Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Brothers Growing Distant? Two Years of Seclusion
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Chen Jianghe looked at the two letters in his hand. One was sent in November of last year, and the other at the end of the year.
The Tiannan Sect's Flying Post service was spread throughout the entire Tiannan Domain.
South of the Skyward River, immortal market cities, Foundation Establishment immortal clans, and even slightly larger immortal cultivation towns had Flying Post stations.
The same was true north of the Skyward River; market cities and Foundation Establishment immortal clans all had Flying Post stations.
Even the slightly larger cities within the four great immortal nations had Flying Post stations.
No cultivators dared to cause trouble for the Flying Post stations. Even demonic cultivators and rogue cultivators wouldn't target the Flying Post.
After all, they too had times when they needed to use the Flying Post.
Besides, the Flying Post only delivered letters and carried no valuable treasures. Robbing them would bring no benefits.
And it would offend the Tiannan Sect.
If a Tiannan Sect disciple was killed by a cultivator of the same level during their training, it was simply considered a lack of skill on the disciple's part.
But if you killed a Flying Post messenger...
...even a Core Formation expert would be blacklisted by the Tiannan Sect and added to their demon-slaying mission contribution list.
Foundation Establishment disciples might not be able to do anything to you.
But that didn't mean the Tiannan Sect's Core Formation elders couldn't.
Therefore, the Flying Post network in the Tiannan Domain was highly developed. Even though Thousand Mountains Market City was fifty to sixty thousand miles away from Qiyun Mountain, letters could be exchanged within half a year.
Chen Jianghe first opened the letter from November. As he read its contents, his brows furrowed.
It wasn't that Yu Daniu had run into trouble.
Rather, it was some of the wording in Yu Daniu's letter. It was no longer as carefree as before.
It seemed extremely cautious.
As if every word was written only after deep consideration.
As if worried about displeasing Chen Jianghe.
"How did Daniu become like this?"
Chen Jianghe finished the first letter. Its contents were extremely brief, saying nothing about the Yu Clan's affairs.
Nor did it mention the development of Qiyun Mountain.
It was as if he feared these trivial matters would displease Chen Jianghe.
Then, Chen Jianghe opened the second letter, which did mention the Yu Clan's development.
It seemed as though Yu Daniu had written the two letters in a state of conflict.
The first letter didn't mention the Yu Clan's development out of fear that trivial matters would displease Chen Jianghe.
The second letter did mention it, as if worried that Chen Jianghe would think he was distancing himself from their brotherhood.
"How could Daniu become so timid?"
With a flicker of spiritual power in his palm, Chen Jianghe turned the letters to dust, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Previously, even after he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment and was living on Qiyun Mountain, Yu Daniu's attitude towards him hadn't changed.
He still treated him as his big brother.
He didn't start calling him 'Senior' or change their brotherly dynamic just because he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He had only been away from Qiyun Mountain for ten years. How could Yu Daniu have changed so much?
In the letter from three years ago, Yu Daniu wasn't like this.
Suddenly.
Chen Jianghe thought of a reason.
He and Yu Daniu were both ninety-three years old.
For Chen Jianghe, with his lifespan of seven hundred and eighteen years, ninety-three was still his youth.
But for Yu Daniu, who was in the Qi Refining stage, it was the beginning of the final countdown of his life.
The lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator was one hundred and twenty years.
But this one hundred and twenty years wasn't set in stone. For a large portion of Qi Refining cultivators, living to one hundred and fifteen was already quite good.
Of course, there were also many Qi Refining cultivators who focused on health preservation. Without taking Life Extension Pills or Youth Retaining Pills, some could live to be one hundred and twenty-five.
For a Qi Refining cultivator, the age of ninety was a watershed.
Reaching one's nineties meant a Qi Refining cultivator had fully entered old age.
"Sigh~"
Chen Jianghe sighed helplessly.
He had guessed the reason why Yu Daniu had written two letters.
When people get old, they think more, and their worries multiply.
Qi Refining cultivators who haven't taken that next step are, in the end, still mortals.
He was worried about their brotherly bond growing distant, yet also afraid that the bond truly would grow distant.
"Our bond as brothers is stronger than gold. How could it grow distant?"
Chen Jianghe picked up a brush and wrote a reply to Yu Daniu, using their old tone and giving him plenty of advice.
Telling him to develop the Yu Clan well.
Yu Qirui was already twenty-eight. He should let go of clan affairs and let Yu Qirui and his wife handle them.
As Chen Jianghe wrote the reply, he didn't mind being long-winded, doing his best to match Yu Daniu's state of mind.
The elderly are often talkative.
He also advised Yu Daniu to have Yun Xiaoniu and Yun Siniu focus on their cultivation and not get too involved in clan affairs.
The two brothers should only serve as the Yu Clan's pillars of stability and shouldn't interfere too much in their decisions.
Everything should be centered around cultivation.
After rambling on and finishing the reply, Chen Jianghe placed it into the post box. With a flash of spiritual light, the letter was transported to the post box outside the mountain's protective array.
When the Flying Post came to collect it, it would reach Qiyun Mountain in three or four months.
Immediately after.
Chen Jianghe flew out of the protective array and headed for the market city.
Three hours later, he returned from the market city.
He left quickly and returned just as fast.
After returning, he left a voice message for Jiang Ruxu, asking if she was in seclusion.
After receiving Jiang Ruxu's response, Chen Jianghe went to the Clear Sound Pavilion.
"Is Xinyan still in seclusion?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Jiang Ruxu in confusion and asked.
"Senior Sister is very talented in the way of puppets and enjoys it immensely. She's been comprehending puppetry techniques this whole time. Even I rarely see her come out."
Jiang Ruxu's pretty eyes held a smile. Her large, bright eyes gazed at Chen Jianghe, sparkling with a playful and lively light.
"Uh~ good, having talent is good. When Xinyan comes out of seclusion, tell her not to be too hasty in her puppetry studies. She needs to balance work and rest."
Chen Jianghe advised, then said, "Do you have time to help me refine a batch of Life Extension Pills?"
"Life Extension Pills?"
A trace of doubt flashed in Jiang Ruxu's eyes.
She knew Alchemist Zhuang had refined some Life Extension Pills for Chen Jianghe, so he must have taken some himself.
However, Jiang Ruxu didn't ask what Chen Jianghe wanted the Life Extension Pills for.
"Life Extension Pills are second-rank entry-level spirit pills. They're easy to refine. I can help you refine them right now, Big Brother Chen," Jiang Ruxu said with a smile.
"Good."
Chen Jianghe took out the medicinal herbs he had just bought at Thousand Mountains Market City and handed them to Jiang Ruxu, watching her walk into the alchemy room.
Originally, Chen Jianghe had planned to refine the Life Extension Pills later, after he became a high-rank alchemist and had a few years to settle in. Then he could attempt to refine second-rank entry-level spirit pills.
But this letter from Yu Daniu made him abandon that idea.
For him, it wouldn't matter if he refined the pills in ten years, or even fifty.
But ten years was different for Yu Daniu.
Yu Daniu was already ninety-three.
He didn't have many decades left.
Although Life Extension Pills could be bought south of the Skyward River, they had to be purchased at auctions.
And it wasn't guaranteed that every auction would have them.
There was another point. Yu Daniu was the ancestor of the Yu Clan and the great elder of the Yun Clan, yet his cultivation was only at the Qi Refining stage.
Would he spend spirit stones on himself?
Three Life Extension Pills would cost at least two thousand six hundred spirit stones at an auction.
"I still need someone to deliver the Life Extension Pills back to Qiyun Mountain. The Flying Post only delivers letters, not items. I need to find someone reliable."
"Ruan Tieniu is about to enter the secret realm. He'll definitely be spending this time improving his own abilities, not wasting it on this."
"The Xu brothers, however, could be useful."
Chen Jianghe thought of the two brothers, Xu Feng and Xu Hong. They were both Foundation Establishment cultivators and also spirit thieves.
But their opportunities were not as profound as Ruan Tieniu's.
And their foundations couldn't compare.
Nine hours later, Jiang Ruxu emerged from the alchemy room and gave Chen Jianghe six Life Extension Pills.
"Big Brother Chen, Life Extension Pills can only be given to those closest to you. Never sell them to strangers. Otherwise, if the Tiannan Sect finds out, the punishment would be minor, but having your cultivation crippled is a serious matter."
Jiang Ruxu reminded him.
It seemed every second-rank alchemist was aware of this Tiannan Sect rule and dared not violate it.
Chen Jianghe was naturally aware of it too. He nodded solemnly.
Then he returned to his own Spirit Spring Abode.
He wrote a letter to the Xu Feng and Xu Hong brothers, asking them to come to Golden Ao Mountain in three months, at which time an opportunity would be presented to them.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe began to infuse spiritual energy into the Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman, then cultivated the Myriad Waters True Scripture and the Soul Sea Fortifying Scripture.
As for cultivating the forbidden art [Absolute Freeze].
Chen Jianghe planned to raise his cultivation to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage first. Right now, the most important thing was to improve his cultivation.
Only by reaching the mid-Foundation Establishment stage could he draw second-rank high-grade talismans.
And have the capital to trade with Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao on equal footing.
Time flew by.
Three months passed.
Chen Jianghe successfully created that second-rank mid-grade Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman. He now had two second-rank mid-grade offensive talismans in his possession.
He also drew two Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talismans.
Seeing the post box glimmer faintly, Chen Jianghe guessed that the Xu brothers had arrived. He took out the message letter and looked.
It was just as he thought.
He flew out of the mountain's protective array and saw the smiling Xu brothers.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, what might this opportunity be?"
Xu Feng flew before Chen Jianghe and asked joyfully.
Xu Hong also stared intently at Chen Jianghe with a curious gaze.
"I'd like to ask you two fellow Daoists to make a trip to Qiyun Mountain to deliver a few spirit pills."
Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle, "As payment, I will give you two Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talismans."
"I'll give you one now, and the other after the job is done. How about it?"
Xu Feng and Xu Hong exchanged a glance, both showing disappointment.
They had thought it was some great opportunity.
They hadn't expected it to be just delivering spirit pills.
However, with two Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talismans as payment, it was still a small opportunity for them.
Two Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talismans would cost three thousand spirit stones if bought from a talisman shop.
If the two brothers planned their route well, a round trip to Qiyun Mountain would only take about half a year.
Earning three thousand spirit stones in half a year was quite substantial.
As for the dangers along the way?
With flying ships and treasure boats, how dangerous could it be?
Was it as dangerous as the Arctic Snow Forest?
"We can do it. Thank you, Fellow Daoist Chen, for looking out for us brothers," Xu Feng said, cupping his hands.
Chen Jianghe nodded and directly took out a jade bottle containing three Life Extension Pills.
He also took out a Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talisman.
He handed both to Xu Feng. He wasn't worried that the Xu brothers would embezzle the three Life Extension Pills.
Nor was he worried they would run off.
The value of the Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talisman exceeded that of the Life Extension Pills.
Furthermore, Chen Jianghe was their connection to a second-rank Talisman Master in Thousand Mountains Market City, which was a great help for their ventures into the Arctic Snow Forest.
Besides, Chen Jianghe had promised them.
As long as they could provide the materials for second-rank mid-grade talismans, Chen Jianghe could craft them and then sell them back.
Don't be fooled by the fact that they had to provide the materials and then buy the talismans back.
Many rogue cultivators would kill for such an opportunity.
But they lacked the connections.
However, Chen Jianghe didn't let the two brothers take the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. The value of that spirit pill was too high.
And since both brothers were at the early Foundation Establishment stage, they might not be able to resist the temptation of the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
In addition, Chen Jianghe wasn't very familiar with them.
Testing human nature was not something to be done sparingly, but something that should never be done at all.
Watching the two brothers leave, Chen Jianghe returned to his Spirit Spring Abode.
His spiritual sense swept towards the spirit fields but didn't see Xiao Hei. He then looked towards the habitat of the Black-Armored Turtles.
There, he saw Xiao Hei diluting Spirit Awakening Pills and feeding them to the young Black-Armored Turtle hatchlings.
With Xiao Hei taking over, the survival rate of these hatchlings was very high. He estimated that about one hundred and fifty Black-Armored Turtles would grow to maturity.
Adding the twenty Black-Armored Turtles that had mostly already become spirit beasts, Chen Jianghe was raising over one hundred and seventy Black-Armored Turtles.
For now, the consumption wasn't great.
When all these Black-Armored Turtles were raised to the late first-rank, the consumption would be truly massive.
But no matter how great the consumption, it was worth it for Chen Jianghe.
Over one hundred and seventy late first-rank Black-Armored Turtles were enough for him to cultivate the Soul Sea Fortifying Scripture to the sixth level of perfection.
After Xiao Hei finished his work, Chen Jianghe called him over. Together, they consumed the other three Life Extension Pills and a Fasting Pill.
The Youth Retaining Pills and Life Extension Pills had maxed out their lifespan increase.
These three Life Extension Pills added another eight years and eight months to Xiao Hei's lifespan.
At this moment, Xiao Hei's lifespan reached two hundred and forty-eight years and six months.
Taking any more Youth Retaining Pills or Life Extension Pills would have no effect on Xiao Hei, unless they were intermediate or advanced Life Extension Pills.
A second-rank entry-level Life Extension Pill, which could increase lifespan by ten years, was considered a primary Life Extension Pill.
Intermediate Life Extension Pills were third-rank spirit pills.
One pill could increase lifespan by twenty years, but one could only take three at most, and the effect diminished with each dose.
In other words.
Taking three intermediate Life Extension Pills could increase one's lifespan by thirty-five years.
But Chen Jianghe had never seen intermediate Life Extension Pills in Thousand Mountains Market City, not even at auctions or barter fairs.
The only reason he knew about them was from reading the Tiannan Annals.
Gaining nearly nine years of life made Xiao Hei incredibly excited. If Chen Jianghe hadn't dodged quickly, he would have been picked up and pecked fiercely a couple of times.
——
Time flies, swift as a fleeting shadow.
In the blink of an eye, two years passed.
Spirit Spring Abode.
The branches and leaves of the Dragon Pattern Red Pine swayed in the wind, making a soft, crisp, and pleasant rustling sound.
In the second month of Chen Jianghe's seclusion, the Dragon Pattern Red Pine successfully advanced to a second-rank high-grade spirit plant.
Its trunk had thickened by three inches but it hadn't grown taller. However, if one probed deep underground with spiritual sense, they would discover that the root system of the Dragon Pattern Red Pine extended for five miles in all directions.
After becoming a second-rank high-grade spirit plant, the Dragon Pattern Red Pine's speed of absorbing spiritual energy increased, far surpassing that of Chen Jianghe, a peak early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
It could be compared to an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Fortunately, they had rented a second-rank high-grade spirit vein blessed mountain.
Otherwise, the Dragon Pattern Red Pine's consumption rate would have thinned the spiritual energy of the entire immortal mountain by a third.
After the Dragon Pattern Red Pine advanced to second-rank high-grade, Chen Jianghe didn't immediately use its bark to draw second-rank talismans.
Instead, he spent five thousand spirit stones to buy the spirit blood of a late second-rank demonic beast with a dragon bloodline for the tree to absorb, allowing it to first consolidate its rank.
Although the Dragon Pattern Red Pine's advancement to second-rank high-grade was accomplished with Chen Jianghe's significant help.
It had also caught Chen Jianghe's eye, demonstrating its potential for vigorous cultivation.
Therefore, Chen Jianghe did not hold back in its subsequent nurturing.
In any case, he had spirit hides for drawing second-rank mid-grade talismans, so he wasn't in a hurry to take the bark from the Dragon Pattern Red Pine.
*Crack.*
The Spirit Spring Pearl in Chen Jianghe's hand turned from milky white to completely transparent. A crack appeared, followed by a dense web of fissures covering its entire surface. With a crisp sound, the spiritual energy within the Spirit Spring Pearl was depleted, and it shattered into dust, scattering in the wind.
"Hoo~"
At that moment, Chen Jianghe opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath, glancing at the dust remaining in his palm.
A faint light flashed.
Water-elemental spiritual power washed the dust from his hand.
"It's about what I expected. I've been absorbing this Spirit Spring Pearl for four years and eight months, and it has raised my cultivation to the perfection of the early Foundation Establishment stage."
He observed his inner self with his spiritual sense.
In his Dantian, forty-eight drops of majestic Foundation Establishment spiritual power floated, each one a dream for Qi Refining cultivators.
The first drop of Foundation Establishment spiritual power was immense, surrounded by the others like the bright moon in the night sky guarded by a host of stars.
Looking closer at that first drop, it was clearly a size larger than the others.
This was because he was about to condense the forty-ninth drop of Foundation Establishment spiritual power.
The early Foundation Establishment stage was subdivided into three layers.
Condensing one drop of Foundation Establishment spiritual power was the first layer.
Condensing nine drops was the second layer.
Condensing twenty-four drops was the third layer.
Condensing forty-nine drops signified the perfection of the early Foundation Establishment stage, allowing one to attempt a breakthrough to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
"In a month at most, I can condense the forty-ninth drop of Foundation Establishment spiritual power. At that time, I can use the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."
"Once I reach the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, I'll have the ability to plan some means of self-preservation."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
During his two years of seclusion, he first drew second-rank mid-grade talismans, creating four Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans, two Azure Wood Immortal Shield Talismans, and two Rushing Thunder Talismans.
Adding the two Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans he had drawn before.
The ten spirit hides were all used up.
He didn't directly take the bark from the Dragon Pattern Red Pine to continue drawing second-rank mid-grade talismans.
Instead, he used the three spirit plant hides he had accumulated previously to create Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talismans.
Two of the Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talismans were given to Ruan Tieniu, ending their ten-year deal. From now on, he no longer needed to give Ruan Tieniu Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talismans.
Chen Jianghe didn't sell the remaining Crimson Flame Cloud-Riding Talisman.
He didn't sell those second-rank mid-grade talismans either.
Fortunately, he had enough spirit stones on hand. Otherwise, he really would have needed to sell a few second-rank mid-grade talismans.
He paid the rent for Golden Ao Mountain again.
It cost seven thousand five hundred spirit stones, plus the five thousand spirit stones spent on the late second-rank demonic beast blood for the Dragon Pattern Red Pine.
That was twelve thousand five hundred spirit stones.
The fifteen Water Spirit Pills he had previously bought for Xiao Hei were enough for five years of cultivation, so there were no further expenses there.
Maoqiu cultivated using second-rank water-elemental spirit cores, so there was no spirit stone expenditure for him either.
Chen Jianghe spent one thousand two hundred spirit stones on medicinal herbs for alchemy in these two years, and he didn't sell any of the spirit pills he refined.
He gave them all to Xiao Hei.
For Xiao Hei to use in raising the Black-Armored Turtles and rewarding the Azure-Feathered Swallows and the mountain monkeys.
The total spirit stone expenditure over these two years was thirteen thousand seven hundred spirit stones.
Of course, it wasn't without income.
Xiao Hei and Maoqiu's cultivation of Immortal Crystal Rice yielded a great harvest in both years.
The first year's harvest of Immortal Crystal Rice was bountiful, bringing in a total of nine thousand one hundred and twenty spirit stones.
The second year's harvest was even better, worth a total of nine thousand six hundred spirit stones.
Subtracting the cost of the Immortal Crystal Rice seeds for two years, which was nine thousand six hundred spirit stones.
The profit from the spirit fields was nine thousand one hundred and twenty spirit stones.
The osmanthus fish and sturgeon raised by Xiao Hei matured and were sold for six thousand spirit stones.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe bought another one thousand two hundred spirit stones' worth of spirit fry for Xiao Hei to continue raising.
On average, raising spirit fish in the river could generate a profit of over nine hundred spirit stones a year.
Which was also quite good.
Four thousand eight hundred spirit stones, plus nine thousand one hundred and twenty spirit stones, was the total income for these two years.
Subtracting the thirteen thousand seven hundred spirit stones in expenses, two hundred and twenty spirit stones remained. This was the net profit.
He hadn't sold a single talisman, yet he still managed to make a profit of two hundred and twenty spirit stones over these two years.
It was all thanks to Xiao Hei and Maoqiu.
He now had thirty-five thousand four hundred and thirty-six spirit stones and twenty grains of spirit sand in his possession.
He could be considered to have a small amount of capital.
Chen Jianghe's spiritual sense swept over the post box. There were three letters. With a thought, he pulled the letters into his hand.
One was a letter from Yu Daniu.
The other two were from Ruan Tieniu.
Chen Jianghe opened Yu Daniu's letter first.
A year ago, Chen Jianghe had received two letters from Yu Daniu. One was to inform him that the Xu brothers had arrived at Qiyun Mountain and delivered the Life Extension Pills.
In the second letter, Yu Daniu had chatted about family matters.
He spoke of the detailed recent developments of the Yu Clan.
Yu Qirui already had nine sons and seven daughters. Among them, six sons and three daughters had reached the age to have their spiritual roots tested.
One son was found to have four-element pseudo-spiritual roots, four of the other five sons had five-element miscellaneous spiritual roots, and one had no spiritual roots.
Of the three daughters, one had five-element spiritual roots, while the other two had none.
For the descendants without spiritual roots, the Yu Clan planned for them to become managers of the clan's businesses.
Those with spiritual roots were vigorously nurtured.
Moreover, in his previous letter, Yu Daniu had also mentioned the spiritual root situation of the branch family's children.
His younger brother's family had four new male children with spiritual roots.
One could say the Yu Clan was flourishing with male heirs. In fifty years at most, the Yu Clan could catch up to the Yun Clan.
After all, what the Yu Clan lacked were descendants and late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
In terms of top-tier combat strength, the Yu Clan was not lacking, as the two brothers, Yun Xiaoniu and Yun Siniu, were both Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Chen Jianghe looked at this new letter from Yu Daniu.
It was also a chatty letter about family matters from Yu Daniu.
It said that another of Yu Qirui's sons had been found to have four-element pseudo-spiritual roots, and that Yu Qirui's eldest son was already married, with his wife now pregnant.
"Now this is more like it. How could the bond between us brothers grow distant? We should be able to communicate casually like this. How could you be so cautious even when writing a letter?"
After finishing Yu Daniu's letter, the worry in Chen Jianghe's heart for his brother dissipated, replaced by a relieved smile.
As a transmigrator, he had no powerful golden finger. For ninety years of cultivation, he had been cautious and fearful, as if walking on thin ice.
He dared not trust anyone lightly.
Only Yu Daniu was regarded as a family member he could trust.
He wrote a reply to Yu Daniu, mentioning some interesting tidbits from Thousand Mountains Market City, such as the soon-to-open secret realm.
Then, he opened Ruan Tieniu's letters.
"Crafting second-rank mid-grade and second-rank high-grade talismans?!"