An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Chapter 471: A Battle Of Foundations, A Confrontation In Its Purest Form! (II)

Back when Luo Chen started refining Jade Essence pills, he had failed countless times, piling up tens of thousands of waste beads. Yet not once had anyone offered a fair price for those defective remnants. 0Tao Yisheng’s face turned pale. The judgment weighed bitterly on him, a humiliation he could scarcely accept. Tao Wan shared his outrage, her eyes glinting cold.0

“In my view,” Tao Daonan declared, his tone firm and deliberate, “Yisheng is still too young. The role of family head should fall to someone experienced and steady. Yichen should be the better choice.”1

Of course it was. Tao Yichen was his own grandson. Appointing him as family head was no different from leaving the Tao family under Tao Daonan’s personal control.0

Tao Wan’s lips curled. She turned her gaze to Tao Yisheng and spoke slowly, each word sharp as ice, “If failure is failure, then why not continue refining? Let us see a definitive result today.”0

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Tao Daonan replied, brows drawing together.0

“No, it is very necessary!” Tao Wan’s voice cut through the air like frost. Her eyes swept over the gathered cultivators. “Do any of you want it said that the Tao family head was chosen between two failures?”0

The words struck like a slap. A family head chosen from among losers would only be a lucky loser. How could such a stain ever be erased?0

Under her piercing stare, no one could raise a rebuttal. Of course, the Initiates aligned with her had no intention of opposing her at all. They spoke out in unison, voicing their support for continuing the contest, and even those who stood with Tao Daonan struggled to find an excuse strong enough to object.0

After all, the role of family head wasn’t the same as that of the patriarch. The patriarch guarded rituals, lineage, and tradition, positions usually entrusted to elders of age and prestige. But the family head handled all external and internal affairs. What was required was a commanding presence, strength, and youth. One glance at the family head should tell outsiders whether the Tao family was rising or already in decline. Such a position could not begin its legacy tainted by failure.0

Seeing that no one objected, Tao Wan suddenly turned to Tao Yisheng and Tao Yichen. 0

“Have you guys rested enough?” Tao Wan asked coldly. “Then continue refining. If you cannot produce Rainbow Chrysanthemum pills, you have no right to stop. Whoever succeeds will become the next head of the Tao family of Xiao Nanshan!”0

No one argued.0

Tao Yisheng moved first, his voice calm and commanding as he ordered the apprentices to prepare fresh ingredients, the fire handlers to clear the fire channels, and the talisman workers to cleanse the cauldron of earlier stains. He moved with practiced ease; it was as though he had done this dozens of times before. In truth, these habits were forged during the past year when Luo Chen had assigned him hard labor at the Luo Tian Society for training. On the other side, Tao Yichen also forced himself to rally and mimicked the same preparations.0

Soon, the earth fire flared to life once more, casting flickering light across the cauldrons. The pill refinement resumed in full, flames dancing beneath bronze vessels. It was only then did the earlier tension that filled the hall calmed steadily.0

Unnoticed by most, Tao Wan cast several fleeting glances toward Luo Chen. A quiet ripple stirred in her heart, though her face remained calm.0

The idea of holding this contest for the family head had come to her only after witnessing her younger brother’s growth and learning of his recent breakthrough in alchemy. Yet beneath that decision lay another purpose of her own.0

She wished to test Luo Chen’s true ability. Until now, she had only heard her brother praise him repeatedly, and even Tantai Jin had mentioned him a few times in passing. Although later investigations confirmed that Luo Chen truly bore the alchemical title of Dan Chenzi, doubts still lingered within her heart.0

The fight for the Dao Scion was a monumental struggle, and she could not afford to falter in the alchemy round. If Luo Chen proved undeserving of his reputation, she wouldn’t hesitate to swap him out for a second-tier alchemist less threatening to Huang Hezi.0

However, the events before her eyes told a different story.0

heless!0

“Sister, I did it!” Tao Yisheng’s voice cracked with elation. “I finally succeeded! !”0

His pale face was flushed with excitement and joy as he clutched onto the three pills. 0

Tao Wan instinctively glanced toward Luo Chen, who had quietly stepped behind the crowd. Then, lifting her voice for all to hear, she declared, “Congratulations! Everyone, why are you not greeting the new head of the Tao family?"0

Those Initiates who stood on her side immediately bowed and cried out in unison, “Greetings, Family Head Tao!”0

The others hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. Yet under Tao Wan’s piercing stare, they too reluctantly followed suit.0

"Greetings, Family Head Tao!"0

Tao Wan smiled radiantly, then turned her gaze back to Tao Daonan. "Patriarch, now that our Tao family has a new head, shouldn’t we convene a family assembly to announce it formally?"0

Tao Daonan’s beard was in disarray, and his face dark as ink. He cast a resentful glare at the victorious siblings. "The assembly will be held tomorrow!"0

With that, he flung his sleeve and stormed off. He had lost this battle for family leadership. He had lost to Tao Yisheng and to the formidable Tao Wan. He had never imagined that Tao Wan had grown so powerful that she could clash with him head-on, matching his cultivation foundation and even suppressing it. Worse still, all of it was under countless watchful eyes. From this day forward, everyone knew Tao Daonan had lost and his authority was gone. 0

As Tao Daonan stepped out of the Alchemy Hall, the sunlight spilled across his face, and for an instant his vision swam. When he blinked against the glare, an unfamiliar emptiness welled up inside him. 5