Chapter 281
Chapter 281
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 281
Chapter Title: A Brewing Crisis, Xiao Hei's Breakthrough
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“Brother Yanfeng, this is that scoundrel Chen Jianghe’s residence. I’ve heard that the Alchemy Grandmaster, Fairy Jiang, also lives here.”
At Clearwater Bay, atop a low mountain upstream of the Three Bends River.
Chen Chengping pointed to the ten-acre courtyard behind the spirit fields, speaking to the young man beside him with a cold glint in his eyes.
“Chen Jianghe is also entering the unknown mystic realm. There’s no rush to deal with him. Once we’re inside, there will be plenty of opportunities.”
Ji Yanfeng said calmly.
“Although he is a rogue cultivator, he has a close relationship with Fairy Peiyao of the sect and is backed by the sect’s prodigy, Xiao Chen. We cannot act rashly.”
“Furthermore, I’ve heard he also has some connection with Lady Jinghong. We cannot move against him openly.”
Ji Yanfeng looked at the Clearwater Bay courtyard, his expression indifferent, unlike the killing intent in Chen Chengping’s eyes.
Before coming to the Immortal Gate Market City.
He had used his clan’s power to investigate Chen Jianghe and learned some of his background.
Making a move against him openly would cause a significant stir.
This was no ordinary rogue cultivator.
“If you ask me, the three of us should just team up and kill that bastard right now. The Immortal Gate Market City isn’t what it used to be. As long as we don’t do it inside the market city proper, we’ll be fine.”
The one who spoke was Cen Linfeng.
He was Cen Linchuan’s older brother.
He intended to befriend Chen Chengping, hoping to attach himself to him and thereby gain some status in the State of Qi.
The Ji Clan was also a top-tier immortal clan backing the State of Qi, so Ji Yanfeng was naturally someone he wanted to get close to as well.
Thus, Cen Linfeng wanted to eliminate this thorn in their side, Chen Jianghe, for the two of them.
In his eyes, Chen Jianghe was just a rogue cultivator.
As for his so-called connections?
Alive, he was a Talisman Grandmaster.
Dead, he would be just another ordinary rogue cultivator.
Who would make enemies of the Artifact Refining Immortal Chen Clan, the Alchemy Immortal Ji Clan, and their Cen Clan for a mere rogue cultivator?
“Brother Chengping, Brother Yanfeng, I’ve received some news. That Fairy Jiang is a guest alchemist of the sect. A long time ago, she used contribution points in the Tiannan Sect to exchange for a large amount of high-grade second-rank talisman materials.”
“If we can kill Chen Jianghe outside the mystic realm, the fortune of a Talisman Grandmaster… need I say more?”
A broad smile covered Cen Linfeng’s rugged face.
Hearing this, Chen Chengping and Ji Yanfeng exchanged a look. They were naturally aware of how wealthy a Talisman Grandmaster could be.
As long as there were enough second-rank talisman materials.
One could inscribe four or five high-grade second-rank talismans in a year.
The reason they knew this so clearly was that Cen Linfeng’s younger brother, Cen Linchuan, was currently helping them inscribe high-grade second-rank talismans.
Cen Linchuan was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment and was about to break through to the perfected stage. He could inscribe five high-grade second-rank talismans a year.
Even if Chen Jianghe was not as skilled as Cen Linchuan, as long as he had enough high-grade second-rank talisman materials, he could still inscribe four such talismans a year.
With the Alchemy Grandmaster Fairy Jiang exchanging for resources in the sect.
Over the years, Chen Jianghe must have accumulated more than twenty high-grade second-rank talismans.
For them, this was indeed a significant opportunity.
Most importantly.
Cen Linfeng was right.
People move on once you’re gone.
If Chen Jianghe were to fall, he would no longer be a Talisman Grandmaster.
Who would remember a fallen Talisman Grandmaster? Who would offend the Chen and Ji Clans for his sake?
A sharp glint flashed in Chen Chengping’s eyes, showing his interest.
He looked at Ji Yanfeng. As long as the other man nodded, they would attack Chen Jianghe right here at Clearwater Bay.
Four years had passed since the decisive battle at Cangyan Mountain, and Chen Chengping had already broken through to the perfected Foundation Establishment stage.
Ji Yanfeng was also a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator.
With the addition of Cen Linfeng, who had reached the perfected stage more than twenty years ago, they could definitely kill Chen Jianghe at Clearwater Bay.
“Brother Yanfeng, what do you say?”
Chen Chengping asked, looking at Ji Yanfeng.
“Brother Chengping, Brother Yanfeng, after we kill Chen Jianghe, I won’t take any of his talismans or treasures. But you two must support the Cen Clan in becoming a cornerstone immortal clan of the State of Qi.”
Cen Linfeng opportunely stated his demand.
The Cen Clan was bound to enter the State of Qi eventually.
The Immortal Gate Market City was not a place to stay long-term. Going to the State of Qing was impossible; the destruction of the Thousand Mountains Market City was inextricably linked to them.
Besides, even if they went to the State of Qing, the other side would never give up the Thousand Mountains territory for them to re-establish their market city.
As for the State of Feng, they had no connections there.
Furthermore, being a talisman clan, they dared not enter the State of Feng recklessly. The slightest misstep could lead to them being devoured and turned into talisman-inscribing tools.
Only by going to the State of Qi could they potentially become a cornerstone immortal clan, carving out a territory and managing their own market city.
“Father always scolds me for being brainless, saying I’m not as good as my younger brother. This time, I’ll show him. Not only is my cultivation higher than my brother’s, but my strategic mind is also superior.”
“From now on, the only thing he’ll be able to best me in is his skill in the Dao of Talismans.”
Cen Linfeng thought to himself.
Just then.
Ji Yanfeng shook his head, looked at Chen Chengping, and said, “I still feel this is inappropriate. This place is too close to the Immortal Gate Market City. If Chen Jianghe truly has that many talismans, he will surely be able to hold us off for a while.”
“By then, if the rumors are true, Lady Jinghong will certainly rush over. I’m afraid it will be difficult to clean up the mess.”
Cen Linfeng was stunned, not expecting Ji Yanfeng to be so timid.
As a direct descendant of the Ji Clan, he was actually this afraid of Lady Jinghong, who was merely a False Core Adept.
Your Ji Clan has several Core Formation mighty figures.
Seeing that Chen Chengping remained silent, but the killing intent in his eyes had not diminished, Ji Yanfeng added, “I have some other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
With that, Ji Yanfeng flew away on his sword.
He was not only a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator but also an Alchemy Grandmaster, though he could only refine mid-grade second-rank spirit pills.
But that Fairy Jiang could refine high-grade second-rank spirit pills.
Ji Yanfeng was well aware of the network such an Alchemy Grandmaster would have; it was far from as simple as Cen Linfeng imagined.
An Alchemy Grandmaster who could refine high-grade second-rank spirit pills, coupled with a Talisman Grandmaster—that kind of network…
To put it bluntly, not even the Cen Clan could compare.
Even with three Talisman Grandmasters and one False Core Adept, the Cen Clan was no match for Chen Jianghe and Jiang Ruxu combined.
Ji Yanfeng was displeased with Chen Jianghe and harbored resentment, but he was no fool. He knew what could be done and what couldn't.
Lady Jinghong was also entering the unknown mystic realm.
If the rumors were true, even if they killed Chen Jianghe, Lady Jinghong could easily kill him in passing once they were inside the mystic realm.
Even the prodigies of the Ji Clan would find it difficult to protect him then.
“Brother Chengping, this Fellow Daoist Ji… hmph…”
Cen Linfeng showed a disdainful expression, sneering repeatedly.
Three perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators, with victory practically guaranteed, yet he didn't dare to move against a rogue cultivator.
Truly spineless.
“Fellow Daoist Ji is naturally cautious. Since he has left, there’s no need for us to say more.”
Chen Chengping did not blame Ji Yanfeng for leaving.
They were both disciples of top-tier immortal clans; there was no need to have a falling out over a rogue cultivator.
Moreover, Chen Chengping had noticed something.
From beginning to end, Ji Yanfeng had not spared Cen Linfeng a single glance.
Clearly, Ji Yanfeng held the so-called Talisman Immortal Cen Clan in complete disregard.
In his eyes, the Cen Clan didn’t even carry as much weight as Chen Jianghe.
“Brother Chengping, what about us?”
Cen Linfeng dared not defy Chen Chengping’s words in the slightest. He was counting on Chen Chengping to change his father’s opinion of him.
The Cen Clan also needed the support of the Artifact Refining Immortal Chen Clan.
“Let’s head back for now. Let those people from the State of Feng make the first move,” Chen Chengping said calmly.
“Let those immortal officials from the State of Feng strike first? Isn’t that just wasting an opportunity?” Cen Linfeng was somewhat unwilling.
He didn’t understand.
Why was everyone so wary of a rogue cultivator?
His younger brother, Cen Linchuan, was like this.
The Ji Clan’s direct descendant, Ji Yanfeng, was also like this.
And now, even Chen Chengping, whose personality he felt was similar to his own, was choosing to avoid a direct confrontation.
What was there to be afraid of about a mere Chen Jianghe?
A faint smile appeared on Chen Chengping’s face. He didn’t answer Cen Linfeng’s question, simply turning and flying back towards Multitude Treasures Market City.
Ji Yanfeng looked down on the Cen Clan, and so did he.
Even when the Thousand Mountains Market City was still around, he had looked down on the Cen Clan, let alone now.
In his eyes, the Cen Clan was just a tool for inscribing talismans for him.
If not for Cen Linchuan being a Talisman Grandmaster with some potential, he wouldn’t have bothered associating with these people.
Although Cen Linfeng had a three-element true spiritual root and had broken through to perfected Foundation Establishment early on, forming a core would be fraught with difficulties.
His chances of Core Formation were no more than thirty percent.
Even if he obtained a Core Formation spiritual item, he would most likely end up as a False Core Adept.
Core Formation?
Without a secret art, how could it be so simple!
Cen Linfeng watched Chen Chengping depart, his arrogant expression faltering for a moment before he quickly followed.
Clearwater Bay.
In the east courtyard, Chen Jianghe was not cultivating. Instead, he stood in the yard, gazing towards the low mountain.
The courtyard was about seven or eight li from the low mountain.
Chen Jianghe activated his Dharma Eye and could see the scenery on the mountain.
But after activating his Dharma Eye, he found nothing out of the ordinary.
“Xiao Hei, was your feeling wrong? Were there really cultivators lingering there?” Chen Jianghe said doubtfully.
Just a moment ago.
Chen Jianghe had been charging a Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman with spiritual energy when Xiao Hei’s voice sounded in his spiritual platform. He had immediately stopped inscribing, went to the lotus pond, activated his Dharma Eye, and looked towards the low mountain.
But he saw nothing.
He couldn't even sense the aura of any cultivators.
“Three at perfected Foundation Establishment. They stayed for a hundred breaths. One left first, then the other two left together.”
Xiao Hei glanced at Chen Jianghe and proudly raised his turtle head.
“Are you questioning me?”
“…”
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes.
“You could sense even when they left. How would I dare to question you?”
Chen Jianghe had long since experienced Xiao Hei’s keen senses.
It was just that the low mountain was seven li away, which was quite a distance.
This meant that Xiao Hei could sense their auras from a thousand zhang away, which was somewhat absurd.
Chen Jianghe’s spiritual sense could only extend three hundred and fifty-six zhang and six chi, a far cry from a thousand zhang.
Besides, his was spiritual sense.
Xiao Hei’s was a perception, not a probe with spiritual sense.
Although Xiao Hei was about to break through to the perfected second rank, his spiritual sense range was only slightly stronger than Chen Jianghe’s.
Nearly four hundred zhang.
“Were the auras familiar?” Chen Jianghe asked.
Lingering at Clearwater Bay for a hundred breaths, they were definitely here for him, not just passing perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators.
“The distance is too great. I could only vaguely sense the aura of perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators. If I break through to the perfected second rank, I’ll be able to truly sense their auras.”
Xiao Hei was a little frustrated.
He was on the verge of a breakthrough, but that little bit made all the difference.
Hearing Xiao Hei say this, Chen Jianghe didn’t ask any more questions.
Even if they were truly after him, Chen Jianghe was not afraid.
As long as it wasn’t a False Core Adept, they couldn’t harm him in any way.
He wouldn’t even fear the prodigy of the Lu Clan himself.
Even if a Core Formation mighty figure descended to harm him, Chen Jianghe could use the Lesser Teleportation Talisman to escape safely.
“Xiao Hei, how much longer until you break through?”
Chen Jianghe asked.
Xiao Hei’s cultivation breakthrough was what he cared about the most.
“Soon. I’ll probably break through to the perfected second rank before you finish inscribing that talisman.”
Xiao Hei’s large mouth split into a grin, revealing neat, flat teeth in a wide smile.
“Once this turtle lord reaches the perfected second rank and uses my [Petrification] divine ability, even if I just stand there and let that Icy Triangle Python attack, it won’t be able to break this lord’s defense. What do you think? Aren’t you happy, you two-legged beast?”
Xiao Hei’s round eyes gave a slight wink.
“You’d be lying prone.”
“Nonsense! If this turtle lord wants to stand, who would dare stop me?”
As Xiao Hei spoke, he stood up straight. His twenty-eight-foot-tall form made it so Chen Jianghe could only reach the hem of Xiao Hei's lower shell.
“Alright, alright, put away your divine ability!”
Chen Jianghe looked at Xiao Hei, who was growing larger and larger, and felt that there were more and more places to hide on his body.
“Hurry up and cultivate to break through. That’s what matters.”
Chen Jianghe gave Xiao Hei another Dustfall Pill.
Xiao Hei snorted, then dove into the lotus pond to continue consuming the Dustfall Pill for his cultivation.
Seeing Xiao Hei enter a state of cultivation.
A look of resignation appeared on Chen Jianghe’s face.
Xiao Hei absorbed and refined Dustfall Pills too quickly.
Once he broke through to the perfected second rank, the speed of refinement would be even faster.
However, he discovered that when Xiao Hei absorbed and refined the pills, it wasn’t like Maoqiu and Latiao, who directly increased their cultivation.
Instead, while his cultivation rose, he was also tempering his shell and body.
It was as if Xiao Hei was practicing some kind of demonic beast body-tempering secret art.
Chen Jianghe had asked Xiao Hei about it.
Xiao Hei couldn’t explain it clearly either, only saying that this was how the [Six Revolutions Great Demon Art] was cultivated.
“It’s fine if it costs more resources. As long as Xiao Hei’s defense is strong enough, any amount of resources is worth it.”
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
Then, he looked at the spirit turtles Xiao Hei was raising. They were growing well. In another five years, they would reach the late first rank.
By then, his physical body should have reached the sixth level of the [Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art], perfected.
It would be a seamless transition to the [Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture].
At that time, Chen Jianghe didn’t plan to use the Second Revolution Spirit Nourishing Pills to cultivate first. He would wait until the spirit turtles broke through to the late first rank.
He would first use the Mystic Turtle Soul Armor to cultivate the [Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture].
Entering the unknown mystic realm, who knew what the situation would be?
He couldn’t leave the spirit turtles he raised outside.
He could absorb and refine the Second Revolution Spirit Nourishing Pills inside the mystic realm, but not the Mystic Turtle Soul Armor.
He didn't have a magical tool to store souls.
He could only use the soul-snatching technique from the [Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture] during cultivation, stripping one spirit turtle of its Mystic Turtle Soul Armor to cultivate.
It couldn’t be stored.
As for buying a magical tool to store souls.
He wanted to, but there were none for sale.
This kind of sinister magical tool was difficult to refine and hard to come by.
Therefore, Chen Jianghe could only refine the Mystic Turtle Soul Armor of one spirit turtle before taking the Mystic Turtle Soul Armor of the next.
This limited him to refining all the soul armor fragments of these spirit turtles first.
Half a month passed.
Chen Jianghe was in the pavilion, still charging the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman he had previously inscribed, when he suddenly felt the imprint on his spiritual platform flash.
“Xiao Hei is about to break through!”
Chen Jianghe’s eyes snapped open.
Just as Xiao Hei had said, before Chen Jianghe could finish this Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman, he would be able to break through to the perfected second rank.
Chen Jianghe quickly cast ten Sealing Talismans.
He sealed the aura of Xiao Hei’s breakthrough.
However, the aura of Xiao Hei’s breakthrough still lingered in the east courtyard.
This startled Maoqiu and Latiao from their cultivation. They both looked towards the lotus pond and quickly rushed to its edge.
Joy was evident in their eyes.
“Master, the turtle lord is about to break through!”
Maoqiu sent a joyous mental message.
Chen Jianghe also walked to the edge of the pond. He looked at the two excited spirit beasts and nodded.
Xiao Hei took good care of both spirit beasts. Whether it was Maoqiu or Latiao, they were both personally trained by him.
Especially Latiao, whose very origin contained Xiao Hei’s aura.
“Master, the turtle lord’s bloodline purity isn’t high, yet I feel a sense of pressure from him. The turtle lord is truly powerful.”
Hearing Latiao’s mental message.
The corner of Chen Jianghe’s mouth twitched.
What a flatterer. Xiao Hei was still in the middle of his breakthrough, and he was already laying it on thick.
However, what Latiao said was also true.
Xiao Hei’s bloodline purity was only fourth-rank low-grade, yet not only was he unafraid of the pressure from a fourth-rank high-grade spirit beast.
He even showed faint signs of suppressing it.
This made Chen Jianghe feel that it was likely due to Xiao Hei cultivating the [Six Revolutions Great Demon Art].
Maoqiu couldn’t achieve this.
Latiao’s bloodline purity was only one grade higher than his.
But when Maoqiu faced Latiao, he had to tense his spirit to resist Latiao’s pressure.
This pressure originated from their bloodlines.
It wasn’t that Latiao was doing it intentionally.
In fact, when facing Maoqiu, Latiao was very respectful, always calling him Brother Qiu.
He was very well-behaved.
But even so, the bloodline pressure made it difficult for Maoqiu to completely relax in Latiao’s presence.
Back when Xiao Hei’s bloodline was higher than Maoqiu’s, Maoqiu wasn’t like this when facing him.
He felt that Xiao Hei’s bloodline suppression was very gentle.
Of course, that was provided he wasn’t angry.
Maoqiu vaguely remembered the first time he met Xiao Hei. He was held down at the bottom of the river and intimidated by him.
The bloodline suppression at that time far exceeded the pressure from Latiao now.
It was important to remember that back then, Xiao Hei had a third-rank high-grade bloodline, while Maoqiu had a third-rank low-grade bloodline.
The gap was far smaller than that between a fourth-rank low-grade and a fourth-rank high-grade bloodline.
As bloodlines became purer, the hierarchy became even stricter.
Chen Jianghe’s gaze sharpened, piercing through the water and taking in everything at the bottom of the pond.
Xiao Hei’s breakthrough was as effortless and lazy as ever.
He just lay prone at the bottom of the pond, letting the patterns on his shell flash and the runes dance.
It seemed as if it wasn't Xiao Hei controlling the spiritual power for the breakthrough, but the runes on his shell, which were profound and strange.
Chen Jianghe had never seen such profound and complex strange characters.
He didn't know if all Black Crystal Mystic Turtles were like this, or if Xiao Hei was a unique case.
After all, the Black Crystal Mystic Turtle was a first-rank low-grade bloodline. Without a cultivator's intervention, it was almost impossible for one to become a spirit beast.
Let alone a perfected second-rank spirit beast.
So, there was no point of reference.
As Xiao Hei’s aura climbed, the patterns on his body became more distinct.
The bright yellow patterns returned to an earthy yellow.
But the interlocking patterns were deeper and clearer, and the runes within the shell patterns were even more profound.
“Scales?”
Chen Jianghe looked at the patterns on Xiao Hei’s four limbs. As the interlocking patterns deepened, it felt like they were about to form scales.
A turtle with scales?
Generally speaking, whether it was a turtle-type demonic beast or a spirit beast, none were recorded as having scales in the various chronicles of the Tiannan Region.
Although there were spirit turtles with interlocking patterns, they formed a kind of full-body armor, not scales.
Two hours later.
Xiao Hei’s aura gradually stabilized, settling at the perfected second-rank realm.
Although he had just broken through, his aura was comparable to the Golden-Horned Tiger-Ox he had encountered in the Wind Snow Valley mystic realm.
It was quite a bit weaker than that Spirit-Devouring Poisonous Anaconda.
And it couldn’t even be compared to the Icy Triangle Python.
However, aura did not represent combat strength.
Xiao Hei’s defense could ignore the Icy Triangle Python’s attacks.
Another hour passed.
Xiao Hei’s aura retracted. He slowly opened his eyes, and his dark, beady eyes darted around.
Then he looked up above the lotus pond and popped his head out of the water.
“Turtle lord, you’re too strong.”
“What a powerful aura, the turtle lord is truly amazing.”
Maoqiu and Latiao chattered and hissed wildly.
Xiao Hei raised a claw and swatted each of them once.
“Get back to your cultivation.”
Maoqiu and Latiao instantly deflated. One obediently went to the pavilion to cultivate, while the other coiled around the Dragon Pattern Red Pine to cultivate.
Seeing this, Chen Jianghe smiled and said, “They admire you. Why did you hit them?”
“This turtle lord’s power needs no praise.”
Xiao Hei said proudly.
“Well, you are indeed very strong.”
“Although this turtle lord knows he is strong, I will accept your admiration.”
“Stop fooling around. Now that you’ve broken through to the perfected second rank, do you feel your defense has gotten stronger?”
“Isn’t that obvious? When you break through, does your cultivation get stronger or weaker?” Xiao Hei sent a speechless mental message.
“Uh… how much stronger?”
Chen Jianghe asked.
Knowing how strong Xiao Hei’s defense was would tell him whether he should hide from other cultivators to search for treasures in the unknown mystic realm.
Or if he could search for opportunities without fear.
“How would I know? It’s just very strong. Why don’t you test it?” Xiao Hei grinned, his large mouth wide.
“Test it? Let’s not.”
Chen Jianghe shook his head. He was well aware of his own capabilities.
He couldn't harm Xiao Hei when he was at the late second rank; now that he was at the perfected second rank, he stood even less of a chance.
He’d rather not make a fool of himself.
“You can try with that talisman inside your body.”
“Forget it. I’ve been nurturing it for twenty-four years, and it’s almost ready. I can’t waste it on you.”
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes at Xiao Hei, speaking with a hint of exasperation.
A few years ago, his Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman and Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman had both been nurtured to the level of Talisman Treasures.
However, the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman had clearly not reached its peak and could be nurtured further to increase its power.
Logically, the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman should be able to be nurtured to the level of a third-rank Treasure Talisman.
After all, the material used to inscribe it was a low-grade third-rank spiritual item, the Profound Ice Submerged Wood.
This was a material for inscribing third-rank Treasure Talismans.
It could bear the power of a Treasure Talisman.
When Xiao Hei suggested Chen Jianghe try the talisman inside his body, he was referring to the Meteorite Thunderfall Talisman.
After all, the Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman was a wood-attribute soul attack, and Xiao Hei didn’t dare to test it lightly. He knew his physical defense was strong, but he didn’t know about his soul defense.
As for the Meteorite Thunderfall Talisman, because its base was a low-grade second-rank talisman, it took longer to nurture than the other two.
Even so, in at most another year, it could be successfully nurtured into an offensive Talisman Treasure