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Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Trade and Calculation!
Faced with the crowd’s chatter, Luo Cheng remained indifferent and entered the Dan Medicine Pavilion, walking straight to a crystal counter.
Behind the counter was a serene-looking female elder in her thirties. She recognized Luo Cheng, her gaze flickering slightly as she asked:
"What do you need? The Outer Sect Pill Medicine Pavilion offers one to four-star Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Pills. If you plan to break through to the Tongxuan Realm, I would recommend purchasing the Bright Essence Pill, as it can increase your chances of success."
Sun Yingyang had descended the day before, and this female elder had also been present. She had a good impression of Luo Cheng and didn’t want him to die on the arena three days later.
"Thank you."
Luo Cheng nodded, took out his Identity Token, and then retrieved a stack of Gold Notes from his Storage Ring.
"I want to purchase three Bright Essence Pills. As for the remaining wealth, I’d appreciate it if Elder could exchange all of it for Essence Energy Pills."
The female elder accepted the token and Gold Notes. A flash of mystical light from her hand passed over them, and a look of astonishment emerged in her eyes.
The combined value of the token limit and the Gold Notes totaled over one hundred million liang!
Having served as an Outer Elder in the Xuanyuan Sect for many years, she was well aware that even top experts of the Tongxuan Realm would struggle to produce such immense wealth at once, unless they were heirs of noble families or top geniuses within the sect.
She didn’t inquire further and directly took out a porcelain bottle along with two wooden chests, saying:
"Three Bright Essence Pills amount to nine million liang. After deducting this, you still have ninety-five million six hundred thousand liang remaining."
"The exchange rate for Essence Energy Pills is eleven thousand liang per pill, which comes to eight thousand six hundred ninety pills in total—all here."
Luo Cheng nodded.
He had long heard that the sect’s pill prices had a noticeable discrepancy compared to those outside.
The usual market price for Bright Essence Pills typically wouldn’t exceed three million liang.
The exchange rate for Essence Energy Pills at Lingyun Pavilion generally fluctuated between ten thousand and five hundred to ten thousand eight hundred liang, never reaching eleven thousand liang.
Without saying much, Luo Cheng decisively stored the items away.
He may lack wealth at the moment, but he didn’t care about such trivial gains.
Compared to the saved time and effort, this price discrepancy was insignificant.
"Tsk, tsk, how incredibly wealthy! He casually brought out over one hundred million liang!"
"Damn, I have to scrimp and save every month for my cultivation expenses. It took me half a year to accumulate enough to buy a single Bright Essence Pill for an attempt to break through to the Tongxuan Realm. Where did he get so much wealth?"
"Hmph! So what if he has wealth? It’s no use if it’s just paving the way for someone else. Three days later, all his wealth is destined to become Senior Brother Yan Qi’s possessions!"
The nearby Outer Sect disciples, upon seeing Luo Cheng casually possess over one hundred million liang, turned green with envy, muttering in jealousy. Among them, several members of the Crown Prince Hall wore sneers on their faces.
Luo Cheng’s sharp perception caught their words, but he paid no heed.
Three days later, reality would speak for itself. There was no need to waste words here.
After storing the items, Luo Cheng thanked the female elder and turned to leave.
With everything ready, he was eager to return and focus on breaking through to the Tongxuan Realm.
Leaving the Dan Medicine Pavilion, Luo Cheng walked unhurriedly toward Qingxuan Peak.
Passing through a deserted mountain path, Luo Cheng suddenly halted, his voice calm:
"You might as well show yourself, friend."
Swish! Swish!
As soon as the words left his mouth, two figures clad in Outer Sect uniforms and masked with black cloth emerged from the forest, blocking the path.
"As expected from someone who’s cultivated the Golden Body Realm—you actually sensed us!"
The leading youth with thick eyebrows folded his arms, gazing down at Luo Cheng with a mocking smile in his sharp, narrow eyes.
"What do you want?"
Luo Cheng’s gaze remained steady as he sized up the pair.
After absorbing the Martial Soul Essence of Li Yun and others, his perception had improved significantly. He’d noticed he was being followed as soon as he left the Dan Medicine Pavilion.
Now studying the two figures, Luo Cheng was curious about their identities.
Though he had agreed on a duel with Yan Qi three days later, the Crown Prince Hall members wouldn’t be so hasty, regardless of their dissatisfaction with him.
The pair was surprised by Luo Cheng’s composure.
The thick-browed youth stepped forward with a low voice: "Nothing special—just a little business deal we’d like to propose."
As he spoke, essence energy surged around him, and he suddenly swung his fist forward.
Bang!
The air roared, and a nearby tree as thick as a bowl was instantly broken in half, snapping cleanly!
Essence Energy unleashed—Tongxuan Realm Second Layer Martial Artist!
Luo Cheng raised his eyebrows.
Only those whose cultivation had advanced to the Tongxuan Realm Second Layer could unleash essence energy and injure someone from afar!
If a Martial Artist opened the Divine Power Heavenly Gate and broke through to the Tongxuan Realm Third Layer, they could even wield Hundred-Step Divine Gang, slaying enemies from a thousand paces away!
The punch that shattered a tree seven or eight steps away indicated this person had recently broken through to the Tongxuan Realm Second Layer.
Aside from this youth, Luo Cheng observed that the other individual wasn’t ordinary either. His aura far exceeded Ren Qian’s and seemed to be a Tongxuan Realm First Layer Late Stage Martial Artist!
Without betraying any emotion, Luo Cheng asked:
"May I ask what kind of transaction you have in mind?"
The shorter youth said coldly: "I got word that Yan Qi has already been arranged by the Eighth Prince Jin Min to train in the Inner Sect. If all goes as expected, he’ll soon reach the Tongxuan Realm Second Layer! Three days from now, you’ll be dead for sure in the arena!"
"And how does this concern you two?" Luo Cheng remained expressionless.
The thick-browed youth clenched his fists and said, "Our strength, you’ve witnessed yourself. We’re brothers who abhor injustice and wanted to lend you a hand. If you hand over your wealth, we’ll find a way to ambush Yan Qi and make sure he can’t show up in the arena three days from now!"
The shorter youth’s eyes fixed on Luo Cheng’s Storage Ring as he coaxed: "You can always earn wealth again, but your life is irreplaceable. This deal works out remarkably in your favor, does it not?"
Luo Cheng chuckled and shook his head. "Not to mention whether you dare risk offending the Crown Prince Hall—just your strength alone isn’t enough to negotiate this deal."
The thick-browed youth’s eyes widened. "You’re not afraid of death?"
Suddenly, Luo Cheng gazed toward the other side of the path and exclaimed, "Ren Xiaoguang!"
"Ren Xiaoguang Senior Brother!"
"Run!"
Hearing the name Ren Xiaoguang, the pair’s expressions shifted drastically, and they fled into the forest in panic and embarrassment.
After running quite a distance, they finally dared to look back.
On the path, aside from the gradually retreating figure of Luo Cheng, there wasn’t a single other soul!
"Damn it, we’ve been fooled by this brat!"
The shorter youth’s eyes turned cold, his face flaring with shame and anger. He snarled, "Zhang Senior Brother, let’s just make a move directly! One hundred million liang is enough to cultivate us both to the Tongxuan Realm Third Layer!"
Having been outwitted, the thick-browed youth’s expression soured as well, but he replied coldly: "If you’re seeking death, don’t drag me into it! Extorting him is one thing—after all, once three days are up, there’ll be no one to accuse us. If we stir up trouble, Elder Chen Xuan and those Crown Prince Hall folks won’t let us off the hook!"
The shorter youth shrank back instinctively, frightened at the thought.
"Enough. This brat is sharp—he’s not someone we can easily scheme against. Let’s go!"
The two left begrudgingly. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
Further down the path, Luo Cheng smirked inwardly.
These two clearly mistook him for some naïve rookie, trying to exploit fear of a life-or-death duel to swindle all his wealth. If he had agreed, they’d surely leave him penniless and ruined!
What a pity that Luo Cheng, from the very beginning, hadn’t feared Yan Qi. How could he let himself be intimidated by this duo?
"Jin Min really clings like a persistent shadow! It seems I must break through to the Tongxuan Realm as soon as possible."
Thinking of their words, Luo Cheng’s eyes gleamed sharply as he quickened his pace.
