Chapter 290
Chapter 290
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 290
Chapter Title: Ruan Tieniu's Probing and Physical Perfection
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Hearing the urgent tone of Xiao Hei's voice transmission.
A smile appeared on Chen Jianghe's face. In truth, he could give the Azurewater Golden Lotus, and even the True Spirit Fruit and the Thousand-Year Snow Jade Marrow, to Xiao Hei.
If Xiao Hei's bloodline was enhanced, its defenses would strengthen, and it would surely become a third-rank spirit beast in the future.
He would be much safer as a result.
In the future, he could even better plot for Core Formation spiritual items.
But even if he were to give these spiritual items to Xiao Hei, it would have to wait until after they emerged from the unknown secret realm.
Giving them to Xiao Hei before entering the secret realm wouldn't be very useful; the time was too short.
It wouldn't be enough to raise Xiao Hei's cultivation to the point of an imminent breakthrough.
Furthermore, if they obtained nothing from the unknown secret realm, it would be very detrimental to Chen Jianghe's future Core Formation.
Even if Xiao Hei became a third-rank spirit beast, it would still take time to acquire Core Formation spiritual items.
He had time to wait.
But Xiao Hei did not have that much time.
Chen Jianghe was one hundred and thirty-two years old this year, with nearly six hundred years left until the end of his lifespan.
Xiao Hei was only fourteen years younger than Chen Jianghe, already one hundred and eighteen years old, with only one hundred and thirty years left until the end of its lifespan.
Chen Jianghe had to reach Core Formation within these one hundred and thirty years, or Xiao Hei's lifespan would be exhausted.
The future was uncertain, fortunes unknown.
Chen Jianghe couldn't be sure if he could reach Core Formation, and Xiao Hei dared not gamble on it either, which was why it hoped Chen Jianghe would have more resources for his own breakthrough.
As for enhancing its own bloodline, there would be plenty of opportunities.
In Xiao Hei's heart, the Core Formation spiritual items belonged to Chen Jianghe and were absolutely not to be touched.
But without consuming the True Spirit Fruit, relying solely on the Thousand-Year Snow Jade Marrow and the Azurewater Golden Lotus, it couldn't elevate its bloodline to the lower fifth grade.
An hour passed.
Chen Jianghe noticed a faint glow from the message box and immediately walked out of the cultivation chamber. He didn't even have to guess; he knew it must be a message from Ruan Tieniu.
This time, Ruan Tieniu had proven reliable.
He hadn't exposed him.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be a message from Ruan Tieniu.
Instead, it would be Perfected Master Chilong using a spell to forcibly break the defensive formation of the Rosy Cloud Grotto and crush him in his palm.
With a thought.
The letter was drawn into his hand.
As he expected, it was indeed a message from Ruan Tieniu. He opened it, read it, and then walked out of the Rosy Cloud Grotto.
"Brother Chen, my good brother... my own flesh and blood!"
When Ruan Tieniu saw Chen Jianghe emerge from the Rosy Cloud Grotto, he immediately moved in for a bear hug, which Chen Jianghe deftly dodged.
"It seems Brother Ruan has performed a great service!"
"Haha~"
Ruan Tieniu let out a hearty laugh, tears welling in his eyes, weeping with joy.
"Do you know what I saw, brother?" Ruan Tieniu said, looking at Chen Jianghe with excitement.
"Come, let's go to the Immortal Emissary's residence. No, let's go to the Muyun Restaurant. It's my treat."
Ruan Tieniu had initially intended to take Chen Jianghe to the Immortal Emissary's residence, but then he remembered Chen Jianghe's dislike for crowds and his cautious nature, knowing he wouldn't easily enter another's territory.
So he changed the location to Muyun Restaurant.
Chen Jianghe nodded and followed Ruan Tieniu to Muyun Restaurant. He, too, wanted to know what had happened at Qifeng.
And whether the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had managed to retrieve the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass.
If they hadn't retrieved it this time, they would have to wait another one hundred and fifty years.
As for him plotting to retrieve the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass one hundred and fifty years from now, that was something he needn't even consider.
From now on, the Muyun Secret Realm would undoubtedly become the private garden of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, accessible only to Zhou disciples.
The third-rank spirit spring within could not be moved.
So, their only option was to send a batch of direct descendants in every one hundred and fifty years to cleanse their physical bodies.
Even if they couldn't retrieve the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass this time, they would surely get it next time.
The Blood Lotus Grass contained no spiritual energy.
Before being activated, it held no attraction whatsoever for demonic beasts.
Therefore, the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had no reason to worry about the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass being consumed by the beasts in the secret realm.
If it were to be eaten, it would have been eaten long ago.
Arriving at Muyun Restaurant.
Ruan Tieniu ordered a lavish table of spirit food, including many delicacies made from the parts of second-rank mid- and late-stage demonic beasts.
Looking at such a sumptuous spirit feast, it must have cost at least several hundred spirit stones.
It was clear how happy Ruan Tieniu was. For someone usually so frugal to be willing to spend so extravagantly was truly astonishing.
Ruan Tieniu personally filled Chen Jianghe's cup, first downing a cup of top-grade immortal spirit wine himself, then spoke with bravado.
"Brother Chen, do you know what was atop the five-colored auspicious clouds that descended upon Qifeng?"
"It was a Kui, the legendary Kui! A fourth-rank great demon from the core of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. Its eyes were like the sun and moon, its roar like thunder. With a gentle tap of its single foot, it forcibly broke the secret realm's restriction."
"It was so powerful. Upon seeing this Kui, Perfected Master Chilong's Fire-Scaled Flood Dragon prostrated itself on the ground, and even Perfected Master Chilong himself bowed respectfully."
"It could even speak human language, and it praised me! Haha... it praised me, you know that, Brother Chen!"
"It said I was blessed with fortune and had a promising future."
Ruan Tieniu excitedly recounted to Chen Jianghe all that he had seen on Qifeng, his eyes filled with awe and yearning, especially when speaking of the legendary Kui.
It was precisely because of the Kui's words—that Ruan Tieniu was blessed with fortune and had a promising future.
That Perfected Master Chilong, without needing his own brother's approval, directly granted Ruan Tieniu the title of Right Minister, to be announced to the world upon his return to the capital.
Although Ruan Tieniu was still the Military Commissioner Immortal Emissary of Xichuan Prefecture, he now had authority over all cultivators in the Feng Kingdom.
He could even mobilize all the cultivator armies in Xichuan Prefecture.
He could even mobilize thirty percent of the cultivator armies from other prefectures.
In other words.
Ruan Tieniu now controlled thirty percent of the Feng Kingdom's cultivator armies.
His status was so high that in the royal court, he was second only to the Sovereign.
Because the positions of Left Minister and Grand Chancellor were vacant, the other Right Minister was a Core Formation expert based in the court, whose status could only be considered equal to Ruan Tieniu's.
Hearing what Ruan Tieniu said, Chen Jianghe wasn't surprised at all.
It was only because Ruan Tieniu's cultivation was too low. If he were a Core Formation expert, he would have undoubtedly seized this opportunity to become the Grand Chancellor of the Feng Kingdom.
The Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass was the Beast Taming Zhou Clan's opportunity to rise.
And that fourth-rank great demon, the Kui, though not the Sovereign of the Feng Kingdom, his words carried more weight than the Sovereign's.
As for speaking human language.
Demonic beasts or spirit beasts that reached the late third rank could refine their hyoid bone and speak human language.
"Congratulations on your further advancement in your official career, Brother Ruan!"
Chen Jianghe clasped his hands in congratulation.
"Brother, I won't say much more in thanks. It's all in here."
Ruan Tieniu patted his chest and looked at Chen Jianghe, speaking with great solemnity.
Regarding the credit Chen Jianghe had given him, although Ruan Tieniu didn't know what those four small stalks of grass were...
He knew clearly that without Chen Jianghe, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to advance any further before becoming a Core Formation expert.
Military Commissioner Immortal Emissary of Xichuan Prefecture with the title of Right Minister.
"Brother Ruan, you're too kind."
Chen Jianghe said with a smile.
"Brother, you're unwilling to become the Feng Kingdom's Chief Grand Tutor, and I won't force you. But you can have Fellow Daoist Yu's family come to Xichuan Prefecture."
"Right, perhaps Fellow Daoist Yu doesn't feel a sense of belonging to Xichuan Prefecture. He can go to Dongshan Prefecture. I will carve out the former territories of Mirror Moon Lake, Qiyun Mountain, and Chishui, integrate them into a single commandery, and hand it over to the Yu family to govern."
Ruan Tieniu said seriously.
Previously, he could only manage matters within the borders of Xichuan Prefecture, but now things were different. He had authority over all the prefectures in the Feng Kingdom.
Although he didn't have the direct power to appoint and dismiss commandery governors, who would dare to disrespect him, the Right Minister?
Now, behind Ruan Tieniu stood not only Perfected Master Chilong, but also a fourth-rank great demon, the legendary Kui of the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range!
"Uh... that could work. I'll write a letter to Daniu and see what he thinks." Chen Jianghe readily agreed to Ruan Tieniu's suggestion.
The Yu family's development was restricted in the Qing Kingdom.
But if they developed in the Feng Kingdom, there wouldn't be as many restrictions. Plus, with the protection of Ruan Tieniu, the Military Commissioner Immortal Emissary and Right Minister.
The Yu family could thrive in the Feng Kingdom.
"By the way, Brother Ruan, was the third-rank spirit spring in the Muyun Secret Realm retrieved?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"A third-rank spirit spring definitely can't be retrieved. We only managed to extract some third-rank spirit water. Here, this jade bottle contains ten catties of third-rank spirit water. It was a reward from King Chilong. I'm not an alchemist, and this amount is too little for body tempering. Sister-in-law Jiang is a Grandmaster Alchemist; she can use this third-rank spirit water to refine spirit pills."
Ruan Tieniu took out a jade bottle and handed it to Chen Jianghe, his face wreathed in smiles, still basking in the joy of becoming a Right Minister.
"This... I couldn't possibly."
Chen Jianghe accepted the jade bottle from Ruan Tieniu. A scan with his divine sense confirmed it was indeed third-rank spirit water, brimming with spiritual energy.
Third-rank spirit water had many uses.
If there was enough of it, it could be used to cleanse the physical body and purge impurities.
For example, when Chen Jianghe cultivated the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art, tempering his body with third-rank spirit water could cut his cultivation time by nearly half.
What would have originally taken fifty years to reach the sixth level of perfection would only take thirty years after being tempered with third-rank spirit water.
It could also be used in alchemy and artifact refinement.
Adding third-rank spirit water could increase the success rate.
Third-rank spirit water was of great use to Chen Jianghe. Firstly, he was also an alchemist, a second-rank one, although he could only refine lower-grade second-rank spirit pills.
But with the help of third-rank spirit water, he had a chance of successfully refining mid-grade second-rank spirit pills.
Secondly, he was a Grandmaster of Talismans.
Third-rank spirit water was a primary ingredient for crafting third-rank spirit ink.
In the future, after he successfully reached Core Formation, he wouldn't lack third-rank spirit ink when drawing third-rank treasure talismans.
"Brother Chen, what do you think that strange little grass was?"
Ruan Tieniu suddenly looked at Chen Jianghe and asked quizzically.
"I don't know. If it had three leaves, it would be Blood Coagulation Grass, which can be used to refine Blood Coagulation Pills."
"Five leaves... I've never seen or heard of such a thing."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself: Here it comes.
He had long been prepared for Ruan Tieniu's question.
This probably wasn't Ruan Tieniu's own inquiry, but a question relayed from Perfected Master Chilong.
With the matter of the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass, it would be impossible to hide the fact that he had been buying 'Blood Coagulation Grass' in the Immortal Gate Market City.
At a time like this, it was best to be truthful.
"Blood Coagulation Grass? A small grass with no spiritual energy can be refined into a spirit pill?" Ruan Tieniu looked at Chen Jianghe in surprise.
"Naturally."
Chen Jianghe adopted a mysterious air, leaning in and lowering his voice to Ruan Tieniu, "Brother Ruan, do you still remember Ji Wujin?"
"Of course. He's also entering the unknown secret realm, and he's using one of the Feng Kingdom's slots."
"In that case, Brother Ruan should also know about the trade between Ji Wujin and me at the confluence of the Wandering Immortal River and the Luo Xing River. The recipe for refining the Blood Coagulation Pill came from Ji Wujin. It can cleanse the physical body and enhance one's physical cultivation."
Chen Jianghe's expression shifted, becoming serious. "There's another secret I must tell you, Brother Ruan. This Ji Wujin is not a cultivator from the Tiannan Region. He's an outsider cultivator who has come here for training."
Hearing this so-called secret, Ruan Tieniu wasn't very surprised.
Evidently, he also knew that Ji Wujin was not from the Tiannan Region and had been exposed to higher-level secrets.
The Tiannan Region was but a corner of the Tiannan Cultivation World.
But Ruan Tieniu continued the conversation about the three-leaf blood lotus grass.
"Can Sister-in-law Jiang refine the Blood Coagulation Pill?"
"Without the third-rank spirit water Brother Ruan gave me, I couldn't. But now, I can give it a try."
As he said this, Chen Jianghe's expression grew proud.
"To be honest with you, Brother Ruan, I am not only a Grandmaster of Talismans, but also a Master Alchemist!"
"Hiss... A Master Alchemist?!"
Ruan Tieniu's face showed shock. He looked at Chen Jianghe in disbelief, finding it somewhat surreal.
He had come to ask Chen Jianghe about the three-leaf blood lotus grass.
It wasn't his own question; he was asking on behalf of Perfected Master Chilong. As for the reason, he didn't know. He was only responsible for asking and then relaying Chen Jianghe's words to Perfected Master Chilong.
He just hadn't expected that this line of questioning would expose another of Chen Jianghe's identities.
A Master Alchemist.
A Grandmaster of Talismans who was also a Master Alchemist.
What incredible talent in the hundred arts that must be!
"Brother Chen, it's truly a pity you won't be the Feng Kingdom's Chief Grand Tutor. With your skills in talismans and alchemy, you'd have a shot at the position of Right Minister in the future."
Ruan Tieniu said with some regret.
"I am used to being a free spirit, like a drifting cloud or a wild crane. I cannot adapt to the court environment."
Chen Jianghe let out a small laugh.
Ruan Tieniu nodded and started chatting with Chen Jianghe about the unknown secret realm.
As for inquiring about the 'Blood Coagulation Grass', his task was complete.
Two hours later.
As Chen Jianghe and Ruan Tieniu walked out of Muyun Restaurant, they saw the Immortal Emissary Official of Muyun Market City had been waiting outside for some time.
The Immortal Emissary Official of Muyun Market City was a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He was also the head of a local Foundation Establishment immortal clan in Muyun Market City, but in front of Ruan Tieniu, he spoke with extreme caution.
When he looked at Chen Jianghe, he was also very respectful, and he apologized for not having paid a personal visit last time.
This was the way of immortal kingdoms.
Among cultivators of the same rank, an immortal official's status was far higher than that of a cultivator with no official rank.
Although Muyun Market City was the sixth-largest market city in the Tiannan Region, it was under the jurisdiction of Xichuan Prefecture. A single word from Ruan Tieniu could replace the Immortal Emissary Official of Muyun Market City.
In an immortal kingdom, assets like market cities, spirit fields, and spirit mines were all owned by the kingdom, not by any particular family or individual.
Of course, to be precise, they all belonged to the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
Ruan Tieniu paid little attention to the Immortal Emissary Official of Muyun Market City, his demeanor lofty and superior.
But when he bid farewell to Chen Jianghe, he was warm and approachable.
Watching Ruan Tieniu leave, Chen Jianghe glanced at the Immortal Emissary Official of Muyun Market City and bid him farewell.
Ruan Tieniu might look down on him.
But Chen Jianghe still had to live in Muyun Market City. If not befriend him, he should at least not offend him.
Although a single word from him could have Ruan Tieniu dismiss this so-called Immortal Emissary Official.
There was no need for that.
Returning to the Rosy Cloud Grotto.
Chen Jianghe took a deep breath, feeling that his words should pass muster and not arouse the suspicion of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
The fact that Chen Jianghe was buying three-leaf blood lotus grass in the Immortal Gate Market City could not be hidden.
Although the risk was great.
The reward of five stalks of three-leaf blood lotus grass was also substantial.
He still had two stalks of three-leaf blood lotus grass on him. If he could obtain just one more, he could raise the purity of Maoqiu's bloodline to the upper fourth grade as well.
"Ruan Tieniu invited me to Duobao Market City on New Year's Eve to attend the Treasure Pavilion's New Year's Eve auction, where a spirit beast with an upper third-grade bloodline will be auctioned."
"Although I have no use for a spirit beast with an upper third-grade bloodline, the Yu family could bid for it."
"With one more second-rank spirit beast, the Yu family's foundation will be stronger."
Chen Jianghe thought that even if the Yu family didn't have enough spirit stones, he could help them bid for it. He didn't have many spirit stones himself.
But he could borrow some from Zhuang Xinyan first.
Zhuang Xinyan had over a million low-grade spirit stones; bidding for a young beast with an upper third-grade bloodline would be a piece of cake.
Even if it wasn't for the young beast with the upper third-grade bloodline, Chen Jianghe had to make a trip to Duobao Market City anyway.
He hadn't asked Ruan Tieniu about the offensive technique in Muyun Market City.
That was because he didn't have any treasures of equivalent value on him.
The True Spirit Fruit and the Azurewater Golden Lotus were both useful to him.
As for the Thousand-Year Snow Jade Marrow, he could trade it, but its value wasn't equivalent, nor was it a spiritual item Ruan Tieniu needed.
Even if he asked and Ruan Tieniu was willing to trade, it would be pointless if he couldn't produce a treasure of equal value.
It would only breed resentment, a truly unwise move.
In half a year, Zhou Xiaoxuan would arrive at Muyun Market City.
From the sound of it, she might bring him a decent spiritual item, which could give him the bargaining chip to trade with Ruan Tieniu.
...
Chen Jianghe returned to his cultivation chamber and focused on his training.
The Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art was about to reach the perfection of the sixth level. He couldn't afford to delay; he also needed to cultivate the Soul Sea Fortifying Scripture as soon as possible.
Only when the soul sea barrier was complete could he form a certain level of soul defense.
Otherwise, if his sea of consciousness were struck by the divine sense of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, his soul would be injured.
If it were a False Core cultivator, it wouldn't just be a matter of soul injury.
The main issue was that Chen Jianghe didn't know if his spirit platform could defend against soul attacks, so he had to be fully prepared.
Three months passed.
In the cultivation chamber, Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged, bare-chested. His physical body was like warm jade, and the spiritual energy overflowing from it glowed with a faint azure light, forming a barrier as thin as a cicada's wing on the surface of his skin.
This was the sign that the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art had reached the perfection of the sixth level.
The Tidal Shield could completely absorb the attacks of first-rank spells. It could even absorb fifty percent of second-rank water-element spells.
For spells of other elements, it could absorb about thirty percent.
"Phew~"
Chen Jianghe let out a long breath.
"I've finally reached the sixth level of perfection in the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art. My current physical defense... while I can't say it's impervious to top-grade artifacts, high-grade flying swords can no longer harm me."
He looked at his smooth, tender arms, which were translucent and lustrous like warm jade.
With a thought.
A water mirror appeared before him.
Looking at his reflection in the water mirror, Chen Jianghe noticed that his features had changed again; his facial features had become much more handsome.
Before, his appearance was slightly below the average line. Now, he had reached the average line.
Of course, this was in the cultivation world, where there were too many handsome men and beautiful women. If placed in the mortal world, his previous self would have been considered quite handsome.
Now that he had reached the sixth level of perfection in the Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art, his skin and appearance had improved, just barely reaching the average line for male cultivators' looks in the cultivation world.
With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the water mirror.
He put on his clothes and walked out of the cultivation chamber.
First, he went to the cave behind the waterfall to check on things.
Yun Bufan's injuries had mostly recovered. It probably wouldn't be long before he was fully healed.
Seeing Chen Jianghe arrive, Yun Bufan proposed to leave.
But Chen Jianghe directly refused.
Even if he were to leave, he should wait until he was fully recovered.
As for worrying the Yu family, Chen Jianghe had already sent a letter to Yu Daniu, informing him of Yun Bufan's presence at the Rosy Cloud Grotto.
He then asked Yu Daniu to make a trip to Duobao Market City to attend the New Year's Eve auction.
As for asking if Yu Daniu was interested in developing in the Feng Kingdom.
How could such a matter be discussed in a letter?
Once the contents were exposed, if the two major powers went to war in the future, people like him who moved back and forth would be the first to be eliminated.
But as a rogue cultivator, how could he acquire resources without moving around?
He reckoned it would take less than a month for Yu Daniu's reply to reach Muyun Market City.
Muyun Market City was in the western territory south of the Sky-Reaching River, near the sea, while Donghai Commandery was in the eastern territory north of the Sky-Reaching River, also near the sea.
The two places were eighty thousand miles apart, with the Sky-Reaching River in between.
A round trip for a letter would take several months.
Chen Jianghe told Yun Bufan to stay and recuperate in Muyun Market City.
They would travel to Duobao Market City together on New Year's Eve, and then he could return to Donghai Commandery with Yu Daniu.
Regardless of whether Yu Daniu wanted to come to the Feng Kingdom to develop, he would need to return to Donghai Commandery first.
After all, the rest of the Yu family was still in Donghai Commandery.
An immortal official's family wanting to move to a foreign kingdom was not something that could be done openly. It required slow, careful planning, one step at a time.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe entered the isolation formation.
Seeing Maoqiu and Latiao cultivating diligently, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Quick, take out the Azurewater Golden Lotus and let me see it."
"You want to eat it?"
"Eat what? All you think about is eating. I just want to look at it, to feast my eyes."
Xiao Hei's grumbling voice echoed on Chen Jianghe's spirit platform.
Chen Jianghe took out the Azurewater Golden Lotus and placed it in the lotus pond. Xiao Hei immediately jumped into the pond, circling the Azurewater Golden Lotus and examining it closely.
Chen Jianghe paid no mind to the green-eyed Xiao Hei. He used his magic power to levitate a Flame Turtle.
He was currently only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and he had only cultivated the Soul Sea Fortifying Scripture to the fifth level. His divine sense was not yet substantial enough to imprison a late-stage first-rank spirit beast.
He could only use his magic power to levitate it.
He looked at the Flame Turtle, a late-stage first-rank beast with abundant magic power in its body and flames emanating from it.
Chen Jianghe sat down cross-legged.
He circulated the art of the Soul Sea Fortifying Scripture, gathering his soul power. His hands formed a seal, and he pointed at the Flame Turtle.
"Soul Seizure!"
Soul power surged out, forming an invisible soul net that lunged at the Flame Turtle.
As if sensing danger instinctively, a fierce light appeared in the Flame Turtle's eyes, and it opened its mouth to spit at Chen Jianghe.
A six-foot-wide fireball shot towards him.
But when it hit Chen Jianghe, a faint azure light flashed, and the barrier as thin as a cicada's wing absorbed the fireball spell.
Immediately after, Chen Jianghe's divine sense saw the soul net extract the Flame Turtle's soul carapace, and the Flame Turtle's gaze instantly turned vacant.
But its life force had not been extinguished; it was as if it had merely lost its intelligence.