The crowd surged, their shouts rising in an uproar.
It happened to be the start of the afternoon matches, and many cultivators heading into Fallen Phoenix Mountain to watch the fights crowded around.
Those who could afford tickets starting at ten spirit stones did not care about spending a stone or two on snacks.
Besides, hadn't the stall owner made it clear?
Immortal beans roasted using an exclusive secret recipe.
Beef jerky made from the prime cuts of first-order yellow cattle demon beasts, braised, stewed, and stir-fried with an assortment of spices just to yield a single batch.
The popcorn was even more of a treasure: ten jin of spirit rice, which cost a whole spirit stone, yielded merely two or three portions.
All of these were wonderful treats packed with spiritual energy!
Watching the matches while munching on delicious snacks and sipping rich, lingering yellow pear wine—
*Heavens, I've cultivated the Dao my entire life; it's high time I enjoyed myself!*
Luo Chen clapped the dust from his hands and squeezed out from the crowd.
Qin Liangchen stared at him with an odd look, which gradually turned thoughtful, finally settling into an expression of admiration.
Luo Chen's eyelids twitched violently. He could not stand such complicated looks.
"Old Brother, say what's on your mind. Don't hold it in."
Qin Liangchen sighed. "Back when I was at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, I could barely afford to rent a single room in the inner city. And I only gritted my teeth and moved in for safety because your sister-in-law was pregnant."
"Yes, a good man, a good husband, a good father. And?"
"Yet you, you little rascal, were only at the meager fourth layer of Qi Refinement and already renting a large room in the inner city. I used to think it was just good luck, that you had an alchemy talent and a specialized craft."
As he spoke, he was overcome with emotion.
"Turns out the real reason you can afford a big room is that you have no shame at all!"
*Slap!*
Luo Chen lightly slapped his own cheek. *Why did I have to open my big mouth? Why did I even feed into his setup?!*
Qin Liangchen glanced at Yuan Xiaoyue amidst the crowd.
She was swamped with work, her small face flushed crimson and fine beads of sweat dotting her brow.
"There are so many customers. Aren't you going to help her?"
"She has a long road ahead in life. Can I keep helping her forever like her father did?"
"Hey, you brat, why do you have to be so foul-mouthed?!"
Luo Chen dodged the large foot Qin Liangchen kicked his way. With Grandmaster-level Carefree Wandering paired with Grandmaster-level Wind Riding Technique, his movement technique truly was formidable now.
A minor strike like this was hardly worth his attention.
Looking back at Yuan Xiaoyue, who was on the verge of tears from the stress of collecting piles of spirit stones while handing out snacks and constantly worrying that someone might steal the stones, Luo Chen said indifferently, "She's a cultivator at the second layer of Qi Refinement, not a mortal. If she can't even handle a trivial thing like this, she'd be better off heading into the mountains early to feed the demon beasts."
At this, Qin Liangchen fell silent.
Yuan Xiaoyue wasn't working for nothing.
Luo Chen was paying her a wage—one spirit stone a day, thirty a month!
Such compensation was absurdly generous.
Back when Luo Chen was at the third layer of Qi Refinement, working himself to the bone brought in a net profit of only five spirit stones a month.
Bai Meiling worked as a maidservant in the Hundred Herbs Hall and only earned fifty spirit stones a month. She had to toil for three months just to scrape together enough to buy a single bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pills.
If someone had offered Luo Chen a job like this back then, he would have treated them like a revered father.
The two men stood outside, watching Yuan Xiaoyue bustle about inside.
Nearby, a customer who recognized Luo Chen as the proprietor cursed him while buying popcorn.
"You're far too black-hearted of a boss, leaving a young girl with no help at all."
Luo Chen grinned, offering no retort. Instead, he crossed his arms, looking completely detached as if none of it concerned him.
His gaze wandered around the vicinity, appearing entirely indifferent to the stall.
The man cursed once more, took his purchase, and left.
The other patrons only felt more sympathy for the young girl being squeezed by her unscrupulous boss.
They even grew a bit more generous with their purchases.
Once the crowd thinned slightly, Luo Chen walked up.
"Xiaoyue, give me a portion of immortal beans. And another bottle of yellow pear wine—the aged spiritual wine that goes for ten spirit stones."
"Okay, Brother Luo."
Wiping away her sweat, Yuan Xiaoyue gave a timid response and handed the immortal beans and wine to Luo Chen.
Taking the items, Luo Chen turned and headed toward the Sword Pavilion.
Qin Liangchen watched the scene in bewilderment.
He saw Luo Chen walk over to the ticket counter of the Dao Discussion Platform and strike up a conversation with the Sword Pavilion disciple on duty, who was also at Qi Refinement.
During their chat, Luo Chen pointed toward the stall from time to time.
A moment later, he walked back empty-handed.
"Let's go. There's nothing more for us to do here," Luo Chen said, stretching his arms.
Truth be told, after practicing spells and brawling for half the morning, having a sudden moment of idle downtime felt somewhat strange.
Walking alongside him, Qin Liangchen asked curiously, "Did you just go bribe that Sword Pavilion disciple?"
"Why must you put it so unpleasantly?" Luo Chen said self-righteously. "That's called maintaining good relations with our neighbors!"
Qin Liangchen pondered for a moment, his expression growing complicated.
"You want the Sword Pavilion's people to keep an eye out for Yuan Xiaoyue, don't you?"
"Hah, you think too highly of me. I just don't want my business ruined by some idle vagrants."
Luo Chen curled his lip and dropped the topic.
Qin Liangchen sighed, and the two returned together to the courtyard compound.
Looking at the empty courtyard, Qin Liangchen sighed again.
His wife, Murong Qinglian, had recently been busy with the affairs of the Mountain Breaker Gang's Medicine Hall, and the other girls in the compound each had their own matters to attend to.
As for Luo Chen, after playing around all morning, he shut himself in his room the moment he returned home, tinkering with heaven knew what.
All at once, Qin Liangchen was left idle once more.
Sitting in the courtyard, basking in the autumn sunlight, he felt like a lonely, abandoned old man.
His gaze fell upon the swing he had built for his son, Xiaohu. The wooden plank was so short he couldn't even sit on it himself.
*I should take some time to rebuild this swing.*
*That dancing girl in the main room seems quite fond of sitting on it. That rascal Luo Chen crouches nearby whenever he has free time, watching her swing, yet he doesn't even bother to help swap in a longer board.*
*I wonder how long it will take for this prosthetic hand to feel natural?*
*Will I ever reach Qi Refinement Great Circle in this lifetime and make an attempt at the Foundation Establishment stage?*
*Should I save that Foundation Establishment Pill for my wife? Though she'll probably want to save it for our son—no one understands her better than I do.*
Hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
Turning around, he saw a brother from the gang jog inside.
"Elder Qin, tonight all the faction leaders of Dahe Market are hosting a banquet to see off that Golden Core Master from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect."
"Gang Leader Mi asked me to pass along the message inviting you to attend the banquet with him."
"Understood. I will go."
Qin Liangchen felt thoroughly unenthusiastic. Going there wouldn't be to hold down the fort; it would be to play the lowly lackey.
The others were all major figures of the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages.
As a mere ninth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator who had even lost an arm, he would likely receive nothing but cold scowls.
With that in mind, he suddenly asked, "Can I bring someone with me?"
The errand runner was taken aback, assuming he wanted to bring his wife, Murong Qinglian, and promptly replied, "Gang Leader Mi said you may bring one person."
"Alright, off you go then!"
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the lackey.
Qin Liangchen chuckled and knocked on Luo Chen's door.
"Little Luo, there's a big feast tonight. Want to come?"
After a brief wait, an excited voice called from inside the room.
"Count me in! Count me in!"
The corner of Qin Liangchen's mouth curved slightly. *Heh, that's one more fool to grovel alongside me!*
***
Inside the room, Luo Chen stared at the attribute panel before him in sheer excitement.
Full! It was full! It was overflowing!
The proficiency of Fireball Art was finally maxed out!
[Fireball Art: Grandmaster 1000/1000] — [Great Perfection Fireball Art]
Chapter 69