Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Bad News Arrives, Daniu's Predicament
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Mirror Moon Lake.
Heart of the Lake Island, the Yun Clan's ancestral land.
Yu Daniu emerged from the ancestral hall, his expression panicked, and hurried back home.
"Huizhen, this is bad!"
The moment he saw his wife, Yu Daniu strode forward and said urgently, "Big Brother is in danger. I have to go to Qinghe Market City."
Yun Huizhen was stunned for a moment, then quickly tried to calm Yu Daniu down before asking, "What's going on? Big Brother is fine in Qinghe Market City, how could he be in danger?"
Her first reaction to the news of Chen Jianghe being in danger was disbelief.
She knew a bit about Chen Jianghe and had also read through his records at Mirror Moon Lake.
She had only four words to describe her big brother-in-law's style: prudent and cautious.
"Big Brother's Foundation Establishment Pill has been exposed!" Yu Daniu said gravely.
"Foundation Establishment Pill?!"
Yun Huizhen froze, immediately standing up from her armchair.
"How does Big Brother have a Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"I don't know, but he just broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining. He definitely can't take the Foundation Establishment Pill right away, and that's the root of the trouble."
Yu Daniu couldn't be bothered with the details. He looked at Yun Huizhen with determination and said, "I have to go to Qinghe Market City to help Big Brother protect the Foundation Establishment Pill."
"Daniu, calm down first."
Yun Huizhen grabbed Yu Daniu's large, thick hand and pressed her husband back into the armchair.
Just then, Yun Xiaoniu also returned home.
His expression was grim.
"Father, Mother, Uncle's Foundation Establishment Pill has been exposed."
Yun Xiaoniu had just received the news and rushed home immediately, but seeing his parents' expressions, it seemed they already knew.
"Wait! How does Uncle have a Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"Never mind how your uncle got a Foundation Establishment Pill. We need to get to Qinghe Market City right away," Yu Daniu said. Hearing his son also mention the pill, his heart burned with even greater anxiety.
Mirror Moon Lake was three thousand miles from Qinghe Market City. If they knew the news here, it must have already spread throughout the entire city.
"Father, don't be so anxious yet."
Yun Xiaoniu thought for a moment, and as if realizing something, he immediately said, "It seems Uncle didn't just take a Youth Retaining Pill; he must have also taken a Life Extension Pill."
"Why do you say that?" Yu Daniu asked with a frown.
"If Uncle has a Foundation Establishment Pill, he must be planning to attempt Foundation Establishment. But at his age, he's clearly past the optimal time. Unless he took a Life Extension Pill to extend that optimal window..."
"Attempt Foundation Establishment?"
Yu Daniu was taken aback for a moment, then his face lit up with joy. "Wonderful! Big Brother actually has the opportunity for Foundation Establishment. All the more reason for me to go to Qinghe Market City and protect him!"
Yun Huizhen looked at Yu Daniu's sudden excitement and his words, feeling a sense of helplessness.
She knew her husband and Chen Jianghe shared a deep bond, but she hadn't realized it was this deep.
The moment he learned about the Foundation Establishment Pill.
His first thought wasn't about its origin, but about Chen Jianghe's safety, and he was even determined to go to Qinghe Market City to help him protect it.
Now, hearing that Chen Jianghe might be attempting Foundation Establishment, his heart was filled with an indescribable joy.
However, Yun Huizhen wasn't angry; in fact, she was very happy.
She had long known that Chen Jianghe was no simple man, but she never expected that at nearly seventy, he would still have a chance at Foundation Establishment.
This made her very happy.
If Chen Jianghe achieved Foundation Establishment, the benefits for her and Yu Daniu's descendants would be far greater than those from Gao Peiyao.
There was another matter that Yu Daniu and Yun Xiaoniu had told her about.
It was about the Youth Retaining Pill.
Chen Jianghe had a Youth Retaining Pill and actually wanted to give it to Yu Daniu and Yun Xiaoniu, which Yun Huizhen found hard to believe.
"Father, you can't go to Qinghe Market City. Second Brother and Third Brother are at Yunmen Mountain, and the family needs you here to oversee things."
Yun Xiaoniu thought for a moment and said, "I will go to Qinghe Market City. I can help Uncle, and I can also inquire about the matter of crowdfunding alchemy."
"Alright, then you go to Qinghe Market City."
"You two, don't be in such a rush to go to Qinghe Market City. You should first write a letter to Big Brother and ask him about it."
Yun Huizhen interrupted their discussion.
"Even if you must go, it has to be after this year's Mid-Autumn Festival. This is the most crucial Mid-Autumn for Dalang to receive resources like the Spirit Nurturing Pill and Spirit Nurturing Liquid from the clan. It concerns whether Dalang can successfully achieve Foundation Establishment in the future."
"Daniu, do you remember what Big Brother told you in his letter? Our family's stable survival in the Yun Clan depends entirely on Dalang's successful Foundation Establishment."
Hearing Yun Huizhen's words.
Yu Daniu pondered for a moment, then said, "I'll write to Big Brother first to ask, and then we'll decide."
With that, Yu Daniu left with Yun Xiaoniu.
"Sigh~"
Watching them leave, Yun Huizhen felt a wave of dizziness and quickly sat back down in her armchair.
"It seems even the healing liquid can't repair the damage my body suffered in my early years." Yun Huizhen's face turned somewhat pale.
At sixty-nine, she looked as aged as Zhou Miaoyun.
Giving birth to five sons in seven years had taken a severe toll on her. Even though she had been using high-grade first-tier healing liquid all these years.
The effect was not significant.
However, Yun Huizhen dared not show it in front of Yu Daniu and Yun Xiaoniu. In fact, she pretended to be fine in front of everyone.
Because, in her early years, she had never imagined that she and Yu Daniu would reach this point, where her branch of the family had become second only to the main family head's lineage.
As the matriarch of this lineage, she could not let others see her weakness.
Especially this year.
It was a crucial year for her and for the entire branch.
Whether Yun Xiaoniu could obtain the resources for spiritual cultivation depended on the elders' council meeting this Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Father must be struggling to hold on as well!"
A layer of mist formed in Yun Huizhen's slightly cloudy eyes.
Yun Xiaoqian was already over a hundred years old. He had suffered severe injuries in his youth, and his time was near. But for the sake of Yun Xiaoniu obtaining resources, he too was trying his best to hold on.
"Sister, what's wrong with you?"
Just then, Yun Huixiang walked in. Seeing Yun Huizhen's expression, she asked with concern.
"Huixiang, you're here."
Yun Huizhen circulated her magical power, forcefully suppressing the chaotic qi and blood in her body. A smile appeared on her face as she said lightly, "It's nothing, I'm just worried about Erlang and Sanlang."
"Sister, why don't you ask brother-in-law to transfer Youniu and Sanniu back from Yunmen Mountain?" Yun Huixiang looked at her sister with pity.
At this time, Yun Huixiang herself looked like a woman past her prime, her face crisscrossed with wrinkles, long bereft of the pride of her youth.
"The Yunmen Mountain spirit mine is a resource the clan must fight for. As disciples of the clan, Erlang and Sanlang enjoy the clan's resources, so they must contribute to the clan."
"Although I worry about them, I won't have them come back."
Yun Huizhen said firmly.
In truth, she might have had this thought before, but not now. Nothing could be allowed to affect Yun Xiaoniu's acquisition of resources.
Hearing Yun Huizhen's words, Yun Huixiang could only nod helplessly.
She knew what Yun Huizhen was thinking, but she wasn't fond of her nephew, Yun Xiaoniu.
It was fine before, but after Yun Xiaoniu crippled Yun Wuniu, Yun Huixiang developed a sense of aversion towards him.
Because Yun Wuniu was her favorite nephew.
She had never married and had no children of her own. When Yun Wuniu was young, he mostly lived with Yun Xiaoqian.
She was the one who took care of him most of the time, so she saw Yun Wuniu as her own child.
Yun Xiaoniu crippling Yun Wuniu was equivalent to crippling her own child.
Naturally, she disliked Yun Xiaoniu, but now that he was a clan elder and the future pillar of their branch, she couldn't show her dislike.
"Sister, I heard some news about him."
"Who?"
"Chen Jianghe." When Yun Huixiang mentioned Chen Jianghe again, there was no regret on her face, only hatred.
"Big Brother? What news did you hear about him?" Yun Huizhen frowned slightly.
She knew her sister's character better than anyone.
Arrogant and proud.
She had looked down on Chen Jianghe back then, but later, when she learned he had become a Talisman Master, she wanted to get back with him.
But he had no such intention.
Later on, the family arranged several potential matches for Yun Huixiang, but she rejected them all, the reason being that they couldn't even compare to Chen Jianghe, yet they dared to think of marrying her?
This was the reason why, even now at the age of sixty, she had not married.
"He has a Foundation Establishment Pill and has become the target of many rogue cultivators. Sister, do you think he will die?" Yun Huixiang asked, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, as if in glee.
Yun Huizhen frowned, looking at her sister without a word.
Yun Huixiang then added, "He's the same age as brother-in-law, well past sixty, yet he's still clinging to that Foundation Establishment Pill."
"Isn't he closer to brother-in-law than a real brother? Xiaoniu is about to attempt Foundation Establishment, but we haven't seen him send the pill over."
"Get out!"
Yun Huizhen's expression changed drastically. Her trembling body stood up, and she shouted at Yun Huixiang.
"Sister~"
"Get out, and don't come back again."
Yun Huizhen turned and walked into the inner courtyard.
A Foundation Establishment Pill concerns the very foundation of one's immortal path. How could one frivolously ask for it?
Not only would it end their brotherhood, it would even create a feud for obstructing one's dao!
"It seems Huixiang can no longer stay on the Heart of the Lake Island. I should arrange for her to retire in one of the small towns below."
"Otherwise, not only will Daniu not tolerate her, I'm afraid Xiaoniu won't tolerate her either."
——
Not long after Ji Wujin left, Mazi arrived, bringing twelve late-stage first-tier demonic beasts.
All were of superior second-grade bloodlines and in good condition.
The price remained the same, thirty-five spirit stones per beast.
After taking fifty-three of Chen Jianghe's mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans and offsetting their value against the demonic beasts, he gave Chen Jianghe another nine spirit stones and thirty grains of spirit sand.
Once Mazi left, Chen Jianghe hung a 'In Seclusion' sign on his courtyard gate.
After Xiao Hei and Maoqiu came out of the spirit beast space, they once again began their fulfilling lives.
Chen Jianghe cultivated and drew talismans as usual.
Xiao Hei and Maoqiu worked overtime, disassembling the demonic beasts, disposing of worthless scraps, and sorting the parts.
It was unknown what Maoqiu was thinking.
But both Chen Jianghe and Xiao Hei felt that this fulfilling life was the most comfortable and pleasant.
It was also the most hopeful.
In early February.
A letter arrived from Yu Daniu. He knew about the Foundation Establishment Pill and that it had been exposed.
He and Yun Xiaoniu wanted to come to Qinghe Market City to help him withstand the pressure.
So that he could cultivate in peace and attempt Foundation Establishment.
Chen Jianghe was deeply moved by this.
He knew very well that Yu Daniu was genuinely worried about him.
But it was not suitable for them to come to Qinghe Market City, because he could stay in the city for a long time without leaving.
Yu Daniu could not.
After all, Yu Daniu was a man with a wife and children, and an elder of a clan, with many responsibilities.
How could he stay in one place for long?
So, he wrote back to thank Yu Daniu for his kind intentions, told him about his situation, and assured him not to worry.
As long as he didn't leave Qinghe Market City, he would not be in danger.
In late March, Yu Daniu wrote again, asking if he needed help with resources.
Chen Jianghe held Yu Daniu's letter, reading its contents, a mix of emotions swirling in his heart.
The better Yu Daniu treated him, the more his heart was stirred.
He had a long lifespan, and it would increase greatly again when Xiao Hei broke through once more.
He dared not get too close to people or form deep relationships.
Once feelings deepened, separation by life and death was inevitable.
He was already sixty-nine.
Yu Daniu was the same age. If he didn't achieve Foundation Establishment, he had at most fifty years left to live.
However, in another fifty years, he himself would still be in his prime.
"If there's a chance in the future, I must seek three Life Extension Pills for Daniu," Chen Jianghe decided in his heart.
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of October.
In the courtyard, Xiao Hei and Maoqiu had finished processing the demonic beasts and were both cultivating diligently.
Chen Jianghe held a piece of Tidal Essence, circulating the Tidal Body Tempering Art, spreading the spiritual energy contained within the Tidal Essence throughout the meridians of his body to nourish his flesh.
As he completed a set of movements accompanying the Tidal Body Tempering Art, the residual spiritual energy from the Tidal Essence flowed into his divine gate.
At the same time, many pale yellow impurities were secreted from Chen Jianghe's body, emitting a pungent odor.
He cast a cleansing spell to wash away the impurities on his body.
"In another year at most, I can raise my physical cultivation to the late stage of Body Tempering. But to reach perfection, I'm afraid the resources I have are still not enough."
Chen Jianghe currently had eight pieces of Tidal Essence, and eight each of Meridian Unblocking Pills, Qi and Blood Pills, and Body Forging Pills.
It was enough for four more years of cultivation.
He was confident he could reach the late stage of Body Tempering in the next year, but achieving physical perfection would be somewhat difficult.
Without the help of worldly spiritual items, it would take at least seven or eight years of polishing.
Fortunately, the one thing he didn't lack was time.
Cultivating the spiritual art also required time, which he could use to polish the bottleneck of his physical body.
Then, he would only need to purchase worldly spiritual items to enhance his soul, saving the spirit stones needed for body tempering.
By that calculation, he could save at least another thousand spirit stones, which was quite good.
Thinking of this, Chen Jianghe nodded in satisfaction and muttered to himself, "This is how life should be lived, getting better and better with each passing day."
He glanced at the post box, and with a thought.
He drew the letters from the post box into his hand.
There were three letters in total.
They were from Yu Daniu, Zhou Miaoyun, and Chen Ping, respectively.
Chen Jianghe first opened Yu Daniu's letter. It said that at this year's Yun Clan elder meeting, the plan to cultivate Yun Xiaoniu for Foundation Establishment had been approved.
The Yun Clan was planning to invest a large amount of spirit stones to purchase Spirit Nurturing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Liquid for Yun Xiaoniu.
Not only that.
They were also seeking the main ingredients for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill for Yun Xiaoniu.
It was clear that the Yun Clan's higher-ups weren't fools; they knew Yun Xiaoniu had a high chance of success and was worth cultivating.
Regardless, he still had the Yun Clan's bloodline.
Of course, the Yun Clan's ancestor had likely applied pressure in this matter; otherwise, the Yun Clan's head would not have compromised so quickly.
As he read the end of the letter, Chen Jianghe's expression changed slightly, revealing a look of concern.
"Yun Xiaoqian is dead? And Huizhen is also on the verge of death!"
At the end of the letter, Yu Daniu wrote that on the third day after the clan elder meeting, Yun Xiaoqian had reached the end of his lifespan and passed away.
Furthermore, even Yun Huizhen was showing signs of weakness.
She might not have much time left.
Chen Jianghe frowned.
He felt nothing about Yun Xiaoqian's passing, but Yun Huizhen was different.
He valued Yu Daniu greatly, considering him a brother.
Yun Huizhen was his sister-in-law.
Most importantly, Yun Huizhen was Yu Daniu's pillar of support. If anything were to happen to her.
Yu Daniu would be completely unable to control the situation.
The favorable position their branch now held would quickly be overturned.
Unless Yun Xiaoniu could achieve Foundation Establishment in a short time.
"Yun Huizhen is a bit older than Daniu, but she's only seventy. For a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, this shouldn't be happening!"
Chen Jianghe sighed.
Then, he thought of the reason.
In her early years, Yun Huizhen had given birth too many times, and too frequently. Five sons in seven years had caused her body's qi and blood to decline prematurely.
Furthermore, during the period from pregnancy to childbirth, a female cultivator's cultivation not only doesn't increase, but might even drop.
"No, I have to find a way to help Yun Huizhen hold on for a few more years, at least until Yun Xiaoniu successfully achieves Foundation Establishment."
Chen Jianghe worried that if Yun Huizhen also passed away, Yu Daniu's situation in the Yun Clan would become truly difficult.
Although they wouldn't go so far as to cancel Yun Xiaoniu's training.
They would likely send most of the male members of their branch to the Yunmen Mountain mines.
"I need to pay a visit to Alchemist Zhuang."
Chen Jianghe put away Yu Daniu's letter and then read Zhou Miaoyun's. It also mentioned the Yun Clan's affairs.
Zhou Miaoyun was currently in Mirror Moon Market City.
She knew that Yun Xiaoqian had passed away peacefully.
When she went to pay her respects, she also saw the severe decline in Yun Huizhen's qi and blood, and even an aura of death.
Clearly, this was due to her lifespan coming to an end.
Zhou Miaoyun's letter was intended to have Chen Jianghe convey the Zhou Clan's support for Yun Xiaoniu's attempt at Foundation Establishment.
As long as Yu Daniu needed it, their Zhou Clan was willing to gather a thousand spirit stones to help Yun Xiaoniu attempt Foundation Establishment.
"It seems Zhou Miaoyun also sees that Yu Daniu's situation in the Yun Clan is very unfavorable, and only Yun Xiaoniu's successful Foundation Establishment can break the stalemate."
Having managed her clan for many years, Zhou Miaoyun naturally understood the so-called interests within a clan.
Everything had to be centered around the main branch, and under no circumstances would a side branch be allowed to become stronger than the main branch.
Yun Huizhen had managed her branch for many years and was very assertive, faintly overshadowing the main branch, but she had no choice.
If she hadn't been so, Yu Daniu wouldn't have received so many resources, let alone Yun Xiaoniu and the other children.
Now that Yun Xiaoqian had passed away and Yun Huizhen was also on her deathbed.
The main family branch would naturally begin to dismantle the foundation of Yun Huizhen's branch.
And they would do so with legitimate reasons, leaving you speechless and forced to suffer in silence.
Zhou Miaoyun and Yu Daniu were in-laws.
Stepping up to support Yu Daniu at this time carried great risks, but the greater the risk, the higher the reward.
Once Yun Xiaoniu successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, the Zhou Clan's status at Mirror Moon Lake would rise significantly.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe wrote a reply to Yu Daniu, comforting him and stating that he would try to find spiritual pills in Qinghe Market City to restore the body.
At the same time, he also conveyed Zhou Miaoyun's intentions.
Then, he also wrote a reply to Zhou Miaoyun, thanking her on behalf of Yu Daniu and confirming that he had passed on her message.
After writing the two replies, he placed them in the post box.
Then he opened Chen Ping's message and took a look.
This was a letter from July.
It mentioned that Spirit Nurturing Liquid would be auctioned at the Mid-Autumn Auction.
"It seems that a large market city like Qinghe doesn't lack auctions for Spirit Nurturing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Liquid."
He still had three years before he reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, so there was still plenty of time to buy Spirit Nurturing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Liquid.
Besides, Ji Wujin had probably already gone to pick up the goods.
Perhaps there would be news soon.
At that time, the price would definitely be cheaper than at the auction.
Because Spirit Nurturing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Liquid were both spiritual items refined by the Tiannan Sect, they were a monopoly resource.
Individuals were not allowed to list Spirit Nurturing Pills and Spirit Nurturing Liquid for auction at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Ji Wujin had already reached spiritual perfection, so he naturally had no use for these two items, and could only sell them privately.
Otherwise, they would be stuck in his hands.
Another two days passed.
Xiao Hei and Maoqiu both woke up from their cultivation, wanting to continue devouring spirit cores and flesh to cultivate, but were stopped by Chen Jianghe.
He had to go out.
Yu Daniu was his brother, so he naturally had to take his brother's wife's affairs to heart.
Alchemist Zhuang was now a second-tier alchemist. Although he hadn't encountered many second-tier pill recipes, he was experienced and knowledgeable.
He planned to go ask Alchemist Zhuang for advice.
To see if he could find any miraculous spiritual pills to restore Yun Huizhen's body and replenish her qi and blood.
He walked out of his courtyard and headed towards Longevity Lane.
Just as he left Green Duckweed Lane, he saw a beaming Ruan Tieniu, his face filled with an unconcealable joy, the upward curve of his lips impossible to suppress.
(End of this chapter)