Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Settling in on Golden Ao Mountain
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"Senior, it's so cold here. How do mortals survive?"
After disembarking from the flying vessel, without the protective barrier to ward off the cold tide, Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan both frowned, feeling a little uncomfortable.
However, their physical bodies had already reached perfection, so they only needed a moment to adapt before they no longer had to use their spiritual power to resist the biting cold.
"Thousand Mountains Market City has no mortals, only cultivators."
Chen Jianghe gazed at the towering archway that reached into the clouds, upon which was written: Thousand Mountains Market City.
It wasn't that the archway itself was tall, but that it was built atop a steep peak. The summit, no more than a hundred feet across, housed only this archway.
It served no real purpose, though.
Ruan Tieniu had mentioned in his letter that one could fly using Qi manipulation in Thousand Mountains Market City, but not on flying swords.
This Thousand Mountains Market City was built upon a hundred closely packed peaks, with no bridges connecting them, so flying was naturally permitted.
For mortals, even setting aside the question of whether they could withstand the cold tide, just getting around would be inconvenient.
Standing at the summit where the archway of Thousand Mountains Market City was located, looking north revealed a vast expanse of white, with mountain after mountain stretching into the depths of the Arctic Snow Forest.
Looking east, the sky and water merged into one, an endless sea where one could even see the curtain of water thrown up by crashing waves.
To the west were endless mountain ranges, with at least a thousand peaks of varying sizes.
These peaks were the spirit-veined immortal mountains that Thousand Mountains Market City rented out.
Every mountain available for rent contained a spirit vein, and the price varied depending on the grade of the vein.
Looking south, beyond the layers of peaks, lay a boundless plain—the territory of the State of Yu.
"Senior, let's go rent a mountain with a second-tier, high-grade spirit vein first. Senior Sister needs to go into seclusion to cultivate her spiritual art."
Jiang Ruxu said in a pleasant voice.
Chen Jianghe nodded. Although he had no spirit stones on him, he did have second-tier talismans.
Thousand Mountains Market City had a barter hall, so using second-tier talismans in place of spirit stones shouldn't be a problem.
As for finding Ruan Tieniu?
He knew Ruan Tieniu's address, but there was no need to seek him out. Ruan Tieniu had no specific craft, so he might have already entered the Arctic Snow Forest by now.
Besides, any shop or internal management office in Thousand Mountains Market City had a large banner erected on its respective peak.
Only the Hundred Treasures Tower did not.
However, upon entering the market city, the location of the Hundred Treasures Tower was easy to spot.
Among the cluster of peaks, a pagoda-style building stood tall on the highest one.
This was the Hundred Treasures Tower, exceptionally dazzling and eye-catching.
They didn't go to the Hundred Treasures Tower first. Instead, they searched for the Immortal Residence Agency in Thousand Mountains Market City, which was similar to the Housing Agency in Qinghe Market City.
One rented out small courtyards, and the other did the same, but it also rented out immortal mountains suitable for cultivation.
Thousand Mountains Market City also had small courtyards for rent. On some peaks, starting from the midway point, there were numerous immortal residence courtyards.
These were provided for Qi Refining cultivators, as well as Foundation Establishment cultivators who had no craft and ventured into the Arctic Snow Forest.
Although nearly a hundred cultivators might live on a single peak, they were separated by formations, providing some private space.
It was just that too many cultivators lived there.
If a peak only had seven or eight immortal residence courtyards, Chen Jianghe might have considered living within the market city.
The activity area was large, and the price was cheaper.
But with nearly a hundred courtyards crammed together, he found it somewhat inconvenient, not as good as the mountains outside.
In truth, in terms of safety, there was no difference between the inside and outside of Thousand Mountains Market City.
Even a second-tier, low-grade spirit-veined immortal mountain was protected by a second-tier, high-grade defensive grand formation, capable of withstanding attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even if attacked by a False Core Loose Cultivator, it could hold out for a hundred breaths.
As long as it was attacked, even if it only held for ten breaths, the False Core Loose Cultivators from Thousand Mountains Market City would rush over.
Even Core Formation Masters might intervene.
Within the territory of Thousand Mountains Market City, rogue cultivators could appear. Even demonic and evil cultivators could enter the market city.
But fighting was forbidden.
Otherwise, they would be obliterated by the False Core Loose Cultivators or Core Formation Masters of Thousand Mountains Market City.
This rule wasn't limited to the market city itself but applied to the entire nine-thousand-li territory of Thousand Mountains Market City—no fighting was allowed.
Want to fight? Fine.
Leave the territory of Thousand Mountains Market City. You can go to the State of Yu, the boundless sea, or the Arctic Snow Forest.
Therefore, what Ruan Tieniu had said in his letter hadn't deceived Chen Jianghe; it was indeed very safe in Thousand Mountains Market City.
It was just that once you left the market city, your life and death were in the hands of fate.
"Senior, that's the Immortal Residence Agency."
Zhuang Xinyan pointed a delicate hand toward a snow-covered peak, where a large banner flew high, bearing the words: Immortal Residence Agency.
Chen Jianghe's group of four flew over and landed in the plaza in front of the Immortal Residence Agency.
There were many cultivators here, flying in and out. The sheer number of cultivators seen at the Immortal Residence Agency was enough to show that the prosperity of Thousand Mountains Market City far surpassed that of Qinghe Market City.
Outside a single Immortal Residence Agency, over a thousand cultivators were gathered, most of them at the late stage of Qi Refining.
"Senior, what are they doing?"
Jiang Ruxu asked curiously.
Luo Xiyue and Zhuang Xinyan also looked at Chen Jianghe with curiosity.
It was their first time in Thousand Mountains Market City, but they all knew that Chen Jianghe had a friend here.
And that they corresponded often.
"Lining up to rent immortal residences within the market city."
Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle.
"Ah? Do we have to line up then?"
Jiang Ruxu was taken aback, clearly not expecting that renting an immortal residence in Thousand Mountains Market City would require such a long queue.
"Er..."
Chen Jianghe was at a loss for words.
They weren't renting a small courtyard within the market city, but an immortal mountain with a spirit vein outside.
However, in his letter, Ruan Tieniu had only mentioned that the small courtyards required queuing to rent; he hadn't explained how the spirit-veined immortal mountains were rented out.
It wasn't Ruan Tieniu's fault, though.
He was just a demon beast hunter, and even after coming to Thousand Mountains Market City, his profession had changed to a spirit thief.
Its essence was still demon beast hunting.
He had to frequently enter the Arctic Snow Forest to steal worldly spiritual items, which mostly grew in the habitats of demon beasts.
So, when stealing these spiritual items, confrontations with demon beasts were unavoidable.
If his luck was good, he could not only steal the spiritual item but also slay the demon beast. One must know that a demon beast's entire body was a treasure; there wasn't a single part that couldn't be sold.
Even parts akin to a donkey's 'three treasures' were bestsellers among cultivators.
If his luck was bad... then his fate was sealed.
"Senior, may I ask if you need any assistance?"
Just then, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator wearing a standard long robe with the emblem of Thousand Mountains Market City on his chest walked over and bowed respectfully to Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue.
This must be a cultivator from the Immortal Residence Agency.
The reason he approached was surely because he saw the four of them arrive, not queuing up or doing anything.
It was obvious they were here for the first time.
"To rent a spirit-veined immortal mountain," Chen Jianghe said flatly.
"Senior, please follow me."
The young cultivator in the standard robe led Chen Jianghe and his group into the Immortal Residence Agency and into a large hall.
Then, the young cultivator said something to a female Foundation Establishment cultivator and turned to leave.
Immediately after, the female Foundation Establishment cultivator approached with a smile.
"Fellow Daoists, what grade of spirit-veined immortal mountain would you like to rent?"
This female Foundation Establishment cultivator was tall and slender with delicate features. The smile on her face and her gentle words were as pleasant as a spring breeze.
In fact, any woman who could reach Foundation Establishment was unlikely to be particularly unattractive.
Drawing Qi into the body would cleanse impurities once, and upon reaching physical perfection in the Qi Refining stage, impurities would be cleansed again.
At this point, their skin, appearance, and even their disposition would change, becoming fair as jade, without a single mole.
After successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, there would be another deep cleansing of impurities, making the skin even more fair, tender, and radiant.
Their features would also appear more beautiful due to their fair skin.
Unless a woman was exceptionally ugly, the kind that even fair skin couldn't save.
Evidently, such cases were extremely rare in the cultivation world.
"Second-tier, high-grade."
Luo Xiyue said coolly.
"Second-tier, high-grade?"
The female Foundation Establishment cultivator from the agency was slightly taken aback, a little surprised. This was because quite a few cultivation families came to reside permanently in Thousand Mountains Market City.
They would all choose to rent a spirit-veined immortal mountain.
But most would rent second-tier low-grade or mid-grade ones; very few rented second-tier high-grade immortal mountains.
It was too expensive.
Especially for just a few people sharing a second-tier, high-grade immortal mountain, the cost-effectiveness was truly low.
In fact, unless it was a cultivation family establishing a permanent residence, the cost-effectiveness for a single cultivator or a small group renting an immortal mountain was not very high.
This was because these immortal mountains all had spirit fields for cultivation.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you certainly wouldn't lower yourself to tend to spirit fields, would you?
Therefore, you would definitely need family members or juniors to plant and manage them. Otherwise, they would be left barren, a complete waste of such good resources.
You must know, to cultivate spirit fields outside, you still have to pay rent.
He remembered that back in Lotus Town, south of Qinghe Market City, Zhou Miaoyun had rented ten mu of spirit fields, and the rent for ten years was five hundred spirit stones.
"Alright. Currently, Thousand Mountains Market City has thirteen second-tier, high-grade spirit-veined immortal mountains available for rent. Please, fellow Daoists, make your selection."
The Foundation Establishment woman walked to the center of the hall and activated a mirror formation. In that instant, the entire topography of Thousand Mountains Market City was displayed within the hundred-square-meter hall.
Every single peak was perfectly rendered, showing the flowers, trees, ponds, rivers, waterfalls, spirit fields, and other features on them.
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan both revealed looks of astonishment, both amazed and curious about such a magical formation.
Chen Jianghe was also secretly amazed.
His understanding of the miraculous nature of the Dao of Formations had been refreshed once again.
"Fellow Daoists, please look. The yellow mountains contain first-tier spirit veins, the light-cyan mountains contain second-tier low-grade spirit veins, the cyan mountains contain second-tier mid-grade spirit veins, and the deep-cyan mountains contain second-tier high-grade spirit veins."
"A blue mark on an immortal mountain indicates that it has not yet been rented, while a red mark means it has already been rented out."
The female Foundation Establishment cultivator had been addressing Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue the entire time, completely ignoring Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan.
After all, in the eyes of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qi Refining cultivators were mere ants, not worthy of receiving an introduction and explanation from them.
Luo Xiyue glanced at the deep-cyan mountains marked in blue. There were thirteen in total.
She could see the layout and scenery on them with a single glance.
She had no requirements for her residence; as long as it was an immortal mountain with a second-tier, high-grade spirit vein, it would suffice.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Luo Xiyue. Seeing her indifferent expression, he knew there was no need to ask. If he did, her answer would be that she didn't care.
Then he looked toward Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan.
There was no need to ask them either.
Wherever he lived, they would live.
With that, Chen Jianghe began to carefully examine the images of the thirteen immortal mountains.
The scenery of every unrented immortal mountain was displayed with extreme clarity.
"What is the price for renting a second-tier immortal mountain?"
Chen Jianghe asked while he was looking.
"The annual rent for a second-tier, low-grade immortal mountain is one thousand to one thousand five hundred spirit stones."
"The annual rent for a second-tier, mid-grade immortal mountain is two thousand to three thousand spirit stones."
"The annual rent for a second-tier, high-grade immortal mountain is five thousand spirit stones or more, depending on the quality and quantity of the spirit fields."
Hearing the female Foundation Establishment cultivator's explanation, Chen Jianghe's heart skipped a beat.
Isn't this price a bit too high?
But when he remembered that the immortal mountains also had developed spirit fields, he felt relieved.
One could imagine that their immortal mountains were prepared for cultivation families. If you found it too expensive, you could queue up to rent a small courtyard.
"What's the price for this immortal mountain?"
Chen Jianghe pointed to one of the thirteen second-tier, high-grade immortal mountains. It was a relatively flat one.
The peak wasn't high, but the terrain was flat, resembling a giant turtle prostrated among the mountains.
"Fellow Daoist, you wish to rent Golden Ao Mountain?"
The female Foundation Establishment cultivator looked at Chen Jianghe, then at Luo Xiyue, her gaze even sweeping over Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan.
"Yes, this one. How much is the rent per year?" Chen Jianghe asked.
He had taken a liking to this Golden Ao Mountain at first glance. It resembled a giant prostrated turtle; though not tall, it was flat and had many spirit fields on it.
Furthermore, rivers crisscrossed through the spirit fields.
Like the patterns on a turtle's shell.
Most importantly, the residential area was on the Ao's head, where the spiritual energy was more abundant.
Doesn't Luo Xiyue like places with dense spiritual energy?
She could live here.
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan could live at the tail.
The spiritual energy wasn't as good as at the head, but it wasn't much worse.
After all, this Golden Ao Mountain wasn't that large, only about thirty li in circumference.
Of course, among the cluster of peaks, a mountain occupying thirty li was not considered small; its area ranked in the upper-middle range.
"This Golden Ao Mountain has eighty mu of high-grade spirit fields, which can be used not only to grow Spirit Marrow Rice, Immortal Spirit Rice, and Blood Fang Rice, but also first-tier mid- to high-grade medicinal herbs and Immortal Crystal Rice."
"If you truly wish to rent it, Fellow Daoist, the annual rent is seven thousand five hundred spirit stones."
The female Foundation Establishment cultivator had said so much, firstly to introduce the value of Golden Ao Mountain, and secondly to remind Chen Jianghe.
If you're not a cultivation family, you should choose a different mountain.
Eighty mu of high-grade spirit fields—this was prepared for cultivation families.
If too few cultivators lived there, these eighty mu of high-grade spirit fields would be wasted, which would be a great shame.
You must know, the spirit fields south of the Heaven-Reaching River used for growing Spirit Marrow Rice were all low-grade.
Growing Immortal Spirit Rice and Blood Fang Rice required mid-grade spirit fields.
High-grade spirit fields could be used to grow medicinal herbs and the even more expensive Immortal Crystal Rice. The herbs could be refined into spirit pills.
Immortal Crystal Rice could be cooked and was also the main ingredient for brewing top-grade Immortal Spirit Wine.
One must know that a pot of top-grade Immortal Spirit Wine was worth ten spirit stones, from which one could judge the value of Immortal Crystal Rice.
One mu of low-grade spirit field had an annual rent of five spirit stones.
One mu of mid-grade spirit field had an annual rent of ten spirit stones.
One mu of high-grade spirit field had an annual rent of twenty spirit stones.
For eighty mu of high-grade spirit fields, the annual rent outside would be one thousand six hundred spirit stones.
Therefore, an annual rent of seven thousand five hundred spirit stones for this Golden Ao Mountain was quite reasonable.
If a cultivation family were to rent it, it would be highly cost-effective.
"This Golden Ao Mountain—how do you all feel about it?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Luo Xiyue, Jiang Ruxu, and Zhuang Xinyan and asked.
"Mm."
Luo Xiyue nodded lightly.
"It's up to you, Senior," Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan said obediently.
"Alright then, this Golden Ao Mountain it is."
Chen Jianghe made his decision, then said to the gentle-voiced female Foundation Establishment cultivator, "Can I use second-tier talismans in place of spirit stones?"
"Second-tier talismans? Of course, you can."
Hearing that he would use second-tier talismans, the Foundation Establishment woman was instantly delighted and said repeatedly.
"The minimum lease is three years. The two of us will each pay for one year, and the two of them together will cover one year," Luo Xiyue sent a voice transmission.
Immediately, Luo Xiyue took out seven thousand five hundred spirit stones.
Hearing Luo Xiyue's voice transmission, Chen Jianghe nodded. He thought about his planned division of Golden Ao Mountain; although it was unfair to the three women, he could compensate them with spirit stones once he earned some.
Chen Jianghe sent a voice transmission to Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, telling them of Luo Xiyue's decision. The two girls also readily took out seven thousand five hundred spirit stones.
"Senior, we still have spirit stones. We can pay for you first, and you can pay us back when you have them,"
Jiang Ruxu sent via voice transmission.
Then she exchanged a look with Zhuang Xinyan, and together they took out fifteen thousand spirit stones.
This made Luo Xiyue glance at the two girls, then back at Chen Jianghe. She said nothing and coldly turned her head away.
Chen Jianghe did not refuse Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan's kind offer.
They would be with him for a while anyway, so he could just pay them back later when he had spirit stones.
The Foundation Establishment woman took the twenty-two thousand five hundred spirit stones and then brought out a formation plate and ten formation jade pendants.
The formation plate could alter the layout of the formations on Golden Ao Mountain.
The formation jade pendants allowed free entry into Golden Ao Mountain.
The reason for giving ten jade pendants was that most who rented immortal mountains were cultivation families with many members.
If ten jade pendants were not enough, one could purchase more for two hundred spirit stones each; they could have as many as they wanted.
After receiving the formation plate and jade pendants,
Chen Jianghe and the three women left the Immortal Residence Agency and, guided by the senses from the formation plate, flew toward Golden Ao Mountain.
Once outside the market city, they boarded the spirit vessel.
In less than half an hour, they arrived at Golden Ao Mountain.
Looking down at the immortal mountain that resembled a prostrated giant Ao, it was half a head shorter than the surrounding mountains, but it had a rich water system and eighty mu of spirit fields.
They stopped in the sky above Golden Ao Mountain.
Chen Jianghe pointed to the location of the Ao's head and looked at Luo Xiyue. "Fellow Daoist Luo, how about you live there?"
"Acceptable."
Luo Xiyue nodded.
The spiritual energy was densest at the Ao's head, and she was very satisfied.
"Xinyan, Ruxu, can you live there?" Chen Jianghe pointed to the Ao's tail.
Although it was the tail, it was connected to the shell, unlike the head, which was separated from the shell by a gorge.
"Of course, we'll follow your arrangements, Senior."
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan didn't have many requirements for their living quarters; as long as they could stay by Chen Jianghe's side, it was fine.
"Alright then, I'll take the turtle shell area of this Golden Ao Mountain."
After speaking, Chen Jianghe began refining the formation plate in mid-air.
Six hours later.
Chen Jianghe finished refining the formation plate and began using its power to alter the formation layout on Golden Ao Mountain.
Golden Ao Mountain had a second-tier, high-grade large-scale defensive formation, capable of withstanding attacks from a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Even if a False Core Loose Cultivator attacked, it could hold for a hundred breaths.
By then, False Core Loose Cultivators or Core Formation Masters from Thousand Mountains Market City would arrive as reinforcements.
Within this second-tier, high-grade large-scale defensive formation, there were also more than twenty smaller defensive formations.
There were also multiple isolation formations, awareness-avoiding formations, earthfire formations, spirit-gathering formations, cloud-and-rain formations... all of which could be modified using the formation plate.
Using the formation plate, Chen Jianghe isolated the Ao's head area, and then he isolated the tail.
In both of these places, he installed two earthfire formations, an awareness-avoiding formation, a spirit-gathering formation, and a cloud-and-rain formation.
Although they might not need the cloud-and-rain formation, what if they wanted to plant some flowers and plants?
With the isolation formations in place, whether Chen Jianghe wanted to enter the head or the tail, he would first need to go through a voice-messaging formation.
He could only enter after they opened the isolation formation.
If he tried to force his way in, he would be trapped in a cloud-and-mist killing formation.
There were also relay boxes, which Chen Jianghe also modified.
The intra-formation relay boxes in the three different locations were connected to the extra-formation relay boxes in their corresponding areas.
It took seven days.
Only then did Chen Jianghe finish modifying the formation layout and their respective activity areas.
Luo Xiyue resided at the Ao's head, where the spiritual energy was the best, the mountain was highest, and the activity area was the smallest.
Chen Jianghe resided on the turtle's shell, where the spiritual energy was average, the water system was extensive, and there were eighty mu of spirit fields.
Similarly, his activity area was the largest, occupying seventy percent of the entire Golden Ao Mountain.
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan resided at the Ao's tail. The spiritual energy was slightly weaker, but its density still surpassed that of a second-tier, mid-grade spirit vein.
The mountain was at its lowest point there, but it was connected to where Chen Jianghe lived, with no gorge in between.
Luo Xiyue had no requirements for her activity area. She disliked interacting with people and was very satisfied with Chen Jianghe's arrangement.
With that, she flew toward her new residence.
"Senior, we're going to cultivate now."
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan said obediently. After seeing Chen Jianghe nod, they also flew toward the Ao's tail.
Chen Jianghe landed in the central area of Golden Ao Mountain, looking at the flat region that spanned over twenty li.
This was all his private space.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe used a formation jade pendant to activate the isolation, awareness-avoiding, and defensive formations in his area.
There were ten formation jade pendants in total.
He gave three to Luo Xiyue, four to Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, and kept three for himself.
In reality, he felt one was enough for himself.
He wouldn't let anyone else enter his living space.
"Xiao Hei, come on out."
With a thought, Chen Jianghe released Xiao Hei from the spirit beast space.
"Haha... Your Turtle Lord is out!"
After coming out, Xiao Hei stretched his body, then stood up straight and looked at his surroundings.
Sensing and devouring the dense spiritual energy.
"Two-Legged Beast, is this our new home?"
"As far as the eye can see, it's all our territory."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
Then he released Maoqiu.
"Squeak squeak~" (Turtle Lord~ I missed you so much!)