The Path of Immortality: Starts With Creating Water Bear Gu

Chapter 356: The Four Evildoers Conspiracy

"It seems you've already guessed it. Yes, this is the power of the God of Gambling Gu. Only the God of Gambling Gu can bet on the intangible and ethereal fortune of a clan."

Cao Chang clicked his tongue in awe, saying, "A Gu insect that can bet on anything—truly miraculous."

"Enough talk. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."

"I’ll leave you ten communication talismans. Let’s stay in touch. Once I find a good tomb, I’ll take you along."

With that, Cao Chang placed ten communication talismans on a shelf, stopped chatting, and left Master Wei’s pill shop.

Long Xuan glanced at the ten communication talismans on the shelf. After a moment of thought, he decided to take them.

Anyone capable of producing a Grade-Six Blood Lotus is no ordinary person. This man might be of use in the future—after all, tomb-raiding clans possess many rare treasures.

Seeing that the store’s treasure display was now empty, Long Xuan took out a third-grade Soul Restoration Pill and placed it on the shelf to fill the gap.

At that moment, a cold and sharp voice came from the entrance:

"I want this store’s treasure. Name your price!" Hearing this familiar feminine voice, Long Xuan's heart skipped a beat. It was none other than the Jade-Faced Rakshasa.

Why was she here?

A peak Gu King wouldn’t casually visit a third-grade alchemist’s shop. A third-grade Soul Restoration Pill would have negligible effects on a Gu King.

Her sudden appearance wasn’t likely for purchasing pills—she must have a task for him.

With heightened vigilance, Long Xuan turned to the Jade-Faced Rakshasa, putting on a professional smile.

"Senior, I’m only interested in divine beast blood. Do you happen to have any?"

He was planning to use the Soul Restoration Pill to trade for such a material. The divine art of the Purgatory True Demon Technique required a divine beast’s blood as a medium for cultivating a new form with each level.

However, divine beasts had long gone extinct, and their blood was exceedingly rare. It might only be found in ancient tombs, much like the Blood Lotus.

Long Xuan needed to prepare this material urgently to cultivate the third level of the Purgatory True Demon Technique.

"Divine beasts have long been extinct in this world. Where would I find their blood for you?"

"Never mind. It seems I am destined to part ways with this treasure."

The Jade-Faced Rakshasa retracted her gaze from the Soul Restoration Pill. As a Gu King, most third-grade pills were useless to her. Although she sensed something unusual about this pill, it wasn’t worth forcing the issue.

"I didn’t come for the pill. I have other matters to discuss. You should know that the Phoenix Heaven Empire is hosting an alchemy competition, correct?"

The Jade-Faced Rakshasa finally got to the point, looking at Long Xuan.

Long Xuan nodded with a smile. "I’ve just heard about it."

He began speculating about her motives.

For an outsider like the Jade-Faced Rakshasa to mention the alchemy competition, could she be planning something during the event?

As Long Xuan pondered, the Jade-Faced Rakshasa said, "I won’t beat around the bush. The Four Evildoers are planning to join forces to steal the Phoenix Heaven Empire’s national treasure, the Enlightenment Tea Tree."

"Openly seizing it is impossible. Even with our combined strength, it’s difficult to steal such a treasure from a royal capital. However, the alchemy competition provides an opportunity."

"One of the competition's final stages involves contestants entering a special space to search for spiritual herbs. The Enlightenment Tea Tree is located in that space. This is where we’ll make our move."

"You must reach the competition's finals. I’ll give you further instructions when the time comes."

"Rest assured, you’ll be well rewarded for your efforts."

Her tone was more of an order than a request, leaving no room for refusal.

Hearing this, Long Xuan was shocked. The notorious Four Evildoers Villains were planning to steal the Enlightenment Tea Tree from the Phoenix Heaven Empire.

Each of the Four Evildoers possessed peerless combat strength in their respective tiers. If they joined forces, they could shake any power.

Their plot to create chaos at the alchemy competition meant a storm was brewing, and the event would surely be full of drama.

Long Xuan feigned difficulty and hesitated. "Senior, I was already planning to try my best to reach the finals."

"But as you know, this competition will gather most of the top alchemy talents from the Western Region. The geniuses will be as numerous as clouds. Although my skills are decent, I don’t dare to claim I can stand out among so many prodigies."

"I wish to assist you, Senior, but I fear my lack of skill may ruin your plans."

Despite his confidence, Long Xuan wanted to avoid such a dangerous task if possible.

The Jade-Faced Rakshasa sneered, "I’m well aware of your abilities. Reaching the finals is indeed a challenge for you."

"But we’ve recruited more than just you. With enough people involved, at least one of them will succeed. You’re simply the one with the lowest probability of success."

"It doesn’t matter whether you make it or not. Just do your best."

As the words fell, the Jade-Faced Rakshasa tossed a stack of communication talismans onto the counter, then turned and left. Upon reaching the doorway, she suddenly paused, tilted her head, and said:

"You’ll need to disguise yourself to participate in this alchemy competition. If what we’ve done is exposed, every alchemist in the Land of Sin will be investigated. It’s best if you stop using the identity of Master Wei."

After saying this, the Jade-Faced Rakshasa finally departed.

Watching her retreating figure, Long Xuan revealed a thoughtful expression. Without a doubt, major events would unfold at the upcoming alchemy competition, and the commotion it would cause was unpredictable.

He put away the communication talismans left by the Jade-Faced Rakshasa on the counter and began preparing to seize the Enlightenment Tea Tree. Perhaps the power of the Four Great Evildoers could be utilized.

Returning upstairs, he entered seclusion again. With the alchemy competition still a year away, he had ample time to prepare and saw no need to head there prematurely.

Half a month later, when the two major shops had gathered all the materials for the Longevity Pill exclusive to the Sou Gu, he immediately began refining the pill.

The Sou Gu Hut was too inconvenient for any serious work, so he had long been eager to upgrade the Sou Gu.

In less than a day, he successfully refined the Longevity Pill and promptly fed it to the Sou Gu, enabling its evolution.

Half a month later, the Sou Gu finally awakened, successfully completing its transformation into a Rare Gu. Long Xuan was overjoyed.

By now, a month had passed since he sold the Ice-Fire Polar Pill, and the newly crowned treasure of the shop had been displayed for a full month.

Unsurprisingly, the Soul Restoration Pill, capable of repairing souls below the Spiritual Sea stage, had attracted significant interest from many Gu cultivators. Countless individuals sought to trade for it.

However, the trade rule for this treasure required divine beast blood. How could such a rarity be easily obtained by ordinary Gu cultivators?

Thus, while the Soul Restoration Pill had garnered countless admiring gazes, it had remained untraded for an entire month.

Seeing that a month had passed without acquiring divine beast blood, Long Xuan finally decided to give up.

He looted all the treasures from Master Wei's alchemy shop before changing his appearance and leaving the City of Sin.

Similarly, he stripped Master’s Song Insect Armor Store of all its valuables before shutting it down for good.

Since pills capable of triggering phenomena couldn’t be refined in the city, his next destination was the Thunder Swamp to refine the Blood Lotus Pill, which could summon a phenomenon. Afterward, he planned to head to the Pheonix Heaven Empire to attend an unprecedented alchemy grand event.

Given that he wouldn’t return to the City of Sin for a long time, it was natural to close those two stores.

With the Sou Gu’s evolution complete, leaving became more convenient.

In a hidden corner of Master Song’s Insect Armor Store, Long Xuan set up a Sou Gu Hut and stepped inside, instantly arriving at the Thunder Swamp.

It had been a long time since he had last visited this place. Long Xuan still felt a sense of familiarity. Gazing at the sky filled with endless lightning, he smiled faintly.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he looked toward the center of the Thunder Swamp.

There lay a mysterious soul, harboring a Heavenly Water Seed.

Long Xuan still coveted the Heavenly Water and pondered how to claim it.

Though water countered fire, ordinary water couldn’t extinguish Heavenly Fire. Only Heavenly Water could do so.

If he could acquire Heavenly Water to counteract Heavenly Fire, it would make devouring the fire much easier and significantly increase his success rate.

However, just as the idea surfaced, he quickly dismissed it.

The logic was sound, but wasn’t devouring Heavenly Water equally dangerous?

To reduce the risks of devouring Heavenly Fire by first devouring equally perilous Heavenly Water was an exercise in futility. The safety trade-off wasn’t favorable.

Moreover, to devour Heavenly Water, he would first need to invent a pill capable of increasing his success rate, which would consume even more time.

Ultimately, Long Xuan decided to set aside the Heavenly Water for now. Tasks must be tackled one at a time. The Heavenly Water wasn’t going anywhere.

Taking a deep breath, he retrieved the Grade-Six Blood Lotus and all the spiritual herbs required to refine the Blood Lotus Pill.

He began refining the Blood Lotus Pill in earnest...

Seven days later, vast dark clouds gathered in the sky, making the already dim Thunder Swamp even gloomier.

Of course, the Thunder Swamp was naturally shrouded in clouds. The newly formed clouds simply merged with the old ones, making it seem as if nothing had changed.

Those nearby wouldn’t notice anything unusual despite the phenomenon triggered by the alchemy.

The phenomenon lasted for some time before finally dissipating as the Blood Lotus Pill was completed. The dark clouds gradually dispersed, leaving the swamp unchanged—thunder roared, clouds loomed, and no one could have guessed that someone had just refined a pill capable of summoning a phenomenon.

Suddenly, the alchemy Cauldron was knocked over, and five round, red pills flew out. Long Xuan reacted swiftly, ignoring their searing heat as he caught all five pills in one motion.

Gazing at the five glowing, crimson pills in his hand, Long Xuan couldn’t contain his excitement.

With the Blood Lotus Pill complete, his next step was to devour Heavenly Fire, and he would soon become someone who wielded Heavenly Fire.

“Fire Clone, the rest is up to you. Don’t let me down!”

With that, Long Xuan tossed one of the Blood Lotus Pills to his Fire Clone, which shuddered involuntarily at that moment.