https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-134-The-Confession-the-Old-Fox-and-the-Young-Fox-Second-Update-/12900121/
Chapter 135: Breath Concealment Technique Achieves Great Perfection
Chapter 135: Breath Concealment Technique Achieves Great Perfection
"Uncle Mi returned to the Great River Market three days ago."
Wang Yuan's words kept swirling in Luo Chen's mind.
He returned three days ago, yet with the Mountain Breaker Gang in turmoil, why didn't he show up? Today, he urgently sought me out, employing all sorts of psychological tactics, even taking out a Foundation Establishment Pill. Why?
Thinking of the once rosy-faced, always smiling old man, who today looked deathly pale, Luo Chen's mind couldn't help but flash back to the medium-grade spirit stones that had turned to stone powder in the corner of the stone chamber.
Luo Chen, now filled with shock and doubt, instantly realized the true state of Uncle Mi's current facade of strength.
"Even a small Spirit Gathering Array is quite costly in spirit stones, let alone a second-rank Spirit Gathering Array!"
"If the effect was truly that good, why would independent cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage willingly join major forces or become vassals of a faction?"
"Even if I don't know how long the pseudo-second-rank spirit vein environment created by the second-rank Spirit Gathering Array can last, no Foundation Establishment cultivator can afford the cost."
There were ten medium-grade spirit stones in each of the eight corners of the stone chamber.
That's eighty medium-grade spirit stones, or eight thousand low-grade spirit stones!
Uncle Mi once spent eighty thousand spirit stones on an auction for a magic treasure.
For a cultivator his age to advance to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, the amount of resources he must have spent is evident.
From this, it can be deduced that he must not have much savings left.
Thus, the heavily injured Uncle Mi is now almost destitute.
"That's why he's willing to go to any lengths to force me to fully refine the Jade Marrow Pill."
In an instant, Luo Chen pieced together the cause and effect, and glimpsed the probable truth.
In the struggle over the Golden Core Relic, Uncle Mi absolutely did not come out on top.
This can be inferred from the conflict between the Mystic Meeting and the Mountain Breaker Gang.
Behind the Mystic Meeting are the five major Foundation Establishment families, with three known Foundation Establishment cultivators in the open.
Even if Uncle Mi is at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and possesses a magic treasure, what difference does it make? Moreover, the Golden Core Relic attracted more Foundation Establishment cultivators than just these few.
From what Luo Chen knows, those who went there with names and reputations include the Joyful Union Sect's Hua from the Tian Xiang Lou, the Great River Gang's Wang Hai Chao, the Mount Tai Market's Kang Dong Yue, and the Snow Lotus Auction House's Tu Xian Ping.
As for those who went secretly, there's no telling how many.
In such a situation, surrounded by powerful enemies, how could Uncle Mi have escaped unscathed?
Furthermore, because the Mountain Breaker Gang had been operating in the Ganyuan Mountain Range for a long time, they likely viewed it as their territory.
Under such circumstances, Uncle Mi might have been forced to take a leading role, making the situation even more dangerous and increasing the likelihood of him getting involved in battles.
After thinking it through, Luo Chen didn't feel any joy at Uncle Mi's misfortune.
On the contrary, he felt uneasy.
Zeng Wen had specifically warned him to be careful recently.
With the gang's manpower severely depleted, other factions might have ideas.
Now, with Uncle Mi heavily injured...
"A storm is brewing!"
...
The next morning, Luo Chen left home early.
He headed to places like the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, the Hundred Herbs Hall, and the Spirit Source Hall.
He spent a large sum of spirit stones to buy many pills and cultivation resources, even purchasing over a hundred pounds of spirit rice.
His original savings of over five thousand spirit stones were now back down to one thousand.
In short, Luo Chen was already prepared to run at any moment.
Before leaving the city, he met with Yuan Xiaoyue and took her to the Honey Snow Ice City milk tea shop.
"During the next period, I might spend most of my time in the Alchemy Hall and rarely come to the inner city."
Yuan Xiaoyue, looking confused, said, "You didn't come to the inner city much before either!"
Heh! This little girl!
Feng Xia understood the seriousness in Luo Chen's words and asked seriously, "Is something wrong?"
"Not yet."
Not yet, but it might happen in the future?
Feng Xia nodded thoughtfully.
Luo Chen continued, "At some point, the supplies for the milk tea shop and snack stalls might be cut off. You need to be mentally prepared for that."
The current earnings from the milk tea shop and snack stalls are far from what they used to be.
They can barely sustain themselves.
Hearing Luo Chen's warning, the two women exchanged glances.
Feng Xia thought for a moment and said, "Then take this high-grade ice-element flying sword with you. Cooling is actually quite simple."
"There's no need for that."
It's just a high-grade magic weapon, and Luo Chen doesn't lack weapons right now.
He said, "Leave it in the milk tea shop as a gimmick. In a critical moment, you can use it to save your life."
Feng Xia looked at Luo Chen with gratitude.
"Also, remind Duan Feng from time to time. When it gets too dangerous, don't go out to take on jobs."
"I'm afraid I can't persuade him. Recently, he goes out every day to repair magic artifacts, more diligently than anyone else." Feng Xia smiled bitterly.
Luo Chen shook his head, "In any case, I've said my piece. When you encounter danger, escape immediately. Don't cling to material possessions."
After this earnest advice, Luo Chen left.
...
On the way out of the city, Gu Caiyi looked at Luo Chen curiously.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, just that your attitude towards friends and others is quite different."
Luo Chen patted his chest, "That's right. My nickname is 'Righteous to the Heavens, Little Meng Chang,' and I'm also known as 'A Thousand Gold for a Promise, Little Guan Yu'!"
"Who is Meng Chang?"
"Who is Guan Yu?"
"Hmm... You know the deity we often worship at home, right? He is Guan Yu, a famous general from my hometown, very loyal and righteous!"
Gu Caiyi tilted her little head, wondering if this was really true.
Is this really true?
Luo Chen searched his heart, and no matter in his past life or this one, he was indeed like that, almost never changing.
For his friends, he could freely enjoy their gifts and also unhesitatingly offer them help.
Even after his reincarnation, he treated Wang Yuan, Old Daoist Chen, and the neighbors in the courtyard with genuine sincerity.
When someone was successful, he could flatter them without asking for anything in return, congratulating them.
When they were in trouble, he could help them as much as possible.
Just like with Gu Caiyi and Feng Xia, and the recently befriended Duan Feng.
However, his attitude towards "outsiders" was different.
Cautious, on guard, and never revealing too much too soon.
Even to the point of prioritizing his own interests as much as possible!
This was particularly evident in his interactions with Uncle Mi. Their relationship was never equal from the start.
It was a purely transactional relationship.
Due to the significant difference in strength, the initiative was always on Uncle Mi's side from the beginning.
If he hadn't agreed to form the Alchemy Hall and refine pills for the Mountain Breaker Gang, he would have faced only one outcome—death!
No one openly stated this, but it was a fact.
Even after becoming the Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall, he was merely a tool, and Uncle Mi was the capitalist controlling this tool.
Luo Chen had no complaints about the capitalist.
He just took what he could get!
He never hesitated to assume the worst of Uncle Mi's intentions.
It was precisely because of this that he could repeatedly obtain good things from him.
In fact, he didn't let Uncle Mi suffer too much.
Apart from the initial losses of the Alchemy Hall, after successfully refining the Medium-Grade Jade Marrow Pills, Uncle Mi began to see profits.
For someone who used him and might even suppress him during his Foundation Establishment, Luo Chen had always been vigilant, determined not to be deceived by his gentle and tactful methods.
If he really believed the lies hidden behind Uncle Mi's kind smile, the fate of Heart Devouring Tiger Han Dang and the sick tiger Zeng Wen could very well be his own.
Especially after yesterday's candid conversation, Luo Chen realized this issue even more deeply.
Uncle Mi's desire to control him grew stronger as his realm increased.
Luo Chen didn't want to face such a cunning enemy when he tried to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage in the future.
That would be too terrifying!
Being vigilant was one thing, but what he needed to do at the moment was another.
After returning to Crescent Moon Valley, Luo Chen launched his alchemy business!
The entire Alchemy Hall and Medicine Hall began to operate around him at full capacity.
With the first day's Jade Marrow Pill refinement completed, the alchemical success rate completely stunned the two overseers, Gu Caiyi and Sikong Shoujia.
Fourteen furnaces of raw materials, with a success rate of fifty percent!
And the yield rate was one hundred percent, all Medium-Grade Jade Marrow Pills!
Not a single Low-Grade Jade Marrow Pill!
"Fourteen furnaces, seventy Medium-Grade Jade Marrow Pills!"
Gu Caiyi swallowed hard, unable to believe it.
If these were sold, they would be worth seven hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones!
If this continued for a whole month, it would be worth over twenty thousand!
Gu Caiyi suddenly turned around, only to see Luo Chen washing his hands by the mountain spring with a relaxed expression.
He wasn't surprised at all?
It seemed like he had known this all along.
Compared to Gu Caiyi's shock, Sikong Shoujia was so stunned he couldn't speak.
He immediately left the Alchemy Hall with the ledger to report this good news to Uncle Mi.
Luo Chen clapped his hands, walked to the cliff platform, and looked at Sikong Shoujia's retreating back.
"Aren't you tired?"
Gu Caiyi asked worriedly from behind.
Tired?
Luo Chen chuckled. In the past, he had to deliberately control the success rate and yield rate, which was truly exhausting.
Now, just controlling the grade to Medium, he felt much more relaxed.
Looking at Luo Chen's handsome profile, Gu Caiyi couldn't help but say, "If this isn't a fluke, and it continues like this, you'll make over twenty thousand Spirit Stones in a month, and over two hundred thousand in a year. You could buy anything, even magic treasures, couldn't you?"
"Girl, you're thinking too simply."
Luo Chen smiled, then went into his small room.
Leaving Gu Caiyi standing by the cliff platform, feeling the warm summer breeze.
Gu Caiyi carefully thought about it and realized she had indeed been thinking too simply.
So many pills, the cost would be in the thousands.
And if it involved transportation and sales, the human and material resources required would also be substantial.
The profit, indeed, wasn't as high as she imagined.
But even so, the final earnings would still be a huge sum!
Especially for a Qi Cultivation cultivator!
Luo Chen was truly amazing. Unconsciously, his alchemy skills had grown to this level.
Deep down, Gu Caiyi almost started to worship Luo Chen.
In the stone house, Luo Chen sighed.
Unfortunately, he could only receive two-tenths of the benefits from these pills.
It was truly too little! However, bound by his oath, he had no choice but to do so.
"Well, I'll just endure for the next one or two months!"
"Once I save enough spirit stones to support my comeback, I'll make my escape!"
...
To prepare for his escape, Luo Chen did more than just that.
Apart from refining pills daily, he also increased his practice of the Breath Concealment Technique. At the same time, he began to familiarize himself with the Green Musk Dragon-Gathering Flag as much as possible.
This supreme magical artifact would be a significant support during his escape!
He had to figure out its secrets to avoid the situation where Qiu Bai's spirit energy ran out.
Amidst this busy schedule, half a month passed in a flash.
That night, Luo Chen wandered through the mountains and valleys.
He held the Green Musk Dragon-Gathering Flag, his gaze falling on the corpse of a one-horned ram on the ground.
A powerful first-rank beast, a particularly aggressive clan among ram-type beasts.
Even in the Howling Moon Mountains, it had a place.
The Demon Wolves often had to hunt in groups to kill a one-horned ram.
But if the ram managed to gore them, even just once, it would often result in intestines torn and stomachs ruptured.
Among the people Luo Chen knew, only Duan Feng had hunted a one-horned ram in the Ganyuan Mountain Range.
If it were before, Luo Chen would either flee or use guerrilla tactics to gradually kill such a beast.
But this time, he attacked head-on and easily slew it.
"I've pretty much figured out the various wonders of this supreme magical artifact."
The functions Tianxingzi mentioned were actually incomplete.
Apart from directly summoning three wood-element dragons, it could also summon them separately.
This way, it could greatly save spirit energy.
Even when summoning all three at once, there were tricks to it, not just brute force like Qiu Bai's method.
It could only be said that Qiu Bai had not had enough time to explore its details.
Just now, with the Jadeite Blade, Luo Chen only summoned one wood-element dragon, and it easily killed the one-horned ram.
"My current combat strength is firmly at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation."
"Facing a Great Qi Perfection cultivator, I have a chance to fight."
"I haven't battled a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but with the Green Musk Dragon-Gathering Flag and the Perfect Fireball Spell I mastered, I might be able to pose a threat."
"Moreover, I have more than just these means!"
Luo Chen's thoughts flickered, and his entire body's aura nearly vanished, like a withered log.
He moved his spirit energy slightly, and the Carefree Wind Control Technique instantly activated.
Throughout this process, the external aura he maintained did not change at all.
"This is a Great Qi Perfection level Breath Concealment Technique!"
"This time, I can't rely on luck; I must conduct some experiments!"
Luo Chen took a deep breath and flew toward the large canyon deep within Chang Yin Mountain.
Soon, he arrived outside the cold cassia grove.
Luo Chen touched the branches and leaves of the cold cassia, and his aura suddenly changed, emitting a cold aura.
He continued forward until a small white wolf appeared.
A Frost Wolf, first-rank.
In terms of size and external demonic aura, it was roughly equivalent to a human in the early stages of Qi Cultivation.
He crouched down, his hand stealthily reaching out to the small white wolf.
The little wolf raised its head in confusion, looking at this strange creature. Could the cold cassia tree move now?
Luo Chen quickly retracted his hand, a strand of wolf hair between his fingers.
Then, his aura kept changing.
After about three breaths, his aura was identical to that of the Frost Wolf.
A Great Qi Perfection level Breath Concealment Technique!
Not only did it excel in concealing aura and spirit energy fluctuations, but it also had an additional function.
That was to mimic others' auras.
This mimicry was not limited to humans; even beasts and trees could be mimicked.
It was precisely because of this that Luo Chen had the confidence to explore the Chang Yin Mountain canyon again.
Passing the small wolf, Luo Chen continued forward.
Following the prominent cliffs of the canyon, under the dark moonlight, he approached the cold pond step by step.
He stopped when he was about five hundred meters away.
"Even at such close range, that second-rank ancient Demon Wolf didn't detect me, proving that a Great Qi Perfection level Breath Concealment Technique can indeed fool a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Luo Chen glanced at the threads of Ice Spirit Cold Aura emanating from the cold pond and then turned and left without hesitation.
This time, he didn't come to seek treasures or kill beasts.
He only came to test the effectiveness of the Breath Concealment Technique using the sensitive spirit sense of a second-rank Demon Wolf.
The final result left him very satisfied.
He was certain that if he used the Cleansing Technique to remove Uncle Mi's spirit energy methods from his body and then escaped to a distant place to hide, the other party would never find him!
This gave him a newfound confidence!
But Luo Chen did not escape.
He had worked hard for half a month refining medium-grade Jade Marrow Pills for the Mountain Breaker Gang and hadn't yet received his share of the benefits.
Even if he left his homeland, he needed enough starting capital!
Moreover, he needed to give Wang Yuan an explanation.
(End of Chapter)
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