Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 286
Chapter Title: Tieniu's Righteous Aid and Zhou Xiaoxuan's Arrival
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Immortal Sect Market City.
On a small hill not far from Clearwater Bay, several cultivators hid within a mulberry pine forest. They channeled their spiritual power into their eyes, gazing at the courtyard behind the spirit fields.
"Fellow Daoist Cen, you come from a talisman-crafting family and have plenty of talismans. The defensive array in that courtyard is second-rank low-grade. A single second-rank high-grade talisman from you can shatter it directly."
"Use a talisman? We are three Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators. We can destroy that courtyard with a direct attack. Why waste a second-rank high-grade talisman?"
Cen Linfeng's brows furrowed, a look of displeasure on his face.
He had met these two immortal officials from Feng Country in Multitude Treasures Market City. They were like-minded, both planning to move against Chen Jianghe.
Chen Chengping was supposed to come as well, but he was called away on family business. Still, the three of them, all Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators, were more than enough to deal with Chen Jianghe.
"Fellow Daoist Cen, you're not seeing the bigger picture. If you use a talisman to break the array, and we attack at the same time, wouldn't that Chen Zong... Jianghe not even have a chance to react?"
The Perfected Foundation Establishment immortal official said with a chuckle.
"That's true."
Cen Linfeng nodded, took out a second-rank high-grade metal-attribute offensive talisman, and said coldly, "After the array is broken, you two must not hold back. That Chen Jianghe has some tricks up his sleeve; we can't give him any opportunity to use them."
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Cen. We brothers are experts at this sort of thing."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Cen Linfeng was the first to fly out from the mulberry pine forest on the small hill. He sped towards the spirit fields and, without any hesitation, activated the second-rank high-grade metal-attribute offensive talisman when he was just two hundred zhang from the courtyard.
Spiritual power surged, and runes lit up the void. A hand seal formed, and a ten-zhang-long giant golden sword flew out from it.
It slashed down in an instant.
"Fellow Daoists, now!"
The golden sword light descended, and the second-rank low-grade defensive array, lacking a continuous supply of spirit stones, shattered instantly.
Cen Linfeng summoned his flying sword and flew directly into the courtyard. His divine sense instantly spread throughout the entire area, searching for Chen Jianghe's location.
"He's not here?!"
Cen Linfeng's expression changed.
Then, his divine sense detected terrifying fluctuations of spiritual power behind him. Two flying swords shot towards him at high speed.
They weren't aiming for Chen Jianghe in the courtyard; their target was him.
"Master Chen, do not panic, we are here to help... He's not here? Let's kill this bastard first, then!"
The two flying swords were so fast that they reached him before Cen Linfeng could even react.
Swish!
Swish! Clang!
Cen Linfeng couldn't block in time. An arm was instantly severed, while the other sword, aimed at the spot between his brows, was knocked off course by his own flying sword.
It grazed past his face.
A bloody gash appeared, and before the blood could even flow, the flying sword took one of his ears with it.
Immediately after, two ultimate techniques enveloped him.
The terrifying fluctuations of spiritual power turned his face pale. He wanted to cast a spell to defend himself, but it was too late. He could only hastily activate two second-rank high-grade defensive talismans.
Boom!
Pfft!
Cen Linfeng was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
A second-rank high-grade defensive talisman couldn't block the ultimate technique unleashed with the full power of a Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator.
After all, a second-rank high-grade defensive talisman was only equivalent to an ultimate defensive technique cast by a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could it block an ultimate offensive technique from a Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator?
These two immortal officials from Feng Country were formerly demonic cultivators. Their combat creed was to strike when you're down and finish you off.
They gave Cen Linfeng no chance to catch his breath.
The two immortal officials formed hand seals. Their flying swords spun, transforming into three-zhang-long sword beams that slashed directly towards Cen Linfeng.
A brilliant light erupted from Cen Linfeng's body, revealing a Spirit-Nurturing Defensive Artifact.
But under a passive defense, even a Spirit-Nurturing Defensive Artifact couldn't withstand the attacks of two Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators' flying swords.
In just three breaths.
The light of the Spirit-Nurturing Defensive Artifact dimmed. A corner was sliced off by a flying sword, destroying the array seals within.
"Why are you attacking me?"
Cen Linfeng questioned loudly.
He couldn't understand why. In the tavern back in Multitude Treasures, they had been laughing and talking, hitting it off immediately, all sharing a grudge against Chen Jianghe.
And they had all been eyeing the resources on Chen Jianghe.
There was also the alchemy master who followed Chen Jianghe; obtaining his wealth would be a significant opportunity for them.
The two immortal officials said nothing, only continuing their relentless assault.
Cen Linfeng controlled his flying sword to block one official's attack, but he had no time to cast an ultimate technique to defend against the other flying sword.
He could only activate another second-rank high-grade defensive talisman to buy himself a moment to breathe.
Boom!
The Clearwater Bay courtyard lasted only ten breaths under the battle of three Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators before it completely collapsed, turning into a pile of rubble.
The brilliant colors of magical arts and the trembling glow of rosy light stirred up clouds of dust.
Cen Linfeng was blasted into the ground, cracks appearing on his Spirit-Nurturing Defensive Artifact. He was constantly on the defensive.
The two immortal officials' attacks grew fiercer, and even his Spirit-Nurturing Defensive Artifact could barely hold up.
Cen Linfeng's face was pale, his eyes filled with disbelief and confusion.
They had agreed to kill Chen Jianghe, so why were they attacking him?
"Not good, the bastard is trying to escape!"
One of the immortal officials' expressions changed abruptly. He instantly formed a hand seal, and four fire dragons surged forth, crashing into the four directions around Cen Linfeng, trying to stop him from using a second-rank high-grade Earth Escape Talisman.
But they were a step too late.
One immortal official wanted to give chase but was stopped by the other.
"He's from a talisman-crafting family. He definitely has more than one second-rank high-grade escape talisman. As long as he gets a moment to breathe and uses one, we won't be able to catch him!"
"The Cen Clan is in Youxian Town, only about fifty li from here. We can't stay long. We need to get back quickly and claim our reward from Brother Ruan."
The two immortal officials glanced at the ruins of Clearwater Bay, a trace of confusion in their eyes. They hadn't expected Chen Jianghe to have already left.
They were decisive, not lingering for a moment. They immediately flew off on their swords towards Xichuan Prefecture.
...
Chen Jianghe had no idea that a month after he left, his Clearwater Bay courtyard had been reduced to rubble.
Right now, his mind was solely focused on drawing talismans and cultivating.
After arriving at Muyun Market City, Chen Jianghe first sent letters to Yu Daniu and Zhou Xiaoxuan, telling them his current address.
He also sent a letter to Ruan Tieniu.
After that, he began drawing talismans and cultivating the Myriad Waters True Scripture.
Less than a year remained before the opening of the conventional mystic realm, and he needed to give Zhou Xiaoxuan fifteen second-rank high-grade talismans by then.
He still had a large amount of second-rank high-grade talisman materials that he hadn't finished crafting.
These were his foundation for entering the uncharted mystic realm.
After the conventional mystic realm opened.
The opening of the uncharted mystic realm would not be far behind.
He didn't have much time left.
Another month passed.
Chen Jianghe received a letter from Ruan Tieniu.
"Cen Linfeng?!"
"What audacity. Does he really think I'm a pushover? Hmph, we'll settle this in the mystic realm."
Ruan Tieniu had sent this letter a month ago.
That meant the events described in the letter had also happened a month ago.
Cen Linfeng and two of Ruan Tieniu's immortal officials had gone to Clearwater Bay, ostensibly to deal a harsh blow to Chen Jianghe.
In reality, it was the two immortal officials who were planning to attack Cen Linfeng.
It was just a shame Cen Linfeng managed to escape.
But he had used up quite a few of his second-rank high-grade talismans.
At the same time, the two immortal officials had also used some second-rank high-grade talismans, and they hoped Chen Jianghe could reimburse them.
After all, they had attacked Cen Linfeng to help him. If he didn't reimburse them for the talismans they'd lost, it wouldn't seem right.
After reading the letter, although the meaning was veiled, Chen Jianghe knew Ruan Tieniu's character and could still discern his intent.
"This Ruan Tieniu is quite reliable. It seems helping him reach Foundation Establishment wasn't a waste."
Cen Linfeng and Chen Chengping had gone to Multitude Treasures Market City to find like-minded cultivators to ambush him.
When Ruan Tieniu found out, he turned the tables and set a trap for Cen Linfeng.
He had nearly gotten Cen Linfeng killed.
This matter couldn't be kept secret.
In other words, Ruan Tieniu had offended the Cen Clan for his sake, regardless of his motives.
He had ultimately helped him.
He had diverted some of the animosity.
After entering the uncharted mystic realm, he would no longer be Cen Linfeng's primary target; Ruan Tieniu would be.
As for the two immortal officials who had gone with Cen Linfeng to Clearwater Bay to kill him.
Chen Jianghe didn't believe for a second that they had used second-rank high-grade talismans. Who uses second-rank high-grade talismans for a sneak attack?
A sneak attack is about a single, decisive strike.
How could the power of a second-rank high-grade talisman compare to an attack from a Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator?
Regardless, they had helped him in a way.
Acting on the principle of making friends rather than enemies.
Chen Jianghe still sent a letter back to Ruan Tieniu, inviting the two fellow Daoists to visit Muyun Market City.
He would trade two second-rank high-grade talismans with them.
In the blink of an eye.
Half a year passed.
Chen Jianghe walked out of his cultivation chamber, stretched under the morning sun, and took a deep breath of the sun's essence.
He felt the profound spiritual power in his dantian.
He had already condensed three hundred and thirty drops of Foundation Establishment spiritual power. At most, it would take another three years to reach the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment.
He could forget about reaching the ninth layer before entering the uncharted mystic realm.
However, he was already content with being able to reach the eighth layer.
He was also almost done with his talismans.
He currently had thirty-five portions of second-rank high-grade talisman materials left. In his possession were twenty-two Violet Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans, twenty Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans, and fifteen Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans.
In at most five more years, he could turn the remaining thirty-five portions of second-rank high-grade talisman materials into talismans.
"I have one Blood Soul Pill left. It'll take a little over a year to fully absorb and refine it. My Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art might also reach the perfected sixth level."
With the Blood Soul Pills refined from the thousand-year Blood Spirit Ginseng, Chen Jianghe's physical cultivation was progressing rapidly.
He could already feel his physical cultivation approaching its limit.
That is, the perfected sixth level of the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art.
His spiritual power cultivation was only at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment, but his physical body was comparable to that of a Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Once the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art was perfected, he could begin cultivating the Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture.
Chen Jianghe had a premonition.
His spiritual power cultivation would likely reach perfection at the same time as his spiritual cultivation.
A trinity of perfection at Foundation Establishment.
Aside from lacking an offensive art, he could measure up to the prodigies of the top immortal clans.
"A sword art... I still need to plan for one. When Ruan Tieniu comes to find me, I'll have to ask him about it."
"It's a bold request, but I have no other choice."
If Chen Jianghe wanted to obtain an offensive art, he could only start with cultivators he knew well.
Originally, Luo Xiyue was the most suitable person to ask, but she wasn't in the Tiannan Domain; she was far away on Snowfall Island in the Tiannan Cultivation World.
As for Gao Peiyao.
He already had his answer from last time.
The Bright Moon Sword Art she possessed was a legacy offensive art of Silver Moon Peak and could not be taught to outsiders.
Even if she gave it to him, he wouldn't dare to practice it.
Anyone who wasn't a disciple of the Tiannan Sect's Silver Moon Peak and practiced the Bright Moon Sword Art would be hunted down by the entire Tiannan Sect.
Hunted down, not just wanted.
A wanted notice was posted on the mission contribution board.
Being hunted down meant that even Core Formation Elders would take action.
Besides Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue, the only other person Chen Jianghe knew well who might have an offensive art was Ruan Tieniu.
He didn't know if it was a sword art or some other kind of art.
As for Lady Jinghong?
They weren't well-acquainted, merely nodding acquaintances with some favors exchanged.
If he could obtain a quasi-third-rank soul-type spirit object and awaken Lady Jinghong's husband, then he might be able to bring up the matter of a sword art.
Of course, it would only be a mention.
And Chen Jianghe would have to risk the news leaking and incurring the wrath of that peak master from the Tiannan Sect.
Entering the isolation array, he looked at Xiao Hei, Maoqiu, and Latiao, who were all cultivating diligently. A look of gratification appeared on Chen Jianghe's face.
Xiao Hei was very sensible and understood the dangers they faced.
With Xiao Hei urging Maoqiu and Latiao to cultivate, Chen Jianghe had much less to worry about.
Furthermore, Xiao Hei also had to raise the spirit turtles in his spare time, taking many tasks off his plate.
Chen Jianghe didn't disturb the cultivating Xiao Hei and the others. He watered the Dragon Pattern Red Pine with a hundred catties of giant python spirit blood.
Then he walked over to the lotus pond that Xiao Hei had dug.
After consuming the spirit water diluted with spirit pills, the forty-six spirit turtles were all lying there, fast asleep.
These spirit turtles were cultivating very quickly.
Under his no-expense-spared nurturing, another twenty-one had advanced to the late first rank.
Now, only a dozen or so were still at the mid first rank.
By the second half of next year at the latest, all these spirit turtles would reach the late first rank.
Including the three spirit turtles he had purchased later.
"I have a little over a year at most before I can perfect the sixth level of the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art. These spirit turtles are breaking through at just the right time."
A smile appeared on the corner of Chen Jianghe's mouth.
He walked out of the isolation array.
He glanced at the rooms where the two women were cultivating; they were both still in seclusion.
Chen Jianghe did not disturb them.
He scanned the post box with his divine sense.
There were many letters of visit, about thirty or so.
As the Old Man of Many Fortunes, famous throughout the Tiannan Domain, and also a Talisman Master, it was natural that many cultivators would want to visit him after he came to Muyun Market City.
They hoped to request a second-rank high-grade talisman.
Of these thirty-odd letters, thirteen were addressed to him, while over twenty were for Jiang Ruxu.
As an Alchemy Master, Jiang Ruxu received even more visitors.
As Jiang Ruxu's background was revealed, she gained the title of a genius fairy in addition to being an Alchemy Master.
Jiang Ruxu was indeed a genius in the path of alchemy.
She had only studied alchemy for seventy years and had already become an Alchemy Master capable of refining second-rank high-grade spirit pills.
Such a genius was hard to find in the entire Tiannan Domain.
Even the Alchemy Immortal Ji Clan had few Alchemy Masters who could refine second-rank high-grade spirit pills.
That Ji Yanfeng was considered a genius, yet he could only refine second-rank mid-grade spirit pills now.
And he was much older than Jiang Ruxu.
His cultivation was only slightly higher than Jiang Ruxu's.
But by the time Jiang Ruxu reached Ji Yanfeng's age, her cultivation would also have broken through to Perfected Foundation Establishment.
Chen Jianghe guessed that Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu were both close to condensing three hundred and sixty drops of Foundation Establishment spiritual power.
After all, they both had four-element pseudo-spiritual roots, and their speed of absorbing and refining spiritual energy was much faster than his five-element miscellaneous spiritual root.
Chen Jianghe took out the letters addressed to him and read them one by one. They were all from mid- to late-stage Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators.
However, he memorized the names of all the visitors.
One should not look down on others just because they are temporarily weak.
The Records of Tiannan stated that three hundred years ago, there was a rogue cultivator who was originally a servant of an immortal official's family in Yue Country. After a series of fortuitous encounters, he became a Core Formation True Master in just one hundred and fifty years.
A servant becoming a Core Formation True Master was the only such case in the thousands of years of strange tales recorded in the Records of Tiannan.
But after this senior, Chen Batian, became a Core Formation True Master, he suddenly disappeared.
There were rumors that the Tiannan Sect, fearing Senior Chen Batian would become a Nascent Soul True Lord and threaten their status, had secretly killed him.
There were also rumors that Senior Chen Batian had entered the Arctic Snow Forest and gone to the other side.
In short, there were all sorts of rumors.
The Records of Tiannan mentioned this happening three hundred years ago, and the records themselves hadn't been updated in over eight hundred years.
In other words.
More than eleven hundred years had passed since the time of Senior Chen Batian.
No matter which rumor was true, he had likely reached the end of his lifespan by now.
He walked out of the Rosy Cloud Cave-Dwelling.
The first thing he saw was a dozen or so cultivators blocking the entrance.
"Old Man of Many Fortunes, Master Chen?"
"Fellow Daoist, you must be Master Chen!"
"We've finally waited for Master Chen to come out of seclusion! Please, Master Chen, grace the Muyun Tavern with your presence for a banquet."
"Master Chen, I am the Chief Scribe of the Muyun Mountain Range. I have come under orders from my superior to invite Master Chen to the Immortal Envoy's Office for a chat."
"..."
Seeing Chen Jianghe emerge, these cultivators immediately swarmed him, speaking respectfully.
This scene left Chen Jianghe a bit stunned.
The cultivators of Muyun Market City were a little too enthusiastic.
However, he didn't want to get involved with too many cultivators, nor did he want to make enemies. So, he clasped his hands and politely declined each one.
Then, he quickly left the gorge in front of the Rosy Cloud Cave-Dwelling and flew into the Treasure Pavilion.
"Everyone, I told you to come one by one. You all insisted on coming together. Now look, you've scared Master Chen away."
"Tsk tsk, your Immortal Envoy's Office sure acts high and mighty, sending a mere Chief Scribe to invite Master Chen."
"Exactly! Master Chen and Military Governor Immortal Envoy Ruan are brothers. When did it become your place, a local Immortal Envoy's Office, to throw your weight around?"
"It's clearly your Immortal Envoy's Office that lacked courtesy, which is why Master Chen left in anger. When Military Governor Immortal Envoy Ruan hears of this, I think your Immortal Envoy will be getting replaced."
"That's right! When did it become your turn, you bootlicker, to boss us around? When the Immortal Envoy of Muyun Market City is dismissed by Military Governor Immortal Envoy Ruan, maybe I'll be the new one. Come on, bark for me."
"..."
That one sentence from the Chief Scribe instantly drew the ire of all the cultivators. Taunts, harsh words, and insults were all thrown his way.
If it were just one cultivator, even a late-stage Foundation Establishment one, he would have ways to deal with them. But against this crowd, he was helpless.
Among them were even a few cultivators from the powerful local Foundation Establishment immortal clans of the Muyun Mountain Range.
He was only the Chief Scribe, not the Immortal Envoy, and couldn't afford to offend them. He could only leave in disgrace.
...
The Treasure Pavilion had seven floors and was shaped like an exquisite pagoda.
The first floor was a spirit beast garden, containing spirit beasts with second-grade low-tier and second-grade high-tier bloodlines.
The second floor was for resources needed by Qi Refining cultivators.
The third floor was the cultivation art and publication section.
The fourth floor was for conventional resources needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The fifth floor was the barter and exchange hall.
The sixth floor was the auction hall.
The seventh floor was a resting place for the disciples of the Beast Taming Immortal Zhou Clan. Those Zhou Clan disciples passing through Muyun Market City could stop here to rest.
Chen Jianghe browsed around and found that the conventional resources in the Treasure Pavilion were in no way inferior to those in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
The Qi Refining cultivation resources were comprehensive.
This included First Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pills and first-rank Spirit-Nurturing Liquid.
Previously, if one wanted to buy First Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pills and first-rank Spirit-Nurturing Liquid in the Tiannan Domain, one could only do so through auctions or by going to the Immortal Sect Market City.
But with the Beast Taming Zhou Clan occupying the south of the Sky-Reaching River, every Treasure Pavilion sold First Revolution Spirit-Nourishing Pills and first-rank Spirit-Nurturing Liquid.
The Beast Taming Zhou Clan had truly benefited countless rogue cultivators south of the Sky-Reaching River.
The conventional resources for Foundation Establishment cultivators were also very complete, on par with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the Immortal Sect Market City.
The cultivation art and publication section was also more comprehensive.
Perhaps because Muyun Market City was the sixth-ranked market city in the Tiannan Domain, it had all kinds of conventional resources.
However, the barter and exchange hall was somewhat disappointing.
It was all second-rank high-grade absorbable spirit items or second-rank high-grade spirit materials. Even second-rank top-grade absorbable spirit items were rare.
Logically, this shouldn't be the case.
Muyun Mountain was close to the Starfall Sea. With so many spirit thieves, there should be some second-rank spirit cores, or second-rank top-grade spirit materials and other resources.
But the barter and exchange hall was practically empty.
This left Chen Jianghe quite puzzled.
The auction hadn't started yet, so he couldn't go in. Chen Jianghe returned to the first floor and saw that the Treasure Pavilion had a comprehensive selection of spirit beasts.
There were many second-grade bloodline Flame Turtles, Stone Rock Turtles, and Mystic Water Turtles.
Chen Jianghe didn't plan to buy any more.
Raising spirit turtles was very time-consuming, and he didn't have enough time to continue raising them. The time he had agreed upon with Luo Xiyue was drawing near.
If Chen Jianghe wanted that high-grade spirit stone, he had to go find Luo Xiyue.
If he obtained that high-grade spirit stone, even if he let Xiao Hei devour it directly, he could probably become a fifth-grade high-tier bloodline, or even the legendary sixth-grade bloodline.
Therefore, he was determined to get that high-grade spirit stone.
After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, he took another tour of the entire Muyun Market City. He felt it was quite similar to Thousand Mountains Market City.
It was just that one was built on a cluster of peaks, while the other was built in a valley among mountains.
Returning to the Rosy Cloud Cave-Dwelling, he saw a graceful and beautiful silhouette standing in front of the cave from afar.
Her face could topple cities, her skin was like warm jade, and she wore a white gauze dress. A green jade hairpin held up her three thousand strands of hair, and there was a vermilion dot between her brows.
"Uncle Chen."
The beauty called out softly.
It was Zhou Xiaoxuan, who had come for the mystic realm trial.
It was just that the vermilion dot on her brow concealed Zhou Xiaoxuan's innate allure.
(End of this chapter)