Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Thousand Illusions Acquired, Sect Disciples Run Rampant
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In the alchemy room.
Chen Jianghe said nothing, silently watching Jiang Ruxu refine the Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill. Her hands formed seals with practiced ease, controlling the fire at the bottom of the cauldron.
Two Ice Soul Stones were tossed by Jiang Ruxu to the bottom of the cauldron. A gentle fire preheated them, activating the natural Cold Jade Array Patterns within the stones.
*Whoosh~*
The earthflame roared, and a blue light flickered.
As the Cold Jade Array Patterns were triggered, the earthflame was dyed blue. The fire suddenly intensified, changing to a fierce blaze that burned the bottom of the cauldron. While rapidly increasing the temperature inside, it kept the temperature at the base within a specific range.
Iceheart Grass, Barrier-Breaking Flower, and Heart-Piercing Grass were added in sequence. The ‘True Fire Art of the Crimson Sun’ manipulated the flames; a fierce fire heated the cauldron from the outside, while a pale blue flame appeared at the bottom within, tempering the medicinal herbs.
Seven hours passed.
Inside the cauldron, more than twenty types of herbs, including the Iceheart Grass, Barrier-Breaking Flower, and Heart-Piercing Grass, had been refined into a crystal-clear green liquid.
Suddenly, Jiang Ruxu’s hand seals changed. The gentle and fierce fires shifted, and she added over a dozen supplementary ingredients like Snow Dragon's Saliva.
She began to purify the impurities from the medicinal spirit liquid.
Another three hours went by.
Chen Jianghe watched every step of Jiang Ruxu's alchemy process—the hand seals, the rhythm of her fire control—and his eyes shone with a bright light.
“Ruxu’s talent in the Dao of Alchemy is truly extraordinary. She grasped the essence of refining the Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill after just one attempt.”
Chen Jianghe praised her in his heart.
Even his own talent in alchemy was slightly inferior to Jiang Ruxu's.
His ability to become a mid-rank Alchemist in such a short time was due to many factors.
First, he did possess talent in the Dao of Alchemy, and it wasn't low—it was in the upper-middle range.
Second, his cultivation was profound. Comprehending first-tier alchemy with a Foundation Establishment cultivation base was naturally twice as effective with half the effort, leading to rapid progress.
Furthermore, he had Alchemist Zhuang's alchemy inheritance and refining notes.
It was a classic case of one generation planting the trees for the next to enjoy the shade.
Benefiting from all this, he had become a mid-rank Alchemist in just seven short years and was on track to become a high-rank Alchemist within ten.
By that measure, he was actually a bit faster than Jiang Ruxu in becoming a high-rank Alchemist.
*Whoosh~*
Suddenly, the flames surged. It was time for the pill collection stage.
Chen Jianghe's gaze sharpened as he watched intently. He saw Jiang Ruxu execute the 'True Fire Art of the Crimson Sun,' forming seals with her hands, causing the fierce fire to climb and the gentle fire to descend.
Inside the cauldron, the spirit liquid formed from the Iceheart Grass and various supplementary ingredients began to boil.
Under the control of Jiang Ruxu's spiritual sense, the Snow Dragon's Saliva clinging to the top of the cauldron's interior transformed into a rain cloud, sprinkling evenly over the surface of the spirit liquid.
"Chirp chirp~~"
The sound of a phoenix's cry echoed from within the cauldron.
Immediately after, the spiritual energy generated by the heat wave condensed into an ice-crystal-like pill cloud at the top of the cauldron. At this moment, Jiang Ruxu sat cross-legged and switched to the 'Fetal Breathing Fire Control Incantation,' causing her own aura to resonate with the cauldron.
The fierce fire blazed for an hour.
Then it transitioned back to a gentle fire. The pill cloud turned into a spiritual rain, falling into the spirit liquid. As the gentle fire continued to burn, the liquid began to solidify into pills.
The Ice Soul Stones completely melted at this point, turning into ice crystals that merged with the spirit liquid, accelerating the formation of the Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills.
Another hour passed.
The lid of the cauldron began to vibrate as white smoke billowed out, carrying waves of fragrance.
This batch of Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills was successfully refined.
Chen Jianghe took a deep breath of the pill's fragrance. He now had a clear understanding of Jiang Ruxu's alchemy skills.
At this moment, Jiang Ruxu's alchemy skills were no less than Alchemist Zhuang's.
This was because, from beginning to end, Jiang Ruxu had not used the secret alchemy technique, the "Lightning-Guiding Alchemy Incantation." Alchemist Zhuang had likely used this secret method when he refined the Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
"Brother Chen, I succeeded."
Jiang Ruxu took out a jade bottle, placed the three spirit pills that looked like ice crystals inside, and then handed it to Chen Jianghe.
The beauty’s eyes were bright, her smile light and musical, her lively, autumn-water eyes gazing at Chen Jianghe.
"Ruxu, your alchemy skills have already surpassed Fellow Daoist Zhuang's. The student has surpassed the master."
Chen Jianghe offered his praise.
Then, he took out the other three Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills.
Two jade bottles floated in the air.
With a thought from Chen Jianghe, one jade bottle flew toward Jiang Ruxu, stopping in front of her.
"There are six Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills. You provided one Iceheart Grass, and I provided one. Although I supplied the supplementary ingredients, if we split them evenly, I'm still the one getting the better deal."
"Take these three Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills."
Chen Jianghe spoke gently, his eyes filled with a smile.
"No."
Jiang Ruxu shook her head repeatedly, disagreeing with Chen Jianghe's proposal. The Iceheart Grass she had was, in the end, obtained through Chen Jianghe's planning.
Besides, Ruan Tieniu had already come to redeem it.
Even if they were to ask for one Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill, it should come from her Iceheart Grass. How could they use one from Chen Jianghe's share?
"Brother Chen, my senior sister and I each have an Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill, so we don't need these. Besides, the Iceheart Grass that Fellow Daoist Ruan left with us was used to refine three pills. They should come from that stalk, not yours."
"You helped me refine the pills from your stalk of Iceheart Grass, so all three of those should belong to you."
"As for the three pills from this stalk of Iceheart Grass, they should be split between you, me, and Fellow Daoist Ruan."
Jiang Ruxu looked at Chen Jianghe seriously. She took one Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill from the jade bottle and returned the other two to him.
After accepting the single pill, a smile returned to her face. She giggled, "This is how it should be."
"How is it right?"
Chen Jianghe shot Jiang Ruxu a look, but seeing the happy smile on her face, he said helplessly, "We'll do as you say. Ruan Tieniu's pill will come from your stalk of Iceheart Grass, but that has nothing to do with me. You should take..."
"How does it have nothing to do with you? If it weren't for Brother Chen, how could I have this Iceheart Grass to refine these pills?"
"Without Brother Chen here, I wouldn't have succeeded in refining them either," Jiang Ruxu said, looking at Chen Jianghe with a serious gaze, her cherry-red lips pouting.
Chen Jianghe looked at Jiang Ruxu, wanting to say more but holding his tongue. In the end, he accepted the two Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills from the jade bottle.
He thought to himself that in the future, he would craft a second-tier mid-rank talisman for each of the two women and also help them acquire a second-tier high-rank talisman each.
Alchemist Zhuang had entrusted them to him.
He couldn't let them suffer any losses while they were with him.
Chen Jianghe told Jiang Ruxu to rest her mind and focus on her cultivation. Then, holding five Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills, he left the Clear Sound Pavilion with great satisfaction.
He returned to the Spirit Spring Gathering.
Seeing that Xiao Hei was not there, he extended his spiritual sense and saw Xiao Hei scolding Maoqiu.
For the past two years, Maoqiu had been managing the spirit fields.
The profits had clearly dropped significantly.
This showed the gap between Maoqiu and Xiao Hei.
However, Maoqiu couldn't be blamed. For a combat spirit beast to manage a spirit field to the point of profitability was already a remarkable feat.
One could say that among spirit beasts, Maoqiu was definitely in the clever and skillful category.
"Xiao Hei, Maoqiu has done a great job these past two years."
Chen Jianghe sent a mental message, hoping to get Xiao Hei to stop scolding Maoqiu. After all, over the past two years, Maoqiu had contributed a great deal, and his hard work was even greater.
"Maoqiu is clumsy, and you're just as clumsy. The spirit fields I managed so well, the mature earthwyrms I raised, the Azure-Feathered Swallows I trained into a routine—you two oafs have ruined them all. Now I have to train them all over again."
"Not only is it a waste of time, but it's also costing us spirit stones."
"Maoqiu is dumb, but you've been with me for nearly seventy years. How can you be this dumb?"
"Huh???"
Chen Jianghe instantly shut his mouth.
It was better to let Xiao Hei continue scolding Maoqiu.
The earthwyrms and Azure-Feathered Swallows weren't spirit beasts; it was impossible to communicate with them. How was he supposed to get them to work obediently in the spirit fields?
Wasn't that asking for the impossible?
And what was this about "been with you for nearly seventy years"?!
Such rebellion, turning the world upside down.
Of course, Chen Jianghe also understood Xiao Hei's mood at the moment. The meticulously planned spirit fields had been turned into a mess by him and Maoqiu.
This was naturally unacceptable for the ever-frugal and goal-oriented Xiao Hei.
Ignoring the scolding from the spirit fields, he diligently recharged the Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talisman, waiting for the one-month period to end.
Half a month passed quickly.
Chen Jianghe finished cultivating the "Soul Sea Origin-Solidifying Scripture" and first went to check on the Black-Shelled Turtles he was raising.
More than half of the twenty-odd Black-Shelled Turtles had already become spirit beasts.
As for the six hundred Black-Shelled Turtle hatchlings, they had grown to the size of a small dish, but a third of them had died.
Only about two hundred remained.
Fortunately, Xiao Hei had taken over and brought the mortality rate under control.
Currently, Chen Jianghe was only responsible for alchemy. He handed over the refined Spirit Awakening Pills, Spirit Nurturing Pills, Spirit Infusing Pills, and Spirit Accumulating Pills to Xiao Hei.
He let Xiao Hei handle the breeding of the Black-Shelled Turtles.
As well as rewarding the Azure-Feathered Swallows and earthwyrms that helped in the spirit fields.
As for the white tiger, since Chen Jianghe had reached the perfection stage in the "Jade Dew Muscle-Growing Incantation," it was no longer of use to him.
Chen Jianghe had handed it over to Xiao Hei.
If it was useful, he could keep it.
If not, it could only be sold at the Beast Taming House for spirit stones.
A white tiger with a first-grade high-rank bloodline had no potential for cultivation and could at most reach the late stage of the first tier.
Becoming a second-tier spirit beast was simply impossible.
A spirit beast with a second-grade high-rank bloodline only had a ten percent chance of breaking through to the second tier. With a second-tier spirit core, that chance increased to thirty percent at most.
A spirit beast with a second-grade low-rank bloodline would never become a second-tier spirit beast without a great stroke of luck.
Therefore, a first-grade bloodline was considered mundane.
It had no cultivation value.
Chen Jianghe extended his spiritual sense as far as it could go, reaching one hundred and ninety-three zhang and six chi.
He had reached the threshold of the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage.
He tried to manipulate an object.
"Forty-two jun. Not bad. It seems my spiritual cultivation will break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage before my magical power cultivation."
Generally speaking, the spiritual sense of an early Foundation Establishment cultivator could extend up to two hundred zhang at most, and they could manipulate objects weighing up to fifty jun.
One jun was thirty catties.
Chen Jianghe had only consumed one Two Revolutions Spirit-Nourishing Pill, ten portions of Soul-Consolidating Clay, and Spirit-Nourishing Grass.
To reach this realm with just that showed that his soul was different from ordinary people.
He progressed much faster in cultivation.
It was important to know that magical power cultivation, spiritual cultivation, and physical cultivation were not synchronized.
When you cultivated magical power, you increased your magical power cultivation, but it wouldn't raise your spiritual or physical cultivation.
However, if your magical power reached a certain level, but your physical and spiritual cultivation couldn't keep up, your magical power cultivation would stagnate.
For example, if you had only cultivated the fourth level of a body-tempering art, it would be very difficult for your magical power cultivation to reach the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Your body wouldn't be able to withstand the intensity of late Foundation Establishment magical power.
Forcibly breaking through would only cause your meridians to collapse, your magical power to leak out, and your internal organs to be destroyed, leading to death.
Therefore, many cultivators who had reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage still had their spiritual and physical cultivation stuck at the early Foundation Establishment stage.
Chen Jianghe's ability to synchronize his magical power and spiritual cultivation already put him above his rogue cultivator peers.
He could be considered on par with the direct descendants of the major immortal clans.
However, compared to the sect disciples who cultivated all three aspects in unison, he was still a big step behind.
"After reaching the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, I'll need to buy spiritual items to aid in body cultivation. I'm short on spirit stones!"
Just as Chen Jianghe was lost in thought.
The formation jade pendant at his waist trembled slightly. It was a message from Luo Xiyue, telling him to come and get the artifact, Thousand Illusions.
Upon hearing the message, Chen Jianghe immediately sent a reply.
He went to the Waterfall Abode and received the special artifact, Thousand Illusions, from Luo Xiyue's hands.
Thousand Illusions was a special artifact without a grade. After putting it on, one could change their appearance and alter the aura they emitted.
However, it couldn't change one's height or the aura of their magical power.
Still, for Chen Jianghe, this was more than enough.
After obtaining Thousand Illusions.
Chen Jianghe returned to the Spirit Spring Gathering and first refined it. Because it was a special artifact, it only took seven hours to completely refine it.
"Xiao Hei, come here."
Chen Jianghe sent a mental message to Xiao Hei, wanting him to test the wonders of Thousand Illusions.
When Xiao Hei arrived, Chen Jianghe took out Thousand Illusions and placed it on his face. With a thought, his facial features changed.
He became a round-faced man with a full, bushy beard.
The aura around him changed as well, giving off a somewhat rough and wild impression.
"Xiao Hei, can you still recognize me?" Chen Jianghe asked Xiao Hei, his interest piqued.
At first, Xiao Hei showed surprise, seemingly curious about the change in Chen Jianghe's appearance. But then, a look of contempt appeared in its bean-like eyes.
"I'd recognize you even if you were turned to ash."
"Ah, I forgot about your keen sense of smell."
Chen Jianghe then sent a mental message to Maoqiu, asking it to come and see his transformation.
Sure enough, when Maoqiu entered the Spirit Spring Gathering, it looked at the unfamiliar Chen Jianghe with wary eyes.
It moved closer to Xiao Hei, as if asking whether it should attack.
But after three breaths.
Maoqiu noticed something was amiss. It sensed a familiar aura from Chen Jianghe. Even though the aura had changed, they were connected by a contract.
Thus, Maoqiu was very confused as to why Chen Jianghe's appearance and even his aura had changed.
Seeing Maoqiu's reaction, even though he had only fooled it for three breaths, Chen Jianghe knew it was enough to prove how amazing Thousand Illusions was.
He and Maoqiu had a master-pet contract.
Of course, Maoqiu would quickly notice his change.
But unfamiliar cultivators would not be able to see through to his true appearance.
As long as a Core Formation expert didn't probe him with their spiritual sense, they wouldn't see through his disguise. So, Thousand Illusions was still very good.
It was perfect for him to use at the bartering conference.
Even if he obtained a great treasure, he wouldn't have to worry about being targeted and trapped in the secret realm.
After testing the power of Thousand Illusions, Chen Jianghe returned to his original appearance.
Then, he left Golden Ao Mountain.
A month had passed.
He needed to give Ruan Tieniu an answer. He considered this man a target for 'cultivation,' so he couldn't be neglectful.
He had five Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills. After giving one to Ruan Tieniu, he would have four left.
He would keep one for himself.
He would also save one for Yun Xiaoniu, which meant he still had two Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pills to trade for resources at the bartering conference.
Chen Jianghe entered the market city, found a low mountain peak, and located Ruan Tieniu's small courtyard. He placed a written message into the mail chest.
Then, he waited outside the courtyard gate for Ruan Tieniu.
He wasn't worried that Ruan Tieniu was in seclusion, nor did he think Ruan Tieniu would have gone out during this time.
With the Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill at stake, Ruan Tieniu would naturally be anxiously waiting at home for Chen Jianghe's reply.
Less than three breaths after Chen Jianghe placed the message in the mail chest, he saw Ruan Tieniu hurry out.
"Brother Chen."
Ruan Tieniu's eyes held a hint of nervousness, but he didn't ask directly, though the urgency in his gaze was hard to hide.
"Congratulations, Brother Ruan. You will soon become a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator." Chen Jianghe clasped his hands and offered his congratulations.
"Eh? Haha..."
Ruan Tieniu was taken aback for a moment, then understood and burst into laughter.
"It's all thanks to Brother Chen's planning."
"Come, I'll take you to a good place, Brother Chen."
Ruan Tieniu didn't invite Chen Jianghe into his courtyard but instead sought another place to thank him. It was unclear whether he had secrets in his courtyard or had genuinely found a good place in Thousand Mountains Market City.
Coincidentally.
Chen Jianghe had no desire to enter another person's cultivation grounds.
Other than the cultivation places of Luo Xiyue, Jiang Ruxu, and Zhuang Xinyan, he would not easily enter anyone else's territory.
"A good place? Are there pleasure cultivators in Thousand Mountains Market City?"
Chen Jianghe wondered.
As he saw it, most of the cultivators in Thousand Mountains Market City were in the mid to late Qi Refining stages, with perhaps more late-stage cultivators.
Having cultivated to the late Qi Refining stage, there was no need to work as a pleasure cultivator in a brothel, right?
As for those female Foundation Establishment cultivators, they would be even less likely to lower themselves to become pleasure cultivators.
Of course, Chen Jianghe also knew that his knowledge was limited. Perhaps there really were female Foundation Establishment cultivators who worked as such.
A quarter of an hour later.
Chen Jianghe realized he had been overthinking things.
Ruan Tieniu had brought him to a mountain peak near the Arctic Snow Forest, where many Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered.
From their auras and their attire and behavior, it was clear they were likely all rogue cultivators.
Their auras were chaotic, a clear sign that their spiritual and physical cultivation had not advanced in sync.
"Spirit-Stealing Teahouse?"
Chen Jianghe looked at the three-story building before him. Four large characters were written above: Spirit-Stealing Teahouse.
It seemed this was a gathering place for spirit-stealers.
Upon entering the Spirit-Stealing Teahouse, the first floor was a large hall with square tables. Groups of three or five Foundation Establishment cultivators were seated around them.
There were no spiritual sense-blocking or sound-insulating formations.
He could hear their discussions and exchanges without any restraint.
"Lately, a lot of sect disciples and immortal clan members have entered the Arctic Snow Forest, stealing all our business. It's infuriating."
"Exactly! If they're so capable, they should go to the Boundless Sea!"
"There are far more spiritual items in the Boundless Sea. Why do they have to compete with us in the Arctic Snow Forest? These sect disciples really won't leave us rogue cultivators any way to live."
"A while ago, a fellow Daoist found three Iceheart Lotus Seeds in the Arctic Snow Forest. Before he could even leave the forest, he was killed and robbed by a sect disciple named Xiao Chen."
"Absolutely despicable. Otherwise, those Iceheart Lotus Seeds would have been mine."
"That's right, I should have gotten one too."
"..."
Listening to the discussions of these cultivators, Chen Jianghe sighed inwardly at the dangers outside the market city.
He had thought these rogue cultivators were fighting for justice for the slain cultivator, but it turned out they were all just upset that they hadn't been the ones to snatch the Iceheart Lotus Seeds.
Indeed, of the dangers in the Arctic Snow Forest, one part came from demonic beasts, and nine parts came from other cultivators.
Suddenly.
A voice reached his ears.
"Actually, the reason so many sect disciples and immortal clan members have come to Thousand Mountains Market City is that the entrance to the secret realm this time is in the Arctic Snow Forest."
"The secret realm trial that happens once every thirty years is opening again?"
"It's actually in the Arctic Snow Forest. No wonder so many sect disciples have gathered in Thousand Mountains Market City."
"I have reliable information. The entrance to the secret realm this time is three thousand li north of Thousand Mountains Market City. Before long, Core Formation elders from the sects will arrive. Even Core Formation experts from the top immortal clans will come to escort these disciples safely into the secret realm."
"If only I could enter the secret realm. I've heard it's filled with heaven and earth spiritual treasures."
"You? It's not that I look down on you, Fellow Daoist, but with your skills, I'm afraid you wouldn't even catch the eye of those sect disciples!"
"Forget about you all, I'm already at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and even I don't appeal to those sect disciples."
"..."
Listening to the chatter in the first-floor hall, Chen Jianghe followed Ruan Tieniu up to the second floor and entered an elegant tea room.
Here, there were sound-insulating and spiritual sense-blocking formations.
But the price was not low.
Only by ordering a pot of spirit tea worth ten spirit stones could one enjoy tea and discuss the Dao here.
Ruan Tieniu was in high spirits, so he splurged, treating Chen Jianghe to a pot of spirit tea worth ten spirit stones.
On any other day.
It would have likely been the coarse tea from the main hall, worth fifty spirit sand a pot.
After taking their seats.
The two of them took a sip of the spirit tea.
Both felt the fragrance of the tea was intoxicating, leaving them feeling refreshed and content.
"Brother Ruan, this is an Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill. It can help you break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. It will also give you an extra layer of safety when you enter the Arctic Snow Forest in the future."
Chen Jianghe took out an Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill, wrapped it in magical power, and sent it over to Ruan Tieniu.
"Thank you, Brother Chen."
Ruan Tieniu was ecstatic. After accepting the pill, he thanked Chen Jianghe repeatedly.
As he spoke, Ruan Tieniu took out a jade box and carefully placed the Iceheart Barrier-Breaking Pill inside.
Then he put it into his storage bag.
The nervous look in his eyes dissipated, replaced by a sense of satisfaction and joy.
"By the way, I just obtained a second-tier water-attribute spirit core. I was just about to go to Golden Ao Mountain to find you, Brother Chen, but I didn't expect you to come first."
Ruan Tieniu took out a second-tier water-attribute spirit core.
Judging by the spiritual power fluctuations from this core, it likely came from an early second-tier demonic beast.
Most of the second-tier spirit cores traded on the market were from early second-tier demonic beasts.
After all, mid-tier and late-tier second-tier demonic beasts were too difficult to kill.
As for a peak second-tier demonic beast, that was a terrifying existence that even a False Core rogue cultivator would be wary of.
Chen Jianghe took out the newly crafted Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talisman and traded it with Ruan Tieniu for the second-tier water-attribute spirit core.
He had already given Maoqiu two second-tier water-attribute spirit cores.
If he gave this one to Maoqiu as well, there was a good chance it could break through to the mid-second tier before the secret realm opened.
"I need to get one more second-tier water-attribute spirit core. That will give Maoqiu an even better chance of breaking through."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
At that moment, Ruan Tieniu lowered his voice and spoke to Chen Jianghe mysteriously, "Brother Chen, you heard those fellow Daoists discussing the secret realm just now, right?"