The first time he had stepped into the Zhenlong Black Market had been when the Golden Core ruins opened, during that period when the chaos in Dahe Market was escalating.
It was also back then that Luo Chen had auctioned off his Blood Burning Pills and caught Tianxingzi's eye, laying a solid foundation for their subsequent cooperation.
Therefore, Luo Chen remembered that first black market auction vividly.
He clearly recalled that three Foundation Establishment cultivators had attended that gathering.
Setting aside Tianxingzi, the master of the black market, the movements of the other two had been deeply suspicious.
Within the Golden Core ruins lay the legacy of the Ghost and God Valley's Supreme Elder—not only heaven-and-earth treasures, but magical treasures, and even an opportunity to form a core that was vital to Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Under such circumstances, those two Foundation Establishment cultivators had not gone to try their luck in the ruins.
Instead, they had attended a black market auction. Their motives were questionable indeed.
Back then, Luo Chen had lacked experience, and his only contact with Foundation Establishment cultivators had been a fleeting glimpse at the Zhongding family's Golden Core banquet.
As a result, he had not recognized either of them.
Later, after attending black market auctions many times and meeting more Foundation Establishment cultivators, he gradually became familiar with the few True Cultivators who were most active around Dahe Market.
Through certain subtle details and tones of voice, he finally confirmed that the two Foundation Establishment cultivators at that first black market auction had been Duan Qiankun and Elder Zhou of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance.
After all, the circle was only so big, and there were only so many people.
Even with disguises, after repeated encounters, Luo Chen was no fool.
Naturally, he could tell who was who.
He remembered that Duan Qiankun's primary goal in attending that auction was to secure that eight-hundred-year-old Root of Heaven and Earth.
For its sake, he had even verbally agreed to one of Elder Zhou's conditions.
Later, while chatting with Miao Wen, Luo Chen had vaguely learned what had truly happened on the night the Mountain Splitter Gang fell.
Five Foundation Establishment experts had besieged Mi Shuhua.
It had even drawn out Lu Jiushi, the revered Golden Core elder of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance.
Among them, Duan Qiankun had also taken part.
Luo Chen knew that Duan Qiankun and Mi Shuhua had risen together in Dahe Market and shared close ties.
For Duan Qiankun to turn against him, it had clearly been because of that promised condition.
In the past, these matters had seemed shrouded in mist.
Yet as Luo Chen's cultivation rose and his network expanded, a single thought was enough to make everything crystal clear.
The dead were already gone.
Pondering these things further served only to untangle his thoughts.
What Luo Chen truly cared about was the Root of Heaven and Earth that Duan Qiankun had won at auction.
The Root of Heaven and Earth!
A marvel among medicinal herbs, possessing miraculous effects when breaking through realms!
Every three hundred years marked a minor threshold, and three thousand years marked a major one.
For every additional three hundred years of age, it increased a cultivator's chances of Foundation Establishment by ten percent.
An eight-hundred-year-old Root of Heaven and Earth was already enough to raise a Qi Refinement cultivator's chances of Foundation Establishment by a full twenty percent.
Its efficacy was only ten percent lower than a Foundation Establishment Pill available on the market.
If one commissioned a master alchemist to refine it into a mid-grade or even high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, that probability could climb to forty or fifty percent!
Moreover, as a miraculous medicine for breaking through realms, the advantages of the Root of Heaven and Earth went beyond this.
Normally, if an attempt to break through failed, a cultivator would at best suffer backlash and damaged meridians.
At worst, their dantian would be destroyed, their spiritual power would violently erupt, and they would perish on the spot.
Yet if one borrowed the Root of Heaven and Earth for the breakthrough, even if it failed, its gentle medicinal power ensured the cultivator would not suffer severe injuries.
That was the true potency of a realm-breaking miracle herb.
Duan Qiankun had paid such a steep price to win it, yet he certainly had not bought it for himself.
Duan Rui!
Even after two failures, Duan Qiankun still had not given up on him.
Winning the eight-hundred-year-old Root of Heaven and Earth had clearly been to help him reach Foundation Establishment.
Judging by later signs, Duan Qiankun's frequent attendance at black market auctions served not only to acquire resources for his clan, but also to amass more auxiliary resources for Foundation Establishment.
Yang Restoring Water, Glazed Paste, Spirit Calming Incense...
All of these items were more or less helpful for Foundation Establishment.
They were substitutes used by many loose cultivators who could not obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill when attempting a breakthrough.
Although all of them combined could not equal a single Foundation Establishment Pill, having them was still better than nothing.
Unable to find a third Foundation Establishment Pill on short notice, and with his own lifespan drawing to an end, Duan Qiankun intended to use the Root of Heaven and Earth to make one final gamble on Duan Rui.
As the saying went, the third time was the charm!
Perhaps this time, if Duan Rui had the courage to stake his life, his chances of success would be quite high.
And if he succeeded, the Duan family would boast two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
How could Duan Feng ever exact his revenge then?
*I can't tell him!*
*If I tell him today, Duan Feng might march up to their doorstep tomorrow.*
*He's entirely capable of such a reckless act.*
*Yet I cannot watch him smash himself like an egg against a rock.*
Gazing at Duan Feng, who downed cup after cup of wine until Luo Chen's gourd was nearly empty in no time, Luo Chen frowned. He reached out and snatched back the wine gourd gifted to him by Yuan Xiaoyue's grandfather.
"Stop drinking. Any more, and all my wine will be gone."
"So stingy? Didn't you say there'd be plenty of wine!"
"Hmph, you finished your story, didn't you?"
Duan Feng froze, then gave a bitter shake of his head.
He slumped over the table and said in a low voice, "True enough. My life has been utterly plain. The only good times were when my mother cared for me. Back then, all I thought about was that once my cultivation bore fruit, I'd forge an artifact bracelet for her. Something very beautiful, with strong defensive abilities..."
Luo Chen looked at him helplessly.
Standing up, he pushed open the front door.
A biting cold wind swept inside.
At the same time, a woman leaped back like a startled fawn.
"You aren't all on your own. You have this group of friends."
Standing outside the door, Feng Xia cast Luo Chen a grateful look.
Recently, Duan Feng's low spirits had been tinged with an irrepressible restlessness.
Now that Luo Chen had comforted and counseled him, perhaps he could...
"And you have Sister Xia!"
"Where else could you find a woman as good as Sister Xia?"
"You spend every single day thinking about revenge—I won't interfere with that."
"You can take what the Duan family sends with an easy conscience, and it won't make you an ungrateful wretch, because you deserve it."
"But Sister Xia pours her heart and soul out for you. If you let her down, you truly will be an ungrateful wretch."
"If that happens, I, Luo Chen, will be the first to—"
Before Luo Chen could finish, Feng Xia, her face flushed crimson, covered his mouth with her hand.
She silently shook her head over and over, her eyes reddening slightly.
Inside the room, Duan Feng had fallen completely silent, simply lying slumped over the table.
It was impossible to tell whether he had fallen asleep drunk or was merely playing the ostrich because he dared not face it.
Luo Chen pursed his lips, nodded to Feng Xia, and strode away.
Feng Xia crept inside, gathering the bone fragments, bowls, plates, and chopsticks into the kitchen.
She swept the powdered remnants of the crushed porcelain cup into a dustpan.
Finally, she fetched a heavy coat from the bedroom, draped it over Duan Feng's shoulders, and left the room.
The instant she pulled the door shut, she thought she saw Duan Feng's shoulders tremble for a brief second.
***
A hundred li south of Dahe Market lay a small mountain blanketed in ice and snow.
This mountain was called Mount Xiaohuan.
From the outside, it appeared draped in silver, its trees bare and withered.
Inside, however, the climate was warm, with an endless flow of mortals bustling to and fro.
In a pavilion on the mountain, an old man gazed out into the distance.
In the past, standing here offered a magnificent view of Nanwa Snow Mountain.
Every deep winter, when heavy snow fell, the millennium-old snowpack of Nanwa Snow Mountain would spread outward.
The thick snow layer unfurled like a gigantic tile, jutting out abruptly to blot out the clouds and the sun, covering most of the snowy peak.
When the light was right, the view was truly marvelous.
Every time the old man saw it, it felt like seeing himself.
He, too, had been like that immense snow tile, shielding the entire clan beneath his protection.
Alas, Nanwa Snow Mountain had been destroyed by the Golden Core Master, Pang Renxiong.
That once-splendid spectacle was now reduced to a bare, barren peak.
This scene seemed to foreshadow the Duan family's current plight.
He, Duan Qiankun, the massive tile sheltering the Duan family, was also destined to melt away in silence.
"Patriarch, I've returned."
A middle-aged man stood beside him with utmost deference.
Without looking back, Duan Qiankun asked directly, "How did things go?"
"Smoothly, and yet not smoothly."
"Hmm?"
The middle-aged man lowered his head and said, "The matter of the pills didn't go smoothly. Gu Caiyi of the Gold Hall claimed that medicinal herbs have been scarce lately, so pill production can't be ramped up.
"Furthermore, before the Nangong family sealed their clan, they purchased a large quantity of Jade Marrow Pills, emptying out their reserves.
"Right now, all the Jade Marrow Pills on the market are sold fresh as soon as they're refined."
Having said this, he stood there respectfully, hardly daring to breathe.
It was as though a scolding might arrive at any second.
Yet this time, the clan head did not reprove him.
There was only a sigh.
"Danchenzi!"
"Back then, when Mi Shuhua refused to ally with me, I couldn't understand it. Now, it seems he truly possessed a discerning eye and sharp vision.
"If I held such a man in my grasp, why would the Duan family ever need to worry about flourishing?"
The middle-aged man was taken aback.
Why had the patriarch suddenly brought up the master of the Luotian Association?
Still, that master alchemist was indeed formidable.
Single-handedly, he propped up the emerging force known as the Luotian Association.
Their pill business was booming beyond belief.
Nowadays, many loose cultivators in Dahe Market praised them, saying it was fortunate the Luotian Association was around; otherwise, with the Spirit Herb Pavilion moved away, they wouldn't even have a place to buy pills.
Shaking his head, he pushed aside these idle thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, he said, "The items brought to Duan Feng—he accepted them!"
This, at least, was the smooth aspect of his errand.
Yet upon hearing this, Duan Qiankun showed no sign of joy.
He merely asked in a flat tone, "Did Duan Feng mention whether he will return to sweep his mother's grave during the Qingming Festival?"
The middle-aged man hesitated. "He... didn't seem to say."
"All right. You may leave!"
Only after the man departed did Duan Qiankun let out a wistful sigh.
Duan Feng was his grandson too!
Yet, somehow, he had drifted away from the family, eventually turning into a bitter enemy.
*He refuses to forgive me.*
*Yet what did I do wrong?*
For the long-term good of the clan, every single choice he had made was undeniably correct.
His younger grandson, Duan Rui, possessed superior talent, and the clan's cultivation environment suited him perfectly.
Cultivating both water and fire, once he reached Foundation Establishment, even if his cultivation level was modest, his combat prowess among peers of the same realm would be formidable.
Even if Duan Qiankun passed away, Duan Rui could still serve as a pillar for the clan.
It was merely that Duan Feng's family had to suffer a little.
Thirteenth Mother had been foolish as well; why take her own life?
The Nangong family had been desperate to gain a foothold; marrying into them would have ensured she was treated well.
Nangong Qin was an exceptional talent, an elite among Qi Refinement cultivators with a strong hope of Foundation Establishment!
Moreover, he had long been appointed the young clan head of the Nangong family.
In no way could marrying him be considered an injustice to a widow like Thirteenth Mother.
When the time came, Duan Feng could rely on his artifact-forging craft to hold a high position in the Duan clan.
He could also rely on his mother's connection to thrive within the Nangong clan.
Favored on both sides, securing a Foundation Establishment Pill for Duan Feng in the future would have been no trouble at all.
Duan Qiankun was confident that none of his past actions had been driven by selfish motives.
In fact, according to his plan, proceeding this way would only have made the Duan family prosper even more.
The glorious sight of one clan boasting two Foundation Establishment cultivators had been well within reach!
So where, exactly, had things gone wrong?
Duan Qiankun gave a bitter chuckle. Perhaps the mistake lay in doting too much on Duan Rui!
Ever since Duan Rui had tested positive for dual water-and-fire spiritual roots, everything had veered off course.
The tilting of resources, the clan's adoration, all-around protection, and granting his every whim.
Though his cultivation had progressed swiftly, they had unwittingly neglected to temper his temperament.
"Ever since that fierce battle with the Bai family of Liuguang Market, the Duan family has enjoyed peace for far too long.
"Our rearing of clan disciples has ended up far less rigorous than that of the Nangong or Li families."
Among peers, fellow True Cultivators praised Duan Qiankun for raising a great-circle Qi Refinement genius as well as a grandson exceptionally gifted in artifact forging, Duan Feng.
Yet how could he not envy youngsters who could stand on their own, like Nangong Qin and Li Ao?
Back then, agreeing to join the Xuanyi Association had also been intended to temper the clan's juniors through that force.
Unfortunately, chaos had arrived too swiftly and the upheavals were too violent; the Xuanyi Association had disbanded in haste.
Because Duan Rui had failed his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment a second time, he had lacked the chance to be tempered in those conflicts.
"I originally hoped he would grow up once he reached Foundation Establishment.
"Yet he ended up stranded at this seemingly simple barrier.
"Two Foundation Establishment Pills!"
Sighing, he swept out his spiritual sense.
Soon enough, he located that Duan family genius who had wasted two Foundation Establishment Pills.
He lay on a warm couch, flanked by beauties on either side, revelling in their embrace.
In this season of heavy snow and piercing winds, he was living in absolute leisure.
*Does he not understand that once I die, how could the Duan family ever hold onto this spiritually rich land?!*
A flash of stern anger crossed Duan Qiankun's face, and he let out a cold snort.
On the soft couch in a nearby room, a young man who shared a slight resemblance to Duan Feng suddenly turned pale.
He waved his hands at once.
"Out, out!"
"I need to cultivate."
"Women truly disturb my state of mind!"
A surge of pure spiritual power erupted, tossing the two women outward.
They tumbled like gourds, rolling out of the room in disarray.
Once they had left, the young man offered an awkward smile.
Facing the empty room, he muttered, half to himself and half to whoever might be watching him,
"Grandfather, my injuries haven't fully healed, so I only rested for two days.
"I really haven't slacked off."
No response came.
The young man curled his lip. He was already at the great circle of Qi Refinement; what was the point of cultivating?
Failing to break through wasn't his fault.
It was the family's fault for being too weak.
If they had sent him to a sect back then, with his natural talent, he would have reached Foundation Establishment long ago!
Who knew, he might already be a Foundation Establishment true disciple of some great sect by now, with a shot at the Golden Core Great Dao.
On Mount Xiaohuan, Duan Qiankun had already ceased monitoring him.
Alone, he stepped out of the clan grounds.
Today the snow fluttered down, and an old friend came through the snow.
"Old friend, that item I entrusted to you—how is its progress?"
"It will be completed in a few days. For now, however, there is something I must trouble you with."
"Oh?"
"Spirit Purifying Pills!"
***
Inside the spirit vein cave.
Luo Chen dismissed the Spirit Gathering Array and stowed away the Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace.
Yet he did not leave immediately.
Surrounded by the faint fragrance of Moonlight Grass, he fell into deep thought.
It was not about Duan Feng.
Once he confirmed that Duan Feng had no intention of leaving the Luotian Association, the matter ceased to carry much weight.
He trusted this friend; whether Duan Feng stayed or went, he would make it clear.
What he was contemplating now was how to arrange his upcoming time.
Too many trivial matters had piled up, beginning to affect his cultivation.
In particular, now that he could circulate the Eternal Spring Art five times a day, he could not afford to neglect it. He had to carve out half an hour each day for it.
*In the past, when my strength was low, whenever an opportunity arose—no matter what it was—I'd do whatever I could if it could improve my strength.
*Now, however, I have room to choose. I can no longer strike out in every direction at random.
*The efficiency is simply too poor.*
As he muttered to himself, Luo Chen's thoughts spun faster.
Various complicated, trivial matters surfaced in his mind, one after another.
Sifting the wheat from the chaff, he had to identify the most critical and pressing tasks as his top priorities.
First, affairs of the Luotian Association needed to be shifted to others!
Those mundane matters were not truly vital; as long as someone was intelligent enough, they could manage even without a high cultivation realm.
*In the Pill Hall, Granny Yuan and the nominal elder Qin Liangchen oversee the top, while Qu Hancheng and Qiu Ying handle the bottom.
*As for the other three halls, the Merit Hall has Murong Qinglian, the Battle Hall has Sima Xian, and the Gold Hall has Gu Caiyi and Zeng Wen.
*Which means the four halls have already gotten on the right track and become orderly.
*What I lack is a proxy to oversee the whole situation in my stead.*
Luo Chen's thoughts flowed as he began reviewing the various cultivators in the Luotian Association.
Qin Liangchen would not do; he had never involved himself in administrative matters.
Zhou Yuanli was suitable, but too rigid and inflexible in dealing with people—a fact plainly evident from the battle at Slanted Moon Valley.
Perhaps he had a talent for command in combat, but when it came to managing an organization, he lacked the finesse.
Feng Xia?
She was trustworthy, but her cultivation realm was insufficient to command respect. Besides, her heart had been entirely wrapped up in Duan Feng lately, making her unsuitable.
What about Zeng Wen?
Not ideal either. His social graces were decent, but he easily dropped the ball at critical moments.
Weighing them all, the most suitable candidate was still his sister-in-law, Murong Qinglian.
Her cultivation was solid, her prestige high, and she could be trusted when it mattered most, possessing both firmness and tact.
However!
She had managed the Merit Hall for a long time. If she were also appointed Luo Chen's proxy, it could easily create the impression of two masters on one mountain.
Even if Luo Chen were willing, Murong Qinglian would decline on her own.
She was a very clever woman.
After turning it over in his mind, a woman's face suddenly popped into Luo Chen's thoughts.
Mi Junping!
Though she had an abrasive personality and treated others harshly, as a subordinate, she had undoubtedly been exceptionally capable.
She had managed the massive Mountain Splitter Gang in an orderly fashion, giving Mi Shuhua ample time to maneuver among other forces.
She had also controlled the flow of funds strictly; every time Luo Chen had gone to her, he had to talk until his mouth was dry just to gain a tiny concession.
"Alas, the lady is no longer here!"
Luo Chen sighed.
Come to think of it, he had nearly entered into an ill-fated romance with that woman.
A woman?
Suddenly, another face flashed through Luo Chen's mind.
*Perhaps... she could do it?*
After thinking it through, Luo Chen nodded.
*Keep her as an option for now!*
As long as this primary matter was settled, Luo Chen could extricate himself from the sea of trivial chores.
That left the remaining two matters.
Alchemy and cultivation.
"Alchemy..."
Luo Chen mused for a long while before swiftly reaching a decision.
He still had to refine three types of pills, but the priorities needed adjustment.
The importance of Jade Marrow Pills would be slightly lowered, yielding pride of place to Nether-Passage Pills and Blood Burning Pills.
The former pertained to his soul foundation, an investment that would never result in a loss.
The Blood Burning Pills involved his cooperation with Tianxingzi.
The other party had repeatedly shown goodwill, so he could not drag his feet. Besides, cooperating with a faction that possessed such a mysterious background brought substantial benefits in other areas as well.
Most importantly, they could procure Foundation Establishment Pills!
With the Spirit Herb Pavilion having relocated, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect absent, and large-scale auctions impossible to hold, this was extraordinarily vital.
*At the start of the month, I'll first refine at least a month's supply of Nether-Passage Pills for myself. Then I'll fulfill the quota for Blood Burning Pills. In whatever time remains, I'll focus fully on refining Jade Marrow Pills.*
The reason for lowering the priority of Jade Marrow Pills was that, with his current earnings from pills, they were already sufficient to meet all his cultivation needs during the Qi Refinement stage.
Any more would merely be hoarding wealth!
He was no miser; rather than sitting on tens of thousands of spirit stones he couldn't spend, it was better to put every spirit stone to use where it mattered most.
With the second decision settled, there remained the final and most important matter: cultivation.
Because of the proficiency panel, Luo Chen had invested effort into numerous spells.
In truth, however, some of them were unnecessary.
Take the Tier 2 spell Mountain Collapse, which he had once valued above all else!
Ever since acquiring this spell, he had placed high hopes on it, even going so far as to expend massive effort on its three prerequisite spells.
All because of its immense power and breathtaking prospects.
Even among Tier 2 spells, it was of the highest caliber.
Who wouldn't be tempted?
Yet after careful consideration recently, Luo Chen realized he had been entirely mistaken.
Mountain Collapse was indeed powerful, no doubt about it.
Yet simply learning it was exceedingly difficult, requiring substantial mastery in all three prerequisite spells.
And even then, one would merely have reached the Entry level.
An Entry-level spell had numerous flaws.
It could not be reliably used against enemies at all.
Only at the Perfect level or above could a spell contend on equal terms against artifacts and treasures among peers of the same realm.
To surpass artifacts and treasures, it had to reach Master level or even the Great Circle.
*I shouldn't have spent so much time studying Mountain Collapse back then.
*That spell is meant for Foundation Establishment cultivators; it was far beyond my scope!
*Fortunately, it's not too late to mend the pen after the sheep is lost.*
Luo Chen planned to temporarily shelf his cultivation of Mountain Collapse.
Not only Mountain Collapse, but the Healing Art, Cleansing Art, Entangling Art, Surging Waves Technique, and Earth Peak Technique would all be put on hold for a time.
In alchemy techniques, his Folding Jade Hand had reached Master level long ago, but it remained far from the Great Circle; there was no rushing it.
His Pure Heart Hand was close to Master level, requiring no deliberate effort—it would naturally advance through regular alchemy practice.
The Washing Brook Hand and Cloud Transformation Hand had only just been acquired, so he could familiarize himself with them gradually during the alchemy process.
Which meant alchemy arts would not take up extra time.
As for martial arts, there was even less to say.
They offered little boost to his overall strength.
The only helpful one was the Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers, yet so far he had only mastered three projectile techniques: the Hunyuan Bead, Seven Night Stars, and Iron Caltrop.
Consequently, the Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers remained stuck at the Perfect level.
To raise it to Master level, he had to master at least two more hidden weapon techniques.
Luo Chen had no intention of wasting effort on that.
This decision was not because the Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers was useless, but because with his Traction Art already at the Great Circle and backed by the Great Circle Spirit Eye Art, his control over artifacts had reached an exquisite degree.
The Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers was merely icing on the cake.
With so many spells set aside, where Luo Chen's focus would lie became self-evident.
*A jack of all trades is master of none!
*The Great Circle Fireball Art still has room to develop.
*I should combine the Fu family's talisman-crafting arts with the Great Circle Spirit Eye Art and devote my full efforts to researching the Fireball Art, pushing it to the pinnacle where it can advance no further.
*That way, the fused Blazing Sun Art will become my true trump card while my cultivation realm remains low!*
Having made this decision, Luo Chen could not help letting out a long breath of relief.
His previously cluttered and complicated spell training now felt as though a fog had cleared, returning him to the right path.
*In fact, isn't this the exact path I walked from the very start?*
Luo Chen gave a self-deprecating smile. At the beginning, hadn't he poured all his energy into the Fireball Art?
Ignoring the Cleansing Art and Entangling Art, he had rapidly driven up the proficiency of his Fireball Art.
That was how he had managed to slay powerful foes above his level, such as the Poor Ghost Chen Xiao and the Unlucky Ghost Gao Ting'e.
Later, as his realm rose, he had strayed into side paths instead.
Now, the enemies he might face were no longer Qi Refinement loose cultivators, but those Foundation Establishment grandees.
That being the case, why couldn't he return to his old path and specialize in a single art?
With his spells planned out, it came down to cultivation methods.
Cultivation was not merely about spells.
The Eternal Spring Art was beyond question: three times a day, plus five additional times granted by the Spirit Calming Incense. That had to be maintained.
Mind Clarifying Evil Banishing, that peculiar art defying classification, also had to be nurtured.
It was only a few full circulations away from reaching its second tier, the Proficient level.
Luo Chen would not abandon it.
He remembered clearly how he had broken free back when Gao Tingyuan used the Soul Capturing Technique.
A stronger will allowed Luo Chen to face anything with the composure of a man unperturbed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.
Moreover, Mind Clarifying Evil Banishing bolstered the soul.
Coupled with Nether-Passage Pills and the God-Deterring Technique, it was a three-pronged advance.
This was precisely why Luo Chen had elevated Nether-Passage Pills above the seemingly most lucrative Jade Marrow Pills and Blood Burning Pills.
Duan Feng's words had indeed influenced him.
All else was merely means; cultivation was absolute!
The only technique Luo Chen struggled to set aside was the Falling Cloud Smoke Generating Method.
If he could master this method completely, it would mark a tremendous leap in his alchemy attainments.
When the time came, practicing both water and fire methods in tandem, he could draw analogies between them and make his alchemy work far easier.
*Practicing both water and fire?*
Suddenly, Luo Chen chuckled aloud at himself.
The lesson of that Duan family genius was right in front of him.
How had he ended up thinking about that water-and-fire nonsense too?
*Never mind. The water method was only prepared for the Emperor's Flowing Syrup. For now, I don't need Emperor's Flowing Syrup anyway; at most, I just pass the time studying that recipe when I'm exhausted.
*Since that's the case, practicing water-based alchemy can be paused as well.*
Having reached these decisions, Luo Chen finally felt thoroughly unburdened.
It was not about slacking off, but about boosting efficiency.
Spending a whole day on complicated, varied tasks would exhaust anyone.
Focusing on a single task might be monotonous, but the progress would undeniably be faster.
Once the optimization of the Fireball Art was resolved, wouldn't he have more time to deal with the rest?
***
Early the next morning.
In the Bright Moon Hall, a graceful figure sat quietly in a guest seat.
Yet her inner state was nowhere near as calm as her outward appearance suggested.
*Why did the association master summon me out of nowhere?
*I've done decently in the Gold Hall; I shouldn't have made any mistakes.
*Eldest Brother acts with prudence and has established a firm foothold in the Battle Hall. Could it be my younger brother?*
The woman's mind churned with uncertainty.
Suddenly, the sound of steady footsteps reached her ears, and she stood up immediately.
She offered an elegant bow to the newcomer.
"Huiniang greets the Association Master!"
Luo Chen waved a hand, signaling that she need not stand on ceremony.
Walking to the head seat and sitting down, Luo Chen finally had the leisure to examine Sima Huiniang closely.
This female cultivator had crossed paths with him quite some time ago.
Under Luo Chen's gaze, Sima Huiniang felt a touch unnatural.
She could not help asking, "Association Master, is there something you need of me?"
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Nothing major. I've simply wanted to chat with you for a long time, but never found the time. Now that it's winter and things have quieted down, I finally managed to carve out a moment."
"Chat with me?" Sima Huiniang was taken aback.
Before her curiosity could deepen, Luo Chen remarked casually, "I spoke with your eldest brother before. He mentioned that when the three of you traveled abroad running a resale trade, you were always the one in charge."
"Yes, that's true."
Sima Huiniang smoothed a lock of hair. "Eldest Brother is steady, but somewhat blunt and unaccustomed to dealing with people. My younger brother is overly reckless. As a result, I was the one making most of the decisions."
"Then why didn't you continue that business?"
Sima Huiniang gave a bitter smile. "It became too difficult!"
"Oh? Tell me about it."
Through Sima Huiniang's explanation, Luo Chen learned the full extent of their difficulties.
Though he had spoken with Sima Xian before, men were often unwilling to expose their hardships to outsiders.
Women were far more perceptive.
Sensing that Luo Chen genuinely wished to inquire into the matter, she explained in great detail.
Broadly speaking, the market closest to Dahe Market was Snow Lotus Market, yet Dahe Market's commerce had always remained closely tied to Taishan Market.
The reason was that the climate between Snow Lotus Market and Dahe Market differed drastically; for two-thirds of the year, Snow Lotus Market was locked in freezing temperatures.
Roads were frequently blocked by ice and snow, leaving trade routes choked.
Taishan Market was farther away, but it was directly linked by the Lancang River.
Traveling downstream by large boat did not take exceedingly long.
At most, one could arrive in ten to fifteen days.
"Taishan Market has a massive demand for the demon beast specialties of Dahe Market.
"Often, a single resale run yielded substantial profits.
"Meanwhile, certain cultivation supplies from Taishan Market were very popular in Dahe Market...
"However, every trip cost a considerable number of spirit stones. We always took the Dajiang Gang's boats, and whenever we encountered demon beasts along the way, we were obligated to help fight them off."
Luo Chen nodded.
The reason so many loose cultivators in Dahe Market lingered and refused to leave was not only that it bordered the great mountains, offering rich resources to aid cultivation.
It was also because journeys to other places were simply too long.
The Lancang River was far more than a mere river.
Numerous demon beasts dwelled within it, including plenty of Tier 2 and Tier 3 creatures.
Back when Pang Renxiong had slain that demonic Golden Core cultivator, many Tier 1 demon beast corpses had floated in the depths of the Lancang River.
Those loose cultivators who rushed over afterward and dared to dive into the water had reaped no small harvest.
"In truth, the business in Liuguang Market was the most lucrative.
"Years ago, it was a mineral vein belonging to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, but after years of excavation, almost nothing remains.
"During the three hundred years of mining, many factions sprang up nearby.
"Yet once the vein was stripped bare, their sources of income shrank drastically. Combined with the scarcity of resources, a culture of conflict became widespread.
"Every time we transported goods there, we could turn a handsome profit, since resources were so scarce on that side.
"However, there were simply too many bandit cultivators, so we gradually went there less often."
Luo Chen knew little about the situation in Liuguang Market.
Most of what he knew came from the autobiography of the loose cultivator Gu Yue, as well as accounts from Wang Yuan and others who had traveled the outside world.
Bandit cultivators infested the area, killing and looting at the slightest pretext.
This was largely because it was the only market in the vicinity without a Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion stationed there.
Bandit cultivators like Qiu Bai and Liu Han had come out of Liuguang Market.
There were many more figures like them there.
"The reason we stopped doing that business was also because the outside was growing increasingly chaotic.
"With the three of us traveling abroad long-term, something was bound to happen sooner or later."
Sima Huiniang smiled bitterly. "To tell the truth, just last year in Dahe Market, the three of us nearly died at the hands of two bandit cultivators."
Luo Chen remained silent.
Of course he knew about that; he was the one who had intervened to bail them out.
"After that battle, both Eldest Brother and I were severely injured.
"Once our wounds healed, we realized we couldn't go on like that, so we thought about seeking shelter under an established faction."
Luo Chen chuckled softly. "Then why did you choose our Luotian Association?"
Sima Huiniang straightened her posture. She understood that this was the real test of the day.
If her answer was lacking, it would at best leave a poor impression, and at worst lead to being marginalized or even expelled from the Luotian Association.
She said earnestly, "Back then in Dahe Market, the Mountain Splitter Gang had fallen, the Xuanyi Association had disbanded, the various Foundation Establishment clans were fighting amongst themselves, and numerous minor factions were rising—it was total pandemonium.
"In truth, we also considered joining the Dajiang Gang.
"Yet the Dajiang Gang's situation is extremely complicated. From what we saw in Taishan Market, they don't just cooperate with the Lianyun Merchant Alliance; they also clash or collaborate with several cultivation clans in Taishan Market.
"Had we joined the Dajiang Gang, we might well have ended up as disposable pawns in their gang conflicts."
Luo Chen nodded and asked further, "Then why didn't you join one of the local cultivation clans?"
Sima Huiniang smiled wryly. "Those clans are fundamentally built around their own bloodline. Outsiders, unless they possess high cultivation realms and serve as clan elders, are never placed in positions of real importance."
This was the plain truth.
Cultivation clans were bound by ties of blood.
They never truly relied on outsiders.
"As for the other minor factions, to be frank, we didn't hold them in high regard. Their strength might not even have matched the three of us combined.
"Under those circumstances, the Luotian Association, which inherited the legacy of the Mountain Splitter Gang, was the best choice."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Elaborate on that."
Facing Luo Chen's scrutiny, Sima Huiniang showed no fear.
She spoke with calm confidence. "It's quite simple. Back then, you were rebuilding from the ground up and lacked manpower. If we joined, the probability of being placed in important roles was high. And as it turned out, that was indeed the case!"
Currently, her eldest brother Sima Xian was already an elder of the Battle Hall.
With Wang Yuan keeping his hands off management, and Duan Feng preoccupied with cultivation and guiding others in forging artifacts, Sima Xian was practically the de facto leader of the Battle Hall.
Her third brother, Sima Wenjie, was doing fairly well too.
His impetuous temper had grown steadily more mature under the grinding trials of personnel management.
"Furthermore, the addition of three ninth-layer Qi Refinement cultivators would not create a situation where guests overshadowed the host.
"Back then, the Luotian Association already had six or seven ninth-layer Qi Refinement cultivators; you had no reason to fear the three of us.
"As for the final reason..."
Sima Huiniang smiled brightly, meeting Luo Chen's gaze.
"With the name of Master Danchenzi backing it, the Luotian Association's prospects for growth were bound to far exceed those of other small factions."
"You've certainly analyzed everything thoroughly. No wonder your brothers are willing to listen to you."
Luo Chen laughed softly. He had not expected that the ultimate factor behind their decision to join the Luotian Association had still been himself.
As expected, the status of an alchemist remained the most sought-after asset wherever one went.
Seeing Luo Chen's smile, Sima Huiniang felt a wave of relief.
It seemed she had passed today's test.
Yet Luo Chen's next words froze her in place.
"Since you think so highly of the Luotian Association, do you have any desire to take another step forward?"
Chapter 174