An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

As they walked down the mountain path, Luo Chen suddenly spoke up. ”Senior Pure Crane!”

”What is it?”

Luo Chen asked as naturally as he could, ”Senior Nether Spring is the deputy palace leader of the Transcendence Palace. Then who is the palace leader?”

Pure Crane replied casually, ”There is no palace leader. From the very beginning, the Transcendence Palace has never had one. Lady Nether Spring[1] was only promoted to deputy palace leader five hundred years ago. Before that, there wasn’t even a deputy palace leader.”

Luo Chen froze. A grand palace like this with several Nascent Soul demon cultivators... and it’s never had a palace leader? Also, is that crow female? The more you know...

He reflexively asked, ”Then what are the other two palaces she mentioned?”

As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the massive palace opposite the Transcendence Palace. He then looked higher, toward the towering structure on the highest peak, rising like a celestial abode amid the clouds. It was obvious that the two palaces, impressive as they were, were merely standing guard beneath it. Pure Crane halted in her steps and looked toward those two directions with an expression that betrayed both reverence and fear.

”Opposite the Transcendence Palace is the Daylight Palace. At the mountain summit is the Profound Comprehension Palace.”

Daylight Palace and Profound Comprehension Palace? Luo Chen rolled the two names around in his mind and followed up, ”Do these two palaces have leaders?”

All of a sudden, a terrifying pressure surged out. A fraction of a second later, the pressure vanished, but the force unleashed by a mid-stage Sage was enough to make Luo Chen turn pale.

Pure Crane looked at him with an unfriendly expression. ”Why are you asking this?”

Luo Chen’s face was pale as he replied cautiously, ”I just want to make matters clear, so I don’t stumble into trouble by accident. A careless word or move... and I might offend one of the palace leaders. I’ve always been cautious, and now I am under someone else’s roof, so I have to be even more careful. I hope you’ll understand, Senior.”

”Hmph!” Pure Crane snorted coldly.

After pondering for a moment, she responded in a low voice, ”The leader of the Daylight Palace is Sister... Lady Azure Frost. She has awakened the Azure Luan[2] bloodline, and her strength is exceedingly terrifying. As long as you don’t offend her, she won’t trouble us. She’s cold by nature, so don’t go out of your way to provoke her.”

Luo Chen nodded repeatedly. As expected, the demoness in green robes who had appeared earlier at the Whitebone Dao Palace and scared off five Sages was no minor character.

The Azure Luan bloodline. Hmm... A divine auspicious bird said to rival the phoenix in legends! Even among the ancient wild beasts of the Mountains and Seas Realm, it stood at the very peak. No wonder she’s so terrifying. Five Sages bolted away the moment she appeared, and one of them at least didn’t even manage to escape....

”Then what about the Profound Comprehension Palace?” Luo Chen asked smoothly. ”Could the palace leader be a phoenix?”

It was just a casual guess. Yet in the very next moment, he clearly saw the fear that flashed through Pure Crane’s eyes.

”Shut up! How can you speak so casually of the Primal Sovereign!?”

Luo Chen was stunned. So it really is a phoenix? What the hell...

Pure Crane took a deep breath and warned in a low voice, ”The leader of the Profound Comprehension Palace is Primal Sovereign Rosycloud. You’d best show her genuine respect, without the slightest trace of irreverence. If you anger her, then no matter how vast the Mountains and Seas Realm is, there won’t be a single place you can run, and there won’t be anyone to save you.”

According to Pure Crane, Primal Sovereign Rosycloud had risen within the past thousand years, and her strength was beyond imagination. Otherwise, she could not have seized Green Parasol Mountain, one of the top spirit lands in the Mountains and Seas Realm, by her own power. Once she had this spirit vein, she then thought of creating her own forces. Those she chose to welcome here were mostly avian creatures, specifically those with relatively pure bloodlines among birds. Some demonic beasts in the wild mountains were fortunate enough to break through to the fourth tier, but if their bloodlines were impure, Rosycloud would still not accept them.

In addition, Pure Crane specifically added, ”The Primal Sovereign’s temperament is unpredictable. Never look directly at her at any time, or you may invite catastrophic disaster.”

That single sentence was enough. Luo Chen naturally did not wish to provoke such a figure, and he felt no desire whatsoever to see her either directly or indirectly.

Soon, they arrived at the cave residence Pure Crane had arranged for him. She left behind a sound-transmission jade token, then drifted away.

Luo Chen’s emotions gradually settled.

His character carried many flaws, flaws that had more than once pushed him into danger. Yet the fact that he had risen to this level spoke to his strengths as well. Perseverance, optimism, flexibility, and an exceptional capacity to adapt had all carried him this far.

Not long ago, he had been the Supreme Elder of a well-known sect. Then he became a prisoner behind bars. Now, he was little more than a tool. His status kept changing, and his circumstances underwent earth-shaking transformations in the blink of an eye. An ordinary person would have been unable to keep up with these changes, yet after taking a few moments to get himself together, he was already thinking of how to make the best out of this terrible scenario.

The affairs of the world are unpredictable and often utterly unreasonable. Rather than complain, it’s better to improve, adapt, overcome.

”Hehe... At least I’m useful, right?”

With a self-mocking chuckle, Luo Chen pushed open the door to the cave residence. In that instant, an extremely dense surge of spirit energy burst forth. Luo Chen’s eyes widened as he revealed an expression of wild joy.

”What the hell, it’s supreme-grade!”

Luo Chen had never imagined that the cave residence Nether Spring had ordered Pure Crane to arrange for him would be of such astonishing quality. It was actually a supreme-grade third-tier cave, not a low-grade or even high-grade one but supreme! Its spirit energy density was nine times that of a low-grade spirit vein, and it wasn’t far from a fourth-tier one. In fact, many newly advanced Sages who failed to secure a suitable fourth-tier spirit vein could only settle for a top-grade third-tier one. A supreme-grade third-tier spirit vein like this was enough to make even them burn with envy.

As far as Luo Chen knew, supreme-grade third-tier spirit veins were extremely rare. In recent years, there had been only one such vein discovered—at Supreme Emperor Mountain, beside the Defiant Howl Wolf Court. Yet now, Nether Spring had arranged such a cave residence for him. This meant his cultivation speed...

Luo Chen swallowed unconsciously and glanced toward the Transcendence Palace, as if his gaze could pass through the thick cliff. He shook his head and forced himself to calm down from the wild joy. Don’t overreact. Green Parasol Mountain has a fifth-tier spirit vein, so of course there would be many other spirit veins of all grades. To them, a supreme-grade third-tier spirit vein is nothing worth mentioning. Nether Spring likely wants me to give my all, which is why she arranged the most suitable cultivation environment for me.

After figuring this out, Luo Chen pressed his lips together. Many years ago, he had already discovered that Imperial Nectar was actually more suitable for demonic beasts than it was for humans. When humans used Imperial Nectar for a breakthrough, it only increased the success rate by twenty percent, much less than the thirty percent they’d get if they were to use Foundation Establishment Pills. But this was not because Imperial Nectar was lacking. It was purely an issue of compatibility.

Naturally, it was more compatible with demonic beasts. If given to them, the chances of breaking through would naturally be much higher—especially considering Luo Chen was able to refine top-tier elixir.

Nether Spring had searched the souls of many people.Had it been just one individual, none of them might have revealed much about Luo Chen’s skills. Yet once a comprehensive picture was drawn from many different angles, it was easy to conclude that he possessed the ability to refine top-grade cultivation pills. There was no need to look further than the Jade Dew Pill—he had already publicly demonstrated that he could offer large amounts of top-grade products.

Imperial Nectar and Jade Dew Pills were both second-tier. Imperial Nectar was easier to refine than Jade Dew Pills, but it was also more appropriate for demonic beasts, which was why Nether Spring had ordered him to make plenty of it. This was also why she had not searched his soul. Even when handled with the utmost care, soul-searching techniques always carried a risk of mishap. If Luo Chen’s soul took damage, this would impact his skills and comprehension of alchemy, and he could very well lose the ability to refine pills altogether. The general knowledge of a mere rogue cultivator would hardly be worth the risk.

”As long as there’s enough material, I could technically keep the furnace running day and night without pause. I could refine nearly 200 bottles of Imperial Nectar in a single day. That makes 6000 in a month, maybe 70,000 in a year, and in ten years... damn, wouldn’t second-tier bird demons be everywhere?”

Obviously, Luo Chen would not actually do that. He had no desire to die in the immediate future. Producing two hundred bottles a day was just impossible! At most, he could run the furnace twice a day and refine ten batches of raw materials each time. With that, the amount of Imperial Nectar he obtained could be stably controlled at six bottles per day.

This number had been carefully calculated by Luo Chen. It was neither too much nor too little. It was enough to satisfy his new ”boss” while also buying time by extending his own value. Perhaps he could even delay things until human experts came to rescue him!

He waved his wide sleeves repeatedly, dispersing the residual beastly aura within the cave residence. Then he chose a spot to serve as his cultivation area. He took out the meditation cushion and incense needed for cultivation from his storage ring and sat down cross-legged.

”Let’s see just how powerful this supreme-grade spirit vein is!”

***

”Fellow Daoist Luo is probably not coming back.”

”Yes. It has been so long without any sign of him... He most likely met the same fate as Jin Buque and Light Frost, soul-searched to death.”

”What a pity, though... He was a true master alchemist. I heard he was already capable of refining mid-grade Starfield Pills. Give him another hundred years—no, maybe even just ten years or so, and he would likely be able to refine top-grade third-tier pills. With such alchemy skills, he would have been considered exceptional even on the scale of the entire Eastern Wilderness.”

”It can only be said that Dan Chenzi was fated to suffer this calamity.”

Within the dim dungeon, scattered murmurs rose from Adepts of various sects. Between their words, it was clear that they no longer held any hope for Luo Chen. As for speculation that he might have escaped, such a thought never even crossed their minds. On Green Parasol Mountain, there were three Sages they knew of, not to mention those who were likely in seclusion. Above all stood that demoness in green robes.... Her strength was so unfathomable that even multiple Sages would have no advantage against her.

Amid the murmured conversations, someone suddenly spoke. ”Do you think the sect will send people to rescue us?”

The dungeon fell into silence. After a long while, someone finally spoke with hesitation, ”They should, right?”

They will, right? Right?

***

A full month had already gone by since the battle at the Great Snow Mountains. News spread that the Falling Cloud Sect’s coalition had lost its high-end combat power in a single sweep, fallen under the hands of a single demon race expert. Those in the Howling Moon Mountain Range and the Jade Cauldron Domain understood the matter even more clearly. Back then, countless people had personally witnessed Azure Frost pursuing the Sage Jade Cauldron across tens of thousands of li, leaving cities shattered and enemies slain in her wake.

Such a matter could not be covered at all. In fact, because the high-tier cultivators of this Frontier War had been annihilated, countless cultivators stationed in the Howling Moon Mountain Range were thrown into panic. Many had already begun considering retreat, fearing that the demonic beasts of the wild mountains would surge forth in full force to reclaim their territory. The Jade Cauldron Domain was no different. With the Sage Jade Cauldron slain, the Sword Sect instantly fell into a state without a leader.

The Jade Cauldron Domain was no different. With the Sage Jade Cauldron slain, the Sword Sect instantly fell into a state without a leader. Fortunately, Adept Swaying Light[3]personally took charge and recalled the sect experts, took control of the situation, and forced things to calm down. Even so, the stability he maintained applied only to his own sect. When it came to the entire Eastern Wilderness, everything still depended on the stance of the Nether Origin Sect.

Yet the Nether Origin Sect fell into an eerie silence.

A full month of silence left the front lines in a state of growing unease. The Falling Cloud Sect stationed at the Defiant Howl Wolf Court found itself caught between advance and retreat. Should they hold onto the hard-won fourth-tier spirit vein, or should they abandon the position and withdraw back to the Jade Cauldron Domain?

With the Moon Divine Envoy gone, the Star Divine Envoy found himself isolated, unable to shoulder the situation alone. As he faced the constant quarrels among the upper ranks of the Star Moon Temple, his head ached endlessly. Dreamspring Cave fared no better. The sect’s Supreme Elder was gone, along with Jadewater Dragon, the prodigy most likely to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm. Such a blow was simply too devastating to bear.

At the Snow Wolf Plateau, the Luo Tian Alliance’s three factions gathered together. Diwu Qi, Cen Qiusheng, and Sima Huiniang were present, the latter having secured a seat among the Golden Core assembly with Fu Jiusheng’s support.

”Let’s discuss it then. What do we do now?”

Sima Huiniang replied without hesitation, ”There is nothing to discuss. We hold this place and wait for our sect’s Supreme Elder to return!”

Diwu Qi frowned. ”Everyone knows what happened in the Great Snow Mountains battle. Even Sage Jade Cauldron was annihilated in both body and soul. You do not honestly believe Dan Chenzi is still alive, do you?”

Sima Huiniang’s gaze was firm. ”I don’t need to believe anything. He is still alive. I share a special connection with him, and I can be completely certain that he is alive at this very moment.”

Diwu Qi’s expression shifted as he looked toward the others.

Cen Qiusheng coughed lightly and said, ”From the information circulating among the sects, some of their Adepts are also still alive. Major sects have the tradition of crafting life-bound soul lamps, so they probably know what they’re talking about.”

Diwu Qi drew in a deep breath. ”Fine. Even if Dan Chenzi is alive, so what? What we may face next is the counterattack of countless demonic beasts from the wild mountains. Do you really think the three of us can hold them back?”

Sima Huiniang refused to yield. ”We cannot stop them, but neither can anyone else. At the very least, the Luo Tian Alliance occupies a rear region. If the sky collapses, the Falling Cloud Sect and the Star Moon Temple will be the ones to hold it up for us.”

Cen Qiusheng added in support, ”Exactly. Fellow Daoist Diwu, we’ve finally secured a third-tier spirit land. Are you really willing to hand it over so easily?”

Diwu Qi opened his mouth, yet for a moment found himself at a loss for words. How could he possibly be willing to give it up? He had simply been frightened. After a moment of thought, he still could not help but say, ”Either way, we need to plan ahead. The Luo Tian Alliance was never strong to begin with, and now it has consecutively lost two major experts, Jiang Yu and Dan Chenzi. Losing Dan Chenzi stings in more than one way. If we truly encounter demon powerhouses, who will fill the combat power gap on the Luo Tian Sect’s side? Let me be clear: If I cannot even protect myself, you cannot expect me to intervene for others.”

The group fell silent and exchanged uneasy glances. Diwu Qi spoke the truth—Luo Chen’s presence had never been merely symbolic. To most people, he was a master alchemist, and that had allowed the small force known as the Luo Tian Alliance to be regarded with respect and barely enter the ranks of the so-called major sects. But he was also a force to be reckoned with in combat, such that even Diwu Qi had been forced to acknowledge his inferiority. Without him, the strength of the Luo Tian Alliance had plummeted. As for the Luo Tian Sect, it had lost its true pillar.

Just as everyone hesitated, uncertain what to do, the grand hall’s doors were slowly pushed open. A figure slowly walked inside.

”I will fill in for him!”

As the words were spoken, an incomparably terrifying surge of fortified qi burst out. The entire grand hall seemed to turn into a blazing furnace, and everyone’s blood qi started boiling beyond their control!

1. The author starts using a female pronoun and it’s more or less established that the crow is female, though it isn’t explicitly mentioned here. ☜

2. The luan (鸾) is a mythical divine bird recorded in texts such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas, closely related to the phoenix. ☜

3. Was previously translated as Yaoguang. ☜