glory was reserved for the upper ranks, while the dangers were left for the juniors like him.

If he joined, he’d likely be roped into such tasks in the future. This wouldn’t do. While he wasn’t afraid of battle, it was only right to wait until his strength had grown. Then, he could focus on crushing those he could easily overpower—be it man or demonic beast.

Luo Chen did a quick analysis of his situation and felt increasingly awkward about it.

Wang Yuan was strong, but it was evident he had been keeping a low profile and hadn’t built up a loyal faction of his own. Others would show him respect and, by extension, occasionally give Luo Chen some face, but when real trouble arose, there would be no escaping involvement, morally or otherwise. If there were any internal conflicts within the gang, he’d likely end up as collateral damage.

Luo Chen was starting to regret coming here. However, his ability to find joy in hardship and his adaptable nature kept him grounded. Since he was already here, he might as well find something to benefit himself.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, I’ve always heard that the Poshan Gang has something called the Seven Tiger Halls in addition to the main headquarters?”

Lu Yanzai casually replied, “Yes, it’s divided into seven halls.”

“What’s the difference? Is it divided by people or by type of work?”

“Type of work?” Lu Yanzai blinked but quickly grasped the meaning of the term.

He smiled and explained, “There’s a division of labor. Three of the halls are responsible for combat, whether against people or demonic beasts. The other four are in charge of mining and transportation, medicinal material collection and processing, personnel and merits, and beast herding.”

Luo Chen’s eyes lit up!

So, in a cultivation gang, it wasn’t just about fighting and killing after all!