Chapter 85: Big Brother Gao, I, Luo, have noted down the account of the five spirit stones!

On a bustling street.

Luo Chen and his two bodyguards, Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang, stopped in their tracks.

In front of them stood a somewhat nervous cultivator.

"I recognize you, you're Duan Sanfu, right!"

Looking at the somewhat familiar face, Luo Chen recalled the name. This was one of the two cultivators who had blocked his stall at the independent cultivator market back then.

If he remembered correctly, the other one was still locked up in the Red Pillar Prison.

It was uncertain whether he was dead or had suffered a terrible fate.

Duan Sanfu pointed to the adjacent tavern, "Fellow Daoist, my second brother invites you!"

"Is it Gao Tingyuan?"

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

He showed no fear, raising his head and ascending the stairs.

Qingjiang Tavern, a tavern established by the Great River Gang near the Lancang Dock.

Ordinarily, many busy cultivators would eat, drink, and even stay here.

On the first floor, the noise of people was deafening, with many cultivators eating meat and drinking wine in large gulps.

Earning spirit stones through the Great River Gang and then spending them in the gambling den set up by the Great River Gang's tavern was a common cycle.

On the second floor, it was now silent as a tomb.

Until Luo Chen ascended the stairs!

Five late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators, with two at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation!

Luo Chen's pupils constricted, but his steps did not falter. He walked step by step to the opposite side of the short, stocky man.

"Luo Chen, the Hall Master of the Pill Hall of the Mountain Breaker Gang, I'm not mistaken, right?"

"Big Brother Gao is well-informed. Our Pill Hall hasn't even refined a single pill yet."

"Sit down!"

"Please!"

The two sat down face to face, while another ninth-layer Qi Condensation cultivator in blue leaned against the railing, idly staring at the bustling street below.

Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang, the two bodyguards, were tense, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Gao Tingyuan, nicknamed the River Dragon Mixer.

The first-rate expert under the Great River Gang's leader, Wang Haichao.

He had the glorious achievement of personally slaying Xu Renke, the Broken Blade, on the Dao Discussion Platform.

If the other side suddenly attacked, even with their combined techniques, they might not be able to ensure Luo Chen's safety.

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

"Wang Yuan is watching from a distance."

"He has to watch, after all, this is his subordinate."

Gao Tingyuan sneered, then stared intently at Luo Chen.

He just stared, without a word.

Luo Chen's brows slowly furrowed, then he slowly shook his head.

"Speak your business. This attitude is not how one treats a guest."

Gao Tingyuan raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised.

Then, he carefully said, "You should know that I didn't invite you here as a guest."

"Then I'll leave?"

Luo Chen suddenly stood up.

Gao Tingyuan was taken aback, then anger rose within him.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his anger, he asked, "Was it you who killed my subordinate?"

"Your subordinate? The Gao Ting'e that Duan Sanfu mentioned?" Luo Chen sneered, "Do you think it was me?"

"If not, why didn't you dare to meet me back then?" Gao Tingyuan stared at Luo Chen, not missing a single facial expression.

Unfortunately, he saw no signs of guilt or weakness.

Luo Chen shrugged, "Even a fool would know that during that time, your Great River Gang and our Mountain Breaker Gang were at each other's throats. Am I a fool? I don't think so! So why would I come to meet you?"

"That's not a reason!"

"Then what reason do you want, I'll give it to you right away."

"I've investigated. After you bought the materials for refining pills that day, you returned in the evening."

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

Gao Tingyuan was taken aback. Chen Xiuping?

He seemed to be the talisman maker who set up a stall with Luo Chen.

Luo Chen smirked, "If you investigated thoroughly, you should know that I have a good relationship with that old man. We share a stall, and I often help him sell talismans. I even brought a bag of snacks for his granddaughter just now."

Gao Tingyuan was uncertain, as if the information his subordinate had collected included this.

Moreover, it was indeed a tradition among cultivators to support each other's juniors.

Because no one could predict when they might die in the mountains, rivers, or while exploring secret realms.

They naturally hoped that their juniors would be taken care of by friends.

This tradition was even more prevalent in major sects.

It made sense for him to say he went to celebrate Chen Xiuping's granddaughter's birthday.

Seeing the other side hesitate, Luo Chen couldn't help but sigh.

He sat back down, poured himself a cup of wine, and sipped it.

"I think you should investigate the independent cultivators who like to take the path to the Howling Moon Mountains. Usually, everyone goes to the Ancient Plain Mountains. Those who dare to go to the Howling Moon Mountains are ruthless people. They are the most suspicious ones."

"Moreover, I heard your subordinate was at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation."

"What was my cultivation level back then?"

Gao Tingyuan subconsciously said, "The third layer of Qi Condensation."

Luo Chen inwardly gave a thumbs up. The Great River Gang's intelligence-gathering ability was really a joke.

Outside, Luo Chen also gave a thumbs up.

"Then that's it. Who can a third-layer cultivator defeat a fifth-layer mid-stage cultivator?"

"Besides, I'm just a weak alchemist. How can I be compared to you, who live on the edge of a blade?"

"Speaking of which, your subordinate destroyed my thatched cottage. I haven't even settled that account with you yet."

"That courtyard wasn't valuable, but it was precious to me. The furniture inside was worth a few spirit stones at least."

What furniture is worth a few spirit stones!

Today, I'm here to settle accounts, but how did it turn into you demanding payment?

Gao Tingyuan took a deep breath, "Then I ask you, why did you move into the inner city in such a hurry after that? Were you afraid we would find you, or did you take my subordinate's inheritance and use it to move into the inner city?"

It had to be said, this time he guessed correctly.

But Luo Chen had a way to deal with it.

"Go and find out, do I care about other people's spirit stones?"

Luo Chen, as if insulted, slammed the table and shouted,

"I'm an alchemist! The alchemist who never lacks spirit stones, get that straight! I'm not one of those poor independent cultivators!"

"Back then, I could earn hundreds of spirit stones a day. Who in the South City independent cultivator market doesn't know?"

"And what do you mean by moving into the inner city in a hurry? If you have spirit stones, why don't you live in the inner city where the spirit veins are?"

"Of course, my spirit stones didn't come from the wind. Your subordinate destroyed my home. Even if he's dead, you, as his elder brother, should pay for it, right?"

"Five spirit stones, hand them over!"

How dare he!

Liu Qiang, the bodyguard, was stunned.

For the first time, he saw a fifth-layer Qi Condensation cultivator boldly demand spirit stones from the ninth-layer River Dragon Mixer in front of him.

Not just him, the late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators Gao Tingyuan brought were also stunned.

Especially the lazy blue-robed cultivator, who frowned deeply.

"Kid, be more respectful. The person you're facing is the second-in-command of the Great River Gang."

"I'm also the Hall Master of the Mountain Breaker Gang's Pill Hall!" Luo Chen glared back.

"Enough!"

Gao Tingyuan's face darkened, and he growled.

At this moment, his mind was in chaos.

Subconsciously, he didn't believe his subordinate was killed by a third-layer cultivator.

But after investigating repeatedly, there were no clues.

The only clue was Luo Chen.

He thought that today, using the Spirit Suppression Technique, he could make the other side confess the truth.

Even if it wasn't him, he could at least get some other clues.

But the other side seemed to have nothing to do with it and even dared to demand compensation boldly.

Could it really be unrelated to him?

"Tsk tsk, what a big show of power!"

Luo Chen laughed sarcastically.

"Even Old Man Mi didn't talk to me like that. You're more impressive than him. Fine, you probably can't hand over those five spirit stones. I won't keep you company anymore. Goodbye!"

With that, he turned and left.

At the stairs, three late-stage cultivators blocked his way.

Liu Qiang and Zhou Yuanli stepped forward, ready to fight if necessary.

Luo Chen didn't look back, coldly saying, "I was invited up here. I don't want Uncle Mi to have to come and take me back!"

"Let him go!"

Hearing Gao Tingyuan's words, the three cultivators reluctantly moved aside.

Luo Chen swept his sleeves and descended the stairs, leaving a final remark.

"Big Brother Gao, don't forget the account of the five spirit stones!"

After he left, the second floor fell silent again.

After a long while, the blue-robed cultivator sighed.

"Second Brother, this matter might really fall on those independent cultivators who like to go to the Howling Moon Mountains."

"You also think he's not involved?"

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

"But for a fifth-layer cultivator to be so bold to me, isn't that even more suspicious?"

"He was even less respectful to Sima Shoujia. It's said that in the gang's meeting, Uncle Mi was even tricked into losing two magical artifacts to him."

Gao Tingyuan rubbed his temples and walked to the railing.

Never before had he felt so exhausted.

His subordinate was dead, his dantian was damaged, and his path to the Foundation Establishment stage was cut off. Now, he couldn't even find the person to avenge him.

The blue-robed cultivator shook his head, "In my opinion, we should put Ting'e's matter aside for now! There are more and more strangers in the gang. They have occupied several large ships and will eventually encroach on our interests."

Gao Tingyuan remained silent.

He knew that all this had Wang Haichao's tacit approval.

In the battle on the Dao Discussion Platform, he was definitely ambushed by the other side, even his puppet substitute was destroyed.

"We can't put it aside, we must investigate!"

He slammed the railing, his face fierce.

The blue-robed cultivator sighed, his expression somewhat dejected.

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

Liu Qiang's eyes sparkled, and he called "Hall Master" more smoothly.

Luo Chen pulled the corners of his mouth, spitting on the street corner.

Zhou Yuanli sniffed, was that wine?

It was the wine Luo Chen sipped upstairs.

Luo Chen wiped his mouth, his gaze intense as he looked at the two men.

"Wasn't it impressive?"

"Follow me, and you'll