An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Sick Tiger Zeng Wen.

He had always been an anomaly within the Poshan Gang. Despite holding the prestigious title of a hall leader, he had shirked responsibility for years.

Due to injuries from his youth that dashed his hopes of advancing his cultivation, he spent his time indulging in pleasure houses, lingering in the company of courtesans. When he ran out of spirit stones, he would simply head into the mountains alone to hunt. He rarely formed alliances with others, living as a solitary figure.

Had it not been for his impressive performance at the Debate Platform and the deaths of three hall leaders, he would never have returned to Poshan Gang to take on the role of one of the three battle hall leaders.

At this moment, faced with the inquiry from the Foundation Establishment cultivator. He shrugged nonchalantly and said, ”Do you want to hear a lie or the truth?”

Mi Shuhua’s expression darkened slightly. ”What difference does it make?”

”The lie would be that I had a great time, so much so that I could barely walk and almost crawled out of the building.”

”And the truth?”

”The truth is, there’s been a personnel shake-up at Tianxiang Tower. The girls I liked either went back to Hehuan Sect or quit the trade entirely. The new female cultivators have no sense of propriety, bombarding me with Hehuan Sect charm spells as if spirit energy didn’t matter. My old bones can’t handle such torment. I truly almost couldn’t walk out today.”

So, whether it was the truth or a lie, it all ended with him barely making it out?

”Enough nonsense.” Mi Shuhua took a deep breath and said, ”The gang is establishing an Alchemy Hall, which concerns everyone’s future gains. You’re a hall leader—give your opinion.”

Zeng Wen lounged on his chair and spread his hands upon hearing this. ”You’re asking for my opinion? Well, of course, I think it’s a great idea!”

”Uh?”

”Fellow Daoist Luo is my most beloved brother. If he’s going to refine pills for us, then we must add more spirit stones!”

After speaking, he winked at Luo Chen, ”When will you refine a top-grade Myriad Wonders pill? I’ve suffered under those enchantresses from Tianxiang Tower for too long!”

Luo Chen clasped his hands in a formal gesture, looking righteous. ”How could this junior not give his all? I will surely help fellow daoists shatter the charms of the Hehuan Sect!”

Watching this back-and-forth exchange, Mi Shuhua couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. ”Fine, twenty percent shares then. It’s just a few dozen spirit stones. Being so calculating makes us cultivators seem far too worldly.”

Hehe, as if you weren’t the one being nitpicky! That thought flashed through everyone’s mind.

Then, under everyone’s expectant gazes, Luo Chen took his seat once again.

From this moment, Poshan Gang had its ninth hall—the Alchemy Hall!

With the overall direction decided, the discussion moved on to specific details.

The location of the Alchemy Hall had already been chosen, and construction was nearly complete. Mi Shuhua even provided a first-tier medium-sized array formation to protect the hall from demonic beast attacks.

As for the personnel to be assigned to the Alchemy Hall, Sikong Shoujia listed them one by one for him. As for why this uninvolved elder was explaining everything to Luo Chen, it was because he would also be stationed at the Alchemy Hall, serving as its steward.

Luo Chen could only chuckle with a thought. An elder and a steward? What exactly are you trying to do?

Without delay, he brought up Gu Caiyi’s inclusion into the gang.

Qin Liangchen and his wife vouched for her, confirming her background was clean and trustworthy. This point passed without any resistance.

However, when it came to assigning Gu Caiyi to the Alchemy Hall, Mi Junping frowned and refused.

Once again, it was Zeng Wen who spoke up for Luo Chen, lending him a hand. ”Gu Caiyi is well-known across Dahe Market, a celebrated dancer admired by all. He added with a tinge of tease,”If she joins the Poshan Gang and the Alchemy Hall, she would undoubtedly be a golden asset. Little Ping’er, are you an idiot to push her away?”

Mi Junping was furious and began to settle accounts with Zeng Wen. This month, because of his neglect, how many people in his hall had died or been injured, and how many spirit stones had the gang lost because of it?

Zeng Wen responded with a cheerful smile, casually saying they’d get through this month and discuss it later.

This was the reward promised by Old Man Mi when he agreed to join the deathmatch. As his daughter, it’s hardly her place to question it, right?

As the meeting was about to adjourn, Luo Chen, who had been quiet for a long time, spoke up again. ”Gang Leader, will you really give me two enchanted artifacts?”

Mi Shuhua was stunned. ”Wasn’t it just one?”

”You said either one or two! Are we negotiating discounts now?” Luo Chen wore an expression of pure innocence, his clear eyes filled with anticipation.

***

”A mid-grade enchanted robe, equipped with a cleansing array to repel dust. It also features a Water Shield, capable of withstanding one attack from a late stage Qi-Refining cultivator.

”A high-grade enchanted artifact, the Cloud-Stepping Boots, with three engraved arrays that are essentially the same. You know the Wind-Control, right?” Qin Liangchen inspected the items and handed them back to Luo Chen.

Beaming with joy, Luo Chen immediately put them on. He didn’t care if they were second-hand. Now, he had truly upgraded his equipment; everything he wore or used was at least mid-grade.

If he added the mid-grade jade blade and the high-grade Soul-Breaking Nail he already owned...

Tsk, tsk! Such possessions made him unparalleled among mid stage Qi-Refining cultivators.

Watching this, Qin Liangchen couldn’t help but sigh.

As expected, Mi Shuhua clearly didn’t lack enchanted artifacts. Yet after his hard-earned victory at the Debate Platform deathmatch, he was only given a single gold-needle artifact, which wasn’t even convenient to use.

Surely it wasn’t because he had damaged Mi Shuhua’s supreme-grade defensive robe that he was being stingy with enchanted artifacts? Or was it because he had lost a hand and was seen as having no future, so Mi Shuhua was unwilling to invest in him?

Just like how Mi Shuhua ignored Zeng Wen after he was injured back then.

Speaking of Zeng Wen, he arrived. His steps were unsteady, and his face was pale.

Murong Qinglian saw this and said, ”Zeng Wen, you need to take care of yourself!”

Zeng Wen was deeply moved. ”Murong, you’re the only one who truly cares about me. Anyway, your husband has already lost a hand and has no future. Why don’t you come with me? I promise to...”

”Get the hell out of here! As far away as possible!” Qin Liangchen was furious and kicked him hard.

Zeng Wen grabbed Luo Chen and made a hasty escape, leaving the husband and wife behind, one shouting and the other trying to calm things down.

”Why are you so worked up about him? Weren’t you two on good terms back then?”

”Good my foot! He was always thinking about you. Every time I saw him, I beat him up.”

”Oh, you! Our son is so grown up now, yet you’re still fussing with him.”

***

”Fellow Daoist Little Luo, I have a secret matter to discuss. Do you have any stock?”

”Yes, I have Myriad Wonders pills. Large bottles, mid-grade!”

”Then I’ll take a medium bottle.”

”Teacher Zeng, it’s not medium; it’s a large bottle, mid-grade.”

”Uh, whatever. Just give me ten bottles. I must turn things around!”

One hand handed over the money; the other delivered the goods.

Zeng Wen left with his head held high, striding proudly, no longer pale and weak.

Luo Chen looked at the fifty spirit stones in his hand and couldn’t help but feel emotional. ”Zeng Wen is truly my best customer. I even offered him a discount.

”But he insisted on paying the full price, saying the Myriad Wonders pills were more effective than before and that it wouldn’t be fair to shortchange a fellow daoist.”

Just as Luo Chen was reflecting, Wang Yuan appeared ahead, seemingly having waited for some time.

He glanced at Luo Chen, then turned and walked away.

Luo Chen immediately scurried after him.

Before long, the quiet chamber was filled with a stillness.

”I didn’t realize you were already capable of refining mid-grade pills,” Wang Yuan mocked.

Luo Chen scratched his head. ”Well, I figured you were focused on your cultivation and wouldn’t need such things. Of course, if you do need them, I’ve got plenty for you!”

”Nonsense!” Wang Yuan scolded him and then let out a sigh.

”If I had known you could refine mid-grade pills, I wouldn’t have let you return to Poshan Gang with me back then.”

Luo Chen put away his usual carefree grin and shook his head. ”This isn’t your fault, Brother Wang. As long as I aim to earn spirit stones for cultivation, I’d eventually get noticed. If not by Poshan Gang, then by Dajiang Gang, the Li family, the Nangong family, the Duan family, or even the Golden Core sects and the Six Major Sects.”

The first part moved Wang Yuan.Yet, he felt a bit off on the latter part. You think those Golden Core sects or the Six Major Sects would notice you? Of course, he still gave some affirming encouragement.

Wang Yuan’s gaze softened. ”So, what’s your plan now?”

”Since I’m already here, I’ll make the most of it. You achieved the eighth stage of Qi-Refining in Poshan Gang, and Brother Qin and the others reached the ninth stage. Why shouldn’t I be able to as well?”

His words carried a bold and unyielding aura, as if he could conquer mountains and rivers.

Seeing this, Wang Yuan refrained from offering further consolation.

After showing his resolute heart, Luo Chen looked at Wang Yuan curiously. ”You specifically called me here just to apologize? There’s no need for such formalities between us brothers.”

Wang Yuan remained silent.

Luo Chen’s interest was piqued. ”There really is something, huh? Brother Wang, you’ve always helped me before. Just say what you need.”

Wang Yuan’s stoic face revealed no emotion. It was hard to tell whether he was just unreadable or if his body cultivation had thickened his skin.

In silence, Wang Yuan pulled out a piece of beast hide.

Curious, Luo Chen took it and looked closely. ”Huh, a pill recipe?”

As Luo Chen scanned the recipe, he casually remarked, ”A pill recipe as a gift for me? You truly are a great brother. Wait a second, something feels off here. Why are all the ingredients from the same category? Isn’t it important to balance medicinal properties?”

Muttering to himself, Luo Chen read quickly, almost skimming ten lines at a glance.

When he finished skimming the recipe, Luo Chen furrowed his brows tightly. As he flipped to the last page, he blurted out, ”A second-tier pill recipe?”