Chapter 181

After leaving Five Creek Mountain, Chen Luo spent half a month before he finally returned to the area of Blackstone City.

The majestic mountains soared into the clouds; even having seen them once before, their grandeur still left him awestruck upon his return.

On the mountain path, Chen Luo boarded a carriage bound for the Inner City once again.

Halfway up the mountain, where icy winds bit like knives, the cave he had destroyed was now fully restored. After a brief rest, accompanied by an Inner City relay cultivator, he finally entered the heart of Blackstone City.

As soon as he reached the summit, the air warmed considerably.

Compared to the harsh weather below, it felt like entering a completely different world.

“Stay in Blackstone City costs ten spirit stones per day. Your temporary identity tokens are valid for three days only. If you don’t renew after that, the formation will automatically expel you.”

The relay cultivator handed them each a token before driving off with the carriage.

Aware of these rules, those who came to Blackstone City hastily departed after receiving their temporary tokens.

Alone at the entrance to Blackstone City’s main street, Chen Luo spread his divine sense wide open. He could distinctly feel the rich fluctuations of spiritual energy in the air. This was indeed the location of the third-order spiritual vein, and also where Patriarch Blackstone practiced secluded cultivation.

The streets bustled with people, various merchants engaged in different trades. Chen Luo observed that everyone in Blackstone City was a cultivation practitioner; even the vendors at the stalls possessed initial Qi Refinement cultivation bases.

There wasn’t a single ordinary person.

“I’ll find a place to rest first, then inquire about cultivation techniques and information on the Demonseed Sect.”

Following the main street, Chen Luo spotted a decent-looking inn and entered. The inn was sparsely populated, and someone immediately approached him upon arrival.

“Sir, what would you like to eat?”

Chen Luo found a window-side seat and glanced at the menu board, surprise flickering in his eyes.

High prices were expected, but it was these dishes that caught him off guard.

On the menu, he saw monster cultivator meat for sale. Although only from creatures in the Qi Refinement realm, using them as food was still incredibly luxurious. In the Sacred Lake Immortal Sect, monsters were pitifully scarce. He had gone through great lengths just to acquire some monster heads, yet here they were being treated as mere ingredients.

“This one, this one too, and that one as well! I’ll have one of each for every dish with a head on it!”

Chen Luo pointed at over a dozen dishes in quick succession.

His supply of spirit stones was abundant, thanks to Elder An’s inheritance, Yue Qingping’s support, and the tributes from the underworld factions in Five Creek City. He hadn’t even bothered to count how many spirit stones he possessed.

“Coming right up.”

The waiter’s spirits instantly lifted at Chen Luo’s extravagant ordering.

Even the shopkeeper’s face broke into a smile.

Such behavior naturally drew the attention of another table. The inn wasn’t crowded to begin with, so Chen Luo’s solo feast inevitably caught people’s eyes. A man and woman directly got up and sat down across from Chen Luo.

“Is this your first time in Blackstone City?” asked the woman dressed in white, curiosity evident in her voice.

Chen Luo glanced at them both.

Late Qi Refinement ninth layer and tenth layer – one at the peak of Qi Refinement, the other at its perfection. Not weak at all.

“It certainly is,” Chen Luo replied with a hint of a smile. I was planning to inquire about information anyway; having someone offer voluntarily couldn’t be better.

“Are both of you cultivators from Blackstone City? Could you please give me an overview of the city?” As he spoke, he retrieved two spirit stones from his storage bag and placed them on the table.

These were mid-grade spirit stones.

Each one was equivalent to ten low-grade spirit stones.

He had already scanned the area with divine sense and determined that the man sitting across from him was the most powerful presence in the inn, with a cultivation base at the tenth level of Qi Refinement. This made him the ideal person to ask for information.

“Fellow Daoist, thank you for your kindness.”

A hint of delight flashed across the man’s face.

It wasn’t that they were impoverished; rather, Blackstone City’s expenses were simply too high. Although this place boasted abundant spiritual energy, staying here cost ten spirit stones per day. He and his junior sister had depleted all their savings just to remain in the city. Their visit to the inn today was also part of their plan to take on some side quests, hoping to earn extra income. They never expected to encounter such a wealthy benefactor before even receiving a task.

“Blackstone City serves as the cultivation ground for Ancestor Blackstone. The entire city is built upon a third-order spiritual vein, with the spiritual energy becoming more potent as one approaches the Holy Mountain. Beyond the city limits, Blackstone City is divided into three distinct regions, each controlled by different factions: Blackstone Mountain, the Hundred Monsters Alliance, and the Loose Cultivators Union.”

Three major powerhouses?

Chen Luo nodded thoughtfully.

“And what about entities outside these three main forces?”

“Oh, there are plenty more,” the man continued. “The third-order spiritual vein is highly attractive. Apart from the three major powers, there are nearly twenty smaller sects here. These minor sects operate under the auspices of the larger factions and often use their names publicly.”

Chen Luo nodded, taking mental notes.

He didn’t hear anything about the Demonseed Sect from this man’s account, nor would he be foolish enough to ask directly. If the Demonseed Sect truly held such sway, inquiring openly could draw unwanted attention. That might prompt someone to report his interest, potentially leading to complications.

“Which faction do you two represent?” Chen Luo asked.

“We’re disciples of the Bao Yin Pavilion,” the woman interjected. “Our pavilion is one of those twenty smaller sects I mentioned earlier. Our leader is a Foundation Establishment cultivator with formidable strength.”

As they finished their meal, Chen Luo gained a solid understanding of Blackstone City’s dynamics. Unlike the chaos outside, the city was remarkably safe. The three major powers wouldn’t tolerate disturbances within these walls, and with Patriarch Blackstone overseeing everything, rogue cultivators considered Blackstone City a sacred sanctuary—a place they yearned for day and night.

After bidding farewell to his newfound acquaintances, Chen Luo reached out tentatively towards the brains of the cooked beasts before him.

This result was as expected. After settling his bill, he rose and left the inn. Having gathered the basic information he needed, it was time to pursue his own agenda.

The third building on the left housed the Hundred Monsters Market—the first stop on Chen Luo’s itinerary.

His primary objective was to acquire a Core Formation technique. Even if he couldn’t purchase one outright, he still needed ingredients for the Jade Bone Pill. The ‘Demon Bone Array Sigil Art’ he’d obtained from the pig monster represented a top-tier body refinement method; however, lack of resources had prevented him from making any progress thus far.

The Jade Bone Pill would be the perfect solution to this problem.

Entering the market, Chen Luo first bought several copies of local news before lingering outside a particular shop for about half an hour—long enough to ensure he’d found the right place. Only then did he step inside.

“I need a tier-3 cultivation manual and some Blood Jade Marrow. Give me your best price,” he said matter-of-factly. Blood Jade Marrow was the primary ingredient used in refining the Jade Bone Pill, something neither Bai Gu Ridge nor Five Creek Mountain possessed.

The proprietor of the medicinal pill shop glanced up at Chen Luo, scanning him from head to toe before speaking. “Are you sure you’re not pulling my leg? Asking for a cultivation manual here! And Blood Jade Marrow—a top-tier second-rank spirit material? Even if I could get my hands on such a thing, there’s no way it’d be sold in a humble little shop like mine.”

“Nothing at all?”

Chen Luo frowned. Before entering, he had meticulously scanned the shop with his divine sense. He knew this establishment secretly dealt in clandestine goods; theoretically, it should have been the most informed place in Blackstone City.

The shopkeeper rose and approached, retrieving an object from within a cabinet.

“I’m unsure where you heard about our humble store, fellow Daoist, but I must inform you that acquiring these two items cannot be resolved with ordinary spirit stones.”

As he spoke, the shopkeeper opened the box to reveal a jade token inside.

“This is a pass for the Jade Spring Chamber of Commerce,” he explained. “With this, you may access the secret market, where you might find what you seek.”

He slid the box closer, yet kept his hand firmly pressed upon it.

Chen Luo produced a pouch of spirit stones and set it on the table. The shopkeeper merely smiled, showing no intention of lifting his hand.

“Inadequate,” he stated.

Chen Luo’s expression turned icy. The pouch contained a substantial sum—this shopkeeper clearly intended to exploit him as easy prey.

“You’re certain?” Chen Luo asked, reaching out to press against the other end of the box. His gesture released an unmistakable aura of Foundation Establishment cultivation.

The shopkeeper’s expression froze, his face paling instantly. His hand involuntarily released its grip on the box.

“It was my mistake, Senior,” he stammered. “These spirit stones were…”

As the shopkeeper withdrew his hand, reaching for his storage pouch, he discovered it lay empty. The pouch that had been brimming with spirit stones now held but a solitary stone, resting there alone.

Robbery was clearly out of the question—both against Blackstone City’s rules and Pill Master Chen’s conscience. So, he’d thoughtfully left one spirit stone behind. This way, it wouldn’t count as robbery; at worst, it might be seen as aggressive bargaining.

The shopkeeper’s fingers hovered over that single spirit stone, swallowing hard.

Ever since Chen Luo unleashed the aura of Foundation Establishment, the entire apothecary had fallen silent. Even in Blackstone City, a Foundation Establishment cultivator belonged to the elite tier! They weren’t someone the Qi Refinement realm cultivators could afford to provoke.

“Senior… I’m also part of the Yuquan Chamber of Commerce. Our employer is Great King Hei Lang of the Hundred Monsters Alliance.”

“I know,” Chen Luo replied, pocketing the jade token and patting the shopkeeper’s shoulder. “That’s not what I’m asking about. Do you have enough spirit stones?”

“Oh, yes, certainly.”

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth and nodded in acquiescence. This time, he had been in the wrong from the start. If he truly angered this Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was also a mighty repairman, at worst they might fine him some spirit stones. No one would seriously pursue any further consequences.

“Excellent,” Chen Luo said, tucking away the jade token before turning on his heel and leaving.

Only after Chen Luo departed did those present finally breathe sighs of relief. Several individuals swiftly left to inform their sects about the appearance of an unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivator. The shopkeeper remained standing in place, his face alternating between shades of green and white, taking a long moment to gather himself.

This transaction has cost me dearly! he thought ruefully.

“Well then? Shopkeeper, how much profit did you make?” A weaselly rogue cultivator, with shifty eyes and a furtive demeanor, burst into the scene. He had been lurking around the inn earlier.

Ever since witnessing Chen Luo’s extravagant spending, he’d spotted a fat lamb ripe for shearing. Upon exiting the inn, he’d wasted no time in bringing news of this ‘lamb’ to the shopkeeper, envisioning a hefty payday.

“Piss off!” the shopkeeper snarled, fury surging within him at the sight of this interloper.

If not for this meddlesome fellow, he wouldn’t have suffered such a loss. Only an idiot would mistake a Foundation Establishment cultivator for easy prey—a “fat lamb” indeed!

As the shopkeeper contemplated the spirit stones he’d had to cover out-of-pocket, his heart bled with each agonizing thought.