An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Under Min Longyu’s command, the Luo Tian Society’s five-element teams began launching probing attacks against the Ironclad Bastion Formation.

With each attempt, Min Longyu passed on fundamental formation knowledge to the cultivators under him. It wasn’t out of generosity but because these basic orientation principles would make them more effective assistants.

”First, you must understand the directional sequence of the Eight Trigrams,” Min Longyu explained. ”Qian is one, Dui is two, Li is three, Zhen is four, Xun is five, Kan is six, Gen is seven, and finally Kun is eight.

”Qian and Kun represent Heaven and Earth...” Min Longyu pointed across the battlefield. ”Gen stands for Mountain, Dui for Lake. Fire Team, target the Dui sector. Let’s test the fire-water balance there!”

Without hesitation, the fire-element cultivators unleashed their spells toward the designated position. As water and fire clashed upon the barrier, golden ripples spread and shimmered across its surface.

Min Longyu observed carefully, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the response. ”If the water resonates strongly, that means the metal within is even stronger. This formation is built primarily on metal and earth. Earth provides the support, but the real power lies in the metal.”

After a moment of reflection, he commanded, ”Water Team, cast Wave Surge, and let’s see the effect!”

Nineteen cultivators stepped forward and simultaneously unleashed their water-element spells. Torrents of rolling waves crashed into the barrier, causing it to shine even more brilliantly. Faint streams of molten gold trickled through its surface, reinforcing the formation’s already formidable appearance.

Earth generates metal and metal generates water. These three elements complement one another, creating a wall of iron and stone, unyielding, resilient, and seemingly unbreakable. If someone dared charge in with their physical body, they would immediately be crushed by immense pressure. Even someone like Wang Yuan, an expert in Physique Refinement, wouldn’t be able to withstand the formation’s crushing force.

While Min Longyu continued directing and analyzing the formation’s flaws, Luo Chen stood silently to the side, completely focused on observing. Every snippet of formation theory Min Longyu mentioned, Luo Chen committed to memory.

When I had to unlock Duan Qiankun’s storage pouch, I learned quite a bit about restriction techniques from Duan Feng back then. And when I dealt with Huo Hu’s storage pouch, I gained even more insight. Restrictions are the foundation of formations. If I can understand the basics, then even without specializing in them, I won’t be caught off guard, Luo Chen muttered to himself.

Luo Chen had already come to appreciate many of the subtle applications of restrictions. When he first refined his two enchanted treasures, the process had been agonizingly slow. Later, by imitating Duan Qiankun and carving restrictions into them with his spirit consciousness, he gradually advanced.

After years of effort, he was finally showing signs of taking actual control of the two enchanted treasures. He simply hadn’t found the right occasion to use them. Otherwise, he would have loved to test the sharpness of his Mystic Flame Sword.

***

On the first day, Min Longyu used the five-element teams as probing fingers, testing different portions of the formation and studying its structure.

On the second day, those fingers became fists. Sometimes dispersed, sometimes tightly clustered, the teams struck repeatedly at key nodes, hammering the formation’s outer shell without pause.

By the third day, Min Longyu was no longer testing with his hands but preparing to wield a blade. And Wang Yuan was that blade!

”I’ve heard you’ve broken through two formations on your own before,” Min Longyu said solemnly as they stood before the golden barrier. ”But those were incomplete formations with no Foundation Establishment cultivators maintaining them. This one is different. Be extremely cautious.”

Wang Yuan nodded, fully alert and not the least bit careless.

Min Longyu pointed toward a high section of the golden layer. ”Strike the Qian sector. It’s bound by Lake and water, so blades cannot extend there. If there’s backlash, retreat at once. If retreat fails, aim for the adjacent spot. That’s the weakest zone, just beyond The Marrying Maiden.”[1]

Wang Yuan listened carefully. He was no longer a novice when it came to formations. In studying the Blood Fiend Seizing Formation, he had already learned a great deal from both Duan Feng and Min Longyu, and he could easily identify two adjacent sectors.

When everything was ready, Wang Yuan gathered the full force of his blood qi. A layer of translucent Bright Force enveloped his fist.

Boom!

That fist slammed into the formation, and the golden light barrier shuddered from the impact. A hazy golden brilliance erupted outward like a flash of blades. Its aura was dense, its momentum razor-sharp.

Wang Yuan’s expression changed at once. The hell was he thinking? Blades cannot extend?!

Panic surged through him as he retreated, but the golden light pursued like an enraged beast, snapping at his heels. If it caught him, even someone like Wang Yuan would suffer serious injury.

This won’t do. I can’t dodge it. Redirect the force... attack the adjacent Marrying Maiden!

Wang Yuan reacted without pause. His palm crashed into the neighboring point with immense force, and a second golden wave erupted. In a flash, the two beams collided and annihilated each other.

Seizing the chance, Wang Yuan pulled back immediately.

On the flying boat’s deck, Luo Chen’s voice rang out with concern. ”You alright?”

For once, a trace of fear lingered on Wang Yuan’s face. ”Wasn’t this supposed to be a defensive formation? Why was its counterattack so terrifying?”

Luo Chen turned toward Min Longyu.

Min Longyu wore a faint smile. ”The best defense is always offense. A formation with no counterattack is nothing more than a turtle shell. Elder Wang, surely you understand that principle?”

Wang Yuan was stunned. He recalled the Luo Tian Society’s own main formation, the Seven-Colored Danxia Formation. Its seven-colored spear truly had unmatched offensive might, capable of easily killing early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As Wang Yuan stood in silence, Min Longyu pressed his hand onto the formation disc and said, ”President, I’ve found a way to break the formation!”

Luo Chen’s eyes lit up. ”How?”

”With formation against formation. Seven days at most, and the formation will fall!” replied Min Longyu.

***

Inside the Divine Craftsman Sect, hundreds of cultivators patrolled day and night, divided into teams that rotated in shifts.

At the very heart of the sect, twenty-one late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators sat in a triangular pattern behind a single figure, the Grand Elder of the Divine Craftsman Sect. With his direct command and their support, the Ironclad Bastion Formation remained active without pause.

As Fei Changqiu approached from outside, his laughter echoed down the corridors long before he entered. ”Grand Elder! Truly worthy of your title as our sect’s greatest formation master! They say Wang Yuan is an unmatched formation breaker, yet he nearly lost his life under your hand!”

He stopped before the Grand Elder and declared with cheer, ”If you ask me, the Luo Tian Society is overrated.”

The Grand Elder stroked his beard, his aged face ruddy with pride. ”Sect Master, you’re flattering me too much. I only borrowed the power of the formation. It’s nothing worth boasting about.”

Fei Changqiu waved a hand dismissively. ”No need for modesty. After these days of testing, how long do you think we can hold with this formation?”

While the Luo Tian Society had been probing their defenses, the Divine Craftsman Sect had also been using the opportunity to assess their opponent’s strength.

The Grand Elder sobered up and hesitated slightly. ”The Fire Spirit Lord hasn’t made a move yet, so I can’t say for certain. But with the current level of attack, I can hold for at least half a year.”

Fei Changqiu fell into contemplation. Half a year?That will do!

Even if Luo Chen himself went all out, the formation could endure for three to four months. Such a span was enough for anyone to waver. He refused to believe Luo Chen would remain focused here the entire time. Perhaps, after Wang Yuan’s failed attempt, they were already preparing to retreat. If he seized this chance to reach out to allies beyond the city, he might even reverse the situation and force the Luo Tian Society to withdraw.

Just as Fei Changqiu indulged in his triumphant fantasies, a disciple came rushing in. ”Sect Master, the Luo Tian Society is making a move!”

Fei Changqiu’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly walked out.

Moments later, he stood atop the Divine Craftsman Sect’s highest vantage point, scanning the distance. The figures outside had ceased their probing strikes against the formation. Instead, they were bustling about in the open fields to the east.

”What are they doing?” muttered Fei Changqiu

***

On a small mound, Luo Chen stood watching the ”construction site” ahead.

Min Longyu barked orders, directing everyone to carve channels into the terrain with spirit power. From his storage pouch, he drew out a bundle of formation flags and several odd-looking stones.

Luo Chen asked curiously, ”What are those stones?”

Min Longyu turned and explained, ”Large formations often rely on the power of mountain and earth veins. But when no suitable terrain exists, we formation masters must create it ourselves. Ancient cultivators used fifth-tier Forbidden Stones or fourth-tier Mountain-River Stones. I don’t have those, so I’m using the more common second-tier Five-Element Stones.”

As Min Longyu spoke, he handed Luo Chen a stone. It was clearly man-made, its surface etched with neat, deliberate lines. The moment Luo Chen touched it, he felt a dense surge of fire-element spirit energy.

Hmm? As Luo Chen rubbed the stone thoughtfully, he realized it even contained traces of raw spirit stone ore.

While his curiosity lingered, the formation construction never paused for a moment. Min Longyu continued giving orders as he explained the design of the formation. Based on his probing, he had determined that the Divine Craftsman Sect’s Ironclad Bastion Formation was unbalanced, too heavy on metal and too light on earth.

To counter that, he was building the Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation, a pure fire-element second-tier offensive formation. Fire overcomes metal. With the Ninefold Flame Dragon, they would shatter the Ironclad Bastion Formation.

To power it, he requested five hundred mid-grade spirit stones, naturally worth a staggering fifty thousand low-grade ones. As the formation core, he used his own incomplete enchanted treasure, the Wandering Eighteen-Formation Disc, to stabilize and control the formation.

After a full day and night of labor, the terrain outside the Divine Craftsman Sect had been reshaped into a sprawling formation. Mounds rose and fell across the field, and countless formation flags fluttered in the wind, planted in every direction.

”Is it done?” Luo Chen asked as Min Longyu approached, his face lit with barely contained excitement.

Min Longyu grinned, his white teeth flashing. ”Just one thing left.”

”Oh? What is it?” Luo Chen asked without hesitation. ”If you need anything, I’ll find it for you immediately.”

He spared no effort in supporting Min Longyu. It wasn’t only about destroying the Divine Craftsman Sect; the longer the siege dragged on, the more cultivators from Tianlan Immortal City began to gather.

From several li away, onlookers had already converged. Some merely watched from a distance, while others set up roadside stalls along the main thoroughfare, hawking spirit fruit and spirit wine to the growing crowd.

And this was only the beginning. It was easy to imagine that if things dragged on much longer, some might get devious ideas and target the Luo Tian Society’s base.

Min Longyu was well aware, so he didn’t hesitate when making his request. ”President, I need your enchanted-treasure flying sword!”

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. ”The Mystic Flame Sword?”

”That’s the one.” Min Longyu pointed directly toward the newly constructed formation. ”This formation was built in haste. Its strength is limited. I need an enchanted treasure powerful enough to act as its anchor to serve as the eye of the formation.”

After several days of focused learning, Luo Chen had already gained a solid grasp of formation theory. Restrictions, formation bases, energy sources, flags, discs, formation cores, even the crucial eye of the formation. He now understood them all.

For a grand formation to be truly formidable, its foundation had to be solid. Its energy supply had to be abundant. Its core had to be flexible and adaptable.

But above all, the eye of the formation was the most critical. More often than not, a formation collapsed because its eye had been shattered. That was why strong formations were anchored to the earth’s veins. The eye had to be indestructible. If mountains and veins could not be drawn upon, then a powerful treasure had to serve as the stabilizing anchor.

Whoosh!

With a smooth gesture, Luo Chen extended his hand. A crimson longsword streaked through the air and landed squarely in his palm, the Mystic Flame Sword.

At the sight of the blade, Min Longyu’s eyes lit up. ”With the Mystic Flame Sword anchoring the formation, the Wandering Eighteen-Formation Disc as its core, and the Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation as the framework, breaking the Ironclad Bastion will be effortless.”

He took the sword, examined it briefly, and a wide smile bloomed across his face. ”This sword is a common low-grade enchanted treasure, and it possesses no flashy abilities, but that is actually its greatest strength. Every bit of its power is concentrated on amplifying fire-element spirit energy.

”Wang Haichao must’ve lost his mind when he bought this sword. He practiced only water-element techniques. What business did he have with a fire-element weapon?”

Luo Chen recalled that the purchase hadn’t been for personal use, so perhaps it wasn’t pure foolishness after all.

”President, you’ve refined this treasure quite skillfully,” Min Longyu remarked.

Luo Chen gave a modest smile. ”It’s decent, nothing exceptional.”

Holding the Mystic Flame Sword in his hands, Min Longyu suddenly said, ”Though the Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation is a purely offensive formation, it also contains a trace of refinement intent. After all, refining is just another form of destruction.”

Luo Chen’s eyes narrowed. ”What are you getting at?”

”If your divine soul is strong enough, you can harness the formation’s power during activation to forcibly refine this sword even further,” Min Longyu explained. ”If it succeeds, you might gain complete control over it.”

That suggestion struck Luo Chen like thunder. The Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation... could also assist in refining?

He immediately requested the refining method Min Longyu had in mind. Still, that was only a bonus. The real goal was to break the formation.

Once everything was in place, Min Longyu ascended the platform. Beneath his feet, formation flags flapped in the wind, Five-Element Stones jutted from the earth, and spirit stones radiated abundant spirit energy.

Two li ahead, the dazzling golden barrier shimmered.

Holding the sword in both hands, Min Longyu flung it backward. The Mystic Flame Sword gleamed crimson as it stabbed firmly into the rear of the formation.

”Formation, rise!” he shouted.

By now, he was seated cross-legged before the massive, ancient formation disc. Though cracked and worn, it radiated a terrifying complexity, with hundreds of thousands of restriction patterns etched into its surface.

At its call, all the formation flags began to flutter without wind. At each critical node, mid-grade spirit stones vibrated in unison, releasing torrents of spirit energy. Over a hundred cultivators, divided into the five-element teams, injected their spirit power into the formation at Min Longyu’s direction.

As the formation activated, faint dragon roars began to echo through the air.

Countless onlookers fixed their eyes on the sight. Luo Chen and Wang Yuan stood at opposite flanks, guarding the formation, while Min Longyu sat at its heart, his eyes blazing with excitement.

Suddenly, Min Longyu raised his hand. ”Ninefold Flame Dragon, heed my command! First Strike, Hidden Dragon Emerges!”

His loud cry rang out.

In the next instant, a surge of spirit power converged, and a colossal fire dragon, several dozen zhang long, soared from the formation. Its body was ethereal and shapeless, yet its proud and majestic head radiated pure might.

”Go!”

At Min Longyu’s command, the massive fire dragon spewed flames and charged headlong toward the golden barrier without a moment’s hesitation.

1. The name 雷泽归妹 originates from Hexagram 54 of the I Ching. It is composed of the trigrams Thunder (雷) above and Marsh (泽) below. The image symbolizes an improper or imbalanced union, where forces come together under unequal terms. ☜