Immortality Begins With The Alchemical Master Chapter 207: Vermillion Toad Mountain, The Huo Family's Rise - Novel Cool

Chapter 207: Vermillion Toad Mountain, The Huo Family's Rise

Chapter 207: Vermillion Toad Mountain, The Huo Family's Rise

Luo Chen wasn't surprised that Kang Dongyue could guess his identity.

When the words 'Jade Marrow Pill', 'Dan Chenzi', 'Foundation Establishment Cultivator', and 'Da He Fang' were connected, anyone with a brain could guess that he was the master of Luo Tianhui.

Luo Chen nodded, not denying it.

Seeing this, Kang Dongyue couldn't help but praise him.

"It's indeed not easy for a Loose Cultivator to cultivate. With a force like yours at your disposal, many things will become more convenient."

"You must have come to Mount Tai Market to settle down, right?"

Luo Chen didn't hide it, speaking frankly, "Yes, I have that idea."

"In that case, you'll have to perform well at this auction." Kang Dongyue stroked his beard, implying something.

Perform well at the auction?

Luo Chen blinked and fell into deep thought.

Kang Dongyue didn't disturb him but sent someone to get Medium Grade Spirit Stones and equivalent resources.

The High Grade Jade Marrow Pill that Luo Chen negotiated for was, of course, not at the market price.

Instead, it was much lower than the market price, a wholesale price.

Only then could they ensure a profit for both parties.

However, given the current chaotic situation and the increasing hostility between the two Nascent Soul Supreme Sects, the prices of pills and magical artifacts had been rising.

Even the wholesale price had soared to eighty Spirit Stones per bottle.

After obtaining the pills, Golden Stone Pavilion could sell them at ninety or a hundred Spirit Stones each, making a profit of over ten thousand Spirit Stones through buying and selling.

It was indeed a good deal.

Luo Chen wouldn't lose out either.

Before leaving Da He Fang, he spent three months refining a large quantity of High Grade Jade Marrow Pills, using up many of Luo Tianhui's resources and Spirit Stones.

If he sold them individually, he would undoubtedly make more, but the time cost was too high.

In the current situation, it was better to quickly recoup the funds.

Two hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones and twenty thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones.

Plus a large number of Supreme and High Grade Golden Jade Elixirs.

This batch of elixirs was enough for Luo Chen to use for a long time, and there was even a surplus to reward some cultivators of Luo Tianhui.

There were also many medicinal herb raw materials, mostly golden stone minerals.

Huanyu also provided a lot.

Most importantly, Kang Dongyue told him about the Toxin Neutralization Method.

'Qingyuan Miao Danfa'

It originated from Qingdan Valley, one of the Seven Sects of Jade Cauldron.

Kang Dongyue didn't explain how he obtained it, but it would undoubtedly be useful for Luo Chen.

After the goods were handed over, Luo Chen asked Kang Dongyue for advice on some cultivation issues.

Perhaps it was because he appreciated Luo Chen, or perhaps it was because they had just concluded a big deal.

Kang Dongyue was not stingy and shared some cultivation tips from his Foundation Establishment initial stage.

After listening and combining it with what Li Yixuan had told him before, Luo Chen felt he had gained a lot.

If he cultivated again, he would probably avoid many detours, and his cultivation speed would increase a bit.

"Let's end it here for today."

"I've really disturbed you, fellow cultivator."

"Not at all. To be honest, I'd like you to stay in Mount Tai Market. We could exchange more experiences regarding the Alchemy Path."

"It depends on the attitude of your three families!" Luo Chen forced a bitter smile.

He had already realized that staying in Mount Tai Market might not be that simple.

After bidding farewell, Luo Chen left gracefully.

Kang Dongyue stood at the window of Golden Stone Pavilion's magnificent building, watching Luo Chen's departing figure on the street.

"Come out!"

"Ah!"

A graceful figure emerged from the inner room.

"Grandfather found out."

Ignoring the flattering tone in his granddaughter's words, Kang Dongyue stroked his beard and sighed.

"What a pity."

"If you hadn't established your foundation, you would have become a powerful aide to our Kang family!"

Kang Xianqiong curiously peered out the window but couldn't see that figure in the crowd.

"He's not a member of our Kang family. How can he become a powerful aide?"

"Subdue, win over, persuade with reason, persuade with benefits... If all else fails, there's always marriage!"

Kang Dongyue spoke calmly.

When he said the last sentence, he glanced at Kang Xianqiong with a half-smile.

Kang Xianqiong shuddered, "I don't want to!"

"A cultivator of such lowly pills can't be a decent person!"

Kang Dongyue didn't speak up for Luo Chen.

A decent person?

In this world, there might be decent people.

But they certainly wouldn't come from a place like Da He Fang.

...

Midnight.

On the upper-level cabin of Luo Tianhui's ship.

A figure descended like floating willow catkins.

At the same time, the wooden door seemed to have sensed it and slowly opened.

Li Yixuan's eyes trembled slightly.

Luo Chen's keen spiritual sense had probably already detected his arrival.

Entering the cabin and closing the door, the two sat facing each other.

"How did your inquiries go, fellow cultivator?" Li Yixuan asked calmly, his true feelings hidden.

Luo Chen shook his head.

"I'm afraid things might not go as smoothly as we hoped."

"Mount Tai Market might not be as welcoming as we thought."

Li Yixuan looked at Luo Chen and nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, I've talked to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Yu Family, and she didn't hide much from us."

"Mount Tai Market has four small Spirit Veins, but one of them, a Second Rank Spirit Vein, is split between the Kang Family and the Huo Family."

"The resources here are far less abundant than those in Da He Fang, and the number of major powers that can be accommodated is limited!"

Four Spirit Veins!

It sounded like a lot, but in reality, it paled in comparison to the large First Rank Spirit Vein in Da He Fang.

As far as Luo Chen knew, the small tributaries extending from the large Spirit Vein in Da He Fang numbered in the double digits!

That was truly a paradise for Loose Cultivators.

Moreover, the main vein, Phoenix Mountain, had the potential to be upgraded to a Third Rank Spirit Vein.

In comparison, Mount Tai Market seemed rather barren.

"Furthermore, this place seems to be affected by the aftermath of a battle between two Nascent Soul Supreme Sects, and the power dynamics are gradually shifting." Li Yixuan said slowly.

Luo Chen nodded, confirming that this information was almost identical to what he had heard from Kang Dongyue.

"The Huo Family!"

"In the past, Mount Tai Market revered the Kang Family, and even though the Huo Family was stronger, they still had to show respect and give face to the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion."

"But now, it's clear that the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect is consolidating its power. The Flame Alliance has been a long-time affiliate of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, and to ensure their loyalty, some concessions have been made."

"For example, Mount Tai Market!"

Li Yixuan said, "Perhaps it's not a concession, but a return."

"Hmm."

Luo Chen agreed with her statement.

After all, Mount Tai Market was already within the territory of the Flame Alliance.

For many years, it had been controlled by the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion and the Kang Family, encroaching on the interests of the Flame Alliance.

Now that the great war has begun, to solidify their alliance, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect will naturally give up some things that never belonged to them in the first place.

The Huo Family has been sending young disciples to the Flame Alliance for years.

They have always been a part of the Flame Alliance.

Now that the Huo Family has gained the upper hand, a portion of the market town's profits will naturally be handed over to the Flame Alliance.

Power and status are undergoing a shift.

Their timing for visiting Mount Tai Market couldn't be worse.

"So, it seems that we need the approval of three families, but in the current situation, to stay in Mount Tai Market, we only need the Huo Family's consent!" Luo Chen concluded.

This conclusion weighed heavily on Li Yixuan's mind.

It was absolutely impossible for all four major powers from Da He Fang to stay.

Most likely, only one or two of them would have this opportunity.

Li Yixuan gathered her spirits, "Dan Chenzi, what do you plan to do?"

"What do I do?"

Luo Chen repeated the phrase, shaking his head slowly.

After a moment of contemplation, he finally said, "Let's discuss it after the auction!"

...

Three days later.

The Huo Family Auction!

Without the title of the Jade Cauldron Auction or the Mount Tai Market Auction, the name clearly indicated the Huo Family.

The purpose was self-evident.

The Huo Family of Scarlet Toad Mountain, under the guise of hosting an auction, was declaring their sovereignty over Mount Tai Market to both internal and external forces.

From then on, this place would no longer be dominated by the Kang Family and the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.

As for the reason for using an "auction" format, it was quite simple.

Large-scale auctions were something only major powers had the foundation to organize.

Smaller forces could only manage black market auctions at most.

Calling it a black market auction simply meant providing a free trading market for Loose Cultivators.

Only large sects could reach high-rank materials, alchemy, cultivation techniques, and even had the chance to acquire magical artifacts.

Furthermore, they could use their influence to gather many guests, thereby increasing their prestige.

With few people, the atmosphere would never take off.

A few individuals would haggle over prices among themselves.

There would be no skyrocketing prices, only negotiations and compromises.

Standing at the foot of Scarlet Toad Mountain, Luo Chen gazed up at the towering peak, a hint of envy in his eyes.

A Second Rank Spirit Vein location!

Even if it was just half of what the Kang Family of Mount Tai received, it was still a Second Rank Spirit Vein.

But what truly made Luo Chen envious was the presence of a genuine Fire Vein.

After the Flame Alliance experts' arrangement, the Earthfire was guided out, making it a true First Rank Earthfire.

It was said that this mountain was an active volcano, and within it lived a First Rank Demon Beast, the Crimson Toad.

Hence the name Scarlet Toad Mountain.

Compared to this, Xiao Huan Mountain was far inferior.

Luo Chen retracted his gaze, his eyes fleetingly glancing to the side.

Wang Haichao, Nan Gong Jin, and Li Yixuan were all leading their respective subordinates into the mountain.

As for the other continuous streams of escaping light, they had nothing to do with him.

"Let's go!"

Luo Chen waved his wide sleeves and rode the white clouds up the mountain.

Wang Yuan, Sima Huiwang, Duan Feng, and others followed behind.

Zeng Wen, Granny Yuan, Sima Wenjie, and the two newly joined Qi Refining Ninth Stage Cultivators, a total of five people, were assigned to stay behind at the base.

Luo Chen brought along all the remaining Qi Refining Ninth Stage Cultivators from the Luo Tianhui.

There were a total of ten people, plus Qu Lingjun, the newly-initiated disciple.

Aside from the bidding for resources, it was also a chance to experience the world.

However, as they reached the halfway point of the mountain, they arrived at a newly-built palace.

This "world" turned out to be a bit disappointing.

A dense crowd was blocked outside the palace gates.

"What's going on up ahead?"

Luo Chen furrowed his brows.

Sima Huiwang nodded at her younger brother, Sima Wenjie, who promptly stepped out of the line and jogged ahead.

In a short while, he quickly returned.

"Reporting to the Chairman, there was a bit of chaos when a loose cultivator presented their auction item, blocking the passage."

"Hmm?"

Sima Wenjie proceeded to explain the situation in detail.

It turned out that a loose cultivator had offered a thousand-year-old spirit herb.

But due to the sacred object's self-humiliation characteristic, the herb's spiritual glow appeared extremely dim.

As a result, an elder from the Huo family had only appraised it as a five-hundred-year-old herb.

The value of a thousand-year-old spirit herb and a five-hundred-year-old one was as different as heaven and earth.

Because of this, the loose cultivator caused a scene.

The Huo family elder initially stood firm, insisting that he had not made a mistake in his judgment.

However, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Lingyao Pavilion happened to pass by, glanced at the herb, and casually revealed its exact age.

This made the elder in charge of appraisals look like a joke.

Now, the loose cultivator was relentless, feeling that the Huo family elder had deliberately underestimated the value and suspected him of embezzlement.

Not only that, but some of the cultivators who had previously submitted their auction items also felt something was amiss and wanted to request a reappraisal.

This back and forth ended up blocking the loose cultivator's passage.

Currently, the Huo family elder was stuck in an awkward position, unable to back down.

"No problem, follow me through the Foundation Establishment Cultivator's passage!"

Luo Chen said, releasing his Foundation Establishment spiritual energy fluctuations and proceeded forward.

Wherever he passed, the loose Qi Refinement cultivators respectfully made way.

Many of them curiously examined this unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivator.

As Luo Chen passed by the passage where loose cultivators submitted their auction items, he took a glance and couldn't help but shake his head.

Qu Lingjun curiously looked over and casually said, "Master, why didn't the Huo family invite a professional appraiser?"

"Is it possible that this is already their family's most professional appraiser?"

The speaker was Su Xiaolin.

He was a Qi Refinement Ninth Stage cultivator who had recently risen to prominence in Luo Tianhui within the past two years.

In his forties, he had a youthful appearance and a rather carefree personality.

Just as he spoke, a handsome young man in a red robe approached them.

"Hmm?"

He glanced at Su Xiaolin, his expression turning slightly somber.

The Foundation Establishment aura surged, brimming with sharpness! Luo Chen furrowed his brows and casually brushed it away.

That sharp aura, like waves crashing against a reef, seemed fierce but ultimately lacked the power to dissipate.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be so harsh on the younger generation!"

The young man's eyes widened, staring intently at Luo Chen.

"Who are you?"

"I am Luo Chen, apologizing on behalf of my subordinate for his disrespectful words."

As he spoke, Luo Chen cupped his hands in greeting.

"Hmph, you should teach these rural loose cultivators a lesson."

The young man coldly huffed, not engaging further with Luo Chen.

They brushed past each other and headed straight for the appraisal hut where the loose cultivators' passages converged.

Before they even got close, the young man introduced himself.

"My Huo family does not look down on such items, and it's absurd to suggest that we would deliberately lower the price."

"A thousand-year-old spirit herb, right? I, Huo Hu, will buy it for three thousand spirit stones!"

Hearing the voice from behind, Luo Chen couldn't help but shake his head.

What an arrogant person.

Offering three thousand spirit stones for a thousand-year-old spirit herb seemed generous, but it was actually a great bargain.

Moreover, the loose cultivator couldn't refuse to sell it to this Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Not to mention that the price would have been even higher at an auction.

This auction was organized by the Huo family.

The loose cultivators had no choice but to sell!

"Senior, are you the Chairman of Luo Tianhui?"

A graceful maid appeared before them.

Luo Chen nodded.

She smiled slightly and gestured forward, "Your private room is this way, please follow me."

"Hmm."

Led by the maid, Luo Chen and his group soon entered a relatively spacious private room.

Through the open platform, they had a clear view of the situation below the palace.

The location was quite good.

However, the arrangements for the loose cultivators inside the venue were truly inadequate.

The chairs were haphazardly placed, some even with different colors.

Unlike Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion, they didn't provide free fruits and spiritual tea either.

After all, they were just a newly influential cultivator family, lacking the dignity of a sect.

Luo Chen shook his head and sat down.

At this moment, he noticed a somewhat oppressive atmosphere within the group.

Following Luo Chen's gaze, Qu Lingjun pursed his lips, regretting, "Master, I shouldn't have spoken out of turn."

Su Xiaolin even knelt on one knee, directly pleading for forgiveness.

"Chairman, Xiaolin spoke out of turn and caused you trouble."

(End of Chapter)

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