manynovel Chapter 18: Market Encounters, Purchasing Cultivation Techniques
Chapter 18: Market Encounters, Purchasing Cultivation Techniques
Because of Chen Chunan's display of strength, the family made an exception and summoned all the elders for a meeting.
The meeting lasted three days.
There are three main topics.
First, keep it a secret; at the very least, the news that Chen Chunan now possesses "six spiritual roots" cannot be leaked.
Second, strengthen Chen Chunan's power to prepare for dealing with the Liu family.
Third, purchase a superior Five Elements or Thunder-based martial arts technique for Chen Chunan, along with a protective magic artifact.
To be honest, Chen Chunan really needed the Five Elements Technique.
Previously, he had abandoned the ordinary Five Elements cultivation method in his clan and used the Small Heavenly Circuit to circulate spiritual energy to increase his cultivation, but the cultivation speed of the Small Heavenly Circuit was not much faster than that of the ordinary cultivation method.
The main reason why cultivation is so fast is that the practice of internal alchemy to extract the "essence" medicine constantly draws in a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Then, because he subdued the Mind Monkey and retrieved the spiritual power it had stolen, the progress became so exaggerated.
In reality, Chen Chunan could not have reached his current level of cultivation simply by circulating Qi through the Small Heavenly Circuit.
It was precisely because his cultivation level was too weak that Chen Chunan's attacks could not be sustained.
Moreover, Chen Chunan's combat experience was too weak. Apart from knowing one lightning spell, he didn't know any other spells, had no understanding of other offensive spells, and had no magical artifacts, talismans, array plates, or one-time-use treasures to rely on.
After being tested by a group of battle-hardened elders, Chen Chunan's weaknesses became too obvious.
Against a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator skilled in combat and possessing protective magical artifacts, Chen Chunan was utterly powerless to fight back.
Among the four elements—wealth, companionship, law, and location—the order of placing wealth first is not arbitrary.
Therefore, all the clan's spells were made available to Chen Chunan for the next period of time, and the seven clan elders, who were most skilled in combat, gave him special guidance.
However, the most urgent task is to find a superior Five Elements or Thunder-type cultivation technique for Chen Chunan. However, Thunder-type techniques are rare, so the main goal is still Five Elements techniques.
Although Hongxian had already obtained the clan's only Five Elements cultivation technique for Chen Chunan last time.
However, that cultivation technique was a common item, and the reason why the Chen family did not distribute it to their clansmen was mainly due to resource considerations, rather than the preciousness of the technique.
After the meeting
Elder Chen Daoxuan said to Chen Chunan, "The annual Lingzhou Market Trade Fair will be held on January 1st, half a month from now. Chunan, come with me then. I'll buy you a cultivation technique; the one you're currently practicing is too ordinary."
Chen Chunan nodded: "Okay, I'll go with you then. Thank you for your help."
Lingzhou Market is different from the market in Zhuilongling, which is controlled by the Liu family. This is a place where you can really buy good things.
...
Ten days later
Chen Chunan got up early and spent some time coaxing his sister before he was able to get away.
However, he may have made a promise to bring a gift.
However, Chen Chunan was penniless and didn't even know if he could afford to buy a gift.
...
主宅
Clan Chief Chen Daoping took out his treasured storage ring: "Brother Daoxuan, here are all 3200 low-grade spirit stones in the clan. If possible, please bring back a Foundation Establishment Pill this time!"
Chen Daoxuan's expression was solemn: "Understood! I have already arranged for Daoyan, Heming, and Heting to provide support."
Chen Chunan, who was standing not far away, also realized that in addition to giving himself the cultivation technique, he also needed to buy Foundation Establishment Pills.
After Chen Chunan left with the clan elder.
The elder of the Liu family said to Chen Chunan, "The Liu family has always paid close attention to the flow of Foundation Establishment Pills. In fact, it could be said that the Liu family effectively controls the flow of Foundation Establishment Pills to Falling Dragon Ridge. Therefore, purchasing Foundation Establishment Pills is a dangerous task. I hope you won't blame me for having you accompany this old man?"
Chen Chunan said calmly, "Of course not. Our clan can only escape the Liu clan's oppression if someone reaches the Foundation Establishment stage. The Foundation Establishment Pill is our clan's hope. How could I not understand?"
The elder smiled with relief: "I'm relieved that you understand. However, this Foundation Establishment Pill was actually prepared for you."
Chen Chunan was taken aback: "Prepared for me?"
The elder clansman said solemnly, "The battle at Lingyuan Lake has left our Chen clan in a state of flux. Mingxin and Mingzheng, who were originally expected to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining before the age of 40, have both perished in the battle! Currently, the only ones with the best chance of reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining in the shortest time are you and your sister. If you are too slow, let your sister reach the Foundation Establishment stage first."
"Isn't there Uncle Mingchuan? He seems to have already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, and he's only 32 years old this year."
The elder shook his head: "Mingchuan spent a year cultivating from the eighth to the ninth level of Qi Refining. How long will it take to reach the remaining three levels? I'm afraid he has no hope of reaching the Qi Refining Perfection before the age of 40. You are different. You broke through three levels in four months, and that was with such an ordinary technique. If I gave you a superior Five Elements Technique, I'm afraid you could reach the Qi Refining Perfection before the age of 30."
"Before thirty? I'm only fifteen now, fifteen years away from thirty. Do I need to start preparing so early?"
The elder of the clan smiled bitterly: "You don't understand. We try to buy them every year, but we never succeed. The competition for Foundation Establishment Pills is too fierce. If you don't plan ahead, the only ones available when you want to buy them are the high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills from the Wanfang Chamber of Commerce. Even if you sold the entire Chen clan, the price wouldn't be enough! The Foundation Establishment Pills in the entire Lingzhou are only controlled by the Golden Core sect, the Lieyang Sect, and the Wanfang Chamber of Commerce. If outsiders dare to sell Foundation Establishment Pills, they are making enemies of these two major forces."
Chen Chunan raised an eyebrow: "Wouldn't that mean the Foundation Establishment Pill would become a means for the two major powers to exploit lower-level cultivators?"
The elder sneered, "Isn't this obvious? But who can resist it?"
Chen Chunan remained silent.
The Chen clan's territory was far from Lingzhou Market, and the two of them traveled for five days to barely arrive before the gathering began.
Along the way, the elder of the clan gave Chen Chunan a general explanation of the layout of Lingzhou.
There are three Golden Core factions in Lingzhou, the largest of which is the Lieyang Sect, which has three Golden Core cultivators.
The foundation of the Lieyang Sect lies in alchemy.
Although their fighting skills weren't particularly refined, their wealth was undeniable. They possessed a full range of magical artifacts, talismans, array plates, and mechanical techniques. While not invincible among their peers, they were certainly an extremely troublesome opponent.
Another Golden Core family, the Lin family, has a current patriarch who is a Golden Core cultivator, and there is also a Golden Core ancestor above him.
Speaking of the Lin family, the elder of the clan became interested in talking: "The Lin family is different from the Lieyang Sect. They specialize in combat and are skilled in using sword pellets."
However, because they are all sword cultivators who consume a lot of resources and do not have any pillar industries, relying only on the income from the market and a small amount of tribute from the lower clans, they are the kind of people who are both poor and arrogant.
Even if you win, you won't get anything. He might be even poorer than you, and his flying sword might be worth a little money.
If you lose, you'll be in big trouble.
It is said that the youngest son of the current patriarch once sold the corpse of a foreign cultivator who had robbed him to a demonic sect.
Completely extract all remaining value.
Although no one dares to verify it, the fact that it has spread so widely suggests that it must not be entirely unfounded.
However, the Lin family acts with integrity and straightforwardness; if you don't provoke them, they won't deliberately bully you.
"Oh, so the Lin family is actually more upright in their conduct."
"Tch~ What's this about being upright or not? Didn't they exploit the lower-class families just the same way before? It's just that in the last hundred years, the Blazing Sun Sect has become powerful, and many small families have switched their allegiance to the Blazing Sun Sect. They just couldn't do anything about it."
As for the third-party force, it is naturally the Wanfang Chamber of Commerce, which has three Golden Core cultivators openly serving as its deities.
However, they did not only trade in Lingzhou; Lingzhou was merely a branch of their association.
Rumors circulate that the Wanfang Chamber of Commerce is backed by a Nascent Soul Ancestor.
This is the source of Wanfang Chamber of Commerce's confidence in dealing with various forces.
"Look, that group dressed in moon-white robes are from the Lin family. They're not to be trifled with; they're the most combative people in the entire Lingzhou."
The elder's deep voice drew Chen Chunan's attention to the group of people not far away.
The leader was a young man, who looked to be around twenty years old, but judging by appearances, one cannot determine age in the cultivation world.
Chen Chunan didn't really regard the other party as a young man.
Behind him were six people, each with sharp eyes and an imposing presence.
Their cultivation levels must be quite high.
"Elder, do you know this person? He seems quite powerful."
The elder shook his head: "I don't recognize them. How could I possibly have contact with the heirs of Golden Core families? The Blazing Sun Sect and the Lin family are easy to spot; they all wear the same uniform, just with slight color differences. The Lin family is in charge of security in the market; you absolutely mustn't offend them if you encounter them."
Chen Chunan nodded: "I understand."