An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The man wielded a broken blade, with only the hilt remaining, and grinned ferociously. ”Little Wang, you didn’t really think that useless Gao Tingyuan could kill me, did you?”

Broken Blade Xu Renke!

A man who was supposed to have died on the Debate Platform had now returned to Dahe Market, alive and well. Not only that, but he had also betrayed the Poshan Gang and joined the Dajiang Gang.

If it had been any other Qi-Refining cultivator, Wang Yuan wouldn’t have spared them a glance. But Broken Blade Xu Renke was no ordinary Qi-Refining cultivator. His battle experience was at least on par with Wang Yuan’s.

Back when Poshan Gang had no elder positions, the two of them stood side by side as the two great protectors. Yet, they had never truly fought each other.

Xu Renke had always flattered Wang Yuan in public, saying that Wang Yuan was on equal footing with him. But Wang Yuan knew very well that when it came to conventional Qi-Refining battles, Xu Renke was far superior.

Especially that broken blade in his hand—it was a fragment of an enchanted treasure. Though it could only unleash a single strike, its power far exceeded that of supreme-grade enchanted artifacts, rivaling even talisman treasures or blood-inherited treasures.

Back on the Debate Platform, it had been used once, instantly destroying Gao Tingyuan’s death-substituting puppet.

Wang Yuan didn’t know why Xu Renke had faked his death back then, pretending to lose to Gao Tingyuan. Nor did he know how Xu Renke had managed to fool the Sword Pavilion’s cultivators and escape undetected.

All he knew was that today’s battle spelled grave danger for him.

Because the two ninth-stage Qi-Refining cultivators standing beside Xu Renke were no nobodies either.

Yang Rusheng, a famous rogue cultivator from Tianye Market. On the Debate Platform, he had effortlessly slain the Leaping Tiger, Yuan Wuxiang. His wealth was immense, and he possessed many mid-grade enchanted artifacts.

The last man had even made a name for himself on the Dahe Elite Prodigy Board, ranking among the top ten long before the Debate Platform had closed. A rumored cultivation prodigy from the declining Chen family, once a Foundation Establishment family. Many believed he stood a strong chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment himself—perhaps even restoring his family’s long-lost prestige.

Wang Yuan narrowed his eyes. ”I didn’t expect I’d be important enough for you to send a lineup like this just to take me down.”

Yang Rusheng chuckled. ”You’re giving yourself too much credit. The ones at the top don’t care that much about you.”

Wang Yuan froze for a moment before his expression shifted. ”Luo Chen!”

Yang Rusheng smirked. ”Ah, so you do have some self-awareness.”

With a sharp swish, a longsword slashed through the air. Chen Haoran wasted no words, raising two fingers and giving a low shout.

”Kill!”

Wang Yuan didn’t even glance at the flying sword hurtling toward him—his gaze remained locked on Crescent Moon Valley, hundreds of li away.

Then, without a word, he opened his mouth and took in a deep, thunderous breath.

In the blink of an eye, his body expanded, swelling to over half again its original size until he stood nearly ten zhang tall. Beneath his battle-worn armor, his skin turned a ghostly, translucent white, faint outlines of bones shimmering beneath the surface—pure and smooth as polished jade.

He slowly drew back his shoulders before throwing a punch. A vast, invisible force surged outward like a tidal wave.

Boom!

The flying sword was blasted back in the opposite direction, as though struck by a hammer of solid iron.

In midair, Chen Haoran, who had carried himself moments ago with the poise of an elite, suddenly flushed with an unnatural hue.

”Something’s wrong! Attack now!”

In the sky, Yang Rusheng and Xu Renke’s expressions shifted slightly.

Before they could make a move, Wang Yuan stomped down with one foot from the rooftop.

Bang!

The mansion beneath his feet instantly collapsed into ruins. Like an arrow released from its bow, he shot straight at Chen Haoran.

His black eyes gleamed with a ferocity and madness akin to a savage beast. ”Then let’s fight!”

***

”Are you alright?”

Cough, cough, I’m fine.” Gu Caiyi coughed twice and smiled bitterly. ”I really lack combat experience. Even with Elder Sikong’s warning and Sister Qinglian blocking most of the attacks, I still reacted too slowly.

”If it weren’t for the top-grade defensive enchanted artifact Fei Bowen gave me, I probably wouldn’t have made it back alive this time.”

Luo Chen had never interacted with Fei Bowen directly. But the contractor had always been exceptionally generous, never once expecting anything in return for what he gave.

Although Luo Chen hadn’t thought much of him before, and though he was now dead...

At this moment, Luo Chen had to admit—he was a good man.

”Take this!” A pill was handed to Gu Caiyi.

Gu Caiyi took it, curious. ”What kind of pill is this?”

”Laurel pill, a specialty from Snow Lotus Market. It can temporarily suppress a cultivator’s injuries.”

Gu Caiyi had heard of the pill before, and since it came from Luo Chen, she swallowed it without hesitation.

Seeing this, Luo Chen let out a breath of relief.

Speaking of which, this Laurel pill had originally been in Lu Huaiben’s storage pouch—the man who had led the ambush against him.

Unfortunately for Lu Huaiben, he never got the chance to use it. Because the one who captured him alive had been the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Mi Shuhua.

After taking over his belongings, Luo Chen had kept a few of the pills and later identified them through several visits to the Spirit Herb Pavilion.

He had given one to Gu Caiyi and kept two for himself, just in case.

”There might be another battle later. With this pill, you’ll have some strength to protect yourself.”

A soft white glow shimmered across Gu Caiyi’s face, and when it faded, a healthy flush returned to her delicate cheeks.

She stood up and took a few steps, feeling her spirit energy flow smoothly once more. It was as if the severe injuries that had knocked her unconscious had never happened. Yet, hearing Luo Chen’s words, she still felt a lingering fear.

”Maybe, but those ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators outside are far too strong. I won’t be able to hold them off.

”Luo Chen, you’re only at the seventh stage of Qi-Refining. Be careful!”

Even now, Luo Chen maintained the effects of the Spirit Suppression. With his Spirit Suppression in Perfected Mastery, he had reached the pinnacle of concealing his spirit energy and masking his cultivation realm within the Qi-Refining Realm.

Even when using small-scale enchanted artifacts or activating the primordial pearl, he wouldn’t expose his true realm. This was far beyond what he had been capable of before.

Luo Chen didn’t bother to explain his real cultivation realm. He simply gave a soft hum in acknowledgment and reminded Gu Caiyi to prioritize her own safety.

As he reached the cliffside platform, Sikong Shoujia, Murong Qinglian, and Granny Yuan were deep in discussion with Zhou Yuanli about their defenses.

Worry was evident on all their faces.

Seeing Luo Chen approach, Sikong Shoujia hesitated before asking, ”Did you take all the Jade Essence pills from the pill chamber?”

”If I don’t put them away, am I supposed to just let them be destroyed during the fight?” Luo Chen shot him a glare, his words leaving the other man speechless.

”Hall Leader!” A voice rang through.

Hmm? Luo Chen followed the voice and saw Zhou Yuanli hesitating. ”What’s wrong?”

”Reinforcements have been dispatched.”

”Isn’t that good news?” Luo Chen was confused. With reinforcements on the way, they should be relieved so why did Zhou Yuanli look like this?

Zhou Yuanli gritted his teeth and said, ”It’s not the three main battle halls’ experts, nor Elder Wang Yuan. The reinforcements are led by Sikong Yuanhong and consist of Mi family cultivators and none of them are at the ninth stage of Qi-Refining.”

Hearing that his son was personally leading the group, Sikong Shoujia was instantly shocked.

That foolish boy! What is he doing here?! Couldn’t he just stay safely in the Mi family?!

”Additionally, the Gang Leader has sent someone to summon Elder Qin Liangchen. He should arrive soon.”

That was to be expected. Luo Chen cast a glance at Murong Qinglian, noting the subtle way her shoulders relaxed at the news. To her, there was no doubt—her man was the most dependable person in the world.

Suddenly, Luo Chen’s expression darkened.

”You’re saying none of the three major battle halls’ experts are coming, the Main Hall isn’t sending reinforcements, and even Wang Yuan from Water-Dragon Hall won’t be coming?”

Zhou Yuanli let out a bitter laugh. ”Correct!”

Through Luo Chen’s emphasis, Sikong Shoujia, Murong Qinglian, and Gu Caiyi, who had just approached, immediately realized something.

”As expected, this siege was planned in advance!” Luo Chen said gravely. ”I bet by now, the other halls are also under heavy assault!”

It was a simple deduction. If Luo Chen and the others could figure it out, and the Poshan Gang could anticipate it, then there was no way the attacking Dajiang Gang wouldn’t have considered it.

With the advantage of the first move, they could have prepared thoroughly.

”More importantly,” Luo Chen’s gaze swept over the group as he spoke slowly, ”Dajiang Gang alone wouldn’t be capable of launching a full-scale siege on the Poshan Gang.”

Sikong Shoujia cursed. ”Could it be that the Lianyun Trade Alliance is colluding with the Dajiang Gang again?”

”Perhaps... but I suspect it’s even more than that.”

Hmm? Sikong Shoujia froze.

Luo Chen withdrew his gaze from the distance and looked at the old man. ”Among the five major Foundation Establishment families in Dahe Market, besides the Duan, Li, and Nangong families, there are also the Chen and Fu families, correct?”

Sikong Shoujia’s mouth fell open, his face turning deathly pale.

”With your vast experience, you should know a lot of people. Tell me, an individual wielding a massive golden melon hammer, with a broad forehead, a round face, and a pair of prominent fan-like ears—which family does he belong to?”

”The Fu family! That’s Fu Zhang, the current Fu family head!” Sikong Shoujia blurted out without hesitation.

Luo Chen nodded. ”Then it seems the Fu family has joined the battle as well.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Sikong Shoujia froze in place, stunned.

The Fu family might not have a Foundation Establishment Grand Elder and were considered the weakest among the five major families—but their strength was nothing to scoff at. They specialized in talisman crafting, and within Dahe Market, they thrived like fish in water, their influence growing steadily with each passing year.

If not for the presence of the Divine Talisman Pavilion keeping them in check, they would have monopolized the entire talisman market by now.

And if even the Fu family had entered the conflict... could the other four families be far behind?

If that were true, then with the Poshan Gang already weakened from the ruins of conflict, how could they possibly stand against such an overwhelming force?

As he stood there in a daze, a calm and steady voice reached his ears. ”Caiyi, brew some tea.”

Gu Caiyi froze for a moment. Seeing that Luo Chen had already seated himself at the stone table, she could only pull out a tea set and start boiling water.

Sikong Shoujia swallowed hard, staring fixedly at Luo Chen. ”Why aren’t you the least bit worried?”