Chapter 159: Elite Black Market, Recycling Second-Hand Enchanted Artifacts (III)

"Can this thing really be used for alchemy?" Luo Chen muttered, his mind swirling with possibilities as he listened to the faint wails coming from the burning Qinghe demon.

The eerie cries from the flames set Luo Chen’s imagination alight.

Meanwhile, the fire handlers in the alchemy room found the sound incredibly unsettling. After the Hall Leader returned today, he had given them a Qinghe demon. Once ignited, it had proven surprisingly effective.

However, the faint and continuous noises it emitted made them feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

"But its cost is far higher than ordinary firewood." Luo Chen noted.

Functionality was one thing, but cost was an entirely different matter. Luo Chen began pondering how to maximize the value of using Qinghe demons as alchemical fire.

"Whether it’s the Myriad Wonders pill or the Jade Essence pill, this demonic flame isn’t really necessary." Luo Chen dubbed the flames produced by the burning Qinghe demon as demonic fire. "With its powerful and easily adjustable heat, it might be viable for crafting second tier pills, but the cost is likely too prohibitive."

After all, it was the first tier wood-element demonic spirit and could be classified as a first-tier demonic beast. Although it was among the weakest demonic beasts, posed no threat, and held little intrinsic value as a demonic beast.

Yet a single one cost ten spirit stones to purchase. It was useful for artifact forging since some materials required extremely high temperatures.

Typically, forging enchanted artifacts necessitated the use of earth fire. The Qinghe demon was certainly a clever workaround. Moreover, the profit margin for a single artifact far surpassed that of pills.

However, pills didn’t require such high temperatures; the melting points of medicinal materials were far lower than that of metals.

After some thorough research, Luo Chen couldn’t help but sigh at the wasted potential.

This thing was undoubtedly a good resource, but its usefulness was frustratingly limited. At present, I simply couldn’t find an effective use for it.

No, wait... What if I use it to refine Blood-Burning pills?

The firewood previously used for refining Blood-Burning pills wasn’t the common Green Steel wood or peach wood—it was Sweet Wax wood.

Sweet Wax wood got its name from a first-tier demonic beast that secreted a sticky fluid onto it during its hatching and metamorphosis. The fluid had a sweet smell, and when dried, it resembled the waxy residue left by a burning candle, thus earning its name.

In the alchemical recipe he devised, one of the main ingredients for the Blood-Burning pill was Explosive Ape blood. The demonic power contained in the alchemical fire could perfectly help the pure Explosive Ape blood integrate with the other ingredients. Compared to Sweet Wax wood, the demonic flames produced by burning Qinghe demons were far purer!

“A single Qinghe demon can burn for an exceptionally long time, and it allows me to adjust the flame intensity by myself.

“Perhaps I should give it a shot?”

For a moment, Luo Chen felt a surge of excitement.

Why hesitate? Just do it!

That very night, Luo Chen, alone in his room, activated his top-grade Four Symbols Cauldron. He placed four portions of raw materials into the cauldron and used a Qinghe demon as firewood.

After the blazing fire had burned for a while, Luo Chen pulled out the half-burned Qinghe demon.

“Isn’t this thing supposed to be dead? Why does it scream when it burns?”

Luo Chen was certain that the Qinghe demons he had purchased from the Lianyun Trade Alliance weren’t alive. Living Qinghe demons were extremely agile and playful, often frolicking among the woods and vegetation.

However, the ones he had purchased were like dried grass, definitely lifeless. Luo Chen couldn’t figure out the reason behind it and assumed it might be some residual instinct left in the muscles and limbs of the creature after death.

He couldn’t wait to open the cauldron lid. The Blood-Burning pill was unlike other pills. Once refined, it emitted a charred and acrid aroma.

For other pills, this kind of smell usually signified failure.

However, for the Blood-Burning pill, it most likely meant success. When he lifted the lid, seven blood-red low-grade pills were lying inside.

“Seven!” Luo Chen exclaimed.

He quickly checked the residual waste and confirmed that three-fourths of the materials had failed, with only one portion yielding results.

In other words, the usual yield of five Blood-Burning pills had now increased to seven!

“Hiss... Simply changing the alchemical fire resulted in a higher yield. Does this mean the recipe itself is influenced by the fire?

"I optimized the Blood-Burning pill recipe?" Luo Chen understood better than anyone what the increase in pill yield meant.

It meant the pills could now be mass-produced and sold externally.

Of course, he had to calculate the costs.

A single Qinghe demon, when half-burned, could refine four sets of raw materials. On average, a complete Qinghe demon could support the refining of ten batches of Blood-Burning pills.

When divided evenly, each batch's cost increased by one spirit stone, bringing the total cost to approximately twelve spirit stones per batch. But the improvement was clear—each successful batch yielded two additional Blood-Burning pills.

Of course, he couldn't only consider successful batches. With a ten percent success rate, it meant an additional cost of nine spirit stones per batch.

"So, can the two extra Blood-Burning pills make up for the additional nine spirit stones?"

The answer was a resounding yes! Even if it didn’t cover the entire cost, the additional nine or ten spirit stones were easily recoverable.

Moreover, the increased yield also significantly boosted his skill proficiency.

On his status panel, Luo Chen’s proficiency with the Blood-Burning pill had risen to 13/100.

"I still have plenty of Qinghe demons. I can try refining more Blood-Burning pills next."

Recently, most of the Poshan Gang cultivators had been dispatched to Ancient Plains, which naturally meant fewer people were monitoring Luo Chen.

Additionally, those who stayed behind were mostly preoccupied with the ruins.

Luo Chen could now act a bit more boldly. Time flowed like water.

Luo Chen continued his alchemical refining and cultivation while keeping an eye on news about the Golden Core Ruins in Ancient Plains.

Since the Poshan Gang had a home-field advantage, much of the information they received was firsthand and untainted by rumors. This time, Mi Shuhua had mobilized many personnel, forming a five hundred strong team of rogue cultivators.

The three main combat halls formed the core of the team, supplemented by cultivators from the Mining Hall and Medicine Hall.

Practically all the ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators had been dispatched. Apart from Luo Wudi, Zeng Wen, and Yang Wei, even Ke Yuelin, the Beast Hall’s Hall Leader, had set aside his responsibilities to personally join the expedition.

Logically speaking, such a massive team should have been able to sweep through the ruins. But in reality, progress was anything but smooth.

The Xuanyi Society, which had always been overlooked, suddenly stood tall this time.

It was backed by five Foundation Establishment families—although only three of them had active Foundation Establishment cultivators—they had united to suppress the Poshan Gang in terms of high-level combat prowess.

"Wait, what do you mean, five Foundation Establishment families but only three Foundation Establishment cultivators?" Luo Chen asked, puzzled.

Sikong Shoujia responded, "The other two Foundation Establishment families don’t currently have any Foundation Establishment cultivators!"

"No Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet they call themselves Foundation Establishment families?"

"They used to have Foundation Establishment Grand Elders, but those ancestors passed away from old age. Unable to stay in their original territories, they moved to Dahe Market. Even without Foundation Establishment ancestors, the families still retain certain methods capable of unleashing Foundation Establishment level combat prowess.

"Have you heard of talisman treasures? What about blood-inherited treasures?"

"I know about talisman treasures—they’re just talismans that seal one-third of a treasure’s power!" Luo Chen displayed his broad knowledge before curling his lip disdainfully. "And you dare call those inherited treasures—created through blood sacrifice— an actual treasure?"

Blood-inherited treasures, also known as blood-sacrifice treasures, belonged to the domain of blood-path techniques.

Luo Chen was no stranger to blood-path techniques. Back when Wang Yuan killed the blood-path cultivator Xiao Wuyan, he had obtained a significant inheritance from him.

During their occasional conversations, Wang Yuan would generously share such knowledge with Luo Chen, possibly hoping that it would help Luo Chen refine the Blood Fiend pill more effectively.

Among this knowledge was the technique of blood sacrifice. This was a method for handling treasures, widely practiced in today’s cultivation world and not regarded as a demon-path technique.

It involved high-tier cultivators binding an enchanted treasure to their own bloodline. Only cultivators of the same bloodline could inherit and wield it. This ensured that even after the cultivator’s death, the treasure wouldn’t attract others' covetous eyes.

However, the cost was significant, even more so than that of a talisman treasure. Talisman treasures merely sealed one-third of a treasure’s power, temporarily reducing its potency, but the treasure could eventually recover through long-term nurturing.

In contrast, a blood-inherited treasure would see its grade permanently reduced after being bound to a bloodline.

For low-grade treasures, this would mean falling to the supreme-grade enchanted artifact, with only twenty percent of the treasure's power remaining. While it could be used indefinitely compared to a talisman treasure, its power was inferior.

Moreover, even if future generations achieved Foundation Establishment or Core Formation, the treasure’s grade could never be restored.

It was a permanent loss.

Few would resort to such a method. Only Foundation Establishment cultivators nearing the end of their lives and lacking the means to create a talisman treasure would resort to such a desperate measure.

"Whether it’s still a treasure or not, as long as it works with the bloodline, its unleashed power exceeds that of supreme-grade enchanted artifacts and definitely qualifies as a Foundation Establishment method!" Sikong Shoujia said impatiently.

"Wait, why are you so agitated with me?" Luo Chen gave the old man a curious look.

A faint trace of worry was evident on Sikong Shoujia’s aged face.

Suddenly, Luo Chen realized the reason. "Don’t tell me your son went into that ruin?"

Sikong Shoujia sighed and nodded silently.

If not for Mi Shuhua’s strict orders to remain at the Alchemy Hall, Sikong Shoujia would have rushed to the Ancient Plains himself to join the struggle for the ruins. Whether for the slim hope of achieving Foundation Establishment or for his married-in son, he would have gone.

Seeing the old man in this state, Luo Chen decided not to push him further. After exchanging a few simple words, he hurried back home.

***

Accompanied by five bodyguards, Luo Chen entered the inner city and, under Dongfang Liang's personal escort, returned to the SiHeYuan courtyard.

Then!

Luo Chen activated the near Perfected Mastery Spirit Suppression, meticulously disguised himself, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and quietly slipped out of the courtyard.

Luo Chen left the inner city and headed straight for the outer district.

He weaved through countless alleys, making several twists and turns, before entering a modest clothing shop.

"What kind of clothing would Fellow Daoist like? Feel free to browse." the elderly woman stitching clothes in the shop said without looking up.

Under the dim lighting, Luo Chen carefully examined her before speaking somewhat awkwardly, "I want the Nine-Dragon Crown and a plain willow sash."

The old woman’s hands paused briefly as she sewed, then she shook her head. "A crown fit for royalty does not go with commoner clothing.But if you add the Precious Dragon Embroidered Ball, it will match perfectly."

Upon hearing this last sentence, the old woman raised her head, her murky eyes fixating on Luo Chen.

"How should I address you?"

"Murong Yuan."

"Alright, this way please!" The old woman gestured, and a faint glimmer of light flickered in the direction of the back room.

Luo Chen proceeded as instructed, feeling as though he had passed through a translucent barrier.

As he continued forward, it felt as if he were descending deeper and deeper.

Suddenly, he stopped before a grand door.

"Token!"

"Here!" Luo Chen handed over a Precious Dragon Embroidered Ball, its faint spirit light shimmering, slightly repelling against him.

Noticing this reaction, the black-clad cultivator raised an eyebrow.

"This is your first time at the Precious Dragon Black Market?"

"Yes."

"You know the rules?"

"Yes."

"Alright, here is your Precious Dragon Mask. When you leave later, we will provide you with your own Precious Dragon Embroidered Ball."

Luo Chen accepted the intricately carved mask adorned with a dragon motif and placed it over his face. Having already disguised himself and suppressed his spirit power, the mask made him even more inconspicuous.

Watching the black-clad cultivator push open the door, Luo Chen couldn’t help but mentally complain.

If having the token is enough, what’s with all these coded phrases? These phrases lack any sophistication. At the very least, they could use something poetic like 'The earth rises high, streams flow eternally beautiful!'

Moreover, his name, Dan Chenzi, was fairly well-known in the Dahe Market. Why hadn’t anyone personally delivered the embroidered ball to him? Even Zeng Wen and Wang Yuan had received their tokens directly.

Who are they looking down on?

However, once he stepped through the door and felt the piercing gazes directed at him, his heart tightened.

Damn it, I came to the wrong place. This is a high-end black market!