Poison Cultivation

Chen Luo pondered for a moment, then said:

"Otherwise... I could tell everyone you're my niece, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Ruan immediately shook his head:

"No. I already call you uncle. If I live with you as your niece, people will talk even more nonsense, and my reputation will be further damaged."

Chen Luo frowned and said again:

"Then say she's your sworn sister. She's a generation older than you, so it should be better."

Wen Ruan said with a slight reproach, "This is more like trying to cover something up, making things worse the more you try to explain."

"This isn't right, that isn't right, what should we do?"

Chen Luo slumped down, his original intention was to protect her, but he never expected that the strict rules of etiquette would be so difficult to enforce.

He secretly grumbled to himself that these worldly rules were really harmful.

Wen Ruan lowered her head and pondered for a long time, her jade-like cheeks flushing red, before finally speaking timidly:

"Or... I'll pretend to be... become Uncle Luo's concubine, shall I?"

Chen Luo was taken aback, and looked up at her in surprise:

"Ridiculous! I'm thinking of your reputation and don't want to damage it. How could you resort to such a low tactic?"

Wen Ruan's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz as she said shyly:

"I thought that if a man and a woman lived together, they would inevitably be subject to gossip and rumors."

Rather than letting others speculate and spread unpleasant rumors, it's better to...

It would be better to state one's identity openly; that would make things more legitimate.

Chen Luo remained silent, knowing that what she meant by choosing the lesser of two evils, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

"Well, since that's the case, let's get ready quickly."

"You'll be staying in the west wing, and Uncle Luo won't lay a finger on you."

Wen Ruan knew he was a good person and would always keep his word, so her face flushed and she gave a soft "Mmm".

He then went to his room to pack his belongings.

Once everything was ready, Chen Luo led her directly to the Li family's territory.

When they arrived at their own door, they could see a large crowd of people outside, with children in tow, all huddled together.

Chen Luo frowned slightly, secretly sensing that something was amiss.

Suddenly, someone with sharp eyes spotted him and shouted:

"Mr. Chen is back!"

This shout immediately drew a dozen pairs of eyes, and the crowd rushed forward, surrounding Chen Luo in an instant.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I have a small gift to offer you; I hope you will accept it with a smile!"

"Get out of the way! You dare to show off your vulgar possessions?"

"Fellow Daoist Chen, look at my grandson. He lost his parents at a young age, and I've always taught him that a poor man's child learns to be independent early..."

A cacophony of noises and a multitude of smells assaulted the senses, making one feel utterly agitated and confused.

Wen Ruan had lived at home since childhood and had never seen such a scene before.

She turned pale with fright, clung tightly to Chen Luo's side, at a loss for what to do, not daring to even breathe.

The crowd pushed and shoved, making a racket. Chen Luo's patience gradually wore thin. He gathered his inner energy and shouted loudly:

"Shut up, all of you!"

The shout was like a thunderclap, and the crowd fell silent instantly, with men, women, young and old all staring at each other in astonishment.

Chen Luo's expression turned solemn. He took Wen Ruan's hand, pulled her protectively in front of him, and said in a loud voice:

"Chen already has a concubine, who is this young lady."

"I have only given her one spot to join the Sanxia Sect, so you need not trouble yourselves further. Please do not make things difficult for her."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's eyes were fixed on Wen Ruan's face.

She was beautiful and elegant, with a timid and pitiful appearance, which truly made her sympathetic.

With this woman around, how could anyone else possibly have a chance?

They couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh.

"We meant well, but since Fellow Daoist Chen already has a family, we will not say anything more."

Those who had brought their children and knew the situation was hopeless said a few polite words and then gradually dispersed.

The remaining gift-givers, feeling awkward, bowed and left dejectedly.

In a short while, the once noisy and crowded area in front of the door returned to quiet.

Seeing the doorway suddenly become deserted, Chen Luo pursed his lips slightly, feeling a deeper sense of the fickleness of human relationships.

Wen Ruan was completely confused and asked softly:

"Uncle Luo, what exactly is this 'spot' they're talking about? And what are they fighting over?"

Chen Luo, holding her hand, unlocked the gate's security barrier, pushed it open, and entered, slowly saying:

"I joined the Li family as a retainer in exchange for the right to recommend someone to join the Sanxia Sect as an outer disciple."

Seeing that I was all alone, they all wanted to ask for this recommendation so they could climb the social ladder and join the immortal sect.

Wen Ruan suddenly realized, and her expression changed drastically as she exclaimed in surprise:

"Uncle Luo, what you just did..."

Chen Luo nodded and said:

"I have no relatives or friends, and I have no interest in the Sanxia Sect whatsoever."

If you're willing, this spot is yours.

"This...this is absolutely impossible!" Wen Ruan shook her head repeatedly. "Such a rare spot is something that countless people would fight tooth and nail for. How can I take it for nothing?"

Seeing her so flustered, Chen Luo couldn't help but jokingly say:

"Are you truly content to be a wandering cultivator, drifting aimlessly for the rest of your life?"

Wen Ruan said in a daze:

"There's nothing wrong with being a rogue cultivator. You're free and unrestrained, and you don't have to be bound by those sect rules and regulations."

"What if someone bullies you again in the future?" Chen Luo asked softly.

Wen Ruan's eyes sparkled as she softly replied:

"Isn't Uncle Luo protecting me?"

Chen Luo chuckled softly, reached out and gently touched the top of her head, and sighed:

"My cultivation is shallow and my abilities are limited. How can I protect you for a lifetime?"

In the end, we must rely on ourselves to navigate this world.

Having said that, he led Wen Ruan into the west wing to settle her in, personally made up the bedding for her, and then said:

"You may set up any restrictions on this room as you see fit; I will not enter without permission."

Wen Ruan understood that his arrangement was entirely to avoid suspicion and put her at ease.

Thinking of this, a warm feeling quietly welled up in my heart, and my eyes were full of gratitude.

After settling Wen Ruan in, Chen Luo returned to the main house.

There are side rooms on both sides of this place, which can be used as quiet rooms for secluded cultivation.

Having already obtained the Blood Boiling Dragon Eye Fruit, and with the beast tide imminent, he wanted to increase his self-defense capabilities.

He immediately sat cross-legged and began to smelt the poison.

His "True Explanation of the Five Poisons" is known for its ability to refine poisons, making one's true energy more refined and profound.

He opened his mouth and swallowed a longan fruit, and his stomach immediately felt like it was on fire, and his skin all over his body turned bright red.

Chen Luo remained calm and, following the method of detoxification, slowly guided his qi to melt the poison.

At first, the poison was unruly and difficult to tame. He simply focused his mind and guarded his inner energy, letting it surround him like a pack of wolves, pressing closer and closer until he finally managed to slowly dissolve the poison.

Looking at himself now, he was drenched in sweat, his clothes completely soaked.

As the saying goes, "We should press on with our remaining strength to defeat the enemy, rather than seek fame like Xiang Yu."

At this moment, he was in high spirits and thought he would make the most of it and directly break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining.

"Once you reach the seventh level of Qi Refining, you can fly using the escape light. If you can't win a fight, you can run away faster."

With this thought in mind, Chen Luo continued to swallow the Blood Boiling Longan Fruit.

One, two...

Up to twelve!

After he had refined everything, he opened his eyes again.

In an instant, spiritual light burst forth from his body, and his true energy surged like a raging torrent, reaching straight to the heavens.

Looking inward at his dantian, he saw that the Five Poisons True Qi had broken through the Xuan Guan, and his cultivation had greatly improved.

"Seven levels of Qi Refining, finally achieved!!"

Chen Luo laughed heartily, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart, and the pressure brought by the beast tide finally eased a bit.