Chapter 273
Chapter 273
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 273
Chapter Title: Five Years, Second-Order Alchemist
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"Master, Lord Turtle, Brother Qiu."
Latiao, having broken through to the second-order mid-stage, came before Chen Jianghe joyfully and transmitted its voice, "Master, I feel that the ice-attribute and water-attribute spiritual power in my body can merge, becoming even stronger."
"The two attributes of spiritual power can merge?"
Chen Jianghe was somewhat curious.
He had never seen a spirit beast with dual-attribute origins, let alone one whose two attributes of spiritual power could merge.
"Xiao Hei, test the strength of Latiao's spiritual power."
Chen Jianghe glanced at Xiao Hei, suggesting he verify Latiao's strength.
He also wanted to see the might of the two fused spiritual powers.
Xiao Hei raised his turtle head, glanced at Latiao, and said nonchalantly, "Come, let Lord Turtle test your strength."
"Ah?! I dare not strike Lord Turtle."
"What? Afraid you'll hurt me? Don't worry, with your meager cultivation, you think you can harm me? You're far from it."
Only at Xiao Hei's strong insistence did Latiao dare to launch a tentative attack, but it left not a single mark on Xiao Hei's shell.
"Use the spiritual power from the fusion of your two attributes."
Xiao Hei frowned and commanded.
Hearing this, Latiao dared not hesitate any longer. It opened its mouth wide, let out a roar, and its dense ice-attribute and water-attribute spiritual powers intermingled, causing dark clouds to gather in the sky above the eastern courtyard, from which an icy rain began to fall.
This icy rain contained the [Ice Corrosion] divine ability, making it extremely corrosive.
Xiao Hei looked at the falling icy rain with satisfaction. The patterns on his shell flickered, and profound runes danced, forming an earthy yellow shield.
*Tap, tap, tap~*
The icy rain fell rapidly, striking the earthy yellow shield and creating ripples as the shield dissipated the attack.
However, one could see that as the icy rain fell faster, the earthy yellow shield began to turn white, gradually freezing over, its defensive power weakening.
*Bang!*
Ten breaths later, the earthy yellow shield was encased in ice. The icy water dissolved the shield's spiritual power, and with a crisp sound, the shield shattered.
The icy rain, imbued with the [Ice Corrosion] divine ability, fell upon Xiao Hei's shell.
It slid off without causing the slightest damage to his shell.
*Whoosh~*
Xiao Hei tilted his head back and exhaled.
A volley of water arrows shot out, churning the dark clouds within a hundred-foot radius above and breaking Latiao's spell.
"Not bad. The fused spiritual power is highly corrosive. If you use the [Ice Corrosion] divine ability at the same time, it can cause significant damage even to ordinary late-stage second-order demonic beasts."
"Combined with [Water Dragon Bind] and [Ice Dragon's Roar], a surprise attack might even allow you to assassinate a late-stage second-order demonic beast."
Xiao Hei extended a short claw and patted Latiao's bulging head, praising it with great satisfaction.
Latiao had only just broken through to the second-order mid-stage, yet it already possessed the strength to fight a late-stage second-order demonic beast.
This mutated spiritual power was indeed quite formidable.
Chen Jianghe was already astonished that Latiao could break through Xiao Hei's shield. In the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm, Xiao Hei had been able to use the [Mystic Earth Rock-Splitting Escape] to rampage through the restriction-laden realm largely thanks to this shell shield.
Those restrictions couldn't even break through Xiao Hei's shell shield, let alone strike his actual shell.
That Latiao could shatter Xiao Hei's shell shield meant its attack power was no less than that of a late-stage second-order demonic beast.
The shell shield was merely Xiao Hei's weakest line of defense.
It was a shield that naturally formed from the profound runes on his shell, yet it could withstand attacks from late-stage second-order demonic beasts.
The icy rain from the fused spiritual powers, however, caused no damage at all when it landed on Xiao Hei's shell.
And this was without Xiao Hei even using [Petrification].
This showed just how powerful Xiao Hei's defense was. Even if Chen Jianghe were to wield the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword, he would struggle to leave even a white mark on Xiao Hei's shell.
Unless he cultivated a supreme offensive sword art.
And cultivated it to Foundation Establishment Perfection.
"Very good. Keep up the hard work and break through to the late stage as soon as possible."
Chen Jianghe then looked at Maoqiu and also instructed via voice transmission, "Maoqiu, you must also cultivate diligently and break through to the late stage as soon as you can."
"Yes, I understand, Master."
"Go and cultivate, both of you!"
Chen Jianghe sent Maoqiu and Latiao off to cultivate.
He and Xiao Hei went to the lotus pond. The Flame Turtles and Rock Turtles basking by the pond's edge had all broken through to the first-order mid-stage.
As for the Mystic Water Turtles swimming in the pond, only the three purchased later were still at the first-order early-stage; the rest had all reached the mid-stage.
"Xiao Hei, how much longer will it take for these spirit turtles to reach the first-order late-stage?"
Chen Jianghe didn't want to use these spirit turtles to cultivate the Soul Sea Origin-Consolidating Scripture for now. He had already spent ten years raising them.
He didn't mind spending another ten.
For cultivating the Soul Sea Origin-Consolidating Scripture, the soul carapaces of late-stage first-order mystic turtles were most effective.
"With sufficient resources, between fifteen and twenty years."
Xiao Hei pondered for a moment before answering.
"Mm, that's acceptable. It won't delay my cultivation."
Chen Jianghe nodded in satisfaction.
He had plenty of spirit stones on hand now and could support the rapid cultivation of these spirit turtles.
Before breaking through to the first-order mid-stage, the forty-six spirit turtles didn't require a vast amount of resources.
Over thirteen years, they had consumed less than three thousand spirit stones from Chen Jianghe.
However, advancing from the first-order mid-stage to the late stage would require far more resources.
The consumption of spirit stones wouldn't just double.
It would increase several dozen times over.
To raise all forty-six spirit turtles to the first-order late-stage within twenty years would require an uninterrupted supply of cultivation resources.
At least fifty thousand spirit stones would be needed.
He stopped thinking about raising the spirit turtles.
As he always said, he only needed to provide the resources; Xiao Hei would handle their cultivation.
The Yu Clan had moved north three months ago, so the high-grade spirit pills could now be given to these spirit turtles.
Returning to his cultivation chamber.
Chen Jianghe continued to draw second-order high-grade talismans.
He now had ninety-eight sets of second-order high-grade talisman materials. Resources were abundant; all that was left was to draw them into talismans.
He had no need to compete with sect disciples for talisman materials and play the fool.
Of the second-order high-grade talismans drawn from these ninety-eight sets of materials, twenty had to be given to Gao Peiyao and fifteen to Zhou Miaoyun.
That would still leave him with sixty-three.
Adding to the second-order high-grade talismans he had already completed.
Fifteen Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans, five Second Wood Azure Vine Talismans, and one Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman.
This meant that once all the second-order high-grade talisman materials were used up, he would have eighty-four second-order high-grade talismans left.
This would be more than enough for his needs in the unknown mystic realm.
Time flew by.
More than seven months passed.
Chen Jianghe now had three more Second Wood Azure Vine Shield Talismans.
The spiritual power in his dantian had also condensed into two hundred and three drops, bringing him ever closer to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged in his cultivation chamber.
He observed his inner self with his divine sense.
Within his dantian, droplets of spiritual power gathered, enveloping three talismans.
Chen Jianghe's Foundation Establishment spiritual power was dense, far more abundant than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The Myriad Waters True Scripture he cultivated could increase his spiritual power by thirty percent.
Thus, the droplets of his Foundation Establishment spiritual power were a size larger than those of cultivators practicing ordinary techniques.
Chen Jianghe sensed the power of the Meteorite Lightningfall Talisman.
This talisman, originally only a second-order low-grade attack talisman, now contained a might even stronger than a second-order high-grade attack talisman.
The power emanating from the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman and the Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman was also comparable to the ultimate magical art attacks of a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator.
After fourteen years of nurturing, the results were beginning to show.
In at most another six or seven years, the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman and the Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman could transform into Talisman Treasures.
As for the Meteorite Lightningfall Talisman, it would still need another twelve or thirteen years.
Using the ancient secret method to nurture a second-order talisman into a Talisman Treasure was an extremely long process.
Fortunately, it wouldn't prevent Chen Jianghe from using them in the unknown mystic realm, which was a great relief.
"My Tidal Marrow-Cleansing Art has improved significantly. In about three more years, I should be able to break through to the sixth level."
Over these years, Chen Jianghe had been focusing on cultivating the Tidal Marrow-Cleansing Art. According to his plan, since he had ample resources for it, he would first cultivate the Tidal Marrow-Cleansing Art to the sixth level of perfection.
Then, he would cultivate the Soul Sea Origin-Consolidating Scripture, as long as he could complete the construction of his soul sea barrier before entering the unknown mystic realm.
As for cultivating the Soul Sea Origin-Consolidating Scripture to the sixth level of perfection, Chen Jianghe hadn't considered it.
Without enough cultivation resources, no amount of effort would matter.
The forty-six spirit turtles would only allow him to cultivate the Soul Sea Origin-Consolidating Scripture to the sixth level, and he estimated it would be just barely reaching the sixth level at that.
Chen Jianghe extended his divine sense.
He retrieved the letters from the courier box in the courtyard.
As the situation in the Tiannan Domain stabilized, the flying courier service had resumed operations. Correspondence was now possible between the major market cities, as well as the prefectural and commandery cities within the immortal kingdoms.
Even the flying courier service in the Feng Kingdom's territory had returned to normal operations.
The Feng Kingdom provided great protection to the Tiannan Sect's flying couriers, just as before.
No cultivator was permitted to harm the couriers.
After all, the Feng Kingdom also needed the flying couriers to deliver letters.
Chen Jianghe looked at the three letters in his hand. One was from Gao Peiyao, one was from Ruan Tieniu, and the last was from Yu Daniu.
It had been a year since Yu Daniu left Qingyun Town.
This was the first time he had contacted Chen Jianghe.
He must have found a stable place to settle down.
Chen Jianghe first opened Yu Daniu's letter. He looked at the familiar handwriting, which had grown more vigorous and powerful with the passage of time.
"Lindong Commandery, Yun Xiaoniu became the commandery governor, and the Yu Clan became an official immortal clan of the Qing Kingdom. That's not bad, but it's too close to the Heaven-Reaching River."
Donghai Commandery was located in the easternmost part north of the Heaven-Reaching River, bordering the boundless sea to the east and the Heaven-Reaching River to the south, which was the former territory of the Eastern Ferry.
It had a territory of one thousand seven hundred li in radius.
Within Donghai Commandery, there were three second-order high-grade spirit veins. The Yu Clan's estate occupied one.
Ferry Market City occupied another.
The last second-order high-grade spirit vein was at the commandery governor's mansion, for the cultivation of the immortal officials under the governor.
"One hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, and fifty percent of the talisman-drawing profits for twenty years. That's a fair deal."
Yu Daniu's letter explained why the Yu Clan had taken control of Donghai Commandery.
The price was a bit high.
But they had become an official immortal clan of the Qing Kingdom and could now develop steadily.
There was just one downside.
If a war were to break out between the Feng Kingdom and the Qing Kingdom, the Yu Clan's Donghai Commandery would be on the front line, becoming the first official immortal clan to be affected by the flames of war.
Of course, if not for this fact, the Yu Clan would never have been able to secure Donghai Commandery with just one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones and fifty percent of their talisman-drawing profits for twenty years.
For now, it seemed unlikely that the Feng Kingdom would provoke another war.
The true power behind the Feng Kingdom was the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, and they dared not push the Tiannan Sect too hard.
If they truly pushed that Sect Master, whose lifespan was nearing its end, to a desperate point, he might just take the sect's greatest treasures and trade his life for one of their Zhou Clan's fourth-order spirit beasts.
That would be the end of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
Next.
Chen Jianghe opened Gao Peiyao's letter.
"The Lu Clan actually made a move against Gao Peiyao?!"
Reading the contents of the letter, he was suddenly alarmed.
Half a year ago, Gao Peiyao had gone to the Northern Extreme Snow Forest for training, but she was targeted by a prodigy from the Lu Clan.
If not for her Spirit Serpent Ship, she might have perished in the Northern Extreme Snow Forest.
As for why the Lu Clan would attack Gao Peiyao, Chen Jianghe could naturally guess. It was all because she had won the auction for that piece of Cloud Essence Stone.
That was the bait the Lu Clan had set.
To find the culprit who killed Lu Qingming.
Chen Jianghe was one hundred percent certain that Gao Peiyao was not the one who killed Lu Qingming. She bought the Cloud Essence Stone simply to repair her Spirit Serpent Ship.
The Lu Clan had found the wrong person.
But it also showed that the Lu Clan did not want the legacy of second-order puppets to be leaked. It was the foundation of their standing.
"Lu Qingfeng? A prodigy of the Lu Clan."
The one who attacked Gao Peiyao was this Lu Qingfeng, a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator with a second-order perfection spirit beast and a top-tier second-order puppet.
And he also cultivated a sword art.
According to the information Gao Peiyao provided, this Lu Qingfeng also had a three-element True Spirit Root talent.
This Lu Qingfeng was very strong.
A Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator who practiced a sword art, with a second-order perfection spirit pet and a top-tier second-order puppet.
Then he must also possess a spirit-imbued offensive artifact and a spirit-imbued defensive artifact.
This cultivator's configuration was completely maxed out.
"It's a pity Gao Peiyao is still one step away from reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection. At that time, she might be able to fight this Lu Qingfeng."
"However, it would be impossible to defeat Lu Qingfeng."
Chen Jianghe didn't know Gao Peiyao's trump cards.
He only knew that she cultivated a sword art because Silver Moon Peak had a legacy sword art, but he had never seen her use a magical sword.
Gao Peiyao had always used the Dragon Spine Whip.
Furthermore, Gao Peiyao had never revealed a spirit pet or a top-tier second-order puppet.
So, from this perspective, even if Gao Peiyao reached Foundation Establishment Perfection in two years, she would still be no match for this Lu Qingfeng.
Of course, after reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, she wouldn't be in such a sorry state, having to flee on her spirit ship at the first encounter.
"Among my peers, I am only slightly stronger than the average sect disciple. But compared to those true prodigies, I am still far behind!"
"Lu Qingfeng is just a prodigy from the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan, yet he possesses such terrifying combat power. Xiao Chen, the son of the Tiannan Sect's True Lord Chengtian, will likely be even stronger after he breaks through to Foundation Establishment Perfection."
"A second-order perfection spirit pet, a top-tier second-order puppet, a Talisman Treasure... How could True Lord Chengtian not prepare these for his own son?"
Thinking of this, Chen Jianghe felt a sense of helplessness.
Compared to these prodigies from top-tier immortal clans and sects, he was far too lacking.
These people all had elders to pave the way for them.
He had nothing.
How could he possibly compare?
Chen Jianghe guessed that Gao Peiyao would probably have to go into seclusion within the sect for some time. If she wanted to venture out again, she would have to at least reach Foundation Establishment Perfection.
Otherwise, facing the Lu Clan's prodigy, Lu Qingfeng, would be too disadvantageous for her.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe opened Ruan Tieniu's letter and began to read.
The Tiannan Sect and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had reached an agreement to jointly open the unknown mystic realm in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
There were a total of one hundred spots to enter the unknown mystic realm.
The Tiannan Sect occupied sixty-five spots.
The Beast Taming Zhou Clan occupied the remaining thirty-five.
Due to their current cooperative relationship, the Tiannan Sect had rescinded the arrest warrant for the top demonic cultivators of the Feng Kingdom. The Beast Taming Zhou Clan had also lifted the blockade on the Tiannan Sect and the Immortal Gate Market City, allowing external resources to flow in.
Ruan Tieniu was now a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and had accumulated numerous merits in the final battle of the Three Kingdoms War.
He had become the Grand Protector of the Feng Kingdom.
Naturally, he was now one of the top figures in the Feng Kingdom.
"To see these words is to see your face; may this letter find you well... Your brother is now the Grand Protector of the Feng Kingdom. Should you come, you may still be the Chief Grand State Preceptor..."
"...The Beast Taming Zhou Clan has set a final deadline for the Tiannan Sect's departure from the south of the Heaven-Reaching River, no later than fifty years. You must plan your own retreat soon..."
"Regarding the unknown mystic realm, with your abilities, you are surely aware. If you can come, a spot to enter the unknown mystic realm will be assured. This concerns your future in Core Formation; I hope you will reconsider."
"Your humble brother, Ruan Tieniu, awaits your reply."
Chen Jianghe's brows furrowed.
He finished reading the letter with great difficulty, feeling a sense of unreality. Could this letter really have been written by Ruan Tieniu?
However, the handwriting was indeed Ruan Tieniu's.
A low-level demon hunter had become the Grand Protector of the Feng Kingdom, ranked among the Three Ducal Ministers.
Even the vocabulary he used in his letters had changed.
"This Ruan Tieniu is still thinking about me going to the Feng Kingdom to be the Chief Grand State Preceptor?!"
Chen Jianghe was a little speechless.
In an immortal kingdom, the position of Chief Grand State Preceptor was very high, belonging to the upper echelons, close to the very top.
The situation in the Feng Kingdom was now stable. After more than a year of purging demonic cultivators and rogue cultivators, the safety level within the Feng Kingdom was even higher than in the Qing and Qi Kingdoms.
Most of the top figures in the Feng Kingdom were former rogue and demonic cultivators; no one understood the harm of rogue and demonic cultivators better than them.
Therefore, the Feng Kingdom's efforts to eliminate rogue and demonic cultivators were the most intense among the three kingdoms.
Previously, Gao Peiyao had mentioned in a letter some matters concerning the Feng Kingdom; rogue and demonic cultivators found it almost impossible to survive there.
Most of the rogue and demonic cultivators had chosen to flee to the Qing Kingdom.
A small portion had fled to the Qi Kingdom.
Although Lord Qingyou, the ruler of the Qing Kingdom, was also of rogue cultivator origin, he had a large enterprise and a group of disciples who were also rogue cultivators before he rose to power.
Furthermore, the real power in the Qing Kingdom was the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan; Lord Qingyou was merely a puppet propped up by the Lu Clan.
Thus, the management of rogue cultivators was not as strict.
As for demonic cultivators, the crackdown was severe, as this was a rule set by the Tiannan Sect.
Chen Jianghe had no intention of joining the Feng Kingdom to become the so-called Chief Grand State Preceptor and a servant of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
As long as the Tiannan Sect did not leave the south of the Heaven-Reaching River, it meant the struggle between the Tiannan Sect and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan was not over.
Nor could it ever be over.
The Tiannan Sect had annihilated ninety percent of the thousand-plus members of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan. With such a deep-seated hatred, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan would surely not let the Tiannan Sect off if given the chance.
Therefore, a battle between these two powers was inevitable in the future.
Chen Jianghe would not allow himself to be drawn into the flames of war.
"Ruan Tieniu can get me a spot to enter the unknown mystic realm, which means he will surely enter it himself."
"There are still over twenty years left. Ruan Tieniu has a chance to break through to Foundation Establishment Perfection. I just wonder what bloodline his spirit pet has?"
Chen Jianghe knew some of Ruan Tieniu's trump cards, but not all of them.
He also knew Ruan Tieniu's Blood River Escape Art.
But the inheritance Ruan Tieniu received from Lan Tianxiang likely contained more than just the Blood River Escape Art.
There should be other secret arts as well.
It was a pity Luo Xiyue wasn't here. Otherwise, he could have asked her what powerful secret arts that False Core senior who sought her master's help in artifact refinement possessed.
Did he cultivate any offensive magical arts?
This would allow him to guess Ruan Tieniu's trump cards.
For now, by the time they entered the unknown mystic realm, Ruan Tieniu's strength would not be weak. A spirit-imbued offensive artifact, a spirit-imbued defensive artifact, and a second-order spirit pet.
Plus the Blood River Escape Art, and if he had an offensive magical art...
Then Ruan Tieniu's foundation would be stronger than the Core Formation prospects of the sect, comparable to the Lu Clan's prodigy, Lu Qingfeng.
Chen Jianghe first replied to Yu Daniu's letter.
He gave some advice, telling the Yu Clan to act with caution, develop steadily, not to be overly ambitious, and to prioritize safety above all else.
Then, he wrote a reply to Gao Peiyao.
He told her to reduce her excursions to avoid being ambushed by the Lu Clan.
It was obvious that Gao Peiyao was now being targeted by the Lu Clan.
The first time, they didn't know Gao Peiyao had a spirit ship and could escape quickly.
But the second time, they would be prepared, sending more clan disciples to cooperate with Lu Qingfeng to trap and kill Gao Peiyao.
Finally, Chen Jianghe wrote a reply to Ruan Tieniu.
He politely declined Ruan Tieniu's kind offer.
He had no intention of going to the Feng Kingdom to be the Chief Grand State Preceptor.
However, he did tell Ruan Tieniu that he would enter the unknown mystic realm in the future.
After finishing the replies.
He placed the three letters in the courier box; a flying courier would come to collect them in a few days.
Time flies, like a white steed flashing past a crack in the door.
Five years passed in a flash.
Clearwater Cove, Eastern Courtyard.
In the alchemy room, the light of a fire flickered.
Chen Jianghe formed hand seals, sending streams of spiritual power into the alchemy furnace, controlling the alternating gentle and fierce earth fire.
"Condensing Seal, descend!"
Chen Jianghe shouted softly, his hands forming a seal that he struck onto the alchemy furnace with a boom.
The furnace lid trembled, and the fragrance of pills wafted out.
An incense stick's time later.
Chen Jianghe used his divine sense to manipulate objects, opening the furnace lid. Five dark yellow Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pills flew out.
"The quality is decent, above the standard grade."
Chen Jianghe nodded in satisfaction.
This was his third time refining a second-order low-grade spirit pill. Including this time, he had succeeded twice.
At this moment, he had finally become a second-order Alchemist.
He started learning alchemy at the age of eighty-five. Thanks to his Foundation Establishment cultivation and a certain talent for alchemy, he became a high-grade Alchemist in ten years.
However, he had to squeeze in time to study alchemy, so his skills progressed slowly. It had taken him thirty years to advance from a high-grade Alchemist to the skill of an Alchemy Master.
"Forty years of studying alchemy to become a second-order low-grade Alchemy Master. That's not slow. I'm quite talented after all!"