An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Inside the quiet room, Luo Chen squinted at the second-tier alchemical formula in his hand and muttered under his breath, ”Dustfall pill? What an unlucky name! Seriously, what kind of decent pill gets called Dustfall? Does the one who invented this know my name means dust? Maybe they do and they just wanted me to fail this thing....”[1]

Though he voiced his complaints, the gleam in his eyes betrayed the truth: Luo Chen was genuinely thrilled. In all his years of studying alchemy, he had never encountered a pill quite like this. A new formula was one thing; new formulas appeared from time to time. It was the approach that was entirely novel.

It was a cultivation pill formula. But unlike the usual formulas that extracted the energy of many ingredients into a single small pill so that the cultivator could absorb it directly, this Dustfall pill took an entirely different route.

The path of qi cultivation began with refining vital essence into qi, and then qi into spirit. The so-called refinement of vital essence into qi referred to cultivating from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment and then Golden Core. At its core, the process relied on drawing from one’s vital essence to advance through realms until a Golden Core condensed within the body.

Yet human bodies were fragile, far inferior to many of the myriad races of heaven and earth. Within their tiny mortal body, how much vital essence could they possibly refine? For that reason, humans had devised methods to absorb spirit energy from nature itself. From that point onward, the orthodox cultivation path diverged from the path of the other races. It remained a refinement of vital essence into qi, but the vital essence now came from heaven and earth rather than the body. Then, once a cultivator attained measure, they would naturally condense essence blood within, rich with vital essence and spirit. In turn, this nourished and tempered their physique.

However, the Dustfall pill reversed the process and shifted the path back toward its origin. After taking this pill, cultivators could extract vital essence in large quantities from the body and convert it into spirit energy. In doing so, their spirit cultivation would be accelerated.

Dustfall pill, Dustfall pill.

With excessive consumption, even a body refined through Marrow Cleansing would slowly regress into a mortal constitution, falling back into the dust of the mortal realm. Thus, it came to be named the Dustfall pill.[2] In that sense, the title fit perfectly.

A quiet sigh escaped his lips. He was no stranger to refining vital essence into qi; when Divine Breaker of Malevolence was first created, it used fiend qi to stimulate blood and transform it into spirit energy, giving martial grandmasters a foothold on the path of cultivation. The principle here was the same, though the pill naturally relied on alchemical force instead of fiend qi. At the same time, the pill was far too crude, bordering on devilish alchemy. Prolonged use was indeed bound to inflict serious harm on a cultivator’s body.

Luo Chen couldn’t help but picture a cultivator who relied heavily on this pill. A body once tempered by Marrow Cleansing would eventually become as feeble as that of a mortal....

What a terrifying thought. But there’s also another thing. If a cultivator already possesses a highly refined physique, can the pill be used to accelerate progress without causing it to collapse into frailty? Luo Chen thought, and he instinctively glanced at his status panel.

Foundation Establishment Stage Five (2/100); Blood River Realm (50/100)

With his meridians fully unblocked and years of practicing the Five Organs Nourishment Fist, he had completed both the Meridian Unblocking and Organ Refinement sub-stages. Setting aside orifice purification and pill condensation, his progress in Physique Refinement could already be called substantial. If he sacrificed this foundation to take the Dustfall pill, how much spirit energy could he gain? And how far would his cultivation rise? If paired with other physique-enhancing medicines like Golden Jade Liquid, could he keep his body from degrading?

The exact effects of the pill remained uncertain in Luo Chen’s mind. With a trace of regret, he put the formula away and let the thought rest. The timing simply wasn’t right to devote himself to studying a second-tier pill formula. Given his abilities, it was impossible to master such a formula quickly enough to refine it immediately. The Seven Prodigies of Green Pill Valley might achieve it, but he knew his own limits.

However, he had the system, and he could just unlock it when needed. It wouldn’t take much effort. In that regard, he had the second round firmly in his grasp.

”Achievement points aren’t easy to earn; spending them to unlock a second-tier recipe is worth it, but using them on a first-tier pill would be a waste.”

As Luo Chen muttered to himself, he took out the copy of the first-tier alchemical formula. He intended to spend the next two weeks thoroughly studying it. With his knowledge and skill, a first-tier formula should be manageable.

”Spirit Feed Pellets? Huh, interesting. The Grand Alchemy Institute’s research ability must be quite impressive to produce two new alchemical formulas like this....”

***

Thanks to the soundproofing formation, the chaos outside never reached Luo Chen’s ears. Regardless of how fierce the battles grew, the little world within his chamber remained quiet and still.

Only when night fell did the noise begin to fade. Excited voices echoed faintly through the courtyard walls, carrying fragments of conversation. The Tao family disciples spoke with unrestrained joy, their faces alight with pride. Clearly, the day’s matches had gone well.

Even so, each time someone passed Luo Chen’s room, their footsteps slowed and their voices dropped. Everyone knew it: The man inside was the key figure for the second round!

Inside the council hall, Tao Wan sat at the head seat. Her sharp eyes swept across the four people before her—Tao Daonan, Qi Lingyun, Tan Xiao, and Tao Yisheng, who attended only as an observer thanks to his special circumstances.

She spoke slowly, ”On the first day, we secured one arena spot thanks to Senior Brother Qi and Senior Brother Tan, who went all out.”

Tan Xiao shook his head. ”I personally participated in the last Dao Scion competition, yet I didn’t even make it into the ranks of the Grand True Inheritors. It feels like I’m bullying the younger generation.”

A light laugh escaped Tao Wan’s lips. ”Those junior brothers and sisters came under the guidance of mentors who also took part decades ago; they’re your peers. It’s not bullying the weak.”

The words soothed Tan Xiao’s troubled heart. Indeed, there were many like him who had failed in the last generation. Not only did they fail to seize the Dao Scion position, they didn’t even manage to secure a Grand True Inheritor seat, which would have granted them access to more resources. Therefore, for the sake of forming their core, they would never miss out on this unexpectedly reopened competition! Even if they were over 150 years of age and no longer qualified to claim a Grand True Inheritor seat directly, they could still support eligible disciples to achieve the same outcome by proxy. If the disciples they supported won the Dao Scion title, they themselves could still gain resources not inferior to what a Grand True Inheritor would have received.

Because the interval between competitions was so short, many late-stage Initiates like Tan Xiao were participating a second time. This made the first day’s arena matches more intense than ever before. In previous years, there had never been so many late-stage Initiates in the fray. Most of the time, the lineup would be a mix of late- and mid-stage Initiates.

Qi Lingyun chuckled and said, ”In Green Pill Valley, apart from Senior Brother Dan Yangzi, Junior Sister Wanwan’s talent and aptitude are unmatched. If you’re not fit to be a Dao Scion, who is?”

As he spoke, his eyes brimmed with intense and undisguised emotion. Tao Wan slightly averted her gaze from that passionate stare and changed the subject. ”You all saw it today, didn’t you? Hardly anyone dared to challenge Senior Brother Dan Yangzi’s arena. That isn’t what we discussed beforehand.”

Hearing this, Qi Lingyun frowned. ”Could it be that the others were too intimidated?”

A pause followed before Tan Xiao finally spoke. ”The eldest senior brother may stand alone, without any aides, but he has held the Dao Scion title for a long time. His prestige is overwhelming. It’s only natural that the younger disciples wouldn’t dare to challenge him.”

The youngest, Tao Yisheng, interjected worriedly, ”If that’s the case, doesn’t it mean he can preserve his strength and pass through all fifteen days of battle without resistance?”

At those words, everyone fell silent. Given Dan Yangzi’s capabilities, if he wasn’t worn down over these fifteen days, he’d certainly breeze through the second round as well. Once he entered the third stage with such an advantage, neither Tao Wan nor the other rising stars would be able to contend with him.

Though their ages were similar, Dan Yangzi was, undeniably, their senior. His talent was extraordinary, and he seized the Dao Scion title decades ago while only at the eighth stage of Foundation Establishment. Now, he had already reached the ninth stage; Perfected Mastery couldn’t be far off. Even prodigies like Tao Wan, who were also at the ninth stage, would struggle to match him head-on.

Amid the silence, Tan Daonan’s aged voice rang out. ”No need to rush! For now, let him keep that spot. Once the final rankings start to matter in a few days, no one will ignore him, the greatest threat among us all. At that point, his most difficult trial will begin!”

Everyone instantly understood, as if awakened by a bucket of cold water. The battle hadn’t reached its boiling point yet! When the time came, Dan Yangzi wouldn’t be dealing with a few scattered challengers, but with the other eight Grand True Inheritors, each taking turns in an organized assault!

With her heart now at ease, Tao Wan spoke, ”Senior Brother Qi, Senior Brother Tan, you’ve worked hard today. Go rest early, restore your spirit power. I may need your help again tomorrow.”

Neither Qi Lingyun nor Tan Xiao raised any objection. Once a cultivator reached late-stage Foundation Establishment, their spirit power multiplied, but even that couldn’t withstand excessive consumption. With such a grueling, drawn-out battle to fight, daily rest and spirit power recovery were essential.

Once they left, Tao Wan turned to Tan Daonan. ”Patriarch, what did the Fu family say?”

Tan Daonan said slowly, ”Several families have struck deals with the Fu family; they’ll be sending challengers to exhaust Dan Yangzi one after another. There’s no way he’ll enter the True Inheritor Sword Duels in perfect condition.”

The answer eased Tao Wan’s heart. She then shifted her gaze toward Tao Yisheng. ”Is Dan Chenzi still studying the formula on his own?”

Tao Yisheng raised a hand to scratch his head, then froze when his sister’s sharp eyes landed on him. He reflexively pulled his hand back and stopped scratching. His sister had told him that such habits were signs of immaturity and should be avoided.

He composed himself and said seriously, ”Brother Luo is indeed studying alone. He’s turned away all offers of assistance.”

Hearing that, Tao Wan couldn’t help but frown.

Tan Daonan also spoke in confusion, ”All the other alchemists have hired numerous apprentices and fire handlers to help them test the ingredients. Luo Chen is being far too arrogant, isn’t he?”

”It isn’t arrogance,” Tao Yisheng said firmly. ”It’s confidence. Brother Luo has mastered the properties of most low-tier herbs like the back of his hand. He does not need extra help.”

Tan Daonan drew a breath, about to continue his warning, but Tao Wan cut him off before he could finish. ”Let him be. The list is already set. We cannot change our candidate now.”

Hearing this, Tan Daonan looked at Tao Wan in confusion. Tao Yisheng’s faith in Luo Chen was understandable; after all, he had personally witnessed how much the young man’s alchemy had improved under Luo Chen’s guidance. But why did Tao Wan share that same confidence?

Tao Wan noticed the change in his expression, but she did not explain. She gazed into the pitch-black night, her eyes narrowing slightly. It wasn’t Luo Chen’s alchemy skill that she trusted; it was her understanding of his unwavering resolve when it came to obtaining top-grade pills. Since Luo Chen had chosen to take part, he would give everything he had in the second round. The only thing left for them was to secure the best possible outcome in the first round!

***

Whatever storms raged outside, Luo Chen remained unshaken. He devoted himself wholly to studying the formula for the Spirit Feed Pellet, and after several days of relentless effort, he finally reached a critical stage in his research.

This wasn’t a pellet meant for humans; it was made for demonic beasts, more precisely, for spirit beasts.

In principle, raising and taming beasts required vast amounts of raw meat and fresh blood. High-tier spirit beasts were fine; they had already learned to breathe in the essence of the sun and moon, absorb spirit energy, and convert it into demonic power. However, low-tier spirit beasts, whose spirit intelligence had not yet awakened, were still driven by a bone-deep instinct for blood.

In that respect, places like Dahe Market, near the Great Million Mountains, were fortunate; they had ample sources for procuring all sorts of blood food. For those located inland, such convenience didn’t exist. Blood food transported from outside was often far from fresh, and the price was exorbitant. This had been evident when Luo Chen bid on a second-tier beast corpse at the Snow Lotus Palace auction.

Thus, raising one or two guardian spirit beasts was still manageable in terms of cost. But the cost to raise them on a large scale was astronomical. There simply wasn’t enough blood food! So the Grand Alchemy Institute’s alchemist masters developed this new formula—the Spirit Feed Pellet.

The main ingredient was still a type of blood food favored by spirit beasts, but it only made up a small portion. The rest of the ingredients consisted of medicinal herbs, minerals, and spirit solutions. It greatly reduced the burden of supplying blood food, and the other ingredients could be mass-produced by cultivators. Thus, the cost was dramatically lowered.

So... basically, this is the dry dog food and cattle fodder back on Earth! Luo Chen curled his lips as he analyzed the principles behind the formula.

It wasn’t hard to refine. In fact, it was far easier than even preparing Washed Jade for crafting Jade Essence pills. So long as one understood the fundamental alchemical theory and employed the proper techniques to blend the components, success was virtually guaranteed.

”Makes sense,” Luo Chen murmured to himself. ”If the formula were truly difficult, they wouldn’t allow only fifteen days to prepare. The real trial must be the Dustfall pill.”

With that conclusion, he set aside further hesitation and began refining at once. The Grand Alchemy Institute had provided all necessary materials, and the Glazed Child Cauldron was already connected to the earth fire.

Five days later, after working tirelessly without rest, Luo Chen finally completed his first batch of Spirit Feed Pellets. To his satisfaction, the batch yielded thirty fully formed pills! This output even surpassed the standard of twenty pills per batch seen with Jade Essence pills. Clearly, the difficulty was indeed very low.

After refining the finished batch, Luo Chen let out a breath of relief. He said nothing and immediately collapsed into bed. These past days of studying formulas and conducting alchemical trials had truly worn him out, but it had all been worth it.

After a rough analysis of the Dustfall pill, he had already used the system to master it at the Beginner level. Now, all he had to do was wait for the second round to begin. While others were still painstakingly experimenting, he could rest and conserve his strength.

That sleep lasted an entire night and half the next day.

In the afternoon, amidst the sea of spectators at the arena, Luo Chen quietly appeared beside Tao Yisheng. ”Hey, what’s the situation?”

”Eh!” Tao Yisheng jumped in surprise. He hadn’t expected Luo Chen to emerge from seclusion after just ten days. He knew better than anyone what that implied.

Before he could ask anything, Luo Chen’s gaze was already drawn to the highest platform. A burly man wielding a black-golden staff stepped onto the platform under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

”I am Chu Kui, the He family’s retainer. I challenge Fellow Daoist Dan Yangzi to battle!”

1. The pill’s name is 降尘丹 (jiang chen dan). The first character means ”fall” and the character 尘 (chen), also coincidentally found in Luo Chen’s name, means dust. ☜

2. In Daoist and Buddhist tradition, the term ”dust” or ”red dust” (红尘) is used to refer to the mundane world; worldly attachments and desires are considered to be impure and dirty. ☜