Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Intelligence on 'Xiao Chen', Danger at Every Turn
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In a snow-white forest, before the illusory secret realm, Perfected Being Chengtian presented a cyan-blue jade ruler.
"Fellow Daoists, lend me your strength to break this restriction!"
Perfected Being Chengtian, Perfected Being Mingjing, Fairy Qingxin, Venerable Qingmu, and Venerable Yunie—the profound and vast spiritual power of five Core Formation cultivators surged into the jade ruler.
The spiritual power, like pillars of heaven, radiated an immense pressure.
It triggered a series of beast roars from the depths of the arctic snow forest. The sound of a stampede echoed, gradually fading into the distance, as if the beasts had sensed the auras of multiple Core Formation cultivators and the might of a great treasure.
The demonic beasts within a hundred-mile radius scattered and fled.
At that moment, Fairy Yunhua arrived on a streak of fiery light. The third-tier white tiger, intimidated by the aura of the great treasure, had already retreated.
*Whoosh~*
Fairy Yunhua's spiritual power, radiant as the sun, poured into the cyan-blue jade ruler.
In the void, six beams of Core Formation spiritual power converged on the cyan-blue jade ruler, causing it to soar high into the air and grow with the wind until it was dozens of feet long.
Above the restriction of Wind and Snow Valley, the jade ruler traced a profound sigil that shimmered with golden light.
Suddenly, the sigil descended, crashing down upon the restriction of the Wind and Snow Valley secret realm. An azure light shield instantly materialized over the illusory realm, blocking the golden sigil's assault.
*Boom!*
The golden sigil met the azure light shield and, with brute force, mercilessly pierced through during the restriction's period of weakness. It formed a passage about twenty feet high, from which an ancient, primordial aura flowed out of the secret realm.
This was an ancient ruin with a long history, protected by layers of formations and restrictions. Only during the period when the restrictions were at their weakest could a passage be opened to allow cultivators below Perfected Foundation Establishment to enter and seek rare treasures.
"The passage to the Wind and Snow Valley secret realm is open! All cultivators participating in the trial, enter at once!"
Immediately.
The Core Formation Seedlings of the Tiannan Sect took the lead, entering first.
The other Foundation Establishment cultivators no longer hesitated, hurrying through the passage into the Wind and Snow Valley secret realm.
When the last Foundation Establishment cultivator had entered the secret realm.
The golden sigil's light flickered and dimmed, appearing exhausted as if its essence had been depleted. It withdrew from the azure light shield.
It then dissipated into the void.
Seeing that all the Foundation Establishment cultivators had entered the secret realm, the several Core Formation experts gathered before Perfected Being Chengtian.
"Fellow Daoist Chengtian, what does the Tiannan Sect intend to do?"
Fairy Yunhua looked at Perfected Being Chengtian, her elegant brows knitted as she spoke with grace.
Venerable Qingmu and Venerable Yunie also turned to Perfected Being Chengtian, understanding the meaning behind Fairy Yunhua's words.
The Core Formation expert from the Beast Taming Immortal Zhou Clan had not arrived.
This meant the Tiannan Sect was preparing to move against the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
Although they didn't know what the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had obtained from the depths of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, it was certainly a great treasure coveted even by the Tiannan Sect.
The beast tide at the Beast Taming Market City had been raging for so long.
Yet the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had not confessed everything to the Tiannan Sect. They had clearly made up their minds to violate the pact originally agreed upon by the one sect and four clans.
In the Tiannan Domain, the Tiannan Sect was paramount, supplemented by the four great immortal clans. The Tiannan Sect was responsible for ensuring that the four great immortal clans did not lose their opportunities for Core Formation.
At all times, the Tiannan Sect had to guarantee that the four great immortal clans would not suffer a generational gap in their Core Formation experts.
In return, the four great immortal clans were to revere the Tiannan Sect as their superior and were forbidden from defying its decrees.
In other words.
The Tiannan Sect had to ensure that the four great immortal clans always had at least five Core Formation experts at any given time.
Only then could they intimidate the other Core Formation immortal clans.
As a price, the four great immortal clans had to obey the commands of the Tiannan Sect.
"The Sect Master still wishes to give the Zhou Clan one more chance. After all, they have a heritage of several thousand years. It would be a true pity to annihilate them in a day."
Perfected Being Chengtian said with a look of regret.
"Indeed," Venerable Yunie nodded.
"The Sect Master is compassionate and merciful. I hope the Zhou Clan can appreciate his earnest intentions, turn back from the brink, and avoid the calamity of annihilation."
Venerable Qingmu sighed, his compassionate expression deeply convincing.
"But why must the calamity of the Zhou Clan alone implicate the entire Tiannan Domain?" Fairy Yunhua took a deep breath. Thinking of the turmoil erupting in the Western Territory, her phoenix eyes darkened, and she let out a bitter sigh.
Perfected Being Chengtian did not speak.
He sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.
This matter concerned a shift in the entire Tiannan Domain. It was the Sect Master's decision, not something he could discuss openly.
He couldn't even say much.
Otherwise, a slip of the tongue could trigger new changes and easily be used against him.
Chengtian Peak was one of the twelve main branches of the Tiannan Sect, and one of the upper four at that, making it eligible to contend for the position of Sect Master.
His son had the potential to reach Core Formation.
If nurtured properly, he might have a chance to compete for the supreme position of Sect Master in the future.
Therefore, at all times, he had to maintain perfect alignment with the Sect Master's thoughts and do his utmost to uphold the Sect Master's authority.
Seeing Perfected Being Chengtian remain silent.
Fairy Yunhua, Venerable Qingmu, and Venerable Yunie turned to look at Perfected Being Mingjing and Fairy Qingxin.
But they found that the two had also sat down beside Perfected Being Chengtian, closing their eyes to rest, waiting for the secret realm's passage to open again in half a year.
"Sigh..."
The three of them exchanged a glance.
They all knew that the shift in the Tiannan Domain's power structure was now an unstoppable trend, not something their three clans could prevent.
Trying to learn from Perfected Being Chengtian how the Tiannan Sect intended to change the power structure of the Tiannan Domain was clearly impossible.
They could only wait patiently.
They hoped the Tiannan Sect would not excessively suppress the interests of their immortal clans.
Because of this, they all harbored resentment towards the Zhou Clan in their hearts.
The Tiannan Sect presiding over the Central Domain, with the four great immortal clans each controlling one of the four territories—what a perfect power structure that was.
Yet the Zhou Clan had thrown it all into disarray.
Causing the Tiannan Sect to lose its trust in the great immortal clans.
...
Wind and Snow Valley.
Fierce winds howled and heavy snow filled the sky. The temperature plummeted, and the bone-chilling cold made even Foundation Establishment cultivators frown.
The valley was long and narrow, flanked by towering snow-capped mountains. Snow-covered pines, a hundred to several hundred feet tall, were everywhere.
"Water Spirit Ganoderma?!"
A crystalline Water Spirit Ganoderma grew beneath a towering snow pine. It was a second-tier, low-grade medicinal herb.
It could be used to refine Water Spirit Pills for nurturing spirit beasts.
Not far away, a Fire Spirit Ganoderma was growing in the icy landscape, a very strange sight.
But no cultivator went to pick them.
The secret realm was riddled with restrictions. A single misstep could trap someone, leading to the risk of death.
At this moment, the twenty-three Core Formation Seedlings who had entered the Wind and Snow Valley secret realm, along with most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, all turned to look at Cen Linchuan.
Originally, there were twenty-seven Core Formation Seedlings entering the secret realm, but four had left the region north of the Heaven-Reaching River and returned to the southern gate of the Tiannan Sect.
Additionally, some direct descendants of the great immortal clans and some rogue cultivators had, for various reasons, not participated in this secret realm trial.
Thus, while there should have been eighty-one participants, only sixty-three had actually entered the secret realm.
Cen Linchuan's eyes were filled with confusion; he didn't understand.
Why were so many cultivators looking at him?
Even the Core Formation Seedling who had brought him in was looking at him with a meaningful, almost wary expression.
Yuan Chenyu walked towards Cen Linchuan, flanked by Lu Qingming and He Lingchuan.
Following him, the other Core Formation Seedlings also approached Cen Linchuan, including Gao Peiyao.
Chen Jianghe and Luo Xiyue followed behind Gao Peiyao.
"Fellow Daoists, what is the meaning of this?"
Cen Linchuan cupped his hands, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with confusion. He asked in a gentle voice.
"This secret realm is fraught with restrictions, and danger is everywhere. We are troubled by our lack of talismans for protection. We implore Fellow Daoist Cen to be generous and sell some to us for self-defense."
Yuan Chenyu said, taking out ten thousand spirit stones and holding up two fingers.
The meaning was self-evident.
"I am but a weak woman entering this secret realm. I ask Fellow Daoist Cen to take pity on me and sell me a talisman as well."
Liu Zhining smiled gracefully and took out five thousand spirit stones.
With Yuan Chenyu taking the lead, the Core Formation Seedlings all chimed in, some asking to buy one talisman, others two.
The price was set according to Yuan Chenyu's offer.
Five thousand spirit stones for one second-tier, high-grade talisman.
Five thousand spirit stones? One could hardly buy a piece of second-tier, high-grade spirit hide for that price, let alone a second-tier, high-grade talisman!
But the situation was different now.
The circumstances had changed.
A price of five thousand spirit stones was not low.
Ruan Tieniu watched as these Core Formation Seedlings actually offered to buy the second-tier, high-grade talismans instead of directly killing Cen Linchuan and dividing the sixty-some second-tier talismans on his body.
He cursed inwardly.
This bunch of Core Formation Seedlings was truly cunning.
A direct attack would force Cen Linchuan to use his second-tier, high-grade talismans. Though he would still die in the end.
But those second-tier, high-grade talismans would be used up and gone.
Moreover, they, the Core Formation Seedlings, would also suffer casualties.
It was better to give Cen Linchuan a sliver of hope, allowing him to sell the second-tier, high-grade talismans so that everyone could benefit.
Cen Linchuan would also lose his leverage.
They could then find another opportunity to kill him later, avoiding any casualties.
This approach had another advantage: it prevented cultivators from outside the sect from obtaining second-tier, high-grade talismans.
This would allow them, the Core Formation Seedlings, to better control the cultivators from outside the sect.
Cen Linchuan's face was as dark as water.
A fiery light flickered in his eyes, but then he saw the twenty-some Core Formation Seedlings surrounding him.
He dared not act rashly.
Even if he unleashed his full power in an instant and managed to take a few Core Formation Seedlings down with him, he would not escape death.
"I do not have that many second-tier, high-grade talismans. At most, I can only sell one to each of you."
Cen Linchuan's face was ashen, but he had no choice but to yield.
"Agreed."
Yuan Chenyu put away five thousand of his spirit stones.
At once, the other Core Formation Seedlings also nodded in agreement.
None of them were fools.
Pushing Cen Linchuan too hard at this moment would only lead to a mutually destructive outcome, allowing the rogue cultivators to benefit.
Immediately, Cen Linchuan traded with each of the Core Formation Seedlings, earning one hundred and fifteen thousand spirit stones in a short time.
It was an enviable sum.
"Fellow Daoist Cen, to think you possess so many talismans. Please, sell me three more. If I can obtain two Core Formation opportunities this time, I will certainly give one to you."
The Core Formation Seedling next to Cen Linchuan, Shi Kun, sent him a mental transmission.
"I only have five second-tier, high-grade talismans left. I can only sell one more to Fellow Daoist Shi."
"Five? Heh, fine. One it is."
Shi Kun sneered inwardly. *Five? Who are you kidding? You have at least thirty more!*
But he didn't say anything more and secretly traded for another second-tier, high-grade talisman from Cen Linchuan.
At this moment, Cen Linchuan was filled with rage. He wished he could slaughter all these seedlings, especially that Yuan Chenyu.
He only had thirty-one second-tier, high-grade talismans in total.
This was the trump card his family had painstakingly prepared for him, sparing no expense to acquire second-tier, high-grade spirit hides for their creation.
And just after entering the secret realm, he had been forced to 'sell' twenty-four of them.
"Brother Ruan, that burly man in black next to Cen Linchuan is from Qingyou Valley... now a disciple of the Core Formation expert behind Qingyou Market City. He has a Talisman Treasure. You must not cross paths with him."
Chen Jianghe sent a mental transmission to Ruan Tieniu.
While reviewing the detailed list, Chen Jianghe had noticed Boss Feng, the bandit cultivator from Qingyou Valley who had 'gifted' him the Foundation Establishment section of the Myriad Waters True Scripture.
He vaguely remembered Luo Xiyue saying that this Boss Feng might have a Talisman Treasure.
Whether it was true or not.
Out of concern for his friend, he had to tell Ruan Tieniu to stay as far away from Boss Feng as possible.
To avoid dying in the secret realm.
"A Talisman Treasure? *Hiss*... Thank you for telling me, Brother Chen."
Ruan Tieniu chose to believe Chen Jianghe's intelligence without hesitation. In his mind, this information probably came from Xiao Chen.
Besides, the authenticity of Xiao Chen's intelligence had already been verified.
Cen Linchuan indeed had a large number of second-tier, high-grade talismans. Even after selling more than twenty, according to the intelligence provided by 'Xiao Chen', he still had at least thirty more.
He was still a figure of dread to all the Core Formation Seedlings.
"Fellow Daoist Liu, be careful of that burly man in black next to Cen Linchuan. Your Senior Brother Xiao has received confirmed news that he possesses a Talisman Treasure."
"..."
"Junior Brother Shi, you certainly know how to pick your backup."
"What do you mean, Senior Sister Liang?"
"It's true that you have a spirit-infused offensive dharma artifact and a mid-stage second-tier ice-attribute spirit beast, making your strength second only to Senior Brother Yuan's. But I'm afraid you're about to capsize in a gutter this time."
"That burly man in black beside you is the direct disciple of Venerable Qingyou. He holds a Talisman Treasure, and he and Cen Linchuan are the closest of friends."
...
After entering the secret realm, they stayed together only briefly before the Core Formation Seedlings dispersed with their respective backup, searching for rare treasures and Core Formation spiritual items.
Gao Peiyao, Luo Xiyue, and Chen Jianghe also flew off in one direction, daring only to extend their spiritual sense a hundred feet from their bodies.
If it touched a restriction, they would immediately retract their spiritual sense.
He learned from Gao Peiyao that those easily obtainable second-tier, low-grade spiritual items like the Water Spirit Ganoderma or Fire Spirit Ganoderma.
Were basically all protected by restrictions.
The moment they were touched, one could be pulled into a restriction or a formation.
A trapping formation would be manageable, but a killing formation or a vicious formation could mean instant death.
Generally, participants entering the secret realm would buy some puppets to retrieve treasures.
Even if a restriction was triggered, they themselves would not be harmed.
Unless it was a restriction that could attack one's spiritual sense, which would follow the thread of spiritual sense controlling the puppet and directly assault the operator's sea of consciousness.
Therefore, even with puppets, one dared not casually retrieve treasures.
Most would still choose to slay demonic beasts to seize their treasures, as such treasures were not protected by restrictions.
Four hours passed.
A miserable cry for help rang out, echoing for over ten miles, and then fell silent.
Chen Jianghe's heart tightened. He instinctively moved closer to Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao and asked, "Where are we going now?"
"Sunset Pool."
Luo Xiyue pointed with her delicate hand towards a place where the canyons between the snowy mountains intersected, only about twenty miles from their current location.
Chen Jianghe was puzzled.
He wouldn't have been surprised if Gao Peiyao had mentioned Sunset Pool, but for Luo Xiyue to state the precise location's name directly...
That surprised him greatly.
After all, it was everyone's first time entering the Wind and Snow Valley secret realm, unlike the Tiannan Sect, which had explored it many times before.
He had learned from Gao Peiyao that the restrictions of the Wind and Snow Valley secret realm had a period of weakness once every three hundred years, meaning it only opened once every three hundred years.
*Rumble~~*
Suddenly, at that very moment, the snowy mountain trembled, and rocks tumbled down.
Three figures on flying swords were engaged in battle with a late-stage second-tier demonic beast. Powerful spiritual arts struck the mountainside, dislodging rocks and triggering an avalanche.
A sea of white instantly engulfed the three figures and the lion-shaped demonic beast.
*Roar!*
The lion-shaped demonic beast spewed flames from its mouth, melting the falling snow and turning the surrounding hundred feet into a domain of fire, enveloping the three figures within.
"A second-tier demonic beast, the Flame Lion. Judging by the range of its fire domain, it should be a late-stage second-tier, close to perfected. It must be guarding a quasi-third-tier spiritual item."
Gao Peiyao glanced over and commented calmly.
The Flame Lion was massive, fifty feet long and twenty-one feet tall, with a coat of red fur that stood out starkly in the Wind and Snow Valley.
Its powerful physical body withstood the attacks of the cultivator's dharma artifact. It turned, opened its cavernous maw, and devoured the cultivator.
But just then, the Core Formation Seedling found an opportunity and unleashed a top-grade dharma artifact to attack the Flame Lion.
*Clang!*
With a metallic ring, the top-grade flying sword pressed against the Flame Lion's forehead. It pierced about an inch into the flesh, stopping at the skull, unable to penetrate further.
*Roar!*
The Flame Lion roared in pain and swiped its claw fiercely, striking the Core Formation Seedling's top-grade defensive shield.
The blow sent him flying.
The fire domain's power weakened. The other backup, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, seized the opportunity. The flying needle dharma artifact in his hand shot swiftly towards the Flame Lion's rear.
It entered and expanded.
Instantly growing to the thickness of a stone roller.
*Bang~*
Blood splattered across the sky, dyeing the horizon red. In the monochrome landscape of the Wind and Snow Valley secret realm, it formed a vivid crimson cloud.
Chen Jianghe winced, thinking to himself: *What a dharma artifact!*
Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue both frowned, a fierce light in their eyes.
However, the flying needle dharma artifact was forced out by the Flame Lion just as it entered, only managing to rupture the edge of its rear, nearly causing critical damage.
The enraged Flame Lion, ignoring the dharma artifacts striking its body and tearing its flesh, opened its bloody mouth and swallowed the righteous cultivator who had used the flying needle.
In an instant.
The Core Formation Seedling controlled his dharma artifact and fled into the distance.
But no sooner had he left than Yuan Chenyu appeared with Lu Qingming and He Lingchuan, continuing the assault on the Flame Lion.
Chen Jianghe didn't bother to watch any longer.
Barring any surprises, the injured Flame Lion and the quasi-third-tier spiritual item were as good as Yuan Chenyu's.
But the death rate was just too high.
The Core Formation Seedlings didn't treat rogue cultivators as people at all, but simply as cannon fodder.
He could clearly sense that the Core Formation Seedling hadn't used his full strength.
Otherwise, he could have slain the Flame Lion, even while injured.
Moreover, a major reason for that Core Formation Seedling's defeat and flight was that he didn't have a spirit-infused dharma artifact.
Otherwise, that one sword strike could have pierced the Flame Lion's skull.
What a pity.
"What's at Sunset Pool?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao had a clear goal, so Sunset Pool must hold some rare treasure.
The guardian demonic beast would likely be even stronger.
"There might be a Core Formation spiritual item, or at the very least a third-tier spiritual item. But Brother Jianghe, you can rest assured. As long as we don't go to that Snow Palace, we won't encounter any third-tier demonic beasts."
Atop the highest peak of the snowy mountains, amidst the long, intersecting canyons, stood a magnificent palace, covered in snow and glinting with a silver light.
"Rest assured?"
Chen Jianghe grumbled inwardly.
A quasi-third-tier spiritual item was guarded by a late-stage second-tier demonic beast.
The Sunset Pool you're heading to has at least a third-tier spiritual item. Doesn't that mean it's guarded by a perfected second-tier demonic beast?
Chen Jianghe swallowed hard.
"Xiao Hei, are you sure you can absorb and refine a perfected second-tier water-attribute spirit core inside the spirit beast space?"
"I should be able to. I can feel my body getting stronger. The Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art is refining the spiritual power from the spirit core."
"How much longer until you break through?"
"Four months. No more than five at the latest."
Chen Jianghe had a brief exchange with Xiao Hei and now had a clear idea of when Xiao Hei would break through to the late-stage second-tier.
"Isn't it too risky for us to go to Sunset Pool?" Chen Jianghe mentioned, but he didn't slow down.
He stayed close to Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue.
He could clearly smell the fragrance from the two women and see their flawless skin.
"Sunset Pool is guarded by a perfected second-tier demonic beast. Sister Xiyue and I can hold it off."
"Even if there were two, we could still buy you time to retrieve the treasure without using our Talisman Treasures, Brother Jianghe."
Gao Peiyao said with full confidence.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Luo Xiyue with a questioning look, and saw her nod as well.
This meant that both women were capable of fighting a perfected second-tier demonic beast for a short time without using their Talisman Treasures.
They both had Talisman Treasures.
But they would never use them at this point.
According to Gao Peiyao, Talisman Treasures weren't for attacking demonic beasts; they were for guarding against other cultivators.
It wasn't apparent now.
Everyone was scattered, searching for treasure, not gathered together.
When the end of the secret realm trial drew near, a chaotic battle would likely erupt. That's when the true value of a Talisman Treasure would be revealed.
For the strong, danger never came from demonic beasts.
"Are there any late-stage second-tier demonic beasts at Sunset Pool?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
Chen Jianghe had witnessed the terror of the late-stage second-tier Flame Lion with his own eyes. When enraged, it would ignore its own injuries and could easily devour a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Even with his spirit-infused dharma artifact, he would struggle to withstand such a terrifying beast.
As for Xiao Hei?
He would avoid using him if he could.
He was counting on Xiao Hei to quickly become a late-stage second-tier demonic beast. Only then would he truly have the power to protect himself in this secret realm.
At the very least, he wouldn't have to fear the other cultivators who had entered with him.
At that point, the danger for him would come from the demonic beasts.
The exact opposite of the other cultivators.
"There probably aren't any. Generally, a place with a third-tier spiritual item is guarded by at most two demonic beasts."
Gao Peiyao said uncertainly.
At that moment, Luo Xiyue glanced at Chen Jianghe and said coldly, "If there is a late-stage second-tier demonic beast, use your talismans. It's best if you can get the treasure, but if you can't, run immediately. Don't worry about us."
Then, Luo Xiyue sent a secret mental transmission.
"Remember, if you encounter great danger, run towards the Snow Palace. The demonic beasts of Wind and Snow Valley dare not approach it."
(End of this chapter)