An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”Luo Chen, you must be tired. I’d say we’ve had enough to drink for one night, so let’s end this here.”

Luo Chen gladly agreed to conclude the banquet. He actually was a little tired. Of the seven elders of the Star Gate, six were late-stage Sages on par with Moon Hermit and the last one was an Ascendant. In their presence, no matter how composed and self-assured Luo Chen tried to appear, the pressure remained immense.

Had it not been for Saint Alchemist Chu Yan, who had effortlessly dispelled the pressure from the others with her lighthearted banter, the session inside the Star Gate space likely wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. The banquet helped him ease up considerably, but no matter how relaxed he felt, it couldn’t compare to a period of quiet cultivation in private.

However, before leaving, he made a point of taking a look at Fu Qinglan. He found her rather surprising.

He had seen his fair share of Nascent Soul Sages, and every one of them exuded an imposing presence. This woman certainly had an air about her, but it was hard to associate such demeanor with the image of a Nascent Soul Sage. It was hard to describe in words, but... She seemed to have the determination to shoulder the honor and the shame of her family, and to rise and fall with it. At the same time, she also seemed innocent, in the sense that she looked somewhat detached from reality.

Luo Chen had seen this kind of demeanor quite often since he’d arrived in the Central Continent. He could only attribute this to the fact that this region was simply too peaceful. Without having undergone the tempering of blood and fire, the people here, though highly accomplished in cultivation, remained somewhat naive in their conduct and social interactions. It appeared that Longwind and his companions, whom he had encountered at the Myriad Immortal Society, were quite representative of their peers.

Coincidentally, just as Luo Chen was looking her way, Fu Qinglan was also stealing a glance at him. When their eyes met, the former appeared calm, while the latter looked away awkwardly.

On his way back to his room, Luo Chen chuckled to himself. ”Just a greenhorn!”

Had they met in the Eastern Wilderness or the Northern Sea, he could have probably sold her off and she’d help him count the money.

But despite the smirk on his face, he felt a twinge of envy deep down. Even someone like that could attain the Nascent Soul Realm and become a Sage?

***

Under the moonlight, two streaks of light left Heaven-Earth Peak and flew toward Woodrot Mountain, across the river.

Fu Qinglan bit her lip and suddenly said, ”Grandpa, is that man really up to the task?”

Fu Chaosheng was in a good mood, but this question made him stop in his tracks. At first, he was puzzled. ”What do you mean, up to the task?”

But he quickly caught on. ”Are you doubting your grandfather’s judgement?”

Fu Qinglan shook her head and said with some concern, ”It’s not that I doubt you, Grandpa. It’s just that this competition is different from previous ones. Even if you put aside the Adepts and Initiates from our sect, there are still a whole thirteen new Sages. They each have a Dao Protector who is either an expert meticulously cultivated by their family or the leader of a big sect from the outland territories, a true giant in their own right. In comparison, Luo Chen is too...”

”Too what?” Fu Chaosheng’s face darkened with anger.

Fu Qinglan took a deep breath and boldly replied, ”Too young. Although I call him Senior Brother, I think he might even be younger than me. Can someone like that truly protect me so I can focus on comprehending the natural laws in the Mirage Dragon Pocket World?”

”Young?” Fu Chaosheng was now so angry that he actually started laughing. ”Since when can we judge people by their age in the cultivation world? I’ve lived for 900 years, yet I’m merely a third-stage Sage. Now think of that famous Gu Daoyin. He isn’t even 500, is he? Do you think I’m stronger than him?”

Fu Qinglan pressed her lips together tightly. ”That’s different. Senior Brother Daoyin is a true genius, the kind that the Holy Land hasn’t seen in a thousand years!”

”And somehow, the Heaven Origin Dao Sect has three such geniuses in this generation!” Fu Chaosheng snapped. His voice was as sharp as steel, and his gaze was just as sharp. ”Let me tell you: This Wilderness Hermit is in no way inferior to any of those Holy Land prodigies. Don’t you underestimate him!”

Fu Qinglan opened her mouth slightly but had no words to retort. She truly couldn’t understand why her grandfather had such confidence in that man.

Seeing her unconvinced expression, Fu Chaosheng’s anger instantly vanished. In truth, he was partly responsible; he had protected her a little too well. If she had been like that kid Liu Yuan, who had spent 180 years training in the Northern Sea, she’d have known that a book could not be judged by its cover, and neither could the volume of the sea be measured with a ladle.

He let out a sigh and tossed her a jade scroll. ”I couldn’t go into detail in my letter. Give this a read.”

”What is this?”

”It records Luo Chen’s achievements, big or small. When you’re done, you’ll understand why I insist on choosing him.”

Fu Qinglan hesitantly probed into the jade slip with her divine consciousness. Then, slowly, her expression became one of utter astonishment.

***

At the middle stage of the Golden Core Realm, he came up with the method to condense a Nascent Soul on his own.

In the battle at Coldlight Island, he killed an opponent of the same level in one strike. Then, while being pursued and blocked by several Adepts, he defeated them despite the gap in cultivation strength.

At the Myriad Immortal Society, he overpowered a late-stage Adept.

Along the border of the Sunken Sea, he was a Devil Lord whose reputation resounded along the shores.

There were even rumors of an unprecedented, spectacular feat—he allegedly killed a Sage while only being at the Golden Core Realm!

In the short span of a century, he formed his Nascent Soul all on his own, without any assistance from a sect or family.

Once he crossed into the Nascent Soul Realm, he demonstrated extraordinary capabilities. Resonant Jade sought to befriend him, Heaven Splitter suffered a minor loss at his hands, and even Shen Wandou of the Heaven Origin Dao Sect could not fully gauge his true potential.

Even though the name Wilderness Hermit had only risen to prominence recently and still paled in comparison to the Three Great Hermits of the Northern Sea, the speed of his rise and the potential of his future surpassed theirs!

***

When Fu Qinglan once again walked into the Immortal-Welcoming Hall of Heaven-Earth Peak, Luo Chen’s biography kept playing in her head. Each and every event told the thrilling yet perilous story of his painstaking cultivation path.

In comparison, the rivalries in sects and the covert power struggles among families, which she had once considered extremely dangerous, seemed utterly childish now. It was no wonder his eyes held such complex emotions when he sized her up—there was a hint of curiosity, a hint of derision, and even a sliver of envy.

”Someone of his caliber is more than apt to be my Dao Protector. But I cannot let him look down on me too much. Today, I must have an open and honest conversation with him.”

When Fu Qinglan arrived at Luo Chen’s residence, she happened to see an outlander elder of the Star Gate handing over a set of tokens to him.

He became a guest elder of the Star Gate?

However, from Luo Chen’s peculiar expression, she could tell something was amiss.

”Senior Brother Luo, has something happened?”

A puzzled Luo Chen weighed the jade token in his hand. ”Does the Star Gate have the position of External Affairs Guest Elder?”

Fu Qinglan was confused as well. On Heaven-Earth Peak, there were only three positions: Star Gate Guest Elder, Heaven Origin Retainer, and Heaven-Earth Peak Elder. The first title was fairly straightforward: Bearers of this title were guest elders and enjoyed a number of privileges. The title of retainer, meanwhile, implied a closer relationship. The words ”Heaven Origin” referred to the fact that the Heaven Origin Dao Sect would provide support for the bearer’s cultivation. As for Heaven-Earth Peak Elders, their status was also as the title implied. They participated in the decision-making of Heaven-Earth Peak, and even the Heaven Origin Dao Sect itself.

But External Affairs Guest Elder? Fu Qinglan had never heard of such a position. If we take it at face value, that would be a guest elder tasked with external affairs?

Seeing that she was unable to offer an explanation, Luo Chen didn’t inquire further.

”First things first, let’s go and see my new cave residence!”

He gave a carefree smile and strode out of the small courtyard, and Fu Qinglan hurriedly followed him.

Without even realizing it, she had begun to let him take the lead.