Chapter 21: Sudden Wealth

The Bigu Pills sold for eleven spirit stones, and the Zhongmiao Pills sold for one hundred and fifty.

Altogether, that was one hundred and sixty-one.

This was Luo Chen's income for the day.

After counting the spirit stones, Luo Chen was grinning from ear to ear.

After a long period of neither profit nor loss, he had finally made a small profit.

If he added the ninety-two spirit stones contributed by the "Short-lived Ghost," his savings would instantly soar to two hundred and fifty-three!

This was an unprecedented peak!

He could buy two low-grade magical tools, or two and a half bottles of Qi-Nurturing Pills, or even eat spiritual energy feasts at Zhongding's place for nearly half a month.

He could even book the night at Tianxiang Pavilion for a few days.

However, these thoughts did not linger in Luo Chen's mind for even half a second.

What should one do with increased liquid capital?

Of course, one should expand production, grow bigger and stronger, and create more glory!

"Fellow Daoist Luo, shouldn't that be returned..."

"Uncle Chen, want some fish? I caught this yesterday and roasted it for half an hour using Fireball Technique as a slow flame. Just heat it up a bit; it's delicious."

"But..."

"The spirit stones, I know, I'm keeping them all in mind. I'm just in a period of skill growth, so I need more medicinal ingredients for practice. Once I've earned enough, I will definitely pay you back. When that time comes, I'll host a banquet at Zhongding's place and personally host you!"

Zhongding's place was the highest-end restaurant in Dahe坊 (Dahe District).

Everything sold there consisted of ingredients containing spiritual energy, and all the drinks were brewed from spiritual veins. Even the snacks and fruits to pass the time were rare goods transported via the Lancang River!

Seeing that Old Daoist Chen was somewhat tempted, Luo Chen struck while the iron was hot.

"Besides, we are both mid-stage Qi Refinement great cultivators. Would I really be greedy over a mere fifty stones?"

"Don't worry, I'll definitely pay you back when the time comes."

"I'm in a hurry to go procure medicinal ingredients, so I'll be off!"

Watching Luo Chen vanish in a flash, Old Daoist Chen felt a bit exasperated.

This little rogue!

He was actually a bit like himself back in the day, pinching every single spirit stone.

"I only hope that banquet at Zhongding's isn't just a lie to trick an old man like me!"

"Red Flame Chicken Blood, double the amount?"

"Yes, the more the better!"

"Only a few pieces of Jade Mountain Medicine left? I'll take them all. Please save more for me next time."

"Give me five catties of this!"

A round of massive purchasing left Luo Chen sweating profusely.

There was nothing wrong with the rogue cultivator market, except that people loved to haggle. Even those who had done business with him several times loved to bring up the season or market trends.

In comparison, although the items at Baicao Hall were expensive, at least one didn't have to waste so much breath.

Moreover, being expensive wasn't a flaw of Baicao Hall—it was Luo Chen's flaw!

"Four hundred portions of dried scallops, forty Fire-Dog whips! Fellow Daoist Luo, are you sure you can consume this much?"

The fat manager, Liu Hechai, was somewhat shocked.

It hadn't been long—only two or three transactions—yet this tiny Qi Refinement cultivator's purchasing volume had quadrupled.

Even if one's body was weak, one shouldn't indulge like this!

"Your shop is a four-region chain and a five-hundred-year-old establishment; surely you have this much stock?" Luo Chen said.

Manager Liu shook his head. "The stock is certainly there, but you..."

Manager Liu suddenly sniffed the air and asked in surprise, "Little friend, you wouldn't happen to be an alchemist, would you?"

"A crude skill, not worth mentioning. The manager has a keen eye."

Good heavens, a wild alchemist!

The way Manager Liu looked at Luo Chen changed; it was a look that was somewhere between mockery and admiration.

He was certain Luo Chen was a rogue cultivator with no family or sect background, judging from his clothing, temperament, and even his cultivation realm.

But that was exactly why he was surprised.

In this day and age, rogue cultivators actually dared to touch a high-end technology like alchemy?

The boy was truly unaware of the heights of the heavens.

Of course, in business, harmony brings wealth.

Manager Liu flashed a warm smile. "To be able to practice alchemy at this age, one must possess extraordinary talent. If you refine any good pills in the future, feel free to let me have a look."

These words actually piqued Luo Chen's curiosity.

"Manager, you also collect pills?"

"The neighboring Lingyao Pavilion and my Baicao Hall both originate from the Medicine King Sect. So, little friend, do you understand?"

Luo Chen's eyes lit up as he realized something.

If he could get his pills sold in the Lingyao Pavilion, it would be like a small-scale distillery on Earth getting an advertisement slot during prime time on CCTV.

The spirit stones would come flowing in!

Without saying much else, the most basic Qi-Nurturing Pill in the Qi Refinement stage was sold directly by Lingyao Pavilion for one hundred spirit stones a bottle.

And they wouldn't even haggle; take it or leave it.

Once you stepped out of that door, there was nowhere else to buy them!

He hadn't expected that Manager Liu actually had the means to get pills into the Lingyao Pavilion.

However, for the time being, such matters had nothing to do with him.

Even though there was high market demand for the Zhongmiao Pills, his proficiency and output had not yet increased; he was not yet worthy of cooperating with the Lingyao Pavilion.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, and Manager Liu promised to guarantee the supply of dried scallops and Fire-Dog whips.

According to him, the Fire-Dog whips came from a cultivation family under the jurisdiction of the Medicine King Sect, and the annual output was very stable and reliable.

Meeting the strange gaze of the young lady, Xiao Ling, Luo Chen packed the medicinal ingredients into his storage bag and took his leave.

After he left, Manager Liu clicked his tongue in wonder.

"The forest is vast; truly, any kind of bird can be found. Now even low-level rogue cultivators dare to touch alchemy."

"Pah!"

Xiao Ling spat, her face slightly flushed as she said, "I fear the pills they refine aren't anything good!"

Were the Zhongmiao Pills good pills?

That was a matter of opinion.

For cultivators who aspired to the Great Dao but also wished to enjoy human pleasures, they were a man's boon!

For those with no intention for the Dao and who indulged in pleasure, they were even more of a lethal weapon at the waist!

Perhaps the only ones to suffer were the Fire-Dogs.

Every time someone used the Zhongmiao Pills to embark on a journey of passion, a Fire-Dog would inevitably let out a heart-wrenching howl in some unknown place.

It truly lived up to the saying: "I did not kill Bo Ren, yet Bo Ren died because of me."

On the way back, Luo Chen was very happy.

Having attended so many markets, this one was the most relaxed.

He no longer had to carry burlap sacks through the streets and alleys.

Storage bags were truly wonderful things, arguably the greatest invention in the cultivation world.

The minimum price of ten thousand was entirely worthy of its noble status.

He wondered which sect produced these things; they probably spent every day curled up in bed, counting spirit stones until they went mad with joy!

Since it was broad daylight in the afternoon, the outer city seemed quite safe.

Although there were always splashes of colorful blood on the road, Luo Chen had long since grown used to it.

Unfolding the "Carefree Wander" technique at the Proficient level, he moved through the bustling market like the wind, his heart racing to return home.

This procurement trip cost a full two hundred spirit stones, leaving him with only forty spirit stones for emergencies.

The raw materials for the Zhongmiao Pills, the raw materials for the Bigu Powder, and daily necessities.

It truly felt like his previous life, going out once a month to shop at a large supermarket.

After arriving home and organizing everything into categories, Luo Chen began his cultivation for the day.

In addition to the Fireball Technique, he also picked up the Entangle Technique.

After all, it was a basic spell inherent to the Evergreen Art, and with a proficiency of 176/200, he was close to reaching the Proficient level.

Although this spell was generally rated very low, it was a wood-element spell that perfectly suited the Evergreen Art, and its power was determined entirely by the amount of spiritual energy consumed.

If he could raise the proficiency of the Entangle Technique, Luo Chen would have another method to deal with enemies.

And who said the Entangle Technique couldn't kill someone? (A certain God-King secretly gave it a like!)

At night.

After washing up, Luo Chen sat cross-legged on his bed, his five centers facing the heavens, circulating his cultivation method to recover spiritual energy.

The Perfect-level Evergreen Art was indeed excellent—short duration, high efficiency, and it felt subtly more compatible with his body, as if it were a technique tailor-made for him.

Even without the assistance of Qi-Nurturing Pills, Luo Chen could feel a cultivation speed vastly different from before.

Ending his cultivation, he lay down to prepare for sleep.

Suddenly, Luo Chen, who had just closed his eyes, snapped them open and stared intently at the door.

(End of Chapter)