Immortality Begins as an Alchemy Master 23

Chapter 23: Your Little Score Wasn’t So Small After All

The sky was vast and boundless, the wind calm and tranquil.

Aboard a large ship, Wang Haichao, the leader of the Great River Gang, stood at the bow, listening to the reports from his subordinates.

“Last night, we attacked seven of Broken Mountain Sect’s outposts in the outer city, and the haul was substantial!”

“A second-rank demonic beast tiger pelt, over a thousand pieces of low-grade spiritual materials, and tens of thousands of spiritual stones.”

“The brothers’ individual gains aren’t included. As you instructed, whoever seized it, keeps it.”

“Boss, this time we really made a killing!”

Wang Haichao didn’t turn around. “Just a small skirmish. It merely diverted their attention to the mountains, leading to this outcome.”

He sighed listlessly, patting the railing.

“Xiao Gao (Eldest Brother Gao), how were our losses last night?”

The subordinate called Xiao Gao wasn’t tall at all; he was short and stocky, with a fierce expression.

His black, close-fitting attire accentuated his well-defined arm muscles.

“Losses were minimal. Only a few dozen Qi Refining fourth and fifth-layer gang members died. There weren’t even any serious injuries among those at the Qi Refining seventh layer or above. Oh, Ding Yilong was a bit unlucky. He ran into Wang Yuan and the Severed Blade Guest returning from the mountains for reinforcements. Those two blades chopped his top-grade artifact and spirit turtle shield to smithereens.”

Xiao Gao said with a laugh—which, if anything, made him look even more ferocious.

Wang Haichao chuckled. “Then his losses were indeed significant. Give him a top-grade artifact from this haul! He shouldn’t be fighting without a proper weapon.”

After saying this, he frowned.

“Broken Mountain Sect’s two blades are a nuisance.”

Broken Mountain Sect had over a thousand members, with nearly a hundred Qi Refining Late Period cultivators.

Their leader, Old Man Mi, like Wang Haichao, was a Foundation Establishment Period cultivator and rarely took action personally.

Usually, his capable subordinates handled things.

The headquarters had two formidable fighters, while the seven outposts each had seven deadly figures.

Compared to those seven hall masters, the two blades were the biggest thorns in the Great River Gang’s side.

Mad Blade Wang Yuan, and Severed Blade Xu Renke.

Severed Blade Xu Renke had been famous for many years, having worked in numerous marketplaces before being recruited by Old Man Mi to settle in Great River City.

But Mad Blade Wang Yuan had only been cultivating for ten years.

His debut battle saw him single-handedly defeat several mid-stage cultivators who had robbed him, exceeding his cultivation level.

After that, he hunted in the mountains, frequently clashing with others, eventually being personally recruited by Old Man Mi to join Broken Mountain Sect.

However, after joining, Wang Yuan didn’t accomplish anything earth-shattering.

Instead, he did the dirty work for Broken Mountain Sect for years.

He specialized in selling dubious second-hand artifacts, cultivation techniques, and the like.

Until recently, when he single-handedly took down three members of the Great River Gang, bringing back their heads, did people finally take notice of this man who had been doing the dirty work for so long.

They initially thought it was just luck.

But no one expected that over the next month, armed with only his blade, he guarded the mountain pass, inflicting heavy casualties on the Great River Gang.

Same-level experts were no match for him; Luo Renjie, a Qi Refining eighth-layer cultivator, died at his hands.

Even when a Qi Refining ninth-layer cultivator from the Great River Gang personally intervened, after a fierce battle, he was still no match for Wang Yuan.

In just one month, he had fully earned the name Mad Blade.

Even Severed Blade Xu Renke admitted that Wang Yuan’s combat prowess was no less than his, and that he had the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment stage!

It was this affirmation from Severed Blade Xu Renke that earned Wang Yuan his place as one of Broken Mountain Sect’s two blades.

Hearing the leader’s words, Xiao Gao fell silent.

As the Great River Gang’s second-in-command, he was always proud.

Severed Blade Xu Renke was his equal, and if they fought on the Great River, Xiao Gao was confident he could defeat him within a hundred rounds.

But that Mad Blade, he couldn’t quite gauge.

Rumor has it that the guy was also skilled in water combat.

Why did such a person exist?

He’s already so powerful at the Qi Refining seventh layer; if he cultivates to the ninth layer, wouldn’t he dare to challenge Foundation Establishment cultivators?

“Forget it, we’re just doing someone else’s work; someone else will take care of those two blades.”

Wang Haichao stretched, casually asking, “Where’s your younger brother?”

“I don’t know. He said he wanted to get a storage pouch. He participated in the attack on Broken Mountain Sect’s seven halls last night, but he hasn’t returned yet.”

“Aren’t you worried something happened to him?”

“Haha, I gave him the Earthy Yellow Barrier Array you gave me. As long as he doesn’t encounter a Qi Refining ninth-layer cultivator, he’ll be fine.” Xiao Gao said without a worry, adding, “And he has a Swift Movement Talisman. If he wants to run, even a Qi Refining ninth-layer cultivator can’t catch him.”

Wang Haichao nodded. With the Earthy Yellow Barrier Array and Swift Movement Talisman, no one below the Foundation Establishment stage could threaten Xiao Gao’s younger brother.

“Alright, keep a close eye on things in the gang. Broken Mountain Sect might retaliate, but our reinforcements are arriving soon.”

Reinforcements?

Does that mean experts from the Lianyun Merchant Alliance?

Xiao Gao pondered.

In Great River City’s Inner City, in a small room within the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion, the tallest building, Sun Shou was tearing apart beef jerky, putting small strips in his mouth.

“It doesn’t have any spiritual energy, but the taste is truly excellent. Little Luo, if you ever give up on cultivation, you could open a beef jerky shop in the secular world. It would definitely be a roaring success.”

Luo Chen shyly smiled.

Return to his hometown?

That was impossible in this lifetime.

He didn’t even know where his home was.

After finishing the beef jerky, Sun Shou clapped his hands, opening his mouth, which was missing a few teeth.

“Tell me, what do you need? Your rent isn’t due yet.”

“I want to rent a room!”

“Mm, renting a room is necessary. That place in the southwest corner is too remote and dangerous. Tell me where you want to rent, Old Master isn’t just eating your beef jerky for nothing. I’ll find you a spacious and safe place.”

As he spoke, he picked up a compass.

Injecting spiritual energy, the compass instantly lit up with countless lights, appearing to be tens of thousands at first glance.

But with a flick of his hand, the countless lights dimmed by more than 90 percent.

The ones still lit were the vacant rooms in the outer city.

Luo Chen’s eyes lit up. “Spacious?”

“What’s wrong? Don’t you trust your Old Master Sun?!”

Sun Shou, one hundred and twenty-one years old, an outer disciple of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect, was genuinely old enough to be Luo Chen’s grandfather.

Of course, Luo Chen didn’t mind.

It was just a title. He also called Uncle Chen Daoist uncle every day.

As long as he could get a good house, he could call Sun Shou grandpa for a day!

“I want to rent in the Inner City!”

“The Inner City? Let me see… uh? The Inner City?”

Sun Shou looked at Luo Chen suspiciously. “You used to live in a room that cost half a low-grade spiritual stone a month, and rent a stall for half a low-grade spiritual stone a month. Now, you suddenly want to move to the Inner City?”

After examining him, he suddenly laughed.

A different robe than before, and that faint aura of killing intent.

This kid had made a big score!

Now, he wanted to enjoy the Inner City.

“Alright, I’m not just talking empty words. Inner City houses need to be seen in person; I’ll take you there myself.”

Putting the compass into his storage pouch, he shakily got up.

Luo Chen quickly supported his shoulders, afraid that the old man might accidentally fall and die.

He wondered what kind of karma he had accumulated to make an old man of this age not retire in the sect but work in this poor and remote place.

He truly lived to work, devoting his whole life to the sect!

“Is this house big enough? It’s close to the Heaven Fragrance Building; I bet you’ve never had a woman.”

“Too expensive.”

“How about this one? The previous tenant was a body refinement cultivator in the sect, and even their usual body refinement exercises could be performed here, definitely big enough.”

“Too expensive.”

“So you want something cheaper, the north of the city is cheap enough, let me take you to see.”

Two hours later.

Sun Shou pushed Luo Chen’s hand away, angrily saying, “It seems your score wasn’t so big after all. Why are you splurging in the Inner City?”

Luo Chen argued, “There are gang clashes in the outer city every day. I’m afraid I might accidentally end up a corpse on the street.”

“Fine, Old Master keeps his word, I will definitely find you a big house!”

Sun Shou gritted his teeth, leading Luo Chen into the depths of an alley.

They wound their way through the alley for a long time; female cultivators occasionally appeared along the way, enthusiastically greeting Old Master Sun.

Suddenly, the path opened up.

A single-courtyard house with four interconnected buildings appeared in front of them.

Entering the gate and passing the screen wall, Sun Shou walked straight to the longest and widest room.

“This is it, the back room, the largest area. If you squeeze, accommodating seventeen or eighteen people isn’t a problem.”

Luo Chen examined the room with satisfaction. Its area was no smaller than his previous house with a small courtyard.

The only drawback was that it lacked natural light, making it appear gloomy.

“How many spiritual stones?”

“The lowest price, ten low-grade spiritual stones a month, one month’s deposit and three months’ rent in advance.”

One month’s deposit and three months’ rent in advance, which meant paying forty spiritual stones at once.

It was undeniably a bit painful.

However, finding such a large and cheap house in the Inner City was indeed difficult.

If it weren’t for Sun Shou’s familiarity with every house in Great River City, ordinary people wouldn’t find this place.

“Also, there’s a one spiritual stone monthly management fee and one spiritual stone for night soil removal.”

Luo Chen widened his eyes. “Management fee, what’s that?”

Old Master Sun rolled his eyes. “Your waste needs to be handled, right? If neighbors don’t get along and fighting isn’t allowed, it will eventually fall to Old Master to mediate, and you should pay something for that!”

“But…”

“No buts.”

“Then the night soil removal?”

“Do you want to follow the outer city’s habit of relieving yourself anywhere, with the smell of feces and urine stronger than spiritual energy?”

Alright!

I concede!

Under the Jade Tripod’s eaves, one must bow their head!

“Oh, one more thing to remind you.”

“What else?”

Luo Chen’s fists clenched, but remembering that the old man was at the Qi Refining ninth layer, he softened.

He couldn’t win, he couldn’t win.

Sun Shou pointed to a pile of firewood at the entrance of the main room.

“If you want to cook, remember to use smokeless firewood. If you use firewood that produces smoke, I suggest you rent a smoke-collecting artifact from me.”

“Ah, why is that?”

Luo Chen was completely baffled.

“Heh, where are we? This is the Inner City, a cultivation place built on a first-order spirit vein. Too much turbid qi, do you still want to cultivate?”

Even the Cultivation World cares about environmental protection?

Luo Chen blankly received an artifact from the old man, something called the Light Smoke Drizzle Tower.

Square and pointy-topped, it could be installed at the boundary between the interior and exterior of the house when in use.

After signing a contract and paying forty-three spiritual stones, the large room belonged to Luo Chen for the next four months.

When seeing the old man off, Luo Chen casually asked.

“Although the lighting is a bit poor, it shouldn’t be this much cheaper than other similarly sized houses, right?”

“Why do you think?”

(End of Chapter)

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