Chapter 114: It’s Useless Telling Me

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: It’s Useless Telling Me

"Prices in the Black Market are higher. Plus, considering Fire Dragon Valley’s unique environment and how Spiritual Cuisine can rapidly restore stamina and Spiritual Power, I think three thousand is probably too low."

Yang Haichen thought for a moment. He had been observing the prices here for the past few days. An item that cost one thousand Spirit Stones outside would sell for two thousand here.

In that case, a normal price for a serving of Spiritual Cuisine should be at least four thousand Spirit Stones. And with the trial currently underway, it’s perfectly normal for the price to be a bit higher.

"How about five thousand Spirit Stones, or one pillar of light in exchange for one serving of Spiritual Cuisine?"

Liu Chen nodded slowly. The number of Spirit Stones wasn’t that important, but the pillars of light were. Although the various factions in this trial certainly had their own miscellaneous goals, the single most common objective was, ultimately, the pillars of light.

This would be a perfect way to conceal the fact that he had already obtained two pillars of light. The loot he’d acquired could also be legitimized this way. Then, even if Liu Chen were to openly carry Yu Haenze’s spear, the Black Feather Dynasty wouldn’t be able to say a thing.

"Pillars of light... that’s right. Aside from Qingxu Hall, Thunder Mountain, and some of the old, established Noble Families, the other families probably already know how many spots the higher-ups will allow them to obtain. For them, selling off any extra pillars of light would be the best choice. And that goes without saying for the Loose Cultivators—the pillars are meaningless to them, but Spiritual Cuisine is a different story."

Yang Haichen nodded. Although they might encounter many problems, there was no denying that this plan was entirely feasible.

"Then five thousand Spirit Stones it is. It’s a shame that senior left, otherwise I could have traded for even more things."

Liu Chen nodded. He casually glanced at the rooms in the courtyard, found one that showed no signs of being occupied, and walked straight in. He then used the Purification Technique to clean the room.

Yang Haichen really wanted to ask about the details, but seeing Junior Brother Liu’s demeanor, he decided to drop it. ’The best news is that Liu Chen is still alive. As for who he made a deal with in the outer region... would anyone really dare go to Purple Bamboo Peak and ask for specifics?’

"Junior Brother, get some rest first. I’ll go outside and see what ingredients are available."

Yang Haichen turned and left immediately. Now that Liu Chen was here, his recent days of suffering were finally coming to an end. If nothing else, he would at least be able to eat something instead of just burning through Spirit Stones to survive.

"Take care, Senior Brother."

Liu Chen walked out of the room and glanced at Senior Brother Ren, who was still in the courtyard. This senior brother, at Body Tempering Peak and already trying to break through to the Meridian Passage Realm, now had his Spiritual Sense dissipating uncontrollably. If he was truly left unattended, the idea of using Spiritual Cuisine to prolong his life would be a joke.

Liu Chen used his Spiritual Sense to probe the senior brother’s condition. He sent a Purification Technique directly into the man’s body, then took out a porcelain vial and waited quietly.

The streams of the Purification Technique washed away the toxins in Senior Brother Ren’s body. If Liu Chen had used his full power, he could have made his senior brother stand up right away. But since he wanted to remain low-key, Liu Chen only forced out the portion of the poison that was life-threatening.

A few drops of crimson poison fell into the porcelain vial. Liu Chen sealed it with the Solid Spirit Technique and placed it in his Storage Ring.

After finishing this task, Liu Chen slowly entered his chosen room and began to adjust the layout. If nothing unexpected happened, he would be spending the next twenty days here, so it naturally needed some tidying up.

While tidying up, Liu Chen secretly used his Spiritual Sense to monitor Senior Brother Ren’s condition. The first thing to recover was his Spiritual Sense, after which the Spiritual Power in his body began to gradually expel the toxins. Clearly, his life was not in danger for the time being.

Even if this senior brother couldn’t expel the poison completely, he only needed to suppress it until the end of the trial. Someone would naturally help him remove it then.

Once he confirmed his senior brother was fine, Liu Chen sat down in his room and began to cultivate. The tenth day of the ninth month was almost over. The entire day had been spent investigating and scouting, which, from a certain perspective, meant another day of cultivation time wasted.

Liu Chen had originally planned to rely on his Cultivation and Magic Realm to dominate the rest of the trial. But after understanding the situation in the central region of Fire Dragon Valley, Liu Chen felt he might have a better way to help Purple Cloud Valley secure more spots—and in the process, he wouldn’t make enemies with anyone.

’If that’s the case, why not do it?’

This plan didn’t have high requirements for one’s Magic Realm, so Liu Chen focused his cultivation on his Meridian Passage Technique. He wasn’t worried about being disturbed while cultivating. Given Senior Brother Ren’s current state, even two junior sisters at Body Tempering Beginner could finish him off with a small knife.

As for Senior Brother Yang, he had always been a sensible person and definitely wouldn’t be idle enough to probe this area with his Spiritual Sense. There was even less need to worry about others. Whether they probed openly or secretly, it would undoubtedly be considered a declaration of war against Purple Cloud Valley.

In the inner region, the only ones qualified to challenge Purple Cloud Valley were Qingxu Hall, Thunder Mountain, and the Black Feather Royal Family. However, none of these three factions would be foolish enough to declare war on Purple Cloud Valley directly.

Besides, Liu Chen was confident in his own Spiritual Sense. It was slightly stronger than his two senior brothers’, allowing him not only to suppress the fluctuations generated during his cultivation but also to sense them in advance if they came looking for him.

***

"Fellow Daoist Yang, is there anything you need? The Fire Wolf Gang can handle it for you."

Yang Haichen had just stepped out and hadn’t even reached the usual trading spot when a burly man walked straight up to him. He hadn’t wanted to come, but his subordinates had collected a toll from an Inner Sect Disciple of Purple Cloud Valley—and at ten times the normal rate.

If word of this got out, the Fire Wolf Gang, which held some sway in Fire Dragon Valley, would probably be eradicated on the spot. The only reason the Fire Wolf Gang still existed was that they had managed not to offend the Three Immortal Sects while also using their status as locals to provide them with some conveniences.

But if they dared to charge a toll to an Inner Sect Disciple from one of the sects, the Three Immortal Sects would join forces and wipe them out immediately, just to prevent other Loose Cultivators occupying the mountain passes from following their example.

"You got here quickly, Chief Hu."

Yang Haichen glanced at him. Although the man before him was at Meridian Passage Beginner, he was ultimately just a Loose Cultivator in Fire Dragon Valley. Forget offending Junior Brother Liu; if he had offended even an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple of Purple Cloud Valley, someone would willingly deliver his head tonight.

"You jest, Fellow Daoist Yang. About this afternoon, my subordinate was blind and didn’t recognize who he was dealing with."

Jackal leaned in and said helplessly. In a one-on-one fight, he might be able to defeat the prodigy from Purple Cloud Valley before him. But if he dared to raise a fist, the surrounding disciples from Purple Cloud Valley, and even those from Thunder Mountain and Qingxu Hall, would all choose to side with Yang Haichen.

Even the Black Feather Royal Family wouldn’t want to face off against the Three Immortal Sects at the same time.

"Telling me is useless; I’m not the one involved. Have you ever considered what it means for someone with a Body Tempering Early Stage cultivation to enter Fire Dragon Valley?"

Yang Haichen squinted, sizing up the Jackal before him. According to the information he had received, there was a pillar of light right at the Fire Wolf Gang’s headquarters. Since Junior Brother Liu wanted to trade Spiritual Cuisine for pillars of light, it proved he had his own plans for the trial.

And the Fire Wolf Gang, which possessed one of these pillars of light, had just offended Junior Brother Liu!