An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The black-clothed cultivator quickly nodded. ”Yes, I have.”

”What did he say? Has he agreed to become a Duan family enforcer?” Duan Qiankun was deeply concerned about this matter.

”He said he could, but...”

That ’but’ made Duan Qiankun furrowed his brows.

He knew of Xiong Kun.

The man was a rogue cultivator, roaming freely through Dahe Market with no affiliations or allegiances. He survived solely by hunting demonic beasts, living deep in the mountains and vast marshes year-round. His battle prowess was formidable, on par with a Foundation Establishment cultivator from any major sect.

However, Xiong Kun despised constraints. Every decision he made was based purely on profit—no loyalty, no sentiment, just cold, calculated gain.

Duan Qiankun had first heard of him during a casual conversation with Mi Shuhua. The name had slipped out unintentionally, but it had left an impression.

Mi Shuhua had paid a hefty sum to recruit him as an ally. Given that Xiong Kun’s primary livelihood came from hunting in remote, untamed regions, his interests naturally aligned with the Poshan Gang. A little financial incentive from Mi Shuhua had been enough for Xiong Kun to join forces with him.

During the battle where the Foundation Establishment families besieged Mi Shuhua, the latter had fought desperately, prolonging the fight in hopes that Xiong Kun would arrive as reinforcements.

Now, Duan Qiankun wanted to follow in Mi Shuhua’s footsteps and recruit Xiong Kun.

He had already offered a considerable price for it.

Yet, the man seemed unsatisfied?

”But what?” he asked, his voice low.

”He said he could become an enforcer for the Duan family. However, he wants more money!”

”Hmm?” Duan Qiankun’s expression darkened.

Meeting Duan Qiankun’s piercing gaze, the black-clothed cultivator let out a bitter smile. ”He agreed to protect the Duan family for thirty years, but he demands an additional ten percent of all family revenue on top of the original offer. Not only that, but he also wants the entire Duan family to forge an enchanted treasure for him!”

Hearing these words, Duan Qiankun’s expression turned utterly grim.

The original terms had already been generous enough, yet now the man dared to ask for more, attempting to extract an additional ten percent of the family’s income?

Once he was gone, the Duan family’s earnings would inevitably decline, and that ten percent could very well determine their survival.

And an enchanted treasure on top of that? Did he take the Duan family for some prestigious artifact-forging clan?

In hundreds of years, the family had only ever managed to craft a single Ze Guo Gui Diagram, and even that had been created by simplifying the blueprint of the Ze Guo Battle Diagram from Tianfan City. Now, he expected them to forge an entirely new enchanted treasure? Even with the entire family working on it, thirty years might not be enough!

Duan Qiankun’s chest rose and fell heavily as he struggled to contain his anger. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a calm yet firm voice.

“That man values profit above all else. Given the chance, he will squeeze every ounce of benefit from the deal without compromise. But having us forge an enchanted treasure for him? Impossible. That would deplete the very foundation of the Duan family.

He paused, eyes gleaming with a sharp light before continuing, “However... I do know the whereabouts of an enchanted treasure. If we use that as leverage, I’m sure he’ll agree.

”Xiao Qi, take this map and my message to him again. Set a meeting for half a month later—I will speak with him personally!”

As he spoke, he retrieved a map from his storage pouch.

Before Xiao Qi’s eyes, he used his spirit power to slice it into two pieces. He kept the most crucial portion for himself.

Xiao Qi was no young man, he was already over eighty years old.

He respectfully accepted the map and before leaving, he couldn’t help but ask, ”What about Duan Feng and the Luo Tian Society? How should we deal with them?”

Duan Qiankun cast a cold glance at him. Xiao Qi quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak further.

”Hold back our actions for now. No need to concern ourselves with them.”

After Xiao Qi left, Duan Qiankun let out a faint sigh.

What else could be done?

For the sake of the family, these matters had to be settled before his passing. After all, they were merely a few Qi-Refining juniors. The only real concern was the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.

When the time came, he would feign death and strike ruthlessly from the shadows. That way, after his supposed passing, no one would suspect the Duan family.

With the right setup, he could even frame other factions, throwing them into disarray.

”All my life, I have benefited from the family’s support, yet I have also been shackled by it.

”For a hundred years, I was full of vigor, but now, in old age, I exhaust my mind and still find endless shortcomings. If there is a next life, perhaps being someone like Xiong Kun would not be so bad, a life free and unrestrained.” Muttering to himself, the old man’s figure disappeared into the vast white mist.

***

Silence was the tone of deep winter. Clamor was the awakening of early spring.

Boom!

A deafening clap of thunder suddenly shattered the absolute silence of the night.

Spring thunder roared, and all things awakened.

The ice and snow melted, yet no sword came from the west to shatter Nanwa Snow Mountain. Instead, there were only figures stepping silently into the cold, rainy night.

No umbrellas shielded them from the rain, only gleaming, well-honed blades and swords in their hands.

A night filled with killing intent!

A woman clad in form-fitting black battle attire stood at the forefront of the group.

”Director, the fifty-man squad is assembled,” someone reported.

Hearing this number, Sima Huiniang felt a slight tremor in her heart.

This was the force the Luo Tian Society had painstakingly assembled after the beast tide. Twenty-five late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators from the Battle Hall formed the main force, supplemented by twenty-five mid stage Qi-Refining cultivators.

And their enemy? They were about to face an ancient cultivation family that had stood in Dahe Market for hundreds of years.

To an outsider, this was nothing less than striking a stone with an egg [1].

But Sima Huiniang thought otherwise.

Her gaze swept over the familiar figures standing solemnly in the rainy night.

Her eldest brother, Sima Xian, her third brother, Sima Wenjie, along with Zhou Yuanli, Qin Liangchen, and Murong Qinglian—a total of nine ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators.

Even the elderly Granny Yuan had joined the battle.

Including herself, that made ten!

Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator intervening, this force was enough to sweep through most minor factions.

Her eyes landed on Duan Feng and the large sack hanging from his waist.

Confidence surged within Sima Huiniang’s heart. With that beast in their ranks, breaking through Xiao Huan Mountain would be effortless.

Moreover, the President had been preparing for this battle for a long time.

All sixty people present each carried a Blood-Burning pill!

Blood-Burning pill...

When Luo Chen personally handed over the batch of pills, Sima Huiniang was utterly stunned. She had never imagined that the person who had purchased the Runming Pearl Essence from her at the black market was actually Luo Chen.

Yet, upon careful thought, it made perfect sense.

In all of Dahe Market, who else but Luo Chen, the man bearing the title of Dan Chenzi, had the skill to refine such formidable pills?

A single Blood-Burning pill for each person meant that, even in the face of death, everyone would have one final burst of strength—perhaps even a chance to turn the tide. It could be said that, as long as no Foundation Establishment cultivators intervened, this battle was already won!

But a Foundation Establishment cultivator... President, are you truly certain? Sima Huiniang wondered.

Sima Huiniang turned her head back, gazing across the vast distance at the illusion of warm, flickering lights in Crescent Moon Valley.

For a brief moment, she seemed to see Luo Chen standing against the frigid wind, watching over their departure.

”Director?

”Move out!”

There was no rousing pre-battle speech, nor the grand promises of wealth and rewards as before.

Those things had already been said before their assembly.

She merely spat out two cold words—”Move out.”

The cultivators of Luo Tian Society marched forward in silence, braving the frigid rain between winter and spring.

***

On a cold, rainy night, the cultivators marched forward with a solemn and murderous air.

Even though they had restrained most of their energy flow, such a large group moving together was impossible to conceal.

As the cultivators of Luo Tian Society swept through the desolate night, streaks of light in the distance began to follow.

Most of them trailed from a great distance, not daring to get too close.

After all, such a disciplined, well-organized force of cultivators was a rare sight. Anyone who saw them would feel a chill run down their spine. Especially the ten leading figures, each exuding the powerful aura of the ninth stage of Qi-Refining.

Who would dare to provoke them?

They merely followed at a distance, speculating about this group’s destination.

At first, it was unclear. But as they moved farther from the outer district and deeper into the desolate wilderness, a shocking thought crept into everyone’s mind.

They’re heading for Xiao Huan Mountain!

And what was Xiao Huan Mountain?

It was home to the famous artifact-forging cultivation family of Dahe Market—the Duan family! Within resided their Foundation Establishment Grand Elder, Duan Qiankun, overseeing everything.

Were these people insane?

Gradually, some began to recognize members of the group.

”Isn’t that Zeng Wen?”

”Zeng Wen, Qin Liangchen, Yuan Yuejiao... This is Luo Tian Society!”

”Are they crazy? They’re actually targeting the Duan family?”

”Tsk tsk, they’re walking to their deaths!”

”Follow them! We might be able to scavenge some loot later.”

”Exactly! Great minds think alike. I heard the cultivators of the Luo Tian Society are filthy rich!”

”With an alchemist in charge, if they aren’t wealthy, who is?”

Egged on by greed, excitement, and curiosity, more and more cultivators joined the growing crowd trailing behind Luo Tian Society.

If it had been only one or two individuals, they might not have dared to meddle. But with so many present, the herd mentality emboldened them. After all, even if things didn’t go well, it wouldn’t necessarily be them who suffered.

However, as the Luo Tian Society cultivators advanced, something felt off—not a single Duan family cultivator appeared to intercept them.

This unusual silence unsettled the rogue cultivators of Dahe Market.

Since when did a cultivation family take such a serious threat so lightly?

Not until the Luo Tian Society forces gathered at the base of Xiao Huan Mountain did the long-dormant structures atop the mountain finally come to life—one by one, light after light flickered awake.

Sima Huiniang let out a slow breath, carefully tucking away the Sound-Transmitting Paper Crane.

At the very least, the first step had been executed almost perfectly!

Throughout their entire journey, they hadn’t encountered a single Duan family sentry. And this eerie lack of resistance could only mean one thing—Luo Chen and Wang Yuan had already made their move in the shadows.

Looking up, Sima Huiniang’s gaze first fell upon the only dim star in the cold night sky before shifting her gaze to Xiao Huan Mountain.

Snow still clung to the tree branches.

The lights, once dormant, now flickered across the mountain’s slopes like distant fireflies.

She exhaled softly, then spoke. ”Elder Duan, it’s your turn now.”

At her command, Duan Feng silently took to the air. Not just him, but also Zeng Wen, Sima Wenjie, and Gu Caiyi.

Duan Feng’s gaze swept over the familiar yet distant sight before him. His expression wavered between emotion and cold resolve, but soon, hatred consumed his eyes entirely.

HIs father died fighting for this family!

His mother had been driven to suicide by the very people they fought to protect.

And the Foundation Establishment opportunity that should have been his had been mercilessly stolen.

The murder of his parents was already an unquenchable blood feud.

To block his path and discard him like trash was utterly unforgivable.

Everything... You forced me into this! Taking a deep breath, Duan Feng turned to his three companions and nodded. Without a single unnecessary word, they split up, each flying toward their designated positions.

As they moved, the cultivators of the Duan family atop Xiao Huan Mountain did not stand idly by and watch events unfold.

In a flurry of activity, Duan family cultivators rushed to seven key locations within Xiao Huan Mountain.

They were even faster than Duan Feng and his group.

Then, with an awe-inspiring surge, a seven-colored barrier shot up into the sky, exuding an aura of total annihilation.

Gold, green, blue, red, and yellow swirled together.

Beyond them, black and white enshrouded the heavens and earth.

Above it all, in the sky, a cloud of ice and snow hovered motionless.

Standing atop it was Nangong Jin, beside him Nangong Qin, who was brimming with excitement.

Staring at the seven-colored formation, Nangong Jin’s voice was low and steady.

”This is the Duan family’s mountain-protecting grand formation—The Seven Absolutes Annihilation Array. A second-tier formation, capable of both offense and defense!”

His gaze darkened as he continued, ”Its power is formidable. With this formation in place, even if Duan Qiankun perishes, the Duan family will still have the means to protect itself.

”Our Nangong family only has a first-tier protective formation. In the future, if we get the chance, we must acquire a second-tier formation to safeguard our own family.”

Hearing his explanation, Nangong Qin’s excitement faded, replaced by a somber look.

With a solemn expression, he muttered, ”I can sense the immense spirit energy brewing within the array. If it fully activates, it will shake the heavens and earth.

”Can Luo Tian Society break this formation?”

Can they?

That question echoed in the minds of many. As if by some unspoken agreement, everyone thought back to the battle against the Fu family. That man who had single-handedly broken through the city. If that man appeared, could he break this formation?

But it was clear, there was no sign of Wang Yuan below Xiao Huan Mountain.

”If they can’t break this formation, we turn around and leave.” Nangong Jin spoke softly.

But in his eyes, there was a distinct glint of anticipation. He was eager to see just what kind of confidence Luo Tian Society had to dare challenge a Foundation Establishment family.

1. 无异于以卵击石 (wu yi yu yi luan ji shi) is a Chinese idiom that means ”no different from striking a stone with an egg.” It describes a futile or reckless action where a weaker force tries to challenge a much stronger one, inevitably leading to failure or destruction. ☜