https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-205-Mount-Tai-Market-Golden-Stone-Pavilion-and-a-Door-Opener/12920540/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-207-Vermillion-Toad-Mountain-The-Huo-Family-s-Rise/12920542/
Chapter 206: Mount Tai's Shock, A Fellow Cultivator!
Chapter 206: Mount Tai's Shock, A Fellow Cultivator!
The majestic Mount Tai, towering above all other peaks.
Even though the Mount Tai Market was dominated by the Huo family, everyone had to give face to the Kang family.
After all, the Kang family's ancestor was from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, and their background was profound.
This market town was named after the Kang family's ancestral land.
A sound transmission through a thousand paper cranes, riding the swift wind, quickly entered the array formation at the mountain's waist.
Soon, someone came with a sound transmission to find Kang Dongyue.
"Grandpa, there's a sound transmission from the Golden Stone Pavilion saying that someone wants to sell alchemy."
Kang Dongyue frowned, "Isn't there a family elder arranged over there? Xianqiong, don't come to me for every little thing in the future. You should also learn to take over the family's affairs."
Kang Xianqiong helplessly said, "This time, they specifically requested your appraisal."
"Hmm?"
"A Tier 1 Supreme Grade pill, and it seems there's a large quantity of them!"
As she spoke, Kang Xianqiong took out the pink jade bottle.
Kang Dongyue was surprised and carefully opened the jade bottle.
A scorching and restless pill fragrance instantly spread out.
He raised his eyebrows and held his breath.
However, the young woman beside him wasn't as cautious. She took a whiff of the pill fragrance, and her heart began to beat uncontrollably.
"This is... the Multifunctional Pill?"
Kang Dongyue muttered, then fell into deep thought.
"It seems that the young friend from Da He Fang has come over."
"I never expected his alchemy skills to progress so quickly. In just a few years, he has refined a Supreme Grade pill."
"Now that Da He Fang has changed, is he trying to seek protection from the Kang family with these pills?"
"With such outstanding alchemy skills, perhaps I can..."
As he muttered, he noticed a romantic atmosphere in the air.
Suddenly, he turned his face.
His granddaughter, Kang Xianqiong, had a flushed face and dazed eyes. Her watery eyes seemed to be able to stretch like silk.
One hand had subconsciously reached for her swollen chest.
"How disgraceful!"
A loud scolding, and a splash of water hit Kang Xianqiong's face.
Splash!
Kang Xianqiong trembled, and her dazed expression cleared.
Looking at her grandfather's gloomy face, she shivered.
"I, I..."
"What's wrong with you!" Kang Dongyue glared at his granddaughter, his eyes filled with frustration. "You've been cultivating too quickly and forgotten about cultivating your mind. If you can't even resist the temptation of a mere pill fragrance, how will you carry on the Kang family's legacy in the future? Huo Hu from the Huo family has already returned from the Flame Alliance's Foundation Establishment, and you're still at the Qi Condensation Stage..."
After a long scolding, Kang Xianqiong's lips pouted, and she was about to cry.
As a young lady, she had no defenses when she was with her most trusted great-grandfather.
Who would have thought that the pill would be so filthy and despicable?
Just a whiff of it was enough to make her feel something.
And now, she was being scolded.
"Crying and whining, it's all because I've protected you too well."
"Hmph!"
"I'm punishing you to three months of confinement at Reflection Cliff!"
Kang Dongyue waved his wide sleeves and left without looking back.
Seeing the direction of his escape light, it was clear he was heading towards the Mount Tai Market at the foot of the mountain.
Kang Xianqiong pouted, her anger making her face round.
"It's all that damnable alchemist's fault!"
"He made me lose face in front of Grandpa!"
"Don't let me find out who you are..."
After cursing, Kang Xianqiong obediently headed towards Reflection Cliff.
Halfway there, her eyes rolled.
"Three months, and it didn't say when to start."
"I'll just go buy some daily necessities, that's normal, right?"
Hehe!
With a sneaky laugh, she rode her flying magical artifact and quietly descended Mount Tai.
...
"Young friend, it's been a while... Eh, who are you?"
In the VIP room on the second floor of the Golden Stone Pavilion.
Kang Dongyue hesitated as he looked at the man before him.
Luo Chen wiped his face, and his appearance, altered by a secret technique, immediately returned to normal.
He smiled slightly and cupped his hands.
"Senior, it's been a long time!"
"You!"
Kang Dongyue's expression changed instantly, and he looked at Luo Chen in disbelief.
It wasn't because of the disguise technique.
But because of the spiritual energy fluctuation that Luo Chen was currently displaying.
It was clearly at the same level as his Foundation Establishment Stage!
Although it was relatively lower than his own, it was a genuine Foundation Establishment Second Layer!
How many years had passed since then!
The first time they met, he remembered that Luo Chen was at the Qi Condensation Fourth or Fifth Layer.
Kang Dongyue's expression was dazed.
Even after sitting down and catching up with Luo Chen, he still couldn't quite believe it.
Such a cultivation speed would even be treated as a direct disciple or a chosen one in a major sect!
"Senior?"
"Don't call me senior anymore. Since you've reached Foundation Establishment, we're fellow cultivators. You can just call me Daoist friend."
Amidst the sighs, Kang Dongyue quickly regained his composure.
Looking at Luo Chen, he couldn't help but marvel and nodded repeatedly.
"No wonder you can refine a Supreme Grade Multifunctional Pill. It turns out you've reached Foundation Establishment, and you might even be able to attempt refining Tier 2 pills!"
Attempt?
I've already refined it.
Luo Chen smiled slightly, "Senior, you flatter me. It's been years since we last met, and your cultivation has improved significantly. You've even reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment!"
A flower-adorned palanquin, carried by people!
Anyone can speak pretty words.
Kang Dongyue sighed inwardly, thinking that his progress was far from fast.
When he went to Da He Fang, he had already reached the third layer of Foundation Establishment.
After purchasing a large amount of cultivation resources at the auction, he was fortunate to advance to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment within these two years.
"Let's not beat around the bush!"
Kang Dongyue took out the pink jade bottle, "On my way here, I've already appraised this pill. It is indeed of supreme quality, with an extraordinary medicinal effect. Even a mere Qi Condensation stage cultivator would be affected by just smelling its fragrance."
"Even for us Foundation Establishment cultivators, taking it would surely have an excellent effect!"
"As for the price, it naturally can't be compared to a common low-tier pill. After all, once a pill reaches supreme quality, it's almost equivalent to a low-tier pill of the next higher tier."
"So, I'll give you twenty low-grade Spirit Stones for one pill."
"Considering the large quantity, this price might be a bit low..."
"Ahem!"
His words were interrupted by Luo Chen.
Amidst Kang Dongyue's puzzled gaze, Luo Chen forced a bitter smile.
"You're really giving me too much credit. Where would I get a large batch of supreme quality pills? This one pill here is already a stroke of luck, a fortunate result of my hard work."
Kang Dongyue blinked and then burst into hearty laughter.
He patted the table.
"Haha!"
"It's me who got sidetracked, but yes, a supreme quality pill!"
"It's just that I was shocked by your rapid progress, and it seemed acceptable that such a thing happened to you."
"Hahaha..."
Amidst the laughter, the atmosphere finally returned to normal.
The laughter subsided.
Kang Dongyue felt something was amiss again.
"But you said earlier that you have a large quantity of pills for sale?"
"Take a look at this pill."
A jade bottle slowly moved from Luo Chen's hand across the sandalwood table towards Kang Dongyue.
As Kang Dongyue opened the bottle, he pursed his lips.
He raised his head, looking at Luo Chen with suspicion.
"Jade Marrow Pill... Dan Chenzi?"
"Mhm."
"Sss!"
Kang Dongyue gasped, his eyes widening in horror as he looked at Luo Chen.
Only a true pill master would understand the source of this intense emotional upheaval.
In less than ten years!
Refining a supreme quality Multifunctional Pill is not a big deal.
At most, one would say that Luo Chen has a high talent for pill refinement and a unique understanding of this particular pill, so his hard work paid off, and he got lucky.
Kang Dongyue himself had also experienced moments of brilliance in refining pills, especially in his area of expertise.
But!
Luo Chen had also refined another pill to the high-grade level.
This couldn't be simply described as high talent.
Terrifying! Horrifying!
Astonishing!
There are too many extreme words to describe Luo Chen's talent for pill refinement.
Amidst the shock.
Luo Chen's words slowly reached them.
"I have a large quantity of Jade Marrow Pills, all of high-grade quality. I wonder if your Golden Stone Pavilion can handle it?"
"How large is 'large'?"
"A deal worth fifty thousand Spirit Stones! Preferably, I'd like to be paid in medium-grade Spirit Stones."
"Let me think..."
When it came to business, Kang Dongyue naturally restrained his emotions.
The Golden Stone Pavilion didn't just sell the Kang family's pills.
They also collected pills made by loose cultivators and small families, creating a diverse range of offerings.
This was how the Golden Stone Pavilion in Mount Tai Market had established its prestigious reputation.
Even the Lingyao Pavilion couldn't compete with them in the local low-tier pill market.
Fifty thousand Spirit Stones was a substantial amount!
But for the Kang family, it wasn't an unattainable sum.
However, this would strain their cash flow.
After a moment.
Kang Dongyue finally relaxed his brows, "Are all the Jade Marrow Pills in your possession of this quality?"
"They can only get better, not worse!"
The inferior ones had been fed to the River Devourer by Luo Chen.
"If that's the case, then I'll take them!"
Before Luo Chen could rejoice, Kang Dongyue changed the topic, "But some of them will require an equivalent exchange of resources."
"You understand that fifty thousand Spirit Stones is not a small amount. If I were to pay it all, even my Kang family would feel the strain."
Luo Chen thought for a moment and nodded lightly.
Equivalent resource exchange was a common trading method in the cultivation world, as long as both parties agreed.
"The Kang family deals with various pills, and among them..."
"I want the Golden Jade Elixir!" Luo Chen's eyes burned with intensity as he stared at the elder, "And it must be of exceptional quality, preferably supreme quality."
The Golden Jade Elixir was a first-tier spirit herb.
Regarding Body Tempering, it was of great assistance.
It was extremely suitable for Luo Chen's breakthrough to the Perfect First Rank Body Tempering.
As for the Kang Family, did they have a Supreme grade?
Luo Chen had no doubts about it.
This was one of their signature Alchemy products. After hundreds of years of refining, they must have stockpiled a small portion.
Refining Supreme grade Alchemy is incredibly difficult.
But one must also consider the rank of the Alchemist!
Kang Dongyue was undoubtedly a Second Tier Alchemist, as evidenced by his ability to easily discern the quality of the Alchemy Luo Chen presented on multiple occasions.
"Supreme grade?"
Toxin Neutralization Method (no change, as it was already in English, but confirmed it's a fitting translation for the implied Chinese term)
"A method to neutralize Alchemical Poison?"
Kang Dongyue looked at Luo Chen in surprise.
Then, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
Could he have advanced to Foundation Establishment so quickly by crazily consuming Alchemy? After this thought emerged, combined with Luo Chen's determination to compromise on the wholesale price of Jade Marrow Pills, Kang Dongyue became even more certain of this speculation.
Then, a tremendous wave of astonishment rose in his heart.
The Kang Family was by no means a small, insignificant clan.
Their ancestor was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
Although some of the Sword Sect's secret techniques couldn't be passed down, the common knowledge of the major Cultivation sects, which was not publicly promoted, would still be inherited by future generations.
Among them was the saying, "Alchemy is good, but one must not be greedy."
Consuming too much Alchemy would accumulate a large amount of Alchemical Poison.
Even the Alchemy refined to the extreme by the Qingdan Valley, Medicine King Sect, and Mingyuan Sect would still leave behind Alchemical Poison.
Usually, the danger of Alchemical Poison was not apparent.
But when it came to breaking through cultivation realms, it would become an insurmountable heavenly chasm!
Ordinary people would find it impossible to break through this heavenly chasm.
One must have a profound foundation, immense willpower, and a bit of luck to break through by chance.
Therefore, any major sect, no matter how wealthy, would deliberately control the supply of Alchemy to their disciples.
Especially for those with exceptional talents!
They would rather give them a Supreme grade pill than let them consume a thousand Low-grade pills.
A Supreme grade pill is naturally less valuable than a thousand Low-grade pills.
The sects were not being stingy; they didn't want to ruin promising talents.
As for Luo Chen, Liu He Cai had mentioned that his talent wasn't particularly good.
Initially, he was just a low-rank Loose Cultivator!
To have cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage in such a short time,
He must have used his extraordinary Alchemy talent to exchange for a vast amount of resources, compensating for his lack of talent.
Only then did he reach Foundation Establishment!
After sorting out these thoughts, the turmoil in Kang Dongyue's heart gradually subsided.
His gaze towards Luo Chen was no longer filled with envy, shock, or admiration.
Instead, it turned into a solemn and pitying expression.
Solemn for his profound foundation.
And pity for the unimaginable pain he must have endured during his breakthrough to overcome the barrier of Alchemical Poison.
What immense willpower it must have taken to overcome it!
Luo Chen furrowed his brows.
It was just an inquiry about a Toxin Neutralization Method.
Why did the other party show such an expression?
He disliked it when people showed him pity or sympathy.
That would only make him feel like his years of hard work had gone unappreciated.
Kang Dongyue shook his head, dispelling these unnecessary thoughts.
However, his attitude towards Luo Chen became three times more respectful than before.
Anyone who dares to endure such immense pain in their cultivation, even if their cultivation years are fewer, deserves utmost respect.
Only then can they be considered a true fellow cultivator!
"The Kang Family doesn't possess a Toxin Neutralization Method."
"Hmm?"
Luo Chen was perplexed. As an old-established family in Mount Tai Market, specializing in Alchemy, how could they not have it?
Amidst his confusion, Kang Dongyue changed the topic.
"However, I do know of a Toxin Neutralization Method."
"A method?"
"Yes, and it's right here in Mount Tai Market. It will be auctioned off soon."
"Auctioned?" Luo Chen's surprise flashed, "An auction? But isn't the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion already deserted? Who would organize an auction?"
He didn't even consider the possibility of a black market auction.
With the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion gone, the Rare Treasure Black Market of Luoyun Sect would no longer be here.
"It's organized by the Huo Family!"
"Strictly speaking, it's a large-scale auction supported by the Flame Alliance for the Huo Family!"
Scarlet Toad Mountain Huo Family? Luo Chen fell into deep thought.
Kang Dongyue watched him ponder and suddenly asked, "Luo Tianhui, is that the power you established?"
The seclusion period on Phoenix Mountain has been revised to three years, not ten. Ten years was too exaggerated for a small power like Luo Tianhui, and there were inconsistencies in the text. Apologies.
(End of Chapter)
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