Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Holding Back, Unexpected Gains
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"Thornvine Strangulation!"
Gao Peiyao formed a seal with her jade-like hands, and spiritual power surged forth. In an instant, dozens of vines sprouted within a hundred-zhang radius. As they grew at incredible speed, the vines hardened, sprouting inch-long barbs and coiling toward Lu Qingfeng like living creatures.
The Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword's blade twisted, falling like a meteor as it hid among the vines, striking straight for the space between Lu Qingfeng's eyebrows.
"Poison?!"
The moment Lu Qingfeng's spiritual power touched the attacking vines, he felt it corrode. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately executed a sword art.
The Flame Sword split into three, spinning rapidly to shred the approaching vines.
He still had to be wary of Gao Peiyao's flying sword artifact, so he couldn't fully concentrate on dealing with the Thornvine Strangulation Art.
The vines blossomed, and poison spread.
Even as they were shredded by the Flame Sword, a continuous stream of vines still assailed him from all directions.
They enveloped Lu Qingfeng, who stood on a giant boulder, and began to constrict and twist at high speed. The barbs tried to tear through his flesh but were blocked by the spirit-nurturing defensive armor he wore.
Suddenly, a brilliant fire erupted from Lu Qingfeng's body. The flames released by his Scarlet Flame Armor scorched the vines, spreading a hundred zhang in an instant and using the vines as fuel to form a sea of fire.
*Clang!*
The Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword struck fiercely, clashing with the Flame Sword. Its Profound Ice attribute was amplified at this moment by the Bright Moon Sword Art.
Its power reached its peak.
It actually caused the flames on the Flame Sword to weaken before it was sent flying by the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword.
"Green Edge Leaf Blade Art!"
Gao Peiyao formed a seal, and a sigil appeared. Wood-attribute spiritual power surged out in an instant, reviving the vines within the fiery domain and causing them to grow once more.
Following that, leaf after leaf flew out, enhanced by the wood-attribute spiritual power. Their edges were as sharp as a top-tier artifact, and their veins hardened like bone. In an instant, they transformed into green streaks of light, shooting toward Lu Qingfeng in a fan-shaped pattern.
The Flame Sword couldn't return in time. The leaves pierced through the flame shield outside the Scarlet Flame Armor and slammed into Lu Qingfeng's body.
*Boom!*
A sky full of leaves descended.
They struck the Scarlet Flame Armor. Although they couldn't directly break through this spirit-nurturing defensive artifact, they greatly depleted Lu Qingfeng's spiritual power.
Lu Qingfeng's eyes narrowed. *What profound combat techniques,* he thought to himself.
Gao Peiyao's strength was not superior to his. Whether it was spiritual power or artifacts, he was stronger than her.
However, in terms of combat techniques, Gao Peiyao far surpassed him.
The instant the leaves attacked, the vines coiled around him again.
The masterful coordination of two ultimate arts was something he could not match.
With a thought from Lu Qingfeng, the Flame Sword flew back, shredding the vines. He then retreated, dodging the assault of the leaves.
The spectating cultivators all showed looks of astonishment at this scene.
"Fairy Peiyao actually forced Lu Qingfeng back first? Didn't she only break through to Perfected Foundation Establishment in the last two years?"
"What rich combat experience. The coordination of those arts is truly exquisite."
"I once had the honor of witnessing a battle between Core Formation experts. In terms of skill in executing arts alone, Fairy Peiyao can rival a Core Formation expert."
"As a prodigy of the Lu Clan, Lu Qingfeng often ventures deep into the Northern Extreme Snow Forest and the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. His combat experience is by no means lacking, yet before Fairy Peiyao, he seems like a mere child."
"For a female cultivator to possess such terrifying combat skills, I can't even imagine how many great battles she has experienced!"
"..."
High above Graystone Mountain.
Revered Master Lan watched Gao Peiyao's performance with a look of satisfaction.
But as a Core Formation expert, she could see that Lu Qingfeng was not using his full strength. The Lu Clan's legacy sword art was not weak.
Lu Qingfeng had only used the first stage of the Departing Fire Sword Art.
With his cultivation level, he was fully capable of executing the third stage. He was feigning weakness to make Gao Peiyao careless.
However, she wasn't worried, because Gao Peiyao was also not using her full strength.
As Gao Peiyao's master, how could she not see that the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword was just an artifact Gao Peiyao had recently refined?
It was not her primary flying sword at all.
"Such exquisite coordination of arts and sword techniques, even I, her master, am not her equal. If Peiyao forms her core in the future, she will surely be able to contend for the position of Silver Moon Peak's master."
At the same time.
Chen Jianghe watched the battle between Gao Peiyao and Lu Qingfeng with great emotion. The seamless connection of their arts and the clash of their sword techniques filled him with envy.
He, however, had no combat experience whatsoever.
In all his years of cultivation, he could count the number of times he had fought others on one hand, with fingers to spare.
His first fight was against the rogue cultivator Liu, and that time he had simply used talismans to blast the spiritually-depleted man to death.
It couldn't be considered experience.
His most experienced fight was when he cooperated with Luo Xiyue to kill the Spirit-Devouring Poisonous Python.
But that couldn't be considered a battle between evenly matched opponents either.
"Big Brother Chen, Sister Peiyao's cultivation art seems to be countered by Lu Qingfeng's. Will she be in danger?"
Jiang Ruxu asked via voice transmission.
"Peiyao hasn't used her full strength yet. She should be fine."
Although Chen Jianghe lacked combat experience, he knew Gao Peiyao was using the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword, which was his flying sword.
As long as Gao Peiyao didn't bring out her own flying sword to execute the Bright Moon Sword Art, she wasn't using her full power.
Suddenly.
The Flame Sword flew into Lu Qingfeng's hand. He executed the second stage of the Departing Fire Sword Art, shattering Gao Peiyao's Thornvine Strangulation Art and Green Edge Leaf Blade Art.
Seeing that Lu Qingfeng was getting serious and about to use his full strength, Gao Peiyao didn't dare to be careless. She recalled the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword into her hand and met Lu Qingfeng's incoming strike.
For a time, the peak of Graystone Mountain was a blur of red and green. Swirling sand and stones rose dozens of zhang into the air, forming two tornadoes that clashed back and forth. Trees were shredded, and rocks shattered.
An incense stick's worth of time passed.
The peak of Graystone Mountain was flattened by their battle.
The spectating cultivators watched in constant amazement, marveling at the terrifying power of Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators.
They also felt the strength of the sect disciples and the terror of the top-tier immortal clan prodigies.
Even cultivators who were also at the Perfected Foundation Establishment stage showed looks of shock, imagining themselves as one of the combatants and wondering if they could stand against either of them.
Another incense stick's worth of time passed.
The battle between the two had reached a fever pitch.
The mountain rocks cracked, and dust billowed.
The shockwaves of the battle spread for several hundred zhang, turning the hundred-zhang-tall Graystone Mountain into a bald peak. The crisscrossing flying swords had shaved off ten zhang from its summit.
"Fire Dragon Transformation!"
"Moonfall!"
*Boom!*
Lu Qingfeng slashed out with his sword, and a ten-zhang fire dragon roared into existence, baring its fangs and claws as it arrived in an instant.
Suddenly, the bright moon fell from the sky.
It smashed into the fire dragon.
The earth shook and the mountain trembled. The peak split open, creating a ten-zhang-deep chasm.
*Boom!*
The two figures retreated, their spiritual power nearly exhausted.
Their flying swords flew from their grasp, knocked a hundred zhang away, completely out of their control.
However, neither Gao Peiyao nor Lu Qingfeng had any intention of stopping. They formed seals with their hands, preparing to unleash their ultimate arts.
A six-zhang-tall fire spirit appeared, swinging a fist of fire at the sky full of leaves.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, a figure appeared within the attack range of the two ultimate arts. With a wave of his hand, the incomparably powerful ultimate arts instantly dissipated.
It was as if they had never existed.
"This Revered Master has said that the match ends when control over an artifact is lost. Both of your flying swords are now out of your control. This battle ends here."
"If there is still enmity between you, you may fight again in the unknown mystic realm. Life and death will not be my concern."
Revered Master Chengtian stood between the two, speaking with authority.
Neither Gao Peiyao nor Lu Qingfeng dared to defy Revered Master Chengtian's will. They both bowed in salute.
"Yes, we will obey the Revered Master's decree."
The spectating cultivators were extremely disappointed to see the battle of prodigies end in such a way. They could all sense that both Gao Peiyao and Lu Qingfeng seemed to still have strength in reserve.
Therefore, this was not a true life-or-death battle.
After all, by the end of the fight, their clothes were still neat, not in the slightest disarray. It was clear they both had trump cards they had not used.
The cultivators who were planning to enter the unknown mystic realm were somewhat disappointed.
They had hoped to get a glimpse of their trump cards, but they never expected the two to only engage in a conventional battle.
Each was more cautious than the last.
By the end of the fight, neither was even injured.
It was obvious that losing control of their artifacts was intentional.
As the battle of prodigies concluded.
The people from the sect departed.
The members of the Lu Clan followed suit and left.
The spectating cultivators also dispersed one by one.
Chen Jianghe was not surprised to see the white-hot battle of prodigies end so abruptly.
Neither Gao Peiyao nor Lu Qingfeng was a fool.
They still had to enter the unknown mystic realm to seek their fortune for Core Formation. How could they possibly reveal their trump cards at Graystone Mountain?
This time, Lu Qingfeng's challenge to the sect disciples was most likely an attempt to probe Gao Peiyao's combat strength. If she couldn't even handle a conventional battle, he would have killed her directly.
But Gao Peiyao's strength exceeded his imagination.
To defeat or even kill her, he would need to use his trump cards.
Conversely, Gao Peiyao probably thought the same way. Revealing her trump cards just to kill one Lu Qingfeng would be detrimental to her treasure hunting in the unknown mystic realm.
Being too powerful would only lead to being ganged up on.
Watching everyone leave, Chen Jianghe prepared to leave with Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan. This was the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, after all.
Even if it was the periphery, it was still the territory of demonic beasts.
It was best to leave as soon as possible.
But just then, Ruan Tieniu and his group blocked his path.
"This is my good brother, Chen Jianghe, the renowned Grandmaster Chen, the Elder of Many Fortunes. Don't say I don't look out for you all. Today, I'll risk my old face to try and get you one or two second-tier superior-grade talismans."
Ruan Tieniu said to the few cultivators beside him.
These cultivators were all in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and two were at the Perfected Foundation Establishment stage.
"Brother Chen, these are my dearest friends from Feng Country, fellow Immortal Officials with whom I've shared life and death."
"I ask that you give your big brother some face and sell them some second-tier superior-grade talismans. Not many, just two for each person."
Ruan Tieniu said with a cupped-fist salute, raising his eyebrows slightly and giving Chen Jianghe a meaningful look.
Chen Jianghe wore a reluctant expression on his face, yet he seemed to be considering their brotherly bond, looking conflicted for a moment.
Seeing this, Ruan Tieniu praised him inwardly.
"The Talisman Grandmasters in Feng Country are all busy crafting second-tier superior-grade talismans for the direct descendants of the Zhou Clan and the top brass of the Immortal Dynasty. It's not our turn at all."
"To have a few more tricks up your sleeves in the unknown mystic realm, what are you all waiting for? Quickly take out your items for trade and let Brother Chen have a look."
"Let me be clear, don't bring out any junk."
"Brother Chen is only trading with you out of respect for me."
"Haha, understood, understood!"
"Grandmaster Chen, I have this second-tier superior-grade absorbable spirit item, can it..."
"Get lost!"
Before the late-stage Foundation Establishment Immortal Official could finish his sentence, Ruan Tieniu sent him flying with a kick.
"Brother Chen, thank you for giving me face, but they've embarrassed your big brother today." Ruan Tieniu made a gesture of invitation.
He cleared a path, sending Chen Jianghe off.
"Grandmaster Chen, please wait."
A Perfected Foundation Establishment Immortal Official hurriedly called out to stop Chen Jianghe, then said to Ruan Tieniu, "Brother Ruan, don't be angry. We are all officials of the same dynasty; we should be amicable."
"I have this second-tier top-grade Spirit Pool Pearl. I wonder if it can be exchanged for two of Grandmaster Chen's second-tier superior-grade escape talismans?"
A Spirit Pool Pearl, a second-tier top-grade absorbable spirit item, could be refined into five medium-grade Origin Spirit Pills. In terms of spirit stone value, it was worth two and a half to three medium-grade Origin Spirit Pills, which was eighty thousand spirit stones.
Now that the flames of war had subsided, the Tiannan Region was gradually stabilizing.
However, news of the unknown mystic realm had been spread by the Tiannan Sect and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan. Everyone was preparing second-tier superior-grade talismans.
Therefore, the price of a second-tier superior-grade escape talisman, which had dropped to twenty-four thousand spirit stones after the war, had risen back to thirty thousand.
"Fellow Daoist, please forgive me. I only have five or six second-tier superior-grade escape talismans on me. I truly do not wish to trade them."
Chen Jianghe said with a troubled expression.
"Grandmaster Chen and Brother Ruan are as close as brothers, and I am also a sworn brother to Brother Ruan. By that logic, we are also close brothers. I implore Grandmaster Chen to give me some face. I will also give this Dustfall Pill to Grandmaster Chen."
"Sigh... since you've put it that way, Fellow Daoist, if I still refuse, wouldn't I be disrespecting Big Brother Ruan?"
Chen Jianghe took out two Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans and exchanged them with the Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator for a Spirit Pool Pearl and a Dustfall Pill.
In this transaction, the thirty-thousand-spirit-stone second-tier superior-grade escape talismans were sold at nearly triple their premium price.
And for that.
They still had to thank Chen Jianghe and Ruan Tieniu.
Feng Country was vast and resource-rich, but it had only just stabilized. No Talisman Grandmasters had yet moved there to reside.
The only two Talisman Grandmasters were occupied by the Zhou Clan.
Even if they weren't, the demand far outstripped the supply. Wanting to commission those two Talisman Grandmasters to craft talismans would mean waiting until who knows when.
With this Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator taking the lead, the other four Immortal Officials from Feng Country all took out second-tier top-grade absorbable spirit items to trade with Chen Jianghe.
A moment later.
The transactions were complete.
Chen Jianghe now had one Spirit Pool Pearl, four Dustfall Pills, a thousand-year fleeceflower root, four pieces of Supreme Purity Jade, three Azure Water Lotus Leaves, and a wood-attribute spirit soul pearl.
He had given out six Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans and four Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans.
"Brother Chen, I didn't tell them that the person next to you is Sister-in-law Jiang. When you get back, have your sister-in-law refine more Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pills, and some other healing spirit pills."
Ruan Tieniu sent a voice transmission.
He then bid farewell to Chen Jianghe and left with the five Immortal Officials from Feng Country.
Chen Jianghe could see that as they walked away, the Immortal Officials were all cupping their fists in thanks to Ruan Tieniu.
"Feng Country is vast and resource-rich, but its strategic resources are extremely scarce. It still needs a long period of stable development."
"If Feng Country's Demon Slaying Guard can maintain this level of demon-slaying intensity, in twenty years, I'm afraid various Grandmasters of the hundred arts will emerge in Feng Country."
Chen Jianghe returned to Clearwater Cove with Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan.
This trip to Graystone Mountain to watch the battle had been very rewarding. He had witnessed the strength of prodigies at his level.
Although neither of them used their full strength, it still gave him a clear understanding of himself.
If he were to face Lu Qingfeng.
Relying solely on artifacts and ultimate arts, there would be a ninety percent chance of being killed and a ten percent chance of mutual destruction.
Only his [Absolute Freeze] could cause damage to Lu Qingfeng.
Without an offensive sword art, he couldn't fully unleash his strength.
Besides, he was just a cultivator who had recently broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
If he cultivated to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, then while using [Absolute Freeze], he would have a thirty percent chance of taking Lu Qingfeng down with him.
If Maoqiu and Latiao were added, the odds wouldn't change.
Unless Latiao broke through to the late second tier, only then could it coordinate with Chen Jianghe's [Absolute Freeze].
That would change the thirty percent chance of mutual destruction to a fifty percent chance.
If Xiao Hei were to step in.
Given the offensive power displayed by Lu Qingfeng and Gao Peiyao in their battle, he would be invincible from the start.
The second stage of the Departing Fire Sword Art, Fire Dragon Transformation, couldn't even break through Xiao Hei's defense.
"I'm so strong!"
Thinking this, Chen Jianghe couldn't help but praise his own powerful strength.
"Xinyan, you cultivate a wood-attribute art, right? After Ruxu refines this wood-attribute spirit soul pearl into a Spirit Soul Pill, you can take it."
"These two thousand-year fleeceflower roots, and the thousand-year blood ganoderma, Ruxu, please help me refine them into Dustfall Pills and Blood Soul Pills."
"Oh, right, Ruxu, when you have free time, you need to refine more Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pills and other healing spirit pills."
Chen Jianghe took out the wood-attribute spirit soul pearl, two thousand-year fleeceflower roots, and one thousand-year blood ganoderma, and gave them to Jiang Ruxu.
Remembering Ruan Tieniu's voice transmission, he added another instruction for Jiang Ruxu.
He could currently only refine second-tier inferior-grade spirit pills; otherwise, he would have refined the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pills himself.
The combination of Jade Dew Pills and Mountain-Suppressing Bone-Mending Pills could match the efficacy of the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill.
However, it was slower in terms of recovery time.
Therefore, for cultivators entering the mystic realm, the first choice for healing spirit pills would definitely be the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill.
Jiang Ruxu nodded obediently and accepted them.
Zhuang Xinyan did not refuse the wood-attribute spirit soul pearl from Chen Jianghe either. Just as Chen Jianghe had said.
She cultivated a wood-attribute art.
The body tempering art she practiced was also inclined towards the wood attribute, and she was in need of a wood-attribute spirit soul pearl.
After a brief chat.
The two women went off to cultivate.
Chen Jianghe returned to the east courtyard and also began to cultivate the sixth stage of the [Myriad Waters True Scripture], refining his Foundation Establishment spiritual power.
Then, he would draw second-tier superior-grade talismans.
He hadn't wanted to trade anymore, but the other party offered too much, leaving him unable to find a reason to refuse.
But it was alright.
His cultivation had broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and his speed in drawing second-tier superior-grade talismans had also tangibly increased.
He now had ninety-one sets of second-tier superior-grade talisman materials. Based on his current drawing speed.
He could turn them all into second-tier superior-grade talismans in thirteen, or at most fourteen, years.
It wouldn't delay his entry into the unknown mystic realm at all.
Two months passed.
Gao Peiyao came to Clearwater Cove to return the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword.
At the same time, she told Chen Jianghe her assessment of Lu Qingfeng's strength.
Based on the strength Lu Qingfeng had displayed, adding another thirty to fifty percent would be his true combat power.
This caused Chen Jianghe's previously estimated chances against Lu Qingfeng to plummet.
If Xiao Hei didn't intervene and he didn't flee.
Only by breaking through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and with Latiao breaking through to the peak of the late second tier, would he have a chance to win by surprise.
He would have a fifty percent chance of mutual destruction with Lu Qingfeng.
To win, he would have to cultivate to Perfected Foundation Establishment and also learn a sword art. Otherwise, it would be very difficult.
Besides, Lu Qingfeng also had a Perfected second-tier spirit beast and a second-tier puppet.
But as long as Xiao Hei took action, Lu Qingfeng still wouldn't be able to break his defense.
So, he was still very strong.
At the same time, Gao Peiyao also told Chen Jianghe to visit the Barter Tower in the Immortal Sect Market City more often, and to participate in the New Year's Eve auction.
As the secret of the unknown mystic realm was revealed.
The number of cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment and above in the Barter Tower had increased significantly, and so had the number of rare treasures.
Gao Peiyao had received news that the scale of the Immortal Sect Market City's auction would be raised once again.
There was just one thing to note.
That was to bring enough spirit stones.
Because cultivators from Feng Country would also be participating. They were wealthy, but in the current Feng Country, they had spirit stones but nowhere to spend them.
Therefore, at the auction, these cultivators from Feng Country would definitely engage in malicious bidding.
At the same time, it was best to prepare some medium-grade spirit stones.
As for why he should prepare medium-grade spirit stones, Gao Peiyao didn't give a specific reason, only that they might be needed at the auction.
In the blink of an eye, more than two months passed.
Chen Jianghe walked out of his cultivation chamber and went to the west courtyard. He saw Zhuang Xinyan under the pavilion, looking as if she had been waiting for a while.
"Xinyan, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all, I just came out of seclusion myself."
Zhuang Xinyan's gentle voice sounded as she gracefully walked to Chen Jianghe's side, and together they left Clearwater Cove.
Two months ago, Chen Jianghe had told Zhuang Xinyan that he wanted her to accompany him to the Immortal Sect Market City around New Year's Eve.
According to Gao Peiyao, this New Year's Eve auction would be of a very high standard.
It might even involve medium-grade spirit stones.
But where was he supposed to get medium-grade spirit stones?
In his one hundred and ten years of cultivation, let alone possessing a medium-grade spirit stone, he had never even seen one.
According to the [Annals of Tiannan], only third-tier spirit mines produced medium-grade spirit stones, and only in small quantities.
This was because even in third-tier spirit mines, the majority of the spirit stones mined were still low-grade, with only a small portion being medium-grade.
Only fourth-tier spirit mines would produce large quantities of medium-grade spirit stones.
However, there had been no news of a fourth-tier spirit mine being discovered in the Tiannan Region. Even the number of third-tier spirit mines did not exceed the fingers on two hands.
Apart from the current three top-tier immortal clans each controlling one, the rest were all controlled by the Tiannan Sect.
As for the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, it seemed they had not yet thought about spirit mines, or perhaps they were currently in a period of cooperation.
The Beast Taming Zhou Clan had not made a move on the spirit mines controlled by the Tiannan Sect south of the Heaven-Reaching River.
Therefore, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan did not have a third-tier spirit mine either.
From this, one could see the rarity of medium-grade spirit stones.
Arriving at the Immortal Sect Market City, he met up with Gao Peiyao and first traded the python's spirit blood with her.
It cost him fifteen thousand spirit stones.
When Zhuang Xinyan saw Gao Peiyao accept spirit stones from Chen Jianghe, a flicker of joy inexplicably rose in her heart. Unconsciously, she moved a little closer to him.
"There's still some time before the auction starts. Let's go check out the Barter Tower first. Peiyao, do you want to come along?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Gao Peiyao and asked.