Chapter 11: Uncle, you watched me grow up!

Not to mention the legendary Great Cultivator of the ninth level of Qi Refining who once fought a bloody battle that shook the Great Dao and changed the color of the wind and clouds.

Luo Chen, on the other hand, had truly tasted the sweetness of success!

Previously, he only had one product: Bigu Pills. When customers came, they could see everything at a glance; there was no room for selection.

If they wanted it, they took it; if they didn't, they left. There was very little room for bargaining.

He couldn't even manage the most common sales tactic of bundling products.

Unlike Old Daoist Chen, who sold his Qi-Concealing Talismans at a high price; when a customer hesitated, he could add, "This is the price, but I'll throw in a Cleansing Talisman for free!"

Luo Chen didn't even have any freebies to offer.

Now, he finally had a second product worth showing off!

Well, that’s not quite right—Zhongmiao Pills, being a low-level virility pill, weren't exactly something to be proud of. It was embarrassing!

But regardless, the sale of the first bottle of Zhongmiao Pills gave him hope for his path to the Great Dao!

The price was a bit inflated—the cost was one spirit stone, and he sold it for five.

But there was no helping it; throughout history and across the world, anything related to virility—food, medicine, or exercise—has always been evergreen.

Even in this world of cultivation, where individual power is paramount!

In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.

Low-level cultivators, especially those in the Qi Refining stage, are in the phase of "refining essence into qi." Relying solely on absorbing the manic spiritual energy from the outside world and refining it makes progress very slow.

That is why there is a market for spirit rice, monster beast meat, and even medicinal pills that contain vast amounts of spiritual energy.

Furthermore, because spiritual energy flows throughout the body, low-level cultivators often cannot control themselves; the slightest stimulation can easily lead to the leakage of essence and qi.

Therefore, to ensure the most efficient conversion of spiritual energy, many cultivation techniques include corresponding methods to lock in one's essence.

In the classics, this is termed "The Hidden Horse."

There are usually only two ways to solve this situation.

The first is for the cultivator to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage. Once they develop spiritual sense, they can freely regulate the conversion of spiritual energy within their body, becoming stronger from then on.

Otherwise, in the initial stages, if one lets their essence leak away, how could anyone ever climb the Great Dao?

The second solution is for a Qi Refining cultivator to voluntarily release the "lower gate lock" after determining that their path to the Great Dao is hopeless.

With the feedback of their own spiritual energy, it becomes very easy to restore their vigor.

This is why those cultivators in the cultivation world who branch out and establish families are often old cultivators with no hope for their path.

They know their own level; they can't advance any further and are stuck for life.

Why struggle? Just go home, have children, and enjoy life!

But with the Zhongmiao Pills specifically designed for Qi Refining cultivators, the situation is completely reversed.

The main ingredients of this medicine are water-attributed scallops and fire-attributed fire-dog whips, which have the effect of balancing water and fire.

After taking it, by slightly stimulating the spiritual energy within, one can achieve great vigor without having to unlock the "lower gate lock"!

Why else would Luo Chen risk his life to refine this stuff?

It is definitely not because he has a personal need for it!

It is because this market has a massive demand!

Luo Chen is addressing the urgent needs of the masses and thinking what they are thinking.

If he were back on Earth, he would at least be a minor Song Jiang, nicknamed "The Timely Rain"!

When the second bottle of Zhongmiao Pills was sold again at a unit price of five spirit stones, the way Old Daoist Chen looked at him changed.

He even held a Qi-Concealing Talisman worth at least three spirit stones and compared it to that exquisite little jade bottle.

He muttered to himself

"This shouldn't be!"

"My Qi-Concealing Talisman is drawn with the blood of a three-colored earth dragon and the gall of a scentless field mouse; the cost alone is two spirit stones. Could the cost of the Zhongmiao Pills be higher than mine?"

"Or is it that compared to saving one's life at a critical moment, male cultivators value that ability more?"

Luo Chen didn't explain.

Even when the Bigu Pills were sold out and only the lonely Zhongmiao Pills remained on the stall, he stayed crouched there.

Today, he was determined to ruthlessly fleece Old Daoist Chen's customer base.

Every time a cultivator came to buy talismans, he would pull them aside and whisper

"Fellow Daoist, are you interested in learning about the Zhongmiao Pills?"

Of course, not everyone had an interest in this.

Those with firm wills and hearts set on the Great Dao refused bluntly.

How could one focus their mind on the pleasures of men and women?

Such vermin would never achieve anything in their lifetime!

Those with strong self-esteem would even flick their sleeves and leave.

"Do I look like someone who needs that kind of medicine?"

However, most cultivators showed clear interest.

Especially after Luo Chen used his old trick, telling the story of how Mr. Yun Zhonghe used this medicine to battle a fourth-rank Beast Emperor.

They would then generously open their purses, hoping to emulate the style of their predecessors.

Just like that, by the afternoon, the Zhongmiao Pills in Luo Chen's hands were finally sold out.

He gave Old Daoist Chen a bag of spicy beef jerky and, while crouching to the side, Luo Chen chewed on the jerky and calculated today's earnings.

First, twenty bottles of Bigu Pills; the market was stable, and they sold for a total of four spirit stones.

Then, the new product, Zhongmiao Pills; ten bottles sold for forty-six spirit stones.

The reason it wasn't fifty was that, in order to open up the market, he had slightly lowered the price for a few bottles.

It was a new launch, after all; there had to be some discounts.

After finishing the accounts, Luo Chen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

His savings had finally returned to the fifty-stone mark!

He could definitely proceed with the refining of Zhongmiao Pills again.

However, until his proficiency in Zhongmiao Pills underwent a qualitative change, he feared his output rate wouldn't increase.

With just this income, he couldn't afford the regular cultivation required for his five-element spiritual root aptitude.

Therefore, if he wanted to increase production, there was only one way.

Expand production!

But expanding production required higher costs and more spirit stones.

Where would the spirit stones come from?

"Fellow Daoist Luo, may I ask, what is the cost of your Zhongmiao Pills?"

"You know it's intrusive, yet you ask!" Luo Chen didn't even lift his head.

Old Daoist Chen laughed awkwardly, but with skin as thick as his, he wasn't angry.

The main thing was that while others didn't know Luo Chen's earnings today, he had been sitting right there and saw it clearly.

Fifty spirit stones!

That was what Luo Chen used to have to sell two hundred and fifty bottles of Bigu Pills to earn.

He also knew it was impolite to ask about someone else's trade secrets, so seeing that Luo Chen wouldn't say, he didn't intend to press further.

However, he didn't ask, but Luo Chen leaned in.

"Uncle Chen..."

"Hmm?"

He started calling him "Uncle" again!

"I've been watching you since I was a child—no, you've been watching me grow up. You know exactly how many spirit stones I have. You have more or less of an idea about the cost of the Zhongmiao Pills."

Luo Chen said sincerely, his tone incredibly earnest.

"I can't tell you the exact cost, just keep it to yourself and don't go spreading it around. But there is a trick to selling them at a high price!"

Old Daoist Chen looked hesitant, recalling Luo Chen's entire operation today.

He was thoughtful!

But some things still didn't click for him.

This was the difference between a transmigrator who had experienced the bombardment of modern information and an indigenous old man.

Even after watching someone else operate in person, he still didn't understand the reason behind it.

"I can tell you this trick. But, can you do a favor for little Luo?"

"A favor?" Old Daoist Chen looked at Luo Chen suspiciously, his left eye twitching involuntarily. "Let's get this straight: I can help, but I won't lend you spirit stones!"

Luo Chen grabbed his sleeve and shook it, his face full of admiration.

"Uncle Chen, in this cold world of cultivation, you are the only elder I have!"

"Fellow Daoist, please have some self-respect!"

"Uncle! It's not much, just fifty, and they're only low-grade spirit stones. Just lend them to me once! I'll pay you back in half a month at most!"

"Hiss, you really have the nerve to ask!"

"You know how much little Luo made today; I am fully capable of repaying you. You have to trust me!"

Luo Chen grabbed the thick, rough hand of Old Daoist Chen. "Uncle, trust me! Besides, don't you want to know how to sell your talismans at a high price?"

Old Daoist Chen was a bit tempted.

"To be honest, every time I see the talismans you've poured your heart and blood into being bought by others for a few measly spirit stones, my heart aches!"

"They look down on your talisman-making skills; they are looking down on me, little Luo!"

"Uncle, trust me. Lend me the spirit stones, and I will help you sell your talismans at a high price. From now on, we'll grow big and strong and create glory!"

*Gulp!*

Old Daoist Chen swallowed, his wrinkled face looking affectionately at Fellow Daoist Luo.

"Really?"

"Fifty isn't much. You won't lose out, and you won't be cheated!"

"Fine, take it! I am a Great Cultivator of the sixth level of Qi Refining; I assume you wouldn't dare to welch on the debt!"

Luo Chen quickly took the handful of scattered spirit stones, put them into his small bag, pulled the string tight, and tucked it into the deepest part of his inner lining.

Old Daoist Chen looked away; he couldn't bear to watch this scene.

That was all his money!

"Alright, you can tell me now."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, do you know what brand value is?"