Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Spiritual Perfection, Ascending to Foundation Establishment
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"A top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill?"
Yu Daniu's eyes widened in shock. He drew a sharp breath, his mouth slightly agape, but no sound escaped.
The matter concerned a Foundation Establishment Pill, so he didn't dare make a sound. Even at home, he had to be cautious.
"Since you have a forty-five percent chance, I won't try to persuade you any further. I only pray that you succeed in your Foundation Establishment and become a true immortal cultivator."
Yu Daniu's expression turned solemn. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"
The second-tier, high-grade Spirit Gathering Array Plate was a treasure of the Yun Clan, but given the current relationship between the Yun and Yu clans...
...as long as Yu Daniu asked, the Yun Clan would naturally send someone to deliver it.
When the Yun Clan Ancestor was still alive, he had taken great care of the Yu Clan. It could be said that in his later years, he had been extremely partial to them.
It was as if he wasn't the ancestor of the Yun Clan, but of the Yu Clan.
This had caused dissatisfaction among many Yun Clan disciples, though they dared not speak of it. However, after carving up the spoils of the Redwater Liu Clan...
...the discontent in the hearts of those who had held grievances, believing the Yu Clan was leeching off the Yun Clan, instantly vanished.
Chen Jianghe thought for a moment, then shook his head.
The only thing he lacked now was a second-tier, high-grade spirit vein, which could be substituted with a second-tier, high-grade Spirit Gathering Array Plate.
With that, he had everything he needed for Foundation Establishment.
With his current success rate, as long as his Dao heart didn't suddenly waver, failure was impossible.
A one hundred and ten percent success rate—it exceeded certainty.
"Right, there's one more thing I almost forgot to tell you."
Yu Daniu suddenly slapped his forehead as if remembering something. He looked at Chen Jianghe and asked, "Do you have a feud with the Qingfeng Stronghold?"
"Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators who ambushed me at Luo Xing River were three chieftains from Qingfeng Stronghold. The fifth chieftain, Chen Feng, was killed by Fairy Luo. The first chieftain, Duan Tiande, and the seventh chieftain, Lu Shisan, escaped."
Chen Jianghe didn't hide anything, asking Yu Daniu directly, "Daniu, why do you suddenly bring up Qingfeng Stronghold?"
"Qingfeng Stronghold was also involved in ambushing you?"
A look of understanding appeared in Yu Daniu's eyes. He hadn't known about Qingfeng Stronghold's attempt on Chen Jianghe's life.
Clearly, Yun Xiaoniu hadn't told him, likely fearing he would worry too much about Chen Jianghe's safety.
"Qingfeng Stronghold has disbanded, but Duan Tiande and Lu Shisan have been asking about you. Their inquiries have reached Mirror Moon Lake."
"Qingfeng Stronghold disbanded?!"
Chen Jianghe was stunned, finding it hard to believe.
The fact that Qingfeng Stronghold, which even the Puppet Lu Clan couldn't eliminate, would disband at a time like this was truly incredible.
Most importantly, why were they asking about him?
Could it be they wanted to ambush him again?
If that was the case, he wouldn't mind taking Xiao Hei, inviting Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue, and eliminating Duan Tiande and Lu Shisan after he achieved Foundation Establishment and Maoqiu became a second-tier spirit beast.
"Do you know why they're asking about me?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"I don't know, but our brotherly relationship is no secret at Mirror Moon Lake. It's impossible to hide it from those two Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators."
A worried look crossed Yu Daniu's face.
"It's fine. If they dare cause trouble on Qiyun Mountain, they won't be leaving." Chen Jianghe wasn't concerned.
Luo Xiyue lived right next door.
Besides, he still had Xiao Hei.
Furthermore, he wouldn't have to worry about those two causing any trouble when he was attempting his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.
He planned to write to Gao Peiyao soon and ask her to come and act as his protector.
He couldn't move the ice beauty Luo Xiyue, but he could certainly invite Gao Peiyao. Having a sect disciple at the Foundation Establishment realm as a protector...
...ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't dare cause trouble on Qiyun Mountain.
If anyone truly dared to interfere with his breakthrough, it would be a feud of obstructing his Dao—a grudge that could only end in death.
Moreover, as long as Gao Peiyao was present, Luo Xiyue would likely intervene if something happened, if only for Gao Peiyao's sake.
"Is Xiaoniu still at Yunmen Mountain?"
Chen Jianghe suddenly thought of Yun Xiaoniu. In all the years he had been on Qiyun Mountain, he had only seen him during the first year.
He hadn't seen Yun Xiaoniu since.
"Yes, but he'll be back when you attempt your breakthrough." Yu Daniu's eyes shifted slightly as he spoke.
Chen Jianghe nodded and then left the Yu Clan's residence.
"Father, why didn't you tell Uncle that Big Brother went to Qingyou Valley?" Mistress Zhou and Yu Qirui emerged from the back hall.
"Your uncle doesn't like to owe favors. We can't let him know that Xiaoniu went to Qingyou Valley to obtain that precious treasure for him."
After sixty years of friendship, Yu Daniu knew Chen Jianghe's character very well.
In the courtyard, in the front hall.
A puzzled look appeared in Chen Jianghe's eyes. He could tell at a glance that Yu Daniu had just lied.
But if Yun Xiaoniu wasn't at Yunmen Mountain, where had he gone?
However, since Yu Daniu said Yun Xiaoniu could make it back for his breakthrough, it meant he wasn't in any danger.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe wrote a letter to Gao Peiyao, asking her to be sure to come to Qiyun Mountain in three months.
He told her he planned to attempt his Foundation Establishment in the first month of the new year.
After finishing the letter, he went to the small cultivation town halfway up the mountain and delivered it to the flying mail station.
The small cultivation town on Qiyun Mountain was growing more prosperous by the day, with an increasing number of cultivators and fewer and fewer mortals.
The number of shops selling cultivation resources in the town had also increased.
The Yu Clan currently had no shortage of spirit stones and could quickly develop the town, but they couldn't continue to expand its size.
It came back to the same issue: the Yu Clan had too few members.
However, with the Yu Clan's unique 'talent,' it probably wouldn't be long before the population of the Qiyun Mountain Yu Clan began to flourish.
He didn't linger in the cultivation town.
After returning to his courtyard, he first went to the backyard, let Maoqiu out, and had it continue its cultivation.
Then, he went to the front hall and took out the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone.
Suddenly.
Chen Jianghe's soul essence seemed to be stimulated by something, growing exceptionally excited. His sea of consciousness began to boil.
"I've finally reached the last step before attempting Foundation Establishment."
Chen Jianghe no longer hesitated. He sat cross-legged, his hands forming a seal. The Earth Core Soul Refining Stone, enveloped in spiritual power, floated before his glabella. As the Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art circulated, threads of crimson soul power entered his ancestral aperture and flowed into his sea of consciousness.
At that very moment, Chen Jianghe felt a searing pain in his sea of consciousness.
This was the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone tempering his soul essence and honing the strength of his spiritual sense.
Six hours later.
Chen Jianghe was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through. The pain of his soul being burned was something that even a cultivator with peak spiritual power would find hard to bear.
"Huu..."
He opened his eyes and let out a long, turbid breath.
It was clearly impossible to use the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone to elevate his spiritual cultivation to the perfection stage all at once.
He would need to progress gradually, cultivating for six hours each day.
"My soul essence is stronger than others, so I can endure the tempering for two hours longer than other cultivators."
"At this rate, I probably won't even need three months to reach spiritual perfection."
Joy bloomed in Chen Jianghe's heart.
Although he didn't yet know what benefits a stronger soul essence would bring, there were certainly no downsides.
Naturally, the stronger, the better.
With a thought, he gathered water-attribute spiritual energy to form a crystal-clear water mirror.
He extended his spiritual sense into it, using a technique from the Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art to measure its reach.
"Fifty-three zhang and six chi!"
Chen Jianghe was startled when he sensed the range of his spiritual sense. The effects of the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone were incredibly potent.
A single session had extended it by four chi.
"By this calculation, when my spirit reaches perfection, my spiritual sense should be able to reach sixty zhang."
The next moment.
Chen Jianghe cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and began to draw talismans. Since he couldn't continue cultivating the Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Forging Art, he would draw talismans.
Wasting time? Not an option.
To him, time was spirit stones. Even after becoming a Foundation Establishment senior, he would still need them.
Time flew by.
Two and a half months passed.
*Crack~*
A crack appeared on the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone before Chen Jianghe's glabella. It quickly spread across the entire surface, forming a dense web of fissures.
*Bang!*
The Earth Core Soul Refining Stone suddenly shattered, turning into dust that drifted away.
At that very instant, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth seemed to be drawn by an unseen force and began to gather frantically.
With Chen Jianghe at the center, the spiritual energy within a three-zhang radius became abundant. The plants outside the front hall trembled from the overload, and crystalline, dew-like clusters of spiritual energy condensed on their leaves before bursting into fine specks of light.
Under the night sky, it was a beautiful sight.
A golden gas flowed from Chen Jianghe's seven orifices, enveloping his head before converging back into his ancestral aperture.
Around the soul essence in his sea of consciousness, translucent points of light condensed. They gradually gathered together, forming a tiny crystal that then merged into the soul essence.
*Boom!*
Chen Jianghe felt a great bell toll in his mind, causing him to snap his eyes open, a sharp light glinting within them.
At this moment, everything in his vision became incredibly clear. When he channeled his spiritual power to his temples, he could see the spiritual energy drifting between heaven and earth.
Immediately after, he released his spiritual sense, and a three-dimensional reflection of the world appeared in his mind. Nothing could hide from his perception.
"Is this the 'Spirit Void Phase' that follows spiritual perfection?"
Chen Jianghe felt the excitement of his soul essence and the overwhelming vigor of his mind.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately began to draw talismans.
His spirit was excited, his mind full.
This was the three-day 'Spirit Void Phase' that followed spiritual perfection. It required consuming a large amount of mental and spiritual energy to calm the overly excited soul essence.
Other cultivators would frantically extend their spiritual sense, practicing telekinesis.
But as a craftsman...
...this was a golden opportunity to draw talismans. How could he miss it?
The three-day period of extreme excitement, the 'Spirit Void Phase', subsided after just one day, during which Chen Jianghe drew thirteen Divine Movement Talismans.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe began to restore his mind and recuperate the state of his soul essence.
Ten days later.
Chen Jianghe opened his eyes again. His gaze was clear and unremarkable, devoid of the excitement from his recent breakthrough.
At this moment, his soul essence had stabilized in a state of spiritual perfection.
Then, he formed a water mirror and extended his spiritual sense into it, curious about its current range.
"Sixty-eight zhang and nine chi!"
"How can it be so far? It's eighteen zhang and nine chi longer than other Qi Refining cultivators who have reached spiritual perfection!"
Chen Jianghe had initially expected his spiritual sense to reach sixty zhang after achieving spiritual perfection.
Ten zhang more than other cultivators at the same stage.
But now it was almost twenty zhang more, which astonished him.
"I just don't know what use this stronger-than-average soul essence of mine has."
There were no records of this in the "Qinghe Annals," so he had no way of knowing. He could only ponder it slowly in the future.
Then, Chen Jianghe calculated the time.
New Year's Eve was in three days.
"I wonder if Gao Peiyao has arrived."
Originally, Chen Jianghe had thought it would take him nearly four months to reach spiritual perfection with the Earth Core Soul Refining Stone.
But now, the time had been shortened by a month.
He had managed to achieve spiritual perfection just before New Year's Eve.
In his letter to Gao Peiyao, he had said he would attempt his breakthrough in the middle of the first month.
"I'll come out of seclusion first. If Gao Peiyao has arrived, I'll attempt Foundation Establishment on the first day of the new year. If not, I'll wait until the middle of the month."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
Then, he extended his spiritual sense to check the mailbox outside his courtyard gate and found a letter inside.
"This Ruan Tieniu..."
Chen Jianghe hadn't replied to Ruan Tieniu in the past two years, but Ruan Tieniu had sent him four letters.
He opened Ruan Tieniu's letter.
The contents were largely similar to the previous ones.
They all praised how wonderful Thousand Mountains Market City was.
Opportunities were everywhere.
It was a paradise for rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators, and he hoped Chen Jianghe would bring Luo Xiyue to Thousand Mountains Market City as soon as possible.
Ruan Tieniu also emphasized once again that he had prepared a great opportunity for Chen Jianghe, one of immeasurable value.
"..."
Chen Jianghe shook his head, speechless.
He only believed ninety percent of what was written in the letter.
However, after succeeding in his Foundation Establishment, he would need to write back to Ruan Tieniu.
If all went well, he would likely head to Thousand Mountains Market City in the future, and they would meet then.
Besides, Ruan Tieniu was a connection of his.
They had a bit of a friendly relationship.
After turning the letter to dust, Chen Jianghe left his courtyard and first went next door to visit Alchemist Zhuang.
At this moment, Alchemist Zhuang was enveloped in an aura of death.
His face was like withered wood, devoid of any vitality.
Seeing Alchemist Zhuang in this state, a wave of sorrow washed over Chen Jianghe, and his eyes reddened.
He had come to regard Alchemist Zhuang as a close friend.
"Fellow Daoist, you've come out of seclusion?"
Alchemist Zhuang seemed to sense someone's presence. He slowly opened his withered eyelids, his cloudy gaze falling on Chen Jianghe with a hint of gratification.
Chen Jianghe took a deep breath. Seeing Alchemist Zhuang like this filled him with mixed emotions.
He had been standing before the reclining chair for a hundred breaths, yet Alchemist Zhuang had only just noticed him. This was a sign of his spiritual power degrading and his senses failing.
He was completely hanging on by a thread.
No wonder Alchemist Zhuang had stopped concocting pills in his final days. He wanted to wait until this moment, to see Chen Jianghe succeed in his Foundation Establishment.
"Yes, everything is ready. I can attempt the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment at any time," Chen Jianghe said solemnly, looking at Alchemist Zhuang.
"Good, good."
Alchemist Zhuang nodded and advised, "I heard from Fellow Daoist Yu that two Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators are looking for you?"
"Don't rush to attempt your breakthrough. You must wait for Fairy Peiyao to arrive. With her as your protector, it's as good as having Fairy Luo as your protector too."
"Yes, this junior understands."
Chen Jianghe referred to himself as a junior. He hadn't expected Alchemist Zhuang to still be worried about his breakthrough in his final moments.
With a heavy heart, he left Alchemist Zhuang's courtyard.
He then headed to the Yu Clan's residence.
When Yu Daniu saw Chen Jianghe arrive, he knew he was preparing to attempt his breakthrough.
"Big Brother, I've borrowed the second-tier, high-grade Spirit Gathering Array Plate. I also invited Cousin Bufan to act as a protector."
Yu Daniu was worried about Chen Jianghe's safety, so he had invited Yun Bufan to help.
Normally, he wouldn't be concerned, but the two Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators, Duan Tiande and Lu Shisan, were asking about Chen Jianghe everywhere.
They had already reached the Qiyun Mountain region.
This forced Yu Daniu to be on guard.
Not only had Yun Bufan come, but a dozen or so late-stage Qi Refining cultivators from the Yun Clan had come as well.
The second-tier, high-grade Spirit Gathering Array Plate required eight late-stage Qi Refining cultivators to activate. The Yu Clan didn't have that many, so they had to ask the Yun Clan for help.
"Young Master Yun is here as well?"
Chen Jianghe was touched. He looked at Yu Daniu, no words of thanks needed. Everything was understood.
"By the way, Big Brother, Cousin Bufan would like to see you," Yu Daniu said.
"Of course. Where is Young Master Yun? Please take me to see him."
Although Chen Jianghe was about to attempt his breakthrough with a one hundred and ten percent chance of success, until he became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was still an ant.
Yun Bufan was a Foundation Establishment senior. Even though he was only here as a protector out of respect for the Yu Clan, it was proper to pay a visit and express his gratitude.
Yu Daniu led Chen Jianghe to the guest courtyard within the residence. They arrived at an elegant courtyard and knocked on the gate.
Before long, Yun Bufan came out and opened the gate.
He was still as dashing as he had been over fifty years ago, the very picture of a refined young master, though his eyes held a hint of world-weariness.
"This junior greets Young Master Yun." Chen Jianghe clasped his hands in a salute.
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such formalities."
Yun Bufan curiously sized up the man before him—the Fishery Farmer he had once taken a liking to, Chen Jianghe, whom he had made an exception for and promoted to a senior position.
His appearance was unremarkable, and his clothes were plain.
His connections for his Foundation Establishment attempt were extraordinary, yet he remained humble and polite.
"It's been over fifty years since we last met, hasn't it? Seeing you now reminds me of our first meeting. The world is ever-changing. In the blink of an eye, fifty years have passed, and now you are about to attempt your own breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
Yun Bufan said with a touch of emotion.
Yun Bufan didn't have high hopes for Chen Jianghe's breakthrough. He knew Chen Jianghe's background inside and out.
Without the Yun Clan introducing him to the path of cultivation, Chen Jianghe might still be wandering the mortal world, his bones long turned to dust.
As for his unchanging appearance, he must have taken a Youth Retaining Pill.
But what did extending one's life by ten years matter?
Chen Jianghe was already eighty years old, long past the optimal age for Foundation Establishment. His chances of success were halved.
And he only had five-element miscellaneous spiritual roots.
The only reason he had come was to give face to the Yu Clan and maintain the brotherly bond between their two families.
So, after exchanging a few words, Yu Daniu and Chen Jianghe left the guest courtyard, no longer disturbing Yun Bufan's quiet cultivation.
During their conversation, Yun Bufan had conveyed a certain message.
If Chen Jianghe failed his breakthrough, he could still return to the Yun Clan or stay with the Yu Clan.
He could become a guest elder.
After all, Chen Jianghe's status as a high-grade Talisman Master was well-known. He was qualified to be a guest of both the Yun and Yu clans.
Coupled with his relationship with Yu Daniu, becoming a guest elder was perfectly acceptable.
After meeting Yun Bufan, Chen Jianghe asked about Gao Peiyao.
It turned out that Gao Peiyao had arrived at Qiyun Mountain a month ago, after receiving his letter, and had been staying at Luo Xiyue's courtyard ever since.
"Daniu, please inform Young Master Yun that I will attempt my breakthrough on the first day of the new year."
Learning that Gao Peiyao had arrived, Chen Jianghe decided not to wait until the middle of the month. He wasn't sure if Alchemist Zhuang could hold on for another half a month.
It was better to attempt it sooner rather than later.
"Don't worry, Big Brother. I will arrange everything."
Yu Daniu replied solemnly.
But he felt a little helpless inside. With Chen Jianghe moving up his breakthrough date, Yun Xiaoniu wouldn't be able to make it back in time.
After leaving the Yu Clan's residence, Chen Jianghe went to Luo Xiyue's courtyard.
Standing at the gate and listening carefully, he could hear cheerful laughter from within.
Then, Chen Jianghe knocked on the gate.
He heard Gao Peiyao's voice from inside.
"That must be Brother Jianghe. He's out of seclusion. It seems he's about to attempt his breakthrough."
Immediately after, Gao Peiyao opened the gate, her phoenix eyes sparkling and a smile playing on her lips.
"Are you ready, Brother Jianghe?"
As Gao Peiyao asked, she invited Chen Jianghe into the courtyard. This was his first time entering Luo Xiyue's residence.
"Yes, everything is ready. I plan to attempt the breakthrough in four days. At that time, I must ask for Fairy Peiyao's help as a protector."
Chen Jianghe said with a cupped-fist salute.
"Don't worry, Brother Jianghe. With my sister and me here, we definitely won't let anyone disturb your breakthrough."
Gao Peiyao said seriously.
Chen Jianghe cupped his fists in thanks again, also expressing his gratitude to Luo Xiyue.
But when he saw Luo Xiyue's icy expression, he was speechless. Her mood changed so quickly.
Just moments ago at the gate, he had heard the two women laughing.
How did her expression turn so cold the moment he walked in?
Then, Chen Jianghe left Luo Xiyue's courtyard and returned to his own residence. However, he did not let Maoqiu out.
Instead, he spent the last four days adjusting his condition.
Even with a one hundred and ten percent chance of success, he didn't dare to be the slightest bit careless.
Foundation Establishment was no small matter; it had to be treated with the utmost seriousness.
"Do you think he can help you in the sect's trial twenty years from now?"
The ice on Luo Xiyue's face melted as she looked at Gao Peiyao and chuckled.
"Didn't you help Brother Jianghe refine a magic tool, sister? Besides, we're just asking him to help from the side. We'll be handling the front lines, won't we?"
Gao Peiyao said with a grin.
"What about Yun Xiaoniu?"
"Xiaoniu? If Brother Jianghe successfully reaches Foundation Establishment, then we won't let Xiaoniu take the risk. After all, he's the Yu Clan's only Foundation Establishment cultivator."
"For the Tiannan Sect trial, you can only find two helpers. I think you should find a stronger ally. He's too weak."
"Sister, you have to understand, the sect trial isn't just about dangers from demonic beasts, but also challenges of human nature. Brother Jianghe might be a bit weak, but he's reliable. I trust him."
"Since you've made your decision, I won't say any more. I just hope you'll have a smooth trial and can secure an opportunity for Core Formation."
---
Four days later.
Chen Jianghe walked out of his courtyard gate and bowed deeply to Gao Peiyao, Luo Xiyue, Yun Bufan, and the others.
"Everyone, I'll be troubling you!"