Chapter 230

If one wants to obtain spirit stones, there are only two fastest methods.

One is killing people to seize treasures; after all, a horse won't get fat without night grass, and a person won't get rich without windfall wealth!

However, this is the path of a bandit cultivator; if one is not careful, it is easy to bury oneself.

Tianlan Immortal City is not a small place like Dahe Market or Liuguang Market.

One never knows in which corner a great expert might emerge.

By then, instead of killing someone, one would end up giving away their own family assets.

Luo Chen naturally would not choose this.

The second method is much more virtuous, kind, and peaceful.

Alchemy!

Why did Luo Chen go to such great lengths, even investing one hundred thousand spirit stones, to purchase Danxia Peak?

Wasn't it just to settle the Luo Tian Society?

With this force in place, he could conduct alchemy on a large scale.

Otherwise, just rely on himself?

He once calculated an account, taking the high-grade Jade Marrow Elixir as an example; without anyone's help, he could refine at most two furnaces of elixir a day.

With the high-grade Four Symbols Cauldron, one furnace uses four portions of materials, which is eight portions.

Combined with a fifty percent success rate, the profit is about seven hundred spirit stones.

Looking at it, twenty thousand a month, over two hundred thousand a year—that's a lot, right?

In reality, the account is not calculated this way.

Before refining, one must purchase raw materials and specially process them; this step alone consumes no less time than the refining itself.

Then the time cost must be doubled.

What about after refining?

It has to be taken out to be sold!

Without anyone's help, he has to do it himself, and every time he has to do it personally.

It is the same principle as when he was a loose cultivator in Dahe Market, spending two or three days every month setting up a stall.

In this way, the time required increases even more.

It seems like twenty thousand a month, but in reality, he can't even earn ten thousand spirit stones a month.

Averaged out, it's only a few thousand spirit stones a month, which is just a little bit better than being a retainer for someone else.

And he doesn't have as much free time as a retainer.

After all, a large amount of time is wasted on alchemy.

From this, it is evident that the Qi Gathering Elixir is inferior to the Ascending Dragon Elixir in terms of converting medicinal power into spiritual energy.

What if there is a force to help?

This is very clear at a glance.

Along the way, whether it was the Poshan Gang or the Luo Tian Society, a familiar model had already been formed.

Dedicated personnel regularly purchase raw materials.

Another group of people processes the raw materials.

During the alchemy process, one can start two, three, or even four furnaces at once, refining simultaneously.

As for sales, he doesn't need to worry about it at all.

The final profit result will be several times that of fighting alone.

Not to mention anything else, those three months after leaving Dahe Market.

Luo Chen devoted himself entirely to alchemy and refined high-grade Jade Marrow Elixirs worth one hundred and eighty thousand spirit stones.

This is simply not something a loose cultivator can achieve.

Otherwise, why say that most alchemists come from large sects and large families?

They have unified channels for integration from top to bottom, from cultivation to procurement, refining, then market development, and distribution to various places...

The alchemist can be very worry-free and save effort.

"A year has passed, and the Luo Tian Society is gradually getting on the right track."

"I can almost restart my great alchemy career!"

"And with the help of the first-grade earth-fire cave, the efficiency might be even higher!"

Sitting on the flying boat, Luo Chen thought about these trivial matters.

During his usual cultivation, he was fully devoted and never thought about these miscellaneous things.

Now that he was going out, he naturally had to plan every aspect well.

"Senior Luo, long time no see. Are you going out again?"

Under the drawbridge.

Xu Jingnian, dressed in spotless attire, waved his hand to greet Luo Chen.

Luo Chen smiled and nodded at him, then steered the flying boat, activated flight mode, soared into the sky, and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Among the cultivators entering the city, there were some who were familiar with Xu Jingnian.

After Luo Chen went far away, they curiously asked Xu Jingnian.

"You usually aren't so enthusiastic or polite to ordinary Foundation Establishment True Cultivators!"

"Who is this person that makes you treat them so well?"

Xu Jingnian rolled his eyes, "This is no ordinary Foundation Establishment True Cultivator!"

"Oh? How so? Tell me in detail!"

Xu Jingnian sipped some hot tea, "You know Danxia Peak, right!"

"Could it be?"

"Yes, this senior is an outsider, a fierce dragon crossing the river. Back then, he forcefully entered Danxia Peak and defeated three peers of the same level with one move each. For such an existence, don't you think one should be polite?"

His friend suddenly realized.

Indeed, for such an expert, no amount of politeness would be too much.

Perhaps, when his cultivation realm is higher in the future, he will be a heavyweight figure in Tianlan Immortal City.

Realm is equal to combat power, but it is not entirely equal to combat power.

There is no lack of those with high realms and low abilities.

Like Luo Chen, who dared to defeat three peers of the same level, one can see how strong his combat talent is.

As long as he can continue to grow, he will never be a weak hand among his peers.

"However, being polite is one thing. Why be so enthusiastic? You are a cultivator from the Ice Fortress; there's no need to flatter everyone who passes by!"

Xu Jingnian chuckled, "That's naturally because this senior is very generous!"

"Generous? How generous?" The friend was skeptical; Foundation Establishment True Cultivators in Tianlan Immortal City could hardly be called generous.

Each and every one of them is more stingy and miserly than the next for the sake of cultivation resources.

How generous could an outsider like this be?

"Do you know my little nephew?"

"Liuzi?"

"Yes! He served as a guide for this senior for a period of time. The other party directly rewarded him with two thousand spirit stones."

"Hiss! Such a lavish move!"

"And that's not all. Senior Luo felt that Liuzi was clever in handling things, so he specifically hired him as an outer sect deacon of the Luo Tian Society, and he can receive an extra salary every month."

Xu Jingnian smacked his lips and sighed:

"I have been working hard in the Ice Fortress for many years and haven't even secured a proper job for Liuzi."

"But I didn't expect that just by letting him honestly be a guide once, his work was arranged."

"This Senior Luo Chen is truly a good person!"

The friend was envious after hearing this.

A Foundation Establishment True Cultivator who is lavish and not stingy with jobs is indeed rare; why didn't he run into one?

But a "good person"?

He had heard a little bit about the Danxia Peak incident.

One of those three loose cultivator Foundation Establishment practitioners was directly killed on the spot, and the outcome was miserable.

This master is definitely not some soft-hearted, fat sheep!

This is a ruthless person!

Regarding Xu Jingnian's change from arrogance to respect.

Luo Chen appeared very calm.

He knew very well.

Being a newcomer, no one would particularly look up to him.

Even with a Foundation Establishment realm, others would only verbally respect him as "Senior."

But when he showed his strength and benefits sufficient to move people.

Then true respect would naturally come.

Pulling Xu Xiaoliu into the Luo Tian Society was actually not Luo Chen's intention.

It was Sima Huiniang!

She was busy letting the Luo Tian Society take root in Tianlan Immortal City, and needed to handle many things while going in and out.

In this process, Xu Xiaoliu indeed provided a lot of help beyond being a guide.

After some back and forth, Sima Huiniang had this idea.

After reporting to Luo Chen, Luo Chen did not refuse.

In fact, accepting local loose cultivators is also a signal to the outside world that the Luo Tian Society wants to integrate into Tianlan Immortal City.

Currently, this signal is still very weak, and no one cares.

But if someone with intentions inquires, it will fall into their eyes.

A streak of escaping light, like a meteor, broke through the sky from the horizon.

Cultivators in Biyou Valley and the Zilan Bamboo Forest subconsciously looked up.

Seeing it enter Danxia Peak directly, they withdrew their gazes.

That person should be the master of the Luo Tian Society.

This is not someone they can afford to provoke.

After the Langqi flying boat entered Danxia Peak, its speed slowed down.

While flying, Luo Chen used his excellent eyesight to scan the entire mountain from bottom to top.

Pieces of spiritual fields were scattered like stars, spiraling from the foot of the mountain to the top.

In between, there were many cultivators busy in the fields.

There were more than a hundred first-grade spiritual fields, on which high-quality spiritual rice that matures twice a year had already been planted.

When harvested, it would just barely meet internal needs.

As for the other spiritual fields, they are currently in the process of accumulating fertility.

It will take another two years to recover to first-grade quality.

In this process, only some crops with low economic value, such as Heavenly Silkworm Cloud Beans and Ten-Fragrance Cardamom, can be planted.

The main goal is still to let the land absorb the surrounding spiritual energy to upgrade it.

In addition to the original spiritual fields.

The cultivators of the Medicine Hall also opened up twenty additional spiritual fields in flat areas.

They are also working on upgrading the spiritual fields in a similar way.

One can imagine that after three or four years, these spiritual fields will be fully put into use.

By then, whether planting high-quality spiritual rice, medicinal herbs, or special spiritual plants, it can bring huge profits to the Luo Tian Society.

Besides meeting their own needs, they can even sell them to the outside world.

But... a very fierce Foundation Establishment true cultivator?

"Grandma Yuan really intends to develop spiritual plant cultivation to the scale of a small sect."

"She is indeed devoted, but it's a pity..."

Luo Chen sighed.

The flying boat arrived at a quiet small courtyard halfway up the mountain.

Outside the courtyard, various flowers and plants were planted; now in midsummer, it was colorful and lively.

And inside the courtyard, it was just as "lively."

Or rather, it shouldn't be called lively.

Because most of the people inside had sad faces.

Putting away the flying boat, Luo Chen stepped inside.

"President."

"Hello, President."

"President, you are here."

When Yuan Dongsheng bowed respectfully to Luo Chen, Luo Chen stopped his steps.

"Wasn't it said that there were still two or three years to live? Why so fast?"

The scene where Grandma Yuan told him a year ago how long she could still live.

Was still fresh in his memory.

But he didn't expect.

"It's those twenty spiritual fields." Yuan Dongsheng said with a choked voice: "My grandmother felt that the spiritual fields available to the Luo Tian Society were still too few, so she wanted to open up some extra ones."

"But I didn't expect that there was a sleeping Black-Spined Stone Dragon Lizard underground."

"The Black-Spined Stone Dragon Lizard, whose sleep was disturbed, was furious and injured many people. Grandma was at the scene and had to take action personally to take it down. But because of this, she damaged her vitality."

"So..."

Stone Dragon Lizard, a common monster beast.

Often captured by immortal cultivators and made into a first-grade medicinal ingredient.

Generally speaking, it has no threat.

But the Black-Spined Stone Dragon Lizard is different; it belongs to the extreme temperament.

Either it sleeps and ignores worldly affairs, or it is fierce and cruel, daring to attack anyone.

Even second-grade or third-grade monster beasts, it dares to stubbornly go up and bite.

One can imagine how much effort Grandma Yuan spent to suppress it at that time.

She was already old and frail, and her blood and energy were at their lowest point.

Such a big commotion could only accelerate her journey to the end of her life.

In fact, a month ago, Grandma Yuan was already paralyzed in bed and unconscious.

This was mentioned in Sima Huiniang's sound transmission talisman.

With a soft "hmm," Luo Chen walked straight into the room.

A rich medicinal smell rushed towards him.

It was even a bit choking.

Luo Chen seemed not to smell it, his gaze falling on the bed.

As if feeling something, the old woman who was previously unconscious slowly turned her cloudy eyes and landed on Luo Chen.

At that moment, Luo Chen knew that she was awake.

Releasing his spiritual sense, he felt her state.

Luo Chen felt a moment of shock in his heart.

That extremely weak soul was like a candle in the wind, flickering and about to go out.

But unexpectedly, every time it was about to go out, it stubbornly and tenaciously kept burning.

This was, relying on amazing willpower, forcing herself to live!

And the purpose of her persisting until now was self-evident.

There was no need to say more about reminiscing.

He opened his mouth, feeling his throat a bit dry.

"Grandma Yuan... Yuan Yujiao! Head of the Medicine Hall of the Luo Tian Society, served for more than seven years."

"During her tenure, she was diligent and conscientious. She scheduled medicinal herbs for the Alchemy Hall, provided spiritual rice for the society, and in multiple major battles, she fully treated the cultivators of the society; the Luo Tian Society is grateful for all of this."

"Now, for the Luo Tian Society of Danxia Peak, she organized four hundred spiritual fields and opened up twenty spiritual fields, establishing a great foundation."

"Now, Luo Chen, master of the Luo Tian Society, is here to verify the achievements and confirm they are correct."

"Specially awarding twenty bottles of high-grade Jade Marrow Elixir, ten portions of Foundation-Cultivating Spiritual Liquid, and three Tongyou Elixirs. In addition, there is a set of second-grade water-attribute cultivation techniques that can be used as the Yuan family's inheritance, magic tools... for those twenty newly opened spiritual fields, the Yuan family can enjoy half of the profits for life."

The calm and indifferent words carried an unquestionable tone.

In these words, the merits and demerits of Yuan Yujiao's last seven years of life received the most fair evaluation.

Especially the four hundred and twenty spiritual fields organized and opened for the Luo Tian Society, which was a well-deserved great contribution!

Even if she passed away at this moment, these rewards would all be issued to her descendant, Yuan Dongsheng.

And while Luo Chen was saying these words, the old woman's eyes became brighter and brighter.

No longer cloudy, like stars.

Finally, Luo Chen whispered silently: "Go in peace, spiritual plants will be planted in the spiritual fields of Danxia Peak every year, and the incense of the Yuan family will be passed on without end."

After speaking, he pursed his lips and turned to leave quietly.

Behind him.

Was Yuan Dongsheng's sudden crying and wailing.

Leaving the courtyard.

Murong Qinglian stood in front.

Luo Chen did not look at her, his gaze far away, just staring at the flowers and plants in the courtyard.

"Did you record it all?"

"Yes, recorded. After the funeral, these rewards will all be issued to Yuan Dongsheng."

"Where is the cemetery?"

"I have discussed it with the President before, and plan to choose the area behind Danxia Peak as the cemetery. In the future, cultivators who have contributed to the Luo Tian Society can be buried in the cemetery after death."

"Okay, you are responsible for the funeral arrangements, I trust you."

Luo Chen's gaze wandered, finally turning from the flowers and plants to the people in the courtyard.

Xiugu was holding little Yilong, sobbing outside the door.

She had always been a member of the Medicine Hall, whether during the Poshan Gang period or after the establishment of the Luo Tian Society.

Back then, it was also Grandma Yuan who persuaded her to break her prejudice against Zeng Wen and brought this couple together.

Now that Grandma Yuan has passed away, besides Yuan Dongsheng, she is the saddest.

Zeng Yilong stood there ignorantly, looking at the scene in the room, subconsciously sucking his fingers.

Luo Chen waved his hand, and Zeng Yilong let go of Xiugu's hand and ran over.

"Let's go, go play with Uncle, don't disturb your mother and the others."

Zeng Yilong looked back, Xiugu squeezed a smile at him and waved.

The child smiled, held Luo Chen's big hand, and left the courtyard.

Walking on the mountain path, the crying behind him gradually disappeared.

Ahead was the lively figure of the child jumping on the stones, climbing trees, and jumping on steps.

"!"

"Calculating the time, he was born in the first two years of my Foundation Establishment, I was in seclusion for three years, and have been in Tianlan Immortal City for one year. Such a little one, suddenly able to run and jump."

Luo Chen felt cold in his heart.

If a person dies, what can they leave behind?

Is it bloodline, or incense?

Or, is it his evaluation of merits and demerits in those few words?

What if he dies?

Suddenly.

"Little Long, what is your ideal when you grow up?"

Zeng Yilong hung his hands on a tree branch, his round body swinging back and forth like a swing.

He said loudly: "Earn spirit stones, marry a wife!"

"Uh..." Luo Chen's face stiffened, "Who taught you that!"

The child nimbly flipped onto the branch, stood firm, and said as a matter of course:

"Uncle Yuan taught me, he used to say every day beside Grandma Yuan that he would marry a wife, have children, and pass on the Yuan family's incense."

Luo Chen frowned.

But not knowing what he thought of, his brows gradually relaxed.

Yes!

Everyone has their own ideals and their own aspirations.

Qu Lingjun has been influenced by him since childhood, so he is determined to become a respected alchemist.

Zeng Yilong, having grown up in the hands of women since childhood, and having the family motto left by Zeng Wen before he died, being constantly instilled with concepts, naturally his ideals will also be influenced.

These are all personal choices, he cannot force them.

Then what about himself?

Compared to incense, bloodline, and eternal merits, he, Luo Chen, does not like these.

Longevity!

Only longevity!

In this world, there are still too many wonderful things waiting for him to witness.

A hurried hundred years is really too short.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Chen grabbed Zeng Yilong.

"You've been a bit wild lately!"

"Have you learned your characters? Have you read your books?"

Amidst Zeng Yilong's bitter face, Luo Chen led him towards the Luo Tian Hall of Danxia Peak.

At the same time.

Sima Huiniang, who was busy, moved her ears.

"Come see me quickly!"

End of chapter