Chapter 231: Pressure from above

Thick beams, neat stone bricks.

The brand-new hall revealed a sense of minimalism.

The new hall of the Luo Tian Society was named the Luo Tian Hall.

There was no extravagance or waste; from the beginning of construction, it was aimed at saving spirit stones.

Luo Chen didn't want any magnificence or immortal-style grandeur.

Everything is difficult at the start; for now, keeping everything simple is fine.

When he arrived at the Luo Tian Hall, Sima Hui Niang, Gu Caiyi, Duan Feng, and Qu Lingjun had been waiting for a long time.

Without nonsense, Luo Chen went straight to the point.

First, it was the Jade Marrow Pill market issue he was most concerned about.

"Caiyi, you tell us about it!"

Gu Caiyi nodded and recounted the investigation situation of the past year.

"First, it's Wanyu!"

"Currently, there are no fewer than ten shops in Tianlan Xiancheng that can supply Wanyu, the main material for Jade Marrow Pills, in large quantities. This means that our refining of Jade Marrow Pills will not be throttled by others on raw materials."

"The problem is that, affected by the war, the price of Wanyu has risen; we must pay attention to the cost aspect."

Listening to her introduction, Luo Chen couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

It could be seen that the other party had truly put her heart into it this past year.

He only asked her to investigate the market situation of Jade Marrow Pills, but he didn't expect her to have collected intelligence on the raw materials for Jade Marrow Pills as well.

"Secondly, it's the competitors. In the Tianlan Xiancheng market, there are a total of fifteen types of cultivation pills suitable for low-level cultivators."

"Among these fifteen, the Qi-Nurturing Pills of the Spirit Medicine Pavilion and the Yellow Dragon Pills of the Green Pill Valley are the leaders. Currently, their prices remain high, with one bottle costing one hundred and twenty and one hundred and ten spirit stones respectively. Compared to the past, there is a premium, also affected by the war."

"The other thirteen types of pills come from the Hundred Flowers Palace, the Luoyun Sect... and some cultivation families."

"The pills from the great sects are all fine, with guaranteed quality, and the prices are generally around one hundred spirit stones. As for those sold by small forces, there are more or less some problems, similar to the Jade Marrow Pill's early dantian jade-ification. Therefore, their prices, even affected by the war, only hover around ninety."

"And their market share is not much!"

Speaking so much in one breath.

Even though Gu Caiyi was a 9th-layer Qi Refining cultivator, she felt a bit tired.

Not physically tired, but because the information contained within was truly too much.

Which pill came from where, what effect it had, what the price was—she had to keep it all in mind.

When speaking, she also had to make evaluations based on the actual situation she saw.

Only in this way could Luo Chen clearly recognize the market situation.

Seeing Luo Chen nod thoughtfully.

Gu Caiyi breathed a sigh of relief and added:

"Finally, in my opinion, the low-level cultivation pill market in Tianlan Xiancheng is already very saturated."

"If we want to squeeze in, we will encounter many difficulties."

Qu Lingjun asked curiously: "What difficulties?"

"Price squeezing, peer competition, and even..." Gu Caiyi pursed her lips, hesitating.

Luo Chen, sitting above, said indifferently: "And permission from those in power?"

Gu Caiyi nodded. "That is indeed the case. I once inquired. Three cultivation families, besides selling pills, also pay an extra sum of spirit stones to the great sects they are attached to."

After speaking, she gave a bitter smile.

"To tell you the truth, that batch of Jade Marrow Pills the President gave me. If it were in the past, it could have been sold in a month or two."

"But this time, I spent a lot of energy, through the black market, retail, and square markets, and it took a full year to barely sell them all."

Qu Lingjun, who had grown into a young man, felt his head swell after hearing these difficulties.

He felt that refining pills was hard enough, but he didn't expect selling pills to be even harder!

And Sima Hui Niang, after hearing this, frowned deeply.

She knew how much that batch of Jade Marrow Pills the President took out was worth.

About fifty thousand spirit stones.

A lot, but if averaged out over the annual profit, it was pitifully little.

If they operated like this in the future, how could the Luo Tian Society grow? How could it develop?

Let alone the Luo Tian Society, even just supplying the President's cultivation alone, I'm afraid it would be beyond their reach.

For a moment, even she, the President, was troubled.

Unexpectedly, Luo Chen, sitting above, remained calm and composed.

"There are many competitors, but that's not a problem. This shows that the market is vast and far from saturated."

"Our Jade Marrow Pills originally have a particularly low cost. And I have improved the sequelae of dantian jade-ification, and the medicinal power is not inferior to ordinary Qi-Nurturing Pills. In this situation, we can completely rely on price advantages to forcefully kill our way into the market!"

"As for the pressure from the higher levels..."

The four of them looked at Luo Chen curiously.

Could it be that he could even solve this?

You must know that the higher-level forces of Tianlan Xiancheng are all behemoths like the Jade Cauldron Seven Sects, or even Nascent Soul great sects from outside the domain.

Even though Luo Chen had created miracles repeatedly along the way.

But at this level, could he also find a way?

Facing the curious, uneasy, and expectant gazes of the three, Luo Chen said softly: "I will solve the pressure from the higher levels; you don't need to worry."

He really could solve it!

The four looked at each other, shocked, and admired Luo Chen even more.

Luo Chen's gaze fell on Qu Lingjun.

"The Earth Fire Cave has been organized, right!"

Qu Lingjun nodded immediately. "Under Danxia Peak, there is a 1st-tier Earth Fire vein. Back then, the Divine Work Sect and the Geng family opened up twenty Earth Fire caves to rent out."

"After we organized them, we broke through several small caves to form the large alchemy room model you are familiar with, Master."

"Currently, of these twenty Earth Fire caves, only the Tool Hall and I are using them; most are still vacant."

The Jade Cauldron Domain is rich in Earth Fire veins; this is a well-known fact.

Just along Luo Chen's journey, he had seen many Earth Fire veins.

Over at Dajiang Square, the Ten Thousand Treasures Building in the inner city has one, and the Duan family at Xiaohuan Mountain has one.

Over at Taishan Square, the Huo family of Chichan Mountain has one, and the Kang family of Taishan also has one.

And after coming to Tianlan Xiancheng, there were even more Earth Fire veins.

Danxia Peak, Wutong Mountain, Divine Work Sect, Ten Thousand Treasures Building... a rough estimate was no less than two hands' worth.

Even if they were all low-tier Earth Fire veins and didn't amount to much of a climate.

They did indeed provide a solid foundation for industries like alchemy and tool casting.

Qu Lingjun's arrangement was undoubtedly very reasonable.

Separating the Earth Fire caves needed by the Alchemy Hall and the Tool Hall.

And specially arranging the alchemy room layout he was most familiar with for Luo Chen.

Once he started alchemy, these trivial matters wouldn't cause any trouble.

Regarding the disciple he had taken in, if one didn't look at his cultivation, Luo Chen was extremely satisfied.

Especially since the other party could now stably refine low-grade Jade Marrow Pills and was exploring mid-grade Jade Marrow Pills according to the Jade Marrow Pill refining insights he had left behind.

This made Luo Chen feel deeply comforted!

"Since everything is organized, start preparing immediately and refine Jade Marrow Pills on a large scale!"

"Sima Hui Niang, how many spirit stones are left in the Luo Tian Society's account now?"

The topic shifted to Sima Hui Niang.

Regarding these, Sima Hui Niang knew them like the back of her hand.

She replied immediately: "Originally there were only twenty thousand left, later Hall Master Gu supplemented fifty thousand, totaling seventy thousand."

"After Biyou Valley started operating, Hall Master Duan Feng sold many repaired magic tools, supplementing another thirty thousand spirit stones."

"It once reached about one hundred thousand!"

"However, over the past year, after personnel salaries, material purchases, and daily expenses, fifty thousand have been consumed. There's no way around it; arriving at Danxia Peak is the most expensive time."

"So, now there are only fifty thousand in liquid funds in the account."

Fifty thousand!

For any loose cultivator, this is an unreachable, huge figure.

However, for people like Sima Hui Niang, Gu Caiyi, and Duan Feng, who handled large sums of money all year round, it was a figure they were used to.

It could even be said.

For the current Luo Tian Society, this amount of spirit stones was still too little.

"Take ten thousand out and purchase raw materials for Jade Marrow Pills on a large scale."

Ten thousand spirit stones are enough to purchase three or four months' worth of raw materials for Jade Marrow Pill refining.

Luo Chen didn't withdraw all the spirit stones in the account.

He knew that for any force to operate, it needs sufficient liquid funds.

Moreover, a portion of it is medium-grade spirit stones.

This belongs to strategic resources and must not be moved lightly!

Just like the Langqi Flying Boat.

Under normal conditions, it can be driven by Luo Chen's spiritual power alone.

But once it needs to unfold into large flying boat mode, it must be continuously driven by a large number of medium-grade spirit stones.

"Additionally, I have a list here; have someone gather ten portions as quickly as possible and send them to my cave dwelling!"

Amidst Sima Hui Niang's confusion, a piece of paper drifted into her hand.

Blue Smoke Jade, Lingting Fragrant Grass.

Ten-year-old Cold Ginseng, Angelica, He Shouwu, Motherwort, Sky-Green Aloe...

The dense list of medicinal material names made Sima Hui Niang's eyelids jump wildly.

Especially since there were a few she was familiar with.

They belonged to the kind of medicinal materials that were particularly good for female cultivators, and even if taken raw, the effect was quite good.

Just by scanning it once, Sima Hui Niang couldn't help but be curious.

Is the President going to refine some kind of pill useful for female cultivators?

While she was curious, Luo Chen's voice sounded in her ear.

"Gather them as quickly as possible, but distribute the task to different people and buy them separately."

"Remember!"

Sima Hui Niang nodded heavily; she could feel the importance Luo Chen placed on this list.

She intended to handle this matter personally.

The arrangement for Jade Marrow Pills ended here.

Subsequent matters would depend on specific operations.

Luo Chen shifted the topic to Duan Feng.

Looking at the spiritual energy fluctuations on the other party, which were harmonious and nearly overflowing.

He praised: "You haven't slacked off recently; you've already reached the Qi Refining perfection."

Duan Feng pursed his lips and nodded silently.

He shouldn't have reached Qi Refining perfection so quickly; it should have taken at least several more years.

But the inheritance left by Duan Qiankun was enough to push any 9th-layer Qi Refining cultivator to perfection.

His own talent wasn't bad either, and he had already been close to the perfection realm before.

Now, it was just pushing the boat with the current, going a step further.

However, he was so calm.

Sima Hui Niang felt dejected in her heart.

According to Luo Chen's promise, among their group, whoever reached Qi Refining perfection first could purchase that Foundation Establishment Pill from Luo Chen at the original price from the auction.

Among that group, those closest to perfection.

Were Sima Hui Niang, Murong Qinglian, Duan Feng, and Bian Zhen, respectively.

Although she was busy with affairs, her treatment was the best among the four.

Logically speaking, she should have reached perfection first.

But she didn't expect Duan Feng to overtake her.

So now...

"When do you plan to establish Foundation?"

Duan Feng looked up and said bluntly: "Better to do it today than tomorrow; since I've reached perfection, why wait? In these two days, I plan to use my savings to rent a 2nd-tier low-grade cave dwelling on Tianlan Peak to break through the realm."

Full of sharpness!

Worthy of the Duan Feng in his memory who was decisive in killing and aimed to kill Foundation Establishment cultivators while in the Qi Refining stage.

Luo Chen nodded. "Do you need help?"

Duan Feng shook his head.

"The help you've given is already enough; I've studied that Foundation Establishment insight for over a year. I'm very confident about Foundation Establishment!"

That was true.

Duan Feng's accumulation was decent, and Duan Qiankun's resources were specially prepared for him, which must be more suitable than what Luo Chen arranged.

Plus Luo Chen's experience of five Foundation Establishments, the accumulated Foundation Establishment insights.

If he didn't even have this bit of confidence and certainty, he really shouldn't bother attempting it.

"By the way, I vaguely know what's inside those two silver balls."

Duan Feng suddenly said.

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, but saw the other party hesitate.

"Is there anything wrong?"

"I'm just guessing; I'll only get an accurate answer after I establish Foundation and unlock the restriction formation."

While speaking, he used spiritual energy to transport a small booklet to Luo Chen.

Luo Chen opened the booklet.

Upon seeing it, his pupils shrank.

He looked deeply at Duan Feng.

"Very well, then I'll wait for you to succeed in Foundation Establishment!"

Beside him, Sima Hui Niang listened to the two asking and answering.

But throughout the whole process, it didn't seem to involve the Foundation Establishment Pill.

This left her a bit confused.

At some point, Luo Chen had already looked over with a smile.

"Don't think about it; Duan Feng has another opportunity and doesn't need that Foundation Establishment Pill for now."

Sima Hui Niang was stunned.

Then she was overjoyed in her heart.

Even if she tried hard to control it, the slightly raised corners of her mouth still revealed the joy in her heart.

Luo Chen smiled, not minding.

Now at his height, one or two Foundation Establishment Pills actually didn't count for much.

As long as he had the heart!

As long as he dared to pay the price!

It was always easier to get Foundation Establishment Pills than for loose cultivators.

Next, Luo Chen and Sima Hui Niang discussed some affairs of the society.

Involving contact with two forces not far away.

One of them was the Geng family, previously enemies, not friends, but since they had settled down, they still had to try their best to be on good terms.

After all, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor!

Becoming bad neighbors would not be beautiful.

According to Sima Hui Niang's meaning, it was to invite the other party to settle in Biyou Valley and continue the previous business.

They had made slight contact before, and the other party didn't seem as persistent as imagined.

Profit moves people's hearts!

Biyou Valley is not big, but over the past hundred years, because loose cultivators occupied Danxia Peak, it had indeed cultivated a bit of a commercial atmosphere.

It wouldn't be impossible to operate it as a micro-square market.

Over the past year, Gu Caiyi's pills and Duan Feng's magic tools were partially sold through the Biyou Valley channel.

"If operated well, we can even hold small auctions in Biyou Valley in the future."

"Whether it's accumulating fame or earning spirit stones, it's all worth doing."

Facing Sima Hui Niang's proposal, Luo Chen agreed very much.

Not to mention the Luo Tian Society.

Even the Poshan Gang back then had its own private black market.

His, Luo Chen's, Jade Marrow Pills were quite famous in that black market.

"Granny Yuan has passed away, but the Medicine Hall cannot be without a master for a day."

"I have three candidates here: Bian Zhen, who has profound cultivation; Feng Xia, who is very familiar with medicinal herbs; and Yuan Dongsheng, who has done a lot of research on spirit plants."

"President, who do you favor?"

Luo Chen thought for a while and said slowly:

"The Medicine Hall is very important, involving the two major lifelines of my Luo Tian Society."

Two major lifelines: the Alchemy Hall and the four hundred plus spirit fields.

The former is fine, with Luo Chen controlling it personally.

But the latter, currently its value is not obvious, but after years of operation, the proceeds will definitely be very high.

It could even be said that many small sects are self-sufficient by operating spirit fields.

"Therefore, there must be someone with profound cultivation sitting in charge."

"Although Bian Zhen joined my Luo Tian Society later, along the way, his loyalty has been verified."

"He can be the master of the Medicine Hall!"

Sima Hui Niang said "hmm."

In fact, she had the same thought.

With Bian Zhen's strong strength, letting him be subordinate to Zhou Yuanli was truly a bit of a waste.

"However, a layman leading an expert is indeed prone to trouble."

"Therefore, the tasks of Feng Xia and Yuan Dongsheng must also be increased."

"Appoint the two as Chiyan Chiyan Lingzhi Elder and Medicinal Herb Elder of the Medicine Hall, each in charge of one area. Bian Zhen will sit in the center to oversee the overall situation, that's all!"

After hearing this arrangement, Sima Hui Niang couldn't help but be convinced.

"President's high insight!"

Luo Chen smiled; what kind of high insight was this.

It was just that the Luo Tian Society only had so many talents; just think about it, one radish one pit, just arrange them in.

However, the handling of Bian Zhen also derived a problem.

After many great battles, the surviving cultivators of the Luo Tian Society were mostly elite.

And each had gained quite a lot, with their realms all improved.

Just in the 9th-layer Qi Refining stage, three more had appeared this past year.

For these people, they definitely couldn't be left idle.

"I heard you set up an outer sect?"

Sima Hui Niang was stunned, then nodded repeatedly.

"I imitated the great sects and set up an outer sect. But currently, there are only the externally hired deacon Xu Xiaoliu and a few mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators running errands."

Luo Chen rubbed his chin.

He thought for a long time before saying:

"Go make a plan and see if you can draw a batch of people from within the society who have no special talents but have decent strength and arrange them into the outer sect."

"This batch of people will be responsible for some trivial matters not covered by the major halls in the future."

"Externally, and internally, connecting the halls."

"Set up an Elder for the outer sect, to be dispatched by you."

Sima Hui Niang silently kept it in her heart, intending to implement it later.

This small meeting was about over.

Luo Chen stayed at Danxia Peak for one night, attended Granny Yuan's funeral the next day, and then took Duan Feng back to the Xiancheng.

After returning, Duan Feng went to rent a cave dwelling to plan for Foundation Establishment.

And Luo Chen plunged into the bustling Xiancheng.

His figure began to appear in major shops.

Since the main direction of cultivation had been determined, a big purchase was inevitable!

(End of chapter)

. ===== CHAPTER 232 =====