Chapter 164

"Correct, you and I cooperate, and every Blood-Burning Pill will be traded at the price of one hundred spirit stones."

"This price is of course much lower than the auction, but as compensation, every time the black market opens, we will proactively notify you of what treasures are available."

Tian Xingzi said slowly, "Not only that, if there is anything you value, you can bid for it in advance without having to compete with others."

"Also, if you have a need for resources, you can tell us. This old man will definitely do his utmost to find the corresponding resources for you."

Hearing these incredibly generous cooperation conditions, it had to be said that Luo Chen was tempted.

One hundred spirit stones per Blood-Burning Pill was a little lower than a normal auction price.

But if there was a stable channel for goods, then large quantities meant better terms.

Everyone understood this principle.

Moreover, if he could establish a connection with the Zhenlong Black Market, then he wouldn't have to worry about many things.

Selling stolen goods, purchasing resources, hunting for treasures—he could be one step ahead in everything.

Especially since there was one point that had to be considered.

That was the supply channel!

For the current Luotian Society, most of the supply channels for various medicinal herbs came from the Lianyun Business Alliance.

That faction could hardly be called friendly toward Luo Chen.

They only agreed to cooperate now because they were giving face to his bluffing about the Yuding Sword Sect.

If one day he were exposed, his neck for alchemy would be strangled by others.

If he agreed to cooperate with the Zhenlong Black Market now, then Luo Chen would be walking on two legs.

At the very least, from the first time they contacted the Zhenlong Black Market, they had shown him goodwill.

Whether it was the "advice" or the proactive high-price bidding for Blood-Burning Pills today, every single one was a signal of goodwill.

However, some things still needed to be concealed a little.

Luo Chen pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly.

Without waiting for Tian Xingzi to be disappointed, he said, "I cannot make the decision on this matter; I must go back and discuss it with my friend before I can give you an answer."

Tian Xingzi realized, "Indeed, that is only proper."

"You can also pass on my conditions to that friend of yours; both of you can enjoy the same Zhenlong VIP treatment!"

Hearing this VIP treatment, Luo Chen's mouth twitched.

Sure enough, there were plenty of people in the cultivation world who played this game!

Although the cooperation hadn't been settled yet, Luo Chen already had some small ideas.

"Senior Tian Xingzi, I wonder if your side can procure more Tongming Liquid?"

"Tongming Liquid?"

Tian Xingzi had seen and remembered Luo Chen bidding for the Tongming Liquid just now.

The other party really did have a great need for this spirit medicine.

Thinking about it, it must be for the legendary effect where long-term dripping could cause mutations in a cultivator's eyes!

It was just a pity...

"Apologies, this item is strictly controlled by the Yuding Sword Sect, and very little flows out. Even this bottle today was obtained by luck."

Luo Chen was very disappointed.

But soon, the other party made him happy.

"How about Runming Pearl Liquid? It is more suitable for Qi Refining cultivators to use, and it is also easier to obtain."

Luo Chen was overjoyed, "Then I will have to trouble you, Senior. As for the price, I definitely won't let you suffer a loss."

"A small matter." Tian Xingzi waved his hand, "Now that the Dahe Market lacks the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, many elixirs are indeed hard to buy. Whenever you have a need, just say it."

That's a big tone!

Luo Chen's eyes lit up.

He did not stand on ceremony and reported the names of three types of elixirs on the spot.

After hearing them, Tian Xingzi couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Little friend, your appetite is truly not small. Of these three types of elixirs, besides the Golden Jade Liquid, the other two are not easy to get."

"Even with your side's strength, it's not possible?" Luo Chen frowned.

Tian Xingzi shook his head slowly, "Spirit Elixirs are a specialty of the Yaowang Sect, and they usually only flow out at large auctions, and most of them are second-tier. For first-tier Spirit Elixirs, their profit is too small, so they are usually used internally."

There's such a saying?

Luo Chen couldn't help but think of the time by the Lancang River; neither Pang Renxiong nor Miao Wen could produce first-tier Spirit Elixirs.

In the end, they only gave him five bottles of second-tier ones.

It seemed that was indeed the case.

However, he could actually use second-tier Spirit Elixirs too; it was just a bit more troublesome.

"Second-tier is fine too!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Xingzi couldn't help but look at Luo Chen in surprise.

"Is this fellow Daoist buying them for that alchemist friend of yours?"

Luo Chen made something out of nothing, "Yes!"

"Tsk tsk, it seems I still underestimated that person; to think they are actually a Foundation Establishment fellow Daoist."

When did I become Foundation Establishment?

Luo Chen was bewildered in his heart.

But soon, he reacted.

Second-tier elixirs are usually only for Foundation Establishment cultivators to take.

If a Qi Refining cultivator uses them, there is a high probability they won't be able to withstand the massive medicinal power.

That he could use them was also due to the guidance of Pang Renxiong, that Golden Core master.

It was highly likely that this Tian Xingzi did not know the trick of using the alchemy technique "Su Xin Hand" to decompose Spirit Elixirs.

After figuring this out, Luo Chen did not point it out.

This could give people the illusion that he had a Foundation Establishment alchemist friend behind him, which was undoubtedly more favorable for future cooperation.

After Tian Xingzi sighed, they started talking about the last type of elixir Luo Chen needed.

"Foundation Establishment Pill, this is really hard to get."

Luo Chen was slightly disappointed.

Even the Zhenlong Black Market...

No!

It's hard to get, not impossible to get!

He immediately said solemnly, "If Senior can procure a Foundation Establishment Pill for me, after I go back, I will definitely persuade my friend to cooperate vigorously with your side!"

Tian Xingzi shook his head, "That depends on the situation. With this old man's... anyway, I will do my best."

His hesitant posture made Luo Chen very strange.

But having this channel was undoubtedly excellent.

The local Yuding Sword Pavilion had been wiped out, and the Yaowang Sect's businesses had all left.

The hope of relying on the Dahe Auction to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill had also become slim.

If he went to other markets, he would be a stranger in a strange land, and it would be very difficult to participate in the feast of dividing up Foundation Establishment Pills.

The only thing he could count on now was the Zhenlong Black Market.

A faction that dared to surround and kill a Yuding Golden Core sword cultivator saying they couldn't get a few Foundation Establishment Pills was simply a joke.

"The matter of cooperation can perhaps be seriously considered."

Luo Chen thought to himself, not intending to reject Tian Xingzi.

Besides the issue of cultivation resources, medicinal raw materials were also something he had to consider.

This batch of Blood-Burning Pills was obtained by refining all the raw materials he had hoarded before.

If he wanted to continue refining Blood-Burning Pills, he had to purchase the corresponding medicinal herbs.

The Explosive Ape demonic blood and the Sky Sun Fruit were easy to talk about; the Lianyun Business Alliance could get them.

But the main ingredient, Earth Fire Sha, was not available in any shop in the Dahe Market at the moment.

If he didn't want to cut off this source of income, there was only one path to take: cooperation.

"Let's hang Tian Xingzi out to dry for a bit first!"

He couldn't reach a cooperation too easily; at least he had to see the other party's sincerity first.

After the two sides reached an agreement, Tian Xingzi withdrew the sound-insulation barrier.

At this time, the black market trading session had also passed the second round and reached the final free trading session.

Luo Chen had no goals, so he started wandering among the crowd of cultivators.

A pair of spirit eyes, half-open and half-closed, trying to hunt for treasures.

This was something every cultivator had fantasized about.

It was just that after looking around, he hadn't encountered a single treasure hunt.

Suddenly, Luo Chen's footsteps stopped beside two people.

"I've never seen Brother Wang with such a red-faced and ear-red look before!"

Luo Chen approached with amusement.

Instantly, it drew side-glances from the two.

The one bargaining with Wang Yuan was actually a Foundation Establishment true person.

His build was sturdy, even more robust than Wang Yuan before he used his disguise to shrink his bones; the whole person was like a giant demonic bear.

It was that Foundation Establishment true person who gave Luo Chen a familiar feeling!

He looked over with a fierce expression, seemingly warning Luo Chen not to get close.

However, Wang Yuan frowned and blocked in front of Luo Chen.

"He's my friend."

The Foundation Establishment true person sneered, "That's perfect, you can pool your spirit stones together; maybe you can buy this cultivation method of mine."

"Cultivation method?"

Luo Chen poked his head out in doubt.

In Wang Yuan's hand was a primitive and worn-out animal skin.

There was a restrictive light halo flickering on it, so only a tiny bit of the content could be seen.

But even this tiny bit of content was enough to make Wang Yuan's heart move.

"It's a set of incomplete body-refining cultivation methods, which are of great use to me."

"But he's asking for a very high price; he won't sell it for less than seven thousand spirit stones."

A voice transmission came to his ear; unlike the spiritual power transmission of cultivators, it was Wang Yuan's unique "gathering sound into a line."

The main body of it was the exquisite use of Qi energy, covered with spiritual power on the outside.

Although it couldn't compare to the spiritual sense transmission of Foundation Establishment cultivators, it could also avoid eavesdropping by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Wang Yuan had also taught Luo Chen this method in his spare time.

It was just that up to now, Luo Chen still hadn't learned it.

Qi energy?

Where would he understand that!

Luo Chen gave a hum and lowered his head to take a look.

He wanted to see what kind of cultivation method dared to ask for seven thousand spirit stones.

And it was incomplete!

"Heavenly Peng Transformation"

The content of the cultivation method involved in the front part was not much, mainly an exposition of principles.

Fusing the essence blood of Peng-type demonic beasts into the body to cultivate.

When cultivated to Great Perfection, one could briefly transform into the true form of the demonic beast whose essence blood was fused, increasing powerful combat strength.

However, this method had very high requirements for a cultivator's physique.

"No wonder Wang Yuan values this method so much; the use of Qi and blood, the use of physique—just the tip of the iceberg is enough to benefit people greatly. If it were cultivated completely..."

"Unfortunately, it's just an incomplete body-refining cultivation method."

By his ear, Wang Yuan's voice transmission came again.

"This cultivation method was obtained by that cultivator from an ancient ruin at Tiandu Peak, reaching the level of the third stage of body refining."

"If I obtain it, although I cannot cultivate it, by absorbing its essence and fusing it with everything I have learned, I can perfect my life-bound cultivation method for the second stage of body refining."

This was the idea of borrowing stones from other hills to polish one's own jade.

Especially since these stones from other hills were far superior to the jade of the body itself.

A life-bound cultivation method at the third stage of body refining!

No wonder a mere incomplete fragment dared to sell for such a high price.

In reality, this price was even on the low side.

Unlike spells, the price of cultivation methods had always remained high.

Just taking the Changchun Gong that Luo Chen knew, even the simplified version, started at five hundred spirit stones in the black market.

Five hundred?

When he bought a set of five-in-one spell secret manuals, it only cost him two hundred.

And the advanced Foundation Establishment chapter of Changchun Gong—the Yi Wood Yaowang Sutra—started directly at five thousand spirit stones.

Even then, it was currently priceless and marketless.

At the very least, he hadn't seen the Zhenlong Black Market auction it.

As for the Golden Core chapter involving the higher advancement of Changchun Gong, it didn't exist.

If one really had to say it existed, it could only be the Yaowang Sect's divine art, the "Ageless Evergreen Sutra."

Whether it was Changchun Gong or the Yi Wood Yaowang Sutra, they were actually derived from the Ageless Evergreen Sutra.

Such a cultivation method could never flow into the cultivation world.

If there were one, it would probably start at ten thousand spirit stones.

A third-tier cultivation method was just that awesome.

It was no lower than the price of a magic treasure!

Luo Chen shook his head, "An incomplete fragment, seven thousand, it's really a bit expensive."

He said this to that Foundation Establishment true person.

That person sneered, "Do you want it or not?"

This person had such confidence!

But body-refining cultivation methods had no market to begin with, and it was an incomplete fragment—where did he get such confidence!

Luo Chen didn't understand and turned his head to look at Wang Yuan.

His heart skipped a beat.

My brother!

If you want to buy it, don't be so obvious!

Isn't this setting yourself up to be slaughtered?

He sighed and transmitted to Wang Yuan, "If you really want it, just buy it. Didn't I just give you a salary of three thousand before we came?"

Wang Yuan's expression was very unnatural, "I don't have enough spirit stones."

Uh...

Luo Chen really didn't expect this to happen.

He remembered Wang Yuan saying at the time that he didn't lack resources for cultivating to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

How come here, he didn't have enough spirit stones?

"Just now at the auction, I bought a lot of resources needed for body refining, and I also bought some that were useful for my Qi Refining. So... in short, I only have three thousand five hundred left on hand now."

Luo Chen instantly realized.

Dual cultivation of Dharma and body—how could it be that easy?

The consumption of resources was far beyond that of ordinary cultivators.

Wang Yuan didn't have any way to make money; all his savings came from killing people and seizing treasures.

He also knew that doing this wasn't reliable, so he followed Luo Chen to do business with peace of mind.

Luo Chen didn't treat him badly and directly gave him the generous treatment of a Foundation Establishment guest elder of a small sect.

But even so, in the limited time, he hadn't accumulated more wealth.

Luo Chen remembered that Wang Yuan had just bid for a pair of top-grade magic tool gloves.

He sighed.

Luo Chen grabbed the animal skin and said fearlessly, under the cold and sharp gaze of the Foundation Establishment true person,

"Look at this thing, it's ancient; I estimate the content on it doesn't even fit the mainstream cultivation of our current era."

"This should be heavily discounted!"

That person nodded slightly without refuting.

"Yes, although its grade is high, it is still incomplete. Even if we get our hands on it, we can at most use it for reference."

"This makes it even less valuable; the value is too low."

That person continued to nod, quite in agreement.

"Moreover, it's written in the opening that one must use the essence blood of Peng-type demonic beasts to assist in cultivation."

"Big brother, it's second-tier!"

"Which Foundation Establishment true person can kill a second-tier Peng-type demonic beast? Doesn't a Golden Core master have to take action personally to get the essence blood!"

"It has to be discounted further!"

That person was quite in agreement.

Luo Chen smiled slightly, "So..."

"So, just say seven thousand spirit stones, do you want it or not!"

Listening to the other party's confident words, Luo Chen turned his head resentfully and looked at Wang Yuan.

It's all your fault!

My invincible bargaining skills aren't working at all.

You have to know, he was a master who could even bargain with Old Chu at the Wanbao Building.

Wang Yuan also realized his mistake.

But in his life, he had indeed rarely worried about "money."

During his mortal period, he advanced all the way to become a martial arts innate expert.

At that time, walking in the martial arts world, he didn't lack money, and it was even more impossible to practice bargaining skills.

During his cultivation period, what he lacked wasn't "money," but strength.

When his strength came up, he killed people and seized treasures, and his speed of accumulating resources was much faster than ordinary people.

He had never worried about spirit stones either.

It was only recently that his realm had become higher and higher, and the consumption speed of resources for dual cultivation of Dharma and body had increased greatly, that he began to feel embarrassed.

Luo Chen sighed and lowered his head to look at the animal skin in his hand.

He had one more trick!

That was to pretend he didn't want it and walk away decisively.

Under normal circumstances, the seller would stomp their feet and grit their teeth, pretending to be reluctant to let go, and call him back.

But judging by the current situation, he was afraid this trick wouldn't work either.

"Eh?"

Luo Chen blinked and squeezed the thick animal skin inadvertently.

Afterward, he raised his head with a bitter face.

"Fine, fine, you've truly got me, Senior."

"Seven thousand, right?"

That person chuckled, losing his cold demeanor.

"Correct!"

"Brother Wang, bring the spirit stones!"

"But..."

Luo Chen shook his head at him and took out a large pile of spirit stones from his storage bag, counted out three thousand five hundred, and handed them to the other party.

Wang Yuan also realized and gave out three thousand five hundred.

After the sturdy Foundation Establishment true person took the spirit stones, he first unlocked the restrictive means on the animal skin and then handed it to Luo Chen.

He curled his lips, looking as if he had sold it cheaply.

"Why are they all low-grade spirit stones? Troublesome."

A typical case of getting a bargain and still acting spoiled!

Luo Chen couldn't be bothered to deal with him anymore and, with a look of "iron not becoming steel," pulled Wang Yuan and left the Zhenlong Black Market.

After coming out, it was a night scene with the long moon hanging high and the earth fully illuminated.

Wang Yuan was quite grateful and also very moved.

"Luo Chen, thank you so much this time. Let's treat these spirit stones as a loan from me, just deduct them directly from my salary..."

"Shh!"

Luo Chen raised his index finger, interrupting the other party's words.

Under Wang Yuan's strange gaze, Luo Chen cast the "Carefree Wind-Riding" and "Qi-Restraining Spirit Technique," escaping into the night.

Wang Yuan did the same, casting the "Qi-Restraining Spirit Technique," and then used his own means to follow closely behind.

The two traveled all the way, and after half a stick of incense, they were already far away from where the Zhenlong Black Market was located.

"Is anyone following us from behind?"

"There were two at the beginning, but we've already shaken them off."

"That's good, let's go back to the Luotian Society first!"

Under the illumination of the soft moonstone, Luo Chen was in front of Wang Yuan.

Under his surprised gaze, spiritual power turned into threads and slowly cut into the animal skin.

His movements were very slow and light, as if he were afraid of damaging the animal skin.

Even Luo Chen's breathing became faint, cautious to the extreme.

After a long while, Luo Chen let out a long breath.

Both hands were holding an animal skin each.

"This..."

The always steady Wang Yuan couldn't help but open his mouth wide at this moment.

Looking at the two animal skins, both were filled with densely packed words.

Luo Chen exclaimed, "Truly a very exquisite method, a very miraculous animal skin."

Amidst Wang Yuan's doubt, Luo Chen handed over the animal skin with "Heavenly Peng Transformation" written on it.

"These are your three thousand five hundred spirit stones."

Then he held the remaining one with both hands, "These are my three thousand five hundred spirit stones."

"We didn't lose on this business; instead, we made a huge profit!"

Still a ten-thousand-word update, asking for subscriptions, monthly tickets, and tips.

If that doesn't work, recommendation tickets are also fine, mwah!

(End of chapter)