Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 2544 - 934: Earth Treasure Rest Soil, Emergence of the Old Fiend (Part 3)
Previously on Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster...
These individuals bear a close resemblance to the herb gatherers from the Eastern Wasteland and the anglers of the North Sea.
Each one boldly pushes into unknown territories, hunting for rare valuables.
Yet, in contrast to those who pluck herbs from peaks or reel in catches from the waves, the mountain seekers face far stricter demands.
They require not just powerful might, but also sharp expertise, to avoid overlooking hidden gems after braving the dangers of the Mist Wilderness.
Cheng Bai counts himself among these mountain seekers.
His cultivation level remains modest, hovering at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, yet his ties run deep, linking him to the mightiest of the Thirty-Six Cave Masters in Wind and Thunder Gorge—Master Ming Lei.
Outside in the wider realm, few would dare challenge him.
But right now, he moved with utmost wariness.
Within the Mist Wilderness, dangers lurked everywhere—from the ever-present toxic fogs and the erratic Gu Demons—to rival mountain seekers who might strike at any moment.
Should his position leak out or he show the slightest weakness, no one would respect his origins; slaying for spoils was a ruthless norm here.
With a Poison Avoidance Pill tucked under his tongue and clad in Stealth Treasure Clothing, Cheng Bai sped forward toward his goal.
"From the map I seized off the last mountain seeker I took down, just ahead lies the Poison Dragon Pond, home to a seven-foot tailless Alligator Dragon."
"Alligator Dragons are plentiful enough, but the tailless variety is exceptionally scarce."
"Usually, these tailless ones come about when Faceless Gu larvae infest them, sparking agony and relentless itching that drives them to snap off their own tails."
At the thought of the Faceless Gu, a spark of thrill pierced through Cheng Bai's steady composure.
Faceless Gu ranks among the elite Gu insects.
It's famed as a combat-type Gu worm, able to dissolve a cultivator's shape into nothingness, shifting without a hint, offering superb support in fights or escapes alike.
Snagging even a young one would secure him ample cultivation resources all the way to the Golden Core Realm.
As for buyers, he'd already scouted options in advance.
Master Ming Lei is honing a method known as the "Flash Thunder Technique", desperately seeking a Faceless Gu's boost.
Handing one over would seal the deal.
Given Master Ming Lei's famed open-handed style, rewards would pour in at minimum, or even direct patronage at best, locking in his path to Golden Core success.
"I have to pull this off!"
Cheng Bai gripped the fork tightly—it was a Low-Grade Magic Item crafted for snaring tailless Alligator Dragons, loaned by a reliable ally.
Still, as he crept warily toward the Poison Dragon Pond, no glimpse of the tailless Alligator Dragon appeared.
"Is it sleeping?"
"That can't be right!"
"Spring's here now—whether foraging for kills or courting partners, this is their peak time for action."
Cheng Bai searched with steady resolve, at last spotting signs of trampled foliage.
Yes, it hadn't wandered off!
Looks like it headed out for a hunt.
Cheng Bai wet his lips, then started laying down a basic trap formation encircling the Poison Dragon Pond.
His plan: ambush and seize the tailless Alligator Dragon the instant it came back.
But a full day and night passed without a single sign.
He could endure waiting, yet if the beast met its end while hunting, his entire expedition would end empty-handed.
Drawing in a steadying breath, Cheng Bai inspected his setup first, then trailed the tracks, pursuing the tailless Alligator Dragon's path.
Ten miles along, then fifty, reaching a hundred...
Once he crossed beyond the creature's usual roaming grounds, unease stirred in Cheng Bai's chest.
What sort of quarry could lure the tailless Alligator Dragon from its domain to chase this distance?
Suddenly!
His eyes widened in shock, his frame quaking.
Before him sprawled a horde of low-rank demon beasts, flattened to the earth, shuddering helplessly, pinned down by an invisible force.
Sticking out among them was the tailless Alligator Dragon.
This marked the very prize that drew him into the depths of the Mist Wilderness!
But that wasn't what gripped him—the true focus lay in whatever had summoned this swarm of demon beasts.
A nameless, desolate peak rose at the center of the beast cluster.
Around that peak, dark thunderclouds swirled, bolts of lightning crackled, and peals of thunder boomed.
These heavenly signs felt utterly organic, not the work of mortal hands.
"Is some rare treasure surfacing?"
Old tales spoke of supreme Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures drawing such omens upon their birth.
Above all, when elite fiends achieved spirit awakening, they stirred sky-shaking upheavals, akin to a mighty demon's evolution or a top expert's tribulation crossing.
And differing from wise great demons, these fiends advanced blindly, woefully unskilled at facing down tribulations.
Fresh from spirit awakening's triumph, they often slumped into utter frailty.
Strike then, claim one in its weakened state, and the gains would eclipse anything from a tailless Alligator Dragon or its Faceless Gu young!
In that flash, Cheng Bai's pulse raced with fervor!
But the instant after, his face twisted in alarm.
A tiny, unchecked cauldron burst from the barren peak, whirling once through the thunderous canopy before its glow dimmed and it sank into the mountain's core.
Seeing this, Cheng Bai's blood ran cold.
"No!"
"This isn't a treasure's birth—it's some mighty figure forging a supreme magic treasure right here!"
He shunned any greed, reined in his aura, and withdrew with desperate care.
Still, a gravelly bellow rang out from the barren peak, jolting his vital energies and rattling his spirit.
"Young one, you've arrived—why hurry away so soon?"
The roar thundered like claps of doom, and wherever it rolled, the hides of low-rank demon beasts split open, dissolving into bloody vapors.
Not even the tough-skinned tailless Alligator Dragon survived unscathed.
Terror seized Cheng Bai; he dropped to his knees in frantic supplication.
"This junior serves as a mountain seeker beneath Master Ming Lei—I meant no intrusion on your serene practice, senior; spare me, I beg!"
"Oh?"
A trace of intrigue laced the gravelly tone.
"I’ve stayed hidden for ages, so when did the South Border gain a figure like this Master Ming Lei?"
As the words fell, a colossal pull erupted, yanking Cheng Bai across the distance to the mountain's base.
Cheng Bai's features drained of color, though a sliver of relief eased his mind.
Whatever ancient fiend this was and from where it hailed, the chance to parley beat certain doom!
The stones quivered as a vast entrance creaked wide.
A figure stepped forth, crowned in lofty feathers, girded by a gleaming jade sash at the waist, clad in ebon armor, shod in cloud-woven boots—striding firm ground like treading the skies.
Above all, the strikingly boyish, striking visage made Cheng Bai's eyes flicker.
From whence sprang such a youthful ancient monster?