Chapter 111: Temporarily Crafting Bamboo

“Finally reached the tenth layer of Qi Refinement.”

As the morning sun began to rise, Chen Luo slowly opened his eyes in the courtyard.

After numerous trials and adjustments, he successfully reverse-engineered the Qi Gathering Pill. With its assistance, he swiftly overcame the barrier of the ninth layer of Qi Refining, entering the tenth layer. From this point on, his Qi Refinement realm gradually approached perfection, culminating at the thirteenth layer with complete accumulation.

The number of little spiritual energy snakes within him has now reached seventy. Consequently, the potency of his divine abilities significantly increased. Notably, using his Foundation Establishment brain to unleash the Wind Control Technique, he can now generate thirty wind vortices, exhibiting astonishing power.

Compared to cultivators below the ninth layer, the spiritual energy within his body has started forming a circular meridian path known as the Zhou Tian cycle.

This state signifies the attainment of the Full Circulation Realm.

In ancient times, reaching the tenth layer of Qi Refinement marked the Full Circulation Realm, allowing one to attempt Foundation Establishment. However, the environment of those days differed greatly from the present, with significant variations in medicinal pills and cultivation techniques. The risk of failing Foundation Establishment was exceptionally high; failure could drastically reduce a cultivator’s life force, or worse, lead to immediate demise—a stark reality where success meant survival, and failure often meant death. As Chen Luo practiced modern methods, he naturally avoided such risks.

Knock, knock, knock.

A series of knocks echoed at the door.

Chen Luo composed himself and rose to his feet, already sensing Hu Qiudao’s presence outside.

The house he currently resided in was purchased two days ago for two hundred taels of silver, quickly depleting the savings left by rogue cultivator Wan Ming.

“Junior Brother Chen, I’ve managed to acquire most of the materials.”

The person at the door was none other than Chen Luo’s senior brother, Hu Qiudao.

Following the request of the Hu Clan patriarch, Hu Qiudao had been visiting Chen Luo frequently. In fact, it was Hu Qiudao who arranged for Chen Luo to obtain this courtyard residence. Its true value exceeded one thousand taels, but Chen Luo only paid two hundred, with Hu Qiudao covering the rest. However, matters involving mundane currency were often negligible for cultivators, so neither placed much importance on it.

“So fast?” Chen Luo welcomed Hu Qiudao inside.

“There was some trouble obtaining the violet gold vine,” Hu Qiudao said after taking a seat.

Violet gold vine served as the primary ingredient for Chen Luo’s Qi Gathering Pills.

His previous stock from the market sweep had dwindled significantly, prompting him to seek help from Hu Qiudao, utilizing the connections of the Hu Family to procure spirit materials.

“Short on spirit stones? I still have some reserves; if needed, we can exchange goods instead.”

As both a tier-one talisman master and alchemist, Chen Luo had the confidence to make such offers.

“It’s not about spirit stones; there was an unexpected issue.” Hu Qiudao appeared somewhat hesitant before glancing at Chen Luo and asking, “Junior Brother, did something happen at the sect when you left?”

Immediately, Chen Luo understood.

The news from his sect could no longer be contained, spreading even to the Luxury Nation. Given that Luxury Nation is not close to the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, if the ordinary Qi Refinement Hu Family heard whispers, it indicated just how dire the situation must have become.

“The sect indeed faced troubles,” Chen Luo explained succinctly. “Two Foundation Establishment elders turned traitor, leading the Corpse-Raising Sect and Nine Poisons Valley in a joint invasion. So far, our patriarch has not emerged from seclusion, with rumors suggesting he may have passed away during meditation.”

Hu Qiudao listened, utterly stunned.

He couldn’t fathom that such monumental events occurred within just a year of his departure from the sect.

“No wonder.”

“What exactly happened with the violet gold vine?”

“The violet gold vine you asked me to acquire was purchased by a group called the Rogue Cultivators’ Alliance.” As Hu Qiudao mentioned them, a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

To these sect cultivators, rogue cultivators were akin to wild dogs.

In the past, such individuals would never dare to provoke the Hu Family, given that three generations of their clan were Outer Disciples of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, enjoying considerable influence within it. Even the royal family of the Luxury Nation respected their standing.

“Rogue Cultivators’ Alliance?” Chen Luo immediately recalled the token he possessed.

When leaving the sect earlier, he had transacted with a middle-aged man claiming to be from the Rogue Cultivators’ Alliance, selling him all his mid- and low-grade Qi Nourishing Pills. At the time, the man gave Chen Luo a token of the alliance, expressing interest in further collaboration.

“They have immense financial resources and bought out every available violet gold vine in the market. Now, there’s none left in the entire Wood Monarch Territory. To purchase any, one must travel to the distant Divine Wind Territory, which would take significant time.”

Hu Qiudao felt somewhat embarrassed.

Earlier, he had spoken with great confidence, only for things to fall through just overnight.

“It’s alright. I still have some reserves that can last me for a while,” Chen Luo reassured, shaking his head.

This situation was not due to any personal failure; the Hu Family had indeed tried their best. Naturally, he wouldn’t blame them.

He began pondering the intentions of the Loose Cultivator Union. This newly emerged force would not act without reason; there might be a larger plan at play behind these actions. Worse yet, Woodmount City itself could potentially get entangled in it.

The power struggle between the three major sects seemed to be spreading down to the lower levels. What Chen Luo witnessed here in Woodmount City likely mirrored situations unfolding elsewhere.

“As for the other medicinal ingredients you requested, I’ve managed to procure them. The prices this time were market rate, but next time, they may increase by about twenty percent.” Hu Qiudao handed over a bag of holding to Chen Luo.

The contents within were materials for the Qi Gathering Pills that Chen Luo had requested from the Hu Family, and their assistance indeed saved him considerable time.

“Many thanks, Shixiong.”

Chen Luo accepted the bag of holding with gratitude.

“No need for formalities until the matter is resolved,” Hu Qiudao stood up. “I must also return to brief my grandfather about the situation at the sect; some preparations should be made ahead of time.”

Unlike his behavior during their time in the sect, Hu Qiudao now displayed a noticeable maturity.

After exchanging a few more words with Chen Luo, he hastily departed.

Nightfall.

Chen Luo sat in his room, eyes closed, diligently cultivating. Since reaching the tenth layer of Qi Refining, his progress had significantly slowed. Even with a heavenly spiritual root, breaking through this realm typically takes around three years. The benchmark of achieving Foundation Establishment before age fifty was not arbitrarily set.

In the quiet of the late-night streets, only the distant sound of the night watchman’s bell, accompanied by the chirping of insects and occasional barking of dogs, could be heard.

“Hmm?”

During his cultivation, Chen Luo suddenly opened his eyes, sensing something towards the direction of the Qi family residence. His purchased courtyard house was adjacent to theirs, as he had yet to complete the second part of Daoist Wuwei’s task, making it crucial to remain nearby.

In an alley beside the old Qi family mansion, three figures clad in black lurked in the shadows, waiting until the night watchman moved away before one of them stepped forward.

“Big Bro, this is the Qi family residence,” one of them whispered.

These three individuals were renowned bandits from the Luxury Nation, accomplished martial artists at the Zongshi realm. The leader, known as Dragon of the River, had even achieved the feat of escaping from a revered Immortal Master’s custody. Similarly, the second and third brothers held formidable reputations, feared throughout the Wood Monarch Territory’s martial world.

However, six months ago, the trio vanished without a trace, leading everyone to believe they had perished. To their surprise, the brothers resurfaced today with significantly enhanced martial skills, each now reaching the pinnacle of the Zongshi realm.

“Is that cape blade technique truly that powerful?” Barjadel, the second brother, couldn’t help but ask.

Half a year earlier, the three brothers were captured by a mysterious organization and forced to work for them ever since. Accustomed to living freely, being turned into someone else’s henchmen was deeply unsatisfying. Seizing an opportunity during a mission, they planned a daring heist to prepare for their eventual escape from the organization’s control.

The Qi family of Woodmount City had been on their radar for quite some time.

With ties to an immortal legacy, even the most powerful patriarch of their lineage once used this very blade technique to challenge an Immortal Master. In the eyes of their leader, Dragon of the River, this presented an ideal chance for the three brothers.

“Regardless of its authenticity, this opportunity is one we cannot miss,” said Dragon of the River, the eldest brother.

“Big Bro’s right,” nodded Old Third, Jie Jielong, agreeing with his brother’s plan.

“Let’s do it!”

Barjadel had merely posed the question casually; having come this far, there was no turning back.

Securing this chance to act had been no easy feat. If they waited until dawn when members from their organization returned, escaping again would become significantly harder.

Despite being at the pinnacle of Zongshi strength, within their organization, they held little significance.

The true power wielders were cultivators!

With determination set, the trio swiftly moved along the wall, scanning their surroundings. Once satisfied, the eldest brother propelled himself off the ground like a feather, effortlessly flipping over the courtyard wall and landing inside. Barjadel and Jie Jielong quickly followed suit.

Beyond the wall lay a small rural compound.

Their landing point coincided precisely with the bamboo pavilion where Chen Luo and Qi Boyun had shared tea just days earlier.

“Kill first, search later!” whispered the eldest brother, his voice hushed.

All three brothers drew their weapons simultaneously, with Old Third, Jie Jielong, wearing a menacing grin as he sensed someone sleeping inside the side room.

As Old Third raised his large blade, ready to kick open the door and kill, a sudden black streak emerged from a dark corner, narrowly missing his face.

Whack!

With a dull thud, the stick struck him squarely, crushing half of his face inward. Teeth mixed with blood flew everywhere. Jie Jielong’s body recoiled as if hit by a ship’s prow, hurtling backward and slamming into the wall behind him.

Red and white splattered across the ground; his legs twitched briefly before going still. It was highly unlikely he would survive.

“Third Brother!”

The Dragon of the River and Barjadel finally reacted, turning their heads to discover an unexpected figure nearby. This person was shaking fresh blood off a bamboo stick, clearly indicating they had delivered that powerful blow.

“This hastily broken piece of bamboo isn’t ideal for combat. I must protect it with spiritual energy, or it’d shatter instantly.”

Chen Luo flicked away the remaining blood and grinned at the two men.

Shocked and enraged, they couldn’t believe their plan had faltered before even beginning. The most critical issue was that despite being peak Zongshi masters, none of them sensed the newcomer’s presence—it was as if he had materialized out of thin air.

A cultivator! Only a cultivator could possess such strength.

“Engage him!” Dragon of the River roared, swinging his curved blade in a wide arc towards Chen Luo.

Barjadel, the second brother, also produced hidden weapons, joining forces with his elder sibling to encircle their opponent.

Facing adversaries of this caliber, only by fighting to the death would they have a chance of survival; fleeing was something only inexperienced newcomers in the jianghu would attempt.