https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-86-The-Breath-Gathering-Spirit-Technique/12831574/
Chapter 85: Big Brother Gao, I, Little Luo, Have Recorded the Five Spirit Stones!
Chapter 85: Big Brother Gao, I, Little Luo, Have Recorded the Five Spirit Stones!
The bustling street was filled with people coming and going.
Luo Chen and his two bodyguards stopped in their tracks.
In front of them stood a somewhat nervous cultivator.
"I recognize you, you're Duan Sanfu, right!"
Seeing the familiar face, Luo Chen recalled the name. This was one of the two cultivators who had blocked his stall at the independent cultivator market.
If he remembered correctly, the other one was still locked up in the Red Pillar Prison.
Who knew if he was dead or if his fate had bloomed in a different way.
Duan Sanfu pointed to the nearby tavern. "Fellow Daoist, my second brother invites you!"
"Gao Tingyuan?"
Without waiting for a response, Luo Chen suddenly smiled. "Then lead the way!"
He showed no fear, raising his head and ascending the stairs.
Qingjiang Tavern, a tavern established by the Great River Gang near the Lancang Dock.
Many busy cultivators often ate, drank, and even stayed here.
On the first floor, the noise was deafening as many cultivators feasted on meat and drank copious amounts of alcohol.
They earned spirit stones through the Great River Gang and then spent them in the gambling dens set up by the gang.
On the second floor, it was eerily quiet.
Until Luo Chen walked up the stairs!
Five late-stage Qi Cultivators, led by two Ninth Qi Layer cultivators!
Luo Chen's pupils constricted, but his steps did not waver. He walked steadily to the opposite side of the short, stocky man.
"Luo Chen, the head of the Pill Hall of the Mountain-Breaking Gang, I'm not mistaken, am I?"
"Big Brother Gao is well-informed. Our Pill Hall hasn't even refined a single pill yet."
"Sit!"
"Please!"
The two of them sat face to face. Another Ninth Qi Layer cultivator in blue leaned against the railing, idly watching the street below.
Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang, his two bodyguards, were on high alert, their expressions tense.
Gao Tingyuan, nicknamed the River Dragon.
The first among the Great River Gang's top fighters, second only to the gang leader, Wang Haichao.
He had a glorious record of personally slaying Xu Renke, the Broken Blade, on the Dao Debate Platform.
If he were to suddenly attack, even with their combined techniques, they might not be able to ensure Luo Chen's safety.
Suddenly, the blue-robed cultivator by the railing chuckled.
"Wang Yuan is watching from a distance."
"He has to, after all, this is his little brother."
Gao Tingyuan sneered, then stared intently at Luo Chen.
He just stared, saying nothing.
Luo Chen's brows slowly furrowed, and he shook his head slowly.
"If you have something to say, say it. This attitude is not how you treat a guest."
Gao Tingyuan raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised.
Then, he carefully chose his words. "You should know that I didn't invite you here as a guest."
"Then I'll leave?"
Luo Chen suddenly stood up.
Gao Tingyuan was taken aback, then a wave of anger surged within him.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
"Was it you who killed my little brother?"
"Your little brother? The one Duan Sanfu mentioned, Gao Ting'e?" Luo Chen sneered. "Do you really think it was me?"
"Wasn't it? Then why didn't you dare to come see me back then?" Gao Tingyuan stared at Luo Chen, not missing a single facial expression.
But to his disappointment, he saw no signs of guilt or weakness.
Luo Chen shrugged. "Even a fool would know that during that time, the Great River Gang and the Mountain-Breaking Gang were at each other's throats. Am I a fool? I don't think so. So why would I come see you?"
"That's not a reason!"
"Then what reason do you want, and I'll give it to you."
"I've investigated. That day, after you bought the materials for pill refinement, you went home in the evening."
"Should I tell you that I stopped by my friend Chen Xiuping's house to celebrate his granddaughter's birthday?"
Gao Tingyuan was taken aback. Chen Xiuping?
He seemed to be the talisman maker who had a stall with Luo Chen.
Luo Chen smirked. "If you had investigated thoroughly, you'd know that I have a good relationship with that old man. We share a stall, and I often help him sell talismans. I even brought a bag of snacks for his granddaughter earlier."
Gao Tingyuan was uncertain, as if the information his little brother had gathered included this.
And among cultivators, it was indeed a tradition to support each other's descendants.
For who could predict when they might die in the mountains, rivers, or while exploring secret realms?
It was only natural to hope that one's descendants would be taken care of by friends.
This tradition was even more prevalent in major sects.
It made sense that he would go to celebrate Chen Xiuping's granddaughter's birthday.
Seeing Gao Tingyuan's hesitation, Luo Chen sighed.
He sat back down, poured himself a cup of wine, and sipped it.
"Let me tell you, you should investigate those independent cultivators who like to take shortcuts to the Howling Moon Mountains. Most people go to the Ancient Plain Mountains. Those who dare to go to the Howling Moon Mountains are ruthless. They are the most likely suspects."
"Besides, I heard your little brother was a Fifth Qi Layer cultivator."
"What was my cultivation level back then?"
Gao Tingyuan subconsciously replied, "Third Qi Layer."
Luo Chen inwardly gave a thumbs up. The Great River Gang's intelligence capabilities were really a joke.
Outwardly, Luo Chen also gave a thumbs up.
"So, who can a Third Qi Layer cultivator defeat a Fifth Qi Layer cultivator?"
"Besides, I'm just a weak pill refiner. How can I be compared to you, who live on the edge of the blade."
"Speaking of which, your little brother destroyed my cottage and courtyard. I haven't even settled that score with you yet."
"That yard wasn't worth much, but it was my precious home. The furniture inside was worth a few spirit stones at least."
What furniture is worth a few spirit stones?
I came here to settle a score, how did it turn into you demanding payment?
Gao Tingyuan took a deep breath. "So, I ask you, why did you rush to move into the inner city afterward? Were you afraid we would come looking for you, or did you take my little brother's inheritance, which allowed you to afford the move?"
Admittedly, he guessed correctly this time.
But Luo Chen had a counter.
"Go around and ask, do I even care about other people's spirit stones?"
Luo Chen looked as if he had been insulted, slamming his hand on the table and shouting, "I am an alchemist! The alchemist who never lacks spirit stones, got it? I'm not one of those poor wandering cultivators!"
"Back in the day, I could earn hundreds of spirit stones a day. Who in the South City wandering cultivator market didn't know that?"
"And what do you mean by rushing into the inner city? If you had spirit stones, wouldn't you go live in the inner city's spirit vein area?"
"Of course, my spirit stones don't just appear out of nowhere. Your little brother destroyed my home, and even though he's dead, you, as his big brother, should pay the debt, right?"
"Five spirit stones, hand them over!"
How could he dare!
Liu Qiang, the bodyguard, was stunned.
For the first time, he saw a Fifth Stage Qi Cultivator stand up to a Ninth Stage Qi Cultivator, the Dragon Stirrer of the Great River Gang, and demand spirit stones with such confidence.
Not just him, but the few late-stage Qi Cultivators Gao Tingyuan brought were also shocked.
Especially the lazy blue-robed cultivator, who frowned deeply.
"Kid, be more respectful. The person you're facing is the second-in-command of the Great River Gang."
"I'm the Master of the Pill Hall of the Mountain Breaker Gang!" Luo Chen shot back with a glare.
"Enough!"
Gao Tingyuan's face darkened as he growled.
At this moment, his mind was a mess.
Subconsciously, he didn't believe his little brother could die at the hands of a Third Stage Qi Cultivator.
But after investigating again and again, there were no leads.
The only clue was Luo Chen.
He thought that using the Spirit Suppression Technique today would make the other person confess.
Even if he wasn't the one who did it, he could at least provide some other clues.
But the other person seemed genuinely uninvolved and demanded compensation with confidence.
Could it really have nothing to do with him?
"Tsk tsk, such a show of power!"
Luo Chen laughed sarcastically.
"Even Old Man Mi didn't talk to me like that. You're more impressive than him. Fine, I doubt you can come up with those five spirit stones."
"Your Highness, I won't stick around. Goodbye!"
With that, he turned and left.
At the stairway, three late-stage cultivators blocked his path.
Liu Qiang and Zhou Yuanli stepped forward, ready to fight if necessary.
Luo Chen didn't look back, his voice cold. "I was invited up here. I don't want Uncle Mi to have to bring me back!"
"Let him go!"
Hearing Gao Tingyuan's words, the three cultivators reluctantly moved aside.
Luo Chen swept his sleeve and stomped down the stairs, leaving a parting shot.
"Remember, Gao Second Brother, the five spirit stones are still owed!"
After he left, the second floor fell silent again.
After a long while, the blue-robed cultivator sighed.
"Second Brother, this matter might really fall on those wandering cultivators who frequent the Howling Moon Mountains."
"You also think he's not involved?"
"If he were, he wouldn't be so confident."
"But for a Fifth Stage Qi Cultivator to be so confident against me, isn't that more suspicious?"
"He was even less respectful to Sikong Shoujia. I heard he even tricked Uncle Mi into giving up two magical artifacts during a gang meeting."
Gao Tingyuan rubbed his temples and walked to the railing.
Never before had he felt so exhausted.
His little brother was dead, his dantian damaged, and his path to the Foundation Establishment stage was cut off. Now, he couldn't even find the person responsible for his revenge.
The blue-robed cultivator shook his head. "In my view, we should put Ting'e's matter aside for now! Recently, more and more strangers have been appearing in the gang. They've taken over several large ships and will eventually encroach on our interests."
Gao Tingyuan remained silent.
He knew all of this was with Wang Haichao's tacit approval.
During the debate platform battle, he was definitely ambushed by the other side, even his substitute puppet was destroyed.
"I can't let it go, we have to investigate!"
He slapped the railing hard, his face fierce.
The blue-robed cultivator sighed, his expression melancholic.
"Hall Master, you were really impressive back there!"
Liu Qiang's eyes gleamed, and he called out 'Hall Master' more smoothly.
Luo Chen pulled the corners of his mouth, spitting on the street corner.
Zhou Yuanli sniffed, was that alcohol?
The sip of wine Luo Chen took upstairs.
Luo Chen wiped his mouth, his gaze intense as he looked at the two.
"Pretty impressive, right?"
"Follow me, and you'll be just as impressive in the future!"
(End of Chapter)
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