An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The Fu family gave no response to Luo Tian Society’s accusations. Their display of defiance made many rogue cultivators look at them with newfound respect.

Now, it was the Luo Tian Society that had been put on the spot.

"Didn’t you say they had a deadline to return the items?"

"Didn’t you say ‘do not say you were not warned’?"

"Now that they’ve ignored you, are you really going to do nothing?"

It wasn’t just the rogue cultivators watching the spectacle—many other factions, large and small, were paying close attention as well. Meanwhile, Luo Tian Society’s president, Dan Chenzi, stood calmly outside a pavilion in the Sword Pavilion.

Outer disciples of the Jade Cauldron Sect who passed by occasionally glanced at him with puzzled expressions.

He had been standing there all morning. Was Steward Miao Wen too busy to see him? Or was he punishing him?

After a long while, a cold snort echoed from within the pavilion. "Only this once. Do not repeat it!

"From now on, focus on alchemy. Stop stirring up trouble."

Luo Chen smiled slightly, replied with a simple "Understood," and then turned to leave the Sword Pavilion.

As he stepped out, he let out a deep breath.

The Fu family was never the real problem. The real key lay with Miao Wen.

Luo Chen had his reasons. With Poshan Gang gone, their alchemy sales channels had nearly collapsed, and they couldn’t openly use Miao Wen’s name.

Even if they refined Jade Essence pills, selling them wouldn’t be easy. So, they needed to establish their prestige—they needed to make Luo Tian Society impossible to ignore.

It was a valid reason. But it wasn’t entirely convincing.

However, when Luo Chen presented the vast number of Jade Essence pills he had refined over the past month—including those previously made for Mi Shuhua—Miao Wen ultimately permitted his ‘reckless antics.’

"Nothing moves the heart like profit!" Luo Chen chuckled softly and left the inner city with ease.

Once there was a first time, there would inevitably be countless more. As his ties with Miao Wen deepened through mutual interest, his importance would only continue to grow. And when the Luo Tian Society had grown strong enough, even Miao Wen would no longer be able to ignore his voice.

All Luo Chen needed to do was repeat Mi Shuhua’s approach. He had to elevate himself to a relatively equal standing with Miao Wen. Then, he would seek Foundation Establishment and take complete control of his own fate.

So, this battle must be won! And it must be a decisive victory! His resolve burned within him, unshakable.

While the Fu family continued to bury their heads in the sand [1], Luo Tian Society’s Battle Hall—their newly forged war machine—began roaring into motion.

A small force was assigned to monitor the other four major families; the entire Battle Hall was led by Wang Yuan to marched toward the Fu family fortress at noon on the ninth day of the ninth month, in the year of three thousand four hundred and eight of the Mountain and Sea Calendar.

The two great elders, Duan Feng and Sima Xian, took the frontlines, each commanding ten mid-to-late-stage Qi-Refining experts. Additionally, Luo Chen deployed Merit Hall’s steward, Sima Wenjie, and Gold Hall’s elder, Zeng Wen, forming a lineup of five ninth stage Qi-Refining experts.

Moreover, Qin Liangchen, who had been recuperating for a month, made his first appearance by Luo Chen’s side alongside Wang Yuan.

Such an open display naturally drew the attention of countless rogue cultivators in Dahe Market.

As Luo Tian Society’s Battle Hall marched toward the Fu family fortress, many rogue cultivators followed from a distance, gliding across the horizon on spirit light. From a high vantage point, the scene resembled a tidal wave of cultivators forming an advancing army.

When Luo Chen finally approached the massive fortress at a leisurely pace, the Fu family’s cultivators were already in full battle formation.

"Dan Chenzi!"

A thunderous shout echoed through the sky.

Fu Zhang, wielding a massive golden war hammer, soared from the watchtower of the fortress. His sharp, blazing eyes burned with fury as they fixed upon the young man leading the so-called cultivator army.

"Patriarch Fu, I trust you have been well!" Luo Chen lightly flicked his jade fan and cupped his hands in greeting.

Staring at Luo Chen, Fu Zhang struggled to contain the raging fire within him.

He knew very well that Luo Tian Society’s forces weren’t actually that numerous. The thousands gathered outside the fortress were mostly there to spectate.

However, ‘spectators’ often became opportunists when things went awry.

If the Fu family showed even the slightest weakness, opportunists might act on their greed, and they would find themselves in a situation where everyone would be eager to push a crumbling wall.

It was only at this moment that he vaguely realized—the rumors of the blood talisman might not have come from the Chen family or the Divine Talisman Pavilion at all. Instead, they might have been entirely orchestrated by the absurdly young man standing before him.

Today, if the Fu family could avoid a battle, they would.

Taking a deep breath, he softened his tone and said, "We all seek the Dao in Dahe Market—must we resort to such grand conflicts?"

"Oh?" Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you become a pacifist?"

Hearing the mocking tone, Fu Zhang gritted his teeth and held back his rage.

"Being kind to others is being kind to oneself.

"What you seek is merely Sikong Shoujia’s belongings. I will return them to you!"

As he spoke, a tortoise shell and a broken longsword floated out toward Luo Chen.

As he controlled the spirit force guiding the relics, Fu Zhang kept his gaze locked onto Luo Chen.

"Take these relics and leave. Another day, I will host you at the Zhongding Restaurant."

However, Luo Chen didn’t even spare a glance at the two artifact scraps.

Instead, he simply raised three fingers. "Fine. Hand over three of your Fu family blood talismans as an apology, and I will leave the way I came."

At these words, the vast crowd of cultivators fell into absolute silence. Everyone held their breath, their gazes burning as they fixed on Fu Zhang.

At that moment, Fu Zhang felt his scalp tingle and his entire body turned cold.

"My Fu Family has no blood talismans, nor do we craft them!"

"It seems your sincerity is lacking."

"Luo Chen!"

Boom! Boom!

In midair, the tortoise shell and the broken sword shattered into powder under a sudden surge of spirit power.

Fu Zhang panted heavily, staring at the man standing at the forefront, guarded like a celestial sovereign by the surrounding cultivators.

"Must you truly drive us to annihilation?"

Swish!

The jade fan snapped shut in an instant.

Luo Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ever since we last met in Crescent Moon Valley, I have thought of you day and night, unable to forget your noble and heroic figure!

"So today, I have come.

"If I must exterminate you, then know that you brought this upon yourself."

Fu Zhang took a step back, laughing loudly.

"Haha! In that case, come at me! I’d like to see if you can truly break through my Fu family's fortress!"

As he retreated into the towering watchtower—

In the very next moment—

The fortress, stretching hundreds of meters, suddenly erupted with radiant light.

A grand formation took shape in an instant.

Not only that, the very walls of the fortress were infused with power—one out of every hundred bricks glowed with the radiance of a talisman. A closer look revealed that each of them was a first-tier Earth Guardian talisman.

Using the fortress as its foundation, theI Ironclad Bastion Formation surged to life, seamlessly merging with thousands upon thousands of Earth Guardian talismans, forming an impenetrable defense.

At this moment, the Fu Family Fortress seemed like an impregnable stronghold, striking fear into the hearts of all who beheld it.

Seeing this spectacle, the countless rogue cultivators who had been eager to move suddenly drew in sharp breaths.

So this was the foundation of a former Foundation Establishment family?

Even with their Foundation Establishment Grand Elder long gone, they still possessed such formidable defenses. No wonder they were once counted among the Five Great Foundation Establishment Families alongside the Duan, Li, and Nangong Families!

With such defensive strength, unless a Foundation Establishment cultivator intervened, who could possibly break through?

For a moment, all eyes turned to the cultivators of Luo Tian Society, then fixed upon their leader, President Dan Chenzi.

Yet, under the crushing weight of those countless gazes, Luo Chen's expression remained utterly calm.

He merely turned slightly and cast a glance at Wang Yuan.

Wang Yuan smiled faintly before stepping forward. In the next instant, he had already closed the distance, standing just a hundred meters from the fortress.

Fu Zhang watched this scene unfold and sneered coldly.

The Fu Family’s Ironclad Bastion Formation—how could a mere rogue Qi-Refining cultivator possibly break it?

Even if a Foundation Establishment cultivator personally arrived, he was confident they could withstand the assault for a time.

"Wang Yuan, was it? Just another overhyped nobody!"

Even as he sneered, Wang Yuan slowly raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. He drew back, his body coiling like a bow, his immense blood energy concealed yet fully concentrated within that single strike.

Finally, under the gaze of thousands, he threw his punch.

All his gathered strength erupted at once with this single, devastating blow.

Boom!!!

A deafening explosion rang out, as if a silver bottle had shattered with overwhelming force.

Amid that thunderous roar, the fortress that had seemed utterly unbreakable just a moment before was struck at a single point—and shattered, leaving a ten-meter-wide hole in its walls.

Along with it, the Ironclad Bastion Formation let out a mournful wail as its glow flickered and vanished.

On the watchtower, the sneering Fu Zhang stood frozen, as stiff as a wooden statue.

In his mind, only one thought echoed, Impossible!

Yet, no one could hear his inner cry.

Below the city tower, Wang Yuan straightened his posture, hands clasped behind his back.

He glanced up at Fu Zhang and slowly shook his head. At that very moment, a thunderous roar shattered the silence, echoing through the sky.

"Kill!"

1. 装鸵鸟 (zhuang tuo niao), this phrase is derived from the myth that ostriches bury their heads in the sand to avoid danger. It is used to describe someone who deliberately ignores problems or refuses to face reality, hoping issues will resolve themselves. ☜