Chapter 303
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 303
Chapter Title: Deadly Restrictions, Lair's Treasure
The sun and moon were not visible in the sky, yet a red radiance gently painted the horizon, like a celestial river spilling down, streaking from the heavens to the west and illuminating the entire mystic realm.
Peaks rose one after another, covered in dense pines and cypresses. A great river, dozens of yards wide, weaved between the mountains. It was as if they were still in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range; this river was the Wandering Immortal River.
Clang!
A high-pitched, sharp cry echoed.
A Blackflame Fire Crow flew over on outstretched wings. Its massive body, forty to fifty feet wide, arrived in the blink of an eye. Its talons tore through a cultivator's protective spell, snatching a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and vanishing in an instant.
The speed was astounding.
Just as it was pulled into the clouds, the Blackflame Fire Crow’s beak could be seen pecking through the cultivator's skull.
A delectable meal of flesh and blood, a rarity seen once in a thousand years.
"Everyone, this Beast Taming Mystic Realm was the ancestral land of the ancient Beast Taming Sect. It contains many demonic beasts with extremely high bloodlines. We must not fight amongst ourselves, lest we become food for them."
A False Core Rogue Cultivator spoke with a frown, his expression grim.
The next moment, that same cultivator flew swiftly toward a mountain peak, distancing himself from the group.
The other cultivators also quickly dispersed.
Under the scrutiny of a Dharma Eye, spiritual items were everywhere.
The Beast Taming Mystic Realm had never been opened before, which meant the spiritual items within had only ever been consumed by demonic beasts, never harvested by cultivators.
First-rank spiritual items were practically covering the ground, interspersed with many second-rank low and mid-grade ones.
Chen Jianghe focused his spiritual power, his Dharma Eye spotting a glimmer of light in the mountain river. It was a Spirit Spring Pearl, a second-rank high-grade absorbable spiritual item.
However, no cultivator went to retrieve it. Instead, they flew rapidly toward the depths of the mountain range.
They were all cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment or higher. What they sought were third-rank spiritual items and those that could aid in Core Formation.
Upon entering the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, the first priority was to find Core Formation spiritual items.
"Brother Jianghe, Cen Linfeng has left."
Gao Peiyao flew to Chen Jianghe's side, her gaze on Cen Linfeng, who was departing with Chen Chengping and the others. She sent Chen Jianghe a mental message.
As Cen Linfeng left, however, he shot Chen Jianghe a venomous glare.
His killing intent was completely undisguised.
If it weren't for Gao Peiyao, Xiao Chen, Yuan Chenyu, and Lady Jinghong standing by Chen Jianghe's side, Cen Linfeng would have already made his move.
"Pay him no mind. He's just a clown."
Chen Jianghe was good-natured, but he was not one to be trifled with. Cen Linfeng had provoked him multiple times and even revealed his murderous intent. If they were to cross paths again, there would be a reckoning.
"Fellow Daoists, I shall take my leave."
Lady Jinghong bid them farewell and transformed into a streak of light, chasing after the Blackflame Fire Crow. It seemed she had already set it as her target.
She had come to the Beast Taming Mystic Realm to fight, seeking a breakthrough in the heat of battle.
The Blackflame Fire Crow that had devoured the cultivator was a peak second-rank demonic beast.
It was a perfect target for her.
"I, Yuan, will also be on my way."
Yuan Chenyu cupped his hands and departed using an escape art.
Their alliance was merely to look out for one another upon entering the mystic realm, to ward off prying eyes.
Now that everyone was scattering.
They certainly wouldn't hunt for treasures together. Otherwise, who would claim any great treasures they found?
"Junior Sister, where are you headed?"
Xiao Chen looked at Gao Peiyao and asked.
Handsome and elegant, with sharp brows and starry eyes, a hint of worry appeared on his face as he looked at her.
"I have a destination in mind."
Gao Peiyao replied in a gentle voice.
She glanced at Xiao Chen and Chen Jianghe before transforming into a streak of light and departing.
Xiao Chen watched her leave, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes. He didn't know why.
Ever since Gao Peiyao's trip to Heavenly Gate Market City, she had grown much colder toward him.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, I will take my leave now."
"As you wish, Fellow Daoist Xiao."
Chen Jianghe watched Xiao Chen depart. Within a hundred yards of him, there were still a dozen or so cultivators, most of them at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
Perhaps they were frightened witless by the Blackflame Fire Crow's ferocity.
None of them seemed to have any intention of leaving on their own.
"Everyone, we are all late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, weaker than those at the peak of Foundation Establishment or the False Core Rogue Cultivators. If we want to survive in this mystic realm, we must band together. Only then can we hope to obtain spiritual items and last until the restrictions of the realm disappear."
A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator spoke up.
His words immediately drew agreement from the others. He was right; they were relatively weak.
If they acted alone, they would most likely end up as food for the demonic beasts.
They wouldn't even be able to escape.
"Grandmaster Chen, would you be willing to form an alliance with us?"
At that moment, the only peak Foundation Establishment cultivator present looked at Chen Jianghe and asked with cupped hands.
"How will the spiritual items be distributed?"
Chen Jianghe smiled faintly and asked casually.
"Naturally, they will be distributed equally."
"Oh? And how would we do that?"
Chen Jianghe's gaze swept across the group. There were thirteen of them. He really couldn't think of a good way to divide things equally.
"We'll assign an order. The Daoist who obtains a spiritual item first must help those who haven't found one yet."
"Heh, a fine idea. Farewell."
Water spiritual energy surged around Chen Jianghe, and he instantly rode the water away.
Letting the fortunate lead the less fortunate. What a truly brilliant idea.
Following Chen Jianghe's departure, several other cultivators also left. No one was a fool.
After I've already obtained a spiritual item, you want me to risk my life to help others get one?
What a joke.
Everyone understood the logic. This kind of alliance was the most predatory arrangement.
The moment a great treasure was discovered, internal conflict was inevitable. It was better to search alone. After finding a treasure, one could just hide it well and quietly wait for the mystic realm's restrictions to fade.
As for the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who remained, they each had some tricks up their sleeves and believed they could gain an advantage in any conflict.
By the great river, Chen Jianghe stabilized his footing.
Ever since entering the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, the land was covered in first-rank high-grade spiritual items, along with many second-rank low-grade ones.
The river even contained second-rank mid and high-grade spiritual items.
"Xiao Hei, are there any powerful auras nearby?"
Chen Jianghe asked via mental transmission.
Xiao Hei's perception was extremely sharp. Even from within the spirit beast pouch, he could sense the fluctuations of auras outside.
It was just like how a treasure-seeking mouse could sense the aura of treasures from within a spirit beast pouch.
"I can't feel anything. There shouldn't be any powerful beings around."
Xiao Hei replied.
Chen Jianghe immediately released Maoqiu. He then went to a willow grove by the river and had Maoqiu stand guard with the Profound Iron Heavy Rod.
He took out a second-rank low-grade Mountain Monkey Puppet, inserted nine mid-grade spirit stones, and then controlled it with his divine sense. He brought it to the riverbank and cautiously extended it toward the water's surface.
After confirming there were no restrictions.
Chen Jianghe had the Mountain Monkey Puppet dive into the river and swim toward the source of the shimmering light.
"It's not a Spirit Spring Pearl, it's a Spirit Pool Pearl?!"
Chen Jianghe saw the treasure through the Mountain Monkey Puppet's eyes and was instantly delighted. He reached out to grab it.
Boom!
A deadly restriction was triggered.
A golden light flared, and the powerful fluctuation of spiritual energy instantly shattered half of the Mountain Monkey Puppet's body.
Chen Jianghe's mind trembled, and he immediately had the puppet grab the Spirit Pool Pearl and return.
Bang!
The moment it reached Chen Jianghe's side, the Mountain Monkey Puppet disintegrated, scattering its components all over the ground.
"What a powerful restriction. It's much stronger than the ones in the Wind and Snow Ancient Mystic Realm," Chen Jianghe said in surprise.
A second-rank low-grade puppet was destroyed just like that.
And all it did was retrieve a peak second-rank absorbable spiritual item.
"The power of that deadly restriction was equivalent to an attack from a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. If I had sent Maoqiu, he probably would have been fine."
Chen Jianghe glanced at the powerful Maoqiu.
With his peak second-rank cultivation, he could withstand most of the restrictions in this mystic realm.
"Maoqiu, go retrieve that Green Vein Stone by the river. Be careful."
A green light flickered in Chen Jianghe's Dharma Eye as he pointed to a head-sized green stone a hundred yards away, its surface covered in natural patterns.
This was a second-rank mid-grade spiritual item, suitable for refining top-tier flying swords.
It was one of the better second-rank mid-grade spiritual materials.
In a normal mystic realm, it would be a target of contention, but in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, those peak Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't even give it a second glance.
Boom!
Another deadly restriction.
Maoqiu stood firm, taking the brunt of the sudden explosion with his physical body. It merely caused his snow-white fur to tremble slightly, inflicting no real damage.
Next, Chen Jianghe had Maoqiu retrieve a second-rank mid-grade spiritual item, Wind's Breath Grass.
It too had a deadly restriction.
Its power was comparable to the one on the Green Vein Stone, far weaker than the one protecting the Spirit Pool Pearl.
Azureflame Vine, Iceheart Grass, Gold Essence Flower...
Chen Jianghe had Maoqiu scour a thousand-yard radius, collecting only second-rank spiritual items and ignoring the first-rank ones.
If he started collecting first-rank items, the storage pouches he brought would fill up quickly.
After collecting twenty-three second-rank mid-grade spiritual items and fifty-one second-rank low-grade ones, Chen Jianghe had figured out the pattern of the deadly restrictions on them.
Every spiritual item was protected by a deadly restriction, but their power varied. The higher the grade of the item, the stronger the restriction.
The deadly restriction on the Spirit Pool Pearl had an explosive force comparable to an attack from a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
An unwary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could be injured by it.
The deadly restrictions on second-rank low and mid-grade spiritual items were equivalent to the magical attacks of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The restriction on the mid-grade items was just slightly stronger.
Equivalent to a powerful spell from an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
But to Maoqiu, a single attack like that couldn't breach his defenses.
"A Spirit Pool Pearl is a peak second-rank absorbable spiritual item, and its restriction is as strong as an attack from a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Doesn't that mean a quasi-third-rank spiritual item's restriction would be as strong as an attack from a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
At this thought, Chen Jianghe's expression changed.
If that was the case, the deadly restriction on a third-rank spiritual item would be equivalent to an attack from a False Core Rogue Cultivator, or even a Core Formation expert.
If it was an attack from a Core Formation expert, even a casual one, it was not something he could withstand.
"Core Formation spiritual items are usually third-rank mid-grade. By my reckoning, wouldn't the deadly restriction on them be equivalent to an attack from a Core Formation expert? I'm afraid none of the cultivators who entered this time will be able to take away even a single Core Formation spiritual item!"
In other words.
Even if they found a Core Formation spiritual item, someone would have to go first and take the fall.
Only after the first person triggered the deadly restriction could a second person retrieve the item.
Otherwise, who could withstand an attack from a Core Formation expert?
"I still have fourteen puppets. Even if I encounter a third-rank spiritual item, I'll have cannon fodder to trigger the restriction."
An idea sparked in Chen Jianghe's mind.
He brought Maoqiu to the riverbank, cast a water-repelling spell, and jumped into the river, diving ten yards to the bottom.
He began to swim toward the depths of the mountains.
This Beast Taming Mystic Realm was rather interesting. While it was true that restrictions were everywhere, as long as one didn't try to take a spiritual item, no restriction would be triggered.
One could move about boldly without worrying about accidentally stumbling into one.
Of course, this was just Chen Jianghe's guess. There might well be trapping formations or illusion-killing formations in some places.
Following the great river for fifty miles, he surfaced to find himself surrounded by towering peaks stretching as far as the eye could see.
Further ahead lay a long, narrow valley.
Chen Jianghe didn't continue swimming forward. He dived back to the riverbed, released Latiao, and gave him an Origin Spirit Pill.
"Cultivate hard and break through as soon as possible."
Chen Jianghe instructed.
He then activated his Dharma Eye and searched the riverbed for spiritual items, letting Maoqiu retrieve them. With his peak second-rank cultivation, Maoqiu could easily collect second-rank low and mid-grade spiritual items.
He could even retrieve second-rank high-grade items with ease.
He just needed to be a bit more careful with peak second-rank items, as their restrictions were comparable to attacks from late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even Maoqiu had to be on guard.
Otherwise, he could get injured.
Time flew by, and three months passed.
Chen Jianghe had followed the winding river deep into a valley within the mountain range. Along the way, he had scoured the riverbed and both banks, collecting all the spiritual items.
The second-rank low and mid-grade spiritual items that others looked down on, he found to be quite acceptable. They were all spirit stones in his eyes.
In three months, he and Maoqiu had collected another ninety-six second-rank mid-grade spiritual items and one hundred fifty-seven second-rank low-grade ones.
The sheer abundance of spiritual items in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm was incomparable to the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm.
Especially the second-rank low and mid-grade items; they were practically everywhere one looked.
Chen Jianghe had even obtained eight second-rank high-grade spiritual items, three of which were Spirit Spring Pearls, and the other five were materials for refining artifacts.
As for peak second-rank spiritual items, he hadn't found any more.
It seemed that even in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, peak second-rank spiritual items were not common.
"A single quasi-third-rank spiritual item caused a fight. So much for working together in harmony; it's just a joke."
In just three short months, Chen Jianghe had witnessed no fewer than three clashes between cultivators.
In one case, the cultivators' fight attracted a swarm of demonic beasts. Far from getting the spiritual item, both of them ended up as food for the beasts.
Before entering the mystic realm, they had been told there were three third-rank demonic beasts and no fewer than fifty peak second-rank ones inside.
But that didn't mean those were the only demonic beasts in the realm.
There were also large numbers of mid and late-stage second-rank demonic beasts. One or two posed no threat, but if a swarm attacked, even a False Core Rogue Cultivator would have to retreat.
Chen Jianghe peeked his head out from the riverbed. Activating his Dharma Eye, he looked toward the halfway point of a mountain peak. A patch of pine trees had been toppled, and there were bloodstains on the ground.
That was the place where the cultivators had fought and been devoured by demonic beasts.
Chen Jianghe had already gone deep into the mountain valley but had turned back for one reason: a faint purple glow in the mountains.
It had to be at least a quasi-third-rank spiritual item.
It might even be a third-rank one.
Chen Jianghe didn't rush out. He stayed put in the river. He felt that things were not as simple as they seemed.
It was normal for a fight between two peak Foundation Establishment cultivators to attract a swarm of mid and late-stage second-rank demonic beasts.
But for a swarm of late-stage second-rank demonic beasts to arrive right as the fight began was highly unusual.
"It's a pity Maoqiu is a spirit beast and lacks the bloodthirsty aura of a demonic beast. Otherwise, he could have blended in with them."
Half a month ago, Chen Jianghe had noticed that the swarm of demonic beasts was suffused with a bloodthirsty aura.
This was the result of devouring other demonic beasts over a long period.
Maoqiu was a spirit beast who cultivated by absorbing spiritual items or pills. How could he have any bloodthirsty aura?
It was impossible for him to blend in.
Chen Jianghe decided to wait for Latiao to break through before going for that spiritual item. Even if it was a trap set by demonic beasts.
With Latiao's divine ability, he and Maoqiu could retreat with ease.
They might even be able to kill that entire swarm of mid and late-stage second-rank demonic beasts.
His mind made up.
Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged on the riverbed, with Maoqiu standing guard beside him, and began to cultivate the Myriad Waters True Scripture.
He had only been in the mystic realm for three months. There was still a long time before its restrictions were completely worn away.
There was no need to rush the treasure hunt.
Latiao coiled up beside Chen Jianghe, refining the spiritual energy from the Origin Spirit Pill to advance his cultivation.
Maoqiu stood majestically on the riverbed, holding his Profound Iron Heavy Rod like a war general.
All he was missing was a suit of armor.
Half a month passed.
Chen Jianghe opened his eyes, stood up, and moved aside, looking at Latiao, who was now enveloped in a green glow.
His cyan scales shimmered with a dazzling light.
At the same time, he exuded an extremely powerful pressure, different from that of an Icy Triangle Python. It was another kind of indescribable pressure.
It seemed to hold a great deterrent effect even on cultivators.
"Latiao seems to have awakened a special bloodline. I feel he will face no obstacles in breaking through to the third rank in the future."
Just as Latiao was breaking through, Xiao Hei's voice resounded in Chen Jianghe's mind.
"No obstacles to becoming a third-rank spirit beast?!"
Chen Jianghe was startled.
Latiao had a fourth-grade high-tier bloodline. Logically, even without a demonic core of the same attribute, he should have a fifty percent chance of breaking through to the third rank.
With a demonic core, the success rate would be seventy percent.
As for no obstacles?
In his experience, it seemed only the fourth-grade low-tier bloodline Blackflame Fire Crow had no obstacles when breaking through.
It could directly advance to a third-rank demonic beast.
This was because it contained a trace of the Golden Crow bloodline.
"He hatched too recently. Otherwise, we could have raised him to a third-rank spirit beast first. Then we would have a solid foundation."
Xiao Hei said with a hint of helplessness.
Chen Jianghe deeply agreed with Xiao Hei's words.
Whether it was him reaching Core Formation, Xiao Hei breaking through to the third rank, or Maoqiu and Latiao reaching the third rank.
Any one of these would allow them to establish a foothold in the Tiannan Region, occupy a third-rank spirit vein, and establish a cave residence.
They wouldn't have to wander from place to place, being cautious at every turn.
Roar!
Suddenly, Latiao let out a low roar. His body seemed to have transformed, his cyan scales gleaming even more brightly.
The pressure he emitted intensified by a notch.
"Master, I've broken through to the late stage of the second rank. I feel my divine ability has grown stronger."
Latiao's body coiled and uncoiled. Now thirty feet long and as thick as a water bucket, his movements stirred up undercurrents, causing the river water to churn.
"Mm, good."
Chen Jianghe praised him.
"Get into the spirit beast pouch for now, and be ready to use your divine ability."
With a flash of light, Latiao was put away into the spirit beast pouch.
Then, Chen Jianghe cautiously peeked above the water's surface. His Dharma Eye looked toward the mountain where the fight had taken place. A red light flickered, emitting a dense treasure aura.
"It seems all the cultivators have gone deeper into the mountains. Otherwise, how could they not be tempted by this purple glow, so rich with treasure aura?"
Deep within the mountains, pillars of treasure light shot straight into the clouds.
Naturally, all the cultivators were heading for the interior of the mountain range.
Originally, Chen Jianghe had also wanted to head deeper into the mountains quickly, but after discovering that every spiritual item had a deadly restriction.
He was no longer in a hurry.
Without sufficient preparation, even if he found a third-rank spiritual item, he could only look at it, unable to retrieve it.
And even with preparation, third-rank spiritual items were bound to be guarded by demonic beasts. Retrieving one would inevitably involve a fierce battle.
"Maoqiu, let's go."
Chen Jianghe flew out of the river, soaring on qi into the vast, pine-covered mountain. He didn't fly above the forest but weaved through the trees.
As he neared the area of broken pines, Chen Jianghe retracted his spiritual power and moved using only his physical strength.
Maoqiu leaped rapidly through the pine forest, keeping close to Chen Jianghe's side.
"Xiao Hei, are there any third-rank or peak second-rank demonic beasts?"
Chen Jianghe sent a mental message.
"You're too far. Get a little closer."
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe moved forward alongside Maoqiu, heading toward the clearing of broken pines on the mountainside.
At this point, Chen Jianghe grew even more cautious, trying to avoid making any sound.
This approach was much slower, but it allowed him to conceal himself better.
Fortunately, Maoqiu had shrunk his form to be about the same height as Chen Jianghe, so he didn't make much noise as he moved through the forest.
"There's one... two... three peak second-rank demonic beasts."
Xiao Hei's voice echoed in Chen Jianghe's mind, causing him to halt his rapid advance instantly.
"How many?"
"Three... no, wait, there are four peak second-rank demonic beasts, and a swarm of mid and late-stage second-rank ones!"
"???"
Chen Jianghe was stunned.
This wasn't the deep interior of the mountain range. Why were there so many peak second-rank demonic beasts here?
Even deep within the mountains, it was unlikely for a single peak to host four peak second-rank demonic beasts!
"Go a little further."
"Can I still go any further?"
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes.
Four peak second-rank demonic beasts. If he were discovered, he would have to use some serious tricks just to escape.
If one of those four was a flying beast like a Blackflame Fire Crow or a Golden-Crowned Roc.
Escape would be difficult.
"Didn't that fierce female biped give you a Minor Teleportation Talisman? What are you afraid of? Go a little further, you might find something new."
"If I use the Minor Teleportation Talisman now, what will I do if I encounter a third-rank demonic beast later?" Chen Jianghe was speechless.
You couldn't just use a trump card whenever you felt like it.
"Don't worry. Even if you're discovered, I can get you out of here without you using the talisman."
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe nodded.
That sounded a bit more reliable.
However, he didn't press forward directly. Instead, he retreated with Maoqiu.
He returned to the foot of the mountain, circulated his spiritual power to recall Maoqiu into the spirit beast pouch, and then returned to his original spot alone, concealing his aura and stabilizing his spiritual power.
He slowly walked toward the clearing of broken pines, which was now visible to the naked eye.
His pace was very slow, careful not to make the slightest sound.
Although demonic beasts also had divine sense, they couldn't keep it extended at all times. As long as he didn't make a sound, he generally wouldn't be discovered.
After advancing a hundred meters, he reached the edge of the clearing.
Before him was a scene of toppled pine trees, along with torn pieces of cloth and bloodstains. Evidently, those two fellow Daoists had a grand departure, given a warm send-off by numerous demonic beasts.
"Xiao Hei, what's the situation?"
Chen Jianghe asked urgently.
He didn't know if he was approaching danger or if danger was approaching him, and his heart was uneasy.
"Six peak second-rank demonic beasts... Don't panic yet, let me finish."
"I'm not panicking. Hurry up... or maybe we should talk back at the foot of the mountain."
"Relax, with me here, they can't hurt you."
Xiao Hei sent another message: "The auras of these peak second-rank demonic beasts are stable. They seem to be in deep sleep. As long as you don't wake them, you won't be in danger."
"However, the spiritual power fluctuations of that swarm of mid and late-stage second-rank demonic beasts are unstable. They probably aren't sleeping."
"But there's definitely a treasure up ahead. Even from inside the spirit beast pouch, I can feel the scorching spiritual energy, as if the surrounding energy is being roasted by fire."
Chen Jianghe took a step back.
He glanced at the cave across from the clearing. A red light flickered within. It was obvious that the "roasted spiritual energy" Xiao Hei mentioned was likely originating from this cave.
A treasure guarded by six peak second-rank demonic beasts and dozens of mid and late-stage second-rank ones. Without Xiao Hei needing to say more, Chen Jianghe knew there had to be a great treasure inside.
But retrieving it would require breaking a restriction.
That would certainly awaken the demonic beasts, especially those six at the peak of the second rank.
"Don't be afraid. If you run into trouble, let me out. I'll get you away."
Sensing Chen Jianghe's inclination to retreat, Xiao Hei quickly sent another message to bolster his courage.