Chapter 199: Ghost Grinding Stone and Yin Ling, Who Takes Precedence?

Chapter 199: Ghost Grinding Stone and Yin Ling, Who Takes Precedence?



Luo Tianhui was about to depart, but not in haste.

Three months was the time Luo Chen had carefully thought out.

During these three months, whether it was handling his businesses or preparing resources, everything was relatively sufficient.

He could also use this time to refine a large batch of pills.

After listening to Sima Huiwang's report, he had the clearest understanding of Luo Tianhui's current financial situation.

On paper, there were less than fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones.

This was really too little!

It should be known that, in the past, Misha Hua had gathered eighty thousand low-grade spirit stones from the Mountainbreaker Gang in one go to purchase a magical treasure.

The self-proclaimed richest alchemist, Luo Chen's forces, had only this many spirit stones.

It was truly embarrassing!

Of course, he didn't blame Sima Huiwang for mismanagement.

In fact, she had done her best.

Whether it was generating income or cutting expenses, she had done her best while risking offending others.

The main problem was that the previous Luo Tianhui relied too much on Luo Chen.

From preparing for the Foundation Establishment to the closed-door cultivation afterward,

Luo Chen had spent a full six years!

During these six years, the number of times he personally refined pills was extremely few.

Under such circumstances, the fact that Luo Tianhui had a surplus of fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones should be credited to Sima Huiwang's efforts! Of course, credit should be given where it's due.

But the lack of funds was genuinely embarrassing.

Therefore, before leaving, Luo Chen wanted to take advantage of the convenience of the fire in Xiao Huan Mountain to refine a large batch of pills.

And this batch of pills, he wouldn't hold back anymore.

High-grade Jade Marrow Pills! Each furnace of pills would aim for high-grade quality.

Luo Chen calculated that in three months, with a fifty percent success rate, refining twenty portions of raw materials daily,

he could refine eighteen thousand high-grade Jade Marrow Pills.

If sold externally, given the current chaotic situation in the Jade Cauldron Domain, the price of high-grade Jade Marrow Pills wouldn't be cheap.

It could at least match the low-grade Qi Nourishing Pills produced by the Medicine King Sect.

In other words, three months later, he would have a huge sum of eighteen million low-grade spirit stones.

With this amount of money, he could establish himself wherever he went!

If it were in the past, Luo Chen wouldn't dare to refine pills so extravagantly.

There would always be people who would be envious and unable to resist coveting one or two.

But now, having advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, his various methods had become more proficient.

As long as he didn't encounter Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators, he had some self-preservation abilities.

Therefore, Luo Chen dared to refine high-grade Jade Marrow Pills on a large scale.

Wealth is never better the more you have.

It should be proportional to strength and achievements.

Thanks to advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage, his divine soul foundation, spiritual energy capacity, and control over spiritual energy had greatly improved.

Luo Chen refining twenty portions of Jade Marrow Pills daily wasn't tiring.

After all, there was a group of people assisting him.

If it were in modern times, it could be called a small-scale assembly line production, and that wouldn't be an exaggeration.

But any more than that, it wouldn't work.

It wasn't that Luo Chen couldn't handle it, but among his followers, only Qu Lingjun was a true alchemist.

Luo Chen being able to simultaneously manage four pill rooms already indicated his high level of pill refinement and powerful spirit perception.

After refining pills each day, the finishing work was basically left to Qu Lingjun, Mi Li, Tang Quan, and others.

Luo Chen still had some free time to deal with other matters.

...

Another day of pill refinement had ended.

Luo Chen casually pointed out some guidance for Qu Lingjun's cultivation.

The cultivation method he practiced was called Inferno Technique, a first-grade fire-attributed cultivation method.

This was a cultivation method that Qu Han Cheng had specifically prepared for Qu Lingjun in the past.

Before cultivation, Qu Lingjun had memorized it to the point of reciting it fluently.

Although it was different from Luo Chen's primary wood-attributed cultivation method,

Luo Chen still found it easy to guide Qu Lingjun's cultivation.

It wasn't just a matter of having a comprehensive understanding.

He had profound insights into fire-attributed techniques.

Over the years, his combat method was the Fireball Technique, his work was pill refinement, and after killing, he was accustomed to using the Fireball Technique to incinerate his opponents.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, for some reason, he felt even closer to fire-attributed spiritual energy.

When it came to fire-attributed techniques, he indeed had a lot to say.

After some guidance, Qu Lingjun gained a lot.

Luo Chen also happily experienced the feeling of being a master.

This was quite different from guiding pill refinement.

"Cultivate well, I have two second-grade fire-attributed cultivation methods in my possession, waiting for you, my boy, after you reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Master!"

Luo Chen smiled and left with his hands behind his back.

Walking along the mountain path, step by step.

As he moved forward, the white mist covering the mountain peak seemed to have a sense of spirituality, slowly dispersing.

After he passed by, the white mist gradually gathered again.

Such a spiritual scene couldn't be the autonomous activation of a large array.

Soon.

Luo Chen arrived at the mountain peak, outside the Green Thatch House.

Without hurrying into the house, Luo Chen stopped in his tracks.

A smile appeared on his face.

"Don't hide, I can see you."

There was no one around.

His words seemed to be directed at the air.

However.

The next moment, a crisp, bell-like laughter sounded behind him.

"Hehe..."

Luo Chen turned around helplessly and looked at the petite and charming figure behind him.

"Xiao Ling, in the future, don't appear so mysteriously, you can't scare me."

"Hehe..."

The charming figure didn't speak, as if she only knew how to laugh.

Unconsciously, she rushed to Luo Chen's side, trying to hold his shoulder.

But her ethereal body passed right through him.

After passing through, the charming figure was stunned.

"Eee..."

Looking at the familiar face, Luo Chen's heart still softened.

After all, she had gained some spirituality compared to when she was a lonely ghost in the Ghost City.

She was no longer a wandering spirit.

If Feng Xia and Gu Caiyi were here, they would surely cover their mouths in shock.

Because this ghost spirit's face was none other than that of their neighbor, who had lived with them in the same courtyard for many years.

Bai Meiling! She was clearly dead, so why did she appear on Xiao Huan Mountain?

It all started when Luo Chen captured the Ghost General...

...

Luo Chen descended from the second floor of the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

He was about to leave the city and return to Xiao Huan Mountain.

However, his footsteps halted at the staircase.

By the dilapidated wooden window, a delicate shadow was peeking timidly at him.

Luo Chen's sleeves fluttered, about to brush past.

"A mere ghost spirit, insignificant and weak, dares to spy on me."

This ghost spirit was too weak to even be considered a Ghost Soldier.

When she died, it was too sudden.

Without lingering attachments, regrets, grudges, or anger, she couldn't even become a powerful ghost spirit.

Luo Chen's perfected Purification Spell might not be enough to deal with powerful Ghost Soldiers or Ghost Generals comparable to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

But against such a weak ghost spirit, it would be like sweeping away a large area.

Earlier, when he entered the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, he had quickly cleaned up the scene in the same manner.

However, just as Luo Chen's sleeves fluttered, about to brush past, he paused.

He looked into those timid eyes, and his heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

Unconsciously, he called out, "Xiao Ling?"

The figure trembled, then fled in a panic.

Luo Chen was startled, immediately realizing what had happened.

Without hesitation, he chased after her out of the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Finally, he stopped in front of the familiar Hundred Herbs Hall.

"Did she dare to come out because I cleared the nearby ghosts?"

With this thought in mind, Luo Chen strode into the Hundred Herbs Hall.

Inside, the hall was empty, and medicine cabinets were in disarray.

Everything had been swept clean before the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Hundred Herbs Hall left.

Luo Chen walked through the hall, searching for the ghost spirit.

He checked the first and second floors, even the third floor, but found no trace of it.

Finally, he reached the backyard of the Hundred Herbs Hall.

In an instant, his gaze fell upon a stone mill in the center.

Luo Chen was familiar with this stone mill.

There were various methods and processes for processing medicinal ingredients, including grinding them into powder.

For convenient processing, a mortar and pestle were often used.

He had a complete set in his own storage bag.

But for larger medicinal ingredients, a stone mill was required.

Luo Chen released his Spirit Perception, gazing gently at the small hole in the center of the stone mill.

The ghost spirit's aura was hidden within.

"Is that you, Xiao Ling?"

"If it's you, come out."

"I'm Luo Chen, your next-door neighbor."

"The one who used to buy medicine from you every day?"

There was no response, only a shivering chill.

Luo Chen thought for a moment, then said softly, "Do you want to know how to refine the Fire Dog Whip to create the Fasting Pill?"

A small, ghostly head condensed from the chill emerged from the millstone's eye, curiously staring at Luo Chen.

Recognizing the familiar face, Luo Chen finally confirmed her identity.

This was the ghost spirit of Bai Meiling.

He hadn't expected that in a city filled with evil ghosts and vengeful spirits, she, a mere ghost spirit, had managed to survive without being devoured by her powerful counterparts.

As he approached, Luo Chen finally understood how she had managed to survive.

"This medicine mill has become a Low-grade Magic Artifact under the influence of ghostly energy."

"No, it should be called a Ghost Artifact!"

Tools used for processing precious medicinal ingredients often had a high rank.

At the very least, they were of Low-grade quality.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Hundred Herbs Hall naturally wouldn't give this item a second glance.

However, it provided the perfect hiding place for Bai Meiling's ghost spirit.

Luo Chen even felt that if Bai Meiling operated the stone mill, she could crush the ghostly creatures attacking her.

Originally used for grinding medicine, it had now become a mill for grinding ghosts.

After several years of dwelling within the stone mill, Bai Meiling had developed a deep symbiotic relationship with it.

"The Ghost City will change, and it will no longer be a paradise for you."

"Let me take you away!"

Luo Chen placed his hand on the stone mill, but surprisingly, Bai Meiling didn't launch an attack.

Instead, she lay quietly in the millstone's eye.

Luo Chen nodded and carefully collected the stone mill.

With this, as long as he took this Ghost Artifact out of Dahan Ghost City, Bai Meiling could leave with him.

Once outside, even without sufficient ghostly energy to sustain her, Bai Meiling could still live comfortably with the help of the artifact.

...

On Xiao Huan Mountain, Luo Chen sat in a recliner, holding a storage bag.

His gaze fell upon Bai Meiling, who was playing in the clouds like a child.

He smiled slightly.

"Stop playing."

"Hehe..."

"How's your progress with the Soul Refining True Art I taught you?"

Bai Meiling stood before him, her fingers unconsciously fidgeting, looking rather aggrieved.

"Yi Yi..."

She seemed to be saying that the technique was too difficult, and she didn't want to learn it.

Luo Chen's expression turned solemn, "You must learn it, and learn it diligently. Otherwise, you won't be able to regain your memories or embark on the path of Ghost Cultivation!"

"Yi Yi."

Bai Meiling pouted and flew into the Green Thatch House.

Then, she flew out, dragging a pitch-black wooden block.

She crouched next to Luo Chen, her eyes filled with sorrow as she stared at the wooden block.

Seeing this, Luo Chen felt relieved.

The wooden block was naturally one of Gao Tingyuan's belongings, the very one that contained the Soul Refining True Art.

Luo Chen had learned the Soul Capturing Technique and Soul Binding Oath from it.

As for the Soul Refining True Art, he hadn't cultivated it himself.

After all, it was an incomplete technique, and if he practiced it, he would become neither human nor ghost.

Even if he used it to break through the Foundation Establishment Stage, the aftermath of merging with a thousand souls would bring complications.

But for Bai Meiling, a ghost spirit, these problems didn't exist.

She was already a ghost spirit, neither human nor ghost.

Moreover, in the future, when she perfected her Ghost Soldier realm, she could attempt to use the methods in the Soul Refining True Art to establish her foundation.

Side Effects?

No worries.

Bai Meiling's symbiotic object was a Ghost Grinding Stone, a formidable tool capable of crushing and suppressing Ghost Creatures.

By crushing and refining it, she would obtain the essence of the soul, which she could absorb directly.

"If you had joined earlier, I could have gone into the Ghost City to capture some Ghost Spirits for you to aid your cultivation."

Bai Meiling, who was pretending to cultivate, understood his words.

She immediately became more serious.

Luo Chen sighed and smiled, refocusing his attention on the storage bag in front of him.

"What a Duan Qiankun!"

"As expected of a family with a legacy in artifact forging, their understanding of array formations is unparalleled, and their Spirit Sense Restrictions are equally exquisite."

This storage bag was none other than a relic of Duan Qiankun.

It was once in Wang Yuan's possession.

As Wang Yuan had not broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm, he couldn't break the Spirit Sense Restriction on it, so he handed it over to Luo Chen.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Luo Chen had attempted to open this storage bag numerous times.

But each time, he returned empty-handed!

There was no other way; Duan Qiankun's prowess in Spirit Sense was no weaker than his own.

If only considering the restrictions, it was even stronger by a thousandfold.

Speaking of which, it's necessary to mention the relationship between array formations and restrictions.

Restrictions: Using Spirit Energy to block and Spirit Perception to control.

Array Formations: Integrating various restrictions, combining them into an array, utilizing objects to form the array, and employing it as a technique.

It can be said that anyone who cultivates array formations must first learn the art of restrictions.

Even when weak, if one's Spirit Perception cannot be projected outward, they can still use Essence Blood or Magical Artifacts to cast restrictions.

Only by learning a sufficient number of restrictions can one form large and small arrays.

In essence, any large array is composed of numerous individual restrictions.

Finally, one can set up an array by utilizing the Earth Meridians, Heavenly-Earth Spirit Energy, Magical Artifacts, and even living beings.

Without understanding restrictions, directly attempting to use array formations will undoubtedly lead to countless difficulties.

For example, if an array formation is like a large net, then restrictions are the nodes that make up the net.

If the net is sparse, it won't be able to catch fish.

Wang Yuan is a living example.

He didn't understand restrictions and directly tried to steal the idea of the Heavenly Craft Soul Seizing Array, combining it with Blood Path Secret Techniques to form the Blood Slaughter Soul Seizing Array.

It seemed ingenious, capable of plundering the foundation of others.

But in reality, at the last step, he fell short.

He almost lost himself in the process.

After failing, he finally realized his mistake.

Over the years, hiding in the underwater cave residence, he not only cultivated the Soul Binding Oath to eliminate hidden dangers but also researched restrictions and array formations.

Fortunately, with Duan Feng's support, he was barely able to get started.

Duan Feng came and went, seeing his simple and arduous living conditions.

So, he tidied up the cave for him; otherwise, it wouldn't have been as neat as Luo Chen found it.

After years of research, Wang Yuan made some progress and began improving the Blood Slaughter Soul Seizing Array.

Getting sidetracked.

Back to the topic.

As the head of the Duan family, Duan Qiankun had been exposed to the art of artifact forging from a young age.

He must have a deep understanding of the crucial array formations that constitute Magical Artifacts.

Even if his Divine Soul wasn't powerful enough to form an array, he could still set up simple Spirit Sense Restrictions.

However, these simple Spirit Sense Restrictions became extremely challenging for Luo Chen.

"In a short time, I definitely won't be able to learn all kinds of restrictions from scratch."

"I can only rely on brute force and slowly wear them down."

"Fortunately, after so many years, there's only a tiny bit of Spirit Sense Restriction left on it."

Luo Chen was excited to see what treasures he would find inside Duan Qiankun's storage bag, a relic left behind by a long-established Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"What about the treasures that Xu Ji from Luoyun Sect's inner sect is after? Will they be inside as well?"

The items coveted by Xu Ji and even the Heavenly Star Master must be extraordinary!

This was Luo Chen's motivation to spend years tirelessly erasing the Spirit Sense Restrictions left by Duan Qiankun.

...

...The commotion caused by Luo Tianhui's departure couldn't escape notice.

Even the Loose Cultivators could sense the changes day by day and discern the clues.

How could the major Foundation Establishment forces with their numbers and strength be unaware?

Not long after, three Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived one after the other, riding on clouds, outside Xiao Huan Mountain.

The doors of the Universe Hall closed once more.

Inside the hall, Luo Chen, who had just emerged from the alchemy chamber, calmly sipped a cup of hot tea.

As for the three people across from him, their faces showing a hint of anxiety, he seemed to ignore them.

Finally, someone couldn't hold back any longer.

Nan Gong Jin.

"Danchenzi, is your Luo Tianhui really leaving?"

Luo Chen put down his teacup and nodded lightly.

Such a matter couldn't be hidden.

If they had prepared a month in advance, they could have sold some of their assets and territories at regular prices, making a profit.

As for how much was acquired by the three major forces, that was no longer his concern.

Seeing Luo Chen's nod, Nan Gong Jin anxiously asked, "Why go to such lengths?"

"You've finally established a solid foundation here, and our four families have formed a rare alliance. With no interference from major sects, this place is incredibly rich in resources. In a hundred years, won't we all be swimming in wealth?"

Indeed.

Without the interference of sect forces, the resources in Da He Market were abundant enough to be considered massive.

Supplying four forces and four Foundation Establishment cultivators would be more than enough, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Especially with the Great River Gang, led by Wang Haichao, connecting the inside and outside, they could supplement the resources needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators from the outside world.

"Perhaps it's related to the strange occurrence in the Ghost City?"

Li Yixuan suddenly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Nan Gong Jin was taken aback.

A look of fear flashed across his face.

The sudden outburst of the Ghost King's aura, even from a great distance, had caught his attention.

But he still didn't give up, as he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes.

So, he needed to confirm.

"Dan Chenzi, is this true?"

"Yes, Fellow Daoist Li's guess is correct."

Luo Chen looked around at everyone and said word for word, "Within the Dahan Ghost City, a Ghost King is about to emerge. It will happen in as little as half a year, and at most, a year."

"Moreover, this Ghost King is not an ordinary evil ghost that has evolved."

"Its predecessor was the Elder Pang Ren Xiong of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect, and his abilities are extraordinary."

"Even if he has transformed into a Ghost King, his strength is definitely not something we Foundation Establishment True Cultivators can compare to."

Upon hearing these words, even though they had mentally prepared themselves, the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators' faces still changed slightly.

They knew that the Ghost City was constantly changing every day.

From the initial single Ghost General, over the years, it had transformed into nine Ghost Generals.

But after so many years, the Ghost City had remained quiet, with few evil ghosts leaving the city.

As a result, everyone had tacitly accepted the existence of this neighbor.

But now, someone was telling them that a highly skilled individual had transformed into a Ghost King, and this made them feel uneasy.

Nan Gong Jin asked with a glimmer of hope, "Could it be that he retained his conscious mind and became a Ghost Cultivator?"

Ghost Cultivators and normal ghost creatures were completely different.

The word 'cultivation' in their name implied that they were still considered to be on the path of pursuing the Great Dao, just like the True Cultivators, Body Cultivators, and Demon Cultivators.

In other words, they could still be reasoned with.

However, his hope was shattered by Li Yixuan.

"How could it possibly be a normal Ghost Cultivator!"

Li Yixuan spoke softly, "Initially, Pang Ren Xiong was besieged by three Ghost Kings and a mysterious Golden Core Cultivator at Luofeng Mountain, and died a miserable death. The resentment and anger he felt were enough to shake the heavens."

"Such an existence, once it appears, will be intent on destroying everything."

Nan Gong Jin felt as if he had been struck, and his face turned pale.

He kept muttering, "How could this be, how could this be?"

It was no wonder he was so flustered.

After all, the Nan Gong Clan's situation was different from that of the Great River Gang and the Li Clan.

They had originally moved from Xue Lian Market.

To establish themselves here, they had put in a lot of effort.

Dozens of clan cultivators had lost their lives.

Now that they had finally stabilized and developed close relationships with the surrounding forces, the entire clan was slowly regaining its vitality.

At this moment, someone was telling him that...

They had to move again? Who could bear this?

In fact, it wasn't just Nan Gong Jin.

After entering the hall, Wang Haichao, who had been silent, also had a solemn expression on his face.

Relocating a clan was relatively normal.

With blood ties, wherever they went, they would rise and fall together.

But for his Great River Gang, it wasn't that simple.

They recruited loose cultivators.

The bond that held them together was mutual interest.

The way they made profits was through water transportation and resource price differences in various regions.

Suddenly moving to a new place, whether anyone would follow him or not was one thing, but whether they could establish themselves in the new location was another matter.

If they couldn't open up the situation...

The vast Great River Gang might not only fail to provide assistance in his cultivation but might also become a burden.

Although Wang Haichao seemed silent, his mind was actually in a state of intense internal conflict.

For a moment, within the hall, aside from the sound of Luo Chen drinking tea and Nan Gong Jin's muttering, everyone else fell into an awkward silence.

The oppressive atmosphere was broken by Li Yixuan's pleasant and gentle voice.

"Dan Chenzi, since you've already decided to leave, you must have already considered where to go, right?"

This time, Luo Chen became interested.

Granny Yuan had asked him this question a long time ago.

Now, it was finally his turn to answer.

He nodded, "I have a general idea."

Then, he said uncertainly, "But I, as a latecomer, am far less knowledgeable about the cultivation world than you."

"Therefore, regarding where to go, we should plan it together."

"Together?"

Li Yixuan was surprised, "All of us?"

Nan Gong Jin suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of hope as he looked at Luo Chen.

Wang Haichao furrowed his brows and also looked over curiously.

The implication was clear.

Did that mean the Luo Tianhui would advance and retreat together with the three forces?

Luo Chen smiled slightly and spoke confidently under the gaze of the three, "When arriving in an unfamiliar realm, even a powerful River Dragon will face a strong rebound from the local forces."

"This situation is not uncommon."

"For example, Nan Gong's clan, or the Fu Family that I eradicated, are both precedents."

"My Luo Tianhui is merely a new force with few skilled cultivators and insufficient cohesion..."

Upon hearing these words, the three of them cursed silently in their hearts.

The Luo Tianhui lacked skilled cultivators? Then what were their three clans? And insufficient cohesion?

Among the loose cultivator forces, the Luo Tianhui was undoubtedly a highly cohesive force.

Luo Chen was truly talking nonsense.

Luo Chen ignored their thoughts and continued, "In this situation, if we change our location, the Luo Tianhui might just be blown away by the wind and rain."

"Since that's the case, why don't the four of us advance and retreat together?"

"At that time, we can support each other, mutually benefit, and strive to establish ourselves."

"I won't say more, but with the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators working together, few in the nearby markets and towns can withstand us!"

The last sentence hit the nail on the head.

The three people in the hall nodded in agreement.

Nan Gong Jin was overjoyed! This way, the Nan Gong Clan might be in a much better situation than when they first moved from Xue Lian Market to Da He Fang.

Li Yixuan pondered, also considering the feasibility of the plan.

Only Wang Haichao, after agreeing, had a slightly unusual expression.

This unusual expression was instantly noticed by Luo Chen's keen eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, do you have any insights?"

"Cough, cough..."

Wang Haichao coughed lightly and said, "I dare not offer any insights, but I'd like to ask, in this alliance of four families, who will take the lead when we leave Da He Fang together?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end