Chapter 307
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 307
Chapter Title: Xiao Hei's Bloodline Ascension, Ruan and Ji Conspire
Chen Jianghe hid in a crevice on a mountain cliff ten miles away, taking out five Sealing Talismans from his storage bag.
Although they were only first-grade superior spiritual talismans, they were remarkably effective at evading spiritual sense. As long as no one was deliberately searching for him, he wouldn't be discovered.
The power of a third-grade demonic beast was terrifying. Its spiritual sense might not reach this far, but its perceptive abilities were strong.
If he were exposed, he wouldn't be able to withstand the attack of a third-grade demonic beast.
Boom!
Maoqiu swept its staff, knocking back the three demons, but was also sent flying by the brute force of their collision.
Xiao Hei needed to buy time for Lady Jinghong.
The attacks of these three peak second-grade demonic beasts landed on Maoqiu. Fortunately, none of them used their divine abilities.
Otherwise, Maoqiu wouldn't have been able to withstand three peak second-grade demonic beasts at all.
With its strength, holding off two peak second-grade demonic beasts was already its limit. Xiao Hei had already depleted most of their magical power.
Without them using their divine abilities, Maoqiu could still contend with the three peak second-grade demonic beasts for a short while.
Chen Jianghe watched as Maoqiu swung its iron staff, moving with impressive vigor amidst the three demonic beasts, creating a cloud of mist that entangled each one.
Before, when it wasn't fighting, he had imagined Maoqiu's combat prowess wasn't that high. Now, seeing it in action, he realized he had underestimated it.
Latiao's divine ability was powerful.
But it required time to cast. If faced with an opponent like Maoqiu, with its swift and relentless attacks, Latiao would have no time to use [Ice Dragon's Roar].
Boom!
The third-grade savage bull glared at Xiao Hei, its eyes glinting with fire. Flames erupted from its four hooves, and its horns ignited with yellow fire as an intense heatwave swept across a thousand-zhang radius.
"Master, this savage bull is about to comprehend a third-grade divine ability!"
Xiao Hei cried out in alarm, sending a telepathic message to Chen Jianghe.
"After blocking this strike for that female two-legger, we have to run, or we'll all die here."
"A third-grade divine ability? Then run now!"
Chen Jianghe made his decision instantly.
A third-grade demonic beast that had comprehended a divine ability was a completely different concept from one that hadn't.
After breaking through to the third grade, this savage bull's offense and defense had undergone a qualitative change.
The qualitative change in its attack stemmed from its third-grade divine ability.
The qualitative change in its defense was evident from Lady Jinghong's fierce attacks. The Alioth Sword, capable of slaying a False Core Rogue Cultivator, couldn't even break the savage bull's skin, showing just how high its defense was.
This savage bull, relying solely on its physical charge, had nearly broken Xiao Hei's defense. Once it comprehended its third-grade divine ability, shattering Xiao Hei's defense would be instantaneous.
Lady Jinghong had sought out this newly advanced third-grade demonic beast to fight, seeking a breakthrough opportunity; she hadn't intentionally helped Xiao Hei escape.
Xiao Hei had helped Lady Jinghong by blocking so many attacks, which could be considered repaying the casual favor.
There was no need to get injured for Lady Jinghong's sake.
Boom!
The third-grade savage bull charged toward Xiao Hei, its entire body enveloped in terrifying flames. Wherever its hooves touched, the very rocks began to burn.
This was spiritual fire!
Thunder Pool Mountain had Thunderlight Stones and Firelight Stones. This third-grade savage bull must have also obtained another type of spiritual fire derived from the Firelight Stones.
"[Petrification], Mystic Turtle Shield!"
Upon hearing Chen Jianghe's message, Xiao Hei wanted to flee with Maoqiu, but it was too late.
The third-grade savage bull saw it blocking Lady Jinghong's path, as if the dignity of a third-grade demonic beast had been challenged.
It charged at Xiao Hei like a mad beast.
Boom!
The bull's horns instantly shattered Xiao Hei's secret art shield and then struck its shell.
The petrified surface cracked like a spiderweb.
The spiritual fire burned on Xiao Hei's shell.
At that moment, the horns made contact with Xiao Hei's shell. A tearing pain shot through it, causing its round, black face to contort into a ferocious expression.
Bang!
Xiao Hei retracted its four limbs into its shell and was sent flying a thousand zhang.
Its shell cracked. Three hairline fractures spread five feet across its back, and the terrifying spiritual fire continued to burn.
No matter what water-type spell Xiao Hei cast, it couldn't extinguish the spiritual fire.
"If I can't put you out, I'll swallow you!"
A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Hei's eyes. It opened its mouth, inhaled, and sucked the spiritual fire from its shell into its mouth, storing it directly in its treasure pouch.
Inside its treasure pouch were the Thunderlight Stone and Firelight Stone, as well as the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire. Adding another rootless spiritual fire didn't matter.
But the moment this rootless spiritual fire entered the pouch, it was devoured by the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire.
"Fellow Daoist, you may leave now!"
Just then, Lady Jinghong's voice rang out.
Without a hint of hesitation, Xiao Hei used [Profound Earth Rock Splitting Escape] to appear before Maoqiu. After blocking a blow for it, it grabbed Maoqiu and fled underground.
"Beast, your opponent is me!"
Lady Jinghong's aura surged to the absolute peak below the Core Formation realm. She formed a sword seal with her hands, and three treasured swords shimmering with starlight flew out from behind her.
"Big Dipper Augmentation, Alkaid!"
"Big Dipper Calamity Dispersal, Mizar!"
"Big Dipper Decline Reversal, Alioth!"
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
The three flying swords traced the pattern of a seven-star array in the sky, drawing down three beams of starlight from the firmament, which shot toward the third-grade savage bull that was about to pursue Xiao Hei.
Boom!
In an instant, the three flying swords blocked the third-grade savage bull's path, attacking its eyes.
Clang!
The third-grade savage bull lowered its eyelids, blocking the Alkaid Sword.
It flicked its ears, pressing them against its head to block the Mizar Sword.
Flames erupted from its horns, trapping the Alioth Sword between them.
Seeing this, Chen Jianghe's expression changed drastically. The third-grade savage bull's strength had increased.
It was comprehending its third-grade divine ability in the midst of battle.
Familiarizing itself with the changes after its breakthrough.
"Master, get on!"
Xiao Hei arrived beside Chen Jianghe and shouted urgently.
"This savage bull has already familiarized itself with its power and is about to comprehend its third-grade divine ability. We can't fight it!"
Without any hesitation, Chen Jianghe leaped onto Xiao Hei's shell.
At that very moment, Chen Jianghe saw Lady Jinghong execute the fourth stage of the [Big Dipper Sword Art].
The sky above Thunder Pool Mountain changed color.
This was the fourth stage, something only those in the Core Formation realm could cultivate, yet Lady Jinghong had comprehended it at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
"Big Dipper Disaster Elimination, Megrez!"
Rumble!
A nebula gathered, and heavenly thunder rolled.
Lady Jinghong stood beneath the nebula, her aura breaking through its shackles. The magical power in her dantian flowed without barriers, merging perfectly to form a fist-sized sea of power.
The heaven and earth origin energy generated at this moment fused with her magical power, granting her the temporary ability to control a magical treasure.
A hundred-foot-long giant sword emerged from the nebula, wrapped in specks of starlight, and slashed down at the third-grade savage bull.
Mooo!
The third-grade savage bull charged toward the Megrez Sword, its entire body covered in spiritual fire, its horns shimmering with a golden light.
Boom!
The starlight shattered, scattering across the sky.
The spiritual fire faltered, and the third-grade savage bull retreated ten feet.
"Good beast. After I form my core, I will fight you again!"
With a thought, Lady Jinghong recalled the three spirit-nurturing flying swords and the magical treasure, the Megrez Sword. She then took out a talisman treasure, transforming into a golden rainbow and fleeing into the distance.
"Mooo!"
The third-grade savage bull roared in anger.
Its lantern-sized eyes, blazing with fire, glanced at the fleeing Lady Jinghong before finally turning to the direction where Xiao Hei had escaped, its gaze filled with unwillingness.
The Purple Thunder Radiance Fire was gone.
Once it broke through to the third grade, it could have refined this Purple Thunder Radiance Fire, but it never expected it to be stolen by a wicked peak second-grade turtle.
Even the Thunderlight Stone and Firelight Stone had been stolen.
The Purple Thunder Radiance Fire could no longer be nurtured, and the spiritual fire on its body could no longer advance. To it, this was a devastating loss.
"Mooo!" (Useless!)
The third-grade savage bull let out a low roar at the three peak second-grade demonic beasts, then stomped on a cloud of fire and flew toward the inner mountains.
...
Three thousand feet beneath the riverbed, a cavern was filled with spirit-rich groundwater. Beneath the great river, there was actually a spiritual river, its first-grade spiritual water flowing westward.
First-grade spiritual water could be used in place of spiritual blood to refine high-quality spiritual ink.
It could also be used to brew mid- to high-grade immortal spirit wine. A spiritual river this long and wide was of immeasurable value.
But Chen Jianghe had no way to collect it.
He had three treasure vases, which could hold at most three thousand catties. Relatively speaking, that wasn't worth much.
Unless he could collect the water of the entire spiritual river.
"Xiao Hei, how are you?"
Chen Jianghe looked at the cracks on Xiao Hei's shell. This was the first time he had ever seen Xiao Hei injured.
The shell was scorched black, and he couldn't tell if the meat inside was cooked, but there was a fragrant aroma wafting from it.
"That savage bull is just bullying me because my cultivation is low. Once I break through to the third grade, I could stand still and let it hit me, and it still wouldn't break my defense."
Xiao Hei said indignantly, the tearing sensation from its shell making it grimace in pain.
"I'm fine. I'll be better after a few days of rest."
As it spoke, Xiao Hei began to cultivate, using the [Turtle Breath Spirit Nurturing] secret art to repair its injuries.
Chen Jianghe didn't disturb Xiao Hei, nor did he ask about the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire, the Thunderlight Stone, or the Firelight Stone.
Once Xiao Hei recovered, it would naturally tell him.
"Maoqiu, hurry up and recover your magical power."
Chen Jianghe took out a second-grade Spirit Recovery Pill and tossed it to Maoqiu, also taking out two thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Of the five second-grade Spirit Recovery Pills he had given Maoqiu, Xiao Hei had taken two after Maoqiu joined the fight.
Later, when Maoqiu used its divine ability to fend off the three peak second-grade demonic beasts, it had taken two itself.
With only one left, it couldn't restore its magical power to its peak state.
So, Chen Jianghe gave it another pill and two thousand low-grade spirit stones so Maoqiu could maintain its peak condition.
He had mid-grade spirit stones, which would restore magical power faster, but he planned to stay in the cavern for a few days while Xiao Hei recovered.
Using mid-grade spirit stones would be a bit of a waste.
He also had some second-grade puppets that required mid-grade spirit stones to unleash their full power.
Afterward, Chen Jianghe released Latiao and gave it a Dust Settling Pill, letting it cultivate in the cavern as well.
Although Chen Jianghe hadn't been too close to the great battle on Thunder Pool Mountain, he had felt the inadequacy of his cultivation.
Facing a third-grade demonic beast, his so-called trump cards were nothing but a joke.
Except for the Minor Teleportation Talisman, which could be used to escape.
As for the Starfall Lightning Talisman and the Second Wood Soul-Binding Talisman, they could hardly harm the third-grade savage bull.
And this was just a newly advanced third-grade demonic beast that hadn't even comprehended its divine ability.
Even Lady Jinghong's powerful attacks couldn't injure that savage bull.
Third-grade demonic beasts were too strong. This time, he had gained a direct understanding and realized his own insignificance.
"After this battle, Lady Jinghong will surely break through. The favor Xiao Hei earned by getting injured was not in vain."
Astoundingly talented, truly worthy of the name Jinghong.
Previously, he only knew that Lady Jinghong had slain eleven Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, including three at the peak of Foundation Establishment and eight in the late stage.
He hadn't had a direct concept of a sword path genius.
This time, he truly understood what a genius was, and what a sword path genius was.
To undergo martial dissolution from the False Core stage required immense courage.
She returned to the peak of Foundation Establishment, comprehended the fourth stage of the [Big Dipper Sword Art], the Megrez Sword, and used it as an opportunity to break through the final barrier to Core Formation.
The fourth stage of an offensive art could generally only be cultivated by Core Formation masters. It was rare for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to comprehend the fourth stage of an offensive art.
Especially a sword art, which was the most difficult.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Hei opened its eyes and exhaled a turbid breath. It could feel that its injuries had already healed.
"Injuring me this badly... this Turtle Lord will remember this. You'll get what's coming to you."
"Don't hold a grudge just yet. How are your injuries? Are there any lasting effects or damage to your origin?"
Chen Jianghe asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, it's fully healed."
Xiao Hei thought of the tearing sensation on its shell. It was a pain it had never felt before, as if someone were trying to rip its shell right off.
The more it thought about it, the angrier it became.
"I'm going to cultivate hard, I'm going to eat that savage bull, and I'm going to roast it!" Xiao Hei said furiously.
"Yes, once the four of us have broken through, we'll come to the Wandering Immortal... uh, wait until you break through to the fourth grade. You'll be in charge of killing, and I'll be in charge of roasting."
"Why wait until the fourth grade?"
"Did you forget about that Kui?"
"Uh... right. That Kui is terrifying."
Xiao Hei shivered at the thought of the aura of the fourth-grade great demon, the Kui King. Although it hadn't seen it, its aura alone was enough to extinguish any thought of resistance.
"By the way, what about the Thunderlight Stone and Firelight Stone? Did you get them?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
"I got injured, of course I got them. I also swallowed that Purple Thunder Radiance Fire into my treasure pouch."
"This spiritual fire is amazing. It can devour that savage bull's spiritual fire. Once our cultivation breaks through, you can use the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire to roast that bull for me to eat."
"No problem."
Chen Jianghe agreed immediately.
He was thrilled. He had actually obtained the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire.
Wanting to get it and actually getting it were two completely different feelings.
That was spiritual fire!
A spiritual fire capable of injuring a Core Formation master couldn't simply be described by the words 'great treasure'.
All the treasures Chen Jianghe possessed, combined, were not as valuable as the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire.
Including that Azure Water Golden Lotus.
Unless the Azure Water Golden Lotus was refined into a life-bound magical treasure and allowed to grow for some time, only then could it compare to the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire.
"First, absorb the spiritual power of the Thunderlight Stone and Firelight Stone to raise your bloodline purity to the fourth-grade superior level."
"Okay."
Having received Chen Jianghe's permission again, Xiao Hei no longer hesitated. It activated the [Six Revolutions Great Demon Art] and began absorbing the spiritual power of the Thunderlight and Firelight Stones.
However, it needed to refine a portion of the thunder and fire origin and integrate it into its treasure pouch so it could house the Purple Thunder Radiance Fire.
Although it would have to sacrifice a third of the spiritual power, it would still be enough to raise its bloodline to the fourth-grade superior level.
Chen Jianghe watched as Xiao Hei absorbed the spiritual power of the Thunderlight and Firelight Stones. Although he felt it was a bit of a pity, it didn't change his decision to let Xiao Hei consume these two great treasures.
A life-bound magical treasure, the Thunderfire Sword?
If it's destroyed, it's destroyed. He couldn't use it anyway.
No longer thinking about this, Chen Jianghe took out the Peachwood Heart-Clearing Talisman Brush and a set of second-grade superior talisman materials.
It would take some time for Xiao Hei to absorb the Thunderlight and Firelight Stones to enhance its bloodline. He could use this time to draw another Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
He had twenty-six Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talismans on him. It seemed like a lot, but that was only because he hadn't encountered any real danger.
When it was really time to flee.
In the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, even a hundred second-grade superior escape talismans wouldn't be enough. This place was different from the outside.
One Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman could last for half a quarter-hour and allow one to escape for several hundred li.
In the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, due to the suppression of the restrictions, a Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman could only last for a few dozen breaths, a hundred at most.
Being able to escape nearly a hundred li was already quite good.
Two months passed.
In the inner perimeter of the mountain range, a thousand-zhang peak rose from the ground, piercing the clouds, standing out like a crane among chickens amidst the dozens of surrounding mountains.
Streaks of sword light shuttled through the inner mountains, and demonic beasts were also in hot pursuit of those swiftly flying beams.
The trial takers who had entered the Beast Taming Mystic Realm were basically all in the inner mountain range. The pillar of light radiating with treasure aura was on that thousand-zhang peak.
It was just that there were too many demonic beasts here, making it extremely difficult to enter the thousand-zhang peak.
But these cultivators were unwilling to leave.
They could only search for treasures on the surrounding peaks while looking for an opportunity to sneak onto the thousand-zhang peak.
The surrounding mountains also held many spiritual items, including third-grade and even Core Formation-grade ones, but there were also powerful peak second-grade demonic beasts.
To get the treasures, they not only had to resist the deadly restrictions but also be wary of those terrifying peak second-grade demonic beasts.
"Fellow Daoist Ruan, are you sure that Boss Feng has a Core Formation-grade spiritual item on him?"
On a steep cliff face, an ancient pine tree grew tenaciously, its roots anchored inside the rock, delving into every crevice, gripping each stone tightly.
Ji Wujin stood on a branch of the ancient pine, looking at the three people flying on their swords in the distance, and asked Ruan Tieniu beside him.
"How could I be sure of that?"
Ruan Tieniu said flatly, "That Boss Feng entered the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm and came out safely, even evading the Tiannan Sect's search. He must have treasures on him. Even if it's not a Core Formation-grade spiritual item, it's at least a third-grade one."
"What kind of methods does he have to be able to escape from the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm?!"
Ji Wujin exclaimed in surprise.
He had also heard a lot about the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm; it was said to have the highest death rate of any mystic realm.
More than twenty disciples from the Tiannan Sect had entered, but only three had come out.
"He had a defensive talisman treasure, but he already used it in the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm. I don't know if his master, Perfected Qingyou, has acquired another one for him."
"He also has a late second-grade spirit turtle, which should be at the peak of the second grade by now. The divine ability that spirit turtle awakened should be an escape art, and it's extremely fast."
When Ruan Tieniu thought about how 'Boss Feng' had lured a soon-to-breakthrough Icy Triangle Python to him in the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm, he seethed with anger.
If it weren't for his [Blood River Escape Art], he would have been screwed over and killed by 'Boss Feng'.
Even so, it had cost him three years of his lifespan.
Fortunately, he had Chen Jianghe's Muscle-Growing and Bone-Mending Pill; otherwise, he would have lost even more of his lifespan. Ruan Tieniu was resolute in his desire to kill this 'Boss Feng'.
This grudge had to be settled.
"Fellow Daoist Ruan, you have a grudge against him, don't you? Hehe..."
"You could say that!"
"Alright then. There are three of them. You provide the bait. I'll take two-thirds of the treasures we get, and that Boss Feng will definitely die."
Ji Wujin stated his conditions.
"You must be joking, Fellow Daoist Ji. If I act as the bait, they probably won't dare to approach. After all, I am the Right Prime Minister of the Feng Kingdom and am highly regarded by the Kui King."
Ruan Tieniu said with a chuckle.
Provide the bait?
What a joke.
If he took out the bait, Boss Feng and his two companions wouldn't dare to come. If he gave the bait to Ji Wujin, it would be like throwing a meat bun at a dog—gone for good.
"Fine, I'll provide the bait, but I get three-fourths of the treasures."
"Forget it, forget it. Let's just go our separate ways."
Ruan Tieniu waved his hand dismissively.
Since entering the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, the two of them had been working together and had already pulled off several jobs.
They had obtained three third-grade spiritual items and seven quasi-third-grade spiritual items.
Ji Wujin had taken two of the third-grade spiritual items and three of the quasi-third-grade ones, basically getting the better end of the deal every time.
This made Ruan Tieniu consider working alone.
But his current status and position didn't allow him to fail.
Whatever he did, he had to silence the other party so that no unfavorable news about him could spread.
This forced him to cooperate with Ji Wujin.
"One-third is one-third. And as I said before, if there's only one third-grade spiritual item, it's mine."
"Fine. If you get one third-grade spiritual item, you have to give me three quasi-third-grade ones."
"Deal."
Ji Wujin and Ruan Tieniu high-fived in the air.
"Fellow Daoist Ruan, you can leave first."
Hearing this, Ruan Tieniu said no more and immediately flew twenty li away, ensuring no one would notice anything unusual.
After an hour.
Ji Wujin also flew away from the cliff, activating his Dharma Eye to search for treasures among the mountains while waiting for Boss Feng's group.
Suddenly.
The ancient pine on the cliff suddenly radiated a treasure aura.
A brilliant light shot out.
"A Core Formation-grade spiritual item?!"
Ji Wujin cried out in shock, then rushed over at extreme speed. At the same time, he formed hand seals and attacked Boss Feng's group of three, obstructing them from casting spells, fearing they would compete with him.
"Villain, you're courting death!"
Cen Linfeng saw Ji Wujin attacking him and roared furiously. Immediately after, his voice came to an abrupt halt.
"A Core Formation-grade spiritual item?!"
At this moment.
Cen Linfeng, Chen Chengping, and Boss Feng all saw the treasure light on the cliff, coming from a cave behind the ancient pine.
The treasure aura was overflowing. They didn't know if it was a Core Formation-grade spiritual item, but it was definitely a third-grade one!
They had also obtained many treasures in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm and had accumulated a wealth of treasure-hunting experience.
Such a dense treasure aura definitely belonged to a third-grade spiritual item.
"I have a second-grade superior puppet that can remove the deadly restriction on a third-grade spiritual item.
"I ask Fellow Daoist Cen and Fellow Daoist Chen to help me block that scoundrel while I retrieve this third-grade spiritual item."
"Fellow Daoist Feng, you go block that scoundrel. I'll get this Core Formation-grade spiritual item for you!"
"Fellow Daoists, no need to say more. We agreed before that if we encountered a Core Formation-grade spiritual item, it would be every man for himself!"
In an instant.
Boss Feng shot forward, closely following Ji Wujin, his speed even a notch faster than Ji Wujin's.
However, Boss Feng paid no attention to Ji Wujin.
What he wanted was the Core Formation-grade spiritual item.
Cen Linfeng and Chen Chengping also gave chase. Their speed was second only to Boss Feng's, and they actually caught up to Ji Wujin.
"Bastard, I discovered this Core Formation-grade spiritual item first!"
Ji Wujin roared in anger, took out a second-grade superior escape talisman, and used it without hesitation. His speed suddenly increased, leaving Cen Linfeng and Chen Chengping behind as he was about to overtake Boss Feng.
At the same time, he sent a secret telepathic message to his Treasure-Hunting Mouse: "Baobao, sense the treasure aura on those three!"
Boss Feng's group of three also took out their own second-grade superior escape talismans.
"Hmph, treasures go to those destined to have them!"