Chapter 309
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 309
Chapter Title: Core Formation Phenomenon, Friends Gather
Beyond the mountains, in a tributary of the great river, Chen Jianghe hid himself, diving to the riverbed. He took out five Sealing Talismans, setting up an extremely simple barrier.
Then, he took out the treasures from his storage pouch.
"It really is a Soul-Nourishing Spirit Ganoderma."
Chen Jianghe looked at one of the three quasi-third-tier spirit items, a joyful expression immediately appearing on his face.
This Soul-Nourishing Spirit Ganoderma was a quasi-third-tier soul-type spirit item. He had obtained one before and traded it with Lady Jinghong for the "Big Dipper Sword Art."
Although this particular Soul-Nourishing Spirit Ganoderma couldn't be exchanged for a Core Formation spirit item, it was something Chen Jianghe urgently needed.
The Soul-Nourishing Spirit Ganoderma could not only be refined into spirit pills for healing the soul but also into pills that aided in the cultivation of spiritual techniques.
It could also be directly absorbed and refined to cultivate the "Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture."
With this Soul-Nourishing Spirit Ganoderma, Chen Jianghe could cultivate the "Soul Sea Origin Consolidating Scripture" to the peak of the sixth level.
"Fellow Daoist Cen was quite fortunate."
Chen Jianghe politely praised the deceased.
Then, he looked at the other two quasi-third-tier spirit items. One was Cold Smoke Jade, used for refining Spirit-Nurturing Dharma Tools, and the other was Crimson Flame Stone, which could also be used for refining Spirit-Nurturing Dharma Tools.
These weren't of great use to Chen Jianghe, but they were quite valuable, each worth at least a hundred thousand spirit stones.
Besides these three quasi-third-tier spirit items, there were also seven second-tier high-grade spirit items, fifty-two second-tier mid-grade spirit items, and ninety-one second-tier low-grade spirit items.
Most importantly, Cen Linfeng even had a Defensive Talisman Treasure!
"It seems Fellow Daoist Cen put a lot of thought into entering the Beast Taming Mystic Realm. An Escape Art Talisman Treasure and a metal-attribute Defensive Talisman Treasure—his preparations were quite thorough."
"May you walk a good path, Fellow Daoist."
Having obtained a Defensive Talisman Treasure, Chen Jianghe was overjoyed and silently prayed for Cen Linfeng to have a safe journey in the afterlife.
As for some other miscellaneous items of little value, Chen Jianghe buried them deep beneath the riverbed.
If any demon hunters ventured deep into this place in the future, they might obtain them if fate willed it.
For Chen Jianghe, any item worth less than five hundred spirit stones had to be discarded.
It wasn't that he was rich and looked down on low-value spirit items.
It was simply that his storage pouches were full.
Even if they could fit, Chen Jianghe wouldn't keep them. He now had one hundred seventy-one second-tier mid-grade spirit items, two hundred ninety-nine second-tier low-grade spirit items, and fifteen second-tier high-grade spirit items.
They had already filled two storage pouches.
If he kept spirit items of all values, even ten storage pouches wouldn't be enough. More importantly, he couldn't walk around with storage pouches hanging all over his body.
Even if they contained only low-value spirit items, it would attract all sorts of robbers.
While in a mystic realm, it was better to be cautious and low-key.
However, Chen Jianghe clearly remembered the location of every buried cache of spirit items. In the future, when his cultivation was high enough, he could make a trip into the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
He could retrieve the hidden 'scraps' and sell them for a good price at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion or the Treasure Pavilion.
"It's time to sneak into the inner perimeter of the mountains. I wonder what great treasure is within that heaven-piercing pillar of light to cause such a phenomenon!"
Chen Jianghe formed a hand seal and executed the Water Ripple Escape, heading towards the inner perimeter of the mountains. His speed was not fast; one could even say it was slow.
Every ten li he traveled, he would cautiously observe his surroundings.
The source of this great river was in the inner perimeter of the mountains. Chen Jianghe only needed to travel upstream along the river to reach the inner mountain range.
Two hours later.
Chen Jianghe traveled upstream, passed through the Dragon Gate from the great river, and entered the inner mountain range, then poked his head out from the river's surface.
Thousand Zhang Peak was surrounded by continuous mountain ranges, tightly enclosing it within the inner perimeter and forming a massive mountain barrier.
With Thousand Zhang Peak at the center, the thousand-li radius was all part of the inner mountain range. The river Chen Jianghe was in had nine bends and eighteen turns, extending all the way to Thousand Zhang Peak.
However, if Chen Jianghe wanted to reach Thousand Zhang Peak by following the river, he would have to travel a path ten times longer.
"The treasure's light pierces the sky, and its fragrance fills the air. Could this great treasure be a fourth-tier spirit item?"
Chen Jianghe looked towards Thousand Zhang Peak. Although he was still several hundred li away, he could clearly see the pillar of light soaring into the sky and smell the refreshing fragrance.
He didn't know if the fragrance came from Thousand Zhang Peak or from some aromatic wood on the surrounding mountains.
"Hmm? Ice Heart Grass?!"
Under his dharma eye, Chen Jianghe saw a faint, silver glow flickering in an ice cave, emanating from a small blade of grass.
"No one has taken the Ice Heart Grass?"
Chen Jianghe was a little surprised.
Ice Heart Grass was the main ingredient for refining the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. How could no one have taken it from such an obvious location?
Or was it that there were too many treasures in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, and the cultivators who entered the inner mountain range now looked down on Ice Heart Grass?
Or was it a trap?
Chen Jianghe used the Water Ripple Escape to get within two li of the ice cave. He took out a Mountain Monkey Puppet and controlled it with his divine sense to explore the cave.
"The killing restriction is still there. It's not a trap!"
Feeling it from a close distance, he could clearly sense the danger emanating from the Ice Heart Grass.
Then, Chen Jianghe put away the Mountain Monkey Puppet and released Maoqiu, letting it retrieve the Ice Heart Grass.
The killing restriction of a second-tier mid-grade spirit grass couldn't harm Maoqiu, but it could destroy a second-tier low-grade puppet.
Boom!
Maoqiu reached out to grab the Ice Heart Grass, triggering the killing restriction. A terrifying spiritual power explosion created a huge noise.
But it didn't harm Maoqiu in the slightest.
"Master, there are so many treasures here."
Maoqiu handed the Ice Heart Grass to Chen Jianghe and looked around, sensing many absorbable spirit items.
"We'll stay here for a while. You go get those spirit items."
Chen Jianghe leaped out of the river and hid in the ice cave, letting Maoqiu search for second-tier spirit items outside.
It seemed the spirit items on this mountain had not yet been discovered.
It made sense. The inner mountain range was a thousand li in radius. Even if a hundred cultivators entered, it would be impossible to search every mountain in a short time.
After all, they had been in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm for ten months already.
It was uncertain if even fifty of the hundred cultivators were still alive, which made the speed of searching for spirit items even slower.
Furthermore, every cultivator wanted to obtain good spirit items.
The treasure aura of this mountain was not abundant. Most of the items were second-tier mid-grade and low-grade spirit items; even second-tier high-grade ones were rare.
Naturally, it was overlooked.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the mountains that nurtured quasi-third-tier spirit items, or even third-tier spirit items.
Chen Jianghe stayed for ten days.
Maoqiu had gathered eleven second-tier high-grade spirit items, twenty-nine second-tier mid-grade spirit items, and seventy-two second-tier low-grade spirit items for him.
"Maoqiu, well done. I'll reward you with a suit of treasure armor in the future."
"Thank you, Master."
Hearing this, Maoqiu excitedly beat its chest.
Maoqiu was a primate-type spirit beast. In terms of both offense and defense, it was considered balanced among spirit beasts and demon beasts.
In other words.
Its offense was average, and its defense was average.
But then again, compared to demon beasts that specialized in offense, Maoqiu's defense was much stronger. Compared to those that specialized in defense, its offense was much stronger.
Primate-type demon beasts had a huge advantage: they could use specially made dharma tools.
If Maoqiu were equipped with a suit of treasure armor, its defense would definitely rise to another level.
Strong offense, strong defense—it would become a truly balanced spirit beast.
Putting Maoqiu back into the spirit beast pouch, Chen Jianghe left the ice cave and continued along the river,遁ing deeper into the inner mountain range.
Whenever he passed an unsearched mountain, Chen Jianghe would stop and let Maoqiu search it.
Others might disdain them, but he felt they were fine.
Two months passed.
Chen Jianghe had obtained an additional thirty-one second-tier high-grade spirit items, one hundred and seven second-tier mid-grade spirit items, and two hundred and fifty-two second-tier low-grade spirit items.
As for peak second-tier spirit items and quasi-third-tier spirit items, he hadn't seen a single one.
He wasn't puzzled by this. If there were any peak second-tier or quasi-third-tier spirit items, they would have been snatched up by other cultivators long ago.
How could it have been his turn?
"It's been a year since I entered the Beast Taming Mystic Realm, but the pressure from the restrictions is still so strong. The consumption of dharma power hasn't lessened. It seems I'll have to stay in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm for at least two years this time."
Chen Jianghe felt the pressure of the restrictions in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm. Judging by the speed of his escape art, he could tell that the restrictions showed no signs of weakening.
This meant that trial-takers like them would have to continue staying in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm.
"Xiao Hei, is there the aura of a peak second-tier demon beast on this mountain?"
By now, Chen Jianghe had ventured over six hundred li into the inner mountain range. He was less than four hundred li from Thousand Zhang Peak and could see the heaven-piercing pillar of light even more clearly.
Chen Jianghe was in no hurry to go to Thousand Zhang Peak.
If there was a great treasure, it would surely be guarded by a third-tier demon beast.
Previously, when he was less experienced, he thought that with so many cultivators, they might be able to steal the spirit item from under the guard of a third-tier demon beast.
After seeing that newly-ascended third-tier barbaric bull, Chen Jianghe completely dismissed this naive thought.
The three third-tier demon beasts were not newly ascended. They had probably comprehended their third-tier divine abilities long ago.
A casual attack from them was more than a False Core Loose Cultivator could handle.
If he, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, went over, he would just be serving himself up on a platter.
"No, you can let Maoqiu out."
Xiao Hei sent a mental message.
At this moment, Xiao Hei was even more cautious than Chen Jianghe. He didn't dare let his senses rest for a moment.
He had also been frightened by that barbaric bull.
Before this, Xiao Hei had also fantasized that his defense could withstand the attack of a third-tier demon beast.
Now, he didn't even dare to think about it.
Either his bloodline purity had to increase to the low-rank of the fifth grade, or he had to break through to become a third-tier spirit beast. Otherwise, his defense would be unable to block a third-tier demon beast's attack.
If his bloodline reached the low-rank of the fifth grade, his divine ability would undergo a qualitative change, and his "Petrification" ability would become even stronger.
Only then could he withstand the attack of a newly-ascended third-tier demon beast.
Chen Jianghe leaped out of the river, flew deep into the mountains, and released Maoqiu to search for spirit items.
But just at this moment.
Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Jianghe saw the western sky. The sea of clouds was turbulent, the rosy light trembled, and a spiritual qi vortex was rapidly forming.
"This is... a Core Formation phenomenon?!"
Chen Jianghe quickly turned to look properly and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Five-colored rosy light illuminated the sea of clouds, and a thousand-zhang spiritual qi vortex was absorbing the spiritual qi from a hundred-li radius. However, the spiritual qi in the mystic realm was sealed within spirit items.
This so-called spiritual qi vortex was formed from piles of absorbable spirit items.
Just how many second-tier absorbable spirit items would be needed to create such a massive spiritual qi vortex?
"Is it Lady Jinghong or Xiao Chen?"
Chen Jianghe wondered inwardly.
As far as he knew, there were only two cultivators who could form their core in the mystic realm: one was Lady Jinghong, and the other was the sect's prodigy, Xiao Chen.
To form a core in the mystic realm, the first major hurdle was the spiritual qi. You couldn't use the spiritual qi within the mystic realm to break through.
This required bringing one's own second-tier absorbable spirit items.
A massive amount of second-tier absorbable spirit items.
Chen Jianghe had many second-tier spirit items, but only over a hundred of them were absorbable.
Even with these hundred-plus second-tier absorbable spirit items, it would be impossible to form such a vast spiritual qi vortex.
Lady Jinghong was an Artifact Refining Grandmaster. Her financial resources were profound, so she might have prepared what was needed for core formation in the mystic realm before entering.
As for Xiao Chen, he was the son of Perfected Master Chengtian of the Tiannan Sect, so he naturally didn't lack resources.
If he were to form his core in the mystic realm, he would have surely prepared everything he needed.
Chen Jianghe had long anticipated that some cultivators would attempt core formation in the mystic realm. After all, there were three third-tier demon beasts here.
If they didn't form a core, how could they obtain the great treasure?
And if not for the great treasure, what was the point of someone like Xiao Chen coming to the Beast Taming Mystic Realm?
"I hope it's Lady Jinghong."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
If it was Lady Jinghong, as long as she succeeded in forming her core, his safety in the mystic realm would have an extra layer of protection.
Rumble!
Suddenly, on a mountain peak adjacent to the one Chen Jianghe was on, another phenomenon began to gather.
This phenomenon was less than thirty li away from Chen Jianghe.
He could clearly feel the terror of the Core Formation phenomenon.
A ten-thousand-zhang sea of clouds flickered with five-colored rosy light, and a violent gale swept up the spiritual qi, forming a massive spiritual qi vortex.
At the core of the spiritual qi vortex was spiritual power so dense it was at its absolute limit.
"Is that Heaven and Earth Origin Qi?!"
Chen Jianghe saw the suddenly gathered ten-thousand-zhang sea of clouds, filled with terrifying energy. It wasn't spiritual qi, nor was it solidified spiritual power.
It was a type of energy that possessed an extremely strong pressure.
He had not yet cultivated to the peak of Foundation Establishment, so he couldn't determine if this was Heaven and Earth Origin Qi. If it was, what kind of physical body would be needed to withstand such a dense infusion of it?
When a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator's dharma power gathers into a sea in their dantian, it produces a trace of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, but it is extremely rare.
Nine strands at most.
But the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi within this ten-thousand-zhang sea of clouds was like a raging river. If it were to pour into one's body, even someone who had cultivated a body tempering art to the peak of the sixth level wouldn't be able to withstand it!
They would probably explode instantly.
"Maoqiu, get in the spirit beast pouch."
Chen Jianghe called out urgently.
At that very moment, streaks of sword light flew towards the mountain Chen Jianghe was on, because it was the closest to the peak enveloped by the ten-thousand-zhang auspicious clouds.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Streaks of sword light descended.
In less than a hundred breaths, more than a dozen peak Foundation Establishment cultivators had flown over, their gazes fixed on the phenomenon on that mountain.
They couldn't go and watch the Core Formation phenomenon hundreds of li away, but they absolutely could not miss one that was right next to them.
In the near future, they too might face the Five Trials of Core Formation.
If they couldn't pass, the lucky ones might form a false core. The unlucky ones would perish directly.
"To think two fellow daoists are attempting core formation in the mystic realm at the same time. It seems they both want that great treasure on Thousand Zhang Peak!"
"Originally, Thousand Zhang Peak was only guarded by three third-tier demon beasts who didn't dare leave, fearing the treasure would be stolen. Who would have thought a Fire Spirit Barbaric Bull would break through!"
"That Fire Spirit Barbaric Bull just broke through, but for some reason, it's incredibly powerful. It has already devoured three False Core Loose Cultivators."
"The great treasure on Thousand Zhang Peak might be a fourth-tier spirit item. Prodigies from top-tier immortal clans might choose to form their core in the mystic realm."
Once these words were spoken.
Everyone fell silent.
It was true. The treasure light from Thousand Zhang Peak soared to the heavens, so it was undoubtedly a great treasure, and it was guarded by three third-tier demon beasts.
It was likely a fourth-tier spirit item.
If they could obtain such a treasure, it would surely elevate their clan to a new level. The clan might even have a chance to produce a Nascent Soul True Lord in the future.
In other words.
These two cultivators forming their cores in the mystic realm were very likely prodigies from top-tier immortal clans.
It seemed only prodigies from top-tier immortal clans or sects would have such financial resources, using a massive amount of second-tier absorbable spirit items in place of heaven and earth spiritual qi to aid their core formation.
Boom!
Suddenly, beneath the ten-thousand-zhang sea of clouds, the spiritual qi vortex expanded again, absorbing even denser and purer spiritual qi.
"Mid-grade spirit stones?! It's actually mid-grade spirit stones!"
A peak Foundation Establishment cultivator exclaimed.
In the Tiannan Domain, mid-grade spirit stones were extremely precious. They were rarely used for cultivation and were typically reserved for powering formations, embedding in puppets, or fueling inter-domain flying vessels and treasure ships.
Such a vast and pure amount of spiritual qi would require at least several thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
Adding the hundreds of second-tier absorbable spirit items used earlier.
The value of the spiritual qi needed for the breakthrough alone exceeded a million spirit stones. Only a top-tier immortal clan could afford such an expense.
"Could it be the sect prodigy, Xiao Chen, who is breaking through?"
"Impossible. A month ago, I saw Xiao Chen fighting that third-tier barbaric bull. He was heavily injured and fled. He definitely can't break through so soon."
"What? Xiao Chen was seriously injured by that barbaric bull!"
"His Defensive Talisman Treasure couldn't block the bull's attacks at all. After just two exchanges, Xiao Chen was defeated and fled."
"Hiss, third-tier demon beasts are too strong. No wonder the prodigies of these top-tier immortal clans chose to break through. Without forming a core, they stand no chance against that third-tier barbaric bull, let alone the three third-tier demon beasts on Thousand Zhang Peak."
"If it's not Xiao Chen, then who could it be?"
"Lu Qingfeng of the Lu Clan? Chen Chengyang of the Chen Clan? Or perhaps Ji Yanhao of the Ji Clan?"
"Couldn't it be the prodigy of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan, Zhou Jinhe?"
"They're all possible."
Swoosh!
Swoosh!
A few more streaks of sword light flew over.
One of them was Gao Peiyao. Seeing her arrive, Chen Jianghe sent a mental message.
Gao Peiyao then came to Chen Jianghe's side, her gaze fixed on the Core Formation phenomenon thirty li away.
"Five-colored rosy light. It seems this fellow daoist has a profound foundation. I just don't know which clan's prodigy it is."
Gao Peiyao sent a mental message.
To be able to form a core in the mystic realm required an extremely powerful foundation and substantial financial resources.
Gao Peiyao's foundation was barely sufficient, and her finances were lacking. She didn't believe she could form her core in the mystic realm. Even if she were outside, she wouldn't have much confidence right now.
"Could it be Fellow Daoist Xiao?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
Gao Peiyao chuckled upon hearing this. "Senior Brother Xiao Chen's foundation is sufficient, but he was injured in the fight with the Fire Spirit Barbaric Bull. Even if he wanted to form his core, he would need to wait at least three months."
Gao Peiyao felt that Xiao Chen's chances of successfully forming a core were not high.
His mind was too cluttered, making success difficult.
"The fellow daoist forming their core in the outer mountain range should be Lady Jinghong. She's an Artifact Refining Grandmaster with deep pockets, so she could also gather the resources needed for core formation in the mystic realm."
Gao Peiyao said, looking at Chen Jianghe.
"That's what I was guessing too. Lady Jinghong is brilliant and has great courage. Now that her inner demon has been resolved, she will surely succeed in forming her core."
Chen Jianghe said.
Just then, two more cultivators flew over. One was the flighty Ji Wujin, and the other was the righteous Ruan Tieniu.
Upon seeing Chen Jianghe, both of them flew directly over.
"I knew your luck was good. You really aren't dead."
Ji Wujin said with a chuckle.
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes. This fellow's words were as unwelcome as ever.
"Brother Chen, Fairy Peiyao."
Ruan Tieniu greeted Chen Jianghe, then clasped his hands in greeting to Gao Peiyao.
"Big Brother Ruan."
"Fellow Daoist Ruan."
Ji Wujin saw this and shrugged indifferently. Standing beside Chen Jianghe, he secretly sent a mental message to his Treasure-Hunting Mouse.
"Baobao, has he gotten any new treasures?"
"I haven't detected the aura of any new third-tier spirit items."
"It's been a year since we entered the Beast Taming Mystic Realm. How has he not obtained a single third-tier spirit item? That shouldn't be right! Has his luck run out?"
Ji Wujin was a little confused.
Something felt off. In his eyes, Chen Jianghe's luck was at its peak. How could he not have obtained a single third-tier spirit item?
Even if not a Core Formation spirit item, he should have at least found a third-tier low-grade spirit item.
"Baobao, check again carefully. He must have a newly obtained third-tier spirit item on him."
Ji Wujin had the Treasure-Hunting Mouse sense the treasure aura on Chen Jianghe again.
But this time, the Treasure-Hunting Mouse's deep probing alerted Xiao Hei, whose mind jolted.
"Master, there's a familiar third-tier spirit beast aura. Be careful!"
"A third-tier spirit beast?"
Chen Jianghe's expression remained unchanged, but he was horrified inside.
Then, he calmly glanced at Gao Peiyao, Ruan Tieniu, and Ji Wujin. He had never seen Gao Peiyao's spirit beast.
It wasn't even certain if she had one.
As for Ruan Tieniu? He definitely had a spirit beast, but it couldn't possibly be third-tier. After all, it had only been a little over thirty years since he got the demon beast egg from the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm.
Even if he fed it spirit cores and all sorts of heaven and earth spirit items every day, it would be at the late second-tier at most by now.
Nowhere near a third-tier spirit beast.
Then it could only be Ji Wujin.
"It must be that Treasure-Hunting Mouse of his that has become a third-tier spirit beast. Xiao Hei, can that Treasure-Hunting Mouse detect your aura?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
Xiao Hei's internal treasure sac contained the Purple Thunder Heavenly Flame. This was a spirit flame, a heaven and earth spirit flame that even Core Formation almighties coveted.
It absolutely could not be revealed before he refined it.
"Relax. That white-furred mouse is only sensitive to treasure aura. It's not as amazing as Grandpa Turtle here, who is sensitive to auras."
Xiao Hei transmitted his message proudly.
Chen Jianghe breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that in the future, it would be better to let Xiao Hei hold onto any treasures he obtained. If they were in a storage pouch, they wouldn't escape the Treasure-Hunting Mouse's senses.
It was just a bit frustrating that the treasure sac couldn't hold a storage pouch.
Rumble!
Suddenly, at that moment, the ten-thousand-zhang sea of clouds transformed into a celestial river and poured down, infusing the cultivator who was breaking through.
Boom