Luo Chen wasn’t surprised that Kang Dongyue had figured out who he was. Once the words Jade Essence pill, Dan Chenzi, Foundation Establishment Initiate, and Dahe Market were strung together, anyone with a working brain could deduce that he was the leader of the Luo Tian Society. He gave a slight nod and did not deny it. Seeing this, Kang Dongyue nodded in admiration. "It’s not easy to cultivate as a rogue cultivator. Having a force at your command really makes a lot of things much smoother. "This trip to Taishan Market, surely you’re planning to settle down here?" Luo Chen didn’t hide it and replied frankly, "Yes, I do have that in mind." "In that case, you might want to put on a good show at the upcoming auction," Kang Dongyue said, stroking his beard meaningfully. A good show… at an auction? Luo Chen blinked, falling into thought. Kang Dongyue didn’t disturb him and instead sent someone to fetch the mid-grade spirit stones and equivalent trade items. The top-grade Jade Essence pills Luo Chen had offered weren’t being traded at market value. They were priced at a much lower wholesale rate. Only that way could the Golden Stone Pavilion turn a profit. However, given the current turmoil and the rising hostility between the two Nascent Soul sects, the prices of pills and enchanted items had been soaring. So even the wholesale price had surged to eighty spirit stones per bottle. Golden Stone Pavilion could mark it up to ninety or a hundred, and just like that, they’d earn over ten thousand spirit stones. Truly, a lucrative deal. And Luo Chen wouldn’t be on the losing end either. Before leaving Dahe Market, he had spent three months refining a large batch of top-grade Jade Essence pills. In the process, he burned through much of the Luo Tian Society’s inventory and spirit stones. Selling them piece by piece would certainly yield a better profit but the time cost would be far too high. Given the current situation, it was better to recover funds as soon as possible. Two hundred mid-grade spirit stones and twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones, plus a hefty batch of supreme and top-grade Golden Jade liquid. This stash would last Luo Chen a very long time, with even enough surplus to reward some of the Luo Tian Society’s cultivators. There were also raw materials mainly in the form of mineral-rich stones and herb bases. A good amount of Washed Jade had also been included. Most importantly, Kang Dongyue had informed him of a detox method—Clear Origin Mystical Pill Method It originated from Green Pill Valley, one of the seven branches of the Jade Cauldron lineage. Kang Dongyue hadn’t explained exactly how he acquired it but Luo Chen was sure it would be useful. After the transaction was complete, Luo Chen asked Kang Dongyue for advice on cultivation matters. Whether it was due to newfound appreciation or the satisfaction of a successful deal, Kang Dongyue didn’t hold back, sharing a few lesser-known tips for cultivating during the early Foundation Establishment Realm. After listening and reflecting on what Li Yixian had once told him, Luo Chen felt he had gained a great deal. With this new insight, he would likely avoid many detours in cultivation and could improve his progress just that little bit faster. "Let’s leave it here for today. I’ve really disturbed you, Fellow Daoist." "Not at all. To be honest, I truly hope you’ll stay in Taishan Market. It would give us more chances to exchange insights on alchemy." "Whether we can or not still depends on the attitude of the three local families!" Luo Chen let out a helpless chuckle. He’d realized by now, staying in Taishan Market wouldn’t be that easy. After a word of farewell, Luo Chen departed lightly as the wind. Kang Dongyue stood at the gilded pavilion window of Golden Stone Pavilion, gazing at Luo Chen’s figure retreating into the streets below. A graceful silhouette stepped out from the inner room. "Grandpa caught me…" Ignoring the flattery in his granddaughter’s tone, Kang Dongyue stroked his beard and sighed deeply. "What a pity. If he weren’t already Foundation Establishment, he could’ve become a powerful asset to our Kang family!" Kang Xianqiong leaned curiously over the windowsill, but could no longer spot Luo Chen among the crowd. "He’s not part of the Kang family. How could he be an asset to us?" "Win him over, draw him in, reason with him, tempt him with gain… And if that all fails, there’s still marriage," Kang Dongyue replied unhurriedly. As he spoke the final line, he cast a half-smiling glance at Kang Xianqiong. Kang Xianqiong shivered. "No way!" "Anyone who makes that kind of perverse pill can’t be a proper gentleman!" Kang Dongyue didn’t offer any defense for Luo Chen. Such people may exist in this world. But they would never come out of a place like Dahe Market. At the stroke of midnight, a gentle breeze stirred across the upper deck of the Luo Tian Society’s ship. From the shadows above, a figure descended like drifting willow fluff, landing silently before the private cabin of the ship’s upper tier. At the same time, the wooden door creaked open as if responding to her presence. Li Yixian’s clear eyes flickered slightly. This Luo Chen... his spirit consciousness is sharper than I expected. He must’ve sensed me long before I arrived. She stepped inside without a word, closed the door behind her, and took a seat opposite him. "How did your inquiry go, Fellow Daoist?" Li Yixian asked calmly, her expression unreadable. Luo Chen shook his head. "I fear… not very well." He paused, then added grimly, "It seems Taishan Market isn’t as welcoming as we’d hoped." Li Yixian studied Luo Chen and nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I spoke with the Foundation Establishment Initiate of the Yu family, she didn’t hide much from me. "Taishan Market has four minor spirit veins. One is second-tier, but it’s been split between the Kang and Huo families. The resources here are far inferior to Dahe Market. It can only support a limited number of large factions." Four spirit veins! That sounded like a lot, but it was nowhere near Dahe Market’s large first-tier spirit vein. From what Luo Chen knew, Dahe Market had over a dozen minor branches extending from that main spirit vein! That was a true haven for rogue cultivators. Moreover, its main vein under Fallen Phoenix Mountain had the potential to evolve into a third-tier vein. Compared to that, Taishan Market seemed rather barren. "Also, the aftershocks of the ongoing conflict between the two Nascent Soul sects have begun reshaping the local power balance," Li Yixian added slowly. Luo Chen nodded. It was nearly identical to what Kang Dongyue had told him. "The Huo family! Taishan Market used to revere the Kang family. Even if the Huo family was stronger, they still had to show deference to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect that backed the Kang family. "But now, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect is clearly consolidating. The Flame Alliance, a long-time vassal of the sect, is being given concessions to tighten their allegiance. "For instance—Taishan Market! "Perhaps not given, but returned," Li Yixian corrected. Mhm. Luo Chen agreed. Taishan Market was technically within the Flame Alliance's domain to begin with. For years, it had been monopolized by the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion and the Kang family encroaching on the Flame Alliance’s rightful interests. Now that war had erupted, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect would surely give up holdings that weren’t truly theirs to begin with, in order to secure their allies. The Huo family had long supplied the Flame Alliance with young disciples. They were part of the Flame Alliance in every sense. Now that they held power, it was only natural some of the market’s profits would be forwarded to the Alliance. Power and status were in the midst of a shift. Their arrival in Taishan Market had come at a most unfortunate time. "So, while it seems all three families must agree, in reality, under the current circumstances, only the Huo family’s approval is needed for us to stay," Luo Chen concluded. This conclusion left Li Yixian feeling rather heavy-hearted. There was no way all four factions from Dahe Market would be allowed to stay. At most, one or two might get the chance. Li Yixian pulled herself together and asked, "Dan Chenzi, what do you plan to do?" "What do I plan to do?" Luo Chen repeated the question slowly, then shook his head. After a moment of thought, he said, "Let’s decide after the auction." Three days later, the Huo family Auction! It wasn’t called the Jade Cauldron Auction, nor was it labeled as the Taishan Market Auction. Bold and unmistakable, the event bore a single name, The Huo Family Auction. Its intent was clear without needing explanation. The Huo family of Chican Mountain was using this auction to formally declare, both internally and externally, their sovereignty over Taishan Market. Hence from this day forth, the market would no longer be dominated by the Kang family or the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. As for why they chose to do it through an auction, the reason was quite simple. Large-scale auctions had always been the domain of powerful forces with the resources and prestige to host them. At best, smaller factions might organize a black market event. Even then, a "black market auction" was nothing more than a loosely organized marketplace for rogue cultivators. Only a major faction could source high-tier materials, rare pills, cultivation techniques, and even enchanted treasures. With status came influence. A major faction could rally large crowds with ease, turning a simple event into a grand spectacle. The more guests that arrived, the greater the momentum, the louder the name they made for themselves. There was no energy, no anticipation, only a hollow gathering. A few cultivators whispering back and forth, negotiating in low voices. There would be no thrilling bids driving prices higher with every call, only cautious bargaining and inevitable compromise. The kind of auction where spirit stones trickled, not surged. At the base of Chican Mountain, Luo Chen stood still, gazing up at the towering peak that pierced the clouds. A flicker of longing flashed in his eyes. A second-tier spirit vein… Even if the Huo family only controlled half of it in their arrangement with the Kang family of Taishan, it was still second-tier spirit land, something countless cultivators could only dream of. But what made him most envious was the true fire vein buried within the mountain. With Flame Alliance experts' arrangements, the underground fire had been drawn forth and refined into a proper first-tier earth fire. It was said this mountain was an active volcano, home to a first-tier demonic beast, the Crimson Toad. Thus, the mountain earned its name—Chican [1] Mountain. Compared to this, Xiao Huan Mountain was sorely lacking. Retracting his gaze from the mountain’s peak, Luo Chen cast a faint, sidelong glance toward the cultivators nearby. Wang Haichao, Nangong Jin, and Li Yixian were each accompanied by their trusted followers, all making preparations to ascend the mountain. As for the many other cultivators streaking through the sky in glowing trails of light, he paid them no mind. Their business had nothing to do with him. “Let’s go,” he said calmly. With a graceful sweep of his wide sleeves, Luo Chen summoned a white cloud beneath his feet, rising steadily toward the summit. Behind him, Wang Yuan, Sima Huiniang, Duan Feng, and the others followed closely in silence. Only a few had been left behind at the Luo Tian Society's base—Zeng Wen, Granny Yuan, Sima Wenjie, and two new ninth-stage Qi-Refining cultivators. Five in total had stayed to hold the fort. The rest, every single ninth-stage Qi-Refining cultivator from Luo Tian Society, had been brought along. Ten in total, plus Qu Lingjun, the newly initiated disciple. They weren't necessarily aiming to compete for the most valuable resources. At the very least, Luo Chen hoped they could gain some experience and broaden their horizons. However, when they reached the newly built palace halfway up the mountain. This "grandeur" turned out to be somewhat disappointing. A dense crowd had formed outside the palace gates, packed so tightly that no one could get through. “What’s going on up ahead?” Luo Chen asked, a slight frown forming between his brows. Sima Huiniang responded with a subtle nod to her younger brother, Sima Wenjie. Taking the cue, Wenjie stepped out from the group and jogged forward to investigate the cause of the commotion. It didn’t take long before he returned, his expression slightly troubled. “Reporting, President, there’s been a bit of trouble with a rogue cultivator trying to submit an item for auction. It’s caused a blockage at the entrance.” Hm? Luo Chen’s brow arched with interest. Sima Wenjie quickly explained everything in detail. It turned out that a rogue cultivator had submitted a thousand-year-old spirit herb. However, due to the herb’s inherent quality of hiding its brilliance, it emitted extremely faint spirit light. Because of this, an elder from the Huo family had mistakenly appraised it as only five hundred years old. But a thousand-year-old herb versus a five-hundred-year-old one, those were worlds apart in value. Naturally, the rogue cultivator caused a scene. The Huo elder had initially insisted that his appraisal was correct. But a Foundation Establishment Initiate from the Spirit Herb Pavilion happened to pass by, took one glance, and casually announced the herb’s true age. That made a complete joke of the Huo elder in charge. Now, the rogue cultivator refused to let it go, suspecting the elder had intentionally devalued the item to skim profits. Other cultivators who had submitted items before him began questioning their own appraisals, asking for re-evaluations. With all the back-and-forth, the rogue cultivator lane had become completely blocked. As for the Huo family elder at the center of it all, he now stood awkwardly amidst the chaos, utterly unable to save face. "Doesn’t matter. Follow me through the Foundation Establishment Initiate path." Luo Chen spoke calmly and released his Foundation Establishment spirit power as he led the way forward. As he passed, the Qi-Refining cultivators all stepped aside instinctively. Many of them eyed this unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivator with curiosity. Passing the rogue cultivator submission lane, Luo Chen glanced over and shook his head. Qu Lingjun looked over curiously and asked, "Master, why didn’t the Huo family hire a proper appraiser?" "Maybe… that was their most professional appraiser?" said a voice beside him. The speaker was Su Xiaolin. A ninth-stage Qi-Refining cultivator who had risen to prominence in the Luo Tian Society over the past two years. In his forties but looking much younger, he had a somewhat carefree and spirited personality. And just as he spoke, a handsome young man in red robes appeared, striding toward them. "Hm?" He shot Su Xiaolin a glance, his expression darkening. A surge of Foundation Establishment aura pressed down, sharp and aggressive! Luo Chen’s brows drew together. With a simple flick of his sleeve, the pressure that had seemed so overwhelming just moments ago slammed into an invisible wall. Like a crashing wave meeting an unyielding reef, it lost all momentum and quietly dissipated. "Fellow Daoist," Luo Chen said calmly, "there’s no need to make things difficult for the juniors, is there?" The young man’s eyes widened as he stared intently at Luo Chen."Who are you?" "I am Luo Chen. I apologize on behalf of my subordinate for his improper words." As he spoke, Luo Chen cupped his hands in a polite gesture. "Hmph, you really ought to keep these bumpkins from the countryside in check." The young man snorted and did not bother to argue further with Luo Chen. He brushed past them and headed straight for the appraisal hut where the rogue cultivator submissions were gathered. Even before he arrived, he loudly announced himself. "The Huo family has no interest in these pitiful goods. The notion of undervaluing them is utterly absurd. "A thousand-year spirit herb, was it? I, Huo Hu, will buy it for three thousand spirit stones!" Hearing the voice behind him, Luo Chen couldn’t help but shake his head. What a domineering man. Buying a thousand-year spirit herb for three thousand spirit stones seemed generous, but in truth, it was a steal. What’s more, no rogue cultivator would dare refuse a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him. Forget about fetching a higher price at auction. The auction itself was being run by the Huo family. Rogue cultivators had no choice but to sell! "Are you the president of the Luo Tian Society, Senior?" asked by a graceful attendant who appeared before him. She smiled gently and gestured ahead. "Your private room is this way, please follow me." Led by the attendant, Luo Chen and his group soon entered a reasonably spacious private room. Through the open platform, they could see the entire hall below at a glance. The location wasn’t bad. But the treatment of rogue cultivators within the venue was clearly subpar. Their chairs were placed haphazardly. Some weren’t even the same color. Unlike the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion, this event offered no complimentary fruits or spirit tea. In the end, this was just a family that had risen to power recently, not a true sect with proper bearing. Luo Chen shook his head and took a seat. It was then that he noticed the somber mood among his people. Following his gaze, Qu Lingjun bit his lip and said regretfully, "Master, I shouldn’t have spoken out earlier." Su Xiaolin went down on one knee and apologized directly. "President, I misspoke and brought trouble upon you. Please forgive me."