Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Peiyao's Return
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The Great Cold.
A bitter wind howled, and the thick fog turned to frost.
A thick layer of ice covered the lake, and the frost that settled upon it bloomed into enchanting, silver-white branches.
The black-canopied boat was frozen solid in the lake, held fast and unable to move.
Chen Jianghe, dressed in the standard silk long robe of a high-grade Fishery Farmer of the Yun Clan, sat meditating at the boat's prow. The waves of Qi rising from his body melted the frost that had condensed upon him.
Suddenly.
Spiritual energy entered his body. The faint halo of light faded, and his eyes opened, a smile touching the corners of his mouth.
"Nearly four years of hard cultivation and five Spirit Accumulating Pills later, I finally feel the signs of a breakthrough."
In the third month of the year, he had taken a Spirit Accumulating Pill. Seeing Xiao Hei's pitiful expression, he had also given him a Spirit Nurturing Flower.
Now, in the twelfth month, he had taken another Spirit Accumulating Pill.
Of course, Xiao Hei's Spirit Nurturing Flower was not forgotten either. For the first time, their resources were in sync.
After refining this Spirit Accumulating Pill, he could feel the vast magical power within his Qi Sea Dantian. In two more years at most, he could break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.
He still had six Spirit Accumulating Pills left, enough to last him for the next five years.
However, only five Spirit Nurturing Flowers remained. Under normal circumstances, that would be enough for Xiao Hei's cultivation for another four years.
Ever since Xiao Hei reached the mid-stage of the first order, he had consumed six Spirit Nurturing Flowers, yet his cultivation level hadn't progressed at all. It was as if these cultivation resources were stones sinking into the sea, leaving not a single ripple.
Fortunately, Xiao Hei's magical power was growing increasingly potent, already surpassing that of Chen Jianghe, who was at the fifth level of Qi Refining.
Its shell had also become darker and shinier, the crisscrossing patterns more distinct.
"Once my talisman crafting skills improve to the mid-grade of the first order, I'll double Xiao Hei's cultivation resources. Otherwise, it'll take forever for it to reach the late stage of the first order."
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
This year, his talisman crafting skills had improved slightly because he had attempted to draw Five Elements Escape Talismans.
It was just that the success rate for the Five Elements Escape Talismans was rather pitiful.
Three boxes of spirit ink and one hundred thirty-two sheets of talisman paper were all used up, yielding a total of only twenty-seven spirit talismans. The success rate was a paltry twenty percent.
Fortunately, escape-type spirit talismans were valuable, so the profit from the twenty-seven Five Elements Escape Talismans he created was not insignificant.
It was even a few spirit stones more than what he earned from attack-type talismans.
After deducting the costs and splitting the profit with Talisman Master Chu Lang, he would receive thirty-one spirit stones. This was definitely a major leap in his annual income.
He planned to draw protective talismans next year, trying out all the types of low-grade spirit talismans to improve his crafting skills.
Becoming a mid-grade Talisman Master was not something that could be achieved overnight.
It was a slow and steady process, accumulating experience and insights bit by bit, gradually improving his skills until he became a mid-grade Talisman Master.
If he continued at this pace, he was very confident that he could become a mid-grade Talisman Master before he turned fifty.
After tidying up briefly, he circulated his magical power to break the ice, allowing the black-canopied boat to glide onto the lake's channel and then toward the island at the center of the lake.
The number of sword lights streaking across the sky revealed the current predicament of Mirror Moon Market City; there were still not many cultivators coming.
Lan Tianxiang was still active in the Mirror Moon Lake region, having ambushed and killed several late-stage Qi Refining rogue cultivators who were heading to Mirror Moon Market City.
Rumor had it that he had also made a trip to Qiyun Market City and robbed the White Clan of more than two thousand spirit stones.
This left many cultivators bewildered.
They only knew that Lan Tianxiang had a blood feud with the Yun Clan for wiping out his family, but they had never heard of the White Clan offending him.
Over the years, Lan Tianxiang had taken at least seven thousand spirit stones from the White Clan of Qiyun Mountain.
It could be said that the White Clan's losses in spirit stones were no less than the Yun Clan's. Moreover, Qiyun Market City was now deserted. Even bandits were staying away, afraid of being robbed by Lan Tianxiang in passing.
The Tiannan Sect had said they would send three Foundation Establishment cultivators, but almost a year had passed without any sign of them.
But Chen Jianghe knew.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Tiannan Sect had arrived at Mirror Moon Lake a month ago.
The news had not been spread, for fear that Lan Tianxiang would hear of it and flee.
Arriving at the port on the central island, Chen Jianghe didn't linger, heading straight for the Mirror Moon Immortal Pavilion.
"Time is ruthless, passing in the blink of an eye. It's been nearly nine years since we last met!"
The reason Chen Jianghe knew the Tiannan Sect cultivators had arrived at Mirror Moon Market City a month ago was that Gao Peiyao had sent him a letter.
The Tiannan Sect had dispatched a seven-member Demon Extermination Squad, consisting of three Foundation Establishment cultivators and four late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
Gao Peiyao's master was the Deacon of this Demon Extermination Squad.
He had come to Mirror Moon Market City early this time to attend their meeting.
The meeting had been scheduled for today, a month later, because they also had to wait for Zhou Miaoyun from Qinghe Market City.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, please, come inside."
When he reached the entrance of the Mirror Moon Immortal Pavilion, an attendant immediately recognized him and led him to a private room.
"Fairy Peiyao."
Just as he entered, Chen Jianghe saw the increasingly beautiful and charming Gao Peiyao. Compared to before, she was like a perfectly ripe red apple.
Her features were more refined, her figure graceful and alluring. Even in the cultivation world, which was filled with beauties, her looks were top-tier.
"It's been years, Brother Jianghe. Why are you being so distant with your little sister?"
Gao Peiyao stood up, came before Chen Jianghe, and personally guided him to his seat, chiding him gently.
Sensing the aura emanating from Gao Peiyao, he realized she was already a great cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refining.
"Peiyao, have you been well all these years?"
Seeing that Gao Peiyao showed no arrogance and was, in fact, even more approachable, Chen Jianghe felt a sense of warmth and reverted to his previous way of addressing her.
"I was fortunate enough to be accepted by my master. Under her care, I've broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining. Everything is well."
"Brother Jianghe, what about you?"
Gao Peiyao sat down next to Chen Jianghe, looking at him with a smile.
"Me?"
Chen Jianghe chuckled and said, "I've been at Mirror Moon Lake this whole time. What could have changed? I'm still the same as always."
"However, I made a deal with someone: half of my talisman-crafting profits for ten years in exchange for a mid-grade first-order talisman crafting inheritance."
"I'm a low-grade Talisman Master now."
Chen Jianghe didn't hide the fact that he was a low-grade Talisman Master; after all, it wasn't much of a secret.
Besides, Gao Peiyao hadn't hidden her cultivation level from him either.
Furthermore, Gao Peiyao had been in Mirror Moon Market City for a month already, so she had likely heard about his recent years from Yu Daniu.
"Back then, Brother Daniu tried his hand at talisman crafting and failed. I never expected that you, Brother Jianghe, would have such a talent for it."
Hearing Chen Jianghe's frank words, the smile on Gao Peiyao's face grew even warmer.
"Half the profits of a low-grade Talisman Master for ten years in exchange for a mid-grade first-order talisman crafting inheritance is a reasonable trade. You didn't get a bad deal, Brother Jianghe."
"A complete first-order talisman crafting inheritance, if not to be shared, sells for sixteen hundred spirit stones in the immortal sect's market city. A mid-grade inheritance, under the same condition, would be worth around three hundred spirit stones."
Just as Gao Peiyao was speaking, Zhou Miaoyun was led in by an attendant. The fluctuations of magical power from her body also indicated she had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining.
It was clear that she had started her breakthrough after returning from their last small gathering.
"Peiyao."
"Sister Miaoyun, come and sit."
Gao Peiyao stood up and invited Zhou Miaoyun to take a seat, showing none of the airs of an immortal sect disciple.
"Good, everyone's here. The medicinal cuisine and spirit wine are ready. Let's first welcome our little sister Peiyao, haha..."
Yu Daniu walked in with a loud laugh, followed by a line of maids carrying golden plates and jade pitchers.