Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Visitors from the Yun Clan
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Chen Jianghe had also asked Zhou Miaoyun about Gao Peiyao, but she hadn't received any letters from her either.
In the five years that had passed, they had no idea whether Gao Peiyao had successfully joined an immortal sect or been turned away.
It was even possible that Gao Peyao had met with some misfortune.
Chen Jianghe chatted with Yu Daniu for a while longer before leaving the Mirror Moon Immortal Pavilion. Yu Daniu was a manager there and had many duties to attend to, so Chen Jianghe didn't want to take up too much of his time.
First, he went to the materials shop and bought fifty sheets of high-quality yellow paper and four boxes of spirit ink. Then he visited the spirit pill shop and purchased two Spirit Accumulating Pills.
Finally, he went to the medicinal herb shop and bought two Spirit Nurturing Flowers for Xiao Hei.
In total, he spent eighteen spirit stones.
Adding the eight spirit stones he had repaid to Daniu, Chen Jianghe had spent a total of twenty-six spirit stones on this trip to the lake's central island.
He still had twenty-six spirit stones and one hundred thirty-two spirit sands on him.
Carrying a two-foot-long coarse cloth bundle, he left the island, propelling his black-canopied boat toward the fishery waters with his spiritual power.
“In another two years, once I’ve saved up some more spirit stones, I’ll have to buy a storage bag.”
Chen Jianghe felt that carrying the cloth bundle on his back was rather inconvenient, and the number of items he needed to keep with him was only going to increase.
It really wouldn't do without a storage bag.
He had only heard that storage bags were expensive, but he had never inquired about the specific price. Rumor had it they were priced based on the amount of space inside.
His requirements weren't high; one that could hold his cultivation resources and talisman-crafting materials would be enough. After all, carrying such things openly could easily attract trouble.
The principle of not flaunting one's wealth was a hard and fast rule.
As soon as he returned to the fishery waters, Xiao Hei sensed him. The obedient voice of the little turtle came through the spiritual platform's imprint.
It called him 'Master' over and over, the word flowing smoothly and affectionately.
“Let’s head to the bottom of the lake first.”
Chen Jianghe cast a water-repelling spell and leaped into the lake, diving toward the bottom where Xiao Hei excitedly greeted him.
“It took me a great deal of effort to get these Spirit Nurturing Flowers. You have to work hard from now on and not slack off.”
“And you must know how to protect me, understand?”
Chen Jianghe took out the Spirit Nurturing Flowers, but instead of giving them to Xiao Hei immediately, he held them tightly in his hand and lectured him earnestly.
“Master, you’re too good to me! I’ll definitely work hard, and if there’s danger, I’ll protect you with my life.”
Xiao Hei’s small, bean-like eyes glowed green as he stared intently at the Spirit Nurturing Flowers, speaking with great conviction.
“Good. Take them.”
Chomp, chomp~
Xiao Hei immediately took the Spirit Nurturing Flowers into his mouth. His millstone-sized body settled on the lakebed as he began to absorb and refine their spiritual energy.
Chen Jianghe watched as a halo of light appeared around Xiao Hei’s shell after it swallowed the flowers, trapping any spiritual energy that tried to escape. A look of envy crossed his face.
It was absorbing and refining every last bit of the Spirit Nurturing Flowers’ spiritual energy.
This was far more effective than a Spirit Accumulating Pill.
Chen Jianghe couldn't help but marvel at how simple, crude, and effective the method spirit beasts used to absorb and refine natural treasures was.
He stood guard for Xiao Hei at the bottom of the lake, only returning to his boat after it had completely absorbed and refined the Spirit Nurturing Flowers.
For the time being, he had no intention of revealing Xiao Hei’s existence.
If possible, he wanted to keep Xiao Hei hidden in the shadows, at least until he left the Yun Clan.
This was why he had Xiao Hei stay at the bottom of the lake, even to refine the Spirit Nurturing Flowers.
“The Mirror Moon Market City will fully open in two years. When that happens, the inner waters won’t be as safe as they are now. But with Xiao Hei around, anyone below the late Qi Refining stage won’t be a threat to me.”
Although Xiao Hei was only at the early stage of the first tier, its defense was incredibly high. Even a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator couldn’t break through it.
And that was without using its ‘Petrification’ divine ability. If it used that, its defense would be even higher.
By now, Xiao Hei had become his true trump card.
As for why the Mirror Moon Market City wouldn't open for another two years, it was because the Yun Clan planned to invite a formation master from the Tiannan Sect to set up a grand defensive formation on the central island.
A large, second-tier defensive formation that covered the entire island would be extremely expensive.
The exact cost in spirit stones was incalculable, but according to Yu Daniu, the Yun Clan had spent more than half of its entire fortune just to hire the formation master from the Tiannan Sect.
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He stopped dwelling on it, casting aside distracting thoughts and focusing his mind.
He sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, absorbing the ambient water-type spiritual energy from the lake's surface to restore the spiritual power in his dantian.
He rested and recuperated, restoring his mental energy.
He prepared to continue drawing talismans to improve his skills and earn some spirit stones in the process.
A few days later, the Yun Clan's large boat came to distribute fish fry.
This time, the manager on the boat was actually Yun Wu. When they reached fishery C-12, instead of directly handing over the little green fish fry, he had Chen Jianghe come aboard the large boat.
“Fifth-level Qi Refining. Not bad.”
Yun Wu looked at Chen Jianghe with a smile. “If I remember correctly, Brother Chen, you just turned thirty-five this year, right?”
Chen Jianghe nodded upon hearing this.
The New Year's Eve had passed, and in this new year, he had indeed just turned thirty-five.
As for how Yun Wu knew, it was natural that the Yun Clan would have a complete file on him. After all, it was only through the Yun Clan's favor that Chen Jianghe had embarked on the path of cultivation.
“I hear that Brother Chen has quite a talent for the art of talismans?” Yun Wu asked with a smile.
‘Here it comes.’
Chen Jianghe thought to himself. He knew he couldn't hide the fact that he had become a low-grade Talisman Master from the Yun Clan.
He frequented the talisman and material shops every year; it was impossible to keep his skills a secret.
“I wouldn’t call it talent. It was just a whim, and I was lucky enough to get the hang of it,” Chen Jianghe said humbly, cupping his hands.
“For Brother Chen to become a low-grade Talisman Master in just a few years through self-study shows you have real talent. No need to be so modest.”
“This just goes to show the Young Master’s keen eye for talent.”
Yun Wu's words were filled with admiration for Yun Bufan.
Ever since Yun Bufan had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, all the guards and attendants of the Yun Clan had dropped any prefixes and simply referred to him as ‘Young Master’ to show their respect.
Chen Jianghe remained silent, merely offering a compliant smile, giving off the impression of an honest, simple man who was not good with words.
“This old brother has come on the orders of the Fifth Elder to offer you a fortunate opportunity,” Yun Wu said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Chen Jianghe’s simple smile.
“Please enlighten me, Manager,” Chen Jianghe said, looking puzzled.
The Fifth Elder, Yun Zhonghou, was part of the Yun Clan's leadership, a great cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining—a powerful figure far beyond his current reach.
Why would he be offering him an opportunity?
It couldn't be that they want me to marry into the clan, could it?
At this thought, Chen Jianghe quickly reviewed everything he had done over the years and the talents he had displayed.
In aquaculture, his talent was above average.
Not enough to attract the attention of the Yun Clan's Fifth Elder.
As for his talisman skills, although he was self-taught, it had still taken him over three years to become a low-grade Talisman Master.
His talent in the art of talismans could only be considered average.
“The Yun Clan wants to make a deal with you.”