Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Xiao Hei's Breakthrough, Talisman Grandmaster
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“A gift?”
Ruan Tieniu looked at the Rushing Thunder Talisman Chen Jianghe had taken out. This was a Tier 2 Mid-Grade escape talisman, containing an extremely powerful escape art, Rushing Thunder Evasion.
Upon use, one could move like rushing thunder, escaping to a great distance in an instant.
It was precisely because Xu Feng had a Rushing Thunder Talisman that he had managed to escape from a late-stage Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator.
Ruan Tieniu was all too familiar with the power of the Rushing Thunder Talisman.
After all, the inheritances for the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman and the Rushing Thunder Talisman in Chen Jianghe's possession had come from him.
“Brother Chen, this is too precious.”
Ruan Tieniu sighed in amazement, but his hands didn't stay idle. He accepted the Rushing Thunder Talisman from Chen Jianghe.
“If I can return from the Boundless Sea, I will surely have a surprise for you, Brother Chen.”
“Then I'll be waiting for Brother Ruan's return,” Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle.
Ruan Tieniu nodded and left Golden Ao Mountain.
He had come here to collect the Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans and the Green Wood Immortal Shield Talismans. Chen Jianghe had promised him these four Tier 2 Mid-Grade talismans within two years.
Now, the time was up.
What he had told Liu Zhining back then was also that he would venture into the depths of the Boundless Sea in two years to steal spiritual items and slay sea beasts.
Fortunately, the Tiannan Sect's requirements for disciples entering the Boundless Sea for trials weren't too harsh. Otherwise, Ruan Tieniu would have been reluctant to enter the mystic realm.
Obtain one Tier 2 High-Grade spiritual item.
Slay one Tier 2 Mid-Grade sea beast.
These were still within his capabilities.
Liu Zhirou was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and that princess from the State of Yue, Yan Ling'er, was also at the late stage.
The three of them had a high chance of success.
And an even greater chance of returning.
The talismans might not be needed, but it was better to have them on hand to guard against the unexpected.
The Boundless Sea was fraught with peril, and any kind of danger could arise. It was different from venturing deep into the Arctic Snow Forest.
Watching Ruan Tieniu leave.
Chen Jianghe returned to the Spirit Spring Abode. Giving Ruan Tieniu a Rushing Thunder Talisman was to increase his chances of survival.
Besides, gifting this Rushing Thunder Talisman was no loss.
Only if Ruan Tieniu stayed alive could he bring Chen Jianghe benefits—many benefits.
He had already gained quite a lot from Ruan Tieniu.
If he had a Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman, he would have given it to Ruan Tieniu in advance for protection as well.
“After giving Ruan Tieniu five Tier 2 Mid-Grade talismans, I only have twelve left.”
During his four months of seclusion, he had crafted three Green Wood Immortal Shield Talismans and had a half-finished Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman.
He gave Ruan Tieniu two Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans, two Green Wood Immortal Shield Talismans, and one Rushing Thunder Talisman.
He now had four Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans, five Green Wood Immortal Shield Talismans, and three Rushing Thunder Talismans.
The Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman would be ready for spirit consolidation and sealing in five days at most.
When crafting Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans, he could produce one per month.
But crafting a Green Wood Immortal Shield Talisman required an extra ten days.
And crafting a Rushing Thunder Talisman took a month and a half.
Chen Jianghe put these thoughts aside and continued to cultivate and craft talismans.
Two months passed quietly.
The half-finished Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman was successfully completed, and he also crafted another Rushing Thunder Talisman.
Now, he had fourteen Tier 2 Mid-Grade talismans in his possession.
He was one short of his ideal number of fifteen.
However, he didn't plan to craft any more Tier 2 Mid-Grade talismans. There were still over four years until the mystic realm opened.
He needed to start crafting the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman, the Green Wood Soul-Binding Talisman, and the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman.
Currently, he had fifteen sets of materials for Tier 2 High-Grade talismans.
But after successfully crafting them, he needed to give four to Luo Xiyue, two to Ruan Tieniu, and one to the Talisman Master Alliance.
In other words, even if he used all the Tier 2 High-Grade talisman materials, he would only have eight Tier 2 High-Grade talismans for himself.
“If I give Peiyao a Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman and a Green Wood Soul-Binding Talisman, I'll only have six Tier 2 High-Grade talismans left.”
Six Tier 2 High-Grade talismans might not seem like many, but it was actually a considerable number.
Of course, compared to Cen Linchuan, it was somewhat insignificant. After all, he was a direct descendant of the Cen Clan.
The Cen Clan was a talisman-crafting family.
Cen Linchuan himself was a Talisman Grandmaster, and he also had seven Tier 2 High-Grade talismans 'gifted' by the other grandmasters of the Talisman Master Alliance.
Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators entering the mystic realm this time, it was likely that no one had more Tier 2 High-Grade talismans than Cen Linchuan.
But it was an unfair comparison.
They had a deep heritage; comparing himself to them was just asking for disappointment.
Aside from Cen Linchuan, the number of talismans Chen Jianghe possessed was definitely substantial.
Suddenly.
Just as Chen Jianghe was about to craft a Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman, he abruptly sensed a violent surge of spiritual energy from the river system.
“Xiao Hei is breaking through.”
A joyful look appeared in Chen Jianghe's eyes, and a smile spread across his face. He immediately left the Spirit Spring Abode and went to the riverbank.
There, he saw Xiao Hei lying at the bottom of the river.
Its shell, nearly twenty-five feet long, almost blocked the entire river. Its thick, short claws were dug deep into the silt, and its massive head was raised high.
But its eyes were closed.
A dark black glow emanated from its body, mingling with the faint yellow light of the runes on its shell, forming a massive barrier of light that completely enveloped Xiao Hei.
It seemed to be protecting Xiao Hei during its breakthrough.
Seeing this, Chen Jianghe felt a pang of envy. When cultivators broke through, they needed the protection of a formation or a trusted person to stand guard.
But Xiao Hei's breakthrough came with a natural barrier.
It appeared to be a protective light barrier derived from its cultivation technique and its own body.
Chen Jianghe sensed the energy of the light barrier; it could withstand an attack from a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
In other words.
While Xiao Hei was breaking through, he might not even be able to breach its defense.
“The Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art seems a bit too powerful,” Chen Jianghe remarked with a sigh.
As his knowledge grew.
He thought back to what the plump shopkeeper at Mirror Moon Lake had said—that only great demons who had achieved human form possessed cultivation techniques.
Chen Jianghe didn't entirely agree.
Great demons in human form were Tier 5 Demon Ancestors. Naturally, they would have access to cultivation techniques; they could even create their own.
In Chen Jianghe's opinion, Tier 4 great demons should already have access to cultivation techniques.
Even some Tier 3 demonic beasts with extremely pure bloodlines probably had inherited techniques.
“Master, Turtle Lord has gotten stronger again.”
Maoqiu and Latiao came to Chen Jianghe's side, watching Xiao Hei break through at the bottom of the river with envy.
This was especially true for Latiao, who was just a late Tier 1 young beast and hadn't even reached adulthood.
But towards Xiao Hei, Latiao was filled with reverence and admiration.
“Maoqiu, you should be close to breaking through as well, right?” Chen Jianghe said.
Maoqiu had been cultivating with Tier 2 water-element spirit cores all this time, and had been cultivating for a few years longer than Xiao Hei.
Logically, it should also be on the verge of breaking through to the Tier 2 mid-stage.
“Master, I feel like I can break through in about half a year,” Maoqiu transmitted its voice through the Tier 2 Spirit Beast Pouch.
“Mm.”
Chen Jianghe nodded in satisfaction. Both Xiao Hei and Maoqiu were assets he would rely on when entering the mystic realm.
This time, eighty-one Foundation Establishment cultivators were entering the mystic realm, with over thirty of them at the late stage.
There were more than forty at the mid-stage.
Chen Jianghe's combat strength wasn't at the bottom. Even with just Maoqiu, his power ranked in the upper echelons among the forty-plus mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Just as Ruan Tieniu had once said.
When disciples of the Tiannan Sect sought outside help, the first strict requirement was character, followed by strength.
Only the disciples from powerful sects sought help from the direct descendants of top immortal clans.
Because their own strength was enough to suppress these descendants, they had no fear of being backstabbed.
Ten hours later.
Xiao Hei opened its mouth wide, and the massive vortex of spiritual energy above the river was swallowed whole. As the runes on its shell flickered, a powerful aura erupted from its body.
A Tier 2 Mid-Grade spirit beast.
Chen Jianghe began to smile.
Xiao Hei had been with him for eighty-four years now. It had taken its first Spirit Awakening Pill at the age of three, enhancing its intelligence and beginning its cultivation.
At eight, it consumed a Spirit Nurturing Pill.
At nine and a half, it successfully underwent its tribulation, transforming from a Grade 1 Low-Bloodline mortal beast into a spirit beast.
It broke through to the Tier 1 mid-stage at sixteen, then to the late stage at thirty-five, and finally reached Tier 2 at the age of sixty.
Now, at eighty-four, Xiao Hei had successfully broken through to the Tier 2 mid-stage.
Chen Jianghe knew very well that if Xiao Hei hadn't been delayed for nearly ten years, it could have broken through to the Tier 2 mid-stage before the age of eighty.
During their time at Qiyun Mountain, Xiao Hei had been sleeping in the pocket dimension of the Tier 2 Spirit Beast Pouch.
It only resumed cultivating after arriving at Golden Ao Mountain.
Later, after obtaining the Icy Triangle Python egg, Xiao Hei spent over two years restoring the demonic beast egg's vitality.
It could be said that Xiao Hei's cultivation had been delayed for a long time.
Even so, with the Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art, it had still broken through before Maoqiu.
“Xiao Hei, congratulations.”
Seeing Xiao Hei leap out from the bottom of the river, Chen Jianghe stepped forward and clasped his hands in congratulation, not treating it as a mere spirit pet or spirit beast.
“Turtle Lord, you're so powerful.”
“Turtle Lord~ so strong.”
Maoqiu and Latiao both cried out in admiration.
Xiao Hei grinned widely, letting out a "wuwu" sound that was likely a laugh.
After a moment, Xiao Hei first chirped "zhizhi" twice at Maoqiu and Latiao, telling them to go about their business.
Then, it began to communicate with Chen Jianghe.
“Two-Legged Beast, did you feel it?”
Xiao Hei transmitted its voice excitedly.
“Feel it? Feel what? I just feel that you've gotten stronger.”
Chen Jianghe was slightly stunned, not quite understanding Xiao Hei's sudden words.
“I know I'm strong, you don't need to tell me that. I'm talking about the feeling from the Spiritual Altar's Mark. Did you feel it?”
“The Spiritual Altar's Mark?”
Chen Jianghe grew serious, his expression turning solemn.
The Spiritual Altar's Mark was his golden finger.
How far he could go on the path of cultivation depended entirely on the Spiritual Altar's Mark.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe sat down cross-legged, his divine sense turning inward to carefully perceive the Spiritual Altar's Mark in his sea of consciousness.
In the vast, boundless sea of consciousness, the Spiritual Altar stood at the center.
He didn't know what other people's spiritual altars looked like, but his was rather peculiar.
Wide at the base and narrow at the top, it resembled a trapezoidal, four-sided seal.
The bottom was black, the top was white, and of its four faces, one bore an imprint of Xiao Hei's likeness, while the other three were a plain grayish-white.
Moreover, the imprint on the Spiritual Altar would change along with Xiao Hei's current appearance.
Initially, the spirit turtle imprint on the altar had no shell runes, but now it had faint runes.
Clearly, it was changing in response to the improvements in Xiao Hei's cultivation and physical body.
An hour later.
Chen Jianghe's divine sense withdrew from his sea of consciousness.
“Xiao Hei, what did you feel?”
Chen Jianghe asked.
He hadn't felt a thing. The Spiritual Altar was as steady as an old dog, showing no change whatsoever, let alone any tremor indicating it was about to bestow an opportunity upon him.
It seemed to have gone silent after granting him Xiao Hei's lifespan.
“An opportunity! I feel that 'you' on the Spiritual Altar is about to give me another opportunity! As soon as I break through to the Tier 2 late stage, you will give me an opportunity.”
“...”
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes.
His divine sense couldn't help but turn inward again, looking at the imprint of Xiao Hei on the Spiritual Altar. It was completely still, giving no sign of an impending opportunity.
Something's not right here!
'I' am giving *it* an opportunity.
Shouldn't 'it' give me an opportunity in return?
Xiao Hei is already powerful enough.
Giving it another opportunity after it breaks through to the late stage... at least a little of that should be shared with me.
“What kind of opportunity?” Chen Jianghe asked.
“I don't know, but I feel it will be a huge boost for me. I'll tell you after I break through to the Tier 2 late stage.”
Xiao Hei raised its head arrogantly and trotted off with cheerful little steps toward the habitat of the black-armored turtles.
Chen Jianghe was speechless.
He felt mercilessly crushed by Xiao Hei.
“Crushed is crushed. It's not the first time. As long as Xiao Hei keeps getting stronger, that's better than anything.”
Chen Jianghe watched Xiao Hei feed the black-armored turtles, then returned to the Spirit Spring Abode to continue cultivating Absolute Ice Seal.
Four hours later.
Chen Jianghe's divine sense turned inward, observing the fist-sized source of ice in his dantian.
The 'Ten Thousand Miles Frozen Seal' on its surface began to emit an ice-blue glow.
This signified that his Absolute Ice Seal had reached the major completion stage.
Absolute Ice Seal had already surpassed the limits of an ultimate art, reaching the level of a forbidden art.
If he were to cast Absolute Ice Seal now, he could freeze an area of a hundred zhang in radius, extinguishing all life within.
Even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would find it difficult to escape death unless they possessed a spirit-imbued defensive magical tool, or a defensive ultimate or forbidden art.
Unless they could break through the source of ice in an instant and escape the hundred-zhang radius.
Otherwise, in just a single breath, Chen Jianghe's Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword could take their life within the frozen domain.
“Finally, I have a powerful offensive ability.”
At present, the power of Absolute Ice Seal was greater than that of a Tier 2 High-Grade offensive talisman.
With this, Chen Jianghe was confident he could deal with those late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who had shallow foundations and lacked resources.
Of course, it was still best to avoid conflict if possible.
Any fight is filled with unpredictable variables.
He had powerful offensive abilities and hidden life-saving trump cards.
But his opponents weren't fools; they likely had trump cards of their own.
“Why hasn't this Profound Ice Lotus Seed been absorbed by the ice source yet?”
Chen Jianghe saw that the Profound Ice Lotus Seed within the ice source still existed and had not been assimilated.
Now, when he cultivated Absolute Ice Seal and condensed the 'Ten Thousand Miles Frozen Seal', the ice source could no longer refine the spiritual energy of the Profound Ice Lotus Seed.
It seemed the icy spiritual energy contained within the Profound Ice Lotus Seed was too profound.
It also seemed that, limited by Chen Jianghe's cultivation level, Absolute Ice Seal could only be cultivated to the major completion stage.
It couldn't be cultivated to the grand completion stage while he was at mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
Therefore, it could no longer absorb and refine the spiritual energy from the Profound Ice Lotus Seed.
Chen Jianghe felt it was likely due to his cultivation level. Otherwise, if he could cultivate Absolute Ice Seal to the grand completion stage at mid-stage Foundation Establishment...
...wouldn't that mean he could kill a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator while still in the mid-stage?
If that were the case, this forbidden art would be far too terrifying.
Absolute Ice Seal could not be cultivated any further for now.
The Jade Dew Muscle Growth Incantation had also reached the major completion stage, nearing grand completion.
As for the Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture, without fragments of a Mystic Turtle's soul armor, he couldn't construct a barrier in his soul sea.
So for now, it too could not be cultivated.
The Myriad Waters True Scripture, however, could be cultivated. He still had a piece of Water Spirit Jade.
But he was thinking of letting Xiao Hei use the Water Spirit Jade, to help it reach the Tier 2 late stage as quickly as possible.
“I'll wait a bit longer. The Spirit Spring Pearls are enough for Xiao Hei to cultivate for another half a year or so.”
For now, Chen Jianghe still planned to prioritize raising Xiao Hei's cultivation. His own cultivation couldn't be raised to the late Foundation Establishment stage in a short time.
But as long as Xiao Hei had the resources, it could reach the Tier 2 late stage in a short time.
If Xiao Hei could reach the Tier 2 late stage, the mystic realm would not seem so daunting for Chen Jianghe.
At the very least, the other cultivators entering the mystic realm with him wouldn't pose much of a threat.
“I'll use the two freed-up hours for talisman crafting, and then squeeze out more time for alchemy.”
Chen Jianghe finalized his plan.
Afterward, he took out a piece of Tier 2 High-Grade spirit beast hide, preparing to craft the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman first.
Among the three Tier 2 High-Grade talisman inheritances, the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman was relatively simpler.
As for the Green Wood Soul-Binding Talisman, it appeared to be a wood-element offensive talisman, but it was actually a special type of attack talisman.
It could directly strike the soul, which was truly remarkable.
Chen Jianghe focused his mind, cast aside distracting thoughts, picked up his Peachwood Heart-Calming Brush, dipped it in spiritual ink, and began to draw the vine-entwining patterns on the Tier 2 High-Grade spirit beast hide.
The Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman was a defensive talisman, but not entirely.
The vine-entwining patterns would manifest vines with great flexibility, capable of trapping and binding an enemy to a large extent.
Although this secondary effect wasn't particularly potent against mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators...
...they could break free with a magical art in less than a breath's time.
However, in a battle, a single moment could decide the outcome.
Furthermore, the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman also possessed a self-healing property. Even if the shield was broken, the released wood-element spiritual energy would merge with the cultivator's body, healing minor physical injuries.
As Chen Jianghe's brush moved.
The complex and profound vine-entwining patterns were completed stroke by stroke under Chen Jianghe's Peachwood Heart-Calming Brush.
After the vine-entwining patterns were finished.
He then began to draw the core runes of the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman. This was the most difficult part, with every stroke consuming an immense amount of mental energy.
The vine-to-shield runes were even more complex than the vine-entwining patterns.
Six hours later, fine beads of sweat had formed on Chen Jianghe's forehead, but he didn't dare stop his brush.
He dared not let his arm tremble either.
At this point, any mistake would mean all his previous effort was wasted, and this piece of Tier 2 High-Grade spirit beast hide would be ruined.
Another four hours passed.
As Chen Jianghe was drawing the final stroke, he paused.
The profound magical power in his dantian surged like a tide, but as it flowed from his Shenmen acupoint into the brush, it became as thin as a silk thread.
Another hour passed.
Only then did Chen Jianghe let out a long, turbid breath. His magical power evaporated the sweat on his forehead, and a trace of fatigue appeared in his eyes.
“Crafting a Tier 2 High-Grade talisman at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment is still too strenuous. Fortunately, my soul is strong; otherwise, I would never have been able to withstand such a massive consumption of mental energy.”
It was manageable when drawing the vine-entwining patterns.
But drawing the vine-to-shield runes put Chen Jianghe under immense pressure.
Eighty-one strokes, yet containing three thousand six hundred nodes. The difficulty of crafting it was more than three times that of a Tier 2 Mid-Grade talisman.
He meditated for a short while, then began cultivating the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art.
Ten hours later.
His condition restored, he began to infuse the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman with spiritual energy, using his mind to guide his magical power through every node of the runes.
The flow of magical power had to be perfectly stable.
There could be no margin for error, or the magical power would force the runes to break, and all his work would be for naught.
Time flew by.
Three months passed.
As Chen Jianghe infused the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman for the last time, he finally completed the infusion stage. He lifted his brush, consolidated the spirit, and sealed the talisman.
A Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman was successfully crafted.
Sensing the power contained within the talisman, he knew that if it were activated, his own attacks would be completely unable to break the vine shield.
But the thought that such a powerful Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman had to be given to the Cen Clan...
...ignited a nameless fire in Chen Jianghe's heart.
One more Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman meant one more chance to save his life in the mystic realm.
For the Cen Clan to act this way...
...it wasn't just a matter of benefits.
It was sabotaging his means of self-preservation.
Before, Chen Jianghe hadn't clearly felt the difficulty of crafting a Tier 2 High-Grade talisman, nor could he have imagined the high probability of failure.
If his soul weren't unusually strong, this first attempt at crafting a Tier 2 High-Grade talisman would certainly have ended in failure.
Benefits, safety.
That False Core itinerant cultivator from the Cen Clan had not only infringed upon his benefits but had also threatened his safety.
“If I reach Core Formation, there will be a reckoning.”
By the time he reached Core Formation, Xiao Hei would likely have broken through to become a Tier 3 demonic beast. At that point, he would have the confidence to demand an explanation from the Cen Clan.
Chen Jianghe put away the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman.
From the moment the Green Wood Vine Shield Talisman was successfully crafted, Chen Jianghe had truly become a Talisman Grandmaster.
He was no longer just a 'Talisman Grandmaster' in name only.
Chen Jianghe had first encountered the Dao of Talismans at the age of thirty.
He became a Low-Grade Talisman Master at thirty-three, a Mid-Grade Talisman Master at forty-seven, and a High-Grade Talisman Master at sixty-six.
At eighty-one, he became a Tier 2 Talisman Master.
Now, at the age of ninety-eight, he had finally become a Talisman Grandmaster, capable of crafting Tier 2 High-Grade talismans.
He had finally achieved a certain status in the cultivation world.
Although still an itinerant cultivator, he was now among the upper echelon of itinerants, worthy of notice by the top immortal clans.
Chen Jianghe was happy, but not complacent.
While a Talisman Grandmaster was considered an upper-echelon cultivator among itinerants, to the top immortal clans and sects...
...this status meant little.
Furthermore, without a profound cultivation base and powerful means of self-preservation...
...what did becoming a Talisman Grandmaster matter?
He would just be a talisman-crafting tool in the eyes of the top immortal clans.
To truly command respect in the cultivation world, one had to become a Core Formation mighty figure.
Only by reaching Core Formation could one truly have the power to protect oneself in the Tiannan Domain.
One would not have to fear the top immortal clans.
And one would not be reduced to a mere talisman-crafting tool for them.