An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Kang Dongyue responded, ”So what if I source from you? And what if I don’t?”

Luo Chen somewhat nervously said, ”If you’re not sourcing from me, then it’s my personal secret. But if you are, I’ll do my best to increase production and meet your demand.”

Haha.

Seeing his nervous expression, Kang Dongyue burst into laughter, and Shopkeeper Liu next to him chuckled as well.

Then Kang Dongyue said regretfully, ”It seems we can’t work together. Low-grade pills come with significant side effects. If something goes wrong, my Kang family can’t handle the wrath of certain people.”

With that said, it meant no cooperation. Luo Chen wasn’t disappointed. He was well aware of the flaws of the Myriad Wonders pill. Whenever he sold them, he’d remind buyers to enjoy in moderation and not overindulge.

And since his current sales were limited, with most customers were the type to live for the moment, he hadn’t encountered any trouble yet.

The solution to such troubles was straightforward. That was to upgrade the pill’s quality, retaining its potency while removing sufficient impurities. Luo Chen was confident he could achieve this quickly.

According to his experience with fasting pills, Beginner to Skilled levels were low-grade. Proficient and Perfection levels were mid-grade. Once at Grandmaster level, they could be upgraded to high-grade. But he couldn’t say this!

The two chatted briefly before Shopkeeper Liu took Kang Dongyue away, saying he would host a banquet for him at the Zhongding family.

The Great Million Mountains near Dahe Market offered some local delicacies that piqued Kang Dongyue’s interest.

From start to finish, he didn’t ask Luo Chen whether he could produce mid-grade Myriad Wonders pills.

It was clear that Luo Chen’s current production capacity was not high. Without increasing production frequency, it was obvious that Luo Chen couldn’t improve the pill’s grade, especially since he was just a rogue cultivator.

After they left, Luo Chen noticed Bai Meiling quietly standing in a corner.

”Here are your medicinal materials.”

”Thanks.”

”So, what you’re selling is…”

”Sorry, right now the Myriad Wonders pill is only for male cultivators. One suitable for female cultivators is still under development. Miss Little Ling, if you need…”

”Leave!”

Luo Chen slinked out of the Hall of Hundred Herbs, feeling a bit regretful.

That was clearly a chance to expand his market and establish a supply channel, but he couldn’t seize it or dare to do it. He couldn’t promise an experienced alchemist that he could improve the pill’s grade in a short time. Doing so would make others curious about how he managed it. His status panel, naturally, couldn’t and wouldn’t be revealed.

The other party might then assume he was an alchemy genius. That title wasn’t exactly a blessing. If word spread, he might be forcibly recruited by a cultivation family and reduced to a mere alchemy tool to earn them spirit stones.

”It all comes down to my low cultivation realm!”

As a Qi-Refining Realm cultivator, he was entirely at others’ mercy.

If he were in the Foundation Establishment Realm, even small sects, let alone cultivation families, would show him some respect.

Even if he joined them, he could maintain considerable autonomy.

Luo Chen sighed and decided to head home.

However, he stopped as he passed by the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion, where he saw a cultivator, a wooden table, and a hanging banner.

On the white banner were the words, ”Debate Platform Grand Opening, Tickets on Sale Now.”

Luo Chen had heard about the Debate Platform for the first time from Chen Xiuping today, but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand what it was.

Previously, when he struggled to find a place to practice spells, he had specifically asked Gu Caiyi. At that time, Gu Caiyi’s solution had been the private dueling platforms set up by the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion.

Apparently, it cost at least one spirit stone, and the price would multiply by a hundred if you needed a sparring partner.

Back then, Luo Chen couldn’t afford it, so he didn’t consider it. Later, he resorted to practicing in his own courtyard. For that, he even ruined the hydrangea seeds Fu Xiuxiu had planted in the corner.

Strictly speaking, the dueling platforms were part of the Jade Cauldron Debate Platform but designated for private practice. And now, the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion was planning to fully open the Debate Platform in Dahe Market!

”Fellow cultivator, is the Debate Platform located in the inner city as well?”

The cultivator at the wooden table was lying down, asleep. Hearing the voice, he slowly raised his head.

Luo Chen froze for a moment, then chuckled. ”Senior Sun, aren’t you in charge of property rentals? Why are you selling tickets now?”

”Hah!” Sun Shou snorted coldly. ”Serving the sect dutifully!”

”You’re the best!” Luo Chen gave him a thumbs-up.

Sun Shou smirked. ”In a few days, the sect will send an outer disciple steward to take over this area. Why aren’t you stuck at home making pills? What are you doing here?”

Luo Chen pointed to the words on the banner.

”I was just passing by and was curious. Where is the Debate Platform located? Is it also inside the Sword Pavilion?”

”Of course not. The Debate Platform is meant to hold tens of thousands of spectators. There’s no way the Sword Pavilion could accommodate that many people.”

Tens of thousands! What big talk!

The total number of cultivators in Dahe Market, including residents and travelers, barely exceeded twenty thousand.

Nearby cultivation families and several mortal cities were not included in the calculation. Especially the latter, which merely served as logistical support for Dahe Market. And now you’re telling me that a Debate Platform can seat tens of thousands of spectators?

Sun Shou didn’t care whether Luo Chen believed him or not, he simply pointed behind the Sword Pavilion and said, ”You know Fallen Phoenix Mountain, right? It’s now renamed the Jade Cauldron Debate Platform.”

Luo Chen looked up and could vaguely see the small mountain at the edge of the inner city.

Interestingly, Dahe Market was situated on flat terrain, bordered by the Great Million Mountains, with the Lancang River flowing nearby, giving the market its name. Yet, when constructing the inner city, a small mountain was included.

According to Gu Caiyi, this was a joint decision by Ai Lao Mountain and Tianfan City when they built the inner city.

With that mountain, they could rely on its terrain to support the city’s defensive formation and suppress the earth’s energies.

The first-tier spirit vein of the inner city was also said to originate from Fallen Phoenix Mountain. However, the mountain was too small and low, with a barren appearance that people hardly noticed after living there for a while.

No one expected the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect to transform it into a Debate Platform.

Luo Chen considered the possibility that leaving the mountain intact was originally intended for constructing the Debate Platform.

”Kid, want to buy a ticket?” Sun Shou asked as he took out a jade token from his storage pouch. ”This time, only ten thousand tickets are for sale. Buy early to enjoy it early, or you’ll miss the grand opening!”

”Limited tickets, huh? How many spirit stones?”

”One hundred spirit stones per ticket, absolutely worth it.”

Luo Chen instinctively clutched his storage pouch. ”Why not just rob? Only fools would buy that.”

Sun Shou sneered. ”You’ve probably never witnessed the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect’s Debate Platform opening. Let me tell you, experiencing it once will give you bragging rights for a lifetime.”

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes. ”So you’ve seen it yourself, huh?”

”Of course! Ten years ago, at the Snow Lotus Market Debate Platform opening, there were puppet battles, demonic beast fights, Foundation Establishment cultivators against second-tier demonic beasts, and so on.”

Luo Chen was stunned to hear it. So many events?

”Want one? Let me tell you, the highlight this time is the fight between the two factions. Although it’s just a battle of Qi-Refining Realm, but it’s a fight to the death where only one can leave the stage alive.”

Luo Chen had already heard about the two factions’ fight, including the number of participants, from Old Man Chen, but he hadn’t known it was a life-or-death fight.

If Wang Yuan took the stage, wouldn’t he have to kill his opponent to step down?

Luo Chen hesitated for a moment and said, ”I’ll take a ticket!”

After all, Wang Yuan was like an older brother to him. Whether it was lending books, giving things, or offering occasional guidance, he had always looked out for him.

He had to see it for himself. If Wang Yuan lost, with his personality, he might not even have anyone to collect his corpse.

Sun Shou took the spirit stones, handed the jade token to Luo Chen, and casually added, ”Well, who knew you had some savings. Since you’re the first buyer, here’s a tip: remember to bet on the Dajiang Gang to win.”

Was that insider information? Wait a minute!

Betting? The Dajiang Gang to win? Damn, are you rigging the fight, is this a rigged match!