An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”You seem quite interested in this Sound-Transmitting Paper Crane, young friend.” Tian Xingzi chuckled as he retrieved two delicate paper cranes, offering them with a smile. ”I still have a pair left. I’ll sell them to you at five hundred spirit stones per piece.”

Luo Chen thanked him politely before accepting the offer. He didn’t inspect the artifacts closely but instead stored them away immediately, demonstrating his trust in Tian Xingzi.

Given the auction price, obtaining a pair for just one thousand spirit stones was undoubtedly a bargain. Since he had gained an advantage, he naturally had to return the favor.

”This is the batch of Blood-Burning pills my friend refined this month.

”A total of twenty pills.”

At the agreed-upon rate, twenty pills amounted to two thousand spirit stones.

After deducting the cost of the paper cranes, Tian Xingzi still owed Luo Chen one thousand spirit stones.

After the transaction, Tian Xingzi sighed with regret. ”Only twenty pills per month?”

Luo Chen forced a smile. ”I don’t know much about alchemy, but my friend mentioned that refining Blood-Burning pills is extremely complex, making it difficult to produce more.”

”Is that so?” Tian Xingzi murmured, his expression unreadable. ”That’s quite unfortunate.”

Was refining Blood-Burning pills really that difficult?

In truth, it wasn’t very complicated.

Especially now that his proficiency had increased, raising the pill formation rate to twenty percent. Luo Chen’s soul foundation had grown significantly, allowing him to squeeze in more alchemy time each day. He could have refined more Blood-Burning pills.

But time was always limited!

Aside from Blood-Burning pills, he couldn’t afford to produce too few Jade Essence pills in a month. Beyond Jade Essence pills, he had also been spending significant time on Spirit Passage pills. With all these considerations, he had only managed to refine twenty-eight Blood-Burning pills in a month.

Of those, he had kept eight in reserve, just in case.

Selling twenty pills to Tian Xingzi was already a generous gesture. Because of this, when he left today, Gu Caiyi had nagged him about the insufficient supply of Jade Essence pills.

Seeing Tian Xingzi’s look of disappointment, an idea suddenly struck Luo Chen.

”Actually, there might be a way to refine more Blood-Burning pills!”

”Oh?” Tian Xingzi’s interest was piqued. ”Tell me more!”

He seemed particularly concerned about the number of Blood-Burning pills!

Luo Chen accurately grasped the other party’s mindset. Then, pretending to recall something, he said, ”I once heard my friend muttering to himself, saying that Blood-Burning pills are actually better suited for water-based alchemy.

”But he currently doesn’t have a suitable water-based alchemy technique. Using fire techniques to refine them results in a very low pill formation rate. If he had an appropriate water-based alchemy technique, he might be able to significantly increase the formation rate!”

After hearing this, Tian Xingzi fell into deep thought.

A water-based alchemy technique?

He recalled the list that Luo Chen had given him earlier.

Indeed, many of the materials listed were suited for water-based alchemy. That being the case, this Murong Yuan’s alchemist friend likely did not come from a major sect.

After all, alchemists trained by major sects, regardless of their skill level, would at least have a grasp of the most fundamental alchemical techniques.

In the cultivation world, the most common alchemical methods were water-based and fire-based techniques. Elixirs like Golden Jade Liquid, Clarity Essence, and Meridian Repair Liquid were all products of water-based alchemy.

A rogue cultivator alchemist?

Tian Xingzi pondered for a moment before retrieving a jade scroll from his storage pouch.

In an instant, Luo Chen’s gaze landed on it.

”What is this?

”A water-based alchemical technique, suitable for most first-tier to third-tier pills.”

Luo Chen exclaimed in surprise, ”That powerful?”

It was no wonder he was so astonished.

Most alchemical techniques had strict limitations. For example, the fire-based alchemical method he currently practiced was merely a common first-tier technique.

The pills he could refine with it were mostly first-tier as well. If he wished to refine second-tier pills, he would need to learn the corresponding second-tier fire-based technique from The Treatise on Green Origin Pills.

Additionally, the alchemical techniques he had learned from Qing Yuanzi, Jade Fracture, which specialized in mineral-based materials, and Unadorned Heart, which specialized in plant-based materials, also had their specific scopes.

Each was restricted to a particular category of ingredients.

Yet, the water-based alchemical method Tian Xingzi presented was applicable from first-tier to third-tier.

Even with the qualifier ”most,” it was still incredibly valuable.

Tian Xingzi was not surprised by Luo Chen’s reaction.

He looked at Luo Chen solemnly and said, ”I can sell you this technique. But your friend must swear an oath upon the Great Dao, under no circumstances, whether intentional or accidental, may it be passed on to anyone else!”

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. Such a strict oath?

No matter whether it was done intentionally or unintentionally, it could not be shared! Even if the technique accidentally spread from his hands, it would be considered a violation of the oath.

Luo Chen was well aware of the consequences of breaking an oath upon the Great Dao.

At low cultivation realms, the repercussions might not be severe. But once one reached the threshold of forming a Golden Core or a Nascent Soul, there was a high probability of suffering a backlash from the broken oath.

Especially at the rumored Divine Transformation Realm, where one was guaranteed to face a Heart Demon Tribulation. If an oath backlash occurred at that stage, it would almost certainly lead to death during the tribulation.

It could be said that an oath upon the Great Dao had little binding force on low-level cultivators. But for anyone aspiring to attain longevity, it was a powerful restriction.

Luo Chen was, without a doubt, among the latter. Otherwise, he would not have given that Foundation Establishment pill to Qin Liangchen back then.

The key issue was that the mid-grade Jade Essence pills he had refined for Mi Shuhua had not benefited him in the slightest.

Moreover, that Foundation Establishment pill, in essence, rightfully belonged to Qin Liangchen.

After weighing the pros and cons, Luo Chen ultimately followed his heart and made his final decision.

It was all about having a clear conscience!

Faced with this request, Luo Chen solemnly agreed without hesitation.

Tian Xingzi was not worried about him cheating.

He immediately placed a small spirit restriction on the jade scroll. To break this restriction, one would have to make a corresponding Great Dao oath.

”What’s the price then?” Holding the jade scroll, Luo Chen asked with a smile.

Then his smile froze.

Swallowing hard, Luo Chen stared at Tian Xingzi’s raised fingers.

”Eight thousand?!

”Why don’t you just go...”

In the end, Luo Chen gritted his teeth and paid the spirit stones.

This water-based alchemy technique was worth the price! In a sense, secret techniques in the myriad arts of cultivation were by no means less valuable than orthodox cultivation methods.

An alchemical technique applicable from first to third-tier pills was not even inferior to techniques that could lead one to the Golden Core Realm.

Eight thousand was, in fact, quite a bargain!

”Whatever, I’m buying it for my friend anyway. He’ll have to pay me back later.” As he spoke, Luo Chen handed over eight thousand spirit stones.

One thousand of them had just been earned from selling Blood-Burning pills, not even warmed in his hands yet and were already given out just like that.

Tian Xingzi accepted the spirit stones, his gaze deep and unreadable. ”I hope to see fifty Blood-Burning Pills next month.”

Luo Chen was momentarily stunned. Was this a strict demand from the buyer?

He smiled awkwardly. ”I can’t guarantee that. I can only hope my friend gains something from studying this method.”

Tian Xingzi sighed. ”Time waits for no one!”

After saying this, he removed the soundproof barrier.

This signaled that today’s transaction had come to an end.

No, it wasn’t over just yet.

Luo Chen left the black market hall ahead of time and stepped outside.

Wang Yanchang was already waiting outside, holding the storage pouch that Luo Chen had given him earlier.

”Fellow Daoist, all the medicinal materials for this month are inside.”

Luo Chen took the storage pouch along with a checklist.

With a quick glance, he saw that everything was accounted for, conpoy, Earth Fire Fiend Qi, snow fox demon blood, Explosive Ape blood, satisfying him enough to nod in approval.

Then, he took out one thousand five hundred spirit stones.

With these materials secured, next month’s production of Spirit Passage pills and Myriad Wonders pills would not be short on ingredients.

After handing over the spirit stones, Luo Chen couldn’t help but feel a bit strained. He had originally come today to sell Blood-Burning pills, yet after everything, he ended up contributing eight thousand five hundred spirit stones to the Precious Dragon Black Market instead.

Even with his considerable wealth, he couldn’t afford to keep spending like this endlessly!

All he had left on him now was fifteen thousand spirit stones.

Fortunately, if all the Jade Essence pills he had refined this month were sold, he could recoup a few thousand at least.

Besides, today’s expenditure wasn’t a total loss. Not only had he replenished his stock of ingredients, but more importantly, he had obtained a water-based alchemy technique.

With this, whether it was refining Imperial Nectar or any other pills requiring water-based alchemy techniques, he no longer had to worry.

Wang Yanchang personally escorted him to the entrance.

Just as they were about to part ways, Luo Chen suddenly recalled that faint sigh.

Time waits for no one!

A jolt ran through his mind, and he blurted out instinctively. ”Fellow Daoist Wang, wait a moment!”