A Sudden Fortune

The Grain Avoidance Pills sold for eleven spirit stones, and the All Wonders Pills for one hundred and fifty.

Added together, that came to one hundred and sixty-one.

That was Luo Chen's income for the day.

After counting the spirit stones, Luo Chen smiled so widely his legs would not close.

After breaking even for so long, he had finally turned a small profit this time.

Adding the ninety-two spirit stones contributed by that short-lived ghost, his savings had instantly surged to two hundred and fifty-three!

This was an unprecedented peak!

He could buy two Low-Grade Magic Tools, or two and a half bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills, or eat spirit-infused feasts at Zhong Ding Restaurant for nearly half a month.

He could even book several nights at Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

Yet those thoughts did not linger in Luo Chen's mind for even half a second.

Now that he had more liquid funds, what should he use them for?

Of course, he had to Expand Production, grow bigger and stronger, and create new glory!

"Little Luo Fellow Daoist, shouldn't you repay that..."

"Uncle Chen, want some fish? I caught this yesterday. I slow-roasted it with a Fireball Spell for half an hour. Just heat it up a little—it's delicious."

"But..."

"The spirit stones, I know. I've got it all in mind. Little Luo is in a period of rapid improvement in his craft, so I need more medicinal ingredients to practice with. Once I've earned enough, I'll definitely repay you. When that time comes, I'll host a banquet at Zhong Ding Restaurant and treat you personally!"

Zhong Ding Restaurant was the finest restaurant in Great River Market.

It sold ingredients containing spiritual energy, served wine brewed from spirit veins, and even its snacks and fruits for passing the time were rare goods shipped by water from the Lancang River!

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

"Besides, you and I are both great cultivators of the Mid Qi Refining Stage now. Do you really think I'd covet your mere fifty spirit stones and refuse to return them?"

"Don't worry. I'll definitely pay you back then."

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

Watching Luo Chen vanish in a puff of smoke, Old Taoist Chen felt his balls ache a little.

That little rogue!

He was rather like himself back then, pinching every one or two spirit stones tight and making them last.

"I only hope that banquet at Zhong Ding Restaurant you mentioned isn't just a lie to fool this old man!"

"Double the Crimson Flame Chicken Blood?"

"That's right—the more, the better!"

"There are only a few pieces of Jade Mountain Herb left? I'll take them all. Please save me more next time."

"Give me five jin of this!"

After a round of major purchases, Luo Chen was so busy that sweat formed on his forehead.

The Rogue Cultivator Market was good in every way except that everyone loved haggling. Even people who had done business with him several times liked to bring up the season and market conditions.

By comparison, Hundred Herbs Hall's goods were expensive, but at least he did not have to waste words.

Besides, being expensive was not Hundred Herbs Hall's flaw—it was Luo Chen's flaw!

"Four hundred portions of dried scallops, forty Fire Hound Whips! Fellow Daoist Luo, are you sure you can take this much stock?"

Fat Shopkeeper Liu He Cai was rather surprised.

How long had it been? Only two or three transactions, yet this tiny Qi Refining Stage cultivator's purchases had already quadrupled.

Even if his body was weak, he should not be burning through supplies like this!

"Your store is a Five Hundred-Year-Old establishment with branches across the Four Regions Chain. You should have this much stock on hand, right?" Luo Chen said.

Shopkeeper Liu shook his head. "The goods are certainly available. It's just that you..."

Shopkeeper Liu suddenly sniffed, then asked in surprise, "Young friend, could you be a Pill Refiner?"

"A crude little craft, not worth mentioning. Shopkeeper, your eye is sharp indeed."

Good heavens, a wild Pill Refiner!

The way Shopkeeper Liu looked at Luo Chen changed completely, carrying a trace of something that was hard to tell whether it was mockery or admiration.

He could tell that Luo Chen was a rogue cultivator with no family or sect backing.

From his clothing, bearing, and even his cultivation realm.

But precisely because of that, he found it astonishing.

These days, rogue cultivators dared to touch such a lofty craft as Pill Refining?

This fellow truly did not know the immensity of heaven and earth.

Of course, business was about harmony bringing wealth.

Shopkeeper Liu revealed a genial smile. "To refine pills at such an age, you must possess outstanding talent. If you refine any good pills in the future, feel free to let me have a look."

Those words made Luo Chen somewhat curious.

"Shopkeeper, you also buy medicinal pills?"

"The Spirit Medicine Pavilion next door and Hundred Herbs Hall both come from the Medicine King Sect. Put that way, young friend, you understand, right?"

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

If he could place his pills in the Spirit Medicine Pavilion for sale, it would be like a small workshop's liquor getting a prime-time advertisement on national television back on Earth.

Wouldn't spirit stones come pouring in like a rushing stream?

Not to mention anything else—the most basic Qi Nourishing Pills for the Qi Refining Stage sold for one hundred spirit stones a bottle at the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Heh, no bargaining either. Take them or leave them.

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

He had not expected Shopkeeper Liu to have the means to send pills into the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

But for now, such a thing had nothing to do with him.

Although the All Wonders Pill had great market demand, his proficiency and output had not risen yet. He was not qualified to cooperate with the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, and Shopkeeper Liu promised to guarantee the supply of dried scallops and Fire Hound Whips.

According to him, the Fire Hound Whips came from a Cultivation Family under the Medicine King Sect. Their annual production was extremely stable and reliable.

Under Miss Xiao Ling's strange gaze, Luo Chen packed the medicinal ingredients into his Storage Bag and took his leave.

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

"When the woods grow large, every kind of bird appears. Low-level rogue cultivators these days even dare to try Pill Refining."

"Pah!"

Miss Xiao Ling spat, her face slightly red as she said, "I'm afraid the pills he refines aren't anything good either!"

Was the All Wonders Pill a good pill?

That depended on the beholder.

For cultivators with aspirations toward the Great Dao who still wished to enjoy the pleasures between man and woman, it was a gospel for men!

For pleasure-seekers with no intention of pursuing the Great Dao, who indulged themselves in merriment, it was an edged weapon at their waist!

Perhaps the only one it wronged was the Inferno Hound.

Every time someone used an All Wonders Pill and joined in Wushan Cloud and Rain, an Inferno Hound somewhere unknown would surely let out a heart-rending howl.

Truly, I did not kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me.

On the way back, Luo Chen was very happy.

After visiting the market so many times, this was the easiest trip yet.

He no longer had to carry a snakeskin sack on his back, trudging through streets and alleys.

Storage Bags truly were good things, worthy of being called the greatest invention in the Cultivation World.

Their minimum price of ten thousand was entirely worthy of their noble status.

He wondered which sect produced these things. They probably curled up in bed every day, counting spirit stones until they laughed themselves mad!

Since it was broad daylight in the afternoon, the Outer City Area looked quite safe.

Although there were always patches of mottled blood along the road, Luo Chen had long since grown used to them.

He unleashed Carefree Wander at the Mastery Level and swept through the bustling streets like the wind, his heart flying home like an arrow.

This round of purchases had cost him more than two hundred spirit stones, leaving only forty in reserve for unforeseen needs.

The raw ingredients for All Wonders Pills, the raw ingredients for Grain Avoidance Powder, and daily necessities.

It truly gave him the feeling of going out once a month in his previous life to stock up at a huge supermarket.

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

Besides the Fireball Spell, he also picked up the Entangling Spell again.

It was, after all, a foundational spell that came with the Evergreen Art. Its proficiency was already at 176/200, and it was close to advancing to the Mastery Level.

Although this spell was generally rated quite poorly.

It was a Wood Element spell, perfectly suited to the Evergreen Art, and its power depended entirely on how much spiritual power he expended.

If he raised his Entangling Spell Proficient level, Luo Chen would gain another means of facing enemies.

And who said the Entangling Spell could not kill people? (Some Divine King quietly gave it a like!)

Night fell.

After washing up, Luo Chen sat cross-legged on his bed, his five centers facing heaven as he circulated his Cultivation Method to restore spiritual power.

The Perfect Grade Evergreen Art truly was excellent. It took little time, was highly efficient, and faintly seemed to fit his body even better, like a Cultivation Method tailored specifically for him.

Even without the aid of Qi Nourishing Pills, Luo Chen could sense a cultivation speed entirely different from before.

He finished his practice and lay down, preparing to sleep.

Suddenly, Luo Chen, who had just closed his eyes, opened them again and stared fixedly at the door outside.