An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

A hundred years earlier, Danxia Peak had been held not by the Luo Tian Society, but by the Min family. They were renowned for their mastery of formations. However, they had made far too many enemies, and when powerful foes rose against them, countless forces united to besiege them. With no allies to come to their aid, they endured a year-long encirclement until both food and supplies were exhausted. In the end, the peak collapsed, the family perished, and only the mortal bloodline of Min Longyu survived.

The Min family had once enjoyed great renown, but at their core, they were nothing more than a cultivation family. Within their ranks, they had possessed no more than six or seven Initiates. The Luo Tian Society of today was far stronger than the Min family had ever been, yet the enemies they now faced were also of an entirely different level.

The Min family had endured for a year only because their enemies back then had not been much stronger. Now, however, the coalition led by the Zheng family of Rolling Dragon Ridge possessed power more than three times that of the Luo Tian Society. Among their ranks stood experts whose very presence made hearts tremble. No fewer than eight had already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. At the very forefront was Zheng Xian, who had achieved Perfected Mastery of Foundation Establishment!

Moreover, Zheng Xian was far from an ordinary rogue cultivator. Those with some amount of connections knew that in his early years, he had been a True Inheritor disciple of the Flame Alliance. He had made a grave mistake and he had been expelled from among their ranks, but it was said that his abilities were not inferior to the True Inheritors of the Seven Jade Cauldron Sects. Even when compared with the Dao Scions of those sects, he showed no weakness. After all, Perfected Mastery of Foundation Establishment spoke for itself. With that level of strength, he alone was enough to deter any second-rate power.

Under Zheng Xian’s command, eight grand cultivators struck together. The force they unleashed surged like a tidal wave, shaking the heavens and leaving the onlookers pale with fear.

At that very moment, a barrier of seven-colored radiance burst from Danxia Peak. It shot into the sky and spread outward, wrapping the entire mountain in a dazzling glow.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The eight strikes crashed down almost at the same instant, and the barrier trembled violently. A violent tremor shook the skies, deafening explosions resounding. Such force was not something even a Golden Core Adept could take lightly.

And yet—

At that moment, the eight cultivators put down their enchanted treasures and focused their gazes on the mountain.

The grand formation still shimmered, its surface rippling with light as rosy clouds spread across the sky. Within the glow, the anxious faces of countless cultivators could be faintly seen, each one gripping a weapon with tense determination.

For an instant, the formation seemed to thin, but as the multicolored radiance surged outward again, the weakened spots grew firm once more.

In the blink of an eye, the aftershocks faded. Only the Seven-Colored Danxia Formation rose from earth to sky, standing firm and unbroken.

When this scene appeared before their eyes, everyone fell into stunned silence. Even Song Fengzi, who had come from the other domain, drew in a sharp breath.

”A third-tier defensive formation?” he exclaimed. ”How could a mere second-rate faction possibly set up something of this tier?”

Xiahou Kun was just as shaken. A hundred years ago, during the battle that destroyed the Min family, the Xiahou family of Silver Gorge had been among the attackers. At that time, the Min family had been entirely unable to construct a formation of this tier.

In that moment, every gaze turned toward Zheng Xian at the front. His aged face grew solemn. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice, ”This is not a complete third-tier defensive formation. Otherwise, even if all of us attacked non-stop for the whole day, it would not have shown that fleeting weakness.”

The others nodded instinctively after hearing his words. They had seen it for themselves. The formation had indeed wavered under the assault and was already beginning to falter. If it had been a true third-tier defensive formation, eight late-stage Initiates would not have been enough. Even if another eight had joined, the barrier would still have remained immovable.

A third-tier defensive formation was built to withstand the might of Golden Core Adepts. The strongest of them were even said to resist the power of a Sage. After all, a formation was never the work of a single man. It drew on the strength of the mountain and the earth, countless formation tools, and the united efforts of many cultivators. Only then could such collective power be brought forth.

Tuoba Lingfei spoke up, ”Then shall we continue?”

He and Xiang Zhonghe were not natives of Tianlan Immortal City. To them, the sooner this matter was settled, the better. Xiahou Kun, however, held a different opinion.

”I know a little about formations,” he said. ”Rather than forcing our way through, why not take it slowly? Once we discover the flaw, we can shatter it with a single strike.”

Both Tuoba Lingfei and Xiang Zhonghe furrowed their brows. Yet when they caught the glint in Xiahou Kun’s eyes, they understood what he intended.

The crowd of spectators was simply too large. If the formation collapsed too early, those cultivators would rush in at once, each determined to seize a share of the spoils. After all, cultivators were not idle wanderers; they often flocked to scenes of turmoil whenever an opportunity appeared. Their eagerness to spectate clearly stemmed from a desire to fish in troubled waters, perhaps even to snatch away the fruits of victory.

Tuoba Lingfei and Xiang Zhonghe were outsiders. They could never hope to seize much of the spoils. Xiahou Kun, however, was a local, and he had arrived with a large force from his family. If the crowd dispersed later, the Xiahou family would surely reap far greater gains.

As for whether the formation could truly be broken, they were not very worried. As long as it was not a perfect third-tier defensive formation, it was doable. Even if eight grand cultivators could not bring it down, their alliance still had more than thirty other Initiates. If they all struck together, the formation would inevitably fall.

For a moment, the two sides found themselves deadlocked.

Xiahou Kun’s expression darkened. ”Fellow Daoist Song Fengzi, what do you say?”

In this battle, Iron Sword Hall was one of the main forces. With Song Fengzi included, they had sent three grand cultivators and ten lower-level Initiates. His stance carried great weight.

Yet Song Fengzi only smiled and shook his head. ”I’ll follow Fellow Daoist Zheng Xian’s lead.”

In name, this battle was a joint effort of many factions. In truth, it was actually led by the Flame Alliance, and Zheng Xian was the real leader. Since these words had been spoken out loud, even if Xiahou Kun felt unwilling, he could only wait for Zheng Xian’s command.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zheng Xian lifted his gaze to the heavens, as though he were meeting someone’s eyes. After a brief moment, he lowered his head, his expression now dark and solemn.

This battle had never been about resources, trade, or the Zheng family’s personal grudge. It was about the prestige of the Flame Alliance. The longer the delay, the greater the Flame Alliance’s dissatisfaction.

As for Zheng Xian himself, the enmity of the Zheng family of Rolling Dragon Ridge had nothing to do with him. What he truly desired was to return to his sect and seize the chance to break through to the Golden Core Realm. Therefore, this matter had to be carried out with unquestionable decisiveness. A single thunderous strike that shattered everything at once was the only true path!

Zheng Xian drew in a deep breath and raised his right hand high. ”All Initiates, strike with us. Break this formation by force!”

At his command, Tuoba Lingfei and Xiang Zhonghe showed their satisfaction. The sooner the battle ended, the sooner they could withdraw. Meanwhile, Xiahou Kun’s face turned stiff. The thought that he would gain little after the Luo Tian Society’s destruction darkened his mood.

Song Fengzi exchanged a glance with his two companions and nodded in silent agreement. To them, it made no difference whether the battle ended quickly or dragged on. A swift victory would bring the Core Formation secret art sooner, while a slower siege might allow them to grab more cultivation resources. For that reason, they accepted whatever Zheng Xian decided.

In a short span, the eight grand cultivators had united under Zheng Xian’s forceful command. The thirty ordinary Initiates, meanwhile, found that their opinions did not carry any weight; they were simply there to take orders.

Soon, thirty-eight Foundation Establishment Initiates stood in a line, gathering spirit power and activating their enchanted artifacts and treasures.

Countless rogue cultivators of Tianlan Immortal City watched from every direction. The flow of spirit energy grew chaotic once again. One devastating strike after another built up, waiting to erupt.

When Zheng Xian saw that the attacks were fully charged, he let out a low shout. ”Strike!”

In the next instant, blasts of power roared out from every direction, striking the towering seven-colored barrier.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

The thunderous explosions shook heaven and earth once more, sending waves of force rolling backwards. Several low-level Qi Refinement cultivators spat blood from their mouths and noses as they were forced to retreat again and again. Such was the sheer might of this assault.

Under that terrifying force, the grand formation shuddered violently. Danxia Peak itself trembled; the mountain quaked, and massive slabs of rock broke free, tumbling down with a resounding rumble.

Before long, the smoke dispersed, and gaping holes appeared across the glowing barrier.

Zheng Xian’s eyes lit up at the sight. ”The formation is broken!”

He raised his hand and gave a sharp command. ”Everyone, charge in and kill!”

With a sweeping motion of his arm, he signaled the attack. The Initiates who had just unleashed their full power were still regulating their breath and recovering their qi. The Qi Refinement disciples under their command, however, rushed forward at their senior master’s signal. In an instant, more than a thousand cultivators surged like a raging torrent toward Danxia Peak.

From the mountain came the response: a battle cry. Thousands of cultivators stood in formation, enchanted artifacts and talismans in hand, determined to keep the enemy from reaching the peak. Among them were even low-tier cultivators at the early and middle stages of Qi Refinement.

Zheng Xian’s sharp eyes took in the entire scene. A dark glint flashed within them as he muttered, ”It seems the Luo Tian Society truly means to fight to the death. Even cultivators unfit for combat have been sent out.”

As he spoke, Zheng Kejian stepped closer.

”Uncle, should we Initiates also make a move?” he asked cautiously.

Zheng Xian furrowed his brow. His gaze swept across the eager Initiates, and he sent a quiet transmission.

”Do not rush. The Initiates of Luo Tian Society are not easy opponents. The first beam to stick out in the rain is the first to rot. If you do not wish for the Zheng family to decline, then restrain your impatience for vengeance.”

Zheng Kejian froze, then nodded repeatedly. Though his uncle was not close to them, in these trying moments, he still spared a thought for the Zheng family.

Just then, someone in the crowd lost control and leapt forward.

”Everyone, I’ll go first!” he shouted.

The moment he acted, the other Initiates could no longer hold themselves back.

”The Luo Tian Society has oppressed my Xuchen Mountain for far too long. Back then, Dan Chenzi swore he would flatten Xuchen Mountain. Now the wheel of fate has turned. It is my turn to crush Danxia Peak!” Wei Bufan roared with wild laughter and charged into the broken barrier on his sword.

When they saw him rush ahead, Shen Gongyi, who had suffered the same humiliation, hurried after him.

”Together, together! The disgrace Wang Yuan inflicted on me back then must be avenged today. Old Yu, if not now, then when?” he cried.

Elder Yu let out a laugh. ”Fellow Daoist Shen, there is no need to goad me. I am coming now.”

As they rallied their companions, more Initiates mounted their flying swords and surged toward Danxia Peak. In just a short while, more than a dozen of them had already crossed into the hundred-zhang perimeter of the mountain. The rest stayed back, but not out of fear; they were restrained by the voice transmissions of the eight late-stage Initiates.

”Let them go first. Let’s see how strong the Luo Tian Society’s formation really is.”

”No need to rush. Let’s observe before we act.”

”Hold your impatience. Once the time comes, we will strike together. The treasures cannot escape.”

Though they spoke that way, the sight of a dozen cultivators rushing into Danxia Peak made it hard for Xiahou Kun and the others to restrain themselves. It was true that the Luo Tian Society was strong, but when it came to late-stage Foundation Establishment power, only Chu Kui stood openly among them. If those pieces of rabble at the front seized the prime spoils, they would end up with nothing but empty baskets.

Xiahou Kun glanced at Zheng Xian and Song Fengzi. He was the first to lose control, and a fierce light flashed across his face.

”Attack!” he barked.

With a sweep of his hand, five of the Xiahou family’s Initiates soared toward Danxia Peak together.

Before they could draw near, however, a shrill roar rang out from behind.

”Return!”

”Eh?” The five Initiates of the Xiahou family froze in midair.

In the next breath, horror spread across their faces as they stared at the sight within the breaches of the formation.

Upon the shimmering barrier, a seven-colored silhouette appeared from the radiance. A tall Daoist crown rested on his head and a long sword gleamed in his hand as he stepped forward toward a second-stage Initiate.

His pace was unhurried, yet the fleeing cultivator seemed bound by invisible chains. No matter how he struggled, his steps grew slower and slower.

When the seven-colored Daoist swung his sword, the cultivator’s eyes widened in terror. He had no strength to resist as his head was severed in a single stroke. As the head tumbled to the ground, the cultivator gave a faint smile, then dissolved back into the formation.

Had that been the end of it, hardly anyone would have cared. But in the very next moment, the barrier rippled once again, and the Daoist appeared once more. He still held the long sword in his hand and strode forward with the same measured steps as before.

This time, his target was none other than Wei Bufan, who had reached the middle stages of Foundation Establishment.

Once, when he was only at the third stage, he had been forced to bow and offer apologies under Luo Chen’s pressure, even before his enemy. After over a decade, he had finally advanced, and he had come determined to avenge his humiliation and prove himself. Yet at this moment, ghostly phantoms loomed above his head, and fear consumed his heart.

”What sort of demonic technique is this...” he cried.

Shhhk!

A flash of sword light, and a second head tumbled to the ground. The Daoist allowed himself a faint smile as the radiant glow around him faded, then he stepped back into the grand formation.

When he appeared again, he stood directly before a black-robed elder.

”Don’t kill me!” Shen Gongyi’s face twisted with terror as he cried out.

He tried to retreat in panic, but an invisible pressure bore down on him, reducing his speed to a fraction of what it should have been.

The Daoist swung his sword, and yet another head tumbled. That scene played out repeatedly; in only a few breaths, seven Initiates had perished.

The remaining ones were stricken with horror. They no longer dared to think of seizing the first merit in storming Danxia Peak. Instead, they turned and fled in desperation. But the seven-colored Daoist was even faster!

With flashes of light, the Daoist appeared three more times. Each time he appeared, another Initiate fell without the slightest chance to resist.

The four who managed to escape fled as though they had seen a ghost. Only when they reached the safety of their own ranks did they halt; they leaned on one another, gasping for breath and feeling weaker than they had ever felt before. Their faces bore nothing but terror. They knew that their survival was nothing but lucky chance.

Even the eight grand cultivators under Zheng Xian’s lead wore solemn expressions. Every gaze was fixed on the seven-colored barrier that enveloped Danxia Peak.

Upon it, a face slowly emerged. A colossal visage, a hundred zhang tall, gazed down upon the land with the majesty of a god looking at a bunch of ants.

”Within the Seven-Colored Danxia Formation, I am king,” Min Longyu said. ”If you wish to take my crown, feel free to step inside and show me your strength.”