Chapter 354: Chapter 77: Disciple, You Can’t Handle This! Let Your Master Do It!

"Chen’Er, why do I feel like you’re quite practiced at these steps?"

Han Jihai looked bewildered.

He had lived for hundreds of years and should have experienced much more than Lin Chen.

Yet, when it came to looting, he knew far less than Lin Chen...

The feeling Lin Chen gave him was like... an old hand?

Lin Chen slightly paused his steps after hearing this, and thought to himself:

"Master, these are all things I’ve seen in ancient texts, and now I’m just putting them into practice."

Beside him, Zhou Tieshan listened and looked admiring, only seeing Lin Chen as knowledgeable.

Li Zhenqian, on the other hand, looked dejected, silently thinking:

"Damn, which ancient text is this from? I want to learn it too!"

Only Han Jihai seemed to have thought of a certain possibility, murmuring as he fed the fire:

"Could it be that Chen’Er was a Divinity Transformation Tribulation Cultivator in a past life?"

"Hiss..."

...

That night, Lin Chen and the others set a fire that burned down more than half of Cyan Jade Town, erasing their traces.

Afterwards, the four did not dare to stop for a moment, heading west for a day and night.

Along the way, they encountered quite a few traces of Tribulation Cultivators and Demon Cultivators.

In the latest instance, they narrowly passed by a demonic army of thousands.

Luckily, Lin Chen’s divine sense was far-reaching, enabling him to lead several people to escape the territory of the Demon Sect.

After rushing over ten thousand miles, they arrived at a small town called Hu Guang Town.

Several years ago, Lin Chen flew over Hu Guang Town, but didn’t stop.

Because the town was quite far from Cyan Jade Town, it had not been occupied by the Demon Sect yet.

Several people entered the town and found an inn to rest.

Lin Chen wasn’t particularly tired, just sat down to meditate and cultivate.

It wasn’t until noon the next day that Han Jihai roused Lin Chen and the others.

"Chen’Er, Tieshan... and Zhenqian, come and eat."

"In Hu Guang Town, there is top-notch Hu Deer meat... miss this town and you’ll miss the taste."

Lin Chen, after receiving the message, left the room and came to the first floor of the inn.

On the table in front of Han Jihai was a table full of spiritual food.

The most eye-catching among them was the roast deer.

Golden and crispy, just one look makes the mouth water.

Once Lin Chen and the others were all seated, Han Jihai tore off a deer leg and said:

"This Hu Deer meat is top-notch spiritual food, not only tastes great and has a unique texture, but consuming it greatly benefits the flesh body."

"Over a hundred years ago, when I followed my master to Hu Guang Town, I only had a taste of a deer leg, didn’t expect to eat it again now!"

Han Jihai ate with oil dripping from his mouth, full of praise.

Lin Chen took a bite after hearing this, and indeed, the deer meat was tender and crunchy, with excellent flavor.

At the same time, Lin Chen even sensed a subtle increase in qi and blood within his body...

Lin Chen was instantly surprised, as his High-Level Martial Monarch realm allowed him to sense qi and blood with precision.

This indicated that the Hu Deer meat indeed greatly benefited the flesh body.

Thinking through this, Lin Chen exclaimed:

"Master, what’s the origin of this Hu Deer meat?"

Han Jihai chuckled and said:

"Don’t underestimate the Hu Deer. Thousands of years ago, it was a fierce Second Tier Demon Beast, with strength not inferior to Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

"But later, the Hu Deer was tamed into Spirit Beasts by the Human Race, and its taste and benefit to cultivation were discovered."

"Of course... its price is extremely costly, this half-year-old Hu Deer alone costs three hundred Spirit Stones! If not for yesterday... cough, cough, I wouldn’t have had the heart to eat it as a master!"

Lin Chen tore off a deer leg as he ate, contemplating deeply.

Although Golden Core Cultivators can avoid grain for months without eating, long-term lack of energy intake can still lead to physical weakness.

More importantly, cultivators also have cravings and continuously seek delicious food.

Yet, this Hu Deer... appears to have some secrets!

Lin Chen thought about it and asked:

"Master, about the farming of Hu Deer meat..."

Han Jihai recalled upon hearing this:

"I remember Hu Guang Town has two major cultivation clans, the Hu Family and the Guang Family..."

"Both families rely on raising Hu Deer meat for a living, and their wealth is substantial. Most of the deer meat in Hu Guang Town comes from these two families..."

Lin Chen silently noted this information down.

At this moment, Han Jihai whispered:

"Dear apprentice, what about the resources we seized last night... how do we deal with them? Keeping this batch is like holding a hot potato..."

"...Shouldn’t we, move quickly to sell them?"

Lin Chen pondered for a moment after hearing this.

The batch of supplies they looted from Cyan Jade Town was estimated by Lin Chen to be worth around twelve million Spirit Stones.

But the quantity of Spirit Stones was very small, less than five hundred thousand.

The rest were uncut Cyan Jade, parts of Jade Marrow, and market materials and alchemy herbs.

The amount was vast, and took up much space.

Regarding this batch of goods, Lin Chen greatly desired them.

After all, behind him lies an entire High Martial World, consuming cultivation resources almost endlessly.

However, for cultivators, it’s not as useful.

Imagine carrying dozens of Storage Bags, it’s overly conspicuous...

Therefore, their plan was to sell this batch.

Currently, they were stored in Lin Chen’s Storage Ring and Purple Jade Gourd.

Lin Chen thought carefully and said:

"How about this, Master. Shall we stay two more days in Hu Guang Town?"

"I’ll figure out how to deal with these supplies. Then exchange them for Spirit Stones and give them to you?"

Han Jihai nodded after hearing this, as it was undoubtedly the best solution.

But he was worried about Lin Chen being in danger, so he asked, "Do you need our help?"

Lin Chen shook his head and said, "No need, I can handle it alone. More people would only arouse suspicion..."

Soon, Han Jihai and Li Zhenqian both agreed to Lin Chen’s plan.

Only a small portion of useful materials and Magical Treasures were kept, the rest were handed over to Lin Chen to sell.

Of course, Lin Chen wouldn’t actually sell them.

He planned to take some Spirit Stones out of his own pocket, and bring the rest back to Blue Star, saving the trouble of procurement.

This was cultivation resources and materials worth twelve million Spirit Stones!

Especially those thousands of tons of Cyan Jade, which could be refined into Jade Marrow Secret Medicine, likely enhancing Blue Star’s cultivation foundation significantly.

Beside him, young apprentice Zhou Tieshan was happily gnawing on a deer leg.

Suddenly, he lifted his head, still chewing, and said indistinctly,

"Master, what about my share? I want Spirit Stones too!"

Upon hearing this, Han Jihai’s expression changed slightly, and he tore off a piece of deer meat and placed it in Zhou Tieshan’s bowl.

He said earnestly,

"Tieshan! You’re still young, handling so many Spirit Stones is beyond you!"

"How about this, you leave the Spirit Stones with me for now..."

Saying so, Han Jihai took out a bag of Spirit Stones and said,

"Tieshan, here are thirty thousand Spirit Stones, enough for your cultivation needs for years..."

"I won’t harm you! Just think... when I die, those Spirit Stones will all be yours, right?"

Zhou Tieshan, without much cunning, swallowed the deer meat and said foolishly with a grin,

"Master, you are really good to me."

Beside them, Lin Chen looked at the wicked Han Jihai.

He remembered the scene of his parents managing his New Year’s money when he was young.

"Alas... still too young!"

...

After the meal, Han Jihai and the other two returned to the inn to cultivate.

While Lin Chen disguised himself and headed to the shops in Hu Guang Town.

Of course, he wasn’t actually going to sell those resources, but rather wanted to take the opportunity to purchase another batch of supplies.

After strolling around the marketplace, Lin Chen entered a Pill Shop.

Inside the shop, the shopkeeper was tidying up the pills and materials, full of worry.

Seeing this, Lin Chen felt a twinge in his heart and asked,

"Shopkeeper, are you accepting medicinal materials?"

This shopkeeper, wearing a scarf on such a hot Great Xia day, didn’t seem to fear the heat.

Seeing Lin Chen, he pointed at the shop and sighed,

"Fellow cultivator, look at the state of my shop... how can I still purchase materials?"

"I can’t even sell the existing ones!"

Lin Chen frowned slightly at the words, noting that several shops along the way were organizing goods, seemingly preparing to leave.

So Lin Chen asked,

"Shopkeeper, have you received any news?"

This shopkeeper was straightforward, and said,

"Fellow cultivator, you don’t know?"

"The Demon Sect is about to attack! Look at those towns in the east... how many of those left have ended well?"

"If you don’t leave soon, you might not escape! When the time comes, not only will your shop be looted bare, but your life won’t be safe!"

Lin Chen listened and frowned slightly.

He had traveled from the east and was more than clear about the situation with the Demon Sect.

According to his estimation, it would be at least half a year before the Demon Sect reached Hu Guang Town.

But why was there already a large number of cultivators moving away?

"Wait..."

Suddenly, Lin Chen realized.

"Winning without fighting... hiss, the Demon Sect has a good strategy!"

No matter when the Demon Sect attacks, they first release rumors to instill fear in these places among the Loose Cultivators and powers.

Then a large number of cultivators would flee, and the remaining forces would be timid even before a battle.

The Demon Sect’s chances of victory would increase substantially...

If this plan were executed throughout, the Demon Sect might sweep across tens of thousands of miles within a few years!

At that time, not just the Eastern Domain of Qing State, but possibly most of Qing State would be under the Demon Sect’s control...

With this thought, Lin Chen fell silent.

Even so, he was powerless to alter the situation; he couldn’t go to every place and tell them the Demon Sect isn’t coming.

Actually, unless the Righteous and neutral forces unite, the rise of the Demon Sect is only a matter of time.

The only thing Lin Chen could think of was to protect himself and his loved ones in this massive upheaval... or, profit!

"Shopkeeper, tell me how much for everything in your shop, I’ll take it all!"

Lin Chen said softly.

The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then revealed a joyful expression.

"Fellow cultivator, are you serious?"

"If you really want it, I’ll offer a 30% discount, no... 40%, as long as there’s no loss!"

...

Soon, Lin Chen spent fifty to sixty thousand Spirit Stones purchasing all the resources in the shop.

They were mostly Alchemy materials, difficult to carry, while Lin Chen didn’t buy any pills.

After leaving the Pill Shop, Lin Chen went on to the next shop.

Throughout the day, Lin Chen cleared out dozens of shops.

Acquiring many medicinal materials and Artifact Refining Materials at extremely low prices.

Especially those ores, large and hard to transport, Lin Chen bought a lot.

On the morning of the third day, Lin Chen received news from the Martial Arts Puppet he sent out.

"Master, we have contacted the Hu and Guang Families... They agreed to sell Hu Deer meat in large quantities!"