In Luo Chen's home, Wang Yuan sat sipping the crystal-clear wine and suddenly asked, "Did you kill Gao Ting'e?"

"Big Brother, you can eat recklessly and drink freely, but such words can’t be spoken carelessly," Luo Chen said as he refilled Wang Yuan's glass. He then spoke seriously. "Lives are at stake."

Wang Yuan's lips twitched. He picked up a piece of braised meat made by Luo Chen and casually glanced around.

"No wonder you had the spirit stones to move into the inner city, looks like you hit the jackpot!"

Luo Chen was left speechless. Some things simply couldn’t be hidden from a perceptive person.

He had purchased a spell manual worth two hundred spirit stones from Wang Yuan and then rented a place in the inner city. No matter how you looked at the situation, something seemed off.

The amount of money he had spent was far more than what the pitifully short-lived Chen Xiao could have left behind. On top of that, members of the Dajiang Gang had come looking for him today.

Putting the pieces together, the answer was obvious.

Luo Chen knew he couldn’t hide the truth from Wang Yuan, so after Wang Yuan had stepped in to fend off those two Dajiang Gang cultivators earlier that afternoon, Luo Chen had specially invited him over and personally prepared a meal.

First, it was to thank Wang Yuan for the care he had shown during this time.

Second, it was to negotiate with him.

After all, he was nominally under Wang Yuan's protection.

Of course, there was no way he would admit outright that he had killed Gao Ting'e.

"Gao Tingyuan isn’t exactly magnanimous and is very suspicious. Since you’re still alive and refuse to see him, he’s bound to suspect you sooner or later."

Wang Yuan set down his chopsticks. "If you still have spirit stones, buy more pills to increase your cultivation. Give yourself a better chance of survival."

Pills?

Luo Chen had already stocked up. Of the five bottles of qi-nourishing pills he bought last month, he had already used three.

His cultivation realm progress was now at 37/100; 30 points came from the pills, and the remaining 7 were from his daily practice of the Long Spring Art.

However, in front of Wang Yuan, Luo Chen complained out of habit, "Brother Wang, you’re the only family I have in the cultivation world. If Gao Tingyuan bullies me, you have to help me!"

Hehe.

Wang Yuan stood up and walked toward the door.

"I’ve made a note of this place. I’m leaving. By the way, be more careful when you come and go. Don’t let someone sneak in and cut your head off in the dark."

Luo Chen immediately felt alarmed. "No way, this is the inner city."

"Do you think the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators would cause a scene if a mid-stage Qi-Refining cultivator died?" Wang Yuan said with a sneer. "As long as it doesn’t cause too much commotion, the big shots won’t care whether we live or die. And taking you out quietly? That wouldn't be a problem for Gao Tingyuan."

Cold sweat unconsciously seeped down Luo Chen’s back.

"I’m off. If you run into trouble, come to the Poshan Gang’s headquarters in the outer city."

Wang Yuan waved casually. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he strode away from the courtyard like a dragon among men.

At the wooden table, Luo Chen absentmindedly ate his braised dishes, his mind in a haze. However, it didn’t take long for him to calm down.

"Tch, why did I let myself get scared?

"I had already thought about these things; Wang Yuan was just reiterating them for confirmation.

"The only countermeasures were to work hard to earn spirit stones, buy pills to enhance cultivation, practice a few more spells, and master the use of enchanted artifacts, and improve my skills to keep myself alive."

That was all Luo Chen was capable of for now.

Sneaking into the Dajiang Gang headquarters in the middle of the night to assassinate Gao Tingyuan was beyond his abilities. Instead of worrying aimlessly, he was better off handling the present properly.

Having it figured out, Luo Chen devoured the spirit dishes, braised meat, and fiery liquor on the table with determination. After eating and drinking to his fill, he let out a satisfied burp.

He retrieved a prepared black gauze hat from his storage bag, covered his face tightly, and stepped out confidently.

This attire of black clothes, black pants, and a black gauze hat was quite conspicuous.

However, in the inner city of Dahe Market, it didn’t seem out of place.

Such outfits were common among rogue cultivators; you could see a dozen of them in a day. Not everyone knew how to use concealment spells to mask their aura or alter their appearance. For rogue cultivators with troubles, solving the issue with clothing was a small price to pay.

Luo Chen remained calm but had started to follow Wang Yuan’s advice—being careful when entering or exiting.

***

"Today, I earned four hundred spirit stones from Myriad Wonders pills, twenty from fasting pills, and with my previous savings of four hundred twenty five, I now have a total of eight hundred forty five spirit stones."

Walking down the street, Luo Chen calculated his savings and began planning his next purchases.

Set aside at least three hundred spirit stones for the Purple Cloud Copper Furnace.

He also needed to replenish the raw materials for Myriad Wonders pills.

let’s allocate four hundred spirit stones for that!

This was undoubtedly double his previous spending. But once he refined the pills, the profits would be just as predictable.

He would reserve the remaining hundred forty five spirit stones, keeping hundred as contingency funds for emergencies. He was no longer the poor cultivator with just fifty spirit stones.

Although he had the courage to rise again after failure, there was no need to push himself to that extreme.

Keeping a reserve fund was crucial.

As for the remaining forty five spirit stones, five would go toward food expenses, and the remaining forty would be used to refine fasting pills. Yes, fasting pills.

Although fasting pills didn’t earn him much money and had many competitors, he still planned to refine more. Whether it was to diversify his product line or to pair with Myriad Wonders pills, the fasting pill was necessary.

With his plan finalized, Luo Chen wasted no time. With the Wind-Control Seal augmenting his movements and paired with the Carefree Wander, Luo Chen turned into a blur, speeding toward a specific direction.

***

Tianxiang Tower.

Luo Chen stood at the entrance, looking at the three large characters atop the building, unable to help but marvel.

My first time in such a place—this is a bit exciting.

Luo Chen felt somewhat like a young bachelor sneaking off alone to an improper establishment and avoiding his friends.

Pah! Even though I'm entering an improper place, what I'm here for is completely legitimate!

Luo Chen sternly dismissed the darker thoughts in his mind and walked confidently into Tianxiang Tower. The moment he stepped inside, he felt completely in his element.

This place feels like it should be my home! Ahem, I mean the density of spirit energy.

After standing there briefly, Luo Chen noticed the stark difference between the in and out of the building.

The mere act of taking a few breaths made his entire body feel invigorated, and his Long Spring Art almost began to circulate on its own. This made him truly appreciate how remarkable the Spirit Gathering Array Gu Caiyi had mentioned was.

If only I could live here every day, how amazing would that be!

"Esteemed guests, it will be a while before we start accepting guests."

"I'm here to see Fellow Daoist Gu Caiyi. I'm her neighbor."

"Oh, I see. In that case, please head inside. Follow the path by the lake, and you'll find a building called the Feather Garment Pavilion—Lady Gu is usually there."

Lady Gu? I still have to take care of my own little family.

[1]

Luo Chen hadn’t expected Gu Caiyi to have such standing within Tianxiang Tower. Even the servant had spoken with respect toward her. But upon further thought, Gu Caiyi was at the eighth stage of Qi-Refining, with striking beauty and an elegant demeanor, not to mention her long legs, slender waist, and a well-endowed figure.

Such a presence, paired with her presumably exceptional dancing skills.

"In any era, she could undoubtedly be considered a 'great talent.'"

Mulling over these thoughts, Luo Chen arrived outside the Feather Garment Pavilion.

1. 顾大家 (Gu Dajia) is translated as "Lady Gu." However, 顾大家 can also be understood literally as "taking care of everyone" (顾 = take care of, 大家 = everyone/big family). And so, the response "我还顾小家呢" flips the meaning by saying "Well, I still have to take care of my own little family" with the 小家 (small family) contrasts with 大家 (big family/everyone). It humorously suggests, "Why worry about taking care of everyone when I can barely take care of my own small household? ☜