Chapter 109: Qi-Refining Insights and The Auction (II)

After the meeting, Luo Chen sought out Mi Junping.

From her, he collected five bottles of qi-nourishing pills, a box of calming incense, and his profit share of seven hundred fifty spirit stones.

At that moment, Mi Junping's expression was far from pleasant. Even when she was cultivating, she hadn't enjoyed such perks. Her father treated Luo Chen better than his own daughter. She even began to suspect that Luo Chen might be her half-brother.

He had shed blood for the Poshan Gang—albeit from accidentally scraping his hand on the alchemy furnace while refining pills—and had offered his skills and sweat to Mi Shuhua. Every single pill, every hard-earned spirit stone, he felt he’d more than earned. With a satisfied grin, he packed the items into his storage pouch and called for Gu Caiyi. It was time to return to the inner city for a grand shopping spree.

After all, it was the start of a new month, and ingredients for the essence nurturing liquid weren’t going to buy themselves. A single box of calming incense only lasted twelve days at most—he’d need to supplement that from his own pocket if he wanted to keep up his current cultivation speed.

Several hours and several purchases later, Luo Chen’s previously well-fed wallet had deflated considerably. He was left with only seven hundred spirit stones in savings.

But to him, it was more than worth it.

In this ruthless world of cultivation, hesitation was a surefire path to stagnation. Only by going all in could he pave his way forward. His supplies now replenished, Luo Chen returned to the SiHeYuan, brimming with anticipation.

With the essence nurturing liquid prepared and another round of intensive cultivation ahead, he eagerly awaited the day he would break into the late stage of Qi-Refining. One month. That was his goal.

The path to power waited for no one.

***

In the open-air SiHeYuan courtyard, the copper pots bubbled on the stoves, filling the night air with rich, savory aromas. Tonight, Luo Chen played the host once again.

For some reason, after Fu Xiuxiu left, Luo Chen took over her role of uniting the neighbors. Every month, like clockwork, he organized a neighborly feast—not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to build camaraderie among the cultivators who shared this courtyard life.

This time, everyone had pitched in with ingredients. Qin Liangchen, ever generous, had brought over a sizable cut of unicorn ram meat. Unlike ordinary mountain goats, the unicorn ram was a demonic beast known for its raw strength and ferocity. Its power was marked by the horns atop its head—one horn denoted a first-tier beast, two horns a second-tier, and if it ever grew four horns, it would ascend to become a Qiangyuan Ram, a true Beast Emperor.

Under Luo Chen’s skilled blade, the tough meat was expertly carved and simmered into tender slices. On this crisp autumn night, the courtyard was filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation as steaming bowls of hot mutton circulated among the neighbors.

“Dahe Market’s really changed,” someone commented between bites. “Back then, who would’ve dared hunt a unicorn ram? First-tier demonic beasts were no joke.”

“Right?” another chimed in. “Now the fellow daoists on the Elite Prodigy Board not only duel at the Debate Platform, they’re constantly heading into the mountains to sharpen themselves.

"Who knows if they're doing it for longevity or just for the thrill of battle?"

“Maybe both,” someone said. “They each have their own reasons, I suppose.”

As everyone exchanged news and local gossip, Luo Chen sat quietly, listening and absorbing the changes sweeping across Dahe Market.

For instance, the most famous names on the Dahe Elite Prodigy Board were nearly all young cultivators of near Foundation Establishment families. Their victories weren’t merely personal milestones—they were banners of honor hoisted for their families. If someone maintained an undefeated record, it’d boost a family’s status overnight, opening doors to new partnerships, intimidating rivals in commercial negotiations, and expanding their sphere of influence across the region.

Luo Chen curiously inquired about the aftermath of the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's death in Ai Lao Mountain.

But no one could provide a definitive answer.

Qin Liangchen and Murong Qinglian said the incident had fizzled out without resolution. Gu Caiyi, relying on the whisper networks she still had from her days at Tianxiang Tower, shared that the Golden Core Adept from Ai Lao Mountain had returned to his sect in a fury. Meanwhile, Bai Meiling added that the Supreme Elder of Ai Lao Mountain had reportedly gone to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect to demand accountability.

The last piece of news was the most credible, yet also the most absurd.

It made sense for Ai Lao Mountain to demand accountability from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, but as a mere Golden Core sect, how could they dare provoke a Nascent Soul-level great sect?

Thus, Luo Chen received no definitive information. He didn't give it much thought. After all, matters involving Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, or even Nascent Soul sects had nothing to do with his life.

As the neighbors continued chatting over bubbling pots of mutton, the courtyard door creaked open.

A man with sharp, sword-like features strode into the courtyard. He paused, eyes narrowing at the unfamiliar scene before him. Around the courtyard, cultivators in relaxed poses sat chatting and dipping meat into boiling copper pots. The warmth of the stoves and the clinking of chopsticks created a strangely cozy atmosphere.

Duan Feng hesitated.

Had he stepped into the wrong courtyard? Was this some mundane farmhouse rather than a cultivator's residence?

The others glanced at him, unsure how to respond to the new arrival. Before the awkwardness could take root, Luo Chen was already on his feet.

"Fellow Daoist Duan, back so late?" he called out with a smile. "Come, sit down and have a bite. Get to know the neighbors!"

Without waiting for a response, Luo Chen strode over, took Duan Feng by the arm, and practically dragged him to an empty seat at the table.

Duan Feng looked uneasy. Always reserved and laconic, he sat down with the posture of a man on edge. But he didn’t protest.

With Luo Chen's introductions, the others got to know Duan Feng one by one. Duan Feng, true to form, didn’t say much, but he didn’t put on any airs either. He offered a brief introduction and remained seated, back straight, hands politely on his knees.

"Try the mutton," Luo Chen offered, holding out a bowl. "This is unicorn ram meat, specially bought by Big Brother Qin."

"I know," Duan Feng replied flatly. "I killed it."

Uh?

The entire table paused mid-bite. Chopsticks froze in the air.

Duan Feng looked around, frowning slightly. "If you bought it at the West Market butcher, it was probably the one I hunted."

Qin Liangchen blinked. "...I did bought it at West Market."

An awkward silence followed, but Luo Chen chuckled and quickly smoothed things over, changing the subject with practiced ease. The warmth returned to the gathering like a log tossed on a dying fire.

"Brother Duan, you’re strong enough to take down a unicorn ram on your own," Luo Chen said with admiration. "I noticed last time you’re ranked nineteenth on the Elite Prodigy Board. That’s no small feat!"

Duan Feng looked up, blinking once. "It’s fifteenth now."

Another beat of silence.

Huh?

Everyone was taken aback.

Luo Chen was momentarily stunned but recovered with a laugh. "Even more impressive! I guess I need to pay more attention to the rankings."

As the evening wore on and the pots continued to bubble, Luo Chen gradually pieced together the truth behind Duan Feng’s cold attitude.

Despite his aloof and sharp-edged demeanor, Duan Feng was polite and respectful. He didn’t forcefully reject kindness. He said thank you. He even engaged in light conversation when prompted—though he had a tendency to respond with unintentionally sharp remarks that made people pause.

In Luo Chen’s eyes, such a person was actually a great candidate for a friend. He might not be friendly on the surface, but in a real crisis, he’d be the first to act—steadfast, reliable, and direct. Of course, judging someone's character couldn't be done through just two or three interactions.

After freeloading the hotpot for a while, Duan Feng finally began to look a little embarrassed. Without a word, he stood up and slipped back into his house. Moments later, he returned, carrying a small basket of pristine, pale-shelled eggs. As he shut the door behind him, a chicken clucked audibly from inside.

Qin Liangchen raised an eyebrow. "What's this?" he asked, then blinked in surprise. "Yangwu eggs?"

Duan Feng gave a curt acknowledgement, washed the eggs, and tossed them into the pot.

Duan Feng gave a short nod. He moved to the side, rinsed the eggs in the water basin, and casually dropped them into the bubbling hotpot.

"This is a real treat. I heard these go for one spirit stone per egg. You've really gone all out," Qin Liangchen said.

Duan Feng remained nonchalant. "It’s fine. That Yangwu chicken was an heirloom from my mother. I usually eat one egg a day."

He spoke with such composure that it made his generosity feel effortless. But Luo Chen blinked, his expression betraying a flicker of confusion.

Wait—wasn’t that chicken a rooster?

It crowed every morning! How could my "chicken bro" lay eggs?

Nevertheless, Luo Chen had to commend Duan Feng for his generosity. When Luo Chen had first attended these gatherings, he freeloaded without contributing anything. In comparison, Duan Feng was clearly the sensitive and responsible type. Honest people always felt the need to repay kindness quickly.

As he ate the Yangwu egg, it tasted even better. After all, it was an egg laid by his "chicken bro".

After the meal, Murong Qinglian and Feng Xia naturally moved to handle cleanup, collecting bowls and scrubbing the pots. Gu Caiyi joined in, drying dishes and tidying the table as her gaze drifted toward the three men still chatting over leftover wine.

She sighed softly. "I thought that after Fu Xiuxiu left, these courtyard dinners would come to an end.

"I didn't expect Luo Chen to carry it on."

Murong Qinglian tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled, her voice gentle. "Little Luo might seem carefree on the surface, but he's actually quite sensitive. I think he really appreciates the simplicity of our courtyard and doesn't want it to become like the Poshan Gang, where everything is about profit."

Recalling today's scenes in the Radiant Moon Hall meeting, Gu Caiyi remained silent.

Gu Caiyi didn’t answer right away. Her mind wandered to the earlier gathering in Radiant Moon Hall—backroom deals, guarded words, hidden motives. In the world of cultivators, everything was weighed and calculated: profits, power, opportunities, even a single spirit stone.

This made things feel cold, stark, even ruthless.

But here... in this little SiHeYuan tucked away in the inner city, with mismatched chairs, bubbling pots, and clumsy jokes—everything was simple, and most importantly, real.

And that was a rarity in their world.

***

Inside his room, Luo Chen stepped out of the copper cauldron, steam rising from his soaked skin in wisps. He reached for his robe and slipped it on with practiced ease, water trailing down his shoulders as damp strands of hair clung to his face.

Compared to the spirit vein cavern hidden beneath Crescent Moon Valley, the cultivation environment at home was severely lacking. Even with the aid of essence nurturing liquid and calming incense, the progress he made here in one night couldn’t hold a candle to a single session in that spirit-rich underground chamber.

With a low sigh, Luo Chen ran a hand through his wet hair and muttered to himself, “Looks like I’ll need to come up with more reasons to stay overnight at the Alchemy Hall...”