Chapter 57: Fifth Level of Qi Refinement (Bonus Chapter, Please Keep Reading!)

In the cultivation world, spirit stones are money.

You cannot eat them, nor can you drink them. Although they contain vast amounts of spiritual energy, they are filled with impurities.

Unless a cultivator is facing a life-or-death crisis, they would never dare to absorb them directly.

Under normal circumstances, they are used by major powers to activate formations or to power large-scale magical treasures.

However, legend has it that top-grade spirit stones have spiritual energy so condensed and pure that a cultivator can absorb them directly.

But such treasures are simply beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.

Setting aside top-grade stones, ordinary spirit stones can indeed serve as a universal currency due to their scarcity.

Furthermore, the right to issue this currency is essentially held by the great sects.

The logic is simple: the more powerful a sect, the better the spiritual veins it can occupy.

And spirit stones are produced from various types of spiritual veins.

On Earth, money actually has no intrinsic value.

It is more an expression of a nation's credit, and that credit is forged through powerful national strength and abundant resources.

When a nation's credit goes bankrupt, its currency is nothing more than a pile of scrap paper.

In this cultivation world, the principle is much the same.

The sects are simply too powerful; therefore, when they set the settlement of their respective cultivation resources to "spirit stones," ordinary cultivators have no choice but to accept it.

Not only must they accept it, but they must also exert every ounce of their strength to earn enough of them.

The conflict between the Great River Gang and the Mountain-Breaker Gang is over the resources in the mountains—resources that represent individual spirit stones.

At this moment, within the Great River Gang, the gang leader Wang Haichao, looking weary, was seeing off a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Finally, the deal is done."

"As long as we win the death match the day after tomorrow and secure the channel resources in the mountains, the Lianyun Merchant Alliance has promised to hand over the water transport for the other four markets to us."

Standing below him was Gao Tingyuan, the second-in-command of the Great River Gang.

Hearing this, Gao Tingyuan could not help but feel incredibly excited.

Just the water transport for the Great River Market alone allowed the Great River Gang to make a fortune, enough to even support Wang Haichao's daily cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage.

If they secured the water transport for the other four markets, how much would the Great River Gang earn?

They could likely fund at least one or two more Foundation Establishment cultivators!

Seeing his excitement, Wang Haichao frowned imperceptibly, but quickly forced a smile.

"Xiao Gao, you have followed me for a long time; it hasn't been easy for you."

"Once we secure the rights to those four water routes, I will do my utmost to buy you a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Gao Tingyuan was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed.

"I will serve the Boss until my dying breath!"

Wang Haichao's lips twitched slightly, and he dropped the subject, changing the topic.

"So, the death match the day after tomorrow—are you confident?"

The list of the eighteen participants for the death match at the Dao Discussion Platform had already been submitted.

However, the order of combat remained a secret.

In other words, Gao Tingyuan might encounter the Seven Mountain-Breaker Tigers, or he might encounter the Two Blades.

Since lives were at stake, Gao Tingyuan's excitement faded, replaced by gravity.

"As long as I don't run into the Broken Blade, Xu Renke, I won't lose!"

Wang Haichao was well aware of this.

Xiao Gao was very strong, especially on the Great River, earning him the nickname "River Dragon."

But the Dao Discussion Platform had environmental restrictions; if he encountered his rival there, he would likely fall.

"Are you sure you are confident against the others?" Wang Haichao asked.

Gao Tingyuan said confidently, "Among the other eight, the Seven Mountain-Breaker Tigers, only the Heart-Devouring Tiger and the Mountain-Descending Tiger have some strength, but I do not fear them at all. The Sick Tiger used to be strong, but after his path was severed, he indulged in pleasure; I surpassed him years ago."

"What about the Jade-Breaking Tiger?"

"Haha, just a green kid."

"No, I am talking about the *former* Jade-Breaking Tiger."

Gao Tingyuan froze. "He's back?"

Seeing his expression, Wang Haichao shook his head. "It seems you aren't very confident. But don't worry. There are nine people in total; the chance of you meeting him is low. I have arranged for others as well."

At the mention of "others," Gao Tingyuan's expression turned somber.

Originally, in the Great River Gang, he was the second strongest after the leader, Wang Haichao.

But recently, several late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators had appeared out of nowhere, all of them formidable, greatly threatening his position.

*They might be people secretly supported by the Lianyun Merchant Alliance. I hope that after the death match, they all roll back to wherever they came from,* Gao Tingyuan thought to himself.

Suddenly!

Wang Haichao's expression changed slightly. He stood up abruptly and reached out to grab something.

But he grasped nothing but air.

*Whoosh!*

With a sharp whistle, a small sword plunged brightly into the surface of his desk.

A yellow talisman on the small sword ignited spontaneously without wind, followed by a cold, sharp voice.

"Control your people. Do not come to the Inner City to cause trouble."

It was the unique Flying Sword Message of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect, an effect even superior to ordinary sound transmission talismans.

The color drained from Wang Haichao's face, leaving him deathly pale.

He slowly raised his head and stared at Gao Tingyuan.

"Did you send people to the Inner City?"

Gao Tingyuan was also terrified.

That small sword was simply too fast.

If it had intended to kill him, it would have done so effortlessly.

After all, even Wang Haichao, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had failed to catch it in his moment of surprise.

This proved that the person sending this message was at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.

He forced a strained smile and managed to say, "Boss, I only sent two people to investigate Luo Chen—the one involved in the death of my subordinate."

"Useless piece of trash!"

Wang Haichao cursed, then shouted angrily, "Didn't I say not to stir up trouble until this matter is settled?"

Gao Tingyuan dared not speak, merely keeping his head bowed.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Haichao knew he would need the man's help again. Suppressing his anger, he said, "I will say this one more time: before the Golden Core Master of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect leaves, no one is allowed to cause trouble in the Inner City, and you must show restraint in the Outer City as well."

"Understood, Boss!"

"Get out. Prepare well for the death match."

After he left, Wang Haichao rubbed his temples.

Then, he took a list out of his storage bag.

"This fellow's ambition is growing. Keeping him around might become a hindrance in the future!"

***

Stepping off the large boat, Gao Tingyuan's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

When Duan Sanfu happened to approach, Gao Tingyuan slapped him across the face.

"Where is the Skinny Monkey?"

Dazed by the blow, Duan Sanfu replied instinctively, "He stayed in the Inner City to keep an eye on that kid."

"Are you sure he hasn't been exposed?"

"Probably... probably not yet! And even if he is, it's not a big..."

*Slap!*

Another slap.

"Useless piece of trash."

Gao Tingyuan walked away in a rage, leaving Duan Sanfu standing frozen in place, with matching red finger marks on both cheeks.

Two days later, the entire Great River Market, with its twenty to thirty thousand cultivators, was in motion.

They set aside their work and headed toward the Inner City.

Today was the grand opening ceremony of the Dao Discussion Platform, an absolute top-tier event in the region.

Whether they could sneak into the Falling Phoenix Mountain to observe or not, being able to experience it up close was a good thing.

Furthermore, it was heard that the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion had built gambling dens in the Inner City, which would offer betting odds for the eighteen-man blood duel between the two gangs.

The minimum bet was one spirit stone, with no upper limit.

Even the poorest cultivator could afford one or two spirit stones.

If they couldn't watch the fight, betting on the winner or loser was still a way to participate in the grand event!

Years later, it could even serve as a topic of conversation.

In a courtyard in the north of the city, Murong Qinglian had woken up early to prepare the attire for her husband, Qin Liangchen.

In the courtyard, Bai Meiling and Feng Xia were somewhat melancholy.

They couldn't go to the scene; the city would certainly be crowded today, making it a perfect day for the Baicao Hall to do business.

As employees, they couldn't leave.

Accompanied by Murong Qinglian, Qin Liangchen walked out wearing a brand-new dharma robe.

"Brother Qin, you must win!"

"Old Qin, may you strike with success and return safely!"

Qin Liangchen laughed heartily. "Alright, when I return, I'll host a banquet so everyone can have a good meal."

Just as he was laughing, the door to the guest room opposite suddenly opened.

A young man in gray clothing, with a wooden hairpin in his hair and long hair tied back, walked out.

Qin Liangchen's eyes lit up. "Xiao Luo, has your realm improved?"

"Thanks to the bowl of tiger bone soup Sister-in-law sent, and I'm also riding on your coattails, Brother Qin."

Luo Chen smiled slightly, his Qi Refinement Level 5 spiritual energy faintly fluctuating.

Just moments ago, his cultivation progress bar had broken through one hundred, moving from Qi Refinement Level 4 to Level 5.

And what he said was true.

Over the past two days, he had consumed a total of three Qi Nourishing Pills, increasing his progress by three points.

By circulating the Eternal Spring Technique, he had gained even more spiritual energy.

But the final catalyst for the qualitative change was that small bowl of tiger bone soup.

In addition to strengthening his blood and vitality, it contained a significant amount of spiritual energy.

After two days of refining it, he had finally achieved a breakthrough!

Qin Liangchen slapped Luo Chen on the shoulder and laughed loudly, "Good! Good! Your advancement is a great joy. You shall serve as my good omen today. I will surely crush my enemies!"