Chapter 51: Bandit Cultivator? No, Homebound Cultivator!
Chapter 51: Bandit Cultivator? No, Homebound Cultivator!
The term "bandit cultivator" sounds impressive, but in reality, it refers to the lowest of the low. These are cultivators who ambush others, kill for treasure, and plunder without mercy.
Luo Chen had no fondness for bandit cultivators. Although he had engaged in such activities a couple of times, it was only for self-preservation. He much preferred being a homebound cultivator, someone who stayed at home and developed steadily.
The changes in the Great River Market seemed to have no impact on Luo Chen, the homebound cultivator. He continued his daily routine of refining elixirs, practicing breathing techniques, and studying magical arts.
However, the return of his neighbors, Qin Liangchen and his wife, did have a significant impact on his life—albeit a positive one.
Qin Liangchen, perhaps due to his upcoming death match, often visited the headquarters of the Broken Mountain Gang to practice with magical weapons and enhance his strength. He usually returned home exhausted. Yet, whenever he saw Luo Chen practicing the Guidance Technique or the Wind Mastery Technique in the courtyard, he would offer generous advice.
Luo Chen had always practiced his spells through sheer repetition, without truly understanding the underlying principles. The spell manuals he bought from Wang Yuan were mere copies, with no annotations from experts and often written in sloppy handwriting, making one wonder if the transcriber had ever studied properly.
This state of practice would only improve once his proficiency reached a higher level. However, under the guidance of Qin Liangchen, a Ninth Layer Qi Refinement cultivator, Luo Chen often gained insights. When he cast his spells again, it felt as if he had unlocked new pathways, elevating his skills to a new height.
As a result, Luo Chen's proficiency in spells grew rapidly. In just a few days, his Wind Mastery Technique, which was initially at the Novice level, advanced to the Proficient level.
Qin Liangchen praised Luo Chen's intelligence, but Luo Chen knew that having a teacher's guidance made a world of difference compared to practicing alone. Proficiency didn't just come from sheer repetition; the guidance of an expert was invaluable.
After half a month, Luo Chen had achieved Master-level proficiency in the Free Roaming Body Technique and Proficient-level proficiency in the Wind Mastery Technique. The two techniques complemented each other, enhancing his abilities like adding wings to a tiger.
Luo Chen's short-distance linear flight speed was now on par with that of a Late Qi Refinement cultivator. If he used a flying disk, such as the Lotus Leaf Flying Disk, he would be even faster, leaving others in his dust.
His agility in mid-air was even more impressive. Qin Liangchen sparred with him once, using only magical weapons. If he couldn't land a decisive blow, he couldn't hit Luo Chen at all.
Luo Chen was too slippery!
He was as elusive as a fish in water, a cunning rabbit on land, or an eagle in the sky.
After the sparring session, Qin Liangchen joked, "If you weren't at such a low stage and lacked powerful attack methods, I'd definitely recommend you to Old Mi for the match."
Powerful attack methods?
Luo Chen had them!
The Soul-Piercing Nail, the Jade Green Blade, and the Master-level Fireball Technique, which he had developed into the Firefly Killing Move.
Luo Chen was confident that with this combination, he could take down any cultivator up to the Fifth or Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement. He could even challenge a Late Qi Refinement cultivator without strong defensive equipment.
Of course, he wouldn't boast about this to Qin Liangchen.
Who was he kidding? The Eighteen Death Matches were fought by Ninth Layer Qi Refinement cultivators. Everyone had their own unique encounters and hidden skills. The magical weapons on the field would likely be of the highest quality. Going there would be asking for trouble.
Why not stick to refining elixirs and earning spirit stones, then buying more elixirs for cultivation? As a homebound cultivator, the goal was to live a peaceful life, free from conflict.
Early in the morning!
Luo Chen packed a large number of elixir bottles into his storage bag and prepared to leave. Today was the monthly market day, and he couldn't afford to miss this opportunity to do business, even if he still had some raw materials left.
As he approached the door, he saw his neighbor, Murong Qinglian, starting a stove in the courtyard.
She was burning Green Steel Wood!
This wood contained oils, making it too intense for a regular stove.
Luo Chen was burning Qinggang wood in a fire pit lined with heat-resistant bricks, a specialized type of wood used for refining elixirs.
Seeing this, he was quite surprised. "Sister-in-law, what delicious dish are you cooking?"
Meng Qinglian wiped the ash from her hands and flicked back a strand of hair, smiling. "Isn't your Brother Qin about to participate in the battle? I bought two pounds of Blood Fiend Tiger bones, which can boost his blood and qi. I’m planning to stew them for him to help him recover and gain strength."
The Blood Fiend Tiger, a second-stage beast! Its bones indeed greatly enhance a cultivator’s blood and qi.
Especially for Body Refinement Practitioners, these bones are considered divine medicine!
Hearing this, Luo Chen understood why she wasn’t cooking in the kitchen.
Second-stage spiritual materials weren’t something an ordinary stove and fire could refine in a short time.
Seeing Meng Qinglian’s gentle and compliant smile, Luo Chen hesitated before asking, "Sister-in-law, haven’t you tried to persuade Brother Qin not to participate in that deadly battle?"
"Persuasion won’t work."
"Uh..."
"Boss Mi has always been good to him and has done him many favors. Now that Boss Mi is in trouble and Qin can help, there’s no way he would stand by and do nothing."
"Then aren’t you worried?"
Meng Qinglian’s face showed a sorrow and bitterness she hadn’t displayed in days.
"Of course I’m worried. But that’s just his nature. Once he makes a decision, not even nine oxen could pull him back."
"All I can do is support him silently and believe he will win."
Hearing her words, Luo Chen fell silent.
Even as he left the courtyard and wandered through the winding, dark alleys to the bustling main street, he couldn’t shake the feeling.
In the treacherous and deadly world of cultivation, could there be such a heart-stirring love?
Would he, Luo Chen, ever encounter a woman who would support him like that?
There was no answer.
Luo Chen didn’t want to delve into it too deeply.
When he finally came to his senses, he looked at the busy street, still a bit dazed.
"Did I wake up late?"
"No!"
"Why are there so many people out before dawn?"
When he reached the South City Loose Cultivator Market, the stone stall was bustling with activity, with an old man and a young girl working hard.
Seeing the girl, Luo Chen couldn’t help but ask, "Daoist Chen, is this your granddaughter?"
Luo Chen had always known that Daoist Chen wasn’t alone.
He had married in the secular world and brought his son to the Great River Market after his wife died.
Later, his son married and had a daughter.
But during a mountain hunt for beast beasts, both his son and daughter-in-law were killed.
Since then, Daoist Chen had been raising his granddaughter.
Over the years, Daoist Chen had been extremely frugal, valuing even half a spirit stone.
He was saving up a large sum to send his granddaughter to a sect.
Because of his granddaughter, he was always cautious, even moving to the inner city during the last conflict in the outer city to protect her from any accidents.
Hearing Luo Chen’s question, Daoist Chen hadn’t spoken yet, but the bright-eyed and fair-skinned girl smiled.
"It’s Brother Luo Chen, right!"
"My name is Shuyi. Grandpa often talks about you, saying you owe him fifty spirit stones and haven’t paid back yet."
At first, hearing the sweet "Brother Luo Chen," Luo Chen felt happy.
But the next part made him a bit awkward.
"I’ll definitely pay back once I earn the spirit stones, definitely!"
Beside him, Daoist Chen was fuming, puffing out his cheeks and glaring. "No one believes you!"
Luo Chen chuckled but didn’t argue.
He could actually pay back the fifty spirit stones at any time now.
He hadn’t done so before because he had retained the habit of expanding production, always trying to buy enough raw materials to increase his proficiency.
Now, with his granddaughter bringing it up, even his thick skin couldn’t handle it.
He decided to settle the debt as soon as he finished handling the elixirs in his hand.
Looking at the crowded stone stall, Luo Chen was a bit at a loss. Where could he place his own elixirs?
(End of Chapter)
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