An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The concept of a second Nascent Soul was not foreign to Luo Chen. In fact, he had once come very close to possessing one of his own after nearly a century of nurturing a Nascent Core and getting it to an even higher realm than his own Golden Core. Unfortunately, in the Land of Fallen Devils, the Nascent Core had been destroyed, and it could not possibly be recreated.

In truth, Luo Chen no longer felt all that regretful about it. For one, the Nascent Core had been sacrificed in the stead of his Golden Core to save him from the Ninefold Beaconfire. For another, it had become clear to him that the Nascent Core held a key role in Han Zhan’s plan to take over his body. Had the Nascent Core still existed when Luo Chen became a Sage, and had he managed to turn it into a second Nascent Soul, then Han Zhan could have projected his own soul into that second Nascent Soul, seamlessly taking over Luo Chen’s Purple Mansion and then his whole body.

When Luo Chen found out about this scheme after he had turned the tables on Han Zhan, he felt rather fortunate about the Nascent Core’s destruction. And yet, he found himself missing it after seeing Shi Ju’s lightning incarnation in the Mirage Dragon Pocket World. Creating a true incarnation was, of course, a divine technique far beyond his reach, but a second Nascent Soul, though a notch below, was still an extremely powerful card to have in the sleeve.

Sadly, for all the nostalgia, Luo Chen knew the Nascent Core Art was meant for Adepts only. A Sage could certainly create one, but it would be a wasted effort, because they had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm and further breakthroughs would no longer come with that tribulation energy infusion that was necessary to condense a second Nascent Soul.

Thus, the Nascent Core Art had been gathering dust in Luo Chen’s storage, until he decided to have the Luo Tian Sect members attempt practicing it. In order to find suitable candidates, he had examined all the Adepts with his divine consciousness and found that, for the time being, the only one who met all the requirements was Li Yingzhang.

One of the prerequisites for learning the Nascent Core Art was to have an extraordinary volume of mana. Li Yingzhang was the only Adept in the sect who possessed this quality, thanks to his Ninefold Winding Body. Even though his foundation was no longer as perfect as it had been before that serious injury, his mana still far surpassed that of his peers. Thus, Luo Chen planned to wait until Li Yingzhang reached the middle stage of Golden Core before letting him learn this secret art. Of course, unlike Han Zhan, he wouldn’t plant any backdoor trick; he had no intention of taking over Li Yingzhang’s body.

But that was Luo Chen’s thoughts getting sidetracked. The point was that, having refined the Nine Separation Pill for Nine Spirits, his long-dormant ambition to create a second Nascent Soul was once again reignited. If he could separate a Spirit Nascent Soul like Nine Spirits, and then combine it with a subsidiary soul created with Soul Split, wouldn’t the product be remarkably similar to a true second Nascent Soul?

In all fairness, Luo Chen thought the answer would be a resounding ”yes,” but ultimately, this was merely a notion that had occurred to him on a whim. He had neither the foundation nor the cultivation technique or secret art to carry it out, and he didn’t even have his own Nine Separation Pill.

Moreover, the multitude of challenges involved were beyond his current ability to resolve. For instance, how could he cultivate mana growths like those on Nine Spirits’ Nascent Soul? And then, when separating the growths, could he avoid harming his Nascent Soul by relying solely on pills?

The former question posed the threshold, but the latter was a challenge that could potentially wipe out his over two hundred years of cultivation... No, with the fifty years he had spent in the Mirage Dragon Pocket World, that would be nearly three hundred years of hard work. If Luo Chen handled even one detail poorly, everything he had built could be wiped in an instant!

I’ll just research this bit by bit. If there’s a chance, maybe I can try to pry out some basics from Nine Spirits and figure out a method of my own.

In the end, Luo Chen couldn’t suppress the greed in his heart. The prospect of a second Nascent Soul, or maybe even a third, a fourth... was simply too alluring. If he succeeded, the benefits wouldn’t merely be an increase in mana and the ability to master a single technique like it was for Nine Spirits; Luo Chen, after all, had the status panel! With its proficiency function, having multiple Nascent Souls meant he could master multiple things at once! What a terrifyingly bright future that would be! How could he not be tempted by it?

***

Entering a secluded cave residence, Meng Qin’er announced, ”Dear, I’m back.”

”Welcome back, Qin’er. Did you find out what happened to Little Jiu?”

”Yes. He didn’t go missing, actually. He’s been studying talisman-making under the Supreme Elder all along.”

Qu Lingjun revealed a surprised look. ”Master is also proficient in talisman-making?”

Meng Qin’er said with admiration, ”I didn’t quite believe it at first either, but then I saw a batch of exceptional second-tier talismans at Sect Leader Li’s place. I think they’re even better quality than some of the premium talismans the Divine Talisman Sect sends to auctions.”

Qu Lingjun blinked as he processed the news, then let out a chuckle. As expected of my master. He really can do anything; nothing is beyond him!

Meanwhile, Meng Qin’er was exasperated by his casual reaction. ”How can you still laugh in this situation?”

Qu Lingjun flashed her a smile. ”Why can’t I? My master treats both me and my son so well. I’m happy from the bottom of my heart!”

”He treats you well?” Meng Qin’er frowned and looked around. ”By ’treating you well’ do you mean sending you to the outskirts instead of letting you manage the Alchemy Institute?”

Qu Lingjun shook his head and replied calmly, ”I used to think the same, but after spending this past year in seclusion, I’ve gradually come to understand. On the outside, it might look like Master is neglecting me, but he’s actually giving me a chance.”

”A chance?”

”Yes. What do you think I would do if I were in charge of the Alchemy Institute, if I were to wield power when the Luo Tian Sect is in a state of recovery and reconstruction?”

Meng Qin’er replied without even thinking, ”Naturally, you’d refine as many pills as possible, mentor the juniors, recover the reputation you’ve lost, and then establish your authority among your peers, earning everyone’s admiration and respect.”

Qu Lingjun smiled faintly. ”I sure would. And what about a hundred years... no, forty years from now?”

Meng Qin’er was rendered speechless. She understood exactly what he was implying. If Qu Lingjun had gotten into a position of power, he would have been doing exactly as she had stated. And then, forty years later, when his time was up, all that glory and anything else he would have accomplished would be reduced to a pile of ashes with him.

In this reality, however, even though he still shouldered the misunderstanding of some and was banished to a remote location, he was in an environment where he could set aside all worldly matters and fully devote himself to cultivating in peace!

It dawned on Meng Qin’er that her husband’s master had truly gone to great lengths for his sake. But still...

She looked around with obvious dissatisfaction. ”The venerable Master means well, but the spirit energy concentration in this cave residence is only second-tier middle-grade. You already can’t progress very fast with your four spirit roots, let alone in this environment. I fear it will be difficult for you to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment and break through by the time your lifespan is up.”

Faced with this, Qu Lingjun could only sigh.

This was all the Luo Tian Sect could offer at the moment. Not to mention him, even the Adepts had to take turns using the third-tier cave residences. A second-tier middle-grade one was already more than what a fifth-stage Initiate like him deserved. He had only gotten this residence because Li Yingzhang had given him special treatment out of respect for his master.

Besides, his master hadn’t simply abandoned him and left him to fend for himself. The storage pouch Li Yingzhang had given him on behalf of his master was filled with second-tier top-grade pills, and all of them were for cultivation. Not only that, but it also included a copy of Clear Origin Mystical Pill annotated with Luo Chen’s insights. The intention behind every item was self-evident!

Suffice to say, given the limited circumstances, his master had provided him with the best support he could possibly give.

Well aware of all that, Qu Lingjun said, ”I have no complaints at all. I’m just so sorry that you have to endure these rough conditions with me, Qin’er.”

He reached out and gently caressed the woman’s soft cheek, his face filled with rue. She had refused to divorce him and even given up her luxurious life at Windflower Palace to accompany him through the final decades of his life. Before that, she had even been ready to fight in the Ten Decisive Duels on behalf of the Luo Tian Sect. Her genuine love and devotion had completely erased whatever rifts there had been between them.

Meng Qin’er rarely saw Qu Lingjun act so tenderly. With reddened cheeks, she said, ”You should get to cultivating. I need to do my evening training routine as well.”

”Mm.” Qu Lingjun agreed. With a smile, he went to the meditation room.

After no more than the time it took to savor a cup of tea, however, he emerged with astonishment on his face.

”Qin’er, something’s strange in there, but I’m not sure I’m feeling what I’m feeling. Can you double check it for me?”

”What’s wrong?”

A puzzled Meng Qin’er followed him to the cultivation room.

”Huh?” The moment she entered, she instantly sensed something unusual. ”The concentration of spirit energy here... How come it’s so much higher than before?”

Qu Lingjun nodded excitedly. ”Just as I thought. The spirit energy concentration has risen compared to yesterday. I can feel it’s still on the rise too; it’s at a very slow rate, but it really is still rising!”

Meng Qin’er grabbed his hands in delight. ”If this place ends up reaching the top grade, your chances will be so much greater!”

Qu Lingjun swallowed as he instinctively turned toward the direction where Luo Chen resided. ”Is this Master’s doing?”

***

As time passed, the other cultivators of the Luo Tian Sect also began to notice the peculiar changes of Hundred-Li Green River.

The concentration of spirit energy increased by the day, and the herbs planted all over the territory were maturing increasingly faster. The members were startled to discover new second-tier spirit energy springs forming in remote corners. Several second-tier top-grade cave residences inhabited by late-stage Initiates suddenly welcomed a massive surge in spirit energy concentration and jumped to the third tier, and the residents were forced to evacuate lest they sustain harm during cultivation sessions.

All the unusual occurrences were reported to the sect leader, who was so astonished himself that he immediately went to seek an answer from Luo Chen. However, Li Yingzhang was merely told to deal with this as he saw fit and reallocate the cave residences reasonably. This response allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief; the supreme elder’s calm stance undoubtedly confirmed that those changes were his handiwork.

With renewed reverence for Luo Chen’s abilities, Li Yingzhang immediately went to do as he was told and even got creative with it. Selecting several top-grade second-tier cave residences, he asked Min Longyu to lay spirit-gathering formations in them in an attempt to push them to an even higher tier.

No one in the outside world was aware of these changes. Even Primal Sovereign Nine Spirits, who had hurried over in response to the notice he got from Luo Chen, detected nothing amiss as he set foot in Hundred-Li Green River once more. At the end of the day, a small change in a mere third-tier spirit vein was insignificant to a Sage.

When Nine Spirits arrived at Luo Chen’s residence, it was evening when the moonlight was so clear that it almost felt cold. In the height of summer, some first-tier Coppercoin Grass had ripened early and was now glowing golden under the moonlight.

The moment he saw Luo Chen, as composed as his character usually was, Nine Spirits revealed a sense of urgency and impatience. ”Did you succeed?”

Luo Chen first returned the brass figurine with the formula on it to Nine Spirits, then nodded confidently. ”Why else would I have called you over?”

Nine Spirits finally heaved a sigh of relief.

Before he had found Luo Chen, he had sought out several fourth-tier Alchemists to commission this pill, but all of them had failed. The ingredients he had provided Luo Chen were the very last couple of sets, and he had only been able to put them together by draining the resources of the Nine Spirits Sect. There was absolutely no way he could gather all the necessary ingredients again in the near future.

Seeing the look of relief on his face, Luo Chen suddenly asked, ”Before I give you the pills, I need you to answer something first. Do you know the contraindications for taking this pill?”

Nine Spirits’s expression stilled in surprise. He didn’t quite understand why Luo Chen would ask that.

His interlocutor explained, ”The Nine Separation Pill is unlike any other pill I’ve ever refined. Its potency is extremely aggressive; it nearly injured the young apprentice assisting me during the refinement. To administer such a domineering pill to a Sage... Well, you should understand the consequences.”

Ohh, so he is just looking out for me! Nine Spirits smiled. ”Our founding ancestors left us their experiences for taking this pill. The texts say that when the pill is ingested, the spirit embryos will rapidly grow for a short time. I can seize this window, to separate them and then cultivate them into separate Spirit Nascent Souls.”

The confidence in his words was very obvious.

Trying to sound offhanded, Luo Chen asked, ”So those growths are called spirit embryos? It’s such a miraculous creation! How did you manage to grow something like that?”

The smile on Nine Spirits’ face faded as he coldly stared at Luo Chen. ”Fellow Daoist, you’re overstepping.”

At once, the air around them turned icy.

Luo Chen laughed it off. ”Haha, sorry about that. I was just looking out for you; please don’t take it as an offense.”

He inwardly sighed. This Nine Spirits sure can’t be trifled with! And here I was, hoping to pry some basic info from him.

Prior to this, Luo Chen had spent over a month studying the Nine Separation Pill and the brass figurine, only to uncover absolutely nothing. Now, judging from how vigilant Nine Spirits was, he knew he and the information he wanted weren’t meant to be.

Luo Chen didn’t want to ruin the reputation he’d painstakingly built, so he stopped the discussion there and took out nine jade bottles from his storage ring. Each bottle contained a single Nine Separation Pill; these pills had such a domineering nature that they had to be stored separately or they’d interfere with one another.

Upon seeing the nine bottles, Nine Spirits’s eyes instantly lit up. But just as he was reaching out his hand, Luo Chen suddenly withdrew the bottles.

”Fellow Daoist, what—!”

”You brought people with you?”

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes. He took a single stride forward, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared on the summit of Verdant Mountain, where he then looked down.

At some point unbeknownst to him, a figure shrouded in black had appeared next to the Blackwater River, standing there in silence. They were extremely gaunt, with frail shoulders that looked barely able to support the oversized black robe. Whenever the night breeze swept across the riverbank, the sleeves would be blown back, revealing withered arms as thin as chicken claws.

Yet this gaunt, unassuming presence, as they quietly gazed up at Luo Chen, seemed to be looking down on him. Luo Chen was clearly standing above them, yet he felt a sense of insignificance at this moment.

The instant their eyes met, Luo Chen distinctly detected a flicker of greed. Such greed was no less intense than his own greed for a second Nascent Soul—perhaps even deeper, as if it was oozing from the very depths of the black-clad figure’s soul.

It was like a hunter was staring at prey, and Luo Chen was that prey.

A hoarse voice, as though the throat producing it had been scorched by red-hot charcoal, rang out. ”Are you Dan Chenzi?”

Meanwhile, Luo Chen suppressed the unease in his heart and quickly figured out the figure’s identity. In the vast Eastern Wilderness, someone who could exert such pressure on him, who possessed such cultivation, and would have business with him right now... In but a fraction of a second, a name sprang to mind.

”Divine Origin!”

”You know me?”

The figure remained shrouded in his black robe, but a note of surprise escaped his lips.

Luo Chen shrugged, maintaining a perfectly calm appearance. ”Who in the Eastern Wilderness doesn’t know the illustrious Sage Divine Origin? But I have no recollection of ever inviting you here, and someone who comes unannounced at this hour is certainly not a welcome guest.”

Divine Origin looked down, seemingly lost in thought. Then suddenly, he raised his head slightly. ”But you will invite me in. Won’t that make me a welcome guest?”

Luo Chen’s heart leapt up. Don’t tell me this old bastard is really so audacious? He seriously wants to attack me openly on my turf?

Just then, the normally calm spirit energy on Verdant Mountain began to grow restless. An uncontrollable, malevolent aura began to stir from the earth’s veins. But that wasn’t all; another boundless aura surged skyward, startling the hundreds of cultivators of the Luo Tian Sect.

In the presence of these two auras, Luo Chen’s heart settled slightly. He himself launched his Nascent Soul Domain, controlling it to spread slowly as he fixed a cold stare on Divine Origin.

His lips parted, and he breathed out ever so softly. ”Come in.”