An Alchemist's Path to Eternity-Chapter 583: The Battle of the Luo Tian Society Ends(II)

Chapter 583: The Battle of the Luo Tian Society Ends(II)
Luo Chen’s expression darkened at the sight of the overwhelming strike. He tried to evade with speed, but the moment he moved, the furnace released a terrifying suppressive force. Even with his utterly titanic physique, his movements grew sluggish. He could still move, but far too slowly.
Escape was impossible, and Luo Chen knew it. If that were the case, then he would not dodge.
His face twisted with ferocity; his ten fingers curled as both palms lashed out. Two claw shadows tore through the void.
Bang!
Bang!
The instant they struck the furnace, a vast and crushing force surged forth. Luo Chen was overwhelmed and forced into a desperate retreat.
Boom!
In the eyes of the onlookers, the scene was terrifying. The Flame Alliance’s Adept smashed Luo Chen backward hundreds of zhang with a single strike from the massive furnace. He was even driven straight into Danxia Peak.
The blow did not end there. A surge of blazing flame followed in, seemingly seeking to incinerate Luo Chen alive. The impact had shattered part of the mountain as Luo Chen was driven deep within. Through the rolling dust, the flames poured into the gaping wound left behind.
In the distance, Qin Tairan frowned as he watched. "No wonder you managed to slay Di Wanyun. You truly have some skill, to survive even one of my strikes. But your luck ends here!"
A cold snort escaped his lips as his figure moved. He stepped onto the crimson furnace, and it rumbled as it carried him toward Danxia Peak. He clearly intended to finish the job directly.
As he drew near, his brows lifted in sudden surprise. From Danxia Peak surged a chilling wave of killing intent. The Seven-Colored Danxia Formation, which should have been destroyed, blazed to life once more and shot skyward.
"
Hmph
. So you deactivated it voluntarily to preserve a trace of its power? And with this, you think you can protect your president? Delusional!"
At that moment, his gaze shifted to the summit of Danxia Peak, where a solitary figure sat cross-legged within a stone hut. With fingers pressed together like a sword, the figure pointed unsteadily toward Qin Tairan.
The effort was immense, yet as the trembling sword sign thrust outward, Danxia Peak resounded with countless ringing chimes. At first, it was like the chorus of ten thousand swords, but on careful listening, there were only twenty-one distinct notes.
In that instant, a longsword three chi in length condensed upon the seven-colored curtain of light. The rising sun rose across the sea of clouds, and purple haze bathed the heavens and earth. A single strand of violet radiance merged with the rainbow glow, and the sword’s edge abruptly shone with purple light.
"Go!"
With that strike, Min Longyu exhausted every last trace of spirit energy within his body. The hundreds of thousands of spirit stones within his hut, including the three top-grade stones Luo Chen had given him, all crumbled into dust. The seven-colored light curtain, too, lost all color. Between heaven and earth, only the three-chi purple sword streaked forth.
Confronted with this scene, Qin Tairan responded with a cold snort and stamped his foot down. The furnace beneath him roared and spewed another torrent of flame, surging straight toward the purple sword.
The two forces clashed in an instant. The torrent of fire scattered, and the purple sword shattered little by little before vanishing into nothingness.
Atop Danxia, Min Longyu spat blood and let his right hand fall weakly. “President… I’ve done my best.”
His entire body, spirit power, and soul, every technique he knew, and every fragment of his knowledge of formations had been used and abused beyond limit. He had even drawn upon the power of the grand formation to borrow a trace of energy from the twenty-one enchanted-treasure flying swords. Only by doing so had he managed to produce an attack on par with the strike of an Adept.
Yet Qin Tairan was a whole Adept all by himself, and he could strike like this as many times as he pleased. In other words, to him, it counted as little more than a breeze brushing past his face. He curled his lip in disdain. "
Hmph
. Nothing but petty tricks."
He stepped forward once more. With his formidable divine consciousness, he clearly perceived what lay ahead—from within the clouds of smoke that blanketed Danxia Peak, a blazing aura was rising.
“I knew you were alive, but you’re only gasping for your last breath!”
At that very moment, a streak of azure light descended. "Fellow Daoist, that’s enough!"
Qin Tairan smirked. “Long Quan, do you really think you can stop me?”
As he spoke, killing intent surged forth.
Long Quan’s expression shifted, and he blurted out, “Dan Chenzi is an honored guest of Green Pill Valley and a retainer of the Dao Scion’s family. For my sake, let him go.”
Qin Tairan sneered. “For you? A mere second-stage Adept? You think your name carries any weight here?”
Long Quan was just about to retort when a sneer echoed from above. Elder Fei Ming of Ailao Mountain looked down and openly mocked Qin Tairan.
"His cultivation may not match yours, but is that reason enough for a mighty Golden Core elder to strike at a mere Foundation Establishment junior? And that’s not even the problem! You failed to kill him not once, not twice, but thrice, and you’ve even used a bit of the Sourceless Flame from your life-bound enchanted treasure!
Tsk, tsk
… Worthy indeed to be the Flame Alliance’s Law Enforcement Elder! If word of this gets out, the whole Jade Cauldron Domain will be bent over in laughter!”
"You—" Qin Tairan roared in fury and locked onto Fei Ming. "What about it? A defeated dog like you is going to step forward to shield that brat?"
The taunt struck directly at Fei Ming’s old wound, and his expression darkened. With a smile that held no warmth, he said slowly, "I have no ties to him. Why would I protect him? But if you wish to test yourself against me, I don’t mind entertaining you for a bit.”
Hearing this, Qin Tairan grew calmer instead. With a flick of his hand, a longsword flashed into view. Its tip pointed straight at Long Quan, who stood in his path.
That gesture made Long Quan’s expression change drastically.
"Both of you, come at me together!" Qin Tairan’s voice thundered. "Today, I will kill that wretch no matter what!"
Now, with one foot on the crimson furnace and his sword in hand, he faced the two of them alone, yet his aura completely overwhelmed them.
A frown tugged at Fei Ming’s face as he realized the situation had left him riding a tiger with no way to dismount. Just as he had said earlier, he bore no ties to Luo Chen and had no reason to step into this mire. Qin Tairan’s intentions were already exposed; he had not come for Tianlan Immortal City’s management rights at all. His true aim was to kill Luo Chen and reclaim the Flame Alliance’s honor. Under such circumstances, fighting him brought no benefit. Yet now that Qin Tairan had openly thrown down the gauntlet, retreating would only make Fei Ming appear cowardly.
Long Quan shared the same hesitation. Protecting Luo Chen had been nothing more than a favor asked by Dao Scion Tao Wan. He had thought Qin Tairan would show some restraint out of regard not for him personally but for Green Pill Valley. Yet it was clear now that Qin Tairan’s intent to kill Luo Chen was unshakable. Repaying that favor to Luo Chen was no longer as simple as saying a few words on his behalf.
He glanced at the wavering Fei Ming and cursed inwardly. If Fei Ming had committed to the fight, then with his support, they might have stood a chance. But with Fei Ming reluctant to move, how could he alone stop Qin Tairan?
Long Quan clenched his fists, his divine consciousness fixed on the surging aura within Danxia Peak. Inwardly, he muttered,
Luo Chen, of all people, you had to provoke the tyrannical Flame Alliance. What am I supposed to do now?
Qin Tairan instantly saw through their thoughts. With a thunderous roar, he bellowed, “If you won’t fight and you won’t retreat, then why stick around? Get lost!”
That single shout shook the heavens, its echo rolling across hundreds of li. The mighty soundwaves carried the words
Get lost! Get lost! Get lost…
in an endless echo.
Elder Long Quan was forced back three steps by the sheer force of the roar. Realizing his own cowardice, his face flushed. Was he truly about to let someone be slain right before his eyes? If word of this spread, what dignity would he have left?
At that moment, a voice cold as the depths of the Nine Hells
[1]
resounded.
“You are the one who should get lost!”
A dazzling sword light followed the words, sharp and unyielding. Qin Tairan turned sharply, his longsword slashing downward in a heavy arc.
Clang!
The sword light shattered at once, dispersing into countless shards of icy brilliance that wrapped tightly around him. In the blink of an eye, frost covered his hair, brows, eyelashes, and beard.
"
Hah
!"
With a sharp shout, he let out a surge of fire-element mana. Flames erupted across his body, melting the frost away. Without pause, he kicked out, sending the crimson furnace beneath his feet rumbling straight toward his assailant.
A white flash revealed a graceful figure whose left palm was thrusting forward. Though her movement seemed slow, the strike was impossibly swift. Layer upon layer of ice walls rose with her gesture, sealing heaven and earth in frost. Amidst the endless sheets of ice, the furnace stopped and froze solid.
Qin Tairan’s face darkened, and his fingers moved quickly to form a seal. Torrents of flame burst from within the furnace, melting through the ice until it broke free and rumbled back to his side.
Only then did he finally catch a clear glimpse of his opponent. "It’s you!"
Fairy Ruthless cast a glance toward Danxia Peak before fixing her gaze upon Qin Tairan. "You have two choices. Leave, or die!"
"You…" Qin Tairan jabbed a finger at her, never in his life so insulted. Yet as he recalled their clash only moments earlier, his expression shifted. “You’ve advanced to the middle stage of the Golden Core Realm?”
Fairy Ruthless gave no reply. Her eyes swept across the battlefield below. The land was ravaged, strewn with wreckage. The blood of countless cultivators stained Danxia Peak crimson, while severed limbs, corpses, and shattered weapons littered the ground. The battle had halted the instant the Golden Core elders intervened, yet the bloodshot eyes of the surviving cultivators bore silent witness to the savagery that had raged before.
She remained silent, but Qin Tairan’s heart sank heavier with every passing moment. Fei Ming was a fourth-stage Adept in his own right, and though he was stronger, he couldn’t simply dismiss the man. Fairy Ruthless had now stepped into the same stage, and her ice arts inherently countering his fire. Added to that was Long Quan of Green Pill Valley, who was watching from the side like a tiger ready to strike. If it came to a true battle, his death was certain.
Suddenly, Fairy Ruthless snapped her head up, eyes locked on him. "It seems you don’t intend to leave. Perfect! Since the war between the two great sects has not yet ended, we can continue it right here and now!”
As she spoke, the floating ice swords at her side shot forth.
From the skies, Fei Ming of Ailao Mountain let out a booming laugh. "Just right! All these years, the Sword Sect has never given me an explanation for slaying my son-in-law, Fei Bowen. Today, I’ll take your head, you lapdog of the Sword Sect, to console his spirit in heaven!"
As he spoke, a massive seal plummeted with a thunderous crash. At the same moment, Long Quan quietly released a streak of azure light, swift and silent as it streaked across the battlefield.
In the blink of an eye, the three had joined forces and struck together. Qin Tairan had been on guard, yet even though he had expected this, fear gripped his heart.
"A pack of wretched curs!" he roared. "Burn!"
Qin Tairan struck the furnace before him with a heavy slap. Endless torrents of flame burst forth, scattering the three incoming attacks in a single surge. With a sudden leap, he turned and fled into the distance.
1. In Daoist tradition, Nine Hells(九幽/Jiu You) refers to the netherworld, the realm of the dead, similar in concept to the Yellow Springs Road. It is described as the place where souls go after death.
☜
Jaye's Thoughts
Hey readers, I’ve adjusted some terms
Adept Yinyue ->Adept Moonshade
Chapters affected: 519, 522, 538, 527, 569, 549, 546, 570, 517, 515, 537, 547, 524, 523, 541
Adept Boshang -> Adept Light Frost
Chapter affected: 439
Zeguo Gui Diagram / Zeguo Battle Diagram -> Marsh Gui Diagram / Marsh Battle Diagram
Chapters affected: 266, 314, 262, 263, 269, 354, 265, 322, 371, 271, 268, 276, 292, 261, 317
Lingkong Secret Realm -> Sky Ascension Secret Realm
Chapters affected: 500, 501, 512, 534, 549
Binglan Palace -> Icewave Palace
Chapters affected: 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 345, 351, 355, 356, 359, 370, 375, 376, 378, 381, 404, 426, 427, 428, 436, 437, 464, 510
Please let me know if you spot any that I missed. Thank you! Happy reading!