Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Another Spirit Spring Pearl, the Princess of Yue
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"Brother Jianghe, Sister Xiyue, let me make some introductions."
Gao Peiyao came up to Chen Jianghe, her eyes curving into crescents, the corners of her lips turning up slightly in a perfect smile.
"This is my senior brother from the sect. Senior Brother Xiao takes very good care of me."
"Senior Brother Xiao is the head disciple of Chengtian Peak and the son of the peak master, Perfected Being Chengtian."
"Senior Brother Xiao, this is my childhood friend, Chen Jianghe."
"And this is my dear confidante, Luo Xiyue."
Luo Xiyue was unimpressed by Gao Peiyao's introduction. Her expression remained unchanged, her cold demeanor warding off strangers.
She merely gave Xiao Chen a fleeting glance.
Chen Jianghe, however, was different. A smile appeared on his face as he looked at Xiao Chen and cupped his hands. "I have long heard of Fellow Daoist Xiao's reputation as a prodigy of your sect. Seeing you today, you truly surpass the rumors."
"Fellow Daoist Chen, you flatter me."
Xiao Chen's gaze was friendly. He chuckled softly. "It is your name, Fellow Daoist, that is truly renowned. Who in the Tiannan Region doesn't know of your great fortune?"
Chen Jianghe and Xiao Chen exchanged a smile, not continuing the mutual flattery.
"Greetings, Fairy Luo."
Xiao Chen looked at Luo Xiyue, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and greeted her politely.
He was refined, modest, and courteous.
He showed no arrogance despite his background.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao."
Luo Xiyue nodded, then took a step back to stand behind Chen Jianghe, seemingly unwilling to speak further.
Chen Jianghe was speechless inside.
His relationship with Luo Xiyue was already hard enough to explain to outsiders. With her doing this, it became even more impossible.
No one would believe any explanation.
It would only make things worse.
Luo Xiyue, however, didn't think much of it.
She didn't like speaking much with men. If she hid behind Gao Peiyao, it would be even harder to avoid conversations with the male cultivators of the Tiannan Sect.
So she could only stand behind Chen Jianghe and let him act as her shield.
When Xiao Chen saw Luo Xiyue retreat behind Chen Jianghe and then glanced at Gao Peiyao's calm expression, joy flickered in his heart. His gaze toward Chen Jianghe became even friendlier.
"Fellow Daoist Chen and Fairy Luo are entering the mystic realm to help Junior Sister Peiyao. If there's anything you need, please speak up. If I have it, we can certainly make a trade."
Xiao Chen said with a cheerful smile.
Chen Jianghe was stunned. He hadn't expected a second-generation immortal from such a powerful background like Xiao Chen to be so easygoing.
He glanced at Gao Peiyao.
Seeing the placid look on her face, he didn't speak up immediately.
He was short on resources, but he couldn't use Gao Peiyao's name to trade with others.
Besides, Gao Peiyao was standing right there.
It was obvious that Xiao Chen was pursuing Gao Peiyao. If he mentioned what he needed for a trade at this moment...
Wouldn't that put Gao Peiyao in a difficult position?
"Senior Brother Xiao, Brother Jianghe cultivates a water-element art and is also a Talisman Master."
Gao Peiyao said with a charming smile.
"Fellow Daoist Chen also cultivates a water-element art? What a coincidence. I cultivate a water-element art as well."
Seeing the clear smile in Gao Peiyao's eyes, an idea formed in Xiao Chen's mind. He said to Chen Jianghe, "I have a Spirit Spring Pearl and two sheets of high-grade second-tier spirit hide. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen would be willing to trade?"
"Uh..."
Chen Jianghe was a bit surprised, but how could he pass up resources that were practically handed to him? Besides, it wasn't him leveraging Gao Peiyao's influence.
Gao Peiyao had taken the initiative to secure this for him.
If he refused, wouldn't he be wasting Gao Peiyao's kind efforts?
But then he suddenly remembered that he was quite poor at the moment.
All he had on him were materials.
"I would indeed like to trade with Fellow Daoist Xiao, but I'm afraid you'll laugh. As a mere rogue cultivator, I can't produce treasures of comparable value."
Chen Jianghe said, slightly embarrassed.
A Spirit Spring Pearl was a fine treasure, and he certainly needed one.
And those two sheets of high-grade second-tier spirit hide could be used to create high-grade second-tier talismans, which was what he needed most right now.
"Fellow Daoist can just use spirit stones for the trade."
Xiao Chen's tone was gentle. He chuckled, "Let's say fifty thousand spirit stones for the Spirit Spring Pearl, and eight thousand spirit stones for the two sheets of high-grade second-tier spirit hide."
A trade with spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe was speechless inside.
He knew that Xiao Chen was treating him like Gao Peiyao's older brother and intentionally trying to get on his good side.
Otherwise, how could such treasures possibly be traded for spirit stones?
One had to know that the spirit stones they spoke of were all low-grade, not mid-grade.
There were very few resources useful to Foundation Establishment cultivators that could be bought with low-grade spirit stones.
But even if Xiao Chen offered to trade for spirit stones...
It still wouldn't work!
He didn't have that many spirit stones on him.
He only had 6,910 spirit stones, a far cry from the 58,000 required.
"Alright."
Chen Jianghe hadn't agreed, but Luo Xiyue, standing behind him, spoke softly. She took out a storage pouch, wrapped it in spiritual power, and sent it over to Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen didn't even check it with his spiritual sense, simply transferring the spirit stones inside to his own storage pouch.
Then he took out a Spirit Spring Pearl and two sheets of high-grade second-tier spirit hide and gave them to Chen Jianghe.
The storage pouch was retrieved by Luo Xiyue.
Chen Jianghe looked at the Spirit Spring Pearl and the two sheets of high-grade second-tier spirit hide before him, then glanced at Luo Xiyue.
He then glanced at Gao Peiyao.
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Xiao."
Chen Jianghe cupped his hands and accepted the Spirit Spring Pearl and the two high-grade second-tier spirit hides.
"It was just a trade between us, Fellow Daoist Chen. Both parties benefited, so there's no need for thanks," Xiao Chen said with a laugh.
Chen Jianghe exchanged a few more pleasantries with him, then walked off with Luo Xiyue to another area where Talisman Masters, Alchemists, Puppet Masters, and Artificers had set up their signs.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, your Spirit Spring Pearl and high-grade second-tier spirit hide."
Chen Jianghe took out the treasures he had traded for from Xiao Chen and offered them to Luo Xiyue. She had paid the spirit stones for them.
Naturally, they should belong to her.
"I don't need them."
Luo Xiyue said coolly.
"Then the fifty-eight thousand spirit stones?"
"If we obtain a second Core Formation spiritual item in the mystic realm, it's mine," Luo Xiyue transmitted her voice.
"Alright."
Chen Jianghe agreed without hesitation.
He was just there to make up the numbers anyway. Getting a natural treasure that could enhance his Foundation Establishment cultivation would be a good outcome in itself.
He didn't even need to think about Core Formation spiritual items.
Besides, even if they did find a second Core Formation spiritual item, it should rightfully go to Luo Xiyue.
Whether in terms of strength or any other aspect.
Gao Peiyao would get the first Core Formation spiritual item.
Luo Xiyue getting the second was perfectly reasonable.
His strength was the weakest. If he could get a third Core Formation spiritual item, that would be for the best. If not, he would have no complaints.
A person needs to know their own limits.
He had already gained a huge advantage.
Even if Luo Xiyue hadn't paid those fifty-eight thousand spirit stones, the second Core Formation spiritual item found in the mystic realm should have been hers.
The value of that Profound Ice Lotus Seed already surpassed his Soul-Calming and Spirit-Settling Pill.
At this point, the gathering had turned into a trade fair. The Talisman Masters, Alchemists, and Artificers who came had clearly all reached second-tier proficiency.
There were also two Puppet Masters, but they weren't selling any second-tier puppets.
Otherwise, Chen Jianghe would have liked to buy one.
It might have been useful in the mystic realm.
Even without second-tier puppets, many cultivators were buying high-grade first-tier puppets.
"It seems my thinking was correct. Puppets are quite useful in the mystic realm. There are still six years; the puppets Xinyan is making should be enough."
Chen Jianghe had no plans to buy a puppet.
Zhuang Xinyan was already making high-grade first-tier support puppets. He could just get them from her when the time came.
"Peiyao?"
Just then, Gao Peiyao came over to Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue, causing Chen Jianghe to involuntarily look toward where Xiao Chen was.
Their eyes met, and they exchanged an easygoing smile.
"No need to accompany your senior brother anymore?" Luo Xiyue transmitted teasingly.
"Is Sister Xiyue afraid I'll disturb you and Brother Jianghe? Then I'll go back~" Gao Peiyao responded with a playful giggle.
"Hmph~"
Luo Xiyue shot Gao Peiyao a glare, as if blaming her for making her spend an extra fifty-eight thousand spirit stones.
Xiao Chen looked over at Chen Jianghe's group, a friendly expression on his face.
"Head Disciple, Junior Sister Gao is clearly trying to secure an opportunity for that Chen Jianghe. And why did you only ask for fifty thousand spirit stones for your Spirit Spring Pearl?"
A Foundation Establishment disciple from Chengtian Peak came up to Xiao Chen and spoke, showing his displeasure with Gao Peiyao's actions.
Xiao Chen wasn't angry.
How could he not understand the meaning behind Gao Peiyao's actions?
"Junior Sister Peiyao may seem quiet and easygoing, but she has an air of pride about her and extremely high standards. If she doesn't even fancy me, how could she possibly be interested in a rogue cultivator?"
"As for the fifty thousand spirit stones?"
"It's just to form a good connection. With the temperament of a rogue cultivator, after receiving such an opportunity, he will surely be grateful to me."
After saying this, Xiao Chen clasped his hands behind his back and left Thousand Mountains Restaurant.
This trade fair was of little use to him.
He didn't lack cultivation resources, not even resources for Core Formation.
The only reason he was participating in the mystic realm trial was out of concern for Gao Peiyao. He wanted to enter the realm with her to ensure her safety.
"Why did Fellow Daoist Xiao leave?"
Chen Jianghe asked Gao Peiyao when he saw Xiao Chen departing.
"This trade fair is useless to him," Gao Peiyao said with a light laugh.
Chen Jianghe thought about it and agreed. The man's father was the peak master of the Tiannan Sect's Chengtian Peak, a Core Formation Perfected Being. Of course he wouldn't lack resources.
Xiao Chen could casually take out a Spirit Spring Pearl for a trade.
It was clear how deep the foundation of this second-generation immortal of the Tiannan Sect was.
"Brother Jianghe, you don't need to prepare anything either. With me and Sister Xiyue around, you don't have to worry about your safety."
Gao Peiyao chuckled lightly. "Sister Xiyue, am I right?"
"Mm."
Luo Xiyue nodded.
Chen Jianghe looked at the two serious-faced women. Their back-and-forth showed they didn't care about his feelings at all.
He certainly didn't doubt the strength of Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao.
But no matter how powerful they were, it was not as important as being powerful himself.
Besides, if I'm this useless, why are you even bringing me into the mystic realm?
To hold you back?
However, Chen Jianghe paid them no mind and continued to browse, looking for spiritual items useful to him.
He had three Soul-Calming and Spirit-Settling Pills on him, as well as quite a few second-tier spirit cores.
He had six mid-grade second-tier Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans and four Azure Wood Immortal Shield Talismans. He had some assets to trade with.
"It's him?"
Chen Jianghe saw a familiar figure.
Dressed in fine silks, with handsome features.
Back at the border of the Youxian and Luoxing Rivers, when Chen Jianghe was attacked by rogue cultivators, this person was among them.
A direct descendant of the Lu Clan, Lu Qingming.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Luo Xiyue and noticed that she seemed to have seen Lu Qingming as well. A cold glint flashed in her icy eyes.
If they were in the wild, this ice beauty beside him would have probably already made her move.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, it's Lu Qingming."
"Mm, he's here, so it seems he's also entering the mystic realm. I will act when the time comes."
"Alright."
Chen Jianghe didn't fight with Luo Xiyue for the chance to strike.
Luo Xiyue might be a bit cold, but she was quite good to him. It was best to yield on some matters.
"Brother Chen, it's Lu Qingming."
Ruan Tieniu also came to Chen Jianghe's side at this moment, jutting his chin toward Lu Qingming.
When the ambush on Chen Jianghe happened, Ruan Tieniu was also on the spirit boat.
All in all.
Lu Qingming hadn't been trying to kill just Chen Jianghe, but the three of them: Chen Jianghe, Luo Xiyue, and Ruan Tieniu.
"What are you planning to do, Brother Ruan?"
"Find a chance and do it."
"Alright, just give me a heads-up then."
The voice transmission between Chen Jianghe and Ruan Tieniu took but a moment.
"Brother Chen, Fairy Luo, Fairy Peiyao."
Ruan Tieniu showed a simple and honest smile, greeting Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao.
"Fellow Daoist Ruan, you know Brother Jianghe and Sister Xiyue?" Gao Peiyao asked, puzzled.
The reason she knew Ruan Tieniu was because she had met and spoken with him in the Arctic Snow Forest.
Because the sect disciple who had given Ruan Tieniu his spot was acquainted with Gao Peiyao.
It was Liu Zhining, the one who took Zhou Xiaoxuan away back then.
"Haha, Brother Chen and I were sworn friends back in Qinghe Market City. We have a life-and-death bond."
Ruan Tieniu laughed heartily.
Chen Jianghe met Gao Peiyao's gaze, a smile in his eyes, and nodded, acknowledging Ruan Tieniu's words.
"Junior Sister Gao."
Just then, a woman in a white gauze dress gracefully approached. Her fragrant shoulders were exposed, her skin as white as jade. Her features were delicate, with a hint of seductiveness between her brows.
"Senior Sister Liu."
Gao Peiyao greeted her.
"Fellow Daoist Chen."
"Fairy Liu."
Chen Jianghe also greeted her.
"When I first heard that a Fellow Daoist Chen had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, I thought it was just a cultivator with the same name. I never expected it was really you. Reaching Foundation Establishment at such an advanced age... Fellow Daoist Chen, you've broken the record for the oldest cultivator to successfully reach Foundation Establishment in the Tiannan Region."
Liu Zhining said with a radiant smile. She wore a white, bust-hugging gauze dress, and as she spoke and laughed, one could faintly see a certain colossal pair tremble, stirring the soul.
Chen Jianghe felt a little puzzled.
When he met Liu Zhining thirty years ago, she was also very charming, but her attire was not as bold as it was today.
"My talent is poor. It was only by heaven's grace that I was fortunate enough to reach Foundation Establishment," Chen Jianghe said shamefully.
"I don't see it that way."
Liu Zhining's charming eyes rippled as she took a step forward and chuckled lightly. "Fellow Daoist Chen is clearly a case of 'the greatest vessel takes the longest to finish'."
Chen Jianghe's mind trembled. He felt as if his eyes were firmly hooked by Liu Zhining's body, unable to look away.
For a moment, he actually felt that what she said made sense.
He really was a late bloomer, but something felt off.
A hint of icy chill washed over him, and he instantly sobered up.
When he looked at Liu Zhining again, his guard was up.
"What powerful seduction arts. Just a few casual words, and she made me feel arrogant and competitive."
"If Luo Xiyue hadn't been here, I'm afraid it would have taken me three breaths to come to my senses."
Three breaths might not seem long.
But if Liu Zhining were an enemy, three breaths would be more than enough time to strike.
"Another vixen. They call themselves an orthodox sect, yet they have their disciples cultivate seduction arts. Hmph~" Luo Xiyue transmitted her voice.
"Don't look into her eyes."
Hearing Luo Xiyue's transmission, Chen Jianghe didn't doubt her. As they talked, he avoided looking into Liu Zhining's eyes.
But in his heart, an idea formed.
If he ever had to fight a woman who cultivated seduction arts, he had to strike first and use his strongest attacks immediately.
Don't give her a chance to use her arts.
"This must be the grandmaster artificer, Fairy Luo? This little lady pays her respects," Liu Zhining said softly, turning to Luo Xiyue.
Seduction arts could not only charm male cultivators but were also very effective against female cultivators.
The allure of someone who cultivated seduction arts worked on cultivators regardless of gender.
But Chen Jianghe noticed that Luo Xiyue was completely unfazed by Liu Zhining, meeting her gaze with icy eyes.
Suddenly, the charm between Liu Zhining's brows vanished, and a trace of shock appeared in her eyes.
Seeing this, Gao Peiyao laughed inwardly.
Liu Zhining trying to test Luo Xiyue was truly overestimating her own abilities. Gao Peiyao wasn't entirely clear on the full extent of Luo Xiyue's background.
But she knew that even if she were to face Luo Xiyue...
...she wouldn't be completely confident of victory.
Although Liu Zhining was also a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, in Gao Peiyao's eyes, she was just a demonic cultivator whose seduction arts were still in their infancy.
If they were to fight, she wouldn't give Liu Zhining a chance to strike.
"Since everyone knows each other, we can look out for one another after entering the mystic realm. Wait here, I'll go get another friend."
Ruan Tieniu quickly walked into the crowd and returned shortly after with a red-clad young woman by his side.
She wasn't tall, but she had a fiery figure and a baby face.
"The baby-faced, brainless fairy?"
Chen Jianghe recognized this red-clad young woman. She was the one he had traded with at the bartering fair.
However, he had been disguised as Ji Wujin at the time.
"Let me introduce you."
Ruan Tieniu introduced the red-clad young woman.
This red-clad young woman was from the royal family of the Yue Kingdom. Her name was Yan Ling'er, and she was the seventeenth daughter of the current Yue king.
Also the youngest daughter.
She had been recruited by Liu Zhining to be her external support, entering the mystic realm to help her compete for Core Formation opportunities.
Then, Ruan Tieniu introduced Chen Jianghe and the others to Yan Ling'er.
When he got to Chen Jianghe, Ruan Tieniu raised his eyebrows at him, as if showing off.
As if to say, "You have two women with you, and I have two women with me. Your big brother isn't doing too bad either."
"So you're the Fortunate Old Man, Chen Jianghe?"
Yan Ling'er wasn't interested in Gao Peiyao or Luo Xiyue. She came up to Chen Jianghe and studied him curiously.
"You're amazing, breaking a thousand-year record in the Tiannan Region."
"Back then, my royal father sent people south of the Tongtian River to invite you to be the state preceptor. Why didn't you agree?"
"If you become the state preceptor, you'll have a chance to marry a princess of Yue. You could have become my brother-in-law, hehe~"
"Do you feel like you missed out on a great match?"
Yan Ling'er blinked her lively big eyes, looking at Chen Jianghe with a grin.
"Uh..."
Chen Jianghe was stunned.
He never thought that becoming the state preceptor of Yue came with such a benefit—the chance to marry a princess.
But for him, it wasn't a pity.
He currently had no intention of getting married.
If he did, there were already good candidates right beside him.
"That's right, Brother Jianghe. You missed out on a princess for a wife, hehe~" Gao Peiyao giggled from the side.
"Talisman Master Chen, if you join the Yue Kingdom now, I can talk to my royal father and have you marry my sister directly. You'd be both the state preceptor and the prince consort."
Yan Ling'er looked at Chen Jianghe with a serious expression.
"Ahem~ Princess, you jest. I am but a coarse man from the mountains. How could I dare to aspire to marry a princess of an immortal kingdom?"
Chen Jianghe had no desire to go to the Yue Kingdom.
Even if he had to choose a kingdom to join, he would choose the Yu Kingdom.
After arriving at Thousand Mountains Market City, he had learned a bit about the four great immortal kingdoms north of the Tongtian River.
Only the Yu Kingdom was a nation of laws, treated its people relatively well, and was safer.
As for the Yue, Nan, and Qi Kingdoms, they were founded on martial might, where the strong preyed on the weak, and their territories were rife with demonic cultivators.
Especially the Yue Kingdom.
The Yan royal family came from humble origins. The founding king was originally a rogue cultivator from south of the Tongtian River, and after coming north, he became a demonic cultivator.
By a stroke of luck, he reached Core Formation and established the Yue Kingdom north of the Tongtian River.
One could say that the Yue Kingdom was the immortal kingdom with the most demonic cultivators in the Tiannan Region.
Even the royal family were demonic cultivators.
He didn't know why the Tiannan Sect allowed the Yue Kingdom to exist.
In any case, Chen Jianghe wouldn't dare to join the Yue Kingdom.
One day he might be refined into a dried corpse without even knowing what happened.
The group chatted for a while.
Then they dispersed.
Chen Jianghe made another round but didn't find any treasures he needed. He told Gao Peiyao and left Thousand Mountains Restaurant.
Just as he stepped out of Thousand Mountains Restaurant, he sensed Luo Xiyue's presence.
The two of them returned to Golden Ao Mountain together.
As for the matter of the two groups joining forces?
Neither Gao Peiyao nor Liu Zhining had mentioned it, which meant it was impossible for them to team up.
It made sense when he thought about it.
The Tiannan Sect disciples were entering the mystic realm to compete for Core Formation opportunities.
Their greatest enemies were their fellow sect members, not the external supporters or the demonic beasts within the realm.
The trials for Tiannan Sect disciples before entering the mystic realm all involved slaying demonic beasts or eliminating demons.
Entering the mystic realm meant a battle among fellow sect members.
Chen Jianghe didn't quite understand this method the Tiannan Sect used to train its disciples.
But the Tiannan Sect had used this method to train disciples for thousands of years, and it had existed for thousands of years.
There must be some logic to it.
They were silent all the way back.
After returning to Golden Ao Mountain, they didn't exchange a single word.
Luo Xiyue flew toward the turtle's head.
While Chen Jianghe returned to his own Spirit Spring Abode.
Just like strangers.
Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged under the Dragon Pattern Red Pine, deep in thought.
Why did Gao Peiyao want him to enter the mystic realm?
"Gao Peiyao is very strong, and Luo Xiyue is even stronger. On the surface, I'm the weakest... uh... ridiculously weak, it seems."
"So why does Gao Peiyao still want me to go in?"
From what Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue had said, he would be basically useless after entering the mystic realm.
They would handle the fighting.
And they would even have to divert their attention to protect him.
"To Gao Peiyao, no matter how reliable I am, if I can't provide any help, she absolutely wouldn't let me enter the mystic realm."
"Could it be that she knows about Xiao Hei's existence?"
"Or does she know that I have some powerful means?"