Chapter 51: A Robber Cultivator? A Homebody Cultivator!

"Rogue Cultivator" sounds like a high-end, sophisticated term.

In reality, it refers to nothing more than low-life activities.

It is merely a title for cultivators who intercept travelers to rob them and kill for treasures.

Luo Chen disliked rogue cultivators intensely. Although he had pulled off one or two jobs himself, those were strictly for self-preservation.

He much preferred being a "Homebody Cultivator," developing steadily while staying indoors.

The changes in Dahe Market seemed to have little impact on the homebody Luo Chen.

He continued his daily routine of refining pills, condensing Qi, practicing spells, and researching techniques within the confines of his home.

However, the return of his neighbors, the Qin Liangchen couple, had a massive impact on his life.

A positive impact, at that.

Perhaps because he was preparing to participate in a death match, Qin Liangchen had been frequently visiting the headquarters of the Poshan Gang lately to practice with magical artifacts and enhance his strength.

He often returned home exhausted every day.

Yet, whenever he saw Luo Chen in the courtyard practicing the Pulling Technique or the Wind-Control Art, he would never hesitate to offer a few pointers.

Up until now, Luo Chen’s practice of spells had been purely a matter of brute-forcing his proficiency levels.

He was in that state of knowing *how* to do something, but not understanding *why* it worked.

The spell manuals he bought from Wang Yuan had no annotations from any masters; they were pure copies, with even the handwriting being so crooked that one might doubt if the transcriber had ever received a proper education.

In such a state, things would only change once his proficiency reached a much higher level.

But under the guidance of Qin Liangchen, a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, he was often able to gain sudden insights. When he cast the spells again, it was as if a bottleneck had been cleared, elevating his skill to a new level.

It was under these circumstances that Luo Chen's spell proficiency grew exceptionally fast.

In just a few short days, the Wind-Control Art, which had previously only been at the entry level, had ascended to the Proficient level.

Qin Liangchen praised his natural talent, but Luo Chen felt that having a teacher's guidance was worlds apart from practicing alone.

It turned out that proficiency didn't only grow through slow, grinding labor.

The guidance of an expert allowed him to reap far greater rewards.

Now, after more than half a month, he possessed the Grandmaster-level "Carefree Wanderer" movement technique and the Proficient-level Wind-Control Art.

The two complemented each other, acting like wings added to a tiger.

Luo Chen's straight-line flight speed over short distances was now entirely comparable to that of a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator.

If he were to pilot a flying artifact like a Lotus Leaf Disc, his opponents wouldn't even be able to catch his exhaust.

And in terms of maneuvering and dodging in mid-air, he was even superior!

Qin Liangchen had taken some time to spar with him.

When using only magical artifacts, if one couldn't land a decisive, thunderous blow, it was impossible to catch up to Luo Chen in subsequent pursuits.

He was simply too "slippery"!

Like a fish in water, a rabbit on land, or an eagle in the sky, he was completely impossible to pin down.

After their sparring session, Qin Liangchen even joked, "If it weren't for your low cultivation realm and lack of powerful offensive means, I'd have to let Old Man Mi insist you join the fight."

Powerful offensive means?

Luo Chen had them!

The Soul-Breaking Nail, the Jade Blade, and the "Flying Fire Fireflies" killing move derived from his Grandmaster-level Fireball Technique.

Luo Chen was confident that with this combination, a cultivator at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refinement would absolutely be no match for him.

Even a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator without good defensive artifacts was someone he dared to fight.

Of course, he wouldn't be so boastful as to tell Qin Liangchen this.

What a joke—the Eighteen Death Matches were attended by ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivators.

Who wouldn't have a few fortuitous encounters or trump cards hidden away?

Most likely, the artifacts flying across the battlefield would all be of high grade at a minimum.

If he went up there, wouldn't he just be asking for a beating?

Wouldn't it be better to honestly refine pills to earn spirit stones and then buy medicinal pills to cultivate?

As homebody cultivators, our main goal is to live a life free from worldly strife and enjoy the quiet peace!

Early in the morning!

Luo Chen packed a large number of jade bottles into his storage bag and prepared to head out.

Today was the day of the monthly grand market. Even if he hadn't exhausted all his raw materials, he couldn't miss such a business opportunity.

As he reached his front door, he happened to see his neighbor, Murong Qinglian, setting up a furnace in her courtyard.

She was burning Blue Steel Wood!

This material contained high oil content; a standard earthen stove truly couldn't handle it.

Luo Chen also burned Blue Steel Wood in a fire pit installed with heat-resistant bricks—it was specialized fuel for alchemy.

Seeing this, he was surprised. "Sister-in-law, what delicious thing are you making?"

Murong Qinglian brushed the dust off her hands, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled. "Your Brother Qin is about to participate in the battle. I bought two catties of Blood-Fiend Tiger bone, which can increase blood and Qi. I'm planning to stew a pot to nourish him properly."

Blood-Fiend Tiger, a second-tier demon beast!

The bones of such a creature could indeed significantly increase a cultivator's blood and Qi.

Especially for body refiners, it was practically a divine medicine!

With her explanation, Luo Chen understood why she wasn't boiling the soup in the kitchen.

Second-tier spiritual materials truly could not be refined by the mundane fires of an earthen stove in a short amount of time.

Seeing Murong Qinglian's gentle and submissive smile, Luo Chen asked hesitantly, "Sister-in-law, haven't you tried to persuade Brother Qin not to participate in that death match?"

"I can't persuade him."

"Uh..."

"Leader Mi is not only indebted to him, but he has always treated him well. Now that Leader Mi is facing a difficulty and he happens to be able to help, he cannot simply turn a blind eye."

"Then aren't you worried?"

Murong Qinglian revealed a look of melancholy and bitterness that she hadn't shown in the past few days.

"Worried? How could I not be worried? But that is just his temperament. Once he decides on something, even nine oxen couldn't pull him back."

"All I can do is support him silently and firmly believe that he will be victorious."

Hearing these words, Luo Chen fell silent.

Even after leaving the courtyard, winding through the complex and deep alleys, and arriving at the bustling main street, he still couldn't quite snap out of it.

In this world of cultivation, filled with deception and life-or-death struggles, could there truly be such heart-trembling love?

In this lifetime, would I, Luo Chen, ever encounter a woman who supports me like that?

There was no answer.

Luo Chen didn't want to dwell on it either.

By the time he regained his senses, looking at the crowds passing by on the street, he felt a bit dazed.

"Did I wake up late?"

"No!"

"Then why are there so many people when the sun hasn't even risen?"

When he arrived at the rogue cultivator market in the southern part of the city, an old man and a young girl were working busily at a bluestone stall.

Seeing the girl, Luo Chen couldn't help but speak up.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, is this your granddaughter?"

Luo Chen had always known that Old Daoist Chen was not a solitary man.

He had married in the secular world during his younger years; his wife had passed away, after which he brought his son to make a living in the Dahe Market.

Later, his son married and had a daughter.

But during a mountain hunt for demon beasts, both of them died tragically.

Since then, Old Daoist Chen had been surviving with his granddaughter.

Over the years, Old Daoist Chen had been incredibly stingy, valuing even half a spirit stone immensely.

He did this to save up a large sum of money to send his granddaughter into a sect.

Because of her, he was cautious in everything he did. During the last gang war in the outer city, he had gritted his teeth to move to the inner city, fearing something might happen to her in the outer city.

Hearing Luo Chen's question, before Old Daoist Chen could speak, the bright-eyed and white-toothed girl smiled.

"It's Brother Luo Chen, right!"

"I'm Shuyi. Grandpa is always mentioning you, saying you owe him fifty spirit stones and haven't paid them back yet."

Luo Chen had actually been quite happy to hear the sweet "Brother Luo Chen" at the beginning.

However, the sentence that followed made him feel a bit awkward.

"Once I earn enough spirit stones, I will definitely pay them back, definitely!"

Beside them, Old Daoist Chen's beard bristled with anger. "As if anyone would believe you!"

Luo Chen chuckled and didn't argue.

Regarding the fifty spirit stones owed to Old Daoist Chen, he actually could produce them at any time.

The reason he hadn't paid them back was simply that he maintained his previous habit of expanding production, striving to purchase enough raw materials every time to grind his proficiency.

Running into the granddaughter bringing this up today, even with his thick skin, he found it a bit hard to bear.

He planned to settle the debt once he finished processing the pills in his hands.

Looking at the bluestone stall which was already packed full, Luo Chen felt a bit conflicted—where was he supposed to put his pills?

(End of Chapter)