Chapter 47: Crossing the Void, The Roc Returns

Luo Chen had intended to tell Wang Yuan about this matter.

However, in the days that followed, Wang Yuan seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Daring not to venture out of the Inner City recklessly, Luo Chen asked Old Taoist Chen to look for him.

Yet, Old Taoist Chen could not find him at Wang Yuan's home either.

It was said that the doors were tightly shut, as if no one had lived there for a long time.

Helpless, Luo Chen could only keep the matter bottled up in his heart.

As for betting?

Was he, Luo Chen, the kind of person who profited from his brother's life-risking money!

"Forget it, forget it."

"There isn't much I can do. Rather than worrying needlessly, it is better to focus on steadily improving myself."

In the dead of night, Luo Chen swallowed a Qi-Nurturing Pill and continued his cultivation.

The fifth level of Qi Refinement was already within reach; only then would he truly be considered to be in the middle stage of Qi Refinement.

The fourth level was still too weak; using magical tools for combat was unsustainable.

In the following days, Luo Chen returned once more to the rhythmic life of alchemy and cultivation.

The proficiency of his Multitude Pill reached the "Proficient" level, which brought him a success rate as high as thirty percent, and the grade of the pill had even ascended to Mid-grade.

After refining the first batch, some thoughts occurred to Luo Chen.

Should he raise the price?

Previously, Low-grade pills could be sold for five spirit stones each; now that they were Mid-grade, there was naturally an increase in value.

Logically speaking, a price hike wouldn't be excessive.

However, Kang Dongyue's words made him realize that raising the price too abruptly might not be wise.

Because the price of the Multitude Pill was already somewhat inflated.

After all, it commanded a high price specifically because of its unique medicinal effects.

Furthermore, the purchasing power of Qi Refinement stage cultivators was limited; an excessively high price would deter a portion of potential customers.

"The improvement from Low-grade to Mid-grade is still too small. Raising the price will only cause me to lose the repeat customers I've worked so hard to cultivate."

"Besides, what I am earning currently is not actually little; it is enough to satisfy my current cultivation needs."

"The price hike should be set for when the Multitude Pill undergoes a qualitative change and reaches the High-grade level."

After careful consideration, Luo Chen formulated a future pricing strategy for his flagship product.

With his mind at ease, he no longer felt so rushed in his endeavors.

Life flowed slowly in this atmosphere of unhurried composure.

During this period, communication with the neighbors in the courtyard decreased significantly.

Regarding this change, Luo Chen speculated it was because the Dahe Market was becoming increasingly lively.

Even though he rarely went out, whenever he occasionally walked the streets, he could feel a sense of restlessness permeating the very air.

Everyone was looking forward to the day the Dao Discussion Platform officially opened. To bring the battles of cultivators out into the broad daylight under the watchful eyes of the public was, in itself, a very thrilling prospect.

Events like killing for treasures or highway robbery sounded exciting, but in reality, ordinary people had no sense of participation in them.

More and more external cultivators were flowing into the Dahe Market. Those capable of long-distance travel were either of high cultivation realms or possessed great wealth.

Due to this influx, the businesses of local cultivators had improved several times over.

In the past, there were small markets on the 1st, 4th, and 7th, and a large market at the beginning of the month; now, it had almost turned into small markets every day, with each one as bustling as the old large markets.

In the skies of the Outer City, countless遁光 (escape lights) streaked across, a kaleidoscope of colors.

External cultivators seemed to have no concept of being low-profile, or perhaps they simply didn't feel that a remote, rural market was worth being discreet in.

Luo Chen, however, became even more low-profile during this time, venturing out less and less.

During this period, Gu Caiyi returned once.

Indeed, Gu Caiyi had been staying at the Tianxiang Pavilion all this time.

It was said that when the Dao Discussion Platform opened, the Tianxiang Pavilion would also participate in the "program lineup."

The main performers would include the Yuyi Pavilion, where Gu Caiyi was stationed.

This would be an opportunity to make a name for herself.

If she performed well enough, her status at the Tianxiang Pavilion would rise in the future.

Once her fame was established, the visiting cultivators would be even more generous with their spending.

As for Fei Baiwen, the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who had been very generous to her before, he had rarely visited the Tianxiang Pavilion to spend lavishly lately.

"He is in Dahe Market for serious business. Aigao Mountain put a lot of effort into the construction of the Dao Discussion Platform. With the opening approaching, he must pay more attention to many things to avoid any mistakes. It would be the Yuding Sword Sect that loses face, but it would be Aigao Mountain that loses its dignity."

These were Gu Caiyi's exact words.

To this, Luo Chen could only lament: even being a contractor in the cultivation world was no easy task!

*Squeak.*

The sound of the courtyard gate being pushed open rang out. Luo Chen, who was currently practicing the Wind-Control Technique by leaping up and down in the courtyard, froze.

At this time of midday, who would be returning?

Then, in the next moment, he saw a man and a woman staring in astonishment at him as he stood atop the roof.

"Little thief! You've dared to steal into my home? You are truly seeking death!"

With a furious roar, a large golden mace came crashing down toward him.

Luo Chen was stunned. Weren't they supposed to forbid fighting in the Inner City?

But despite his shock, his reactions were not slow in the slightest.

He deployed his Perfect-grade "Carefree Wanderer" technique, combined with the Wind-Control Technique, soaring into the sky like a great roc.

At the very instant the golden mace was about to strike, he forcibly retreated several steps, as if a swallow were performing a sudden reversal.

This kind of mid-air gliding and effortless, free-spirited movement startled even the powerful, burly middle-aged man in the courtyard.

"Quite a little thief! You've got some skills!"

Having said that, he pinched a hand seal, intending to employ other means.

However, the beautiful woman beside him stopped him. She flicked out a long blue whip, directly sweeping the golden mace away from the pursuing Luo Chen.

"Wife, what are you doing?"

The beautiful woman in palace attire rolled her eyes at him. "Liangchen, can't you see he is a resident of this courtyard?"

Only then did Qin Liangchen realize that the courtyard had more signs of life than before.

That vacant side room now had its doors wide open, clearly indicating someone was living there.

Combined with what Sun Shou had said before they left—that they had found a young new neighbor for them—it was naturally the boy in the air.

"Come down!" Qin Liangchen shouted.

Luo Chen floated in the air, his heart still racing from the fright. That golden mace just now was truly terrifying.

If he had actually been hit, he feared he would be dead or severely injured.

"Who are you people? In broad daylight, under the clear heavens, you barge into another's residence so recklessly. Do you truly think the Yuding Sword Sect has no people?"

"Heh, you kid..." Qin Liangchen glared at him.

But before he could finish, he was interrupted by the beautiful woman beside him.

"Alright, stop it."

"You must be Fellow Daoist Luo Chen. We are the Qin couple from the western wing. Please, come down first!"

*Whew!*

Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Luo Chen drifted gracefully to the ground.

In truth, he had guessed the identity of this couple the moment the woman called out the name "Liangchen."

At the stone table in the courtyard.

The three sat on stone stools and introduced themselves.

The atmosphere was not particularly awkward; it could be considered a case of "becoming friends through a fight."

The beautiful woman—or rather, Murong Qinglian—offered an explanation.

Their son, Qin Xiaohu, had passed the entrance trial and successfully joined the Luoyun Sect.

After staying there for a few months and ensuring nothing went wrong, the couple had rushed back to the Dahe Market.

After all, their roots were here, and their livelihood depended on the business here.

They couldn't just abandon everything because their son had entered a good sect and go live there just to accompany him!

"Then many congratulations to you both. Perhaps in ten or so years, the Qin family will produce a Foundation Establishment cultivator," Luo Chen said with polite pleasantries.

However, it was obvious that these polite words struck a chord with the Qin couple.

Who wouldn't want their son's future path to be smooth and unobstructed?

Qin Liangchen chuckled and gave Luo Chen a heavy pat on the shoulder.

"You're not bad yourself, kid. Even though you're only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, you actually managed to dodge two of my mace strikes."

He spoke with sincerity, without a hint of flattery.

Luo Chen's performance just now had indeed genuinely surprised him.

Luo Chen made a bitter face. "Senior, you made it look easy, but I was scared to death just now."

"This was indeed my husband's fault. He is a coarse man, but he actually held back just now. Please don't take it to heart, young friend."

Murong Qinglian smiled slightly and, in an instant, took a beast-shaped wooden puppet out of her storage bag.

"A small gift, a token of our respect. Consider it an apology to you."

Luo Chen waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine, we've become friends through this encounter. There's no need for apologies!"

Despite saying that, his hands were already reaching for it.

As he toyed with the puppet, which resembled a pangolin, he asked curiously, "Is this a magical tool?"