Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Seeing Cen Linchuan Again, Chen Jianghe's Connections
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The Tier-2 mid-grade talismans, the Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman and the Green Wood Immortal Shield Talisman, Chen Jianghe would deliver to Ruan Tieniu within two years.
The Tier-2 high-grade talismans, the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman and a Tier-2 high-grade defensive talisman, would be given to Ruan Tieniu within three years.
After concluding this transaction.
Chen Jianghe didn't leave the market city; instead, he went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion with Ruan Tieniu.
Today was New Year's Eve, coinciding with the Thousand Mountains Market City's New Year's Eve auction.
Useful resources rarely appeared at the auction, but it wasn't impossible. Especially at this stage, the likelihood of treasures appearing was very high.
Thousand Mountains Market City had gathered many sect disciples and scions of top immortal clans, so the auction's standards had naturally risen significantly.
"Brother Chen, I originally thought sect disciples lived carefree lives with ample cultivation resources, never needing to do anything risky."
On the way to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Ruan Tieniu chatted idly with Chen Jianghe via voice transmission, talking about the events in the Arctic Snow Forest.
"But this time in the Arctic Snow Forest, seeing the actions of those sect disciples and scions of top immortal clans truly shocked me."
"Not only did they steal spiritual items, but they also deliberately provoked demonic beasts to fight them."
"However, the strength of those sect disciples and top immortal clan scions is truly formidable, far beyond what rogue cultivators like us can compare to."
Speaking of the events in the Arctic Snow Forest, Ruan Tieniu sighed with emotion. Seeing the sect disciples battle demonic beasts, in particular, had completely changed his perception of them.
Listening to Ruan Tieniu's voice transmission, Chen Jianghe wasn't too surprised. He had never compared the strength of sect disciples to that of rogue cultivators.
They were on completely different levels.
To put it bluntly.
A late-stage Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator would find it hard to gain any advantage against a mid-stage Foundation Establishment sect disciple.
They might even be defeated by the mid-stage Foundation Establishment sect disciple.
Their cultivation techniques, artifacts, talismans, spiritual cultivation, and physical cultivation were all beyond what a rogue cultivator could match.
Even in his current state, he could only compare himself to the scions of top immortal clans; he couldn't yet contend with sect disciples.
Unless his physical cultivation also reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
Only then could he be comparable to the so-called immortal seedlings among the sect disciples.
"Brother Chen, I saw Fairy Peiyao again..."
Arriving at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the two walked up to the fifth-floor auction hall together. Ruan Tieniu's voice transmission trailed off, hesitant.
"What is it?" Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
His friendship with Gao Peiyao could be considered deep.
Gao Peiyao had helped him in many ways, and they were also set to enter the secret realm together.
So, naturally, Chen Jianghe was quite concerned about matters involving Gao Peiyao.
"Brother Chen, it's not that I'm trying to discourage you, but if your feelings for Fairy Peiyao haven't grown too deep, it's best to keep them in check."
"Eh...???"
"That sect disciple, Xiao Chen, who's been making the biggest waves in Thousand Mountains Market City recently, seems to be quite interested in Fairy Peiyao."
"He's at the late-stage of Foundation Establishment. He fought a late Tier-2 Frostwind Wolf King alone and killed the terrifying demonic beast, suffering only minor injuries."
Ruan Tieniu's voice transmission was filled with admiration for the sect disciple Xiao Chen's strength.
It was common knowledge that among those of the same tier, demonic beasts were stronger than cultivators.
Demonic beasts were slightly stronger than spirit beasts, and spirit beasts were stronger than cultivators.
For Xiao Chen to single-handedly kill a demonic beast of the same realm, such strength naturally inspired awe in rogue cultivators.
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe smiled but didn't reply.
His relationship with Gao Peiyao was good, but it was limited to friendship. As for pursuing her?
He knew his own limits.
Although he had a long lifespan and might go further than Gao Peiyao on the path of cultivation, it was precisely because of his long life that he didn't dare to indulge in such fanciful thoughts.
At least, not at his current realm.
Just having one brother like Yu Daniu already filled his heart with worry and concern.
He also had some understanding of Gao Peiyao's character. She had no interest in romance; her mind was entirely focused on the path of cultivation.
That sect disciple named Xiao Chen was probably going to hit a wall with Peiyao.
"To be able to kill a demonic beast of the same tier... this Xiao Chen is very powerful."
Chen Jianghe possessed a Spirit-Nurturing Artifact, but at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he couldn't yet unleash its full power.
Generally, only a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment could fully wield a Spirit-Nurturing Artifact.
Even so, having a Spirit-Nurturing Artifact made one's combat power stronger than someone with a top-grade artifact.
"If I encountered a mid Tier-2 demonic beast, without Xiao Hei and Maoqiu, and without using talismans, even if I used all my techniques, I'm afraid I could only injure it, not kill it."
"Unless I master the forbidden art, [Absolute Freeze], I could only kill a same-tier demonic beast at the cost of mutual, severe injury."
Chen Jianghe's current spiritual and physical cultivation had not yet reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
He had yet to achieve the trinity of body, mind, and spirit.
So naturally, his combat power was hard to compare with that of sect disciples.
But if both his spiritual and physical cultivation reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, the increase in his spell power and attack strength would be more than just a single level.
He would also have a chance of killing a same-tier demonic beast at the cost of only minor injuries.
"Fellow Daoist Chen."
Just as Chen Jianghe and Ruan Tieniu stepped into the fifth-floor auction hall, they ran into Cen Linchuan, a direct descendant of the Cen Clan.
"Fellow Daoist Cen."
Chen Jianghe also smiled, nodded, and greeted him.
"Fellow Daoist, you've been visiting the Talisman Master Alliance quite infrequently lately!" Cen Linchuan said with a chuckle.
But there was no hint of blame in his words.
Chen Jianghe hadn't sold any talismans at the Talisman Master Alliance for over two years.
It wasn't that he didn't want to sell them.
It was because before, with his early Foundation Establishment cultivation, he could only create six Tier-2 mid-grade talismans a year at most.
That wasn't even enough to trade for his own resources, so how could he have any left over to sell to the Talisman Master Alliance?
As for the Talisman Master Alliance blaming him?
He hadn't violated the interests of the Talisman Master Alliance; he was merely exchanging resources with private friends within the alliance's regulations.
"My talisman skills have improved, so I've been in seclusion to comprehend them," Chen Jianghe said with a light laugh.
He gave an excuse, which could be considered saving face for the Talisman Master Alliance.
Since he was cultivating long-term in Thousand Mountains Market City, he naturally couldn't afford to antagonize the Core Formation immortal clans behind it.
"If Fellow Daoist Chen has the time, please do visit the Talisman Master Alliance to verify your talisman skills. It would be of great benefit to you as well."
"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Cen. I was just planning to visit the Talisman Master Alliance soon."
"Mm, good."
Afterward, Chen Jianghe and Ruan Tieniu found an inconspicuous spot in the auction hall and sat down.
"Brother Chen, you and the Cen Clan have... oh, right, Brother Chen is a Talisman Master. The Cen Clan controls the Talisman Master Alliance, so it's natural you'd have some dealings."
Ruan Tieniu looked at Cen Linchuan, who was seated in the central area, and sent a voice transmission to Chen Jianghe: "Brother Chen, how much do you know about the Cen Clan?"
"I only know that they are one of the three great Core Formation immortal clans behind the market city and that they control the Talisman Master Alliance," Chen Jianghe replied.
"The Cen Clan has one Core Formation Perfected Lord and one False Core Rogue Master. However, that Core Formation Perfected Lord doesn't have much time left, so the Cen Clan's situation isn't very good right now."
"This Cen Linchuan and his elder brother, Cen Linfeng, are the Cen Clan's Core Formation seedlings. Both brothers have tri-elemental true spiritual roots. However, his brother Cen Linfeng is arrogant and conceited. Although he's already at the peak of Foundation Establishment, his chances of reaching Core Formation are lower than Cen Linchuan's."
"..."
After listening to Ruan Tieniu's introduction to the Cen Clan, Chen Jianghe gained a clearer understanding of this massive immortal clan's power.
Behind Thousand Mountains Market City were three great Core Formation immortal clans. On the surface, they seemed close and often intermarried.
But in reality, it was a tense three-way standoff.
If any one of the Core Formation clans showed signs of a generation gap, it would immediately be swallowed up by the other two.
What intermarriage?
What transactions?
These were all a facade. The interests at stake in Thousand Mountains Market City were too great. Wouldn't two clans splitting the profits be better than three?
In other words, if the Cen Clan couldn't produce a new Core Formation Perfected Lord before their old ancestor passed away, their fate was easy to imagine.
They would most likely be driven out of Thousand Mountains Market City.
Then, they would be wiped out during their migration.
The cultivation world had no place for mercy. They wouldn't give others a chance to make a comeback.
Everyone understood the simple principle of cutting the weeds and digging up the roots.
"Brother Ruan, do you know how many years the Cen Clan's old ancestor has left?" Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
"It should be less than eighty years."
"Eighty years?!"
Chen Jianghe looked speechless.
Nearly eighty years of life left, and you say his time is almost up? What kind of joke is that?
A Foundation Establishment cultivator, even with Appearance-Preserving Pills and Life Extension Pills, only has about three eighty-year spans.
Eighty years was more than enough time for the Cen Clan's old ancestor to groom a successor.
The Cen Linchuan brothers both had tri-elemental true spiritual roots, and one was already at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
As long as Cen Linchuan could enter the secret realm and obtain a Core Formation opportunity for his brother, wouldn't they have a successor?
The premise was that Cen Linchuan had the chance to obtain a Core Formation opportunity and was also willing to give it to his brother.
While he was lost in thought.
The auction had already begun.
This time, the auctioneer wasn't a female Foundation Establishment cultivator but an elderly one. The aura emanating from him was akin to death energy; this was what it looked like when one's lifespan was truly running out.
When a Foundation Establishment cultivator had about ten years of life left, they would be like a Qi Refining cultivator on the verge of death.
Death energy would begin to emanate from their body.
As the death energy grew denser, their lifespan would dwindle until they passed away.
After coming to Thousand Mountains Market City, Chen Jianghe had learned something about Appearance-Preserving Pills and Life Extension Pills.
Life Extension Pills were divided into elementary, intermediate, and advanced grades.
The Life Extension Pill Xiao Hei took was elementary grade, a Tier-2 entry-level spirit pill. One pill could extend life by ten years.
One could take four, with diminishing returns each time.
The Appearance-Preserving Pill Xiao Hei took was also elementary grade, another Tier-2 entry-level spirit pill. While preserving one's appearance, it could also extend life by ten years.
But the appearance-preserving effect wasn't permanent.
Of course, for Qi Refining cultivators, the effect of an elementary Appearance-Preserving Pill was permanent. Their appearance would remain as it was when they took the pill until the moment their lifespan ran out.
However, for Foundation Establishment cultivators, the elementary Appearance-Preserving Pill was not effective for long.
Generally, upon successful Foundation Establishment, one's lifespan would increase to two hundred and twenty years. After the age of one hundred and twenty, their appearance would gradually begin to age.
By one hundred and eighty, their vitality would decline, and they would gradually enter old age.
Taking an elementary Appearance-Preserving Pill could allow a Foundation Establishment cultivator to maintain their appearance from the moment they took the pill until they were one hundred and sixty.
In other words.
An elementary Appearance-Preserving Pill could keep a Foundation Establishment cultivator's appearance unchanged for an extra forty years.
To remain youthful forever, one would need better worldly spiritual items, or intermediate or advanced Appearance-Preserving Pills.
But those were Tier-3 or even Tier-4 spirit pills.
Chen Jianghe had only heard of them but had never seen one, neither at an auction nor at a trade meet.
He had never encountered an intermediate Life Extension Pill or an intermediate Appearance-Preserving Pill.
This New Year's Eve auction had a total of twelve treasures, even fewer than the last one Chen Jianghe had attended.
But the items were more or less the same.
The first to the seventh treasures were all top-grade artifacts.
They were three top-grade offensive artifacts and four top-grade defensive artifacts. As for Spirit-Nurturing Artifacts, it was impossible for them to appear at an auction.
At least, the Thousand Mountains Market City auction wasn't of that high a caliber.
The eighth treasure was a smithing spiritual material, Essence of Geng Metal, which could be used as the main material for forging top-grade artifacts.
It could also be used as a supplementary material for forging Spirit-Nurturing Artifacts.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Ruan Tieniu beside him.
Sure enough, the moment the Essence of Geng Metal appeared, Ruan Tieniu's eyes lit up, and he immediately joined the bidding.
In the end, this fist-sized piece of Essence of Geng Metal was won by Ruan Tieniu for a price of five thousand two hundred spirit stones.
If it were just the main material for a top-grade artifact, it wouldn't be worth that much.
After all, a top-grade offensive artifact was only around one thousand four hundred spirit stones, and a top-grade defensive artifact was no more than three thousand.
The main reason for its value was that the Essence of Geng Metal could be used as a supplementary material for forging Spirit-Nurturing Artifacts, which greatly increased its price.
Ruan Tieniu cultivated a metal-element technique, so if he wanted to forge a Spirit-Nurturing defensive artifact, a metal-attributed one would naturally be best.
"Brother Ruan, have you gathered all the materials for your Spirit-Nurturing defensive artifact?" Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
"How could it be that easy?"
Ruan Tieniu sounded a bit helpless.
Even sect disciples and the direct descendants of top immortal clans found it difficult to gather the materials; for him, it was as hard as ascending to the heavens.
Fortunately, he had made many friends who had left him with considerable resources.
He had collected most of the supplementary materials; the main material was the difficult part.
Of course, it was absolutely impossible to gather all the materials for a Spirit-Nurturing defensive artifact before entering the secret realm.
Ruan Tieniu was hoping to obtain the main material for a Spirit-Nurturing Artifact from the secret realm.
Chen Jianghe didn't say anything more.
Since Ruan Tieniu hadn't gathered the materials yet, he wasn't in a hurry to ask Luo Xiyue.
The ninth treasure was also a spiritual material, an earth-attributed one, which was useless to Chen Jianghe.
The moment the tenth treasure appeared, Chen Jianghe's interest was piqued.
"Fellow Daoists, the next item for auction is the tenth treasure, Supreme Clarity Jade. This is a Tier-2 high-grade spiritual material, a supplementary material for forging Spirit-Nurturing Artifacts."
"Of course, it can also be used to create Tier-2 high-grade talismans. The Talisman Grandmasters attending today's auction are in for a treat."
"Alright, without further ado, the starting price is three thousand spirit stones, and each bid must increase by no less than one hundred spirit stones."
As soon as the words fell.
The price of the Supreme Clarity Jade shot straight up to four thousand eight hundred spirit stones and was still climbing.
Not only could it be used to create Tier-2 high-grade talismans, but it was also a supplementary material for forging Spirit-Nurturing Artifacts. Its value was indeed not low.
Chen Jianghe carefully examined the Supreme Clarity Jade on the auction stage. If it were used to create Tier-2 high-grade talismans.
...judging by its size, it should be enough for two.
It certainly had some value.
It was worth buying.
He didn't lack materials for Tier-2 mid-grade talismans, but he was severely lacking materials for Tier-2 high-grade ones.
Currently, he had six Tier-2 high-grade spirit hides, but he had to give Ruan Tieniu two Tier-2 high-grade talismans.
Four Tier-2 high-grade talismans were not nearly enough for his trades with Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao.
Besides, how could he enter the secret realm without a good supply of Tier-2 high-grade talismans?
"Four thousand nine hundred spirit stones."
"Five thousand two hundred spirit stones."
"...Five thousand six hundred spirit stones..."
Seeing the number of bidders dwindle, Chen Jianghe didn't hesitate any longer and jumped into the bidding.
"Six thousand eight hundred spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe directly raised the bid by eight hundred spirit stones.
But six thousand eight hundred spirit stones was clearly not the limit for this piece of Supreme Clarity Jade. Someone quickly outbid him, surpassing his six thousand eight hundred spirit stones.
At this point, the bidders were no longer treating the Supreme Clarity Jade as a supplementary material for Spirit-Nurturing Artifacts.
Because using this Supreme Clarity Jade to create Tier-2 high-grade talismans was more cost-effective.
"Nine thousand six hundred spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe bid again, this time adding six hundred spirit stones.
Cen Linchuan, who was also bidding, couldn't help but glance over at Chen Jianghe, his brow slightly furrowed.
It was unclear what he was thinking.
However, he didn't bid again.
Nine thousand six hundred spirit stones was more or less the limit for the Supreme Clarity Jade.
Plus, both of Chen Jianghe's bids were significant price hikes, which could easily give people the wrong impression.
Either he was determined to win it no matter the cost.
Or he was the one who put the Supreme Clarity Jade up for auction and was deliberately driving up the price.
In the end, this palm-sized piece of Supreme Clarity Jade was won by Chen Jianghe for the price of nine thousand six hundred spirit stones.
The eleventh treasure was a low-grade Origin Spirit Pill.
It was sold for twenty-one thousand three hundred spirit stones.
The twelfth treasure was also an Origin Spirit Pill, but it was a mid-grade one. The final price reached thirty-two thousand one hundred spirit stones.
The auction ended.
Chen Jianghe didn't leave with Ruan Tieniu. He still needed to buy some supplementary materials for cultivating [Absolute Freeze].
"Brother Chen, can Fairy Jiang refine Tier-2 high-grade spirit pills?" Ruan Tieniu asked via voice transmission before leaving.
"Fairy Jiang's alchemy skills are improving by the day. She'll be able to refine Tier-2 high-grade spirit pills very soon."
"Mm, good," Ruan Tieniu said before leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Chen Jianghe didn't know when Jiang Ruxu would be able to refine Tier-2 high-grade spirit pills, but he could tell from Ruan Tieniu's words.
...that Ruan Tieniu had his eyes on Origin Spirit Pills.
In other words.
Ruan Tieniu had an absorbable worldly spiritual item in his possession and wanted to maximize its effect.
And that meant refining it into Origin Spirit Pills.
If he found another Alchemy Grandmaster to refine it.
...for a batch of five Origin Spirit Pills, he would have to give one to the Alchemy Grandmaster and provide the supplementary materials himself.
That wasn't quite worth it.
But if he had connections with an Alchemy Grandmaster, he would only need to provide the main ingredient to get four Origin Spirit Pills.
The cost-effectiveness was much higher.
After all, three and a half Origin Spirit Pills were roughly equivalent to the spiritual energy contained in the main ingredient.
This way, he could even profit by half an Origin Spirit Pill.
"When Ruxu can refine Tier-2 high-grade spirit pills, I'll see about collaborating with Ruan Tieniu."
"It would also increase Ruxu's income."
With this in mind, Chen Jianghe went to the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and bought some common Tier-2 spiritual items.
Hundred-Year Ice Core, Profound Ice Grass, and others were all spiritual materials needed to cultivate [Absolute Freeze].
He spent a total of one thousand six hundred spirit stones.
On this trip out, Chen Jianghe had already spent twelve thousand spirit stones.
He gave Ruan Tieniu the spare eight hundred spirit stones.
Nine thousand six hundred for the Supreme Clarity Jade, and one thousand six hundred for the forbidden art's supplementary materials.
He now had twenty-one thousand two hundred and sixty spirit stones left.
It was enough for now.
Although he didn't plan to create Tier-2 low-grade talismans anytime soon, with Xiao Hei and Maoqiu growing Immortal Crystal Rice.
...he still had some income.
It was enough to cover the rent for Golden Ao Mountain and the cultivation resources for the two of them.
As for Latiao's cultivation resources?
He'd worry about that after it finished absorbing and refining those fifty Spirit-Nurturing Flowers.
By then, it would have advanced to the late Tier-1. He currently had two Tier-2 ice-element spirit cores in his possession.
So, before Latiao became a Tier-2 spirit beast, he didn't have to worry about its cultivation resources at all.
There were no other expenses.
But the cost of raising the Black-Armored Turtles in the future would be substantial.
But there was no helping it. He wanted to cultivate the [Soul Sea Essence-Consolidating Scripture] to the sixth level of perfection.
He either had to spend a great price to trade for worldly spiritual items that enhanced the spirit.
...but such items were rare and sought after. Why would anyone trade them away?
Therefore, Chen Jianghe could only use this clumsy method of cultivating the resources for the [Soul Sea Essence-Consolidating Scripture] himself.
After leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Chen Jianghe didn't leave the market city. Instead, he headed to the Spirit Pill Pavilion, run by the alchemy immortal clan, the Ji Clan.
He needed to buy supplementary materials for refining the Soul-Calming and Spirit-Settling Pill.
It wasn't that he couldn't buy them at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, but for certain medicinal herbs, the Spirit Pill Pavilion had a more comprehensive selection.
After arriving at the Spirit Pill Pavilion.
He bought over twenty types of medicinal herbs, including Poria Spirit, Polygala, and Dream Butterfly Wings, mixing in ten herbs that were useless for the Soul-Calming and Spirit-Settling Pill.
But they could be used to refine other spirit pills.
As long as he bought them, they wouldn't go to waste.
He spent a total of two thousand two hundred spirit stones.
He had nineteen thousand and sixty spirit stones left.
The Poria Spirit and Polygala weren't expensive. The main cost was the Dream Butterfly Wings, which were the wings of a Tier-2 demonic beast, the Dream Butterfly, and had a soul-calming and spirit-settling effect.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe flew towards the Talisman Master Alliance.
He hadn't been to the Talisman Master Alliance in over two years. Even if he wasn't selling talismans, he should still go verify his talisman skills.
First, he would become a Talisman Master recognized by Thousand Mountains Market City.
As for creating Tier-2 high-grade talismans?
He would wait until after he returned from the secret realm.
This way, among the cultivators entering the secret realm, he would remain a nobody and not attract any attention.
Even if Cen Linchuan was also entering the secret realm.
...and knew he had bought the Supreme Clarity Jade, guessing he was a Talisman Grandmaster, he wouldn't publicize it. At most, he would inform the others in their small three-person group.
He might not even tell them.
If it was a temporary group, they would naturally all have their own agendas, each aiming for the Core Formation opportunity.
They would be thrilled if the sect disciples died in the secret realm.
Then their chances of obtaining a Core Formation opportunity would increase.
Otherwise, even if they obtained a Core Formation opportunity, they would have to give it to the sect disciples first. This was a rule set by the Tiannan Sect.
When Cen Linchuan learned that Chen Jianghe had come to the Talisman Master Alliance, he was overjoyed and rushed over from the Cen Clan estate.
The man who broke the thousand-year-old record in the Tiannan Region for the oldest successful Foundation Establishment, called the "Greatly Fortunate Elder" by countless cultivators.
A childhood friend of the sect's Core Formation seedling, Gao Peiyao.
The suspected dual cultivation partner of the Artifact Forging Grandmaster, Fairy Luo.
A close friend of the newly promoted Alchemy Grandmaster, Fairy Jiang.
After learning all this information, anyone who still treated Chen Jianghe as a mere rogue cultivator would be a fool.