Chapter 98

In the cramped cave, a young man was sitting cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed.

The moon-white Daoist robe rose and fell with the unique breathing rhythm of his chest.

His face was handsome, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, appearing somewhat cynical, yet firm and enduring, as if no matter how many hardships and difficulties were on the road ahead, he would optimistically persist in walking forward.

Suddenly, his eyelids blinked, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His clear eyes carried a thoughtful gaze.

"The spiritual energy concentration here far exceeds that of the courtyard, and it is slightly better than where the Heavenly Fragrance Building is located."

"Perhaps it is not inferior to the main vein of the first-tier spirit vein where the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion is located."

"Cultivating under this spiritual energy concentration has an extremely extraordinary bonus effect on me!"

He only made a slight estimation and knew that on top of his four-fold five-element root aptitude standard, he had added another fold of cultivation efficiency.

Five-fold cultivation efficiency has completely surpassed the three-element root aptitude; I don't know how the gap compares to a dual-element root cultivator?

Luo Chen didn't know the cultivation efficiency of a dual-element root cultivator because he had absolutely no reference object.

Great River Market is mostly loose cultivators, and most of these loose cultivators are three-element or four-element root cultivators.

So, he didn't have friends in this regard, not even people he knew...

"Actually, there is one, but I've never met him."

Little Tiger—Qin Yuanjiang.

The son of Qin Liangchen and his wife, a gold-water dual-element root.

That child, whose name he had heard but never met.

Now, the other party is a high disciple of the Falling Cloud Sect, and I'm afraid there is hope for Foundation Establishment in the future.

He hadn't inquired about that child's specific cultivation realm.

And involving sect recruitment, checking aptitude, and other issues, Qin Liangchen and his wife hadn't given him elixirs since he was young, mostly using medicinal baths, food supplements, and other ways to improve his foundation.

However, these were all minor matters that didn't matter.

Luo Chen only needed to know that cultivating in this place was of great benefit to him.

"It seems I need to find more reasons to stay in the Alchemy Hall in the future."

"There's no need to return the lease on the courtyard house either; after all, it's the inner city, and safety is guaranteed."

Nowadays, the rent of ten spirit stones a month is no longer a burden for him.

It's just a Qi-Nurturing Pill, after all!

Thinking of the Qi-Nurturing Pill, Luo Chen smiled.

"Such a good place and good opportunity, I can't let it go."

He took out a stick of Soul-Calming Incense and a Qi-Nurturing Pill.

Light the incense, take the pill, refine Qi.

…….

The next morning, Luo Chen woke up from his meditative state.

Getting up and stretching, Luo Chen couldn't help but groan.

Comfortable!

This was the most comfortable cultivation session he had had since crossing over.

Outside, there was abundant spiritual energy; inside, the medicinal power of the Qi-Nurturing Pill was constantly being converted into spiritual power; the Grandmaster-level Everlasting Art was constantly circulating, perfectly fitting his body.

The fragrance of the Soul-Calming Incense made his soul, which had passed the heart-tribulation, become strong and resilient in a short time.

Added to this was the supplement of the Foundation-Cultivating Spirit Liquid during this period, and the vital energy accumulated in his physique was also vast enough.

Under the addition of so many conditions, he was like a beggar who had been starving and finally enjoyed a full-course meal.

He ate until his mouth was oily!

"One night of cultivation, the progress bar jumped from 6 directly to 8, a surge of a full two progress bars!"

If calculated according to this progress, the three months he had previously estimated to break through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining could now be shortened to at most two months.

Terrifying!

No wonder those large sects produce young geniuses.

Staying in a first-tier spirit vein every day, or even a second-tier or third-tier spirit vein place.

Even without taking any elixirs, the spiritual power in their bodies can soar.

Especially in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining, the faster the advancement, the more time there is to prepare for Foundation Establishment after reaching the late stage of Qi Refining.

There is absolutely no need to worry about insufficient lifespan like loose cultivators.

"Sister Xiuxiu said that the best age for a cultivator to break through to Foundation Establishment is before sixty. After sixty, the cultivator's Qi and blood begin to decline, and the probability of Foundation Establishment failure will greatly increase."

"Just this one point alone has blocked how many loose cultivators who spent their whole lives reaching the ninth layer of Qi Refining."

Luo Chen felt sad for those loose cultivators.

After finally reaching the perfection of Qi Refining, they have to face the unfavorable situation of insufficient lifespan and declining Qi and blood.

Even if they get a Foundation Establishment Pill, I'm afraid it will end in failure.

"I must never fall into that situation!"

The joy originally felt because of obtaining the spirit vein cave was dispersed a lot.

Even if he can break through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining in two months, the spiritual power required for each realm after that will only be more!

Especially the ninth layer of Qi Refining; many loose cultivators are trapped to death in this realm.

Just like his Brother Qin, isn't he the same now?

Clearly having a Foundation Establishment Pill, although it is kept by Hearing Mi Shuhua, there is no reason to ask for it back.

The reason is very simple: Qin Liangchen is not yet at the perfection of Qi Refining and is not qualified for Foundation Establishment.

"And, this cultivation speed of mine is not the norm!"

"Soul-Calming Incense, the quantity is not enough!"

The Soul-Calming Incense that Hearing Mi Shuhua promised to give him is one box a month.

And one box only has twelve sticks.

Without Soul-Calming Incense, he can circulate the Everlasting Art at most two or three times a day, or he will become mentally exhausted.

Besides Soul-Calming Incense, the quantity of Qi-Nurturing Pills is also slightly insufficient; four bottles of Qi-Nurturing Pills are only enough for twenty days.

Luo Chen thought about these things while doing other things with his hands.

A complete large stone blocked the spirit vein cave to ensure that spiritual energy wouldn't leak out too much.

On the way out, he kept using stones to block the narrow mine tunnel.

Even knowing that this method couldn't completely block the leakage of spiritual energy, it was better to block as much as possible.

"Elixirs, Soul-Calming Incense, I'm afraid it won't be easy to fleece them from Hearing Mi Shuhua anymore."

"Those reasons and excuses, although different every time, will also be annoying if you ask for the same things too often."

"However, I have a small fortune now, so I can buy them myself."

"There is one more thing I need to consider!"

Luo Chen's gaze flashed, and a sense of crisis surfaced in his heart.

That is, after perfectly solving all the problems of cultivation resources, the cultivation speed of a five-element root that is faster than ordinary people can easily bring trouble.

Whether it's the system or this spirit vein cave, they absolutely cannot be exposed!

"I need to spend more effort on the Qi-Concealing Spirit Technique!"

……

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, Hall Master Luo!"

"Good morning, Hall Master Luo!"

This was the first day Luo Chen had "gone to work" so early.

But obviously, there were many people earlier than him.

The medicine hall cultivators stationed here had already started to get busy.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and they were already driving their magic tools, hovering at low altitudes.

"Walking through clouds and bringing rain" on the dozen or so medicine fields in the valley.

Saying walking through clouds and bringing rain was a bit of an exaggeration, but the scene was indeed very similar.

"Is this your Small Cloud-Rain Technique?"

Luo Chen squatted on the field ridge, curiously watching them pinch seals to cast rain.

A cultivator landed, wiped the sweat, and smiled slightly.

"Hall Master Luo has good discernment; this is indeed the Small Cloud-Rain Technique, a spell passed down by the Xun Hall, suitable for cultivating water-attribute medicinal herbs."

Under his explanation, Luo Chen learned why they had to release spells early in the morning.

Xieyue Valley is a mining area and is far from the Lancang River, so the water vapor here is not dense.

Usually, these water-attribute medicinal herbs need a large amount of water-attribute spiritual energy.

Therefore, they have to take advantage of the low temperature to cast spells.

"It's a pity that the grade of the spirit fields here is too low to cultivate better medicinal herbs."

Luo Chen asked curiously, "Are there no spells to improve the grade of spirit fields?"

The cultivator smiled bitterly, "There are, but we don't know them, and the gang doesn't have them either."

"Oh?"

"It is rumored that the Five Elements God Sect has great insights into cultivating spiritual plants, and they have developed a lot of spells related to spiritual plants and spirit fields."

"For example?"

"Take improving the grade of spirit fields, for instance! They have a second-tier spell called the Bing Fire Burning Wasteland Technique, which can burn many spirit woods and mineral materials into ash and then integrate them into the spirit field. By doing this once or twice a year, combined with a spirit vein place, the grade of the spirit field will continuously rise."

Luo Chen was stunned, Bing Fire Burning Wasteland Technique?

"It is said that the Five Elements God Sect has dozens of fourth-tier spirit fields, all of which were upgraded, and it seems there is also a huge fifth-tier spirit field."

The cultivator shook his head, his eyes showing longing.

"And this Bing Fire Burning Wasteland Technique is just the tip of the iceberg; spells like the Tai Yin Yi Wood Marsh Gas Technique, Gui Water Composting Technique, Geng Metal Grass-Cutting Sword Technique, etc., are all improved from high-tier spells."

"If I could master a second-tier spiritual plant spell, even a simplified version, I could become a second-tier spiritual plant master."

Spiritual plant master, one of the most common professions among the hundred arts of cultivation.

Any force will have more or less spiritual plant masters.

Unless it's that kind of demonic sect that doesn't engage in production, they wouldn't cultivate or hire spiritual plant masters.

Yuan Dongsheng, the cultivator in front of Luo Chen, is one of the three major spiritual plant masters in the Medicine Hall, managing several spirit fields by himself.

"Hall Master Luo, are you very interested in cultivating spiritual plants? Do you want me to teach you a trick?"

Luo Chen stood up quickly; are you kidding me!

Alchemy is already very tiring, and you want me to farm?

"No, let's discuss it next time we have a chance."

After finishing, he ran away without stopping.

Yuan Dongsheng watched from behind, feeling quite a pity; it was rare to have a fellow Daoist willing to discuss spiritual plants with him.

However, the other party really didn't need to learn these things; what kind of noble status is an alchemist?

A hundred first-tier spiritual plant masters are not as noble as one alchemist.

After all, that is one of the four mainstream arts of cultivation, and even among the four arts of alchemy, formation, weapon, and talisman, it can be called the first.

If I could become an alchemist... unfortunately, I have no choice!

And at this moment, the noble alchemist Luo Chen is deep in thought around the Xuanyun Tripod in the largest alchemy room.

"Use this mid-grade elixir tripod to refine Jade Marrow Pills today; brushing proficiency should also be faster."

……

……

Since he decided to spend some effort and make some achievements.

He couldn't just mess around like before.

The Purple Cloud Copper Furnace was only a first-tier low-grade magic tool, and the firepower and raw materials it could withstand at one time had limits.

In comparison, the quality of the Xuanyun Tripod, a first-tier mid-grade magic tool, was much better.

Usually, when refining Myriad Wonder Pills, he could directly put in two portions of raw materials, and there would even be a little left over.

Regarding the refining of Jade Marrow Pills, after two successes and more than a dozen failures, Luo Chen had barely become proficient.

Now, it was time to use the Xuanyun Tripod.

As the medicine apprentices arrived one by one, Luo Chen directed them to send the corresponding medicinal herbs into the large alchemy room.

"Starting from today, all morning time will be used to refine Jade Marrow Pills."

"Considering that you are not yet proficient in refining Jade Marrow Pills, I can only refine them by myself, so for the extra time, besides processing medicinal herbs, you must also study the 'Hundred Herbs Illustrated Handbook' carefully."

Luo Chen handed the "Hundred Herbs Illustrated Handbook" he had borrowed from Mi Junping with a thick skin to Gu Caiyi.

The other party is an Alchemy Hall deacon, in charge of the internal affairs of the Alchemy Hall.

Now she is managing the medicine apprentices, fire workers, and elixir-cultivating masters who collect and store elixirs for him.

Usually, some things Luo Chen needs his subordinates to learn cannot be taught by himself, and he often lets the other party supervise on his behalf.

"Make twenty copies and let them study them carefully; be sure to understand the characteristics of various spirit herbs."

Gu Caiyi took the "Hundred Herbs Illustrated Handbook" hesitantly. "This is a book from the Xun Hall; is it okay for us to let them learn it directly?"

"There's nothing okay or not okay about it; I'll handle any problems with Mi Junping."

Luo Chen's mindset had changed again.

Although this group of people under him couldn't learn the real stuff, there was no need to hide everything.

Some slightly popularized knowledge, if they could learn it, would be of better help to him in his future alchemy career.

"Besides that, Elder Sikong, you go to the Xun Hall and borrow the 'Flame-Manipulating Art' for me for the Alchemy Hall."

Sikong Shoujia, who was standing by, frowned. "That is a boutique among first-tier spells; it's not some popular spell. What do you want it for?"

"What if it's a boutique? At the end of the day, it's not an attack or defense spell, but just a technique for controlling magic power."

Luo Chen waved his hand, facing those fire workers.

"The techniques of this group of fire workers for controlling fire are too rough. It's okay for refining Grain-Avoiding Pills and Myriad Wonder Pills, but in the refining of Jade Marrow Pills, they can't help me."

"Letting them learn the Flame-Manipulating Art will be of great benefit to you, to me, and to the entire Poshan Gang."

Is that so?

Sikong Shoujia was half-believing.

However, he didn't refuse this request and left Xieyue Valley on the spot to go to the main altar where the Xun Hall was located.

As for the merit points needed to exchange for spells from the Xun Hall?

He didn't worry much about this point.

When the Alchemy Hall was established, Hearing Mi Shuhua opened the door wide; as long as it was a spell considered helpful to the Alchemy Hall, it could be given.

Otherwise, Luo Chen wouldn't have had a reason to borrow the "Hundred Herbs Illustrated Handbook" in the first place.

It was just that for Mi Junping, he, the old man, might have to spend some effort.

Watching his retreating back, Luo Chen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The extra work assigned to the medicine apprentices and fire workers was indeed as he said.

But in reality, the deeper reason was that his proficiency in refining Jade Marrow Pills was still too low.

It was still at the introductory stage.

The proficiency at this stage could only support his own alchemy.

To have others help him refine elixirs like he did with Grain-Avoiding Pills and Myriad Wonder Pills was far from enough.

"In reality, most alchemists in this world might have people helping them refine elixirs, but they probably can't reach my level, right?"

Luo Chen thought this in his heart.

He even had a feeling that if he were a little stronger, he could completely expand his business even more.

Let more people do the chores for him and refine more elixirs at the same time.

The confidence of this feeling came from the abnormal efficiency of stable output quality after the proficiency of each elixir was upgraded to the Grandmaster level.

"Speaking of which, what changes will occur after the proficiency of a kind of elixir is upgraded to the Great Perfection level?"

"Top-tier elixirs?"

Luo Chen glanced at the attribute panel; the one closest to Great Perfection was the Grain-Avoiding Powder.

……

The morning alchemy only opened two furnace runs.

One furnace was the Jade Marrow Pills that Luo Chen did himself, refined with the Xuanyun Tripod, using two portions of materials, and finally harvested forty waste elixirs.

Hehe, forty more one-time consumables that could be used to practice the Myriad Origin Beads.

The other furnace was the one he guided Sister Mi Li and several medicine apprentices and fire workers to refine together during his rest.

"This Grain-Avoiding Pill, named as a pill, is actually just an unranked Grain-Avoiding Powder."

"Compared to first-tier elixirs, refining it is relatively simple, just right for you to get started."

"The key point is not in the technique and skill, but in the fusion of medicinal herbs and the yellow beef of the monster beast."

"Remember, you must achieve the unity of medicine and meat, gathering and dispersing into a paste."

Under Luo Chen's guidance, those medicine apprentices who had been tortured to death by processing medicinal herbs recently became spirited and energetic.

Luo Chen glanced and pulled a kid to the side.

"Tang Quan, right?"

"These are five top-grade Myriad Wonder Pills; bring them to your uncle when you go home."

Tang Quan took the five elixirs, his expression slightly unnatural.

His uncle was naturally the Sick Tiger, Zeng Wen.

Recently, Fellow Daoist Zeng had asked several times, saying that the quantity of top-grade Myriad Wonder Pills was too small, making him really unsatisfied.

Luo Chen remembered this matter, deducting a few when collecting elixirs normally, and giving them to this old customer.

Anyway, it wasn't his cost, and he wanted to cover up his real Grandmaster-level alchemy skills, so he simply gave back the extra top-grade Myriad Wonder Pills to the old customer.

"Alright, it's time to collect the elixirs."

"I'll collect the elixirs this time; in the future, I will slowly let you operate the refining of Grain-Avoiding Powder yourselves."

Luo Chen said this, activated the Traction Technique, and opened the furnace lid.

A clear and faint fragrance slowly dispersed.

Sister Mi Li, Tang Quan, and the others smelled this fragrance, and their spirits were lifted, as if their stomachs had become full.

Luo Chen's expression moved, and the Grandmaster-level Traction Technique moved slightly.

Soon, a large mass of medicinal paste flew out.

"See, this is actually the true appearance of Grain-Avoiding Powder."

"The pill appearance you usually see is what I kneaded with spiritual power in the alchemy furnace when the elixirs were released."

"When I first refined Grain-Avoiding Powder, I actually got the medicinal paste first, and then kneaded it into pill form with my own hands."

"This large mass of medicinal paste should be able to produce fifty Grain-Avoiding Pills."

"Take it, knead it into pills while it's hot; remember not to touch it directly with your hands, wrap it with bamboo slips!"

Under Luo Chen's traction, that large mass of medicinal paste flew towards Sister Mi Li instantly.

Sister Mi Li hurriedly took it with the prepared utensils and then led a group of people out of the alchemy room.

Soon, loud shouts came from outside.

There was no lack of words like "so hot" and "so fun".

And in the alchemy room where they didn't notice, Luo Chen reached out and beckoned.

The furnace lid flipped, and a golden-colored elixir was attached to it.

"Is this the result of the Great Perfection Grain-Avoiding Powder?"