A Night of Nine Times, Eighty-One Strands of Yin-Yang Essence-Amazing!

Lu Chen had used the Yin-Yang Cauldron to pick up two huge bargains in the market of Hehuan Town.

He could hardly wait to return to the House of Ten Thousand Beauties and find someone to cultivate with.

However, he had not forgotten about Wuchenzi's Black Tortoise Armor.

He pretended to stroll leisurely back to Wuchenzi's stall and passed by it as if nothing had happened.

"Hey, fellow Daoist, please wait!"

Wuchenzi hurriedly called out to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen had been waiting for him to call.

"Oh, it's you again, fellow Daoist!"

Lu Chen stopped.

"Haha, this proves that you and this old man are fated. This Black Tortoise Armor has finally met someone destined for it."

Wuchenzi laughed. With that meddlesome Yun Ao absent, he had to swindle this fellow properly.

"This damaged artifact of yours..."

Lu Chen casually picked up the Black Tortoise Armor, pretending to look regretful.

"Fellow Daoist, although this Black Tortoise Armor is a damaged artifact and can only be used once, it can save your life at a critical moment!"

Wuchenzi hastily said.

"That is true enough."

Lu Chen pondered.

"How about this? Eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and it's yours!"

Wuchenzi wore an expression as though he were cutting off his own flesh.

Lu Chen hesitated inwardly. He only had sixteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones on him.

"Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones. I'll take it!"

Lu Chen gritted his teeth.

"Ten? Come on, fellow Daoist, this is Black Tortoise Armor! Black Tortoise Armor that can withstand the full-force strike of a cultivator at the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining! How could ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones be enough?"

Wuchenzi said gloomily.

This fellow in the bronze mask was haggling far too viciously.

"Fellow Daoist, you can keep it, but you won't be able to sell it. This is a one-use Magic Artifact, badly damaged and not even a Spirit Artifact anymore. Its defense may be decent, but how do I know whether this armor can truly block the full-force strike of a cultivator at the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining?"

Lu Chen shook his head.

"This..."

Wuchenzi froze at his words. Naturally, he knew just how badly this Black Tortoise Armor had been damaged. It was no longer a Spirit Artifact, or else it would not be so cheap.

Magic Artifacts and Spirit Artifacts were fundamentally different.

Magic Artifacts were weapons that even cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm could use. One only needed to pour vital essence into a Magic Artifact to unleash its power.

Spirit Artifacts, however, were different. They possessed spirituality, and their power was a hundred times greater than that of Magic Artifacts.

Eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones could buy a better Magic Artifact.

That was also why he could not sell this Black Tortoise Armor.

"Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones really is too little. Could you add a little more, fellow Daoist?"

Wuchenzi asked tentatively.

"Fine. Consider it a good karmic bond between us. Fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones, not one more."

Lu Chen said decisively.

"This..."

Wuchenzi hesitated.

"Ah, it seems I have no fate with this Black Tortoise Armor!"

Lu Chen sighed deeply as he spoke, about to put down the Black Tortoise Armor and leave.

He looked unconcerned, but he was tense inside as well.

"Wait..."

Wuchenzi gritted his teeth. "Fine, fifteen it is. Take this Black Tortoise Armor, fellow Daoist!"

Lu Chen was overjoyed when he heard that. He had finally obtained this damaged artifact.

And it had only cost him fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Amazing!

Lu Chen pretended to be shocked. "Wait, you're really selling it to me?"

"You named the price yourself, fellow Daoist. You can't go back on your word!"

The old fox Wuchenzi hurriedly said.

"This... ah, I thought you wouldn't be willing to sell it to me!"

Lu Chen pretended to be deeply troubled as he reluctantly took fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his storage bag.

Fearing that Lu Chen would regret it, Wuchenzi snatched the Spirit Stones from his hand in one swift motion.

In truth, Lu Chen was already laughing himself silly inside.

"Wait, fellow Daoist, you really bought that damaged artifact?"

Young Master Yun Ao popped out from who knew where again.

He was utterly dumbfounded.

He had arrived too late. This fellow Daoist had ultimately been swindled by that old fraud Wuchenzi.

"Hehe, money and goods have been exchanged. No backing out now!"

Wuchenzi looked smugly at Yun Ao.

"You old bastard..."

Yun Ao was infuriated. This fellow had gotten the bargain and still acted as if he had suffered a loss.

Yet there was nothing he could do to Wuchenzi.

Wuchenzi had paid the entrance fee, after all. He had the right to set up a stall here and was protected by the market's managers.

"Forget it. It's only fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Lu Chen said indifferently.

Lu Chen did not linger and left the market directly.

As Yun Ao watched Lu Chen's retreating back, his gaze deepened.

He was very curious about the identity of this mysterious cultivator in a bronze mask.

Lu Chen hurried back to the House of Ten Thousand Beauties.

He was short on Yin-Yang Essence now.

Only Yin-Yang Essence could turn the scrap metal he had bought into treasures, and only Yin-Yang Essence could raise the grades of spirit herbs that lacked sufficient age.

Without Yin-Yang Essence, the things he had bought in the market would be nothing more than unwanted junk.

It was already nearly midnight.

Time was tight, and the task was heavy.

Lu Chen strode into the House of Ten Thousand Beauties.

The House of Ten Thousand Beauties was still brightly lit and bustling with visitors. The sounds of strings and pipes, along with laughter and revelry, drifted endlessly from the rooms.

He went straight up to the sixth floor, arrived at Room Eight of the Earth Class, took out the room token, and opened the door.

Three women as beautiful as immortals sat by the table, looking toward him.

Their figures were graceful, their white robes fluttering, and their skin was so tender it seemed water could be squeezed from it. Under the lamplight, it appeared to glow.

They were the three female Half-Demons Lu Chen had rescued from Madam Chun.

"Master is back!"

The white-haired woman immediately rose with a smile and came forward, wrapping herself around Lu Chen's arm.

The instant she touched Lu Chen, he sensed a change in the Yin-Yang Cauldron.

A line of words appeared on the cauldron's body: Upper-Grade Ice Spirit Root, Ice Dragon Bloodline!

"What?"

Lu Chen was stunned.

This woman possessed an Upper-Grade Ice Spirit Root and Ice Dragon Bloodline?

Could it be that she had the bearing of a Great Emperor?

Wait, the Yin-Yang Cauldron could not only detect the grades and condition of Spirit Artifacts—it could also detect Spiritual Roots and bloodlines?

Lu Chen was both shocked and delighted.

"Hmph!"

The red-haired woman snorted coldly and did not stand.

The blue-haired woman, meanwhile, remained seated with a frosty expression.

"Big Sisters, Master has returned. Aren't you going to get up and welcome him?"

The white-haired woman turned to the other two and said.

If Lu Chen had not saved them, they would likely have already been dragged out and beheaded by the people of the House of Ten Thousand Beauties.

"A warrior may be killed, but never humiliated. You want us to serve you? Dream on!"

The red-haired woman said coldly.

The blue-haired woman merely watched Lu Chen silently, saying nothing.

"What character!"

Lu Chen smiled as he walked forward with the white-haired woman in his arms.

He was eager to know what physiques and bloodlines these two female Half-Demons possessed.

"Master, please do not take offense. My two sisters are actually very grateful for your life-saving grace!"

The white-haired woman hurriedly said.

"If that's the case, then offer yourselves to me!"

Lu Chen said with a smile as he looked at the two female Half-Demons before him.

The red-haired one clearly had a fiery temper and a stubborn nature, while the blue-haired one seemed calm but was actually deeply calculating. Neither would be easy to subdue.

"Impossible!"

The red-haired woman refused outright.

The blue-haired woman's gaze toward Lu Chen turned cold and sinister.

"It is this servant's blessing to serve Master!"

The white-haired woman said shyly.

"Mm, what are all your names?"

Lu Chen asked.

"This servant is called Bing'er!"

The white-haired woman hurriedly replied.

"And you two?"

Lu Chen looked at the red-haired and blue-haired women.

Neither woman spoke.

"The red-haired sister is called Huo'er, and the blue-haired sister is called Qing'er."

White-haired Bing'er promptly said.

"Good. I did save your lives, after all. A handshake should be fine, right?"

Lu Chen said, extending his right hand.

"A handshake?"

Huo'er and Qing'er could not help frowning.

"It is a custom from my hometown, called a handshake greeting. Shaking hands with someone shows respect for both sides."

Lu Chen explained. What he really wanted was to examine their Spiritual Roots and bloodlines.

"You... respect us?"

Huo'er and Qing'er both stared at Lu Chen in disbelief.

They were Half-Demons, a race at the very bottom of the cultivation world.

Every Human Race cultivator treated them with lofty arrogance, despised and looked down upon them, and had never respected them.

Yet this masked Human Race cultivator before them actually respected them and wanted to shake hands with them?

Thinking this, Huo'er unconsciously extended her hand and clasped Lu Chen's palm.

A line immediately appeared on the Yin-Yang Cauldron in Lu Chen's dantian: Mid-Grade Fire Spirit Root, Fire Sparrow Bloodline.

Lu Chen was startled. This Huo'er also possessed remarkable Spiritual Roots and bloodline.

After shaking Huo'er's hand, he extended his hand toward Qing'er.

Qing'er hesitated for a moment, but still shook Lu Chen's hand.

Another line appeared on the Yin-Yang Cauldron: Upper-Grade Water Spirit Root, Black Flood Dragon Bloodline!

Lu Chen was both shocked and delighted. His trip to the House of Ten Thousand Beauties had not been in vain. He had found treasures—three great treasures at once.

If he properly... properly nurtured these three women, they would surely soar into the heavens one day.

"Mm, you will live here from now on. Now, Bing'er and I will go next door to discuss depth and shallowness—no, to discuss life!"

Lu Chen said as he put his arm around Bing'er and led her out.

"Don't say I didn't warn you. If you dare touch her, you will die!"

Huo'er glared furiously at Lu Chen.

Qing'er also fixed Lu Chen with a cold stare.

"Is that so? Do you truly want me dead?"

Lu Chen smiled dismissively, then went with Bing'er to Room Nine of the Earth Class next door.

"Are you willing to become my woman?"

Lu Chen looked at Bing'er, who was beautiful as a celestial maiden, and a wicked fire shot straight to the crown of his head.

In terms of looks and figure, this woman was absolutely no less than Liu Fuyao.

Liu Fuyao, oh Liu Fuyao—you looked down on me, didn't you? You said I had no affinity with the Great Dao of Immortality, didn't you? You wanted to kick me out of the Joyful Union Sect with one foot, didn't you?

The day I make a name for myself with a single thunderous cry, I'll make you and your Ruthless Dao the biggest joke under heaven.

"If Master hadn't saved this servant, this servant would have died long ago. This servant is willing to become Master's woman!"

As Bing'er spoke, she began to loosen her clothes, then reached out to remove the bronze mask from Lu Chen's face.

Lu Chen grabbed Bing'er's hand. "I guarantee you'll never regret today's decision!"

"Master, you mustn't treat this servant as a cultivation furnace, or demonic essence will enter your body. You really will die!"

Bing'er said in a trembling voice.

Her previous master had not even had time to consummate things before her icy demonic essence invaded his body and froze him into an ice sculpture.

"Don't worry. I won't die!"

As Lu Chen spoke, he used a silk scarf to blindfold Bing'er, then waved his hand and extinguished the flames in the room.

He hesitated no longer.

Bing'er was also very nervous.

However, before he had truly begun, he suddenly felt the body in his arms rapidly turning cold. In the blink of an eye, it was as though he were holding a massive block of ice. Strands of chill seeped from Bing'er's body and burrowed directly into his own.

Lu Chen felt as though the blood throughout his body was about to freeze solid.

A layer of frost actually appeared over his body.

"Master, what's wrong... Quickly let this servant go..."

Bing'er was greatly alarmed.

"It's nothing..."

Lu Chen's voice trembled from the cold. He was utterly shocked. So this was demonic essence?

What terrifying demonic essence.

He had not even started, yet he had nearly been frozen into an ice sculpture.

No wonder Bing'er's previous master had frozen to death.

Just as he was about to be unable to endure any longer, the Yin-Yang Cauldron finally stirred.

The demonic essence that had entered his body was drawn away by the Yin-Yang Cauldron and refined into spiritual energy.

The Yin-Yang Cauldron truly could refine demonic essence.

The next moment, an indescribable comfort spread through his entire body.

Wonderful!

Bing'er had wanted to struggle to her feet, but she suddenly discovered that Lu Chen was fine.

Master's cultivation was actually powerful enough to refine demonic essence?

Bing'er was shocked beyond measure.

"Come, my precious treasure!"

Lu Chen chuckled and began.

"What a little vixen!"

Lu Chen had never imagined that he would go nine times in one night, leaving him so exhausted that he nearly had to lean against a wall.

Inside the Yin-Yang Cauldron, eighty-one streams of Yin-Yang Essence had actually formed.

He also discovered that after the Yin-Yang Creation Cauldron refined demonic essence into spiritual energy, most of that spiritual energy was devoured by the Yin-Yang Cauldron, while he received only a very small portion.

"It's time to return to the mountain."

Lu Chen got up, put on his clothes, and donned his mask.

Dawn was nearly upon them. He needed to hurry back to the Waste Pill Repository.

"Master, where are you going?"

Bing'er woke up.

"I'm going back. I paid one month's rent for these two rooms. Stay here for now, and don't run around carelessly, lest someone captures you. I'll come find you when I have time."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Chen turned his right hand over, and a Beauty-Preserving Pill appeared in his palm.

He took out a jade bottle, placed the pill inside, then set it on the table.

"This is a Beauty-Preserving Pill, worth three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If you want to buy anything, take this pill to the people at the House of Ten Thousand Beauties and exchange it for spirit stones."

After saying that, Lu Chen opened the door and left.

"Master... You're so good to me..."

Bing'er tore off the silk scarf covering her eyes and looked at the jade bottle on the table. Since childhood, because of her Half-Demon identity, no one had ever treated her so well. Not only had he saved her life, he had even given her a pill.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Lu Chen hurried back to the mountain.

He needed to quickly use the Yin-Yang Cauldron to recast the bronze slip and obtain the cultivation technique inside it. The Black Tortoise Armor also needed to be recast.

However, when he came downstairs, everyone in the main hall was stunned.

"No way, this guy actually didn't die?"

"Those were three Half-Demon women with Spiritual Roots. He could actually withstand their demonic essence?"

The idlers who had come early in the morning to watch a good show were all dumbfounded.

They stared in disbelief at Lu Chen, who wore a bronze mask.

Lu Chen could not be bothered with them and walked straight out of the House of Ten Thousand Beauties.

What he did not know was that the moment he stepped out of the House of Ten Thousand Beauties, someone fixed their eyes on him.

"Brat, you finally came out. I'm going to make you die!"

At the street corner, Lin Shicai stared at Lu Chen with a venomous gaze.