Eternal Cultivation of Alchemy

Alex left Ghostbane city not long after as he flew southeast towards the State of Re again.

He had spent nearly 4 months in this place and hoped that his aunt would be back from her training by now. He didn't really worry, however, as even if she wasn't back, he would simply use the time to focus on other things he wanted to do.

For one, he wanted to help Whisker learn more about Alchemy and even get him started on making True rank pills.

Besides that, he could go back to the Ancient Battlefield and learn more Dao there. So, he wasn't lacking in ideas at all.

The cold wind had warmed up quite a bit as summer was just around the corner. The state of Re was never in the snow in the first place, so the further south Alex went, the hotter it got.

He passed by many villages and cities and even saw the Intercontinental Teleportation formation once more along the way

He didn't stop for it, however, and simply continued on his way. After 3 hours of flying, he arrived at the Blazing Earth sect.

He was quickly escorted in, where he found his aunt waiting for him.

"Alex!" she cried out and waved at him from far away.

Alex quickly walked up to her. "Aunt Liz, you're back!" he gave a happy smile when he saw her.

"I came back a whole month ago. I heard you come back earlier and left," she said. "You should have waited for me."

"Maybe I should have," Alex said. "But I wanted to go visit the wells in the west."

"Oh, that place," Liz said. "I don't like that place. It keeps saying nothing but sweet nonsense."

"Have you been there?" Alex asked curiously. "What prophecy did you hear?"

"It was some nonsense like lightning, storm, madness, anger, loss, crown, etc," Liz said.

"Oh," Alex was a little taken aback. "That's almost the same as what I heard."

'Godslayer was right,' he thought. 'These divinations are a bunch of nonsense.'

"Anyway, you weren't out there all this time just in the wells right? I hear you've been gone for 4 months now. What did you do?" she asked.

"Oh, I was… " Alex paused. "Let's speak later."

He turned around and bowed a little. "Greetings, seniors."

"You're finally back," the old woman that was his aunt's master spoke. She walked along with the sect master and the grand master as well.

"Master, any luck?" Liz asked.

The old woman shook her head. "None yet. The Nether Poison sect wasn't helpful at all. But don't worry, we'll keep trying," she said.

Liz's face drooped a little, and she sighed.

"How was the trip up west, young man?" the sect master asked.

"It was good, sect master," Alex said.

"We asked the Nether Poison sect about you, and none of them seemed to realize that you were in the State of Bing. You must've hidden quite well," he said.

"I merely took off my mask," Alex said.

The 3 elders nodded in understanding. "Well, let us go inside then. We have something to talk to you about."

Alex nodded and walked along with the 3 elders and his aunt.

As they walked, Alex saw his aunt softly floating on her way inside. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Hmm? Nothing," Liz quickly said.

"Why are you floating then?" Alex asked.

"Oh, I've frozen the time for my right leg, so I can't move it at the moment. I just have to fly," she said.

"Why?" Alex asked.

"Young man, how strong would you say you are?" the sect master said as they arrived by the door of the lounging area.

"Sorry?" Alex turned around to look at the old man.

"Your cultivation strength. How strong would you say you are?" the sect master repeated the question. "I heard from Huang Xinyi that you can fight 4th realm Saint Foundation beasts. Is that true?"

"If I am allowed to use my dao and such, then yes," Alex said. "Otherwise with just cultivation, it will be around the 2nd realm of Saint Foundation."

"Are you serious?" the grand elder asked suspiciously.

"I thought Huang Xinyi was lying. Was he really telling the truth?" the sect master asked.

"He didn't lie. I can indeed produce strength that can be compared to the 2nd realm of saint Foundation," he said.

"How can you…" the sect master wanted to ask something but stopped. "You know what, it doesn't matter. If you can produce such a strong strength with just your cultivation base, then I have a proposition for you."

"What that might be, sect master?" Alex asked curiously.

"The Heaven's Frost sect is planning on hosting a competition for the young generations to find out who is the strongest amongst them, do you think you might be able to take part in it under the Blazing Earth Sect's name?" the sect master asked.

"A competition?" Alex asked. Was there even a point? It wasn't like the last time when he had something to prove. It would just be a spectacle for him.

Still, there wasn't anything for him to do yet, so maybe he could.

"It's a special competition too," the sect master said.

"Special? How?" Alex asked.

"You see, only those that started their cultivation journey in the 20 years or are under 50 years of age can take part in it," the sect master said.

Alex thought for a moment with a curious look on his face. "You're trying to set up a competition between the players, huh? I wouldn't mind taking part in something like that. Maybe we will find some rather strong cultivators too," he said.

"Yes, that's the plan," the sect master said with a big smile on his face. "So you accept?"

"Well… sure, why not?" Alex said.

"Great!" the sect leader said. "Our sect will surely win this competition then."

The 3 seniors stayed behind to discuss some more while Alex and Liz returned. They talked for a bit as they walked, and they told each other what they had been doing for the last few months.

However, even as they talked, Alex's eyes kept moving toward's his aunt's legs which never touched the ground.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked. "You don't look okay."

"No, no, I'm fine," she said. "You don't have to worry."

"If I don't worry, then who will?" Alex asked. "Come on, tell me if you're okay or not. Is your leg hurt?"

"As I said, it's just because I'm freezing time for my feet," she said.

"Why though? Why are you stopping time?" Alex asked.

"That's… " Liz couldn't answer.

"You're hurt, aren't you?" Alex asked. "Why are you hiding it?"

"No, I'm not," Liz said.

"Show me your leg then. I'll be the judge," he said.

"I'm… I'm not hurt," Liz continued saying. "But…"

"But?"

She hesitated for a bit and sighed. "It happened while I was fighting a sea snake," she said as she pulled up her trousers slowly.

"I thought I had killed it, but it came for one last attack and… "

She showed her ankles which were swollen to almost twice their size and had turned completely purple.

Alex realized what was happening. "It bit you?"