Chapter 28: Chapter 28: The Small Quadrate Compound,
Hidden Tigers and Crouching Dragons 1
Translator: 549690339
For some reason, Luo Chen felt that Wang Yuan had become colder than before.
He still wasn’t a man of many words, but there was an occasional remark that was a bit unsettling.
Naturally, Luo Chen didn’t know about Wang Yuan’s recent great achievements, not to mention his emerging fame as the Mad Blade.
Killing for treasures had nothing to do with him.
Even if there was a relation, he found himself forced into it.
Luo Chen, is wholeheartedly committed to the Dao!
After rummaging through many books, Luo Chen finally found what he was looking for.
“Brother Wang, I’m considered your little brother now, right?”
“Hmm, barely.”
“Are there any benefits to being your little brother, for example…”
“You can’t have this book. It’s entrusted to me for sale by a Ninth Level Qi Refinement Cultivator of the Broken Mountain Gang. If you want to read it, you’ll have to buy it.”
What Luo Chen was holding was actually the book ‘Five Essential Techniques During the Qi Refinement Period,’ which Wang Yuan had been unable to sell for a long time.
But Luo Chen remembered Wang Yuan previously saying that he got the book by robbing, right?
What happened to the promise of Rogue Cultivators not cheating each other? Luo Chen pulled out two hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones, cursing all the while, and then carefully stored the cherished book in his storage bag. Wang Yuan watched him, and chuckled softly.
“Chen Xiao really had some bad luck, after half a year of hard work, he ended up as your benefactor.”
What do you mean he ended up being my benefactor?
I’m a guy.
“The unlucky guy I killed earlier was named Chen Xiao?”
“Hmm, he found an ancient senior’s Immortal Mansion, broke the array after half a year, and reaped many benefits, only for them to end up as yours.” Touching his storage bag, Luo Chen suddenly realized.
No wonder a Fifth Level Qi Refinement Stage Rogue Cultivator like him had both a storage bag and an Ascendant Grade Magic Tool Soul Nail, turns out he had a fortuitous encounter!
“They reaped a lot of benefits which is why they dared to surround and kill me, but it’s a pity they didn’t know how to use their treasures.”
“What do you mean?”
For example, this Soul Nail, initially easily broke through my defense, but it could only lightly injure me. It was less threatening to me than his Thunderbolt Bomb.”
Maybe it was because Wang Yuan wanted to give Luo Chen some pointers, so he casually explained.
“But if he had smeared some poison on that Soul Nail, I would’ve been in danger back then.”
Luo Chen was taken aback, then immediately extended his thumb in praise. “Brother, you are so cunning!”
“No, you are experienced in battle!”
Seeing Wang Yuan’s face change, Luo Chen quickly corrected himself.
Wang Yuan shook his head, “Whether it’s an Immortal Cultivator or a mortal martial artist, the logic of fighting is the same, it’s about forcing the opponent into a corner. Many rogue cultivators from The Great River District were too rigid, only knowing how to blindly attack with their magic tools.” “Of course, it’s also possible that he wasn’t able to obtain a poison that could affect cultivators.”
Luo Chen nodded vigorously.
As cultivators breathe in Spirit Qi, even if they don’t intentionally practice body refinement, their physique would be gradually evolving.
Otherwise, high-level cultivators, who often squander a huge amount of Spirit Qi, wouldn’t be able to withstand the attrition with fragile bodies.
A jade bottle was passed to Luo Chen.
This is the Chaos Spirit Powder I seized, smear it on the Soul Nail. Once it touches the enemy’s flesh and blood, their Spirit Qi will become chaotic and undirected.”
Is this the benefit of being a little brother?
Luo Chen happily took it and planned to apply it as soon as he got home.
He also wanted to become someone with rich combat experience!
“Remember, the effect of the Chaos Spirit Powder is very short, and those with more Spirit Qi can easily suppress it. So, once you throw the Soul Nail, you must be prepared to fight quickly.”
Wang Yuan cautioned him seriously.
He had a few bottles left for his own use, but there was no need to tell Luo Chen about it.
He was naturally a man of few words, but he had already said a lot today.
Seeing this, Luo Chen left a bag of snacks for passing the time and tactfully bid farewell.
Before leaving the market, he looked back and found that Wang Yuan seemed to be cultivating?
“Taking advantage of selling things to absorb First Order Spirit Vein from the Inner City?”
This discovery brought Luo Chen a moment of surprise.
But he quickly dispelled any thought of emulating this.
The market was bustling, far from a good place for quiet cultivation and practice.
Any interruption might lead to demonic deviation.
Wang Yuan dared to do it probably because he had something else to rely on.
If he tried to imitate, it would be equivalent to seeking death.
“You really are a Pill Refiner!”
When Caiyi woke up and performed her daily grooming in the afternoon, she ran over to the Reverse Room.
Seeing Luo Chen holding a stone pestle and grinding an unknown mineral with all his strength.
The spacious Reverse Room was filled with different herbs.
The mixed smell was a bit discomforting upon smelling it.
However, Luo Chen thoroughly enjoyed himself, having grown accustomed to these smells.
Upon seeing Caiyi leaning on the door, Luo Chen gave a cheeky smile, and poured the iridium powder from the stone mortar into a wooden barrel.
Another type of medicinal herb was already soaking inside. As the Iridium Powder was added, a strange reaction occurred immediately.
Bubbles continuously emerged, making a gurgling sound.
After washing his hands, Luo Chen headed to the door and stretched lazily. “Do you want some hawthorns? I got some as a bonus from the vendor while buying herbs today. It doesn’t contain any Spirit Qi, but it’s sour and sweet and delicious.”
Caiyi took a handful of hawthorns from Luo Chen’s hand but her gaze was on his storage bag.
“Pill Refiners like you are truly wealthy; you’ve already got a storage bag in the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement.”
Her tone was filled with envy.
Envious? Woman.
It came at the cost of risking my life!
Of course, Luo Chen avoided flaunting his wealth and steered the conversation back, asking Caiyi about the neighbors.
It’s still better to get familiar with the people around whenever you move to a new place.
Otherwise, it could affect his work if there’s a conflict later.
However, his inquiries left him somewhat stunned.
“There are six families living here in total. One in the main house, two families in each of the east and west wing rooms, and you being in the largest Reverse Room.”
Fu Xiuxiu lives in the East Wing Room, who is a Ninth Level Qi Refinement Cultivator and works in the Shen Fu Pavilion, and she has already been promoted to a managerial position.”
“The Qin Family lives in the West Wing Room, three people in total, and both the husband and wife, Qin Liangchen, are Ninth Level Qi Refinement cultivators. They are currently away personally escorting their son to the Luo Yun Sect to participate in the beginner’s trial.”
“The two side rooms are occupied by Bai Meiling and Feng Xia respectively. Both are Seventh Level Qi Refinement cultivators and work at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.”
After hearing this detailed description of his neighbors, Luo Chen couldn’t help but be surprised.
It truly was a hidden dragon and crouching tiger!
In a small courtyard, there were three Ninth Level Qi Refinement, and two Seventh Level Qi Refinement cultivators.
Only Luo Chen was at the Fourth Level Qi Refinement, pitiful, and in need of a hug.
Caiyi naturally wouldn’t hug him. Standing tall and proud she laughed: “As for me, Gu Caiyi, I’m at the Eighth Level Qi Refinement and I make a living by dancing at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.”
“How’s the income?”
“Decent enough. Don’t you see? I’m living in the main house.”
Alas! Heaving a sigh, shaking his head.
He initially thought that advancing to the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement would at least make him a significant cultivator. However, even in a small courtyard, everyone could potentially bully him due to the difference in cultivation level.’ In fact, Luo Chen was surprised but not shocked.
There are thousands of rogue cultivators in the Great River District, including hundreds in the Late Stage Qi Refinement.
These hundreds of people, although rarely seen in the Outer City, are commonplace in the Inner City.
In other words, lower-ranking cultivators simply can’t afford the residences in the Inner City. Only late-stage cultivators with unique skills can afford to live in the Inner City.
Take Elder Chen for instance, despite being a Sixth Level Qi Refinement cultivator, his expertise in talisman crafting and talisman leather refinement gives him the confidence to say, “If the Outer City becomes more chaotic, I plan to move to the Inner City.”
From this, we can infer the circumstances.
If it wasn’t for the need to take refuge, and licking some blood off a knife, Luo
Chen couldn’t afford to rent a house in Inner City.
“Come to think of it, it’s a bit odd.”
“What’s odd?”
Luo Chen asked curiously, “Excluding me, aren’t all the five households in our courtyard female cultivators? Also, most of the residents I see on my way home seem to be women.”
“You’re really slow!”
Caiyi chuckled, “Just as there are Yin and Yang in the world, Spirit Qi is naturally composed of Yin and Yang elements. The North of the city is suppressing a Ghost King, causing the Spirit Qi to lean towards the Yin. Men belong to Yang while women belong to Yin. Therefore, most of the renters here are naturally female cultivators!”
Luo Chen was suddenly enlightened, then worriedly asked again: “So, will it affect my cultivation if I stay here long term?”
“There should be no impact, right?” The tall Caiyi embraced her chest and said uncertainly: “We female cultivators certainly do gain benefits from living in a Yin-dominated place, but you male cultivators will at most not benefit; it shouldn’t harm you in any way.”
“Is that so.”
“Fellow Daoist Qin has also lived here for many years. We haven’t heard him complain.”
Caiyi thought for a while, “Alright, I’ll ask Lady Yuxiang from the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion when I have time tonight. She knows more about this than I do.”
“Well, thank you.”
By the way, I haven’t asked you, what kind of elixirs do you refine?”
Caiyi looked eagerly at the dark room. She couldn’t identify most of the medicinal herbs within.
If Luo Chen’s refined elixirs were suitable for her, that would be great.
They were all neighbors, and it was only fair to ask for a friendly price.
But she waited for half a day and still didn’t hear Luo Chen’s answer.
Was it inconvenient to say them?
Caiyi glanced at Luo Chen and noticed that his face had an almost imperceptible blush.
“Fasting Elixir.”
“Yes, it’s the Fasting Elixir!”
Luo Chen repeated it, his tone rather resolute.
Gu Caiyi, who went to work in the evening, was still thinking about their afternoon chat.
Upon arriving at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, most of the girls were getting out of bed, preparing to eat to fill their stomachs.
The daily serving of Spirit Food was a delicacy that she didn’t want to miss.
While enjoying the delicious and Spirit Qi-filled meal, Gu Caiyi saw Yuxiang eating slowly.
“Xiang Xiang, you know about pill refining, so I have a question.”
“Hmm.”
“Does a Middle Stage Qi Refinement cultivator who produces Fasting Elixirs earn a lot?”
Yuxiang blinked her eyes, then a laugh escaped her lips..