Raiding cultivators—it sounded like a grand title. But in reality, it was nothing more than a label for those who engaged in despicable acts: roadside robbery and treasure plundering.

Luo Chen had no fondness for raiding cultivators at all, though he had committed one or two raids himself—but those were purely for self-defense. He much preferred being a "reclusive cultivator," quietly developing his skills at home.

The changes in Dahe Market didn’t seem to have much impact on a reclusive cultivator like Luo Chen. His days continued as usual: refining pills, practicing breath control, and studying spells. However, the return of his neighbors, the Liangchen couple, brought an unexpected and positive shift to his life..

Perhaps because of his preparations for the upcoming deathmatch, Qin Liangchen often visited the Poshan Gang headquarters to train with enchanted artifacts and strengthen his abilities. Each day, he returned home utterly exhausted. Yet, whenever he saw Luo Chen practicing the Traction or Wind-Control in the courtyard, he would stop to offer guidance.

Until then, Luo Chen had relied on sheer repetition to improve his spell proficiency. He could perform the spells, but he didn’t understand why they worked. The spell manuals he had bought from Wang Yuan lacked any expert annotations and were plainly transcribed. The crooked handwriting often made Luo Chen wonder if the scribe had even been literate. In this state, only after reaching higher levels of proficiency would he notice any change.

However, under the guidance of Qin Liangchen, a ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivator, he often gained new insights. With each correction and explanation, it felt as though he had unlocked the blockages within him. His spell proficiency grew sharper at an astonishing pace. In just a few days, his Wind-Control advanced from Beginner to Proficient level.

Liangchen praised his natural talent, but Luo Chen knew the truth. The difference lay in having a mentor. Proficiency wasn’t built on endless repetition alone. The guidance of a skilled cultivator yielded far greater results.

Now, after half a month, Luo Chen had reached Grandmaster Level in the Carefree Wander and Proficient level in the Wind-Control. The two techniques complemented each other perfectly, enhancing his speed and maneuverability. His short-distance, straight-line flight was now on par with late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators. If he were to ride a flying artifact like the Lotus Leaf Disc, his speed would leave others trailing in the dust and maneuvering in mid-air was even better!

During their sparring sessions, Qin Liangchen quickly realized Luo Chen’s newfound strengths. When relying solely on enchanted artifacts, Liangchen struggled to land a hit unless he managed a thunderous first strike. Once Luo Chen slipped past that initial assault, he became impossible to pin down.

“Slippery!” Liangchen laughed after the match. “You move like a fish in water, a hare on land, or an eagle in the sky. If it weren’t for your low cultivation realm and lack of powerful offensive techniques, I’d have Old Man Mi invite you to join the battle.”

Powerful offensive techniques? Luo Chen had those! Soul-Breaking Nail, Jade Blade, and the Grandmaster level derivative of Fireball, Blazing Fireflies. He was confident that no fifth or sixth-stage Qi-Refining cultivator could withstand his barrage. Even against a late-stage Qi-Refining cultivator, he would dare to fight—provided they didn’t possess strong defensive artifacts.

Of course, he wouldn’t boast about this to Qin Liangchen.

What a joke! The eighteen deathmatches were all fought by ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators. Who among them wouldn’t have some fortuitous encounter or hidden trump cards. The enchanted artifacts they wielded on that battlefield were likely top-grade or above. Charging in himself would be asking for death.

Wouldn’t it be better to refine pills, earn spirit stones, and buy pills for cultivation? We reclusive cultivators prioritize peace and harmony, staying out of conflicts!

***

Early morning!

Luo Chen packed a pile of jade bottles into his storage pouch, ready to head out. Today was the first-of-the-month market day, and even though he still had some raw materials left unused, he couldn’t miss this business opportunity.

As he reached his doorstep, he saw his neighbor Murong Qinglian lighting a furnace in her courtyard. She was burning Green Steel Wood! This type of wood contained natural oils, and an ordinary stove couldn’t handle burning it. Luo Chen also burned Green Steel Wood only in a fire pit lined with heat-resistant bricks, using it as specialized firewood for alchemy.

Seeing this, he asked in surprise, "Sister-in-law, what delicious dish are you making?"

Murong Qinglian dusted off her hands, tucked her hair back, and smiled. "Your Big Brother Qin is about to fight, so I bought two jin of Blood Fiend Tiger bones to stew a pot of soup to replenish his vitality."

The Blood Fiend Tiger, a second-tier demonic beast—its bones were known to greatly enhance a cultivator’s vitality. For physical refinement cultivators, it was practically a divine medicine.

With her explanation, Luo Chen understood why she wasn’t cooking the soup in the kitchen. Second-tier spirit materials couldn’t be refined quickly with an ordinary stove and mundane fire.

Seeing Murong Qinglian’s gentle smile, Luo Chen hesitated before asking, "Sister-in-law, didn’t you try to persuade Brother Qin not to participate in that deathmatch?"

Murong Qinglian’s smile faded. She sighed, showing a rare trace of vulnerability. “I tried. But Gang Leader Mi helped him in the past and has always treated him well. Now that the Gang Leader is in trouble, Qin can’t stand by and do nothing.”

“Aren’t you worried?” Luo Chen asked.

Murong Qinglian lowered her gaze, her voice soft. “Worried? Of course, I am. But once he sets his mind on something, not even nine oxen can pull him back. All I can do is support him silently and trust that he will win.”

Her words left Luo Chen in quiet contemplation. Even as he left the courtyard, navigated the winding alleys, and stepped onto the bustling main street, her gentle determination lingered in his mind.

Could such sincere love exist in the ruthless world of cultivation, filled with schemes and deadly battles? Would someone like him ever meet a woman who would support him like that?

There was no answer. Luo Chen chose not to dwell on it. He shook off his thoughts and blended into the bustling market crowd, he was still a bit dazed.

Did I wake up late? No, I didn’t! Why are there so many people here before dawn?

When he arrived at the southern rogue cultivator market, he noticed an old man and a young girl at a bluestone stall, busy tending to customers.

Recognizing the elder, Luo Chen approached with a smile. “Fellow Daoist Chen, is that your granddaughter?”

Old Man Chen had never been a loner. Luo Chen knew his story well. He had married early, and after his wife passed away, he had come to Dahe Market with his son. But tragedy struck. His son and daughter-in-law lost their lives during a demonic beast hunt, leaving Old Man Chen to raise his granddaughter alone.

Over the years, Old Man Chen had been notoriously frugal, treating even half a spirit stone as a treasure. It was all to save enough money to send his granddaughter to a sect. For his granddaughter’s sake, he was cautious in everything he did. The last time the outer city gangs clashed, he gritted his teeth and moved to the inner city, fearing any accidents might happen to her in the outer city.

Before Old Man Chen could answer Luo Chen’s question, the girl smiled. "You must be Brother Luo Chen! I’m Shu Yi. Grandpa often talks about you, saying you owe him fifty spirit stones and haven’t paid him back."

Luo Chen felt happy hearing the sweet "Brother Luo Chen" at the beginning, but the latter part made him feel a bit awkward.

"I’ll definitely pay it back once I earn some spirit stones!"

Old Man Chen, standing nearby, glared angrily, "Only a fool would believe you!"

Luo Chen chuckled and didn’t argue. He could indeed pay back the fifty spirit stones anytime now. However, he hadn’t paid it back yet simply because he was still in the habit of reinvesting everything to purchase enough raw materials to boost his proficiency.

Now that his granddaughter brought it up, even if he’s shameless, Luo Chen felt slightly embarrassed. He decided to repay the spirit stones after selling the pills he had on hand.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Looking at the bluestone stall, which was packed to capacity, Luo Chen felt a bit troubled. Where can he put his pills?