Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 173: You have a story, hey, I have wine! ”_3

“I have some wine!”

“Uh…”

Before they knew it, the two had reached Duan Feng’s room.

Luo Chen followed him in, only then noticing that the small room was very orderly.

Teacups on the table, clothes in the cupboard.

Some unique winter flora was placed in the sunny place by the window.

faintly, from the kitchen, the fragrance of food wafted.

Such a scene hardly seemed like the dwelling of a lonely man.

At least Luo Chen’s stone house is utterly simple.

Seeing Luo Chen sniffing, Duan Feng said somewhat unnaturally, “That’s the meal Sister Xia made for me before she left.”

“Oh…”

The drawn-out tone made Duan Feng’s face turn a rare hue of red.

He quickly rushed into the kitchen, serving a few small dishes.

Braised beef, stir-fried vegetables, and…

“Let’s skip the rice! We’re going to drink, brother.”

Duan Feng embarrassingly put the small wooden bucket of rice back in the iron pot, leaving it to heat in the steam.

By the time he returned, Luo Chen had already drawn out a yellowed gourd.

And poured him a cup of translucent yellow wine.

“This is Pineapple Wine from the Xiao Yue Family, isn’t it?”

“Mmm.”

Luo Chen nodded, a shadow of melancholy growing on his face.

With the Inner City turning into the Ghost City, Yuan Xiaoyue’s grandfather had disappeared without a trace.

Considering his already existing disability, he most likely has already become one of the spirits in the Great River.

The Pineapple Wine had then literally become less and less with each sip.

The previously warm ambiance in the room had turned somber with the melancholic silence.

Simultaneously, Duan Feng’s whispered his memories.

“My story, in reality, isn’t all that twisted.”

As he narrated, Luo Chen gradually came to learn about his experiences in the Duan Family.

In truth, Luo Chen had already known some parts of it through Duan Feng and Feng Xia.

Now he was just filling in the gaps with Duan Feng’s narration.

As one of the Great River District’s most ancient Immortal Cultivation Clans, the Duan Family’s development had been steady.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators had never been lacking, and in several hundred years, including the present Sect Ancestor Duan Qiankun, there were a total of three Foundation Establishment True Cultivators.

During this period, there had been thoughts of expanding the clan, but various factors always impeded its progress, trapping them within their territory.

Although there were no Second Order Spirit Lands in the Great River District, the dual natured Ice-Fire Spirit Spring that the Duan Family had occupied early on.

Under a unique secret technique, it could temporarily take the form of a Second Order Spirit Land.

Fulfilling the requirements for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s cultivation.

Unable to expand their influence in other places, one reason was also the unwillingness to give up this Spirit Spring.

As the local hegemon, the Duan Family still held significant status in the Great River District.

Hence, the clan’s cultivators were usually superior.

Even in marriages, they rarely allied with those outside, preferring internal marriages within the clan.

Duan Feng’s father had, at one point, had quite the reputation.

He had even joined the Luo Yun Sect, becoming one of their internal disciples.

Unfortunately, his later attempts at Foundation Establishment ended in failure, relegating him to the External Sect.

With a hopeless path, Duan Feng’s father worked for the Luo Yun Sect while supporting his own family.

Later, he married a remarkably talented woman from the clan, giving birth to Duan Feng.

“Unfortunately, my father later died in a conflict between the Duan family and another Immortal Cultivation Clan in the Liuguang District, leaving me and my mother to fend for ourselves.”

“Fend for yourselves?”

Luo Chen asked in surprise, “As far as I know, you also have other clan members from your lineage!”

“There were, but then a genius emerged from that lineage.”

“A genius?”

“Mmm, my cousin Duan Rui.”

At the mention of this name, a disagreeing expression clearly emerged on Duan Feng’s face.

Ah, this person!

Luo Chen suddenly came to the realization, he had heard about this person.

A Qi Refinement Finalization Cultivator!

Simply because he belonged to an Immortal Cultivation Clan, his name wasn’t usually placed alongside those of Han Dang, Fu Xiuxiu, and others.

After all, he wasn’t a Rogue Cultivator like the others.

“With the death of my father, our family’s connection with the Luo Yun Sect was severed.”

“As for me, I was particularly enthusiastic about forging Magic Tools at the time,” Duan Feng laughed bitterly, “After all, this is a skill passed down in our family.”

“Moreover, one of the conditions to inherit the position of Clan Chief is possessing superior skills in forging Magic Tools.”

“At that time, it seemed like I had made the right choice. Given enough time, I would have been able to restore my father’s name and even inherit the position of the Clan Chief.”

“However, I don’t know when, but the clan stopped valuing the art of forging Magic Tools as much, preferring to focus more on one’s cultivation level.” Through Duan Feng’s narration, Luo Chen came to understand why decision makers in his lineage gradually sidelined him.

Rather, they invested all their cultivation resources into his cousin, Duan Rui. Duan Rui had both Water and Fire Dual Spirit Roots!

Originally, just like Duan Feng’s father, he should have been sent off to a Great Sect.

But, because he possessed both Water and Fire Spirit Roots and the clan had an Ice-Fire Spirit Spring which was suitable for his cultivation,

the Duan family’s Ancestor found him a cultivation technique that allowed him to cultivate both Water and Fire.

Therefore, for both personal gain and the clan’s benefit, Duan Rui remained within the clan.

All the while diligently cultivating, eventually surpassing Duan Feng and reaching Qi Refinement Finalization early on.

“Perhaps, it’s also related to your Duan family Ancestor’s diminishing lifespan.” Luo Chen smacked his lips.

Duan Feng finished his cup of Pineapple Wine in a single gulp.

Thunk!

The cup landed on the table. Taking in a deep breath, he said: “Indeed!”

“But, I wasn’t aware of that back then!”

“That old dog’s reluctance to talk about his lifespan was widely known. Both I and my mother, being distant from the clan’s high ranks, were oblivious to the secrets within.”