An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”Fellow Daoist, safe travels!”

Another cheerful voice followed. ”Master Dan Chenzi, you must visit Qingcang Mountain when you have the time. We may not have celestial tea, but you’ll never lack for a cup of wine!”

The first speaker replied with a smile, ”Certainly, certainly. I have always been curious about how a major sect manages its Outer Hall.”

Outside Mohe Garden, two Daoists bid farewell with cupped hands.

Luo Chen watched with amusement as his interlocutor, a late-stage Initiate, gradually disappeared from view. That man was He Liancheng, an Elder of Qingcang Mountain’s Lower Court. This so-called Lower Court was essentially the Outer Hall of Green Pill Valley. Of course, his visit here had not been without purpose.

Back in Mohe Garden, Luo Chen sat down in the pavilion and retrieved the item He Liancheng had brought him. It was an enchanted treasure flying sword named Autumnwater.

The sword, though technically low grade among enchanted treasures, radiated quality the moment spirit power flowed into it. A gleaming blue sheen rippled along its surface, and more importantly, it carried a third-tier spell—Raging Tides and Furious Waves. When spirit power was infused into it along with the corresponding incantations, it could release one devastating surge after another.

A satisfied thought stirred in Luo Chen’s mind as he tested its weight. Now this is what a true enchanted treasure should be.

The contrast between it and his Mystic Flame Sword could not have been greater. That inferior sword lacked even the most basic supplementary spells. He couldn’t help but think bitterly of Huo Hu, the miserly merchant who had sold it, trying to lend prestige to the Huo family auction while unwilling to part with anything of real value. Even so, Wang Haichao had paid the full price for it without a second thought.

Luo Chen casually swung Autumnwater a few times, clearly pleased. This was one of the items he had requested through the jade plaque at Gaoyang Tower. In exchange, he had offered up Wei Tuo’s treasure staff. Truthfully, the staff wasn’t worth nearly as much, but He Liancheng had waived the difference without hesitation.

And the reason? Simply put, it was to make friends.

Only now did Luo Chen truly sense the advantages of his growing reputation. Golden Core Adepts had begun to take notice. Fellow Initiates sought favor. The subtle weight of such gestures was not lost on him. Huiniang’s been lacking an enchanted treasure for quite some time. This Autumnwater has a graceful look and decent power, and it should suit her well. I’ll give it to her as a gift from this journey.

Luo Chen smiled and tucked the flying sword into his storage pouch. Just as he was about to head inside to resume reading, hurried footsteps echoed from the garden entrance. Tao Yisheng appeared, practically bouncing with joy.

”What’s the good news, Yisheng?” Luo Chen asked with an amused glance. ”You look in especially high spirits.”

From afar, Tao Yisheng called out, ”Brother Luo, our sect will hold the Dao Scion Ceremony for my sister tomorrow! You must come and witness it!”

Luo Chen paused in surprise. That soon?

***

Yes, it truly was fast. The last ceremony had taken place not long ago, and its elaborate proceedings remained fresh in the minds of Green Pill Valley’s cultivators. Every step, ritual, and required item was already prepared. With Adept Baisu, Tao Wan’s master, managing everything behind the scenes, the entire process advanced swiftly.

Once the ceremony was complete, Tao Wan would be able to cultivate steadily toward the Golden Core Realm, provided she made no serious mistakes. In the future, she might even lead the entire sect!

Within Qingyun Peak, Luo Chen looked up at the woman kneeling solemnly before the ancestral tablet, unable to hold back a surge of emotion. Not long ago, she had been only a True Inheritor. Now, she stood as Dao Scion Tao, and soon, she might become the second Sect Leader Tao. Step by step, she had ascended the ladder of the Jade Cauldron Domain. If she continued along this path, she would one day stand beside figures such as Qing Yunzi or the Mistress of Hundred Flowers Palace.

When will I reach those heights? Luo Chen wondered.

While he pondered, the rituals unfolded smoothly, like water flowing without pause. More than a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators stood below the stage in reverent silence. Their gazes held admiration, envy, reverence, and even resentment, all directed toward the kneeling woman.

When the final ancestor rites were complete, a lofty voice drifted down from above. ”Soul bound to the lamp, Dao Scion chosen. From this day forth, Tao Wan shall serve as the Dao Scion of Green Pill Valley. Inherit the Great Dao, carry the torch forward, and raise the future of Green Pill Valley.”

Under countless watchful eyes, Tao Wan slowly rose to her feet. She wore a deep violet mantle and ceremonial crown. Her long dark hair was tied neatly behind her, flowing like ink. Her brocade gown of green and blue shimmered in the light, gilded at the edges and adorned with intricate embroidery that balanced majesty with grace. Beneath her feet, cloud-woven white boots gave the illusion of her floating in the air.

Qing Yunzi stepped back slowly, allowing her to step forward. She gazed down upon the crowd gathered outside the hall. Among them were rivals like Dan Yangzi, Du Changfeng, and Shangguan Yan, as well as those who had stood by her from the start, such as Fu Li, Qi Lingyun, Tan Xiao, and many others. There were also dozens of junior disciples, some familiar, others unknown.

Every shift of expression was noted. These are the people I will lead in the future.

Whether she could truly lead them would depend on her methods. For now, what mattered was that she had the title, and that alone carried tremendous weight.

Farther off, the Tao family members gathered in joyous spirits, their faces radiant with pride. Amidst the crowd, Luo Chen’s presence stood out—impossible to miss. The sight brought a soft, proud smile to her lips. Everyone’s here.

With practiced composure, she lifted her right hand, signaling the end of the rite. The previously silent mountains erupted into thunderous applause and roaring cheers.

”Greetings, Senior Sister Dao Scion!”

”Greetings, Senior Sister Dao Scion!”

One voice after another rang out, forming a thunderous tide of recognition.

From within the crowd, Luo Chen offered a respectful bow and declared in a clear voice, ”Greetings, Dao Scion Tao!”

***

Amid drifting white clouds, a bluestone path wound its way through the mountain. Mist curled along the slopes, yet as two figures walked the trail, the fog seemed to part of its own accord. A gentle breeze stirred the air, brushing across their robes.

A faint trace of doubt lingered on Luo Chen’s face. Three full days had passed since Tao Wan had claimed the title of Dao Scion. During that time, she had avoided any mention of the top-grade Ascending Dragon pill she had promised him as a reward. Instead, she had told him only to wait. Thus, he waited three days in silence. Only today had she finally invited him to Qingyun Peak.

”Fellow Daoist,” she asked with a smile, ”what do you think of this mountain?”

”The terrain is majestic, the scenery elegant, and the spirit energy abundant. It is truly a holy land fit for Immortals,” Luo Chen replied. His words carried no hint of flattery; they were simply the factual truth.

Qingyun Peak was indeed a rare gem for cultivation. It harbored third-tier spirit veins, and after years of Green Pill Valley’s refinement, its environment surpassed even Tianlan Peak despite both being of the same tier.

Tao Wan chuckled softly. ”Qingyun Peak may be a splendid place for cultivation, but it is no holy land. In the vast Eastern Wilderness, only the Nether Origin Sect, which once produced a Saint Alchemist, can truly be called a holy land. The rest are nothing special.”

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. ”What do you mean by that?

As Tao Wan explained further, Luo Chen came to understand the reason behind her words. Cultivators had realms, demonic beasts had ranks, and even pills and enchanted artifacts had their grades. Naturally, sects that prized ceremony had their own classifications.

At the bottom of the hierarchy stood unranked factions, rogue groups with no Foundation Establishment experts. If a faction managed to raise one or two Foundation Establishment Initiates, it qualified as third-rate, similar to the Poshan Gang or the Dajiang Gang. A larger gathering of such cultivators could elevate it to second-rate, like the Luo Tian Society. But even with a late-stage Initiate as leader, such a group could only reach the upper tier of second-rate force. To be noticed by the major sects, one had to produce Golden Core cultivators or host permanent Golden Core retainers. Only then could it be considered barely first-rate.

Above these three levels lay the so-called major sects. To achieve that rank, a sect needed no fewer than three Golden Core Adepts. And should a Nascent Soul cultivator emerge among them, the sect could be elevated to an upper sect.

Beyond the upper sects lay the so-called holy lands that Tao Wan referred to. A holy land was where immortals paid homage, where rulers of domains bowed in reverence, and where a single word from its master could become divine law that none dared disobey! Such overwhelming authority naturally stemmed from solid foundations. The reason? Every holy land had at least one Divine Transformation cultivator!

Some might argue that this tiered structure was too secular for the lofty world of cultivators. After all, cultivators were supposed to drift among clouds, sipping dew and eating sunlight. But in truth, these worldly classifications reflected concrete rights and responsibilities. Only a major sect could establish sacred grounds, pass down its Dao legacy, and remain free from subordination! Only an upper sect could govern an entire domain, harvest its essence, and sustain Nascent Soul Sages! Only a holy land could steer the fate of mankind, launch frontier wars, and expand territories to secure more cultivation resources for the human race! For those beneath these ranks, even recognition brought no true freedom. They remained under the heel of others, always subject to stronger powers.

Back at Danxia Peak, when Luo Chen hosted Sima Huiniang’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony, Tantai Jin had casually remarked that certain rituals had crossed the line. At the time, Luo Chen had dismissed the comment, but in hindsight, he realized that parts of the ceremony had indeed breached proper protocol.

Such rites were not meant to be performed indiscriminately. Otherwise, it would be seen as overstepping one’s station. If a major sect chose to make an issue of it, the matter could be exaggerated and used to publicly humiliate the Luo Tian Society.

”Green Pill Valley may be strong, but in the Eastern Wilderness, it is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. Even within the relatively small Jade Cauldron Domain, two great mountains loom above us. I may have been fortunate enough to become Dao Scion, but in the Grand Immortal Realm, that title amounts to very little.” Tao Wan sighed, a faint sorrow flickering in her eyes.

Luo Chen had intended to say, Fellow Daoist, you underestimate yourself. Yet when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t utter them. Only three days ago, he had dreamed of reaching her level. Now he understood how narrow his vision had been. Beyond the Golden Core lay the Nascent Soul Realm, and beyond the ranks of major and upper sects stood the holy lands that ruled over the Eastern Wilderness.

”I seem to have digressed,” Tao Wan said suddenly with a smile, coming to a halt. She stepped forward and swept her sleeve in a graceful arc. ”We’ve arrived. Fellow Daoist Luo Chen, welcome to my cave residence.”

Luo Chen was caught off guard as he looked ahead. The rolling mist receded, revealing a splendid palace of gold and jade. At Tao Wan’s invitation, he entered the hall. The moment he stepped inside, his expression shifted. ”This spirit energy density...”

”Not bad, is it?” Tao Wan replied with a faint smile, her tone carrying both pride and warmth. ”As the Dao Scion of Green Pill Valley, the residence arranged for me is naturally the finest for cultivation. Our cultivations are not high enough to draw fully on a third-tier spirit land, but thanks to the formations laid down by my sect’s Golden Core elders, the spirit energy here constantly maintains third-tier density, just enough for us to train. I suppose you could call it a lesser third-tier cultivation space. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator training here long-term, cultivation speed would be up to eight times faster than in an ordinary top-grade cave residence.”

Eight times! Luo Chen was stunned. Even with his composure, his eyes couldn’t help but gleam with desire.

Tao Wan kept a close eye on every shift in his expression. At this moment, the corners of her lips curled upward. ”You came to Green Pill Valley to lend me your strength, yet you have spent half a year in seclusion without once enjoying the best our sect has to offer. If word spreads, some might say the Dao Scion of Green Pill Valley lacks hospitality. Why not stay here for a short while? Consider it a token of my appreciation for your support.”

Luo Chen swallowed and replied hoarsely, ”That might not be... appropriate?”

”What could be inappropriate?” Tao Wan gestured to the grand hall and its side chambers. ”Without your help, this residence would never have been mine in the first place. As for Senior Brother Dan Yangzi, his true strength is far beyond mine...”

At the mention of Dan Yangzi, Tao Wan’s tone shifted. ”But speaking of him, I’ve learned a few things since becoming Dao Scion. In truth, he has made quite a few mistakes over the decades.”

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. ”Oh? So much trouble from someone who seemed so composed?”

Tao Wan pursed her lips and nodded. ”That’s right. Some details I can’t reveal, but one major reason Adept Wu Feng decided to strip him of his Dao Scion title was that he leaked one of our sect’s core secret techniques to his biological brother. That brother later died, and the secret art ended up exposed. It was only a partial version, not overly critical, but even so, it was not something a Dao Scion should have done.”

Luo Chen’s curiosity was fully piqued. ”What kind of secret technique could weigh so heavily against him?”

”I can’t share specifics, but it’s a prerequisite tied to a Golden Core secret method usable only by the Dao Scion. Once I’ve settled matters here in the sect, I’ll personally investigate and try to recover it,” Tao Wan explained.

A prerequisite technique for a Dao Scion exclusive Golden Core technique? Luo Chen shook his head. ”That will not be easy to retrieve. Once a technique has been seen, it can be learned and spread. How can you possibly ’get it back’?”

Tao Wan waved a hand dismissively. ”It will not be too difficult. If it ended up with a major sect, we can negotiate compensation or arrange a trade. After all, it is only a preliminary technique. If it’s fallen into a rogue cultivator’s hands, that’s even easier; we’ll simply kill them.”

She spoke with absolute calm, yet beneath that composure lay a chilling disregard for the lives of rogue cultivators. The only reason Luo Chen no longer felt the full weight of such indifference was that he himself had ceased to be regarded as a rogue cultivator. Though he did not officially belong to any sect, he now stood as a vassal of the Ice Fortress and a favored guest of Fairy Ruthless. Without that status, her words might have made him shudder.

Perhaps such detachment was simply the standard conduct of disciples from powerful sects. That was how Luo Chen chose to rationalize it. With this perspective, her earlier invitation no longer felt abrupt.

”Fellow Daoist, have you made up your mind?” Tao Wan asked.

Luo Chen smiled with ease. ”Since you’ve extended such a warm invitation, how could I possibly decline? Besides, I must admit that I envy such a cultivation haven. In that case, let the guest follow the host’s arrangements.”

Tao Wan returned his smile knowingly. She had known from the start that Luo Chen would never accept mere favors. Yet when it came to cultivation opportunities, even he could not turn away. This third-tier cultivation ground, inferior though it was, was precisely the kind of incentive he could not refuse. With this, she had fulfilled her elders’ task of ensuring that Luo Chen remained in Green Pill Valley for the time being.

***

Within the Dao Scion Palace, Luo Chen resided alone in one of the side halls. As he paced inside, a quiet joy filled him.

A cultivation environment so richly saturated with spirit energy was something he had always dreamed of, especially given his origins as a rogue cultivator. Even idle breathing stirred his sea of qi into motion, and the urge to sit down and cultivate immediately was nearly irresistible.

This time, Tao Wan’s favor is quite heavy. It seems like I’ll have to officially assume the role of the Tao family’s retainer now, Luo Chen muttered to himself.

Yet he felt no burden from the thought. The Tao family stood on the verge of rising. Once Tao Wan formed her Golden Core, restoring the prosperity last seen under Adept Nanshan two centuries ago would not be beyond reach. In such circumstances, a mere Foundation Establishment retainer like him would hardly be expected to shoulder heavy responsibilities.

Tao Wan’s offer wasn’t only for the sake of drawing him in; there were likely other motives as well. Perhaps it was as repayment for his assistance in the second round, where he ignored the resentment of Green Pill Valley’s disciples. Or perhaps it was because of his notable connection to Fairy Ruthless. In this case, extending favor to him was showing deference to Fairy Ruthless.

The Cold Marrow Ice Essence Tao Wan had used in the final moments of the Sword Duel was no ordinary treasure. That was a third-tier treasure only accessible to Golden Core Adepts of the Ice Fortress! If the Ruthless Lineage did not agree to offer it, then even a major sect’s True Inheritor Initiate would have struggled to obtain even a tiny fragment.

I’ve received these benefits, and there’s no denying it, but I must not slack off. I need to absorb every bit of this.

He took a deep breath and wasted no more time, and immediately entered the cultivation chamber set up within the side hall. After lighting a stick of Divine Fiery Incense, he sat cross-legged in silence.

The ambient spirit energy of heaven and earth surged into his body like a rising tide. Through repeated cycles of cultivation, it was refined into spirit power and poured into his vast sea of qi.