Immortality Begins as an Alchemy Master 15

Chapter 15: Murder and Robbery for Treasure – Is it Finally My Turn?

Returning customers were always highly valued by Luo Chen! He always strived to cultivate his own loyal customers instead of constantly relying on Old Master Chen for referrals. However, Valley-Clearing Powder, a common elixir, even if he refined a mid-grade one, wouldn’t attract many returning customers, and his production was limited. The Myriad Wonders Pill, however, gave him an opportunity.

After a few casual conversations, Luo Chen neatly arranged all his elixirs. Old Master Chen glanced at them again; the quantity was clear at a glance. He secretly thought that Luo Chen’s alchemy skills had indeed made a breakthrough. The number of elixirs he displayed at each stall was increasing with each passing time. Of course, his “Spiritual Stone Loan” played a role in this.

As the sun rose, more and more cultivators came to the market, and Luo Chen and Old Master Chen started their business one after another.

“Little Daoist Luo, what a coincidence!”

“Yes, it’s a coincidence!”

Luo Chen greeted Zeng Wen enthusiastically, pointing to the bottles and jars in front of him, “Anything you’d like?”

“Yes, please!”

Zeng Wen picked up five bottles of Valley-Clearing Powder, playing with them, “Your skill is truly excellent. I tried the Valley-Clearing Powder last time, and it was surprisingly top-grade, far superior to others’.”

“As long as it fills you up, thank you for the compliment, Daoist Friend.”

“I’ll also take two bottles of Myriad Wonders Pill!”

“Alright.”

Luo Chen tacitly handed two bottles of Myriad Wonders Pill to Zeng Wen. The two exchanged smiles, understanding each other without words.

A cultivator choosing talismans nearby seemed to know Zeng Wen.

“Brother Zeng, was the spotted tiger butchered at Li Tuhu’s house yesterday your loot? Your mountain trip this time was truly fruitful!”

“Oh, the demonic tiger is a menace to the world. I merely acted on behalf of Heaven, nothing to mention, nothing to mention.”

“You’re too humble. What are you buying?”

Zeng Wen secretly put the Myriad Wonders Pills into his storage pouch, holding the bottle of Valley-Clearing Powder.

“Buying some Valley-Clearing Powder, stocking up, it’ll be more convenient for my next mountain trip. Brother Duan, I won’t keep you, I have something urgent, I’ll go first.”

Zeng Wen left hurriedly.

The cultivator called Brother Duan was somewhat puzzled. Then he saw Luo Chen take out two exquisite jade bottles from the bag below and place them on the table.

Had Zeng Wen just bought this stuff too?

“What kind of elixir is this?”

Luo Chen’s eyes lit up, “Myriad Wonders Pill, are you interested in learning more about it, Daoist Friend?”

Customers came and went, but the conversations were always the same. Overpriced offers, haggling for a lower price. I praise how good my goods are, they nitpick, finding a bunch of flaws. Then we reach a price that both parties can accept, and the deal is done.

Unlike those aloof, solitary cultivators who just sat and meditated at their stalls, the stone stall was much livelier. The old and the young were both thick-skinned and quick-tongued. Occasionally, when Luo Chen had time, he would help Old Master Chen sell a few talismans.

Perhaps because it was a large market day, Luo Chen’s elixir business was booming. By mid-morning, he had almost sold everything.

Thirty bottles of Valley-Clearing Powder were all sold, bringing in six low-grade Spiritual Stones.

Twenty bottles of Myriad Wonders Pill were all sold, bringing in one hundred low-grade Spiritual Stones.

The difference was enormous.

But in terms of profit, the Myriad Wonders Pill currently had zero profit, barely breaking even. Conversely, the Valley-Clearing Powder, after deducting costs, had a net profit of three Spiritual Stones. In fact, with Luo Chen’s master-level proficiency in Valley-Clearing Powder, increasing production could earn him more. But the market for Valley-Clearing Powder was there, and so was its consumption capacity; making more would only bring in a few more Spiritual Stones.

This was an opportunity to improve his proficiency with the Myriad Wonders Pill; mass production could bring in huge profits later. Industry transformation, opening up new channels. A short-term pain, acceptable!

Old Master Chen kept urging him to repay the debt. Luo Chen, helpless, immediately paid him fifty. Then, after repaying, he spent a long time wheedling and borrowed it back again.

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay you back, you saw my recent earnings. Just consider it as sponsoring a poor cultivator’s cultivation, once I become wealthy, I will repay you tenfold!”

“Alright, my elixirs are sold out, I’ll work for you this afternoon, helping you sell talismans!”

“Trust me, I’ll help you sell them quickly, you can draw more talismans, and you’ll earn even more.”

After much persuasion, Luo Chen managed to keep his one hundred and six Spiritual Stones. The price was working as a temporary worker for the afternoon.

“Hey, what happened over at Brother Wang’s?”

Luo Chen, while selling talismans, looked up and saw a crowd gathered around Wang Yuan’s stall. He wanted to watch the commotion, but Old Master Chen stopped him.

“Don’t go!”

“Why?”

“Have you forgotten what happened the last time this happened?”

Luo Chen stopped, remembering a scene from the original owner’s memory, two years ago. Then and now, it was eerily similar.

“Creditors came to collect?”

Old Master Chen looked at the crowd with a complicated expression, “Solitary cultivators are mostly loners, but some still have relatives and friends.”

“If they die, that’s fine, but if their artifacts and robes are put up for sale, encountering that situation, there will always be resentment.”

Luo Chen suddenly understood. He saw that the crowd was indeed tense, ready to fight at any moment. Wang Yuan was at the seventh layer of Qi Refining; those surrounding him must not be far below in cultivation level. If a fight broke out, if he went to watch, he could easily be injured.

“They won’t fight, don’t worry, fighting is forbidden within the Inner City.”

Old Master Chen shook his head; he had seen these things too many times. It’s just that those who walk the razor’s edge like Wang Yuan, always walk into trouble after walking a long enough night.

Sure enough, after a few harsh words, three cultivators left the cultivator market angrily. Wang Yuan still had his usual indifferent expression, sitting cross-legged at his stall, eyes drooping, as if he hadn’t slept.

“Selling bloody artifacts is very risky!” Luo Chen muttered, “Why not sell them directly to the Wanbao Tower?”

Old Master Chen sneered, “Wanbao Tower directly buys back at half the price, refines and repairs them slightly, and sells them at a higher price than the original. How could you earn more by selling them yourself at a stall?”

So that’s it!

Luo Chen understood. The artifacts at the cultivator market varied in quality, relying entirely on the cultivator’s own judgment. Moreover, without refining, they are too conspicuous and can easily be recognized by the original owner’s friends. The only advantage is that they are much cheaper than official ones.

“I only have a low-grade rusty sword right now.”

“When I have money later, should I buy it at the market or at the Wanbao Tower?”

Luo Chen stroked his chin, just like in his past life, wondering whether to buy a BMW or a Mercedes.

Fantasy is temporary. Working is the whole afternoon.

After helping Old Master Chen handle the talismans, he hurried to buy the materials he needed. He had made deals with the sellers for several large purchases to reserve the goods for him. So, although the time was short, he still managed to spend all the more than one hundred Spiritual Stones. Not a single one was left!

Going all-in is a kind of wisdom. Luo Chen never lacked the courage to go all-in, especially in the initial stage; even if he lost everything, he could always start over.

Carrying a large snakeskin bag back home, night fell again. Luo Chen strode along the dirt road in the Outer City, humming a song from time to time.

“I cannot drift with the currents, for the sake of my beloved longevity.”

Suddenly, Luo Chen stopped. Under the moonlight, four people blocked his path.

Dark night, strong winds, murder and robbery for treasure – is it finally my turn?

Luo Chen’s heart sank to the bottom of the Lancang River.

(End of Chapter)

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