Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Artifact Refining Fairy Luo Xiyue, Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art
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"Since you're out of seclusion, let's head to Longevity Lane to find Fairy Luo. We need to trade for the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit first."
Alchemist Zhuang sent a mental message.
When it came to matters involving the Foundation Establishment Pill, they both tacitly chose to use voice transmission.
Although there were no cultivators on the street, the Foundation Establishment Pill was a matter of great importance. If spoken aloud, there was a risk of the news leaking.
The rumor that Chen Jianghe possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill had just been dispelled, and he had no desire to get entangled in that kind of trouble again.
With Ruan Tieniu's successful breakthrough, the inferior Foundation Establishment Pill in Chen Jianghe's possession now had a confirmed destination.
Chen Jianghe hadn't known at first, but as he walked down the street earlier, he had overheard some cultivators discussing him.
It seemed Ruan Tieniu had spread the word that he had bought the inferior Foundation Establishment Pill from Chen Jianghe at a great cost.
That was how he was fortunate enough to succeed in his second attempt at Foundation Establishment.
For this, Chen Jianghe was not only not angry at Ruan Tieniu but was actually grateful to him for helping him get rid of the trouble of possessing a Foundation Establishment Pill.
This allowed him to once again cultivate peacefully in Qinghe Market City.
He could live the life of a cultivator, undisturbed.
Before long, they arrived at Number Seven, Longevity Lane. The "Away" sign by the courtyard gate had been taken down, and there was no "In Seclusion" sign hanging either.
Clearly, she was home.
Alchemist Zhuang stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.
Afterward, they waited outside. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the courtyard gate slowly opened.
A woman emerged, dressed in a moon-white soft silk dress that trailed on the ground, over which she wore a translucent, light-azure gauze cloak. A simple white jade belt was tied loosely around her waist.
Her black hair was loosely tied in a bun, with a single pristine jade hairpin inserted at an angle. A few strands of hair trembled in the cool mist, exuding a piercing sense of solitude.
She had willow-leaf brows, eyes as dark as ink, a high-bridged nose, and cherry-red lips. With bright eyes, pearly teeth, and skin fairer than snow, she was beautiful beyond words.
Chen Jianghe was momentarily stunned before quickly averting his gaze.
The woman before him was no less beautiful than Gao Peiyao, and her cold, aloof aura was even more pronounced.
One glance was like falling into an ice cavern.
"Alchemist Zhuang? What brings you here?" Luo Xiyue's clear, pleasant voice rang out.
"This old man greets Fairy Luo."
Alchemist Zhuang cupped his hands in a salute.
In terms of skill, Alchemist Zhuang was a second-tier Alchemist, a status no less than Luo Xiyue's.
But Luo Xiyue had another identity: a Foundation Establishment Fairy.
"I've heard that the Fairy has a Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit in her possession. This old man would like to trade for it, I wonder if..."
Before Alchemist Zhuang could finish his words.
Luo Xiyue turned to enter the courtyard, about to close the door and see them off.
She didn't even deign to say another word.
Seeing this, Chen Jianghe's heart sank. She clearly had no intention of trading at all.
The Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit was the only thing he was missing now.
Moreover, he had already traded the inferior Foundation Establishment Pill in his possession to Ruan Tieniu.
He wasn't in a rush for a Foundation Establishment Pill, but Yun Xiaoniu was. Without one, Yun Xiaoniu's attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment would lack a safety net.
And his chances of success would be much lower.
"Fairy, please wait."
Alchemist Zhuang quickly said, "It is not this old man who wishes to trade with you, but this Fellow Daoist Chen."
At this, Luo Xiyue turned to look at Chen Jianghe, her deep, cold gaze falling upon him.
She did not recognize this strange man.
"I am Chen Jianghe. It is a pleasure to meet Fairy Luo." Chen Jianghe felt Luo Xiyue's cold eyes on him and braced himself, stepping forward to cup his hands in greeting.
Luo Xiyue paid Chen Jianghe no mind, ignoring him completely. Instead, she looked at Alchemist Zhuang, a chill appearing on her beautiful face.
Her meaning couldn't be more obvious.
She was blaming Alchemist Zhuang for bringing a stranger to visit her.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, aren't you going to present the item for trade with Fairy Luo?" Alchemist Zhuang prompted from the side.
Chen Jianghe took out the jade box containing the Youth Retaining Pill and slowly opened it, releasing the pill's unique fragrance.
"I learned from Fairy Peiyao that Fairy Luo has yet to take a Youth Retaining Pill. Since Fellow Daoist Chen also needs a Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit, this old man took the liberty of making an introduction. I hope the Fairy can forgive me."
Alchemist Zhuang spoke apologetically, then added, "Fellow Daoist Chen is an old friend of Fairy Peiyao's. He obtained the Youth Retaining Grass and had this old man refine the Youth Retaining Pill. I hope Fairy Luo will accept it."
"I know you."
Hearing Gao Peiyao's name, Luo Xiyue finally looked at Chen Jianghe properly and said faintly.
"I saw you at Peiyao's Foundation Establishment celebration."
"I can trade the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit with you, but one Youth Retaining Pill is not enough."
The market price of a Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit was around one thousand five hundred spirit stones. At an auction, it would typically sell for between one thousand eight hundred and two thousand spirit stones.
The market price of a Youth Retaining Pill was only six hundred spirit stones, reaching one thousand five hundred only at auctions.
However, a personally refined Youth Retaining Pill could not be put up for auction.
The true value of a Youth Retaining Pill fluctuated between eight hundred and one thousand spirit stones.
"I am willing to offer one Youth Retaining Pill and one Life Extension Pill in exchange," Chen Jianghe said, taking out a Life Extension Pill.
"Deal."
Luo Xiyue took out the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit and handed it to Chen Jianghe.
Then, with a wave of her fair hand, she drew the Youth Retaining Pill and the Life Extension Pill into her grasp.
"The transaction is complete. You may leave now."
After speaking, Luo Xiyue paid no more heed to Alchemist Zhuang and Chen Jianghe, turning and returning to her courtyard as the gate closed behind her.
Chen Jianghe and Alchemist Zhuang looked at each other, both revealing expressions of joy.
Although Luo Xiyue was cold and aloof, disdaining to trade with them and even looking down on a second-tier alchemist like Zhuang Yanfeng.
At least the trade had been successful.
The outcome was good.
They returned to Number 136, Fushou Lane.
"Is this Fairy Luo very close with Peiyao?" Chen Jianghe asked, puzzled.
"Yes."
Alchemist Zhuang nodded and said, "Before Fairy Peiyao reached Foundation Establishment, she worked as an assistant manager at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Qinghe Market City for a time. Back then, she and Fairy Luo were often seen entering and leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion together."
"After reaching Foundation Establishment, Fairy Peiyao became a manager at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Qinghe Market City, and Fairy Luo also visited many times. Sometimes she would stay at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for a year at a time."
Hearing Alchemist Zhuang's words, Chen Jianghe understood.
It seemed Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue's relationship was indeed very good.
He was only able to trade for the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit because she was giving face to Gao Peiyao.
Otherwise, this cold and aloof Fairy Luo probably wouldn't have even given him a second glance.
She didn't even hold Alchemist Zhuang, a second-tier alchemist, in high regard.
It was just that he had always been a recluse and had no idea Gao Peiyao had such a close friend.
However, the connections Gao Peiyao had left for him in Qinghe Market City were indeed excellent.
At Gao Peiyao's Foundation Establishment celebration, her one affectionate "Brother Jianghe" had directly brought him to the attention of the upper-echelon cultivators of Qinghe Market City.
"Fellow Daoist, you hold onto the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit for now. This old man must go to the Immortal Sect Market City to purchase the supplementary materials for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill."
"It may take two months. During this time, I'll need you to look after Xinyan and Ruxu."
Alchemist Zhuang requested.
Chen Jianghe quickly cupped his hands and replied, "I see Xinyan and Ruxu as my own juniors. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, fellow Daoist, I would have taken good care of them."
"Besides, your trip to the Immortal Sect Market City is for my sake, a tiring journey."
"Haha, there's no need for such formalities between us." Alchemist Zhuang chuckled and then packed his things to leave.
Chen Jianghe also left Number 136.
Now that Alchemist Zhuang was gone, even though he considered Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu juniors, it wasn't appropriate for him to remain in the courtyard.
He returned to his own courtyard.
Chen Jianghe thought about the day's events and breathed a sigh of relief.
He had finally gathered all the main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. Now, he just had to wait for Alchemist Zhuang to return from the Immortal Sect Market City.
This time, he would obtain a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill no matter what.
A twenty percent success rate for Foundation Establishment was very good.
Chen Jianghe mentally analyzed his chances of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.
Breakthrough location in Qinghe Market City + perfected physical body + perfected spirit + a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill.
In other words, he could stack his success rate up to eighty percent, and it was a real success rate, not an inflated one.
"If only I had a three-element true spiritual root, then I would have a one hundred percent chance of success. I wouldn't have to worry about failing at all."
Chen Jianghe mused.
However, there was another matter he needed to consider.
The supplementary materials Alchemist Zhuang needed for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill were worth one thousand two hundred spirit stones.
Alchemist Zhuang hadn't mentioned it, but Chen Jianghe couldn't pretend not to know.
For Alchemist Zhuang to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill for him for free, it was clear he already considered him one of his own.
If it were any other second-tier alchemist, even with a deep friendship, some spirit stones would still be required.
Let alone asking the alchemist to pay for the supplementary materials.
But he currently only had eight hundred ninety-nine spirit stones and ten grains of spirit sand, not even a thousand spirit stones in total.
How was he going to give Alchemist Zhuang the spirit stones for the supplementary materials?
"I can only wait until after Alchemist Zhuang successfully refines the Foundation Establishment Pill to discuss it."
A successful refinement would yield three Foundation Establishment Pills.
One for Chen Jianghe, one for Yun Xiaoniu, and one left over. However, the extra one would certainly be an inferior Foundation Establishment Pill.
If Alchemist Zhuang needed it, perhaps to leave for Zhuang Xinyan or Jiang Ruxu, then he would just let the alchemist keep it.
If Alchemist Zhuang wanted to plan for genuine Foundation Establishment Pills for Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, then this inferior pill would be sold.
If it had been ten years earlier, he definitely wouldn't have thought of selling this pill.
Even if Yu Daniu's chances of success were very low, as long as the pill wouldn't endanger his life, it was worth a try.
But now, that was no longer an option.
Even with the Youth Retaining Pill and Life Extension Pill he still had, he couldn't return Yu Daniu to his state before the age of sixty.
Using a Youth Retaining Pill and a Life Extension Pill to delay the optimal time for Foundation Establishment was only effective if taken before the age of sixty.
Taking them after sixty would only increase one's lifespan and preserve one's current appearance.
These two spirit pills were miraculous, but they couldn't turn back the clock.
With his mind made up.
The next day.
Chen Jianghe left his home and headed for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
He had already reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining and could now spare some time to cultivate a spiritual technique.
He had already obtained the first-tier, high-grade Spirit Nurturing Liquid.
What he lacked now was a spiritual cultivation technique.
As soon as he bought a spiritual cultivation technique, he could begin cultivating his spiritual sense and strengthening his soul.
This would bolster his foundation for reaching Foundation Establishment.
Arriving on the second floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, he saw Chen Ping walking towards him.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, are you here to buy resources? Feel free to look around. I'll give you a discount later," Chen Ping said, cupping his hands.
Chen Jianghe returned the gesture, "Thank you, fellow Daoist. I'd like to purchase a spiritual cultivation technique."
"A spiritual cultivation technique?"
Chen Ping scratched his head in embarrassment and said apologetically, "The third-floor manager is in charge of cultivation techniques. The most I can get for you is a two percent discount."
"Two percent is very good. Thank you for that, fellow Daoist."
Chen Jianghe was very satisfied.
If he were buying resources on the second floor, Chen Ping's authority could get him a five percent discount.
But the third-floor cultivation technique area was not under his management.
Furthermore, cultivation techniques were relatively expensive, so a large discount was unlikely.
A two percent discount was truly excellent.
Subsequently, Chen Ping personally led Chen Jianghe to the third floor, said a few words to the manager there, and then hurried back downstairs.
It was only then that Chen Jianghe noticed Chen Ping's cultivation had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.
It seemed that after becoming the second-floor manager of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Chen Ping's benefits had improved significantly. He even had a chance of attempting Foundation Establishment.
"This Chen Ping seems like someone worth getting to know casually."
Chen Jianghe planned to stay in Qinghe Market City for a long time and needed a friend like Chen Ping who could help him save a lot of spirit stones at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Moreover, Chen Ping was prudent and composed, a person of steady character.
Pushing aside these miscellaneous thoughts, he went to the area for spiritual cultivation techniques and began to browse seriously.
The techniques on display were all paper summaries.
They recorded the characteristics of the technique, cultivation requirements, and the supplementary materials needed for cultivation.
If he found one he liked, he could take the summary to pay the spirit stones and exchange it for a jade slip containing the full technique.
"Frigid Prison Soul-Forging Art... the requirement for supplementary materials is too high. It actually needs millennium-old ice soul."
A thumb-sized piece of century-old ice soul cost eighty spirit stones.
A millennium-old one would probably cost over a thousand.
Looking at the price of the *Frigid Prison Soul-Forging Art*, the purchase price was three hundred spirit stones, and the oath price was one hundred and twenty.
Chen Jianghe was stunned. No wonder the requirement for supplementary materials was so high.
This *Frigid Prison Soul-Forging Art* was probably the most basic spiritual cultivation technique available.
He put down the *Frigid Prison Soul-Forging Art* and looked at the other spiritual cultivation techniques.
*Warm Jade Soul-Nourishing Art*: Purchase price of three hundred fifty spirit stones, oath price of one hundred eighty.
*Flowing Wind Spirit-Probing Art*: Purchase price of five hundred spirit stones, oath price of two hundred forty.
*Bedrock Soul-Solidifying Scripture*: Purchase price of four hundred eighty spirit stones, oath price of two hundred twenty.
*Faint Light Spirit-Condensing Art*: Purchase price of five hundred eighty spirit stones, oath price of three hundred.
...
Chen Jianghe went straight to looking at the prices on the back of the summaries, not even bothering to check the supplementary materials.
The lower the price of a spiritual cultivation technique, the higher the requirement for its supplementary materials.
As for finding a hidden gem?
There were no fools in the cultivation world.
And there were certainly no fools among those doing business in the cultivation world.
Profit came first; there was no such thing as a free lunch.
If a top-tier spiritual cultivation technique appeared with a price tag of one spirit stone, one shouldn't feel lucky, but rather wonder what was wrong with the technique.
The next moment, Chen Jianghe froze.
It seemed there really was such a thing as a free lunch.
He looked at the spiritual cultivation technique in his hand, and the corner of his mouth twitched. It was actually free.
And the requirement for supplementary materials was also quite low.
However, there was one catch: it had a requirement for one's spiritual root.
*Spiritual Sense Cloud-Piercing Art* Technique Requirement: Requires a cultivator with a wind spiritual root or a space spiritual root, or a natural treasured body, or a cultivator with a 'heart's eye' to cultivate.
Supplementary Materials: Eagle Eye Grass (five spirit stones), Favorable Wind Ear Conch (eight spirit stones), Cloud-Piercing Silkworm Thread (ten spirit stones), second-tier demon beast Wind-Rending Eagle's eyeball (two hundred spirit stones).
...
Such low requirements for supplementary materials, and it was free.
But that spiritual root requirement immediately revealed the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's underlying motive.
Whoever took this technique would certainly possess a special spiritual root.
It was just like that ice-element cultivation technique, designed to discover cultivators with special spiritual roots.
They would then be taken to the Tiannan Sect to become disciples.
Therefore, in the cultivation world, talent in the hundred arts might be buried, but talent in spiritual roots would never be.
As long as one possessed a special spiritual root and didn't die prematurely, it was a guarantee that they would become a powerful figure in the future.
Chen Jianghe sighed faintly and put down this top-tier spiritual cultivation technique, the *Spiritual Sense Cloud-Piercing Art*.
He picked up the summaries of other spiritual cultivation techniques and continued to browse.
"*Soul Sea Origin-Solidifying Scripture*... it's quite suitable for me. It requires cultivating a water-element technique, and the supplementary materials are just Soul-Solidifying Mud, Heart-Warming Grass, and century-old ice soul."
"The technique is top-tier, but these fragments of a Mystic Turtle's soul shell... I wonder if Xiao Hei would be willing to part with some for me."
Chen Jianghe thought with a mischievous grin, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth.
Then he put the technique back.
With Xiao Hei's stingy personality, it would never tear off its own shell.
After flipping through dozens more spiritual cultivation techniques, he finally chose the *Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art*, a top-tier spiritual cultivation technique.
Purchase price of one thousand two hundred spirit stones, oath price of eight hundred.
Technique Requirement: Must have had a soul stronger than an ordinary person's when a mortal.
Chen Jianghe's soul had always been stronger than that of cultivators at the same level. A typical ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator who hadn't practiced a spiritual technique could extend their spiritual sense five zhang at most.
Chen Jianghe could currently extend his to eight zhang and one chi.
Before reaching the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, his spiritual sense range was seven zhang and two chi. After reaching the peak, his spiritual sense had improved again, reaching an astonishing eight zhang and one chi.
This *Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art* was extremely suitable for him.
And the requirements for supplementary materials were not high.
The introductory stage required Spirit-Condensing Grass and Spirit-Warming Sand, neither of which was expensive. A stalk of Spirit-Condensing Grass cost three spirit stones.
A bottle of Spirit-Warming Sand cost five spirit stones.
The materials required for the advanced stage were also reasonable.
Soul Crystal Fragments, which were soul crystals formed from the souls of demon beasts called soul beasts. One soul crystal was worth a hundred spirit stones and could be divided into five pieces.
Yin Wood Heart Tablet, a wooden tablet made from the heart of a thousand-year-old Yin Soul Wood from the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. Wearing it during cultivation would help the soul resonate with the yin energy of heaven and earth, thereby completing the cultivation of the *Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art*.
It was worth two hundred spirit stones.
As for Spirit-Nurturing Pills and Spirit-Nurturing Liquid, these were not specific requirements for cultivating spiritual techniques but rather external aids to accelerate the improvement of one's soul.
Chen Jianghe took the *Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art* to the third-floor manager and purchased it at the oath price.
Thanks to Chen Ping's prior arrangement.
The original price of eight hundred spirit stones was reduced to seven hundred eighty-four.
A two percent discount.
Chen Jianghe had never seen this third-floor manager before; he must have come with the new main manager of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Because the third-floor manager of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had another title: assistant manager.
Gao Peiyao had once held this position.
After obtaining the *Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art*, Chen Jianghe returned home, but he did not go into seclusion to cultivate.
Instead, he let Xiao Hei and Maoqiu out and had them continue their work.
He, on the other hand, continued to cultivate the *Tidal Body Tempering Art* and draw talismans, allocating his spare time to talisman drawing for now.
There was still one month left.
Ruan Tieniu's Foundation Establishment celebration was to be held at the Qinghe Restaurant, and Chen Jianghe needed to attend.
Moreover, there was something he needed Ruan Tieniu's help with.
Furthermore, Alchemist Zhuang would be back from the Immortal Sect Market City in two months.
The second attempt at refining the Foundation Establishment Pill would begin then.
Chen Jianghe couldn't calm his mind enough to cultivate the *Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art*. He could only enter deep seclusion after he had the Foundation Establishment Pill in hand.
A month passed quickly.
The knocker on Chen Jianghe's courtyard gate was struck.
When he opened the gate, he found an attendant from the Qinghe Restaurant standing outside.
"Greetings, Senior Chen. This junior was sent by Senior Ruan to invite Senior Chen to a small gathering at the Qinghe Restaurant."
"Alright, you may go. I will be there shortly."
"Yes, this junior takes his leave."
The sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator from the Qinghe Restaurant bowed respectfully and then left Green Duckweed Lane.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Chen Jianghe left his home and headed for the Qinghe Restaurant.
At the entrance of the restaurant, he saw Boss Wang.
It seemed he was in charge of receiving guests.
Back in the day, Boss Wang had been even more influential than Ruan Tieniu. Now that Ruan Tieniu had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, Boss Wang could only serve as his doorman.
The shift in status was quite drastic.
But it also further highlighted the esteemed position of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Brother Chen, quickly, please come in. Senior Ruan has been waiting for you for a long time." Boss Wang spotted Chen Jianghe and came out a hundred meters to greet him.
"You're too kind, Boss Wang."
"How could I dare to accept being called 'Boss' by Brother Chen."
Boss Wang cupped his hands and said, "Brother Chen is Senior Ruan's guest of honor. In the future, just call me Wang Kun."
"Well, thank you, fellow Daoist."
Chen Jianghe didn't chat long with Boss Wang, as the man still had other guests to receive.
He went directly up to the third floor of the Qinghe Restaurant. This was his second time here, but it was obvious that the setup and scale were a far cry from Gao Peiyao's celebration.
But there was no point in comparing.
Gao Peiyao was a Foundation Establishment disciple of a sect with a boundless future and even hopes of reaching Core Formation. She was also the immortal envoy sent by the Tiannan Sect to Qinghe Market City.
Ruan Tieniu was just a rogue cultivator, a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had started as a demon beast hunter.
To have such a setup was already quite good.
Even this had cost Ruan Tieniu a hundred spirit stones, which would probably sting for a long time.
One had to remember that Ruan Tieniu usually couldn't even bear to drink the spirit tea at the Qingping Teahouse.
"Brother Chen, I've finally been waiting for you!"
Ruan Tieniu gave him plenty of face. Seeing Chen Jianghe walk in, he quickly apologized to the few Foundation Establishment cultivators he was talking with, strode over to Chen Jianghe, and greeted him with a hearty laugh.