An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Besides the Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheel, Luo Chen placed great hopes on the Three Piercing Nails. They pierced defenses, blocked the flow of qi, and shattered souls. When launched without warning, they could easily inflict severe injuries on an enemy. They were perfect for ambushes and surprise attacks.

As for the Mystic Flame Sword, he had not chosen it for its power. It was simply a fire-element enchanted treasure and one he had refined for many years until his control had reached nearly eighty percent. Now that he had formed his core, completing the remaining twenty percent would take little time. Moreover, the sword could be paired with his artifact control skills, making it quite effective in ordinary combat.

As he looked at the three enchanted treasures before him, a faint smile appeared on his face. Even without a life-bound enchanted treasure, once he mastered these three weapons fully, his strength in the early-stage Golden Core battles would hardly fall short of others. Combined with his spells and the Sky Roc’s True Form, he would still have the power to defend himself even under the assault of a fourth-stage Adept.

If other cultivators had known his thoughts, they would have been bewildered. Back in Foundation Establishment, he had slain two Adepts, and one of them had been at the fourth stage. Why grow cautious now?

In truth, caution was necessary. In both battles, Luo Chen had relied on special circumstances. The case of Di Wanyun was straightforward enough. As for Qin Tairan, Fei Ming and Fairy Ruthless, both mid-stage Adepts, had joined hands to besiege him. Then, Luo Chen was forced to use a Lightning Immortal Pearl and reveal his Sky Roc form to barely kill him. And even then, Qin Tairan’s divine soul had not been destroyed! His Golden Core had survived; if other cultivators had not pursued and eliminated him soon after, he might have seized another body and revived.

Now Luo Chen had no allies to assist him, and the Lightning Immortal Pearl was gone. Naturally, he had to be careful.

Once his plans were set, he wasted no time. Unlike his cautious approach during Foundation Establishment, his strength as an Adept allowed him to unleash his mana in full and sweep forward with divine consciousness.

He first erased the lingering imprints of former masters from the Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheel and the Three Piercing Nails. The process was swift; in the blink of an eye, both enchanted treasures were cleansed of any foreign energies.

Afterward, he put the two away and began refining the Mystic Flame Sword. A meal had to be eaten bite by bite, and treasures had to be refined one by one!

***

While Luo Chen devoted himself to refining his enchanted treasures, three months slipped by in the blink of an eye.

It was the eve of the Core Formation Ceremony. Within Cave Residence Bing Seventeen, a lone figure sat cross-legged in stillness. He seemed motionless, yet his breath rose and fell in a steady rhythm. A faint quiver could be seen on his skin from time to time, a sign of bones and muscles undergoing subtle shifts. And if one drew closer, even the sound of blood surging within his body could be heard, roaring like waves beating against the shore.

This was the manifestation of Myriad Path Convergence. If one peered inward, they would see threads of azure flame tempering every inch of Luo Chen’s body!

In the midst of cultivation, Luo Chen’s thoughts suddenly stirred. He drew a glowing sound transmission jade token from his storage ring, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. After a brief cleansing, he left the cave and made his way straight toward Danxia Peak.

Before long, his cheerful voice rang through the Luo Tian Society’s Grand Hall.

”Fairy Ruthless, it has been far too long!”

At the sound of his voice, a graceful figure turned around. Her expression was complicated as she looked at Luo Chen, but the latter paid no mind to her scrutiny. He strolled in, calm and unrestrained, with his hands clasped behind his back

Once they were face to face, Fairy Ruthless finally said softly, ”Dan Chenzi, congratulations on forming your core.”

Luo Chen did not address her as Adept Ruthless, as he once had. She also did not speak from a higher stance, but chose to use a title, something suited to his new standing. After all, a Dao title was a mark of respect. In this moment, both naturally adjusted their manner toward one another.

What surprised Luo Chen was not the adjustment itself. He had dealt with people like Qu Xibai before and understood that it was only natural for people to behave more courteously with their peers. Yet Ruthless Fairy had always been proud by nature and never particularly friendly toward him. How had her attitude changed so suddenly?

Suddenly, he remembered Ice Torrent. But although he really wanted to ask about her recent circumstances, he still minded his words carefully.

”Fellow Daoist, you truly honor me. I did not expect you to arrive early just to congratulate me,” he said courteously.

Fairy Ruthless’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but it looked strained and forced. Luo Chen’s thoughts shifted as he faintly sensed that something was off. After a moment’s thought, he said quietly, ”It is a pity that Tantai Jin...”

At the mention of her disciple, Fairy Ruthless let out a sigh. ”I tried to dissuade her, but she insisted on entering the Ice Prison for a life-or-death seclusion. If she had waited another ten or twenty years, she might have stood among our ranks.”

Core Formation could never be rushed. Unlike Foundation Establishment, which had a decent margin for error, a failed Core Formation almost invariably carried grave consequences. Even Luo Chen had only dared to attempt it after making every possible preparation. Tantai Jin had been too impatient. But could he blame her? Her rush was undoubtedly tied to the turmoil within the Ice Fortress!

For once, Luo Chen and Fairy Ruthless spoke without restraint. Their exchange was calm, unhurried, and free of formal matters. It was a simple conversation between peers. Gradually, Luo Chen guided the topic toward what truly concerned him.

”How’s Senior Sister Ice Torrent?” he asked.

Fairy Ruthless’s eyes trembled, and she fixed him with a sharp stare. ”What do you know?”

Luo Chen shrugged lightly. ”Some things cannot be hidden. Four Golden Core elders of Ice Fortress died under strange circumstances, while younger disciples entered seclusion one after another. If your Supreme Elder had not met with misfortune, would your sect have fallen into such disorder?”

Fairy Ruthless opened her mouth but could not speak for a long time. When she finally did, her voice was low and heavy. ”Senior Sister Ice Torrent... failed to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm.”

Just a few plain words, yet they carried a world of weight. Even though Luo Chen had expected the answer, it was still a surprise to hear it so directly. And after that brief shock, he soon discerned more meaning hidden within those words.

She had failed her advancement, but Fairy Ruthless mentioned nothing of her living or dying. That likely meant Ice Torrent still lived. However, judging from the current turmoil in Ice Fortress, even if she lived, she had lost the ability to manage its affairs.

In silence, Luo Chen said softly, ”My condolences.”

Fairy Ruthless shook her head. As she looked at Luo Chen, a young cultivator with full vigor and calm confidence, a dull ache rose in her chest. The once lofty Ice Fortress was in decline, while the man who once depended on their favor was now flourishing. Even her heart, cold as ice though it was, could not help but feel the impermanence of the world.

She couldn’t help but remark, ”I’ve heard that in recent years, many great sects have invited you to serve as their guest elder.”

There was a subtle edge to her tone.

”Mm.”

That single hum only made the woman’s heart feel heavier. Before she could say anything more, Luo Chen spoke directly, ”My cooperation with the Ice Fortress will not change. You don’t need to worry about that. I have declined every invitation from other sects. I may not be a paragon of virtue, but I am not ungrateful. Although my ties with the Ice Fortress began as an exchange of benefits, both Senior Sister Ice Torrent and you have protected and aided me many times. I will always remember that kindness. The Jade Dew Pill trade will continue, and the Luo Tian Society—well, now, the Luo Tian Sect—and the Ice Fortress shall remain allies. Fellow Daoist Ruthless, does that set your heart at ease?”

Fairy Ruthless shivered, and her gaze locked firmly upon him. Yet even under that pressure, he met her gaze with composure, upright and steady, with not the slightest hint of evasion in his eyes.

For a long moment, Fairy Ruthless stared at him, and then she finally inclined her head in a graceful bow. ”Fellow Daoist, congratulations on taking one more step along the path to immortality. You bring glory to the Eastern Wilderness.”

This time, the words of congratulations were sincere; entirely free of arrogance, resentment, or restraint.

Luo Chen smiled faintly and returned the bow. ”My Luo Tian Sect still lacks foundation. There may be flaws or breaches in formality in the Core Formation Ceremony, and I will be occupied on many fronts. Fellow Daoist, may I trouble you to watch over my disciples?”

A natural smile finally appeared on Fairy Ruthless’s face. ”We are allies; such small matters are no trouble at all.”

With that, the heavy weight in Luo Chen’s heart finally settled.

As she looked at his composed yet spirited bearing, Fairy Ruthless sighed softly. ”With your reputation, tomorrow will surely be a lively affair.”

Would it truly be lively? Of all the invitations he had sent, how many would accept, and how many would decline? Tomorrow’s event would mark Luo Chen’s position and prospects within the Jade Cauldron Domain. And for the first time in many years, he found himself brimming with anticipation.