Chapter 221: Second-Tier Cave Abode, A Place to Stay

"Little Six, bringing people here again!"

An aged voice rang out, sounding somewhat eerie within the spacious ice palace.

An old woman sat in a recliner, opened her eyes, and cast a glance at Luo Chen and his two companions.

Xu Xiao shrank his neck and leaned in.

"Senior Shi, these three are friends of my uncle; they want to rent a cave abode."

The old woman shifted her gaze over.

Luo Chen cupped his hands in a gesture of politeness.

The old woman gave an "oh" and called out toward the back.

"A-Lan, bring out the Round Instrument."

Soon, a sweet response came from within.

"Coming, Granny!"

Shortly after, a young girl holding a large spherical magic tool trotted out.

She placed the spherical magic tool onto the tabletop with practiced ease.

"Three seniors, are you looking to rent a cave abode?"

"Yes, yes, they..." Xu Xiao chuckled and leaned in.

However, he was glared at by the girl. "I'm asking the seniors; why are you interrupting?"

Xu Xiao gave a sheepish smile and retreated behind them, not appearing particularly annoyed.

Luo Chen glanced at him and stepped forward.

"Are there any specific requirements for the cave abodes? And what is the rent?"

The girl, Shi Lan, injected a strand of spiritual power into the spherical magic tool.

Instantly, lifelike indoor environments were displayed upon it.

There were simple and natural ones, opulent and magnificent ones, ones leaning against mountain walls with views of the entire city, and others with waterfalls cascading down to form pearl-like water curtains.

Every cave abode had its own unique features.

"Our Tianlan cave abodes are located on that Tianlan Peak behind us."

"This mountain is a genuine third-tier spiritual vein! Spreading out from here, it has created a land of spiritual abundance spanning three thousand miles around Tianlan City."

The sweet, explanatory voice reached their ears.

Luo Chen and the others couldn't help but nod.

They had already noticed this when they first entered the city.

The concentration of spiritual energy within the city undoubtedly reached the level of a first-tier spiritual vein.

It was not inferior to the Sihe Academy of the original Great River Market.

And that was just the concentration of spiritual energy on the main streets.

One could imagine how abundant the spiritual energy would be at the actual main vein.

"Most of the spiritual mountains in Tianlan Xiancheng and outside are first-tier spiritual lands."

"Only on Tianlan Peak are there second-tier, or even third-tier, spiritual lands!"

"Since all three seniors are at the Foundation Establishment stage, I suggest you rent a second-tier cave abode."

As she spoke, Shi Lan rotated the Round Instrument, revealing patches of cave abode interiors marked with blank light spots.

This was not a problem.

Luo Chen's gaze fell upon the Round Instrument, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

"Why, when they are all second-tier cave abodes, do the displayed white lights appear in three colors: pale white, pure white, and deep white?"

Shi Lan gave a sweet smile. "That is naturally because second-tier cave abodes also have distinctions of high and low quality!"

"Oh?"

"We divide every tier of spiritual land into three grades: upper, middle, and lower. The higher the grade, the higher the concentration of spiritual energy, naturally."

"On Tianlan Peak, there are first-tier upper-grade cave abodes suitable for Qi Refining, second-tier upper, middle, and lower-grade cave abodes suitable for Foundation Establishment, and it is not impossible if you wish to rent a third-tier lower-grade cave abode."

Behind them.

Nangong Jin and Li Yixian looked at each other.

Are even spiritual land cave abodes divided so meticulously?

They tacitly remained silent.

Along the way, they had long since discovered that Luo Chen was far more adept at handling these matters than they were.

Rather than speaking rashly and offending someone, it was better to let Luo Chen handle it.

Luo Chen naturally knew their little thoughts, but he didn't care much.

It was just a minor matter.

"Then how is the price of the cave abodes calculated?"

Shi Lan explained patiently, "From the first to the third tier, prices are calculated in hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands, rented by the month and accounted by the year. The longer the rental period, the cheaper the price."

It was a bit complicated!

Nangong Jin's brow furrowed into a 'chuan' shape as he listened.

Li Yixian was the same, looking completely bewildered.

Only Luo Chen nodded, looking as if he understood.

"If I want to rent a second-tier cave abode for one year, what are the respective prices?"

Shi Lan replied without hesitation, "A second-tier lower-grade cave abode is one thousand low-grade spirit stones per month, and renting for a year costs only ten thousand. A middle-grade cave abode is two thousand per month, twenty thousand a year. An upper-grade cave abode is four thousand per month, forty-eight thousand a year."

"Wait!"

Li Yixian couldn't help but interject, "Why is it that the lower and middle-grade cave abodes have two months of rent discounted, but the upper-grade cave abode has no discount at all?"

The girl blinked her eyes.

She said quite naturally, "Because there are many lower and middle-grade cave abodes, but there are only twenty upper-grade ones, and they are usually in short supply, so naturally, they cannot be cheaper."

Alright!

She didn't know how to refute this reason.

Or rather, there was no need to refute it; the Ice Fortress simply had this pricing.

Either accept it or leave.

"What about three years?" Luo Chen asked.

Shi Lan replied, "Three years still uses this base price; if you want it cheaper, you must rent for at least ten years."

Ten years!

Li Yixian felt a bit unwell.

If she were to rent an upper-grade cave abode for ten years, wouldn't that cost nearly five hundred thousand!

Even if she sold her Li family, they wouldn't have that many spirit stones.

Shi Lan looked at the three of them and revealed a sweet smile. "I wonder, which grade of cave abode do the three seniors wish to rent?"

Li Yixian hesitated.

Nangong Jin's gaze, however, wandered between the lower and middle-grade cave abodes.

An abrupt voice suddenly rang out.

"May we go and see them in person first?"

Shi Lan was stunned. See the cave abodes in person?

A cough came from the side.

"Xiao Lan, take them; do not be slow or disrespectful."

Shi Lan nodded hurriedly.

"Three seniors, please follow me."

Xu Xiao also wanted to follow, but he was glared at and could only obediently stay behind.

Luo Chen looked at the two with interest, shook his head, and stepped out.

A water curtain stretched across the space between Tianlan Peak and Tianlan Xiancheng, seemingly transforming this place, which should have been a single entity, into two independent spaces.

Looking up at the colorful water curtain under the sunlight.

Luo Chen's expression grew somewhat solemn.

"A defensive array?"

Li Yixian also said in surprise, "A third-tier defensive array?"

The two looked at each other, both seeing the surprise in the other's eyes.

It wasn't because of the third-tier defensive array, but because this array was in a state of constant activation!

As everyone knew, arrays consumed a great deal of spiritual energy.

Unless it was a critical moment, even a large sect would not keep one activated at all times.

Yet, they hadn't expected Tianlan Peak to keep a third-tier defensive array running at all times.

Shi Lan walked under the water curtain, took out a jade pendant, and skillfully cast a spiritual incantation.

At the same time, she introduced it to Luo Chen and the others beside her.

"This is the Tianyi Water Array, formed according to the terrain, endless and continuous, and its consumption of spiritual energy is not considered high."

"With this array guarding it, the cultivators living on Tianlan Peak can have true safety guarantees."

"Usually, there will also be people regularly checking and maintaining the array to ensure no accidents occur."

As she spoke, she nudged her chin toward the side.

An elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator was sleeping soundly in a pavilion.

"That is Uncle Master Wang, specifically guarding the side of the array. If any cultivator without residency rights approaches, they will be chased away by him."

"However, you don't need to worry; if you rent a cave abode, you will have a special identity jade token."

After speaking, she shook the jade token in her hand.

Within the water curtain, a large gate quickly unfolded.

"Let's go!"

Luo Chen couldn't help but glance at Uncle Wang.

In this day and age, are Foundation Establishment cultivators used as security guards?

However, many people would probably want this job!

Located at the junction of Tianlan Peak and Tianlan Xiancheng, the spiritual energy was dense, almost equivalent to getting a spiritual land between the first and second tiers for free.

Almost the moment he stepped into the water curtain.

Luo Chen noticed the difference.

Dense heaven and earth spiritual energy filled the air around him.

Its concentration was already that of a genuine first-tier spiritual vein.

If divided according to the grades in Shi Lan's words, it was at least first-tier upper-grade!

Whoosh!

A streak of light flew down from above.

After landing, the person even greeted Shi Lan before calmly leaving through the water curtain.

"Is flying not prohibited in here?" Li Yixian asked.

Shi Lan smiled slightly. "Flying is not prohibited on Tianlan Peak."

After speaking, she took out a flying sword.

"Three seniors, please follow me!"

"This is a second-tier middle-grade spiritual land."

What met their eyes was a standard, unassuming cave abode.

It was divided into three layers, inner and outer, with a total of five rooms.

The outermost layer was fertile land, where one could plant spiritual herbs, flowers, trees, and even spiritual rice was not impossible.

The middle layer was a reception hall.

Used for cultivators to communicate and discuss the Dao.

And in the innermost part, there were a bedroom, a quiet room, a study, and an empty room.

In terms of area, it was considered extremely spacious.

However, when Luo Chen and the three of them felt the quiet room used for cultivation, they all couldn't help but furrow their brows.

"The price has doubled, but the concentration of spiritual energy seems to have only increased by half compared to the lower-grade cave abode?"

"That's how I feel; Luo Chen, what do you think?"

Luo Chen nodded.

He didn't just use his cultivation technique to feel it; he also compared it to the spiritual vein cave he had been in at the belly of Luofeng Mountain.

This middle-grade cave abode was only equivalent to the level he had reached after three years of closed-door cultivation back then.

The three looked at each other.

"Shall we look at the upper-grade cave abode?"

"Good!"

"Let's take another look!"

Since the three wanted to see more, Shi Lan naturally wouldn't refuse.

She immediately led them to fly higher up.

However, this time the speed was much slower.

Because they were all rented out!

It took a long time for Shi Lan to knock on the door of a cave abode using a sound transmission talisman.

"Coming, coming."

"Isn't it not due yet? Why are you here to urge me!"

As the voice came, a tall and graceful figure walked out, and a strong, rich fragrance rushed toward them.

Luo Chen looked over, and the other party's Foundation Establishment mid-stage spiritual power fluctuations were clear at a glance.

The female cultivator furrowed her brows slightly and looked at Luo Chen suspiciously.

"Discovered?"

Luo Chen's expression was calm, and then he calmly denied this conjecture.

The other party hadn't discovered him; her perception was just somewhat sharp.

He hadn't used his spiritual sense to check the other party's realm, only his own eyes' innate Spiritual Eye Technique.

Among those of the same tier, it was very difficult to be discovered unless he actively increased his intensity.

As she walked out, Shi Lan revealed a sweet smile.

"Senior Ling, I'm not here to urge you."

"It's just that these seniors want to see the spiritual energy concentration of a second-tier upper-grade cave abode."

"The other seniors are either in closed-door cultivation or have gone out, so I had to disturb you."

"Could you please do us a favor?"

Ling Yuzhi furrowed her brows and gave a humph.

"Look if you want; who could refuse the Ice Fortress's request anyway!"

After speaking, she cleared the way.

However, she stared at the backs of Luo Chen and the three of them and gave a sneer.

Although she didn't say anything.

The disdain was obvious.

An upper-grade cave abode costing four thousand stones a month was not something just anyone could afford to rent!

Luo Chen and the three of them could all feel the gaze behind them.

Except for Luo Chen, who was extremely calm, the other two felt somewhat unnatural.

This feeling of being looked down upon made everyone feel uncomfortable.

They didn't delay too long.

The three soon walked out of the quiet room.

"Double?"

"That's right."

"The price is four times that of the lower-grade, but the spiritual energy concentration has only increased by one time."

Seeing the three were dissatisfied.

Shi Lan hurriedly explained, "Seniors, value is not measured this way!"

"It's the same as the difference between ordinary elixirs and top-grade elixirs; it seems like you're losing out on the price, but what you're saving is time!"

"For cultivators like us, time is the most precious thing."

"Cultivating in a lower-grade cave abode versus an upper-grade one might not show a large increase in the short term. But over time, the time saved could be decades of bitter cultivation."

"Who knows, breaking through to the Golden Core stage might just be missing those decades."

Luo Chen glanced at her.

She was indeed an enthusiastic and hardworking real estate agent.

Everyone actually understood the logic she spoke of.

But understanding was one thing, and being short of money was another.

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, what do you think?" Li Yixian asked.

Nangong Jin had already made a decision. "I am mainly focusing on healing my injuries recently, so a lower-grade cave abode can already satisfy my needs."

Li Yixian bit her lip. "Then I will also choose a lower-grade cave abode! Mainly because the improvement of middle and upper-grade ones isn't large either."

After speaking, she looked at Luo Chen.

"What about you?"

Luo Chen smiled. "Little friend Shi Lan, are the upper-grade cave abodes all full recently?"

Shi Lan nodded hurriedly. "They are indeed full recently, but there are a few that are almost at the end of their rental period, and they don't intend to renew. If you want to rent one, Senior, you can make a reservation with me, and I will definitely arrange it for you when the time comes."

"That's fine; I'll rent a lower-grade cave abode for the transition first. As for the upper-grade cave abode, I'll trouble you to keep an eye on it for me."

Shi Lan's eyes lit up, and she immediately made a note of it.

Since it was decided, it was time to choose the cave abode.

Under Shi Lan's guidance, the three prepared to fly down to the mountainside to find a suitable cave abode.

Before leaving, they even said 'sorry for the trouble' to the female cultivator surnamed Ling.

The other party said 'no problem' with a chuckle.

However, as she watched the three walk down the mountain, she gave a disdainful spit.

"A bunch of poor ghosts!"

A cave abode ten zhang away flashed with light.

Shortly after, someone flew out from it.

He seemed to have seen Ling Yuzhi's actions and asked with a chuckle, "What are you doing, Fellow Daoist?"

Hearing the voice, Ling Yuzhi's eyes lit up.

"Fellow Daoist Chu! Are you going out?"

The man pointed into the distance. "Yes, it's the end of the month, so I have to be busy for a while, otherwise I won't have spirit stones to spend."

Ling Yuzhi gave a graceful smile. "You're joking. With your ability, Facing Chu Kui, who would dare make you busy?"

Facing Chu Kui gave a hehe laugh and didn't refute.

He glanced at the four figures below.

"Are they new neighbors?"

Ling Yuzhi curled her lips. "Just a few poor ghosts from out of town. If they can't afford to rent, they can't afford to rent, yet they insisted on taking a look, disturbing my quiet cultivation."

"From out of town?"

"Yes! Especially that pretty boy among them, who clearly can't afford to rent, yet put on a show and said he wanted to reserve an upper-grade cave abode. In this day and age, there really are all kinds of people."

Seeing her speak so acrimoniously, Facing Chu Kui couldn't help but shake his head.

"Don't judge a book by its cover; they might be wealthy people. When I have time, I'll go and get to know them."

"Alright, enough talk, I'm heading out first!"

Waving his hand, he ignored Ling Yuzhi's attempt to continue the conversation and flew out of Tianlan Peak like an arrow from a bow.

Ling Yuzhi looked at his back with regret.

Shortly after, she shook her head again.

Although the other party was powerful, he had no future.

He could be a companion for a moment, but not for the long term; he was not a good match!

Located slightly below the mountainside.

Luo Chen stood inside the somewhat cramped cave abode.

Compared to the spacious upper-grade cave abode from before, this lower-grade cave abode was much more shabby.

It was only divided into two layers, inner and outer, and lacked the garden where one could plant spiritual herbs.

The internal rooms only consisted of a reception hall, a bedroom, and a quiet room.

However, he had no complaints.

At the very least, he, Luo Chen, finally had a place to stay.

"Next, what needs to be handled is the settlement of the Luotian Society!"

He didn't intend to give up on the Luotian Society.

Not to mention that there were many friends with close ties to him within it.

Just the fact that they were cultivators who knew the roots and bottom of things and were familiar with him could be of great benefit to his alchemy.

For one person to practice alchemy, even if they had already advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, the quantity they could produce was extremely limited.

Only with many cultivators helping as assistants could a corresponding scale be formed.

This was also the reason why alchemists in large sects often took in many medicine boys, alchemy boys, and fire-tending disciples.

However, the Luotian Society had a large number of people, and living in the city for a long time was not a solution.

Luo Chen pursed his lips, spread out the map Shi Lan had left him, and carefully flipped through it.

"A first-tier spiritual vein land, and ownerless. Mirror Lake, Bamboo Sea, Wutong Mountain, Danxia Peak..."

Gradually, Luo Chen's gaze stopped at one place.

(End of chapter)

. ===== CHAPTER 222 =====