An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

In the reception hall, Luo Chen and Gongsun Qian sat together, exchanging pleasantries. Though truthfully, it wasn’t all that joyful; most of the conversation revolved around venting their shared frustrations.

”We had only three Foundation Establishment cultivators in Hundred Forge Mountain,” Gongsun Qian said bitterly, ”and Ailao Mountain pulled two of them at once.”

”My Luo Tian Society is no better. After much effort, I finally gathered eight or nine, and the Ice Fortress took five of them!”

”Hiss... that many?” Gongsun Qian sucked in a sharp breath. ”Don’t tell me Adept Ruthless doesn’t care about Dan Chenzi?”

”She cares about me quite a bit,” Luo Chen said dryly. ”If not for that, I would have no one left to handle internal affairs.”

A heavy sigh escaped Gongsun Qian. ”These great sects truly treat small factions like us as if we are nothing.”

Luo Chen felt the same frustration. After sharing their grievances, the once-distant rapport between them grew noticeably warmer. Perhaps misery really did love company.

Eventually, Gongsun Qian asked about the purpose of Luo Chen’s visit. ”You’re here to commission an enchanted artifact, right? Doesn’t your society have Duan Feng? He’s an expert, from what I know.”

”He is. And he was sent to the Jilei Nine Mountain battlefield.”

”Ah, that explains it.” Gongsun Qian nodded knowingly. Without prying further, he asked, ”What specifications do you have in mind?”

”I want a wing-type enchanted artifact that can be implanted into a cultivator’s body.”

”To assist with flight?”

”Yes.”

”Powered by spirit power?”

”If it could also incorporate blood qi, that would be ideal.”

”That might be a bit tricky. Such enchanted artifacts have extremely demanding material requirements.”

”I’ve brought the materials myself.”

Gongsun Qian raised a brow. ”Oh? Let’s have a look, then.”

”This room’s a bit small,” Luo Chen replied. ”Let’s move somewhere more spacious.”

Gongsun Qian readily agreed and brought Luo Chen to the spacious rear courtyard.

Right in front of him, Luo Chen took out a folded pair of fiery red wings from his storage pouch.

”Wings from a second-tier demonic beast?” Gongsun Qian asked in surprise.

”And a roc-type one no less,” Luo Chen confirmed.

Gongsun Qian’s curiosity stirred as he unfolded the wings. He crouched low, examining them with great care. At his side, Luo Chen couldn’t help but show a trace of nostalgia as he gazed at the crimson wings, which spanned several zhang when fully spread.

Years ago, he had purchased a certain item from a rogue cultivator named Xiong Kun in the underground black market. Tian Xingzi had served as the middleman for that deal and had even bargained the price down on his behalf. What Luo Chen brought today represented only a portion of that original corpse. It was a second-tier demonic beast, a Blazing Cloud Roc!

Luo Chen had relied on this beast to refine three portions of Imperial Nectar, which ultimately allowed him to break through to Foundation Establishment. Thanks to the beast’s demon core, he had managed to preserve the wings intact. For years, they rested unused in his storage pouch, little more than dead weight.

Only recently, while studying the incomplete third-tier Physique Refinement method Sky Roc Transformation, Luo Chen had come across a complete flight spell recorded within: Ninety Thousand Li.[1]

In the past, he wouldn’t have cared about such a flight spell. But after reaching Foundation Establishment, sword flight had become the dominant means of travel. Even with his Carefree Wander and Wind-Control at Perfected Mastery, their speed gains had diminished as his cultivation rose. Among his peers, he still had a slight speed advantage, but it was increasingly negligible. After all, Carefree Wander was merely a mundane lightness spell, and the Wind-Control was one of the most basic flight spells in the cultivation world. Both were far too common.

During the Dao Scion competition in Green Pill Valley, he had witnessed firsthand how sheer speed could turn the tide of a battle. Dan Yangzi’s fusion with his sword and Tao Wan’s superior mastery of Ninefold Gale Transformation had both left him thoroughly shaken!

Such speed went far beyond mere flight or movement. In battle, it could mean the difference between life and death, offering the chance to evade an enemy’s sudden killing blow. That was precisely why Luo Chen had once again begun to pursue greater speed. Ninety Thousand Li was exactly the kind of power he sought.

Calling it a ”spell” hardly did it justice. Secret art, physical transformation, or even a killing move would all be more apt descriptions. If Luo Chen could fully master it, he believed he could once again achieve the kind of overwhelming speed advantage over his peers that he’d once held during the Qi Refinement Realm. At the very least, he wouldn’t be outpaced by Tao Wan ever again.

Yet Ninety Thousand Li could not be cultivated by talent alone. Two paths lay before him. He could attempt the full Sky Roc Transformation, mastering the art of converting blood qi into wings and soaring across ninety thousand li in a single breath. Or... he could turn to external aid, like an implanted wing, to forcibly initiate the spell.

Within Tianlan Immortal City, there was no shortage of forces skilled in crafting such enchanted artifacts. Treasure Pavilion, the Flame Alliance, and countless other blacksmithing shops each had their specialties. The reason Luo Chen went to Hundred Forge Mountain specifically was that their relations were relatively friendly.

Hundred Forge Mountain had once been one of the three factions in charge of the Tianlan Docking Grounds, and had been a rival to the Divine Craftsman Sect. Now that the Luo Tian Society had destroyed the Divine Craftsman Sect, Hundred Forge Mountain was naturally pleased. Gongsun Qian had even personally attended Sima Huiniang’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony to offer his congratulations.

As things stood in the Jade Cauldron Domain, Ailao Mountain and the Ice Fortress could be considered allies. With Hundred Forge Mountain and the Luo Tian Society being their respective vassals, it made sense for them to grow closer. With that in mind, Luo Chen had sought out Gongsun Qian directly. The man’s artifact forging skill was at least on par with, if not superior to, Duan Feng’s!

Out in the backyard, Gongsun Qian examined the crimson wings with unwavering focus. He shifted between close observation and channeling spirit power to test the wings’ structural integrity. At intervals, he produced special spirit liquid from his storage pouch and dripped it across the feathers, measuring each reaction with the precision of a veteran alchemist.

After a long stretch of careful study, the old man finally straightened. A flash of interest crossed his eyes as he said, ”Fellow Daoist Luo, this material of yours is in a rather awkward position.”

”What do you mean by that?” Luo Chen asked.

Gongsun Qian did not attempt to hide the truth and explained plainly, ”Second-tier materials aren’t qualified for refining enchanted treasures and are often used as secondary components. But if you use them to forge enchanted artifacts, it would be a bit of a waste. This pair of Blazing Cloud Roc wings has also been stored far too long. Even inside a storage pouch, the spirit essence has faded considerably. With your strict requirements, even if I forged it myself, it likely wouldn’t qualify as an enchanted treasure.”

After hearing that, Luo Chen couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret. He had not been seeking the full might of a true enchanted treasure, but such an item would have remained useful even at the Golden Core Realm. Still, that was not the immediate priority. What mattered most was boosting his combat ability as quickly as possible.

”It’s fine if it doesn’t become an enchanted treasure. Just do your best, Senior. My minimum requirement is that it should at least qualify as a mid-grade enchanted artifact.”

Gongsun Qian nodded. ”A mid-grade enchanted artifact won’t be an issue. Actually, with some supplementary materials and a little refinement, I think I can make it top-grade.”

Such wing-type enchanted artifacts weren’t part of the conventional enchanted artifact classifications. Once completed, they could be categorized as mystical enchanted artifacts. If it was a mid-grade one, its performance would rival that of a normal top-grade flight enchanted artifact. For Luo Chen, that would be sufficient to meet the demands of using Ninety Thousand Li.

With the agreement settled, Luo Chen followed Gongsun Qian into the storeroom, selected the necessary supplementary materials, and left a deposit of one thousand spirit stones. After confirming a general delivery timeframe, he finally departed from the Hundred Forge Mountain shop.

***

Half a month later, the lush banks of the Qinhua River stretched beneath the gentle light of the morning sun. Emerald mountains rolled endlessly into the distance, their reflection shimmering across the flowing waters. Two figures moved quietly through the serene landscape.

From his storage pouch, Gongsun Qian produced a pair of deep crimson wings, each no larger than a palm. He held them up with deliberate care. Luo Chen’s eyes lit up the moment he saw them. ”You inscribed a Wish-Forging Formation?”

”Not quite,” Gongsun Qian replied, stroking his beard with pride. ”That third-tier formation is known only to our Mountain Lord. I chose a different approach and blended in a touch of Soft Thunder Sand along with refined black iron.”

Luo Chen was greatly astonished. Soft Thunder Sand was a renowned third-tier material, usually reserved for refining enchanted treasures. It was highly adaptable and whatever was made with it could change size at will, so it was classified as an extremely precious resource.

”You’ve gone to quite some expense for this,” Luo Chen said, eyes narrowing.

Gongsun Qian gave a dismissive shake of his head. ”I wouldn’t call it a great expense. It was only a small portion, far from enough to forge a treasure. I just had it somewhere and I thought that not using it was a pity. Besides...” He laughed cheerfully. ”The wool still comes from the sheep’s back.[2]. This artifact came out as top-grade! In fact, its quality is among the finest of the top grade, on par with any supreme-grade flight enchanted artifact. Once you’ve tested it, Fellow Daoist, you can decide how you’d like to compensate me.”

Luo Chen nodded. Indeed, if it turned out to be as great as the man was saying, he wouldn’t hesitate to pay a few extra spirit stones. With Gongsun Qian carefully explaining things, he immediately understood the proper method of use. Since he had requested that it be powered by both spirit energy and blood qi, the enchanted artifact also required a blood-recognition ritual for activation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to fuel it with his blood qi.

”Use your blood essence to claim ownership,” Gongsun Qian instructed him.

Right before Gongsun Qian, Luo Chen concentrated and summoned a thin blade of sword light to pierce his fingertip. It took quite a bit of effort; only after a while did a droplet of crimson blood finally emerge.

The sight made Gongsun Qian’s eyelids twitch uncontrollably. What terrifying physical strength!

That thread of sword light had to be from a supreme-grade enchanted artifact at minimum, yet it still had such difficulty piercing his skin. Even with the force held back, it was quite alarming. Moreover, the blood essence that was squeezed out carried an absurdly pure energy!

Just what level of cultivation has Dan Chenzi reached? Gongsun Qian wondered. Even a Perfected Mastery Initiate wouldn’t have spirit power this refined!

Luo Chen remained unaware of the storm raging in the other man’s thoughts. Without a change in expression, he calmly infused his blood essence into the palm-sized enchanted artifact. A moment later, he lifted his robes. With sword light as fine as threads, he opened two shallow wounds across his shoulder blades. His brow furrowed slightly as he embedded the pair of crimson wings into his back.

”You can test the flight now,” Gongsun Qian advised. ”Although it is a top-grade mystical enchanted artifact, it remains an external object. You may find it somewhat unfamiliar. As for the incisions, just apply medicine when you return, and they should heal within half a day.”

Luo Chen dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand. Then, with a flick of his fingers, he cast the Perfected Mastery Heal. Before Gongsun Qian’s widening eyes, the gashes on his back closed in an instant, vanishing as if they had never existed. Then, Luo Chen took a deep breath and channeled his internal spirit power into the two plates on his back.

Swish!

A sharp sound rang out as two illusory crimson wings burst forth from beneath Luo Chen’s robes, unfurling in dazzling brilliance behind him. Though each wing measured only half a zhang in length, the spread carried the grandeur of a mighty roc, exuding a sense of natural harmony. With a single thought, streams of spirit power surged through his meridians and into the wings.

Whoosh!

An instant later, Gongsun Qian looked up and saw Luo Chen’s figure already hovering in mid-air. Under his gaze, Luo Chen began flapping his ethereal wings, at first sluggishly, then faster and faster; soon, his speed far surpassed normal Cloud-Riding. Even sword flight would be hard-pressed to match it.

Gongsun Qian stroked his beard and gave a satisfied nod. This item was hard proof of his great craftsmanship. Though it was merely a top-grade enchanted artifact, with the right formations and rare materials, it delivered flight performance on par with even the finest sword-flight.

Meanwhile, high above in the sky, Luo Chen steadily adapted to the rhythm of the wings. A strange feeling stirred in his heart.

Strange... there’s none of the awkwardness Gongsun Qian mentioned. It feels like this thing was always a part of me. Like a tiger gaining wings? No. More like a young roc born with these wings, now grown and ready, instinctively soaring skyward. Could it be because I used the Blazing Cloud Roc to refine the Imperial Nectar during Foundation Establishment? The wings and I share the same origin. And now that I’ve bonded with them using my blood essence...

The thought trailed off. He had no clear answer. After some more testing, Luo Chen descended and landed before Gongsun Qian.

”Fellow Daoist, are you satisfied?”

”Very satisfied. This... this thing is quite impressive,” Luo Chen said with a smile.

Gongsun Qian returned the smile. ”Since you own the wings now, why not give them a name? Calling them ’the thing’ all the time feels rather inelegant.”

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.

After a brief pause, he uttered three words. ”Let’s call them the Crimson Cloud Wings.”

”Crimson Cloud Wings?” Gongsun Qian was momentarily stunned, then clapped his hands in admiration. ”Crimson wings of the Blazing Cloud Roc, a superb choice indeed!”

Luo Chen offered only a faint smile and drew out five thousand low-grade spirit stones from his storage pouch. Gongsun Qian scratched his head sheepishly. ”Isn’t this too much? You provided the main material, and you already paid a thousand as a deposit. I only added some supplementary parts.

”It isn’t too much,” Luo Chen said evenly. ”The Soft Thunder Sand you added made it so much easier to control this artifact. That alone is worth the price. Besides... You know how things are. At times like these, a top-grade mystical enchanted artifact can easily fetch six or seven thousand. This is fair compensation.”

Gongsun Qian’s eyes widened, and he gave a hearty thumbs-up. ”You truly live up to your reputation for being generous and magnanimous, Dan Chenzi!”

Luo Chen gave a slight smile and didn’t bother to be modest. He politely declined Gongsun Qian’s invitation to return to the city together, saying he wanted to stay and further familiarize himself with the enchanted artifact.

The latter had no objections and left contentedly, delighted with the fortune he had earned. Six thousand low-grade spirit stones in just half a month, and he hadn’t even provided the primary material! Such a profit naturally left him in high spirits.

After he had left, Luo Chen felt the subtle presence on his back and revealed a similar look of delight. He had only tested normal flight just now and hadn’t even employed Ninety Thousand Li. Yet even so, the speed already matched sword-flight. If he were to use Ninety Thousand Li with this enchanted artifact as a conduit, what kind of speed would it unleash?

Luo Chen gazed at the endless mountains, where a small bird chirped and fluttered skyward from the forest canopy. He leapt upward, reaching high into the air. Just as he began to fall, a pair of wings unfurled from his back. They halted his descent and propelled him skyward with explosive power. His speed was astonishing, and his form was unrestrained, like a Great Roc spreading its wings and soaring ninety thousand li into the sky!

1. In Chinese mythology, the Great Peng (rendered here as Roc) can travel ninety thousand li with one flap of its wings, and therefore complains that the sky is too cramped. ☜

2. 羊毛出在羊身上 (yang mao chu zai yang shen shang) means that any apparent benefit (like a discount, free gift etc.) ultimately comes at the customer’s own expense. It implies that businesses never offer something for free; what you receive has already been factored into the cost. ☜