https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-273-Midlife-Worries-and-Attribute-Review/12920647/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-275-Promotion-to-the-Middle-Stage-of-Foundation-Establishment-This-Technique-is-Mountain-C/12920650/
Chapter 274: Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains, The Vast Sand Desert Wilderness
Chapter 274: Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains, The Vast Sand Desert Wilderness
Meeting with Li Jinhuang once again.
The location was not at Dragon Return Bay, but within a "Water Mansion."
Deep within the Qinghua River, a winding corridor led to an unknown destination, shrouded in darkness.
Two figures, one in front of the other, walked silently.
Luo Chen followed behind, looking at the person in front with a hint of surprise.
Ying Zhang!
The most likely Foundation Establishment cultivator among Li's current generation.
With a dual spirit root aptitude, he was not admitted to a major sect at a young age but was kept by Li Jinhuang himself for personal guidance from a young age.
Such situations do exist.
When a family's talent pool is lacking, a genius may appear.
The best solution is not to send them to a major sect but to keep them within the family.
Otherwise, once they enter a sect, it's like entering a deep sea, and they may eventually forget their family.
Instead, raising them from a young age fosters a stronger sense of dependence on the family and strengthens emotional bonds beyond blood ties.
In short, it's about binding them with the family's intricate and extensive interpersonal relationships.
It's not a matter of good or bad, as the individual does indeed benefit from the family's resources.
What surprised Luo Chen was that the other person's cultivation seemed to be in a state of gradual decline.
Despite being at the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation,
he wasn't rushing to establish his foundation but allowed his cultivation to slowly slip away.
This was too strange!
Sensing Luo Chen's doubt, Ying Zhang, without turning his head, said, "Senior, are you curious about my state of cultivation decline?"
"Yes," Luo Chen nodded.
Ying Zhang briefly explained, "My physique is special; I have a Nine Bend Circulating Body. Fortunately, our family ancestor found a Foundation Establishment secret technique, the Nine Rebirth Cycle Technique, for me. By practicing this secret technique, I can form nine rebirths within my Dantian, one rebirth each year. After nine years, when the Nine Rebirth Cycle is complete, it can increase my chances of successfully establishing my foundation by twenty percent."
The simple explanation stirred ripples in Luo Chen's heart.
There was actually an auxiliary Foundation Establishment secret technique? By forming the Nine Rebirth Cycle within the Dantian, wasn't this a way to simulate and shape the Ninefold Heaven of the Qi Sea in advance? By the time of Foundation Establishment, after breaking the Dantian, there would be no need to painstakingly transform the Dantian into a sea.
Breaking the Dantian, transforming it into a sea, absorbing spiritual energy, and purifying it into liquid.
These were the four most critical steps in Foundation Establishment.
They corresponded to the Essence Energy Gate, the Divine Soul Gate, and collectively to the Physical Body Gate.
After cultivating this secret technique, the middle process of transforming the sea became effortless.
Moreover, from Ying Zhang's words, it seemed that practicing the Nine Rebirth Cycle Technique would allow for a deeper understanding and purification of spiritual energy.
This also meant getting familiar with the subsequent two processes in advance.
No wonder it could increase the chances of Foundation Establishment by twenty percent! The other party was so generous, openly sharing this secret technique without hesitation.
It seemed like they weren't worried about Luo Chen coveting it.
"That's right, this technique was tailored for his unique physique, and it's useless for others."
Luo Chen had read about the Nine Bend Circulating Body physique in a book about unique body types.
This was a type of "innate defective physique"!
Those with this physique were born with thicker meridians than others, allowing them to hold more spiritual energy within the same cultivation stage.
However, these thick meridians were twisted and intertwined, forming a complex network.
It was like the waterways of great rivers and lakes, with murky currents winding through nine bends and turns!
One could imagine how complex this meridian system was.
When practicing the Life Essence Technique, it would naturally consume several times more energy than ordinary people.
For someone with this physique, reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation would take at least a hundred years, and there was no hope of achieving Foundation Establishment after that.
The other party had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation at a young age of forty or fifty, indicating the immense effort Li Jinhuang had invested in him.
Luo Chen wondered how many rebirths the other party had achieved in his practice of the Nine Rebirth Cycle Technique.
How many more years were needed before he could establish his foundation?
As Luo Chen pondered, the person in front suddenly stopped before a waterfall.
"Senior, our ancestor is waiting for you inside," Ying Zhang said, extending his hand in invitation.
Luo Chen gave him a serious look and then stepped into the waterfall.
As soon as he entered, the dense spiritual energy made it seem like a different world.
It was indeed a first-rank supreme-grade cave mansion!
Before Luo Chen could marvel at it, his gaze fell upon Li Jinhuang, and his eyebrows furrowed.
"Fellow Daoist, are you injured?"
By a pool of underground spirit spring, Li Jinhuang sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his breath fluctuating.
There was still a hint of blood on his body.
Seeing Luo Chen's arrival, Li Jinhuang gave a bitter smile.
"I didn't expect the situation in the Sand Desert Wilderness to be so chaotic. Plunder Cultivators are truly rampant!"
"The Sand Desert Wilderness, you went to the Thunder Accumulation Nine Mountains?" Luo Chen was astonished.
Li Jinhuang sighed, "It's only there that the times are chaotic, and no one will question your origins; everything depends on the quality of your goods."
Luo Chen pursed his lips, momentarily at a loss for words.
He naturally knew that the Thunder Accumulation Mountains were a good place to sell goods.
Currently, in the battle between the Core Spirit Ascension Sects, there is some restraint, and direct involvement is not common.
After a brief initial clash, it has turned into a struggle between allies and vassals.
The Thunder Accumulation Mountains are at the center of this conflict.
Extending from the Thunder Accumulation Mountains is the vast Sand Desert Wilderness, the largest battlefield.
There, good and bad cultivators mix, and numerous loose cultivators from the Jade Cauldron Domain hide among them, seeking to profit from the war.
Li Jinhuang's courage is indeed remarkable!
To Make The Following Doctors Are:
"It was a bit difficult at first, but later, it was in high demand."
"I only spent three months selling it all."
"Unexpectedly, someone targeted me... After a bitter struggle, I narrowly escaped."
As he spoke, Li Jinhuang took out a storage bag stained with black blood.
"All the revenue is inside; you can take a look."
Luo Chen took the storage bag and scanned it with his spiritual sense, raising his eyebrows slightly.
There was quite a lot!
He carefully put it away and then asked curiously, "With your fifth layer of Foundation Establishment strength, in the absence of powerful cultivators, who could have driven you to such a desperate state?"
"I don't know; the other party concealed their origins well," Li Jinhuang said with a bitter smile. "I only know that they used a bowl-type magical treasure, and it almost trapped me."
A bowl?
Luo Chen was taken aback.
Ordinary cultivators rarely use such exotic magical treasures.
Even beyond the Eastern Wastelands, only the Buddhist cultivators in the Central Plains and the Southern Frontier would frequently use this type of magical treasure.
There were actually cultivators in the Jade Cauldron Domain who possessed such treasures.
Li Jinhuang seemed to not want to elaborate and changed the topic.
"You've met my grandson, Ying Zhang, right?"
Luo Chen nodded. It was indeed Li Ying Zhang who had led him in.
He looked perfectly normal!
"My grandson is good in every way, but the moment he starts cultivating, he becomes completely oblivious to everything else."
"I'm a bit hesitant to leave the Li family in his hands."
"So, I'd like to ask you to take good care of the younger generation of the Li family from now on."
Seeing the other party's increasingly weak aura, Luo Chen nodded solemnly, "Of course, I should."
This seemed to carry a sense of entrusting one's final wishes.
Luo Chen had helped him with the Spirit Gate Pill, and he naturally didn't want to disappoint him.
However, this trip had another purpose.
"I don't know, Fellow Daoist Li, do you have any channels to purchase Intermediate or even Superior Grade second-rank cultivation pills?"
Hearing this question, Li Jinhuang looked at Luo Chen in astonishment.
"If I had such a channel, how could I have stayed at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment my entire life?"
Luo Chen was also taken aback.
Alright then!
It seemed he had asked the wrong person.
However, Li Jinhuang still provided Luo Chen with some possible channels where high-grade pills might appear.
First, there were the regular grand auctions, which were straightforward.
Second, there were various black markets.
The origins of the items in these black markets were often shady, and it was not uncommon for plunder cultivators to kill disciples of major sects, obtaining high-grade pills from their storage bags.
However, the chances of finding high-grade pills in the black market were not very high.
After all, high-grade pills could be kept for personal use by any cultivator.
For example, this time, Luo Chen had commissioned Li Jinhuang to sell 900 Superior and Intermediate Grade pills, which was considered a grand gesture.
Even if they were only first-rank pills, they still attracted the attention of many people, which led to the trouble of being targeted for plunder.
Finally, Li Jinhuang mentioned one more way.
"Since high-grade pills only circulate within major sects, why not try to purchase them from disciples of major sects?"
...
On the way back to the city, Luo Chen contemplated the last method suggested by Li Jinhuang.
It was clear that Li Jinhuang had tailored this method specifically for him.
He had a good relationship with the Ice Fortress.
Perhaps there was a chance he could obtain high-grade pills from them.
"But it's just a possibility, if the Ice Fortress had an abundance of pills, they wouldn't be so eager for my Jade Dew Pill."
Luo Chen didn't hold high hopes for this.
On the flying boat, Luo Chen carefully counted the spirit stones that Li Jinhuang had given him.
The pricing for the Spirit Gate Pill was set by Luo Chen and Li Jinhuang before Li Jinhuang's departure.
Given that this pill was quite niche but could significantly enhance the foundation of the soul, the price was set incredibly high!
For the Intermediate Grade, ten pills per bottle were priced at four hundred spirit stones.
For the Superior Grade, ten pills per bottle were priced at nine hundred spirit stones!
This price was astonishing.
A mere first-rank pill, and the Intermediate Grade was almost on par with the Harmonious Energy Pill of the second rank.
The Superior Grade even surpassed the selling price of the Inferior Grade Harmonious Energy Pill and the Ascending Dragon Pill.
It sounded like they were treating people like fools.
However, those who had cultivated to the Qi Condensation Stage might be foolish, but there were no fools who would be easily cheated in the Sand Desert Wilderness.
Initially, the Spirit Gate Pill received no attention.
But just half a month later, a buying frenzy ensued.
Li Jinhuang even deliberately controlled the release of the pills in his possession, putting them up for auction in the black market.
Nine hundred spirit stones for a bottle of Superior Grade Spirit Gate Pill?
No!
This was just the starting bid!
The highest transaction price once reached two thousand, far exceeding the transaction price of the Intermediate Grade Harmonious Energy Pill at the Heavenly Wave Auction.
Why were Foundation Establishment cultivators so crazy about buying Superior Grade Spirit Gate Pills? Luo Chen had just thought about this.
"It's probably related to what Chu Kui said about the foundation of the soul being especially important at the Core Formation stage!"
"Those Foundation Establishment cultivators who dare to venture into the Core Spirit Ascension Sect's battlefield are mostly those who have great aspirations for the Dao. Upon encountering such a pill that can directly enhance the foundation of the soul, anyone would spare no effort to bid for a few bottles."
"Even if it only increases by one or two percent, it might slightly improve the chances of success during Core Formation."
"Everyone is striving for Core Formation!"
Luo Chen sighed, feeling satisfied as he put away his storage bag.
This time, he had earned eleven thousand inferior-grade spirit stones!
It was a small compensation for the costs he had previously invested.
As for the future, he didn't plan to refine Intermediate or Superior Grade Spirit Gate Pills anymore.
Although these two grades seemed to have high prices and high profits, it was just an appearance.
The cost was three times that of the Jade Marrow Pill, and even if the ingredients were successful, only three pills would be produced.
It couldn't be mass-produced, the refining difficulty was high, and the market was limited to a small number of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Moreover, the effect of this pill would diminish with repeated consumption.
Additionally, the effect of enhancing the foundation of the soul was so heaven-defying that it would easily attract the covetousness of major sects.
In summary, these factors determined that the Spirit Gate Pill couldn't be used for large-scale profiteering.
Luo Chen planned to only refine Supreme Grade Spirit Gate Pills for his personal use.
Occasionally, he would refine a few Inferior Grade Spirit Gate Pills and distribute them within the Celestial Assembly as an internal welfare benefit.
The flying boat sped through the sky.
Soon, they returned to the Heavenly Wave Immortal City.
Without hesitation, Luo Chen headed straight to the Verdant Pill Valley's shop.
He first asked if Xuan Yun Zi was present.
He had hoped to inquire about the Intermediate Grade Ascending Dragon Pill from Xuan Yun Zi.
Compared to the Ice Fortress, located in a frigid region, the Verdant Pill Valley, renowned for pill refinement in the Jade Cauldron Domain, was more likely to leak information about the Intermediate Grade Ascending Dragon Pill!
Moreover, Luo Chen seemed to have a good "relationship" with Xuan Yun Zi.
Unfortunately, after inquiring, he learned that Xuan Yun Zi had already returned to his sect.
"Elder He is not a long-term Foundation Establishment cultivator on rotation at the Verdant Pill Pavilion. He is highly skilled in pill refinement and is highly valued within the valley. This trip to the Heavenly Wave Immortal City was specifically for a few medicinal ingredients that might appear at the auction."
"He has successfully obtained what he wanted and didn't stay long. He returned half a year ago."
The maid explained.
Luo Chen was helpless and gave up on the idea of getting to know the Foundation Establishment cultivator on rotation at the Verdant Pill Pavilion.
He took out his discount card and bought nearly a year's worth of Inferior Grade Ascending Dragon Pills in one go.
After the discount, it still cost a whopping 19,000 spirit stones.
This spending rate was truly a bit painful for Luo Chen.
Previously, his entire fortune was only 60,000 spirit stones, as immovable as a mountain.
In a year, he had only managed to increase it by 100,000.
Adding the 110,000 he had just recovered today, the total was now 270,000.
But this was just a rough estimate.
Usually, Luo Chen seemed to stay indoors, but his expenses were still quite high.
Whether it was high-quality spirit rice, second-rank demonic beast meat from the butcher shop, or a daily dose of Blazing God Incense, and occasionally other supplementary pills, his spirit stones were being consumed at a terrifying rate.
Two hundred and seventy thousand?
No, he only had 240,000 left on him.
This time, he had spent another 19,000.
He stepped out.
Luo Chen didn't set up the Langqi Flying Boat but instead strolled leisurely on the wide street.
He still had some things to buy.
Pill refining consumed not only energy but also the durability of some tools, which was visibly deteriorating.
Moreover, regarding the Jade Dew Pill, he also needed to buy Hundred Flowers Dew and purchase enough Blazing God Incense for the next year.
This trip would cost him over 10,000 more spirit stones.
"Luckily, Sima Huiwang adjusted the Merit Policy of the Celestial Assembly, otherwise, with the previous situation, my annual surplus of 100,000 spirit stones would have been gone."
"But even so, with an annual surplus of 100,000 spirit stones, after all my expenses, I can't even save up a few tens of thousands."
"What will I use to compete for Core Formation pills in the future?"
"I heard that after Core Formation, one has to tailor-make a Lifebound Magical Treasure, which is another huge expense."
If Luo Chen were to craft a Lifebound Magical Treasure, he would definitely not choose the ordinary treasures sold on the market.
The functions and effects of those treasures had mostly been figured out by others.
Moreover, those treasures had basically lost their growth potential and would hardly be able to advance in rank along with his cultivation realm.
"I'm thinking too far ahead, this is all post-Core Formation stuff."
After leaving the Food Fragrance Pavilion, Luo Chen headed to the Sky Robe Tower.
He spent 7,000 spirit stones to buy a brand-new Supreme Grade Dharmic Robe.
It came with self-cleaning, defense, dust-repelling, and wind-controlling functions.
With this purchase, 20,000 spirit stones were gone.
"Looking at the near future, I'll reach the middle stage of Foundation Establishment in just a year."
"What about after that?"
"The required spiritual energy for each level will only increase, and the cultivation progress will only get slower. I must obtain enough high-grade pills."
"That means a huge amount of funds!"
"Now, I only have 200,000 spirit stones left."
"Not enough, not nearly enough!"
One who does not plan for the future will have near-term worries.
Luo Chen had already started planning for his cultivation after the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.
First, he needed to focus on his family's financial resources.
Otherwise, even if someone provided him with a way to obtain high-grade pills, he might not be able to afford them.
Don't forget, the rent for a Superior Grade Cave Mansion is also terrifying!
Moreover, the Ice Fortress's rotation term in Heavenly Wave Immortal City seemed to be approaching the ten-year limit.
If they no longer took turns, would the new Golden Core Grand Master still give him the privilege of one-year rent? If not, he would have to spend 480,000 spirit stones at once!
"The revenue from Jade Marrow Pills can be easily seen at a glance."
"Should I put the matter of creating revenue from Jade Dew Pills on the agenda?"
Arriving outside the Heaven and Water Defense Array.
Luo Chen casually greeted the guarding cultivator and walked in.
His mind continued to ponder.
As a second-rank pill, the Jade Dew Pill had a high selling price but also a high cost.
One portion of raw materials cost 100 spirit stones, and it was also affected by market price fluctuations, sometimes rising.
The key was that once the price went up, it wouldn't come down.
Disgusting!
Previously, Luo Chen could only refine one bottle from ten portions of raw materials.
The key was that to maintain his connection with the Ice Fortress, he voluntarily gave up the high selling price of the rare pill and only sold it for 500 spirit stones per bottle.
In other words, he was selling it at a loss, using 1,000 spirit stones of cost to sell it for 500.
He was losing money to maintain the relationship!
This was only natural.
But as Dan Tai Yi demanded more and more Jade Dew Pills, his losses would only increase.
Losing 500 spirit stones per bottle, 2,500 per year.
After the ten-year term was up, he would have to provide 100 bottles per year, which would be a pure loss of 25,000!
This didn't even include the waste of Luo Chen's time and energy.
"If I want to maintain a close relationship and also want to get money from them."
"I can only increase the grade of the pills I sell."
Regarding this point, Luo Chen was capable of doing it.
His proficiency in refining the Jade Dew Pill had already reached the Expert level, and he could refine Intermediate Grade Jade Dew Pills.
"No!"
"I can't rush!"
"To advance to the Intermediate Grade in just a few years, although it can be explained as talent, it's still too risky."
Suppressing the urgency in his heart, Luo Chen forced himself to calm down.
It's just losing money!
The current revenue was enough to support his cultivation.
Future matters could be planned in advance, but he must not rush.
Everything had to be done step by step.
"Master, you're back!"
"Hmm."
"What do you want to eat tonight?"
"I'll skip dinner. You stew this Golden-Plumed Chicken for me, and I'll drink the soup tomorrow morning. By the way, this is an Upper Grade Hundred Yin Dharmic Robe I just bought from the Sky Robe Tower. Try it on."
Bai Meiling took the lively Golden-Plumed Chicken and excitedly went into the house with the Hundred Yin Dharmic Robe.
As a Yin Soul, the clothes on her body were manifested from Yin Soul energy.
This Hundred Yin Dharmic Robe was woven from hundreds of strands of Yin energy combined with special materials, perfectly suited for her.
From now on, she could save the Yin Soul energy used to manifest clothes.
After she entered the house, Luo Chen went into his cultivation chamber.
Looking at the Inferior Grade Ascending Dragon Pill in his hand, Luo Chen sighed.
"Oh well, I'll temporarily endure the reduced cultivation speed and cultivate until I reach the middle stage of Foundation Establishment."
He snapped his fingers, and the Ascending Dragon Pill entered his mouth.
The Blazing God Incense slowly rose.
In the smoke, Luo Chen sat in a lotus position, wearing a Crimson Cloud Robe.
His mind was clear, absorbing countless spiritual energies into his Qi Sea.
In the third layer of heaven, the spiritual energy transformed into a gathering cloud, gradually condensing as the technique rotated.
Time passed.
A drop of essence liquid fell into the small lake below, where half of the essence liquid had accumulated.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
