An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The cultivator preparing to ascend to the upper realm was none other than Saint Alchemist Chu Yan!

Fu Chaosheng had revealed the news only after they entered the Central Continent, and Luo Chen had been deeply shaken when he first heard it. He had been raised with stories of Chu Yan, whose achievements in alchemy had made this name legendary among alchemists throughout the world. Yet outside those circles, admiration for the skill was often accompanied by criticism of the person—specifically, the choice to leave the Nether Origin Sect and join the Dao Sect.

Now, however, Luo Chen found it difficult to regard that decision as a mistake. Chu Yan had reached Divine Transformation and stood on the verge of ascending to the upper realm. For a cultivator pursuing immortality, what greater proof of success could there be? If anything, this path showed just how much a cultivator’s choices could shape their fate. Could Chu Yan have reached this point while staying in the Nether Origin Sect? Most likely not. The Eastern Wilderness had not seen news of a cultivator ascending to the upper realm for over a thousand years.

At this, he also came to realize Fu Chaosheng’s reason for revealing the information to them was clearly also to encourage them to join the Star Gate. Although that did not mean joining the Dao Sect, the Star Gate still offered boundless prospects. After all, a legendary Ascendant from the Southern Frontier had once ascended to the upper realm through the Star Gate, and now Saint Alchemist Chu Yan of the Eastern Wilderness was about to do the same. Both were outlanders[1] who had become Ascendants after coming to the Central Continent, which proved that the Dao Sect did not discriminate against outlanders.

No wonder Wintermount and Lu Qiuzhen had hurried straight to Heaven-Earth Peak after arriving in the Central Continent. With examples like these before them, how could they not be eager? Now, Luo Chen stood within Sole Rule City and gazed at the faint outline of Heaven-Earth Peak, feeling a trace of impatience himself.

Fu Chaosheng noticed the look in his eyes and smiled. ”Let’s go. We’ll head straight to Heaven-Earth Peak!”

***

Despite saying they would head straight to Heaven-Earth Peak, they were still inside an immortal city, under a flight restriction formation. For the time being, they could only continue on foot.

As they made their way through the streets, bits and pieces of nearby conversations drifted into Luo Chen’s ears. He was not deliberately eavesdropping; his divine consciousness had simply become too powerful. Unless he consciously shut out his surroundings, every sound and movement within range naturally registered in his mind.

From this perspective, there was some truth to the saying that a Sage could easily be assimilated by heaven and earth. As divine consciousness grew stronger, the boundary between the self and the surrounding world became increasingly difficult to set. If that awareness continued expanding without restraint, perhaps a cultivator might even begin to lose sight of who they were. The old saying that ”the divine merges with heaven and earth” was not merely an exaggeration.

Before Luo Chen could dwell on the thought, an excited conversation nearby caught his attention.

”Hurry! The match by the Passing River is about to start. We can’t miss this!”

”What match?”

”You haven’t heard? The Five Powerhouses of Upper Commandery came all the way to Woodrot Mountain to challenge Heaven Origin Linxian. They’re playing by the river. They may have already started!”

”What? First the Seven Masters of Yearning Plains challenged Fellow Daoist Daoyin, and now the Five Powerhouses are after Linxian? What is happening in the Go world lately?”

”What’s so strange about it? Every time the hundred-year competition approaches, cultivators from all over gather at Woodrot Mountain. Some come to watch, and others come hoping to make a name for themselves and catch the sect’s attention. After all, fighting isn’t always the best way to do that. One mistake and someone could end up badly injured or dead. Go is much simpler. Put two people across from each other, and everyone can see who is better.”

”Simple? Have you ever watched experts play? On that little board, every move is a blade. One mistake and you’re finished.”

”True. And right now, the three greatest Go players of this generation are the biggest targets. Beat one of them, and your name spreads overnight. What faster way is there to become famous?”

”Tsk, tsk. Maybe, but a few versus one still feels a little shameless.”

”Why feel sorry for them? If those three want people to stop challenging them, they need to win so decisively that no one else dares try.”

”Master Daoyin needed a full month to defeat the Seven Masters of Yearning Plains. I wonder how long Heaven Origin Linxian will last against the Five Powerhouses.”

***

Luo Chen listened with growing interest as they walked, while Fu Chaosheng filled in what he did not know. He had already heard of the three figures regarded as the greatest Go players of the age, but he knew little about the so-called Seven Masters and Five Powerhouses.

Through Fu Chaosheng’s explanation, Luo Chen learned that these people came from different families. Because of their regional ties and exceptional skill at Go, fans of the game had gradually grouped them by region and given them collective titles. The Seven Masters of Yearning Plains came from several families near the plains. Though their styles differed greatly, all seven had reached the ninth dan, and some had even advanced beyond the dan system into the class system.[2] The term ”Five Powerhouses of Upper Commandery,” on the other hand, referred to five players who had all risen to fame during a tournament once held in Upper Commandery City. They came from different regions, but their performances there had been impressive enough for the title to follow them ever since.

Even so, both groups belonged to the younger generation and had risen to prominence only within the past century or two. In terms of reputation, they could not yet compare with Heaven Origin Linxian, Go Master Gu Daoyin, and Go Saint Ke Lianshan.

One part of Fu Chaosheng’s explanation caught Luo Chen’s attention. ”I understand the nine dan, but what are the nine classes?”

Fu Chaosheng stroked his beard and smiled. ”The dan system measures a player’s fundamental skill. Once someone reaches the ninth dan, though, there’s another system above it. The nine classes measure how far a cultivator has progressed in the Dao of Go. People like the Seven Masters or the Five Powerhouses can reach the ninth dan after a century or two of study. That’s impressive, but reaching one of the nine classes is another matter entirely.”

Luo Chen blinked. ”What about those three? Have they reached that level?”

”Of course. And they’re not at the bottom, either. Gu Daoyin, for example, is in the Profound Reach Class at the very least.”[3]

The distinction fascinated Luo Chen. Of all the Hundred Ways to Immortal Ascension he had encountered, none seemed to possess a system as complete and detailed as the Dao of Go in the Central Continent. Go academies could be found throughout the region, along with dedicated halls for competition and shops selling boards, stones, and records of famous matches. Even a player’s skill and attainment had been divided into clearly defined levels. If the Dao of Alchemy were divided in the same fashion, what kind of levels would alchemists be classified into?

Fu Chaosheng glanced at him. ”Fellow Daoist Luo, since we’re already here, would you like to stop by the Passing River and watch the match?”

Luo Chen shook his head. ”No. I’d rather go to Heaven-Earth Peak first and settle my registration!”

Fu Chaosheng nodded. ”Fair enough. Business first.”

Then, they continued toward the city gates against the flow of cultivators hurrying toward the match. Wherever the two Sages passed, the crowd instinctively parted to make way.

Before long, they reached the bank of a great river surging eastward. Beyond it stretched the Woodrot Mountains, the actual stronghold of the Dao Sect. Beside it stood Heaven-Earth Peak, rising alone into the clouds as though it connected the earth to the heavens.

Luo Chen gazed up at the towering mountain and suddenly felt impossibly small. He had not experienced this sensation for a long time, particularly not since advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm. Yet somewhere in his memories, he had stood before something that inspired the same sense of awe.

Fu Chaosheng’s voice sounded beside him. ”The sect treats outlanders very well. Heaven-Earth Peak is one of the few fifth-tier spirit lands in the world, and the Star Gate was built right on it. Once you join, you’ll be able to cultivate there whenever you want. Even if you reach Divine Transformation one day, the spirit energy there will still be enough for you.”

Oh, that’s it! I remember now!

The last time he’d had this feeling was atGreen Parasol Mountain, the Holy Land of the avian clan in the Eastern Wilderness—also a spirit land blessed with a fifth-tier spirit vein. Green Parasol Mountain was far vaster in scope, but Heaven-Earth Peak was no less impressive.

Luo Chen could not help feeling even more amazed. His opinion of the Dao Sect also rose considerably. After all, there were not many powers in the world willing to let outsiders freely use a fifth-tier spirit land.

Fu Chaosheng gestured toward the mountain. ”Come on. Let’s head up and get your status settled. When the seven elders question you later, just answer the way we discussed.”

Every applicant to Star Gate was reviewed by seven elders chosen from its nineteen-member council. Under normal circumstances, five were guest elders of the Star Gate, one represented the Noble Houses, and the final representative came from the Twelve Great Houses. In most cases, the final decision rested with the representative of the Great Houses.

Without hesitation, Luo Chen had his Nascent Soul draw in the natural spirit energy until a hazy radiance enveloped him. He then rose into the air and flew toward Heaven-Earth Peak, with Fu Chaosheng following beside him.

1. The term we rendered as ”outlanders” literally means ”those from outside the continent.” We prefer this to ”outsider” as it lacks the derogatory connotation and it’s also a more place-specific term than the normal word for outsider/foreigner. ☜

2. Even though the game is Chinese, the professional ranking system originated in Japan. The master ranks start from 初段 (chū duàn, first step/degree) and end at 九段 (jiǔ duàn, ninth step/degree). The ranks are conventionally referred to as ”dan” in English rather than the Chinese pronunciation ”duan.” As for what we rendered as the nine-class system (九品 jiǔ pǐn), this is the ancient Chinese ranking system and runs in opposite order—the first class is the highest and the ninth class is the lowest. ☜

3. In the ancient system, this is the fourth highest class. ☜