https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-535-True-Flame-Pill-Scorching-Heaven-s-Seven-Rings/12942164/
Chapter 534: Blood Feast
Chapter 534: Blood Feast
Time flowed like water, and the months passed by in a flash.
Half a year later, Moon Invitation Island, surrounded by dozens of large and small islands, welcomed a ray of Ethereal Light.
The Ethereal Light lingered in the sky for a moment before descending upon Moon Invitation Island, guided by a token.
As she landed, the tall and slender figure couldn't help but glance at the stone monument standing tall in the center of the island, her eyes filled with a hint of longing.
However, she was well aware that this was not something she could covet, so she forcefully suppressed her desires and stepped into the thick white mist.
As she walked, the boundless white mist around her seemed to have a consciousness of its own, automatically parting to create a one-meter-wide path for her.
A moment later, Cheng Hairen arrived at a magnificent palace with carved beams and painted columns, flying eaves, and interlocking brackets—a true masterpiece.
But upon closer inspection, this palace still had many rough edges.
There was no choice; Luo Chen had given them a very tight deadline, just one month. Even if the cultivators of Flying Swans Archipelago wanted to please him, they couldn't do much in such a short time.
Most of the materials for this palace were taken directly from ready-made sources on other islands.
"Fortunately, Azure Sun Demon Lord is generous and doesn't mind these things."
She muttered to herself, lifted her skirt, and stepped into the palace.
As if aware of her arrival, it wasn't long before a figure appeared in Cheng Hairen's vision.
Cheng Hairen respectfully handed over two spirit pouches.
"Senior, these are the first batch of True Flame Pill medicinal ingredients collected by each family according to your standards, totaling seventy-eight portions."
Luo Chen glanced at the other spirit pouch in her hand and then took the one containing the medicinal ingredients.
He probed with his Divine Perception, and after a moment of inspection, his face turned slightly displeased.
"In half a year, you've only acquired seventy-eight portions? You're not putting in enough effort!"
The woman's heart trembled, and she quickly explained, "Please forgive us, Senior. The fact is that most of the materials you need are fire-attributed medicinal ingredients, and relying on the production of nearby islands is simply not enough. It was all thanks to my brother who united the families and formed a merchant team to go to Feileng City, and after making multiple contacts, we were able to gather them all."
Luo Chen's eyebrows rose, "Is it that troublesome? Isn't our Northern Sea known for its abundant resources?"
Cheng Hairen shook her head, "That's true, but the problem is that Flying Swans Archipelago is too remote. To travel to the inner realm, it would take decades for a round trip. Even Feileng City is already the closest major immortal city to Flying Swans Archipelago."
The location was too remote?
Luo Chen's heart stirred slightly.
If that was the case, it wasn't incomprehensible.
It was similar to his experience in Dahe City back then. Although he had access to countless resources in the million-strong mountain range, when it came to high-level resources, they were still scarce, far less convenient than the deeper inland regions.
Seeing Luo Chen's expression soften, Cheng Hairen breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She took advantage of the opportunity to deliver some good news.
"The first few batches of medicinal ingredients might be slower and fewer, but as long as my Flying Swans merchant team establishes a foothold in Feileng City, Mo Hua Island, and other prosperous areas, collecting the True Flame Pill medicinal ingredients you need will become much easier."
Once the channels are established, the supply will naturally stabilize.
Luo Chen had also done business before, so he understood this principle.
Since that was the case, he no longer blamed the other party.
He scanned the medicinal ingredients in the spirit pouch and casually asked, "How much for a Radiant Seed?"
"Fifteen spirit stones each, but they're not sold individually. They're usually sold in batches of a hundred, unless you're buying in bulk, then there might be some left over."
"What about Yanyan Flowers?"
"They're third-rank medicinal ingredients, very expensive. One flower costs over six hundred spirit stones. My brother had to put in a lot of effort and promise many benefits to get the price down to just six hundred."
"How much for a box of Purple Smoke Candles?"
"One hundred and twenty lower-grade spirit stones per box. It's a bit expensive, but they've been pre-processed."
Luo Chen inquired about the prices of various medicinal ingredients, and Cheng Hairen answered each question.
Through this, Luo Chen was indirectly learning about the overall situation of the Northern Sea Immortal Cultivation World.
Prices often reflect the level of development in a region.
Of course, this wasn't absolute.
Prices could be influenced by various factors such as war, scarcity, and the degree of control by powerful forces.
Even so, Luo Chen could grasp the overall situation from a small glimpse.
From what he could see, the cost of the raw materials for one True Flame Pill was around three thousand spirit stones.
This price was indeed high.
For a third-rank pill, the cost of Brilliant Star Pills was only around two thousand.
In the Jade Cauldron Domain, Luo Chen had estimated that the cost of collecting the raw materials for one True Flame Pill in spirit stones would be around two thousand three hundred to two thousand four hundred.
Now, the price had increased by six to seven hundred! It seemed that the Northern Sea Immortal Cultivation World was either wealthier, or the situation was more tense, leading to a rise in resource prices, or perhaps both!
As Luo Chen analyzed these things, drawing broad conclusions from specific details, the chapter came to an end.
Cheng Hairen also took every opportunity to boast about the achievements of her Cheng Family.
For instance, Cheng Dou personally united the various families of the Flying Swans Archipelago to form the Flying Swan Trading Company, solely to gather medicinal ingredients for Luo Chen.
Bargaining, asking for favors, and the like.
Oh, and she also mentioned that out of this first batch of seventy-eight sets of medicinal ingredients, her Cheng Family from Black Swan Island alone accounted for ten sets!
Luo Chen could clearly understand her intentions.
Cheng Dou, instead of focusing on secluded cultivation, had gone to such great lengths to please him.
His purpose was to exchange for the Core Formation secret technique inscribed on the stone monument on Moon Invitation Island.
This person had complex thoughts; clearly eager to break through his cultivation realm, yet he forcefully stabilized his mentality before the middle-grade Core Formation secret technique.
Evidently, he was someone with a brain.
Additionally, he used Luo Chen's reputation to borrow people and resources from the thirty-odd families in the archipelago, forming the so-called "Flying Swan Trading Company."
With such a trading company, who knew how much profit they would seize in the future!
Even if Luo Chen were no longer around, as long as Cheng Dou managed the company well, the other families would likely acknowledge him.
Luo Chen was not unaware of all this, but he chose to turn a blind eye.
Let them do as they pleased!
As long as they didn't forget to offer him tribute.
The more prosperous the company became, the greater the benefits he would reap in the future.
Speaking of which, the Flying Swan cultivators, who were originally insubordinate towards him, were now so eager to serve him, gathering medicinal ingredients, all thanks to Luo Chen's ingenious move.
The Azure Sun Alchemy Canon!
This middle-grade Core Formation secret technique was, in fact, a simplified method derived from the Dusty Essence Technique.
Within it, he removed the core of the Locking Pearl Curtain and the Clear Source Marvelous Alchemy Art, but retained the essence of a series of Core Formation secret techniques such as Setting the Wind and Waves and Dragon and Phoenix Tribulation.
He also briefly touched upon the transformation of spiritual power.
Thus, he created this Core Formation secret technique, which was rated as a middle-grade technique in the system evaluation.
Luo Chen gained a clear understanding of the cultivation environment in the Flying Swans Archipelago.
The foundations were solid, with few eccentric cultivators.
With the Azure Sun Alchemy Canon, the chances of Core Formation could be increased by twenty percent.
This was precisely why the cultivators were so eager to prove themselves.
First, establish authority, then offer them benefits.
One hand held a stick, the other held a sweet date.
The group of cultivators naturally served Luo Chen's purposes.
"Senior, this is a small token of my sincerity. I hope you will accept it."
Another spirit pouch was presented before Luo Chen.
Luo Chen became interested and took the spirit pouch.
"What's inside?"
Cheng Hairen replied anxiously, "During our first meeting, I noticed that you enjoyed the local cuisine. Later, when you inquired about spirit meals rich in blood essence, I paid attention. Inside is a two-hundred-year-old Dragon Tiger Spot fish, not of a high grade, but with tender meat and abundant blood essence. It is a highly sought-after blood feast for mortal warriors on the various islands. I've heard that even a small bite of this blood feast gives them a high chance of breaking through the innate realm and achieving the Martial Master level."
Luo Chen's eyebrows rose, and he summoned his spiritual power.
In an instant, a mouth-watering fragrance filled the hall.
A fish, about three meters long and one meter wide, resembling a massive door panel, lay on a specially made platter.
It was seasoned with various condiments, broth, and steaming hot.
It was clearly freshly cooked and then stored in the spirit pouch.
Without much hesitation, Luo Chen inspected it briefly and then took out a small knife, cutting off a piece of fish and putting it into his mouth.
He didn't care about the texture or taste.
With a circulation of Confluence of Ten Thousand Paths, the piece of fish instantly melted and decomposed, transforming into strands of spiritual energy that merged into his body.
It wasn't a large amount, but the fish was huge!
This Dragon Tiger Spot fish was indeed exceptional.
If consumed regularly, it would undoubtedly benefit Luo Chen's Qi Condensation cultivation.
He showed satisfaction and looked at Cheng Hairen.
"Did you make this fish?"
Cheng Hairen was about to answer yes, but then she twisted her body and said honestly, "I'm not very skilled in cooking. This was prepared by an elderly senior from another island. However, I personally selected this fish from the Cheng Family's catch. If you're satisfied..."
"You've done well. From now on, prepare enough spirit meals... no, according to your local term, blood feasts!
Luo Chen pointed at the steaming Dragon Tiger Spot fish, "Prepare at least ten portions of this blood feast for me every month."
Cheng Hairen had been overjoyed to receive praise from the Azure Sun Demon Lord.
But when she heard ten portions per month!
Her delicate face instantly filled with worry.
"Senior, it's difficult to catch Dragon Tiger Spot fish of this quality. We have to go to the deep sea."
The hunting demon ship could travel so far, but the danger would also increase significantly."
Luo Chen casually said, "It's not just about the Dragon Tiger Spot. Other blood meals rich in vital essence will do, but the key is the culinary skill to prepare such a meal! When you're free, bring that old senior over, and I'll have a chat with him. Of course, I'll credit this accomplishment to you."
Cheng Hairen couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
Seeing Luo Chen in a good mood, she gathered her courage and cautiously asked, "Master, I wonder how much contribution we need to accumulate to exchange for a copy of the Azure Sun Alchemy Canon?"
Luo Chen stopped eating and looked at the woman.
Under Luo Chen's gaze, the woman's courage, which she had mustered with great difficulty, instantly dissipated, and her swan-like snowy neck unconsciously lowered.
"I have overstepped my boundaries," she said.
Just as she was feeling disappointed and frightened, a voice reached her ears.
"When you have gathered six thousand portions of the True Flame Pill, you can send someone from the Cheng family to receive an initiation under the stone monument."
"After the Cheng family, it will be the other families. But at that time, the required contribution will be calculated separately."
Cheng Hairen suddenly raised her head, her face filled with delight.
The raw materials for one portion of the True Flame Pill cost three thousand spirit stones, and six thousand portions would be around eighteen million, which, divided among the three dozen families, would be just over five hundred thousand lower-grade spirit stones.
In other words, Luo Chen had practically set a price for it!
Of course, ordinary small families would not be able to come up with so many spirit stones.
But her Cheng family was not considered a small family.
Small families couldn't afford large demon-hunting ships either!
Moreover, the Azure Sun Demon Lord was not asking for spirit stones but for the actual medicinal ingredients.
Even so, there was finally a glimmer of hope!
"Big brother, there's hope for Core Formation!"
The woman was overjoyed and, after bidding farewell to Luo Chen, she headed straight for Black Swan Island.
Watching the woman leave with joy, Luo Chen barely managed to hide his smirk.
Family cultivators were like that.
Supported by family resources, they were also constantly sacrificing themselves for the family.
This Cheng Hairen had previously been very reluctant when her brother, Cheng Dou, sent her to Luo Chen's bed, but she was still trying her best to help the Cheng family produce a Golden Core cultivator.
Such deep entanglements left no room for freedom!
Luo Chen shook his head and decided not to think about these matters anymore. After all, he didn't plan to manage the Flying Swans Archipelago like the Luo Heavenly Sect.
He devoured the Dragon Tiger Spot, a first-rank demon beast, piece by piece, but his stomach didn't show any signs of bloating.
This scene made it seem as if Luo Chen was the demon beast with an infinite space in its belly.
After consuming the blood meal, Luo Chen began to cultivate the Confluence of Ten Thousand Paths.
The Withering Prosperity True Flame was instantly activated, rapidly refining the fish and meat he had eaten, transforming them into strands of vital essence that merged into his body.
Feeling his body's growth, Luo Chen revealed a satisfied expression.
He didn't care about the ingredients or the delicacy of the blood meal; he only required it to be rich in vital essence. With the Confluence of Ten Thousand Paths, he could refine and absorb it all.
"Today's Dragon Tiger Spot was an unexpected delight."
Luo Chen smiled and then slowly walked into a side hall.
The wooden shelves were already neatly arranged.
Luo Chen took out various medicinal ingredients from his spirit pouch and placed them on the shelves one by one.
"Next, I'll process these raw materials and quickly refine the True Flame Pill. With my already incredibly fast cultivation speed, I'll accelerate it even further!"
As he spoke to himself, his face showed excitement.
The spirit vein on Moon Invitation Island was not of a particularly high grade, only third-rank lower-grade.
It was only slightly better than the third-rank man-made spirit vein in Tianlan Immortal City.
Even so, Luo Chen's cultivation speed was incredibly fast!
The Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture granted him a cultivation speed comparable to that of a heavenly spirit root.
According to his estimation, even with just a third-rank lower-grade spirit vein, it would take no more than a decade to cultivate to the fourth layer of the Golden Core.
With the assistance of the True Flame Pill, this time could be shortened to within ten years.
By then, at the mid-level Golden Core realm, combined with his various skills, he would be able to freely roam the Demon Sea as long as he didn't provoke Nascent Soul cultivators.
For now, he still needed to keep a low profile and develop his strength!
Luo Chen could endure the loneliness; it was only a matter of a few years.
He opened his mouth and spat out the Primordial Cauldron, which rolled out and landed in the pill chamber.
The previously round cauldron was now visibly three-tenths smaller, a testament to Luo Chen's half-year refinement.
If this trend continued, in the near future, Luo Chen would be able to completely refine the impurities and possess a truly high-grade treasure!
"Everything will come in time!"
Luo Chen smiled slightly and skillfully took out a portion of medicinal ingredients.
Just like in the past, he began the most basic herb processing work, and his face showed no impatience, only increased focus.
(End of Chapter)
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