Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: A Small Gathering in Qinghe
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"Peiyao!"
Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu both looked over.
The crowd stirred. A fairy-like figure, as if from a painting, emerged.
Once a peerless beauty, her aura was now transcendent. Standing in the crowd, her loveliness was beyond description.
"Brother Jianghe, Brother Daniu."
The beautiful woman arrived before them, her voice light and pleasant.
Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, then clasped their hands in a salute. "Greetings, Senior Gao."
"What are you two doing? Acting like such strangers... I'm going to get angry." Gao Peiyao's delicate brows furrowed in feigned displeasure.
Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu were no longer the low-level cultivators they once were; both had reached the late stage of Qi Refining.
Yu Daniu was even a high-ranking member of the Yun Clan, so he naturally understood what Foundation Establishment signified.
Unless one was a blood relative, who wouldn't greet a Foundation Establishment Ancestor with respect and address them as 'Senior'?
"Xiaoniu, why don't you greet your Aunt Yao? You're not as sweet-tongued as you were when you were a child."
Gao Peiyao ignored the silent Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu, her expression softening as she smiled at Yun Xiaoniu.
"Aunt Yao, you're as beautiful as ever."
Yun Xiaoniu first offered a compliment, then bowed respectfully. "This nephew pays his respects to Aunt Yao. Congratulations on successfully reaching Foundation Establishment. A long life is within your grasp."
"Hehe~"
Gao Peiyao chuckled softly, then looked back at Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu, chiding, "You two brothers aren't even as thoughtful as Xiaoniu."
"Well... haha..."
Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu both laughed awkwardly, then simply called her 'Peiyao'.
As for 'Little Sister Peiyao,' that was a title they could absolutely no longer use.
"Let's not just stand here. I've already booked a table at a restaurant. Fellow Daoist Zhou has arrived as well. Let's have a proper get-together."
Chen Jianghe said.
He led Gao Peiyao, Yu Daniu, and Yun Xiaoniu into the Qinghe Restaurant.
They took their seats in a private room.
Zhou Miaoyun congratulated Gao Peiyao, then greeted Yu Daniu before sitting back down, falling into a dejected silence.
Chen Jianghe's appearance was unchanged, as if forty years had passed in a single day.
Gao Peiyao had successfully broken through to Foundation Establishment before her looks could fade, so she naturally retained her youthful, ethereal beauty.
Although Yu Daniu was now fifty-six, past the age of knowing one's destiny, he had cultivated the Tidal Body Tempering Art and reached the late stage of Body Tempering.
Therefore, while he showed some signs of age, he still looked like a middle-aged man.
But Zhou Miaoyun looked like an old woman.
"Big Brother, how are you still the same as before? You haven't changed at all. Look at me, I'm already old."
Yu Daniu asked curiously.
When he said the word 'old,' a flicker of sorrow passed through Zhou Miaoyun's eyes.
"That's right, Brother Jianghe. You look even younger than me, hehe~" Gao Peiyao added with a laugh.
Chen Jianghe repeated the explanation he had given Zhou Miaoyun to Yu Daniu, Gao Peiyao, and Yun Xiaoniu.
Yu Daniu was immediately filled with envy, wishing he could get his hands on a Youth-Retaining Grass, or even a Youth-Retaining Pill.
It wasn't for himself, though.
He mainly wanted it for his wife.
"Brother Daniu, you want a Youth-Retaining Grass? I could help you acquire one from the sect."
Gao Peiyao said with a cheerful smile.
As the only immortal sect in the Tiannan region, the Tiannan Sect possessed countless treasures, so it naturally had Youth-Retaining Grass.
Gao Peiyao's master, Deacon Lan, had taken a Youth-Retaining Grass, and later even a Youth-Retaining Pill.
After successfully breaking through to Foundation Establishment, Gao Peiyao became an inner disciple of the Tiannan Sect and gained more privileges.
She could exchange contribution points for a Youth-Retaining Grass.
It was just that she didn't need it now. Having reached Foundation Establishment, she wouldn't start showing signs of old age until after she was one hundred and twenty.
She was currently just fifty years old, still very young.
"Haha, I'm not a woman, what do I need a Youth-Retaining Grass for? Look at Big Brother, he looks younger than Xiaoniu. It's not right, not right at all."
Yu Daniu laughed it off.
He wasn't a fool; he could naturally understand Gao Peiyao's intention.
Gao Peiyao owed him a favor from long ago—a favor from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he used it to get a Youth-Retaining Grass, never mind praising him, Yun Huizhen would...
...be letting him off easy if she didn't beat him to death.
Chen Jianghe smiled and looked at Yu Daniu. "I see you're already at the ninth level of Qi Refining. How did the elder matter turn out?"
"Goes without saying. It's a sure thing," Yu Daniu said with a loud laugh.
Yun Xiaoniu chimed in, "My father broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining before the Mid-Autumn Festival, just in time for this year's clan council. So, my father is now an elder of the Yun Clan."
"Daniu, congratulations," Chen Jianghe offered.
When they had first met, Chen Jianghe had noticed a change in Yu Daniu's cultivation aura, realizing he had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.
Becoming a Yun Clan elder was indeed worthy of celebration.
A peculiar light flashed in Gao Peiyao's phoenix-like eyes, and she too congratulated Yu Daniu.
Zhou Miaoyun also offered her congratulations at this time.
As immortal spirit wine and spirit food were served, they ate and chatted, sharing interesting stories from the past few years and discussing their current situations.
Chen Jianghe also shared some of his superficial circumstances.
He didn't mention Maoqiu.
As for Xiao Hei, that was even more out of the question.
Gao Peiyao was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an inner disciple of the Tiannan Sect. If she could reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment before the age of eighty...
...she could become a core disciple.
If she reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment after eighty, she could only become a sect deacon, just like her master, Deacon Lan.
She would be able to take on apprentices and pass down her teachings.
As for Yu Daniu, with his ninth-level Qi Refining cultivation, he was now a Yun Clan elder and a true part of the decision-making body.
This made Yun Huizhen's branch of the family second only to the clan head's branch in terms of power.
Most importantly, Yu Daniu had also reached the late stage of Body Tempering. If he could reach the perfection stage before he turned sixty...
...he could attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment.
The Yun Clan didn't have a second-tier, high-grade spirit vein, but he could spend a great sum to attempt the breakthrough in a major market city like Qinghe Market City.
Reaching the perfection stage of Body Tempering would increase his chances of success by twenty percent.
Of course, with less than four years remaining, it would be very difficult to cultivate the Tidal Body Tempering Art to the perfection stage.
Chen Jianghe estimated that if Yu Daniu really tried to break through to Foundation Establishment at sixty, his success rate would be thirty percent, perhaps even less.
The excessive loss of his vital essence and blood in his early years, despite constantly taking Qi and Blood Pills and having consumed a first-tier, high-grade spirit liquid that replenished essence and nourished qi...
...could not be completely compensated for.
Therefore, this would lower Yu Daniu's chances of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.
Furthermore, Yu Daniu had used a Calamity Dispelling Pill to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining, which would reduce his chances by another ten percent.
In other words, even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, Yu Daniu's chances of success would not exceed fifty percent.
But for a low-level rogue cultivator to have climbed to Yu Daniu's current heights was already the stuff of legend in Mirror Moon Lake.
Zhou Miaoyun didn't say much, only briefly mentioning her recent situation.
No one else pressed for details.
Everyone could sense her dejection and knew the predicament she was in.
Weighed down by her family, let alone Foundation Establishment, it was uncertain if she could even reach the ninth level of Qi Refining.
Back then, Zhou Miaoyun had broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining even earlier than Yu Daniu, yet now she was only at the eighth level.
Yu Daniu, however, was already at the ninth level.
Yun Xiaoniu's cultivation hadn't broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, which surprised Chen Jianghe. When he left Mirror Moon Lake, Yun Xiaoniu was already at the sixth level.
With Yu Daniu's current status, obtaining a Calamity Dispelling Pill for Yun Xiaoniu would be effortless.
After some thought.
Chen Jianghe understood the reason.
Yu Daniu had high hopes for Yun Xiaoniu. Without a Foundation Establishment Pill, he himself would likely never attempt to break through.
After all, the success rate was too low.
Failure meant a shattered dantian and death by bodily explosion.
Yun Huizhen wouldn't let Yu Daniu attempt the breakthrough either, because for the next fifty years, he would be the pillar of her branch of the family.
Therefore, Yu Daniu had placed all his hopes for Foundation Establishment on Yun Xiaoniu.
With no lack of cultivation resources, Yun Xiaoniu had broken through to the sixth level of Qi Refining at twenty-eight and reached the perfection stage of the sixth level this year at thirty-two.
He only needed to polish the bottleneck. Even if it took him five years to break through to the seventh level, he would only be thirty-seven.
As long as resources continued to be supplied, Yun Xiaoniu had a chance to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment before he turned sixty.
Even without a Foundation Establishment Pill, he would have a fifty percent chance.
Two hours later.
The small gathering came to an end.
Zhou Miaoyun was the first to take her leave.
Gao Peiyao watched Zhou Miaoyun's departing figure. She knew very well that in the circle of four they had once formed, the former Sister Miaoyun might be making an early exit.
"This time, after leaving the sect, I'm following tradition by choosing one of the Hundred Treasures Pavilions in the major market cities to serve as manager for ten years."
"Since I previously worked as an assistant manager at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Qinghe Market City, I chose to come here to be the manager this time."
"In the future, if you two brothers need to buy resources at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, you can come to me. I can give you a very generous discount."
Gao Peiyao said to Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu.
"Manager for ten years?"
Chen Jianghe was taken aback. For him, this was undoubtedly good news.
For small purchases, like materials for drawing talismans, he couldn't possibly bother Gao Peiyao.
But in the future, when buying Body Tempering arts and the heavenly treasures required for it, the cost in spirit stones would be immense.
Going through Gao Peiyao could save him a considerable amount of spirit stones.
At this, both Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu looked pleased.
"By the way, on New Year's Eve this year, some of my old friends in Qinghe Market City heard that I'm becoming the manager of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion here, and they want to hold a celebration for my successful breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
"Brother Jianghe, Brother Daniu, and Xiaoniu are all welcome to come."
Gao Peiyao extended the invitation.
As for why she hadn't mentioned this in front of Zhou Miaoyun, both Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu tacitly understood and didn't ask.
They all knew that Zhou Miaoyun was already starting to fade from their circle.
It was clear from today's gathering; she had sat there alone in a daze, barely speaking.
She would only say a few words when others spoke to her first.
Then she would fall back into her dejected silence.
Gao Peiyao's small celebration for her Foundation Establishment was a joyous occasion. It wouldn't do to have the dispirited Zhou Miaoyun present.
However, as for this kind of event.
Chen Jianghe had no intention of attending. He disliked crowds and didn't want to associate too much with other cultivators.
He was just about to politely decline.
"Peiyao, I might not be able to make it. There are many matters to attend to in the Yun Clan, so I need to stay in Mirror Moon Lake."
Yu Daniu said apologetically.
But then he added, "Xiaoniu can come, though. He can just go with Big Brother."
"Since Brother Daniu is busy, then never mind. But Brother Jianghe and Xiaoniu, you two must come."
Er...
Chen Jianghe was speechless. Yu Daniu had beaten him to the punch.
Now it was impossible for him not to go.
He was right here in Qinghe Market City, and besides drawing talismans, he had nothing else urgent to do.
Moreover, Gao Peiyao had invited him again.
"Don't worry, Aunt Yao. This nephew will definitely be there."
Yun Xiaoniu said earnestly.
Though feeling helpless, Chen Jianghe smiled and nodded, accepting Gao Peiyao's invitation.
Following that, Chen Jianghe gave his current address to Gao Peiyao.
Afterward, they each went their separate ways.
Gao Peiyao returned to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and went straight to the fifth floor, which would be her place of cultivation from now on.
She was to stay here for ten years.
Looking southwest from the fifth floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, she could see Qingping Alley, where Chen Jianghe lived.
"Yu Daniu's current status is a matter of luck. He's also self-aware enough to start planning for his child's Foundation Establishment."
Yun Xiaoniu was already at the perfection stage of the sixth level of Qi Refining, yet he wasn't using a Calamity Dispelling Pill to break through. The intention behind this couldn't be more obvious.
Because of this, Gao Peiyao's opinion of Yu Daniu rose a little.
"If Xiaoniu truly reaches that step, I suppose I can repay this favor."
Gao Peiyao was quite satisfied with Xiaoniu.
He was courteous, thoughtful, and spoke with deliberation—a refined mind in a simple exterior.
"But he... he has quite a secret."
Gao Peiyao gazed towards Qingping Alley. She found it truly hard to believe Chen Jianghe's story about a fortunate encounter where he obtained a Youth-Retaining Grass.
After becoming an inner disciple of the Tiannan Sect...
...she learned that in the lands south of the Tongtian River, besides the deep regions of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, Youth-Retaining Grass could only be found...
...where the Tiannan Sect cultivated it.
That's right, cultivated.
The Tiannan Sect controlled the main ingredients for refining Youth-Retaining Pills, which meant they also controlled the price of the pills.
Therefore, apart from the depths of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, it was impossible for Youth-Retaining Grass to circulate outside.
Unless someone brought it from north of the Tongtian River and happened to run into Chen Jianghe, allowing him to obtain it.
But the chances of that were far too low.
"Chen Jianghe, what secret are you hiding? Could it be... that you're like me?"
Gao Peiyao hadn't exposed Chen Jianghe at the Qinghe Restaurant because she herself held even greater secrets.
Her four-element pseudo spiritual root was merely a facade.
Even her master only knew the secrets she wanted him to know.
Her deeper secrets, she would never tell anyone.
---
Chen Jianghe returned to his small courtyard.
This time, he didn't hang the 'In Seclusion' sign. This way, if someone came to visit, they could use the door knocker to alert him.
Gao Peiyao had come to Qinghe Market City.
She would be staying for ten years and was even hosting a small celebration for her Foundation Establishment on New Year's Eve.
Someone might come to invite him any day now.
So, it was better not to hang the 'In Seclusion' sign.
Besides, as New Year's Eve approached, Yun Xiaoniu would surely come looking for him first.
"Daniu wants Xiaoniu to join this circle, and Gao Peiyao hasn't objected. On top of that, regarding the Youth-Retaining Grass, Gao Peiyao wanted to procure one for Yu Daniu, but he refused."
"It seems Gao Peiyao owes Daniu a very significant favor."
Yu Daniu was planning for Yun Xiaoniu's Foundation Establishment, which made what Zhou Miaoyun was hoping for even more impossible.
Moreover, Yu Daniu could bring Yun Xiaoniu into the circle, but Zhou Miaoyun could not.
There was just one thing Chen Jianghe couldn't figure out.
Why hadn't Zhou Miaoyun mentioned repaying the spirit stones?
So many years had passed. The Zhou Clan had moved to Luohe Town and should have recovered by now.
But she hadn't mentioned repaying the spirit stones she owed to him and Yu Daniu.
It was rather puzzling.
As for Gao Peiyao not mentioning the spirit stones, Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu both understood the implications.
Now, Gao Peiyao was a high and mighty Foundation Establishment cultivator. Her debt to them served to bridge the gap in their status.
Furthermore, the benefits Gao Peiyao could bring them were worth far more than a few spirit stones.
Her offer to help them buy resources at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was a clear sign of her desire to remain close.
Chen Jianghe shook his head, pushing these trivial matters aside. He wasn't currently in need of the ten or twenty spirit stones Zhou Miaoyun owed him.
Perhaps she was truly facing difficulties.
With that, he resumed drawing talismans.