Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Tieniu's Successful Foundation Establishment, Perfection of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining
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*Whoosh~~*
A strange wind swept through Qinghe Market City, gathering a vast amount of spiritual energy towards the southeastern district and forming a hundred-foot-tall spiritual energy vortex.
"Someone's attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment again."
Pockface looked toward the southeastern district, his eyes filled with envy, yet a shadow of gloom lurked in their depths.
He was just an errand boy for Boss Wang. In his entire life, the most he could hope for was to reach the ninth level of Qi Refining. He couldn't practice body tempering, let alone cultivate spiritual arts.
Even if he were to force a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, the success rate would be frighteningly low.
Chen Jianghe watched the spiritual energy vortex forming in the southeastern district. He knew this was very likely Ruan Tieniu attempting his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.
In his heart, he truly hoped Ruan Tieniu would succeed.
After all, he had invested about a hundred spirit stones in him.
Only if Ruan Tieniu successfully established his foundation would he see a return on his investment.
"Fellow Daoist Pockface, here are fifty-seven mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans. Please tally them up." Chen Jianghe no longer paid attention to the spiritual energy vortex in the southeastern district.
He handed the fifty-seven mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans he had drawn last year to Pockface.
"The total comes to four hundred sixty-one spirit stones and seventy spirit sands. After deducting the four hundred twenty spirit stones for the demonic beasts, I still owe you forty-one spirit stones and seventy spirit sands."
Pockface took out forty-two spirit stones and respectfully handed them to Chen Jianghe.
Now, Chen Jianghe was one of Boss Wang's major clients. As Boss Wang's trusted subordinate, he knew that in order to earn legitimate profits from Chen Jianghe, Boss Wang had teamed up with Boss Ruan to eliminate Duan Ming and twenty-six other rogue cultivators.
This showed just how important Chen Jianghe was in Boss Wang's eyes.
How could he dare to show any disrespect to Chen Jianghe?
Chen Jianghe accepted the spirit stones, put them away with satisfaction, and then returned to his courtyard.
He didn't hang the 'In Seclusion' sign.
This was because he was waiting for news from Alchemist Zhuang.
When that Fairy Luo returned, Alchemist Zhuang would send a message, and he would have to go with him to Longevity Lane to pay her a visit.
From Alchemist Zhuang's tone.
It seemed that to exchange resources with Fairy Luo, he himself had to be present to trade the Visage-Preserving Pill for the Purple Glow Vermilion Fruit.
It seemed Alchemist Zhuang wasn't the one with the connection to this Fairy Luo.
Rather, it was he, a person who had never even heard of Fairy Luo's name.
Chen Jianghe had been cultivating for over fifty years and knew few female cultivators—he could count them on both hands.
He was certain that he absolutely did not know any fairy with the surname Luo.
And a Foundation Establishment fairy at that, which made it even more impossible.
The next day.
Chen Jianghe was in his courtyard cultivating the Tidal Body Tempering Art when he heard a commotion outside.
Among the voices, he seemed to recognize Boss Wang's.
His small courtyard had a perception-blocking array, so he could block out outside sounds if he wished.
But with the matter of going to Longevity Lane with Alchemist Zhuang on his mind, he hadn't isolated the sound from the outside world.
However, any commotion within his courtyard could not be heard or seen from the outside.
Hearing Boss Wang's voice, Chen Jianghe opened his courtyard gate to take a look and saw a dense crowd of cultivators packed in front of the gate next door.
He estimated there were several dozen cultivators crowded in front of Courtyard 514.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Ruan, on your successful Foundation Establishment. As fellow demon hunters, we must communicate more in the future."
"Indeed! With Fellow Daoist Ruan's success, we demon hunters in Qinghe Market City now have eight Foundation Establishment cultivators. Haha, our power has grown significantly!"
"This small gift is but a token of our respect. Please accept it, Fellow Daoist Ruan."
"..."
Ruan Tieniu looked at the seven people before him. They were all Foundation Establishment cultivators who had started as demon hunters, including the two seniors who had previously looked down on him.
They seemed a bit awkward now, but they still came to offer gifts and congratulations.
He accepted the gifts from the seven one by one and thanked them.
Immediately after, the captains of the ninth-level Qi Refining demon hunting teams stepped forward, scrambling to present their own congratulatory gifts.
"A flask of top-grade immortal spirit wine. It's not worth much, but I hope Senior Ruan will accept it." Boss Wang stood at the very front, respectfully offering a flask of immortal spirit wine.
It was purchased from Qinghe Restaurant, a single flask worth ten spirit stones.
For demon hunters, the immortal spirit wine they usually drank was first-tier mid-grade, worth twenty spirit sands.
It was even cheaper than the spirit tea from Qingping Teahouse.
But when congratulating a Foundation Establishment senior, the gift naturally couldn't be shabby.
With Boss Wang taking the lead, the demon hunter captains presented their gifts one after another.
Their value was also around ten spirit stones.
Most were immortal spirit wines and spirit fruits, with only a few offering spirit talismans or spirit cores. In short, the value wasn't high, but it wasn't low either.
Ruan Tieniu accepted all these gifts.
This was the custom.
By accepting the gifts, he was obligated to stand up for the demon hunters when they were oppressed and fight for their greater interests.
Every Foundation Establishment cultivator who came from a demon hunter background would receive such gifts.
"Haha~ I have only just broken through to Foundation Establishment and have yet to consolidate my cultivation, yet all you fellow daoists have come to congratulate me. You truly bring honor to my humble abode."
"Two months from today, I will be hosting a banquet at Qinghe Restaurant. I hope all of you will come for a few drinks."
Ruan Tieniu cupped his fists toward the few Foundation Establishment cultivators, then looked at the captains of the demon hunting teams.
"Since Fellow Daoist Ruan has invited us, we will certainly be there."
"To be able to share a few drinks with Fellow Daoist Ruan and deepen our friendship is, of course, something we wouldn't miss."
"Senior has invited us, how could we dare refuse?"
"..."
The Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke politely.
But the bosses of the demon hunting teams were full of reverence in their words, and their gazes toward Ruan Tieniu were filled with envy and awe.
As Ruan Tieniu set the date for his small Foundation Establishment celebration, the demon hunters gradually departed.
Ruan Tieniu glanced at Courtyard 512 and noticed Chen Jianghe standing at his gate, smiling at him.
The next moment, he strode over quickly.
Seeing Ruan Tieniu approach, Chen Jianghe quickly stepped out and clasped his hands in a salute, "Congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment, Senior Ruan."
"Brother Chen, are you trying to slap your big brother's face?"
Ruan Tieniu's tone was heavy as he pretended to be angry with Chen Jianghe, even patting his own face with his newly regrown left hand.
At this moment, the demonic beast claw marks on his face had vanished.
Even the tooth hole in his forehead was gone.
His aura was restrained, yet it exuded an indescribable pressure.
"If it weren't for Brother Chen, I, Ruan Tieniu, would probably be a dead man by now, thrown into the wilderness to feed demonic beasts."
"If Brother Chen thinks highly of me, then call me Big Brother Ruan."
Ruan Tieniu clasped his hands in a salute and said solemnly.
Chen Jianghe didn't dare accept a salute from a Foundation Establishment senior. He sidestepped slightly and said, "In that case, I will take the liberty of calling you Big Brother."
"That's more like it!"
Ruan Tieniu laughed heartily. "From now on, if Brother Chen needs anything, I, Ruan, will not refuse!"
In Ruan Tieniu's heart, he believed his successful breakthrough to Foundation Establishment was all thanks to Chen Jianghe. Without that inferior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he would have had no hope.
Without that Flesh-Regrowing and Bone-Mending Pill, he could not have succeeded.
Although it was a transaction, an unequal transaction was a favor.
Chen Jianghe could have traded with anyone, yet he chose him.
Yet when he wanted to trade with others, he didn't even have the qualifications to do so.
Let alone a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Just that Flesh-Regrowing and Bone-Mending Pill was something he couldn't afford. Even after successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, he would still need to plead politely and might only then have a chance of buying one from those arrogant second-tier alchemists.
He owed Chen Jianghe two great favors and was eager to do things for him, so naturally, he would refuse nothing and comply with everything.
"Then this little brother thanks Big Brother Ruan in advance," Chen Jianghe said with a cheerful laugh.
"There's no need for such formalities between us brothers."
Ruan Tieniu said casually, the joy in his eyes unconcealable. His face was alight with excitement, his smile stretching nearly to his ears.
All he had ever sought was Foundation Establishment.
Now that he had succeeded, he was naturally overjoyed.
"Oh, right. Two months from today is my little Foundation Establishment celebration. You have to come, brother!"
Ruan Tieniu extended the invitation.
"Alright, this little brother will definitely be there," Chen Jianghe nodded.
Although he didn't want to leave his home, Ruan Tieniu was now a Foundation Establishment senior, and he couldn't refuse the invitation to his face.
Besides, on such a happy day, he couldn't spoil the senior's mood.
After they made the arrangement.
Ruan Tieniu returned to his own courtyard. Having just broken through to Foundation Establishment, he needed this time to stabilize his cultivation.
Most importantly, after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual sense would undergo a qualitative change, allowing him to perform soul-searching.
Although soul-searching by a Foundation Establishment cultivator would turn the target into an imbecile, he didn't care.
"Thanks to you, senior, this junior has successfully established his foundation. You might want to talk now, but this junior doesn't want to listen anymore, haha..."
Ruan Tieniu walked to a large urn in the corner of the courtyard and patted it twice, causing the urn to tremble.
It seemed there was something inside the urn.
Ruan Tieniu's eyes narrowed and the corners of his mouth lifted. He then turned, walked into his room, and began to consolidate his cultivation.
—
Chen Jianghe returned to his courtyard, feeling a mix of pleasant surprise and shock.
Ruan Tieniu had actually succeeded in his Foundation Establishment.
This was his second attempt, where the success rate was halved.
In other words, it was equivalent to attempting Foundation Establishment after the age of sixty when one's vitality and blood had declined, drastically reducing the chances of success.
However, Ruan Tieniu's success was also beneficial for him.
The investment wasn't a loss.
He had also gained a connection with a Foundation Establishment senior, increasing his own safety factor in Qinghe Market City.
At the same time, this also gave him confidence for his own Foundation Establishment.
Previously, Yun Bufan's cousin had failed his Foundation Establishment, his Dantian shattering, and his body exploding, leading to his death.
Coupled with Ruan Tieniu's first failed attempt, this had made Chen Jianghe feel from the bottom of his heart that Foundation Establishment was too difficult.
The so-called success rates were completely unreliable.
Now, he finally had a bit of confidence.
A month later.
In the room, fine beads of water suddenly seeped from the cyan walls. This wasn't condensation but the manifestation of free-floating water-element spiritual energy in the air being forcibly compressed into a liquid state.
Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged. The spiritual energy within three feet of him swirled back like a muddy stream. The separated black water-element spiritual energy formed thousands of tiny cyclones on the surface of his body, tearing at his robes like countless miniature tornadoes.
In his Dantian, the dense spiritual energy accumulated at the ninth level of Qi Refining was rapidly compressing.
*Boom!*
The black ball of magical power erupted with a strong suction force, violently drawing the cloud-like black water-element spiritual energy from outside into his Dantian.
This was the final absorption of external spiritual energy for purification and compression as one reached the perfection of the ninth level of Qi Refining.
At that very moment, a muffled sound echoed from within his Dantian.
As Chen Jianghe breathed, wisps of impure energy were expelled.
The black ball of magical power in his Dantian had shrunk to the size of his little fingernail.
"Hoo~"
Chen Jianghe let out a heavy breath of turbid air.
"Fifty-six years of cultivation, and I've finally reached the perfection of the ninth level of Qi Refining."
A look of gratification appeared on Chen Jianghe's face.
Looking back at his fifty-six years of cultivation.
He had achieved Qi Induction at fourteen, reached the second level of Qi Refining at twenty, the third level at twenty-three, and broke through the early stage of Qi Refining to reach the fourth level at twenty-nine.
At thirty-four, he reached the fifth level; at forty, the sixth level; at forty-six, he perfected the sixth level. After spending six years polishing the bottleneck, he finally broke through to the seventh level at fifty-two.
After that, he cultivated to the eighth level at sixty, broke through to the ninth level at sixty-six, and now, at the age of seventy, he had achieved perfection of the ninth level of Qi Refining.
If he wasn't afraid of dying, he could attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment right now.
Of course, with only a thirty percent chance of success.
And that was a nominal figure.
Only when one's physical body and spirit were perfected could the so-called success rate be considered reliable.
"It seems I need to find a way to get rid of these two True Spirit Pills."
He was now at the perfection of the ninth level of Qi Refining and no longer needed True Spirit Pills.
He couldn't let forty spirit stones' worth of assets go to waste in his hands.
But selling them back to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion would mean losing four spirit stones for no reason, and he wasn't going to be that fool.
But right now, he had nothing to trade with Ji Wujin; otherwise, he could have sold them to him.
As Chen Jianghe thought about this, he walked out of his room.
He glanced at Xiao Hei and Maoqiu, who were busy working.
After talking with Ruan Tieniu, he had hung up the 'In Seclusion' sign.
As for waiting for Alchemist Zhuang, after some thought, he figured hanging the sign wouldn't have a major impact.
If Alchemist Zhuang saw he was in seclusion, he would surely leave a message.
When he saw it, he could just go find Alchemist Zhuang directly. It wasn't as if he was in deep seclusion.
But Yu Daniu hadn't sent any letters, which made Chen Jianghe a little worried.
Yet he couldn't send a letter to inquire.
After all, this involved the private affairs of the Mirror Moon Lake Yun Clan.
Moreover, the Yun Clan Ancestor was still in seclusion with Yun Xiaoniu, so things hadn't reached an irreversible point.
As long as the Yun Clan Ancestor executed Yun Xiaotian's eldest son and resolved the resentment of Yu Daniu's family, everything would naturally be fine.
Yun Xiaoniu was a grateful person.
As long as the Yun Clan didn't go too far, under Yu Daniu's influence, Yun Xiaoniu would also do his utmost to develop the clan.
Chen Jianghe naturally hoped that everything would remain peaceful.
He, too, had received favors from the Yun Clan.
If the Yun Clan hadn't given him a cultivation art back then and led him onto the path of immortality, he wouldn't be where he was today.
Chen Jianghe still felt grateful towards the Yun Clan.
He just couldn't understand why Yun Xiaotian would act this way. He remembered that back at Mirror Moon Lake, as the clan head, every decision Yun Xiaotian made had been wise.
It's not like he could have just become muddle-headed in his old age!
After all, he was a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator; it was impossible for him not to know what was important.
When it came to the clan's interests, even his eldest son couldn't compare to the importance of Yu Daniu's family.
Suddenly.
The message box flashed with light.
A letter had arrived. With a thought, Chen Jianghe drew the letter into his hand but hadn't had a chance to read it yet.
But then he saw the message box flash again.
He drew another letter into his hand and looked at the two of them. One was a message from Alchemist Zhuang, and the other was from Zhou Miaoyun.
Chen Jianghe first opened Alchemist Zhuang's message.
The content was simple and clear: after he came out of seclusion, he was to go to Fortune Residence, 136 Fortune and Longevity Lane, and then they would go together to visit Fairy Luo in Longevity Lane.
Immediately after, Chen Jianghe opened Zhou Miaoyun's letter.
The contents of this letter made Chen Jianghe's expression change drastically.
It was information regarding the Yun Clan.
The Yun Clan Ancestor and Yun Xiaoniu had come out of seclusion, but they had not dealt with Yun Xiaotian's eldest son.
However, they also hadn't acted against Yu Daniu's family.
Instead, they had placed Yu Daniu's family under house arrest.
From the letter, Chen Jianghe learned why Yun Xiaotian was unwilling to kill his eldest son, Yun Yifeng.
Yun Xiaotian was past his ninetieth year and approaching the end of his lifespan. He only had three sons in his life.
The eldest son, Yun Yifeng; the second son, Yun Yichen; and the youngest son, Yun Yifan (Yun Bufan).
The second son, Yun Yichen, had died years ago in a conflict with the White Clan of Qiyun Mountain and had not married before his death.
The youngest son, Yun Bufan, had successfully reached Foundation Establishment and had no interest in marriage, his heart set only on the great path of Core Formation.
Therefore, only the eldest son, Yun Yifeng, was married and had descendants.
Now that Yun Xiaotian's time was near, he naturally couldn't execute Yun Yifeng. Otherwise, who would he pass the position of clan head to?
The clan's authority would fall into the hands of a side branch.
He was naturally unwilling to accept this, which was why he spared Yun Yifeng, intending to make Yu Daniu's family suffer the injustice.
As for why the Yun Clan Ancestor didn't kill Yu Daniu's family after coming out of seclusion.
It was naturally because of Gao Peiyao.
Everyone in Mirror Moon Lake knew that Yu Daniu and Gao Peiyao were childhood friends. Moreover, Gao Peiyao thought very highly of Yun Xiaoniu and had even left behind a Foundation Establishment opportunity like the Profound Ice Jade Marrow.
This showed Yu Daniu's importance in Gao Peiyao's heart.
Gao Peiyao was no ordinary Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator; she was a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Tiannan Sect, and her master was a late-stage Foundation Establishment sect deacon on the verge of Core Formation.
Gao Peiyao might forget about Yu Daniu for a time.
But if she ever remembered her childhood friend and came to Mirror Moon Lake to visit, only to find that Yu Daniu had been killed by the Yun Clan...
...the consequences would be more than the Yun Clan could bear.
Therefore, the Yun Clan Ancestor's solution was to place Yu Daniu's family under house arrest, let him die of old age, and wait for Gao Peiyao to forget about him.
Then, Yu Daniu's descendants would be easy to deal with.
"The Yun Clan Ancestor is quite cunning. He knows he can't kill Daniu. Otherwise, even if Peiyao didn't intervene, I would come knocking on their door demanding an explanation after I reach Core Formation. Hmph!"
Chen Jianghe turned Zhou Miaoyun's letter into dust.
The letter appeared to be written by Zhou Miaoyun, but it was actually a call for help from Yu Daniu, sent through her.
Chen Jianghe already had a plan in mind for rescuing Yu Daniu.
But it would take a month or two.
However, that was fine.
Yu Daniu was only under house arrest by the Yun Clan. He wasn't in any danger, so there was no rush to rescue him.
He had Xiao Hei and Maoqiu enter the spirit beast space, tidied up the courtyard, and then walked out the gate.
He headed towards Fortune and Longevity Lane.
Just as he reached Fortune and Longevity Lane, he ran into Alchemist Zhuang.
"Fellow Daoist, you came out of seclusion so quickly?"
Alchemist Zhuang asked with some surprise upon seeing Chen Jianghe.
He had just placed the message in the box outside Chen Jianghe's courtyard, and here Chen Jianghe was.
"Haha... I can't keep things on my mind. Please don't laugh, Fellow Daoist," Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle.
Alchemist Zhuang nodded.
Crafting the Foundation Establishment Pill was a major affair for Chen Jianghe, so it was understandable that he couldn't even stay peacefully in seclusion and would rush over immediately upon receiving the message.
"I thought you were going to be in seclusion for a few months."
"Oh? So, Fellow Daoist, are you now preparing to go..."
"Naturally, I'm taking this opportunity to go to the Immortal Sect Market City to buy the supplementary materials for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill," Alchemist Zhuang transmitted his voice.
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe felt a little touched.
This Old Zhuang truly didn't treat him as an outsider.