Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Spirit Pet Maoqiu
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“Xiao Hei, can you tell what kind of demon beast it is?”
Chen Jianghe frowned, sitting on the turtle's back and cautiously scanning his surroundings, yet he couldn't sense the aura of any demon beast.
“It's a water type. Its aura is strong, no less than mine, and its bloodline pressure is also similar to mine.”
Xiao Hei moved swiftly through the water.
In less than a hundred breaths, he had swum out of the gorge.
Suddenly, Xiao Hei stopped, surfaced, and turned around, a look of confusion in his beady eyes.
“Xiao Hei, why did you stop running?”
Chen Jianghe asked, puzzled.
He couldn't sense the demon beast's aura, but if it was a late-stage first-tier water-type demon beast, the two of them would have a hard time dealing with it.
Xiao Hei had also said its bloodline was similar to his own.
He really didn't want to face such a ferocious beast; a single misstep could cost him some of his lifespan.
Therefore, it was better to flee quickly.
“It seems we've been tricked.”
Xiao Hei sensed that the aura wasn't pursuing them. On the contrary, after rapidly approaching at first, it was now moving away even faster.
Clearly, the other party was bluffing him.
“Hold on tight!”
“Don't be rash, it might be a trap.”
Chen Jianghe felt Xiao Hei suddenly turn back, his speed even faster than when they were escaping—a good thirty percent faster.
He was clearly enraged.
Although he didn't know why Xiao Hei was so angry, he couldn't worry about that now. The first priority was to calm Xiao Hei down.
“Xiao Hei, what's going on?” Chen Jianghe asked again.
Xiao Hei didn't answer, single-mindedly increasing his speed.
Fifty breaths later, they returned to where they had started their escape, but Xiao Hei still didn't slow down.
“Master, spirit stones.”
As Xiao Hei sped through the water, he stretched out his long turtle neck, turned his head toward Chen Jianghe, and opened his great mouth.
The meaning couldn't be clearer.
Chen Jianghe knew Xiao Hei's cowardly nature; he would never act rashly and put himself in danger.
He took out two spirit stones and tossed them into Xiao Hei's mouth.
Crunch!
Xiao Hei's speed increased once more, carving a beautiful arc through the long river in the gorge.
Ptooey~
Xiao Hei stretched out his neck and forcefully spat a jet of water, shooting it directly at the cliff on one side of the river.
Boom!
It blasted a cave ten feet wide and thirty feet deep into the mountainside, sending boulders tumbling into the river.
Suddenly, a white shadow darted out from the rubble, leaped into the river, and quickly vanished beneath the water.
Xiao Hei grinned, and carrying Chen Jianghe, he plunged deep into the water, his speed not decreasing but increasing.
Evidently, Xiao Hei was even faster at the bottom of the river.
Ten breaths later.
Chen Jianghe's eyes widened. He finally got a clear look at the white shadow. It was small, about three feet long.
It was fluffy and pure white, without a single speck of another color.
“A Mountain Velvet Beast!”
Chen Jianghe blurted out.
He didn't know if it was the one from the auction, but the Mountain Velvet Beast before him lacked that feral aura.
Clearly, it was not a wild demon beast.
“Xiao Hei, this is a Mountain Velvet Beast. It doesn't have the feral aura of a demon beast. Could it be someone's spirit beast, used to bait us?”
A thought suddenly struck Chen Jianghe, and he quickly sent a mental message to Xiao Hei.
If this wasn't the Mountain Velvet Beast that escaped from the auction, then they might really be getting phished.
The Mountain Velvet Beast had a third-rank, low-grade bloodline. Although they could be found in the deep mountains, this one was clearly not wild.
That meant it was likely someone else's spirit pet.
“No, I can sense no cultivator's aura on it.”
Chen Jianghe had long been aware of Xiao Hei's keen sense of smell. Hearing this, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Still, he took out a Water Evasion Talisman and a Protection Talisman, ready at a moment's notice.
If anything seemed off, he would use the high-grade spirit talismans immediately.
Ptooey!
A jet of water from Xiao Hei hit the Mountain Velvet Beast. A trace of red appeared on its white fur, staining the river.
Its speed faltered for a moment, then it fled even more desperately.
But in that brief pause, Xiao Hei had already caught up. His mouth was like a repeating crossbow, instantly spitting out three jets of water.
Ptooey~ Ptooey~ Ptooey~
The Mountain Velvet Beast stopped abruptly, then condensed its spiritual power into a water shield.
Boom!
The water shield shattered. One water jet pierced the Mountain Velvet Beast's leg, drawing a spurt of blood.
“Mid-stage first-tier. You almost fooled me. Your bloodline is inferior to mine, and you dare to bluff me?” Xiao Hei arrived in front of the Mountain Velvet Beast.
He stretched out a short, stubby claw and pinned it to the riverbed silt.
His beady eyes filled with shame and anger, he opened his mouth, ready to spit another jet of water.
“Wait!”
Chen Jianghe hurriedly stopped Xiao Hei. He was now certain that this was the Mountain Velvet Beast from the auction.
Although he didn't know why it had emitted the aura of a late-stage first-tier, upon closer inspection, its cultivation was indeed at the mid-stage first-tier.
“Why are you stopping me?”
Xiao Hei looked at Chen Jianghe, puzzled. “I have a feeling that eating it would be very nourishing.”
“You want to eat it?”
Chen Jianghe looked at the Mountain Velvet Beast under Xiao Hei's claw. Its large, watery eyes were misty with tears.
It was filled with terror.
When it saw Chen Jianghe looking at it, its eyes pleaded for help.
“Two thousand one hundred and fifty spirit stones, and you want to eat it?”
Chen Jianghe quickly shook his head.
What a joke.
Two thousand one hundred and fifty spirit stones. Although that price was inflated by the auction.
But if he took this Mountain Velvet Beast to the market city, he could sell it for at least fifteen hundred spirit stones.
Fifteen hundred spirit stones!
That was enough to buy a high-grade magical artifact with a special attribute, a defensive magical artifact, and a body tempering technique.
“Xiao Hei, you can't eat this Mountain Velvet Beast. We have to keep it. I have a use for it.”
“But I feel like eating it will improve my cultivation.”
“That's an illusion, just like how you felt it was a late-stage first-tier spirit beast.”
“Two-legs, I feel like you're lying to me.” Xiao Hei stared at Chen Jianghe with his wise little eyes. “I'm an adult now. Don't think you can keep tricking me.”
“Your future cultivation resources will be doubled.”
“Deal.” Xiao Hei grinned widely. With a lift of his claw, he spat out a stream of spiritual power to bind the Mountain Velvet Beast.
“If you dare lie to me again, I'll eat you in one bite.”
Xiao Hei held the Mountain Velvet Beast before his eyes and spoke menacingly.
“Squeak~”
“Your divine ability won't work either. From now on, you'll put away that ability in front of Lord Turtle here.” Xiao Hei slammed a claw onto the Mountain Velvet Beast's head.
“Xiao Hei, what divine ability?” Chen Jianghe asked.
“The aura it gives off is that of a late-stage first-tier, but it's actually its divine ability, which allows it to raise its aura by a minor realm.”
Xiao Hei explained, then looked at the Mountain Velvet Beast with a scornful gaze. “A useless divine ability.”
“Its aura can be raised by a minor realm?”
Chen Jianghe's face lit up with joy. He thought this ability was quite good and began to carefully examine the Mountain Velvet Beast.
Under Xiao Hei's rough treatment, it looked at Chen Jianghe with aggrieved, wide eyes.
A patch of fur on its back was missing.
And its leg had been pierced by the jet of water.
However, he had no healing elixirs or pills on him, so the Mountain Velvet Beast would have to endure for now.
“A third-rank, low-grade bloodline. It will reach the late-stage first-tier upon maturity. Even without a second-tier spirit core, it has a fifty percent chance of breaking through to a second-tier spirit beast.”
“I wonder if I can form a contract with it.”
Chen Jianghe looked at the high-grade Spirit Beast Ring on his wrist. It was useless for Xiao Hei, who could only stay in the spirit beast space inside.
Moreover, the high-grade Spirit Beast Ring itself could form contracts with three spirit beasts, and its spirit beast space could also accommodate three.
However, the high-grade Spirit Beast Ring he had bought was first-tier. To house a second-tier spirit beast, he would need to buy a second-tier Spirit Beast Ring.
“Drip a drop of your blood essence onto this ring. Do not resist the power of the spirit contract.”
With a wave of his hand, Chen Jianghe sent the Spirit Beast Ring flying in front of the Mountain Velvet Beast, where it emitted a green glow.
The Mountain Velvet Beast was highly intelligent and clearly knew the function of a Spirit Beast Ring. Once the contract was signed, it would become someone else's spirit pet.
It kicked its legs against Xiao Hei's claw and shook its head repeatedly.
Thud~
Xiao Hei slammed a claw down on the Mountain Velvet Beast's head, instantly clearing its panicked eyes.
It obediently dripped a drop of its blood essence onto the Spirit Beast Ring.
The Spirit Beast Ring flashed with light, and Chen Jianghe established a special connection with the Mountain Velvet Beast. Immediately after, he perceived a voice.
“Master.”
This was transmitted by the Mountain Velvet Beast.
But it was different from Xiao Hei's mental communication. The Mountain Velvet Beast could only express simple words through the Spirit Beast Ring.
Xiao Hei, on the other hand, could communicate directly with Chen Jianghe's mind without any hindrance.
Most importantly, through the Spirit Beast Ring, he could directly control the Mountain Velvet Beast's life and death.
In other words, the moment the contract was formed, the Mountain Velvet Beast had become his spirit pet, his slave.
The Mountain Velvet Beast could not resist him or show any disrespect.
This kind of contract was completely different from the spiritual platform imprint.
Xiao Hei had a very high degree of autonomy. He called him master when he felt like it, and when he was angry, he would just call him "two-legs."
“How did you escape from the Foundation Establishment battle?” Chen Jianghe conveyed his question through the Spirit Beast Ring.
This method of communication was quite troublesome.
The Mountain Velvet Beast explained how it escaped from the Foundation Establishment battle, what it had been doing during this time, and how it had ended up here.
It conveyed everything to Chen Jianghe through the Spirit Beast Ring.
But the expression was not very clear.
The so-called telepathic communication derived from the Spirit Beast Ring's contract clearly had significant flaws.
However, Chen Jianghe managed to piece together the general meaning.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Western Territory had not formed a contract with the Mountain Velvet Beast, so he couldn't store it in a spirit beast space and had to carry it with him.
It seemed he had likely bought it for a junior in his clan.
Then, over the Star Moon River, the cultivator from the Western Territory was intercepted by six Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Eastern Territory.
Later, the Western Territory cultivator received help; three Foundation Establishment cultivators came to support him, and they seemed to be at the late Foundation Establishment stage.
This was why the Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the White Clan had fallen.
However, the Eastern Territory also had a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Lu Clan, so they managed to kill one of the Western Territory cultivators.
In the midst of this chaotic battle, the Mountain Velvet Beast managed to escape by a stroke of luck.
It then fled along the Star Moon River, eventually reaching a vast river with no end in sight. The current was extremely swift and even formed violent astral winds.
It even sensed terrifying auras within this great river.
Therefore, the Mountain Velvet Beast turned back, continued to flee stealthily along the Star Moon River, left the Mirror Moon Lake region, and entered the Wandering Immortal River.
Later, it entered a tributary and arrived at this mountain gorge.
And then came the scene that had just transpired.
Chen Jianghe was certain that the endless river the Mountain Velvet Beast encountered must have been the Heaven-Reaching River.
The *Yun Clan Chronicles* recorded that the widest section of the seventy-thousand-li Heaven-Reaching River was eight hundred li across.
Third-tier demon beasts were known to appear there.
“You're small and fluffy, so from now on, I'll call you Maoqiu. Go back to the spirit beast space for now. When we get to the market city, I'll buy you some healing elixir.”
Chen Jianghe sent Maoqiu into the spirit beast space.
Primate-like spirit beasts such as this one had little combat power in their early and mid-first-tier stages. They only gradually developed fighting capabilities after reaching maturity.
An adult Mountain Velvet Beast could grow to about ten feet tall.
It could use special magical artifacts designed for spirit beasts, which would greatly enhance its combat power.
“Master, I'll carry you.”
“Hmm?” Chen Jianghe listened to the tone of Xiao Hei's mental message, which carried a hint of dejection and worry.
“Xiao Hei, what's wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
Xiao Hei replied, then carried Chen Jianghe along the riverbed. His speed wasn't too fast, about the same as Chen Jianghe's flight speed using Qi manipulation.
“Don't worry, I won't neglect you just because I have Maoqiu. It's a spirit pet, you're a brother.”
After being together for so many years, how could Chen Jianghe not sense what Xiao Hei was worried about?
“Two-legs, I knew you were a true friend.”
“You can rest easy too. I'll call you Master more often in the future. I won't call you two-legs under normal circumstances, unless I can't help it.”
Xiao Hei transmitted excitedly.
Chen Jianghe pursed his lips, deciding not to stoop to his level.
An hour later, the sky began to lighten. A red glow appeared on the eastern horizon, like clouds on fire.
Carrying Chen Jianghe, Xiao Hei had long since left the gorge behind, following the river into a narrow tributary. In the distance, wisps of cooking smoke could be seen curling into the air.
A farming village?
Chen Jianghe had Xiao Hei enter the spirit beast space, then flew toward the rising smoke.
It was a small village, with only about a dozen households.
After asking around, he learned that this was the territory of Lotus Flower Town.
The same small immortal town where Zhou Miaoyun lived.
“I've actually reached Lotus Flower Town?”
Chen Jianghe breathed a sigh of relief. At last, he hadn't strayed from the direction of Qinghe Market City.
Lotus Flower Town was one of the small immortal towns on the outskirts of Qinghe Market City. Reaching here meant he had basically arrived at Qinghe Market City.
According to the old farmer, it was over twenty li from here to Lotus Flower Town, which meant he could reach Qinghe Market City in at most an hour.
Having figured out his direction, Chen Jianghe didn't linger and flew toward Qinghe Market City.
Passing by Lotus Flower Town, he could see occasional sword glints and cultivators flying on manipulated Qi.
He did not stop in Lotus Flower Town.
He didn't know if Zhou Miaoyun had left Lotus Flower Town. After all, her letter mentioned that the Zhou Clan was being suppressed by the local immortal cultivation family to the point where they could barely survive.
After so much time had passed, they had likely already left.
Even if she hadn't left, Chen Jianghe had no intention of meeting with Zhou Miaoyun. It was easy to refuse in a letter.
But what if Zhou Miaoyun asked him face to face?
If she wasn't asking for Stone霞 Town, three hundred li north of Mirror Moon Lake, but just any remote immortal town.
Chen Jianghe could still put in a word with Yu Daniu.
But there was no need for that.
They were just ordinary acquaintances.
So, to avoid the awkwardness of a face-to-face refusal and damaging their casual friendship, it was better not to meet. Besides, with his current appearance, it was best to avoid meeting acquaintances for the time being.
Following the other cultivators flying on manipulated Qi, Chen Jianghe soon arrived at Qinghe Market City.
This was a market city built on a plain.
Viewed from high above, it looked like an ancient city. A wall about fifty feet high encircled the city, and the four gates leading into it were each one hundred and twenty feet tall.
However, the east and west gates were waterways, as the Wandering Immortal River flowed right through the entire Qinghe Market City.
The section of the Wandering Immortal River within Qinghe Market City was called the Qinghe River.
Qinghe Market City was named after it.
In the sea of clouds above, large flying vessels came and went.
There were also many cultivators flying on swords—some at the early Qi Refining stage, some at the mid-stage, but the number of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators entering and exiting was even greater.
Most of the late-stage Qi Refining cultivators who came and went were in groups, likely the so-called demon hunters.
“Hmm? A Foundation Establishment cultivator!”
Chen Jianghe stopped outside the gates of Qinghe Market City, watching a cultivator fly past him. The man's aura was restrained, but Chen Jianghe felt a faint sense of pressure from him.