An Alchemist's Path to Eternity
Chapter 240: Diverting Disaster, Foundation Establishment Soul (II)

Chapter 240: Diverting Disaster, Foundation Establishment Soul (II)

When Luo Chen returned to Luo Tian Society, he was met with an unexpected visitor—Nangong Qin, the young master of the Nangong family.

Inside the hall, Gu Caiyi was already attending to him. "We agreed to deliver the goods. Why did you trouble yourself to come in person?"

Cough, cough...

Nangong Qin’s face looked pale, and he coughed lightly before shaking his head. "Recently, the Nangong family has been placed under strict lockdown. We may have to close ourselves off for a while, so we need a larger supply of Jade Essence pills. I had no choice but to come myself."

Outside the hall, Luo Chen’s brows furrowed upon hearing this.

The Nangong family was under lockdown?

Inside, Gu Caiyi hesitated and said, "Each family has a set quota for Jade Essence pills. Suddenly tripling the amount makes things difficult for us."

"It’s not difficult," Nangong Qin said, pulling out a pouch. "We won’t take the discount. We’ll pay full price."

For the few Foundation Establishment families, Luo Tian Society had granted Gold-Gilded member status. Not only did they receive delivery services, but they also enjoyed a twenty percent discount.

In other words, while a bottle of Jade Essence pills sold for fifty spirit stones on the market, these families only had to pay forty. This strategy was meant both to dominate the alchemy market and to build goodwill with these powerful families.

Now that the Nangong family was forgoing the discount, their loss wasn’t just ten spirit stones.

At fifty bottles per month, they had suddenly increased their order to two hundred. That meant they were willing to forfeit two thousand spirit stones just to secure the additional supply.

Gu Caiyi was tempted.

However, the demand for pills in the market was also at an all-time high. Even the qi-nourishing pills circulating in the black market were fetching sky-high prices. This was the perfect opportunity for them to strengthen their hold on the market.

She was torn between securing an easy profit and capitalizing on the broader market opportunity when a familiar voice broke the silence.

Luo Chen let out a hearty laugh. "Since you're showing such sincerity, why shouldn’t we do you this favor?

"Caiyi, have someone bring over two hundred bottles of Jade Essence pills."

With someone making the decision, things became much easier.

Gu Caiyi nodded at Luo Chen before hastily turning to leave.

Now, only Luo Chen and Nangong Qin remained in the hall.

Luo Chen studied his guest for a moment before offering a friendly smile. "Fellow Daoist Nangong, I trust you’ve been well?"

Nangong Qin forced a bitter smile, about to respond, but was interrupted by a violent coughing fit. Cough, cough, cough...

After the intense coughing, Nangong Qin finally managed a wry smile. "I’ve made a fool of myself before President Luo."

Luo Chen shook his head. "You were able to lead people into the ghost city and escape from a Ghost General alive. I can only respect that. There’s nothing to mock."

Then, he asked curiously, "What exactly is the situation inside Ghost City?"

Now that he was seeking help, and the other party was so accommodating...

Not to mention the recent humiliation that had already spread throughout Dahe Market...

Nangong Qin saw no point in hiding anything. He sighed and began recounting the details of ghost city.

The two spoke for a long time until Gu Caiyi returned with all the Jade Essence pills. Only then did Nangong Qin bid farewell.

Luo Chen personally walked him to the entrance. Watching the Nangong family cultivators hastily depart on their Light-Evading...

Luo Chen murmured, "The Nangong family is preparing to recuperate for a while."

"Recuperate?" Gu Caiyi was puzzled. "But didn’t they just seize several territories from the Poshan Gang?"

"More territory means nothing without people to manage it!"

The Nangong family’s biggest problem right now was manpower!

Luo Chen simply smiled and said no more.

The Nangong family was, after all, outsiders. They hadn’t fared well in Snow Lotus Market and had moved here just as Dahe Market was opening its Debate Platform.

They had gone to great lengths to establish themselves here and even joined the Xuanyi Society and sent their most talented younger generation to make a name for themselves on the Debate Platform.

Later, they participated in the division of the Poshan Gang’s assets. Had everything gone smoothly, with their strong Foundation Establishment cultivators and numerous promising Qi-Refining juniors, they would have secured their footing in Dahe Market.

However, things had not gone as planned.

First, they suffered casualties in the battle to stop Qin Liangchen. Then, they clashed with the long-established Li family, losing even more people.

And now, from their foray into ghost city, it was unclear what they had gained—but they had lost nine late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators.

This was a severe blow to their vitality!

Under these circumstances, the many territories they had fought for had now become burdens too heavy to manage. If they insisted on managing them, they would only get dragged into a quagmire by other factions.

The Nangong family had wise individuals with long-term vision. Thus, they had decided to withdraw and recuperate.

This large-scale purchase of Jade Essence pills was a step in that plan.

The reasoning behind it all...

Luo Chen understood it instantly. Perhaps it was also because his strengthened divine soul allowed him to grasp things more quickly.

But his focus remained on the intelligence Nangong Qin had shared before leaving.

"Ghost city... Could there be more than one Ghost General?"

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes, a sense of urgency rising within him. If a Ghost General left the city, it would undoubtedly bring a storm of blood and chaos.

So... I must strengthen myself further!

***

"From what you said about him, this Luo Chen seems rather extraordinary!"

The former territory of the Mi family was now the main base of the Nangong family. In the meditation chamber, Nangong Jin opened his eyes and looked at his son, whose complexion was now rosy.

At this moment, Nangong Qin no longer looked like the sickly ghost he had before. His vitality was not at its peak, but at least he no longer seemed on the verge of coughing at any moment.

He nodded and said, "Luo Chen pried quite a bit of information about Ghost City from me, but even in the end, he never once hinted at wanting to enter it.

"In that case, we were indeed too reckless back then."

Nangong Jin let out a sigh. Losing nine late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators was a devastating blow to the Nangong family.

The allure of ghost city’s riches had been too great. He had also obtained quite a few ghost-hunting enchanted artifacts from the Precious Dragon Black Market, which had fueled his desire to explore it.

But in the end, it reached an outcome they had never expected...

That Luo Chen, with only a Qi-Refining Realm, could lead a faction and yet restrain his greed. It truly made him see the man in a new light. And now, his willingness to show goodwill to the Nangong family by providing a large batch of pills further demonstrated his magnanimity.

"It’s not just his insight and composure. He feels completely different from before."

"Oh?"

Nangong Qin furrowed his brows, speaking with a hint of uncertainty. "In front of him, I felt as if I were facing you, Father. The pressure was immense."

Nangong Jin raised an eyebrow. "Is that true?"

"Yes!" Nangong Qin seemed to be recalling their meeting, his expression slightly unnatural as he spoke. In his presence, I felt as if he could see through me entirely.

"Not only that, but thinking back, I realize he was leading the conversation the entire time.

"It felt like... I was speaking to a Foundation Establishment Initiate!"

Hearing this, Nangong Jin fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, he exhaled slowly.

"It doesn’t matter. The more outstanding Luo Chen becomes, the more it benefits us. The other families have long been envious of his alchemy skills.

"If he continues drawing attention to himself, it will help divert pressure away from us, allowing us to weather this difficult period."

Saying this, he looked at Nangong Qin with a hint of pity.

"Take some time to rest! The ghost city expedition may not have harmed your foundation, but you were still severely injured.

"Use this time to cultivate properly and reach Perfected Mastery of Qi-Refining as soon as possible. That Foundation Establishment pill—I will keep it for you."

Nangong Qin was overjoyed and bowed deeply.

After he left, Nangong Jin pondered in silence for a moment before finally suppressing his unease.

"No matter what, the family must not fall in my generation.

"Even if I must divert the disaster elsewhere... Luo Chen, is it?"