Chapter 289
Chapter 289
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 289
Chapter Title: Azure Water Golden Lotus, Fourth-Tier Great Demon 'Kui'
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"A third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object?!"
Chen Jianghe's heart pounded. He glanced at Yun Bufan, shocked that he had obtained such a great treasure in the Muyun Mystic Realm!
If it were a third-tier, inferior-grade spiritual object, he could let it go.
But this was a third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object!
Even as a spiritual material, it was suitable for refining Dharma treasures.
It could be said that any third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object, regardless of its type, was a great treasure of unimaginable value.
"I can't feel True Master Mingjing's divine sense on me, but he is definitely watching every cultivator who leaves the mystic realm."
Chen Jianghe was certain that any cultivator who had entered the mystic realm using a slot from the Tiannan Sect would be a primary focus for the Core Formation True Masters upon their exit.
Trying to smuggle a third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object out from under the noses of the Tiannan Sect's Core Formation elders was basically impossible.
Even if Chen Jianghe gave Yun Bufan the Lesser Teleportation Talisman, it wouldn't work.
Fleeing so brazenly would announce to everyone that he possessed a great treasure, bringing him endless danger.
It would also implicate the Yu Clan.
Yun Bufan could run, but how could Yu Daniu?
But to hand over a third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object... not just Yun Bufan, even Chen Jianghe was unwilling.
"Brother Yun, what kind of third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object is it?" Chen Jianghe asked via voice transmission.
"It's a spiritual plant."
Yun Bufan replied, "I saw it recorded in the *Annals of Tiannan*. It's a third-tier, superior-grade spiritual plant, the Azure Water Golden Lotus."
"The Azure Water Golden Lotus? How is that possible!"
Chen Jianghe was horrified.
How could there be an Azure Water Golden Lotus in the Muyun Mystic Realm?
The growing conditions for an Azure Water Golden Lotus were extremely demanding, with a third-tier spirit spring being the most basic requirement.
In other words.
A third-tier spirit spring, something rare in the entire Tiannan Region, existed within this Muyun Mystic Realm.
Chen Jianghe didn't release his divine sense, but in his peripheral vision, he noticed the slight bulge in Yun Bufan's chest.
If he wasn't mistaken, what was hidden there should be a spiritual plant pouch.
The Azure Water Golden Lotus, an unparalleled material for refining Dharma treasures. It could be used for offensive Dharma treasures and was even more suitable for defensive Talisman treasures or special types of bonded Dharma treasures.
Even if the Azure Water Golden Lotus was broken down, its seeds could be cultivated into a new lotus or refined into spiritual pills.
The azure water lotus leaves could be used to draw second-tier, superior-grade talismans.
The stem could be refined into an offensive Dharma treasure.
The flower could be refined into a defensive Dharma treasure.
The entire plant could be refined into a special-purpose Dharma treasure.
Although the Azure Water Golden Lotus was a third-tier, superior-grade spiritual plant, its value far exceeded that of an ordinary third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object.
Because the stem and the flower could each be considered a third-tier, superior-grade spiritual object in their own right.
"Brother Chen, without your talismans, I'm afraid I would have perished in the mystic realm. If we can get this Azure Water Golden Lotus out, it's yours."
"I won't hide it from you. Besides this third-tier, superior-grade spiritual plant, I also obtained three quasi-third-tier spiritual objects."
Chen Jianghe listened to Yun Bufan's voice transmission.
A flicker of desire stirred in his heart.
The Azure Water Golden Lotus was not something the Darktide Gold Sand could compare to.
If it were revealed now, the Muyun Mystic Realm would instantly descend into chaos, a battlefield for Core Formation masters.
A bloody storm would be inevitable.
Most importantly, if he obtained the Azure Water Golden Lotus, he wouldn't have to worry about materials for refining a Dharma treasure when he reached Core Formation in the future.
Chen Jianghe already had an Azure Water Golden Lotus seed.
He had originally planned to use a third-tier spirit spring to see if he could cultivate an Azure Water Golden Lotus.
Setting aside how hard it was to find a third-tier spirit spring...
Even if he found one, the success rate of cultivating an Azure Water Golden Lotus from a seed was only one percent.
And even if his fortune was off the charts and he succeeded, it would take over two hundred years for the lotus to mature.
"Brother Yun, you truly are blessed with great fortune."
Chen Jianghe sent with a sigh of emotion, then asked, "The Azure Water Golden Lotus should be growing in a third-tier spirit spring. Did you see any other treasures in that spring, Brother Yun?"
"It was indeed growing in a spring. I don't know if it was a third-tier one, but when I was retrieving the lotus, I saw four strange-looking little plants in the crystal-clear water. They had no spiritual energy..."
Before Yun Bufan could finish, Chen Jianghe's voice transmission cut him off.
"Did they have three blood-red, lotus-shaped leaves, and you couldn't sense any spiritual energy from them?"
"Yes... no, wait. They looked similar to your description, Brother Chen, but they didn't have three leaves. They had five."
Chen Jianghe closed his eyes.
On the surface, he was calm, but inside, his heart was a raging sea.
Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass? It was actually Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass.
He hadn't guessed wrong. The Three-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass could increase the bloodline purity of spirit beasts or demon beasts below the fifth grade.
The Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass, however, could elevate a fourth-grade bloodline spirit beast or demon beast to a fifth-grade bloodline.
True Master Crimson Dragon's Fire Scale Flood Dragon had a fifth-grade, inferior-class bloodline. If he wasn't mistaken...
This Fire Scale Flood Dragon must have consumed both Three-Leaf and Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass to reach its current fifth-grade, inferior-class bloodline.
At this moment.
Chen Jianghe felt that the Azure Water Golden Lotus wasn't so appealing anymore.
If Yun Bufan had brought out the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass instead, the Core Formation elders of the Tiannan Sect might not have even recognized it.
Four plants!
This was enough to elevate Spicy to a fifth-grade, inferior-class bloodline.
A guaranteed third-tier spirit beast.
According to Xiao Hei, the higher the bloodline, the stronger the innate abilities.
"Brother Chen, did I miss out on some great treasure?"
"Not exactly. Perhaps we now have a chance to get the Azure Water Golden Lotus out," Chen Jianghe replied.
"Brother Yun, you focus on healing. Leave the rest to me."
A plan was already forming in Chen Jianghe's mind.
It was just those four stalks of Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass...
"Big Brother Ruan, I'm about to hand you a massive contribution."
Chen Jianghe closed his eyes to rest, secretly sending a voice transmission to Ruan Tieniu.
"Contribution? What contribution?!"
Ruan Tieniu was puzzled, asking via voice transmission.
"A contribution that will allow you to advance further in the Feng Kingdom."
"Oh? Don't deceive me, Brother Chen. At my level, advancing further is as difficult as ascending to the heavens."
It wasn't that Ruan Tieniu didn't believe Chen Jianghe, but rather that he thought Chen Jianghe didn't understand the immortal official system of the Feng Kingdom.
He had only become the Celestial Emissary Commissioner of Xichuan Prefecture with the support of True Master Crimson Dragon.
Otherwise, how could a rogue cultivator like him become the Celestial Emissary Commissioner of a prefecture?
It wasn't as if the Feng Kingdom lacked Core Formation immortal clans; there was one right in Xichuan Prefecture, yet it was under Ruan Tieniu's jurisdiction.
Because he had True Master Crimson Dragon behind him.
But to take the next step and become the Right Minister, True Master Crimson Dragon's favor alone was not enough. It required the approval of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan's head—the Monarch himself.
In an immortal kingdom, a prefecture's Celestial Emissary Commissioner was already considered high-ranking. The next step was Right Minister of the court, then Left Minister. Both were chancellors, just with different responsibilities.
The Right Minister was in charge of cultivators.
The Left Minister was in charge of mortals. While seemingly less important, his status was actually slightly higher than the Right Minister's.
Above the Left and Right Ministers was the Chancellor, second only to the Monarch, but the position of Chancellor in the Feng Kingdom had always been vacant.
Even the position of Left Minister was vacant.
"There's a third-tier spirit spring in the Muyun Mystic Realm."
Chen Jianghe didn't waste words, directly telling Ruan Tieniu the news. The value of a third-tier spirit spring needed no explanation.
As expected.
After Chen Jianghe mentioned the third-tier spirit spring, Ruan Tieniu stopped transmitting messages.
Chen Jianghe wasn't worried.
He knew that Ruan Tieniu must be reporting the matter of the third-tier spirit spring to True Master Crimson Dragon.
Ten breaths later.
Ruan Tieniu's voice sounded in Chen Jianghe's ears.
"Brother Chen, I've informed King Crimson Dragon about the third-tier spirit spring. But don't worry, I didn't expose you."
"However, King Crimson Dragon asks if any treasures were discovered in the spirit spring."
Hearing Ruan Tieniu's voice, Chen Jianghe breathed a sigh of relief. He knew he had guessed correctly.
The Azure Water Golden Lotus could perhaps be saved.
As for those four stalks of Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass?
He didn't have time to scheme for them. The Muyun Mystic Realm wouldn't open again for another one hundred and fifty years.
"The spring is crystal clear, with no treasures. Uh... there are four strange-looking, blood-red little plants, but they have no spiritual energy. They probably aren't spiritual objects."
Chen Jianghe replied via voice transmission.
Ruan Tieniu fell silent again.
This time, a long while passed, about thirty breaths.
Ruan Tieniu's voice became agitated.
"Brother Chen, did those little plants have three leaves, shaped like lotuses?"
"Three leaves? No, that's not right. They have five leaves."
"Five?"
Ruan Tieniu was stunned for a moment, then reported the matter to True Master Crimson Dragon.
Throughout this exchange with Ruan Tieniu as the intermediary, Chen Jianghe kept his eyes closed.
He was worried he might unconsciously glance at True Master Crimson Dragon.
But in the next moment.
Chen Jianghe's eyes shot open as an immense pressure washed over him, making him extremely uncomfortable.
He subconsciously grabbed the Lesser Teleportation Talisman he had taken out and placed in his robes earlier.
Ready to flee.
But then he realized it wasn't just him; all the Foundation Establishment cultivators were feeling the same thing.
"Roar~"
The Fire Scale Flood Dragon beneath True Master Crimson Dragon let out an excited roar.
This pressure originated from the third-tier spirit beast, the Fire Scale Flood Dragon with its fifth-grade, inferior-class bloodline.
True Master Crimson Dragon, sitting cross-legged on the flood dragon's head, also showed a look of wild joy, but in the next instant.
His expression turned grave.
He unleashed a stream of magical power.
It struck the token, causing the exit passage of the Muyun Mystic Realm to instantly collapse.
"Fellow Daoist Crimson Dragon, what are you doing?"
True Master Chengtian looked displeased. There were still sect disciples inside the mystic realm who hadn't come out, yet he had closed the passage.
If it were to be opened again, it would be a hundred and fifty years later.
True Master Crimson Dragon ignored True Master Chengtian. Instead, he summoned a treasure and performed a secret art. The treasure flashed with light.
Chen Jianghe saw this.
He knew True Master Crimson Dragon was calling for backup.
"The Muyun Mystic Realm is now closed. All cultivators are to leave this strange peak within one breath. Do not blame me for being merciless to any who dare to linger."
"Chengtian, are you leaving now, or will you wait for my elder brother to arrive and see you off?"
A cold glint flashed in True Master Crimson Dragon's eyes.
*Swish!*
*Swish!*
As True Master Crimson Dragon's voice fell, his murderous gaze swept around, instantly causing the Foundation Establishment cultivators to flee.
Even the Core Formation masters from the Weapon Refining Immortal Chen Clan, the Pill Refining Immortal Ji Clan, and the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan were no exception.
They were no fools.
Something incredible must have appeared in the Muyun Mystic Realm.
True Master Crimson Dragon had already sent a message with his secret treasure. It wouldn't be long before the head of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan and that fourth-tier spirit beast arrived.
They would reopen the mystic realm during the final moments of its weakened restriction period to retrieve the treasure within.
At a time like this, any hesitation would bring about a fatal disaster.
Even top-tier immortal clans wouldn't dare to offend the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, not unless the Tiannan Sect had explicitly declared war.
Otherwise, if that fourth-tier spirit beast paid a visit to their clan, there would be nothing left.
Seeing the trial-takers who had just emerged from the mystic realm also scattering and fleeing...
Chen Jianghe didn't hesitate either, immediately leaving with Yun Bufan.
Once they were outside the range of the Core Formation masters' divine sense, he took the spiritual plant pouch from Yun Bufan. A sweep of his own divine sense brought a look of joy to his face.
*Moo!*
A bovine roar.
Chen Jianghe saw a five-colored auspicious cloud in the eastern sky streak past Muyun Market City and fly towards the strange peak.
Immediately after, he saw True Master Chengtian maneuvering his Dharma treasure, hastily leaving with two Core Formation elders and the sect disciples.
They had no time to worry about the scattered Foundation Establishment cultivators.
If they were a step too slow, their fate would be uncertain.
If the Beast Taming Zhou Clan only had that fourth-tier spirit beast, it would be one thing.
After all, the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range was over thirty thousand li from the Muyun Mountain Range. Even if it were coming, it would take some time.
But that Kui in the depths of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range was too powerful, its innate abilities absurdly so. Fleeing too late could mean dying in the Muyun Mountain Range.
Chen Jianghe brought Yun Bufan to Muyun Market City, watching the five-colored auspicious cloud fly overhead.
He calculated the time.
From the moment True Master Crimson Dragon sent the message with his secret treasure to the arrival of the five-colored cloud at the Muyun Mountain Range, the entire process took only about a hundred breaths.
Although he didn't know what was on the cloud or where it came from, its speed was terrifyingly fast.
"Could that be the fourth-tier spirit beast? If so, the capital of the Feng Kingdom is in the southern territory, over fifty thousand li from the Muyun Mountain Range. To arrive in a hundred breaths... that's too fast!"
"Even coming from the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, that's still over thirty thousand li!"
"Is this the speed of a fourth-tier spirit beast?!"
*Rumble!*
Immediately after, Chen Jianghe heard a deafening sound from the direction of the strange peak. It must be the sound of them forcefully breaking the mystic realm's restrictions.
The mystic realm's passage could only be maintained for a limited time. After about forty-five minutes, it was forcefully closed by True Master Crimson Dragon.
This meant True Master Crimson Dragon had to use the remaining hour to send someone into the mystic realm to retrieve the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass.
As for the third-tier spirit spring.
There wasn't enough time to take the spring's eye.
But the third-tier spirit water could be collected.
Chen Jianghe could already imagine what kind of treasures the cultivators re-entering the mystic realm would be carrying.
Second-tier, superior-grade talismans, Talisman treasures, and even third-tier precious talismans would likely not be in short supply.
Time was of the essence.
The cultivators entering the mystic realm couldn't afford to get entangled with any demon beasts. Any beast that stood in their way would surely be slain in a single blow.
The value of the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass was unimaginable.
It could very well raise the Fire Scale Flood Dragon's bloodline purity to the fifth-grade, superior-class.
In the future, it might add another fourth-tier spirit beast to the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
Never mind True Master Chengtian leading the group; even if the Tiannan Sect Master himself were present, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan would have driven them away in a frenzy.
The only other option would be a battle to the death!
"Brother Chen, were those four little plants of great importance?"
With the Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill healing his injuries, new flesh was already growing on Yun Bufan's left leg, and the bone was slowly mending.
The missing piece of his abdomen was almost fully healed.
At most, he would be fully recovered in half a year.
If it were Ruan Tieniu, with the aid of the limb regeneration technique from the Blood River Escape Art, he would have healed in a month.
"It's better for you not to know, Brother Yun. It could bring about a fatal disaster."
Chen Jianghe advised via voice transmission, "You must not speak of the third-tier spirit spring, the Azure Water Golden Lotus, or the four small plants. Otherwise, we will both be in danger."
"Yes, I understand."
At that moment, the Foundation Establishment cultivators in Muyun Market City had all gathered on the peaks, looking towards the strange peak where the Muyun Mystic Realm was located.
They all activated their spiritual eyes, trying to see what was happening over there.
"What on earth appeared in the Muyun Mystic Realm? True Master Crimson Dragon actually drove away True Master Chengtian of the Tiannan Sect."
"Indeed, True Master Crimson Dragon is so powerful. With a single word, he repelled the Core Formation masters of the three top-tier immortal clans. Even True Master Chengtian and the two Tiannan Sect elders had to avoid his wrath and flee in a hurry."
"Fellow Daoist, you're mistaken. True Master Crimson Dragon is indeed powerful, but True Master Chengtian is not weak. They retreated not because of True Master Crimson Dragon, but because of that five-colored auspicious cloud that flew over the Muyun Mystic Realm."
"That's right. On that five-colored auspicious cloud must be the fourth-tier spirit beast of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan."
"Not necessarily. I think it's the legendary fourth-tier Great Demon Kui from the depths of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range."
"Does the Kui really exist? A demon beast with a fifth-grade, superior-class bloodline!"
"..."
Chen Jianghe glanced toward the Muyun Mystic Realm, not participating in the cultivators' discussion. He took Yun Bufan back to the Rosy Cloud Cave Abode.
In his current state, Yun Bufan was too heavily injured to travel to East Sea Prefecture.
It was best for him to recover in his cave abode first.
Inside the cave behind the waterfall, Chen Jianghe took out a storage pouch and produced ten Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pills, ten Jade Dew Pills, three Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans, three Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans, and three Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans.
"Brother Yun, these things are not comparable to the Azure Water Golden Lotus, but they are a token of my appreciation. Please accept them."
Yun Bufan saw this and shook his head.
"If not for your talismans and pills, Brother Chen, I would have long since perished in the mystic realm. How could I have brought out the Azure Water Golden Lotus?"
"No, you can't put it that way."
Chen Jianghe waved his hands dismissively and said earnestly, "Those talismans and pills were traded for the quasi-third-tier spiritual objects. But you have given me such a great opportunity, its value far exceeds those objects. You must accept these talismans and pills."
"In addition, I will inscribe the second-tier, inferior-grade Falling Star Lightning Talisman, Golden Light Body Protection Talisman, and Crimson Flame Cloud-Soaring Talisman, as well as the second-tier, medium-grade Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman, Green Wood Immortal Shield Talisman, and Rushing Thunder Talisman into a legacy jade slip for you."
"This... how can I accept?"
Yun Bufan didn't dare to agree.
He wasn't a fool. Although he had obtained the Azure Water Golden Lotus, he couldn't have gotten it out without Chen Jianghe.
Though he didn't know what method Chen Jianghe had used to make True Master Crimson Dragon so hastily drive everyone away...
Strictly speaking, Chen Jianghe was the one who had secured the Azure Water Golden Lotus from the hands of the Tiannan Sect.
If he had handed over the lotus, the most he would have gotten from the Tiannan Sect was a single quasi-third-tier spiritual object.
Yet Chen Jianghe had given him so many resources, as well as the legacies for six types of second-tier talismans.
"Brother Yun, let's not be so formal. You should focus on recovering from your injuries quickly, to avoid any lasting physical trauma."
Chen Jianghe left the storage pouch.
Then, he walked out of the cave behind the waterfall.
He returned to his own cultivation chamber.
Chen Jianghe took out the spiritual plant pouch Yun Bufan had given him. With a thought, an Azure Water Golden Lotus appeared before him.
It had verdant lotus leaves and stem, and a golden flower with pale blue petals. Within it were twenty-four azure water lotus seeds.
The roots were clearly visible, yet there was no white lotus root, which was strange.
However, the records in the *Annals of Tiannan* made no mention of the Azure Water Golden Lotus's root, so perhaps this spiritual plant simply didn't have one.
"What a fine treasure."
If a single Azure Water Golden Lotus were refined separately, it could produce one offensive Dharma treasure and one defensive Dharma treasure.
But that wasn't the most important part.
What truly attracted Chen Jianghe was that the Azure Water Golden Lotus could be refined into a bonded Dharma treasure.
In fact, the Darktide Gold Sand could also be refined into a bonded Dharma treasure.
But it was limited by its innate nature and had little room for growth.
Generally, cultivators at the Core Formation level and above would choose to use spiritual roots that could be used for weapon refining to create their bonded Dharma treasures.
Such bonded Dharma treasures could grow stronger along with the cultivator's own cultivation base.
But looking across the entire Tiannan Region, how many Core Formation masters actually possessed a bonded Dharma treasure?
Most had difficulty obtaining even a normal Dharma treasure, let alone a bonded one.
Typically, the Core Formation masters of the Tiannan Region would take an ordinary Dharma treasure and refine it into a bonded one through a lengthy process.
It was a choice born of helplessness.
"Counting the resources I gave Yun Bufan before, the total is six Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans, six Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans, six Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans, thirteen Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pills, three Heart-Cleansing Detoxification Pills, thirteen Jade Dew Pills, and three second-tier Spirit Restoring Pills."
"These resources seem numerous and precious, but they don't amount to a ten-thousandth of the Azure Water Golden Lotus's value."
Chen Jianghe knew very well that he had stumbled upon a great fortune this time.
"Master, let me out."
Xiao Hei sent a voice transmission at that moment.
"You're too big. The cultivation chamber can't fit you." Chen Jianghe didn't need to think to know why Xiao Hei wanted to come out.
"Then let's go outside!"
"What do you want to come out for?"
"To eat... I mean, to have a look."
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes. He knew exactly what Xiao Hei was thinking, but he was also a little puzzled.
The Azure Water Golden Lotus was not a third-tier, superior-grade absorbable spiritual object.
Although it was a spiritual plant, that wasn't quite right. The Azure Water Golden Lotus could be used for talisman crafting, weapon refining, and pill alchemy.
This shouldn't be considered just a spiritual plant.
It was a spiritual root.
"Can you eat this Azure Water Golden Lotus?"
Chen Jianghe asked directly.
"You're going to give it to me to eat? I knew it! With our relationship, what precious thing could I not eat?"
Xiao Hei transmitted excitedly.
"Give me your True Spirit Fruit, the Thousand-Year Snow Jade Marrow, and this Azure Water Golden Lotus. After I devour them, I feel like I can just about reach a fifth-grade, inferior-class bloodline."
"If you can get me one more third-tier, inferior-grade absorbable spiritual object, I guarantee I'll reach a fifth-grade, inferior-class bloodline."
Xiao Hei swore, "Two-legged beast, just think about it, once I have a fifth-grade, inferior-class bloodline..."
"Hold it right there."
The more Chen Jianghe listened, the more something felt off. The words sounded eerily familiar.
"If I give all of this to you, I might not be able to reach Core Formation in the future. Are you sure you want to eat it? There's no need for pleasantries between us brothers. If it can raise your bloodline purity, it's all worth it."
"Worth what?! Hurry up and put your Azure Water Golden Lotus away."