Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: The Beast Taming Zhou Clan's Confidence, Animosity with the Tiannan Sect
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Gao Peiyao entered the courtyard, greeted Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan, and then followed Chen Jianghe into the reception hall.
They took their seats as host and guest.
Chen Jianghe looked at Gao Peiyao with a smile, waiting for her to state her purpose. He had guessed yesterday that she had something to discuss with him.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed the night in Qingyun Town.
"Rumors are spreading that you killed Lu Qingming of the Lu Clan, as well as He Lingchuan, a direct descendant of the He Clan from the Eastern Territory."
"I don't know the full story, but I must remind you, Brother Jianghe, not to make an enemy of the Lu Clan. In the coming changes to the Tiannan Domain, the Lu Clan will not decline; on the contrary, it will grow even stronger."
"As for the He Clan... they are merely opportunists who curry favor with the powerful. You need not pay them much mind."
Gao Peiyao didn't get straight to the point, instead offering Chen Jianghe a reminder, which was nevertheless very useful to him.
Under the Tiannan Sect's covert manipulation, the Tiannan Domain was beginning to evolve into a new power structure. Any cultivator with half a brain could see it.
But in this reshuffling of power, which family would fall and which would prosper?
No one could say for sure.
However, since Gao Peiyao stated that the Lu Clan would not decline and might even rise to a new level, it meant the Lu Clan had already gained the Tiannan Sect's approval.
They were set to reap great benefits in the upcoming changes.
Therefore, the Lu Clan was not to be offended.
Fortunately, the Lu Clan had not taken a clear stance against him because of the rumors, which indicated that his current crisis stemmed entirely from the two clans of Qinghe.
Still, it didn't matter much. He wasn't planning on leaving Qingyun Town anyway.
As long as he didn't step outside the bounds of the Immortal Gate Market City, what could the two Qinghe clans do to him?
Besides, he merely disliked conflict; he was no pushover.
One or two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators posed no threat to him at all.
Unless the two Qinghe clans mobilized their full strength: three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and a late-stage second-rank demonic beast.
As for their eight early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, with his current strength and resources, he truly didn't give them a second thought.
"Thank you for the reminder, Peiyao. The claim that I killed Lu Qingming is just a rumor. I will not make an enemy of the Lu Clan."
"As for the two clans of Qinghe... heh."
Chen Jianghe smiled faintly. If it weren't for the Qing Kingdom backing them, he wouldn't spare these two Foundation Establishment immortal clans a glance.
Hearing Gao Peiyao mention the changes in the Tiannan Domain, he asked with great curiosity.
"What does the Tiannan Sect intend to transform the Tiannan Domain into? When will this turmoil end?"
"My master is only a Core Formation elder of Silver Moon Peak; she doesn't know much about the future structure of the Tiannan Domain."
Gao Peiyao said softly, "But one thing is certain: the Tiannan Sect aims to have a much firmer grip on the Tiannan Domain."
Chen Jianghe nodded upon hearing this.
The Tiannan Domain was the Tiannan Sect's territory. Now, the entire domain was in chaos, with even the flying couriers and airships paralyzed.
One could say the entire Tiannan Domain had been thrown into a chaotic mess.
The Tiannan Sect was willing to throw its own territory into disarray. Wasn't it all for the sake of reshuffling the deck, reallocating resources, and gaining better control over the Tiannan Domain?
"How is the Beast Taming Zhou Clan faring?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"The sect currently has eight Core Formation elders in the Southern Domain. In addition, thirteen Core Formation masters who answered the sect's call are also in the Southern Domain, forming an encirclement around the Beast Taming Zhou Clan."
"Once the Beast Taming Zhou Clan is destroyed, the situation in the Tiannan Domain will quickly stabilize," Gao Peiyao said.
"So many Core Formation masters! How has the Zhou Clan managed to hold out until now?"
Chen Jianghe was full of doubt.
The Beast Taming Zhou Clan was certainly powerful, and they surely had several Core Formation masters and multiple third-rank spirit beasts.
But against a coalition of over twenty Core Formation masters, they shouldn't have been able to hold on.
Logically, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan should have been annihilated long ago.
Even the two Core Formation masters from Thousand Mountains Market City had perished in the Southern Domain, so it was likely that the Zhou Clan had also lost Core Formation masters.
Therefore, they shouldn't have been able to last this long.
"The Beast Taming Zhou Clan might have a fourth-rank great demon."
Gao Peiyao's words were shocking.
"A fourth-rank great demon!" Chen Jianghe was stunned. It was unbelievable. The Beast Taming Zhou Clan was strong, but in the end, they were just a Core Formation immortal clan.
How could they possibly have raised a fourth-rank great demon?
"Could it be that the great fortune the Beast Taming Zhou Clan found in the Youxian Mountain Range was a spirit item that can elevate a third-rank demonic beast to a fourth-rank great demon?!"
Chen Jianghe looked at Gao Peiyao, thinking back to the reason for the beast tide at the Beast Taming Market City. It was clearly not as the Zhou Clan had claimed—that they had merely found two demonic beast eggs and a fourth-grade, low-tier bloodline cub in the Youxian Mountain Range.
Gao Peiyao shook her head. It was still uncertain what great fortune the Zhou Clan had obtained in the Youxian Mountain Range.
But one thing was certain: the Zhou Clan seemed to have gained the confidence to resist the Tiannan Sect.
If the rumors were true and the Zhou Clan possessed a fourth-rank spirit beast, then the changes in the Tiannan Domain might be about to slip out of the Tiannan Sect's control.
Chen Jianghe was shocked, but he didn't dwell on these matters.
Whether the Tiannan Sect wanted to destroy the Zhou Clan and change the landscape of the Tiannan Domain, or the Zhou Clan now had the power to resist the Tiannan Sect...
These were not matters he could currently involve himself in.
He was just a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator, a tiny, insignificant ant in the eyes of Core Formation masters.
Gao Peiyao was telling him all this merely as a prelude to the real topic.
Indeed, just as Chen Jianghe had thought, after discussing the changes in the Tiannan Domain, Gao Peiyao revealed her purpose.
"This time in the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm, it was all thanks to you, Brother Jianghe. Otherwise, I would never have obtained a treasure as precious as the Darktide Gold Sand."
Gao Peiyao first expressed her gratitude.
"There's no need for thanks. If you hadn't brought me into the mystic realm, how could I have discovered the Darktide Gold Sand? Besides, I didn't even have the means to collect it."
Chen Jianghe gave a wry smile, not taking any credit.
But in his heart, he had already guessed Gao Peiyao's true intention.
"Brother Jianghe, please forgive my forwardness with what I'm about to say." Gao Peiyao's expression changed, becoming serious.
"What are you saying? Given our friendship, you can speak freely."
Chen Jianghe said.
"Brother Jianghe, did you obtain any other third-rank spirit items in the mystic realm this time?"
"Please tell me the truth, Brother Jianghe. This concerns your safety."
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe thought to himself: *What's coming has come.*
He knew that after leaving the mystic realm, it would be impossible to evade the Tiannan Sect's investigation.
Unless he avoided both the Immortal Gate Market City and the Heaven's Gate Market City.
Otherwise, the Tiannan Sect would find him sooner or later.
"How does the Tiannan Sect plan to investigate me?"
Chen Jianghe didn't answer directly, asking a question first.
"I won't hide it from you, Brother Jianghe. This time in the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm, the sect suffered immense losses. Fairy Qingxin of Chengtian Peak perished, Perfected Mingjing was gravely injured, and Perfected Chengtian is furious."
"Including you, Brother Jianghe, the last five cultivators to exit the mystic realm, with the exception of Ji Yanfeng and Chen Chengping, must undergo the sect's inspection."
"All third-rank spirit items must be surrendered. If you hand them over voluntarily, you can avoid a soul search. If you don't, a Core Formation elder will forcibly search your soul. Your soul will be damaged, your memories thrown into chaos, and you might very well go mad."
"Two years ago, Cen Linchuan, a direct descendant of the Cen Clan, voluntarily handed over two third-rank spirit items and was spared the soul search."
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe took a deep breath.
The Tiannan Sect was acting so decisively, leaving no room for wishful thinking. You could hide your treasures.
But they could search your soul!
And it wasn't a Nascent Soul grandmaster, who were revered as living immortals, performing the search personally.
It was a Core Formation master using the simplest, most brutal method: forcibly probing your memories with their divine sense, completely disregarding any after-effects you might suffer.
In other words, Chen Jianghe couldn't even hide his treasures.
"What about Ruan Tieniu?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"Senior Brother Xiao Chen failed to catch up to him in the Arctic Snow Forest. Since then, Ruan Tieniu seems to have vanished."
"However, Ruan Tieniu has been listed on the sect's mission contribution board with an extremely high reward, one that even Core Formation elders find tempting."
"According to Senior Brother Xiao Chen, Ruan Tieniu has a fourth-grade, high-tier bloodline demonic beast egg and at least two main materials for refining Dharma Treasures."
"Fellow Daoist Cen also said that Ruan Tieniu has a Core Formation spirit item and has cultivated a demonic secret art, possessing a powerful escape technique and the ability to regenerate severed limbs."
Huh?!
Chen Jianghe was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Ruan Tieniu's gains in the mystic realm to surpass his own.
Two main materials for refining Dharma Treasures, one Core Formation spirit item, and a fourth-grade, high-tier bloodline demonic beast egg.
Although there might be some exaggeration.
But the demonic beast egg was real. Chen Jianghe had seen it himself, and Xiao Hei had sensed that the egg did indeed possess a fourth-grade bloodline.
As for whether it was high-tier or low-tier, that would only be known once it hatched.
Having not seen Liu Zhining, Qian Zhengdao, or Liang Wanru after leaving the mystic realm, he could guess they had been run to death by Ruan Tieniu inside the realm.
Therefore, Ruan Tieniu definitely had great treasures, at least one third-rank spirit item.
Chen Jianghe took out the Weak Water Stone, the fist-sized piece of Wind Fiend Mystic Iron, and the portion of Darktide Gold Sand.
He laughed self-deprecatingly, "These are the third-rank spirit items I obtained."
"Brother Jianghe, you truly are blessed with great fortune. Besides the Darktide Gold Sand, you also obtained a Weak Water Stone and Wind Fiend Mystic Iron."
"It's just that this piece of Wind Fiend Mystic Iron is a bit small. Otherwise, it would also be a rare and valuable third-rank auxiliary material for artifact refinement."
Seeing Chen Jianghe produce three third-rank spirit items, Gao Peiyao had no reason to doubt him. From the fact that Chen Jianghe still had healing resources, she could guess that he had gone into hiding after leaving Sunset Lake.
Obtaining three third-rank spirit items was already a great stroke of luck.
"Brother Jianghe, you keep this piece of Wind Fiend Mystic Iron. I will take the Darktide Gold Sand and the Weak Water Stone to my master, and have her fight for the greatest possible compensation for you from the sect."
"Alright, then I'll have to trouble Perfected Lan."
Chen Jianghe nodded and thanked Gao Peiyao again, "I must also thank you this time, Peiyao."
"It's just a pity my cultivation is too low, and I can't protect Brother Jianghe's treasures," Gao Peiyao said helplessly.
"Don't say that. If it weren't for you, Peiyao, I probably wouldn't even have the chance to hand over the spirit items voluntarily. Please, take this Wind Fiend Mystic Iron."
Chen Jianghe handed the Wind Fiend Mystic Iron to Gao Peiyao. Now that the treasure had been revealed, even though it was only a fist-sized piece, it was still a third-rank spirit item and would surely attract covetous eyes.
Gao Peiyao looked at the Wind Fiend Mystic Iron Chen Jianghe offered her. Understanding his thoughts, she secretly admired his cautiousness and his ability to make difficult choices.
"Very well, then I'll accept it. These three pieces of Water Spirit Jade are not as precious as the Wind Fiend Mystic Iron, but they are a token of my appreciation. Please accept them, Brother Jianghe."
"Alright, thank you."
Chen Jianghe didn't hesitate and accepted the three pieces of Water Spirit Jade.
"By the way, when arranging the compensation, please ask Perfected Lan to try and get me water- and ice-attribute spirit items if possible."
"Yes, rest assured, Brother Jianghe. I will ask my master to help."
Gao Peiyao nodded in agreement.
In truth, when the Tiannan Sect had proposed apprehending Chen Jianghe, it was Perfected Lan who had taken the initiative to give him a chance.
She had learned from Gao Peiyao that Chen Jianghe possessed a portion of Darktide Gold Sand, which was why she had fought for this opportunity for him.
Although she had successfully formed her core and become a Core Formation elder of the Tiannan Sect, Perfected Lan did not possess a Dharma Treasure.
She urgently needed a Dharma Treasure to unleash her full strength.
Darktide Gold Sand was a main material for refining Dharma Treasures.
It was exactly what she needed.
If not for this, why would Perfected Lan have bothered to fight for an opportunity for Chen Jianghe?
In that case, Chen Jianghe would not be facing a persuasive visit from Gao Peiyao, but a direct and forcible soul search by a Tiannan Sect Core Formation elder.
Chen Jianghe was only displeased about surrendering the third-rank spirit items, not angry. He was well aware that without strength, one would be exploited.
Before he was powerful enough, he could not show even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction towards the Tiannan Sect.
The Tiannan Sect was a great mountain. Even if he reached Core Formation in the future, he would not be in a position to demand an explanation from them.
As for reaching Nascent Soul?
Chen Jianghe dared not aim so high. Even Core Formation was a nearly insurmountable chasm for him.
"Peiyao, there is one more thing I need your help with."
"Please speak, Brother Jianghe."
"I need a stalk of Youth Retaining Grass."
"Youth Retaining Grass? That's easy. I'll bring it to you in a few days, along with the compensation from the sect."
Gao Peiyao readily agreed.
In the past, the contribution points for a stalk of Youth Retaining Grass would have been of some value to her, but now, it wasn't worth much.
It was far less valuable than the Wind Fiend Mystic Iron Chen Jianghe had given her.
Although she had given him three pieces of Water Spirit Jade in return, in terms of value, even another piece of Water Spirit Jade would not match the worth of the Wind Fiend Mystic Iron.
A fist-sized piece of Wind Fiend Mystic Iron couldn't be used as an auxiliary material for a Dharma Treasure.
But it could be the main material for refining a Spirit-Nurturing magical tool.
That was its value!
Inestimable.
After Gao Peiyao left, Chen Jianghe's expression turned cold.
Darktide Gold Sand, a third-rank mid-grade spirit item, a main material for refining Dharma Treasures, was something he would need in the future.
Weak Water Stone, a third-rank low-grade spirit item, an auxiliary material for refining Dharma Treasures, was also something he would need in the future.
But now, they had been forcibly taken by the Tiannan Sect.
He knew his cultivation was low and he was powerless to resist the Tiannan Sect, but he still felt a measure of resentment.
This had nothing to do with Gao Peiyao and Perfected Lan. On the contrary, Chen Jianghe was very grateful to them. If not for them, he would have already had his soul searched by another Core Formation elder.
Not only would the Thousand-Year Snow Jade Marrow and the True Spirit Fruit have been lost, but he himself would have become a drooling idiot.
"Big Brother Chen..."
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan saw Gao Peiyao leave the reception hall and came inside. Seeing Chen Jianghe's grim expression, they were both startled.
"Big Brother Chen, what happened?"
The two women showed their concern, walking to his sides and asking with care.
Chen Jianghe's expression softened, and a smile appeared on his face. He said, "Don't worry, it's nothing."
"Big Brother Chen, no matter what happens, we will follow you and stand by your side."
...
Time flew by.
Three months passed.
It was New Year's Eve.
Chen Jianghe took Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan to the Yu residence for New Year's Eve dinner. They gathered together in a joyous and harmonious atmosphere.
On the first day of the new year.
Chen Jianghe moved to Clearwater Bay with Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu.
Only after arriving at Clearwater Bay did he realize he had been tricked by Yu Daniu again. What two courtyards?
It was clearly just one courtyard.
It simply had a left wing and a right wing.
The courtyard was quite large, covering twenty *mu*. The environment was elegant, with water from the upper reaches of Clearwater Bay channeled in to create a waterscape feature within the grounds.
With his experience from hiring a Spirit Architect to build the Immortal's Welcome Residence in Thousand Mountains Market City, Chen Jianghe could tell that constructing this courtyard probably cost between three to five thousand spirit stones.
Many first-rank spirit-attracting plants were used, and many of the building materials were first-rank mid- or low-grade spirit items.
It was clear that Yu Daniu had put a lot of thought into it.
As for the spirit stones for the construction?
Chen Jianghe had no intention of giving them to Yu Daniu. It would not only be distant but also tacky.
This wasn't ninety years ago, when they were both junior Fishery Farmers at Mirror Moon Lake, toiling for years just to earn a single spirit stone.
Now, Yu Daniu was the ancestor of a Foundation Establishment immortal clan, with two sons who were both Foundation Establishment cultivators.
He was not only a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator but also a Talisman Master grandmaster.
Times had changed.
After moving into Clearwater Bay, Chen Jianghe took over the cultivation of the Immortal Crystal Rice, immediately letting Maoqiu out.
Putting it in charge of five *mu* of high-grade spirit fields was truly an underutilization of its talent.
In Thousand Mountains Market City, Maoqiu had been cultivating eighty *mu* of high-grade spirit fields. But given the circumstances, they had to make do for now.
As for Xiao Hei, Latiao, and the Dragon Pattern Red Pine, Chen Jianghe did not let them out yet. He would wait another month until all the various formations in the courtyard were fully set up.
Through Gao Peiyao's introduction, Chen Jianghe had hired a formation master from the Tiannan Sect. For a fee of three low-grade Origin Spirit Pills, the master would set up one second-rank mid-grade defensive formation, two second-rank low-grade Awareness Evasion Formations, two second-rank low-grade Isolation Formations, and two Earth Fire Formations.
"The Tiannan Sect's procedures are really slow!"
Chen Jianghe sighed helplessly.
He had handed over the Darktide Gold Sand and the Weak Water Stone, but he still hadn't received his compensation. When he asked Gao Peiyao, she said it was still going through the process.
In reality, it was because Perfected Lan was fighting for too much compensation for Chen Jianghe; otherwise, the process would have been completed long ago.
"Master, there are too few spirit fields! There's simply no work to do!"
Maoqiu, who had only been working in the spirit fields for a short while, rushed back to the courtyard and complained to Chen Jianghe via voice transmission.
Having spent a long time with Xiao Hei, Maoqiu had also developed a restless nature.
It felt uncomfortable whenever it was idle.
It was always looking for something to do.
"What can we do if there's too little? There are only five *mu* of high-grade spirit fields. We can't just go and plant on the twenty *mu* of mid- and low-grade fields, can we?"
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes.
Sometimes, having spirit beasts that were too diligent was also a problem.
Whenever he wanted them to rest, all he got were complaints.
If they were to plant on the twenty *mu* of mid- and low-grade spirit fields as well, wouldn't they be snatching work from the younger generation of the Yu family?
Then he would earn a reputation for competing with his great-grandchildren for fields to farm, which would be a laughingstock.
"Then could we block off the lower reaches of Clearwater Bay with a spirit net and raise some spirit fish?"
Maoqiu suggested.
"That way, I'll have something to do when I'm not cultivating, and I can earn some spirit stones. When Turtle Grandpa comes out, he won't be able to say I've been wasting my time."
"..."
Three dark lines appeared on Chen Jianghe's forehead.
They were only staying here for a short time. Once the situation stabilized, they would leave Qingyun Town.
After all, Qingyun Town was just a small cultivation town. Although it was next to the Immortal Gate Market City and had a slightly higher-grade spirit vein...
It was still only a second-rank mid-grade spirit vein.
It wasn't enough to support the cultivation of so many Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Not to mention the three second-rank spirit beasts: Xiao Hei, Maoqiu, and Latiao.
Ugh... and there was also the Dragon Pattern Red Pine, which absorbed spirit energy even more ferociously.
It could be said without any exaggeration that wherever Chen Jianghe decided to reside long-term now, it had to have a spirit vein of at least second-rank high-grade.
Three Foundation Establishment cultivators, three second-rank spirit beasts, and one second-rank high-grade spirit plant.
To put it bluntly, if Chen Jianghe were to establish a clan now, it would be a top-tier one among Foundation Establishment immortal clans.
Fortunately, Chen Jianghe had ample cultivation resources on hand, so their cultivation wouldn't drain much of Qingyun Town's spirit energy.
Whether it was him, Zhuang Xinyan, Jiang Ruxu, or Xiao Hei, Maoqiu, and Latiao, they all used Origin Spirit Pills, Water Spirit Pills, or other natural spiritual treasures for cultivation.
Chen Jianghe gave one Spirit Spring Pearl and two pieces of Water Spirit Jade to Jiang Ruxu for her to refine into low-grade Origin Spirit Pills.
Of the fifteen low-grade Origin Spirit Pills, he gave two each to Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan. Of the remaining eleven, three went to the formation master, three to Xiao Hei, three to Chen Jianghe, and two to Maoqiu.
As for Latiao, it still had the Ice Soul Pearl and wouldn't need any other cultivation resources for the next three years.
For the next two years, everyone's cultivation resources were abundant, so there was no need to worry about whether Qingyun Town's spirit vein could handle the strain.
Chen Jianghe still had three pieces of Water Spirit Jade, which he had obtained in the exchange with Gao Peiyao.
These couldn't be refined into Origin Spirit Pills; they were for his own cultivation of the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art.
He also had a water-attribute spirit essence pearl, a top-tier second-rank spirit item, which could be refined into a Spirit Essence Pill to aid his cultivation of the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art.
With both spirit items combined, he could cultivate the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art to the sixth level.
However, Jiang Ruxu had not yet obtained the pill formula for refining the Spirit Essence Pill, so there was no rush.
Chen Jianghe had the Water Spirit Jades to cultivate the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art.
The three stalks of Ice Heart Grass had also been refined into nine Ice Heart Barrier Breaking Pills, giving Chen Jianghe the capital to trade for other spirit items.
Moreover, he now had six more Foundation Establishment Pills.
One inferior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and five standard-grade ones.
As for superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pills?
Even with Jiang Ruxu's skill in refining second-rank high-grade spirit pills, she couldn't guarantee she could produce a superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
That was a matter of serendipity in pill concoction, something that couldn't be forced.
"Once you're done with the work in the spirit fields, you should cultivate. Reaching the late-stage second rank as soon as possible is what's..."
Chen Jianghe's voice trailed off.
He looked at Maoqiu's humanoid body and its fingers, which were slightly thicker than a cultivator's. A flash of inspiration struck his mind, and a bold idea took shape.