Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: The Mountain Gate Stele and Luo Xiyue's Request
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Snowflakes danced wildly, blanketing the world in a vast, singular white.
Chen Jianghe and Ruan Tieniu stood a hundred zhang apart on the frozen river, sizing each other up.
One of Ruan Tieniu’s sleeves was now empty, a likely consequence of using the Blood River Escape Art. It was unclear whether he had used it to escape the Icy Triangle Python over four months ago or if he had encountered some new crisis since.
He couldn't ask.
Back then, he had been disguised as Boss Feng.
“Ruan Tieniu’s egg is gone?!”
Chen Jianghe noticed that Ruan Tieniu was no longer carrying the beast egg, nor did he have the coarse cloth bag he used to hold it.
That beast egg was not small, standing three feet tall when upright.
If Ruan Tieniu had it on him, it would surely be visible.
Given Ruan Tieniu's character, he would never abandon that egg. Since it wasn't in his hands, he must have hidden it somewhere.
Or perhaps it had already hatched, and he had formed a spirit pet contract.
An unhatched beast egg could not be placed in a storage bag, let alone a spirit beast pouch.
Ruan Tieniu’s aura was stable. He had flown in from the west, and he didn't look like he had just fought a demonic beast, nor did he seem to be fleeing from one.
While Chen Jianghe was observing Ruan Tieniu, Ruan Tieniu was doing the same.
They stood a hundred zhang apart, their eyes meeting. They had stopped in their tracks, each wary of the other's intentions.
"Brother Chen, do you have any healing spirit pills on you?"
Ruan Tieniu asked once more.
After a quick assessment, he figured Chen Jianghe must have hidden away ever since entering the mystic realm. His aura was steady, and his clothes were clean and tidy.
He looked nothing like a cultivator who had been battling demonic beasts in the mystic realm.
From the looks of it, he hadn't even fought with other cultivators.
Although his own clothes were relatively clean, they were still torn in places. This was already the seventh set of clothes he had changed into within the mystic realm.
Chen Jianghe heard Ruan Tieniu's question but remained silent.
He certainly had healing spirit pills.
He had more healing pills than he had second-rank talismans combined.
Ruan Tieniu took out a piece of Water Spirit Jade, looked at Chen Jianghe, and spoke again, "Brother Chen, you must have been in hiding until now, so you surely have healing spirit pills. Please, help me out. How about we trade for some pills?"
He wrapped the Water Spirit Jade in spiritual power and sent it fifty zhang forward.
Chen Jianghe took out a jade box containing a Muscle Regeneration and Bone Mending Pill and sent it to the fifty-zhang mark between them.
They each collected their exchanged items.
Outside, a single piece of Water Spirit Jade could be traded for ten Muscle Regeneration and Bone Mending Pills, and people would still be willing.
But this was the mystic realm.
"Brother Ruan, you just mentioned the avalanche might be related to me. What did you mean?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"Don't be hasty, Brother Chen. I have some opportunities to share with you."
Ruan Tieniu didn't answer his question, becoming even more certain of his own guess.
He was sure that Chen Jianghe had simply found a place to hide until now.
Otherwise, with something so major happening at the western snow mountain, it was impossible for him not to know.
"What does Brother Ruan want?"
Chen Jianghe asked directly.
Opportunities were never given for free.
"An Azurewood Vine Shield Talisman, a Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercer Talisman, and healing spirit pills."
As Ruan Tieniu spoke, he took out a Spirit Spring Pearl, a stalk of Iceheart Grass, a hundred-year-old Snow Lotus, and a piece of Profound Ice Jade Marrow.
The Spirit Spring Pearl was a high-grade second-rank absorbable spiritual item.
Over a decade ago, Chen Jianghe had traded for a Spirit Spring Pearl with Ruan Tieniu once before.
Iceheart Grass was the main ingredient for refining the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. He had already obtained two stalks in the mystic realm.
The hundred-year-old Snow Lotus was a top-tier second-rank medicinal herb, the primary ingredient for refining the high-grade second-rank spirit pill, the Dustfall Pill.
Its value was immense, almost inestimable.
After reaching the late stage of Foundation Establishment, one needed to condense their spiritual power, beginning the process of solidifying it from a liquid state.
This required purging impurities from the spiritual power to make it purer.
The Dustfall Pill was a type of spirit pill that removed impurities. It could greatly assist a cultivator in condensing their spiritual power, cleansing it of latent impurities, and laying the foundation for future Core Formation.
As for the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, it was one of the three main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. To Chen Jianghe, it held the least value.
Looking at the four spiritual items Ruan Tieniu presented, Chen Jianghe didn't immediately take out his talismans to trade.
These were all priceless treasures.
Even if he took out all the talismans he owned, they wouldn't be worth that hundred-year-old Snow Lotus and the Spirit Spring Pearl.
"Brother Ruan, these are all treasures of inestimable value..."
"Brother Chen jests. The one thing the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm doesn't lack is treasures. The key is to obtain them and survive to tell the tale!"
Ruan Tieniu waved his hand dismissively. "How about these four treasures in exchange for four of your talismans or spirit pills, Brother Chen?"
Hearing Ruan Tieniu's words, Chen Jianghe realized that the mystic realm was indeed filled with many treasures; it all depended on whether one had the ability to claim them.
Even if one obtained a treasure, they still had to make it out of the mystic realm alive.
The danger didn't just come from demonic beasts.
The fellow cultivators who entered with them were the greater threat.
With less than two days until the mystic realm closed, many cultivators were likely running low on resources.
Spirit pills, talismans, puppets—they were probably all nearly depleted.
But a tough battle still lay ahead.
In two days, at the mystic realm's exit, a great battle was inevitable.
Therefore, treasures that were priceless outside were difficult to trade for even talismans and spirit pills inside the mystic realm.
Life-saving and life-preserving items.
The closer it got to the end, the more precious they became.
"One Muscle Regeneration and Bone Mending Pill, one Heart-Clearing Detoxification Pill, one Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercer Talisman, and one Azurewood Vine Shield Talisman."
"Done. Thank you, Brother Chen."
Ruan Tieniu's face lit up with joy. He quickly cupped his hands in thanks and sent all four spiritual items to the fifty-zhang mark.
Chen Jianghe sent over the two pills and two talismans, then used his spiritual power to sweep the four spiritual items into his hand and store them in his storage bag.
"Brother Ruan, can you tell me about the snow mountain now?"
"Patience, Brother Chen. I still have another opportunity for you."
Ruan Tieniu chuckled, another Spirit Spring Pearl appearing in his hand. He looked at Chen Jianghe and said, "Brother Chen, you should still have some Second-Rank Spirit Recovery Pills, right? Could I trade for one?"
Chen Jianghe's heart skipped a beat.
What had happened out here in the last four months?
Had resources become this scarce?
Trading a Spirit Spring Pearl for a Second-Rank Spirit Recovery Pill—the difference in value was just too vast.
He still had seven Second-Rank Spirit Recovery Pills on him, so trading one with Ruan Tieniu was feasible.
He immediately took out a Second-Rank Spirit Recovery Pill and traded it for Ruan Tieniu’s Spirit Spring Pearl.
"Does Brother Ruan wish to trade anything else?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"It seems Brother Chen really has been in hiding until now!" Ruan Tieniu exclaimed with a sigh.
If he had known how dangerous the Wind and Snow Valley was, he would have found a place to hide too.
But even if he had hidden, he wouldn't have had enough resources to trade for the treasures others risked their lives to obtain.
Even when trading with others, it was always on the premise that one's own resources were not lacking.
Clearly, Chen Jianghe had come far too prepared.
"Perhaps we can trade again if the opportunity arises."
Ruan Tieniu shook his head. He had already traded away his less valuable treasures. If he traded any more...
It would involve his most precious items.
To trade quasi-third-rank and third-rank spiritual items for second-rank talismans and spirit pills would be a devastating loss.
"Brother Chen, you wanted to know what happened at the western snow mountain. Do you know the origin of this Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm we're in?"
"I'm all ears."
"The Wind and Snow Valley is the outer area of the ancient Snow Sect. It was likely the medicinal fields and spirit beast gardens for their outer disciples."
"The Snow Sect? How do you know this, Brother Ruan?!"
The origin of the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm was not common knowledge outside, and Gao Peiyao had never mentioned it to him.
Even if the sect disciples knew...
Liu Zhinning probably wouldn't have told Ruan Tieniu about it.
"A mountain gate stele appeared in the western snow mountain, inscribed with the words: Snow Sect."
"As for the medicinal fields and spirit beast gardens, that's just a guess among us cultivators."
Ruan Tieniu chuckled lightly.
"If it weren't for your wife, that mountain gate stele would never have appeared. The avalanche you just saw was likely caused by her fighting a demonic beast."
"Luo Xiyue?"
Hearing Ruan Tieniu say 'your wife', Chen Jianghe immediately thought of Luo Xiyue.
The rumor of him and Luo Xiyue being a 'couple' had started with Ruan Tieniu.
"Yes."
Ruan Tieniu nodded.
"Three months ago, a strange phenomenon occurred at the western snow mountain, drawing all the cultivators in the mystic realm to it."
"We thought a rare treasure was emerging, but what appeared was a mountain gate stele."
Chen Jianghe frowned and asked, "Why do you say it's related to Luo Xiyue?"
"When I arrived, I saw your wife fighting a peak second-rank demonic beast. I suspect the battle triggered a restriction, causing the stele to manifest."
"Luo Xiyue was fighting a peak second-rank demonic beast?"
Back then, Luo Xiyue had told him to run towards the great snow mountain if he was in danger. Although this battle wasn't at the great snow mountain itself...
It was on a smaller mountain right next to it.
If there was a peak second-rank demonic beast nearby, then the great snow mountain must have a third-rank one.
Wouldn't going to the great snow mountain be a death wish?
As for Luo Xiyue heading in the direction of the Snow Palace and fighting a demonic beast, it was likely related to him.
She must have thought he had gone to the great snow mountain.
"Brother Ruan, did you see Fairy Peiyao?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"I did. She was with your wife, but she left later on."
Ruan Tieniu thought for a moment before replying.
"Brother Chen, you don't need to worry too much about your wife. She hasn't been fighting the beast constantly. She just fights it every now and then, as if trying to break through the mountain gate and enter the great snow mountain behind it."
Hearing this...
Chen Jianghe looked towards the great snow mountain.
He wasn't sure if Luo Xiyue was looking for him.
Gao Peiyao had left.
Perhaps she had gone to search for him elsewhere, or perhaps she had gone to seek other opportunities.
In any case, Luo Xiyue was on the smaller mountain in front of the great snow mountain, attempting to slay the peak second-rank demonic beast to break through to the other side.
According to Ruan Tieniu, Luo Xiyue had been on that smaller mountain for three months, and there were signs of an avalanche just now.
Clearly, Luo Xiyue had not left and was still trying to break past the beast guarding the mountain gate to enter the great snow mountain.
"Is Luo Xiyue looking for me, or was her original goal to enter the great snow mountain all along?"
Chen Jianghe pondered inwardly.
"By the way, there's something else I need to tell you, Brother Chen."
Ruan Tieniu's expression turned grave as he looked at Chen Jianghe. "Over four months ago, I ran into Boss Feng. Not only did he have a talisman treasure, but he also had a second-rank spirit beast skilled in earth-burrowing. It was very fast, likely a late-stage second-rank spirit beast."
"A month ago, I ran into him again. He was fighting Yuan Chenyu over a Core Formation spiritual item. He used his talisman treasure, severely injured Yuan Chenyu, and even killed his late-stage second-rank demonic beast."
"If you encounter Boss Feng, Brother Chen, you can attack decisively. He no longer has his talisman treasure."
"And Cen Linchuan, he probably doesn't have many high-grade second-rank talismans left either."
Chen Jianghe nodded and asked nonchalantly, "Brother Ruan, did you see Lu Qingming?"
"That fellow seems to have gone into hiding. I haven't been able to find him."
Ruan Tieniu cupped his hands.
"The mystic realm will close in less than three days. During this time, Brother Chen, you must be extremely careful."
With that, Ruan Tieniu flew south.
From the moment they met, Chen Jianghe and Ruan Tieniu had maintained a distance of over a hundred zhang. In the mystic realm, there was no trust to be had.
The closer it got to the end, the more one had to be on guard.
Killing for treasure happened even in the outside world.
Let alone in a mystic realm.
Every cultivator still alive had treasures in their possession.
Chen Jianghe was certain that Ruan Tieniu himself had quite a few treasures.
He had used one Second-Rank Spirit Recovery Pill, two Muscle Regeneration and Bone Mending Pills, one Heart-Clearing Detoxification Pill, one Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercer Talisman, and one Azurewood Vine Shield Talisman.
In exchange, he received two Spirit Spring Pearls, a piece of Water Spirit Jade, a piece of Profound Ice Jade Marrow, a hundred-year-old Snow Lotus, and a stalk of Iceheart Grass.
This was not an equal trade.
But in the mystic realm, life-saving resources were more precious.
Even if Ruan Tieniu wanted to trade with someone else, it was uncertain if they would have the resources, and even if they did, they would be unlikely to trade with him.
Only by making it out of the mystic realm alive could one's treasures truly be their own.
The treasures Ruan Tieniu was willing to trade were likely not the ones he considered most valuable.
"He might have a third-rank spiritual item, or a Core Formation opportunity."
Chen Jianghe suspected that the Core Formation spiritual item Boss Feng and Yuan Chenyu had fought over had most likely ended up in Ruan Tieniu's hands.
He pushed these thoughts aside.
Chen Jianghe formed a water-repelling seal, dived into the frozen river, took out a high-grade first-rank attack puppet, and followed the river west towards the snow mountain.
He currently had two high-grade first-rank support puppets and two high-grade first-rank attack puppets left.
These were excellent tools for treasure hunting.
Since he was already in the mystic realm, and with Xiao Hei protecting him, he didn't need to be overly fearful.
As long as he didn't encounter a third-rank demonic beast, his life wouldn't be in danger.
"Luo Xiyue is at the western snow mountain. Regardless of whether she's looking for me, I should go and let her know."
Chen Jianghe made up his mind.
According to Gao Peiyao, as long as he didn't enter the great snow mountain, he wouldn't encounter any third-rank demonic beasts.
He was only going to the smaller mountain, not the great snow mountain, so there shouldn't be much danger.
"Xiao Hei, stay alert. Be ready for danger at any moment."
Chen Jianghe sent a mental message to Xiao Hei. His body was covered in the Profound Ice Battle Armor, which slightly enhanced his Water Evasion Art.
His defenses were far inferior to Xiao Hei's.
He couldn't afford to recklessly trigger restrictions.
But his defenses were no weaker than a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's. Ordinary restrictions couldn't really harm him.
Besides, with a puppet clearing the path ahead, he would have time to prepare even if there was danger.
An hour passed.
Chen Jianghe had traveled over fifty li along the bottom of the frozen river. The first thirty li were quick, but after his two high-grade first-rank attack puppets were destroyed...
He had to slow down.
Although he lost two puppets, he had acquired a Water-Attribute Spirit Core Pearl and another piece of Water Spirit Jade.
The Water-Attribute Spirit Core Pearl was a top-tier second-rank absorbable spiritual item.
It could be used to aid in body cultivation or refined into a Water-Attribute Spirit Core Pill, which served the same purpose.
"No wonder one must be more careful as the end of the mystic realm approaches. I've been hiding underground for so long and still have so many treasures. Those cultivators who have been out searching this whole time must have even more."
Chen Jianghe even considered picking off a couple of easy targets.
His defensive capabilities were formidable now.
Among the cultivators who entered the mystic realm, his defenses could definitely rank among the top.
Xiao Hei's defense was probably slightly weaker than a defensive talisman treasure, but a talisman treasure was a one-time use item. Once used, it was gone.
Xiao Hei's defense was long-lasting.
As long as he wasn't killed, he could protect Chen Jianghe indefinitely.
"My offensive power is lacking. If I had a few attack-type talisman treasures, I could take whatever spiritual items I want in this mystic realm."
Another incense stick's worth of time passed.
One of Chen Jianghe's high-grade first-rank support puppets was destroyed.
He obtained a stalk of Water Spirit Grass, a mid-grade second-rank spiritual item used for refining Water Spirit Pills. It wasn't very valuable.
It felt like a loss.
A puppet was worth only two hundred spirit stones, while the Water Spirit Grass was worth five hundred.
But this was the mystic realm.
Trading a puppet for a high-grade second-rank absorbable spiritual item would have been a fair deal.
Besides, he already had too many stalks of Water Spirit Grass in his storage bag.
Back at Sunset Pool, Chen Jianghe had collected nearly two hundred low- to mid-grade second-rank spiritual items.
Their total value exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones.
With a thought, Chen Jianghe took out another high-grade first-rank support puppet. This was the last puppet he had.
At this point, he was still more than ten li away from the smaller mountain.
Chen Jianghe didn't break through the ice, continuing to travel within the frozen river.
When he was only five li from the smaller mountain, Chen Jianghe put away the support puppet, carefully melted the ice, and leaped out.
He formed a hand seal, pointing it to his eyes. A faint glow flickered in his pupils as he scanned the surroundings, searching for Luo Xiyue.
His vision was filled with shattered trees and rocks. The heavy snowfall couldn't completely conceal the traces of a great battle.
Using his spiritual eye, Chen Jianghe could make out a blurry mountain gate stele, upon which the words "Snow Sect" were written.
The moment he looked at the stele, Chen Jianghe immediately averted his gaze.
His spiritual sense trembled, and his sea of consciousness shook.
A flash of light from his spiritual platform stabilized his turbulent sea of consciousness.
"This mountain gate stele has such powerful spiritual pressure!"
Just a single glance made him feel as if his soul was about to leave his body. If he had used his spiritual sense to probe it, it would likely have been instantly obliterated.
His soul would have been severely wounded.
"Xiao Hei, can you sense any demonic beast auras?"
Chen Jianghe asked through his spiritual platform.
Previously at Sunset Pool, Xiao Hei could sense the Icy Snow Beast's aura from ten li away.
Only the Icy Triangle Python hidden deep within Sunset Pool had evaded Xiao Hei's perception, and he had only faintly sensed it when they were a hundred zhang away.
"Three peak second-rank demonic beasts."
"What?!"
Chen Jianghe instinctively turned to leave, ready to dive back into the frozen river.
"Chen Jianghe."
A clear, cold voice reached his ears.
It was Luo Xiyue's voice.
This made Chen Jianghe disperse the hand seal. He didn't immediately cast an escape art but instead looked in the direction of the voice.
Through the snow, he could only see a blurry figure.
Activating his spiritual eye, he saw a graceful silhouette on a ten-zhang-tall boulder three li away. She wore a pale green and white gauze dress and was sitting cross-legged on the rock.
"Fellow Daoist Luo."
Chen Jianghe flew over cautiously and asked.
"Where is Peiyao?"
Luo Xiyue didn't answer his question.
"Were you waiting here for me, Fellow Daoist Luo?"
"Yes."
"And no."
Luo Xiyue opened her slightly closed phoenix eyes, which shone with a cold, faint light. She looked at Chen Jianghe, seemingly questioning why he hadn't listened to her.
"The mystic realm is closing in less than three days. Let's go find Peiyao," Chen Jianghe said, ignoring her gaze.
One told him to go to Golden Eagle Cliff, the other to the great snow mountain.
Their objectives were different, so he hadn't dared to go to either.
"What did you get at Sunset Pool?" Luo Xiyue descended from the giant rock and stopped ten zhang away from Chen Jianghe.
A faint light shimmered in her eyes. She had stopped not out of concern for him, but seemingly out of consideration that he might be concerned about her.
"A Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart, a Moon-Gazing Stone, and Profound Ice Sinking Wood."
Chen Jianghe listed the three most valuable treasures besides the Three-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass, even stating the Core Formation spiritual item, the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart, without hesitation.
It wasn't that he didn't want a Core Formation spiritual item.
But they had made an agreement before entering the mystic realm, and he wouldn't go back on his word.
The first Core Formation spiritual item belonged to Gao Peiyao, the second to Luo Xiyue, and if there was a third...
"I've already helped her obtain a Flawless Fruit. The treasures from Sunset Pool are ours. The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart is mine, the rest are yours."
Luo Xiyue said coolly.
"Alright."
Chen Jianghe took out the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart and handed it to Luo Xiyue.
"Can we leave this place now?"
He didn't want to stay here a moment longer.
Xiao Hei had already detected three peak second-rank demonic beasts.
Although Xiao Hei's defense was unparalleled, it might still be broken when facing three peak second-rank demonic beasts.
After all, Xiao Hei was only a late-stage second-rank, not a peak second-rank spirit beast, let alone a third-rank one.
He wasn't invincible in the mystic realm; he just had some means of self-preservation.
"You don't have a Core Formation spiritual item."
Luo Xiyue said, looking at Chen Jianghe.
"Me?"
Chen Jianghe gave a bitter smile. "I'm content with getting the Undercurrent Gold Sand. I don't dare to hope for a Core Formation spiritual item."
"I will help you get a Core Formation spiritual item."
Luo Xiyue looked at Chen Jianghe and said seriously.
Chen Jianghe's expression changed.
He looked at Luo Xiyue in astonishment.
His first thought was, could Luo Xiyue have been influenced by the rumors outside and actually want to become his Daoist partner?
The moment that thought appeared, it was extinguished by Luo Xiyue's next sentence.
"You will help me deal with the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python on this smaller mountain."
"There is a Core Formation spiritual item on this mountain, a True Spirit Fruit. If we kill this Spirit-Devouring Poison Python, the True Spirit Fruit, the python's spirit core, and its body will all be yours."
Luo Xiyue said, looking at Chen Jianghe.
"Deal with a peak second-rank demonic beast?! Why not ask Peiyao?"
Chen Jianghe hesitated for a moment before asking via voice transmission.
"She has a great secret; I cannot see through her. You have secrets too, but although you are usually stingy, you are honest and loyal."
Luo Xiyue's cool eyes gazed at Chen Jianghe, her voice crisp, her words sincere, her gaze intense.
"..."
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes.
Was that a compliment or an insult?
"Do you know there are three peak second-rank demonic beasts on this smaller mountain?" Chen Jianghe said gravely.
He didn't know why Luo Xiyue wanted to kill the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python on this mountain.
To get a True Spirit Fruit for him?
That was obviously impossible. He wasn't delusional enough to believe the ice beauty had taken a liking to him.
"Rest assured. As long as the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python is not dead, the other two peak second-rank demonic beasts will not awaken."
Luo Xiyue's eyes flickered with a strange light. She was clearly surprised that Chen Jianghe knew about the other two peak second-rank demonic beasts on the mountain.
"Help me kill that Spirit-Devouring Poison Python. The Core Formation spiritual item, the spirit core, and the body will all be yours. Also, I will consider it as you having done me a favor."
"This is a Lesser Teleportation Talisman. It can instantly transport you twenty li away. Even if the other two peak second-rank demonic beasts awaken, you can still escape."