An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

On Profound Rock Island, a world-shaking battle was unfolding.

Perhaps calling it that way was objectively exaggerated, yet for the demonic crab and turtle clans involved, this battle truly shook their world. One side sought to rise and aimed to seize the fourth-tier spirit vein. The other fought for survival; they defended their homeland and refused to yield a single patch of ground.

This battle had been destined to erupt from the moment the five royal clans first targeted the outermost island of the Ring-Head Turtle homeland. By the time it had dragged on to this moment, the turtles had already committed all their strength to defend it.

An aged Ring-Head Turtle slowly emerged from the foot of the great mountain at the center of Profound Rock Island. He swept his gaze across the surroundings, while his vast and powerful divine consciousness spread through the island where he had lived for more than a thousand years. Waves of sorrow rose within his heart.

Their clan had never liked fighting. Even after producing a Turtle Emperor, they had merely lived peacefully within the Profound Rock Sea Region. As for the various native demonic beasts in this sea region, their clan had rarely imposed strict control; they simply quelled disturbances and that was that. At most, they accepted the other clans as vassal forces. Yet this kind of mercy led to the scene before him now—corpses lay everywhere, and blood flowed like rivers.

”I should still be in time, right?” he muttered.

He looked at the surviving members of the Ring-Head Turtle clan, then turned his gaze toward the direction where Luo Chen had fled. That human cultivator had indeed bought them a little more time. However, it could not go further than this. He glanced back at the towering mountain behind him, then looked toward the five streaks of light flying in from beyond the island and the demonic clouds rushing toward him.

”Fine then! Let this be my final battle, and let’s hope I can leave behind a chance of survival for Profound Rock’s Ring-Head Turtle clan!”

As he muttered to himself, his body began to swell.

The bony plates protecting his underside were smooth as mirrors, while the vast carapace on his back was rough like basalt. Visible ringed patterns spread across it, like the growth rings of an ancient tree. They showed how much hardship he had endured through this lifetime and how many things he had witnessed in his life.

In a short moment, a colossal turtle nearly ninety zhang across lay upon Profound Rock Island. At a glance, it looked as if the island had gained a new hill.

An instant later, five powerful attacks arrived at the same time. Golden light flashed, ribbons of drifting algae swept forward, poisonous mist spread through the air, spider silk crisscrossed the sky, and surging flames fell from above.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Deafening explosions echoed across the island and beyond. Dust and smoke billowed into the sky. When the smoke cleared, Seafall stood on the battlefield without moving an inch. Suddenly, the massive turtle that resembled a small hill began to rise slowly. The four thick, armored limbs pressed against the ground, lifting the enormous body upright.

A bright yellow radiance enveloped Seafall’s entire body, an aura that felt as solid as stone and immovable like a mountain. The moment combatants saw that yellow radiance, a heavy weight pressed down upon their hearts. The five patriarchs in particular turned grave at the sight.

”Demon Emperor aura!”

”This is the aura of Demon Emperor Profound Rock. Could it be... Does he have the remains?”

”That must be it. That’s the only way to explain why he dared to take the attack from all five of us head-on without even dodging.”

”This is bad. I never expected Seafall to desecrate his ancestor’s remains and refine them into his own body.”

”Don’t be stupid, you would’ve done the same. Anyway, what’s so troublesome about it? It’s just a turtle shell! Break it!”

The one who spoke the last was Golden Mud, who was usually steady and composed. Victory was right before them, so how could he back down now? They were five against one! Even with their opponent holding the remains of the late Demon Emperor, the advantage was theirs.

The Ring-Head Turtle clan had already collapsed. Many Turtle Kings had self-detonated, and their high-end battle power was all but gone. Meanwhile, the five royal crab clans had taken heavy blows, but they were far from crippled. If they gathered their forces now, they could still assemble dozens of Crab Kings. Therefore, if they had to chip the old turtle’s shell down bit by bit, then chip it they would! For the rise of their clans, they were willing to pay any price.

Before making his move, Golden Mud looked at the other four patriarchs. ”At this point, you should all have the resolve to risk everything, right?”

Crimson Flame grinned viciously and stepped forward. Nine Legs opened his mouth and spat out a poisonous hook. Its sinister aura sent chills down the spine. Green Sleeve, meanwhile, hesitated; it seemed that she could not make up her mind.

Red Face shook his head and looked at Golden Mud. ”This battle can and will end with losses on our side. The Great Crab Kings of the Green Emperor clan are already few. If too many of them fall, the clan’s strength will surely decline in the future...”

He did not finish his words, but everyone knew what he meant.

Golden Mud waved his hand. ”No matter what, we must take this place. This is our only chance to have one of us become a Demon Emperor. Whoever succeeds will unite the five clans and dominate the Profound Rock Sea Region. When that day comes, we’ll share both glory and ruin. I understand your worries, but you also have to understand that this attitude is too narrow-minded.”

At that moment, the full extent of his ambition was laid bare. And even though everyone had long been prepared for it, their hearts still stirred. A Crab Emperor would unite the five clans, dominate the region, and establish a great demonic force in the Northern Sea. Only then would their clans have a chance to rise and no longer suffer the bullying of other major demon clans or the reckless hunting of human cultivators. For that future, they truly needed the resolve to risk everything.

True to that conclusion, Green Sleeve finally steeled herself. ”Then let’s fight!”

Without the slightest hesitation, the five patriarchs revealed their true forms. They surrounded the old patriarch of the Ring-Head Turtle clan and wasted no time beginning a relentless assault.

Meanwhile, with the Demon Emperor remains protecting him, Seafall showed no fear. He fought without restraint and answered every strike in kind, no matter the cost for him. One turtle and five crabs used the most direct and most violent demonic techniques in a brutal melee. There was no flourish in their battle, just a raw clash of power against power.

The scale of the battle forced low-tier demonic beasts from both sides to withdraw from the island; only Demon Kings remained near the battlefield to watch. Thus, the bloodiest battle began upon Profound Rock Island.

***

Perhaps the fierce battle had stirred the spirit energy of heaven and earth into chaos. Or perhaps a clan was about to perish, and the heavens mourned for it. Whatever was the case, as the great battle slowly drew to an end, dark clouds gathered over the region, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

Within the dense cloud canopy, lightning flashed wildly and thunder roared. A storm was about to descend. On Profound Rock Island, which was already riddled with pits and countless craters from the large-scale battles that had unfolded earlier, wave after wave of seawater began pouring in, washing over the crumbled remains of mountains that had once stood tall and proud.

The five patriarchs stood scattered across the island and panted heavily. They were all covered with wounds. The most grievously injured was Green Sleeve, whose body had been split in half. Even Golden Mud and Crimson Flame, who were far more powerful, had suffered broken pincers and shattered legs.

Each of them felt lingering fear in their hearts. Seafall had displayed truly terrifying battle strength. Fortunately, his power lay mainly in defense rather than offense. Otherwise, one or two of the five would have certainly fallen in this battle.

They turned their gaze toward the center of the battlefield in fear. Seafall lay there quietly, completely motionless. A closer look revealed three of his four limbs had been severed, his thick carapace had been cracked open, and the plastron protecting his abdomen had shattered, exposing large patches of soft flesh stained with blood. Such a tragic sight left the surviving members of the Ring-Head Turtle clan wailing uncontrollably.

After reaching the third tier, Patriarch Seafall had walked the path of Black Tortoise. His current state was little different from death, yet he still stood there like an unyielding mountain.

Golden Mud spoke slowly, ”Patriarch Seafall, hand over the Demon Emperor’s remains, and I’ll leave your corpse intact.”

Seafall took a heavy breath, then opened his eyes with visible difficulty and swept his gaze around. He did not focus on Golden Mud; instead, he first looked at the dozens of Crab Kings gathered nearby, glaring at him, then finally turned his gaze toward the surviving clansmen beneath the distant mountain peak. He spoke softly, ”Hand it over? To whom? To you?”

Golden Mud frowned. Almost immediately, he also sensed the unfriendly gazes of the other four crab patriarchs focusing on him. What a cunning old turtle. Even at death’s door, he’s still trying to sow discord.

Yet he remained perfectly calm and did not let himself be dragged into the turtle’s trickery. ”Just hand it over. We’ll decide among ourselves who gets it.”

Seafall pulled at his cracked mouth. ”So the only condition is that you’ll leave me an intact corpse?”

Golden Mud snorted coldly. ”That’s already a show of respect for you as our senior. If that still isn’t enough, I can decide to let the surviving members of your clan leave the Profound Rock Sea Region and find somewhere else to live.”

The moment those words fell, Green Sleeve cried sharply, ”No! We can’t let them leave, or we might face even more trouble later!”

Red Face scoffed in a low voice. ”Short-sighted! What’s there to fear from a pack of homeless strays?”

Nine Legs added gloomily, ”We’ve been neighbors for many years. Wiping them out completely would be a bit excessive.”

Crimson Flame laughed loudly. ”My clan roams the undersea trenches and volcanic vents all year round. I happen to know a good place where the Ring-Head Turtle clan could settle.”

Green Sleeve said bitterly, ”You all speak so generously. But my cultivation has been ruined. If they ever come back for revenge, my clan will be the first to suffer. I refuse to let them go!”

It seemed as if she had lost it completely. Right now, they had to take the Demon Emperor’s remains; they would have complete control over how they handled the matter after that. Crimson Flame’s proposal was actually not bad. They could monitor the Ring-Head Turtle clan from a familiar location, and if they felt it appropriate, they could even enslave the turtles later.

Just as Golden Mud was about to speak, his gaze fell on Green Sleeve, and he suddenly understood. Her outburst was not directed at the turtles—she was trying to bargain with the four of them!

While they were still arguing among themselves, Seafall let out a faint sigh. ”Enough. Three of my limbs are already gone. What ’intact corpse’ is there left to speak of? And besides, it’s better to rely on ourselves than on anyone else. The future of my clan should remain in my clan’s own hands.”

The moment those words were spoken, the five crabs all changed expressions. Was he still planning to resist to the bitter end?

Crimson Flame roared angrily. ”Old bastard, you’re about to die and you still can’t see the situation clearly?”

Nine Legs frowned. ”You have brought out even your Emperor’s remains. What other tricks could you possibly have?”

The others were just as puzzled. They couldn’t understand what confidence Seafall still had left. But they were not left to wander for long; seeing their confusion, Seafall softly clarified, ”In my clan, I’m not the only peak Demon King.”