An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The chaos in Dahe Market had begun when Golden Core Adept, Pang Renxiong had returned.

The inaction of the enforcement team and the closure of the Debate Platform had only added fuel to the fire.

The discovery of the Golden Core Ruins and the bloodshed in the Ancient Plains had driven the situation to its peak.

Until a few days ago, when the Dajiang Gang, Lianyun Trade Alliance, and Xuanyi Society joined forces to eradicate the Poshan Gang in one fell swoop, bringing the chaos to its climax!

A great war involving thousands of cultivators had swept through over eighty percent of Dahe Market’s forces. It had shattered the peace of many lives.

Having reached its peak, the unrest was now inevitably beginning to decline. The large-scale battles were over.

Recently, the dominant theme in Dahe Market had shifted to the three major factions dividing up the remnants of the Poshan Gang.

However, the relationships between the three factions were far from harmonious, unlike their temporary unity when attacking the Poshan Gang. The underlying complexities were beyond ordinary comprehension, but under the weight of enormous profits, they had been laid bare.

The Dajiang Gang sought to seize control of the mountain forces in one stroke, expanding from their river trade into land-based businesses. However, the Lianyun Trade Alliance had no intention of relying on others this time. Operating from their local branch, they had dispatched a large number of Qi-Refining experts to intervene. Subtle friction had begun to surface between the two factions.

As for the once most imposing Xuanyi Society, their unity had proven to be mere surface-level. The five Foundation Establishment families that made up the Xuanyi Society had seen their internal conflicts escalate repeatedly during the division of the Poshan Gang’s assets.

For instance, the local Li family and the newly arrived Nangong family both had interests in spirit beast cultivation. One side primarily raised dragon horses for transportation, while the other bred Fu Zhu Deer and Yellow Cattle as spirit beasts. Both sides coveted the Poshan Gang’s Beast Hall resources, leading to repeated clashes.

Led by the young elites Li Ao and Nangong Qin, the two sides had been locked in a series of confrontations. The Nangong family held the upper hand in strength, but Nangong Qin had been injured during a clash with Qin Liangchen. As a result, he no longer held the same dominance when facing his peer, Li Ao. Compromise was an inevitable outcome.

Take the Duan family, renowned for their artifact forging. They naturally sought complete control over the Poshan Gang’s Mining Hall. This involved the ownership of several low-tier ore veins. With these veins, the Duan family’s forging capabilities would undoubtedly reach new heights.

However, there was a problem—too many eyes were set on the ore trade. Even sects! The Immortal Build Residence, backed by Ai Lao Mountain, and the Treasure Pavilion, supported by Tianfan City, had both started negotiating with the Duan family.

As a local cultivation family, the Duan family should have taken a tough stance. However, their founding ancestor, Duan Qiankun, was approaching the end of his lifespan, causing their foundation to waver.

Meanwhile, the remaining two families in the Xuanyi Society—the Fu and Chen families—found themselves in an even more awkward position. In name, they were Foundation Establishment families, but beyond the means to produce Foundation Establishment pills, they had no actual Foundation Establishment cultivators in their ranks.

Though their demands were modest, they still sought their share of the spoils. With Xuanyi Society divided, other local rogue cultivator factions were eager to snatch a piece of the pie. It could only be said that, with the Poshan Gang once acting as a towering banner, many had overlooked the smaller powers lurking within Dahe Market.

Some formed groups of three to five ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators, while others gathered late-stage cultivators into clusters. In any case, none of them seemed easy to provoke.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, a new faction called ”Luo Tian Society” gradually emerged before everyone’s eyes. According to reliable sources, the Luo Tian Society had not appeared out of nowhere. In reality, it was an alliance of rogue cultivators formed by a group of survivors from the former Poshan Gang.

Its president, Dan Chenzi, had been the Hall Leader of the Alchemy Hall—one of the nine halls under the Poshan Gang. The society also counted the granddaughter of the late Foundation Establishment Initiate, Mi Shuhua, among its members. It could be said that, whether in terms of leadership or bloodline ties to the Poshan Gang, Luo Tian Society had firmly secured its legitimacy.

After its emergence, Luo Tian Society did not participate in any resource disputes. Instead, they raised a banner, calling for the return of their former Poshan Gang brethren while welcoming other rogue cultivators to join them.

As for the offered benefits, they differed from other factions. It was said that joining Luo Tian Society not only guaranteed the standard compensation, but every late stage Qi-Refining cultivator would also receive a bottle of pills personally refined by Master Dan Chenzi each month.

It had to be admitted—the latter incentive was quite appealing.

Although many knew that Dan Chenzi’s Jade Essence pills mainly benefited early- and mid-stage Qi-Refining cultivators and were of little help to those in the late stage. But this was an additional bonus!

A single bottle could easily fetch forty to fifty low-grade spirit stones. Moreover, who could say for sure that the master alchemist wouldn’t eventually produce pills beneficial to late-stage cultivators?

For a time, many rogue cultivators grew restless.

However, it was merely restlessness. Everyone was still watching and waiting.

The Poshan Gang had been crushed by the three major factions. Would they now tolerate the emergence of a small group claiming to be its successor? Especially since this fledgling faction had no Foundation Establishment cultivator to back it up! In other words, they were no different from other minor rogue factions.

Many were waiting—to see if the three major factions would make a move. When that happened, Luo Tian Society might end up like countless other minor powers in Dahe Market—gone in the blink of an eye.

Whatever others thought, Luo Tian Society’s leadership paid it no mind. They had already begun their work. With Crescent Moon Valley as their base, they expanded their defensive structures—this task was overseen by Elder Duan Feng of the Battle Hall.

Deputy Hall Leader Granny Yuan was also busy. Under her guidance, the various spirit fields at the heart of Crescent Moon Valley center were being reorganized, while external purchases of medicinal herbs had also commenced. Additionally, a small herbal-gathering division was established, with plans to train a specialized group to venture into the mountains and collect rare herbs.

Several cultivators from the former Alchemy Hall and Medicine Hall were selected to resume their duties. Under the guidance of Gu Caiyi and Qu Hancheng, they began retraining in herb refinement techniques and the control of alchemical flames.

Apart from this, the most critical task was recruitment.

This was led by Murong Qinglian and the Merit Hall, and it was still ongoing.

***

”Lang Mu, former Battle Hall member, are you certain you want to join the Luo Tian Society?”

The cultivator asked hesitantly, ”Is what they’re saying about Luo Tian Society’s benefits true?”

Murong Qinglian smiled faintly. ”Of course, it’s true. It’s a condition personally added by the President.”

Upon hearing this, Lang Mu couldn’t help but smile. ”Then of course I’ll join!”

”Hall Leader Murong, you don’t know—ever since Poshan Gang fell, I’ve been wandering outside like a stray dog. Those small factions that used to respect me now curse me on sight. I can’t even walk down the street without fearing robbery. Now, I’ve finally found a place to belong!”

Listening to his grievances, Murong Qinglian gently noted his name in the register and asked about his strengths, so she could assign him an appropriate position.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon.

Gu Caiyi, who had mostly recovered, approached Murong Qinglian and noticed her troubled expression. ”Sister Qinglian, what’s wrong? Is the recruitment not going well?”

Murong Qinglian closed the register and gave a wry smile. ”How could it be going well? It’s been two days, and we’ve only brought back a dozen former Poshan Gang cultivators. Most of them are still mid stage Qi-Refining.”

Hearing this, Gu Caiyi could only sigh helplessly.

Right now, the Luo Tian Society was in ruins, practically starting from scratch. With the three major factions looming over them, many of the former Poshan Gang members were too afraid to return.

Back then, the Poshan Gang had boasted over twenty ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators, hundreds in the late stage, and thousands more in the early and mid-stages.

Even after the gang’s destruction, many experts must have survived.

Yet now, only a few have returned. The harsh reality was truly disheartening!

Gu Caiyi tried to console her. ”Don’t worry, Sister Qinglian. Luo Chen said we can take it slow. He’s given us a month to rebuild.”

”How can I not worry?” Murong Qinglian glanced around at the bustling Crescent Moon Valley. ”The Battle Hall and your Gold Hall are still empty shells. If we don’t expand soon, Luo Tian Society won’t function properly.”

The consequences of dysfunction were clear to both women. It meant the spirit stones would keep draining!

After all, Luo Tian Society’s starting funds amounted to only ten thousand low-grade spirit stones. If that ran out, Luo Chen would have to dig into his own pockets.

Gu Caiyi gritted her teeth. ”If it comes to it, I’ll help you recruit too!”

”Where would you recruit from?” Murong Qinglian asked curiously.

Before Gu Caiyi could respond, a bold male voice echoed from the distant sky.

”The Poshan Gang’s Battle Hall Master, Zeng Wen returns!”

Murong Qinglian froze momentarily, then looked up. A man in white robes descended from the sky, chest puffed and belly tucked in, looking proud.

He landed with steady steps, like an immortal descending to the mortal world! His appearance was decent, and his entrance was loud enough to draw the attention of many cultivators in Crescent Moon Valley.

”However, the two women, knowing his true nature, exchanged speechless glances. ”You’re not dead yet?”

Zeng Wen had just landed but stumbled immediately. The belly he had tucked in puffed right back out. ”Murong, can’t you hope for something good for me?”

Murong Qinglian rolled her eyes. ”Don’t think I don’t know. Tang Quan told me yesterday—you were fine that night. After escaping, you hid in Tianxiang Tower. It’s been days now; I bet you’ve burned through all your spirit stones!”

Zeng Wen’s face flushed. ”How can you slander me like that? I still have a few spirit stones left!”

”Fellow Daoist Zeng, spending the night at Tianxiang Tower isn’t cheap!” Gu Caiyi covered her mouth, giggling.

”Alright...” Zeng Wen slumped his shoulders, looking dejected. ”I heard Fellow Daoist Luo Chen offers good pay, so I came back. Gotta make a living.

”Any positions left? Something with good perks? I heard the Battle Hall Master’s seat is open—I’m quite experienced!”

Experienced in fleeing the battlefield, right?

”Pah! Get lost!” Murong Qinglian spat at him, and Zeng Wen had no choice but to stand aside.

”Straighten your shoulders. You’re the first ninth stage Qi-Refining expert to return. Show off that grandeur from earlier—let everyone admire you.

”Hey, why are your legs trembling?”

They were clearly planning to use Zeng Wen as a symbol. After all, he had once made a name for himself on the Debate Platform. Within the Poshan Gang and even Dahe Market, he had some renown. His return, in a way, represented the acknowledgment of Luo Tian Society by some of the former veterans.

Zeng Wen naturally understood this. He wasn’t embarrassed and took the initiative to make himself visible.

Occasionally, he would chat with Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi. ”How many have come back?

”Tch, tch. Look, I didn’t flee the battlefield, alright? You guys don’t know. I was sipping wine, munching celestial beans, and discussing the Great Dao with a female cultivator. Then, out of nowhere, a group of ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators stormed in. How was I supposed to fight that?

”Poor Old Tie... He had just advanced to the ninth stage of Qi-Refining, and they smashed him to death. Yang Wei was unlucky too. He was injured in the Ancient Plains and hadn’t even recovered when his entire hall was wiped out.

”I heard Wang Yuan had it the worst. That Broken Blade Xu Renke—he’s not dead! He teamed up with two top experts to ambush Wang Yuan. They say that battle saw treasure fragments, top-grade enchanted artifacts, and blood-inherited treasures. They trashed Qingjiang Long Street and even a whole pier.

”Who knows if Wang Yuan is still alive?

”That Broken Blade Xu Renke... He’d better be dead. If I run into him, I’ll skin him alive.”

At the mention of Xu Renke, everyone’s expressions darkened. That man had supposedly died on the Debate Platform back then—only to fake his death.

He had even turned around and struck at the Poshan Gang.

”By the way, where’s Old Qin?” Zeng Wen asked cautiously. ”I heard the Nangong family put a kill order on him, but then suddenly retracted it. What happened? What did he do?”

What had Qin Liangchen done?

At the Battle of the Green Hemp Forest, Qin Liangchen had unleashed a deadly move compensated to him by the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion. He had killed ten Nangong family cultivators on the spot, causing them heavy losses. Even Nangong Qin, the top Qi-Refining genius of Dahe Market’s younger generation, had been seriously injured. It was no wonder that the Nangong family had been furious.

However, that kill order was a joke. Luo Tian Society had Miao Wen’s backing. One word from him, and the Nangong family had no choice but to swallow their anger. Furthermore, Qin Liangchen’s son was a disciple of the Luoyun Sect. With his future uncertain, the Nangong family dared not push things too far.

If they had secretly killed him back then, it would’ve been another matter. But issuing an open kill order had been a blatant slap in the face.

Murong Qinglian explained that situation to Zeng Wen in a hushed voice.

After hearing it, Zeng Wen was stunned. Finally, he spoke with a complex tone. ”As expected... I’m not as good as him.”

If their positions were reversed, would he have risked everything to save Murong Qinglian? Even though he didn’t want to admit it, Zeng Wen knew the answer in his heart.

Back then, his Battle Hall had been the strongest among the three, with three ninth stage Qi-Refining experts, including himself.

Their trip to the Ancient Plains had not caused them much loss. Under siege by four ninth stage Qi-Refining experts, if he had fought to the death, perhaps he could have turned the tide.

But he had chosen the wise path. He had fled, whether it was right or wrong, it was hard to judge.

But humans... sometimes, they just lacked that breath of courage.

Suddenly, Murong Qinglian halted their conversation.

Three figures descended upon Crescent Moon Valley.

”Fellow Daoists, is Luo Tian Society still recruiting rogue cultivators?”

”You’re all at the ninth stage of Qi-Refining?” Murong Qinglian asked in surprise. ”How should I address you?”

The leading woman smiled gently and cupped her hands in a respectful salute.

”I am Sima Huiniang. You may simply call me Huiniang.”