Chapter 272
Chapter 272
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: A World-Shaking Change, the Turmoil Subsides
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It was early in the second month.
Ruan Tieniu came to retrieve the spirit-nurturing defensive artifact and also brought Chen Jianghe a piece of news.
The patriarch of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had left the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, entered the Feng Kingdom, and slain a Core Formation Grandmaster.
With that, the Feng Kingdom completely became a vassal state of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
The Feng Kingdom began an all-out offensive against the Qing and Qi Kingdoms, intending to drive both nations south of the Heaven-Reaching River in one fell swoop.
At the same time, a letter arrived from Gao Peiyao, also mentioning the situation between the three kingdoms, urging Chen Jianghe not to leave the territory of the Immortal Gate Market City for the time being.
For some unknown reason.
The Core Formation Almighties did not intervene in the war between the three kingdoms.
The Feng Kingdom intended to control all the territory south of the Heaven-Reaching River, yet the Tiannan Sect made no move.
It was as if they didn't care that the Feng Kingdom was surrounding them.
In the seventh month.
The final battle between the three kingdoms erupted in full force at Ferry Market City. War resources like spirit talismans and spirit pills skyrocketed in price. First-rank mid- and high-grade spirit talismans saw a premium of nearly three times their original value.
The premium on mid- and high-grade healing spirit pills exceeded three times.
The price of a second-rank mid-grade healing spirit pill, the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill, soared to eleven thousand six hundred spirit stones.
The premium was close to five times the original price.
One could only imagine how terrifying the war at Ferry Market City was.
This was a battle that belonged to cultivators, affecting Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators alike. Even Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators had entered the fray.
Although Chen Jianghe did not witness it himself, he could guess the brutality of the war at Ferry Market City from the terrifying price inflation of resources.
Back when the beast tide erupted at the Beast Taming Market City, the prices of first-rank mid- and high-grade spirit talismans and pills had only increased by about two times.
Now, it had reached three times.
The Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill almost reached five times.
When Chen Jianghe received the news from Ruan Tieniu, he had a premonition that a massive war was about to break out between the three kingdoms.
He just hadn't expected it to be so brutal.
However, this had nothing to do with him.
Back in the second month, Chen Jianghe had started drawing first-rank mid- and high-grade spirit talismans, and he also had Jiang Ruxu refine first-rank mid- and high-grade healing spirit pills, as well as Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pills.
It wasn't until the end of the eighth month that the war between the three kingdoms finally concluded.
Due to a beast tide erupting from the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, a large number of first-rank and second-rank demonic beasts simultaneously marched on Ferry Market City, launching a fierce assault on the cultivators of the Qi and Qing Kingdoms.
This allowed the already dominant Feng Kingdom to sweep through the cultivators of the two nations with overwhelming force.
Even the demonic beasts from within the Heaven-Reaching River intervened in the war, attacking the cultivators of the Qi and Qing Kingdoms.
In this battle, the Feng Kingdom won a great victory, while the Qi and Qing Kingdoms suffered a crushing defeat.
From then on, the three kingdoms were divided by the Heaven-Reaching River. To the south lay the territory of the Feng Kingdom, and to the north, the territories of the Qi and Qing Kingdoms.
In this war, Chen Jianghe and Jiang Ruxu had made a fortune.
Although the materials for drawing first-rank spirit talismans were also inflated, Chen Jianghe, having received the news from Ruan Tieniu early on, had already purchased a large quantity of first-rank mid- and high-grade talisman materials from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in advance.
Three hundred seventy-eight thousand, one hundred spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe had never imagined he could amass so many spirit stones in just six months using first-rank mid- and high-grade spirit talismans.
But compared to Jiang Ruxu's profit of five hundred and ten thousand spirit stones.
His earnings didn't seem like much.
Who would have thought that the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill could inflate to a price of eleven thousand six hundred spirit stones?!
With spirit stones in hand.
Chen Jianghe first gave one hundred and fifteen thousand spirit stones to Zhuang Xinyan. Sixty-five thousand of that was what he owed her for helping him bid on the Golden Thread Bloodwood.
The remaining fifty thousand was what he had proactively asked to borrow from her.
Even after repaying Zhuang Xinyan so many spirit stones, Chen Jianghe still had three hundred fifty-two thousand, one hundred fifty-six spirit stones left.
Of course, Zhuang Xinyan had even more spirit stones. Chen Jianghe estimated she had at least a million low-grade spirit stones.
The speed at which an Alchemy Grandmaster earned spirit stones.
Especially during a large-scale war, one had to admit that Alchemy Grandmasters were incredibly profitable.
In the ninth month.
As the fires of war subsided, the inflated prices of war resources began to return to normal.
Chen Jianghe also started drawing second-rank high-grade talismans.
By mid-eleventh month.
The period of frantic resource price inflation finally came to an end.
A first-rank high-grade attack spirit talisman returned to a price of ten spirit stones.
A first-rank high-grade healing spirit pill also reverted to forty spirit stones.
Even the exchange price for the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill at the Bartering Pavilion settled at around two thousand five hundred spirit stones.
The power structure of the three kingdoms in the Tiannan Region had stabilized.
The battle at the ferry ended the fourteen-year-long period of turmoil in the Tiannan Region.
The Tiannan Sect did not intervene, leading many cultivators to speculate that the Beast Taming Zhou Clan must have truly raised a fourth-rank spirit beast.
Otherwise, how could the Tiannan Sect tolerate the Beast Taming Zhou Clan's brazen actions?
In the late twelfth month, Gao Peiyao sent a message, inviting Chen Jianghe to the Immortal Gate Restaurant for a small gathering. Yu Daniu was also invited.
New Year's Eve.
Chen Jianghe first made a trip to Qingyun Town to pick up Yu Daniu, and together they went to the Immortal Gate Restaurant.
Gao Peiyao had been waiting in a private room for some time.
"Brother Jianghe, Brother Daniu."
"Peiyao~"
After exchanging greetings, they all took their seats.
"Congratulations, Brother Jianghe. The war between the three kingdoms has certainly filled your pockets."
Gao Peiyao offered her congratulations.
Chen Jianghe chuckled lightly. "I was completely unprepared and didn't earn that many spirit stones."
"Hehe..."
Gao Peiyao giggled, covering her mouth.
It was no secret that Chen Jianghe had suddenly started buying up first-rank mid- and high-grade talisman materials from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the second month, spending twenty thousand spirit stones and nearly clearing out the talisman material counter.
Gao Peiyao guessed that Chen Jianghe had earned at least two hundred thousand spirit stones in this large-scale war.
Of course, Chen Jianghe's words weren't entirely humble.
Whether he had earned a lot of spirit stones depended on who you compared him to.
If compared to other Talisman Dao Grandmasters, Chen Jianghe was leagues ahead of them.
After the fourth month, the price of first-rank talisman materials had inflated tenfold, greatly reducing the profits of talisman masters. But Chen Jianghe was unaffected.
Therefore, those Talisman Dao Grandmasters probably earned around a hundred thousand spirit stones, not exceeding two hundred thousand at most.
But if compared to Jiang Ruxu.
Then he was far behind.
"Peiyao, what's the situation like outside now?" Yu Daniu asked at this moment.
Gao Peiyao needed to complete sect missions and couldn't stay in the sect or the Immortal Gate Market City all the time, so she was the most knowledgeable about the situation outside.
"Brother Daniu is thinking of going to the Duobao Market City to find Xiaoniu, right?"
Gao Peiyao also knew about Yun Xiaoniu's disappearance.
It was said he was taken away by a great power from overseas, but no one knew the real situation. If he was indeed taken away by a great power, it could be a blessing or a curse.
But if he wasn't taken away, then he would be in great danger.
He might already be gone.
"The structure of the three kingdoms is set. North of the Heaven-Reaching River, within the territories of the Qi and Qing Kingdoms, it's considered safe. Incidents with rogue cultivators are rare."
"South of the Heaven-Reaching River, the Feng Kingdom has also begun to clean up rogue and demonic cultivators. Many in the upper echelons of the Feng Kingdom are being investigated. If they are found to have been rogue or demonic cultivators in the past, they are all stripped of their Immortal Official positions."
"At the same time, the Feng Kingdom has formed the Demon Slaying Guard, specifically to deal with demonic and rogue cultivators. Currently, the Feng Kingdom is still quite chaotic, with cleanup operations happening everywhere."
"In half a year at most, the Feng Kingdom will also stabilize."
Gao Peiyao gave Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu a general overview of the situation outside.
Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu exchanged a look, both beginning to plan their future paths.
The situation outside was stabilizing.
If the Yu Clan wanted to develop, they couldn't stay in the Immortal Gate Market City.
There were too many Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Immortal Gate Market City, making it unsuitable for the Yu Clan's long-term development. Moreover, resources were tightly controlled by the Tiannan Sect.
Most importantly, the Tiannan Sect and the Immortal Gate Market City were now surrounded by the Feng Kingdom's territory, preventing many resources from coming in.
This was very disadvantageous for a rapidly developing Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan.
"Peiyao, how does the Tiannan Sect view the Feng Kingdom? Or rather, do they have any plans to make a move against the Beast Taming Zhou Clan?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
Even if they were to leave the Immortal Gate Market City, they first needed to understand the Tiannan Sect's attitude towards the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
Otherwise, they might leave the Immortal Gate Market City.
Only for the Tiannan Sect to start a war with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan right after.
That would make it very dangerous outside.
However, if a war really did break out, staying in the Immortal Gate Market City would be even more dangerous.
"The Beast Taming Zhou Clan possesses a fourth-rank spirit beast. This is already common knowledge. As for whether this fourth-rank spirit beast is the same as the fourth-rank great demon in the core region of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, that is still unknown."
"The Sect Master is old, his vitality and blood are declining. The Tiannan Sect will not go to war with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan."
As Gao Peiyao said this, she sent a separate voice transmission to Chen Jianghe.
"My master speculates that the Beast Taming Zhou Clan's fourth-rank spirit beast is not the same as the fourth-rank great demon in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. Therefore, the Tiannan Sect will most likely move to the north of the Heaven-Reaching River."
"You mean to say, the Tiannan Sect will coexist peacefully with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, jointly ruling the Tiannan Region?"
"From the current looks of it, that is indeed the case."
Hearing this.
Chen Jianghe felt a bit wistful. He never expected the situation after the turmoil to be so surprising.
What exactly did the Beast Taming Zhou Clan obtain in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range?
They actually managed to raise a fourth-rank spirit beast and even reached a cooperative agreement with the fourth-rank great demon in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
Not only did they dispatch countless first- and second-rank demonic beasts to assist in the war between the three kingdoms.
They also stood together with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan against the Tiannan Sect.
"When will the Tiannan Sect move away from the south of the Heaven-Reaching River?" Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
"The sect is negotiating with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan about the unknown mystic realm in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. They will probably move after this matter is settled."
Gao Peiyao did not feel dejected or disappointed about the Tiannan Sect's southern gate moving to the northern gate across the Heaven-Reaching River.
After she came out of the unknown mystic realm, if Xiao Chen continued to pester her, she could only leave.
Adept Lan treated her very well.
But she couldn't give up her path to immortality just because Adept Lan was good to her.
"Don't worry, Brother Jianghe. Even if the sect jointly opens this unknown mystic realm with the Zhou Clan, your spot will not be taken away."
"Mm."
Chen Jianghe was indeed very worried about his spot to enter the unknown mystic realm.
In his heart, he still very much hoped to enter this unknown mystic realm. He already had enough trump cards to protect himself.
Even if he encountered a False Core Adept, he could still protect himself.
Therefore, Chen Jianghe wanted to find an opportunity for Core Formation in this unknown mystic realm. It was true that he had a True Spirit Fruit.
But one Core Formation spiritual item was too little for him.
Increase the chance of Core Formation by twenty percent?
Although he had not yet touched upon the secrets of Core Formation, he knew his own situation. With a five-element miscellaneous spirit root, how could he expect a high chance of Core Formation?
He estimated that with one Core Formation spiritual item, he would only have a twenty percent chance of success.
Twenty percent? What's the difference between that and seeking death?!
After exchanging a few more words with Gao Peiyao via voice transmission, he started chatting with Yu Daniu.
It wasn't that he was intentionally ignoring Yu Daniu, but some matters were better left unknown to someone of Yu Daniu's cultivation level.
"Brother Daniu, if the Yu Clan wants to move away from Qingyun Town, it's best to move north. After all, the situation in the Feng Kingdom is still not stable."
"Mm, Peiyao is right."
...
Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu left the Immortal Gate Market City and returned to the Yu Clan estate in Qingyun Town. They weren't skipping this year's New Year's Eve auction.
This year's New Year's Eve auction had been suspended.
Even the Bartering Pavilion was closed.
This was the Tiannan Sect's way of gathering resources for its Foundation Establishment disciples.
Now, the entire southern gate of the Tiannan Sect was surrounded by the Feng Kingdom's territory, and many resources couldn't get in.
Just as Gao Peiyao had said.
The Sect Master of the Tiannan Sect was old, already in the years of declining vitality and blood.
He did not want to fight with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
Moreover, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan didn't want to go to war with the Tiannan Sect either. They might have a fourth-rank spirit beast.
And they had allied with the fourth-rank great demon of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
But in a fight to the death, how could the Tiannan Sect, which had dominated the Tiannan Region for so many years, not have trump cards?
If a Nascent Soul True Monarch with little lifespan left were to risk his life to take two fourth-rank great demons with him, it would be most disadvantageous for the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
It would only allow the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan, the Alchemy Immortal Ji Clan, and the Artifact Refining Immortal Chen Clan to reap the benefits.
Their Beast Taming Immortal Zhou Clan would likely face true extinction.
In the backyard of the Yu estate.
Yu Daniu looked at Chen Jianghe and asked, "Big Brother, where do you think the Yu Clan should relocate?"
Chen Jianghe's face showed deep thought.
After a long while, he looked at Yu Daniu and said, "South of the Heaven-Reaching River has richer resources, but the situation in the Feng Kingdom is unstable, not as good as north of the river."
"If you want the Yu Clan to develop steadily, heading north of the Heaven-Reaching River is the best choice. If you want to seek opportunities, then naturally, staying south of the river is better."
Yu Daniu nodded.
"With the first-rank Talisman Dao legacy and first-rank puppet legacy that Big Brother gave us, the Yu Clan can develop slowly. There's no need to take risks seeking opportunities."
"Mm, when do you plan for the Yu Clan to move north?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
"As soon as possible. The situation has stabilized now. If we go too late, I'm afraid there will be no place for us in the Qi and Qing Kingdoms."
"That's a good idea."
Chen Jianghe nodded. With a flip of his hand, a legacy jade slip appeared in his palm.
"This contains the legacies for the second-rank low-grade Falling Star Lightning Talisman, Golden Light Body Protection Talisman, and Crimson Flame Cloud-Soaring Talisman. It will allow the Yu Clan to establish a foothold north of the Heaven-Reaching River with talismans."
With that said, Chen Jianghe handed the legacy jade slip to Yu Daniu.
As for the second-rank puppet legacy, Chen Jianghe would not give it to the Yu Clan. It wouldn't be for their own good; it would be their ruin.
Once the fact that the Yu Clan possessed a second-rank puppet legacy was exposed, it would bring about a catastrophe.
"Big Brother, this..."
"Take it. No need to say more."
"Then where does Big Brother plan to go? Why don't we go to the north of the Heaven-Reaching River together?" Yu Daniu suggested.
Once the Yu Clan left Qingyun Town.
Clearwater Bay would naturally be reclaimed by the Immortal Gate Market City, and Chen Jianghe would have to find another place.
However, Chen Jianghe would not go to the Qi and Qing Kingdoms north of the Heaven-Reaching River.
The Two Clans of Qinghe were one of the six great Immortal Official families of the Qing Kingdom. Not long ago, they had even pushed the Qing Kingdom to negotiate with the Immortal Gate Market City, wanting to expel him.
If he went north of the Heaven-Reaching River, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den.
The Qing Kingdom had been defeated.
But it was still not something he could deal with.
The ruler of the Qing Kingdom was Grandmaster Qingyou, a Core Formation Almighty.
Furthermore, the Qing Kingdom had multiple Core Formation Almighties and was backed by the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan.
He simply couldn't resist them.
Even going to the Qi Kingdom would be unsafe.
The Qi and Qing Kingdoms were in cahoots. They would surely help the Qing Kingdom to capture him.
He probably wouldn't be killed.
Most likely, he would be forced to be a talisman-drawing tool for six hundred years.
"I'll stay in the Immortal Gate Market City for now. Once the Feng Kingdom stabilizes, I'll find another place."
"As the Tiannan Region gradually stabilizes, the flying courier services should resume soon. We can correspond frequently then."
"Don't worry too much about Xiaoniu. The next time you and your son meet, perhaps Xiaoniu will already be in the late stage of Foundation Establishment."
Chen Jianghe said with a smile.
Yu Daniu didn't say much, just nodded lightly.
But in his heart, he felt a little disappointed, because he didn't know if he would ever see Chen Jianghe again after he left.
He was already one hundred and eighteen years old and didn't have many years left to live.
...
Returning to Clearwater Bay.
Chen Jianghe saw Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan sitting in the pavilion, waiting for his return.
"Big Brother Chen, are we leaving the Immortal Gate Market City?"
Jiang Ruxu asked first.
Jiang Ruxu also knew something about the changes in the power structure of the Tiannan Region. The circle of Alchemy Grandmasters also had its channels for obtaining information.
"The Tiannan Sect and the Immortal Gate Market City are surrounded by the Feng Kingdom's territory. I heard from an Alchemy Grandmaster that the Beast Taming Zhou Clan has raised a fourth-rank spirit beast and has also reached a cooperative agreement with the fourth-rank great demon in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. They want to force the Tiannan Sect to leave the south of the Heaven-Reaching River."
"There are no more resources flowing into the Immortal Gate Market City. In three to five years, it will become an empty city."
With Jiang Ruxu's current status, the information she knew was not much less than Gao Peiyao's.
"Where do you two want to go?"
As soon as Chen Jianghe's voice fell, the two women said in unison, "We'll go wherever Big Brother Chen goes."
"..."
Chen Jianghe fell silent.
Jiang Ruxu then said, "Big Brother Chen, we can't go to the territories of the Qi and Qing Kingdoms. The kill order issued by the Two Clans of Qinghe in the Qing Kingdom has not been revoked. If we go north of the Heaven-Reaching River, we'll be like lambs in a tiger's den."
"I feel we can continue to live in Clearwater Bay for now and observe the situation in the Feng Kingdom. Once it stabilizes, we can find an immortal mountain in the Feng Kingdom and open up a cave residence."
"Continue to live in Clearwater Bay? The Yu Clan is moving north. Clearwater Bay will probably be reclaimed by the Immortal Gate Market City then."
"Don't worry, Big Brother Chen. I can use my contribution points through the Tiannan Sect to rent Clearwater Bay separately."
"That's possible?"
A flicker of joy appeared in Chen Jianghe's heart.
He had originally thought he would have to move into the Immortal Gate Market City. In that case, although it wouldn't necessarily delay the cultivation of Xiao Hei and the others.
It would affect the advancement of the Dragon Pattern Red Pine.
Once they moved into the market city, the Dragon Pattern Red Pine certainly couldn't be let out. The courtyard would be too small, and its roots would extend into other people's yards.
That was definitely not acceptable.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe entrusted the matter of renting Clearwater Bay to Jiang Ruxu and then returned to the east courtyard.
He needed to plan carefully.
The changes this year had a great impact on him, disrupting many of his original plans.
The Beast Taming Immortal Zhou Clan had actually managed to raise a fourth-rank spirit beast and had even reached an agreement with the fourth-rank great demon in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, growing to a point where they could rival the Tiannan Sect.
If it were just one fourth-rank spirit beast, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan would absolutely not dare to be so arrogant.
After all, the Tiannan Sect had more than one Nascent Soul True Monarch and nearly a hundred Core Formation Almighties.
But with the help of the fourth-rank great demon from the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan could go head-to-head with the Tiannan Sect.
No one had ever ventured deep into the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
So naturally, no one knew how many third-rank demonic beasts were in there.
During the beast tide at the Beast Taming Market City alone, the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range revealed no less than eight third-rank demonic beasts.
From this, one could surmise that the depths of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range certainly held more than just eight third-rank demonic beasts.
The Tiannan Sect had its reservations.
Similarly, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan did not dare to directly go to war with the Tiannan Sect to avenge the extermination of their clan.
"That unknown mystic realm is in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, and the current Wandering Immortal Mountain Range can be considered half the territory of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan."
"Trying to open the unknown mystic realm without the Beast Taming Zhou Clan knowing is a fool's dream."
"If the Tiannan Sect and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan jointly develop the unknown mystic realm, then those top-level demonic cultivators in the Feng Kingdom will probably enter as well."
Although the Feng Kingdom was cleaning up rogue and demonic cultivators, this was only targeting those without backing.
It was to make room for the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans that wanted to align with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
As for those top-level demonic and rogue cultivators with great merits, not only would the Beast Taming Zhou Clan not touch them, but they would also give them immense benefits.
"Since Peiyao said that even if the Tiannan Sect and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan cooperate, my spot won't be lost, there's no need to worry."
"Demonic cultivators have many tricks, but I have plenty of my own."
"It's not like I have to fight them. As long as they don't try to rob me, everything will be fine."
Chen Jianghe stopped thinking about the unknown mystic realm.
Instead, he thought about the conventional mystic realm that Zhou Miaoyun was to enter.
There was still no news about where the conventional mystic realm would open. If it was north of the Heaven-Reaching River.
He would have to make a trip north.
In that case, once the Two Clans of Qinghe found out, he would be in great danger.
He wasn't afraid of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even if a Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator came, he wouldn't be scared in the slightest.
But what about a Core Formation Almighty from the Lu Clan?
He could use a Minor Teleportation Talisman to escape once.
But what about the next time?
"There are still fifteen years until the conventional mystic realm opens. In five years at most, the location where it will open will be announced."
"If it's really north of the Heaven-Reaching River, then I'll have to borrow the Spirit Serpent Boat from Peiyao."
Time flew by.
Four months passed.
Chen Jianghe walked out of the cultivation chamber and looked at Latiao, who was in the middle of a breakthrough. Xiao Hei and Maoqiu were standing guard nearby.
Latiao's cyan scales shimmered with a dazzling green light under the sun, as if carved from jade.
Although it was still as thick as an adult's thigh, it had grown another five feet in length, reaching twenty-eight feet.
The ice and water attribute mana it emitted actually fused together perfectly, sublimating its physical body.
The fleshy bump on Latiao's head had grown even larger.
As Latiao broke through to the mid-stage of the second rank, one could faintly see two coarse hairs in its nostrils, seemingly about to poke out.
(End of this chapter)