Chapter 263

When they arrived, they were not alone.

On the way back to the city, however, there were even more people.

Wang Yuan, the couple Qin Liangchen, and Gu Caiyi—a group of four—all hitched a ride on Luo Chen's flying boat.

Luo Chen felt somewhat gloomy, but in order not to let the couple Qin Liangchen notice anything, he acted as if nothing was wrong and chatted with Wang Yuan about body refining.

"《Qi and Body from the Same Source》 is indeed a complete set of Tier 2 body refining techniques, created during the decline of body refiners."

Luo Chen asked in surprise: "Hasn't that been several thousand years ago? Is such a technique still applicable to the current cultivation world?"

"That is naturally applicable." Wang Yuan smiled slightly. "A few thousand years is just a long time for us, but for true great experts, it is nothing more than a snap of the fingers."

Luo Chen suddenly realized.

In the cultivation world, there is no theory that the present is inferior to the past, nor is there a theory that old techniques are inferior to new ones.

Whether a technique is powerful or not mainly depends on whether it is suitable for the individual.

Moreover, it seems that times have changed and the world has turned upside down.

But for the great experts who created the techniques, perhaps it was just the time of a blink or a single seclusion.

It's not like they would go into seclusion for a few hundred years, and upon coming out, they would be old fogies who couldn't keep up with the times!

"This technique elaborates in detail on the cultivation stages of the Blood River Realm, allowing one to cultivate step-by-step to the Furnace Realm. For me, it can be considered a great opportunity," Wang Yuan said, his words filled with a sense of fortune.

In the past, he mostly learned bits and pieces from everywhere.

Relying on his experience and instincts, he took the strengths and made up for the weaknesses to gradually perfect his own cultivation system.

But after having an orthodox body refining technique, the path ahead finally became clear.

Come to think of it, he also had to thank Luo Chen for bidding on this technique for him.

"Blood River Realm? Furnace Realm?" Luo Chen was puzzled.

Wang Yuan smiled slightly and explained the division of body refining realms to Luo Chen.

Before the Innate stage, all are mortal.

And the limit that mortals can reach is the Great Vajra Realm after the Innate stage.

At this time, the body is like a vajra, indestructible; it is the first true realm of body refining.

According to the division in 《Qi and Body from the Same Source》, the second realm focuses on cultivating Qi and blood, as well as developing the great treasures of the human body.

"Blood runs through the long river, Qi rushes to the nine heavens, light and dark form a core, and the four forces merge into one. Thus, the second realm is considered complete."

"Therefore, the second realm is also known as the Blood River Realm."

"As for the Furnace Realm..."

Wang Yuan shook his head. "The description in the book is only a few words; I will have to wait until I reach that realm to experience it personally."

Luo Chen asked curiously: "So that means you are already confident about how to cultivate the Blood River Realm?"

"Not quite confident, but at least I know the direction."

Wang Yuan waved his hand and casually talked about the phased cultivation of the Blood River Realm.

Just like the Foundation Establishment stage is divided into nine levels, the Blood River Realm is also divided into nine small levels.

【Refining Organs】 【Strengthening Tendons】 【Cleansing Marrow】 【Opening Meridians】 【Opening Acupoints】 【External Force】 【Internal Force】 【Transformation Force】 【Core Force】

Luo Chen listened, stunned.

Is body refining divided so meticulously?

"Developing the great treasures of the human body is an extremely dangerous thing, so naturally, it must be divided meticulously."

"Moreover, it seems meticulous, but in fact, many things are parallel."

"Even a true Foundation Establishment cultivator might actually be cultivating some part of it unknowingly."

Wang Yuan said everything exactly as it was.

There was no concealment from Luo Chen in his words, and he even gave some examples.

"I had already completed the Refining Organs level before I even stepped into the cultivation world. It was that set of Five Viscera Health Boxing, which can exercise the internal organs and nourish the five Qi."

"Furthermore, for the two stages of Strengthening Tendons and Cleansing Marrow, every time you cultivators break through a major realm, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth will automatically strengthen your tendons and cleanse your marrow."

"And this Opening Meridians is even easier to understand. Clearing all the large and small meridians in the body allows Qi and blood to flow smoothly, and every movement is filled with surging Qi and blood. When you Qi Refiners circulate spiritual power, you actually clear some meridians as well."

"The big difference mainly lies in Opening Acupoints and the cultivation of the four forces."

Wang Yuan paused and mentioned the "Clearing Spirits and Breaking Evil."

This set of techniques also has some minor means of opening acupoints.

It's just that it only developed thirty-six acupoints in the human body.

But in this huge treasure house of the human body, are there only thirty-six acupoints?

As for the four forces?

That is to condense the scattered and vigorous Qi and blood into Qi force as much as possible!

Light, dark, transformation, and core—the four types of Qi force, each stronger than the last.

Wang Yuan was ignorant in his early years, but he still embarked on this path of cultivation.

His killing move, the Blood God Tribulation Finger, was a type of external force he cultivated by condensing Qi and blood.

It can be said that the previous Wang Yuan's body refining was indeed unsystematic.

Refining a little here, refining a little there, all relying on his own exploration.

Being able to explore the external force of the Blood God Tribulation Finger in the early stage of the Blood River Realm really counts as his innate talent.

But now, with a systematic cultivation technique, he can target his own improvement in the future.

After listening to these words, Luo Chen suddenly sighed.

"No wonder body refiners are declining!"

Others didn't know why he sighed like this, but Wang Yuan felt the same way.

Yes!

The process of developing the great treasures of the human body is so cumbersome.

And without the surge in lifespan that Qi Refiners get after Foundation Establishment, few people can completely finish the cultivation of the Blood River Realm.

Lifespan is only one aspect.

The reason for the decline of body refiners is also that Qi Refiners actually cultivate some body refining in the process of breathing spiritual energy.

Whether it is Strengthening Tendons and Cleansing Marrow, or Opening Meridians, or even developing human acupoints after the Golden Core stage.

Since Qi Refiners can passively strengthen their bodies while cultivating, why focus on body refining?

Decline is what conforms to the trend of the times!

As for the powerful means mastered by body refiners?

External force? Internal force?

Qi Refiners have spells, magic treasures, formations, and talismans to replace them, which are even more convenient and powerful.

No one will seek far for what is near, or abandon the simple for the complex.

During the conversation, the flying boat soon entered Tianlan Peak.

At the time of parting, Wang Yuan gave Luo Chen a piece of animal skin as thin as a cicada's wing.

"I have thoroughly studied this set of 《Heavenly Peng Transformation》; take it and look at it when you have nothing to do!"

Accepting the animal skin, Luo Chen nodded.

After Wang Yuan left, Luo Chen carried the remaining three people to his previous Tier 2 low-grade cave dwelling.

It now belongs to Min Longyu.

However, he had just consolidated his realm, and during this time, he would be staying at Danxia Peak, discussing with Duan Feng how to refine magic treasure embryos and complete his array disc.

Therefore, the cave dwelling was left vacant.

It just so happened that Murong Qinglian had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining and was attempting to impact Foundation Establishment.

So he simply let her use it.

Arriving at the entrance of the cave dwelling, Luo Chen had the spiritual formula to open the formation and soon opened it.

Murong Qinglian went in and took a look around, quite satisfied.

"Good place!"

"It's a pity that it's too expensive."

Even for a Tier 2 low-grade cave dwelling, it costs one thousand spirit stones a month.

For ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, the normal monthly income is only two or three thousand spirit stones.

In other words.

At least one-third, or even half, of the monthly income has to be thrown into the big hole of rent!

Perhaps some people would say, then don't use Tier 2 spiritual land, can't you still cultivate?

But only after true Foundation Establishment cultivators truly feel the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 will they insist on investing spirit stones into this hole.

The cultivation speed of the two is a gap between heaven and earth!

Not to mention anything else, just take Li Yixian as an example.

She had been in Foundation Establishment at Dahefang for twenty or thirty years, and after reaching the second level of Foundation Establishment, it was difficult to continue.

But after coming to Tianlan Immortal City, she only rented a cave dwelling for a year and was promoted to the third level of Foundation Establishment.

Otherwise, she would not have been favored by the Lianyun Chamber of Commerce and recruited as an elder.

With such a fast cultivation speed, was her aptitude improved?

No!

It was just that the external cultivation environment had changed.

Luo Chen smiled and said: "Sister-in-law, as long as you are satisfied. After you reach Foundation Establishment, Luo Tian will adjust your salary, and you can also rent such a cave dwelling at Tianlan Peak."

Murong Qinglian was about to agree.

But when her eyes fell on Qin Liangchen, who was wandering around the room, the words on her lips changed.

"Renting a cave dwelling is indeed a big expense."

"But in fact, cultivators don't cultivate continuously every day. In the idle time, the spiritual energy of the cave dwelling is somewhat wasted."

Luo Chen raised his eyebrows, vaguely realizing what the other party wanted to say.

"What do you mean?"

Murong Qinglian smoothed her hair. "Now the Luo Tian Society has several true Foundation Establishment cultivators, and under your leadership, I'm afraid there will be more and more in the future."

"If everyone rents a cave dwelling, a large amount of spirit stones will be wasted invisibly."

"As far as I know, Tianlan Peak only prohibits subletting cave dwellings, but does not prohibit family and friends from renting together."

Speaking of this, Luo Chen finally understood her meaning.

"Rent together?"

Murong Qinglian nodded and said: "Yes! Instead of wasting it, it is better to make reasonable use of every time period. Anyway, what is refined and absorbed is only the spiritual energy of the earth veins of Tianlan Immortal City, so we don't have to feel bad about it."

"And there is one more point, President, I must mention it to you!"

From the previous "Little Luo," she seamlessly switched back to "President."

This means that what she is going to talk about next is serious business.

Luo Chen's face became slightly serious, waiting for the following.

"The Luo Tian Society is in the ascendant and has a bright future. But as far as the current situation is concerned, it is just starting."

"The income from the spiritual fields has not been seen yet, the magic tool business of the Weapon Hall is also consuming the spoils of war saved before, and the commission from the Biyou Valley market needs more time to increase."

"As of now, what supports the Luo Tian Society is always the elixirs you refine, President."

"In this case, to support four, five, or even more true Foundation Establishment cultivators in the future, the pressure on finances will be incomparably huge!"

"As far as I know, any force that can support more than five true Foundation Establishment cultivators must have at least thousands of Qi Refining cultivators under its command!"

"Our Luo Tian Society's two hundred people simply cannot support it. What is being squeezed is your own value, President!"

Murong Qinglian said slowly.

When the words reached the end, they were even more heavy.

Luo Chen, who was listening, also had his face change repeatedly.

He remembered that during the Dahefang period, Mi Shuhua also supported him alone with the thousands of Qi Refining cultivators of the huge Poshan Gang.

Wang Haichao was also like this.

He mastered alchemy, so the pressure was much smaller than theirs.

But no matter how small, it couldn't support the consumption of so many true Foundation Establishment cultivators in the end!

At that time, it would not be them providing support to Luo Chen, but Luo Chen himself supporting them!

In the final analysis, the Luo Tian Society developed too fast!

In particular, it absorbed a group of elite Qi Refining cultivators from Dahefang.

Coupled with his own excessive generosity, it led to a situation of successive Foundation Establishment after arriving in a place with abundant resources like Tianlan Immortal City.

Thinking of the future situation depicted by Murong Qinglian.

Luo Chen felt heavy in his heart.

That is definitely a situation of putting the cart before the horse!

Seeing Luo Chen deep in thought, he had indeed taken her words to heart.

Murong Qinglian sighed and said: "I have also been in the position of Hall Master of the Merit Hall for a long time, so I noticed the impropriety."

"But how to solve it, you and President Sima still have to discuss and decide."

Luo Chen squeezed out a reluctant smile. "Thank you, sister-in-law, for worrying about these things before Foundation Establishment."

"It's just my duty, no need to thank me."

"Well, then I'll go first. If you need anything, just ask Brother Qin to find me at the Yi-17 cave dwelling above."

Luo Chen left the cave dwelling and took the flying boat to go up.

On the flying boat, there was still one person standing quietly.

Looking at Luo Chen's frowning appearance, Gu Caiyi bit her red lips lightly, her eyes flickering.

Not long after.

The two entered the cave dwelling.

Bai Meiling floated out from the small bedroom where the ghost mill was placed and greeted Gu Caiyi.

It was a bit unfamiliar and indifferent, but Gu Caiyi didn't take it to heart.

She knew that Bai Meiling had turned to the path of ghost cultivation, and her personality had undergone a earth-shaking change, not that she didn't like her.

"Caiyi, come with me, this is all the Jade Marrow Elixirs refined by the master in the past six months."

Bai Meiling floated in front and entered a huge elixir-nurturing room.

The reason why Gu Caiyi came here was also to "pick up the goods."

Luo Chen basically doesn't go out of the door, and refining elixirs is also done inside the cave dwelling.

After refining, he asks people to pick them up regularly.

As the Hall Master of the Gold Hall and sitting in the Danxia Hall in the city, Gu Caiyi is the best candidate to pick up the elixirs.

Before entering the elixir-nurturing room, she subconsciously glanced at Luo Chen in the living room.

The other party was pacing in small steps, and the worry between his brows had not dissipated.

Inside the elixir-nurturing room.

Densely packed elixirs were contained in several storage bags.

Gu Caiyi counted them carefully.

She needed to have an idea of the number of elixirs, and every bit of income from selling them in bottles later had to be recorded.

Bai Meiling squatted on the ground, drawing circles with a branch boredly.

"Little Ling."

"Hmm?"

"Is he usually like this?"

"Him? Oh, you mean the master!" Bai Meiling stuck out her long tongue, which was a bit creepy. "The master is usually not like this; he is always cultivating and reading books, and rarely looks so idle."

That is not idle, but thinking about the future of the Luo Tian Society.

Gu Caiyi shook her head; she found that she couldn't find out anything from Bai Meiling.

Soon!

Before dark, Gu Caiyi counted the specific number of Jade Marrow Elixirs.

In half a year, there were a full twenty thousand!

If sold, without considering many costs, it could bring in 170, 00 low-grade spirit stones.

This is a huge income.

But compared to Luo Chen's peak period, it was a bit less.

This has to do with him spending half his time on cultivation and refining other elixirs.

And without the assistance of the logistics cultivators of the Elixir Hall.

So production dropped.

In fact, it actually increased a bit.

Because his soul was promoted to the late Foundation Establishment level, coupled with the Tier 2 earth fire and the Ice Emperor Cauldron improving the finished product rate of the elixirs.

Luo Chen only spent half the time, but increased it by 10% on the original basis.

Gu Caiyi didn't know the latter, but she was no longer the female cultivator of Tianxiang Building who didn't touch spring water with her ten fingers.

Living in a high position for a long time made her incomparably familiar with the salaries of cultivators at all levels of the Luo Tian Society.

Just by calculating this batch of elixirs, after deducting various costs, she roughly calculated Luo Chen's income.

"It's about 30, 00 to 60, 00 spirit stones!"

This income is a huge sum of money that is out of reach for any Qi Refining cultivator.

Even for true Foundation Establishment cultivators, it is an income that ordinary Foundation Establishment can hardly obtain.

But Gu Caiyi knew that Luo Chen's demand for resources was also incomparably huge.

Not to mention anything else!

Just this Tier 2 high-grade cave dwelling costs 48, 00 spirit stones a year.

"No wonder Sister Qinglian said that the Luo Tian Society will squeeze Luo Chen in turn."

Thinking about it, she hid these storage bags close to her body.

Gu Caiyi walked out of the elixir-nurturing room.

"President, there is something I don't know whether to say or not."

Luo Chen raised his head and said speechlessly: "Then just say it, it's not like you want me to grant you immunity first!"

Pfft!

Gu Caiyi, who was originally full of worry, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

However, after this, the atmosphere was not so heavy.

"I think the treatment you give everyone is a bit too good."

Luo Chen tilted his head and thought seriously.

It seems it is indeed a bit too good.

Gu Caiyi sat down opposite him, her hands on her knees and skirt, her demeanor dignified and generous.

"It is well known that you are good to everyone."

"However, it is a bit too good."

"As far as I know, the treatment of the Luo Tian Society's cultivators is unique among the small forces near Tianlan Immortal City. It is even comparable to those medium-sized forces that have been operating for hundreds of years."

"But in fact, sometimes, it is not the more you give, the better. You should also understand the principle of 'a handful of rice for kindness, a bucket of rice for hatred'."

"Moreover, you are refining elixirs yourself now, and we help you sell them. The labor costs in some links have actually disappeared long ago."

"In my opinion, the treatment of some people should be readjusted."

After listening to these words, Luo Chen lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he raised his head.

Looking at the bright and moving Gu Caiyi, he suddenly said: "Do you know that if others know about what you said, you will be poked in the spine by other low-level cultivators behind your back?"

Gu Caiyi's small mouth opened slightly, and she didn't react for a while.

"I, I just..."

"I know, you are thinking for me." Luo Chen smiled. "However, you should still be cautious in your words in the future. Some responsibilities are not for you to bear, nor can you bear them."

Gu Caiyi nodded, but still couldn't help asking: "You should also consider yourself a little bit. In fact, even if you earn a little more, the people below won't say anything."

Yes!

What could they say?

Their realm is inferior, and their confidence is insufficient.

Moreover, Luo Chen has brought them all the way from the poor countryside to Tianlan Immortal City.

Settled in a new home and had an organization to rely on.

But some things are not about whether they are said on the surface!

"Alright, I know your good intentions, don't worry about these things in the future."

His attitude suddenly became a bit cold.

Gu Caiyi didn't know why.

But the Jade Marrow Elixirs had already been collected, and there was no reason to stay any longer.

"Then I'll go back to Danxia Hall first."

She stood up and walked towards the outside of the cave dwelling.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, Luo Chen called her.

Looking at the woman who turned around, somewhat bewildered, Luo Chen sighed inexplicably.

"The few Jade Dew Elixirs I gave you last year, they are all used up, right!"