https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-249-Third-Brother-s-Imminent-Death-Breakthrough-Foundation-Establishment-Third-Stage/12920610/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-251-Blood-Slaughter-Soul-Snatching-Wang-Yuan-s-Foundation-Establishment/12920614/
Chapter 250: The Huo Family's Misfortune
Chapter 250: The Huo Family's Misfortune
"Fellow Daoist Kang, it's been a long time!" Luo Chen greeted with familiarity.
Kang Xianqiong was startled upon hearing the familiar voice.
"We've never met before, have we?"
Luo Chen smiled slightly, "Back then, when I was discussing business with Fellow Daoist Kang Dongyue on the second floor of the Golden Stone Pavilion, weren't you in the adjacent room?"
Kang Xianqiong's pupils constricted slightly.
Despite her grandfather's repeated warnings about Luo Chen's extraordinary abilities and the instruction to befriend him, she hadn't expected his spiritual awareness to be so powerful, allowing him to detect her eavesdropping back then.
It was no ordinary small array that concealed the Golden Stone Pavilion.
As Kang Xianqiong was in awe, Luo Chen was also deeply moved.
This young female cultivator looked naive and inexperienced, likely due to her sheltered upbringing in a well-off family, allowing her to safely reach the Foundation Establishment stage at a young age.
Who wouldn't envy such good fortune?
"Fellow Daoist, you've traveled a long way to Heavenly Wave Immortal City. As a local, I should extend my hospitality," Luo Chen said.
"My Crimson Cloud Hall boasts three major scenic spots."
"Why don't you accompany me to visit a few?"
Kang Xianqiong readily agreed, bowing slightly, "Then, I'll follow your lead."
Luo Chen smiled and took a step forward, with the inexperienced female cultivator by his side.
The two strolled through the Crimson Cloud Hall, ascending the mountain path in a leisurely manner.
Occasionally, they encountered Luo Tianhui's cultivators, who respectfully greeted them.
Kang Xianqiong curiously observed the novel surroundings and people.
The scenery was captivating, but it was the people who truly intrigued her.
She noticed that Luo Tianhui's low-level cultivators were all energetic, smiling, and filled with hope for the future.
These cultivators didn't seem to be solely focused on arduous cultivation or leading mundane lives.
As they moved, they were swift as the wind, each seemingly having their own responsibilities and tasks.
At least, she saw a large group of late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators working diligently in scattered spirit fields on the mountain.
"Luo Chen has done well for himself!"
"Despite being a loose cultivator, he manages the place like a small sect with a century-old heritage."
"Even compared to my Kang family, he's not to be outdone."
She was secretly amazed.
Luo Chen also observed her with his peripheral vision.
It wasn't unusual for a Kang family cultivator to visit Heavenly Wave Immortal City.
What surprised him was that she had taken the initiative to seek him out.
However, this woman seemed unfamiliar with social norms, as they had been wandering for so long without stating her purpose.
Sensing the futility of their idle stroll, Kang Xianqiong cleared her throat, "I'm sure you're curious why I came to Heavenly Wave Immortal City after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, right?"
"A little," Luo Chen admitted.
"I came here mainly for the Immortal City Auction, which will be held in half a year."
Auction? Luo Chen's heart skipped a beat, remembering the invitation in his storage bag.
It was given to him by Xuan Yunzi of Qingdan Valley, and the timing was just right for the auction to be held in half a year.
This wasn't a small-scale auction like the ones held in Dahua Lane or Taishan Lane.
Instead, it was the large-scale auction held in Heavenly Wave Immortal City once every ten years, attracting participants from all over, ranging from the Qi Condensation stage to the Core Formation stage.
Numerous treasures would be up for grabs.
"Is there something you're determined to acquire?"
Kang Xianqiong sighed, "Indeed, I'm in dire need of a third-grade healing spirit medicine!"
"A third-grade healing spirit medicine?" Luo Chen's eyebrows rose, sensing that something significant had happened to the Kang family, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Kang Dongyue is injured?"
Kang Xianqiong's expression dimmed slightly.
Seeing this, Luo Chen knew his guess was correct.
"Could something have happened at Taishan Lane?"
Biting her pink lips, Kang Xianqiong said, "Your guess is right, something significant did happen at Taishan Lane."
"Not long after you left, a third-grade demonic beast crossed the river and attacked the Huo family on Crimson Toad Mountain. Our Kang family resides on Taishan Mountain, which is adjacent to Crimson Toad Mountain, and we were also affected."
"My grandfather was severely injured while protecting our clan and is now bedridden."
"That's why I took the risk of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, to gain enough strength to search for healing spirit medicine for him."
"Fortunately, I succeeded in my breakthrough and also learned about the upcoming auction in Heavenly Wave Immortal City, so I rushed over."
Her words carried a mix of relief and gratitude.
However, Luo Chen was most interested in the first two sentences.
"A third-grade demonic beast attacked the Huo family on Crimson Toad Mountain?"
"Yes, it was a Three-Legged River Devouring Toad with mid-third-grade strength. It was beyond the capabilities of our Foundation Establishment families to handle."
Luo Chen was puzzled, "The River Devouring Toad is usually gentle. Why would it attack the Huo family?"
Kang Xianqiong's face reddened slightly in response to this question.
Under Luo Chen's curious gaze, she lowered her head and said, "According to my grandfather, it seems to be in its mating season..."
Mating season! Luo Chen swallowed his saliva, realizing the implications.
It couldn't be because of the countless alchemy pills he had fed the River Devouring Toad, and in the process, he had also discarded three top-grade Universal Wonder Pills, could it?
Vaguely, he recalled the time when Luo Tianhui left Taishan Lane.
He had indeed sensed the aura of the River Devouring Toad upstream of the Lancang River.
Logically speaking, a well-fed River Devouring Toad wouldn't behave like that in a short time.
Could it be...
"The reason why the Crimson Toad Mountain, where the Huo family resides, is named as such is because, within that first-tier earth fire vein, there is a group of Crimson Fire Toads breeding, and it is said that one of them has even advanced to the second tier. It was captured by the Huo family and used as their guardian spirit beast."
Kang Xianqiong was slightly angry.
"It's because of that second-tier Crimson Fire Toad that the Three-Legged River Devouring Toad was attracted."
"But what's strange is that the River Devouring Toad's mating season usually occurs once every hundred years, and in the past, they would swim upstream to the Great Snow Mountain to find the Extreme Cold Ice Toads."
"I never expected that this time, it would be more than ten years early."
"That's why the Huo family had no defense at all, and even the Kang family was implicated."
Luo Chen's face turned slightly unnatural.
The reason for the River Devouring Toad's early mating season was very likely caused by those three top-grade Universal Wonder Pills.
A single pill might not be enough.
But three of them was a bit terrifying.
Although it was only a first-tier top-grade pill, the River Devouring Toad itself was also approaching its mating season.
This was why it was lured out early.
In other words...
He, Luo Chen, was the culprit behind the Taishan Lane tragedy!
Luo Chen cautiously asked, "How badly was Kang Dongyue injured?"
"Very badly! He's been bedridden for a long time, and even when he goes out occasionally, he's limited to that small area in Taishan. My grandfather is unable to travel far."
Kang Xianqiong sighed, "That's why I'm making this trip!"
"What about the Huo family?"
This was what Luo Chen cared about the most!
He had a deep grudge against the Huo family.
Even Huo Hu, the newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Huo family, was still under his control.
"The Huo family?"
Kang Xianqiong smiled with a hint of schadenfreude.
"They're in a terrible state!"
...
As Kang Xianqiong narrated,
Luo Chen finally understood the situation of the Huo family.
The Three-Legged River Devouring Toad suddenly descended from the sky and directly detonated that first-tier earth fire vein.
Crimson Toad Mountain was an active volcano, and with this stimulation, it erupted!
Over a hundred cultivators and tens of thousands of ordinary disciples of the Huo family all perished in the raging mountain fire.
Huo Quan, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was also forced to come out of seclusion.
At first, he tried to use magical artifacts to resist the River Devouring Toad.
However, how could a mere Foundation Establishment stage cultivator resist a third-tier Demon King?
It was like an ant trying to shake a tree!
With just one strike, he was defeated and thrown into the blazing fire vein of Crimson Toad Mountain.
It could be said that because of the River Devouring Toad's mating season and its search for a mate, the Huo family suffered this disaster and was eliminated.
Destroying you has nothing to do with me.
This is the might of a third-tier Demon King; annihilating a cultivation family is just a snap of their fingers.
"No wonder after we captured Huo Hu, no one from the Huo family came after us."
"Even after staying in the Heavenly Wave Immortal City for so long, there was no trace of the Huo family's cultivators."
"I never expected there would be such good news!"
After listening to Kang Xianqiong's narration, Luo Chen felt a burden lift from his heart.
He believed that with Huo Hu in his hands, he had nothing to fear from Huo Quan.
But the other party was still a mid-stage, or even late-stage, Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Such an existence, remaining hidden for so long, was like a thorn in his back.
Now, the threat was completely gone!
Unconsciously,
The two had already reached the top of the mountain.
Above them was a green thatched cottage.
Kang Xianqiong curiously looked at the cottage.
"Is someone living there?"
"Yes, it's a friend of mine."
Luo Chen stopped walking and gazed at the abrupt thatched cottage above.
This thatched cottage was the one from the peak of Little Heavenly Circle Mountain.
When he left Dahe Lane, Luo Chen simply dismantled and took it with him.
Strictly speaking, this was also a magical artifact with the functions of attracting, gathering, and restraining spiritual energy.
It was previously used to restrain the spiritual energy emitted by the Ice and Fire Spirit Spring.
After settling in Crimson Peak, Luo Chen rebuilt this cottage on the mountain peak.
And he gave it to Wang Yuan to use.
Wang Yuan had already reached the peak of Qi Condensation, and his need for spiritual energy wasn't that high. His main focus was on body cultivation.
The reason he craved Foundation Establishment wasn't for the realm or combat power of the Foundation Establishment stage.
It was because after reaching Foundation Establishment, his lifespan would greatly increase, giving him ample time to strive for the third stage of body cultivation.
According to Wang Yuan, once a body cultivator reaches the third stage, they can undergo a qualitative change.
Their lifespan will also change for the first time!
That's why Wang Yuan hadn't been in a hurry to reach Foundation Establishment these years.
He still had a lot of remaining lifespan.
Moreover, he had experienced the bitterness of being in a rush, so now he was laying a solid foundation, which would allow him to progress faster in the future!
Upon hearing that Luo Chen mentioned a friend living above and seeing Luo Chen stop,
Kang Xianqiong also knew to be tactful and stopped advancing.
"Friend Luo, along the way, Crimson Peak is indeed a place of beautiful scenery. But it can't be considered a magnificent view!"
"I wonder, where is the beautiful scenery you speak of?"
Luo Chen smiled slightly, "Why don't you turn around, friend!"
Kang Xianqiong turned around as instructed, standing side by side with Luo Chen, gazing towards the mountains.
As far as the eye could see, a vast sea of clouds had somehow settled beneath their feet.
She was stunned.
"A sea of clouds?"
"No, it's not just a sea of clouds!"
Luo Chen had his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze distant as he looked into the distance.
Beneath their feet, the endless sea of clouds resembled the shore of a vast ocean, with waves rising and falling, splashing foam, and pounding against the shore.
Time had already reached the evening.
At this moment, in the distant horizon, a sun slowly descended.
The dim yellow afterglow illuminated the heavens and the earth.
In the unreachable depths of the sea of clouds, it seemed as if it had ignited.
The entire sea of clouds presented a dim yellow, undulating wave-like sensation.
It was as if an aged painting had unfurled beneath their feet, stretching for thousands of miles.
Kang Xianqiong stared at this scene, feeling a sense of tranquility in her heart.
In the past, with her grandfather's protection, she had lived a carefree and unrestrained life.
After her grandfather fell.
She finally understood the difficulties of shouldering a family alone.
Especially after reaching Foundation Establishment, in order to search for healing Spirit Medicine, she had been running around tirelessly.
Until this moment, her restless heart finally found a moment of peace.
Suddenly.
"Big Brother Luo Chen!"
Friend becomes big brother? Luo Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he turned to look at those pitiful eyes.
"Can I ask you for a favor, Big Brother?"
"Just say it, friend!" Luo Chen maintained his determination, he wouldn't be tempted by beauty!
Kang Xianqiong had a hint of pleading in her voice as she lightly bit her lip.
"At the Immortal City Auction, there will be countless treasures up for grabs, and strong competitors."
"With my strength, I might not be able to obtain the healing Spirit Medicine I desire."
"I heard from my grandfather that you are skilled in auction skills. Can you help me out at that time?"
So, it was about this matter!
Luo Chen breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a bit disappointed for some reason.
He was about to agree readily, but his heart suddenly stirred, and the words he spoke changed.
"Helping you is not impossible, after all, I have a good relationship with your grandfather as well."
Kang Xianqiong heaved a sigh of relief.
This was her main purpose for seeking out Luo Chen!
She had no confidence at all in obtaining the healing Spirit Medicine she desired.
After all, it was a third-grade Spirit Medicine!
With Luo Chen's help, she would have a much better chance.
During the Taishan Market Auction, Luo Chen didn't bid often, but he almost never missed.
This fact had later earned high praise from her grandfather.
However, Luo Chen's words seemed to have more to them?
"Big Brother Luo, if you have any requests, I will do my best to fulfill them!"
Luo Chen smiled slightly.
"There's no need for you to trouble yourself!"
"Your Kang Family's Golden Jade Liquid doesn't seem to be selling well, right?"
Kang Xianqiong was taken aback.
She nodded subconsciously.
"Why don't we collaborate for a bit?"
"Golden Jade Liquid?"
"Yes!"
...
Kang Xianqiong left.
She had been staying at an inn in Heavenly Wave Immortal City, rarely going out, all in anticipation of the auction.
Luo Chen stood on the mountainside, his face filled with a smile.
In just a few words, he had secured a deal for Luo Tian.
Luo Chen had noticed the poor sales of the Kang Family's Golden Jade Liquid long ago.
This was evident from the fact that he had easily obtained a batch of top-grade Golden Jade Liquid of equal value from Kang Dongyue.
The Kang Family had a large stockpile!
Limited by the small number of cultivators in Taishan Market and their lack of interest in Body Cultivation, the Golden Jade Liquid wasn't selling well.
But this didn't mean it was useless Spirit Medicine!
Luo Chen, who had been taking the top-grade Golden Jade Liquid, his body becoming stronger, and he was about to complete the transformation of Golden Bones and Jade Flesh.
In other words, he was about to break through the second stage of Body Cultivation.
This Spirit Medicine must have a market!
The fact that the Kang Family couldn't sell it in Taishan Market didn't mean Luo Tian couldn't sell it in Heavenly Wave Immortal City.
At the very least, it could enrich the variety of Spirit Medicine in Crimson Cloud Hall.
"Years ago, Kang Dongyue wanted to be my agent for the All Wonders Pill when I was in the Qi Condensation Stage."
"I never expected that years later."
"I would become the agent for the Kang Family's Spirit Medicine."
"Haha, the changes in the world are truly unpredictable!"
After a light laugh, Luo Chen turned around.
Stepping on Auspicious Clouds, he headed straight for the thatched cottage at the peak.
Arriving at the cottage, he faced the mountain breeze with a smile.
"Brother Wang, if not now, when will you establish your foundation?"
(End of Chapter)
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