Chapter 161 - 122: Fur Ball’s Combat Power, Renowned in Qinghe

Chapter 161: Chapter 122: Fur Ball’s Combat Power, Renowned in Qinghe

"We can’t let this guy just walk in and enjoy a life of leisure."

Chen Jianghe paused. "Uh..." It seemed Little Black had a point. Back in the outer regions of Jingyue Lake, Little Black had done all the work while he only focused on his cultivation. It was the same after they entered the Inner Waters. The only difference was that he now crafted spirit talismans, but Little Black was still the one raising the fish.

"Fair enough. How many mid-stage tier one demon beasts can you and Fur Ball handle in a year?" Chen Jianghe asked.

"Around ten. Fur Ball and I also have to deal with late-stage tier one demon beasts."

Before Chen Jianghe could respond, Little Black added, "Next year, just buy two late-stage tier one demon beasts for Fur Ball and me."

"Hmm? Why?"

Chen Jianghe was stunned. He was beginning to suspect that Little Black could read his mind through the Spirit Platform Mark. He had wanted to cut off their resources for two years but hadn’t said a word about it. Why would Little Black voluntarily ask for a reduction?

Logically, since Fur Ball had broken through to the late stage of tier one, he should be buying four late-stage tier one demon beasts next year. That would cost a hundred and thirty or forty spirit stones, which was no small sum. There was a reason why cultivation families didn’t raise spirit beasts. It wasn’t that they didn’t want a clan guardian spirit beast; it was simply that they couldn’t afford one.

"Don’t you feel that you’re very weak?" Little Black said in all seriousness.

"Am I weak?" Chen Jianghe looked at Little Black skeptically. He currently possessed the peak of Eighth-Layer Qi Refining cultivation and could absolutely break through to the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining within a year. Moreover, he cultivated the Ten Thousand Waters Scripture, granting him robust magical power and formidable magic. Combined with his Tidal Body Refining Technique, he was much stronger than an ordinary Eighth-Layer Qi Refining cultivator. Thus, he didn’t think he was weak at all. Even without using magical artifacts, he felt he could hold his own against a regular Ninth-Layer Qi Refining cultivator.

"Oh, really?" Little Black grinned widely and beckoned to Fur Ball with a claw. "Give Master a reality check."

Fur Ball looked at Chen Jianghe, then at Little Black, and took a step back. It didn’t dare to attack Chen Jianghe.

"It’s fine, listen to Little Black," Chen Jianghe said, waving his hand at Fur Ball.

He then cast the Water Curtain Technique. A water wall twenty feet high, thirty feet wide, and three feet thick appeared before him, bisecting the already small courtyard. With the enhancement of the Ten Thousand Waters Scripture, not even an Eighth-Layer Qi Refining cultivator practicing a gold element technique could break through this spell in a single strike without a magical artifact. He acknowledged the might of demon beasts, but Fur Ball had only just broken through, whereas the cultivation technique he practiced was anything but ordinary.

"ROAR!"

Fur Ball suddenly let out a deafening roar. A terrifying aura swept directly toward Chen Jianghe. Even before the attack landed, it made Chen Jianghe instinctively prepare to cast the Water Escape Technique to flee.

BOOM!

Without his magical power to sustain it, the Water Curtain Technique collapsed instantly.

"That actually works?!" Chen Jianghe was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected Fur Ball to directly use its divine technique, ’Illusion God’. That terrifying aura was much more tyrannical than that of a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining cultivator. It gave him the illusion of facing the tribulation cultivator boss from before, making him subconsciously want to run. However, he knew that if he hadn’t thought of fleeing, Fur Ball absolutely wouldn’t have broken through his Water Curtain Technique in one strike. He still had that much confidence!

"Look at that, Fur Ball hasn’t even made a move yet, and you’ve already lost your nerve," Little Black said in a seasoned, preachy tone. "So, you’d better spend a few more spirit stones to improve yourself!"

"Me???" Chen Jianghe was bewildered. Was he really being lectured by Little Black?

"Stop spouting nonsense and wasting my time. Hurry up and get into the spirit beast space; we have things to do outside," Chen Jianghe retorted.

"Fur Ball, do you see that? He’s flying into a rage from humiliation," Little Black quipped.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK." *(Master is still very strong.)*

Chen Jianghe stowed Little Black and Fur Ball into the spirit beast space. He walked out of the courtyard gate and hung up the "Out" sign. Along the way, he glanced at Courtyard 514, which also had its "Out" sign displayed. The resident had likely headed to the Youxian Mountain Range.

Chen Jianghe then headed to Fushou Lane in the Northeast District. It was time to find Alchemist Zhuang and discuss the refining of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

As he walked down the street, Chen Jianghe’s mind replayed the scene that had just occurred. The aura Fur Ball had suddenly erupted with was indeed comparable to the tribulation cultivator boss he had encountered back then, who was a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Great Cultivator at Body Refining Perfection. Fur Ball had only just broken through to the late stage of tier one. If it cultivated to the peak of late-stage tier one, wouldn’t its sudden burst of momentum be equivalent to a tier two demon beast? Under the oppressive might of a tier two demon beast, a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining cultivator would probably be so terrified they’d instantly lose their ability to fight! If he were to forge a special magical artifact for Fur Ball... Wouldn’t that mean it could take out a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining cultivator with a single strike?

He wondered, "Why does it feel like Fur Ball’s Illusion God is even stronger than Little Black’s Petrification?"

Lost in his thoughts, he arrived at Blessed Residence No. 136 on Fushou Lane. He glanced at Ji Wujin’s Blessed Residence next door. An ’In Seclusion’ sign hung outside. He immediately knocked on the door ring.

KNOCK KNOCK.

In less than ten breaths, Zhuang Xinyan opened the courtyard door. Seeing it was Chen Jianghe, she respectfully invited him inside.

Zhuang Xinyan’s cultivation had already reached the Sixth-Layer Qi Refining. Calculating the time since Alchemist Zhuang left Jingyue Lake and recalling the old rumors, Chen Jianghe deduced that Zhuang Xinyan had just turned thirty, or at most thirty-two. He just didn’t know how her spirit root talent was. But with the foundation Alchemist Zhuang had laid for her, it wasn’t entirely impossible for her to attempt Foundation Establishment in the future.

"Is Alchemist Zhuang not here?" Chen Jianghe glanced at the alchemy room. He didn’t see any firelight or feel the aura of earth fire. It was obvious that neither Alchemist Zhuang nor Jiang Ruxu were inside.

"Grandpa and Junior Sister went to attend the Hundred Arts Exchange Meeting," Zhuang Xinyan said, carefully stealing a glance at him. She knew her grandfather had gone off again to boast about his relationship with Chen Jianghe, while simultaneously spreading rumors about Chen Jianghe’s friendship with Gao Peiyao.

"Uh, then I’ll come back another day." Chen Jianghe was somewhat speechless. If Alchemist Zhuang wasn’t home, why had she invited him in?

"Alright, I’ll see you out, Senior." Zhuang Xinyan kept her head down and walked toward the exit, completely oblivious to the fact that Chen Jianghe hadn’t even taken a step to leave yet.

Chen Jianghe offered a helpless smile and followed suit.

After leaving Blessed Residence No. 136, he happened to bump into Ji Wujin, who was just stepping out. The two exchanged a glance, and Chen Jianghe turned to walk away. Since they didn’t know each other, there was nothing to talk about.

"Talisman Master Chen, wait a moment." Ji Wujin called out to him and quickly walked over.

"Does Fellow Daoist know me?" Chen Jianghe asked in confusion. He had never interacted with Ji Wujin before. The only time he had seen him was at the auction, and even then, he was the one observing Ji Wujin, not the other way around.

"An old friend of Fairy Peiyao, a good buddy of Alchemist Zhuang, and sworn brother to Fellow Daoist Ruan—how could I dare not know you?" Ji Wujin wore a half-mask that obscured his features, but his amusement was palpable. "I am Ji Wujin. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Chen."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ji," Chen Jianghe cupped his hands in return.

Inwardly, however, he began grumbling about Alchemist Zhuang. Ji Wujin’s words were crystal clear—this talk of being an old friend of Fairy Peiyao and a buddy of Alchemist Zhuang was definitely spread by the old man himself. If his guess was correct, Alchemist Zhuang was probably at the Hundred Arts Exchange Meeting right now, hyping up their relationship and adding color to his supposed deep bond with Gao Peiyao.

Though Chen Jianghe felt resistant, there was nothing he could do. The moment he deliberately tried to befriend Alchemist Zhuang, he had anticipated this outcome. But why hadn’t Gao Peiyao stepped forward to suppress these rumors?

"If Fellow Daoist Ji is saying this, then Brother Ruan must have already sought you out," Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle.

"This is not the place to talk. Would Fellow Daoist like to come into my courtyard for a chat?" Ji Wujin invited.

"We’ve only just met; I wouldn’t dare impose on your esteemed residence," Chen Jianghe politely declined with a smile. Ji Wujin was a puppet master who possessed tier one high-grade puppetry skills. Naturally, Chen Jianghe didn’t dare enter Ji Wujin’s courtyard alone. Fights were prohibited in the marketplace, but if he were neutralized without even a chance to resist, who would ever find out?

"Hehe, then how about we have a chat at the Qinghe Tavern?" Ji Wujin chuckled lightly. Having easily seen through Chen Jianghe’s caution, he didn’t force the issue and suggested the tavern instead.

"Let’s go to the Qingpin Tea House instead!"

"The Qingpin Tea House? A gathering place for demon hunters. Why would Fellow Daoist choose such a crude place?"