An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Finally, Luo Chen mentioned the matter of reattaching Qin Liangchen’s severed limb.

Miao Wen frowned and asked, ”Was there not even a trace of flesh left behind?”

Luo Chen sighed and said, ”Yes, he fought without holding anything back in that battle.”

Miao Wen pondered and said, ”That makes sense. After all, he’s not from my Sword Sect. He wouldn’t know how to control that lethal technique.”

Miao Wen thought for a moment. Qin Liangchen was indeed a capable man. Restoring his strength would allow him to safeguard the Luo Tian Society.

Miao Wen shook his head and said, ”Reattaching a real arm might not be possible.”

Luo Chen felt a pang of disappointment. Even the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect couldn’t do it?

Suddenly, he caught the implied meaning behind those words.

Testing the waters, Luo Chen asked, ”A fake one, then?”

Miao Wen smiled faintly and said, ”Yes. That’s not difficult, but you’ll need to cover the cost of materials yourself.” He added, ”Oh, and one more thing—the process might be extremely painful. You’ll need to have Qin Liangchen mentally prepared for it.”

As long as he could get a new arm, Qin Liangchen would surely agree. Hence, Luo Chen immediately agreed on his behalf.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Miao Wen suddenly brought something up. ”If you’re free the day after tomorrow, accompany me to a funeral.”

Luo Chen was surprised and asked, ”A funeral? Whose?”

Miao Wen smiled faintly and said, ”Who do you think?”

With that, Miao Wen stood up, his smile lingering.

In that instant, Luo Chen’s expression finally showed an unexpected change.

Miao Wen was very satisfied and left without another word.

Two days later, Luo Chen brought Mi Li and the one-armed Qin Liangchen with him, following Miao Wen deep into the mountains.

Jueyun Mountain!

Upon stepping into the area, Luo Chen glanced over at Qin Liangchen.

Understanding his unspoken question, Qin Liangchen explained, ”The Poshan Gang had set up many outposts throughout the Ancient Plains Mountain Range, to facilitate hunting, gathering herbs, and mining. Additionally, there were a few spots that seemed dangerous but were actually safe havens.

Jueyun Mountain is widely rumored to be extremely dangerous, with second-tier demonic beasts like the Bloodthirst Crocodile and the Black Marsh Python dwelling within. But in reality, there is a small Magnetic Essence Valley here, and very few demonic beasts step foot into it.

”When Old Man Mi discovered this place back in the day, he designated it as a safe zone. Only a handful of us whom he trusted knew about it.”

Magnetic Essence Valley!

Hearing that name, Luo Chen finally understood why it had been chosen as a safe zone.

Magnetic Essence Power was said to suppress all five elements under heaven!

Any place with a significant presence of Magnetic Essence Power was unsuitable for cultivation and habitation.

Though Jueyun Mountain was teeming with powerful demonic beasts, a Magnetic Essence Valley would indeed be the safest haven within it. After all, all demonic beasts were bound by the Yin-Yang and Five Elements. Their natural aversion would instinctively keep them away from the Magnetic Essence Valley.

Flying ahead, Miao Wen naturally overheard Qin Liangchen’s explanation.

Miao Wen chuckled and said, ”Indeed. If it weren’t for the Golden Core Ruins struggle, where Fellow Daoist Mi used this place to escape pursuit from demonic beasts and enemies, I likely wouldn’t have discovered this backup plan of his.

”But what a pity. When I personally examined it, I found only a thin layer of Magnetic Essence Ore. It’s of little use. Otherwise, just possessing a Magnetic Essence Ore would have been enough to let me return to the sect and become an elder.”

Magnetic Essence Ore was extremely valuable; even the lowest quality was considered third-tier mineral material.

However, Magnetic Essence Ore was also nearly worthless if not in substantial quantities.

Magnetic Essence Power existed naturally in many environments. But aside from large mines, no one usually bothered collecting the scattered traces of Magnetic Essence Power.

As they conversed, the four of them ventured deeper into Jueyun Mountain.

The occasional roars of demonic beasts echoed through the forest. From time to time, a powerful aura would sweep past, making the three Qi-Refining cultivators turn pale with fear.

Even Miao Wen had put away his smile, his expression turning grim. So this so-called safe zone wasn’t all that safe after all!

The journey to get here had already been riddled with dangers.

Mi Li hid behind Luo Chen, her pale little face betraying both her unease and anticipation.

There are still survivors from the Mi family!

After the time it took to brew a pot of tea, the four of them halted above a lush, forested gorge.

Miao Wen merely took one glance before smiling.

Luo Chen immediately looked down as well.

At first glance, there was nothing out of the ordinary. But when he activated his Spirit Eyes, he quickly noticed something amiss.

All those trees were dead! They had merely been preserved with special techniques to appear lifelike.

Amidst the dead forest, a formation concealed what lay beneath.

Mi Shuhua truly had some remarkable methods.

Miao Wen spoke, ”Let’s go down. Little Mi Li should offer a stick of incense for her grandfather.”

With those words, he dissipated the cloud they stood upon, and the four of them descended swiftly.

As they passed through the forest of deadwood, it felt as though a ripple of water brushed over their bodies.

The next moment, the sound of weeping drifted into their ears.

”Who’s there?” a harsh voice called out.

A stern shout rang out. What followed was a flurry of panic and commotion.

Miao Wen waved his wide sleeve and cupped his hands. ”An old friend has come uninvited, merely to offer incense to a departed comrade!”

***

An old friend!

”Miao Steward!” A voice filled with astonishment rang out from the person in the valley with the highest cultivation realm.

Sikong Yuanhong!

Luo Chen was surprised—this man was still alive?

He had heard later that it was the Li family from the Xuanyi Society who had been the main force responsible for the slaughter of the Mi family. The ambush had spilled so much blood that it had nearly dyed the entire Yinma Ford red.

The leader of that massacre had been Sikong Yuanhong fighting on top of the Mi family. By all rights, he shouldn’t have survived!

Sikong Yuanhong’s expression shifted between suspicion and unease as he pushed past the others, approaching Miao Wen with great deference.

He bowed deeply and greeted him, ”This junior greets Steward Miao.”

Miao Wen curled his lips but said nothing, his gaze sweeping over the others present.

There weren’t many—only about twenty to thirty in total. Most of them were at the early or mid-stages of Qi-Refining, with a few ordinary mortals among them.

Subtly, they all seemed to regard Sikong Yuanhong, that Mi family live-in son-in-law, as their leader.

Miao Wen slowly spoke, ”You’ve had a hard time.” With both hands tucked into his sleeves, Miao Wen stepped past Sikong Yuanhong, who remained bent in a bow.

As he walked forward, he continued, ”To have gathered these surviving members of the Mi family—your efforts are commendable. I believe that if Fellow Daoist Mi knew of this from the netherworld, he would be deeply comforted.”

Suddenly, his steps halted.

Miao Wen’s gaze landed upon the freshly carved gravestone beneath the monument.

Sikong Yuanhong had been about to say something when his eyes suddenly widened.

He instinctively stretched out his hand. ”No!”

However, the other party paid him no heed.

Miao Wen gave a low shout, ”An old friend has come. Why not come out and meet him?” A surge of immense spirit power erupted, pushing all the members of the Mi family aside.

More than that, the main force of it lifted the gravestone, directly unearthing the coffin beneath it.

Standing behind Luo Chen, Mi Li let out a heart-wrenching cry, ”Grandfather!”

Luo Chen frowned slightly and took a quiet step back. Judging by Miao Wen’s words... could it be that Mi Shuhua isn’t actually dead?

Thud!

The coffin lid was flipped open. There was no body inside, only a pile of luxurious clothing.

Miao Wen glanced at it, then turned around. ”A cenotaph?”

Sikong Yuanhong’s face flushed with shame as he said, ”We did not recover the Gang Leader’s remains. We had no choice but to erect a cenotaph.”

Miao Wen frowned and smacked his lips. ”I see...”

Then, he glanced at the two dozen or so members of the Mi family and shook his head. ”In that case, there’s no point in keeping you around.”

In the next moment, a sword light shot out from his mouth.

In the blink of an eye, it sliced through the air.

Sssht! Sssht! Sssht!

By the time the sword light returned to his hand in the form of a golden bead, all the mourning members of the Mi family collapsed to the ground one after another.

All of them were dead.

Even Sikong Yuanhong had perished beneath that sword orb. The Sikong family had been wiped out—forever.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator had launched a sudden attack—and he was a sword cultivator! Who could have reacted in time?

The abruptness of it all left Luo Chen, Mi Li, and Qin Liangchen utterly unprepared.

Why?!

Miao Wen swallowed the sword orb and strolled leisurely. ”Curious?”

Luo Chen couldn’t help but ask, ”But... isn’t he already dead?”

Miao Wen nodded. ”He is indeed dead. But there was no corpse. Even all his enchanted treasures disappeared.”

Luo Chen furrowed his brows. ”Couldn’t it be that the ones who besieged him divided up his treasures?”

Miao Wen nodded again. ”That is possible. Which is why there was no need to keep these Mi family survivors around.”

What kind of logic is that?! Luo Chen was baffled.

But Miao Wen had already stepped up to them, his gaze burning as he fixed his eyes on Mi Li, who stood behind Luo Chen.

”She should die too,” Miao Wen said.

”No!” Qin Liangchen’s voice rang out in a firm shout.

However, when Miao Wen turned his gaze toward him, Qin Liangchen realized what he had just said. Cold sweat soaked his back without him noticing, and he instinctively took a step back.

However, Miao Wen did not get angry.

Instead, he smiled pleasantly and turned his gaze toward Luo Chen.

”What do you think, Luo Chen?” Miao Wen asked.

Luo Chen opened his mouth slightly, his mind racing. Mi Li was indeed of little use. Her cultivation realm was merely at the fourth stage of Qi-Refining, and after all this time, she had only managed to master the crafting of fasting concoction.

As the last bloodline of the Poshan Gang, her role in rallying the old members had weakened significantly over the past half month. The ones who had returned were far from loyal; most of them had come back for him, not for her.

Killing her would be the proper choice—to eliminate any future troubles!

But Mi Li was just a weak woman; she had never done anything wrong. She had harmed no one, nor had she ever caused any offense. She had always worked in the Alchemy Hall, and she was under his command—both in the past and the future.

By reason, I ought to protect her. Killing her served no purpose, and keeping her posed no harm—especially since the last branch of the Mi family had now been wiped out.

But if I insisted on keeping her, would it offend Miao Wen, this Foundation Establishment cultivator?

One thought after another surfaced in Luo Chen’s mind.

Qin Liangchen stared at him anxiously, afraid he would say ”kill,” yet equally afraid he would say ”don’t kill.” If she was killed, the Mi family would truly be extinct.

Luo Chen had complicated feelings about Mi Shuhua, and so did Qin Liangchen.

After all, the man had been kind to him!

But if she was spared, he feared Luo Chen would offend Miao Wen.

Just moments ago, Miao Wen had slaughtered all the surviving members of the Mi family with a smile on his face—it was sheer madness.

If Luo Chen went against him, the consequences would be unimaginable! As Luo Chen wrestled with his thoughts and Qin Liangchen grew increasingly conflicted...

As for Mi Li...

The woman’s eyes had already lost all light. She had come here, only to find that her mother was gone, her grandfather’s body was missing from the grave, and all her surviving relatives had been slaughtered before her eyes.

And now, a Foundation Establishment cultivator wanted to kill her.

What else could she do? There was nothing left but to wait for death.

It was her Hall Leader who was put in a difficult position, forced to make this decision. A trace of sorrow appeared on her cold, pale face.

After a long while, Luo Chen’s dry throat finally produced a voice. ”Uncle Wen, in my opinion...”

Miao Wen patted him on the shoulder and said, ”Enough. You’re a smart man. Let’s leave it at that.”

Luo Chen opened his mouth slightly, completely unsure of what that meant.