Chapter 164: Heavenly Roc Transformation

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

"This price is, of course, much lower than at an auction. 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 take a fancy to, you can purchase it in advance without having to compete with others."

"Furthermore, if you have a need for resources, you can also inform our side. This old man will certainly do his utmost to find the corresponding resources for you."

Hearing these incredibly generous terms of cooperation, it must be said that Luo Chen was tempted.

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

But if there were a stable channel for goods, then high volume would mean 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.

Offloading illicit goods, purchasing resources, and scavenging for treasures—he could be one step ahead in everything.

In particular, there was one more point that had to be considered.

And that was the supply channel!

Currently, the Luo Tian Association's channels for various medicinal ingredients were mostly sourced from the Lianyun Merchant Alliance.

That faction could hardly be called friendly toward Luo Chen.

The reason they agreed to cooperate now was also out of respect for the fact that he was borrowing the prestige of the Yuding Sword Sect.

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

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

At the very least, from the moment they first made contact with the Zhenlong Black Market, they had shown him goodwill.

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

However, some things still had to be covered up a little.

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

Before Tian Xingzi could feel disappointed, he said, "I cannot make the decision on this matter; I must go back and discuss it with that friend of mine before I can give you an answer."

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

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

Hearing about this VIP treatment, the corners of Luo Chen's mouth twitched.

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

Although the cooperation had not yet been finalized, 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 that Luo Chen had just bid to win the Tongming Liquid.

The other party indeed had a great demand for this type of spiritual medicine.

He imagined it was for the legendary effect where long-term application could cause a cultivator's eyes to undergo a mutation!

It was just a pity...

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

Luo Chen was very disappointed.

But soon, the other party made him happy again.

"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 certainly 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, it is indeed difficult to buy many elixirs. Whenever you have a need, feel free to speak up."

That was a big tone!

Luo Chen's eyes lit up.

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

After listening, Tian Xingzi could not help but smile bitterly.

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

"Is it not possible even with your faction's strength?" Luo Chen frowned.

Tian Xingzi shook his head slowly, "Spirit Elixirs are a specialty of the Medicine King Sect and usually only flow out at large-scale auctions, and most of them are Tier 2. They have very little profit from Tier 1 Spirit Elixirs, so they are usually for internal use."

There was such a saying?

Luo Chen could not help but think back to the banks of the Lancang River, where neither Pang Renxiong nor Miao Wen could produce Tier 1 Spirit Elixirs.

In the end, they only gave him five bottles of Tier 2 ones.

It seemed that was indeed the case.

However, he could actually use Tier 2 Spirit Elixirs as well; it was just a little more troublesome.

"Tier 2 is fine too!"

Upon hearing this sentence, Tian Xingzi could not help but look at Luo Chen in surprise.

"Fellow Daoist, are you buying this for your alchemist friend?"

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

"Tsk tsk, it seems I still underestimated that person; to think that he is actually a Foundation Establishment Fellow Daoist."

When did I become a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator?

Luo Chen was bewildered in his heart.

But soon, he reacted.

Tier 2 elixirs were usually only for Foundation Establishment true cultivators to consume.

If a Qi Refining cultivator used them, there was a high probability they would not be able to withstand the immense medicinal power.

That he could use them was also due to the guidance of Pang Renxiong, that Jin Dan superior.

It was highly likely that this Tian Xingzi was unaware of the trick of using the Alchemy Art 'Suxin 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, he began to talk about the last type of elixir Luo Chen needed.

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

Luo Chen was slightly disappointed.

Even the Zhenlong Black Market...

No!

It was hard to get, not impossible to get!

He immediately said solemnly, "If you, 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 feel very strange.

But having this channel was undoubtedly excellent.

The local Yuding Sword Pavilion had been completely wiped out, and the Medicine King Sect's industries 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 he feared it would be difficult to participate in the feast of dividing up the Foundation Establishment Pills.

Currently, the only thing he could count on was the Zhenlong Black Market.

A faction that dared to surround and kill a Yuding Jin Dan 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 in his heart, not intending to refuse Tian Xingzi.

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

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

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

The Explosive Ape demon blood and the Heavenly Sun Fruit were fine; the Lianyun Merchant Alliance could get them.

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

If he didn't want to cut off this path of wealth, the only way to go was cooperation.

"Let's leave Tian Xingzi hanging for a bit!"

Cooperation could not be reached too easily; at the very least, he had to see the other party's sincerity first.

After the two sides reached an agreement, Tian Xingzi removed the soundproof 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 particular goal, so he began to wander among the crowd of cultivators.

A pair of spiritual eyes, half-open and half-closed, trying to scavenge for leaks.

This was something every cultivator had fantasized about.

It was just that after looking around for a circle, he hadn't encountered a single leak.

Suddenly, Luo Chen's footsteps stopped at the side of two people.

"I've never seen Brother Wang with such a red face before!"

Luo Chen approached with amusement.

Instantly, it drew the side-glances of the two.

The one bargaining with Wang Yuan was, surprisingly, a Foundation Establishment true cultivator.

His build was sturdy, even sturdier than Wang Yuan before he used his disguise and bone-shrinking technique; the whole person was like a giant demon beast bear.

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

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

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

"He is my friend."

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

"Cultivation technique?"

Luo Chen poked his head out in confusion.

In Wang Yuan's hand, he was holding an ancient and worn piece of beast skin.

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

But even this tiny bit of content was enough to make Wang Yuan feel tempted.

"It is an incomplete body-refining technique, and it is of great use to me."

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

A sound transmission came into his ear; unlike a cultivator's spiritual power transmission, 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 a Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense transmission, it could avoid being eavesdropped on by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

This method was something Wang Yuan had taught Luo Chen during his spare time.

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

Qi energy?

How would he understand that!

Luo Chen hummed and lowered his head to take a look.

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

And it was incomplete!

"Heavenly Roc Transformation"

The preceding part involved little of the technique's content, mainly an explanation of the principles.

Fusing the essence blood of Roc-type demon beasts into the body to practice it.

When cultivated to great success, one could briefly transform into the true form of the demon 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 the physique—just the tip of the iceberg is enough to benefit one greatly. If it were cultivated completely..."

"It's a pity it's just an incomplete body-refining technique."

In his ear, Wang Yuan transmitted again.

"This technique was obtained by this cultivator from an ancient ruin at Tiandu Peak, and it reaches the level of the third stage of body refining."

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

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

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

A life-bound technique 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 still on the low side.

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

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

Five hundred?

When he bought a five-in-one spell manual back then, it only cost him two hundred.

And the advanced Foundation Establishment chapter of the Changchun Technique—the Yi Wood Medicine King Scripture—started bidding at five thousand spirit stones directly.

And even then, it was currently priceless.

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

As for the Jin Dan chapter involving an even higher advanced version of the Changchun Technique, it didn't exist.

If one really had to say it existed, it could only be the Medicine King Sect's divine skill, the Everlasting Evergreen Scripture.

Whether it was the Changchun Technique or the Yi Wood Medicine King Scripture, they were actually all derived from the Everlasting Evergreen Scripture.

This kind of technique could never flow into the cultivation world.

If it did, it would probably start bidding at ten thousand spirit stones.

Tier 3 cultivation techniques were just that awesome.

They were not a bit lower in price than magic treasures!

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

He said this to that Foundation Establishment true cultivator.

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

This person had such confidence!

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

Luo Chen was puzzled 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 truly hadn't expected this to happen.

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

How did he end up short of spirit stones here?

"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 suddenly realized.

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

The consumption of resources far exceeded 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 so wasn't reliable, so he followed Luo Chen to build a career with peace of mind.

Luo Chen didn't treat him poorly either, giving him the generous treatment of a Foundation Establishment retainer of a small sect.

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

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

He sighed.

Luo Chen grabbed the beast skin, and under the cold, sharp gaze of that Foundation Establishment true cultivator, he said without fear,

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

"This should be heavily discounted!"

That person nodded slightly and did not refute.

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

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

That person continued to nod, quite in agreement.

"Moreover, it says at the beginning that one must use the essence blood of Roc-type demon beasts to assist in cultivation."

"Big brother, that's Tier 2!"

"Which Foundation Establishment true cultivator can kill a Tier 2 Roc-type demon beast? Doesn't that require a Jin Dan superior to take action personally to obtain the essence blood!"

"It has to be discounted further!"

That person was quite in agreement.

Luo Chen smiled slightly, "So..."

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

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

It's all your fault!

My invincible bargaining skills are completely ineffective.

You have to know, he was an expert who could even bargain with Old Chu at the Wanbao Pavilion.

Wang Yuan also realized his mistake.

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

During his time as a mortal, he sang his way forward, achieving the innate stage of the Martial Dao.

At that time, wandering the world, he didn't lack money, and it was even more impossible to have practiced bargaining skills.

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

When his strength came up, he accumulated resources much faster than ordinary people by killing and seizing treasures.

He hadn't worried about spirit stones either.

It was only recently, as his realm got higher and higher, that the consumption rate of resources for dual cultivation of law and body increased greatly, and he began to feel embarrassed.

Luo Chen sighed, lowered his head, and took a look at the beast skin in his hand.

He had one more move!

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

Under normal circumstances, the seller would stomp their feet, grit their teeth, and pretend to be reluctant as they called him back.

But judging by the current situation, he feared this move wouldn't work either.

"Eh?"

Luo Chen blinked and pinched the thick beast skin casually.

Afterward, he raised his head with a distressed expression.

"Fine, fine, you really have me cornered, Senior."

"Seven thousand, right?"

That person chuckled, losing his cold and aloof demeanor.

"Correct!"

"Brother Wang, bring the spirit stones!"

"But..."

Luo Chen shook his head at him, took out a large pile of spirit stones from his own 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 cultivator received the spirit stones, he first unlocked the restriction on the beast skin and then handed it to Luo Chen.

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

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

A typical case of getting the benefit and still complaining!

Luo Chen couldn't be bothered to deal with him anymore, and with a look of "iron not becoming steel," he 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 performed the 'Carefree Wind-Riding' and 'Qi-Restraining Spirit Technique', escaping into the night.

Wang Yuan did the same, performing the 'Qi-Restraining Spirit Technique' and using his own methods to follow closely behind.

The two walked forward for a while, 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 Luo Tian Association first!"

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

Under his astonished gaze, spiritual power turned into threads and slowly cut into the beast skin.

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

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

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

Both hands were holding a piece of beast skin.

"This..."

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

Looking at the two pieces of beast skin, both were filled with densely packed characters.

Luo Chen exclaimed in admiration, "Truly a very exquisite method, and a very miraculous beast skin."

Amidst Wang Yuan's confusion, Luo Chen handed over the piece of beast skin with the "Heavenly Roc Transformation" written on it.

"This is your three thousand five hundred spirit stones."

Then, holding the remaining piece with both hands, "This is my three thousand five hundred spirit stones."

"We didn't lose out on this deal; on the contrary, we made a huge profit!"

Still ten thousand characters updated, asking for subscriptions, monthly tickets, and tips.

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

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