Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 174: Nanwa is gone, old friend visits in the snow. The sky changes, living high above everything

This was his first visit to the Zhenlong Black Market.

It was during the chaos caused by the opening of the Golden Core ruins in The Great River District.

It was also when Luo Chen auctioned off the Blood Ignition Pill, capturing Tian Xingzi’s attention and laying the groundwork for future collaborations. Therefore, Luo Chen still remembered his first black-market auction vividly. He distinctly remembered that there were three Foundation Establishment Cultivators present at the time.

Excluding Tian Xingzi, the black market’s ringmaster, the two remaining parties’ movements were rather suspicious.

In the Golden Core ruins, there were Supreme Elder Ghost God Valley’s legacy, filled not only with Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures but also Magic ’ Items, even opportunities closely related to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s Core Formation.

Under such circumstances, the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators did not try their luck at the ruins.

Instead, they chose to participate in the black-market auction, undoubtedly raising some suspicions.

At the time, Luo Chen didn’t have the extensive knowledge he has now. His encounters with Foundation Establishment Cultivators were merely brief glimpses at the Zhong Ding Family’s Golden Core Banquet.

So, he didn’t recognize these two men.

Later on, after several black market auctions and having seen numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he became familiar with a few Foundation Establishment True Cultivators who were mainly active around The Great River District.

Through some minute details and the tone of their conversations.

He finally confirmed that the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators present at the first black-market auction were Duan Qiankun and Elder Zhou of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance.

After all, the circle was so big, and there were only so many people.

Even with disguises, Luo Chen was no fool.

He could naturally discern who was who.

He remembered that Duan Qiankun’s main purpose for participating in the black-market auction was for the eight-hundred-year-old Heavenly Root.

In pursuit of this item, he even verbally agreed to a condition proposed by Elder Zhou.

Later, in a conversation with Miao Wen, he vaguely learned about what had actually transpired on the night of the Broken Mountain Gang’s downfall.

In a five-on-one assault, Mi Shuhua was attacked.

Even Lu Jiushi, the Golden Core Ascendant Master honored by the Lianyun Merchant Alliance, was involved.

Among them was also Duan Qiankun’s participation.

Luo Chen knew that Duan Qiankun and Mi Shuhua rose together in The Great River District, their relationship being very close.

So, the condition he agreed to must have been what caused Duan Qiankun to turn against Mi Shuhua.

All these past events seemed foggy.

But as Luo Chen’s realm elevated, his network expanded, and everything became clear upon reflection.

What’s past is past.

Thinking more about these things would only provide a clearer picture that’s it.

What Luo Chen cared about was the Heavenly Root that Duan Qiankun had won at the auction.

The Heavenly Root!

A peculiar medicine useful for breaking through cultivation levels, possessing miraculous effects!

Every three hundred years marked a minor cycle, and every three thousand years a major cycle.

For every additional three hundred years, a cultivator’s chances of reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage could increase by ten percent.

An eight-hundred-year-old Heavenly Root could potentially increase a Qi Refinement Cultivator’s chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage by a full twenty percent.

This was only slightly lower than the market availability of a Foundation Establishment Pill by ten percent.

If a Pill Refinement Grandmaster is asked to refine it into a medium, or even an ascending grade, Foundation Establishment Pill, this chance could be raised to forty or fifty percent!

Furthermore, as a peculiar medicine for breaking through cultivation levels,

The advantage of the Heavenly Root doesn’t end there.

Generally, if one fails to break through a realm, one endures light backlash resulting in damage to one’s meridians,

or, in severe cases, destroying one’s dantian and having a violent surge of spirit power resulting in instantaneous death.

If one uses the Heavenly Root to break through, even if one fails, the mild medicinal properties can ensure that the cultivator doesn’t suffer from severe injuries.

This was the extraordinary feature of this breakthrough medicine.

Duan Qiankun paid a huge price for this item, and it’s undeniable that it’s not for his own use.

Duan Rui!

Even after two failures, Duan Qiankun still didn’t give up on him.

The auctioned eight-hundred-year-old Heavenly Root is evidently still intended to help him reach the Foundation Establishment Stage.

From the subsequent events, it appears that Duan Qiankun frequently participates in black-market auctions to collect resources for his family, as he’s trying to collect more supplementary Foundation Establishment resources.

Restoring Yang Water, Glass Sky Balm, Calming incense…

All these things, more or less, aid in reaching Foundation Establishment.

They serve as alternatives for many Rogue Cultivators when they can’t obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill for breakthroughs.

Even when all these are added up, it is not as good as a single Foundation Establishment Pill.

But, something is still better than nothing.

Under circumstances where he could not find a third Foundation Establishment

Pill in a short period, and his lifespan is running out, Duan Qiankun had already planned to use the Heavenly Root to give Duan Rui one last shot at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

It is said that things do not pass three times!

Perhaps if Duan Rui dares to bet his life this time, there’s a high chance he could succeed.

If he succeeds, there would be two people in the Duan family who’ve reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Then how could Duan Feng possibly seek revenge?

“I can’t tell him!”

“If I tell him today, Duan Feng might just charge at them tomorrow.

He’s definitely capable of rash actions like this.”

But I can’t just stand by and let him throw himself at their mercy.”

He watched as Duan Feng, who was pouring out drink after drink, quickly drained Luo Chen’s wine gourd.

Luo Chen furrowed his brows, snatching away the wine gourd given to him by Little Moon Grandfather.

“Enough, if you drink any more I’ll run out of wine.”

Stingy much? Didn’t you say the drinks were on you?”

“Hmph, your story’s finished too, isn’t it!”

Duan Feng was taken aback, then chuckled and shook his head.

He leaned on the table and spoke elusively: “You’re right, my life has been largely unremarkable. The only good times were when my mother looked after me. Back then, all I thought about was when I became successful in my cultivation, I’d make her a Magic Tool Bracelet. One that’s very beautiful and has strong defensive capabilities…”

Luo Chen looked at him helplessly.

Standing up, he pushed the door open.

The piercing cold wind blew in.

Along with it, was a woman who jumped back as if she were a startled doe. “You’re not alone, you have us, your friends.”