Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Two Thousand Spirit Stones
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Qingping Alley.
Chen Jianghe had just returned from the Qinghe Restaurant. Before he even reached his courtyard gate, he saw two cultivators walking toward him.
One was a skinny, middle-aged man with a mole on his face.
The other was a frail-looking youth in green robes, but his body exuded a chilling aura, a clear sign that he had begun practicing a body-tempering art.
Both cultivators were at the eighth layer of Qi Refining.
They stopped when they reached Chen Jianghe. The middle-aged cultivator asked with a grin, "Fellow Daoist, have you any interest in joining a demon-hunting team?"
"Our team is formidable, with several ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivators who have perfected their body tempering. A single trip can earn you fifty spirit stones."
The skinny, middle-aged man squinted, his words laced with temptation.
Chen Jianghe glanced at the two of them, a smile on his face but his heart on high alert.
This was the southwest district, where most residents were artisans of low to middling skill.
Few demon hunters lived here.
This was especially true for Qingping Alley, which was full of small, single-unit courtyards.
For these two to come to Qingping Alley to recruit demon hunters was clearly suspicious.
Furthermore, earning fifty spirit stones from a single trip?
That was even more unbelievable.
Ruan Tieniu, the captain of a powerful demon-hunting team, only made thirty to forty spirit stones per outing.
"Thank you for the generous invitation, Fellow Daoist, but I have no intention of becoming a demon hunter. Farewell."
With that, Chen Jianghe quickened his pace to leave.
"Fellow Daoist, wait a moment."
The frail-looking youth caught up to Chen Jianghe and said sincerely, "Are you an artisan, Fellow Daoist? May I ask what kind? Perhaps we could arrange a trade."
"Formations. Do you need me to accompany you out of Qinghe Market City to set one up?"
"That would be wonderful!" the frail youth exclaimed, his face lighting up as he quickly agreed.
"But my prices are very high."
Chen Jianghe said with a faint smile.
"No matter how high, we can afford it."
"For a single first-tier, low-grade formation, one hundred thousand spirit stones."
"What! So expensive!"
The frail youth stood frozen in astonishment.
Chen Jianghe turned and walked away, returning to his own courtyard.
"Second Brother, are formation masters really that rich? A hundred thousand spirit stones to set up a first-tier, low-grade formation! Maybe we should learn formation arts, too."
The frail youth, having recovered from his shock, looked at the skinny, middle-aged man and spoke earnestly.
"Stop dreaming. We've been exposed!" The skinny, middle-aged man's expression darkened. With a flick of his sleeve, he strode out of Qingping Alley.
"Exposed?"
"That kid knew we were rogue cultivators?"
A murderous glint flashed in the frail youth's eyes. He glared at courtyard number 512 and snarled, "Bastard! How dare you toy with me, Evil Fourth! Sooner or later, I'll skin you alive!"
After spitting out the threat, the frail youth hurried after the skinny, middle-aged man.
He wouldn't dare make a move in Qinghe Market City.
If he did, the city guards would cut him down before a Foundation Establishment cultivator even needed to intervene.
Even his boss wouldn't dare act recklessly in Qinghe Market City, unless the leaders of Qingfeng Stronghold came in person.
Besides, he knew he was no match for Chen Jianghe. The fluctuations of a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator's spiritual power were enough to deter him from a fight.
But having grown accustomed to throwing his weight around under Boss Duan, he couldn't just leave with his tail between his legs. He had to leave a parting threat.
Just after the two left Qingping Alley, Chen Jianghe opened his courtyard gate and looked toward the alley's entrance, his expression turning grave.
"To think they'd send people into the market city to lure me out. It seems this group of rogue cultivators is truly set on dealing with me."
Chen Jianghe returned to his courtyard.
He wasn't afraid of those two. Even without Xiao Hei and Maoqiu, he was completely confident he could kill them.
Even if their leader, Duan Ming, showed up, Chen Jianghe wouldn't be the least bit afraid.
What he was wary of were the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Qingfeng Stronghold.
If a Foundation Establishment cultivator were to attack him directly, even ten high-grade protective talismans would be useless.
His only option would be to reveal Xiao Hei.
But even then, it wasn't certain that Xiao Hei could withstand the attack of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The only solution was to help Xiao Hei become a second-tier spirit beast as quickly as possible. Only then would he have the confidence to face a Foundation Establishment cultivator without fear.
"It seems the plan I made before will have to be changed."
He wouldn't alter his cultivation plan unless absolutely necessary, but in this situation, he had to make a careful decision.
If he successfully reached Foundation Establishment, Xiao Hei's lifespan would increase dramatically.
But for him to break through to Foundation Establishment would take fifteen years at the very least, and possibly as long as thirty.
That was too long.
Without a sense of security, he couldn't cultivate with a calm mind.
The only option was to raise Xiao Hei's cultivation first. He had ample resources on hand now. If he was willing to pay the price.
Xiao Hei could definitely become a second-tier demonic beast within ten years.
With that, Chen Jianghe released Xiao Hei and Maoqiu. He looked at Xiao Hei seriously and asked, "Xiao Hei, if you were to break through to the second tier, how many late-stage, first-tier spirit cores would you need?"
"What do you mean?"
Xiao Hei looked at Chen Jianghe in confusion. He remembered telling the two-legged beast to focus on his own cultivation first.
From the sound of it, he was still planning to throw spirit stones at him.
"Someone wants to stew you into turtle soup. We have to raise your cultivation as quickly as possible, or you'll really end up in a pot."
Chen Jianghe said with a straight face.
"What?!"
Xiao Hei yelped and jumped onto Maoqiu's head, his beady eyes staring at Chen Jianghe in disbelief.
"What's going on? We've come so far, how can someone still want to stew me?"
"Cut the nonsense. If you want to stay alive and kicking, you'll do as I say. How many spirit cores do you think you need to become a second-tier spirit beast?"
"How would I know? I'm not an immortal... I don't want to be on a dinner plate!" Xiao Hei was on the verge of a breakdown.
"Do you have a rough estimate?"
"At least a hundred late-stage, first-tier spirit cores, I'd say!"
Xiao Hei said, sounding a bit uncertain. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly added, "And they have to be from demonic beasts with second-grade, high-tier bloodlines."
"A hundred spirit cores?!"
Chen Jianghe was dumbfounded by the number.
No wonder even Foundation Establishment immortal clans rarely had second-tier guardian spirit beasts. This was just too outrageous.
And they had to be from demonic beasts with second-grade, high-tier bloodlines. How many spirit stones would that cost!
It was true he had some savings now.
But he couldn't afford to squander them like this!
In the Demonic Beast Market, late-stage, first-tier demonic beast spirit cores had a set price. A second-grade, low-tier bloodline core was twenty spirit stones.
A second-grade, high-tier bloodline was thirty spirit stones.
Of course, Chen Jianghe wouldn't buy the spirit cores directly. That wasn't cost-effective. It was better to buy the entire demonic beast carcass, process it, and let Xiao Hei consume the core.
That way, a single late-stage, first-tier spirit core from a second-grade, high-tier bloodline demonic beast would only cost about twenty-two spirit stones.
But that was still an incredible amount!
A hundred such cores would cost around two thousand two hundred spirit stones.
The spirit stones he got from selling the Beauty Pill wouldn't be nearly enough; he'd have to add more of his own.
"If I really gave you a hundred spirit cores, how long would it take for you to become a second-tier spirit beast?" Chen Jianghe asked.
Seeing the serious look on Chen Jianghe's face, Xiao Hei knew the two-legged beast was telling the truth. He really was going to help him become a second-tier spirit beast first.
"I have the 'Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art.' I can fully absorb and refine one spirit core in a month."
"Actually, if you really want to help me raise my cultivation, there's a much easier way. Just get me three second-tier demonic beast spirit cores.
I guarantee I can become a second-tier spirit beast in three years, hehe~"
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe pursed his lips and shot Xiao Hei a sideways glance.
He certainly knew that second-tier spirit cores would allow Xiao Hei to break through faster, but a single second-tier spirit core was worth around one thousand three hundred spirit stones.
Three of them would be over four thousand spirit stones.
Where was he supposed to get that many spirit stones?
Unless he sold both the Beauty Pill and the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Just then, a knock came from the door knocker.
"Get into the spirit beast space."
Chen Jianghe recalled Xiao Hei and Maoqiu into the spirit beast space, then opened the courtyard gate. It was Chen Ping from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
He glanced at the sky.
It was already late afternoon; the Hundred Treasures Pavilion auction must have ended.
"Senior Chen, I've come on behalf of Fairy Peiyao to deliver the spirit stones from the auction of the Beauty Pill."
"The Beauty Pill sold for one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two spirit stones, but the Hundred Treasures Pavilion must charge a handling fee."
"Because Fairy Peiyao personally arranged it, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion is only charging a five percent fee."
"In total, I am to give you one thousand seven hundred and forty spirit stones, and forty grains of spirit sand."
Chen Ping handed over a storage bag.
Chen Jianghe swept it with his spiritual sense, confirmed the amount was correct, and then transferred the contents to his own storage bag before speaking to Chen Ping.
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Chen."
"We are both late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, there is no need to address me as senior. From now on, let us call each other Fellow Daoist."
Gao Peiyao had already left Qinghe Market City.
A new manager for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Qinghe Market City would be arriving soon.
Therefore, it was no longer appropriate for Chen Ping to call him senior.
"Then I shall presume upon our acquaintance. In the future, if Fellow Daoist Chen has need of me, please feel free to come to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."
"While I am certainly not on the level of Fairy Peiyao, I can still offer you the greatest possible discount."
"Then I thank you, Fellow Daoist Chen."
Chen Jianghe was pleased to hear this and cupped his hands in thanks.
"There are still some trivial matters at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, so I will not disturb you any longer, Fellow Daoist. Farewell."
"Take care, Fellow Daoist."
He watched Chen Ping's back as he walked away, gradually disappearing at the end of the alley.
He turned and returned to his courtyard.
After releasing Xiao Hei and Maoqiu, he didn't continue their previous conversation.
He had asked what he needed to ask.
The rest was up to him to decide.
"One thousand eight hundred and thirty-two spirit stones is quite good. In the past, they usually sold for around fifteen hundred."
Chen Jianghe was very satisfied with this.
As for selling for two thousand spirit stones, that would have been a complete fluke.
He was aware that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion charged a handling fee for auctions, usually ten percent of the final price.
As the manager of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Gao Peiyao naturally had it much better. Paying only a five percent fee was already excellent.
With one thousand seven hundred and forty spirit stones and forty grains of spirit sand in his possession, Chen Jianghe's pockets were suddenly bulging.
He now had a total of two thousand and ninety-nine spirit stones and fifty grains of spirit sand.
Furthermore, he still had thirty-five mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans.
This was a massive sum, the most spirit stones Chen Jianghe had ever possessed.
At this moment, he fell into deep thought.
He was weighing how to use the spirit stones.
Xiao Hei could completely refine one late-stage, first-tier demonic beast core a month, which meant twelve cores a year.
A hundred cores would take just over eight years to fully refine.
In other words.
As long as the resources were sufficient, Xiao Hei could become a second-tier spirit beast in under nine years.
"I will fully invest in Xiao Hei, strengthen my trump card, and enhance my means of self-preservation!"
Chen Jianghe finally made up his mind.
Even if he spent all these spirit stones on himself, they couldn't be converted into cultivation in a short time.
At most, he could only buy magical artifacts to increase his combat power.
But no matter how much a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator increased his combat power, he would still be no match for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
However, spending these two thousand-plus spirit stones on Xiao Hei could turn him into a second-tier spirit beast.
A second-tier spirit beast was not something an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could handle.
With Xiao Hei's powerful defense, after breaking through to the second tier and using his 'Petrification' divine ability, his shell would surely be comparable to a top-tier defensive magical artifact.
By then, Chen Jianghe would finally have real security in the cultivation world.
"I have enough body-tempering spirit pills for six years, a full nine jugs of Bigu Pills, and my rent is paid for another four years."
"Which means, apart from materials for drawing talismans, I have almost no need for spirit stones right now."
"The spirit stones I earn from drawing talismans in the next few years can be saved to purchase a spirit cultivation technique. If I get the chance, I can also buy a custom magical artifact for Maoqiu."
With a plan in mind.
Chen Jianghe suddenly felt that his future was bright and the path to immortality was within reach.
Casting aside distracting thoughts, he first cultivated the "Myriad Waters True Scripture," and after his spiritual power recovered, he cultivated the "Tidal Body Tempering Art."
Finally, he would draw talismans.
The cycle repeated.
More than four months passed.
It was the fifth day of the new year.
Chen Jianghe had successfully created another twenty-one mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans.
Over the past year, he had used a total of one hundred and thirteen sheets of spirit-blood pig hide to create fifty-six mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans.
Now, his success rate for drawing mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans had reached a high of fifty percent.
As long as he could get his hands on a first-tier, high-grade talisman-making inheritance, he could attempt to draw high-grade spirit talismans.
However, a high-grade offensive spirit talisman was only one spirit stone more expensive than a mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talisman.
Not only did it consume more spiritual power, but the drawing process was also more complex.
It would take him at least three years to become proficient, and even then, the profit wouldn't be much higher than what he earned from drawing mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans.
He might as well continue drawing mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans.
Once he had accumulated a certain amount of spirit stones, he could then find a way to obtain a first-tier, high-grade talisman-making inheritance.
A knock sounded on the door knocker.
Chen Jianghe walked out of his room, recalled Xiao Hei and Maoqiu into the spirit beast space, and opened the courtyard gate.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, I've come to collect the spirit talismans and deliver the demonic beast carcasses."
The visitor was Mazi, a subordinate of Boss Wang from the demon-hunting team.
"Fifty-six mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans."
Chen Jianghe took out the talismans and said calmly.
"So many?"
Mazi was taken aback, marveling at the rapid improvement of Chen Jianghe's talisman-making skills.
Back when Ruan Tieniu was helping Chen Jianghe sell talismans, Mazi had been the one handling the specifics.
At that time, Chen Jianghe was still drawing mid-grade protective talismans, selling only thirty to forty a year.
Only a few years had passed, and not only had the talismans he drew changed to mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans, but the quantity was also much greater.
Although he hadn't brought that many spirit stones, he could make up the difference with the demonic beast carcasses.
But Chen Jianghe's next words left Mazi completely stunned, his mind screaming 'major client'.
"I don't need mid-stage, first-tier demonic beast carcasses anymore. Change them all to late-stage, first-tier demonic beasts. And they must all be from beasts with second-grade, high-tier bloodlines."