Chapter 254
Chapter 254
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 254
Chapter Title: Reunion with Chen Ping, Acquiring Spirit Turtles
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“It has to do with this disciple?”
Gao Peiyao looked at Revered Lan in confusion, unable to imagine how Chen Jianghe’s compensation could be related to her.
Any third-rank spirit items obtained by rogue cultivators in the secret realm had to be handed over to the Tiannan Sect.
In return, the Tiannan Sect would compensate them with second-rank absorbable spirit items or, occasionally, the main materials for crafting a spirit-nurturing artifact.
In short, as long as a cultivator was obedient, the Tiannan Sect would provide compensation.
If a cultivator was disobedient and uncooperative, not only would they receive no compensation, but they would also be listed on the Tiannan Sect’s mission contribution board.
“Chen Jianghe and I were friends in our youth. Whatever spirit items the sect compensates him with, I will give them all to him.”
Gao Peiyao said respectfully.
In her view, when Revered Lan said it was related to her, it most likely meant that the treasure secured for Chen Jianghe was excellent.
She could be allowed to keep it.
“Hehe…”
Revered Lan chuckled lightly. “You treat this Chen Jianghe quite well.”
“The sect has decided to give Chen Jianghe three top-tier, second-rank absorbable spirit items as compensation. However, he can also choose to forgo the spirit items.”
“Master, you mean he can join the sect?”
Gao Peiyao’s eyes lit up with joy.
In her eyes, Chen Jianghe was a rogue cultivator with great opportunities and fortune. If he could join the Tiannan Sect, it would be highly beneficial for her as well.
She could undertake many of the Tiannan Sect’s trial missions together with Chen Jianghe.
Chen Jianghe had good fortune and opportunities; he was an honest, reliable, and trustworthy friend.
Revered Lan shook her head. After becoming a Core Formation Master, she had long since lost the desire to take on new disciples.
“If he gives up the three top-tier second-rank spirit items, he can accompany you into the secret realm one more time.”
“Enter the secret realm? The next time it opens will be in twenty-seven years. By then, this disciple will have already cultivated to the peak of Foundation Establishment and probably won’t be able to enter.”
Gao Peiyao said.
The secret realm controlled by the Tiannan Sect opened once every thirty years, providing an opportunity for late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples to seek their chance at Core Formation.
Disciples who had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment were not allowed to enter again.
It wasn’t that the sect forbade it, but rather that the passage into the secret realm could not support a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Cultivating two hundred and forty drops of magical power and opening a sea of magical power in one’s dantian was considered late-stage Foundation Establishment.
The peak of Foundation Establishment involved fusing the magical power in the sea of magical power into a single entity.
This meant melting the individual drops of magical power together to form a seamless sea of magical power.
This was in preparation for forming a Golden Core.
Therefore, once a cultivator reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, a trace of heaven and earth origin qi would be born within their dantian.
Many secret realms could not support the entry of cultivators containing heaven and earth origin qi.
“The secret realm I speak of is not the regular one that opens every thirty years, but an unknown one.”
“The sect’s secret treasure has detected an undiscovered ancient secret realm within the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. Its restrictive barriers are about to enter a weakened state.”
“This secret realm is not among the known sequence of realms discovered by the sect; it is an unknown secret realm.”
Revered Lan said calmly.
“An unknown secret realm?”
Gao Peiyao revealed a look of surprise. There was still a secret realm in the Tiannan Region that hadn't been developed by the Tiannan Sect?
Before joining the Tiannan Sect, she only knew that it was the hegemon of the Tiannan Region and was very powerful.
After joining, she came to understand just how powerful the Tiannan Sect truly was, how many Core Formation experts it had, and how many precious treasures and secret artifacts it possessed.
“Yes, the passage created for this newly discovered secret realm will allow anyone below the Core Formation stage to enter.”
Revered Lan looked at Gao Peiyao and added, “Even False Core cultivators can enter.”
“Even False Core cultivators can enter?”
Gao Peiyao’s heart skipped a beat.
This was no longer within the scope of a secret realm. A secret realm that could support the entry of False Core cultivators could already be considered a grotto-heaven.
“Master, it seems there are no False Core cultivators in the sect, are there?”
“False Core cultivators from outside the sect can exchange a mid-grade third-rank spirit item for a chance to enter the secret realm.”
“This rule was personally set by the Sect Master. It will be announced to the entire Tiannan Region in twenty years at most.”
Revered Lan looked at Gao Peiyao. This was her most valued disciple, whom she was cultivating with all her might, hoping she might one day contend for the position of Peak Lord of Silver Moon Peak.
“The secret treasure has determined that the weakened period of this unknown secret realm’s restrictive barriers will be in thirty years, and no more than forty.”
“You have great potential and are blessed with good fortune. I do not wish for you to attempt Core Formation within thirty years. You should solidify your foundation, temper your magical power, and enter this secret realm to enrich your own reserves. In the future, when you form your core, you might be able to contend for that position on Silver Moon Peak.”
Gao Peiyao listened to Revered Lan’s words.
She could feel that Revered Lan was doing this for her own good. Core Formation was not the end. The higher the quality of the inner core formed, the greater one's potential.
Therefore, the peak of Foundation Establishment was a transitional period for enriching one's reserves before attempting Core Formation.
The more substantial one's reserves, the higher the quality of the inner core formed.
Only by forming a Golden Core could one hope to achieve Soul Formation.
If one formed an inner core of ordinary quality, reaching the mid-stage of Core Formation would already be the pinnacle of their immortal path.
She held a great secret and had lofty ambitions; naturally, she did not want her immortal path to end at the mid-stage of Core Formation.
“This disciple will follow Master’s arrangements and participate in this secret realm.”
Gao Peiyao said gratefully.
Then, she added, “As for which compensation Chen Jianghe chooses, I still need to ask him. Please give this disciple some time, Master.”
“Mm, go on.”
...
Chen Jianghe arrived at the Immortal Gate Market City. As soon as he passed through the city gate made of crystal glass stone, he felt a spiritual sense wash over him.
This spiritual sense exerted immense pressure, as if a great mountain had suddenly descended upon him.
“The spiritual sense of a Core Formation expert?!”
“Indeed, just as I suspected. The Heavenly Gate Market City has spiritual sense inspections from peak Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Immortal Gate Market City has even more rules, so it’s certain to have spiritual sense scans as well.”
“It seems that demonic cultivators and those with an overly heavy killing intent cannot enter the Immortal Gate Market City.”
Having been in the vicinity of the Immortal Gate Market City for some time, Chen Jianghe had heard some news in Qingyun Town.
Demonic cultivators and those with an excessively heavy baleful aura were not allowed to enter the Heavenly Gate Market City or the Immortal Gate Market City.
The outside world might be ravaged by war, but the Immortal Gate Market City and Heavenly Gate Market City had to remain the pure lands of the Tiannan Region.
This was a matter of face for the Tiannan Sect.
Chen Jianghe walked toward the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
A long time ago, he had heard that the Immortal Gate Market City had the most abundant conventional cultivation resources, including first-rank spirit-nurturing liquid and first-revolution spirit-nourishing pills, which were unavailable in other market cities.
However, the Immortal Gate Market City had various restrictions.
The spirit-nurturing liquid and first-revolution spirit-nourishing pills purchased there could only be consumed within the Immortal Gate Market City and could not be taken out.
And one shouldn't even think about sneaking them out.
Every purchase of spirit-nourishing pills and spirit-nurturing liquid was recorded.
Consuming these spirit pills and liquids at designated cultivation sites was also recorded.
If there was only a purchase record but no consumption and cultivation record, and you left the Immortal Gate Market City directly...
You would be stopped by the city guards, fined one thousand spirit stones, and the purchased pills and liquids would be confiscated.
Forcing your way through would only result in a shattered dantian and a complete loss of cultivation.
The Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Immortal Gate Market City had only three floors and was entirely milky white, as if carved from a single, enormous piece of white jade.
The first floor housed cultivation resources for Qi Refining cultivators, as well as a section for periodicals and cultivation arts.
The second floor contained conventional cultivation resources for Foundation Establishment cultivators, as well as the standard resources needed to raise second-rank spirit beasts.
The third floor was an auction hall.
The Immortal Gate Market City had an ample supply of conventional resources, so the rare items at its auctions were all exceptionally scarce spirit items.
Sometimes, even Origin Spirit Pills and the main materials for crafting spirit-nurturing artifacts would appear.
Of course, the main materials for crafting spirit-nurturing artifacts were a rare sight, appearing perhaps once every thirty years, much like how Foundation Establishment Pills were rarely seen in other market cities.
Chen Jianghe walked into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and first wandered around the first floor for a while, familiarizing himself with what he had heard in rumors.
It was just as they said.
Unlike other market cities, this place didn't have individual counters for the hundred immortal arts, but rows upon rows of display shelves.
On them were various cultivation resources and spiritual materials for the hundred immortal arts.
The cultivation arts and periodicals sections were the same, with various jade slips containing summaries of cultivation arts and periodicals on display.
However, you couldn't take any of the items from the shelves.
Each item was protected by a restrictive barrier. Any unauthorized touch would trigger an alarm. The light penalty was a fine of five hundred spirit stones; the heavy penalty was the crippling of one's cultivation before being thrown out of the Immortal Gate Market City.
In front of these rows of shelves stood female cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining, all dressed in uniform long skirts.
If you wanted an item, you could inform them. After paying the spirit stones, they would retrieve it for you.
“They really have a first-rank Talisman Dao inheritance?”
Chen Jianghe came to the inheritance section on the first floor and saw not only a first-rank Talisman Dao inheritance but also a first-rank Spirit Brewing Master inheritance, a first-rank Spirit Music Master inheritance, advanced spiritual farmer insights...
But the prices were not low.
All inheritances were only available at a sworn price.
The sworn price for the first-rank Talisman Dao inheritance was one thousand six hundred spirit stones.
The sworn price for the first-rank Spirit Brewing Master inheritance was one thousand three hundred spirit stones.
The sworn price for the first-rank Spirit Music Master inheritance was one thousand four hundred spirit stones.
A copy of the advanced spiritual farmer insights cost two hundred spirit stones.
“Xiao Hei and Maoqiu could publish a book.”
When Chen Jianghe saw the advanced spiritual farmer insights, he found it somewhat amusing. Both Xiao Hei and Maoqiu were advanced spiritual farmers.
They had a wealth of experience in cultivating Immortal Crystal Rice.
Of course, Chen Jianghe just found it interesting.
A true set of advanced spiritual farmer insights would cover all cultivable spirit items; Immortal Crystal Rice was just one among them.
“Fellow Daoist Chen?!”
A startled voice reached Chen Jianghe’s ears. Turning to look, he saw Chen Ping, who was wearing a mask.
“Fellow Daoist Chen Ping.”
Chen Jianghe smiled and walked over to greet him.
“I truly didn’t expect to run into Fellow Daoist Chen at the Immortal Gate Market City.”
Chen Ping sighed with emotion.
Several years ago, Thousand Mountains Market City was attacked by the Qing and Yu Kingdoms. When the third-rank defensive formation was breached, all the cultivators fled for their lives.
The cultivators from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion also evacuated Thousand Mountains Market City and returned to their headquarters at the Immortal Gate Market City.
As a manager and a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Chen Ping was appointed as an assistant manager on the first floor of the headquarters after arriving at the Immortal Gate Market City.
It was a decent position, granting him some status in the Immortal Gate Market City.
Chen Jianghe and Chen Ping were mere acquaintances who had cooperated a few times. Furthermore, Chen Ping had intentionally tried to befriend Chen Jianghe.
He hoped to leverage Chen Jianghe’s connections in the Tiannan Sect to build his own influence.
He knew that Chen Jianghe had a close relationship with the sect disciple Gao Peiyao and was also the uncle of Zhou Xiaoxuan from Sunset Glow Peak.
Thus, their conversation was quite pleasant.
After the pleasantries were exchanged, Chen Ping asked, “Is there anything Fellow Daoist Chen needs to buy? Or any spirit items you wish to sell?”
“I am currently an assistant manager at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Immortal Gate Market City. I can get you a five percent discount or bonus on your profit.”
Hearing this, an idea sparked in Chen Jianghe’s mind.
He had obtained many mid and low-grade second-rank spirit items in the secret realm. He had already traded seventy-five low-grade second-rank spirit items on the cross-domain flying vessel.
He had given Jiang Ruxu thirteen mid-grade second-rank medicinal herbs and twenty-one low-grade second-rank medicinal herbs.
He had given Zhuang Xinyan twenty-five low-grade second-rank puppet-making spirit materials and nine mid-grade second-rank puppet-making spirit materials.
He now had one hundred and three low-grade second-rank spirit materials and seventy-four mid-grade second-rank spirit materials left.
Most of these materials were for spirit brewing or artifact refinement and were of little use to Chen Jianghe.
He might as well exchange them for spirit stones.
“Please help me exchange these spirit items for spirit stones, Fellow Daoist.”
Chen Jianghe took out a storage bag and handed it to Chen Ping, asking for his help in selling the items.
Chen Jianghe naturally wouldn’t refuse Chen Ping’s gesture of goodwill.
He would be staying in the vicinity of the Immortal Gate Market City for some time, and having a friend at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was quite beneficial.
It could save him a lot of spirit stones.
A five percent discount on one hundred spirit stones was five spirit stones.
It might seem small.
But what if it was one hundred thousand spirit stones?
That would be five thousand spirit stones.
The total value of the spirit items Chen Jianghe took out definitely exceeded one hundred thousand spirit stones.
Chen Ping took the storage bag, and a look of astonishment crossed his face as he scanned it with his spiritual sense. Then he remembered that Chen Jianghe had entered the secret realm and emerged safely.
And he hadn't been captured and soul-searched by the Tiannan Sect.
That meant these spirit items were clean.
The Hundred Treasures Pavilion could accept them.
“Fellow Daoist, you truly have great fortune to have obtained so many spirit items in the secret realm. It truly makes me envious.”
“Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. The value of these spirit items exceeds one hundred thousand spirit stones. I need to report this to the manager. It will be quick.”
Chen Jianghe cupped his hands. “I’ll have to trouble you then, Fellow Daoist.”
Chen Ping left with the storage bag Chen Jianghe had given him.
Chen Jianghe waited by the entrance of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, not worried that Chen Ping would run off with his treasures.
Given his current status and connections, Chen Ping wouldn't easily offend him. Instead, he would be thinking of building a good relationship with him for his own future prospects.
Why would he sabotage himself?
About half an hour later.
Chen Jianghe saw Chen Ping emerge from a back room on the first floor. He ambled back to his original spot, leisurely browsing the surrounding items.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Fellow Daoist.”
Chen Ping returned Chen Jianghe’s storage bag, but the spirit items inside were gone, all replaced with spirit stones.
“Your one hundred and three low-grade second-rank spirit items were bought back for eighty-two thousand four hundred spirit stones.”
“The seventy-four mid-grade second-rank spirit items were bought back for eighty-eight thousand eight hundred spirit stones.”
“The total here is one hundred seventy-one thousand two hundred spirit stones. Please check it, Fellow Daoist.”
Chen Jianghe took the storage bag, quickly counted the contents with his spiritual sense, and then put it away.
The Hundred Treasures Pavilion had given an average price of eight hundred spirit stones per low-grade second-rank spirit item.
For mid-grade second-rank spirit items, they had offered an average of one thousand two hundred spirit stones each.
This price was not low; it was actually very high.
It seemed that the five percent bonus from Chen Ping's authority had also been included.
With this income...
Chen Jianghe now had one hundred seventy-six thousand seven hundred and fourteen spirit stones on him.
He could be considered quite well-off.
“Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist.” Chen Jianghe cupped his hands in thanks once more.
“You’re too kind, Fellow Daoist. It is my honor to be of help. You are a Talisman Dao Grandmaster now, after all,” Chen Ping said with a cheerful smile.
Chen Jianghe instantly understood Chen Ping’s meaning.
“If there’s anything you need my help with, Fellow Daoist, feel free to ask.”
He and Chen Ping were friends through trade.
This sale of second-rank spirit items had earned him a profit of at least eight thousand spirit stones, so naturally, he couldn't offer nothing in return.
Since they were friends of mutual benefit, their relationship needed to be maintained with benefits for it to last.
Just like his relationship with Ruan Tieniu, they were friends of deep sentiment and mutual interest.
Within his capabilities, Chen Jianghe would help Ruan Tieniu, because Ruan Tieniu could bring him invaluable resources.
“Since you’ve said so, Fellow Daoist, then I will be so bold as to ask.”
Chen Ping cupped his hands. “I’ve heard that you have a close relationship with the Alchemy Grandmaster, Fairy Jiang. I was wondering if you could help me acquire an Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.”
Although Chen Ping was an assistant manager at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Immortal Gate Market City and held a certain status, a divine pill for breakthroughs like the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill...
Was still very difficult to obtain.
If he put in the effort, he might be able to get one, but the cost would be immense.
Befriending Chen Jianghe...
Allowed him to use the resources of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to his own advantage. This was why Chen Ping wanted to befriend Chen Jianghe.
“Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill?”
Chen Jianghe frowned. He did have eight Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, but he was planning to use them to trade for talisman-crafting materials or other spirit items.
If he were to trade them for spirit stones?
He really wasn't short on spirit stones.
Besides, the variety of spirit items that could be bought with spirit stones was limited.
Unless they were mid-grade spirit stones.
“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I know the rules. I won’t use spirit stones to buy it, but will trade a spirit item for it.”
“What spirit item are you prepared to trade?”
“A Soul-Soothing Flower.”
“Deal.”
Upon hearing it was a Soul-Soothing Flower, Chen Jianghe agreed immediately.
The Soul-Soothing Flower was the main ingredient for refining the Soul-Soothing and Spirit-Settling Pill. It was a high-grade second-rank medicinal herb of considerable value.
The resulting Soul-Soothing and Spirit-Settling Pill was even more priceless.
Back then, he had traded a Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman with Ruan Tieniu for a Soul-Soothing Flower.
In terms of spirit stones, it was worth over two thousand.
Chen Ping dared to offer a Soul-Soothing Flower for an Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, which clearly meant he knew its use.
And if he knew its use, he naturally knew how valuable it was.
Trading it for one Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill was a bit of a stretch, but acceptable.
A medicinal herb that could heal the soul was an incredibly rare spirit item.
“You can give me the Soul-Soothing Flower now, Fellow Daoist,” Chen Jianghe said directly.
“You have an Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill on you, Fellow Daoist?”
Chen Ping asked, surprised.
“I happen to have one.” Chen Jianghe took out a jade bottle.
Chen Ping swept his spiritual sense over it and confirmed that the pill inside was indeed an Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. Joy filled his heart.
He then took out a flat sandalwood box containing a Soul-Soothing Flower.
Chen Jianghe scanned it with his spiritual sense and found that this Soul-Soothing Flower was even older than the one he got from Ruan Tieniu.
This meant its effects would be better.
After taking the Soul-Soothing Flower, Chen Jianghe handed the jade bottle to Chen Ping. Their eyes met, and both revealed satisfied smiles.
“Right, I also need your help, Fellow Daoist, in purchasing some Water Spirit Pills, as well as second-grade bloodline turtle cubs.”
“Of course. Follow me, Fellow Daoist.”
Having obtained the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, Chen Ping could now break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
For him, Core Formation was an impossible dream.
Though Core Formation was out of reach, he still wanted to cultivate to the late stage of Foundation Establishment and become a manager at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Immortal Gate Market City.
He would marry a wife with decent talent, try hard to have a child with good spiritual root aptitude, and place his hopes for Core Formation on the next generation.
“Water Spirit Pills are second-rank spirit pills, which are second-floor cultivation resources at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. I can help you get a discounted price of four hundred and eighty spirit stones per pill.”
“How many do you need, Fellow Daoist?”
Chen Ping, overjoyed, looked at Chen Jianghe and asked.
“One hundred.”
“One hundred?!”
Chen Ping was taken aback. He was curious but didn't ask further.
The reason Chen Jianghe was buying one hundred Water Spirit Pills was because Xiao Hei absorbed and refined Origin Spirit Pills too quickly.
Two low-grade Origin Spirit Pills were enough for him to cultivate for two years, but three Origin Spirit Pills given to Xiao Hei were only enough for half a year of cultivation.
Although he still had the Water Spirit Jade, he needed to use it to cultivate the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art.
So, for now, he could only let Xiao Hei cultivate with Water Spirit Pills.
As for Maoqiu, its two low-grade Origin Spirit Pills could last it for a year and a half.
Chen Jianghe spent forty-eight thousand spirit stones to buy one hundred Water Spirit Pills. With Chen Ping’s help, he saved two thousand spirit stones.
This made Chen Jianghe sigh with emotion.
Having a friend at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was truly excellent.
This single trip to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had saved him over ten thousand spirit stones.
Next, under Chen Ping’s guidance, Chen Jianghe arrived at the spirit beast section.
Due to the rebellion of the Zhou Clan, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had started to venture into the spirit beast business. Although it wasn't as comprehensive as the Beast Taming Workshop...
The sign of the Beast Taming Workshop had already disappeared from all the major market cities.
If Chen Jianghe wanted to buy spirit beasts, he could only do so at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
“Currently, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion only has three types of spirit turtles. Flame Turtle cubs, second-grade high-tier bloodline, a fire-attribute spirit beast.”
“This is a Rock Turtle cub, an earth-attribute spirit beast, second-grade low-tier bloodline.”
“And this one is a Mystic Water Turtle, a water-attribute spirit beast, second-grade high-tier bloodline.”
“Since you are Brother Chen Ping’s friend, I’ll sell the Flame Turtle cubs for one hundred spirit stones each, the Rock Turtle cubs for eighty spirit stones each, and as for the Mystic Water Turtle cubs, I’ll give them to you for one hundred spirit stones each as well.”
A slightly overweight middle-aged man seemed to have a good relationship with Chen Ping, draping his arm over Chen Ping’s shoulder, laughing and talking.
He spoke to Chen Jianghe in a very chivalrous tone.
The price was indeed very chivalrous.
Chen Jianghe had seen all these spirit beasts at the Beast Taming Workshop before, and their prices were all around one hundred and twenty spirit stones.
Even the Rock Turtle cost ninety spirit stones.
The discount he was given was huge.
Although Chen Ping had no hope of Core Formation, he still had great potential for advancement, so naturally, there were people willing to befriend him.
“How many of these three types of spirit turtle cubs do you have in total?”
“Eleven Flame Turtle cubs, nine Rock Turtle cubs, and a few more Mystic Water Turtle cubs, twenty-three of them.”
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe did a quick mental calculation.
It was far less than he had anticipated.
In his mind, he planned to raise at least a hundred second-grade bloodline spirit turtles. A higher bloodline meant faster absorption and refinement of resources.
He would see results much faster.
In ten to twenty years, he could start harvesting their soul carapaces for cultivation.
He wasn't lacking spirit stones now; what he lacked were various cultivation resources.
“I’ll take all these spirit turtle cubs. I’ll also have to trouble you, Fellow Daoist Chen, to make a trip and deliver these cubs to Clearwater Bay in Qingyun Town.”
“All of them?!”