Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: Gifts from Two Women, Maoqiu's Breakthrough
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“A century of lonely waiting, two years spent together… I am content.”
A faint smile graced Lady Jinghong’s face. In that moment, her body and mind were liberated, her spirit clear and bright.
Chen Jianghe could clearly sense the change in Lady Jinghong, especially in her temperament.
Before, Lady Jinghong would only seem approachable when she needed spiritual items for her soul.
Ordinarily, her expression was cold and proud, her icy gaze keeping everyone at a great distance.
It had once made Chen Jianghe think that all master refiners were as cold and aloof as Luo Xiyue.
Now, however, Lady Jinghong had lost that usual cold arrogance. She appeared dignified and elegant, a woman of grace and wisdom.
“Congratulations, my lady, on resolving your inner turmoil. With a clear mind, there are no longer any obstacles to your Core Formation.”
Chen Jianghe cupped his hands in congratulations.
“I believe I understand you a bit better now, Fellow Daoist Chen.”
“Me?”
Chen Jianghe froze for a moment, looking at Lady Jinghong in confusion. How did this involve him?
It’s not like *my* husband died!
“I have heard some of the rumors about you, Fellow Daoist Chen. Some say you have remained celibate out of devotion, while others claim you keep a beauty hidden away. Yet, I have observed that you are never affected by these rumors.”
“I imagine you have also resolved your grief over Sister Luo’s passing.”
Lady Jinghong saw Chen Jianghe as a reflection of herself, a kindred spirit whose heart had died and been reborn.
One whose ambition was set upon the Great Dao, free from all distractions.
“I…”
Chen Jianghe was momentarily speechless.
He didn't dare to flatter himself, much less compare himself to a pure woman like Lady Jinghong.
He had cultivated for a century without losing his virginity.
It wasn't because he was devoted, but because he knew his strength was insufficient to protect himself, and he dared not get entangled in the karma of relationships.
If he truly reached a point where he could ensure his own safety…
He didn't think he was a man who could be devoted to only one person.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, the unknown mystic realm will open in a little over a year. Fellow Daoist Xiao from the Tiannan Sect has already approached me, but I did not agree.”
“Our paths are different. Forming an alliance for the mystic realm would only drag the other down.”
Lady Jinghong mentioned that Xiao Chen had invited her to join an alliance, but she had no intention of doing so.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, you have obtained the Big Dipper Sword Art. If you wish to master it, you must engage in constant battle to comprehend its mysteries.”
“It’s a pity there isn’t enough time. Otherwise, I could have forged an Alkaid Sword for you.”
“Thank you for your guidance, my lady.”
Chen Jianghe suddenly understood why Lady Jinghong wouldn't join an alliance. She wanted to be in a constant state of combat.
At that moment, he felt that Lady Jinghong and Luo Xiyue were too alike. It seemed Luo Xiyue had also spent her life in battle.
It appeared that the Profound Ice Sword Art she cultivated also required continuous comprehension through combat.
Chen Jianghe, on the other hand, was rather speechless.
He detested fighting more than anything.
For him, it was best to avoid conflict whenever possible.
But from what Lady Jinghong was saying, to master the Big Dipper Sword Art, he would have to comprehend its mysteries through one battle after another.
Wasn't this forcing him to fight?
He bid farewell to Lady Jinghong.
Returning to his cave residence at Rosy Cloud Grotto, he thought about her words, a look of helplessness on his face.
He had finally obtained an offensive art inheritance.
Not only did it consume a tremendous amount of resources, but it also required him to fight in order to grasp the essentials of the sword art. Wasn't fate playing a cruel joke on him?
However, from Lady Jinghong's words, Chen Jianghe knew he wouldn't have to worry about the Alkaid Sword.
There was still over a year before entering the unknown mystic realm.
Although she could forge an Alkaid Sword, Lady Jinghong also needed to prepare her own resources for the mystic realm.
She couldn't possibly abandon her own preparations just to forge a sword for him.
Their relationship was, at best, only slightly better than that of mere acquaintances.
If there was no time before entering the mystic realm, then there would be plenty of time after they came out.
As long as he could obtain the corresponding spiritual materials…
He could ask Lady Jinghong to help him forge the Alkaid Sword, the Mizar Sword, and the Alioth Sword.
“I’ll first forge the flying swords needed to practice the Big Dipper Sword Art. As for whether I’ll actually practice it, that’s a matter for later.”
Chen Jianghe put these thoughts aside.
He entered his private cultivation chamber and circulated the Soul Sea Firming Scripture to refine the medicinal power of the Second Revolution Spirit Nurturing Pill.
Within his soul sea, soul power was abundant. Chen Jianghe's spiritual soul was growing stronger by the day. Although it was still far from becoming solid…
It could now manifest as a phantom, drifting within the soul sea.
The spiritual sense he released was now highly offensive, capable of directly disrupting the sea of consciousness of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He finished refining the medicinal power of one Second Revolution Spirit Nurturing Pill.
Chen Jianghe's spiritual sense intensity increased again, reaching a range of 407 zhang and 2 chi, and his telekinetic control reached 153 jun.
He still had four Second Revolution Spirit Nurturing Pills on hand.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe took out another Second Revolution Spirit Nurturing Pill, swallowed it, and began refining and absorbing it to enhance his spiritual cultivation.
Time passed quickly.
Before he knew it, the first month had passed, and it was now the second month.
Chen Jianghe placed the completed Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans into his storage bag. There were only ten months left until he could enter the unknown mystic realm.
He still had eleven sets of Second-Order high-grade talisman materials in his storage bag.
He had twenty-seven Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans, nineteen Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans, and twenty-five Second Wood Soul-Binding Talismans.
In total, he had seventy-one Second-Order high-grade talismans.
With ten months remaining, Chen Jianghe could still create six more Second-Order high-grade talismans, which would bring his total to seventy-seven.
He extended his spiritual sense.
He found that Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan had both emerged from their seclusion and were conversing by the nearby stream.
The subject of their conversation was none other than Chen Jianghe.
The two women were very worried about him entering the unknown mystic realm, especially with the recent rumors that there were Third-Order demon beasts inside.
However, the highest cultivation level of cultivators allowed into the mystic realm was that of a False Core Rogue Cultivator. Faced with a Third-Order demon beast, even a Core Formation expert wouldn't dare claim victory.
A False Core Rogue Cultivator would be nothing but a snack.
To say nothing of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Completion or late stage.
Chen Jianghe was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. In the eyes of many cultivators, his entering the unknown mystic realm was akin to serving himself up as a meal to improve the diet of the demon beasts within.
To the demon beasts in the mystic realm, cultivators were the most delicious form of sustenance, an excellent tonic.
Their bodies were rich with spiritual power. Some were tender and melted in the mouth, while others had tough flesh that was enjoyably chewy.
You take its treasures, it eats your flesh.
It was a fair trade.
There was no good or evil, only the question of who was stronger.
Chen Jianghe walked out of his private cultivation chamber and approached the two women.
Zhuang Xinyan was dressed in a soft, jasmine-white gauze robe, over a flowing, floor-length skirt of misty white adorned with plum blossoms, with a sash of soft, misty gauze tied around her waist. It accentuated her slender, well-proportioned figure and long limbs.
A blue jade hairpin lightly held her three thousand strands of hair, with a single lock falling beside her brow. Her vibrant eyes, shimmering like spring water, held a clear and captivating gaze.
Her temperament was gentle and elegant, a woman of grace and wisdom.
Jiang Ruxu, on the other hand, wore a yellow Bixia silk robe embroidered with a fire phoenix, over a flowing, floor-length skirt of pink mist, with an ice-blue jade belt cinching her waist. She exuded the quiet grace of an orchid, revealing her perfect figure.
She wore two green crystal earrings, and a pearl magical artifact adorned her fair neck, adding a touch of charm.
On her rosy, fair-skinned face, her cherry-red lips seemed small and adorable.
A pair of lively, large eyes looked toward Chen Jianghe, blinking a few times, full of spirit and a hint of playfulness.
“Big Brother Chen, you're out of seclusion.”
Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu walked gracefully to Chen Jianghe's side, and the fragrance from the two women instantly wafted over him.
“Yes. What are you two talking about?” Chen Jianghe smiled warmly at them.
They went to the pavilion and sat down.
Jiang Ruxu sat down right next to Chen Jianghe and began to chat with him, while the thoughtful Zhuang Xinyan went to brew tea.
A short while later.
The three of them were sipping spiritual tea and chatting under the pavilion.
Although they lived together, it had been a long time since they had chatted so leisurely. The last time they had such a pleasant conversation was on Golden Ao Mountain in Thousand Mountains Market City.
After some conversation.
Jiang Ruxu took out ten jade bottles and handed them to Chen Jianghe.
A sweep of his spiritual sense.
Forty Second-Order Spirit Recovery Pills, thirty Muscle Regenerating and Bone Mending Pills, and thirty Heart-Clearing and Detoxification Pills.
Chen Jianghe was deeply moved.
No wonder he hadn't seen Jiang Ruxu around recently; she had been preparing for his entry into the unknown mystic realm.
At this moment, Zhuang Xinyan also took out six Second-Order low-grade puppets and one Second-Order mid-grade puppet.
“Xinyan, you can make Second-Order mid-grade puppets now?”
Chen Jianghe asked in surprise.
“Yes, this is the first Second-Order mid-grade puppet I successfully created. It’s just that the materials needed to make Second-Order high-grade puppets are a bit special.”
Zhuang Xinyan nodded slightly, but a look of reluctance flickered in her eyes.
“Special materials?”
Chen Jianghe was a bit puzzled.
He had already given Zhuang Xinyan the materials to make a quasi-Third-Order puppet and didn't feel there was anything special about them.
“To craft a Second-Order high-grade puppet, Senior Sister needs the body of a living creature as the primary material. The Second-Order high-grade and quasi-Third-Order puppet materials can only be used as supplementary components,”
Jiang Ruxu said in a hushed voice.
“Uh…”
Chen Jianghe understood.
No wonder Zhuang Xinyan showed such reluctance.
When he first met her, she was still an innocent girl protected by Alchemist Zhuang, who had never even killed a living thing.
After she started following him, she was always under his protection and had never fought with anyone, let alone taken a life.
And now she had to use living creatures to make puppets.
How could Zhuang Xinyan not feel a sense of aversion?
In her eyes, using living creatures to make puppets was no different from what demonic cultivators did.
“Let’s focus on making Second-Order mid-grade puppets for now. We can try making Second-Order high-grade ones later,”
Chen Jianghe said in a gentle voice.
For Zhuang Xinyan to advance from a Second-Order low-grade puppet master to a Second-Order mid-grade one in just twenty-six years…
Her talent was quite impressive.
The art of puppetry was different from alchemy.
And even more different from the art of talismans.
In both alchemy and talismans, once one's skill reached Second-Order low-grade, it was relatively quick to reach mid-grade.
But advancing further required a certain level of talent and insight into the craft.
Puppetry was not like that.
After reaching the Second Order in puppetry, every step of improvement was fraught with difficulty. After all, once you became a Second-Order mid-grade puppet master…
The puppets you created, as long as they were powered by mid-grade spirit stones, could rival a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in strength.
In the Tiannan Region, puppet masters were rare; you could count them on one hand.
The Tiannan Sect had one puppet master, while the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan had three.
There were no rogue puppet masters.
As long as they had the materials and a suitable body, they could create a Second-Order peak puppet comparable to a cultivator at Foundation Establishment Completion.
“Big Brother Chen, I will definitely be able to make Second-Order high-grade puppets in the future, and even Second-Order peak puppets.”
Zhuang Xinyan said with determination.
She disliked fighting, and even more so, killing.
But if she wanted to help Chen Jianghe, she needed to turn these dislikes into passions.
“Yes, I believe in you.”
“Senior Sister, I believe in you too.”
Chen Jianghe and Jiang Ruxu were both very supportive of Zhuang Xinyan. They had both come from the very bottom.
Unlike Zhuang Xinyan, who had been protected by Alchemist Zhuang since she was a child.
They knew the cruelty of the cultivation world.
If you didn't improve yourself and lacked the means to protect yourself, you could be wiped out by more powerful cultivators at any time.
You could even be killed by demonic cultivators for no reason at all.
With the support of Chen Jianghe and Jiang Ruxu, Zhuang Xinyan's resolve to become a puppet master grew even firmer.
“Big Brother Chen, here are three thousand mid-grade spirit stones. You can use them to control the puppets in the unknown mystic realm, which will allow them to unleash their full power.”
Zhuang Xinyan said as she handed a storage bag to Chen Jianghe.
Three thousand mid-grade spirit stones were equivalent to three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
In the Tiannan Region, mid-grade spirit stones were extremely rare, and their value was far greater than three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the storage bag directly.
Being polite at a time like this would seem too pretentious.
It was only three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
The resources he had taken from Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan were worth far more than that.
If he calculated it carefully, it would easily exceed a million low-grade spirit stones.
He had been able to raise Xiao Hei to Second-Order Completion, Maoqiu was about to break through to Second-Order Completion, and Latiao was on the verge of reaching the late Second Order.
Many of the resources for this had come from Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan.
He would keep this kindness in his heart.
If he had the chance in the future, he would definitely make plans for the two of them, so as not to betray their friendship.
Thinking of this, Chen Jianghe gave a wry smile.
Make plans for them?
He was getting ahead of himself.
As things stood, both Jiang Ruxu's and Zhuang Xinyan's cultivation levels surpassed his. Except for their spiritual sense not being as strong as his…
Their magical power cultivation exceeded his.
In terms of physical body, both Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan had cultivated their body tempering arts to the completion of the sixth level.
Back in Immortal's Gate Market City, Jiang Ruxu had already saved up enough resources for her body cultivation and to reach Foundation Establishment Completion.
And she had saved up enough for both herself and Zhuang Xinyan.
The value of a genius alchemy master was unimaginable. This was only because Jiang Ruxu had been focused on cultivating recently.
Otherwise, if she had been active in Muyun Market City for a while, she would have quickly established a vast network of connections.
Even the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, the imperial family of the Feng Kingdom, would treat Jiang Ruxu with courtesy.
One had to know that the Feng Kingdom currently had only one alchemy master, who was already in his twilight years, which showed how much the kingdom needed alchemy masters.
Therefore, Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan were not short of cultivation resources. With ample resources, they could even spare some to help Chen Jianghe.
The only thing Chen Jianghe could help them plan for was the Core Formation spiritual item.
In fact, given enough time, Jiang Ruxu could slowly plan for a Core Formation spiritual item on her own.
Only Zhuang Xinyan would have difficulty planning for a Core Formation spiritual item by herself at the moment.
But Zhuang Xinyan was still young, just over a hundred years old. Once she became a puppet master, she too could plan for a Core Formation spiritual item.
After the three of them talked.
Chen Jianghe entered the isolation array to cultivate the Soul Sea Firming Scripture and create Second-Order high-grade talismans.
He had twenty-seven Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans, which should be enough.
Next, in the remaining time, Chen Jianghe planned to create Second Wood Soul-Binding Talismans.
“With the help of Ruxu and Xinyan, my resources for entering the unknown mystic realm are quite abundant.”
“This has saved me a lot of trouble.”
In his storage bag, he had fifty-eight Second-Order Spirit Recovery Pills, thirty-eight Muscle Regenerating and Bone Mending Pills, forty Heart-Clearing and Detoxification Pills, thirty-five Jade Dew Pills, and two Spirit-Calming and Soul-Settling Pills.
Except for the Jade Dew Pills and the Spirit-Calming and Soul-Settling Pills, all the other spirit pills were refined for him by Jiang Ruxu.
Their value was well over four hundred thousand spirit stones.
In addition, he had thirteen Second-Order puppets in his storage bag, including one Second-Order low-grade Blazing Lion Puppet, eleven Second-Order low-grade Mountain Ape Puppets, and one Second-Order mid-grade Mountain Ape Puppet.
Their value also reached one hundred and ten thousand spirit stones.
Just the resources the two women had prepared for his entry into the unknown mystic realm amounted to five hundred thousand spirit stones.
Including the three thousand mid-grade spirit stones, the total reached eight hundred thousand spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe's preparations were so thorough that they would surely be the envy of all cultivators entering the mystic realm, including the False Core Rogue Cultivators.
He still had Second-Order high-grade talismans worth nearly two million spirit stones.
And four talisman treasures worth over two million spirit stones.
He wasn't so thoroughly prepared because he was afraid of death, but simply because he didn't want to put himself in a dangerous situation.
Quietly.
Three months passed.
Chen Jianghe opened his eyes from his cultivation and walked over to Maoqiu.
Xiao Hei and Latiao also gathered around at this time.
They watched Maoqiu, who was in the middle of his breakthrough.
After fifteen years of consuming Dustfall Pills, he had finally managed to break through before the mystic realm opened.
“Master, why do I feel like Brother Ball has gotten smaller?”
Latiao looked at Maoqiu, who was enveloped in a flow of water, and curiously looked at Chen Jianghe, sending a message through the Second-Order spirit beast pouch.
“Huh? You're right!”
Chen Jianghe was also taken aback, finding it strange.
When spirit beasts and demon beasts broke through, shouldn't their bodies grow larger as their cultivation increased?
Ever since Maoqiu's bloodline purity broke through the limitations of the Mountain Velvet Beast, some kind of mutation had occurred.
Other Mountain Velvet Beasts would turn entirely black when they reached the Second Order.
Previously, Maoqiu had also turned into a huge black ape after breaking through to the Second Order, but as his bloodline purity increased…
Not only did he turn completely snow-white, just like when he was a First-Order spirit beast, but his size also shrank to eight feet and two inches.
One must remember that Maoqiu used to be over two zhang tall.
Now, as Maoqiu broke through to Second-Order Completion, the color of his fur remained unchanged, but his body shrank again.
Seven feet and one inch.
He was only a little taller than Chen Jianghe.
His thick, large hands had become slender, his short, stout legs had grown longer, and his torso had become shorter.
If he were to wear clothes and a mask, it would be impossible to tell that he was a spirit beast.
“Is this what happens when a Mountain Velvet Beast's bloodline is enhanced?”
Chen Jianghe had no one to ask.
According to the records in the *Chronicles of Tiannan*, the Mountain Velvet Beast had a Third-Grade low-tier bloodline at best. There had never been a record of a Mountain Velvet Beast with a Third-Grade high-tier bloodline.
Yet, Maoqiu had reached a Fourth-Grade low-tier bloodline.
Who could he possibly ask about this?
If he really went around asking, he would just be looking for trouble.
A spirit beast with a Fourth-Grade low-tier bloodline could easily attract covetous eyes.
“Maoqiu is not ordinary. I feel that he is not a common spirit beast or demon beast,” Xiao Hei said as he circled around Maoqiu.
He spoke to Chen Jianghe with great seriousness.
“Not ordinary in what way?”
Chen Jianghe asked hurriedly.
He had forgotten about Xiao Hei, this walking encyclopedia of demon beasts with an inherited technique.
The inheritance given to Xiao Hei by his spiritual platform not only included a cultivation technique but also some common knowledge about demon beasts.
“I can't tell right now.”
“Then when will you be able to tell?”
“When Maoqiu becomes a Fifth-Grade bloodline spirit beast, I will be able to determine if he is a normal demon beast or spirit beast.”
“A Fifth-Grade bloodline?”
Chen Jianghe pursed his lips. Who knew how long that would take.
To reach a Fifth-Grade bloodline, he would need the Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Herb, and not just one. Where was he supposed to find that?
Besides, Maoqiu wasn't even a Fourth-Grade high-tier bloodline yet.
Becoming a Fifth-Grade bloodline was a distant dream.
After six hours.
Maoqiu finished his breakthrough.
His large, watery eyes looked at Chen Jianghe, and he excitedly sent a telepathic message: “Master, I've broken through to Second-Order Completion! I can help Master now!”
“Yes, very good.”
Chen Jianghe praised him.
“Lord Turtle, I did it.”
“Not bad. You've shown some promise.”
Xiao Hei said in a sagely tone.
“Hehe, it's all thanks to Lord Turtle's guidance.”
“Don't get complacent. You must continue to cultivate diligently. You now have a Fourth-Grade low-tier bloodline and have a chance to reach Core Formation in the future.”
Xiao Hei said earnestly, “Master and I will continue to help you improve your bloodline purity and strengthen your foundation.”
“I will not disappoint Lord Turtle and Master!”
Maoqiu's expression was resolute.
“Brother Ball, congratulations on taking this crucial step. I'm still at the mid-Second Order and can't help Master.”
There was a hint of disappointment in Latiao's words.
It was currently at the mid-Second Order, just one step away from the late Second Order, but it couldn't take that step in a short amount of time.
If it were to break through, it would likely happen inside the mystic realm.
“Don't be discouraged. You will definitely reach the late Second Order and be able to help Master,” Maoqiu said encouragingly.
Then, Maoqiu sent another telepathic message to Chen Jianghe.
“Master, I think I can focus my attention now,” Maoqiu said, not entirely certain.
“You can focus your mind?”
Chen Jianghe's face lit up with joy.
Ever since he learned that Maoqiu couldn't concentrate, Chen Jianghe had stopped having him draw talismans.
The spirit stones earned by a low-grade talisman master were too few.
For Maoqiu, it was a waste of time that was better spent on cultivation.
It wasn't as if Chen Jianghe was so poor that he couldn't make ends meet.
“Consolidate your cultivation first. After we leave the mystic realm, you can try drawing mid-grade spirit talismans,” Chen Jianghe said.
With the opening of the unknown mystic realm imminent, Maoqiu had managed to break through just in time.
Naturally, the priority was to consolidate his cultivation.
As for drawing talismans, there would be plenty of time for that later.
After Xiao Hei, Maoqiu, and Latiao all began to cultivate, Chen Jianghe walked out of the isolation array.
There were only seven months left before he entered the unknown mystic realm.
He needed to step outside more frequently to check the message box for any new information from Gao Peiyao and Ruan Tieniu.
As his spiritual sense swept over the message box, his expression suddenly changed.
“Ji Wujin?!”