An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

After the war between the demons and devils, however, the Soul Refinement Lineage had completely overshadowed even the Blood Sea Lineage in reputation.

As the sect stood on the verge of destruction, the Soul Refinement Lineage’s grand elder established the Myriad Soul Demon-Locking Formation and sealed the demon army within the Heaven of Northern Yama. Had the Ghost Immortal Tower not attacked the formation while the demons strained against it from within, the Northern Sea might have enjoyed several more centuries of peace.

Still, such an achievement could hardly have depended on the lineage’s cultivation techniques alone. Soul essence had most likely played an important role, which would explain why Devil’s Snare continued refining it despite having no apparent use for the material.

Their activities had come to light during the war between the righteous and demonic factions. Devil’s Snare had sent cultivators onto the battlefields for the sole purpose of collecting the souls of the fallen. Since no one ever saw those souls being used to create Soul-Refining Banners, there was only one likely explanation.

The devil sect passed down a way to produce soul essence, but not how to use it. Even after two hundred years, Devil’s Snare still hasn’t found the answer. One of them might bring some to the peace conference to trade. I can’t miss this chance.

The gathering might offer him more than soul essence. With Sages from both factions attending, he could also search for a route back to the Eastern Wilderness or find someone willing to serve as an intermediary.

By the time Luo Chen finished sorting through his plans, night had settled over the sea. He glanced outside and found the sky seemed hazier than before. It was clear that heavy rain was on the way.

***

A war could begin with a single spark, but ending one was rarely as simple. Before the righteous and devilish factions could even discuss terms, they first had to establish contact, find enough common ground to remain at the same table, and appoint a mediator powerful enough to keep both sides from walking away. Every concession then became a struggle between competing interests, and even the impending danger of the demons could not erase two centuries of resentment overnight.

By the time Luo Chen arrived at Duskmist Court, the peace conference had already dragged on for several days. More cultivators continued to gather, yet neither side had come close to an agreement. All anyone knew was that Devil’s Snare had entrusted the negotiations to its first lineage master, Di Yi. He was the strongest of its lineage masters and also a late-stage Sage, making him the obvious choice to represent them.[1]

The Blue Sea Alliance’s choice, however, was rather interesting. Li Canghai’s absence came as no surprise; someone of his standing would never involve himself directly in such negotiations. What Luo Chen found unusual was that neither of the alliance’s two late-stage Sages had attended in his place. Instead, they had sent Mulan Gaoxiong.

Luo Chen remembered him well. Mulan Gaoxiong was the middle-stage Sage that Blood Nightmare had attacked on Coldlight Island. Although he had escaped with his life, the injuries had damaged his vitality so severely that he would never advance again in cultivation. This had made his temper increasingly violent, and throughout the century of war that followed, his attacks had been merciless. Of Devil’s Snare’s twelve lineage masters, one had died and another had been severely injured at his hands.

From the top of a tall tower, Luo Chen and Resonant Jade watched streaks of light cut through the downpour below.

”I don’t understand why Ascendant Li sent him to negotiate. Does he actually want this war to end or not?”

Luo Chen rested one hand on the railing and chuckled. ”Think about it. If they can still reach an agreement after sending Mulan Gaoxiong, the man who suffered most because of this war, then Devil’s Snare must be offering a great deal in return. If even he is willing to accept the ceasefire, who else could object?”

Resonant Jade froze, then laughed despite himself. That did seem reasonable.

Devil’s Snare was not negotiating from a position of strength. Li Canghai could have destroyed it himself if push came to shove, and the fact that he had refrained did not give its lineage masters the right to bargain as equals. By placing Mulan Gaoxiong across the table from them, the Blue Sea Alliance was forcing Devil’s Snare to face the man it had wronged and offer enough concessions to satisfy him.

Luo Chen looked back at the streaks of light passing through the rain. ”What I find strange is that the Penglai Immortal Sect was the one that gave Devil’s Snare the confidence to start this war, yet none of their cultivators have appeared at the negotiations.”

Resonant Jade chuckled. ”That’s because you haven’t heard the whole story. Penglai isn’t absent. The mediator overseeing the negotiations is one of the four great elders of the Northern Sea Heaven Origin Trade Alliance. With someone in that position representing them, how could anyone say the sect isn’t involved?”

Luo Chen was stunned, then a knowing smile appeared on his face. As expected, the suspicion he had formed years ago was finally confirmed. The power standing behind the Penglai Immortal Sect was not merely the Heaven Origin Trade Alliance but the Heaven Origin Dao Sect! Only a force of such stature could support one side in the war while still presiding over the peace talks as a supposedly neutral judge.

At that moment, several streaks of light stopped within the rain below, and faint sounds of arguing could be heard. A group of Adepts from Devil’s Snare had crossed paths with cultivators from the Blue Sea Alliance. After a century of friction followed by another century of war, the grudges and blood debts between them were beyond counting. Now that enemies had met face-to-face, their eyes burned with hatred. Even though their superiors had issued strict orders, no one could stop them from trading threats.

A cultivator from Blackwing Island stepped forward from Devil’s Snare’s side. ”If you want a fight, then come and get one! I’ve never been afraid of you!”

”Afraid of us? We’ve spent the last thirty years beating you so badly you can barely hold your heads up. You even had to hand over Duskmist Court just to hold these negotiations. And you still refuse to admit you’ve lost?”

”You—”

”What? Did I say something wrong?” Bi Dan’s expression turned cold. ”I haven’t forgotten what you guys did. You launched an attack on Heavenly Star Sea, and twenty years ago, when you guys struck back at Flying Cloud Ravine, and slaughtered three thousand cultivators without mercy.”

His voice grew harsher. ”My younger sister was married to someone from Flying Cloud Ravine, and she was killed by that old wretch Kang. So where’s he? Why didn’t he dare show his face today? I came here to settle that debt, with him and with Blackwing Island!”

***

The threats exchanged between the Adepts were not empty bluster. The hatred in their voices was real, and their killing intent cut sharply through the rain. Even so, the two Sages merely watched from the tower, knowing neither side dared violate the order against fighting.

When Bi Dan spoke of his murdered sister, Resonant Jade’s expression slowly darkened. He remained silent for a moment before letting out a weary sigh. ”I lost a disciple during the war as well. He was not a peerless genius, but he had talent and he might have accomplished something great in time. Unfortunately, he was killed by a powerful Adept from Penglai named Yu Gao. Now that Penglai has fled, I don’t even have anyone left to demand answers from.”

At the mention of Yu Gao, Luo Chen’s expression shifted slightly.

Resonant Jade noticed and gave a bitter smile. ”Forgive me. I must sound ridiculous. Penglai is far too powerful, with more than one late-stage Sage. I suppose I was overestimating myself.”

Luo Chen quickly hid his reaction. ”Don’t sell yourself short. No sect remains powerful forever. Even the devil sect eventually fell, so Penglai may not stay on top for much longer either. As the saying goes, a gentleman can wait ten years to avenge a wrong. As Sages, we can afford to wait a few centuries. Your chance will come eventually.”

Resonant Jade seemed to feel a little better after hearing that. He had no interest in watching the confrontation below drag on when neither side could actually start a fight, so he turned to leave.

Before leaving, he asked, ”There’s a small gathering for Sages this afternoon. Would you like to come? I may not have much influence, but I can at least introduce you to a few people.”

Luo Chen smiled. ”Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

After he left, Luo Chen turned back toward the Adept who had sworn to repay blood with blood. His eyes sharpened as he extended a strand of divine consciousness outward.

Sang Jinghe, who had been resting in his room, paused for a moment before quietly stepping into the rain.

1. The raws also mention that his name is appropriate for the job because it literally means ”first” (第一 dìyī). ☜