Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Golden Light Body Protection Talisman, 'Hundred Refined Wood' Acquired
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After the cultivator from the treasure ship's interior left, Chen Jianghe returned to his cabin. He glanced at Luo Xiyue; the three of them should have also heard what the young cultivator had just said.
"There is indeed a barter fair on the treasure ship. We can go check it out later, but we'll need to cover our faces and change our clothes."
Luo Xiyue looked at Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, then said calmly, "You two can go sightseeing as you please later. Don't worry about encountering any danger on the treasure ship."
"On the Tiannan Sect's treasure ship, no cultivator is allowed to release their spiritual sense or fight with others. Otherwise, they will be eliminated by the Core Formation expert on board."
"There's a Core Formation expert on the treasure ship?"
Chen Jianghe looked astonished.
He had thought that the treasure ship could travel unhindered on the Sky-Reaching River just by bearing the Tiannan Sect's name, but he never expected a Core Formation expert to be on board.
"The treasure ship itself is a magical artifact, so of course, a Core Formation expert is stationed here."
Luo Xiyue gave Chen Jianghe a cold look. "You can leave now."
"Uh, alright."
Chen Jianghe knew what Luo Xiyue was about to do. He gave an awkward laugh and left the cabin.
He could guess what Luo Xiyue meant by covering their faces and changing clothes. There was no danger on the treasure ship itself.
Even if you revealed your treasures during a barter, you wouldn't have to worry about being killed and robbed by opportunistic cultivators.
However, your face would be remembered by those cultivators. Once you disembarked, you would be targeted.
But if you covered your face and changed your clothes, you wouldn't have to worry about that.
Spiritual sense couldn't be released on the treasure ship, so a simple cloth mask would be enough to hide one's appearance, preventing any worries about exposing one's treasures.
As for letting Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan wander on their own...
That was also part of acting separately.
Both of them were ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators and couldn't conceal their auras. If they stayed by their side...
...their auras would be noted by others during the bartering.
They would still be targeted by opportunistic cultivators after leaving the ship.
After about fifteen minutes.
The cabin door slowly opened, and three figures emerged, dressed in dark, rugged attire and wearing bamboo hats that concealed their faces.
They looked like martial artists from the mortal world.
Chen Jianghe glanced over. He didn't know what kind of treasure the three of them used, but it had completely flattened their chests. From their silhouettes, they looked like men.
He didn't stare, though. He went into the cabin and changed into a plain servant's uniform, covering his face with a rough cloth.
This was an outfit Chen Jianghe had asked a servant for back at the Yu Clan residence. He hadn't expected to actually use it.
When he stepped out of the cabin again, he found only one figure waiting. From the outside, it was impossible to tell if it was Luo Xiyue, Jiang Ruxu, or Zhuang Xinyan, since they were all... flat.
But as he drew closer, he caught Luo Xiyue's unique scent, like plum blossoms blooming in the snow—a fragrant, refreshing aroma that made one want to take a few more deep breaths.
"Did the other two leave?" Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
Luo Xiyue didn't speak. She turned and led the way towards the third floor of the treasure ship.
The first floor of the treasure ship housed the cultivators' cabins. The second floor was the dining area, offering a variety of demonic beast spirit dishes.
The third floor was where the observation deck and the barter fair were located.
Reaching the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion was like being amidst the astral winds above the Sky-Reaching River.
However, a faint cyan light barrier on the treasure ship kept the astral winds at bay.
Although the Sky-Reaching River was a river, this section was three hundred li wide, like an ocean.
The astral winds whipped the river into waves tens of meters high, crashing down like watery curtains and sending spray flying everywhere.
The treasure ship sailed upon the Sky-Reaching River, and no matter how large the waves were, they couldn't move the ship in the slightest.
But after traveling for several dozen li into the Sky-Reaching River, as the waves grew more intense, the treasure ship began to rise and fall with them, piercing through the clouds before diving into the river below.
When it dove into the water, one could see the demonic beasts swimming within—giant spiny turtles, four-clawed giant prawns, and green-scaled fish seven or eight meters long.
Seeing the green-scaled fish as large as a boat, Chen Jianghe was stunned. It reminded him of the green-scaled fish raised in Mirror Moon Lake.
He sighed inwardly. *This* was a truly big green fish.
He just wondered what kind of demonic beast it was to grow so massive.
The next moment, the treasure ship burst out of the river's surface and into a storm of astral winds and clouds, where he saw Golden-Crowned Rocs and other ferocious, violent birds of prey hiding within the gales.
But none of them attacked the treasure ship.
They even seemed to intentionally or unintentionally make way for it.
Whether the treasure ship was piercing the clouds or diving into the river, it remained perfectly steady without any turbulence.
"In just a hundred breaths, I've seen no less than thirty types of second-tier demonic beasts. These two hundred spirit stones were well spent."
Riding the treasure ship was like sightseeing.
To observe these demonic beasts up close without fear of attack was a privilege only available on the treasure ship.
Just then, a voice rang out.
"Welcome, fellow Daoists, aboard the Tiannan Sect's treasure ship. During this leisurely voyage, everyone is welcome to barter, trade, and discuss the Dao."
"However, please refrain from any fighting. Incurring the displeasure of the sect's elder would not be worth the consequences."
"Alright, any fellow Daoists who wish to barter may come to me to get a plaque and write down the name and function of your item."
This was a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Tiannan Sect. On his clothes, Chen Jianghe saw the same special insignia that Gao Peiyao wore.
He was not masked, appeared middle-aged, and had a profound, unfathomable aura.
He was likely a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
At his age, he would probably hold the position of a Deacon in the Tiannan Sect.
"No need to rush to get a plaque. You can first see if others have any spiritual items you need."
Hearing Luo Xiyue's voice transmission, Chen Jianghe nodded to himself.
He hadn't planned on getting a plaque anyway.
After all, he didn't have any particularly valuable treasures.
About half an hour later, many cultivators moved from the observation deck into the third-floor barter hall.
Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue also went inside.
During this time, Chen Jianghe saw Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan. He didn't recognize them by their faces, but he recognized the clothes they were wearing when they separated.
However, he didn't go over to greet them.
Acting separately was precisely to prevent people from associating them with each other.
The barter hall was very large. Even with over two hundred cultivators gathered, it didn't feel crowded.
Walking forward, he could see many masked cultivators holding plaques, walking around and looking at what was on offer.
The plaques in their hands all contained information about the items they wished to trade.
"A first-tier Talisman Dao inheritance?"
Chen Jianghe was surprised to see a plaque offering a first-tier Talisman Dao inheritance for trade.
He glanced at the trade requirement.
It required an Iceheart Herb.
What a fool's dream.
In the past, Chen Jianghe might have thought this was a reasonable trade. After all, a first-tier Talisman Dao inheritance was easily worth three thousand spirit stones.
But after learning how rare Iceheart Herb was, even though it was only valued at around two thousand spirit stones, very few people would sell it.
You could buy a first-tier Talisman Dao inheritance on the market, but you would have a much harder time buying an Iceheart Herb.
It was the main ingredient for refining the Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue walked a lap around the hall but didn't see any treasures they wanted.
However, they didn't leave. After waiting for half an hour, they started walking around the hall again.
Luo Xiyue walked quickly, not pausing for even half a breath on any treasure that didn't interest her.
Chen Jianghe followed behind her, intentionally keeping a few paces back.
Suddenly.
He saw Luo Xiyue stop, and then her cool voice sounded in his ear.
"There's a treasure ahead that you need, but the conditions are steep."
Chen Jianghe walked over nonchalantly. Luo Xiyue, however, didn't pause and continued walking forward.
The next moment.
Chen Jianghe arrived at the spot where Luo Xiyue had just paused.
There, he saw a cultivator in brocade robes wearing a mask. Judging by his forehead, he seemed to be a young man.
The plaque in his hand listed a treasure that truly caught Chen Jianghe's attention.
"Golden Light Body Protection Talisman?"
This was a second-tier, low-grade defensive talisman inheritance, perfectly suited for him to study right now.
He already had a second-tier defensive talisman inheritance, but the Azurewood Immortal Shield Talisman was a second-tier, mid-grade talisman, which was still too difficult for him to draw.
This second-tier, low-grade Golden Light Body Protection Talisman inheritance would fill the gap in his inability to create defensive talismans.
He glanced at the trade requirements on the plaque.
No spirit stones accepted.
It required one Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill and one Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill.
Chen Jianghe had a Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill, but he planned to start cultivating a spiritual technique after arriving at Thousand Mountains Market City.
At that time, he would need this pill as well.
The Golden Light Body Protection Talisman was excellent, but he couldn't trade for it at the cost of his own cultivation path.
After all, the Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill rarely appeared at auctions and was a spiritual pill one could only hope to encounter by chance.
If he traded it away and couldn't buy another one in time, it would delay his spiritual cultivation progress, which wasn't worth it.
As for the required Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill, he didn't have one of those either.
However, he did have the Dew-Condensing Flesh-Regenerating Pill and the Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pill. The combined medicinal effect of the two was comparable to the Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill.
It just took a little longer to recover.
"Fellow Daoist, could one of the requirements for your Golden Light Body Protection Talisman inheritance be changed?"
Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
A second-tier talisman inheritance was a rare find, and he naturally didn't want to miss it.
Moreover, if he mastered enough second-tier talisman inheritances, he might be able to comprehend the mysteries within magical arts and divine abilities, allowing him to create unique runes and draw a new type of second-tier talisman.
"Which item would you like to change, fellow Daoist?"
The masked cultivator in brocade robes opened his eyes, looked at Chen Jianghe, and asked via voice transmission.
"The Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill. I don't have one."
"So, are you saying you have the Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill?"
The masked cultivator's expression shifted, and his tone in the voice transmission was somewhat excited.
"No, but I have a Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pill and a Dew-Condensing Flesh-Regenerating Pill. The combined effect of the two pills is not inferior to the Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill."
"Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pill and Dew-Condensing Flesh-Regenerating Pill? Their effects are much weaker than the Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill."
The masked cultivator frowned.
The effects were similar, but the recovery time was vastly different.
"Since you're not interested, fellow Daoist, I won't disturb you any longer."
Although Chen Jianghe really wanted the Golden Light Body Protection Talisman inheritance, he couldn't just rob the person if they didn't want to trade.
Whether he could win the fight was one thing.
The key was whether he could survive under the watch of a Core Formation expert.
"Wait, fellow Daoist."
The masked man stopped Chen Jianghe with a voice transmission and then said, "The Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pill and the Dew-Condensing Flesh-Regenerating Pill can substitute for the Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill. But what do you plan to offer in place of the Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill?"
"I don't have any spiritual pills that aid in spiritual cultivation. I can only offer items of equivalent value," Chen Jianghe replied frankly via voice transmission.
From the moment the masked man stopped him, Chen Jianghe guessed that he must be in desperate need of the Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill.
The Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill was most likely an add-on.
After all, the value of the Golden Light Body Protection Talisman inheritance was higher than the Flesh-Regenerating and Bone-Mending Pill. Adding the Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill barely made the trade even.
"Alright. What equivalent items can you offer, fellow Daoist?"
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe's heart leaped with joy. *There's a chance!*
He immediately sent a voice transmission, "A Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill auctions for five thousand spirit stones. I can offer a second-tier attack talisman, the Meteorite Lightningfall Talisman, one Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pill, one second-tier Gold-element spirit core, plus one thousand four hundred spirit stones."
"A lightning-element attack talisman? A pity it's only second-tier, low-grade."
The masked man's eyes lit up when he heard about the Meteorite Lightningfall Talisman, but his expression quickly turned to disappointment.
"Alright, I'll trade with you, fellow Daoist."
At auctions, the Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill usually sold for between five thousand three hundred and five thousand five hundred spirit stones.
But the auction house would take a handling fee.
Taking that into account, the equivalent items and spirit stones Chen Jianghe offered were indeed on par with the Second Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pill.
Two Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pills, one Dew-Condensing Flesh-Regenerating Pill, one second-tier Gold-element spirit core, one Meteorite Lightningfall Talisman, and one thousand four hundred spirit stones.
In exchange for the Golden Light Body Protection Talisman inheritance.
After scanning the contents of the jade slip with his spiritual sense, Chen Jianghe smiled contentedly. What he had given away were all for immediate benefit.
This inheritance, however, was a foundation for the future.
Its value to him was immeasurable.
He then continued to wander around the hall but didn't see any other treasures he could trade for.
There were, however, a few items that caught his eye.
One was a second-tier, high-grade escape talisman inheritance, but it required a Spirit-Nurturing grade defensive magical artifact in exchange.
Chen Jianghe was unwilling to part with his Profound Ice Battle Armor for the trade.
It was a life-saving item.
Besides, Luo Xiyue had already told him that she would give him two second-tier, high-grade talisman inheritances once he reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
So, he wasn't in a hurry for a second-tier, high-grade talisman inheritance.
There was also a second-tier Water-element spirit core being traded for a second-tier Earth-element spirit core or two second-tier Earth Spirit Pills.
The second-tier Earth Spirit Pill was a second-tier, low-grade spiritual pill used for nurturing second-tier Earth-attribute demonic beasts.
It wasn't as versatile as a second-tier Earth-element spirit core, so its value was much lower.
Trading one second-tier Earth-element spirit core for two Earth Spirit Pills was a reasonable exchange.
However, he had neither.
There were also some second-tier spiritual pill recipes that Chen Jianghe wanted to trade for, but he couldn't meet the other party's conditions.
After coveting them for a while, he could only give up.
But following behind Luo Xiyue, he noticed that she was making frequent trades, acquiring many second-tier, mid- and high-grade spiritual items.
Most of them were materials for artifact refinement.
He had no idea where Luo Xiyue got so many resources.
It was as if she were a treasure chest, possessing all sorts of treasures and resources. As long as she saw something she wanted, she could meet the other party's trade conditions.
Three hours passed.
Chen Jianghe followed Luo Xiyue for another lap, but this time, they didn't trade for anything.
Chen Jianghe couldn't afford it.
Luo Xiyue seemed to have already acquired all the artifact refinement materials she desired.
"No, these resources probably didn't come from artifact refinement. Most likely, her master gave them to her."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
No matter how many spirit stones an artifact refiner earned, it would be impossible to trade for seven or eight different refinement materials in such a short time!
And most of them were second-tier, high-grade spiritual materials.
Even a grandmaster artifact refiner probably couldn't produce such wealth.
"Comparisons are odious. Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu have Alchemist Zhuang paving the way for them. Luo Xiyue has a powerful master paving her way. Gao Peiyao has the Tiannan Sect as her backing, and her master is also a Core Formation expert."
"I have nothing~"
The difference between having elders and not having them was instantly apparent.
Another five hours passed.
Luo Xiyue still hadn't made another move, but Chen Jianghe was dazzled by the variety of items. Feeling his empty storage bag, however, he could only look away.
"Hundred Refined Wood!"
Chen Jianghe stopped abruptly. He saw a newly displayed plaque by a fellow Daoist, and a glint flashed in his eyes.
This was one of the three main materials for refining the special magical artifact, [Thousand Illusions].
He already had the Illusory Spirit Jade that Gao Peiyao had given him. All he was missing was the Hundred Refined Wood and the Azure Nether Stone.
All three main materials were second-tier, high-grade spiritual items.
The Hundred Refined Wood was especially precious, formed when a second-tier spiritual plant endured a hundred natural lightning strikes.
It was extremely rare.
It could be said that among the three main materials, besides the Illusory Spirit Jade, the Hundred Refined Wood was the hardest to find.
As for the Azure Nether Stone, it was produced in Qingyang Lake within the State of Yue. Although a third-tier demonic beast guarded it, some Tiannan Sect disciples still managed to bring out Azure Nether Stones during their trials.
Therefore, it was possible for the Azure Nether Stone to appear at auctions.
"Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill?"
Chen Jianghe frowned.
The condition for trading the Hundred Refined Wood was an Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
He did have one Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill, but he was saving it for his breakthrough to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
"I still have one Iceheart Herb, and Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu also have one. Even if Jiang Ruxu can't become a grandmaster alchemist in the short term, I can find another one in Thousand Mountains Market City to refine it."
"But if I miss this Hundred Refined Wood, I might never encounter it again."
At this thought.
Chen Jianghe no longer hesitated. He directly sent a voice transmission to the cultivator, requesting to trade for the Hundred Refined Wood.
Upon learning that Chen Jianghe had an Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill, the other party didn't hesitate at all.
One hand gave the pill, the other gave the wood.
The trade went smoothly.
Now, only the Azure Nether Stone was needed to refine [Thousand Illusions].
According to Luo Xiyue, after refining Thousand Illusions, wearing it on one's face would cause it to merge with the skin, allowing one to change their facial features and personal aura at will.
It could also block the spiritual sense of cultivators at the same realm.
In other words, if he wore Thousand Illusions, only a Core Formation expert would be able to see his true appearance.
For Chen Jianghe, this was an absolutely wonderful treasure.
Even if it meant paying a great price, he had to refine this special magical artifact.
An hour later.
The barter fair ended.
There was less than an hour left before the treasure ship reached the northern bank.
The cultivators in the barter hall left one after another.
Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue left separately. They didn't return directly to their cabin but walked in circles around the treasure ship.
Only after the feeling of being watched disappeared...
...did they return to the cabin.
Chen Jianghe waved his hand, and a thick water mist enveloped him. He then quickly changed his clothes.
He stepped out of the cabin.
He only went back in after Luo Xiyue, Jiang Ruxu, and Zhuang Xinyan had finished changing.
Seeing the varying sizes of their chests, he could easily tell who was who even without looking at their faces.
They exchanged glances but said nothing.
They would talk once they were completely safe.
Although they had prepared well, there was no guarantee they hadn't been discovered.
Three incense sticks' worth of time passed.
The treasure ship arrived at the northern bank of the Sky-Reaching River.
After disembarking, they went directly into Ferry Market City instead of rushing to leave on a flying vessel.
Ferry Market City was large and sprawling.
Both the north and south banks of the East Ferry Crossing were part of Ferry Market City, and there was also a Treasure Pavilion on the northern bank.
They went straight into the Treasure Pavilion.
Not to buy resources, but to wait for an opportunity.
They would wait for a fight to break out outside, then use the opportunity to leave Ferry Market City and head for Thousand Mountains Market City.
Because Ferry Market City had no defensive formation and no explicit rules, it had no established flying vessel routes to any other market cities.
To get to Thousand Mountains Market City, they first had to travel to Yunmeng Marsh Market City, four thousand li northwest of Ferry Market City.
This was a large market city. While not as grand as Qinghe Market City, whose fate was unknown, it was much larger than Mirror Moon Market City.
It was also situated on a second-tier, high-grade spirit vein.
Although the market city had no Core Formation experts or third-tier spirit beasts, it was presided over by a False Core rogue cultivator.
Its security was also quite high.
It had many established flying vessel routes, including one to Thousand Mountains Market City.
If they wanted to go to Thousand Mountains Market City, they certainly couldn't travel by spirit vessel. It was important to remember that Thousand Mountains Market City was near the Arctic Snow Forest.
Although it was directly north of East Ferry Market City, it was fifty thousand li away. The journey would take them through the Lu Clan's territory, the State of Yue, and the State of Yu.
Thousand Mountains Market City was bordered by the State of Yu to the south, the Arctic Snow Forest to its back, the boundless ocean to the east, and more of the State of Yu's territory to the west.
The State of Yu was relatively safe, being a nation governed by law.
But the State of Yue was a nation governed by martial strength, where the strong were respected and there was no rule of law. It was teeming with opportunistic cultivators, evil cultivators, and even demonic cultivators.
Once they passed the Lu Clan's territory on their spirit vessel, they would enter the State of Yue, which was fraught with danger. It was better to take a flying vessel.
After all, a flying vessel carried many cultivators. Even if they encountered danger, everyone would face it together.
This would greatly reduce the risk.
After waiting in the Treasure Pavilion for about half a month, they finally sensed the commotion of a battle outside.
They were in no mood to watch the excitement. They slipped away quietly from one side, and once they were clear of Ferry Market City...
...Luo Xiyue took out her spirit vessel, and they sped towards Yunmeng Marsh Market City.
Chen Jianghe watched Luo Xiyue's back. He realized that after coming north of the Sky-Reaching River, Luo Xiyue had become much more cautious.
This made his heart tremble and the hairs on his arms stand on end.
"With Luo Xiyue's personality, south of the Sky-Reaching River, she was afraid of nothing. She even dared to barge into a place like Serene Valley, the territory of a Core Formation expert. Yet, north of the Sky-Reaching River, she was being so careful and cautious."
"Could it be that in her eyes, the lands north of the Sky-Reaching River are more dangerous than those to the south?"
"No, the [Tiannan Annals] record that the cultivators north of the Sky-Reaching River are generally weaker than those to the south, and the same goes for the demonic beasts."
"The [Sky-Reaching River Records], however, do mention that demonic cultivators are rampant north of the river... Oh no, the [Tiannan Annals] haven't been updated in eight hundred years!"