Immortality Begins as an Alchemy Master 57

Chapter 57: Qi Refining Fifth Layer (Extra Chapter, Please Read and Subscribe!)

In the Cultivation World, spiritual stones are money.

That stuff can’t be eaten, can’t be drunk. Although it contains immense spiritual energy, it’s full of impurities. Cultivators would never dare to absorb it directly unless facing life or death. Generally, it’s used by large factions to activate arrays and control large artifacts.

Legend has it that top-grade spiritual stones have incredibly refined spiritual energy, pure enough for cultivators to absorb directly. But such treasures are simply inaccessible to ordinary cultivators.

Setting aside top-grade spiritual stones, ordinary spiritual stones have become a common currency due to their scarcity. And the right to issue this currency is basically held by large sects.

The reason is simple: the more powerful the sect, the better the spiritual veins they can occupy. And spiritual stones are produced from various spiritual veins.

Currency, on Earth, actually has no intrinsic value. It’s more of a reflection of a nation’s credit, a credit built upon strong national power and abundant resources. When a country’s credit collapses, its currency is just a pile of waste paper.

In this Cultivation World, the principle is similar. Sects are incredibly powerful, so when they set “spiritual stones” as the settlement for their cultivation resources, ordinary cultivators can only accept it. Not only accept it, but they also strive to earn enough spiritual stones, putting in every ounce of effort.

The conflict between the Big River Gang and the Broken Mountain Sect is over the mountain’s resources, resources that represent spiritual stones.

At this moment, within the Big River Gang, Gang Leader Wang Haichao looked exhausted as he sent off a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Finally, we’ve reached an agreement.”

“As long as we win the deathmatch the day after tomorrow and control the mountain’s resources, the Cloud Connecting Merchant League promises to entrust us with the water transportation routes of the other four market towns.”

Below him stood Gao Tingyuan, the Big River Gang’s second-in-command.

Hearing this, Gao Tingyuan couldn’t help but feel incredibly excited. Just the water transportation route in Great River City alone had made the Big River Gang incredibly wealthy, even supporting Wang Haichao’s daily Foundation Establishment cultivation.

If they took over the water transportation routes of the other four market towns, how much would the Big River Gang earn? At least enough to support one or two more Foundation Establishment cultivators!

Seeing his excitement, Wang Haichao subtly frowned, but quickly smiled.

“Xiao Gao, you’ve followed me for so long; it hasn’t been easy.”

“After we secure the four water transportation routes, I’ll do my best to buy you a Foundation Building Pill.”

Gao Tingyuan was overjoyed and quickly bowed.

“I will serve the Boss to the death!”

Wang Haichao twitched his mouth, didn’t mention it further, and changed the subject.

“How is it? Do you have confidence in the deathmatch the day after tomorrow?”

The eighteen-person roster for the Dao Discussion Platform deathmatch has already been submitted. However, the order of the battles remains confidential. In other words, Gao Tingyuan might face the Seven Tigers of Broken Mountain or the Two Blades.

Involving life and death, Gao Tingyuan’s joy subsided, replaced by seriousness.

“As long as I don’t meet Duan Dao Xu Renke, I won’t lose!”

Wang Haichao also understood this. Xiao Gao was very strong, especially on the rivers and lakes, hence his nickname “River-Mixing Dragon.” But the Dao Discussion Platform has a limited environment; if he met his opponent, he would probably lose.

“Are you sure about the others?” Wang Haichao asked.

Gao Tingyuan confidently said, “Among the other eight, of the Seven Tigers of Broken Mountain, only the Heart-Eating Tiger and the Mountain-Descending Tiger have some strength, but I’m not afraid of them at all. The Sick Tiger was strong before, but after his cultivation path was cut short, he indulged in pleasure; I surpassed him years ago.”

“What about the Jade-Breaking Tiger?”

“Haha, just a young punk.”

“No, I’m talking about the previous Jade-Breaking Tiger.”

Gao Tingyuan was startled. “He’s back?”

Seeing his expression, Wang Haichao shook his head. “It seems you don’t have much confidence, but don’t worry. There are nine people; the chance of you meeting him is not high, and I’ve made other arrangements.”

Hearing the words “other arrangements,” Gao Tingyuan’s expression became gloomy. Originally, besides Gang Leader Wang Haichao, he was the second strongest in the Big River Gang. But recently, several Qi Refining Late Period cultivators had appeared from nowhere, each incredibly strong, posing a significant threat to his position.

“Probably people secretly supported by the Cloud Connecting Merchant League. I hope that after the deathmatch is over, they will disappear as quickly as they came,” Gao Tingyuan thought.

Suddenly!

Wang Haichao’s face changed, he suddenly stood up and reached out to grab something.

But he missed.

Whoosh!

A sharp whistle, a small sword gleamed as it landed on his desk. On the small sword, a yellow talisman fluttered without wind, followed by a cold voice.

“Control your people, don’t cause trouble in the Inner City.”

It was a flying sword message unique to the Jade Tripod Sword Sect, even more effective than ordinary sound transmission talismans.

The blood drained from Wang Haichao’s face, leaving it pale. He slowly looked up, staring at Gao Tingyuan.

“Did you send people to the Inner City?”

Gao Tingyuan was also startled. That small sword was incredibly fast. If it wanted to kill him, it wouldn’t take any effort. After all, even the Foundation Establishment cultivator Wang Haichao hadn’t caught it off guard. This shows that the person who sent the flying sword message was at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.

He forced a grim smile and stammered, “Boss, I only sent two people to investigate Luo Chen, the one involved in my subordinate’s death.”

“Useless!”

Wang Haichao scolded, then angrily said, “Didn’t I say not to cause trouble before things are over?”

Gao Tingyuan didn’t dare to speak, just hung his head.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Haichao knew he needed the other party’s help again, suppressed his anger and said, “I’ll say it again, before the Jade Tripod Sword Sect’s Golden Elixir cultivator leaves, don’t cause trouble in the Inner City, and be more restrained in the Outer City.”

“Yes, Boss!”

“You can go now, prepare well for the deathmatch.”

After he left, Wang Haichao rubbed his temples. Then he took a list from his storage pouch.

“This guy’s ambition is getting bigger and bigger. Keeping him around might be troublesome in the future!”

After getting off the boat, Gao Tingyuan’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Duan Sanfu happened to come up, and he slapped him.

“Where’s Shouhou?”

Duan Sanfu was stunned and subconsciously replied, “He’s in the Inner City, watching that kid.”

“Are you sure he hasn’t been exposed?”

“Should… should not yet! And even if he was exposed, it’s no big…”

Slap!

Another slap.

“Useless!”

Gao Tingyuan stormed off, leaving Duan Sanfu standing there, with symmetrical red handprints on both cheeks.

Two days later, the entire Great River City, two or three thousand cultivators, were in motion. They put aside their work and headed towards the Inner City. Today was the grand opening ceremony of the Dao Discussion Platform, a top-tier event in the area. Whether or not they could sneak into Luofeng Mountain to observe, being able to experience it up close was a good thing.

And it was said that the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion had set up a gambling stall in the Inner City, which would open betting pools for the eighteen deathmatches between the two gangs. The minimum bet was one spiritual stone, with no upper limit. Even the poorest cultivator could afford one or two spiritual stones. If they couldn’t watch, placing a bet on the winner or loser could also be considered participation! Years later, it could be a great story to tell.

In the courtyard in the north of the city, Murong Qinglian got up early to prepare her husband, Qin Liangchen’s, attire. In the courtyard, Bai Meiling and Feng Xia were a little worried. They couldn’t go to the scene; the city would be crowded today, the perfect day for Hundred Herbs Hall to do business. Two employees couldn’t leave.

Accompanied by Murong Qinglian, Qin Liangchen, wearing a brand-new Daoist robe, came out.

“Brother Qin, you must win!”

“Lao Qin, may you win a resounding victory and return safely!”

Qin Liangchen laughed heartily, “Okay, I’ll hold a banquet when I come back, and we’ll have a good meal.”

As he laughed, the door of the opposite annex suddenly opened. A young man in gray clothes, with a wooden hairpin in his hair and long hair tied up behind him, walked out.

Qin Liangchen’s eyes lit up, “Little Luo, your cultivation level has improved?”

“Thanks to the bowl of tiger bone soup my sister-in-law gave me. I also benefited from Brother Qin.”

Luo Chen smiled slightly, the aura of his Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation faintly fluctuated. Just now, his cultivation progress bar had broken through one hundred, from Qi Refining Fourth Layer to Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

And what he said was true. In the past two days, he had taken three Qi Nourishing Pills, increasing his progress by three points. Running the Longevity Skill, he gained more spiritual energy. And finally, the change came from the small bowl of tiger bone soup. While strengthening his Qi and blood, it also contained a lot of spiritual energy. After refining it for these two days, he finally succeeded!

Qin Liangchen patted Luo Chen on the shoulder and laughed, “Good! Good! Your improved cultivation level is great news! It’s perfect for boosting my spirits, I’ll definitely defeat my enemy today!”

Thank you Dadaozhijien for the 1500 starting coins donation, Qingyueyiyou for the 100 starting coins donation, and thank you to myself for the 100 starting coins donation.

(End of Chapter)

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