Time flowed like water, fleeting and relentless.
Half a year later.
Surrounded by over thirty islands of varying sizes, Yaoyue Island welcomed a streak of light.
After circling in the sky for a moment, the light followed the guidance of a keepsake token and descended onto Yaoyue Island.
Upon landing, the tall, slender woman could not resist glancing at the stone stele erected on the island, a hint of yearning surfacing in her eyes.
Yet she knew well that this was not something she could covet. Forcibly reining in her desire, she strode into the depths of the thick white fog.
As she walked, the vast white mist parted automatically as though endowed with spirit, clearing a one-meter-wide path for her.
A moment later.
Cheng Haixin arrived before a magnificent palace. With carved beams, painted rafters, and flying eaves, it could certainly be called exquisite.
Upon closer inspection, however, many rough edges remained throughout the hall.
There had been no other choice. Luo Chen had given them far too little time before—merely a single month. Even if the cultivators of the Flying Swallow Archipelago wished to curry favor with him, they could not work miracles. Most of the materials for this palace had simply been gathered pre-made from other islands.
Fortunately, Demonic Lord Qingyang is magnanimous and cares little for such trifles, she muttered to herself. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she stepped into the palace.
As if anticipating her arrival, it was not long before a figure appeared in Cheng Haixin's view.
Cheng Haixin respectfully presented two storage bags.
"Master, here is the first batch of medicinal ingredients for True Flame Pills that the clans have gathered for you. According to your specifications, there are seventy-eight portions in total."
Luo Chen glanced at the other storage bag in her hand, then took the one containing the herbs.
Sweeping his divine sense inside for a thorough inspection, a look of displeasure crossed his face.
"In half a year's time, you have only gathered seventy-eight portions? You seem rather half-hearted."
The woman's heart trembled, and she hurriedly pleaded, "Please forgive us, Master. The majority of the materials you require are fire-attribute herbs, and the yields of the nearby islands simply cannot meet the demand. It was only because my eldest brother rallied the clans to form a caravan to Feileng City and leveraged countless connections that we managed to gather this much."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. "Is it truly that troublesome? Isn't our Northern Sea known for its abundant resources?"
Cheng Haixin shook her head. "That is indeed true, but the Flying Swallow Archipelago is far too remote. Making a round trip to the inner domains takes decades. Feileng City is already the nearest large immortal city to our archipelago."
Too remote?
Luo Chen's thoughts stirred slightly.
If that was the case, it was not incomprehensible.
It was much like his days in Dahe Market. Although it bordered the Myriad Mountains with their boundless resources, high-grade resources had remained scarce—far less accessible than in the great domains nestled deep inland.
Seeing Luo Chen's expression soften, Cheng Haixin let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Striking while the iron was hot, she offered some good news.
"The first few batches of herbs might be a bit slow and few in number. But once our Flying Swallow Caravan secures a firm footing in bustling regions like Feileng City and Mohua Island, gathering the True Flame Pill materials you need will become much more convenient."
Once a supply channel was established, deliveries would naturally stabilize.
Having run businesses himself, Luo Chen understood this principle well.
Since that was the case, he held no further grievances against them.
Scanning the herbs within the storage bag, he asked casually, "How much do these Dazzling Light Seeds cost per grain?"
"Fifteen spirit stones apiece. However, they are not sold individually, but typically in lots of one hundred. Odd lots are only allowed for large purchases."
"And the Yan Flowers?"
"Those are Rank 3 herbs, very expensive—over six hundred spirit stones for a single blossom. My eldest brother expended immense effort and promised numerous favors just to negotiate the price down to exactly six hundred."
"What about the Purple Smoke Wax Candles?"
"One hundred and twenty low-grade spirit stones a box. Although a bit pricey, they have already been pre-processed."
Luo Chen inquired about the prices of herb after herb, and Cheng Haixin answered each in turn.
By learning the prices of these common herbs, Luo Chen was indirectly assessing the broader landscape of the Northern Sea's cultivation world.
Commodity prices often reflected the prosperity of a region.
Of course, this was not absolute.
Prices were influenced by many factors—war, rarity, the degree of market regulation by dominant powers, and more.
Even so, Luo Chen could glean the whole picture from a single glimpse.
From what he saw now, the raw materials for a single True Flame Pill cost around three thousand spirit stones.
This price was by no means low!
Also a Rank 3 pill, the cost of a Starry Sky Pill was barely two thousand.
Back in the Jade Cauldron Domain, Luo Chen had once estimated the cost of gathering ingredients for a True Flame Pill to be around twenty-three to twenty-four hundred.
Here, the premium was a staggering six to seven hundred spirit stones!
This showed that the cultivation world of the Northern Sea was either substantially wealthier, or tensions had caused resource prices to surge—or perhaps both!
While Luo Chen inferred the broader situation from these details, Cheng Haixin seized every opportunity to highlight her Cheng clan's contributions.
She mentioned how Cheng Dou had personally unified the clans of the Flying Swallow Archipelago to establish the Flying Swallow Caravan solely to gather herbs for Luo Chen, haggling over prices and begging for favors.
She also noted that of this first batch of seventy-eight portions, her Cheng clan from Black Swan Island alone accounted for ten!
Luo Chen naturally saw through her intentions.
Rather than secluding himself in cultivation, Cheng Dou had orchestrated all these maneuvers purely to curry favor with him.
The goal was to exchange for the Core Formation secret technique recorded upon the stone stele on Yaoyue Island.
Cheng Dou was calculating. Though he had previously been impatient to break through, he had managed to steady his mindset when faced with a mid-grade Core Formation secret technique.
Evidently, he possessed some sense.
Furthermore, by using Luo Chen's prestige, Cheng Dou had borrowed manpower and resources from over thirty clans across the archipelago to forge the so-called Flying Swallow Caravan.
With such a caravan, who knew how much profit he could extract in the future?
Even if Luo Chen departed down the road, as long as Cheng Dou managed the caravan well, the other clans would likely acknowledge his leadership.
Luo Chen was by no means blind to this, but he chose to turn a blind eye.
Let him do as he pleased!
In any case, as long as his share of tribute was not neglected, the more prosperous their business grew, the greater the benefits he would reap.
Truth be told, the cultivators of Flying Swallow—who had originally yielded only in words, not in heart—were now running about so enthusiastically to gather herbs entirely thanks to Luo Chen's brilliant gambit:
The Qingyang Pill Canon!
This mid-grade Core Formation secret technique was actually a simplified method he had derived from the Micromote Origin Art.
In it, he had excised the cores of Locking the Beaded Curtain and the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method, but retained the essentials of a series of Core Formation techniques like Calming the Waves and the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation.
He had also included minor mentions where spiritual power transformation was concerned.
Only then had he produced this Core Formation technique, rated at the "mid-grade" level by the panel.
After familiarizing himself with the cultivation environment of the Flying Swallow Archipelago, Luo Chen had developed a clear understanding.
Their foundations were solid, with few treading unorthodox paths.
With the Qingyang Pill Canon, their chances of Core Formation could increase by twenty percent.
Precisely because of this, these cultivators exerted themselves so earnestly.
Establishing dominance first, then dangling benefits later.
A stick in one hand, a sweet date in the other.
Naturally, the cultivators fell under Luo Chen's command.
"Master, this is a modest token of my regard. I hope you will accept it."
The second storage bag was held up before Luo Chen.
His interest piqued, Luo Chen took the bag. "What is inside?"
Cheng Haixin said nervously, "During our first meeting, I noticed Master ate a few extra bites of our local dishes, and later I heard Master inquiring about spiritual meals rich in vitality. So, I kept it in mind. Inside is a two-hundred-year-old dragon-tiger grouper. Though its rank is not high, its meat is tender and brimming with blood vitality. It is typically the most coveted blood food among mortal martial artists on the islands. I hear that after consuming such blood food—even just a mouthful—they stand a high chance of breaking through to the Xiantian realm and becoming grandmaster martial artists."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow and beckoned with his magic power.
Instantly!
An appetizing aroma wafted through the hall.
A massive fish, three meters long and a meter wide, resembling an enormous door panel, rested on a specially crafted serving platter.
Seasonings and broth covered it, steam billowing forth.
One glance revealed it had been freshly cooked before being placed into the storage bag and brought over.
Without much hesitation, Luo Chen conducted a brief inspection, then drew a small knife, sliced off a piece of fish meat, and placed it in his mouth.
He cared little for texture or flavor.
With a circulation of the Convergence of Myriad Paths, the mouthful of fish meat melted and decomposed at once, turning into wisps of blood vitality that merged into his physique.
The amount was modest, but the fish was huge!
This dragon-tiger grouper was indeed remarkable.
If consumed over the long term, it would certainly benefit Luo Chen's body refinement cultivation.
A look of satisfaction appeared on his face as he looked at Cheng Haixin. "Did you cook this fish?"
Cheng Haixin was about to say yes, but after shifting her stance, she answered honestly, "I am not skilled in culinary arts. I requested an elderly senior from another island to prepare it. However, I personally selected this fish with great care from the Cheng clan's catch. If Master is pleased..."
"You did well. From now on, prepare a sufficient portion of spiritual meals each month... or rather, blood food, as you call it here!"
Luo Chen pointed at the steaming dragon-tiger grouper. "Prepare at least ten portions of such blood food for me every month."
Cheng Haixin had initially been overjoyed to receive praise from Demonic Lord Qingyang.
Yet the moment she heard ten portions a month, her delicate face instantly clouded with worry.
"Master, dragon-tiger groupers of this quality are difficult to catch; one must venture into the deep sea. Sending beast-hunting ships out that far drastically increases the danger."
Luo Chen said nonchalantly, "It doesn't strictly have to be dragon-tiger groupers. Other blood foods rich in vitality will do as well. What matters is the culinary skill behind preparing them! When you have time, bring that elderly senior over; I would like a word with him. Naturally, the credit will still be yours."
Cheng Haixin could not help but sigh in relief.
Seeing Luo Chen in good spirits, she summoned her courage and asked cautiously, "Master, how much contribution must we amass before we may exchange for the Qingyang Pill Canon once?"
Luo Chen paused his meal and looked at the woman.
Under Luo Chen's gaze, the courage she had painstakingly mustered vanished instantly, and her swan-like white neck bowed involuntarily.
"Forgive me, Master. I overstepped."
Just as disappointment and dread washed over her, a voice reached her ears.
"Once six thousand portions of True Flame Pill materials have been gathered, your Cheng clan may send one person to receive a single empowerment of the Qingyang Pill Canon beneath the stone stele.
"After the Cheng clan, the other clans will follow. However, their required contribution will be calculated separately."
Cheng Haixin snapped her head up, her face filled with delight.
At three thousand spirit stones per portion of True Flame Pill ingredients, six thousand portions amounted to roughly eighteen million. Spread across thirty-odd clans, it came to about five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones each.
In other words, Luo Chen had effectively set a clear price!
Naturally, ordinary small clans could never produce so many spirit stones.
Her Cheng clan, however, was no small clan.
A small clan could never afford large beast-hunting ships!
Moreover, Demonic Lord Qingyang did not want spirit stones, but actual ingredients delivered to his hands.
Even so, hope had finally appeared!
Big Brother, there is hope for Core Formation!
Overjoyed, the woman bid farewell to Luo Chen and headed straight for Black Swan Island.
Watching her delighted departure, Luo Chen curled his lip in a nearly imperceptible smirk.
Such was the fate of clan cultivators.
Supported by the clan's resources, they were also perpetually expected to sacrifice for the clan.
Not long ago, this Cheng Haixin had been most reluctantly sent to his bed by her eldest brother Cheng Dou, yet now she still racked her brains to help produce a Golden Core cultivator for the Cheng clan.
Entanglements ran too deep; there was no true freedom!
Luo Chen shook his head, pushing these thoughts aside. In any case, he had no intention of managing the Flying Swallow Archipelago like the Luotian Sect.
Taking large bites of the cooked dragon-tiger grouper, the massive Rank 1 demon beast vanished into his stomach piece by piece, yet his belly showed not the slightest bulge.
It was as though Luo Chen were the beast with an infinite void within his belly.
Once the blood food entered his body, Luo Chen circulated the Convergence of Myriad Paths.
The Wither-Bloom True Fire flared up instantly, swiftly refining the swallowed fish meat into streams of blood vitality that integrated into his physique.
Sensing the growth of his physical body, Luo Chen wore a look of satisfaction.
He cared little for the prestige or delicacy of the ingredients; he only required that the blood food possess potent vitality. With the Convergence of Myriad Paths, he could completely refine and absorb it all.
"Today's dragon-tiger grouper was an unexpected pleasant surprise."
Luo Chen chuckled, then strolled into a side hall.
Wooden shelves had already been arranged in neat rows.
Taking out various medicinal herbs from the storage bag, Luo Chen placed them onto the shelves one by one.
"Next, I must process these raw materials and brew True Flame Pills as soon as possible, accelerating my already extraordinary cultivation speed once again!"
Speaking to himself, an invigorated expression appeared on the man's face.
The spirit vein on Yaoyue Island was not of a particularly high grade, merely low-grade Rank 3.
It was only slightly better than the artificial Rank 3 spirit vein of Tianlan Immortal City.
Even so, Luo Chen's cultivation speed was incomparably fast!
The Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture granted him a cultivation speed rivaling that of a Heavenly Spirit Root.
By his estimate, even on a low-grade Rank 3 spirit vein, reaching the fourth layer of Golden Core would take at most ten-odd years.
With True Flame Pills to aid him, that duration could easily be shortened to under a decade.
By then, with a mid-stage Golden Core cultivation paired with his array of techniques, he would be capable of roaming the Sea of Demons freely, provided he did not provoke Nascent Soul cultivators.
For now, he needed to maintain a low profile and develop steadily!
Luo Chen could endure the solitude; it was only a few years.
Opening his mouth, the Hunyuan Cauldron tumbled out, spinning as it landed within the pill room.
Its once-rounded body was now visibly smaller by thirty percent—the fruit of Luo Chen's half-year of refining.
If this trend continued, in the near future, Luo Chen would completely purge all its impurities, acquiring a true and genuine high-grade magic treasure!
"Everything in due time!"
Luo Chen smiled faintly and expertly took up a portion of herbs.
Just like in days past, he began the most fundamental work of processing medicinal ingredients. There was not the slightest impatience on his face, only deepening focus.
Chapter 533