Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 247
Chapter Title: True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art and a Bloodline Mutation
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Maoqiu stood upright, eight feet and two inches tall. Its eyes were bright, shimmering with faint yellow ripples. It approached Chen Jianghe and cried out in delight.
It was broad and burly, with a long torso and short legs. Its fur was snow-white, save for a tuft of black fur at the center of its brow, giving it a domineering air.
“Good. Cultivate well.”
Chen Jianghe nodded in satisfaction.
A fourth-grade, low-tier bloodline. This must be the Mountain Velvet Beast with the purest bloodline in the entire Tiannan region!
It had the potential to become a third-rank spirit beast.
Chen Jianghe tossed the ordinary second-rank water-attribute spirit core to Maoqiu. They would be staying in this cavern for a long time.
He couldn't let Maoqiu's cultivation be delayed.
Especially now that it possessed a fourth-grade, low-tier bloodline, its potential was immense. With proper nurturing, it would have a promising future.
Maoqiu caught the second-rank spirit core and expressed its gratitude to Chen Jianghe before returning to Xiao Hei's side.
Chen Jianghe released Spicy Strip.
"Hiss hiss~"
Upon emerging, Spicy Strip was stunned to see that Maoqiu had advanced to a fourth-grade, low-tier bloodline. It then slithered over to offer its congratulations.
It was Spicy Strip who had risked its life to retrieve the Three-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass from Sunset Pond.
Now that Maoqiu had consumed it and advanced to the same bloodline grade, Spicy Strip felt no resentment.
Its considerable intelligence made it understand clearly.
The Three-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass was never meant for it.
Chen Jianghe took out the Ice Soul Pearl, a second-rank, top-tier absorbable spirit item, and handed it to Xiao Hei.
The latter understood.
It gave the Ice Soul Pearl to Spicy Strip.
Spicy Strip had contributed greatly in the secret realm, diving deep into Sunset Pond to retrieve numerous treasures.
There was also the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart, a Foundation Establishment spirit item. Although he had given it to Luo Xiyue, she had in turn helped him obtain the True Spirit Fruit, another Foundation Establishment spirit item.
Therefore, Spicy Strip's merits were high.
The Ice Soul Pearl was a second-rank, top-tier absorbable spirit item. Cultivators with an ice spirit root who practiced ice-attribute techniques could directly absorb and refine it.
It could also be refined into mid-grade Origin Spirit Pills, making it suitable for cultivators of any attribute.
Spicy Strip was an ice-attribute spirit beast with a fourth-grade, low-tier bloodline, possessing extremely high potential for cultivation.
Coupled with its significant contributions, Chen Jianghe was more than happy to give it the Ice Soul Pearl for its cultivation.
"Spicy Strip is at the peak of the first rank. With the Ice Soul Pearl, it should be able to break through to the second rank in about half a year."
"This Ice Soul Pearl is much better than the Spirit Spring Pearl I absorbed back then. It should be enough for Spicy Strip to cultivate for five years."
Xiao Hei had its own Spirit Spring Pearl for cultivation, so it wouldn't need any other resources for a year.
As for Maoqiu, after it finished absorbing the second-rank water-attribute spirit core, it would have to rely on Water Spirit Pills for now.
Although Chen Jianghe had another Spirit Spring Pearl, he needed it for his own cultivation.
The two pieces of Water Spirit Jade were for his practice of the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art and couldn't be used as resources to enhance his magical power.
After glancing at the three spirit beasts, who had already begun cultivating, Chen Jianghe's thoughts stirred, and he took out a jade slip.
This was what Luo Xiyue had given him before she left.
He sent his divine sense into the jade slip, and streams of recorded information flooded his mind.
"True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art?!"
Chen Jianghe's expression changed drastically, his face filled with ecstatic joy.
After learning the contents of the jade slip, even with his composed state of mind, he was utterly shaken.
"An ancient secret art for nurturing treasures. Luo Xiyue has placed me in a great debt!"
Chen Jianghe familiarized himself with the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art. It was not just a secret art for refining magic treasures.
It was also a secret art for nurturing talismans.
It allowed one to use a True Spirit Seal to nurture a second-rank talisman with magical power inside one's Dantian over a long period, elevating the talisman's power to the level of a Talisman Treasure.
However, ordinary talismans would not suffice.
If Chen Jianghe wanted to use the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art to nurture a Talisman Treasure, he would need to use materials specifically for crafting Talisman Treasures to draw a second-rank talisman, then nurture it slowly over a long time.
First and foremost, the material had to be able to withstand the power of a Talisman Treasure.
Chen Jianghe was not short on materials capable of bearing such power.
The Flood Dragon Green Bamboo, the Moon-Gazing Stone, and the Profound Ice Sinking Wood could all be used to create Talisman Treasures, especially the Profound Ice Sinking Wood.
This was a third-rank, low-grade spirit material. If used to nurture a Talisman Treasure, it would allow for a much higher power ceiling.
With the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art from Luo Xiyue, Chen Jianghe could transform these quasi-third-rank and third-rank spirit materials into protective measures for himself.
Three Talisman Treasures.
It would be worth it even if it took twenty or thirty years to nurture them!
With Talisman Treasures, his foundation would be on par with the Foundation Establishment prodigies of the sects, perhaps even surpassing the ordinary ones.
Even now, he was not weaker than a typical Foundation Establishment prodigy.
During this trial in the secret realm, Chen Jianghe discovered that not all sect prodigies possessed spirit-nurturing magic tools.
Some were still using top-tier magic tools.
As for those who had both offensive and defensive spirit-nurturing magic tools, it seemed only Xiao Chen and Gao Peiyao did.
Not counting Talisman Treasures.
Chen Jianghe's foundation was no weaker than theirs.
He was only slightly behind in cultivation level.
"If I cultivate the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art, in twenty, or at most thirty years, my foundation will be so strong that I might not be inferior to that senior disciple of Heaven-Upholding Peak, Xiao Chen!"
Chen Jianghe rejoiced inwardly.
Luo Xiyue had truly given him a wonderful surprise.
Aside from the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art, the jade slip also contained information about the entire Tiannan region and Luo Xiyue's home, Ice Snow Island.
According to the information in the jade slip, the Tiannan region was not a desirable place, but rather an abandoned land of the Tiannan Continent.
The Tiannan Continent was also known as the Tiannan Cultivation World—a vast and boundless land, rich in resources.
The sheer size of the Tiannan Cultivation World was unimaginable.
The Tiannan region was merely a corner behind the Ice Snow Forest of the Tiannan Continent, which became isolated from the rest of the continent after the fall of the Snow Sect.
The ancient Snow Sect had fourth-rank spirit beasts, and more than one.
Although the Snow Sect was destroyed, its spirit beasts survived and continued to live in the Ice Snow Forest.
With the Snow Sect's vast resources, even if those fourth-rank spirit beasts couldn't become fifth-rank, they could at least raise fourth-rank demonic beast descendants.
Thus, the Ice Snow Forest, also known as the Arctic Snow Forest, became a natural barrier separating the Tiannan region from the Tiannan Cultivation World.
As for the location of Ice Snow Island?
"Fifty years? You really think highly of me."
Seeing the location of Ice Snow Island in the Tiannan Cultivation World, Chen Jianghe's mouth twitched, and he muttered to himself helplessly.
For him to cross the thirty-thousand-mile Arctic Snow Forest at his current cultivation level was nothing short of a fool's dream.
The region two thousand eight hundred miles deep into the Arctic Snow Forest was already the territory of third-rank demonic beasts. As for the five-thousand-mile region?
It was unknown if anyone had ever ventured there, but the Annals of Tiannan had no record of it.
In other words.
Even if Chen Jianghe successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage in the future, it would be impossible for him to cross the Arctic Snow Forest and enter the Tiannan Cultivation World.
"If I want to find Luo Xiyue in the future, I'm afraid I'll have to go through the Star-Scattered Sea."
Chen Jianghe sighed helplessly.
The Star-Scattered Sea, also known as the Boundless Sea, was fraught with danger. However, with a safe shipping route, one could avoid the sea regions inhabited by powerful demonic beasts.
Just as Ruan Tieniu had said, Yan Ling'er was taken away by a powerful cultivator from overseas.
That meant cultivators did exist in the Star-Scattered Sea.
"Fifty years..."
Chen Jianghe stopped thinking about such distant matters. Surviving safely in the present was what mattered most.
With the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art, he would have a few more protective measures.
He would no longer have to rely solely on Xiao Hei's defense and passively take hits.
His current trump cards were essentially just Xiao Hei and the Minor Teleportation Talisman.
Maoqiu's bloodline had been enhanced and its combat power had increased, but its cultivation was still too low. If it reached the peak of the second rank, then it could protect Chen Jianghe.
The same went for Spicy Strip. It wasn't even a second-rank spirit beast yet, so how could it protect him?
Therefore, Chen Jianghe's next step was to cultivate the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art and then begin nurturing Talisman Treasures.
He needed to increase his protective measures and enhance his chances of survival.
Chen Jianghe put away the jade slip and took out the Spirit Spring Pearl. He would first cultivate the Myriad Waters True Scripture. Cultivation was fundamental; he understood this well.
He was not lacking in cultivation resources, so he naturally wouldn't neglect his practice.
Five hours for the Myriad Waters True Scripture.
Three hours for the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art. Now that he had Water Spirit Jade to aid in its cultivation, he certainly couldn't let his physical training fall behind.
If possible, Chen Jianghe wanted to first cultivate the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art to the sixth level.
Two hours for the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art, and the remaining two hours for drawing second-rank, high-grade talismans.
He had two pieces of High Clarity Jade, which could be used to create four second-rank, high-grade talismans.
He still didn't know when those cultivators from the immortal kingdoms would leave Thousand Mountains Market City, but even if they were already gone, Chen Jianghe needed to draw these four talismans first.
"Hmph, you destroyed my property. You will have to answer for it one day!"
---
Time flew by like a fleeting shadow.
More than half a year passed, and the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching.
In another four months, Chen Jianghe would be one hundred and five years old.
A faint, dim light illuminated the damp cavern. It came from a piece of fluorescent stone that Xiao Hei had found underground.
It wasn't a spirit item, but it could emit light, which was quite miraculous.
Using it for illumination also meant there was no risk of spiritual energy fluctuations being detected.
The cavern, five zhang square, was dominated by a four-zhang-long, three-zhang-wide pool, which served as the cultivation area for the three spirit beasts.
Chen Jianghe was squeezed into a corner.
He didn't mind. He had never been particular about his cultivation environment. A thatched hut to shelter from the wind and rain and a cattail hassock for meditation were all he needed.
At this moment.
Both Xiao Hei and Maoqiu had left the pool. An icy aura permeated the air, freezing the surface. Through the ice, Spicy Strip could be seen, self-encased in ice.
Chen Jianghe paused his cultivation and walked over to Xiao Hei's side, watching Spicy Strip as it broke through in the water.
"Xiao Hei, why does Spicy Strip's elemental attribute feel impure?"
Chen Jianghe looked puzzled.
Spicy Strip was an ice-attribute spirit beast. After breaking through to the second rank, its scales should turn snow-white and manifest as ice armor during battle.
But as Spicy Strip's old scales fell off and it shed its skin, the new skin was a dark red.
It looked as if its entire body was engorged with blood.
As new scales grew, it became apparent they were not snow-white, nor silver-white.
They were a pale cyan.
When it emanated an ice-attribute aura, there was also a faint hint of an earth attribute.
Logically, this shouldn't be happening. The Icy-Triangle Python was purely an ice-attribute demonic beast; it was impossible for its fundamental attribute to change.
"I don't know."
Xiao Hei tried to prop up its chin with its short claws to think, but its claws were too short to reach.
The clever Maoqiu instantly understood what Xiao Hei was trying to do. It immediately darted in front of Xiao Hei, raised its arms, and cupped its palms like a tray.
"Mm."
Xiao Hei gave it an approving look.
Then, it pretended to be deep in thought, pondering why Spicy Strip was exhibiting another elemental aura.
Chen Jianghe glanced at the pretentious Xiao Hei, his lips twitching as he rolled his eyes, before turning his attention back to the transforming Spicy Strip.
At this point, the dark red on Spicy Strip's skin faded, turning into an icy white, but the color of its scales remained unchanged, still a pale cyan.
"I've got it."
Xiao Hei felt a flash of inspiration. It raised its turtle head high. Maoqiu consciously stepped back, standing to the side and looking at Xiao Hei with admiration.
"When you first got Spicy Strip, its essence was draining away. I used Turtle Breath Nurturing Origin to replenish it."
"But it's an ice-attribute demonic beast, and I'm water-attribute. So when I used Turtle Breath Nurturing Origin, it would... wait, earth attribute? Is my Turtle Breath Nurturing Origin an earth-attribute secret art?"
"No, I'm a water-attribute beast, so why are all my innate abilities earth-attribute? Even the secret art from the Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art is earth-attribute?"
As Xiao Hei spoke, it became confused itself.
It was a water-attribute spirit beast, yet all the innate abilities it awakened were earth-attribute, and the secret arts it cultivated were also earth-attribute.
"Does that mean the secret art I'm cultivating from the Six Revolutions Great Demon Art is also earth-attribute?!"
Chen Jianghe glanced at Xiao Hei, not particularly surprised.
He had noticed this anomaly long ago.
It didn't seem to have any negative effects on Xiao Hei; on the contrary, it brought many benefits.
Xiao Hei was strong in the water, but even stronger on land.
Chen Jianghe found Xiao Hei's explanation for Spicy Strip's mutation quite plausible. It was likely that the process of repairing its essence had caused the mutation.
Roar!
Spicy Strip let out a low roar. The scales on its body shimmered with a cyan light. Its head underwent a subtle change; the bone on its forehead protruded, resembling the Spirit-Devouring Ice Python that Chen Jianghe had slain in the secret realm.
It was a clear difference from a normal Icy-Triangle Python.
Its fangs were neat and sharp, its forked tongue shortened and the tines closer together. When it roared, the sound was intensely piercing.
A moment later.
A powerful aura surged from Spicy Strip's body. The transformation was complete. It had successfully advanced to a second-rank spirit beast.
It was now two zhang long and as thick as a bowl. Its head was broad, covered in cyan scales.
"Master, I've broken through."
"Lord Turtle, I've broken through."
"Brother Qiu, I've broken through."
Spicy Strip moved, the ice on the water's surface melted, and it flew out of the pool, landing before Chen Jianghe, its voice resonating with excitement in his mind.
Then it reported to Xiao Hei and Maoqiu.
It had a firm grasp on the hierarchy, which earned Chen Jianghe's praise.
"What innate ability did you awaken?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
Like Maoqiu, Spicy Strip was designated by Chen Jianghe as a combat spirit pet.
He was very interested in the innate abilities they awakened, naturally hoping for combat-oriented ones.
Something that could enhance their fighting strength.
As for defense, Chen Jianghe wasn't too concerned.
After all, even if Spicy Strip awakened a defensive ability, it would surely be no match for Xiao Hei's defense.
"Master, the innate ability I awakened upon reaching the second rank is Ice Dragon's Roar. It can briefly release a dragon's might to attack the soul and freeze divine sense," Spicy Strip transmitted.
"A soul attack?!"
Chen Jianghe was first startled, then delighted.
Attacking the soul, freezing divine sense—what was this if not a soul attack?
Even if it couldn't directly obliterate a soul, just freezing the opponent's soul for a few breaths would be enough to end a battle.
Spicy Strip could use Ice Dragon's Roar to stun an opponent's soul, and Maoqiu could then finish them off.
"A fine ability. Excellent, excellent."
Chen Jianghe smiled with satisfaction.
Suddenly, Chen Jianghe recalled that the innate ability an Icy-Triangle Python awakened upon reaching the second rank wasn't Ice Dragon's Roar.
It was an upgraded version of Ice Corrosion, creating an ice domain within a hundred-zhang radius that not only generated an ice-attribute poison but also slowed down enemies within its range.
He had nearly been trapped in an ice domain in the secret realm. If not for the help of Ruan Tieniu and the others, he would have been in grave danger.
Although the ice domain was good, it was far inferior to Ice Dragon's Roar. An ability that directly attacked the soul.
This was a true combat ability.
Very few Foundation Establishment cultivators possessed soul-defense magic tools.
And it was even harder to come across soul-defense secret arts.
Generally, only after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage would one acquire soul-defense magic treasures and come into contact with soul-defense techniques.
Spicy Strip awakening the Ice Dragon's Roar ability meant that Chen Jianghe now possessed a means of soul attack.
Time passed, and several months went by.
Chen Jianghe had used both pieces of High Clarity Jade to create second-rank, high-grade talismans: three Second Wood Soul-Binding Talismans and one Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talisman.
As for second-rank, high-grade escape talismans, he still had a Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman, which was sufficient.
After all, Xiao Hei's Mystic Earth Rock-Splitting Escape was no worse than the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
In terms of escape and defense, Chen Jianghe had plenty of options.
His only real weakness was his lack of offensive power.
Maoqiu and Spicy Strip's cultivation levels were still low. Unless they reached the late stage of the second rank, they would struggle to overwhelm late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"I have mastered the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art. Next, I need to draw three second-rank talismans and nurture them in my Dantian."
To use the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art to nurture a Talisman Treasure, one first needed to create a talisman embryo.
Chen Jianghe had materials for three Talisman Treasures, so he could nurture three of them.
But he still needed to carefully consider which types of Talisman Treasures to create.
He currently had the knowledge for nine types of second-rank talismans. For attack talismans, there were the Falling Star Lightning Talisman, the Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman, and the Second Wood Soul-Binding Talisman.
For defense talismans, there were the Golden Light Body Protection Talisman, the Green Wood Immortal Shield Talisman, and the Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talisman.
For escape talismans, there were the Blazing Flame Cloud-Leaping Talisman, the Rushing Thunder Talisman, and the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
All nine of these talismans could be nurtured into Talisman Treasures.
"For defense, once Xiao Hei breaks through to the late second rank, its defense will be comparable to a defensive Talisman Treasure. There's no need to nurture a defensive one."
"I only need to nurture offensive and escape Talisman Treasures."
Chen Jianghe considered for a moment. His biggest weakness was offense. As for escape, it wasn't a major issue.
Xiao Hei's Mystic Earth Rock-Splitting Escape was very powerful. While not as good as an escape Talisman Treasure, it could rival a second-rank, high-grade escape talisman.
If Xiao Hei broke through to the peak of the second rank, its Mystic Earth Rock-Splitting Escape would be enhanced again, perhaps even reaching the level of an escape Talisman Treasure.
Therefore, he only needed to nurture one escape Talisman Treasure.
He would need to nurture two offensive ones.
With a plan in mind, Chen Jianghe began to contemplate which two second-rank attack talismans and which second-rank escape talisman to draw.
After a moment of thought.
Chen Jianghe decided to use the Flood Dragon Green Bamboo to draw the Falling Star Lightning Talisman, the Moon-Gazing Stone for the Second Wood Soul-Binding Talisman, and the Profound Ice Sinking Wood for the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
The Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman was a fire-attribute talisman. Its power would be greatly diminished against cultivators with fire-attribute defensive magic tools or those who practiced fire-element techniques.
But the Falling Star Lightning Talisman was different.
Under normal circumstances, which cultivator without a lightning spirit root would have a lightning-attribute defensive magic tool?
Besides, in the vast Tiannan region, Chen Jianghe had never even heard of a cultivator with a special spirit root.
Let alone the lightning spirit root, which was extremely rare even among special spirit roots.
Therefore, under the Falling Star Lightning Talisman, all beings were equal.
As for choosing the Second Wood Soul-Binding Talisman, it was naturally for its accompanying soul attack.
A soul attack at the level of a Talisman Treasure.
How could anyone defend against that?
Even a pseudo-Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator wouldn't be able to withstand it!
As for choosing the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman, it didn't matter as much; it was simply because it would be faster to nurture.
The Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman was already a second-rank, high-grade talisman.
Nurturing it with the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art would take fifteen years at the least, and twenty at the most, to complete.
This meant that within twenty years, Chen Jianghe would possess at least two Talisman Treasures.
The Falling Star Lightning Talisman might take around twenty-five years, as it was only a second-rank, low-grade spirit talisman.
It would first need to be nurtured to mid-grade, then high-grade, before finally becoming a Talisman Treasure.
This process would take a considerable amount of time.
His mind settled.
Chen Jianghe took out the Flood Dragon Green Bamboo and began drawing the Falling Star Lightning Talisman. With his current cultivation and talisman-crafting skill, it only took him a dozen or so days to complete.
Looking at the Falling Star Lightning Talisman in his hand, drawn on the Flood Dragon Green Bamboo, it felt like a bit of a waste.
However, the thought that in twenty-five years, this would become a Talisman Treasure-level Falling Star Lightning Talisman made him feel much better.
Following the steps of the True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art, he formed seals with his hands, condensed his magical power, and created a seal in the air, which he then imprinted into the Falling Star Lightning Talisman.
A flash of azure light shone.
The runes on the Flood Dragon Green Bamboo suddenly appeared, their patterns becoming clearer and exuding a profound and mysterious aura.
With a thought from Chen Jianghe.
The Flood Dragon Green Bamboo abruptly vanished, reappearing within his Dantian, surrounded by fifty-six drops of Foundation Establishment magical power.
Nourishing the runes, nurturing the spiritual energy.
Chen Jianghe then took out the Moon-Gazing Stone and spent nearly three months drawing the Second Wood Soul-Binding Talisman.
He applied the True Spirit Seal and absorbed it into his Dantian.
Finally, he took out the Profound Ice Sinking Wood to draw the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
The Profound Ice Sinking Wood was a third-rank spirit material that could be used as a supplementary material for refining magic treasures. Using it to create a Talisman Treasure was indeed a bit of a loss.
If any impoverished Foundation Establishment grandmasters found out, they would surely curse Chen Jianghe for his extravagance.
For not knowing the value of third-rank spirit items.
It wasn't that Chen Jianghe didn't know their value, but he knew even better the terror of having no means to protect himself.
If he lost his life, what use would all the treasures in his possession be?
Three months passed.
With a flash of brilliant light and a low rumble of thunder from the Profound Ice Sinking Wood, the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman was successfully drawn.
He formed the True Spirit Seal with his hands, creating a seal in the air, and imprinted it into the Profound Ice Sinking Wood. He then absorbed it into his Dantian to nourish the runes and nurture the spiritual energy.
After all this was done.
Chen Jianghe let out a sigh of relief.
He calculated the time. It was early August. He had been in the cavern for a year and seven months.
"Those cultivators from the immortal kingdoms should have left by now, right?"
(End of Chapter)