Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Successful Foundation Establishment
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The twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month.
It seemed New Year's Eve wasn't a grand affair in Qinghe Market City. Cultivators went about their business as usual: buying and selling resources, discussing the Dao, and then cultivating.
This was likely because Qinghe Market City was predominantly inhabited by cultivators.
After all, mortals were rarely seen in Qinghe Market City. Only the spirit-rootless descendants of the major immortal clans had the privilege of living here.
Chen Jianghe arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
During the four months he spent changing his cultivation art, he had created nine low-grade Earth Escape Talismans. Combined with the four he had before, he now had a total of thirteen.
Taking advantage of the free time between cultivation sessions, he planned to sell the talismans on hand for some cultivation resources.
His own cultivation was important, but Xiao Hei's couldn't be delayed either.
The thirteen low-grade Earth Escape Talismans sold for thirty-three spirit stones and fifteen grains of spirit sand. Afterward, he went to the spiritual materials counter.
"How many spirit stones for the Crimson Cloud True Dew?"
Chen Jianghe asked the young clerk.
"Twelve spirit stones for one bottle."
"So expensive."
Chen Jianghe was a bit surprised; he felt the Crimson Cloud True Dew was a little pricey.
Crimson Cloud True Dew was the dew from a third-tier spirit plant, the Crimson Cloud Tree. It was primarily formed by the fusion of the tree's secreted sap and the morning sun's qi at the hour of Mao.
It contained a large amount of spiritual energy.
It could be used to refine high-grade spirit pills, create high-grade spirit liquids, or even brew top-tier immortal spirit wine.
The main ingredient for refining the True Spirit Pill, needed in the late stage of Qi Refining, was Crimson Cloud True Dew.
Third-tier spirit plants were not common, making Crimson Cloud True Dew extremely precious. A small bottle, containing no more than thirty drops, cost a whopping twelve spirit stones.
Crimson Cloud True Dew was also highly attractive to late first-tier spirit beasts, as it could significantly enhance their cultivation.
"One bottle of Crimson Cloud True Dew and two Spirit Nurturing Flowers."
"Twenty spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe took out twenty spirit stones and handed them over, receiving a thumb-sized jade bottle and two Spirit Nurturing Flowers in return.
Although it was expensive, it was still much cheaper than a True Spirit Pill.
A single True Spirit Pill was worth twenty spirit stones.
However, unlike the Spirit Nurturing Pill and Spirit Accumulating Pill, the True Spirit Pill did not require time to expel pill toxins.
But refining the medicinal power of a True Spirit Pill was quite time-consuming.
After consuming a True Spirit Pill, its potent medicinal power wouldn't dissipate from the body but would accumulate in the Shenque acupoint, allowing a cultivator to slowly absorb and refine it.
This was because late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were not increasing their magical power, but rather purifying it, aiming to completely liquefy it.
Therefore, it took half a year to refine a single True Spirit Pill.
The purpose of the True Spirit Pill was to assist in purifying one's magical power, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
In other words.
Consuming one True Spirit Pill and cultivating for half a year was equivalent to a full year of arduous cultivation.
Leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, he didn't linger on the way, returning directly to his small courtyard and hanging up the 'In Seclusion' sign.
He activated the defensive formation.
"Xiao Hei."
*Splash~*
Xiao Hei leaped out of the pond and came before Chen Jianghe. It sniffed the air vigorously, its face immediately breaking into a wide grin.
Its beady eyes narrowed.
"There's Spirit Nurturing Flowers, and... I don't know what it is, but I feel it smells even better than the Spirit Nurturing Flowers."
"Master, did you buy something good for me?"
Xiao Hei excitedly sent a mental transmission.
"Your nose is too sharp."
Chen Jianghe took out the Crimson Cloud True Dew. He hadn't put it in his storage bag, wanting to see if Xiao Hei could smell it.
Unexpectedly, he really couldn't hide it from Xiao Hei.
"Maoqiu, can you smell it?"
Chen Jianghe glanced at Maoqiu, who was hiding in the water with half its head cautiously peeking out.
It shook its adorable head.
Clearly, Maoqiu couldn't smell the Crimson Cloud True Dew.
So, this was due to Xiao Hei's exceptionally keen sense of smell.
"This is Crimson Cloud True Dew. It can enhance your cultivation, but it's difficult to refine. You'd best take it in two doses."
Chen Jianghe gave the jade bottle containing the Crimson Cloud True Dew to Xiao Hei.
"Master is the best."
Xiao Hei took the jade bottle and tried to open it with its paws, only to find they were a bit too short to meet.
"Maoqiu, get over here." Xiao Hei waved a paw at Maoqiu, startling it into immediately hopping over.
"Open it."
Xiao Hei tossed the jade bottle to Maoqiu, giving the order quite naturally.
Maoqiu didn't dare to resist. It obediently opened the jade bottle for Xiao Hei, fed it half the contents, then obediently sealed the bottle and returned it.
Finally, it timidly jumped back into the pond.
"Huh???"
Chen Jianghe watched this scene, speechless. In such a short time, Maoqiu had been trained by Xiao Hei to this extent.
But it wasn't surprising.
Back at Mirror Moon Lake, hadn't the ferocious little green fish also been trained by Xiao Hei to line up and stroll around to aid digestion?
Looked at this way, it seemed Xiao Hei was even more ruthless.
"Maoqiu, these two Spirit Nurturing Flowers are for you. Cultivate well, don't slack off, and strive to reach the late first-tier as soon as possible."
With a wave of his hand, Chen Jianghe sent the Spirit Nurturing Flowers in front of Maoqiu.
"Thank you, Master."
Maoqiu expressed its gratitude to Chen Jianghe through the Spirit Beast Ring.
Chen Jianghe nodded in satisfaction, but the next scene made his jaw drop. He saw that after Maoqiu received the two Spirit Nurturing Flowers...
It swam over to Xiao Hei.
It respectfully raised the two Spirit Nurturing Flowers above its head with both hands, offering them to Xiao Hei.
"Mm, since Master has rewarded them to you, you should accept them. You must cultivate diligently and strive to break through to the late first-tier soon."
"Only with a high cultivation can you solve Master's problems."
Xiao Hei lectured in a worldly, old-fashioned tone.
"Chirp chirp~"
Maoqiu's small, furry hands bowed repeatedly to Xiao Hei.
"Xiao Hei, what did it say to you?"
"What could it be? Thanking me, of course."
"Thanking you?"
Chen Jianghe's mouth twitched. He was speechless. It seemed he was the one who had given those two Spirit Nurturing Flowers to Maoqiu.
Why was Maoqiu thanking Xiao Hei?
Not dwelling on it further, he entered his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and continued to cultivate the Myriad Waters True Scripture.
Once the magical power in his dantian's sea of qi was fully imbued with the unique characteristics of the Myriad Waters True Scripture, the art transition would be considered complete.
Only after cultivating the Myriad Waters True Scripture did Chen Jianghe realize that superior cultivation arts were not merely about amplifying magical power.
Every superior cultivation art possessed a profound characteristic.
For example, besides amplifying magical power by thirty percent, the magical power cultivated through the Myriad Waters True Scripture could also enhance the power of any water-elemental spell.
The Qi Refining chapter of the Myriad Waters True Scripture could enhance the power of water-elemental spells by twenty percent.
In other words, after cultivating the Myriad Waters True Scripture, the Water Arrow Art he cast would be twenty percent more powerful than that of a cultivator at the same level.
Take the Water Escape Art, for instance.
Other late-stage Qi Refining cultivators practicing water-elemental arts, even if they perfected the Water Escape Art, could at most escape for ten li.
But he could escape for twelve li.
There were also the Water Binding Art, Minor Cloud and Rain Art, Layered Wave Art, and other water-elemental spells. As long as they were cast with the magical power cultivated from the Myriad Waters True Scripture, their power would be amplified.
To Chen Jianghe, this was somewhat useless. After all, he disliked fighting with others; he just wanted to cultivate peacefully and steadily.
And then achieve immortality.
"Uh~ that's not right."
"It's still very useful. When using the Water Escape Art to flee, I can go twenty percent farther than the maximum distance."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
"I wonder what characteristics the Yun Clan's Condensing Origin True Water Scripture has?"
He didn't think about it anymore, calming his mind and focusing his spirit.
He circulated the Myriad Waters True Scripture, guiding his magical power through a great heavenly cycle within his body.
While circulating the Myriad Waters True Scripture, the Shenque acupoint above his dantian's sea of qi gathered spiritual energy, forming a vortex that absorbed the external spiritual energy.
This was then converted into magical power by his spirit root, purified by the Myriad Waters True Scripture, and imbued with its profound characteristics.
After successfully transitioning arts, the magical power in his dantian's sea of qi would be thirty percent greater than that of cultivators at the same level. This must be the reason.
After reaching the late stage of Qi Refining, magical power would basically no longer increase. Advancing one's cultivation was about making the magical power purer.
Thus, it would completely liquefy into drops.
Time flies in cultivation; three years passed in the blink of an eye.
It was New Year's Eve once again.
Southwest District, Courtyard Number 512.
Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged on his bed, a faint mist gathering around his body—it was condensed spiritual energy.
Following a muffled sound from his sea of qi...
The mist drifting around him was instantly sucked into his Shenque acupoint, transformed into magical power, and entered his dantian's sea of qi, merging with the semi-liquefied magical power.
At that moment, his magical power turned from its previous deep gray to black, becoming even purer.
"Hoo~"
Chen Jianghe opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
"Three years and four months. I've finally completed the transition of my cultivation art."
Transitioning cultivation arts generally took three to five years. The more superior the art, the shorter the time required.
Judging from the thirty percent increase in magical power, it was clear that the Myriad Waters True Scripture was an excellent superior cultivation art.
"A thirty percent increase in magical power and a twenty percent increase in spell power... If I had a high-grade flying sword, I should be able to deal with an eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator, right?"
Chen Jianghe couldn't help but think of the mustached rogue cultivator from before. With his current strength, if he were to flee, the man might not be able to catch him.
A twenty percent increase in spell power made it an unparalleled art for escaping.
This further strengthened Chen Jianghe's sense of security.
"Chirp chirp~"
Maoqiu seemed to sense that Chen Jianghe had come out of seclusion. It hopped into the room, holding two letters in its paws.
"Mm, you can go."
Chen Jianghe waved his hand at Maoqiu.
He picked up the two letters and glanced at them. One was from Yu Daniu, and the other was from Zhou Miaoyun.
Two years ago, Chen Jianghe had sent letters to both Yu Daniu and Zhou Miaoyun, telling them his current address.
This had re-established their correspondence.
He just hadn't resumed correspondence with Gao Peiyao yet, and he didn't know if she had successfully reached Foundation Establishment.
He opened Zhou Miaoyun's letter first.
It said that the Zhou Clan had already relocated to Mirror Moon Lake, but not to Shixia Town, which was between Mirror Moon Lake and Qiyun Mountain.
After all, that was the Chu Clan's territory. How could they possibly cede it to the Zhou Clan?
Even if Gao Peiyao had pleaded on their behalf, Yu Daniu wouldn't have done it. Besides, the Yun Clan Head would never allow such a thing to happen.
The Zhou Clan had moved to a small town on the very edge of Mirror Moon Lake's territory called Luohe Town, a small immortal town built along the water.
It was eleven hundred li from Mirror Moon Lake, but not far from Qinghe Market City, only a little over nine hundred li away.
The river in Luohe Town was the Star Moon River. Twenty li further west, the Star Moon River changed its name to the Wandering Immortal River.
The Zhou Clan's ability to move to Luohe Town was also thanks to Yu Daniu's help.
But the land rent wasn't reduced by a single cent.
After all, for a clan that fled at the first sign of trouble, the Yun Clan was already showing great kindness by allowing them to return.
How could they possibly lower the rent?
"She wants me to be a matchmaker?"
Chen Jianghe looked astonished.
Zhou Miaoyun wrote in her letter that her younger brother had broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining and had already succeeded as the head of the Zhou Clan.
His youngest daughter, eighteen years of age, with a four-element pseudo spirit root and at the third level of Qi Refining, wanted Chen Jianghe to act as a matchmaker to marry Yu Daniu's eldest son.
"If I remember correctly, Xiaoniu should be thirty-two this year. But as a key member being nurtured by the clan, how could he easily marry and have children?"
In a major clan like the Yun Clan, key direct descendants being nurtured usually married around the age of forty.
Because that was a dividing line for breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining.
If they broke through, they would receive the clan's full support.
If they hadn't broken through, their resources would be reduced, and they could then marry, have children, and propagate the clan's lineage.
Of course, even if they did break through, they could still marry and have children. But with the hope of reaching Foundation Establishment, who would want to waste time on such trivial matters?
"Daniu becoming a Yun Clan elder is pretty much a done deal. His children will definitely be among those receiving key nurturing."
Yun Xiaoniu was also the eldest son. Although he only had a five-element mixed spirit root, to the Yun Clan, the difference between a five-element mixed spirit root and a four-element pseudo spirit root wasn't significant.
Seeing the end of the letter.
The Zhou Clan was willing to offer two hundred spirit stones as a dowry.
Looked at this way, the Zhou Clan seemed quite sincere. Not only were they not asking for a betrothal gift, but they were also proactively offering a dowry.
But upon careful consideration, one could guess the Zhou Clan's intentions.
They wanted to use this marriage to deepen their relationship with Yu Daniu and thereby firmly establish their footing in Mirror Moon Lake.
The Yun Clan was currently prospering, and the Zhou Clan naturally wanted to ride on their coattails.
Chen Jianghe set Zhou Miaoyun's letter aside, planning to reply after reading Yu Daniu's letter.
Yu Daniu's letter was concise.
Just a single short sentence.
"Peiyao has successfully reached Foundation Establishment. Let's have a small gathering in Qinghe Market City during the Mid-Autumn Festival next year."
Chen Jianghe read the letter's content, a happy expression on his face. Just as he had expected, Gao Peiyao had really succeeded in reaching Foundation Establishment.
Yu Daniu's letter clearly indicated that Gao Peiyao had already written to him, suggesting a small gathering in Qinghe Market City.
"With Peiyao's successful Foundation Establishment, I've gained another powerful connection. That's quite good."
Although his relationship with Gao Peiyao wasn't as deep as Yu Daniu's, it was still better than that of ordinary friends.
"Why didn't Zhou Miaoyun's letter mention Gao Peiyao's Foundation Establishment? Could there be a time lag?"
Given Gao Peiyao's personality, she wouldn't just inform Yu Daniu and snub Zhou Miaoyun. She wasn't foolish enough to do something so short-sighted.
On the path of cultivation, worldly affairs were unpredictable, and fortuitous encounters and immortal opportunities were not unheard of.
Yu Daniu was a prime example.
Therefore, it must be due to a time lag that Zhou Miaoyun's letter didn't mention Gao Peiyao's successful Foundation Establishment.
After all, letters from Luohe Town had to be sent to Mirror Moon Market City first, and then forwarded to Qinghe Market City by Mirror Moon Market City's flying post.
Receiving letters was the same; mail from other market cities would arrive at Mirror Moon Market City first before being sent to Luohe Town.
Chen Jianghe wrote a reply to Zhou Miaoyun.
He told her that if she truly wanted her niece to marry Yun Xiaoniu, she would need to mention it to Yu Daniu personally.
It would be best to first take her niece to Mirror Moon Market City to visit Yu Daniu, so the two youngsters could meet.
If Yun Xiaoniu was interested, Yu Daniu certainly wouldn't object.
Then, Chen Jianghe wrote another letter to Yu Daniu.
The content was simple and clear.
Just three words: "See you Mid-Autumn."