An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

In the past, these figures had seemed as distant as stars, powerful existences Luo Chen could only hear about from afar. The thought of meeting them face-to-face stirred a faint excitement within him while also leaving him with a trace of caution.

However, he quickly calmed himself. The fact that he had been accepted to this gathering meant he now stood on the same level as everyone inside. There was no longer any reason to look up to them. He had fought Sages before, and one had even died by his hand, so there was even less reason to be overly low-key.

By the time Resonant Jade finished his introductions, they had reached the end of the greenstone path where a broad plaza paved with red jade stretched before them. Rain fell across the crimson surface and darkened it until it looked like dried blood. From different directions, streaks of light cut through the rain and disappeared into the palace ahead—the Origin Convergence Palace!

It was said that Blood Nightmare had once used this palace to house the remnants of the devil sect who had sought refuge under him. No one had expected Blood Nightmare to personally refine those people into Blood God Clones. With that history hanging over the place, the rain-soaked plaza seemed even more ominous.

Resonant Jade gestured toward the palace. "Everyone should be here by now. Let's go inside."

He had taken only a step when he realized Luo Chen had not followed. Instead, he stood motionless and gazed into the rain above the plaza.

Resonant Jade followed his line of sight and saw two figures suspended in the air. His expression immediately changed when he recognized them. "That's... Heaven Splitter! Why's he together with Old Ghost Nan Qi?"

At that moment, Heaven Splitter stepped forward and looked down at them. He fixed his gaze particularly on Luo Chen with disdain. "It seems any nameless nobody can call himself a Sage these days and expect a seat among us."

Resonant Jade frowned. "Heaven Splitter, that's rude. Wilderness Hermit is my friend, and Sage Four Seas approved his attendance."

"Four Seas?" Heaven Splitter sneered. "This isn't the Four Seas Trade Alliance. He doesn't get to decide who belongs here... What now? Are you going to stand up for him?"

"You—"

Resonant Jade's expression darkened, and he raised one hand, but Luo Chen calmly reached over and lowered his arm before he could act.

Luo Chen had never crossed paths with Heaven Splitter, yet the man had singled him out from the moment they met. He stepped forward and met Heaven Splitter's stare without flinching. "What exactly do you want?"

Heaven Splitter curled his lips into a cold smile. "I've heard of Blood Hermit, Moon Hermit, and Mad Hermit. But Wilderness Hermit? Never. What makes you think you're worthy of being mentioned alongside them?"

Luo Chen met the insult with a faint smile. "Would you like me to show you?"

"Certainly."

Before the last words had fully faded, the rain between them slowed and then hung motionless in the air. A sharp aura spread from Heaven Splitter and swept across the plaza, carrying a pressure that felt capable of slicing through anything in its path.

Luo Chen met it with a faint smile. His white robes stirred in the rising wind as a domineering aura rose from him like a blazing inferno.

When the two auras collided, Resonant Jade was forced back several steps, and unease crept into his expression. The disturbance also caught the attention of the Sages inside the Origin Convergence Palace, and they all extended their divine consciousness to observe what was happening. When they saw that Heaven Splitter was the one starting a fight, most reacted with irritation rather than surprise.

Even among Sages, few were as arrogant and unruly as he was. It was easy to understand why he had once been so close to Blood Nightmare. Even so, venting out his pent-up frustration on a newly advanced rogue Sage felt a bit excessive.

One of the watching Sages shook his head. "That guy is in for trouble."

"He brought it upon himself. Heaven Splitter's been furious ever since Blood Hermit started hunting Blood Nightmare. Then this stranger shows up calling himself Wilderness Hermit. No wonder he picked a fight."

"Out of all the titles, seriously... Did he really think no one would compare him to the three great hermits?" Another Sage sighed. "I met Moon Hermit many years ago. Even then, she was terrifying. Now she's reached the late stage and she's only one step away from Divine Transformation..."

Inside the palace, most of the gathered Sages had already dismissed Luo Chen as no match for the Heaven Splitter.

Sage Four Seas, one of the gathering's organizers, could no longer contain his anger. He turned to the gaunt, red-haired man seated across from him. "Netherfire, isn't your man going too far?"

Netherfire barely lifted his eyelids. "Heaven Splitter, this is a peace conference. Don't start a fight and ruin the gathering for everyone."

Although his voice remained calm, it rolled through the place like thunder. The warning sounded stern, but everyone understood exactly where he had drawn the line. Heaven Splitter was free to pressure Luo Chen and test his strength as long as the confrontation did not erupt into an actual fight. If Luo Chen could not withstand even that much, he would lose all standing before the gathered Sages and might be too humiliated to enter the hall afterward.

Netherfire knew exactly what Heaven Splitter was trying to accomplish, as did Old Ghost Nan Qi. Over the past century, Heaven Splitter had made enemies throughout both factions, while his friendship with Blood Nightmare had left him increasingly isolated even within Devil's Snare. Several of the proposed ceasefire terms also required him to surrender resources and pay compensation. If he entered the negotiations appearing weak, the other factions would only press him harder.

He therefore needed to remind everyone of his strength before the talks began, and the newly advanced Wilderness Hermit made an ideal target. Luo Chen had neither an established reputation nor a powerful faction behind him, with no obvious ally apart from Resonant Jade. By making an example of him, Heaven Splitter could establish his authority without provoking any major force.

Meanwhile, Old Ghost Nan Qi had no reason to interfere. He still needed Heaven Splitter's help to obtain a certain item, so allowing him to establish his authority served both their interests. If anyone criticized Heaven Splitter afterward, he could always offer a few words in his defense.

And even that was not the whole truth. As Heaven Splitter pressed his Nascent Soul Domain across the plaza, the vague sense of familiarity he had felt upon seeing Luo Chen grew stronger. The ridiculous title and the need to establish his authority were merely convenient excuses. Something about Luo Chen had unsettled him from the moment their eyes met.

I've seen you somewhere before. I'm sure of it. If you're so determined to hide behind a stupid title, then I'll force you to show me who you really are.

Once he resolved to expose Luo Chen, he abandoned all restraint. Deep within his Purple Mansion, his Nascent Soul opened its eyes, and mana erupted from him in a violent rush. The ambient wind-attribute spirit energy answered his call and converged over the plaza until it formed a Domain that crashed down upon Luo Chen from every direction.

He had no doubt that the contest was already decided. Luo Chen had only recently advanced to the first stage, and no newly advanced Sage would be able to withstand the Domain of a third-stage Sage. If he hoped to enter the gathering without being humiliated, he would be forced to reveal some hidden technique and, with it, a clue to his real identity.

The next instant, however, Heaven Splitter's eyes widened in shock. Crimson light spread around Luo Chen and divided the ambient spirit energy into two opposing Domains. At first, Heaven Splitter's azure Domain held the advantage, but the crimson Domain soon began pushing it back. Wherever the two forces met, Luo Chen's blazing power consumed the wind-attribute spirit energy faster than Heaven Splitter could replenish it. No matter how much mana he poured into his Domain, he could not stop it from shrinking.

As his control slipped, the rain suspended above the plaza began to fall again. The droplets entered Luo Chen's Domain and instantly boiled into rolling clouds of steam that surged toward Heaven Splitter.

"You dare?!" Heaven Splitter swept his sleeve to disperse the oncoming steam. His restraint gave way to rising anger, and a flying sword slipped into his hand.

Before he could strike, however, Netherfire's voice rolled out from the palace. "Heaven Splitter."

The warning brought him back to his senses. After drawing a slow breath, Heaven Splitter reluctantly put away his sword.

Luo Chen remained on the red plaza with a faint smile. The crimson light of the Infinite Blaze Prison flickered around him before fading away. "Much obliged."

"Hmph!" Heaven Splitter's face darkened. "Wilderness Hermit, is it? I will remember you."

He cast Luo Chen one last vicious look before turning and striding into the side hall. Old Ghost Nan Qi followed, though he paused at the entrance to study Luo Chen with undisguised astonishment before going inside.

The Sages gathered within the hall were equally stunned. None of them had expected Heaven Splitter, a third-stage Sage, to lose a direct clash of Domains against someone who had only recently entered the first stage.

For a moment, silence settled over the hall until someone finally sighed. "It seems the Northern Sea no longer has Three Great Hermits. From this day onward, it has four."

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