Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Forging a Good Bond, the Golden-Crowned Roc
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Zhou Miaoyun had passed away?
A hint of sorrow touched Chen Jianghe's face. His relationship with Zhou Miaoyun could hardly be called close, but they had once been allies.
They had supported each other for a time.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for the passing of this old friend.
As an old friend, looking back on Zhou Miaoyun's life, he realized she was a tragic figure.
She left home in her youth to become a Fishery Farmer at Mirror Moon Lake, shouldering the pressure of her clan's spirit stone expenses.
In her middle years, she left Mirror Moon Lake and moved with her clan to Qinghe Market City, beginning to support the clan with her mastery of talismans.
In her old age, she spent her final years planning for the clan and earning spirit stones, utterly exhausting herself.
She never married, nor did she leave behind any children.
She was six years older than Chen Jianghe, a dignified eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator, yet she had passed away in her nineties.
It was truly a lamentable fate.
Originally, Chen Jianghe had planned to leave Qiyun Mountain after his business with the Yun and Yu clans, but Zhou Miaoyun's passing changed his plans.
As an old friend, he had to go and pay his last respects.
He would have to stay with the Yu clan for another day.
In the guest courtyard.
The sight of the mangled flesh on Maoqiu's leg made Chen Jianghe's scalp crawl; it looked excruciating.
He swept it with his spiritual sense.
He was relieved to find the injury was only flesh-deep, the bone untouched.
But he still took out a Dew Condensing Flesh Growth Pill and tossed it to Maoqiu to aid its recovery.
When it came to his own spirit beasts, Chen Jianghe was never stingy.
Especially a combat spirit beast with as much potential as Maoqiu.
Maoqiu had only been injured because it hadn't fully refined the Profound Iron Heavy Rod. Otherwise, facing a mere grade-two, high-tier Black-Scaled Crocodile, it would have been impossible for it to sustain any injury.
Even if this crocodile was at the peak of the early second tier.
With its bloodline suppression and the power of the Profound Iron Heavy Rod, it could have shattered the crocodile's defenses directly.
"Master, this is too precious. I can recover completely if I rest for a year."
Maoqiu accepted the Dew Condensing Flesh Growth Pill. Its heart-refreshing fragrance was intoxicating, but looking at the gruesome wound on its leg, it felt it could recover on its own.
"You did very well and deserve a reward. Take the spirit pill and go heal yourself."
Chen Jianghe transmitted with a smile.
Not daring to refuse, Maoqiu bowed deeply to Chen Jianghe, then moved to a corner of the courtyard and consumed the pill to begin healing.
With a mental command.
All the various parts of the Black-Scaled Crocodile appeared before him.
Yun Xiaoniu had given them to him, explaining that Maoqiu had already processed the crocodile's parts back on Yunmen Mountain.
Looking at the neatly sorted parts.
Chen Jianghe was very pleased.
It was a good thing it hadn't forgotten its craft!
He held out his hand, and the second-tier gold-element spirit core fell into his palm. He felt the rich gold-element spiritual power within it.
"What a pity, it's not a water-element one."
If it had been a second-tier water-element spirit core, he would now have three. Then, once they reached Thousand Mountains Market City, he could have Xiao Hei directly consume second-tier spirit cores for its cultivation.
Still, a second-tier gold-element spirit core wasn't a problem; he could simply trade it later. He refused to believe that Thousand Mountains Market City, as the second-largest market in the Tiannan Region, would lack even a single second-tier water-element spirit core.
The *Tiannan Annals* recorded that Thousand Mountains Market City was situated on the southeastern edge of the Arctic Snow Forest, right beside it.
There would surely be no shortage of demonic beast parts.
Although the Arctic Snow Forest was not like the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range—the largest concentration of demonic beasts in the Tiannan Region—it still contained a vast number of them.
There were plenty of third-tier demonic beasts, just no Great Demons.
However, this was according to the *Tiannan Annals*, and its most recent edition was from eight hundred years ago.
Thus, no one knew whether the Arctic Snow Forest now housed any fourth-tier Great Demons.
The next day.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Maoqiu's leg. The mangled flesh wound had already healed, with no visible damage, but its black fur had not yet grown back.
The fact that it had fully absorbed the effects of the Dew Condensing Flesh Growth Pill in a single day made Chen Jianghe marvel; demonic beasts absorbed spiritual medicines and items far more quickly than human cultivators.
He then recalled Maoqiu into the spirit beast space of his second-tier Spirit Beast Pouch, stepped out of the courtyard, and first called for Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan.
"Are you all packed?"
Looking at the two young women, Chen Jianghe asked gently.
"Yes." The two girls nodded obediently.
Then, Chen Jianghe led the two of them to Luo Xiyue's guest courtyard and knocked on the door.
Before long, the icy, celestial beauty Luo Xiyue emerged. She wore a long dress of blue and white, which further accentuated her frosty, lovely demeanor.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, we can leave now."
"Mm."
With a wave of her fair arm, Luo Xiyue summoned her spirit boat.
The group boarded the spirit boat, which then shot away from Qiyun Mountain as a streak of red light.
Chen Jianghe didn't bid farewell to any of the Yu clan members.
The direct descendants of the Yu clan were all in Yunmen Town. As they were related by marriage, they had gone to Yunmen Town on the very day of Zhou Miaoyun's passing.
Chen Jianghe had Luo Xiyue detour fifty li to pass by Yunmen Town and wait in the clouds, while he flew down from the spirit boat.
He went to the Zhou residence in Yunmen Town and lit three incense sticks for Zhou Miaoyun.
It was his way of paying his last respects to his old friend.
Afterward, he bid farewell to Yu Daniu and his son and left the Zhou residence.
But just then, Zhou Xiaoxuan chased after him, calling out softly from behind, "Uncle Chen."
Chen Jianghe stopped and turned to look at Zhou Xiaoxuan. Dressed in mourning attire, she appeared even more captivating, an allure that even he found difficult to resist.
He couldn't help but compose himself, steadying his mind and spirit.
"Xiaoxuan, is there something else?"
"It is nothing. I am simply grateful that Uncle Chen could come, so I came to see you off." Zhou Xiaoxuan curtsied gracefully. A unique, sorrowful beauty emanated from her every word and gesture.
"Mm, you should go back."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
Then he turned to leave.
Suddenly, he turned back, glanced at Zhou Xiaoxuan, and took out a Meteorite Lightning Talisman.
"Here is a second-tier Meteorite Lightning Talisman for your protection. Cultivate diligently and reach the Foundation Establishment stage soon."
After speaking, Chen Jianghe flew back to the spirit boat and left.
It wasn't that he had been swayed by Zhou Xiaoxuan in her mourning attire; he simply wanted to forge a good connection.
Zhou Xiaoxuan was also a disciple of the Tiannan Sect and had already cultivated to the ninth level of Qi Refining. Her physical body had reached its peak, and she was beginning to practice spiritual arts.
At her age of over forty, she had a great chance of succeeding in her Foundation Establishment.
He could use a second-tier talisman to establish a good relationship now. Once she actually reached Foundation Establishment, a mere second-tier talisman would no longer be of interest to her.
"You've taken a fancy to that vixen?"
Luo Xiyue's cool voice rang in his ear, making him flinch. He looked at her serious expression with astonishment.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan also staring at him with solemn expressions.
"..."
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes. What on earth was going through their minds?
He had only given her a Meteorite Lightning Talisman to establish a friendly connection.
"I advise you to drop any ideas. If that vixen succeeds in Foundation Establishment, the technique she cultivates can drain you dry in a single go."
With that said, Luo Xiyue turned away and focused on piloting the spirit boat toward Ferry Market City.
"Senior, you should listen to Fairy Luo~"
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan both added in a very serious tone.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Luo Xiyue, then looked at Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan and bonked each of them on the head.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Chen Jianghe's expression darkened as he feigned anger.
These two young ladies were becoming increasingly impertinent with him.
He might not be able to handle Luo Xiyue, but he could certainly handle a couple of young girls like them.
Wincing, Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan pouted at Chen Jianghe before turning their backs to him in a huff.
The spirit boat was very fast.
But Luo Xiyue didn't fly it at full speed, maintaining a steady pace towards Ferry Market City as usual.
But when passing by Serene Valley.
Instead of flying directly over Serene Valley, Luo Xiyue unexpectedly made an eighty-li detour.
This surprised Chen Jianghe.
So the ice beauty knew how to be flexible after all.
Last time, they had offended the Feng brothers of Serene Valley and robbed them of four mid-grade second-tier spirit items.
And the *Myriad Waters True Scripture, Foundation Establishment Volume*. The Feng brothers would surely hold a grudge.
Furthermore, this time it wasn't just the two of them; they also had Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, with them.
If they encountered the Feng brothers, who would now be fully recovered, they would have to divide their attention to protect Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, making their odds of victory slim.
"She's a good person, despite her cold personality."
Chen Jianghe began to see Luo Xiyue in a slightly better light. While she had misunderstood his gift to Zhou Xiaoxuan, her concern had been for his well-being.
And now, she had purposely detoured around Serene Valley for the sake of Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan.
She had a good character, one worth getting to know better.
A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at Ferry Market City.
Looking down at Ferry Market City from the spirit boat, it looked like a collection of villages scattered across a great marsh.
But the unique architecture of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was extremely eye-catching, letting people know this was not a mortal village, but a cultivation market city.
However, looking from the spirit boat towards the Sky-Reaching River, one could see a natural barrier where fierce winds whipped up the river, creating waves nearly two hundred feet high.
Above the river, there were also violent, raging squalls.
Ferocious birds and beasts sometimes hid within these squalls to attack lone cultivators.
Although late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly across the Sky-Reaching River, none of them actually dared to cross it alone.
Even False Core itinerant cultivators would take the Tiannan Sect's treasure ship to cross the river.
Generally speaking, apart from Core Formation experts, no one would risk flying across the Sky-Reaching River alone.
After all, in some of the wider sections of the Sky-Reaching River, there were third-tier demonic beasts.
Even the section of the river by Ferry Market City was three hundred li wide. Looking out from the spirit boat, it was like looking at the sea; the other side was not visible.
"Senior, is this Ferry Market City? Why does it feel so scattered? Does it have a defensive formation?"
Jiang Ruxu furrowed her lovely brows, moved closer to Chen Jianghe, and asked in a low voice.
"Ferry Market City has no defensive formation. This place is crawling with rogue cultivators. You two, don't wander off later. Stick close to me and Fellow Daoist Luo."
Chen Jianghe warned the two young women.
Arriving above Ferry Market City, Luo Xiyue put away the spirit boat, and the four of them prepared to fly down to the ground.
However, they spotted a major battle unfolding not far off, near the banks of the Sky-Reaching River.
Three Foundation Establishment cultivators were ganging up on another. The besieged cultivator was steadily losing ground, completely at a disadvantage, and could be killed at any moment.
"He actually dared to buy an Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill at the Ferry Market City auction? This fellow Daoist must be mad."
"I recognize that fellow Daoist. He's the Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the Gu Clan. He reached Foundation Establishment at forty-five in high spirits. It's been sixty years since. He must have been desperate for the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill to risk it."
"Looks like the Gu Clan is finished."
"Who doesn't know that the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill at every Ferry Market City auction is bait? To actually dare to buy it is just asking for death."
One by one, cultivators in Ferry Market City flew up into the air, looking towards the Sky-Reaching River to watch the spectacle.
Their voices were a mix of discussion, mockery, and lament.
Hearing the other cultivators' comments, Chen Jianghe channeled spiritual power to his eyes, sharpening his vision to see farther.
"The Gu Clan's Ancestor?" Chen Jianghe murmured.
"You know him?"
Luo Xiyue asked, looking at Chen Jianghe.
Chen Jianghe smiled, then shook his head.
He didn't know the Gu Clan's Ancestor, but he had heard of him.
Back then, when Yun Xiaoniu brought the Yun Clan Ancestor, Yun Bufan, and the Qi Clan Ancestor to Qinghe Market City to get him, he had also paid a price to invite the Gu Clan Ancestor.
But the Gu Clan Ancestor had refused and did not go with Yun Xiaoniu.
*Boom!*
A hundred-foot fire python broke through the Gu Clan Ancestor's spiritual power shield and sent his top-tier defensive artifact flying.
Another rogue cultivator's flying sword flashed, slicing off one of the Gu Clan Ancestor's arms. The raging squalls swept the severed arm into the Sky-Reaching River.
Immediately after, a silver spear pierced through the Gu Clan Ancestor's chest.
Before anyone realized it, a rogue cultivator had appeared behind the Gu Clan Ancestor. He held the silver spear and yanked it back forcefully.
Blood gushed out like a river.
"Roar~"
"A demonic beast! Second Brother, retreat quickly!"
Just then, a ferocious bird flew out of the squalls. It looked like an eagle with a golden crest and black feathers. Its wingspan was fifty feet.
It opened its great maw and swallowed the Gu Clan Ancestor whole.
The rogue cultivator with the silver spear managed to flick the Gu Clan Ancestor's storage pouch off with his spear, but he was a step too slow in escaping and had a leg pecked off by the ferocious bird.
"Hiss~ A late-stage second-tier demonic beast, a Golden-Crowned Roc."
"Such powerful strength. That silver spear is also a top-tier artifact, yet this Golden-Crowned Roc bit off a piece of it."
"The Golden-Crowned Roc is a grade-three, high-tier bloodline demonic beast. Its strength is naturally formidable. That sharp beak is no worse than a top-tier artifact, perhaps even harder."
"It's no injustice that the Gu Clan Ancestor ended up in the Golden-Crowned Roc's maw."
"That fellow Daoist managed to get the Gu Clan Ancestor's storage pouch at the last moment. Looks like a good haul. He not only recovered the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill that was just auctioned off, but he also made a profit of seven thousand spirit stones."
"Haha... At the next New Year's Eve auction, this Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill can be auctioned off again."
"..."
Chen Jianghe didn't pay any mind to the death of the Gu Clan Ancestor.
He cared even less that the rogue cultivator had a leg pecked off. His attention was entirely on the Golden-Crowned Roc.
"What a powerful bird. Is this the true power of a grade-three, high-tier bloodline?"
It could even peck off a piece of a top-tier artifact. Such attack power was astounding.
However, the Golden-Crowned Roc didn't seem to dare to fly into Ferry Market City. After devouring the Gu Clan Ancestor, it returned to the squalls above the Sky-Reaching River.
"Even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator without a spirit-imbued top-tier artifact probably couldn't defeat this ferocious bird!"
This Golden-Crowned Roc felt incredibly powerful to Chen Jianghe.
The sight was even more shocking than when he had witnessed Luo Xiyue slay Chen Feng, the Fifth Stronghold Master, in a single blow.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Luo Xiyue, wondering if this ice beauty could fight the Golden-Crowned Roc.
Seeing the power of this Golden-Crowned Roc made Chen Jianghe look forward even more to Xiao Hei reaching the late second tier.
If he raised Xiao Hei to the late second tier, he would have the confidence to face late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators without fear.
And Maoqiu, although it had a grade-three, low-tier bloodline, it possessed a special spirit-imbued artifact refined by Luo Xiyue.
If it reached the late second tier, its combat power might not be inferior to the Golden-Crowned Roc.
"Senior, that Golden-Crowned Roc is so powerful. It can even swallow a Foundation Establishment cultivator. But why doesn't it dare to enter Ferry Market City?"
Zhuang Xinyan timidly moved closer to Chen Jianghe, sandwiching him between herself and Jiang Ruxu.
Chen Jianghe was at a loss for words.
How would he know why the Golden-Crowned Roc didn't dare to enter Ferry Market City?
The *Tiannan Annals*, the *Records of the Sky-Reaching River*, and the *Ferry Magazine* had no mention of such things.
"Ferry Market City is overseen by a False Core cultivator, and one from the Tiannan Sect, no less," Luo Xiyue said faintly.
Chen Jianghe looked at Luo Xiyue. He realized she knew many things.
But from her style, she didn't seem to be from a clan, nor was she a disciple of the Tiannan Sect.
Then she must have a powerful master.
The Tiannan Region was vast, spanning ninety thousand li from north to south and seventy thousand li from east to west. Naturally, there were also powerful independent Core Formation cultivators.
Afterward, they descended from the clouds and arrived in Ferry Market City.
First, they found a place to stay.
The treasure ship didn't run every day; it only made a round trip to the other side once a month.
Their timing was quite fortunate. There were still five days until the treasure ship's next departure for the opposite bank.
For these five days, they could only stay at an inn.
However, the four of them got a single room.
They were all cultivators and weren't concerned with trivial matters.
Plus, Ferry Market City was fraught with danger, and they could encounter trouble at any time. Chen Jianghe naturally didn't feel at ease letting the two girls out of his sight.
As for Luo Xiyue?
Chen Jianghe naturally wanted to stay with Luo Xiyue. The ice beauty was a bit cold, but she provided a great sense of security.
Fortunately, they didn't actually sleep, but cultivated through meditation, so there was no need to worry about the bed not being big enough.
After settling their accommodations.
Chen Jianghe entrusted the two girls to Luo Xiyue, while he went downstairs to find the innkeeper.
"Four boat tickets."
"Eight hundred spirit stones."
"Hmm?!"
"It must be your first time taking the treasure ship, Fellow Daoist. This old man won't hide it from you; the actual price of a ticket is one hundred and ninety-eight spirit stones."
The innkeeper said with a smile, "This old man is purchasing them on your behalf, so I've added two spirit stones for my troubles."
"Fellow Daoist should also be aware that there are only two treasure ship routes across the Sky-Reaching River. One is here, and the other is at the West Ferry."
The innkeeper's meaning was simple.
There were only two treasure ship services.
Anyone below the Core Formation realm wanting to cross the Sky-Reaching River had to take the Tiannan Sect's treasure ship, or else fly across alone.
A journey with no hope of survival.
Therefore, the treasure ship was a monopoly of the Tiannan Sect. Whatever price they set, you had to pay.
If you think it's too much, you can choose not to cross.
If you feel your life is charmed, you can also try to brave the crossing.
None of the Tiannan Sect's businesses would ever force a cultivator to do anything.
So, all things considered, two hundred spirit stones for a ticket was still reasonable.
After all, the Tiannan Sect also wanted to prevent various small factions from smuggling. With a ticket price of two hundred spirit stones, your profit from a single smuggling trip would have to exceed four hundred spirit stones to be worthwhile.
Furthermore, Ferry Market City was unsafe. If you had too many storage pouches on you, you would be a prime target for rogue cultivators.
In other places, no cultivator would release their spiritual sense, but in Ferry Market City, some powerful rogue cultivators dared to brazenly scan you.
Though it pained his heart, he still took out eight hundred spirit stones and bought four tickets.
Having spent eight hundred spirit stones in an instant, he was left with only two thousand six hundred and two spirit stones and twenty grains of spirit sand.
Fortunately, he had received three thousand spirit stones from the Yun and Yu clans for those six Meteorite Lightning Talismans. Otherwise, he couldn't even have afforded the boat tickets.
That would have been embarrassing.
After buying the tickets, Chen Jianghe went back upstairs to the room and glanced at Luo Xiyue, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed cultivating.
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan were beside Luo Xiyue.
One was as cold as frost, one was lively and spirited, and one was pure and adorable.
Truly a pleasing sight.
Then, Chen Jianghe came to the side of the bed, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest and recuperate.
It wasn't that he didn't want to get on the bed, but there was simply no room.
As for why he insisted on sitting right beside the bed, he naturally gravitated toward safety.
You only live once.
It was no shame to cozy up for the sake of his own life and property.
When he grew powerful enough, he could return the favor and let Luo Xiyue lean on him.
Five days passed in a flash.
Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue brought the two girls to the ferry, where they could see the Tiannan Sect's massive treasure ship from a distance.
It was about a thousand feet long and three hundred feet high, with three decks. There were also giant wings on both sides of the ship.
The ship's exterior was not ornate. It was entirely a dark cyan color, with a giant sail that read: Tiannan Sect.
Demonic beasts that couldn't read these three words couldn't break the ship's defenses and would be killed by its automatic counter-attack function.
Demonic beasts that could read these three words all stayed far away, afraid of getting involved with the baleful star that was the Tiannan Sect.
After boarding the treasure ship.
Because the four of them specifically requested it, they were assigned to a single room.
Originally, it was one person per room.
When Luo Xiyue saw Chen Jianghe lead the two girls into the room with her, she shot him a cold glare.
Chen Jianghe ignored her and, just as he had at the inn, sat down cross-legged right beside the bed.
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan both pouted and looked at Chen Jianghe, but didn't dare to say anything.
In their hearts, however, they secretly resolved to quickly succeed in Foundation Establishment so they could help their Senior.
Then their Senior wouldn't have to endure Fairy Luo's moods.
"It's very safe on the treasure ship. Even a Core Formation expert wouldn't dare to make a move on a Tiannan Sect treasure ship."
Luo Xiyue's cool voice rang out.
Chen Jianghe stood up, rolled his eyes at Luo Xiyue, and casually walked over to the sitting area and sat down.
Just then.
There was a knock on the door.
Chen Jianghe stood up and opened the door. Outside stood a young cultivator in a uniform, at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
"Welcome aboard the treasure ship, Senior. This journey across the Sky-Reaching River will take twelve hours, after which we will arrive at the northern bank."
"During the voyage, you may go to the third-deck observation platform to see the various thrilling sights of the Sky-Reaching River. You need not worry about powerful demonic beasts attacking the ship."
"Additionally, there will be a trade fair held on the third deck during this voyage, where you may exchange for treasures you desire."