Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: The Core Formation Powerhouse, Perfected Being Chengtian
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He arrived at the Talisman Master Alliance and sold three Golden Light Body Protection Talismans, adding 2,850 spirit stones to his collection.
"Grandmaster Chen?"
"That's the Grandmaster Chen who's on good terms with Fellow Daoist Ruan."
"No wonder Fellow Daoist Ruan has escaped danger so many times. If I had a Talisman Grandmaster as a friend, I could also roam the Northern Extreme Snowy Forest freely."
"I hear Fellow Daoist Ruan and Grandmaster Chen are sworn brothers. Perhaps we could get a high-grade second-tier talisman from Fellow Daoist Ruan."
"This Grandmaster Chen is also named Chen Jianghe. I wonder what his relationship is with that old-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator, the 'Old Man of Many Fortunes,' from south of the Sky-Reaching River?"
"Perhaps Grandmaster Chen *is* the Old Man of Many Fortunes. He's also from south of the Sky-Reaching River."
Chen Jianghe walked out of the Talisman Master Alliance and glanced at the Talisman Tower. Nearly a hundred cultivators were lined up to buy talismans.
There were cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining, as well as Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Upon seeing Chen Jianghe, they began to murmur among themselves, envious of Ruan Tieniu's relationship with him.
They were also speculating about Chen Jianghe's origins.
Hearing these discussions, Chen Jianghe wasn't angry.
He had been in Thousand Mountains Market City for nearly thirteen years; it was becoming difficult to hide his identity as an old-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator.
As his talisman skills improved, his identity would gradually be unearthed.
"The Old Man of Many Fortunes?"
"That's not so bad. I hope, as they wish, that I'll have much fortune and a long life."
Chen Jianghe smiled faintly and flew from the mountain peak where the Talisman Master Alliance was located, heading towards the peak where Thousand Mountains Restaurant stood.
As he passed by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a voice did indeed call out to him.
"Talisman Master Chen."
The moment Xu Feng saw Chen Jianghe, he quickly flew over and cupped his hands in a salute.
"Thank you for that Rushing Thunder Talisman, Talisman Master Chen."
"You're too kind, Fellow Daoist Xu. It was just a transaction, no thanks are needed."
Chen Jianghe stopped and looked at Xu Feng, saying slowly, "I heard about your brother. My condolences."
"When we were demon hunters in Qinghe Market City, I had already considered this possibility. Life and death are fated; wealth and honor are determined by heaven."
Xu Feng said with a smile.
He didn't seem downcast because of Xu Hong's death.
Of course, this might just be a facade. The cultivation world was incredibly cruel, filled with schemes and dangers.
He wasn't very familiar with Chen Jianghe, so how could he possibly show a moment of weakness in front of him?
"Do you have any more Rushing Thunder Talismans, Talisman Master Chen?" Xu Feng asked via voice transmission.
Chen Jianghe shook his head. Recently, the second-tier talismans he had been crafting were all Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans and Azure Wood Immortal Shield Talismans.
As for Rushing Thunder Talismans? He hadn't gotten around to crafting any yet.
"I heard you've become a Talisman Grandmaster, Talisman Master Chen. Congratulations are in order," Xu Feng added.
"If you have any worldly treasures, Fellow Daoist, you can trade them with me for high-grade second-tier talismans. Of course, I'm afraid I won't be able to trade with you in the coming years."
Chen Jianghe had learned from Ruan Tieniu that Xu Feng possessed many worldly treasures, even absorbable spiritual materials.
If possible, he was more than willing to trade with Xu Feng.
"Are you also going to the mystic realm, Talisman Master Chen?" Xu Feng asked in surprise.
Not being able to trade for the next few years easily brought the mystic realm trial to mind.
After all, the Northern Extreme Snowy Forest mystic realm was set to open in six years.
"Yes."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
There was no need to hide it. He would soon be attending the gathering for the mystic realm trial. By then, the cultivators participating would be confirmed and known throughout Thousand Mountains Market City.
Therefore, there was nothing to hide, nor could it be hidden.
"The opportunity Fellow Daoist Ruan and you have is truly enviable," Xu Feng said with sincere envy.
In the eyes of rogue cultivators, the mystic realm trial was a place where worldly spiritual materials were scattered everywhere, ripe for the taking.
"By the way, can you craft high-grade second-tier escape talismans, Talisman Master Chen?" Xu Feng asked via voice transmission.
Chen Jianghe smiled without answering.
He could craft high-grade second-tier escape talismans, as well as offensive and defensive ones.
However, they required a hefty price in exchange.
Xu Feng had been to the Boundless Sea, so he certainly had the capital to trade. But Chen Jianghe needed to know what treasures Xu Feng could offer first.
Ordinary items would naturally not suffice.
"When you return from the mystic realm, Talisman Master Chen, I will trade with you then. The items I offer will surely satisfy you."
Xu Feng didn't specify what treasures he would use for the exchange.
For him, if he wasn't trading now, he couldn't reveal what treasures he possessed.
Chen Jianghe could understand this point.
Then, Chen Jianghe bid farewell to Xu Feng. He glanced at the time; it was already the third quarter of the Hour of You.
The gathering was to start at the Hour of Xu.
He needed to hurry to Thousand Mountains Restaurant.
Although there was plenty of time, he had heard from Gao Peiyao that the Tiannan Sect was leading this event, and a Core Formation powerhouse would be present.
As a mere mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, how could he make a Core Formation powerhouse wait?
Even if there was waiting to be done, it would be him waiting for others.
"A Core Formation powerhouse?!"
Chen Jianghe felt a stir of excitement. In his eighty-plus years of cultivation, he had never seen such a legendary figure.
He arrived at Thousand Mountains Restaurant.
Chen Jianghe went straight to the third floor. The spacious and bright banquet hall was adorned with all sorts of decorations.
There was also an elegant indoor landscape with pavilions, small bridges, and swirling mist, creating a pleasant scene.
"Fellow Daoist, please register here."
Just as Chen Jianghe reached the fifth floor, a young man in the attire of a Tiannan Sect disciple stopped him.
He was gentle and refined, with a restrained aura.
He was actually a Foundation Establishment cultivator as well.
He led Chen Jianghe to the registration area and reminded him, "Fellow Daoist, just fill out the registration form truthfully. Do not conceal anything, or else if the sect investigates, you will not only harm yourself but also implicate the sect disciple who invited you."
"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist. I understand."
Chen Jianghe had heard from Gao Peiyao about the registration; he had to state his identity truthfully.
If the Tiannan Sect discovered any falsehoods, being kicked out of the mystic realm trial would be a small matter. Having his cultivation crippled would be a loss that far outweighed any gain.
As long as you weren't a demonic cultivator, even if you were a bandit cultivator, the Tiannan Sect would allow you to enter the mystic realm.
Therefore, he just had to write everything truthfully.
Chen Jianghe took the brush and registration book, looking at the columns and boxes. The questions were quite reasonable.
Name, age, origin, when Foundation Establishment was achieved, whether this was his second time participating in the mystic realm trial, mystic realm sponsor, background and status...
Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Jianghe glanced at another cultivator registering beside him. When it came to filling in his background and status, that person hesitated for a moment.
"A bandit cultivator?"
"A Tiannan Sect disciple really invited a bandit cultivator as an external aide!"
Chen Jianghe was stunned for a moment. It felt a bit strange. Although bandit cultivators weren't universally condemned like demonic cultivators...
...they were close!
The reputation of bandit cultivators was not good.
They harmed people and stole their possessions.
Pushing the thoughts from his mind, Chen Jianghe also wrote down his basic information truthfully.
When he got to the background and status section, he filled in "rogue Talisman Master."
After finishing the registration, Chen Jianghe strode inside.
By this time, over a hundred cultivators had already gathered in the banquet hall. Some were participants in the mystic realm trial, while others were attendants.
There were also some Foundation Establishment disciples from the Tiannan Sect who were there to broaden their horizons.
The actual number of Foundation Establishment cultivators entering the mystic realm—Core Formation prospects and their external aides combined—was eighty-one in total.
"Brother Chen."
Just then, Ruan Tieniu spotted Chen Jianghe and shouted loudly, instantly drawing the gazes of many cultivators.
Their eyes followed Ruan Tieniu's and landed on Chen Jianghe.
Chen Jianghe was a bit speechless. He had come to be inconspicuous but had forgotten that Ruan Tieniu was a loudmouth.
"Is that him? The Old Man of Many Fortunes who achieved Foundation Establishment at an old age, the real Chen Jianghe?"
"It must be. When he was registering just now, I saw his origin was Mirror Moon Lake, south of the Sky-Reaching River."
"He's just an old man who got lucky with Foundation Establishment. His talent is poor and he has no foundation. Which sect prospect would invite him as an external aide?"
The moment they saw Chen Jianghe, many cultivators gathered in small groups and began conversing via voice transmission.
They were all Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even if they looked down on this "Old Man of Many Fortunes," they wouldn't discuss it openly.
"I heard he's a childhood friend of Fairy Peiyao. She must be the one who invited him."
"That must be it. After all, when sect prospects invite external aides, strength isn't the primary concern. Since Fairy Peiyao is familiar with him, she must trust him."
"What's the use of trust? Inside the mystic realm, there will be fighting and competition. What can a rogue cultivator with no backing do to help Fairy Peiyao?"
"..."
Chen Jianghe saw the cultivators' gazes linger on him for only a moment before they returned to their own conversations.
He could guess that they were likely discussing him via voice transmission.
This was fine as well.
Being looked down upon, treated as invisible, and disregarded suited him perfectly. He didn't want to be in the spotlight anyway.
"Brother Ruan, why are there so many cultivators here?"
Chen Jianghe asked. Even after subtracting the attendants from Thousand Mountains Restaurant, there were still over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Only eighty-one Foundation Establishment cultivators were entering the mystic realm.
This was far more than that.
"It seems Fairy Peiyao didn't tell you, Brother Chen. For this gathering, not only are the mystic realm trial participants required to attend, but second-tier Talisman Masters, Alchemists, Artificers, Puppeteers... they can all come too."
"You can also think of this gathering as a trade fair, haha..."
Ruan Tieniu laughed via voice transmission.
Chen Jianghe understood.
The Tiannan Sect was leading this to let everyone get acquainted beforehand, seemingly to avoid conflict within the mystic realm.
But how could that possibly be avoided?
The Talisman Masters, Alchemists, and others attending the gathering were all here to provide the mystic realm participants with more protective measures.
"But you can't tell who's a Talisman Master or an Alchemist, can you?"
Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
"The trading phase will only begin after the Tiannan Sect's Core Formation elder leaves."
Ruan Tieniu chuckled and sent a voice transmission to Chen Jianghe: "Brother Chen, a gathering like this is a significant opportunity for us. Treasures that are usually unobtainable might be found here."
"I see. Thank you for telling me, Brother Ruan."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
His gaze swept across the venue, searching for Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue, but after a full scan, he didn't see them.
It was now the seventh quarter of the Hour of You.
The gathering was set to officially start at the first quarter of the Hour of Xu, only a quarter-hour away. Why hadn't they appeared yet?
As time trickled by.
Attendants had already entered the hall carrying refreshments made from demon beasts, placing these snacks, spiritual dishes, and immortal spirit wine on long tables.
They were available for the cultivators to take and enjoy at their leisure.
"I arrived during the Hour of Wei, and Thousand Mountains Restaurant is only serving the spiritual dishes and immortal spirit wine now. They're so stingy."
Seeing the top-grade immortal spirit wine, spiritual dishes, and snacks, Ruan Tieniu began to sample them one by one.
He downed the immortal spirit wine as if it were free.
"Brother Chen, don't just stand there! This is all free. If you don't eat, you'll miss out on a free dinner."
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
But there is a free dinner.
Chen Jianghe watched Ruan Tieniu eat and drink with abandon, as if determined to try all the spiritual dishes he normally couldn't afford.
In the blink of an eye, five pots of top-grade immortal spirit wine had gone down his gullet.
One pot of top-grade immortal spirit wine cost ten spirit stones.
In a short time, Ruan Tieniu had already made back over a hundred spirit stones.
"I'm still a little too reserved."
Chen Jianghe muttered to himself. He couldn't bring himself to be like Ruan Tieniu, sweeping through the food like a whirlwind, clearing one table and moving on to the next.
The time reached the first quarter of the Hour of Xu.
Chen Jianghe saw Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue. He noticed they were chatting and laughing with another woman.
Luo Xiyue seemed to sense Chen Jianghe's gaze and looked over. After whispering a few words to Gao Peiyao, she walked over to his side.
However, she didn't speak to him, but simply stood there quietly, drawing a lot of attention to him.
"Brother Chen, are you two still fighting? It's not my place as your big brother to say this, but Fairy Luo is an Artificer Grandmaster, beautiful as a celestial fairy, and her personality... well, everything about her is great. You should be the one to yield when you need to."
Ruan Tieniu was holding a roasted deer leg, his mouth greasy from eating. His mouth hadn't stopped moving since the spiritual dishes were served.
By now, he had "earned" nearly two hundred spirit stones' worth.
His mouth was busy, but his voice transmissions didn't stop either.
He was trying to persuade Chen Jianghe to reconcile with Luo Xiyue.
This made Chen Jianghe frown. He knew the rumors outside must have been spread by Ruan Tieniu.
Hearing this, he was even more certain.
Cultivators were fine in every other regard, except that not even eating could shut them up.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Luo Xiyue, guessing that she probably disliked mingling with the sect disciples and had come over to him for that reason.
Just as Chen Jianghe was lost in thought.
The appearance of a figure caused a stir in the hall, and the voices grew disorderly.
"Xiao Chen, the senior disciple of Tiannan Sect's Chengtian Peak. Within two years, he slew three late-stage second-tier demon beasts in the Northern Extreme Snowy Forest. He's hailed as the strongest among late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Among the sect disciples participating in this mystic realm trial, he's the prospect with the highest hope of reaching Core Formation."
"It's rumored that even the Sect Master of Tiannan Sect has said he has the aptitude for Core Formation."
Chen Jianghe followed everyone's gaze and looked at this highly anticipated senior disciple of the sect.
His face was as handsome as carved jade, his eyes like shooting stars. His delicate features were flawless—a truly divinely handsome man.
His demeanor was gentle, but his eyes held a sharpness that couldn't be concealed.
He walked slowly into the hall, like an exiled immortal stepping out of a painting.
Immediately after, Chen Jianghe saw this highly regarded Core Formation prospect walk towards Gao Peiyao.
"Brother Chen, see that? That's Xiao Chen. I hear he's been pursuing Fairy Peiyao."
"His father is a Core Formation Perfected Being in the sect. You already have Fairy Luo, so don't go provoking Fairy Peiyao, or great disaster will befall you."
Ruan Tieniu secretly sent a voice transmission to Chen Jianghe.
Hearing Ruan Tieniu's message, three black lines appeared on Chen Jianghe's forehead. The man's imagination was running wild.
First of all, he had nothing to do with Luo Xiyue.
And as for Gao Peiyao, they were just friends.
He had some understanding of Gao Peiyao's character. Her Dao heart was firm, and her mind was set only on the path of immortality.
How could she be thinking about matters between men and women?
This Xiao Chen was probably in for a one-sided love, ending in his own self-congratulatory delusion.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Luo Xiyue beside him and found her looking at him as well. Their eyes met.
Chen Jianghe's eyes held a smile.
But he was met with Luo Xiyue's cold gaze.
He gave an awkward smile and looked away.
"Peiyao dislikes him a lot."
Luo Xiyue said via voice transmission.
"..."
Chen Jianghe was taken aback. He looked at Luo Xiyue in confusion, only to find she had already turned away.
Gao Peiyao disliked this divinely handsome senior disciple. What did that have to do with him?
Then, Chen Jianghe looked over at Gao Peiyao and saw Xiao Chen talking with her about something.
Gao Peiyao's expression was placid, but when she spoke, she wore a faint smile.
'What a textbook smile.'
Chen Jianghe sighed inwardly.
Just then, a voice rang out, causing everyone present to turn their gazes in one direction.
"Perfected Being Chengtian!"
A middle-aged man, eight feet tall with a square face, thick brows, and large eyes full of authority, walked into the hall.
Upon seeing this man, the disciples of the Tiannan Sect all stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Peak Master."
The other cultivators also hurriedly bowed in salute.
"Greetings, Perfected Being Chengtian."
In the Tiannan Region, False Core cultivators could be called Adepts, while Core Formation cultivators were known as Reverends.
The Core Formation elders of the Tiannan Sect, however, were addressed as Perfected Beings.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Some powerful rogue Core Formation cultivators could also be called Perfected Beings.
Chen Jianghe bowed, catching a glimpse of Perfected Being Chengtian out of the corner of his eye, but he felt as if the Perfected Being was also looking at him.
It seemed all his secrets were laid bare under the Perfected Being's gaze.
A faint pressure washed over him, making him feel as if he were falling into an abyss, his body no longer his own.
And yet, he could clearly see that the Perfected Being's gaze was not on him.
He quickly retracted his gaze, and the feeling of being seen through to his very bones vanished.
"Is this the terror of a Core Formation powerhouse? Before such a mighty figure, I am like an ant."
Chen Jianghe was horrified.
He had thought that by reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he would have some ability to protect himself in this terrifying cultivation world.
But in that instant facing the Core Formation powerhouse...
...he was like a small boat in a vast ocean, in danger of being capsized by a giant wave at any moment.
"There is no need for such formalities."
Perfected Being Chengtian said in a calm voice. With a wave of his hand, a gentle stream of spiritual power helped everyone rise.
Then, with a solemn expression, he said, "In six years, the entrance to the Northern Extreme Snowy Forest mystic realm will open. At that time, I shall personally lead the escort."
"This mystic realm is special; it is a corner of an ancient sect's grounds and holds many dangers. Once you enter, you must support each other and work together."
"You must do your utmost to help the sect disciple who brought you into the mystic realm. Only when they have obtained a Core Formation opportunity will you have any hope of obtaining one for yourselves."
"..."
Perfected Being Chengtian spoke for a while about the mystic realm.
The mystic realm this time would open in the Northern Extreme Snowy Forest, its entrance connected to a corner of an ancient sect's grounds—in other words, the outermost area of an ancient sect.
There would be many dangers, but also many more opportunities.
But to obtain a Core Formation opportunity, one must first help the sect disciple they were following to obtain one.
In other words.
If the three of them—Gao Peiyao, Luo Xiyue, and Chen Jianghe—found a Core Formation opportunity, it could only belong to Gao Peiyao.
If Luo Xiyue and Chen Jianghe wanted to get a Core Formation opportunity...
...their group of three would have to find two such opportunities.
Because this mystic realm was connected to a corner of an ancient sect, the dangers would increase, but so would the number of Core Formation opportunities.
After speaking, Perfected Being Chengtian left the hall.
He had arrived quickly and left even faster.
He had stayed for less than ten minutes.
After Perfected Being Chengtian left, all the cultivators breathed a sigh of relief. With a Core Formation powerhouse present, they hadn't dared to even breathe too loudly.
Let alone whisper among themselves.
At this point, the entire hall began to discuss the matter of the mystic realm.
"This mystic realm is actually a corner of an ancient sect's grounds?"
"It's rare for an entrance connected to an ancient sect to appear even once in ten mystic realms. I can't believe we're so lucky this time."
"No wonder Perfected Being Chengtian is personally escorting us. It's a mystic realm connected to an ancient sect."
"Indeed. Perfected Being Chengtian is the Peak Master of Chengtian Peak, one of the twelve main peaks of the Tiannan Sect."
"A corner of an ancient sect... that means there will be at least five Core Formation opportunities in the mystic realm this time."
"There will probably be even more absorbable worldly spiritual materials."
"The opportunities have increased, but so have the dangers. I must get a high-grade second-tier defensive talisman. It would be best if I could get a high-grade second-tier escape talisman too."
Amidst the discussions, the so-called trade fair began.
They had originally thought it was an ordinary mystic realm, but it turned out to be one connected to a corner of an ancient sect.
The level of danger had skyrocketed.
The chances of obtaining opportunities had also skyrocketed.
This also made the cultivators entering the mystic realm willing to spend more to enhance their protective measures.
"Brother Chen, do you know the relationship between Perfected Being Chengtian and Xiao Chen?"
"Xiao Chen is Perfected Being Chengtian's only son. If you have any ideas about Fairy Peiyao, you'd better be careful."
Ruan Tieniu sent a voice transmission.
Then he walked into the crowd and began searching for protective resources that would be useful to him.
"Father and son? He's outstanding himself, and he has a Peak Master for a father. Such advantages, tsk tsk..."
Chen Jianghe sighed wistfully.
He stopped thinking about these miscellaneous matters.
Chen Jianghe sent a voice transmission to Luo Xiyue: "Fellow Daoist Luo, if the mystic realm entrance in the Northern Extreme Snowy Forest connects to a corner of an ancient sect, doesn't that mean a massive sect was located in the Northern Extreme Snowy Forest during ancient times?"
A declining, decaying sect that hadn't been seen for thousands of years... the spirit beasts it once raised would have long since become demon beasts.
Even in the outermost area of the sect, there would likely be terrifying demon beasts.
"Fellow Daoist Luo?"
Chen Jianghe glanced at Luo Xiyue, only to find her standing there, somewhat lost in a daze.
It seemed she was thinking about something.
Only after Chen Jianghe called out a second time did Luo Xiyue come back to her senses.
A trace of sorrow flashed in her eyes before they turned cold again, keeping everyone at a distance.
"A sect? I suppose there was."
Luo Xiyue said, her gaze complicated.
Chen Jianghe was puzzled. Luo Xiyue's state of mind seemed to have been affected by something, but he didn't probe further.
His relationship with Luo Xiyue couldn't even be considered a friendship.
Even if he wanted to get closer, she wouldn't think much of him.
Just then, Gao Peiyao walked over, accompanied by Xiao Chen, the son of Perfected Being Chengtian.
His cultivation was profound, his strength formidable.
Even the Sect Master of Tiannan Sect had said he had the aptitude for Core Formation.