Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 283
Chapter Title: Immortal Gate's Decline, Ample Preparations
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"I couldn't bear to part with you two. One's a grandmaster alchemist, and the other's a puppet master, haha..."
Chen Jianghe stood up, gently stroking Jiang Ruxu's hair with a teasing remark.
"Mhm."
Jiang Ruxu nodded obediently.
Back in the East Courtyard.
Chen Jianghe continued his cultivation, drawing second-tier superior-grade talismans. However, he didn't plan on making any Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans.
He currently had twenty-two Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans, twenty Green Wood Vine Shield Talismans, and twenty Green Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans.
The Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans were escape talismans for saving his life.
They would be more than enough for the three of them in an emergency on their way to Mount Mu.
The Green Wood Vine Shield Talismans were also sufficient.
But for an offensive talisman like the Green Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman, he could never have enough. In the face of danger, a powerful offense was also a form of defense.
As long as he had enough second-tier superior-grade offensive talismans.
With the soul attack properties of the Green Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman, the average cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment would truly be unable to withstand it.
"The regular secret realm will open in less than four years. If I'm going to Mount Mu, I should wait a while longer."
"I'll focus on drawing Green Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans for now."
"When the time comes, it would be best to ask Gao Peiyao to make the trip. She has the Spirit Serpent Vessel, which is fast and much safer."
Chen Jianghe made his decision.
As for borrowing Gao Peiyao's Spirit Serpent Vessel, that was definitely impossible.
Gao Peiyao needed the Spirit Serpent Vessel for her sect missions. Moreover, the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan was already targeting her. Without the vessel, a single misstep could lead to her being cornered and killed by the Lu Clan's younger generation.
Therefore, he couldn't borrow it; he could only ask Gao Peiyao to accompany them.
Half a year passed.
Yun Bufan came to Clearwater Cove to bid farewell to Chen Jianghe. He said he was heading to Donghai Commandery and would later go to Xichuan Prefecture when the Mount Mu secret realm was about to open.
He also invited Chen Jianghe to go to Donghai Commandery with him.
Chen Jianghe politely declined.
He didn't want to bring trouble to Yu Daniu's family because of him, not before he had the ability to deal with the two clans of Qinghe.
Rushing north of the Heaven-Reaching River would put him in a perilous situation.
Chen Jianghe had also inquired about the situation of the two Qinghe clans. Due to fourteen years of turmoil, they had also encountered some fortunate opportunities.
Before the turmoil in the Tiannan Domain, the two Qinghe clans only had three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, one late second-tier spirit beast, and eight early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
But now, as one of the six great immortal official families of the Qing Kingdom, the two Qinghe clans had two cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment, one peak second-tier spirit beast, five late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, and fifteen early to mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
They were considered a significant power.
Of course, without the backing of the Qing Kingdom and the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan, Chen Jianghe wouldn't really fear the two Qinghe clans.
By the eighth month.
Yu Daniu sent a letter, likely because he saw that Yun Bufan had gone to Donghai Commandery while Chen Jianghe had not.
Thus, he had guessed some of the reasons.
He then explained the Yu Clan's current situation to Chen Jianghe.
Donghai Commandery was within the territory of Qingyun Prefecture in the Qing Kingdom.
The Immortal Envoy of Qingyun Prefecture was a Core Formation Master, one of the five Core Formation Masters who had helped Master Qingyou establish the kingdom.
He had now established himself in Qingyun Prefecture, founding a Core Formation Immortal Clan and spreading his lineage.
Their Yu Clan had already formed a marriage alliance with Master Qingyun's family and did not fear the two Qinghe clans.
He told Chen Jianghe not to worry about the two Qinghe clans acting against the Yu Clan, and that he could come to Donghai Commandery at any time.
"Master Qingyun?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Yu Daniu's letter. The Yu Clan's ability to form a marriage alliance with Master Qingyun's family showed that they had established a firm foothold in the Qing Kingdom.
Chen Jianghe had heard rumors about Master Qingyun before.
A rogue Core Formation expert from south of the Heaven-Reaching River, invited by Master Qingyou, who together established the Qing Kingdom.
For a mere rogue cultivator to reach Core Formation meant that Master Qingyun must have once been a prodigy among rogue cultivators.
Blessed with great fortune and opportunities.
However, Master Qingyun was already in his twilight years, having been at the Core Formation stage for over three hundred years. In other words, he probably only had a few decades of life left.
That was why he had become the Immortal Envoy of Qingyun Prefecture. Otherwise, if Master Qingyun had established an Immortal Clan, it would have been a pillar of the Qing Kingdom.
The clan's descendants would have been able to rotate into the position of chancellor.
"Master Qingyun has only one son, and the spiritual root aptitude of the clan's descendants is limited. Although they have Master Qingyun's support and reaching Foundation Establishment is not a problem, achieving Core Formation to continue the clan's glory is very difficult."
"The two Qinghe clans are highly valued by Master Qingyou and have received a great deal of resources. Their family's strength is growing day by day, so they might not necessarily hold Qingyun Prefecture in high regard."
"It's best if I don't go to Donghai Commandery and stir up trouble."
For a dignified Core Formation expert like Master Qingyun to serve as the Immortal Envoy of a prefecture might seem like a position of great power, but it was inevitably a bit of a step down.
The Immortal Envoy governed a prefecture, but this was mostly an immortal post held by late-stage or peak Foundation Establishment cultivators with great potential.
For example, the Immortal Envoy of Qinghe Prefecture was a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator from the two Qinghe clans.
The Immortal Envoy of Xichuan Prefecture in the Feng Kingdom was held by the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ruan Tieniu.
However, Ruan Tieniu had now broken through to the peak of Foundation Establishment.
The breakthrough of a prefecture's Immortal Envoy was a major event, and the "Current Affairs Magazine" would naturally record it.
Chen Jianghe could see it as well.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe wrote a reply to Yu Daniu, politely declining his kind offer and advising him to take good care of his health.
He also told him to develop the Yu Clan steadily and not be too hasty.
Without powerful cultivators in the clan, everything was illusory.
Among Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans, the Yu Clan was considered an upper-middle tier family.
With the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills provided by Chen Jianghe, Yun Siniu had already become a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The Yun Clan had already been destroyed.
Yun Bufan could also be considered half a member of the Yu Clan.
In terms of blood relations, the surviving Yun Clan members were not as closely related to him as Yun Xiaoniu and Yun Siniu were.
This was also why Yun Bufan was so intent on finding Yun Xiaoniu.
Therefore, it was reasonable for the Yu Clan, with one late-stage and one mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, to be based in a commandery of the immortal kingdom.
Furthermore, Yu Guangzhu's spiritual root aptitude was extremely high. At only twenty-five years old this year, he had already broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining.
He had even begun practicing body tempering arts.
With the resources currently provided by the Yu Clan, Yu Guangzhu had a high chance of matching Yun Bufan and successfully reaching Foundation Establishment around the age of thirty-six.
By then, not counting Yun Xiaoniu whose fate was unknown, the Yu Clan would have three Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The eleventh month.
Chen Jianghe brought Zhuang Xinyan to the Immortal Gate Market City. Looking at the sparsely populated streets, it was a scene of desolation.
They walked into the Hundred Treasures Tower.
Including the clerks, there were fewer than two hundred cultivators inside.
"Big Brother Chen, has the Immortal Gate Market City declined this much?" Zhuang Xinyan felt it was a pity.
Once upon a time, the Immortal Gate Market City was the safest place in the Tiannan Domain, and also the place with the most complete collection of conventional spiritual items.
It had even once become the market city with the highest-spec auctions.
Even third-tier treasured talismans were put up for auction.
What a grand occasion that was!
Over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered in one place, a height that even the second-ranked Thousand Mountains Market City could not reach.
"The Beast Taming Zhou Clan has also become a Nascent Soul power and reached an agreement with the fourth-tier great demon of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. With the Tiannan Sect moving north in the future, the decline of the Immortal Gate Market City is inevitable."
"However, it might recover its former glory in the future."
Chen Jianghe sent a voice transmission.
As long as the Tiannan Sect moved north, and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan completely controlled the south of the Heaven-Reaching River, then the Tiannan Sect's southern gate territory would inevitably become the Beast Taming Zhou Clan's first choice for their clan grounds.
One must know, there were only four fourth-tier spirit veins on the surface in the Tiannan Domain. One was in the core area of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
One was at the Tiannan Sect's southern gate, and one was at their northern gate.
There was another fourth-tier spirit vein in the west.
As for whether there was a fourth-tier spirit vein in the Arctic Snow Forest, no one had ventured deep inside, so it was uncertain.
But if there was a fourth-tier great demon, then there must be a fourth-tier spirit vein in the Arctic Snow Forest.
They arrived at the second floor.
There were only a few dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Chen Jianghe bought some medicinal herbs for refining Water Spirit Pills, Fire Spirit Pills, and Earth Spirit Pills.
He spent twenty-three thousand five hundred spirit stones.
These were all for raising spirit turtles.
The Rock Turtle was an earth-attribute spirit beast, the Mystic Water Turtle was a water-attribute spirit beast, and the Flame Turtle was a fire-attribute spirit beast.
Although they were all still mid first-tier, after diluting the Water, Fire, and Earth Spirit Pills, they could still absorb them.
It was just that this would cause a large loss of spiritual energy, resulting in waste.
In order to get those spirit turtles to reach the late first-tier sooner, Chen Jianghe couldn't be bothered with that.
A little waste was acceptable!
The situation had changed, and Chen Jianghe had no choice but to think of every possible way to improve himself.
Spirit pills for nurturing second-tier spirit beasts, even when diluted, would still harm the spirit turtles' essence.
But it could accelerate their cultivation.
Chen Jianghe didn't need their potential; he needed the soul armor of late first-tier mystic turtles.
If he continued to raise them with superior-grade spirit pills, Chen Jianghe had Xiao Hei estimate that it would still take another four years.
Chen Jianghe didn't have that much time to wait.
He also bought six Peach Wood Heart-Clearing Talisman Brushes and eighteen boxes of second-tier spirit ink.
He spent eleven thousand four hundred spirit stones.
He didn't know what the situation would be like when he got to Mount Mu in the future. It was better to prepare more of these tools of his trade.
In this one trip to the Hundred Treasures Tower, Chen Jianghe had spent another thirty-four thousand nine hundred spirit stones.
Currently, he still had one hundred twenty-one thousand nine hundred spirit stones on him.
He left the Hundred Treasures Tower.
He glanced in the direction of the Barter Tower.
Only to find that this Barter Tower, once most popular among Foundation Establishment cultivators, had already closed down.
There was nothing to be done.
There were too few cultivators in the Immortal Gate Market City.
In addition, the Treasure Towers established everywhere by the Beast Taming Zhou Clan already had venues for barter and exchange meetings.
The spiritual items in the Treasure Towers were also very comprehensive.
The Beast Taming Zhou Clan cooperated with the fourth-tier great demons in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
Therefore, many precious items from deep within the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range could be seen at the Treasure Tower's auctions.
"Let's go, back to Clearwater Cove."
Chen Jianghe and Zhuang Xinyan came quickly and left even faster. The current Immortal Gate Market City really had nothing worth browsing.
Even conventional resources were starting to become scarce.
The medicinal herbs Chen Jianghe bought for refining second-tier spirit pills had already caused a stock-out of the five-element spirit pills used for nurturing second-tier spirit beasts.
If anyone else wanted to buy them, unless new resources flowed into the Immortal Gate Market City, they would never be available again.
Back at Clearwater Cove.
Chen Jianghe had Zhuang Xinyan go cultivate.
He, on the other hand, was in the West Courtyard drawing Green Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans.
If nothing unexpected happened, Gao Peiyao would be coming to Clearwater Cove soon. During their last meeting, Gao Peiyao had already mentioned it.
It might be the last time they traded for Giant Python Spirit Blood.
Just as Chen Jianghe expected, as the New Year's Eve approached, Gao Peiyao arrived at Clearwater Cove, bringing him a piece of news.
The front hall of the West Courtyard.
Chen Jianghe personally brewed a pot of spirit tea, poured a cup for Gao Peiyao, and another for himself.
"Venerable Lan is going to the Heaven's Gate Market City? Is the Tiannan Sect moving north soon? Didn't they say they would wait until after the unknown secret realm opens?!"
Hearing Gao Peiyao say that Venerable Lan was going to the Heaven's Gate Market City and would be residing north of the Heaven-Reaching River for a long time.
This made Chen Jianghe frown.
He didn't want any unforeseen changes to the unknown secret realm.
Although the unknown secret realm was risky, he had prepared enough trump cards. He also needed to enter it to plan for his own Core Formation resources.
He could forgo other resources.
Because those resources could be obtained slowly through planning.
But how could one plan for Core Formation resources?
Rely on trading with others?
It was possible to trade, but one needed treasures of equal value. Without venturing into secret realms to hunt for treasure, how could one obtain high-value items?
Core Formation resources were far from comparable to Foundation Establishment resources. Trying to obtain them through exchange was simply nonsense.
Unless you were a Nascent Soul True Lord, you might be able to obtain Core Formation resources through scheming. Otherwise, you still had to do it yourself.
Or produce treasures of equal value.
"The sect won't be moving north for the time being. Master is going to the Heaven's Gate Market City to prevent the interests of Silver Moon Peak from being lost."
"The nine branches of the southern gate moving north will take away more than seventy percent of the interests of the three northern branches. A peak lord in the sect has proposed to divide the resources equally."
"The resources of the three northern branches were already less than those of the nine southern branches. If they were divided equally, the nine southern branches would suffer a great loss."
"To ensure Silver Moon Peak's interests are not lost, our peak lord has sent Master to the Heaven's Gate Market City first to control the flying post stations north of the Heaven-Reaching River."
Gao Peiyao was a little helpless.
Although her and Chen Jianghe's methods were different, they both wanted to develop steadily. One was slowly managing as a rogue cultivator, while the other was using the sect to develop herself.
Gao Peiyao didn't want there to be conflict within the Tiannan Sect.
She wanted to rely on the Tiannan Sect to reach Core Formation peacefully and then plan for other things.
"Then are you going to the Heaven's Gate Market City?"
Chen Jianghe asked with some concern.
He still had some affection for Gao Peiyao, this little sister from his youth, and didn't want her to get involved in the sect's internal struggles.
The nine southern branches, the three northern branches—one didn't need to think to know that conflicts of interest would surely arise.
If the Tiannan Sect's master was in his prime, he would definitely suppress internal struggles in a short time, and they might not even occur.
But a sect master in his twilight years, who also needed to fend off the Beast Taming Zhou Clan and the fourth-tier great demon from deep within the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, how could he have the energy to spare for internal sect conflicts?
The Tiannan Sect was currently in a period of great turmoil.
If one could stay away, it was best to do so.
"Because I need to enter the unknown secret realm, I haven't been sent north of the Heaven-Reaching River. But after the secret realm ends, I'm afraid I'll also have to go north to protect Silver Moon Peak's interests at the flying post stations."
"What interests do the flying post stations have?"
Chen Jianghe didn't quite understand.
The price for sending messages via the flying post stations wasn't high, almost negligible.
It was impossible for Silver Moon Peak to use the flying post stations to earn spirit stones; they would probably have to subsidize it with millions of spirit stones every year.
"The flying post stations are a 'fortune' industry. They can help Silver Moon Peak secure more resources within the sect."
"A fortune industry?"
"Once Big Brother Jianghe reaches Core Formation, you will understand what a fortune industry is."
Gao Peiyao didn't elaborate.
Before reaching a certain realm, it was better not to know too much, lest it affect one's state of mind.
The biggest taboo for cultivators was to be overly ambitious with an unsteady Dao heart.
For a low-level cultivator to glimpse the secrets of heaven was sometimes not a blessing, but a disaster.
It could cause one's Dao heart to collapse.
Chen Jianghe nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
It was already very good of Gao Peiyao to tell him so much about the Tiannan Sect, allowing him to learn about the movements of the Tiannan Domain's super-powers early on.
He could better avoid disasters in advance.
"This is two thousand catties of Giant Python Spirit Blood. From now on, little sister won't be able to exchange for it for Big Brother Jianghe within the sect."
Gao Peiyao said.
"Thank you."
Chen Jianghe expressed his thanks, took out one hundred thousand spirit stones and gave them to Gao Peiyao, then put away the three jade bottles containing the Giant Python Spirit Blood.
As for what Gao Peiyao said about not being able to exchange for Giant Python Spirit Blood anymore.
Chen Jianghe had learned some of the reasons from Jiang Ruxu.
Because the Tiannan Sect was moving north, many of the spirit beasts raised by the sect would also be moved to the northern gate.
The twenty giant pythons raised by the Tiannan Sect were naturally among those being moved.
For Gao Peiyao to say this, it meant the giant pythons had probably already been moved north to the Tiannan Sect's northern gate.
At the same time, the main branch in charge of the Tiannan Sect's Spirit Beast Garden would use this opportunity to extend its influence into the northern gate to fight for benefits.
"By the way, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with, Peiyao."
"What is it? Please speak, Big Brother Jianghe."
"Ruxu, Xinyan, and I are moving to Mount Mu in Xichuan Prefecture of the Feng Kingdom. When the time comes, I'd like to ask you to escort us with your Spirit Serpent Vessel."
"Mount Mu?"
Gao Peiyao was taken aback. She looked at Chen Jianghe for confirmation, "Big Brother Jianghe is going to Mount Mu?"
"Yes. I have some business with Zhou Xiaoxuan and need to make a trip to Mount Mu. Since these are turbulent times, I don't want to run around too much, so I plan to settle down at Mount Mu for a while."
Chen Jianghe said with a smile.
Mount Mu was a mountain range with dozens of peaks, and between its valleys, there was a Mount Mu Market City.
It was also a renowned market city in the Tiannan Domain, ranked in the top ten. To be precise, it was the sixth-ranked market city.
The reason Chen Jianghe chose Mount Mu was also because of this market city, which could provide a stable supply of conventional resources.
In addition, with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan vigorously developing the south of the Tiannan Domain, this highly-ranked market city would surely have even more treasures.
In fact, Mount Mu was once the territory of the Alchemy Immortal Ji Clan, and the Mount Mu Market City was also a market city that the Ji Clan had vigorously developed.
But as the Qi Kingdom was driven out from south of the Heaven-Reaching River, the Ji Clan naturally couldn't remain at Mount Mu.
They were powerless against a greater force.
The Beast Taming Zhou Clan was not what it used to be. It was no longer one of the four great top-tier immortal clans on par with the Ji Clan.
The power they now measured themselves against was the Tiannan Sect.
"Escorting Big Brother Jianghe to Mount Mu is no problem. Just tell me the time, Big Brother Jianghe, and I will come to Clearwater Cove to see you off."
A playful glint flashed in Gao Peiyao's eyes.
Going west, to Mount Mu nonetheless.
‘It seems he doesn't know that secret yet. He probably just wants to settle down at Mount Mu.’
‘That's fine too. I'm restricted by the sect and can't tell him this secret. If he happens to learn of it by chance before reaching Core Formation, it will be of great help to him.’
‘To intend to go to Mount Mu without any hints... it seems he is indeed blessed with some opportunities. Perhaps he can help me in the future.’
Chen Jianghe didn't know what Gao Peiyao was thinking. Hearing her agree, he told her the time of their departure.
It would be the year before the regular secret realm opened.
In other words, one year from now.
"Big Brother Jianghe, after you get to Mount Mu, you can look around. Go to the Starfall Sea in the west more often."
"I'll come to see you off in a year. Little sister will take her leave now."
With that, Gao Peiyao left Clearwater Cove.
Chen Jianghe saw Gao Peiyao to the door. Watching her leave, he returned to the East Courtyard.
"Go to the Starfall Sea more often?"
"What is Gao Peiyao trying to tell me?"
When he said he was going to Mount Mu, a flash of surprise had crossed Gao Peiyao's eyes, though it was fleeting.
But it was caught by Chen Jianghe's sharp gaze.
"It probably isn't dangerous. Otherwise, Gao Peiyao wouldn't have agreed to take me there."
"Then it must be an opportunity."
"What kind of opportunity could Mount Mu have? Its market city is only ranked sixth; there shouldn't be any opportunities there."
"If there really was an opportunity, the Ji Clan would have surely taken it with them when they moved north."
"Then it must be the Starfall Sea!"
Chen Jianghe thought of the Starfall Sea. According to the information Luo Xiyue left behind, the Tiannan Domain was just a corner of the Tiannan Cultivation World.
It couldn't even be considered a corner.
This was the back garden of the ancient Snow Sect.
It was just that the Arctic Snow Forest had severed the connection between the Tiannan Domain and the Tiannan Cultivation World, making it impossible for cultivators from the Tiannan Domain to leave.
To leave the Tiannan Domain, one could only venture deep into the Starfall Sea.
But the Starfall Sea was also fraught with danger. Robber cultivators, demonic cultivators, and evil cultivators faced no restrictions or constraints on the Starfall Sea.
Most importantly, there were powerful demonic beasts in the boundless Starfall Sea.
They were much stronger than the demonic beasts on land.
"Look around the Starfall Sea more often? If it's safe, that's fine. After I get out of the unknown secret realm, I'll need to go through the Starfall Sea to find Luo Xiyue anyway."
"It wouldn't hurt to get familiar with it in advance."
Chen Jianghe didn't dwell on it further.
He calmed his mind, cleared his thoughts, and cultivated by circulating the Myriad Waters True Scripture.
To go to the Starfall Sea, he needed a sufficiently powerful cultivation base. Otherwise, the risk would be too great.
After the first month, it was just the beginning of the second.
A guest arrived at Clearwater Cove.
Chen Jianghe looked at the message in his hand, hesitated for a moment, but still walked out of the East Courtyard and invited Xu Feng and his wife into the front hall.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, is there something you need from me?"
Chen Jianghe wasn't arrogant. He was very amiable as he poured a cup of tea for Xu Feng and his wife.
Meeting Xu Feng this time, he discovered that the other man had also broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
It seemed what Ruan Tieniu had said back then was true.
Although Xu Hong had fallen, he had obtained a great opportunity for his older brother, enough to cultivate to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
Calculated this way, Xu Hong's death was quite worth it.
"The Immortal Gate Market City is now deserted, and its resources are depleted. I wish to take my wife to Xichuan Prefecture to seek refuge with Fellow Daoist Ruan."
Xu Feng said with his hands clasped.
Xu Feng's wife also bowed gracefully, thanking Chen Jianghe for pouring her tea.
She was only a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. If not for being Xu Feng's wife, let alone having a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator pour her tea, even getting a second glance from one would be an extravagant hope.
"Xichuan Prefecture? Hmm, a good place. In that case, I wish you a safe journey, Fellow Daoist Xu."
Chen Jianghe said with a smile.
How could he not understand the purpose of Xu Feng's visit? It just depended on what the other party had to offer.