After the surge of wild joy, Lin Chen quickly calmed down.
He carefully felt the power within his body, now at the peak of the 5th stage Spirit Realm, along with that faint yet profoundly significant root sprouting from his spiritual seed.
This spiritual seed had the potential to evolve into a true spiritual root.
From a 1st-grade spiritual root to a 9th-grade spiritual root…
Then to a heavenly-grade spiritual root…
And perhaps, one day, it could even sprout and grow into a towering tree, bloom with Dao flowers, and bear Dao fruits.
At this very moment, Lin Chen was filled with anticipation.
There were two ways to strengthen the spiritual seed, one was to nourish it with vast amounts of spiritual energy, and the other was to devour the spiritual roots of others.
Devouring the cultivation and spiritual roots of other cultivators would bring rapid progress, but the risks were far too great.
If discovered, and the news spread, he would become the target of everyone.
At his current stage, devouring pills and spiritual herbs was undoubtedly the safer and more sustainable path.
Right now, the most direct method was to purchase resources.
“The Marketplace…”
Lin Chen’s gaze sharpened as he looked out the window.
With that thought, he did not hesitate. After adjusting his black robes and confirming that no traces were left behind, he pushed open the door and stepped into the light outside.
He headed straight toward the Marketplace of Luoyun City.
His steps were steady, his back straight.
He knew that his path to the heavens had already begun.
This road was destined to be filled with thorns and slaughter.
If that was the case, then there was only one choice.
Become stronger.
…
The Marketplace of Luoyun City remained as bustling as ever, filled with all kinds of people.
With a clear goal in mind, Lin Chen walked into the Pill Pavilion, a shop known for its wide selection and excellent reputation.
This Pill Pavilion had an extraordinary background. It belonged to the Alchemist Association of the Eastern Extreme Region.
The Alchemist Association was a colossal force in the Eastern Extreme Region. Countless powerful alchemists were part of it, and even top-tier sects did not dare provoke them lightly.
Within Luoyun City, no one dared cause trouble here.
Moreover, the Pavilion guaranteed that any item purchased within would be protected as long as it remained inside the Marketplace.
Lin Chen stepped inside.
The shopkeeper of the Pavilion was an old man named Sun Baocheng.
When he saw Lin Chen, his brows lifted slightly, but he still came forward to greet him.
Naturally, he recognized Lin Chen, once the number one genius of Luoyun City, now reduced to a cripple after having his spiritual root stripped away. This story is hosted at g.com.
What a pity.
“Young Master Lin, what would you like to buy?” Sun Baocheng asked.
Lin Chen cupped his hands slightly and said, “I would like to purchase some spiritual herbs, preferably ones rich in spiritual energy. Shopkeeper Sun, do you have any recommendations?”
He had a fairly good impression of Sun Baocheng.
Back when his heavenly-grade spiritual root had not been taken, Sun Baocheng would often chat with him whenever he visited.
After becoming a cripple, Sun Baocheng was one of the few who did not mock him.
The last time Lin Chen bought a cauldron here, it was Sun Baocheng who personally attended to him.
Sun Baocheng smiled and explained, “If Young Master Lin wants herbs rich in spiritual energy, I would recommend Dragon Scale Fruit, Spirit Gathering Grass, and Snow Lotus Seeds.”
After asking for the prices, Lin Chen decided to purchase thirty portions.
As the young master of the Lin Family, he had made great contributions and still had some savings left.
Sun Baocheng immediately instructed an assistant to prepare the herbs.
He then asked, “Young Master Lin, you bought a cauldron last time, and now you’re buying so many herbs. Are you planning to try becoming an alchemist?”
An alchemist?
Lin Chen paused slightly.
This remark gave him an idea.
On the Heavenly Sovereign Continent, the most sought-after profession was that of an alchemist.
Top-tier alchemists possessed unimaginable networks and immense wealth.
A spark lit up in Lin Chen’s eyes.
If he could become a top-tier alchemist, it would solve most of his resource problems.
After all, he knew his path was long. His current resources were far from enough, and he had to prepare early for the vast resources he would need in the future.
More importantly, he had the Chaos Pearl.
Inside it, time flowed at a ratio of 100 to 1. One hundred years inside the Chaos Space equaled one year outside.
In other words, if he refined pills inside, his speed would be one hundred times that of others.
At the very least, gaining proficiency would not be a concern at all.
The existence of the Chaos Pearl gave Lin Chen the confidence to step into the path of alchemy.
After the life-and-death battle, he would give it a try.
Lin Chen smiled slightly and said, “I do have that intention. Shopkeeper Sun, do you happen to have any alchemy manuals?”
Sun Baocheng took out a book from his storage ring and handed it to him, “This is a basic alchemy manual issued by the Alchemist Association. Young Master Lin can give it a try.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“Thank you, Shopkeeper Sun.” Lin Chen cupped his hands and thanked him sincerely.
Soon after, Lin Chen left the Pill Pavilion.
Sun Baocheng watched his departing figure and let out a sigh.
At that moment, a young girl appeared behind him.
She wore a green robe and had delicate features, a small oval face, clear brows, and skin as white as snow, like a peach blossom in full bloom during spring.
Her phoenix eyes were especially striking, lively and pure, untouched by the worldly world, a true beauty in the making.
She asked, “Shopkeeper Sun, is that the genius of Luoyun City you mentioned?”
Sun Baocheng turned around, his attitude becoming especially respectful as he cupped his hands and replied, “Miss Lin, that was Lin Chen. Unfortunately, his spiritual root was stripped away, and he became a cripple.”
The girl’s name was Lin Qianqian.
Her background was extraordinary. She was the daughter of a 6th-grade alchemist, Lin Xiao, and had come to Luoyun City on assignment from her family.
Lin Qianqian nodded and said, “So now he wants to try the path of an alchemist?”
“Exactly,” Sun Baocheng replied, “However, the threshold for alchemy is extremely high. Many spend three to five years and thousands of days before even becoming a 1st-grade alchemist.”
Lin Qianqian smiled faintly, “Becoming an alchemist is already difficult. For someone without a spiritual root to attempt it… it’s as hard as reaching the heavens.”
With that single sentence, it was as if Lin Chen’s path in alchemy had already been judged.
Sun Baocheng fell silent and only sighed.
In his view, without a spiritual root, even cultivation was nearly impossible for Lin Chen. Attempting alchemy was likely nothing more than a desperate attempt to find comfort.
…
Lin Chen was unaware that such attention had been placed on him.
When he stepped out of the vermilion gates of the Pill Pavilion, it was already dusk. The glow of the setting sun spread across the rooftops of the Marketplace, casting everything in a warm golden hue.
The Marketplace remained noisy and lively.
He prepared to return to the Lin Family courtyard.
However, not long after leaving the Pavilion, he saw three people approaching him with smiles.
The man in front was fat, with large ears, dressed in a dark red brocade robe embroidered with the silver wolf emblem of the Zhao Family, with a jade belt tied around his waist.
In an instant, a cold killing intent appeared in Lin Chen’s deep eyes.
This man was Zhao Wanling’s elder brother, Zhao Mang.
Zhao Mang narrowed his triangular eyes and looked at Lin Chen, saying mockingly, “Well, well, isn’t this the number one genius of Luoyun City, the young master of the Lin Family, Lin Chen?”
He deliberately dragged out his words, full of ridicule.
The two gray-clothed guards beside him burst into laughter.
“Young Master, what number one genius? I think he’s clearly the number one waste of Luoyun City!”
“That’s right, the number one waste! Hahaha…”