Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: The Ice Spring's Treasure and the Spirit-Devouring Python
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"A Lesser Teleportation Talisman!"
Chen Jianghe exclaimed in surprise, involuntarily moving a few steps closer to Luo Xiyue, stopping about five zhang away.
His gaze was fixed on the azure talisman in Luo Xiyue's hand.
The *Records of Tiannan* mentioned Lesser Teleportation Talismans. They were a type of secret talisman, with the lowest grade being high-rank second-tier.
Once used, it could instantly transport the user over ten li away.
Chen Jianghe didn't know the range of a Core Formation expert's spiritual sense, but a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense wouldn't exceed four hundred zhang.
Even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator's wouldn't surpass five hundred zhang.
This meant that even the lowest-grade Lesser Teleportation Talisman could allow one to escape the spiritual sense range of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Luo Xiyue said this particular talisman could transport someone twenty li.
This was certainly not a high-rank second-tier secret talisman; it must have reached the level of a Talisman Treasure.
Twenty li. That should be enough to escape the spiritual sense of a Core Formation expert!
According to the *Records of Tiannan*, the Lesser Teleportation Talisman was a legendary secret talisman, and it wasn't specified whether the Tiannan Sect possessed the legacy to create them.
If he could obtain a Lesser Teleportation Talisman, it would be a true life-saving trump card for Chen Jianghe.
For now, it could be considered his greatest trump card.
With a Lesser Teleportation Talisman, he might even be able to escape from right under the nose of a Core Formation expert.
"Alright, I'll help you."
Chen Jianghe nodded in agreement.
"Aren't you going to ask why I want to kill that Spirit-Devouring Poison Python?"
Hearing Chen Jianghe's agreement, a hint of joy appeared in Luo Xiyue's eyes. Her cold face thawed like a melting snow mountain, revealing a faint smile.
Looking at Luo Xiyue's smile, which was like a spring breeze after a snowfall, all other beautiful sights paled in comparison.
This was the first time Chen Jianghe had seen Luo Xiyue smile in his presence.
"Why should I ask?"
Chen Jianghe countered with a question.
Everyone had their secrets.
Gao Peiyao had them, Luo Xiyue had them, Ruan Tieniu had them, and he himself had secrets like Xiao Hei and his spiritual altar that he could not share with others.
As long as he carefully weighed the pros and cons and deemed it feasible, he would do it.
There was no need to ask for reasons.
Besides not getting an answer, it would only annoy the other person.
By helping Luo Xiyue kill the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python, he could get a True Spirit Fruit, as well as the python's spirit core and body.
Most importantly, there was the Lesser Teleportation Talisman.
With Xiao Hei around, Chen Jianghe didn't need to worry about his own safety when dealing with a peak second-tier Spirit-Devouring Poison Python.
Even if those two peak second-tier demonic beasts woke up, Xiao Hei could carry him far away.
At the mid-stage second-tier, Xiao Hei's Profound Earth Fissuring Escape Art was only slightly inferior to a Violet Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
Once Xiao Hei broke through to the late-stage second-tier, his Profound Earth Fissuring Escape Art would surely rival the speed of a Violet Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
It might even surpass it.
Therefore, his agreement to help Luo Xiyue was not only free of danger but also came with benefits. What reason was there to refuse?
"Stand guard for me. Once my spiritual power is fully restored, we'll move against the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python."
Luo Xiyue handed the Lesser Teleportation Talisman directly to Chen Jianghe, then returned to the large rock, sat cross-legged, and began absorbing the thin spiritual energy in the mystic realm to restore the spiritual power in her Dantian.
Chen Jianghe accepted the Lesser Teleportation Talisman, his heart filled with joy.
At this moment, his safety within the mystic realm was thoroughly guaranteed.
If he encountered any unforeseen danger, he could use the Lesser Teleportation Talisman to leave immediately.
So, after taking the talisman, he scanned its patterns with his spiritual sense. Finding nothing unusual, he imprinted it with his spiritual power.
Then, he stored it in his Dantian.
He could use it at the first sign of danger.
Half an hour later.
Chen Jianghe walked toward Luo Xiyue, stopping three zhang away, and took out three second-tier Spirit Recovery Pills.
He wrapped them in spiritual power and sent them before Luo Xiyue.
Luo Xiyue sensed the Spirit Recovery Pills. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she opened her phoenix eyes and glanced at Chen Jianghe.
Then, she accepted the three second-tier Spirit Recovery Pills.
It had been nearly six months since they entered the mystic realm, and Luo Xiyue had long run out of Spirit Recovery Pills.
She had run out in the third month. Otherwise, why would she have been fighting the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python intermittently?
Casting her most powerful spells and the Profound Ice Sword Art consumed a large amount of spiritual power.
If her spiritual power was depleted and not replenished in time, her life would be in danger.
So, whenever her spiritual power dropped to fifty percent, she would disengage from the battle, wait to recover her strength, and then fight the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python again.
Luo Xiyue was not the only one.
The other cultivators in the mystic realm were all facing a similar predicament.
It was true that the mystic realm was full of spiritual objects, but recovering consumed spiritual power took a long time. Using Spirit Recovery Pills could give one an advantage.
But no matter how many Spirit Recovery Pills one had, they would eventually run out.
Not everyone was like Chen Jianghe, with a grandmaster alchemist supplying him with Spirit Recovery Pills.
Most cultivators brought at most two or three second-tier Spirit Recovery Pills into the mystic realm.
The sect's Core Formation prospects might bring more, since they could exchange contribution points for Spirit Recovery Pills within the sect.
Even so, apart from Xiao Chen, no other Core Formation prospect had as many Spirit Recovery Pills as Chen Jianghe.
He had used two while drawing talismans, traded one to Ruan Tieniu, and now gave three to Luo Xiyue. He still had three second-tier Spirit Recovery Pills left.
It would be enough for what was to come.
Chen Jianghe watched as Luo Xiyue took the second-tier Spirit Recovery Pills, put two away, and swallowed one directly.
He couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
"She really sees me as an honest man. She's not on guard at all, just taking it like that."
If he had any ill intentions and had tampered with the pills, Luo Xiyue would surely have fallen into his hands.
"Heh, she really knows how to read people."
Chen Jianghe felt both helpless and speechless.
It wasn't that he was incapable of treacherous acts, but Luo Xiyue bore him no grudge and had even provided him with opportunities several times.
He really couldn't bring himself to harbor any ill intentions toward someone who had been good to him.
In just ten breaths.
Luo Xiyue's spiritual power recovered to about seventy or eighty percent. She already had fifty percent remaining, so with the help of a Spirit Recovery Pill, her recovery was naturally fast.
After the pill's effects wore off.
Luo Xiyue's recovery rate slowed considerably.
However, she didn't take another Spirit Recovery Pill, obviously saving them for battle.
Chen Jianghe sat down cross-legged.
He released Maoqiu to stand guard nearby, then took out his last remaining auxiliary puppet.
Controlling it with his spiritual sense, he used the puppet to search for treasures in the vicinity.
Even with the help of a second-tier Spirit Recovery Pill, fully restoring one's spiritual power in the mystic realm would still take a day or two.
If not for the Spirit Recovery Pill.
Chen Jianghe guessed that Luo Xiyue would have likely dragged him to fight the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python once her spiritual power had recovered to seventy or eighty percent.
Luo Xiyue acted far too recklessly.
Chen Jianghe had learned this long ago; her act of flying straight over the Serene Valley was proof enough.
An hour passed.
The short mountain seemed to have been thoroughly plundered.
Forget top-tier second-rank spiritual objects, he couldn't even find a single low-rank second-tier spiritual object.
Clearly, there were either no treasures here, or the place had already been dug three feet deep.
Another two hours passed.
Chen Jianghe's puppet broke through the ice and leaped out.
It had found no spiritual objects.
It hadn't even triggered any restrictions.
Previously, even when he couldn't find treasures, he would trigger some damaged restrictions, but they were so weak they couldn't even harm the puppet.
But now, there was nothing.
"It must have been picked clean."
Ruan Tieniu had said that when the short mountain first had its avalanche, many cultivators had come and seen the stone monument at the mountain gate.
The absence of treasures here meant they had all been taken.
"What a bunch of vultures, they even took the low-rank second-tier spiritual objects," Chen Jianghe cursed under his breath.
Looking at the stone monument, he decided not to send the puppet up the mountain. There were probably spiritual objects there.
But there were also peak second-tier demonic beasts. It was better to wait until Luo Xiyue's spiritual power was restored.
A day passed.
There was just over a day left until the mystic realm's passage opened.
Luo Xiyue opened her eyes, a gleam of light flashing within them. She looked at Chen Jianghe, who was standing guard, and said, "Let's go find the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python."
"Alright."
Chen Jianghe nodded without the slightest hesitation and followed beside Luo Xiyue, flying toward the top of the short mountain.
"Take this Heart-Clearing Detoxification Pill. And these five Jade Dew Pills can also heal injuries."
Chen Jianghe took out two jade bottles, wrapped them in spiritual power, and pushed them toward Luo Xiyue.
"You…"
Luo Xiyue was startled, a look of surprise in her eyes.
She seemed puzzled. How did Chen Jianghe have so many different resources?
It was now the late stage of the mystic realm trial; it would be over in just over a day.
The consumable resources cultivators brought in should have all been used up by now.
"Thank you."
Luo Xiyue said softly, then suddenly increased her speed.
Seeing Luo Xiyue speed up, Chen Jianghe was speechless. If you're thanking me, thank me. Why are you speeding up?
She truly doesn't know the meaning of caution!
Chen Jianghe quickly gave chase, staying close behind Luo Xiyue.
"Wait."
Suddenly, Chen Jianghe called out to Luo Xiyue, his eyes having spotted a spiritual object in the snowy pine forest.
"Profound Icewood."
Chen Jianghe stopped and sent a voice transmission to Luo Xiyue.
"Is that really Profound Icewood?!"
Luo Xiyue revealed a look of surprise.
She had passed this place several times without noticing this piece of Profound Icewood. Chen Jianghe had found it on his very first pass.
Even if a restriction had failed at this exact moment to reveal the spiritual object, it was too much of a coincidence.
"I know why she let you in."
Luo Xiyue said faintly.
"Why?"
"You possess great fortune."
"Me? Great fortune?"
Chen Jianghe pointed at himself in disbelief, looking at Luo Xiyue with astonishment. Where did this ice beauty come to such a conclusion?
"Yes. I'll get it for you."
Luo Xiyue nodded and said.
"Wait, let's test it with a puppet first. This is a third-rank spiritual object. If there's a restriction, it's definitely not weak."
Chen Jianghe spoke up to stop Luo Xiyue. This was a third-rank spiritual object; there was bound to be a restriction and a remnant formation.
"You still have puppets?"
"This is the last one."
Chen Jianghe took out the auxiliary puppet and, controlling it with his spiritual sense, guided it toward the mountain spring in the snowy forest. On the ice-covered water, an azure light was particularly conspicuous.
Using his spiritual eye, he could see the piece of Profound Icewood.
When the auxiliary puppet approached within ten zhang of the Profound Icewood, Chen Jianghe's connection with it was suddenly severed, and it vanished into the snowy forest.
"How did it suddenly disappear?" Chen Jianghe wondered.
His spiritual sense hadn't been attacked. The connection was lost without any warning, as if a formation had shielded his spiritual sense.
"It's a third-rank trapping formation, containing a formation space."
A sharp glint flashed in Luo Xiyue's phoenix eyes. She looked at Chen Jianghe and said, "That piece of Profound Icewood is just bait."
"The real treasure is within this ice spring."
"Don't probe with your spiritual sense. Only a complete third-rank formation would have a formation space. Where there's a trapping formation, there's bound to be an illusionary killing formation."
Chen Jianghe had been about to probe the area around the ice spring with his spiritual sense, but upon hearing Luo Xiyue's words, he immediately withdrew it.
"How can there be a complete formation in the mystic realm?"
The Wind and Snow Valley mystic realm was an outer region of the ancient Snow Sect. After so many years and the depletion of spiritual energy, it was impossible for a complete formation to exist.
Unless—a supreme-grade spirit stone!
There was a supreme-grade spirit stone beneath this ice spring.
Only a supreme-grade spirit stone could continuously generate spiritual energy to power a formation.
The *Records of Tiannan* contained information about supreme-grade spirit stones.
They were legendary spirit stones, containing extremely pure spiritual energy and capable of generating more.
Even Nascent Soul True Lords, who were said to be living immortals, coveted supreme-grade spirit stones.
"There should be a supreme-grade spirit stone beneath this ice spring. We'll keep this between us. Don't tell a third person."
Luo Xiyue said.
"Fellow Daoist means we can't take it?"
Chen Jianghe felt a pang of regret.
A supreme-grade spirit stone was a true treasure in the cultivation world. If he obtained one, he would never lack cultivation resources again.
Even raising the purity of Xiao Hei's bloodline would no longer be a worry.
"A complete third-rank trapping formation, possibly with an illusionary killing formation. Even a Core Formation expert would find it difficult to retrieve the supreme-grade spirit stone from within."
"As long as the news doesn't leak, we might have a chance to retrieve it in the future."
Luo Xiyue said, then continued flying forward without lingering.
The treasure was right there, but they couldn't take it.
Staying here would just be staring at it in vain.
Chen Jianghe shook his head and followed Luo Xiyue.
He didn't hold much hope for Luo Xiyue's words.
If they couldn't take it this time, there wouldn't be a next time.
The Wind and Snow Valley mystic realm's restrictions weakened once every three hundred years, meaning one could only enter once every three hundred years.
Furthermore, entry was limited to cultivators below the peak Foundation Establishment realm.
Chen Jianghe could live for three hundred years, but in three hundred years, he would likely have already reached Core Formation!
Even if he suppressed his cultivation to re-enter three hundred years later, he would be at most a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and still unable to retrieve the supreme-grade spirit stone.
Unless one was a formation genius who could comprehend third-rank formations at the late Foundation Establishment stage, but that was nearly impossible.
Therefore, this supreme-grade spirit stone was fundamentally unobtainable.
Half an hour later.
They arrived at the peak of the short mountain. Standing there, they could see the snow palace on the great snow mountain in the distance.
On the great snow mountain stood a complex of dozens of palace buildings, magnificent and majestic, filled with an ancient aura.
Luo Xiyue gazed at the snow palace on the great snow mountain, a flicker of yearning in her eyes. She then turned to Chen Jianghe, her delicate face serious.
"You still owe me one thing."
"Uh… I know." Chen Jianghe nodded.
Back then, Luo Xiyue had helped him obtain the *Myriad Waters True Scripture, Foundation Establishment Volume*, and he had promised her two things in return.
Helping her kill the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python would count as one, so he still owed her one more.
"What would Fellow Daoist Luo have me do? As long as it's within my power, I will do my utmost."
Chen Jianghe said sincerely.
He would not forget a debt of gratitude.
"Let's kill the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python first!"
Luo Xiyue instructed Chen Jianghe, "When we fight the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python later, don't let its venom touch you. And don't touch its blood before its poison sac is removed."
"Understood."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
Next, they arrived outside a massive cave. Looking inside, it was bottomless, as black as ink, like an abyss.
Standing outside, they could smell the stench of blood and a pungent, strange odor.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, how should I assist you later?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
"I've already used my Talisman Treasure. To kill the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python, I need to use the Profound Ice Sword Art twice."
"After I use the Profound Ice Sword Art the first time, you need to hold off the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python for a hundred breaths."
Luo Xiyue looked at Chen Jianghe with a slightly nervous gaze, clearly hoping he would agree.
She didn't know how long Chen Jianghe could hold off the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python.
But a hundred breaths was her minimum requirement.
"A hundred breaths? I can do that."
After a moment of thought and a brief exchange with Xiao Hei, Chen Jianghe agreed to Luo Xiyue's request.
After receiving Chen Jianghe's affirmative answer.
"Go hide."
With that, Luo Xiyue summoned her Remnant Snow Sword. Her phoenix eyes narrowed as she stared into the abyss-like cave.
She let out a soft cry, "Poisonous vermin, die!"
With a flick of her Remnant Snow Sword, icicles condensed, forming into crystalline swords that shot into the dark cave in an instant.
Three breaths later.
Bang! Bang!
Dong! Dong!
It sounded like ice swords striking the mountain walls, or perhaps hitting metal.
Roar!
An enraged roar echoed out, and the cave began to tremble. Snow slid down as a fat, poisonous python, about six zhang long and as thick as a millstone, charged out.
It flicked its forked tongue.
Its body was covered in emerald-green scales, and its black eyes glowed with a red light as it stared intently at Luo Xiyue.
It looked as if it wanted to eat her alive.
Roar!
The Spirit-Devouring Poison Python roared again, shaking the entire snowy forest and causing snow to fall from the treetops.
Its crimson eyes and blood-red maw opened and closed wide.
It seemed to want to curse at Luo Xiyue, but without a refined hyoid bone, it couldn't speak human words.
Chen Jianghe hid far away, using five Sealing Talismans to conceal his aura, watching the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python that had been enraged by Luo Xiyue's repeated provocations.
"Its aura is weaker than that Frosty Triangle Python that was about to break through, but the feeling it gives Xiao Hei is more oppressive."
"It seems its bloodline grade is not low, probably an upper fourth-grade bloodline."
Boom!
The Remnant Snow Sword in Luo Xiyue's hand moved like an extension of her arm. With a flourish, she drew a seal in the air. A seven-pointed seal appeared, shooting out a rain of ice arrows.
They struck the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's scales, which flared with green light, deflecting the arrows.
The deflected arrows toppled snow-covered pines and slammed into rocks.
Shattered rock and heavy snow mixed, spraying in all directions.
Her jade-like hands formed a new seal, empowering the Remnant Snow Sword. The temperature plummeted, turning the hundred-zhang radius into a domain of ice, suppressing the green light spraying from the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's scales.
This was the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's venom, not sprayed from its mouth, but ejected from its scales.
A cultivator unfamiliar with the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python would surely be hit by this venom.
Under Luo Xiyue's seal, even the snowflakes became incredibly hard, turning into icy feathers that blocked the spraying venom for her.
Roar!
The Spirit-Devouring Poison Python roared and charged swiftly toward Luo Xiyue, but its speed was not great.
However, its roar seemed to slow Luo Xiyue's movements as well.
"A soul attack!"
Chen Jianghe witnessed this from a distance.
Under the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's soul-infused roar, even his Sea of Consciousness trembled slightly, but it couldn't affect his Soul Sea.
Luo Xiyue seemed to have no soul defense measures.
Seeing the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python attack, she could only use an Yi Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman. The two soul attacks intertwined.
An invisible force caused the fat Spirit-Devouring Poison Python to pause for a moment.
Luo Xiyue seized the opportunity to unleash her Profound Ice Sword Art.
"Frozen River Snow!"
She swung her Remnant Snow Sword. Snow fell like rain, forming a river in mid-air that instantly froze, gleaming with a chilling light.
Suddenly, the river shattered, and a sky full of crystalline ice lotuses flew toward the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python.
Clang! Clang!
The beautiful lotuses possessed an unstoppable sharpness, tearing through the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's scales.
As the river flowed down, the ice lotuses rained upon the python's thick, fleshy body, ripping off scale after scale.
"Xiao Hei, prepare for battle!"
Chen Jianghe sent a voice transmission, his eyes fixed on the battlefield.
Luo Xiyue's execution of the Profound Ice Sword Art this time was even more powerful than when she used it on the Luo Xing River.
A single strike of Frozen River Snow was like the Silver River of the heavens pouring down upon the mortal world.
That Uncle Mu didn't even have a chance to cry for help.
"Huh? What's this!"
Just as Chen Jianghe thought the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python was injured and its defenses breached by Luo Xiyue, he noticed that where the scales had fallen off, a green liquid was flowing out.
It was rapidly healing itself.
The river formed by frozen snowflakes, transformed into countless sword lotuses, was relentlessly attacking the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's body.
But the python's recovery speed, fueled by the green liquid, actually kept pace with the destructive speed of the sword lotuses.
Seeing the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python condensing its origin to heal its wounds, a cold light flashed in Luo Xiyue's phoenix eyes.
She recalled the Remnant Snow Sword from the air, gripped it tightly, and a vast amount of spiritual power surged from her Dantian, through her divine gate, and into the sword.
"Profound Ice Sword Art, Annihilation!"
The Remnant Snow Sword shone with a brilliant cold light. With a single swing, her immense spiritual power formed a vortex, absorbing the cold energy from ten li around. It merged with her spiritual power and was instantly compressed, forming a single ice bead the size of a soybean.
It was pitch-black, with icy patterns flowing across its surface.
The ice bead fell like a shooting star, and the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python, busy defending against the sword lotuses, couldn't react in time.
It slammed into a patch of broken scales and sank into its flesh.
Roar!
The ice bead shattered upon entering its body, instantly forming a three-zhang domain of annihilation that froze half of the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's body.
Luo Xiyue's face was pale and bloodless. She took out a second-tier Spirit Recovery Pill and swallowed it.
She needed to recover her spiritual power to cast Annihilation a second time.
Roar!
The green liquid on the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python's body was frozen. Under the influence of the Annihilation ice bead, its injured areas began to rapidly fester.
But within the domain of annihilation, it was unable to heal that half of its body.
Suddenly.
The Spirit-Devouring Poison Python dragged its frozen half-body and opened its massive maw to swallow Luo Xiyue.
Whoosh!
An Yi Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman transformed into a green light, its vines covered in soul thorns wrapping around the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python.
In an instant.
A vine shield and five Profound Wood Shields appeared around Luo Xiyue, protecting her tightly.
Eight fire dragons burst forth from talismans, roaring as they followed the green light and charged toward the Spirit-Devouring Poison Python.