Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 107: Chapter 97: Spirit Pet Fur Ball

He could use specially made Magical Artifacts for Spirit Beasts, which would eventually provide a massive boost to his combat power.

”Master, I’ll carry you.”

”Hmm?” Chen Jianghe noted the tone in Little Black’s voice transmission. It carried a hint of dejection and worry. ”Little Black, what’s wrong with you?”

”It’s nothing,” Little Black replied, then carried Chen Jianghe as it swam along the riverbed. Its speed wasn’t particularly fast, roughly equivalent to Chen Jianghe’s speed during Qi Manipulation flight.

”Relax. I won’t neglect you just because I have Fur Ball now. It’s a Spirit Pet, but you are my brother.” Having been together for so many years, how could Chen Jianghe not sense what Little Black was worried about?

”Two-Legged Beast, I knew you were loyal!

”You can relax too. From now on, I’ll call you ’Master’ more often. Under normal circumstances, I won’t call you ’Two-Legged Beast’ anymore—unless I just can’t help it,” Little Black transmitted excitedly.

Chen Jianghe twitched his lips, deciding not to stoop to its level.

An hour later, the sky began to lighten. A red glow appeared on the eastern horizon, looking as if the clouds were on fire.

Carrying Chen Jianghe, Little Black followed the river, having long since left the canyon behind. They entered a narrow tributary, and in the distance, curling smoke from kitchen chimneys could be seen.

”Could that be a farming village?” he wondered.

Chen Jianghe had Little Black return to the Spirit Beast Space, then immediately flew toward the rising smoke. It was a small village with only about a dozen households. After asking around, he learned that this was within the borders of Lotus Town. It was the very Cultivation Town where Zhou Miaoyun lived.

”I actually ended up in Lotus Town?” Chen Jianghe thought, breathing a sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t strayed from the direction of Qinghe Marketplace. Lotus Town was a Cultivation Town situated on the outskirts of Qinghe Marketplace. Arriving here essentially meant he had reached the marketplace itself.

According to an old farmer, they were a little over twenty miles away from Lotus Town. This meant that it would take him an hour at most to reach Qinghe Marketplace from here. Having figured out his bearings, Chen Jianghe didn’t linger and flew straight toward Qinghe Marketplace.

Passing by Lotus Town, he occasionally saw streaks of sword light and Cultivators engaged in Qi Manipulation flight. He didn’t stop in the town.

He had no idea if Zhou Miaoyun had left Lotus Town yet. After all, her letter had mentioned that the Zhou Family was being so heavily suppressed by the local Cultivation Families that it was difficult for them to survive. Considering how much time had passed, he figured she must have already left. Even if she hadn’t left, Chen Jianghe had no intention of meeting Zhou Miaoyun in person. It was much easier to reject her request via letter. But what if she begged him face-to-face?

If she hadn’t asked for Shixia Town, which was three hundred miles north of Jingyue Lake, and instead settled for a Cultivation Town in a more remote area, Chen Jianghe could have still put in a good word with Yu Daniu. But there was no need for that. They were just casual acquaintances.

Therefore, to avoid the awkwardness of a face-to-face rejection and risking their casual friendship, it was better not to meet. Moreover, given his current appearance, he needed to avoid running into acquaintances in the short term.

Following the Cultivators in Qi Manipulation flight, Chen Jianghe soon arrived at Qinghe Marketplace. It was a marketplace built on a vast plain.

Viewed from high above, it looked like an ancient city. A wall about fifty feet tall surrounded its perimeter, and the four city gates leading inside were a towering one hundred and twenty feet high. However, the east and west gates were waterways, as the Youxian River ran straight through the entire Qinghe Marketplace. The segment of the Youxian River within the marketplace was called the Qinghe. This was how Qinghe Marketplace got its name.

Large Flying Ships traveled back and forth through the sea of clouds in the sky. There were also many Cultivators using Sword Flight. Some were Early-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, and some were Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, but Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators were far more numerous among those entering and exiting. The Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators coming and going mostly traveled in groups; they were likely the so-called Demon Hunters.

”Hmm? A Foundation Establishment Cultivator!” Chen Jianghe thought in surprise. He stopped outside the gates of Qinghe Marketplace, watching a Cultivator fly past him. The man’s aura was completely restrained, yet it still made him feel a faint, oppressive pressure.