Chapter 37: Little Brother Luo, Are You Here for Inspiration?
Chapter 37: Little Brother Luo, Are You Here for Inspiration?
The Feathered Robe Pavilion and the Heavenly Melody Pavilion are the two main attractions of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. The ladies here sell their art, not their bodies. Of course, if a high-ranking cultivator takes a liking to one of them, or if someone offers enough spirit stones, that’s a different matter. After all, who can deny a lady her chance at a better future?
This place, despite its less savory reputation, has earned a significant name for itself, and there’s a good reason for it. Female cultivators who have successfully refined their qi and take good care of themselves are naturally beautiful. Add to that their exquisite dance skills or singing voices, enhanced by magical spells and spirit techniques, and the sight is nothing short of breathtaking.
Luo Chen stood outside the pavilion, marveling at a dance performance he had never seen in his previous life or this one. Five female cultivators, dressed in intricate and beautiful dresses, danced gracefully on a high platform inside the pavilion. They would soar gracefully into the air, then land softly, their wide sleeves flowing like mist, creating a scene that seemed to transport one to a fairyland. These female cultivators were indeed the fairies of this fairyland.
After the dance, Luo Chen couldn’t help but grumble, “No wonder those cultivators rush to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion with their spirit stones. With such beautiful dances, why didn’t you tell me about this earlier!”
Just then, Gu Caiyi arrived at the pavilion and saw Luo Chen squatting on the ground, drawing circles.
“What are you doing?”
Luo Chen looked up, giving her a pitiful look. “Sister Caiyi, I’m your little brother, right?”
“Um...”
“As your little brother, I want to support your work. Can I come and see you off to work every day? And maybe watch you practice your dances?”
Gu Caiyi was a bit confused. What was he up to? She thought for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed lightly, “You’re not just trying to leech off the spirit energy here, are you?”
“Of course not!” Luo Chen said with righteous indignation, “I’m not that kind of person. I’m just worried that your crazy fans might do something to you when you’re on your way to and from work.”
“Don’t worry, I’m at least an Eighth Stage Qi Refinement cultivator. I don’t fear the average riffraff.”
Gu Caiyi shook her head and added, “And you’re not forbidden from coming in. Just pay five spirit stones for entry each evening, and you can watch as many dances as you want.”
Five spirit stones!
Luo Chen shot up, “Sister Caiyi, time is spirit stones. Take me to see Fragrant Girl! I have a big deal to discuss with her.”
“Haha, follow me then!”
Inside the waterside pavilion, an intricately designed incense burner was emitting a soothing fragrance. Gu Caiyi sat by the pavilion, feeding the goldfish with bait. Luo Chen, on the other hand, sat across from a girl who was even more beautiful than Gu Caiyi.
Of course, Luo Chen knew better than to think she was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. According to his knowledge, this Fragrant Girl had been cultivating for over twenty years, making her at least thirty or forty years old. She just had a youthful appearance.
He wasn’t one to go for the youthful look; he preferred the kind of beauty Gu Caiyi embodied. Besides, this girl was a Ninth Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, and he needed to be cautious.
“You’re Caiyi’s neighbor?”
“Little Brother Luo, that’s me.”
“I heard you make a living by refining elixirs?”
“A minor skill, just enough to get by.”
“But just with the Fasting Pill, it might be hard to live in the Inner City for long, right?”
Luo Chen fell silent, sensing something off about this Fragrant Girl. Wasn’t he here to sell her a used elixir furnace?
Why was she asking so many questions?
Yu Xiang smiled, “I’m curious, what kind of elixirs can you refine with a low-quality spirit iron pot that earns you so many spirit stones?”
“Um...” Luo Chen hesitated. The Wondrous Pill was popular, and some of the users were the female cultivators from the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. Of course, they also benefited from it. But it felt a bit strange to admit it to a stranger.
“I’m not asking for nothing. Sell me one, just to satisfy my curiosity. I’ll pay fifty spirit stones for it, and consider it a gesture of friendship.”
Yu Xiang waved her hand, and a purple elixir furnace, nearly as tall as a person, appeared in the pavilion.
Bang!
Luo Chen’s eyes were immediately drawn to the object.
Violet Cloud Bronze Cauldron, a first-tier lower-grade magical artifact!
Produced in Sky Sail City and sold at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, it was no subpar product.
"Let’s be friends. If I ever have any questions about alchemy, it would be great to have someone to discuss it with."
Luo Chen stared intently at the Violet Cloud Bronze Cauldron and casually replied, "My pills cost five spirit stones each. You’re getting a deal with fifty spirit stones."
"I don’t consider friendship based on profit or loss," Yu Xiang smiled. "Besides, your alchemy skills deserve a proper cauldron."
With that said, there was nothing more to discuss.
Luo Chen wasn’t about to lose out. He decided to take on this fellow practitioner! He swiftly pulled out two hundred and fifty spirit stones along with a bottle of Wondrous Elixir.
"This elixir is called Wondrous Elixir. It has a mild nature and can enhance yang energy and confuse the mind. It’s also rich in spiritual energy and can replace a cultivator’s essence during intense moments. You should not take more than three a day; otherwise, it may disrupt the golden lock below. Additionally, this elixir has a slight aphrodisiac effect on female cultivators, so it’s not recommended for them."
It was rare for Luo Chen to explain the specifics of the Wondrous Elixir.
There was no talk of strengthening the foundation or nurturing the body; those were just sales pitches.
After a quick explanation, Luo Chen stood up, put the Violet Cloud Bronze Cauldron into his storage bag, and walked away with a graceful wave.
Yu Xiang watched his retreating figure and then looked at the bottle of pills on the table, a bit dazed.
"I spent fifty spirit stones on a bottle of male enhancement pills?"
She turned to look at Gu Caiyi, whose hand was still stretched out over the railing, the bait long gone.
Her expression was also one of disbelief.
Yu Xiang’s face twisted. "Caiyi, your neighbor’s elixirs are a bit unorthodox!"
Gu Caiyi forced a smile. "Maybe it’s out of necessity!"
"Yeah!"
"When I introduced the elixir, I was completely serious. They shouldn’t think I’m an unscrupulous cultivator, right?"
Luo Chen recalled the conversation and felt he had left a good impression on Xiang Xiang.
Maybe in the future, he could use the pretext of discussing alchemy to visit the Fragrant Pavilion, soak in the spiritual energy, and watch Caiyi’s dance.
As he left the Fragrant Pavilion, he noticed it was already dark. The building was lit up with lanterns, and beautiful women were coming and going.
Some male cultivators who had entered from outside no longer looked like the ascetic, refined beings they usually were.
Luo Chen sneered. A bunch of weak-willed, pleasure-seeking waste!
He and they were definitely not on the same path!
"Is that Little Luo Daoist?"
A half-doubtful greeting came from the side.
Luo Chen instinctively looked over and saw his old customer, Zeng Wen, holding two women, looking unsure.
Luo Chen swallowed. "Zeng Daoist, you must be mistaken."
He had removed his black veil when talking to Xiang Xiang and had forgotten to put it back on.
A slip-up!
Zeng Wen let go of the women beside him and enthusiastically grabbed Luo Chen’s hand.
"Ah, I knew it. Little Luo Daoist, what a coincidence! Are you here for inspiration?"
"Uh—"
"Or could it be that you’re here to test the Wondrous Elixir yourself?" Zeng Wen’s eyes lit up, and he patted Luo Chen’s shoulder, moved. "I didn’t expect you to be so considerate. Last time, you mentioned there were still improvements to be made. You must be here to address those issues."
Luo Chen’s thick-skinned pride couldn’t withstand the old customer’s emotional gratitude.
When Zeng Wen enthusiastically invited him to share fine wine and enjoy the company of beautiful women, Luo Chen finally gave in.
"I’ve found the problem. I’ll have an even better Wondrous Elixir available soon. Zeng Daoist, I must take my leave."
With that, Luo Chen fled.
Zeng Wen watched his graceful departure with a sigh.
"I know a few itinerant alchemists, but none as responsible as Little Luo Daoist. I made the right choice in choosing him."
(End of Chapter)
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