Chapter 32: Can This Thing Refine Pills?

Outer City, southwest corner.

As the area closest to the Howling Moon Mountains, the number of residents here has always been the least.

The reason is naturally because the main demon race in the Howling Moon Mountains is wolves, which are as swift as the wind and extremely bloodthirsty.

Even if high-ranking demon wolves fear the array formations of the Great River Market and dare not come over, there are always a few unenlightened demon wolves that occasionally break through.

This is also why Luo Chen, in this place, has always been cautious about consuming his spiritual energy, always ensuring he has enough strength to escape.

There are usually very few cultivators who come to this area.

However, today, a large group of people suddenly arrived.

The leader was a short and stocky cultivator, his face weathered, with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Are you sure it's here?"

"Second Brother Gao, according to the guidance of the Qi-seeking disk, the most residual aura is here. Ting'e must have stayed here for a long time."

It had been five or six days since the Great River Gang suddenly attacked the Seven Halls of the Break Mountain Gang.

In that battle, the Break Mountain Gang suffered heavy losses.

But if compared to the casualties of the Great River Gang in the mountains, the losses on both sides were about the same.

Continuing this way, it would be unbearable for the scattered cultivators who just wanted to live a simple life.

And these people make up the majority of the gang.

So the leader of the Break Mountain Gang, Uncle Mi Shuhua, stepped forward to try to negotiate peace.

The outcome of the final negotiation is unknown, but at least there would be no major conflict in the short term.

As the second-in-command of the Great River Gang, Gao Tingyuan finally had some free time and could now worry about his rogue little brother, Gao Ting'e.

He had been missing for several days!

Everyone knew what it meant for a mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator to disappear for several days without notice in the outer city of the Great River Market.

Gao Tingyuan was anxious.

He then found a high-level expert responsible for river transportation and began to investigate his little brother's whereabouts.

Finally, he came here.

Gao Tingyuan looked at the scorched ground and the nearby ruins that were almost burned to ashes.

It was clear that a fierce battle had taken place here.

The method that caused such a scene was, unsurprisingly, the Sun Blaze Talisman that Gao Ting'e bought from the black market.

The thick Earth Qi indicated that the Earth Shield Talisman was also activated.

Gao Tingyuan's face grew even darker, "The Sun Blaze Talisman was used, and the Earth Shield was also used. It's impossible that it was just to kill a Wednesday."

He looked at the ruins.

"Who lived here?"

"A scattered cultivator named Luo Chen. He used to run errands and do odd jobs for others, and later started selling some辟谷丹 (Qi Fasting Pills)."

"What cultivation level?"

"Probably Qi Cultivation Third Layer. He's a poor guy, living here just to save on the cheap rent of half a spirit stone per month."

"Where is he?"

"Can't find him for now. It's said he's very reclusive and doesn't interact with the neighbors here."

A Qi Cultivation Third Layer scattered cultivator couldn't pose any threat to a Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer cultivator.

Especially not to someone like Gao Ting'e, who had a lot of treasures.

"Can you find where my little brother's last aura stopped?"

The cultivator beside him increased the spiritual energy input, and the Qi-seeking disk began to tremble, finally stopping in front of them.

"In the mountains!"

"Let's go, follow me into the mountains."

"But we're not familiar with the situation in the mountains at all!"

"Hmm?"

Under Gao Tingyuan's gaze, the cultivators reluctantly followed him.

Crossing the overgrown wasteland, they gradually entered the dense forest.

The dense forest was already showing signs of demonic aura, making the group of cultivators very uneasy.

Even Gao Tingyuan was hesitant.

The Eastern Wasteland's vast mountains were rich in resources beyond measure.

However, over thousands of years, human cultivators have only developed less than one percent of the area.

Rumors say that there are countless Third-Stage Demon Kings and Fourth-Stage Demon Emperors in the mountains, and even ancient demons are hidden within.

What scattered cultivators call "hunting in the mountains" is actually just a small-scale activity in the outermost area.

Once they encounter a Second-Stage demon beast, they can only flee, and most of them can't even escape.

The reason the Break Mountain Gang can firmly control the business in the mountains is that they used countless lives to explore the territories of many Second-Stage demon beasts in the early days.

But even so, every time they enter the mountains, they must be extremely cautious.

"Something's not right, Second Brother Gao."

"What is it?"

"The Qi-seeking disk is getting chaotic."

"What do you mean?"

Gao Tingyuan looked at the Qi-seeking disk, where the needle was wildly jumping, pointing east and then west.

In a short moment, it pointed in four or five different directions.

"This situation has happened before. A brother in the gang was killed, and his body was cut into pieces and fed to several large fish."

The cultivator holding the Qi-seeking disk's voice grew smaller and smaller.

Because Gao Tingyuan's face had already turned extremely dark.

The oppressive atmosphere perfectly blended into the forest.

After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Good! Good! Good! Not only did you kill my little brother, but you also desecrated his body. Don't let me find you!"

"Second Brother, what do we do now?"

"Go back!"

The group felt a great relief, and their steps back were much lighter.

When they passed the ruins, Gao Tingyuan paused his short and stocky figure.

"Notify Fifth Brother to investigate whether any late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators from the Break Mountain Gang came here that night, and check for any Fifth Layer cultivators as well."

"Also, investigate the situation of the scattered cultivator who lived here. If he's still alive, bring him to me."

"Don't let me find you, scum, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

After saying that, he cast a beam of spiritual light.

The spiritual light revealed a faint image of a magical artifact, transforming into a bright blue water dragon, which suddenly struck the ruins.

The only remaining half-wall sank into the ground, leaving only a sharp corner exposed.

Luo Chen was completely unaware that his old house had been hit by a water dragon.

In fact, even if he knew, he could only give a thumbs up.

After rescuing some items from the house, he had added a few fireballs to burn the house more thoroughly, ensuring no traces were left.

As for Wednesday and Gao Ting'e, two poor guys whose names he didn't know, his method of dealing with them was very simple.

He cut them into pieces, added some special medicinal herbs, and slightly roasted them with the fire from burning the house, then threw them into the forest.

That kind of "roast meat" was very attractive to wolf and dog-type demon beasts.

Luo Chen discovered this recipe when he was roasting beef and added some blood-nourishing herbs, which attracted a small wolf.

After that, he never used that recipe again, fearing it would attract more powerful demon beasts.

After dealing with the bodies, he found a place to hide and went straight to the inner city the next day.

As for whether he would be found out in the future, we'll see!

Luo Chen didn't have time to think about these things now; he only wanted to refine pills.

The materials costing as high as 200 spirit stones had already been prepared.

The refinement of the Wondrous Pill was back on track.

Based on past experience, his success rate was around 10%.

But this time, in the first five days of refinement, he succeeded twice.

The success rate was as high as 40%!

How could he not be overjoyed?

However, as the refinement continued, this joy gradually subsided.

Five consecutive failures made him realize that he had just had a lucky streak.

To improve the success rate and reduce costs, he still needed to increase his proficiency with the Wondrous Pill.

"Almost there, almost there!"

Luo Chen glanced at the attribute panel, [Wondrous Pill Beginner 91/100].

He just needed one more success to level up.

The feeling of getting a reward for effort was truly exhilarating.

Even the daily task of casting fireballs at the wall and filling it with new soil became more passionate.

After a few more failures.

"This time, it will definitely succeed."

Luo Chen, wearing a brand new apron, lit a stick of incense in front of the newly molded Guan Er, and even placed two频婆果 (Pippala fruits) beside it.

He felt that the recent failures were because he forgot to light incense for Guan Er.

The Dan Fragrance Tower was still working, and it had to be said that the magical artifact invented by Tianfan City was indeed unique.

Even though Luo Chen was used to the various smells during pill refinement, the smell before the Wondrous Pill was formed was still uncomfortable.

But with this magical artifact, he no longer had to endure the biochemical toxins.

In the afternoon, Luo Chen carefully lifted the pot lid.

A red, jelly-like substance appeared, and Luo Chen's eyes softened.

"Done, Second Brother!"

"We're the champions!"

He immediately checked the attribute panel.

[Wondrous Pill Beginner 91/100] — [Wondrous Pill Proficient 101/200]

At the moment of proficiency upgrade, Luo Chen felt as if a window had been broken.

Some insights he had never had before, under the system's enhancement, flowed into his mind, and he absorbed and digested them.

Aspects he had previously overlooked were now highlighted.

Luo Chen felt that if he started another batch of Wondrous Pills, he could do better in the details, and the success rate would likely improve significantly.

Creak!

The wooden door was suddenly pushed open.

A bright and elegant face appeared.

Gu Caiyi's eyes lit up, "You're really at home. I bought some spirit fruits from the Spirit Source Shop, want to try?"

Spirit fruits from the Spirit Source Shop!

Of course, he had to try them. Luo Chen didn't care about being shy.

Gu Caiyi pushed the door open and only then noticed Luo Chen standing in front of the stove in an apron.

She handed him a large green fruit and peeked into the pot.

"What are you cooking this time?"

"Is it meat jelly?"

"Why does it smell so medicinal?"

Luo Chen took a bite of the fruit.

It was juicy, with not much spirit energy, but very sweet.

This taste was much better than the wild hawthorns he had been eating recently.

He said casually, "It's not for eating, it's a pill I refined. Hey, don't touch it, it's very hot."

Gu Caiyi looked puzzled.

Pointing at the iron pot, she said doubtfully, "Can this thing refine pills?"

(End of Chapter)