An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Half a month later, atop the crimson cliffs of Danxia Peak, the mood was tense.

A hundred cultivators stood assembled in formation, faces solemn, weapons at the ready. Before them loomed the towering structure of the Luo Tian Society’s Grand Hall, silent and imposing under the morning sun.

Inside the hall, Luo Chen stood facing three individuals, Wang Yuan, Duan Feng, and Xu Haizhen.

In terms of cultivation, Xu Haizhen stood the highest, having reached the sixth stage of Foundation Establishment. Yet it was Wang Yuan who would lead this expedition.

”Sorry to disturb your cultivation,” Luo Chen said.

Wang Yuan shook his head and said calmly, ”This is what it means to be a part of Luo Tian Society. You don’t need to feel guilty. Besides...”

At this point, a rare fervor flashed across his face.

”All I’ve learned would be meaningless if I never tested it against others, nothing more than empty theory. The path I walk is unlike yours. I need real combat. I need life and death trials. These years of stillness have left me itching for action!”

Seeing his warmongering expression, Luo Chen frowned. ”Don’t stir up trouble on your own. I negotiated for a relatively safe post. I need you to lead these people and bring as many back as you can.”

Wang Yuan shrugged, offering no rebuttal.

It was natural that Luo Chen cared more about the lives of Luo Tian Society’s cultivators. Wang Yuan, personally, cared about advancing his cultivation. Still, recalling Luo Chen’s repeated warnings about the many sect elites involved, he restrained his urge for battle.

There were always greater powers in the world and there was always someone stronger. Wang Yuan was certainly no exception to this rule.

Luo Chen shook his head and moved toward Xu Haizhen.

Before Luo Chen could speak, Xu Haizhen gave a bitter smile. ”I joined the Luo Tian Society to earn spirit stones. Didn’t expect I’d be going to war.”

Luo Chen sighed. ”I am sorry, but it can’t be helped. Tantai Jin specifically requested you. Your beast taming techniques are too valuable for logistics and communication.”

Xu Haizhen kept smiling bitterly. If he’d been a rogue cultivator, Tantai Jin would never have had the authority to summon him. But when he joined the Luo Tian Society, he’d agreed to ten years of loyal service. How could he justify earning the highest pay in the organization, second only to Sima Huiniang, without lifting a finger?

”There’s nothing else to say,” Luo Chen said quietly. ”Just come back alive.”

As he spoke, he took out a scroll. ”Here, this beast-taming technique is my personal gift to you. If you can, please look after the Qi Refinement cultivators in the Battle Palace.”

Xu Haizhen blinked in surprise and took the scroll, titled The Myriad Beast Sutra.

”It’s not a particularly high-tier technique,” Luo Chen explained, ”but it should still help you.”

Xu Haizhen grew interested. His passion had always lain in dealing with spirit beasts, and nearly all his techniques were centered around beast taming. Luo Chen had clearly chosen the right gift, and it eased much of his gloom about the coming battle.

Seeing him engrossed in the scroll, Luo Chen turned to Duan Feng.

”You remember what I told you?” he asked.

Duan Feng nodded. ”Don’t fight, don’t compete with others. Open an enchanted artifact repair stall in the Quicksand Wasteland, earn merit, improve your craft.”

”That’s right.” Luo Chen grinned. ”Different place, same logic. Just like when we handled the Golden Core Ruins at Ancient Plains. Others fought to the death, and we reaped the rewards. If you could manage that at Qinghe Mountain, you’ll be just fine in the Quicksand Wasteland.”

With that, Luo Chen reached into his sleeve and brought out a storage pouch and three jade bottles, laying them out before the three cultivators.

With careful reverence, he handed each bottle to them personally. ”These contain three supreme-grade Blood-Burning pills, personally refined by me. In a critical moment, they might just save your life. Brother Wang, you know how to use them; please explain it to your fellows as well.”

Then he gestured to the pouch. ”This storage pouch is filled with top-grade Blood-Burning pills. Brother Wang, you hold onto it. Distribute them to the Battle Palace cultivators before departure. And remember... This isn’t about glory or merit. It’s about staying alive!”

The three men accepted the items without a word. Luo Chen wasn’t usually the sentimental kind, much less the ranting kind, but the gravity in his tone spoke volumes. They could all feel that his sincerity ran deep.

Coming back alive was all that mattered!

With no more to say, Luo Chen led the three out of the hall.

Outside, a hundred late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators stood at attention. Luo Chen’s gaze swept over them, his heart weighed by emotion.

In the end, the Luo Tian Society still had to send people to war. That much was unavoidable. It wasn’t that what he offered Fairy Ruthless wasn’t enough, it was that her lineage had too few disciples and not enough vassals. So every vassal force had to contribute. Some people had to be sent.

Still, his efforts weren’t in vain.

At the start, the demand had been for every cultivator above the seventh stage of Qi Refinement to take the field. Now, thanks to his negotiations, only three Initiates and a hundred late-stage Qi Refinement people were required. That alone was a significant change.

He had also secured relatively light duties from Fairy Ruthless. Luo Tian Society’s cultivators wouldn’t be sent to the most dangerous front lines. Instead, they would handle logistics, communication, and defense.

The specifics would be sorted out once they arrived at the Jilei Nine Mountains battlefield and received orders from the Ice Fortress.

Luo Chen swept his gaze across the crowd and spoke slowly. ”Among you are old friends who followed me from humble beginnings in Dahe Market, and rogue cultivators who sought survival in Tianlan Immortal City. Now we stand together, united by a single goal—the next step toward the Great Dao, Foundation Establishment!

”But Luo Tian Society is no grand orthodox sect. Even with all my effort, I was unable to gather enough Foundation Establishment pills for everyone.

”Now, the chance has finally come!”

He raised his hand and pointed into the distance. ”On that battlefield of Jilei Nine Mountain, if you complete your missions, you’ll earn merit. The great sects have brought out countless Foundation Establishment pills. As long as you strive, you all have a chance!

”This expedition will be led by Wang Yuan, the leader of the Succession Palace. All of you will follow his orders. Go now. Kill enemies, earn merit, complete your missions and seize the opportunity you desire!”

With that, his words came to an end.

A surge of fervor rippled through the ranks of over a hundred Luo Tian Society Battle Palace cultivators. With Wang Yuan leading the way, they mounted their flying eagles and soared off into the sky, vanishing beyond the mists of Danxia Peak.

Luo Chen stood still, watching their receding figures until they disappeared from sight. Then his gaze lowered, and a faint sigh escaped his lips.

The words he had spoken to the troops were not the same as what he’d told Wang Yuan and the others. But that was not because he wanted to deceive them. Rather than emphasizing on the danger and making them anxious, it was better to offer them benefits, and encourage reasonable initiative. Driven by incentives, at least these people could hold on to hope.

Letting out a sigh, Luo Chen stepped forward and flew away from Danxia Peak.

From afar, he could already see the massive silhouette of a supreme-grade flying boat hovering just next to Danxia Peak. Spirit light shimmered faintly from its hull, and dozens of cultivators had already gathered aboard, their figures like shadows behind a glowing veil.

At the bow of the vessel, Sima Huiniang stood gracefully beside a female cultivator, speaking in a hushed voice.

As the Luo Tian Society forces arrived, several Ice Fortress cultivators stepped out onto the deck to handle arrangements. The leading Initiate looked up toward Luo Chen.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and they nodded in silent understanding.

Soon after, Sima Huiniang flew down from the boat and landed beside Luo Chen.

”What did Tantai Jin say?” he asked.

”She didn’t say much,” Sima replied with a faint shake of the head. ”Just that she’ll try to assign us relatively safe duties.”

Relatively safe? Luo Chen repeated those words to himself, feeling slightly reassured.

Buzzzzzz...

A low hum began to resonate. The colossal flying vessel began to glow with spirit energy, slowly turning around.

Then, Sima Huiniang spoke again. ”President, when do you think this war will end?”

Luo Chen responded wistfully, ”How could I possibly know? Neither the start nor the end is up to low-tier cultivators like us.”

Even Initiates who could dominate a region in the cultivation world were now considered low-tier in Luo Chen’s eyes.

Sima Huiniang nodded in deep agreement. Compared to Nascent Soul Sages who stirred wars, mere Initiates were undeniably low-tier. Even if Luo Tian Society multiplied a hundredfold, a thousandfold, what difference would it make? Those Nascent Soul Sages likely wouldn’t care about their opinions.

Heaven’s will was ever elusive, and in the Jade Cauldron Domain, Nascent Soul Sages were the heavens!