An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

At the mountainside platform where his old cave residence once stood, Luo Chen returned to familiar ground. Beside him, Chu Kui followed with casual curiosity.

As they waited for Min Longyu to emerge from his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, Chu Kui began reminiscing, striking up a conversation about the past.

“The months following the auction are always when Tianlan Peak sees the most Foundation Establishment breakthroughs,” he remarked. “After all, Foundation Establishment pills are so precious that most rogue cultivators who buy them don’t dare flaunt them outside. They usually rent a cave residence on Tianlan Peak and stay there until they’re stable in their new realm. Only then do they dare to leave. Well, even then, it’s rare to see two people breaking through at the same time like today.”

Luo Chen nodded in acquiescence.

Chu Kui chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “Your subordinate seems to be a descendant of the Min family?”

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. He’d mentioned Min Longyu’s name in passing before, but he hadn’t expected Chu Kui to latch onto it.

“So what if he is?” Luo Chen replied coolly.

“Once he’s successfully reached the Foundation Establishment, would you mind introducing us?” Chu Kui asked.

Luo Chen’s curiosity deepened. “Eh? Even if he succeeds, he’ll only be at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Why are you so interested in him, Fellow Daoist Chu?”

Chu Kui’s eyes gleamed. “Because he’s from the Min family! He’s bound to be skilled in formations! For rogue cultivators, someone like him is as valuable as an alchemist, maybe even more so!”

Luo Chen sighed inwardly. “Alright,” he relented. “I’ll introduce you.”

Rogue formation masters were indeed even more in demand than second-tier alchemists like Luo Chen. After all, second-tier alchemists typically only specialized in a few pills. Among their peers, they might be good at making money, but their assistance didn’t compare to what third-tier or fourth-tier alchemists could offer.

But formation masters were a different story! On a smaller scale, they could help rogue cultivators establish their foundations or set up defensive formations for cultivation families. On a larger scale, they were indispensable for treasure hunts and group expeditions.

Most ancient secret realms that had survived until now were protected by formations. Over hundreds or thousands of years, however, even the most formidable ones were inevitably weakened. That gave second-tier formation masters like Min Longyu plenty of opportunities to work with.

Whether it was setting up formations, identifying them, breaking them, or circumventing them, even the strongest cultivators needed a formation master’s help if they didn’t understand formations themselves. After all, every craft had its specialist.

Chu Kui’s enthusiasm wasn’t just out of generosity; it also tied directly to his usual line of work. He was a man who took money to eliminate others’ problems, working alone and dominating the scene wherever he went. But whenever he faced a tough opponent, the risks multiplied. If he had a formation master like Min Longyu helping him set up traps and other such to guard his blind spots, then he could truly vanish without a trace.

As the two of them chatted, time passed quietly. Cultivators who noticed the two Foundation Establishment breakthroughs on Tianlan Peak instinctively extended their spirit consciousness to investigate. Luo Chen didn’t know what was happening at the other location, but at least on his side, with Chu Kui present, any Foundation Establishment probe withdrew as soon as it made contact.

During that time, Nangong Jin came by. Unlike Li Yixian, he hadn’t given up his nearby cave residence just yet. After all, the Nangong family had dwindled to only a few remaining members. Ironically, after losing nearly all of them, their once-modest savings meant a lot more money for each.

Luo Chen took a moment to chat with him, asking about his son, Nangong Qin. He learned that the boy was paralyzed from the waist down and unlikely to ever achieve Foundation Establishment. Nangong Jin now worried about arranging a marriage for his son so that the family line could continue.

A former Elite Prodigy of Dahe Market, reduced to this state. It was truly regrettable.

Luo Chen also inquired about the Lianyun Trade Alliance.

At present, Li Yixian and Nangong Jin served as newly appointed elders, but even so, they only had seven Foundation Establishment cultivators left. As for late stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, there was only the Grand Elder remaining.

Gone were the days of three late stage Foundation Establishment experts and a dozen Foundation Establishment Initiates. The markets under their management had also suffered considerable losses. Now, Li Yixian and Nangong Jin were holding down the fort at two nearby markets in order to ensure the alliance could survive.

“What about the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect?” Luo Chen asked.

“There’s nothing more to say,” came the reply. “It wasn’t the main sect that acted. It was one of their vassal forces. It seemed like they were defending the sect’s honor, but in reality, they just wanted to seize the Lianyun Trade Alliance’s business.”

“No follow-up?” Luo Chen pressed.

“After the second and third elders died, the Grand Elder accused them of colluding with the Falling Cloud Sect. With them gone, the Sword Sect’s vassals had no more excuse to act, so the matter ended there.”

After they spoke for a while, both of them turned their attention back to Min Longyu’s attempt at Foundation Establishment. His energy flow grew steadier and more solid with each breath. The transformations of both the dantian and the sea of qi had already been completed. Even the spirit energy had condensed fully into liquid form. In other words, he had succeeded.

Nangong Jin congratulated Luo Chen with a hint of envy before taking his leave.

A rumbling sound filled the air as the Dragon-Severing Stone slowly rose. A figure, refreshed and cleansed, stepped forward from the platform. He cupped his fists and said to Luo Chen, “President, your subordinate did not disappoint!”

For a moment, Luo Chen felt a twinge of disbelief. This time, it wasn’t the familiar “I hesitated,” but instead a firm “I did not disappoint!”

It proved that the Heartmirror, in the end, was nothing but a simulation. Luo Chen had the power to change the future he’d seen. And with that, he gained confidence in his ability to alter that three-hundred-thirty-year Foundation Establishment destiny.

“Very good! Very good!” he exclaimed, the double praise reflecting his genuine joy.

Chu Kui took the opportunity to chime in, “Congratulations, Fellow Daoist! Congratulations!”

“And who might this be, President?” Min Longyu asked curiously, looking at Chu Kui.

“This is Chu Kui,” Luo Chen introduced him simply.

That name alone made Min Longyu’s face turn serious. Chu Kui’s reputation in Tianlan Immortal City was formidable. It was far beyond what a newly minted Foundation Establishment cultivator like him could match.

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Chu!” Min Longyu said respectfully.

Seeing that Chu Kui clearly intended to draw closer to Min Longyu, Luo Chen shook his head, somewhat helplessly.

“Let’s talk elsewhere,” he suggested. “Come to my cave residence. We can have a proper conversation and share cultivation insights.”

“Excellent! Excellent!” Chu Kui agreed without hesitation.

Min Longyu, of course, had no objections.

In the past, he might have obeyed Luo Chen’s words out of courtesy. But now, after the experience of breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he felt genuine respect for Luo Chen.

Through that breakthrough, he had finally understood the true meaning behind Luo Chen’s earlier question about his resolve. During that breakthrough. there had been one step that was both the most dangerous and the most crucial: shattering the dantian. That wasn’t something an ordinary person would dare attempt.

Shattering the dantian meant the spirit energy gathered would have no place to be stored; without that foundation, there would be no support for pursuing the Great Dao, and one could forget about any progress. Yet ironically, one had to endure this very ordeal to reach Foundation Establishment.

Break in order to rebuild!

Only by enduring the pain and charging forward could one shatter the dantian and transform it into a sea of qi on the existing foundation.

If it had been the old Min Longyu, under the overwhelming surge of spirit energy from the Foundation Establishment pill, he likely would have hesitated at this point. He would’ve been tempted to choose a safe life rather than the pursuit of the Great Dao. And once he hesitated, it would have been easy to miss that opportunity.

It had been Luo Chen who had forced him to question his heart in advance, helping him rediscover his original youthful aspirations. That was why Min Longyu had been able to push through without a second thought, shattering his dantian, gathering his spirit power, and rebuilding his sea of qi. Such a favor was no less than the grace of giving life or imparting the Dao.

Luo Chen could sense Min Longyu’s deep respect, clearly evident from how his very first action after emerging were to share the good news with him.

But Luo Chen himself didn’t particularly care about such formalities. Bound as they were by a Great Dao oath, their relationship had always been one of mutual benefit. At this point, whether their relationship grew closer or not didn’t matter much.

The three of them rode the clouds toward the higher reaches of Tianlan Peak. As they passed a spot at the mountainside, a streak of light whooshed out.

Huh?

The three paused.

Chu Kui frowned. “That must be the other Foundation Establishment cultivator who just succeeded. His cultivation isn’t even stabilized yet, so why is he in such a rush to leave?”

Watching the streak of light, Luo Chen rubbed his chin, a curious expression in his eyes.

It’s him! That scar-faced cultivator!

He was the one Luo Chen had gotten three unfinished enchanted treasures from. He had also received a fortune in spirit stones, huge by the standards of a Qi Refinement cultivator.

From Sima Huiniang, Luo Chen had learned that two rogue cultivators had bought Foundation Establishment pills at the auction, and this scar-faced man had been one of them. He hadn’t expected the man to succeed, but that was besides the point. The real question was, why was he leaving in such a hurry at such a crucial time?

The three of them paused briefly but then let it go and headed back to Luo Chen’s cave residence.

The fruits and snacks from before were still there. This time, Chu Kui generously brought out more Taibai Wine! His eagerness to win over Min Longyu was even greater than it had been when he’d tried to befriend Luo Chen.

They talked through the night, the conversation lively and joyful.

Only after exchanging contact information did Chu Kui leave, looking rather satisfied. Of course, Min Longyu didn’t look disappointed either.

After he’d gone, Luo Chen sat before Min Longyu and took out a damaged formation disc.

“President, what’s this?” Min Longyu asked in surprise, staring at the battered disc that had been placed before him.

“Even an outsider like Chu Kui brought good wine to congratulate you on your Foundation Establishment. Since you call me President, how could I not have a little something to show my appreciation?” Luo Chen smiled faintly. “It’s not much, just an incomplete enchanted treasure. Congratulations on laying the foundation for your Great Dao!”

A Foundation Establishment gift?

Min Longyu was about to say it was too much; Luo Chen had already helped him so much with his Foundation Establishment. But the moment his hand touched the disc, his eyes lit up.

“Is this an enchanted treasure?”

”Mm.” With a slight nod, Luo Chen said regretfully, “Unfortunately, this disc is heavily damaged. It can only activate a single concealment formation equivalent to a supreme-grade enchanted artifact’s level, so it’s not very useful for us Foundation Establishment cultivators. I’m giving it to you because I thought it might inspire you as you study formations in the future.”

But Min Longyu waved his hands repeatedly.

“No, no! This formation disc only looks unfinished. Its formation core is actually extremely well-preserved.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a few mid-grade spirit stones and placed them into the disc’s remaining slots.

Then he began striking it with a series of restrictions. As the restrictions merged into the disc, faint glows began to appear. Each glow seemed to want to expand outward. But toward the end, they seemed to be blocked by something and couldn’t continue.

Only the one representing the concealment formation spread out successfully.

“My heavens! Such an incredibly intricate formation disc! It holds hundreds of thousands of restrictions, with eighteen formation cores all integrated; its transformations are endless! President, this is no incomplete enchanted treasure! If you can find a master of artifact forging to repair the missing parts, this treasure could at least regain seventy percent of its original power!”

Hearing these words, Luo Chen was stunned. He’d only paid ten thousand spirit stones for this thing, equivalent to the price of a supreme-grade defensive enchanted artifact.

But according to Min Longyu, the formation disc could be repaired, and once repaired, it could regain most of its original power.

Did I really stumble upon a treasure here?

Strictly speaking, the Ghost Inquiry Mirror didn’t really count as a lucky find. Thirty thousand spirit stones was the standard price for such an enchanted treasure, and he hadn’t even benefited from the mirror’s usual simulation of the Core Formation process. At best, he could say that the thirty thousand spirit stones he’d spent had strengthened his divine soul foundation a little and given him a few more insights into the future barely worth the cost. But that formation disc was a true stroke of luck!

Unfortunately, he had already given it away.

Luo Chen was not one to casually renege on his promises. Naturally, he couldn’t just ask for it back now.

He opened his mouth but ended up simply smiling wryly. “Damn, I really shot myself in the foot this time. Oh well, take it and study it carefully. You can ask Duan Feng to help repair it a bit, and if that doesn’t work, there are three artifact forging masters in Tianlan Immortal City.”

Min Longyu cradled the formation disc like a priceless treasure, nodding repeatedly at Luo Chen’s words.

After a bit more conversation, Min Longyu reluctantly returned to the cave residence that Luo Chen had previously rented. There were still a few days left on the lease, and Min Longyu planned to spend some spirit stones to extend it. From now on, it would be his residence.

Studying the formation disc was a matter for the future. His top priority now was to stabilize his cultivation.

Unlike Duan Feng, who could temper and stabilize his power through artifact forging, Min Longyu had to rely on meditation. He needed to quietly refine his spirit energy into liquid and complete that transformation to truly solidify his realm. That process could take anywhere from a few months to several years.

Fortunately, with a second-tier cave residence and the lingering effects of Chu Kui’s Taibai Wine, the process would likely be much smoother and faster.

At present, with Duan Feng overseeing things at Luo Tian Society, there was no immediate need for his help. Once his cultivation was stabilized, that would be the time for him to truly start contributing to Luo Tian Society.

With his Foundation Establishment cultivation and skills as a formation master, Min Longyu would be a tremendous asset to the Luo Tian Society. Whether it was assisting Duan Feng in forging artifacts or reinforcing the defensive formations around Danxia Peak, his contributions would be invaluable. Even within the hundreds of spirit fields managed by the Medicine Hall, he could set up small formations to help with the growth of spirit plants.

After he left, Luo Chen went to his cultivation chamber and trained for two hours.

As the hour of the rabbit came, he finally stopped.

Having reached the second stage of Physique Refinement, Luo Chen’s entire body was undergoing a subtle transformation under the surge of blood qi. The changes were slow and not yet outwardly visible, but the benefits were undeniable. At the very least, he had already noticed one clear improvement: His lifespan had increased by ten years. It now stood at one hundred and ninety!

This change left Luo Chen excited beyond measure.

To outsiders, his joy might have seemed excessive, but he understood all too well the true weight of what it meant. For ordinary cultivators, breaking through to Foundation Establishment typically brought a dramatic increase in lifespan. Even those at the early stage of Foundation Establishment could live well past two hundred. But Luo Chen was different; when he’d first entered Foundation Establishment, his lifespan had just been one hundred and fifty years, significantly lower than his peers.

It had been a disadvantage, certainly, but also a blessing in disguise.

Luo Chen had discovered that as his cultivation advanced, his lifespan did the same. When he reached the first stage of Foundation Establishment, it had been one hundred fifty years. Upon advancing to the second stage, that number rose to one hundred sixty. In other words, his lifespan was not fixed and could continuously increase!

Moreover, after attaining minor mastery in the Clear Origin Mystical Pill, his lifespan had extended by another five years. Then, upon reaching Grandmaster level in the Yi Wood Medicine King Codex, the surge of wood-element spirit energy that swept through his body granted him yet another five. After breaking through to the third stage of Foundation Establishment, his lifespan had reached one hundred eighty. And now, with Physique Refinement reaching the second stage, it had increased by another ten years.

With all of this combined, it meant that although he’d started lower, his ultimate lifespan limit was far higher than that of others! He couldn’t say whether it was because of the system, the fact that he was a transmigrator, or the genuinely life-extending nature of the techniques he practiced. But whatever the case was, Luo Chen felt optimistic about the future. He glanced at the lifespan in his status panel and then instinctively looked at his realm progress bar.

Realm: Foundation Establishment Stage Three (12/100)

In just half a month, it had increased by another two points.

Just as Luo Chen was about to close the status panel, his eyes suddenly froze.

In the realm section, a new entry was slowly showing.

Realm: Foundation Establishment Stage Three (12/100), Physique Refinement Stage Two......