Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Second-Tier Talisman Brush, Peiyao's Goal
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In the Tiannan Domain, the Sky-Reaching River had two Ferry Market Cities, one in the east and one in the west, both established at the narrowest points of the river.
These two Ferry Market Cities could both rank among the top ten market cities in the Tiannan Domain. They were bustling and attracted many cultivators.
Even more than Qinghe Market City.
The background of the Ferry Market Cities was complex, not controlled by a single Core Formation immortal clan, but with the four great immortal clans all holding a stake.
Even the Tiannan Sect was considered one of the backers of the Ferry Market Cities.
Logically, with the Tiannan Sect and the four great immortal clans as backers, the Ferry Market Cities should be the largest cultivation market cities.
But that was not the case.
In the rankings of the ten great market cities, the two Ferry Market Cities were only slightly ahead of Qinghe Market City.
Ranked ninth and eighth, respectively.
The reason for such a low ranking was not a lack of cultivators, but the fact that the Ferry Market Cities were unsafe.
No city walls, no grand defensive arrays.
They didn't even have a market city guard.
There were no restrictions within the Ferry Market Cities; everything relied on the cultivators' self-discipline.
Therefore, there were only five major businesses in the Ferry Market Cities: the Tiannan Sect's Myriad Treasures Tower, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan's Beast Taming Hall, the Pill Refining Ji Clan's Spirit Pill Pavilion, the Puppet Lu Clan's Ink Workshop, and the Weapon Refining Chen Clan's Dharma Tool Tower.
As for other businesses?
In these Ferry Market Cities teeming with marauding cultivators, they wouldn't dare open shops. After all, they didn't have the strength of the Tiannan Sect and the four great immortal clans.
The Ferry Market City that Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue had come to was also known as the East Ferry.
"Marauders are everywhere, so why are there still Qi Refining cultivators here?"
Chen Jianghe asked with some confusion via voice transmission.
"Even marauders don't dare to kill and plunder endlessly, or they'll be labeled as demonic cultivators."
Luo Xiyue said coolly, then walked toward the Myriad Treasures Tower.
Chen Jianghe nodded, thinking what Luo Xiyue said made sense. It was true; if one killed and plundered endlessly, what was the difference between them and Lan Tianxiang?
Once labeled a demonic cultivator, you would be hunted by everyone.
You would also end up on the Tiannan Sect's merit list, to be hunted down by their disciples for achievements.
Besides, Foundation Establishment marauders couldn't possibly keep their eyes on Qi Refining cultivators all the time.
After all, the majority of cultivators who came to the Ferry Market Cities were at the Qi Refining stage. If they were slaughtered on a large scale, the market cities would become deserted.
The Tiannan Sect and the four great immortal clans didn't form a guard, but that didn't mean they wouldn't act if you infringed upon their interests.
So, although there were many marauders in the Ferry Market Cities, they were all self-disciplined.
They basically only targeted those of the same cultivation level.
Arriving at the Myriad Treasures Tower.
Chen Jianghe saw many Foundation Establishment cultivators entering one after another. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had already seen dozens of them.
"Does the Ferry Market City auction have a lot of resources that Foundation Establishment cultivators need?"
Chen Jianghe was puzzled. He wanted to ask Luo Xiyue, but thinking of her icy attitude, he decided against it.
Even without asking, he had some guesses.
The Ferry Market Cities were teeming with marauders.
Three hundred miles to the south lay the Serene Valley, a large black market. This showed that the Ferry Market Cities couldn't be much better.
They were likely half market city, half black market.
A place to sell off stolen goods.
Since it was a place for selling stolen goods, there were bound to be many rare resources.
"Is there anything you need to buy? If not, let's go straight to the auction." Luo Xiyue glanced at Chen Jianghe beside her and asked.
"Yes."
Chen Jianghe imitated Luo Xiyue's economy of words. After spitting out the single word, he walked ahead.
He went directly to the second floor.
The first floor of the Myriad Treasures Tower was all resources for Qi Refining cultivators.
He was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator; those resources were useless to him. The second floor, like the one in Mirror Moon Market City, was for cultivation techniques and periodicals.
Chen Jianghe came directly to the second floor, naturally, to buy periodicals.
Luo Xiyue watched Chen Jianghe walk ahead, her brow furrowed slightly, but she said nothing and silently followed.
In the periodical section, the two of them stayed for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
Chen Jianghe spent six spirit stones to purchase the [Tiannan Gazetteer], [Ferry Periodical], and [Sky-Reaching River Records].
"Fellow Daoist Luo, can you craft a second-tier talisman brush?"
"I can, but the Myriad Treasures Tower sells them too."
"The Myriad Treasures Tower sells second-tier talisman brushes?"
Chen Jianghe had thought that the only second-tier resources sold by the Myriad Treasures Tower were at auctions. The only second-tier resource openly displayed was the Spirit Gathering Pill.
He hadn't expected them to have second-tier talisman brushes as well.
"Fellow Daoist, wait for me a moment. I'll be right back."
Chen Jianghe went to the first floor of the Myriad Treasures Tower and walked directly to the dharma tool counter, looking at the late-stage Qi Refining female clerk.
"One second-tier talisman brush."
"Currently, we have three types of second-tier talisman brushes at the counter: the Red Copper Spirit-Stabilizing Talisman Brush, the Green Bamboo Spirit-Gathering Talisman Brush, and the Peachwood Mind-Clarifying Talisman Brush."
The female clerk looked at Chen Jianghe respectfully and asked, "Which one does Senior require?"
"What are their characteristics?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
He hadn't realized second-tier talisman brushes were divided into so many types, completely different from first-tier ones.
"The Red Copper Spirit-Stabilizing Talisman Brush has a shaft refined from hundred-year-old red copper essence and bristles made from the downy feathers of a second-tier demonic beast, the Green Feather Crane. When drawing talismans, it can stabilize your spiritual power, thus increasing the success rate. It costs one thousand five hundred spirit stones."
"The Green Bamboo Spirit-Gathering Talisman Brush is crafted from the main stalk of hundred-year-old green bamboo and Spirit Gathering Stones. It is engraved with a spirit-gathering array, which can gather spiritual energy while drawing talismans, saving spiritual power. It costs one thousand two hundred spirit stones."
"The Peachwood Mind-Clarifying Talisman Brush is crafted from the trunk of a lightning-struck tree and Mind-Refining Stones. It is engraved with a mind-calming array. When drawing talismans, it can stabilize your mind and prevent mistakes, increasing the success rate. It costs one thousand six hundred spirit stones."
The female clerk respectfully introduced the characteristics and prices of the three second-tier talisman brushes to Chen Jianghe.
Hearing the characteristics of these brushes, Chen Jianghe felt they were quite good, but when he heard the prices, his heart jolted.
He never expected second-tier talisman brushes to be so expensive.
A high-grade Green Feather Talisman Brush was only sixty spirit stones, yet the price of these second-tier brushes was over a thousand spirit stones.
The Peachwood Mind-Clarifying Talisman Brush was ridiculously priced at one thousand six hundred spirit stones.
But when he thought about the price of second-tier talismans, he felt more balanced. The market price for second-tier talismans wasn't high, but market prices were the least reliable reference.
Second-tier talismans couldn't be bought even if you had the spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe had the female clerk take out all three brushes. After examining them closely, he first eliminated the Green Bamboo Spirit-Gathering Talisman Brush.
The [Myriad Waters True Scripture] he cultivated gave him thirty percent more spiritual power than cultivators of the same level; he didn't need to save spiritual power when drawing talismans.
Even if he saved spiritual power, it would be useless. If his spiritual sense couldn't keep up, he'd just be staring helplessly.
Second-tier Talisman Masters who bought the Green Bamboo Spirit-Gathering Talisman Brush likely cultivated ordinary techniques without any spiritual power bonuses.
The Red Copper Spirit-Stabilizing Talisman Brush had a separate shaft and bristles, which would be troublesome when dipping it in spiritual ink. He eliminated that one too.
That left only the Peachwood Mind-Clarifying Talisman Brush. It was a single-piece brush without bristles, like the Green Feather Talisman Brush, with only a tip.
"Stabilize the mind, increase the success rate... sigh, I'm starting to believe in metaphysics."
Chen Jianghe looked at the female clerk and said, "I'll take this Peachwood Mind-Clarifying Talisman Brush."
"Very well, Senior. That will be one thousand six hundred spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe winced as he took out one thousand six hundred spirit stones and handed them over, then received his new second-tier talisman brush.
Afterwards, Chen Jianghe went to the materials counter to ask if they had materials for drawing second-tier talismans.
They didn't have any talisman mediums.
But they did have second-tier spiritual ink for sale.
A box of second-tier spiritual ink cost one hundred spirit stones. Chen Jianghe gritted his teeth and bought four boxes, spending four hundred spirit stones.
In the blink of an eye, he had spent two thousand and six spirit stones.
"It seems I'll have to find another way to buy the demonic beast hides, second-tier spirit plant barks, or second-tier spirit leaves needed to carry second-tier talismans."
Spirit fox hides couldn't bear the spiritual power of a second-tier talisman, let alone the spiritual power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He could only use second-tier demonic beast hides that met the requirements for talisman drawing, as well as second-tier spirit wood bark or special spirit leaves.
Leaving the materials counter, Chen Jianghe returned to the second floor, found Luo Xiyue, and went with her to the auction on the third floor.
As for the storage bag, there was no rush.
He would consider whether to buy one after the auction ended.
It was now a quarter past the hour of You. There was still an hour until the auction began.
Fortunately, the auction at the Ferry Market City was quite accommodating, with a circular auction hall similar to the one in Mirror Moon Market City.
The main hall only had a few hundred seats, but there were many private boxes.
Each box was equipped with a defensive array and a detection-avoidance array, making it extremely private.
Furthermore, when bidding, one didn't need to call out directly. Each box had a bidding array.
By extending one's spiritual sense into it, a thought was all it took to convey a bid.
Then, the price you wanted to bid would appear on the huge gilt crystal screen on the auction stage.
It was very convenient.
But the cultivators sitting in the main hall could only call out their bids.
Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue sat in a reasonably spacious box, neither speaking, both meditating with their eyes closed.
Chen Jianghe appeared to be meditating, but he was actually flipping through the [Ferry Periodical].
It recorded the origins and development of the Ferry Market Cities, as well as events that had occurred there.
And some common knowledge of the cultivation world.
The east and west Ferry Market Cities had been established for over three thousand years, initiated by the Tiannan Sect and supported by the four great immortal clans.
Before the Ferry Market Cities were established, the Tiannan Domain was divided into a northern and southern region. Cultivators below the Core Formation realm rarely managed to cross the Sky-Reaching River to reach the world on the other side.
The cultivators of the southern region were very unfamiliar with the northern region.
Similarly, cultivators from the northern region seldom knew of the southern region's existence.
As Chen Jianghe read through the [Tiannan Gazetteer] and the [Sky-Reaching River Records], he learned how the Ferry Market Cities were established.
Three thousand years ago, the Tiannan Sect did not go by its current name. It was renamed after a Nascent Soul True Lord appeared in the sect.
At that time, there was no Northern Gate of the Tiannan Sect north of the Sky-Reaching River.
It was only after a Nascent Soul True Lord appeared in the Tiannan Sect that the Northern Gate was established.
It could be said that over three thousand years ago, the four great immortal clans and the Tiannan Sect were on equal footing.
It was only later, when a Nascent Soul True Lord appeared in the barren Tiannan Domain, that the balance between the one sect and four clans was broken.
This made the Tiannan Sect's status transcendent, placing it completely above the four great immortal clans and making it the true hegemon of the Tiannan Domain.
Ever since the first Nascent Soul True Lord appeared in the Tiannan Sect, there had never been a gap in their lineage.
Moreover, before the rise of the Tiannan Sect, demonic beasts ran rampant throughout the Tiannan Domain, making it impossible to cross the Sky-Reaching River.
One must know that third-tier demonic beasts resided in the Sky-Reaching River.
And south of the Sky-Reaching River, the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, and north of it, the Arctic Snow Forest, frequently experienced beast tides.
The cultivation environment at that time was extremely harsh.
Not only did one have to face marauders, but also be wary of demonic beasts appearing suddenly.
Later, when a Nascent Soul True Lord appeared in the Tiannan Sect, the cultivation environment in the Tiannan Domain improved, and one basically no longer had to worry too much about beast tides.
Even Qi Refining cultivators could travel to the other side of the river on treasure ships crafted by the Tiannan Sect.
After finishing the [Tiannan Gazetteer], the [Sky-Reaching River Records], and the [Ferry Periodical], Chen Jianghe had a comprehensive understanding of the Tiannan Domain.
He had a new understanding of the Tiannan Sect.
For the cultivators of the entire Tiannan Domain, the Tiannan Sect was a savior. Without the Tiannan Sect, all cultivators would still be living in dire straits.
They would be facing the crisis of beast tides at any moment.
Chen Jianghe didn't know if the contents of the [Tiannan Gazetteer] were true, but based on what was written, the Tiannan Sect absolutely deserved its position as the hegemon of the Tiannan Domain.
The Tiannan Sect deserved to grow large and strong.
At this time, the auction officially began.
From the [Ferry Periodical], Chen Jianghe had also gained some understanding of the Ferry Market City's auction.
The precious items at this auction were all second-tier treasures; it was basically an auction held for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Also, the Ferry Market City was just as he had thought, a place that was half market city, half black market.
Some items with special markings, which other places wouldn't accept, were accepted here. Even the Myriad Treasures Tower would buy back spiritual items with special markings.
Even if they bore the markings of the four great immortal clans, the Myriad Treasures Tower in the Ferry Market City dared to buy them back.
Chen Jianghe's gaze fell upon the auction stage, watching the experienced auctioneer give his opening speech.
The wall of the box facing the auction stage was made of crystal and had been specially refined so that one could see outside from within, but not the other way around.
"...I won't waste any more words. This auction will now begin. There are a total of forty-eight precious items. Now for the first item: three second-tier entry-level spirit pills, Life Extension Pills. The starting price is one thousand five hundred spirit stones."
Listening to the voice of the Foundation Establishment auctioneer from the box, Chen Jianghe couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
The Ferry Market City truly deserved its reputation as the place where the Foundation Establishment Ancestors of Foundation Establishment immortal clans could most easily find opportunities.
The Foundation Establishment Ancestors in Foundation Establishment immortal clans couldn't stray far from their families, making it difficult for them to obtain cultivation resources.
The auctions in this Ferry Market City, which all featured second-tier spiritual items, were extremely friendly to the ancestors of Foundation Establishment immortal clans.
It was just a bit dangerous.
However, the Foundation Establishment Ancestors who came here all traveled in groups, usually three to five of them together.
Forty-eight precious items, and the very first one was the Life Extension Pill.
This showed just how high the standard of the Ferry Market City's auction was.
Chen Jianghe wasn't interested in the Life Extension Pill. He glanced at Luo Xiyue beside him; her phoenix eyes were open, her expression serene.
Clearly, she wasn't interested either, likely having already taken a Life Extension Pill.
In the end, the three Life Extension Pills were sold for two thousand five hundred spirit stones. It was unknown which Foundation Establishment cultivator had bought them.
Every box was extremely private, and bids were made through an array, without even a sound.
But one could see the bidding on the gilt crystal screen on the auction stage.
The second to eighth precious items were all top-tier offensive dharma tools, and their prices were all similar, selling for around one thousand four hundred spirit stones.
The ninth to fifteenth precious items were top-tier defensive dharma tools, all selling for around two thousand seven hundred spirit stones.
When it came to the sixteenth precious item, it was a Beauty Preserving Pill.
But the final price was somewhat unexpected for Chen Jianghe; there wasn't the frenzy he had imagined.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators present were not particularly enthusiastic about the Beauty Preserving Pill. It eventually sold for one thousand six hundred and eighty spirit stones.
This was considered a normal auction price for a Beauty Preserving Pill.
The eighteenth to twenty-ninth precious items were all second-tier low-grade healing spirit pills, with prices around one thousand three hundred spirit stones.
"Next is the thirtieth precious item, a Muscle Regenerating and Bone Mending Pill, a second-tier mid-grade healing spirit pill. I don't need to explain its effects; everyone knows them."
"The starting price is two thousand spirit stones. Fellow Daoists, you may begin bidding."
When Chen Jianghe heard it was the Muscle Regenerating and Bone Mending Pill, he immediately looked at the gilt crystal screen on the stage.
He had once given Ruan Tieniu a Muscle Regenerating and Bone Mending Pill.
He only knew the market price was one thousand two hundred spirit stones; he didn't know what it would fetch at auction.
As the numbers on the gilt crystal screen changed.
When the price finally settled at two thousand seven hundred spirit stones, a pained look appeared in Chen Jianghe's eyes.
But then he remembered that Ruan Tieniu had later brought him nearly ten thousand spirit stones in benefits, and his pained heart calmed considerably.
"...The thirty-first precious item, a Second Revolution Spirit Nourishing Pill, a second-tier mid-grade spirit pill. It can enhance the soul and spirit of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, increasing the strength of their spiritual sense."
"The starting price is three thousand spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe's eyes were fixed on the crystal screen with its changing numbers. This was the first time he had seen a spirit pill that could improve one's Foundation Establishment cultivation.
The Spirit Gathering Pill was only an auxiliary pill. It was optional; as long as the spiritual energy in one's cultivation place was dense enough, one could do without it.
"Three thousand spirit stones, so expensive!"
Chen Jianghe sighed inwardly.
"You can bid for this Second Revolution Spirit Nourishing Pill," Luo Xiyue said coolly to Chen Jianghe.
Chen Jianghe smiled and shook his head helplessly.
He wanted to bid for it, but he didn't even have a spiritual cultivation technique for the Foundation Establishment stage yet.
Even if he bought the Second Revolution Spirit Nourishing Pill, it would just sit in his storage bag collecting dust.
"After this training experience in Qinghe Market City, Peiyao should have enough sect contribution points. When the time comes, she will help you exchange for a spiritual cultivation technique and a body tempering technique from the Tiannan Sect."
"Peiyao is going to exchange for a spiritual cultivation technique and a body tempering technique for me?"
Chen Jianghe was stunned, and then a bad premonition washed over him.
The nicer Gao Peiyao was to him, the bigger the favor he owed, and the more dangerous the task he would have to help her with in the future would be.
Chen Jianghe's expression turned serious as he looked at Luo Xiyue and said, "Peiyao even told you about this. I suppose you also know what she will need me to do in the future."
"I do."
Luo Xiyue didn't hide it and spoke directly.
"Fellow Daoist, can you tell me what it is?" Chen Jianghe asked with a cupped fist salute.
"I can. Even if you didn't ask, I would have told you when Peiyao has someone deliver the techniques."
Luo Xiyue's cool voice said, "Peiyao will break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment within five years. According to the Tiannan Sect's rules, disciples who break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment before the age of eighty can participate in a secret realm trial to obtain an opportunity for Core Formation."
"Disciples participating in the secret realm trial can find two non-sect Foundation Establishment cultivators as external support."
"So, Peiyao wants me to accompany her to the Tiannan Sect's secret realm trial?" Chen Jianghe looked surprised.
"The secret realm trial must be very dangerous, right? Peiyao should find powerful cultivators to help her, like you, Fellow Daoist..."
"I will go," Luo Xiyue said softly.
"It's only right that you go, Fellow Daoist. After all, you are powerful. I, on the other hand, am not. I'm just an old man who has just reached Foundation Establishment, with low strength. Wouldn't I just be holding you two back?"
Chen Jianghe said with a straight face, "Fellow Daoist, could you please tell Peiyao that it would be better to find someone else?"
"It's not that I'm afraid of danger, but I'm worried about ruining Peiyao's chance at Core Formation. If I cause her to miss this opportunity, that would be a great sin."
"You're not willing to go?"
Luo Xiyue's face turned cold, as if covered by a layer of frost, her eyes filled with a chilling intent.
"It's not that I don't want to go, it's that I'm afraid of ruining Peiyao's opportunity."
Although Chen Jianghe didn't know what a secret realm trial was, anything involving a "trial" was bound to be dangerous.
Take the beast tide at Qinghe Market City, for example. The Tiannan Sect actually arranged for Foundation Establishment disciples to come for a trial.
As a result, three Foundation Establishment disciples were severely injured, suffering hidden injuries to their Dao foundations, essentially losing their chance at Core Formation.
"The next time the Tiannan Sect's secret realm trial opens will be in about twenty years. With my and Peiyao's help, you should be able to cultivate to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment."
"You have the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword and the Profound Ice Battle Armor that I crafted, as well as a second-tier spirit beast, and the Profound Iron Heavy Cudgel I made for it."
"Your strength is no weaker than a mid-stage Foundation Establishment disciple from the sect, and even a notch stronger than a direct descendant of the same level from the four great immortal clans."
Luo Xiyue seemed very concerned about Gao Peiyao's secret realm trial, having crafted all these dharma tools for Chen Jianghe.
It wasn't just to repay a favor, but more to help Gao Peiyao by strengthening Chen Jianghe.
"I have a friend whose strength is greater than mine. He can definitely help Peiyao and you, Fellow Daoist, in the future secret realm trial."
Listening to Luo Xiyue, Chen Jianghe thought for a moment and said solemnly, "Most importantly, this close friend of mine is not only powerful but also trustworthy and reliable."
When Luo Xiyue heard this, her eyes lit up. The reason she was so invested in Gao Peiyao's secret realm trial was that there were heavenly materials and earthly treasures she needed inside the Tiannan Sect's trial secret realm.
Moreover, the external support for Tiannan Sect disciples could also obtain opportunities for Core Formation in the secret realm.
The reason Luo Xiyue befriended Gao Peiyao was that she saw her potential and believed she could participate in the Tiannan Sect's secret realm trial.
And thus bring her into it.
Gao Peiyao wanted Chen Jianghe to enter the secret realm because she saw him as reliable, but Luo Xiyue felt his strength was too low, making him a poor choice.
If Chen Jianghe could really help them find a powerful and reliable cultivator, that would naturally be for the best.
Once inside the secret realm, the stronger one was, the more treasures one could obtain, and perhaps the greater the chance of a Core Formation opportunity.
However, from what Gao Peiyao had said, Luo Xiyue had some understanding of the people Chen Jianghe associated with.
It seemed there were no powerful individuals among them.
A sharp glint flashed in Luo Xiyue's eyes as she asked, "Who is it?"