Chapter 85: Second Brother Gao, I, Little Luo, Will Remember Those Five Spirit Stones!

The streets buzzed with life, filled with merchants hawking their wares and cultivators engaged in casual conversations. Amidst the crowd, Luo Chen came to a halt, flanked by his two bodyguards.

Standing before them was a somewhat nervous cultivator.

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes. "I know you. You're Duan Sanfu, aren't you?"

Recognition flickered across his mind as he recalled the man's face. Duan Sanfu had been one of the two rogue cultivators who had blocked his stall at the cultivators' market. If he remembered correctly, the other one was still locked up in Red Pillar Prison.

Who knew if he was still alive... or suffering a far worse fate.

Duan Sanfu hesitated for a moment before pointing toward a nearby restaurant. "Fellow Daoist, my second brother invites you."

Luo Chen's brow lifted slightly. "Gao Tingyuan?"

Without waiting for a response, Luo Chen suddenly smiled. "Then lead the way!"

Completely unafraid, he held his head high and walked upstairs.

Qingjiang Restaurant was an establishment run by the Dajiang Gang, conveniently located near Lancang Dock. It was a place where cultivators gathered to drink, feast, and even rest after completing their work.

On the first floor, the air was filled with lively chatter. Cultivators ate heartily, tearing into roasted meat and gulping down strong liquor. They earned spirit stones through the Dajiang Gang, only to spend them in the gang's restaurants and gambling dens.

The second floor, however, was completely silent at the moment.

Until Luo Chen ascended!

Five late stage Qi-Refining cultivators were present, two of whom were at the ninth stage!

Luo Chen's pupils contracted slightly at the sight, but his steps remained steady. He walked forward calmly, his gaze locking onto a short, stocky man seated at the head of the table.

"Luo Chen, Hall Leader of the Poshan Gang's Alchemy Hall. Did I get that right?" The voice was firm, laced with an unmistakable authority.

Luo Chen's lips curled slightly. "Second Brother Gao, you're well-informed. Our Alchemy Hall hasn't even produced a single pill yet."

"Sit!"

"Please!"

Both men took their seats across from each other. Meanwhile, the other ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivator, dressed in blue robes, leaned idly against the railing. He seemed disinterested in the conversation, his gaze drifting toward the bustling street below.

Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang, Luo Chen's two bodyguards, were visibly on edge, their postures tense. They knew exactly who Gao Tingyuan was.

Gao Tingyuan, known by the title of "River Dragon." The top fighter under Wang Haichao, the leader of the Dajiang Gang. He had the illustrious record of personally killing "Broken Blade" Xu Renke on the Debate Platform. If he decided to attack, even with their combined combat techniques, the two brothers might not be able to ensure Luo Chen's safety.

Suddenly, the blue-robed cultivator by the railing laughed.

"Wang Yuan's watching from afar."

"Of course he is," Gao Tingyuan replied coldly. "After all, this is his junior."

Then, he fixed his piercing gaze on Luo Chen.

He just stared.

Without saying a word!

Luo Chen's brows gradually furrowed before he slowly shook his head.

"If you have something to say, say it. Acting like this isn't the way to treat a guest."

Gao Tingyuan raised his eyebrows, looking somewhat surprised.

Then, in a slow and deliberate tone, he said, "You should understand—you weren't invited here as a guest."

"Then I'll leave?"

Without hesitation, Luo Chen abruptly stood up.

For a brief moment, Gao Tingyuan froze. Then, his expression darkened, and his anger flared.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his fury.

"Was it you who killed my little brother?"

"Your little brother? The Gao Ting'e that Duan Sanfu mentioned?" Luo Chen sneered. "You think I killed him?"

"Isn't it? Then why didn't you dare to meet me back then?" Gao Tingyuan stared intently at Luo Chen, not letting even the smallest change in expression escape him.

But unfortunately, he couldn't detect any guilt or flaw in Luo Chen's demeanor.

Luo Chen shrugged. "Even an idiot knows that during that time, your Dajiang Gang and our Poshan Gang were at each other's throats. Am I an idiot? Doesn't seem like it. So why would I come to see you?"

"That's not a reason!"

"Then what reason do you want? I'll give it to you right now."

Gao Tingyuan clenched his jaw. "I investigated. That day, after you bought your alchemy materials, you went straight home in the evening."

Luo Chen smirked. "Shall I tell you that I stopped by my friend Chen Xiuping's house to celebrate his granddaughter's birthday?"

Gao Tingyuan was startled.

Chen Xiuping? Wasn't he the talisman maker who used to share a stall with Luo Chen?

Luo Chen smirked. "If you'd done your homework properly, you'd know that the old man and I get along quite well. He used to share a stall with me, and I'd often help him sell talismans. I just gave his granddaughter a bag of snacks earlier too."

Gao Tingyuan hesitated, uncertainty flashing across his face. His subordinates' reports did include details about this connection.

And truth be told, it wasn't uncommon for cultivators to support one another.

No one could guarantee they wouldn't meet their end in the wilderness—whether in the mountains, rivers, or the depths of some hidden ruin. If they perished, they naturally hoped their friends would look after those they left behind..

This tradition was even more pronounced in large sects.

If Luo Chen claimed he was celebrating Chen Xiuping's granddaughter's birthday, it made perfect sense.

Seeing Gao Tingyuan falter, Luo Chen sighed dramatically.

Luo Chen nonchalantly sat back in his chair, poured himself a cup of wine, and sipped it leisurely.

"If you ask me, you should investigate those rogue cultivators who use the path to the Howling Moon Mountain Range. Most people stick to the Ancient Plains Range, but those who dare venture into the Howling Moon Range are the real tough ones—they're your prime suspects.

"Also, I heard your little brother was at the fifth stage of Qi-Refining. What was my cultivation realm at the time?"

Gao Tingyuan blurted out without thinking, "Third stage of Qi-Refining."

Luo Chen internally gave a thumbs-up, Dajiang Gang's intelligence-gathering abilities were truly laughable.

On the surface, Luo Chen also raised a thumbs-up. "Well, there you have it! What third stage cultivator could possibly kill a mid stage fifth stage cultivator? Besides, I'm just a weak alchemist, how could I compare to you bloodthirsty fighters?

"Speaking of which, your little brother destroyed my little courtyard, that's a debt I haven't even settled with you yet. The courtyard wasn't worth much, but it was my precious home. Some of the furniture inside was worth a few spirit stones, at least."

Gao Tingyuan's expression darkened as he took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation bubbling within him.

What furniture could possibly be worth a few spirit stones?! Today was supposed to be me settling accounts with you, how did it turn into you chasing a debt?

Gao Tingyuan exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing. "Then tell me—why did you hastily move to the inner city afterward? Was it because you were afraid we'd come after you, or did you take my little brother's inheritance and use it to fund your move?"

To be fair, this time, his guess was spot on.

But Luo Chen had a way to counter it.

He scoffed, leaning forward as if personally offended. "Go ask around—do I covet other people's spirit stones?"

Then, with a loud slap on the table, he raised his voice in righteous indignation: "I'm an alchemist! The one profession that doesn't lack spirit stones—get it straight! I'm not some pauper rogue cultivator! I used to make several hundred spirit stones a day—who in the southern rogue cultivators' market didn't know that?!

"And what do you mean ‘hastily moved to the inner city'? If you have spirit stones, wouldn't you also move to the inner city's spirit veins? Of course, my spirit stones didn't fall from the sky. Your little brother destroyed my home, and even if he's dead, as his big brother, shouldn't you pay me back?

"Five spirit stones—hand them over!"

Gao Tingyuan's face twitched

How dare he?!

Bodyguard Liu Qiang was utterly shocked. For the first time, he saw a fifth stage Qi-Refining cultivator boldly extend his hand for spirit stones in front of the ninth stage "River Dragon." It wasn't just him—the late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators Gao Tingyuan had brought along were equally shocked.

Even the previously nonchalant blue-robed cultivator frowned deeply. "Kid, watch your tone. You're speaking to the second-in-command of the Dajiang Gang."

"And I'm the Hall Leader of the Poshan Gang's Alchemy Hall!" Luo Chen shot back with a glare.

"Enough!" Gao Tingyuan's face darkened as he barked out the command.

At this moment, his mind was in turmoil.

Deep down, he couldn't believe that his younger brother had been killed by a mere third stage Qi-Refining cultivator. It was absurd. Impossible. And yet... despite investigating time and time again, no other leads had surfaced.

The only clue left was Luo Chen. That was why he had called him here today.

He thought he could use his Soul-Intimidation today to force the truth out of him.

Even if Luo Chen wasn't the culprit, he could at least provide some other leads.

However, Luo Chen seemed genuinely unrelated to the incident and even had the audacity to demand compensation. Could it really have nothing to do with him?

“Tsk, tsk, look at you, acting all high and mighty!” Luo Chen suddenly laughed, mockery dripping from his tone.

"Even Old Man Mi doesn't pull this crap with me, but here you are, putting on airs. You probably can't even spare five spirit stones." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Fine. I won't waste any more time here. Goodbye."

With that, he turned around to leave.

At the staircase, three late stage Qi-Refining cultivators blocked his way. Liu Qiang and Zhou Yuanli stepped forward, ready to fight at a moment's notice.

Without turning back, Luo Chen said coldly, "You're the ones who invited me up here. I'd hate for Mi Shuhua to have to come and bring me back!"

A heavy silence fell over the second floor.

Gao Tingyuan clenched his jaw. "Let him go!"

Hearing Gao Tingyuan's order, the three cultivators begrudgingly stepped aside, their faces still hostile.

Luo Chen flicked his sleeves, descended the stairs with heavy steps, and left a parting remark.

"Don't forget about the five spirit stones you owe me, Second Brother Gao!"

The second floor remained eerily silent after Luo Chen left. No one spoke. The tension hung thick in the air, a suffocating weight pressing down on the room.

After what felt like an eternity, the blue-robed cultivator finally let out a long sigh.

"Second Brother, this... this might really be the work of those rogue cultivators who frequent the Howling Moon Mountain Range."

Gao Tingyuan's fingers tightened against the railing. His voice was low, laced with doubt.

"You think it has nothing to do with that kid either?"

"If it were, he wouldn't be so bold."

"But isn't a fifth stage Qi-Refining cultivator being this bold toward me even more suspicious?"

The blue-robed cultivator let out a small chuckle.

"He's even more impolite to Sikong Shoujia. I heard he swindled two enchanted artifacts from Mi Shuhua during an internal meeting."

Gao Tingyuan rubbed his temples and walked to the railing.

Never before had he felt so exhausted.

His little brother was dead, his dantian was damaged, his path to Foundation Establishment was cut off, and now he couldn't even find the person responsible for revenge.

The blue-robed cultivator shook his head. "If you ask me, let's put Ting'e's matter aside for now. There are more and more strangers in the gang lately, and they've taken control of several large ships. They'll encroach on our interests sooner or later."

Gao Tingyuan remained silent.

He knew all of this was happening with Wang Haichao's approval.

During that battle on the Debate Platform, he was undoubtedly ambushed. Even his substitute puppet had been destroyed.

"I can't let this go, I must continue investigating!"

He slammed the railing heavily, his expression fierce.

The blue-robed cultivator sighed, his expression tinged with melancholy.

***

"Hall Leader, you were really impressive just now!"

Liu Qiang's eyes sparkled with admiration, and calling him "Hall Leader" suddenly felt much more natural.

Luo Chen smirked slightly and spat on the street corner.

Zhou Yuanli sniffed the air.

Was that wine?

The sip Luo Chen had taken upstairs just moments ago.

Luo Chen wiped the corner of his mouth, his eyes blazing as he looked at the two of them.

"Impressive, huh?

"Stick with me, and you'll get to be this impressive too!"