Chapter 181 Deep Affection and Righteousness, Xiaoniu’s Resolve

Chapter 181: Chapter 131: Deep Affection and Righteousness, Xiaoniu’s Resolve

"Although Master Qinghe has passed away, his Tier Three Spirit Pet is still alive. Even a Great Core Formation wouldn’t dare cause trouble in Qinghe Marketplace," Ruan Tieniu offered as a word of comfort.

If Chen Jianghe had only injured Duan Ming’s subordinates, he could have stepped in to mediate. Although Duan Ming was a leader of Qingfong Village, he would still have to give Ruan Tieniu a modicum of respect. Otherwise, Duan Ming’s small gang of Tribulation Cultivators wouldn’t be able to enter the Youxian Mountain Range, as Ruan Tieniu held considerable influence among the Demon Hunters. However, since someone had died, it was no longer appropriate for Ruan Tieniu to intervene. Both sides needed to save face.

Chen Jianghe nodded and cupped his fists in gratitude. "Thank you for the warning, Brother Ruan. I won’t be leaving Qinghe Marketplace for the time being."

"There’s no need to be so polite with me, Brother Chen. It’s just a pity that I failed my Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, if a nobody like Duan Ming dared to have wicked ideas about you, I would slap him to death!" Ruan Tieniu said with bitter resentment.

Chen Jianghe offered a polite smile, not taking Ruan Tieniu’s words to heart. Even if Ruan Tieniu had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he wouldn’t offend Qingfong Village for his sake. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Jianghe stood up and took his leave.

Watching Chen Jianghe’s retreating figure, a look of contemplation crossed Ruan Tieniu’s face.

"I didn’t expect Brother Chen, who seems so easygoing and generous on the surface, to actually be such a ruthless character," he murmured. "It’s a shame he won’t join my Demon Hunting Team. Otherwise, we could have ambushed that Duan guy. I heard he stumbled upon a significant stroke of luck a few years ago.

"A Demon Cultivator’s Storage Pouch should hold quite a few good things.

"I still need to find a way to ambush him..."

***

Chen Jianghe returned to his courtyard and let Little Black and Fur Ball out. Upon entering his room, his gaze involuntarily drifted back to the yard, watching the two of them continue their Cultivation.

"I have to find a way to increase my strength so I can at least protect myself against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!" he thought.

Recalling Duan Ming—a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Tribulation Cultivator boss who had achieved Body Refining Perfection—and the Qingfong Village backing him, Chen Jianghe felt a deep sense of unease.

He couldn’t entrust his very life to the rules of Qinghe Marketplace. The prohibition against fighting within the marketplace only truly restricted law-abiding or bottom-tier Cultivators. For volatile individuals like Tribulation Cultivators, such rules held little binding force.

Years ago, Lann Tianxiang had struck within Qinghe Marketplace, snatching a Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill. With it, he successfully reached Foundation Establishment. This meant that as long as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator struck fast enough, they could commit a crime and walk away unscathed.

While he didn’t fear Duan Ming, he was completely powerless against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Little Black’s defense was formidable, but it might not withstand an attack of that caliber.

"It seems I need to figure out a way to sell a Youthful Pill. I must prioritize boosting Little Black’s strength first," Chen Jianghe resolved inwardly.

Only when Little Black became strong would his safety be truly guaranteed. The rules of Qinghe Marketplace were far less reliable than Little Black. If Little Black evolved into a Tier Two Spirit Beast, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.

"Even if everything goes smoothly, it will take me at least fifteen years to reach Foundation Establishment," he pondered. "But as long as I provide Little Black with enough Spirit Cores, he stands a chance of advancing to Tier Two within a decade.

"And then there’s Fur Ball. I need to find a way to refine a Special Magical Artifact for him. The stronger Fur Ball’s combat prowess, the safer I’ll be."

He planned to ask Gao Peiyao for help during the Mid-Autumn Festival to put a Youthful Pill up for auction. Once he had enough Spirit Stones, he could purchase a large number of Late-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts from Mazi when he came to collect the Spirit Talismans. As for Mid-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts, he no longer had any use for them.

His current goal was crystal clear: prioritize increasing his overall strength. The Late-Stage Tier One Spirit Cores would be fed to Little Black, while the blood, flesh, heart marrow, and internal organs would go to Fur Ball. All the other remaining parts would be sold. This way, he could rapidly increase Little Black and Fur Ball’s Cultivation while still earning some Spirit Stones back. Although his expenses would multiply several times over, his current wealth could comfortably absorb the cost.

With his mind made up, Chen Jianghe went back to Talisman Painting. Time was Spirit Stones, and Spirit Stones were the key to increasing his strength. Therefore, he couldn’t afford to waste a single second.

Five days later.

Chen Jianghe had successfully painted another two Middle-Grade Five Elements Escape Talismans. It was also at this time that Yu Daniu arrived at Qinghe Marketplace.

Hearing the sound of the door knocker, Chen Jianghe immediately stepped out of his room, stored Little Black and Fur Ball into the Spirit Beast Space, and opened the courtyard gate. It was indeed Yu Daniu, with Yun Xiaoniu following closely behind him.

"Brother."

"Uncle."

"Daniu, Xiaoniu."

Not having seen each other in ten years, Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu shared a heavy, tight bear hug. They separated after ten breaths of time. Chen Jianghe then walked over to Yun Xiaoniu, patted his shoulder, and nodded in satisfaction. "Xiaoniu, your Cultivation has progressed incredibly fast!"

"He really has. My eldest has truly made me proud. He broke through to Ninth-Layer Qi Refining not long ago, and he’s now an Elder of the Yun Family." Hearing Chen Jianghe praise his son, Yu Daniu puffed his chest out with immense pride.

"HAHAHA! Daniu, Xiaoniu has certainly left you in the dust!" Chen Jianghe burst into laughter.

"The stronger the son is compared to his old man, the happier the old man is, hehe!" Yu Daniu laughed heartily.

At this point, Yu Daniu was already sixty-six years old, but his demeanor didn’t show the same aged weariness as Zhou Miaoyun. His tied-up hair had more black than white, and though there were wrinkles on his face, they weren’t particularly prominent. Coupled with his naturally robust physique, a Physical Body Cultivation that had reached Perfection, and his glowing vitality, he merely looked like a man in his middle age.

"Come, let’s head to the tavern!"

With his brother arriving after ten long years apart, Chen Jianghe planned to be extravagant today. He took Daniu and Xiaoniu to the Qinghe Tavern and, with a grand wave of his hand, ordered Spiritual Cuisine worth five Spirit Stones.