An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

As Zuo Song, Luo Feng, and the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Peach Mountain entered the Grand Hall, the atmosphere instantly reached its peak. Even Zhou Qing pushed his way forward to be seen. These were genuine late-stage Initiates! Each of them held sway over a sect or a powerful cultivation family.

Initiates from smaller families, unable to step into such a circle, could only linger on the outskirts, their eyes filled with envy.

Nangong Jin, standing among the crowd, felt his heart stir with disbelief. The Chen family of Tianyi Market, the Luo family of Luosha Market, Iron Sword Hall, and even our own Lianyun Trade Alliance. Four late-stage Foundation Establishment powers. Now, Peach Mountain came, and they’re backed by a Golden Core Adept. It’s been just a few short years... How has Luo Chen reached such heights?

Even Li Yixian could not conceal her astonishment. No amount of networking could explain how Luo Chen had managed to draw such powerful alliances in so little time.

Within the Grand Hall, the cultivators were not pressed together but mingled in smaller groups, chatting in low voices. Among them was the Foundation Establishment representative of Peach Mountain. Though the delegation bore the banner of Xuan Yu, the one who came was not the man himself but a striking female cultivator named Qiao Xiyue, an early-stage Initiate.

She stepped forward with a graceful sway, her flirtatious smile catching many eyes. ”I apologize for coming here uninvited. But surely the Fire Spirit Lord will not turn me away?”

Luo Chen answered her with a bright, easygoing smile. ”Not at all. The presence of Peach Mountain honors the Luo Tian Society, and your arrival adds a brilliant hue to Danxia Peak.”

”Hehe, you overpraise me!” Qiao Xiyue laughed lightly behind a raised hand. ”You certainly have a silver tongue. But speaking of that, I’m actually here to talk about the other kind of silver.”

”Oh?”Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. ”What’s the business?”

Qiao Xiyue smiled faintly. ”The Myriad Wonders pill.”

At the mention of the name, Luo Chen understood at once. Peach Mountain. Of course. A place devoted to indulgence and worldly pleasures. Unlike mortals, cultivators, especially those in the Qi Refinement Realm, were often held back when it came to indulgence. Without a doubt, the Myriad Wonders pill could help them fully enjoy themselves.

”I hope your Luo Tian Society will cease selling the Myriad Wonders pill publicly and instead supply them exclusively to Peach Mountain. As for pricing, we can negotiate, and Peach Mountain will even offer your cultivators a special discount.”

She spoke smoothly and confidently, clearly well-used to discussing business.

However, Luo Chen posed an unusual question. ”Is this proposal Fellow Daoist Xuan Yu’s idea or yours, Fellow Daoist Qiao?”

Qiao Xiyue’s expression froze. Under Luo Chen’s steady gaze, she forced herself to reply. ”My husband is in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Golden Core Realm. He cannot attend to such matters, so this idea is mine. But it will not affect our collaboration.”

Luo Chen gave a slight nod and smiled, choosing not to press further. ”I have not handled business personally for quite some time. If you are willing, Fellow Daoist, you may speak with our director after the ceremony.”

”Sima Huiniang?” Qiao Xiyue asked, a trace of doubt flickering across her expression.

Luo Chen only gave a brief hum in response. He was already preparing to end the exchange. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Zuo Song standing distracted among the crowd, stealing glances at him from time to time. Clearly, the man had not forgotten the Profound-Link Celestial Crystal.

Unfortunately for him, Luo Chen intended to keep that treasure for himself. It was not yet the right time to fall out over it.

”Fellow Daoist Qiao, two old friends are over there. I must go greet them. Please excuse me.”

Qiao Xiyue followed his gaze toward the corner, where two early Foundation Establishment cultivators stood. ”Then go ahead, Fellow Daoist. I will make myself at home.”

With a gentle smile, Luo Chen turned and made his way toward the corner.

***

”It’s been a long time, my friends. How have you been?”

The sudden voice took them both by surprise. Li Yixian turned around and stared at Luo Chen in shock. She had thought he would not even acknowledge them today. Yet here he was, asking about their well-being.

She gave a bitter smile. ”Not good, really. We’ve only just found a place to stay.”

Nangong Jin added with a sigh, ”The Lianyun Trade Alliance has many vacant positions, but the pressure outside is far greater than before. Fellow Daoist Li and I are barely holding on.”

”Still better than me, right?” Luo Chen smacked his lips. ”We nearly lost everything in a major battle not long ago.”

At those words, Nangong Jin and Li Yixian exchanged glances. Was this supposed to be modesty? Everyone knew about that battle. The Luo Tian Society had not only survived, but they had emerged victorious, sweeping up resources and influence. Where was this so-called near-destruction? What had they lost that they hadn’t recouped twice over?

”Haha, now’s not the time to dwell on the past.” Luo Chen beamed. ”Though times are tough, it’s still many times better than being stuck back at Dahe Market, don’t you agree?”

The two across from him nodded in agreement. The tension etched on their brows visibly eased. Whatever else could be said, at least their years in Tianlan Immortal City had not been wasted.

Nangong Jin had advanced to the second stage of Foundation Establishment, while Li Yixian, with her deeper reserves and the advantage of a superior cultivation environment, had finally broken through to the third stage after years of quiet accumulation. With time, a breakthrough to the middle stage was entirely within reach.

Luo Chen’s presence and easy manner seemed to dispel the pressure in the air. The distance created earlier by the arrival of those influential figures gradually faded away. After all, they had all come from the same place. Each had struggled, worked hard, and made their own progress. It was just that Luo Chen had moved a bit further ahead. Thinking of it that way, the gap created by strength and status no longer felt so overwhelming.

Luo Chen glanced at the person standing behind Li Yixian and furrowed his brows. ”Li Ao still hasn’t reached Foundation Establishment?”

Li Yixian sighed. ”He tried once, but unfortunately he failed.”

Li Ao, standing in the corner, instinctively lowered his head. His neck flushed crimson, revealing his frustration and shame.

”I brought him this time not just to broaden his horizons, but also to let him listen to Director Sima Huiniang’s Foundation Establishment insights,” Li Yixian explained. Her gaze drifted toward Duan Feng, Min Longyu, and the others, her eyes filled with admiration. ”Your Luo Tian Society keeps producing Foundation Establishment Initiates. You must have some special method, don’t you?”

Nangong Jin thought the same. Unfortunately, his beloved son Nangong Qin had become crippled from the waist down, beyond any cure, and lost the chance for Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, he too would have brought his son along to learn.

”Don’t worry. Huiniang will share her Foundation Establishment experiences later.” Luo Chen turned to Li Ao. ”And don’t lose heart. One failed attempt does not define you. For us cultivators, starting over isn’t defeat; it is proof of courage.”

Faced with Luo Chen’s encouragement, Li Ao clenched his teeth and forced a smile. Foundation Establishment... is not easy.

Just as Luo Chen was about to say more to Li Yixian, his brows suddenly rose. With a slight nod to the two of them, he turned and strode out of the Grand Hall.

As the host of the ceremony, countless eyes followed Luo Chen’s every move. When he suddenly stirred, many nearby cultivators of the Luo Tian Society instinctively followed suit.

Subtly, the Foundation Establishment Initiates in the hall began to sense that an honored guest had arrived. And sure enough—

The next moment, a booming ceremonial announcement echoed throughout Danxia Peak, carried by the formations.

”We warmly welcome Tantai Jin, Foundation Establishment True Inheritor of the Ice Fortress!”

Ice Fortress had sent a representative; that much was expected. Everyone knew that Ice Fortress was Luo Tian Society’s greatest backer. He had even been personally summoned by Fairy Ruthless herself.

But no one had anticipated that Tantai Jin would attend in person. A True Inheritor of the Ice Fortress, disciple of a Golden Core Adept, and a late-stage Initiate. She was one of the rulers of Tianlan Immortal City. For her to lend the Luo Tian Society such prestige...

Just as everyone was still in shock, another ceremonial chant rang out.

”We warmly welcome Tao Yisheng, Inner Hall disciple of Green Pill Valley!”

This time, expressions across the hall changed dramatically. Even Green Pill Valley had sent a representative. What virtue or capability did the Luo Tian Society possess to earn recognition from not one but two Golden Core sects?

Within the hall, Zhou Qing and the others exchanged glances, their faces filled with disbelief. Even though their earlier words had been polite, they still held some hidden disdain for Luo Chen, but now?

”Our Lianyun Trade Alliance... doesn’t enjoy this kind of support, does it?”

Zuo Song of Iron Sword Hall, already displeased because Luo Chen had avoided him and made no mention of that fourth-tier mineral, clenched his fists. Had it not been for the presence of factions like the Lianyun Trade Alliance, Tianyi Market, and Luosha Market, he might have already lashed out. But now, with emissaries from two Golden Core sects appearing, his dissatisfaction vanished completely. As for the Profound-Link Celestial Crystal, he no longer dared harbor the slightest thought of seizing it. He could not afford to offend someone with such backing.

Chen Xiuli and Luo Feng, who had been quietly discussing plans to jointly suppress Luo Tian Society’s prices in future trade, now wore looks of disbelief.

”Brother Luo, I fear this may not go as planned,” Chen Xiuli said, shaking her head.

Luo Feng’s expression grew grim. ”It seems we’ll have to make concessions. With support like this, the Luo Tian Society is clearly no longer a mid-tier force.”

As he said this, his brows tightened with deep confusion. ”How could a mere Luo Tian Society earn such attention from two Golden Core major sects?”

He wasn’t the only one wondering. Many initiates in the hall shared the same bewilderment.

Even Qiao Xiyue of Peach Mountain, usually composed, now looked astonished. On its own, the Luo Tian Society was unremarkable. Could it be that both Ice Fortress and Green Pill Valley place such regard upon them just because of Luo Chen himself?

Unconsciously, many Foundation Establishment cultivators within the hall began making their way toward the entrance. Out of instinctive reverence toward the Golden Core major sects, they stepped out to welcome them.

Meanwhile, outside the mountain, Luo Chen stood upon the rainbow bridge. Before the eyes of countless rogue cultivators, he walked shoulder to shoulder with Tantai Jin and Tao Yisheng, conversing cheerfully as they entered Danxia Peak together.

That scene fell into the eyes of countless rogue cultivators across the city. No one would ever again view the Luo Tian Society as some third-rate, unpresentable faction.

What they would remember was this: On that day outside Danxia Peak, flying lights surged across the skies, and flying boats arrived in droves. No one below the Foundation Establishment Realm dared to enter; only Initiates exchanged greetings and laughter. Representatives from countless great powers came to offer their congratulations. Even the Ice Fortress, Green Pill Valley, and Peach Mountain sent representatives. Three Golden Core major sects came to celebrate together! Even though Luo Tian Society had no late-stage Initiates, countless rogue cultivators already placed them among the foremost powers of Tianlan Immortal City. They were not inferior to Iron Sword Hall, the Du family of Taibai Market, or the Chen family of Tianyi Market!