Remember to Pay Back

Great River Market lay at the very edge of the Jade Cauldron Domain, bordering the Eastern Wilderness Million Mountains.

According to the statistics of a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator who had written a travelogue several years ago, because it sat atop a First-Order Spirit Vein, over ten thousand cultivators mingled here year-round.

Rogue cultivators made up the majority. People from the great sects did not stay for long, remaining only to tend to business.

Even then, it was periodic. The managers of those shops in the Inner City Area were replaced every few years.

Thus, most activity throughout the marketplace was still spontaneously organized by rogue cultivators.

Take the Rogue Cultivator Market, for instance. It was divided into major and minor markets.

The major market was held once a month, while the minor market was held on every first, fourth, and seventh day.

Of course, even when there was no market day, cultivators still set up street stalls. There simply were not as many people around.

Ten days had passed since the last minor market.

Early in the morning, a plump figure charged into the market.

Zeng Wen had been lucky. He had only spent a few days in the mountains this time before hunting a Tier 1 Demon Beast and obtaining over a thousand jin of demon beast meat!

His Storage Bag was not very large, with a capacity of only one cubic meter, barely enough to hold it all.

So, once his gains were about sufficient, he wisely withdrew from the mountains.

Ten jin of Tier 1 Demon Beast meat could sell for one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, and the beast's bones were spirit materials as well. All in all, this harvest was passable enough—enough for him to live it up for a while.

After returning home yesterday, he had found a familiar butcher to process the meat, then hurried impatiently to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion to enjoy himself.

As for the process... it was rather hard to put into words.

The beauties had been excellent, and his performance had been, as always, steady and efficient.

But compared to the grandeur of taking on ten at once last time, it paled by comparison.

That was why, early that morning, he had torn himself free from Hero's Tomb through sheer force of will, all to do some business with the little brother he had hit it off with at first sight last time.

By the time he reached South City Market, a number of people had already set up stalls. Old Taoist Chen, who sold talismans, sat serenely on a small stool.

"Little Luo Fellow Daoist isn't here?"

"No. He's probably refining pills at home!"

"Will he be setting up a stall today?"

"If he hasn't come by this hour, then he basically won't show up for today's minor market."

His disappointment was written all over his face.

Zeng Wen was quite disappointed. He chatted intermittently with Old Taoist Chen about his experiences in the mountains.

When he saw a customer approach, he prepared to take his leave.

But before leaving, he saw Old Taoist Chen cautiously pull back the dissatisfied customer.

"Fellow Daoist, are you interested in learning about the Spirit Concealing Aura Hiding Talisman?"

"What is that? Something that conceals one's aura?"

"You know Spiritual Hermit of the Divine Talisman Sect, right? Let me tell you..."

Zeng Wen's expression turned somewhat strange. He felt those words sounded strangely familiar.

Only after walking far from the market did he suddenly realize.

Wasn't that a copy of what Little Luo Fellow Daoist had said back then?

"Damn it, the old man's gone bad!"

He did not think Luo Chen had deceived him. When Luo Chen had promoted the All Wonders Pill to him back then, he had never used any definitive language, only vague and equivocal words.

Moreover, the All Wonders Pill's effects were exactly as Luo Chen had described.

He could only conclude that Old Taoist Chen had plagiarized Luo Chen's sales pitch.

Luo Chen, the victim, was currently huddled at home in an apron, worshipping Lord Guan.

"The previous batches all failed, and I've nearly used up all my padding. Today, I should finally get some product, right?"

"Lord Guan, I've offered you incense today. You absolutely must bless me!"

He muttered under his breath as medicinal ingredients continuously went into the pot.

The processed Fire Hound Whip gave off a naturally foul stench. Blended with the fragrance of all the spirit herbs and materials, it emitted an indescribably bizarre smell.

The brewing process lasted from morning until afternoon.

When he lifted the lid and saw the dark-red medicinal paste, smelling its refreshing fragrance, Luo Chen clenched his fist hard.

"Not bad. This time, the sixth batch succeeded. That's tremendous progress!"

"Lord Guan, I knew you had me in your heart. Even after I transmigrated, you're still protecting me."

"Tomorrow, I'll keep up the good work!"

Half a month later, Luo Chen looked with satisfaction at the fifty small jade bottles on the table.

They were the fruits of nearly a month's work.

Thirty bottles contained Grain Avoidance Pills, which he had rushed to make over the past two days.

The remaining twenty bottles all contained All Wonders Pills.

But unlike Grain Avoidance Pills, which came ten to a bottle, All Wonders Pills came one per bottle.

In other words, this round of All Wonders Pill refining had only succeeded twice.

Nineteen portions of ingredients had yielded two batches. That success rate truly could not be called high, and in terms of pill quality, they were merely low-grade.

Low-Grade Pills had severe limitations. Their medicinal effects were average, and consuming too many carried powerful side effects.

But that was not something he needed to worry about. He believed his fellow Daoists had great self-control—enjoy yourselves to the fullest, but do not drink too deeply.

"For now, this is all I can manage. But as long as I grind up my proficiency, the situation will definitely improve!"

"The future is bright. Go, Chenchen!"

After packing all the jade bottles into a bag, Luo Chen shut the door and dashed into the Inner City of Great River Market like the wind.

Today was the major market day. He had to sell this batch of goods properly.

When he reached the market, there were still few people about. Luo Chen had arrived too early.

Old Taoist Chen had not arrived yet, but Wang Yuan, an old acquaintance, was already sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Young man, you don't cherish your body at all. How cold is the ground?"

Muttering under his breath, Luo Chen greeted Wang Yuan, then naturally crouched before his stall.

"Eh, you've got more stuff again!"

Compared to last time, there were several more old books, and even a damaged Jade Slip.

There were also four or five additional Magic Tools, several of them stained with blackened blood.

"Brother Wang, how many big jobs have you pulled recently?"

Wang Yuan drooped his eyelids. "Look if you want, but don't touch anything."

Luo Chen gazed greedily at several old books: Qi Refining Stage Five Must-Know Spells, Miscellaneous Talks on Herbs, Evergreen Art Qi Refining Chapter...

They were all things he wanted, but unfortunately, he had no Spirit Stones!

If Wang Yuan sold all those things, together with those Magic Tools, who knew how much he would earn.

As far as he knew, a Low-Grade Magic Tool cost at least a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Mid-grade and high-grade ones were even outrageously expensive.

Killing people and looting their treasures truly was the Cultivation World's fastest, unrivaled path to wealth.

Unfortunately, he was not skilled at such things at all. He was merely a law-abiding little cultivator who enjoyed Pill Refining.

With a sigh, Luo Chen picked up the unsold Six Domains Customs Record and began reading it with great interest.

In the Far Eastern Six Domains, each domain had six great Upper Sects that had produced Nascent Soul True Persons, such as the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, Joyful Union Sect, Divine Talisman Sect, and Medicine King Sect.

Yet apart from those sects, every great domain also contained countless smaller sects and Cultivation Families.

The vast lands and abundant resources had given birth to innumerable figures of astonishing talent.

In nearly every era, powerful figures would rise.

Naturally, their rise was accompanied by no shortage of strange tales and extraordinary incidents.

The author of this Six Domains Customs Record was a Qi Refining Stage Level 9 cultivator. With no hope of Foundation Establishment, he had spent the rest of his life writing this book.

Limited by his realm and knowledge, much of what it recorded was hearsay.

Still, it did not stop Luo Chen from using the book to glimpse the tip of the Cultivation World's iceberg.

Those mere scraps and corners were enough to set his heart adrift and fill him with yearning.

"Jade Cauldron True Person swept mountains and rivers with a single sword, establishing the domain. Such magnificence is truly grand!"

After sighing in admiration, Luo Chen reluctantly put down the book. It was time to set up his stall.

"If you like it, take it and read it. That travelogue has too many errors. It has been sitting here for months without selling."

Wang Yuan spoke blandly. With a lift of his finger, the book floated gently into Luo Chen's hands.

Luo Chen was startled, then overjoyed.

"Thank you, Brother Wang. I'll return it after I finish reading."

Carrying the book back to his Azure Stone stall, Old Taoist Chen eagerly sidled over.

Seeing that old face, Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Did you come to tell me how good business has been lately?"

"No. I came to tell you to remember to pay back what you owe!"

"Uh!"

Luo Chen took a heavy blow. Just a moment ago, he had thought there were many good people in the Cultivation World.

But after he laid out his pills, Old Taoist Chen still gave him some good news.

"Recently, a lot of fellow Daoists have been asking for you and the All Wonders Pill. Kid, you're about to make a fortune!"