Immortality Begins as an Alchemy Master 21

Chapter 21: Sudden Wealth

The Valley-Clearing Pill sold for eleven Spiritual Stones, and the Myriad Wonders Pill sold for one hundred and fifty.

In total, one hundred and sixty-one.

This was Luo Chen’s income for the day.

After counting the Spiritual Stones, Luo Chen was so happy he couldn’t stop smiling.

After so long of neither profit nor loss, he finally had a small profit.

If he added the ninety-two Spiritual Stones contributed by the short-lived ghost, his savings would instantly surge to two hundred and fifty-three!

This was an unprecedented peak!

He could buy two low-grade artifacts, or buy two and a half bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills, or even enjoy a half-month-long spiritual feast at the Zhongding Restaurant.

He could even book a few nights at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower.

However, these thoughts didn’t linger in Luo Chen’s mind for even a second.

With more liquid funds, what should he use them for?

Of course, it was to expand production, grow stronger, and create even greater glory!

“Little Luo Daoist friend, about that, should you perhaps return…”

“Uncle Chen, care for some fish? I caught this yesterday. I roasted it using the Fireball Technique over a slow fire for half an hour. Just heat it up a little; it’s delicious.”

“But…”

“The Spiritual Stones? I know, I have it all in mind. Little Luo is in the midst of a skill improvement phase, you see, I need more herbs to practice with. Once I’ve earned enough, I’ll definitely repay you. When that happens, I’ll hold a banquet at the Zhongding Restaurant to personally treat you!”

Zhongding Restaurant was the most upscale restaurant in Great River City.

It sold ingredients imbued with spiritual energy, served wine brewed from spiritual veins, and even the snacks and fruits were rare goods transported by water from the Lancang River!

Seeing that Old Daoist Chen was somewhat moved, Luo Chen pressed on.

“Besides, we’re both mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Would I really cheat you out of a mere fifty Spiritual Stones?

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely repay you then.”

“I’m in a hurry to buy herbs, so I’ll be off!”

Watching Luo Chen disappear in a flash, Old Daoist Chen felt a little annoyed.

This little rascal!

He was a bit like himself back in the day, clinging tightly to even a single or two Spiritual Stones.

“I just hope that banquet at the Zhongding Restaurant isn’t a lie to cheat this old man!”

“Double the price for Red Flame Chicken Blood?”

“Yes, the more the better!”

“Only a few pieces of Jade Mountain Herb left? I’ll take them all. Please leave me some more next time.”

“Five jin of this!” (Note: jin is a Chinese unit of weight, approximately half a kilogram.)

A flurry of purchases left Luo Chen sweating.

The scattered cultivator market was good in many ways, but everyone loved to haggle, even those he’d done business with several times. They always brought up seasonal changes and market conditions.

In contrast, the Hundred Herbs Hall’s goods were expensive, but at least it saved him a lot of trouble.

Besides, the high price wasn’t a fault of the Hundred Herbs Hall; it was Luo Chen’s fault!

“Four hundred portions of Sea-Based Herbal Medicine, forty Fire Dog Whips! Daoist Friend Luo, are you sure you can handle so much?”

The fat shopkeeper, Liu He Cai, was surprised.

It had only been a couple of transactions, and this little Qi Refining cultivator’s purchasing volume had quadrupled.

Even if his body was weak, he couldn’t possibly consume this much!

“Your esteemed establishment is a four-region chain, a five-hundred-year-old shop. You should still have this much stock, right?” Luo Chen said.

Shopkeeper Liu shook his head: “The goods are certainly available, but you…”

Shopkeeper Liu suddenly sniffed, and asked in surprise: “Young friend, you wouldn’t be an alchemist, would you?”

“A crude skill, not worth mentioning. But shopkeeper, you have a keen eye.”

Wow, a wild alchemist!

Shopkeeper Liu’s gaze towards Luo Chen changed, a mixture of mockery and admiration.

He could tell Luo Chen was a scattered cultivator, without any family or sect background.

From his clothes, demeanor, and cultivation level.

But that’s precisely what made him surprised.

These days, even scattered cultivators dared to touch alchemy, such a high-level skill?

The other party was a bit too reckless.

Of course, in business, harmony breeds wealth.

Shopkeeper Liu put on a warm smile, “To be able to practice alchemy at this age, you must have exceptional talent. If you ever refine good elixirs, feel free to let me take a look.”

This statement piqued Luo Chen’s curiosity.

“Shopkeeper, do you also accept elixirs?”

“The Spirit Medicine Pavilion next door and my Hundred Herbs Hall both originate from the Medicine King Sect. So, young friend, do you understand now?”

Luo Chen’s eyes lit up, realizing something.

If he could sell his elixirs at the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, it would be like a small workshop’s baijiu (Chinese liquor) getting an advertisement slot during prime time on national television.

Spiritual Stones would come pouring in!

Needless to say, the most basic Qi Nourishing Pill for Qi Refining cultivators sold for one hundred Spiritual Stones a bottle at the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Hey, no haggling, take it or leave it.

Once you leave this place, there’s nowhere else to buy it!

He didn’t expect Shopkeeper Liu to have such connections, being able to get elixirs into the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

But for now, this matter had nothing to do with him.

Even though the Myriad Wonders Pill was in high demand, his proficiency and output hadn’t improved enough to cooperate with the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

The two chatted for a while longer, and Shopkeeper Liu promised to ensure the supply of Sea-Based Herbal Medicine and Fire Dog Whips.

According to him, Fire Dog Whips came from a cultivator family under the Medicine King Sect, and their annual output was very stable and reliable.

Under the curious gaze of Miss Xiao Ling, Luo Chen put the herbs into his storage pouch and took his leave.

After he left, Shopkeeper Liu clicked his tongue in wonder.

“The forest is vast, and there are all sorts of birds. Now even low-level scattered cultivators dare to try alchemy.”

“Tsk!”

Miss Xiao Ling spat, her face slightly flushed, “I’m afraid they’re not refining anything good!”

Are the Myriad Wonders Pills good elixirs?

That’s a matter of opinion.

For cultivators who aspire to the Dao but also want to enjoy the pleasures of the mortal world, it’s a man’s blessing!

For those who have no interest in the Dao and indulge in pleasure, it’s a powerful tool!

Perhaps the only ones who might feel wronged are the Fire Dog beasts.

Every time someone uses the Myriad Wonders Pill to engage in intimate relations, a Fire Dog somewhere unknown will let out a heart-wrenching howl.

It truly fits the saying: I didn’t kill Bohu, but Bohu died because of me.

On the way back, Luo Chen was very happy.

After several trips to the market, this time was the easiest.

He no longer needed to carry a snakeskin bag and walk the streets.

A storage pouch was truly a good thing, arguably the greatest invention in the Cultivation World.

Its minimum price of ten thousand Spiritual Stones fully justified its noble status.

He wondered which sect produced this thing; they must be counting Spiritual Stones in bed every day, laughing wildly!

Since it was daytime in the afternoon, the outer city seemed quite safe.

Although there were always some colorful bloodstains on the road, Luo Chen was already used to it.

Using the逍遥游 (Xiāoyáo Yóu – a cultivation technique that allows for swift movement) technique, which he had mastered, he moved like the wind through the bustling city, eager to return home.

This purchase cost him over two hundred Spiritual Stones, leaving him with only forty for emergencies.

Raw materials for the Myriad Wonders Pill, raw materials for the Valley-Clearing Powder, daily necessities.

It felt like going to a big supermarket once a month in his past life.

After returning home and neatly arranging his purchases, Luo Chen began his daily cultivation.

Besides the Fireball Technique, he also picked up the Binding Technique.

It was a basic spell that came with the Longevity Skill, and its proficiency was 176/200, close to reaching the advanced level of mastery.

Although this spell was generally considered low-level.

But it was a wood-type spell, perfectly suited to the Longevity Skill, and its power depended entirely on the amount of spiritual energy consumed.

If he raised the Binding Technique’s proficiency, Luo Chen would have another means of attack.

And who says the Binding Technique can’t kill people? (A certain God King secretly gave a thumbs-up!)

Night.

After washing up, Luo Chen sat cross-legged on the bed, his five hearts facing the sky, running his cultivation technique to restore his spiritual energy.

The perfect-level Longevity Skill was excellent: short time, high efficiency, and it seemed to fit his body better than ever before, like a tailor-made technique.

Even without the Qi Nourishing Pills, Luo Chen could feel a vastly different cultivation speed compared to the past.

He finished his cultivation, lay down, and prepared to sleep.

Suddenly, Luo Chen, who had just closed his eyes, opened them again, staring intently at the door.

(End of Chapter)

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