An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The sun rose, and the moon drifted across the sky. The river of stars shifted through the heavens, and in what seemed like the blink of an eye, several months passed. After the Golden Sky Black Sea phenomenon above the Sunken Sea vanished, bits of gossip slowly began spreading among the cultivators near the surrounding seas.

In earlier years, the pocket world within the Sunken Sea had always been controlled by the devil sect, and outsiders had no say in the matter. Apart from a fortunate few, such as Li Canghai and other mighty figures of his level, almost no one had ever been able to explore it. This time, however, cultivators from many different forces had set foot inside. With so many people involved, the strange sights and shocking events of the expedition began spreading beyond anyone's control.

Some spoke of treasures scattered throughout the place, powerful exotic beasts, and terrifying sprites. Others spoke of how experts from Devil's Snare, the Penglai Immortal Sect, and the Myriad Immortal Society had all gathered there. Even the names of many spirit herbs long thought extinct began appearing in the mouths of these busybodies.

Among all these rumors, one claim spread faster than the rest and held more sway among the public: The Myriad Immortal Society had come out as the greatest winner of the Sunken Sea expedition.

Blood Hermit had gone on a killing spree, overpowering the three Sages of Devil's Snare's side and making his already ferocious reputation even more terrifying. Moon Hermit had obtained an ancient inheritance and gained a spirit treasure, while also revealing her profound cultivation as a late-stage Sage. Then there was a rising star—Devil Lord Azure Yang. As a mere Adept, he had defied every concept of power known to man by slaying Flying Cloud, a Sage of the Blue Sea Alliance! He had accomplished a level-crossing feat unprecedented in the history of not just the Northern Sea, but the entire cultivation world!

When these rumors first appeared, many gossipers found them utterly unbelievable and refused to accept them. Yet as more details surfaced, disbelief gradually gave way to bargaining with the truth, then to acceptance. Then, almost abruptly, the reasoning shifted: The Myriad Immortal Society was the force closest to the Sunken Sea. If anyone in the Northern Sea understood that place best and had made preparations earliest, it could only be them. Seen from that angle, their enormous harvest no longer seemed so unreasonable.

Because of this, more and more cultivators found their conversations revolving around the Holy Land of rogue cultivators. Yet alongside all the talk of their gains, there were also whispers about the price they had paid. Blood Hermit was indeed powerful, but it was said that he had lost many Blood God Clones during the fighting, causing his strength to decline severely. At present, he was supposedly at his weakest.

As for Moon Hermit, the spirit treasure she had obtained stood above even True Artifacts. It had given birth to an artifact spirit and could communicate with the primal qi of heaven and earth. With such a treasure in hand, she might very well dominate an entire realm. However, according to the rumors, she had obtained the treasure only recently and had not yet had time to make it truly hers. If someone seized this opportunity and snatched it away, what did it matter if she was a late-stage Sage? Given her limited time to stabilize her cultivation, her strength might not necessarily be much greater than that of other Sages.

With rumors spreading wildly, blending fragments of truth with exaggeration, the Society found them increasingly difficult to manage.

***

Somewhere in a lonely palace on a towering, crescent-shaped peak of the Myriad Immortal Society, Moon Hermit sat with a grave expression.

Purple Empress was reporting the latest developments, but before she could finish, Moon Hermit raised a hand and interrupted her. "No need to go on. Someone is stirring up the water on purpose, making it hard for anyone to see what's really going on."

Purple Empress was surprised. "Who?"

Moon Hermit reclined halfway against the soft couch, and a trace of distaste appeared on her face. "Who else? The details are too vivid. Whoever spread them must have seen the battle in the Heaven of Bright Illumination firsthand."

Witness the battle firsthand? Purple Empress looked utterly confused.

Moon Hermit snorted coldly as several names surfaced in her mind. Devil Lord Azure Yang, Blood Nightmare, and that rebellious younger sister of hers! Not a single one of them wanted the Society to enjoy peace, and the first one most of all!

"Did you find out what I asked you to check?"

Purple Empress's expression tightened, and she immediately replied, "Most of it, yes. Azure Yang still hasn't returned to Surging Lake. During his years in the Society, he was closest to Sovereign Thatched Mountain, Duan Li, Sang Jiugong of the Earth Mulberry Sect, the Angler, and the Zhang family of Lotus Picking Island.

"Sovereign Thatched Mountain is still away traveling, and Sang Jiugong died ten years ago. Duan Li and the Zhang family cultivators on Lotus Picking Island are already under our control. They are waiting for your interrogation, Sage. However, Zhang Jiadi's mistress is from the Zhou family of the Coral Sea, and she's been making a scene."

Moon Hermit waved a hand. "So what if she is? Ignore her. The Zhou family is nothing to fear; they would not dare offend me over a mere Initiate. Keep Duan Li under close watch. He may know where Azure Yang is hiding. And don't let anyone from the Earth Mulberry Sect escape. Since Azure Yang passed the Alchemy Realm trial and obtained its inheritance, he must be quite a skilled alchemist. The Earth Mulberry Sect specializes in spirit planting, so they may have ties to him."

Purple Empress nodded repeatedly, committing each order to memory. At the end, she hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully. "As for Netkeeper Mountain, ever since Blood Hermit returned, it has remained sealed off."

"Oh?" Moon Hermit raised an eyebrow. A moment later, she said, "It's fine; you can leave for now. Go handle everything I just told you."

After Purple Empress bowed and withdrew, Moon Hermit sat in silence for a while before rising gracefully and leaving the hall.

Before long, she appeared at the foot of Netkeeper Mountain. Looking at the mountain shrouded in red mist, she narrowed her eyes slightly. Fengling Jushi has gone mad. In the whole Society, only you and I are left. But there can only be one of us. The people outside are eyeing the scroll in my hands. Even if I am at a late stage, I can't feel at ease. If you are willing to submit to me...

With that thought in mind, she sent out a sound transmission talisman.

As time stretched on without any response, Moon Hermit's frown deepened. Spirit light gradually rose around her, and she stepped forcefully into the red mist.

After her figure disappeared within it, thunderous explosions rang out from time to time, shaking the entire Hidden Dragon Mountain Range. The powerful rogue cultivators dwelling there trembled in fear. Even those who felt curiosity stir in their hearts did not dare investigate. Instead, the same thought took root in all their minds: The two great hermits had started fighting.

What they did not know was that the cave residence on Netkeeper Mountain, a place they all dreaded, was now empty, save for Moon Hermit herself.

She looked around at the abandoned cave, and a mocking smile slowly curled her lips. "He ran rather quickly."

Though her smile was mocking, the respect she held for Blood Hermit in her heart did not lessen; if anything, she thought even more highly of him. Even after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, he had never lost the caution he had possessed back when his cultivation was low. When it was time to act ruthlessly, he was the unrestrained Blood Hermit who feared no one. When it was time to be cautious, he could still abandon everything without hesitation and return to the ways of a raiding cultivator from his younger days.

But his departure had left her in an extremely difficult position. The outside world did not know that Blood Hermit had already fled. If anyone truly set their sights on the Society, the forces they sent would likely be prepared to fight both her and Blood Hermit. Yet Blood Hermit, who had enemies everywhere, had already slipped away before anyone could notice.

"Pang Bujue, you've truly made things difficult for me...." she murmured, her expression darkening slightly.

At present, countless matters were pressing down on her all at once. She had to digest her gains from the Land of Fallen Devils; track down Luo Chen; guard against outsiders coveting the spirit treasure in her hands; manage the affairs of the Society; contact the Coral Sea, Endless Valley, and Sky Passage...

"Rogue cultivators truly have it hard. If I want to use the Society to rise in the Northern Sea and destroy the Penglai Immortal Sect, I still have a long road ahead. Fortunately, now that I have the scroll, I finally have the capital to contend with the greatest powers of the Northern Sea."

After murmuring those words to herself, she left Netkeeper Mountain. Wherever she passed, the rogue cultivators of the Society lowered their heads in respect.

***

Inside the guest cabin of a merchant ship bound for the Blue Sea Alliance's territory, Luo Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Han Zhan's voice sounded at once. "How is it?"

Luo Chen shook his head. His expression was complicated. There was surprise and joy in his eyes, but also a faint trace of disappointment. "Hard to say."

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