Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

This shows just how serious things are.

You have to understand, the number of spirit arrays in Platinum Immortal City is immense—if all were activated, the spirit stones burned every moment would reach astronomical levels.

Summoned by the Gu Family and Supreme Profound Sect, Wu Yun dared not delay. After leaving a message for Lu Chang’sheng with the Sound Transmission Shell, he headed out at once.

It involved second-grade pills, a crucial step to becoming a second-grade alchemist—he couldn’t just barge in, lest he disturb Lu Chang’sheng’s heart and mind.

If that happened, even if they weren’t enemies, they’d become as good as rivals.

"Nephew, could I trouble you to keep an eye here? If Fellow Daoist Lu comes out, you must immediately explain the situation to him, so nothing important is missed."

He said this to Lu Ziyou before leaving.

Lu Ziyou would certainly do so, but he still had to show his intentions, lest something went wrong and Lu Chang’sheng became displeased.

"This is an important place in the trading house. How could we possibly let you loiter here?" Unexpectedly, Zhao Shen’s face turned sour.

Wu Yun’s footsteps faltered as he watched Zhao Shen’s ever-changing expression.

Lu Ziyou, standing to the side, felt a headache coming on—his father never told him relations with management here were this poor.

"Steward Zhao, could you please make an exception? Once this matter is over, the Lu Mansion will certainly pay you a visit in person to apologize—"

"No need!" Wu Yun’s voice was tinged with cold, making Zhao Shen even more annoyed inside.

"I still call the shots here. If Steward Zhao feels otherwise, I’ll just leave after this."

Zhao Shen’s face twisted several times, then he forced a smile and said, "Just kidding, just kidding."

He had come here to idle away his days, but it’d be hard to report back if his profits took too much of a hit.

The Glazed Glass Trading House in Platinum Immortal City only had two top alchemists. Lu Chang’sheng didn’t get along with him, and if he pushed Wu Yun away too, their pill business would basically collapse.

"Thank you, Alchemist Wu." Zhao Shen left dejected, and Lu Ziyou immediately bowed in thanks.

"You’re too polite, nephew. Fellow Daoist Lu and I hit it off right away—how could I ignore an issue like this?" Wu Yun’s kindly expression made Lu Ziyou break out in goosebumps.

He couldn’t figure out why Alchemist Wu was acting this way.

Could it be he harbored ill intent toward him?

······

Inside the alchemy room, Lu Chang’sheng had fallen into a rather peculiar state. Nearly two days had passed, and another four sets of True Essence Pill ingredients had gone to waste over various mishaps in the process.

But he wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he kept summarizing his experiences to avoid making the same mistakes again.

Besides, even if all these failed, it didn’t matter. He already met the hard requirements for refining second-grade pills.

If it didn’t work out this time, as he became more adept with the True Essence Pill formula, success was only a matter of time.

Alchemy also deepened his understanding of pill formulas and improved his proficiency.

It was precisely because of this steady mindset that he unknowingly entered such a state.

In this state, he felt his comprehension of the pill formula soared at breakneck speed, and in refining, he had astonishing clarity and insight.

After a good while, when he withdrew the pill fire and an unusual fragrance wafted from inside the pill furnace, he snapped out of the state all of a sudden.

His eyes filled with both delight and regret.

What pleased him was that the pills had formed.

Where there’s pill fragrance, as long as he didn’t make some huge mistake in the next step, the pills would definitely be completed.

What he regretted was departing from that special state.

Looking back, he still felt reluctant to let go; in that state, alchemy truly flowed effortlessly, as if every inch of his body was working in harmony.

"As I thought—this state is another variable in gaining experience!"

Lu Chang’sheng glanced at his Light Curtain Panel—time required to reach Minor Achievement with the True Essence Pill formula had been cut in half compared to before.

That was a massive leap in progress.

"So, if I could enter that state for alchemy every day, achieving Minor Achievement with the True Essence Pill formula would only take half as long as before."

The same went for other stages—each would be cut by varying degrees.

"Too bad this state can’t be summoned at will."

At least, Lu Chang’sheng currently had no idea how to enter it again.

"Second-grade, low quality; Pill formation—three!"

Opening the lid, seeing the round pills inside, all regret vanished from Lu Chang’sheng’s heart.

"Now, I’m finally a true second-grade alchemist in every sense!"

The measure for an alchemist was simple: you had to be able to refine a second-grade pill. It was a bit different from becoming a first-grade alchemist.

"Next step—is to consider my path ahead!"

Becoming a second-grade alchemist didn’t mean a sudden surge in income.

In fact, aside from a dramatic boost in status, his alchemy earnings wouldn’t grow by much.

Because the True Essence Pill is only at the entry level and has a very low success rate—for example, this time, so many batches but only one successful cauldron.

One cauldron of three pills wasn’t even worth as much as the cost of a dozen-plus sets of ingredients.

And that was with good luck. Normally, out of ten batches you might not succeed even once.

"So, if I want alchemy to help me with Foundation Establishment, I can’t keep staying in backwater places like Platinum Immortal City."

Of course, if he made full use of his second-grade alchemist identity, he could definitely profit more.

But perhaps that wasn’t the best idea.

"After all, I’m just at the seventh stage of Qi Cultivation. With no backing, it’d be too easy for those with bad intentions to target me."

Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.

Like a child waving gold through the marketplace—just asking for trouble.

After cleaning up the traces of alchemy, Lu Chang’sheng prepared to go thank Wu Yun, only to find Lu Ziyou anxiously pacing outside.

Hearing the sound of the alchemy room doors opening, Lu Ziyou perked up, "Father, the Gu Family wants you to come over for a council meeting."

A council meeting?

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart sank—he quickly guessed what was up.

If it were just private business, they wouldn’t call it a council meeting—so it had to be public affairs.

Sure enough, Lu Ziyou continued, "A demon calamity has erupted at Purple Ice Lake. This time, it’s even worse than last."

According to Lu Ziyou, in the past two days, every cultivator above late Qi Cultivation in Platinum Immortal City was summoned to head to the Gu Family.

Even Li Nangua had gone over two days ago and hadn’t returned yet.

"With so many people, it shouldn’t be a big issue." Lu Chang’sheng said as he walked.

At that moment, he noticed a bunch of messages on his Sound Transmission Shell—all from fellow Daoists.

Patriarch Fang, Patriarch Huang, Wu Yun, Nangua, and others.

At first, they all asked where he was; later, they mentioned the council at the Gu Family.

Especially Wu Yun and Li Nangua—they sent lots of messages. In the end, they all said one thing:

Namely, ’Guardian Immortal City!’

"Is the situation really this grave already?" Lu Chang’sheng frowned.

In a hurry, the two of them reached the Gu Family in no time.

Right now, a crowd of cultivators stood outside the Gu Mansion, all from various families—Lu Chang’sheng even spotted several of the city’s Foundation Establishment clans.

But whether their Foundation Establishment patriarchs came—he had no idea.

Thinking of this, he shook his head inwardly.

Ever since Master Baiyun fell twenty years ago, those Foundation Establishment patriarchs had been keeping a low profile; in two decades, few knew their whereabouts.

Clearly, they feared Supreme Profound Sect and the Gu Family—as if, someday, they’d be wiped out too.

"Whoever’s in charge now is definitely a Foundation Establishment expert. I’m late as it is—better not force my way inside and draw attention."

Without knowing what was happening inside, Lu Chang’sheng thought it best not to just barge in and become the center of attention.

Thankfully, Nangua messaged, saying Gu Family would send someone to let him in through the back; he should wait there.

So, Lu Chang’sheng told Lu Ziyou to wait at the front, while he made for the back door. Soon, a female cultivator appeared.

"Alchemist Lu, please come with me."

The female cultivator led Lu Chang’sheng through the back into the Gu Mansion. As they walked, Lu Chang’sheng got the scoop on what was going on inside.

"The council’s being headed by an elder from Supreme Profound Sect. He’s supposed to be a difficult one—word is, tomorrow he’ll start calling roll. If you’re missing, there could be trouble." the woman whispered.