Chapter 282
Chapter 282
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 282
Chapter Title: The Power of the Spirit Platform, Talisman Treasure Complete
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In the lotus pond, the flowers bloomed in the morning sun, filling the surroundings with their refreshing fragrance. Verdant leaves spread out, forming a continuous sheet that shaded the fish in the pond.
These fish were all of the first-grade, low-tier bloodline, kept as decorations for the courtyard because of their pleasing appearance.
Chen Jianghe stood at the bottom of the lotus pond. With a flip of his hand, three talismans appeared. One emitted a purple glow, another a green one, and the last flickered with a faint, dark light.
These were the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman, the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman, and the Falling Star Lightning Talisman that Chen Jianghe had been nurturing.
Among them, the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman and the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman had been successfully nurtured and had both become Talisman Treasures.
However, the ultimate potential of the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman was not limited to being a Talisman Treasure.
If nurtured long enough, it could one day become a third-grade Treasure Talisman.
The [True Spirit Treasure Nurturing Art] Luo Xiyue had given him before she left was an ancient secret art that allowed him, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, to nurture Talisman Treasures.
It could also be used to nurture third-grade Treasure Talismans.
But the time required to nurture a Treasure Talisman was on a completely different scale than that for a Talisman Treasure.
With Chen Jianghe's current cultivation, it would take at least fifty years to nurture the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman into a third-grade Treasure Talisman.
Subtracting the twenty years it took to turn it into a Talisman Treasure, he still needed to nurture it for another thirty years or more.
It had now been four years since the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman became a Talisman Treasure, which meant he needed to nurture it for another twenty-six years before it could become a third-grade Treasure Talisman.
"No need to test it. Just feel the power of the Falling Star Lightning Talisman and the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman. What do you think?"
Chen Jianghe took out the three talismans for Xiao Hei to inspect.
Of the three, the Falling Star Lightning Talisman and the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman were for offense, while the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman was an escape talisman.
Xiao Hei sensed the spiritual power contained within them.
"This one... I don't know if I can block it, but it shouldn't be able to hurt me," Xiao Hei said, pointing to the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman.
The Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman originally had a soul attack characteristic.
But after becoming a Talisman Treasure, it had transformed completely into a soul attack Talisman Treasure.
Its soul attack was equivalent to thirty percent of a Core Formation expert's full power. Even a False Core Rogue Cultivator would likely be unable to withstand it.
"You can't block it? But it can't hurt you?"
Chen Jianghe was stunned.
He could understand the two parts of the statement separately, but together, they left him confused.
If it couldn't hurt you, how could you not be able to block it?
"If this talisman attacks you, I won't be able to block it for you. But if it attacks me, it probably won't be able to hurt me."
Xiao Hei spread his claws, grinned widely, and teased him.
"Uh..."
Chen Jianghe suddenly understood. So that's what he meant.
Looking at the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman, Chen Jianghe felt a little unnerved. He felt that even if his soul sea barrier was complete, he wouldn't be able to withstand an attack from this Talisman Treasure.
"Xiao Hei can resist the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman, probably because the Spirit Platform presides over his sea of consciousness. In that case, I should be able to as well."
"My sea of consciousness also has a Spirit Platform presiding over it, so it should be able to defend against this Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
Back when his soul trembled, a single jolt from the Spirit Platform had calmed it. Logically, his Spirit Platform should also possess the ability to defend against soul attacks.
In that case, the Spirit Platform wasn't just useful for swapping his lifespan with Xiao Hei's; it could also provide him with soul defense.
Did that mean he essentially had a soul defense magical artifact?!
No, not a soul defense magical artifact.
According to the [Records of Tiannan], apart from demonic cultivators, cultivators below the Core Formation realm did not have access to soul attack methods.
Even their soul attacks were just simple collisions of divine sense against an opponent's sea of consciousness.
Therefore, the Spirit Platform wasn't equivalent to a soul defense magical artifact, but a soul defense magical treasure.
"I hope the Spirit Platform has the power to defend against soul attacks, just as I suspect."
Chen Jianghe couldn't be certain.
And he couldn't very well test it by using the Yimu Soul-Entangling Talisman on himself.
"What about this Falling Star Lightning Talisman?"
Chen Jianghe pointed to the talisman flickering with a dark glow.
"It can barely break through my tortoise shell shield."
Xiao Hei transmitted his thoughts with an air of pride.
The tortoise shell shield was a shield of light derived from the runes on Xiao Hei's shell, possessing formidable defensive capabilities.
When Xiao Hei was at the late stage of the second grade, his tortoise shell shield was already extremely strong, requiring Maoqiu to wield a specially-made, spirit-infused heavy iron staff to break it.
Now, Xiao Hei had reached the peak of the second grade. The defense of his tortoise shell shield alone was enough to leave an ordinary peak second-grade demonic beast helpless.
Let alone an ordinary peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
To shatter Xiao Hei's tortoise shell shield, one would need to have cultivated an offensive art at the very least.
And that was just his outermost layer of defense.
What if Xiao Hei used his [Petrification] divine ability?
Even a prodigy from the Lu Clan like Lu Qingfeng would only be able to scratch his itch. It was likely that only a False Core Rogue Cultivator with extreme combat power, like Lady Jinghong, would have a hope of breaking Xiao Hei's defense.
After understanding the strength of Xiao Hei's defense, Chen Jianghe finally let out a sigh of relief, no longer worried about entering the unknown secret realm.
No matter how many talismans he had in hand, none gave him a greater sense of security than Xiao Hei did.
He leaped out of the lotus pond.
Chen Jianghe returned to his cultivation chamber to refine the spiritual power of the Dustfall Pill, condense it into Foundation Establishment mana, and purify it of impurities.
He had his defense.
He had his offensive measures.
All that was left was his own cultivation.
His most pressing task now was to cultivate to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment and master the sixth and final level of the body tempering art, the [Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art].
Once he reached that stage...
He could begin cultivating the [Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture].
...
More than three months passed.
Chen Jianghe emerged from his cultivation chamber and left the courtyard.
This time, he brought Xiao Hei with him, placing him inside a second-grade spirit beast pouch.
Ever since a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator had lingered on the short mountain for a hundred breaths, Chen Jianghe had become more cautious.
From now on, he had to take Xiao Hei with him whenever he went out.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be safe.
Times had changed.
With the rise of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, the Tiannan Sect's control over the Tiannan region had weakened considerably, especially south of the Sky-Reaching River, where the sect had completely lost its grip.
South of the Sky-Reaching River, apart from an eight-thousand-li radius around the Tiannan Sect's territory, the rest was the domain of the Feng Kingdom.
And behind the Feng Kingdom was the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
It could be said that the entire area south of the Sky-Reaching River was under the control of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
Aside from the Flying Post, which could operate without restriction south of the Sky-Reaching River, all of the Tiannan Sect's businesses faced severe limitations.
There was only one Hundred Treasures Pavilion south of the Sky-Reaching River.
And it was located in Immortal Gate Market City.
As for the other market cities within the Feng Kingdom's territory, they were all home to the Precious Treasures Pavilions established by the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, which served the same function as the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
However, they were more diversified.
The Precious Treasures Pavilions not only held auctions but also had trading forums and spirit beast gardens.
Chen Jianghe had read in a journal that in order to rapidly develop the Feng Kingdom and manage the territory south of the Sky-Reaching River effectively, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan would auction a third-grade, low-tier bloodline spirit beast at the Precious Treasures Pavilion every ten years.
Every fifty years, they would auction a third-grade, high-tier bloodline spirit beast.
It was clear that the Beast Taming Zhou Clan was willing to spare no expense.
One had to know that a third-grade, low-tier bloodline spirit beast had a fifty percent chance of breaking through to the second grade, as long as it had a spirit core of the same attribute.
It could become the guardian spirit beast of a Foundation Establishment immortal clan.
If the Yu Clan had possessed a third-grade, low-tier bloodline spirit beast, they wouldn't have spent over forty years trying to raise a spirit beast without successfully producing a single second-grade one.
Back when Chen Jianghe was still at Qiyun Mountain, the Yu Clan had already started purchasing second-grade, high-tier bloodline spirit beasts to cultivate.
They had even prepared five second-grade spirit cores, but every attempt had ended in failure.
A second-grade, high-tier bloodline spirit beast had a thirty percent chance of successfully breaking through to the second grade when provided with a spirit core of the same attribute.
But success rates weren't cumulative.
It didn't mean that if you had four second-grade, high-tier bloodline spirit beasts attempting to break through at the same time, one would definitely succeed.
Each spirit beast's breakthrough was an independent event.
They were not interconnected.
Upon arriving at Immortal Gate Market City...
Chen Jianghe first made a trip to number forty-two Fortune and Longevity Street to purchase three hundred catties of Giant Python Spirit Blood from Gao Peiyao.
Another fifteen thousand spirit stones were spent.
Over the years, the cost of Giant Python Spirit Blood, Peachwood Talisman Brushes, second-grade spirit ink, and other talisman-crafting supplies had added up to a considerable amount of spirit stones.
He now had just over one hundred fifty-six thousand spirit stones left.
It seemed like a lot, but in reality, it couldn't buy him many resources.
But it didn't matter.
Chen Jianghe didn't have many uses for spirit stones anyway. His main expenses were cultivating the Dragon Pattern Red Pine and refining spirit pills to raise his spirit turtle.
Then there were the talisman brushes and spirit ink for drawing talismans.
As for cultivation resources, those were usually exchanged for with spirit items; spirit stones couldn't buy them.
"Brother Jianghe, I'll help you exchange for more Giant Python Spirit Blood next time. In the future, I probably won't be coming to Immortal Gate Market City for New Year's Eve anymore."
On the streets of Immortal Gate Market City, Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao walked side-by-side toward the Barter Pavilion.
Chen Jianghe understood what Gao Peiyao meant.
As the Beast Taming Zhou Clan's Precious Treasures Pavilions flourished south of the Sky-Reaching River, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Immortal Gate Market City had taken a huge hit.
The quality of its auctions had declined.
The number of cultivators in the Barter Pavilion had also started to plummet.
This created a vicious cycle: the fewer the cultivators, the fewer the treasures at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. And the fewer the treasures, the fewer cultivators would come...
Gao Peiyao had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, and the resources she could obtain from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion were already scarce.
With the decline in auction quality, there were simply no resources suitable for her left.
Therefore, Gao Peiyao no longer wanted to come to Immortal Gate Market City. She would rather spend that time on more sect trial missions.
Or venture deep into the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, the Arctic Snow Forest, or the Boundless Sea to search for treasures.
"That's for the best."
Chen Jianghe nodded, and the two entered the Barter Pavilion together.
There were very few Qi Refining cultivators on the first floor, probably only a few hundred, even fewer than before.
On the second floor, many white jade tables were empty, and the plaques on the trading platform were piled up like a small mountain, with no cultivators taking them.
There were only about a hundred cultivators scattered around the vast space.
This was a stark contrast to the bustling scene of over a thousand cultivators from a few years ago.
He walked a full circle.
He didn't see a single second-grade, top-tier absorbable spirit item.
The best thing available was a stalk of Ice Heart Grass, but the exchange conditions were somewhat outrageous.
Chen Jianghe felt a pang of nostalgia.
He never would have imagined that the once-crowded Barter Pavilion would end up like this.
Half an incense stick's time later.
Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao left together.
"The sect is funneling more resources into Heavenly Gate Market City. I estimate it won't be long before this Immortal Gate Market City is abandoned and becomes part of the Feng Kingdom's territory."
"Brother Jianghe, you're not a sect disciple. It's best not to go to Heavenly Gate Market City within the next ten years. You'll have to cultivate within the Feng Kingdom's territory, so you should prepare early."
Gao Peiyao sent a voice transmission.
Others could say things detrimental to the Tiannan Sect, but as a sect disciple, she couldn't speak carelessly.
However, as a friend, Gao Peiyao still gave Chen Jianghe a well-intentioned reminder.
The number of cultivators in Immortal Gate Market City was dropping sharply. At this rate, it would surely be deserted in a few years, completely abandoned.
At that point, the Tiannan Sect would likely cede it to the Feng Kingdom under certain conditions.
Although Immortal Gate Market City had a third-grade spirit vein, it was on the border of the Feng Kingdom, right next to the Tiannan Sect. It was clear that it had no potential for development.
It was very likely to become a lawless no-man's-land.
As for Gao Peiyao telling him not to go to Heavenly Gate Market City, Chen Jianghe could guess the reason.
The Tiannan Sect's southern gate had nine main branches, while the northern gate had only three. Wherever there was power, there were factions; this was unavoidable.
With the nine main branches of the Tiannan Sect suddenly moving into the northern gate, there would inevitably be internal conflict over the division of interests. If one didn't want to get involved in the infighting, it was naturally best to stay away.
Perhaps the infighting had already begun.
After all, Gao Peiyao had said that the Tiannan Sect had already started pouring resources into Heavenly Gate Market City.
This 'resource' was probably not so simple.
"Thank you for the reminder. I will make arrangements. It's just that contacting you in the future might be difficult," Chen Jianghe said.
"Brother Jianghe doesn't need to worry about correspondence. Even if Immortal Gate Market City is abandoned, a new Flying Post station will be established at the foot of the Tiannan Sect for sect disciples to send messages."
"If Brother Jianghe decides to leave, you just need to inform me of your new address."
Gao Peiyao chuckled lightly.
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe nodded.
As long as they could stay in contact, it was fine.
After exchanging a few more words with Gao Peiyao, Chen Jianghe left Immortal Gate Market City and returned to Clearwater Bay.
He first went to check on Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu.
Seeing that both women were still in seclusion, he didn't disturb them further and returned to his East Courtyard.
He continued his secluded cultivation.
This year's New Year's Eve passed uneventfully.
He had taken a stroll through the Barter Pavilion, but as for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's auction, both he and Gao Peiyao had chosen to ignore it.
Going there would only mean seeing Beauty-Preserving Pills and Life Extension Pills. There were no useful resources, and it would only be a waste of time.
In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.
Chen Jianghe finished refining all the spiritual power from the Dustfall Pill in his Shenque acupoint and took out another azure Dustfall Pill to consume.
He circulated the [Myriad Waters True Scripture] to condense his mana and expel impurities.
Two hours later.
The remaining spiritual power from the Dustfall Pill surged into his Shenque acupoint. Chen Jianghe slowly ceased his cultivation. With his divine sense, he looked inward and saw that two hundred and ninety-eight drops of Foundation Establishment mana had condensed in his dantian.
He was now refining Dustfall Pills and condensing mana at a much faster rate.
Perhaps it was due to his profound cultivation, or perhaps because the spiritual power of the Dustfall Pill was purer.
Chen Jianghe could currently condense twelve drops of Foundation Establishment mana in a year.
His dantian would be saturated at three hundred and sixty drops, reaching the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.
This meant he only needed to condense another sixty-two drops, which would take about five years.
He walked out of the cultivation chamber and went to the West Courtyard.
Seeing Jiang Ruxu staring blankly into space under the pavilion, he walked over and stood behind her.
She wore a light blue lotus-leaf dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Her fair, jade-like skin glowed with a gentle luster that was dazzling to the eye.
Standing next to Jiang Ruxu, he could smell the faint, alluring fragrance emanating from her, which was utterly captivating.
"Brother Chen?!"
Jiang Ruxu turned around and found Chen Jianghe standing behind her, staring intently at her. She was startled at first, then a wave of joy washed over her, and a shy blush crept onto her face.
"Why are you daydreaming here? What are you thinking about?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
For a cultivator, daydreaming was a great taboo, because in that state, one was full of openings.
Even when pondering things, it was done in an instant.
A cultivator's soul was powerful; a myriad of thoughts could be processed in a single moment.
"I was thinking about where we should go."
Jiang Ruxu blinked, her large, lively eyes gazing at Chen Jianghe, as clear and deep as autumn waters.
"Go where?"
Chen Jianghe was a bit puzzled.
He had planned to tell Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan about his intention to leave, but since they were both in seclusion, he hadn't had the chance.
"Immortal Gate Market City is declining, and the number of cultivators is dwindling. The Tiannan Sect can do nothing about it, which means the sect has lost control over the area south of the Sky-Reaching River. I'm afraid it won't be long before Immortal Gate Market City becomes part of the Feng Kingdom's territory."
"But as a territory right next to the Tiannan Sect, there won't be any development here until the sect leaves."
"So, I figured we might have to move, and I was just thinking about where to go."
Jiang Ruxu touched her forehead, as if she had been racking her brain trying to figure out a place for Chen Jianghe.
"You clever girl, you've got a sharp mind."
Chen Jianghe reached out and tapped the space between her eyebrows, saying with a chuckle.
"Hehe, Senior Sister and I have been by Brother Chen's side all this time, so of course we know you prefer to cultivate in peace. This Immortal Gate Market City is bound to become chaotic, so Brother Chen will definitely think about moving."
Jiang Ruxu giggled.
Chen Jianghe fully agreed with her words.
He was different from other cultivators; he just liked these peaceful days and didn't want any dramatic, turbulent experiences.
Once his cultivation was strong enough...
And he had the ability to protect himself, he could live any life he wanted.
For now, he was just a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator. A Core Formation expert could obliterate him with a casual wave of their hand.
It was better to be cautious.
"So, have you thought of any places?"
Chen Jianghe sat down on the pavilion bench and looked at Jiang Ruxu.
"I've thought of three places."
"Oh? Three places? Which three?" Chen Jianghe was very curious.
"Fellow Daoist Yu is your brother. He has established himself in the East Sea Commandery of the Qing Kingdom and his family has become one of the immortal official clans. So, the East Sea Commandery is one option."
"But the two Qinghe clans are in the Qing Kingdom. Although they are far from the East Sea Commandery, they are still within the same kingdom's territory, which is not good for us. So we can't go to the East Sea Commandery."
Jiang Ruxu said, taking a seat beside him.
"Mm, I did consider going to the East Sea Commandery. You're right, while the two Qinghe clans aren't a major concern, the Qing Kingdom itself cannot be underestimated. And behind them is the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan."
"They hold a grudge against Peiyao, blaming her for Lu Qingming's death. Since I have a good relationship with Peiyao, they would surely target me as well."
"Indeed, we can't go to the East Sea Commandery."
Chen Jianghe agreed with Jiang Ruxu's assessment and asked, "Then what's the second option?"
"The Feng Kingdom, in the territory of Muyun Mountain in Xichuan Prefecture."
Jiang Ruxu's pretty eyes shifted, and she said with a hint of playful complaint, "Brother Chen planned resources for that vixen to ensure her survival in the secret realm. The entrance to that secret realm is at Muyun Mountain."
"Many Treasures Market City is also in Xichuan Prefecture. Although it's far from Muyun Mountain, Ruan Tieniu holds a very high position in Xichuan Prefecture and can help Brother Chen."
"So, Muyun Mountain is also an option."
After the Feng Kingdom stabilized, the positions of the Three Ducal Ministers were abolished, so Ruan Tieniu was no longer the Grand Protector of the Feng Kingdom.
He had become the Immortal Commissioner in charge of the ten-thousand-li territory of Xichuan Prefecture, a position even higher than that of the Xichuan Prefecture Lord.
For Chen Jianghe...
Muyun Mountain was indeed a good destination.
If he were to go to Muyun Mountain, there was another reason: Yun Xiaoniu had disappeared in the Boundless Sea west of Muyun Mountain.
By going to Muyun Mountain, he could also inquire about Yun Xiaoniu's situation.
However, he still had reservations about going there.
The Feng Kingdom was, after all, a nation founded by demonic cultivators. Although it was controlled by the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, the top-level demonic cultivators were still around.
He was worried that if he, Jiang Ruxu, and Zhuang Xinyan entered the Feng Kingdom's territory, they might be targeted by those demonic cultivators.
The wealth of a Talisman Master Grandmaster and an Alchemy Grandmaster was enough to attract the covetous eyes of many powerful cultivators.
Most importantly, the opening of the unknown secret realm was approaching.
If they were to ambush and kill both Chen Jianghe and Jiang Ruxu, the rewards would be simply unimaginable.
"And the last one?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Jiang Ruxu, who was now so close. A few playful strands of hair veiled her phoenix eyes, giving her a touch of gentle charm within her lively gaze.
"Mirror Moon Lake."
Jiang Ruxu's cherry-red lips trembled slightly, and as she uttered the three words, her breath like orchids, she stirred a memory in Chen Jianghe.
Mirror Moon Lake was where his journey of cultivation began.
Now, Mirror Moon Lake had become part of the Feng Kingdom's territory and was considered quite stable.
However, this stability was relative.
He and Jiang Ruxu were very tempting targets for demonic cultivators and rogue plunderers.
He was not Lady Jinghong.
She could slay three peak Foundation Establishment cultivators and eight late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators with a single sword strike, practically invincible among her peers.
"Why not the Qi Kingdom?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
"The Qi Kingdom and the Qing Kingdom are allies. If the two Qinghe clans want to deal with us, we would be ostracized even in the Qi Kingdom."
"Furthermore, once we're in the Qi Kingdom, the benefits of my status as an Alchemy Grandmaster would be greatly diminished."
Jiang Ruxu had considered many things. After finishing, she looked at Chen Jianghe playfully and said, "Brother Chen, am I right?"
"Mm."
Chen Jianghe nodded.
For now, the only options were the three places Jiang Ruxu had thought of for him. But choosing between them was something Chen Jianghe needed to think about carefully.
Each place had its pros and cons.
And each came with the risk of being ambushed.
In the East Sea Commandery, there were the two Qinghe clans and the Lu Clan. If they really made a move against him, even if he could escape...
The Yu Clan would suffer an undeserved disaster because of him.
So he couldn't go to the East Sea Commandery.
That left the choice between Muyun Mountain and Mirror Moon Lake.
No matter which place he chose, he could face ambushes from demonic cultivators and rogue plunderers.
Of course, it was also possible that he was overthinking things.
Perhaps the Feng Kingdom was very stable, and there were no more demonic cultivators or rogue plunderers.
Besides, he was not an ordinary rogue cultivator anymore. He and Jiang Ruxu were famous throughout the Tiannan region, grandmasters in the hundred arts of cultivation.
If they were ambushed and killed in the Feng Kingdom...
It would be extremely detrimental to the Feng Kingdom's development, and no grandmaster would dare to enter its territory in the future.
On the other hand, if Chen Jianghe and Jiang Ruxu lived peacefully in the Feng Kingdom, it would change the perception of many grandmasters, who might then be encouraged to come and reside there.
So, there were two sides to the matter.
To Chen Jianghe, the Feng Kingdom was both very dangerous and very safe.
"Ruxu, what do you think about us going to Muyun Mountain?"
Chen Jianghe asked, looking at Jiang Ruxu.
"Hehe... Brother Chen doesn't need to ask me. Wherever you go, Senior Sister and I will follow, as long as you don't send us away."