https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-109-Sorry-Calling-You-Beggars-Was-Too-Hasty/12831608/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-111-Why-Do-These-Spirit-Stones-Not-Last-/12831610/
Chapter 110: Severe Injuries and Milk Tea
Chapter 110: Severe Injuries and Milk Tea
1,200 low-grade spirit stones!
This was the warmth those kind-hearted people had bestowed upon him.
It was a substantial sum, enough to buy six bottles of Dust Transforming Pills.
Adding yesterday's recovered debts and his original savings, Luo Chen's spirit stones finally surpassed the 2,000 mark for the first time!
"Now I can finally consider myself to have a decent fortune!"
With over 2,000 spirit stones in savings, high-grade offensive magical artifacts like the Soul Piercing Nail, the Long Spear, and the Ice and Snow Flying Sword, defensive items like the newly acquired magical robe, and the multifunctional Four Symbols Cauldron, Luo Chen's wealth was impressive even among late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
Not to mention the Jade Blade, the white board, and the bell, which were all mid-grade magical artifacts.
Luo Chen's wealth was among the best in late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
But thinking about the origins of these items made Luo Chen a bit uncomfortable.
Aside from the Four Symbols Cauldron, which he had obtained from Uncle Mi Hua, the rest of the items were...
"Improving my realm through pills, and getting magical artifacts from others' kindness—am I not trying hard enough?"
Muttering to himself, Luo Chen found himself at a loss when faced with the numerous magical artifacts.
There were many valuable items, but having more artifacts wasn't always better.
For low-rank cultivators, it was often more effective to specialize in a few magical artifacts.
Firstly, their spirit energy was limited, and secondly, they lacked the spiritual sense to control too many artifacts.
During yesterday's battle in the small forest, he had seemed to use a variety of techniques, but in reality, most of them were spells.
The only magical artifacts he had actually used were the mid-grade Jade Blade and the high-grade Four Symbols Cauldron.
Even then, after a fierce battle, his spirit energy was almost depleted.
So, selecting the most suitable artifacts from his collection and combining them to form a new combat style was something Luo Chen needed to consider.
"The courtyard is too small for experiments."
"I need a more open space."
Luo Chen immediately ruled out the Trial Palace on Phoenix Landing Mountain, as the fees there were exorbitant.
It seemed he would have to practice in the primeval forest behind the Slanting Moon Valley!
Hmm, what smell is that?
A bitter scent wafted in through the door crack.
Luo Chen pushed open the door and discovered someone brewing medicine in the courtyard.
"It's Sister Feng Xia, aren't you supposed to be at work at this hour?"
Feng Xia opened her mouth but didn't explain the reason.
Luo Chen yawned and squatted down beside her, his gaze falling on the medicine furnace.
"Is this medicine for healing injuries? Who's hurt?"
"It's Little Duan."
Feng Xia's voice was hoarse, a lingering effect from her early days working with various herbs at the Hundred Herbs Hall. Even after her voice was healed, the damage remained severe.
She spoke in a calm tone, "It's been about five or six days."
Luo Chen was surprised, "Injured for so long? What happened?"
"On the Dao Discussion Platform, weapons have no eyes. In the harsh winter, some wandering cultivators are driven mad by poverty. To win, they will use any means necessary."
Feng Xia glanced at the eastern wing and sighed, "Little Duan fought to retain his top three position in Qi Refinement among the Great River Market. He clashed with a wandering cultivator from the Snow Lotus Market, and they fought with real fire. One died, and one was severely injured."
Duan Feng was that strong now?
Luo Chen recalled Qin Liangchen's past evaluation, stating that Duan Feng was slightly weaker than his peak self.
Now, he could rank among the top three in Qi Refinement in the entire Great River Market?
The strength of wandering cultivators in the Great River Market had changed dramatically.
These cultivators, who frequently battled beasts, were already very powerful. After further honing their skills on the Dao Discussion Platform, they became even more formidable.
Even Wang Yuan, who had not participated in battles for a long time, had dropped to beyond the top fifty.
Duan Feng had quietly climbed to the top three.
Luo Chen marveled at this and asked, puzzled, "Isn't there a Foundation Establishment cultivator to act as a judge to prevent deaths in normal battles?"
"How many Foundation Establishment cultivators does the Sword Pavilion have?"
After Feng Xia's explanation, Luo Chen learned that the Dao Discussion Platform had changed.
With more participants in the winter, the matches were packed every day.
The Sword Pavilion only had a few Foundation Establishment cultivators on duty.
With so many matches, it was impossible for them to oversee all of them.
Most of the time, low-rank Sword Pavilion cultivators were responsible for judging.
These low-rank cultivators were also in the Qi Refinement stage.
In critical moments, they might not be able to stop two cultivators who had truly ignited their fury.
In the past month, many cultivators had died in matches due to losing control.
The Sword Pavilion even encouraged this to increase the excitement and attract more spectators and bettors.
Duan Feng's match should have been a focal point, but the previous match had been a sudden addition between the first and second-ranked cultivators. After the Foundation Establishment cultivator supervised that match, another judge took over.
The result was one death and one severe injury.
The wandering cultivator from the Snow Lotus Market died, and Duan Feng was severely injured.
He was so badly hurt that he had to be carried back by Sword Pavilion cultivators.
"His internal organs were displaced, multiple bones shattered, and he had thirteen large and small wounds."
"All of these are manageable, but the most severe issue is the cold energy that has entered his body, hindering his use of spirit energy for healing."
"Additionally, his meridians are severely damaged. If not treated promptly, it could affect his future Foundation Establishment."
Feng Xia looked at the eastern wing with compassion, her hoarse voice not caring if the person inside could hear.
She shook her head, "I discovered this a few days ago. I'm taking advantage of my free time to brew some medicine for him. My methods can only partially heal his injuries. The most critical issue, the cold energy, he must dispel on his own. As for the damaged meridians..."
She left the rest unsaid.
All the spirit medicines that can heal the dantian and meridians are extremely expensive.
Duan Feng, who constantly battles to improve his cultivation, probably doesn't have the savings to buy such medicines.
Luo Chen fell silent for a moment before standing up.
"I'll go see him!"
Pushing open the door, a chill hit him.
The room was even colder than outside!
Despite a bright red brazier burning by the bed.
Luo Chen looked over and saw that Duan Feng wasn't sleeping. His eyes were open, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Walking over, Luo Chen sighed.
"You're very skilled at repairing magical artifacts. You could make a living by setting up a small stall. Why do you insist on fighting to the death at the Dao Discussion Platform every day?"
"I've said it before. If you walk by the river often, you're bound to get your feet wet."
"If I don't lose this time, they'll eventually figure out my weaknesses."
Luo Chen had listened carefully. The Snow Lotus Pavilion cultivator who challenged Duan Feng had prepared three different methods to counter him.
In the end, Duan Feng won by risking his life. To maintain his ranking, he was willing to fight to the death.
As a result, even his top-grade flying sword was damaged.
Hearing Luo Chen's nagging, Duan Feng's lifeless eyes finally showed a glimmer of life.
He moved his lips and whispered softly.
"You're so annoying!"
"Whatever, I tried to help, but you're as ungrateful as a donkey's liver. Who cares about you!"
Luo Chen spat and turned to leave the room.
Feng Xia stood at the door, her expression filled with concern.
Suddenly, a medicine bottle was thrust into her hand.
"This is the Pulse Nourishing Elixir, specifically used by Foundation Establishment cultivators to repair meridian damage. It's very effective."
"I've used eighty percent of it, but there's still a little left. Pour a drop into water and give it to him every day!"
Feng Xia looked at the bottle in surprise.
She had worked at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion for years, and the Spirit Medicine Pavilion was right next door. She knew how precious the Pulse Nourishing Elixir was.
This small bottle was worth at least three hundred spirit stones.
And it was specifically for Foundation Establishment cultivators, so the quality was even better, likely costing five hundred spirit stones per bottle.
"This is too expensive!"
"When someone's life is at stake, what's the value?" Luo Chen shrugged. "And there's only a little left. It might not fully heal him, but take it and use it. Remember not to waste it. When it's gone, rinse the bottle with water; it might still have some effect."
With that, he ignored the slight stir in the room and returned to his own house.
To be honest, he was also exhausted.
Yesterday, he fought three opponents, then interrogated Lu Huiben all night. Today, he hurried back to the city to handle a pile of tasks.
Even with his deep spiritual foundation, he was starting to feel the strain.
Back home, he lit the brazier, wrapped himself in a thick blanket, and fell asleep.
...
When he woke up, it was already evening.
Lying in bed, Luo Chen saw snowflakes drifting down through the skylight.
The warm air inside the house melted the snow on the glass, creating a mist.
A month of intense cultivation and a month of refining elixirs had almost worn him out.
Today's nap at home had thoroughly relaxed him.
He perked up, put on his shoes, and wrapped himself in the white fox fur coat before stepping out.
"Xia, I talked to Liu Zang, but he said it's impossible."
"The Hundred Herbs Pavilion is no longer under his management, so he can't do anything about it."
"These Foundation Establishment cultivators are so heartless! You've worked for the Hundred Herbs Pavilion for so many years and even damaged your voice. Now, with a new manager, they just kick you out without any consideration."
"To be honest, I'm thinking of leaving too."
...
...
"Don't leave."
"There are more high-level itinerant cultivators now. If you leave, where will you find such good work?"
"I still have some savings, so I can make it through the winter."
"If all else fails, I'll talk to Qing Lian and see if the Mountain Breaker Gang needs anyone."
In the courtyard, Feng Xia spoke in a hoarse voice, while Bai Meiling sat beside her, looking indignant.
Luo Chen listened for a moment and guessed the situation.
Large sects and shops had a tradition of rotating positions every ten years, so the Foundation Establishment manager of the Spirit Medicine Pavilion had been transferred back.
Liu Zang, the old manager of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, was too old to return to the Medicine King Sect. Since he was familiar with the area, he stayed in the Great River Market.
However, the Medicine King Sect rewarded him by promoting him from the Hundred Herbs Pavilion to the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.
Though they were part of the same sect, the two shops had vastly different interests.
Liu Zang, having received a significant promotion, naturally wouldn't interfere with the new Foundation Establishment manager at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.
The new Foundation Establishment manager, either to establish authority or to quickly cultivate his own people, fired many old employees upon taking office.
Feng Xia, with her average looks and damaged voice, was one of the first to be let go.
No wonder she had been free recently and hadn't gone to work.
Luo Chen didn't know what to say. He had planned to gather everyone for dinner tonight to help him relax.
As he hesitated about whether to cancel the dinner, Qin Liangchen and the others returned.
Gu Caiyi immediately approached Luo Chen with concern.
"I heard you were ambushed on your way home yesterday?"
After counting the elixirs, Sima Shoujia had sent them to various shops, while she stayed at the Elixir Hall.
Luo Chen's ambush was something Sima Shoujia had told her in secret when he returned that noon.
Luo Chen chased after Lu Huiben in broad daylight.
However, he was wearing a large cauldron with multicolored tassels that concealed his face, so most of the outer city cultivators had no idea who was causing such a stir.
For now, it was best to keep this a secret.
After all, they hadn't caught the real culprit, a Ninth Level Qi Refinement cultivator, and it would be embarrassing to spread the news.
At that moment, not only Gu Caiyi, but also Qin Liangchen and his wife, Feng Xia, and Bai Meiling were all looking at Luo Chen.
Their expressions were a mix of concern, surprise, and curiosity.
Luo Chen gave a bitter smile, "Yeah, it seems like everyone's been having a tough time lately."
As soon as he said this, Feng Xia's face darkened.
Luo Chen had been attacked, Duan Feng was injured, and she had lost her job.
It seemed that the people in the courtyard had been particularly unlucky recently.
"Are you okay?" Gu Caiyi asked, eyeing Luo Chen with some hesitation.
Luo Chen was fine, but he laughed it off to avoid worrying everyone.
Moyan Qinglian suggested they all have dinner together, and she would cook.
No one objected.
Soon, with everyone's help, a sumptuous dinner was laid out at the Qin family residence.
At the table, Bai Meiling complained about the new Foundation Establishment cultivator at the Hundred Herbs Hall, who had fired the old employees and planned to cut others' salaries.
Qin Liangchen also scolded Uncle Mi, criticizing him for not valuing Luo Chen and only sending two people to protect him.
Moyan Qinglian, on the other hand, asked Feng Xia about her future plans.
"If it doesn't work out, why don't you come to the medicine hall? You're very familiar with the properties of various herbs, and I can guarantee you a basic salary."
Feng Xia didn't hesitate much before agreeing.
But at the last moment, Luo Chen stopped her.
"I want to start a small business and need someone meticulous and trustworthy to help manage it, preferably someone not from the Broken Mountain Gang."
"Sister Xia would be perfect. How about you come and help me?"
"To be honest, the treatment of cultivators by the various factions of the Broken Mountain Gang is generally quite poor, and it would be a waste of your talents to work at the medicine hall."
His words were beautifully crafted.
Meticulous, trustworthy, and a waste of talent.
Especially the implication that he would offer good compensation.
Feng Xia was instantly tempted.
Not only her, but the others were also curious about Luo Chen's new business.
They knew about the Dust Moon Snack Stand, which made a good profit each month.
How long had it been since Luo Chen started a new business?
Luo Chen didn't keep them in suspense and revealed his plan.
"Tea milk?"
...
"This is the tea milk you were talking about?"
The next day, the courtyard was filled with the strong scent of milk and a faint tea aroma, along with the usual bitter medicinal smells.
Only three people were in the courtyard: Luo Chen, Feng Xia, and Qin Liangchen, who was there out of boredom.
"Yes, try it! And give me some feedback so I can improve the recipe."
"Sure, it shouldn't be poisonous."
Qin Liangchen took a sip of the tea milk, then frowned.
"The taste is a bit strange, too gamey."
"Gamey?"
"Yes, you used milk from a female yellow cow, didn't you? It smells good, but no one drinks it."
After hearing this, Luo Chen thought for a moment and started writing in his notebook.
Soon, a new, improved recipe was ready.
Following the new recipe, Luo Chen called for Dongfang Liang to buy more animal milk.
However, he also tried using various herbs in the courtyard to neutralize the strong gamey taste of the beast milk.
But the results were poor, and Qin Liangchen, who was testing the drinks, went from being enthusiastic to looking increasingly green.
"Try this one. I used milk from a Fuzhu deer this time, which should taste much better."
Before handing over the cup, Luo Chen used a small fireball to heat the tea milk.
Qin Liangchen took a deep breath and drank the newly mixed tea milk.
After swallowing, his expression became strangely distorted.
"Did you forget to dilute this milk?"
Luo Chen explained, "Fuzhu deer are the most gentle of the first-stage beasts, but their milk is too bland. I wanted to use the Fuzhu deer milk name, so I kept some of the original flavor and used very little herbs. Spirit tea is expensive, so I also used less to save costs."
Qin Liangchen's brows furrowed into a frown. He asked softly, "Was it intentional or an accident?"
Luo Chen puffed out his chest proudly, "Intentional. How is it? Tastes great, right?"
"Damn it, didn't you know that drinking undiluted Fuzhu deer milk can overwhelm even a cultivator?"
With that, he leaped onto his sword and flew out of the courtyard!
Luo Chen was puzzled. What was going on?
Feng Xia stood nearby with a strange expression, "Fuzhu deer feed on Panhui grass, which mainly serves to lubricate the intestines and promote bowel movements. The effect is very strong, and no Qi Refinement cultivator can suppress it. The milk from a Fuzhu deer that eats Panhui grass naturally has the same effect."
Luo Chen's mouth opened slightly, and he stared dumbly at the cup of tea milk in his hand.
It seemed the road to perfecting the new tea milk recipe was still long and arduous.
When Qin Liangchen returned to the courtyard, looking much more relaxed, he saw Luo Chen offering him another cup of tea milk, and his face immediately changed.
"Bro, have some tea!"
"Get lost!"
(End of Chapter)
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