Chapter 138 - 111: Leaving Leeway, Cultivating Good Karma

Chapter 138: Chapter 111: Leaving Leeway, Cultivating Good Karma

"Here for me?"

Chen Jianghe stood up, glanced at the slightly awkward Alchemist Zhuang, and bid his farewell.

It was no surprise that Gao Peiyao knew his whereabouts.

The moment he stepped out of the courtyard, he was likely under the watchful eyes of the Qinghe Marketplace, which meant the Hundred Treasures Tower would surely know as well.

He watched the Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator from the Hundred Treasures Tower converse with Chen Jianghe outside the courtyard gate, noting the deep respect in the cultivator’s tone.

A smile touched Alchemist Zhuang’s lips.

He knew Chen Jianghe’s relationship with Gao Peiyao wasn’t simple. It was just as he’d thought; even those arrogant cultivators from the Hundred Treasures Tower had to humble themselves before him.

They were even more respectful to him than they were to a High-Grade Alchemist like himself.

"Grandfather, why are you deliberately trying to befriend Elder Chen? In the past, you never even spoke with those High-Grade Talisman Masters."

Zhuang Xinyan said, clearly confused, "Elder Chen’s Cultivation isn’t high, and his Talisman Dao Skills aren’t anything special."

"Yan’er, don’t speak nonsense," Alchemist Zhuang cut his granddaughter off.

He gazed at his only bloodline, his eyes filled with a mixture of fondness and worry. He had sheltered Zhuang Xinyan too well over the years.

This was perhaps due to the mental trauma he suffered after Lann Tianxiang annihilated an entire clan.

Whenever Zhuang Xinyan was not by his side, he felt that his granddaughter might be in danger.

Therefore, to this day, Zhuang Xinyan was still like a child who never grew up, blurting out things she shouldn’t say.

Moreover, she was ignorant of worldly etiquette.

"Master, what is the relationship between Elder Chen and Fairy Peiyao? She actually sent someone to our home to invite him!"

Jiang Ruxu knew of Alchemist Zhuang’s intention to befriend Chen Jianghe, but she was extremely curious about Chen Jianghe’s relationship with Gao Peiyao.

How did a mere Middle-Grade Talisman Master manage to form a connection with a Foundation Establishment Fairy?

After all, in the eyes of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even her master held no significant status.

A High-Grade Alchemist was far superior to a High-Grade Talisman Master, let alone a Middle-Grade Talisman Master.

"I’ve heard that Fairy Peiyao, that Foreign Clan Elder of the Yun Family, Yu Daniu, and Fellow Daoist Chen were all childhood friends."

"Childhood friends! No wonder Fairy Peiyao calls Elder Chen ’Brother Jianghe’."

Jiang Ruxu’s eyes widened in astonishment, and she immediately became envious.

"Grandfather, if Elder Chen and Fairy Peiyao were childhood friends, why does he still look so young?" Zhuang Xinyan asked curiously.

Jiang Ruxu’s expression grew curious as well.

It was no secret that Gao Peiyao had reached Foundation Establishment at the age of forty-eight. Even now, she was still in her prime, radiant and beautiful.

But in reality, she was over fifty years old.

Therefore, Chen Jianghe had to be at least in his fifties. He could even be sixty and starting to show his age, but he couldn’t possibly look this young.

"He must have taken a Youthful Grass."

Alchemist Zhuang showed a confident smile and said to his granddaughter and disciple, "Do you two know why it is so difficult to find any Youthful Grass circulating in the Celestial South Domain?"

Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu both looked at Alchemist Zhuang, full of curiosity.

"That’s because Youthful Grass can only be found in the Celestial South Sect and deep within the Youxian Mountain Range. Now you know why Chen Jianghe’s appearance hasn’t changed."

"I see."

"Youthful Grass..."

Jiang Ruxu’s dewy eyes blinked a few times, filled with longing for a Youthful Grass.

Even the naive Zhuang Xinyan wanted to obtain a Youthful Grass.

"You two, go and cultivate."

Alchemist Zhuang saw the desire in their eyes and gave a helpless smile inwardly. The Youthful Grass was one of the important resources controlled by the Celestial South Sect.

It wasn’t something one could obtain easily.

He watched the two young women return to their rooms to cultivate.

Alchemist Zhuang waved his hand, and a gust of wind blew the courtyard gate shut.

Standing in the courtyard, one could see the tallest building in the Qinghe Marketplace outside, the five-story Hundred Treasures Tower.

’If you can get one Youthful Grass, you can get a second. Besides, a Youthful Grass can only maintain one’s appearance for a decade or so. It’s nothing compared to the miraculous effects of a Youthful Pill.’

A smile appeared at the corners of Alchemist Zhuang’s mouth.

He had deliberately befriended Chen Jianghe mainly because of the Youthful Grass.

The Pill Formula for the Youthful Pill was as common as a basic Cultivation Technique in the Celestial South Domain, known by all. But so what?

The main ingredient for refining the Youthful Pill, the Youthful Grass, was controlled by the Celestial South Sect.

Even if you knew the Pill Formula, you couldn’t refine it.

Although Alchemist Zhuang was a High-Grade Alchemist, he had been stuck at this level for nearly forty years.

It wasn’t that his Talent was insufficient to become a Tier Two Alchemist.

It was because he lacked the materials and the Pill Formulas for Tier Two Spirit Pills, which was why he couldn’t break through to become a Tier Two Alchemist.

Although the Youthful Pill was considered a Tier Two Spirit Pill, its refining method was actually simpler than that of a Tier One High-Grade Spiritual Pill.

It was only called a Tier Two Spirit Pill because of its miraculous effects.

As long as Chen Jianghe could obtain another Youthful Grass, he could refine a batch of Youthful Pills.

He was eighty percent confident of success.

One batch would yield at least three Youthful Pills.

Gao Peiyao was a disciple of the Celestial South Sect, but she had only just successfully reached Foundation Establishment and probably hadn’t taken a Youthful Pill yet.

But she had Sect channels to obtain a Youthful Pill.

Even if Alchemist Zhuang only needed one Youthful Grass and offered to provide Gao Peiyao with one Youthful Pill for free in return, she wouldn’t give him the time of day.

This required an intermediary who had a deep friendship with both sides.

Chen Jianghe was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

’I only have eight years left. Xinyan is still young, and Ruxu hasn’t matured enough to protect her.’

’Only a Youthful Pill can grant me another ten years of life. With eighteen years, I’ll have enough time to arrange everything for Xinyan’s future.’

Alchemist Zhuang was so eager to deepen his friendship with Chen Jianghe because his time was running out, and he was in desperate need of a Youthful Pill.

He was old and decrepit, long past the optimal age for taking a Youthful Pill.