"There’s definitely something off about this Profound Turtle Alchemist’s cave abode."

Lu Chang’sheng recalled the Peach Embalming Child Skill his master once taught him; his mind ran with speculation, though he knew better than to talk about it with the Sect Leader and the others.

Still, a subtle warning wouldn’t hurt.

The next day, Lu Chang’sheng had originally planned to seek out Sect Leader Yan Yu, but before he could, Yan Yu sent word for him to come over.

Inside Yan Yu’s courtyard were not just himself, but also Huang Yun.

"Come, come, Fellow Daoist Lu, have a seat."

Rarely did Yan Yu seem at such ease, sipping spirit tea across from Huang Yun.

"The Sect Leader and Dean are quite in the mood for leisure today!" Lu Chang’sheng grinned as he took a seat nearby.

"If only I could help it, I’d rather not be like this either." Yan Yu shook his head with a bitter smile.

Still not willing to give it a rest, huh.

Lu Chang’sheng gave a faint, inward shake of the head.

Just last night, Yan Yu had put out the word that everyone who’d used the Guiding Array Plate to enter had already been knocked out and sent back.

Today, the number of peering eyes around the stronghold had thinned, so the two finally found time to sit and have tea.

Sure enough, the next moment, the two began inquiring carefully about the matters inside the Spirit Array. Lu Chang’sheng had prepared his answers long ago and replied without leaving any holes.

He also let slip a few of his own guesses.

"You’re suggesting the Profound Turtle Alchemist might not actually be dead?"

Catching the hidden meaning in Lu Chang’sheng’s words, both Yan Yu and Huang Yun were visibly shocked.

"We’re talking about someone from several millennia ago—forget Foundation Establishment, even a Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivator can’t live that long!"

A Golden Core cultivator’s lifespan was nearly a thousand years; Nascent Soul True Monarchs could break a thousand, and how much further depended on one’s cultivation.

But to live several thousand years? The two had never heard of such a thing.

"Fellow Daoist’s point is well taken. I’ll treat this matter with utmost caution."

Lu Chang’sheng added nothing more; in fact, just mentioning it might’ve only stirred up their minds even more.

"To survive several thousand years, there must be some great opportunity involved." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

It was only natural that thoughts would swirl in their hearts.

"Let’s see what others choose to do, then."

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t press them any further. At the Foundation Establishment stage, few could be easily swayed by outsiders.

"Actually, Fellow Daoist, we called you here to seek your opinion on something."

Yan Yu took a sip of spirit tea, smiling as he spoke.

"Please, Sect Leader, go ahead."

"Here’s the thing: After discussing with Fellow Daoist Huang Yun, we think you’d be more suited to replace him in his current position."

Strange crossed Lu Chang’sheng’s face in that instant.

As far as he knew, He Feng had bled plenty for this spot.

So, was this Yan Yu’s idea or really Huang Yun’s?

He only thought about it for a moment before refusing outright.

If it had been before, maybe he would’ve considered it; but now he wasn’t so sure that being Dean was a good thing.

Dean came with a load of responsibilities, and frankly, Lu Chang’sheng didn’t care for the so-called perks.

Most importantly, the Dean often couldn’t leave the sect on a whim.

Seeing his refusal, Yan Yu was disappointed, but didn’t press further.

Before leaving, Lu Chang’sheng took the opportunity to ask about mid-grade or higher Foundation Establishment Pills.

Yan Yu and Huang Yun seemed startled awake—only then remembering that this Fellow Daoist was still at the Qi Cultivation stage, not Foundation Establishment yet.

"Top-tier Foundation Pills are usually only produced in the greater domains, but as for mid-grade ones, I do have some connections."

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Huang Yun," Lu Chang’sheng replied.

"Don’t mention it!" Huang Yun handed him a jade token, quietly adding, "But be cautious. I’ve only met this person a couple times—heard their temperament can be a bit odd."

"Honestly, instead of seeking them out, I’d suggest heading to a major domain instead."

"I’ll consider it carefully."

Lu Chang’sheng replied.

For his current strength, a trip to the greater domain would be barely manageable, but he’d rather not take rash chances.

"This alchemist stays in the True Flame Water Domain, which isn’t too far away."

Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.

The True Flame Water Domain was only separated from Guangnan Domain by a small domain; at ninth-level Qi Cultivation speed, the trip would take half a year at most.

After saying his goodbyes, Lu Chang’sheng used his Sound Transmission Shell to message a few friends. What they’d choose was up to them now.

Yu Hai and Wang Futian replied quickly, saying they’d consider it carefully; the others didn’t respond for now.

By the time they got back to him, Lu Chang’sheng was already gone from the Purple Ice Lake region.

Half a year later, Lu Chang’sheng left the Good Beast Sect flying by sword, heading toward the Black Flame Water Domain.

Over those six months, he’d tried refining ten batches of Foundation Est. Pills; not a single furnace succeeded.

Luck could hardly be worse.

Of course, his own lack of prowess in the realm of pill formulas was also to blame.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t want to waste more materials, so he decided to go to the Black Flame Water Domain directly, seeking out the contact Huang Yun mentioned.

Before leaving, he’d picked up some news from the Purple Ice Lake side.

Someone had found traces of the inheritance spirit array’s location.

This meant the Guiding Array Plate had lost much of its use, letting even Immortal Sects waiting outside get a shot at meddling in things.

"Here we go again—another bloody storm."

Lu Chang’sheng mused that this Profound Turtle Alchemist, that ’Le Ziren,’ sure carried some devilish mischief with him.

"If the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s status was just a tad lower, he’d have been branded an Evil Cultivator by now."

Most Evil Cultivators in the Spirit Realm were at rock bottom; above Foundation Establishment, they were rare.

"Well, nothing to do with me—I’m just an alchemist anyway."

And a rather promising one at that.

Unless it was a dire crisis, no Immortal Sect would lightly shuffle its alchemists around.

······

More than half a year later, Lu Chang’sheng stepped into the Black Flame Water Domain.

The Black Flame Water Domain was even more desolate than Guangnan; it was either scorched black earth, or vast stretches of water.

Traveling, Lu Chang’sheng found more monsters than cultivators along the way.

After checking his map, he landed in a small market town.

"Dean Huang Yun said this Alchemist Luo’s alchemical skills aren’t beneath the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s—what’s he doing holed up in a place like this?"

Upon entering the market, he did spot a good few cultivators, but nearly all were at the Qi Cultivation level.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t see a single Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He headed to a rather secluded street, spotted a swaggering Qi Cultivator, and tossed a spirit stone his way.

"Got a few questions for you."

Soon enough, Lu Chang’sheng stepped out of a corner, a pensive look in his eyes.

Alchemist Luo was famous in these parts. The marketplace wasn’t his doing, but his presence was the bedrock of the town’s stability.

Most of those that came here were loose cultivators; a few Immortal Sect cultivators from nearby domains came, all attracted by his reputation, seeking pills.

Still, Alchemist Luo was no ordinary man—rumor had it he hailed from a great domain, and had reached the apex of Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Ordinary folks coming to ask for pills would hardly get the chance to even try.

"Good thing I’ve got Dean Huang Yun’s token."

Lu Chang’sheng felt a bit relieved in his heart.

It seemed he’d definitely have to cash in on that favor from Huang Yun.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t pay a visit right away; instead, he settled into a place in town, mapped out its layout, and started hawking his own pills.

By this point, this had basically become routine for him these past few years.