Chapter 164
Chapter 164
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Ji Wujin's Scheme, Cultivating the "Blood River Escape Art"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chen Jianghe and Yun Xiaoniu both looked at Alchemist Zhuang, their eyes filled with confusion, curious about his proposed countermeasure.
"Fellow Daoist, what is your plan?"
Chen Jianghe's first guess was a second-tier talisman.
Previously, when Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan traded with Ruan Tieniu alongside him, they both held second-tier talismans borrowed from Alchemist Zhuang.
"Ji Wujin is a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a pet and a puppet. We just need to find another Foundation Establishment cultivator to leave with us."
Alchemist Zhuang said with a chuckle, "Fellow Daoist, do you still remember Fairy Luo?"
"That aloof and proud Artifact Refining Grandmaster?"
"Yes. Although Fairy Luo is a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an Artifact Refining Grandmaster, she has always lived in seclusion and never participates in any of the Hundred Arts Exchange Conferences in Qinghe Market City. In this regard, she is somewhat similar to you, Fellow Daoist."
"If Fairy Luo has no acquaintances in the Beast Taming Market City, then she wouldn't know about this news."
Alchemist Zhuang paused for a moment before continuing, "Fairy Luo is on very good terms with Fairy Peiyao, and you, Fellow Daoist, have an even deeper friendship with Fairy Peiyao. For Fairy Peiyao's sake, you should inform Fairy Luo of the crisis in Qinghe Market City. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"
"Indeed, we should."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
If an Artifact Refining Grandmaster could join them, their group would be much safer.
Luo Xiyue was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an Artifact Refining Grandmaster; she certainly wouldn't lack top-tier magical artifacts.
Given the wealth of an Artifact Refining Grandmaster, Luo Xiyue likely had other tricks up her sleeve as well.
"Fairy Luo? She's friends with Aunt Yao?"
Yun Xiaoniu said, somewhat puzzled.
Chen Jianghe nodded and briefly explained the matter between Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao.
He also told Yun Xiaoniu that the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit used to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill had been obtained from Luo Xiyue.
The reason Luo Xiyue had agreed to the exchange was entirely out of consideration for Gao Peiyao.
He glanced at the sky.
It was just past noon, still early.
The three of them then stood up, walked out of the courtyard gate, and prepared to find Luo Xiyue to inform her of the potential crisis facing Qinghe Market City.
Just as they stepped out of the gate.
The gate of the neighboring courtyard also opened.
In Fushou Lane, their gazes met.
Ji Wujin glanced at Chen Jianghe, then at Yun Xiaoniu, seeming somewhat surprised that Yun Xiaoniu was still in Qinghe Market City.
After ten breaths.
Chen Jianghe and Ji Wujin exchanged a smile.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe's group of three left Fushou Lane.
"Fellow Daoist Ji, is that the mastermind behind Duan Ming's death, Chen Jianghe?"
Standing beside Ji Wujin was a rugged middle-aged man. His aura was restrained, and his eyes were sharp, like a goshawk on the hunt.
"Yes, that's Chen Jianghe. The one on the left is his nephew, and the one on the right is an Alchemy Grandmaster," Ji Wujin said with a smile.
"A mere ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator, what treasure could he possibly have?" The middle-aged man frowned.
Having been a rogue cultivator for many years, his judgment was sharp. He could tell with a single glance whether someone had anything valuable on them.
Judging by Chen Jianghe's attire and the low-quality storage bag at his waist.
He didn't believe Chen Jianghe possessed many treasures.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, don't underestimate Qi Refining cultivators."
Ji Wujin glanced at Lu Shisan and chuckled lightly. "Back then, if your stronghold's chieftain hadn't arrived so quickly, you would have already perished. I was also at the ninth level of Qi Refining at that time."
Lu Shisan's heart trembled. His gaze towards Ji Wujin was filled with wariness and a trace of fear.
In the past, he had heard that Ji Wujin possessed an authentic Foundation Establishment Pill and spiritual items worth no less than three thousand spirit stones.
He had ambushed Ji Wujin in the Youxian Mountain Range.
He just hadn't expected to be nearly killed by Ji Wujin.
Although the chieftain of Qingfeng Stronghold arrived quickly, allowing him to survive, he was still robbed by Ji Wujin in a turn of events.
"Go back and tell Duan Tiande that if he wants to strike it rich, he shouldn't hold anything back."
After speaking, Ji Wujin walked back into his courtyard.
With a 'bang', the courtyard gate closed.
Lu Shisan looked at Ji Wujin's gate, then in the direction Chen Jianghe had gone. His interest in Chen Jianghe was naturally not for the sake of avenging Duan Ming.
Duan Ming was a nobody; his death was inconsequential.
The main reason was that Ji Wujin claimed Chen Jianghe possessed a great treasure.
"What great treasure could a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator possibly have? To be targeted by that man surnamed Ji like this?"
"After I get back, I'll have to discuss this with Boss Duan. It would be best to get rid of that Ji fellow as well."
With this thought, Lu Shisan left Fushou Lane.
In the courtyard.
Ji Wujin stood on the terrace, watching Lu Shisan leave Fushou Lane, a playful look in his eyes.
"Qingfeng Stronghold will probably list me as one of their targets too, hehe~"
"Baby, can you confirm that he has a treasure on him?"
The purple bracelet on Ji Wujin's wrist flashed with light and responded, "Master, his spirit beast has broken through."
"Although the aura of the rare treasure on him is faint, I am certain it is a great treasure."
Hearing this, the smile on Ji Wujin's face deepened.
"The spirit beast broke through... It seems to be a beast-taming treasure. Coincidentally, I'm in need of such a treasure. As friends, he should give it to me, right?"
——
On the way to Changsheng Lane.
"Uncle, I've seen a portrait of that middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator. He is Lu Shisan, the seventh chieftain of Qingfeng Stronghold."
"A rogue cultivator from Qingfeng Stronghold?"
Chen Jianghe was stunned. How did Ji Wujin get mixed up with the rogue cultivators of Qingfeng Stronghold?
Could it be that Qingfeng Stronghold was here for Duan Ming?
'No, I wasn't the one who killed Duan Ming. Ruan Tieniu and Wang Kui did it. Even if they really wanted revenge, they should be looking for Ruan Tieniu and Wang Kui.'
"Xiaoniu, how many Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators does Qingfeng Stronghold have?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"The Ancestor told me that Qingfeng Stronghold used to have eight Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators, but after being purged by the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan, only three remain..."
Yun Xiaoniu recounted what the Yun Clan Ancestor had once told him.
The chieftain of Qingfeng Stronghold was named Duan Tiande, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. He was originally the second chieftain, but after the purge by the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan, the first chieftain perished, and he took over.
The fifth chieftain, Chen Feng, was at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment.
The seventh chieftain, Lu Shisan, was also at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment.
The third, fourth, fifth, and eighth chieftains, along with the previous chieftain, had all perished in the Lu Clan's purge.
'Three Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators... It seems the three Foundation Establishment seniors Ji Wujin mentioned in his letter are these three.'
Just now, when he saw Ji Wujin, he had sensed the restrained aura and knew that Ji Wujin had successfully broken through to Foundation Establishment.
In other words, they would have to face six Foundation Establishment cultivators.
At this point, Chen Jianghe was a bit puzzled. Why did this Ji Wujin like to show his hand?
Wouldn't a sneak attack be better?
Why tell him that he had joined forces with three Foundation Establishment seniors?
It was all rather baffling.
Just then, they arrived at Number Seven, Fuju Residence in Changsheng Lane, but there was a sign hanging on the courtyard gate.
"In seclusion? Fairy Luo is in seclusion? What do we do now?" Alchemist Zhuang looked helpless.
"Let's go back first."
Chen Jianghe said.
Alchemist Zhuang and Yun Xiaoniu could only nod.
Returning once more to Number 136, Fuju Residence in Fushou Lane, Chen Jianghe said directly, "Fellow Daoist, take Ruxu and Xinyan, and leave Qinghe Market City with Xiaoniu first. Wait for me at Qiyun Mountain."
"What do you mean by this, Fellow Daoist?" Alchemist Zhuang's face darkened, and he spoke with some displeasure.
"Yes, Uncle! How can I leave you behind in Qinghe Market City?" Yun Xiaoniu rejected Chen Jianghe's proposal.
"Listen to me."
Chen Jianghe's expression was serious as he looked at Alchemist Zhuang and said, "Ruxu and Xinyan are only at the eighth level of Qi Refining. It will be very dangerous for them to leave Qinghe Market City with me."
"You should leave with them first, Fellow Daoist. I will wait in Qinghe Market City for Fairy Luo to come out of seclusion."
At this point, Chen Jianghe turned to Yun Xiaoniu. "Don't worry about me. If things become impossible, I will send you a message and have you ask the Yun Clan Ancestor and Yun Bufan to come."
"Rest assured, no one would dare to make a move within Qinghe Market City. Besides, I have a second-tier spirit beast with me."
Thinking of the second-tier spirit beast on Chen Jianghe, Yun Xiaoniu felt a sense of relief. He knew Chen Jianghe was right.
If it really came to that, he, being at Qiyun Mountain, could make a trip to Mirror Moon Lake and ask the two Foundation Establishment cultivators to come and escort Chen Jianghe.
He could even ask the Qi Clan Ancestor, who was on good terms with the Yun Clan, to come along.
At that time, four Foundation Establishment Ancestors plus Chen Jianghe's second-tier spirit beast would be more than enough to handle the Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators from Qingfeng Stronghold.
Foundation Establishment Ancestors were different from unaffiliated Foundation Establishment cultivators.
As Foundation Establishment cultivators from a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, they all possessed magical artifacts and treasures that matched their cultivation level.
Top-tier offensive magical artifacts, top-tier defensive magical artifacts, even second-tier talismans and second-tier spirit pills—they basically had them all.
But ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators didn't have such treasures.
Just like the Xu Feng and Xu Hong brothers, who at most had only one top-tier offensive magical artifact.
Becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator didn't suddenly make one wealthy enough to establish a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan.
First, you needed a territory with a second-tier spirit vein, but all such territories were already occupied by Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans.
If you suddenly tried to squeeze in, one of the existing clans would have to be pushed out. Wouldn't they fight you to the death?
As a lone Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator, how could you possibly contend with a Foundation Establishment Ancestor who was fully equipped with magical artifacts and talismans?
"Alright then, I will follow your arrangements, Uncle."
Yun Xiaoniu said with a cupped-fist salute.
He knew very well that Chen Jianghe was also considering the development of the Yu Clan by having him take Alchemist Zhuang away first.
Although Alchemist Zhuang's lifespan was nearing its end, if he could stay with the Yu Clan for a period of time and refine a batch of spirit pills for them, it would be a great opportunity for the clan.
"Then I will follow your arrangements, Fellow Daoist." Alchemist Zhuang nodded in resignation.
The meaning behind Chen Jianghe's words was clear.
Although he mentioned Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, he was actually including Alchemist Zhuang as well.
Once a battle between Foundation Establishment cultivators broke out, the three of them would be a burden, requiring him to divert his attention to protect them.
Leaving Qinghe Market City early was also for their own good.
"This is a second-tier offensive talisman. Please take it, Fellow Daoist. I will be waiting for you at Qiyun Mountain."
Alchemist Zhuang took out a golden second-tier talisman and placed it in Chen Jianghe's hand, saying gravely, "You must take care of yourself, Fellow Daoist. If things become impossible, you must send a message."
"Alright. Fellow Daoist, you should leave Qinghe Market City with Xinyan and Ruxu tomorrow."
Since they had decided to leave Qinghe Market City, it was better to do so sooner rather than later.
The next day.
When Yun Xiaoniu and Alchemist Zhuang's group left, Chen Jianghe did not see them off but remained in his own courtyard.
He held the second-tier offensive talisman given to him by Alchemist Zhuang.
At this moment, he wanted to leave Qinghe Market City more than anyone. But after seeing Ji Wujin in Fushou Lane, he was certain that leaving the city meant walking right into a trap Ji Wujin had set.
"Xiao Hei, how powerful do you think this talisman is?" Chen Jianghe asked, holding the second-tier offensive talisman and looking at Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei stretched out his turtle head, carefully examining the second-tier talisman and sensing the energy it contained.
"It's so-so."
"So-so? Can you block an attack from this second-tier talisman?" Chen Jianghe was a little surprised.
He wasn't a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so he couldn't judge Xiao Hei's strength after becoming a second-tier spirit beast.
But he knew that the magical power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was on a completely different level from that of a Qi Refining cultivator.
The magical power of a Qi Refining cultivator might seem vast and mighty, like a river from the heavens pouring down in a torrential rain, but to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was like mere raindrops, lacking any real power.
The magical power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, however, was like a vast ocean refined into a single drop, and that one drop was enough to crush more than ten ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators.
The difference between a Qi Refining cultivator and a Foundation Establishment cultivator was like heaven and earth, an insurmountable chasm.
Even a tenth-level Qi Refining cultivator was nothing more than an ant before a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Looking down on your Turtle Lord?"
Hearing Chen Jianghe question his strength, Xiao Hei immediately grew agitated. "Come on, come on, use this talisman on me."
"If you can break my defense, I'll do whatever you tell me to do from now on!"
Xiao Hei grabbed Chen Jianghe's arm with his claw, urging him to use the second-tier offensive talisman on him.
"..."
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes.
What a joke. This second-tier talisman from Alchemist Zhuang was for saving his life. How could he possibly use it on Xiao Hei?
If it couldn't break his defense, it would be a total waste.
If it injured Xiao Hei, it would be an even greater loss.
"Stop messing around."
Chen Jianghe quickly put the second-tier talisman back into his storage bag and looked at Xiao Hei seriously. "Back at Mirror Moon Lake, you must have felt the aftershock of Lan Tianxiang's attack. Comparing that, can you withstand an attack from him?"
"That was decades ago. How could I possibly remember?" Xiao Hei was speechless.
"I probably could. Thinking back now, that fire-starting biped doesn't seem all that strong."
Chen Jianghe was stunned.
Lan Tianxiang wasn't strong?
Except for the Yun Clan Ancestor who didn't act, the Yun Clan had used every trick up their sleeve, even deploying a combined attack formation, yet they still couldn't block Lan Tianxiang's assault.
And so many of their clan members had perished.
However, the stronger Xiao Hei was, the safer he would be.
By having Alchemist Zhuang's group and Yun Xiaoniu leave first, Chen Jianghe also had his own calculations.
He could reveal that he had a second-tier spirit beast, but he didn't want to expose Xiao Hei's existence too early.
If it truly came down to it, he could only have Xiao Hei carry him and flee.
With Xiao Hei's "Profound Earth Fissuring Escape," the chances of shaking off Ji Wujin were very high.
Of course, without absolute certainty, he still couldn't risk leaving Qinghe Market City.
The next day.
Chen Jianghe wrote a letter, then went to Changsheng Lane and placed it in the message box outside Number Seven, Fuju Residence.
As long as Luo Xiyue came out of seclusion and deigned to read it, she would come looking for him.
After doing all this.
He went to the Baibao Tower to purchase thirteen types of medicinal herbs and spiritual items, including Three Yin Severed Limb Grass, Blood Leech, and Yin Soul Grass...
More than half of these were supplementary ingredients for refining the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill.
The rest were items of extreme yin.
Chen Jianghe purchased these medicinal and spiritual items to cultivate the "Blood River Escape Art." While the Blood Escape technique itself didn't require them, they were essential for practicing the Limb Regeneration technique.
He decided to use the time waiting for Luo Xiyue to practice the "Blood River Escape Art."
Previously, he had worried that this would affect Xiao Hei.
But now, at this critical juncture, he had to enhance his life-saving abilities.
If all else failed, he would take that Youth Retaining Pill and extend Xiao Hei's life by another ten years.
Purchasing all the necessary medicinal and spiritual items for the Limb Regeneration technique cost him five hundred and seventy-two spirit stones.
He then sold his high-grade Spirit Beast Ring, which was bought back at sixty percent of its value, for one hundred and eighty spirit stones.
He now only had three hundred and twenty-one spirit stones and sixty grains of spirit sand left.
After returning home.
Chen Jianghe let out Xiao Hei and Maoqiu, telling them to cultivate diligently, and then he returned to his room.
He began to cultivate the "Blood River Escape Art."
The "Blood River Escape Art" was divided into three stages: Initial Glimpse, Qi and Blood Forming a River, and Blood River Tearing the Void.
Initial Glimpse: Condensing one's own essence blood, using spiritual sense as a guide, and increasing one's speed at the cost of burning essence blood or severing a finger.
Qi and Blood Forming a River: Using essence blood as a foundation, cultivating the Blood Lock Seal and Limb Blood Curse, and condensing a drop of Blood Escape Primer to be stored in the dantian.
When encountering danger, one could use spiritual sense to detonate the Blood Escape Primer, sacrifice a limb, and transform into a blood mist to escape far away.
As for Blood River Tearing the Void.
With Chen Jianghe's current cultivation, he could not reach this stage. It would require at least mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
With a thought, his magical power condensed into a long needle, piercing his index finger. A drop of essence blood flowed out from his index finger along the blood vessel.
Instantly, his magical power enveloped this drop of essence blood, refining it according to the essence blood purification method in the "Blood River Escape Art."
His magical power wrapped around the essence blood like silk threads, stripping away impurities and leaving it a translucent, dark red color.
Half a month passed.
Chen Jianghe attempted to guide the essence blood through his limbs and meridians with his spiritual sense. The drop of essence blood was like an untamable wild horse upon entering his body, but under the forceful guidance of his spiritual sense, it circulated along the meridians of his arms and legs.
At this moment, Chen Jianghe's face suddenly turned pale, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his lips trembled.
The refined essence blood circulating a full cycle through his vessels was excruciatingly painful, like insects gnawing at his bones.
Three months passed.
Chen Jianghe felt the pain lessen. The drop of essence blood did not merge into his dantian's sea of qi, but instead settled in his Shenque acupoint.
But with a single thought, this drop of essence blood primer instantly traveled to his little finger.
*Bang!*
His little finger exploded into a mist of blood.
Chen Jianghe felt a tyrannical force rush straight to his sea of qi, which, much like the characteristic of the "Myriad Waters True Scripture," endowed his magical power with a certain property.
It enhanced the might of his magical power.
Upon sensing it, Chen Jianghe discovered that if he used his Water Escape Art under these conditions, its power would increase by eighty percent.
Combined with the magical power characteristic of the "Myriad Waters True Scripture," the distance he could travel with his Water Escape Art increased by a full hundred percent.
The spell's power had doubled.
"Hiss~"
After the excitement, Chen Jianghe felt a bone-shattering pain that made him grimace.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
The pain of a severed finger was bone-deep.
This was the first time Chen Jianghe had ever suffered such a severe injury, and it was self-inflicted.
*Hoo~*
Chen Jianghe let out a heavy breath, calmed his mind, took out the Three Yin Severed Limb Grass, refined it into a liquid, and then merged it with the Blood Leech, Yin Soul Grass, and a dozen other medicinal and spiritual items.
Under the refinement of his magical power, it eventually formed a single drop of dark green liquid.
This was the key to the Limb Regeneration technique—the Limb Primer.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe brought out the Blood Escape Primer and fused the two, creating the Blood Escape Mark of the "Blood River Escape Art."
He branded it onto his Shenque acupoint.
Another three months passed.
"Regenerating a finger might consume several months of lifespan. I wonder if it will consume mine or Xiao Hei's."
Chen Jianghe glanced at Xiao Hei, who was sunbathing outside. He thought about greeting him but decided against it.
With a thought, a strange energy surged from the Blood Escape Mark, transforming into a drop of essence blood and flowing towards his little finger that had turned into a blood mist.
This was the Flesh and Blood Primer.
The Flesh and Blood Primer erupted with powerful life force while also emitting an extremely strong yin-attribute energy.
At that very moment, his lost little finger began to take shape, re-forming layer by layer, from bone and meridians to muscle and skin.
A black mist enveloped his right hand, but the faint outline of a little finger could be seen within it.
Six hours later.
The black mist dissipated, and Chen Jianghe's little finger had grown back completely.
He wiggled his little finger; it was no different from before.
"Demonic cultivation secret arts are truly miraculous. But why is such a good secret art considered a demonic path technique?"
There are no side effects at all!
Chen Jianghe was a bit confused.
"Squeak~"
Just then, Xiao Hei, who had been leisurely watching the sunset in the courtyard, suddenly leaped up with a horrified shriek. His beady eyes were wide open, as if they were about to pop out.
Seeing this, Chen Jianghe naturally knew what had happened.
He rushed out in a single bound.
"Xiao Hei, what's wrong?" Chen Jianghe asked with concern.
"My... my... my lifespan, it's draining away!"
Xiao Hei looked at Chen Jianghe in a panic.
"How much did you lose?" Chen Jianghe quickly asked.
"Two months."
Xiao Hei was so nervous that his black face looked pale. "My maximum lifespan is now only one hundred and twenty-nine years and ten months."
"Hmm, that's reasonable."
Chen Jianghe nodded thoughtfully.
Below the wrist, regenerating a severed hand would consume one year of life.
An entire arm would be three years.
Two months of life for a little finger was quite reasonable.
Chen Jianghe felt that if he could sacrifice a hand, or even an arm, his speed would probably increase even more.
But his current mastery of the "Blood River Escape Art" was not high enough to sever a hand.
"Biped, was the Life Extension Pill you gave me faulty? No, wait, reasonable? You definitely know why! Tell your Turtle Lord, why is my lifespan draining away?"
"Don't get excited. I'm cultivating an escape art that consumes lifespan to run faster."
Chen Jianghe's expression grew grave as he said seriously, "That terrifying late-stage Foundation Establishment grand cultivator from Mirror Moon Lake already knows we're in Qinghe Market City. I must ensure your safety. Even if I get stewed, I can't let you get stewed."