Chapter 158

"Luo Chen, right!"

The tone, seemingly a question but actually a statement, made Luo Chen's scalp tingle.

In a daze, he even thought the person in front of him was the old man who had passed away.

Back then, he had also asked such a question.

And the follow-up was Luo Chen becoming the master of the Pill Hall, working like an ox or a horse for him.

Swallowing his saliva, Luo Chen forced himself to perk up.

Fear the hammer; others are Jin Dan, I am Qi Refining, at worst I'll just be killed.

"Congratulations to the Elder for killing the demonic cultivator."

"Demonic cultivator? Heh heh..."

Pang Renxiong actually laughed.

He laughed lightly, not at all like the pressure he had given before.

He shook his head. "There's no need to put this hat of justice on me; I killed him because I killed him, and in this Jade Yu Yu Dingyu, no one dares to find trouble with me."

Luo Chen said righteously, "This person successively robbed and killed loyal and righteous people like Fei Bai Wen and Mi Shuhua, especially that Mi Shuhua, who was my benefactor, a person of integrity and helpfulness. To be able to strike at such righteous people, this person has indeed fallen into the demonic path."

"Elder, your sword has slain the demon; if this spreads, it will surely be a beautiful story!"

"Even the Jade Tripod Sword Sect will be proud of you!"

These words coming out of his mouth left Luo Tianhong and Miao Wen stunned.

Especially Miao Wen, who only felt it sounded very familiar.

It seemed that when he went to the Xieyue Valley to protect Luo Chen back then, the other party had also praised him as if money were no object.

But this flattery was probably aimed at the wrong person.

Elder Pang was soft and hard to deal with, not the kind of...

"Haha, you have a sharp tongue."

Pang Renxiong laughed heartily. "But you are right; this person has indeed fallen into the demonic path, and everyone should kill him."

Immediately, he ordered without looking back, "Miao Wen, Tianhong, spread the news of today's events. Say that the demonic cultivator who killed the Mount Ailao cultivator Fei Bai Wen and the Mountain-Breaking Gang leader Mi Shuhua was killed by me on the banks of the Lancang River."

"Hmm, make the process sound a bit more tortuous, do you understand?"

Luo Tianhong was startled and immediately agreed.

Miao Wen also hurriedly agreed, though he felt stifled in his heart.

Doesn't Elder Pang dislike hearing flattery?

And he doesn't seem like the kind of person who seeks fame... perhaps there is another deep meaning?

Miao Wen and Luo Tianhong looked at each other, and the two nodded tacitly.

With the intelligence of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and being in the middle of the situation, they soon figured out the joints.

It should be right.

The Elder's move was not for his personal reputation.

It was for the reputation of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect.

After all, before this, the demonic cultivator who killed Fei Bai Wen had framed the Jade Tripod Sword Sect for it.

It even caused the Mount Ailao Supreme Elder to personally go to the Jade Tripod Sword Sect to demand justice.

As long as this news is spread, it will not only restore the reputation of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect but also give Mount Ailao an explanation!

After figuring all this out, Miao Wen's gaze at Luo Chen became strange.

This kid, I don't know if it was intentional or unintentional.

Even flattery can be so on point.

After the order, Pang Renxiong looked at the pale Luo Chen.

"This battle also has a share of your credit; if it weren't for the guidance of that soul seed, I fear we wouldn't have found this villain so quickly."

"Looking at your appearance at the ninth level of Qi Refining, you must be worrying about reaching the perfection of Qi Refining, right!"

Luo Chen opened his mouth, then was overjoyed.

He immediately replied, "Yes!"

Miao Wen, standing behind Pang Renxiong, took a deep look at Luo Chen.

He hadn't noticed at all that Luo Chen had broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

He had thought the other party was still at the eighth level of Qi Refining, as he was during the Battle of Xieyue Valley.

This kid, he hides so deeply, and has so many schemes!

Just as he was complaining in his heart, Pang Renxiong's voice came to his ears.

"Ah?"

"Ah what? I don't have first-grade Spirit Pills, you must have some, take a few bottles and give them to him."

Miao Wen said stifledly, "I don't have first-grade ones either, only five bottles of second-grade Spirit Pills."

"Second-grade ones aren't unusable, give them all to Luo Chen!" Pang Renxiong said indifferently.

Miao Wen had no choice but to take five bottles of Spirit Pills from his storage bag and throw them to Luo Chen.

Holding the five jade bottles, Luo Chen was still somewhat incredulous.

Is this Elder this generous!

Attack magic treasures, defensive magic treasures, casually rewarded to the juniors in the sect.

At the time, he only thought it was the elder's support for the juniors.

He didn't expect that even he, a small rogue cultivator, would have benefits?

This is a Spirit Pill!

A special elixir that can purify spiritual power; Mi Shuhua had also mentioned it to him back then.

Produced by the Yaowang Sect, it's usually impossible to buy, and only occasionally appears at auctions.

For late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, it can be called a top-level divine medicine!

Even Foundation Establishment and Jin Dan cultivators can use this pill.

However...

Luo Chen looked up. "Second-grade Spirit Pills, I'm afraid I can't use them for a while!"

Pang Renxiong laughed lightly. "This is simple, you are an alchemist, you know the Heart-Cleansing Hand, right?"

Luo Chen nodded hesitantly; he did indeed know this pill technique.

The Heart-Cleansing Hand is specifically used to process medicinal materials of the plant variety.

"Then there's no problem. Spirit Pills are actually a semi-finished pill made from spirit fruits; if you decompose them with the Heart-Cleansing Hand, you can get first-grade medicinal power."

"One second-grade Spirit Pill can be worth ten first-grade Spirit Pills."

It's that simple?

Luo Chen opened his mouth, still feeling it was unbelievable.

Spirit Pills aren't pure pills, but semi-finished pills refined from spirit fruits; are there such alchemy techniques in the world?

In his ecstasy, Luo Chen hurriedly thanked Pang Renxiong, and also thanked the resentful-looking Miao Wen.

However, after hearing this, Pang Renxiong just waved his hand.

"I heard from Tianhong that your alchemy skills are extremely outstanding, and among rogue cultivators, you are considered a leader, not even inferior to the alchemists cultivated by the sect."

Just hearing the beginning, Luo Chen knew.

The main event is here!

It's about my alchemy skills again!

Wouldn't...

"I ask you, are you willing to join my Jade Tripod Sword Sect and enter under my, Pang Renxiong's, tutelage?"

Is this a question?

This is an order!

Luo Chen didn't have any hesitation, nor any dissatisfaction.

He immediately bent over and bowed.

"Junior Luo Chen, willing to enter under the Elder's tutelage!"

"Haha, very good, very good! Today, killing a demonic cultivator first, and accepting a good disciple later, it must be an incomparably wonderful day."

Pang Renxiong laughed very heartily.

Luo Tianhong also smiled and offered congratulations.

Miao Wen naturally wouldn't fall behind, it's just that his face looked extremely reluctant.

"This is my Elder token, take it!"

"I'll give you one day to go back and pack your things, say goodbye to your relatives and friends, and follow me back to the sect tomorrow afternoon."

He didn't give Luo Chen time to bargain.

After throwing him a sword-shaped token, Pang Renxiong wrapped the three of them with magic power and rushed back to the Dahe Market like lightning.

And the Lancang River after the great battle was left in a mess, and the river surface had expanded by nearly double.

On the way back, Luo Chen held the palm-sized small sword token and could clearly see countless rogue cultivators driving escape lights toward the previous battlefield.

They were late, and they wouldn't be able to get anything.

That black-robed cultivator's Jin Dan, corpse, and even all his inheritance had been thoroughly looted by Pang Renxiong.

Even Luo Chen himself had become Pang Renxiong's harvest from his trip to the Dahe Market!

When Luo Chen landed on the ground in Xieyue Valley, he was still in a daze.

"Just like that, have I become a sect disciple?"

"A moment ago, I was still worrying about cultivation, planning methods to deal with Foundation Establishment cultivators. In the next moment, I was personally taken under the tutelage by a Jin Dan elder, becoming his nominal good disciple."

"The impermanence of the world, nothing more than this!"

Luo Chen stood at the gate of Xieyue Valley, a bitter smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

It's just that in this way, the various things he had worked so hard to do for the Luo Tian Society before seemed very ironic.

"With me leaving, the Luo Tian Society that was just established will probably exist in name only!"

He knew very well that the true core of the Luo Tian Society was not the powerful Wang Yuan, nor the dozens or hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators below, but himself, the alchemist.

With him leaving, the Luo Tian Society had no core, and no Foundation Establishment cultivator in the true sense.

Falling apart might happen in the blink of an eye.

"How should I explain it to them?"

Luo Chen looked up at the black-bottomed gilded signboard that had just been hung on the low city wall.

The three big characters "Luo Tian Society" were shining brightly.

Murong Qinglian had even inlaid silver edges on both sides according to his preferences.

"Good day, President!"

"President, you're back!"

Luo Chen opened his mouth, and in the end, only said one sentence.

"You've worked hard."

The two cultivators on night watch said with a smile that it wasn't hard work.

How could it not be hard work?

This Xieyue Valley isn't a place with spiritual veins.

Oh, there is a branch of a spiritual vein, but it was sealed by Luo Chen.

What others can enjoy is just the trace of spiritual energy that overflows, which is negligible.

Approximately equal to nothing.

Amidst the greetings of the night watch cultivators, Luo Chen crossed into the Luo Tian Society with a complex mood.

Under the lush trees, someone was waiting for him.

"You're back."

"Hmm."

"Miao Wen took you away in a hurry; did something happen?"

Wang Yuan frowned. "I heard that a rare battle broke out a thousand miles downstream of the Dahe Market; it wouldn't have anything to do with you, would it!"

Luo Chen smiled bitterly. "How could it not!"

He didn't hold back and told Wang Yuan the whole story from beginning to end.

When he finally said that Pang Renxiong had taken him as a disciple and would take him away tomorrow afternoon, Wang Yuan was rarely uncomposed.

He stood there blankly, speechless for a long time.

After a long while, he looked at Luo Chen with a complex expression.

"I remembered a sentence you once said."

"Hmm..." Luo Chen's mind was elsewhere, as if he were wandering outside the heavens.

Wang Yuan's expression was nostalgic, as if he had fallen into memories.

"Back then, I brought you back to the headquarters, but you were noticed by Mi Shuhua and forced to join the Mountain-Breaking Gang."

"At that time, I was very guilty, implicating you and making you lose your freedom."

"But you comforted me instead, saying you didn't blame me. Because as long as you still wanted to earn spirit stones to cultivate, you would be noticed sooner or later. Without the Mountain-Breaking Gang, there would be the Dahe Gang, the Li family, the Duan family, and even Jin Dan sects, the six great upper sects."

"At that time, I didn't take it seriously, just agreeing with you on the surface."

"Now it seems that you were truly right."

"It's actually one of the six great upper sects, the Jade Tripod Sword Sect, and a Jin Dan superior personally invited you."

These rambling words woke Luo Chen from his wandering thoughts.

He smiled bitterly. "Who would have thought it would be a hit?"

He walked slowly out of the shade, facing the moonlight, and walked to the side of the pond formed by the spring water.

"First Mi Shuhua, then Miao Wen, and now Pang Renxiong of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect."

"Heh heh, I, Luo Chen, have unknowingly become a slave to three masters."

Listening to these bitter self-deprecating words, Wang Yuan shook his head.

"Why be like this? Perhaps that Jin Dan superior really wants to cultivate you? You also said he called you a good disciple, which shows he has great goodwill toward you."

"Really, Brother Wang?"

Luo Chen turned his head and looked at Wang Yuan blankly.

Wang Yuan frowned; he found that Luo Chen's state seemed wrong.

The Luo Chen of the past, no matter what harsh environment he was in, always held a bitter-but-happy attitude.

Even if Mi Shuhua died, and he was restrained by the sect's Foundation Establishment Miao Wen, he had never admitted defeat.

Instead, he led the Luo Tian Society to fight a beautiful turnaround battle and gained a certain degree of autonomy.

But at this moment, he looked full of confusion.

Is it confusion about the future?

Or the huge sense of powerlessness generated by being unable to resist a Jin Dan cultivator?

Wang Yuan sighed and patted Luo Chen on the shoulder.

"Think on the bright side, at least that's a very generous senior!"

Yes!

Indeed very generous!

Luo Chen took out a bottle of Spirit Pills and handed it to Wang Yuan.

"Second-grade Spirit Pills, he gave me several bottles. You should be able to use them; this is also the last gift I give you before I leave."

Wang Yuan looked at the jade bottle and didn't reach out to take it.

"Don't worry about me, if I really go to a big sect, with my skills, I won't be short of one or two bottles of pills."

Luo Chen smiled self-deprecatingly. "I'm a noble alchemist after all!"

After speaking, he stuffed the jade bottle into Wang Yuan's hand.

What a "noble"!

For some reason, Wang Yuan only felt that the jade bottle in his hand was so heavy.

"It's a pity, I've almost finished researching that second-grade Blood Fiend Pill recipe."

"But I don't have the chance to refine a few bottles for you, Brother Wang."

The Jade Tripod Sword Sect is located in the hinterland of the Jade Yu Yu Dingyu, a prosperous place that gathers the essence of a domain.

Thousands of miles away from the Dahe Market.

After this parting, I fear it will be difficult for the two of us to meet for several years.

Wang Yuan opened his mouth, and in the end, didn't say anything.

He accompanied Luo Chen and walked around Xieyue Valley.

Patiently listening to the other party's rambling.

"If I leave, what should the Luo Tian Society do?"

"Brother Wang, do you want to take over? I know you once had the experience of running a sect in the secular world; as long as you settle down, you can still use the Luo Tian Society to collect cultivation resources for yourself."

"Not interested? Also, you are a cultivation fanatic now."

"This piece of land, it wasn't actually like this before; I remember it was a first-grade spirit field. In winter, Yuan Dongsheng would set up a 'Four Seasons Like Spring' formation on it, it was really warm. Once I hid inside to read, and was kicked out by him in disgust."

"The Pill Hall, I put a lot of thought into it. Back when Old Man Mi was still here, I plucked a lot of wool from him to build it so well."

"In the future, I don't know who will benefit."

"You say, how should I face Sister-in-law Murong, Caiyi, and the others tomorrow?"

"Cough cough..."

"I'm reluctant!"

"Actually, I also know that this trip is a mix of fortune and misfortune; perhaps the good side will be more, after all, there is a better and bigger platform."

"But I'm used to hanging around with low-level cultivators, and I'm really not used to it, or rather, I have no experience with sect life."

"I don't know if that Pang Renxiong has any rivals in the sect, and if he will take his anger out on a small Qi Refining cultivator like me."

"However, if I go, should I be given a Foundation Establishment Pill for free? Sister Xiuxiu went to the Shenfu Sect, and others promised her one; I don't know if she has succeeded in Foundation Establishment now."

"Cough cough..."

"Brother Wang, you say..."

Wang Yuan interrupted him.

"Stop talking, go and get some rest!"

"Your heart is in chaos!"

Luo Chen opened his mouth, then sighed.

He entered the stone room that Mi Shuhua had once built for him alone, opened the formation, and fell into a deep sleep.

This time, he put down the daily cultivation he had insisted on for many years.

The second day.

In the Luo Tian Society.

In the newly built hall that inherited the name of the Mountain-Breaking Gang's Haoyue Hall.

Luo Chen announced his decision to the senior management of the Luo Tian Society.

Everyone was extremely shocked that a rogue cultivator could be noticed by a Jin Dan cultivator.

But after the shock, they felt it was a matter of course.

After all, Luo Chen's alchemy talent was truly terrifying.

Thus, congratulations and well-wishes kept coming out of everyone's mouths.

Luo Chen accepted these congratulations.

He could feel that most of them were sincere.

Only Elder Zeng Wen of the Gold Hall was unwilling.

However, after Luo Chen gave him five bottles of high-grade Zhongmiao Pills, he also became sincere, even wiping away tears he had forced out.

Luo Chen saw very clearly that under these congratulations, there was loneliness and confusion in the depths of everyone's eyes.

Everyone knew very well that once Luo Chen left, the Luo Tian Society would truly exist in name only.

And where would they go from here?

"It hasn't reached the point of direct dissolution."

Luo Chen smiled. "I thought of some things for everyone this morning; perhaps you can use them."

"Feng Xia, Xiaoyue!"

Feng Xia and Yuan Xiaoyue, who had rushed over in a hurry today, were startled and immediately stood up.

Luo Chen waved his hand, signaling them to continue sitting and talking.

"Now that the demonic cultivator who framed the Jade Tripod Sword Sect has been eradicated, the Discussion Platform will naturally reopen."

"So some small businesses can also be started, just like your milk tea and snack business."

"I have a few little things I developed before; when the time comes, take them out, expand production and operation, and you can earn quite a bit of money."

Luo Chen smiled and took out a few secret recipes, handing them to Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi.

What was written on them were all little things he had modified for the cultivation world when he was bored before.

Such as ice cream, spirit fruit shaved ice, demon beast meat barbecue, etc.

As long as they are linked to spiritual energy, these things shouldn't be hard to sell after the Discussion Platform reopens.

"Of course, these cannot become pillar industries."

Luo Chen looked at Duan Feng, who had been notified in advance, and the other party nodded at him.

"If you can't refine pills, you can also cast weapons!"

"Duan Feng is very good at repairing magic tools, and he can also take a few apprentices to learn the technology."

"And the main profit point should be placed on recycling second-hand magic tools, buying low and selling high."

"In fact, this was also a plan I had from the beginning, but it wasn't the right time, so I didn't say it."

"In addition, you are not unable to do business in the mountains."

Listening to Luo Chen's arrangements one by one, and his sincere concern for them.

Everyone's hearts gradually settled down.

At the same time, their gaze at Luo Chen also became more respectful.

Even if the President is going to a bright future, he is still thinking of them.

In the cold cultivation world, this can truly be considered an anomaly.

It is precisely because of this difference that they respect this President, who is much younger than them, from the bottom of their hearts!

"That's about it."

"Before I leave, I will greet Deacon Miao and ask the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion to take care of the Luo Tian Society."

"Plus with the powerful Hall Master Wang Yuan, you can still be like a fish in water in the Dahe Market."

Luo Chen stood up and took a storage bag from Murong Qinglian's hand.

Inside was the profit generated by the Jade Marrow Pills during this period.

Luo Chen only took his own share, about five thousand spirit stones.

The rest was counted as the daily consumption of the Luo Tian Society.

As for those previous resources, he didn't intend to take them either; even if he didn't leave, those things would be used in this organization.

Watching Luo Chen stand up, everyone stood up tacitly.

A group of people walked toward the outside of the Luo Tian Society.

Other cultivators in the society didn't know what had happened.

But watching these people act collectively, with reluctance to part in their eyes, they all had a bad premonition in their hearts.

Luo Chen walked all the way, and finally crossed the gate of the Luo Tian Society.

He turned his head back, and the figures and familiar faces made him choke up.

Wang Yuan, Murong Qinglian, Qin Liangchen, Gu Caiyi, Duan Feng, Grandma Yuan, Zeng Wen, Feng Xia, Yuan Xiaoyue, Sima Sanxiu...

Even, he saw Qu Lingjun standing beside Tang Quan from the corner, and Mi Li who had rushed over in a hurry.

"President!"

Someone shouted.

Luo Chen didn't seem to hear it, turned around, and just waved his hand.

When he flew a few miles away, he could still vaguely hear the farewells wishing him a smooth journey.

"Goodbye, Dahe Market!"

Luo Chen flew in the sky, overlooking the familiar scenes of the outer city below.

This was the place where he had once struggled.

The confusion at the beginning of his crossing, the yearning for immortality when he first learned about it.

And the excitement of refining the first furnace of Zhongmiao Pills, the pleasure of breaking through realms, the fear and excitement of killing enemies across levels, and even the unwillingness of being suppressed by Mi Shuhua...

Everything will become a thing of the past.

His speed was very slow, as if he were afraid that if he went too fast, he would forget every blade of grass and every tree here.

Suddenly, Luo Chen stopped his steps.

He turned around and looked helplessly at the back.

"That's enough, go back!"

Two figures flew out of the alley below in a disheveled manner.

Liu Qiang smiled and touched the back of his head.

Zhou Yuanli said seriously, "As long as you don't leave the Dahe Market for a day, we will always have the responsibility to protect you."

"You don't know that I'm more powerful than the two of you combined!" Luo Chen was speechless.

Zhou Yuanli just remained silent.

"Forget it, follow your will!"

Luo Chen was helpless and continued to fly toward the inner city.

It was already very late, it was noon now, and he was afraid that if he went late, he would annoy his future teacher.

He didn't need to go to the courtyard; when Feng Xia came over in the morning, she had brought some of his worthless little belongings.

While flying, Luo Chen thought of some things he hadn't thought of before.

"Yuanli, after I leave, please take care of Lingjun for me!"

"You know, I actually value that little brat very much, and have always wanted to cultivate him into an alchemist to help me in the future."

"Qu Hancheng probably doesn't have many years to live; he was seriously injured when he blew up the furnace back then."

"Once he is gone, the Qu family will have no Qi Refining cultivators, and Qu Lingjun will have a very difficult time."

Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang followed behind him on the left and right, as usual.

Hearing these words, he just kept making "hmm" sounds.

Luo Chen didn't mind; he knew the other party had listened.

Counting, Zhou Yuanli was also about to advance to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

With such a steady senior taking care of him, as long as Qu Lingjun didn't provoke experts, he would be able to live a very smooth life in the future.

Just like Tang Quan, even if Zeng Wen wasn't very responsible, Tang Quan lived better than many rogue cultivators.

Seeing someone off for a thousand miles, there must be a parting!

When Luo Chen came to the gate of the inner city, the two people behind him stopped tacitly.

Before, they also sent him here, and that counted as the end of the day's guard work.

Luo Chen, as before, didn't look back, just waved his hand.

"I'm off!"

After speaking, he prepared to step into the inner city.

But at the moment he was about to take a step, he suddenly looked up.

In the inner city, three terrifying auras erupted under the scorching sun.

"RUN!!!"

(End of chapter)