An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Luo Chen led Sima Huiniang and Murong Qinglian to visit the wounded cultivators.

”President!”

Seeing Luo Chen arrive with Director Sima and Hall Leader Murong, the late stage Qi-Refining cultivators lying in their rooms struggled to sit up.

”I remember your name is Su Xiaolin, correct?”

Su Xiaolin hadn’t expected Luo Chen to remember his name. He immediately nodded repeatedly.

”You fought hard in this battle.” Luo Chen patted his shoulder.

As Su Xiaolin humbly responded that it was no trouble, Luo Chen formed a hand seal, channeling his spirit power, and cast a spell on him.

Su Xiaolin froze in surprise. He could feel a surge of pure wood-element spirit power enveloping him, stimulating his wounds and accelerating their healing.

Is this... Heal? The President... is personally healing me?

”Rest well. Luo Tian Society never abandons its warriors. The Alchemy Hall will send you the necessary healing pills, you just need to focus on your recovery.

”Once you’ve recovered, I will entrust you with an important responsibility!”

Su Xiaolin snapped back to reality, only to see that Luo Chen had already turned and was leaving the wooden house. His eyes turned slightly red. As a rogue cultivator, he had never in all these years experienced such attention and care.

He opened his mouth and shouted toward the departing figure: ”I will never let down the President’s trust in me!”

The tall figure paused for a moment before waving his hand without looking back.

After leaving the wooden house, Luo Chen wasted no time and headed straight to the next injured cultivator.

The two women following behind him exchanged glances.

Is Luo Chen winning over hearts? Obviously, yes!

They did not question it but merely followed him, carefully noting down every word Luo Chen said to the wounded cultivators.

Who would be given important responsibilities in the future.

Who would receive special healing pills.

Who was too gravely injured and needed to be reassigned.

These were all crucial details.

As Luo Chen repeatedly cast Heal, the expressions of the two women slowly changed.

Even if this was a move to win loyalty, the level of sincerity he demonstrated was undeniable.

One must remember, Luo Chen had personally slain a Foundation Establishment Initiate. For someone of his caliber to break convention and personally honor those below him, he had truly lowered himself to lift others up.

Could they have done the same if they possessed his level of strength?

Absolutely not!

Almost no high-tier cultivators could do such a thing. Some would even show dissatisfaction if their friends failed to address them as “Senior” the moment they broke through to Foundation Establishment.

But Luo Chen was different, he remained approachable and humble.

It wasn’t until noon that Luo Chen, visibly exhausted, finally ended his rounds of visiting the wounded.

”President, are you alright?” Sima Huiniang asked with concern.

Casting Heal so many times must have taken a toll. Especially since Luo Chen had recently unleashed a tremendously powerful spell—he likely hadn’t fully recovered yet.

Luo Chen waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. I can handle it.”

And he truly could.

Heal didn’t consume much spirit power.

Furthermore, his Perfected Mastery of Long Spring Art naturally replenished his energy over time. As long as he didn’t expend large amounts of spirit power in a short time, he could steadily recover.

On the contrary, he was rather pleased. Heal has reached Grandmaster level!

With no urgent worries and no need to refine pills, focusing on leveling up a single spell had allowed him to progress this rapidly.

What improvements would Grandmaster level Heal bring?

The next day, after a night’s rest, Luo Chen arrived at a secluded cave in Xiao Huan Mountain.

A cave residence?

”President!”

A familiar figure emerged from within—it was Feng Xia. However, the usual tranquility on her face was gone, replaced by exhaustion.

Luo Chen nodded at her while walking inside. “How is Duan Feng?”

Feng Xia sighed. “Granny Yuan has treated him, but his injuries are severe.”

”What are the main injuries?”

”Nineteen external wounds, internal injuries affecting his organs, and his meridians have been ravaged by an extremely violent spirit power, disrupting his energy flow...”

Luo Chen’s eyes flickered. Why did this sound so familiar?

Oh!

Now he remembered.

Back during the Debate Platform, Duan Feng had suffered injuries just as severe.

As for that violent spirit power, it must have originated from Duan Rui’s water and fire attribute spirit power cultivation. Dual elemental cultivation had its drawbacks in breaking through, but it granted immense destructive potential in battle.

This was why Duan Qiankun had placed such high hopes on him. He had hoped that once Duan Rui reached Foundation Establishment, he would dominate the realm with his mastery of both water and fire.

”The most critical issue is that his divine soul has been damaged. We don’t know what method Duan Rui used, but it has severely harmed his soul, leaving him unconscious.”

Feng Xia spoke worriedly. “Granny Yuan is at a loss. If this continues and Duan Feng doesn’t wake soon, he may never wake up again.”

”Divine soul damage?” Luo Chen frowned, stopping before a stone bed.

Lying atop it was Duan Feng, still unconscious. He was dressed lightly, his face clean. Clearly, Feng Xia had put great effort into caring for him.

Activating Spirit Eyes, Luo Chen stared at him.

With no defenses in place, Luo Chen clearly saw the extent of Duan Feng’s ravaged body.

These wounds could be healed with pills. However, since Duan Feng was unconscious, he couldn’t refine the medicinal effects on his own, greatly diminishing their effectiveness.

”President...”

”No rush. Let me try first.” Luo Chen remained calm and slowly extended his hand.

A soft azure glow radiated from his palm. As he pressed his palm against Duan Feng’s abdomen, the azure glow seeped into his body.

Grandmaster level Heal!

As Luo Chen continuously infused his spirit power, Duan Feng’s external wounds rapidly healed.

Torn flesh knitted itself back together. Scabbed wounds shed their crusts, revealing fresh, smooth skin underneath.

Seeing this, Feng Xia’s lips parted slightly in shock.

”This is... Heal?”

No, it was more than that.

As Luo Chen intensified his effort, Duan Feng’s internal injuries also began to heal. His ravaged internal organs, which had been on the brink of collapse, now bathed in the azure light, were rejuvenated, as though nourished by a spring rain.

After a long moment, Luo Chen lifted his palm.

Hoo!

He exhaled a breath of turbid air and nodded in satisfaction. The effects of Grandmaster level Heal were truly extraordinary.

Ordinary Heal could only mend external wounds. For internal injuries, its efficacy was minimal.

When he had slain Fuzhang, his lungs had been injured. Even with Heal, it had taken him more than half a month to recover. But now, he was confident he could heal in just a single day.

However, that was the limit of what it could achieve.

”Divine soul damage is not so easily healed.” A trace of hesitation appeared on Luo Chen’s face.

If he had the legendary soul-nourishing pill, this would be a trivial issue but the soul-nourishing pill was a third-tier pill! Where could he possibly buy one?

Even if Luo Tian Society exhausted all its resources, such a pill was likely priceless and unobtainable.

Perhaps... there is another way.

With a flick of his wrist, Luo Chen revealed a pure white pill between his fingers.

”What is that?” Feng Xia asked curiously.

Luo Chen looked at her seriously. ”This pill does not heal wounds, but it strengthens the soul.”

”Duan Feng’s divine soul is damaged neither I nor anyone in Luo Tian Society can heal it. But while we cannot restore his soul, we can strengthen it.”

Feng Xia exclaimed in shock. ”Isn’t that like giving a gravely ill person an extreme tonic?”

Luo Chen nodded.

The pill in his hand was none other than the Spirit Passage pill, a creation he had painstakingly refined. It had the ability to strengthen the soul especially upon first consumption, its effects were at their peak.

However, this pill also induced deep, vivid dreams. If one became trapped in the dream for too long, rather than strengthening the soul, they could lose themselves entirely.

Luo Chen was always extremely cautious whenever he took it.

After consuming it, he had to use Soul-Intimidation to refine its effects, lest his soul become unstable.

In truth, Duan Feng was not in a suitable condition to take the Spirit Passage pill.

But as the saying went, A dead horse is better treated as if still alive [1].

And another saying: A severe illness requires strong medicine [2].

”If we cannot heal the damage, then strengthening what remains is an alternative path.

”In this world, you are the closest person to him. Whether or not he takes it is entirely up to you.

”Sister Xia, I’m sorry. I am placing this difficult decision in your hands.”

As he spoke, the Spirit Passage pill gently landed in Feng Xia’s palm. Carefully cradling the pill, Feng Xia’s lips trembled slightly.

After a long silence, she let out a bitter smile. ”Knowing Little Duan’s personality, he would definitely choose to take it.”

”Very well... let fate decide his path.”

This time, Feng Xia did not hesitate. She was even more decisive than Luo Chen, immediately placing the Spirit Passage pill into Duan Feng’s mouth.

Seeing this, Luo Chen took a deep breath, and once more, a soft azure glow bloomed in his palm. Brother, from here on, it’s all up to you!

The azure light seeped into Duan Feng’s body, catalyzing the release of the Spirit Passage pill’s medicinal effects.

Visibly, beneath his closed eyelids, Duan Feng’s eyeballs shifted slightly.

Spirit Passage Dream!

1. 死马不如当活马医 (si ma bu ru dang huo ma yi) is a Chinese proverb suggests making a last-ditch effort or taking desperate measures even when the situation seems hopeless, similar to the English saying ”Desperate times call for desperate measures.” ☜

2. 重病还需重药医 (zhong bing hai xu zhong yao yi) is a Chinese proverb conveys the idea that serious problems demand bold or drastic solutions, similar to the English phrase ”Drastic times call for drastic measures.” ☜