An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Core Formation! Someone was forming their core!

Such events were not necessarily uncommon, especially in recent years; the Jade Cauldron Domain had seen many new Golden Core breakthroughs lately, so it no longer caused much sensation. Even Tianlan Immortal City had seen one attempt twenty years ago, though that cultivator failed at the final step.

Under ordinary circumstances, a Core Formation phenomenon would not attract much attention. However, this time, the commotion on Tianlan Peak was far too great. Most cultivators who were in seclusion in their own caves immediately sensed that something was wrong. The spirit energy in their cave grew restless, as if pulled by an unseen force outward. Before long, the spirit veins beneath trembled, and vast surges of spirit energy rose from the earth. In the blink of an eye, first-tier lands became second-tier, and second-tier turned into third-tier.

Such violent changes made cultivation impossible. One after another, cultivators flew out from their caves and looked toward the source of the commotion. When they saw the figure seated cross-legged within the vortex of spirit energy, their expressions changed. What kind of foundation could create such an overwhelming display? Even people like them, who had locked themselves in their cave residences on Tianlan Peak, were affected, let alone the rest of Tianlan Immortal City. From the moment the phenomenon appeared, countless others took notice.

When the Falling Cloud Sect representative lifted the restrictions on the spirit veins and released the suppressed energy, even customers inside the shops could not help but rush outside to watch. Some who were well informed already knew that Luo Chen had rented Cave Residence Jia Three. Thus, even without seeing his face clearly, they immediately recognized who the one forming the core must be.

”Dan Chenzi has finally taken the step!”

”So that is the one the Jade Cauldron Domain calls the foremost Initiate?”

”That’s right. And if you look carefully, you might just see why that title is accurate.”

”Tsk, what a commotion... This only goes to show how deep his foundation was during Foundation Establishment. Those foreigners who wanted to challenge him on the Debate Platform are lucky they never met him. They would’ve been humiliated.”

”There is no shame in losing to Senior Luo Chen.”

”He could kill Adepts while still in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Now that he is on the verge of becoming an Adept himself, I find it hard to imagine how powerful he’ll be.”

”Whenever a prosperous age arrives, geniuses appear in droves. The Fire Spirit Lord is one such genius of this era.”

”First came Chu Kui’s attempt, even though he failed, and now Luo Chen’s success. The Luo Tian Society is destined to rise.”

”Who knows? Perhaps they will take this chance to establish their own sect. If they manage to claim a third-tier spirit vein during the Frontier War, they will surely become a major sect in the future.”

”Fellow Daoist, aren’t you speaking too lightly of a major sect?”

”Lightly? Think carefully. Senior Luo Chen is a renowned alchemy master. Do you know any Adepts who would not want to befriend him?”

”Uh...”

The city buzzed with endless discussion from every corner. Some talked about Luo Chen’s past deeds, others about his ties with major sects, and still others about his future prospects. Many low-tier cultivators even pictured themselves in his place, imagining the glory and triumph of that moment. Of course, most who discussed the Luo Tian Society were local cultivators; foreigners knew little if anything about them.

And speaking of the Luo Tian Society, from the moment the Core Formation phenomenon erupted over Tianlan Peak, Danxia Hall on the central avenue had already sent word to Danxia Peak. Soon enough, several cultivators came flying together from Danxia Peak.

The Langqi Flying Boat entered the city and, at first, intended to fly low to the ground. Yet when the Luo Tian Society cultivators saw the streets below crowded with onlookers, they abandoned the idea. They disembarked and used Wind Control to rush along the central avenue toward Tianlan Peak. Before long, the group led by Sima Huiniang and Wang Yuan arrived at the gate, where they saw Gu Caiyi and the others waiting anxiously.

”How is it?” blurted out Sima Huiniang, still catching her breath.

Without even turning her head, Gu Caiyi replied, ”Two incense sticks, and he still hasn’t finished....”

Wang Yuan lifted his gaze to the sky. The spirit energy erupting from the spirit veins beneath the earth still surged endlessly toward the summit of Tianlan Peak. At the center of that vortex sat a cross-legged figure, his hair flowing as he drew in spirit energy without pause.

As Wang Yuan watched in awe, every member of the Luo Tian Society held their breath, not daring to make a sound, as if they themselves were undergoing Core Formation. Qu Lingjun and his wife, Duan Feng and his wife, Li Yingzhang, Xu Haizhen...

Aside from a few Initiates stationed elsewhere, nearly all of the Luo Tian Society’s upper ranks had gathered. Every one of them wore a look of tension and excitement, and their hearts were filled with reverence and expectation as they gazed up at Luo Chen’s figure.

***

Within the vortex of spirit energy, Luo Chen sat with his eyes closed and lips slightly parted. As if to echo the commotion outside, thunderous rumbles also came from within his body. The source of the sound was the five-colored Golden Core he had just formed, which was devouring the surrounding spirit energy in a frenzy.

That same sound had already appeared earlier within his cave residence. It was then that Luo Chen suddenly realized the third-tier spirit cave residence could no longer support him for the final step. The spirit energy here was insufficient to stabilize and solidify the Golden Core.

He therefore let go of all restraint and allowed the suction force to expand, creating a vortex that drew in the free-flowing spirit energies of Tianlan Peak. And even then, it still was not enough! But just as he prepared to disregard everything to break the formations of nearby caves and forcibly seize their spirit energy, he sensed a greater surge rising from the city’s earth veins below.

Someone is helping me!

Once he realized this, Luo Chen no longer held anything back. He left Jia Three and ascended into the open sky. He fed the core with spirit energy and steadied it with his body.

One stick of incense passed, then another. Before he realized it, five sticks of incense had burned away. Under ordinary circumstances, that would have meant nothing, yet at this moment every breath and every second seemed unbearably slow. Only when the Golden Core within him grew completely stable did he open his mouth to draw a long breath.

In that instant, before the eyes of countless onlookers, the vortex of spirit energy collapsed inward and was drawn entirely into his body. The sky cleared for thousands of li, bright and tranquil once more. Luo Chen’s long hair was now fully restored to lustrous black, and it fluttered freely behind him.

When he opened his eyes, his gaze shone with radiant clarity as it swept across all of Tianlan. There were palaces and towers, streets large and small, faces bearing every manner of expression. He saw the expectant expressions of the Luo Tian Society cultivators, the unease of former allies, and the reverent awe of the many cultivators hovering beyond Tianlan Peak. At the same time, he quietly sensed more than a dozen powerful strands of divine consciousness watching him from afar.

”It seems my little Core Formation has caused quite a stir,” he murmured.

A mere breakthrough should not have drawn such attention. It must have been because someone had deliberately lifted the restrictions on the city’s spirit veins, raising the concentration of spirit energy throughout Tianlan.

In that moment, pride welled in him with heroic feeling and an uncountable joy. Under countless gazes, Luo Chen fell silent for a moment before speaking in a calm voice.

”The Great Dao is profound, its true principles veiled and hidden.

How could mere mortals comprehend such elegance?

Within Primordial Qi, purity and turbidity separate of their own accord.

Without understanding the inversion of Kan and Li,

Who could discern the rising and sinking of Metal and Wood?

In subtle stillness, nothingness gives rise to existence.

By the stream, Tigers and Dragons roar.

Within the gourd lies the true creation—

The essence of Heaven and the marrow of Earth,

The souls of Yin and Yang entwined.

Circulate Water and Fire, balance the cold and the warm;

After a hundred years, when the core of your being takes shape,

You will see that all other paths are fleeting smoke.

Did you know? Even after long treading the dust of the mortal world,

Few have ever heard the voice of a true immortal.”

As he finished reciting, Luo Chen gave a simple bow to the many cultivators of the Tianlan Immortal City, then vanished like smoke. Yet the poem carried by his lingering spirit power continued to echo across the entire city. Every cultivator heard his words.

Among those of the Qi Refinement Realm, several lively onlookers called out, ”What refined talent, Senior Luo!”

Coming from them, it was mere flattery, praising Luo Chen’s literary flair. But the Initiates attending, who had been somewhat dismissive at first, gradually grew solemn. Their expressions shifted as they focused with full concentration, unwilling to miss a single word. Those in the late stages of Foundation Establishment grew especially thoughtful, as if some hidden meaning had taken root in their hearts. After listening to the poem, many hurried back to their caves to cultivate or gathered with friends to discuss its meaning.

Meanwhile, the dozen or so Adepts observing had turned pale when they heard the poem’s opening lines, their very spirits shaken. Even after Luo Chen’s figure vanished and he returned to his cave, they remained standing there, and they continued to gaze toward Tianlan Peak with complex expressions.

”Fellow Daoist Luo is truly generous,” one said.

”What magnanimity! No wonder he bears the title of Fire Spirit Lord. Such gentlemanly conduct is truly unprecedented!”

”Someone so generous, who formed his core at such a young age, and a master alchemist to boot.... I must befriend this man!”

”I wonder, among the million cultivators of Tianlan, how many will grasp the true meaning of his words? For those people, the Dao of the Golden Core is only a matter of time.”

***

”Fellow Daoist Luo, congratulations!” came a voice.

”Fellow Daoist, congratulations!” another followed.

Before the gate of Cave Residence Jia Three, two Adepts offered their congratulations. They were Hao Ranzi, the guardian of the city, and Qu Xibai from the Falling Cloud Sect.

Luo Chen smiled faintly. Even though his robe was loose and his hair untied, giving him a rather carefree and wild look, nothing could conceal the grace and brilliance of a cultivator who had touched the Dao.

”This success was rather fortunate. I must thank both seniors for your guidance and care,” Luo Chen said.

”Since you have formed your core, you now stand among us as an equal. There is no need to call us seniors anymore,” Hao Ranzi replied with an open laugh.

Luo Chen smiled again and cupped his hands, bowing politely. ”I will then greet you as my fellow Daoists!”

Hao Ranzi stroked his beard and returned the equal’s salute with warmth. After doing the same, Qu Xibai added with admiration, ”Fellow Daoist Luo, I have to say, you’re truly generous! To think you’d share the mysteries of Core Formation so freely! Such openness is truly worthy of your title of Fire Spirit Lord.”

Yes. The poem Luo Chen had recited upon completing his Core Formation had indeed been spoken on impulse, born from the joy of success. Yet several lines within it truly contained principles related to Core Formation itself! For instance, circulating water and fire to complete a Heavenly Cycle and harmonizing cold and warm were the common principle of Lower Path arts. The mention of heavenly essence, earth’s marrow, yin soul, and yang spirit corresponded exactly to the Falling Cloud Sect’s emphasis on the divine soul in their own Core Formation art.

Luo Chen had not provided specific methods, but he had nevertheless shared the essential framework and direction of cultivation through that single poem. Even cultivators who lacked the corresponding secret arts could still take hints from it and improve their own cultivation practices, thereby increasing their chances of success when the time came to form a core. As for those who already possessed compatible methods, this was nothing short of receiving a pair of wings—priceless clues that they could never have acquired elsewhere! This was the reason Luo Chen’s poem had caused such a stir among the city’s high-tier cultivators.

Luo Chen gave a light smile. ”It was only a matter of returning grace for grace. Fellow Daoist Qu, you released the city’s spirit vein formation and lent me power I could not have done without. Compared to that, what harm is there in sharing a few insights on Core Formation to benefit the cultivators of the city?”

Qu Xibai froze for a moment as he looked at Luo Chen, as though he was engraving his image into memory. Sadly, this was clearly not the time for quiet conversation or discussion of the Dao. Luo Chen had only just formed his core, and his cultivation remained unstable. The Golden Core within him could still collapse and cause his cultivation to fall at any moment.

As more members of the Luo Tian Society arrived one after another atop Tianlan Peak, Hao Ranzi and Qu Xibai took their leave. No sooner had they departed than Sima Huiniang led the Luo Tian Society cultivators to the gate of the cave residence.

They saw the man in white bamboo robes smiling faintly. They paused for a heartbeat, then spoke in unison, ”President, congratulations on forming your Golden Core! May your Dao endure and prosper!”

Luo Chen received their congratulations with composed ease. Naturally, he noticed the different emotions reflected in the familiar faces before him—Sima Huiniang’s admiration, Gu Caiyi’s gentle affection, Qu Lingjun’s reverence, Wang Yuan’s heartfelt respect, Chu Kui’s complex envy, and Duan Feng’s rare excitement.

All those emotions gathered into one shared joy for him. Luo Chen smiled softly and said, ”For these twenty years, I have turned away from worldly matters. You have all worked hard in my absence. I am truly grateful.”

Sima Huiniang stepped forward and bowed gracefully. ”President, such words are undeserved. Now that you have formed your core, you have become the great tree sheltering us all from the wind and rain. It is you who has endured the true hardships.”

Hardships? Of course! Twenty years of seclusion, seeing no one and ignoring everything! And it was not idle cultivation, either; for the sake of forming his core, his body and spirit alike had been pushed to their absolute limits! Each day, he endured the torment of his divine soul being torn apart while also studying without rest to create a breakthrough art that suited him best!

When all preparations had been completed and the final breakthrough began, the ordeal that followed proved long and agonizing. Yet when the Golden Core finally solidified within his body, every hardship he had endured became dust in the wind. Now he was a Golden Core cultivator, worthy of being addressed as ”Adept Luo.” The modest Luo Tian Society had risen with him, and was no longer a dispensable second-rate force. Everything from that moment was destined to change.

After a long moment, Luo Chen’s smile finally faded and he moved on to immediate matters. ”The Frontier War will begin in ten years, and until then, I have three orders for you. First: Until the war starts, aside from our regular operations, the Luo Tian Society must restrain its members and avoid unnecessary conflict. Do not let my success make anyone arrogant enough to provoke powerful enemies.”

That was only prudent. The Luo Tian Society had always upheld a principle of harmony, avoiding needless disputes. No one found his warning unexpected, and no one had any thoughts of doing otherwise.

”Second: I will enter seclusion to stabilize my cultivation, and it should take about ten years. When that time comes, we will hold a grand Core Formation Ceremony and invite cultivators from all sides. Caiyi, you will be responsible for this matter.”

Such an event was to be expected. The emergence of an Adept within their ranks was something worth celebrating. Beyond displaying Luo Chen’s status, the ceremony would also serve as an opportunity to forge connections with other Adepts. Gu Caiyi understood the weight of the task.

”Third...” Luo Chen said, his gaze passing over the gathered senior members before finally settling on Sima Huiniang. She seemed to realize what was coming; she shivered faintly, and her eyes glimmered with emotion.

”Now that I have reached Golden Core, I am no longer a random rogue cultivator. The Luo Tian Society must establish itself as a proper sect, raise its banner in the cultivation world, and leave a lasting legacy. From this day forth, I shall serve as the Supreme Elder, and you will be the Sect Leader.

”All matters regarding the founding of the sect will be entrusted to you as the first sect leader. When the day of my Core Formation Ceremony arrives, I hope it will also be the day our Luo Tian Sect earns its name throughout the Jade Cauldron Domain.”

With that, Luo Chen turned to the gathered cultivators and smiled once more. ”Fellow cultivators, the path to eternity is long. Let us tread it together.”

Everyone bowed deeply and responded in unison, their voices solemn and resolute, ”We shall walk with you!”

Author’s Note:

Golden Core Summary

This is the second summary. There are so many thoughts swirling in my mind that I hardly know where to begin. It seems I failed to uphold the word count promise I made back during the Foundation Establishment summary.

Reaching Foundation Establishment took 800,000 Chinese characters. I originally planned to finish Core Formation in 6-700,000, but I ended up getting a full 1.2 million. Not only did it not shrink, but it increased by 400,000. I honestly don’t know what to say anymore.

My friends are laughing at me, and so are my readers. Some even told me to hurry up and delete the ”fast-paced” tag from the novel. What an injustice!

The MC just advanced slowly, but I truly feel the pacing was quite fast. I never dragged things out intentionally. The Foundation Establishment Realm has nine stages, and on a rough count, there are nine minor arcs. From Luo Chen’s cultivation in the ghost city, the Taishan Market arc, the battle at Qinhua River, the Dao Scion Competition in Green Pill Valley, the battle of the Thundernet Nine Mountains, the battle of Danxia Peak, the fall of the Flame Alliance, the Great Snowy Mountains expedition, and finally, Chu Kui and Luo Chen’s Core Formation. That’s nine in total.

There were also many smaller side plots in-between. To speed things up, I actually cut several of them out. Otherwise, I could have easily written another hundred thousand words.

Dear readers, I swear I never set out to walk the Dao of the Word Count! You can tell that every arc had proper foreshadowing and connection to what came before and after. Even if some parts weren’t perfect, I truly poured thought and care into them. None of it was done carelessly. That’s all I wanted to say before the Golden Core arc. A small word in my own defense. As for what comes after this Core Formation... I can’t make any promises this time. I’ll do my best to keep the Golden Core arc within 6-700,000 words. That’s all I can say: I’ll give it my best.

The upcoming plot is roughly outlined in my head, though I haven’t yet completed a detailed outline. After all, maintaining daily updates leaves me with no energy to work on the outline. The only thing I could do was to polish each segment carefully and keep a good rhythm of tension and release.

Lastly, I just can’t help but argue for myself a little. An Alchemist’s Path to Immortality truly is fast-paced! The MC formed his core at only a hundred years of age, and that’s insanely fast!