Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 136: Chapter 110: Peiyao’s Invitation

Jiang Ruxu’s letter conveyed Alchemist Zhuang’s goodwill toward Chen Jianghe, inquiring if he wanted to purchase Fasting Pills through her.

This conveyed two underlying meanings.

First, Alchemist Zhuang was eager to establish a definitive mutually beneficial relationship with Chen Jianghe.

Second, he wanted to showcase Jiang Ruxu’s talent in the Alchemy Dao to Chen Jianghe. She had only studied alchemy for a few years, yet she was already a Lower-Grade Alchemist.

She was now capable of refining Fasting Pills.

Chen Jianghe was indeed somewhat surprised and quite amazed by Jiang Ruxu’s talent in the Alchemy Dao.

The Alchemy Dao yielded incredibly high profits.

Chen Jianghe had also wanted to try his hand at it, but it required a massive investment—not only the legacy of the Alchemy Dao itself, but also the enormous consumption of materials during the early stages of practice.

This was nothing like drawing Spirit Talismans, where the materials plus the Fairy’s personal handiwork cost three Spirit Stones at most.

Alchemy, however, was a completely different beast.

If a single cauldron of pills was ruined, that meant one—or even several—Spirit Stones down the drain.

Those with exceptional talent in alchemy might grasp the core principles after ten or twenty attempts, eventually succeeding in refining a cauldron.

For those with average talent, it could take dozens or even hundreds of cauldrons.

The crux of the matter was: how would you know if you had talent without first attempting dozens of refinements?

This was the biggest trap of all.

Jiang Ruxu possessed excellent talent in alchemy, and Alchemist Zhuang treated her very well, teaching her with absolute dedication.

Despite the sixty-year contract binding them, he genuinely regarded Jiang Ruxu as his true disciple and successor to his legacy.

The contract was merely a safeguard to ensure his granddaughter would have someone to rely on in the future.

”Jiang Ruxu has good talent in the Alchemy Dao. It’s worth building a relationship with her. As for Alchemist Zhuang... I’m afraid he doesn’t have many years left,” Chen Jianghe pondered deeply.

Since Alchemist Zhuang was so eager to establish a transactional relationship with him, there was no need for him to be coy.

After all, he would need to buy spirit pills for Body Refining from him in the future anyway.

As for the spirit pills needed to assist his Spiritual Cultivation Technique, he could naturally buy them too, though Alchemist Zhuang might not even be alive by then.

Having made up his mind, he stood up and left the room.

”SQUEAK SQUEAK~~”

”CHIRP CHIRP~”

Stepping into the courtyard, he heard Little Black lecturing Fur Ball, instructing it on how to achieve a clean cut. He even made Fur Ball do a practice run.

Piqued with interest, Chen Jianghe didn’t disturb them. He simply stood to the side and quietly watched Little Black demonstrate.

He saw Little Black raise his short little claw, wrapped in pure black Water Attribute Magical Power. He brought it down fiercely. With a flash of dark light sharp as a blade, he smoothly severed the claw of a demon beast.

”CHIRP CHIRP~” (That’s so amazing!)

”SQUEAK SQUEAK~~” (Piece of cake.)

”CHIRP CHIRP~” (I want to admire it again!)

”SQUEAK SQUEAK” (Watch closely.)

Chen Jianghe didn’t understand beast language and had no idea what they were communicating, but he saw Little Black demonstrate for Fur Ball once more.

Looking at the sharpness of Little Black’s claws, Chen Jianghe wondered if they would be even better used for Artifact Refining.

Hmm...

Chen Jianghe quickly shook off the disloyal thought.

However, Little Black’s claws were undeniably formidable, making him doubt whether he could withstand a single strike from the turtle.

It was just like a High-Grade Flying Sword—severing the claw of a Late-Stage Tier One Demon Beast without the slightest resistance.

One had to know that demon beasts and spirit beasts were different from cultivators.

As their cultivation increased, the strength and power of their physical bodies improved in tandem.

Take Little Black, for instance; his turtle shell was absolutely no weaker than a High-Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact.

”Even if you gave me a High-Grade Flying Sword, I doubt I could break through Little Black’s defense. Little Black could probably beat five of me!”

The stronger Little Black grew, the happier Chen Jianghe felt.

”Huh? A letter arrived!”

Chen Jianghe walked over to the post box and took out the newly arrived letter. He glanced at the signature and saw that it was from Yun Xiaoniu.

”Xiaoniu wrote to me?”

Chen Jianghe smiled; this was the first time he had received a letter from Xiaoniu. Without returning to his room, he opened it and read it right there in the courtyard.

Whether face-to-face or in writing, Yun Xiaoniu was as respectful and polite as ever. But the actual contents of the letter made Chen Jianghe shake his head helplessly.

Yun Xiaoniu’s message was simple: he wanted Chen Jianghe to persuade Yu Daniu not to act recklessly or hastily.

The main issue was Yu Daniu’s Foundation Establishment.

Both Yun Huizhen and Yun Xiaoniu believed that Yu Daniu’s chances of reaching Foundation Establishment were too low, and they didn’t want him to take the risk.

Furthermore, as Yun Huizhen’s branch grew increasingly powerful, they had already taken control of eleven Cultivation Towns at Jingyue Lake. They were second only to the Patriarch’s branch.

Moreover, Yun Huizhen’s father was gradually aging, and their entire branch relied solely on Yu Daniu to hold the fort.

In other words, the eleven Cultivation Towns at Jingyue Lake rested entirely on Yu Daniu’s shoulders; he absolutely could not afford any mishaps.

Regardless of whether Yun Yixuan succeeded in Foundation Establishment, they didn’t want Yu Daniu attempting a breakthrough.

”Sigh... I don’t want Daniu to risk his life either, but how can I possibly say those words to him?”

Chen Jianghe shook his head and crushed the letter into powder.

No matter how close his bond with Yu Daniu was, it was impossible for him to speak out and stop Daniu from attempting Foundation Establishment.

The only way was if Yu Daniu figured it out himself and decided against it.

He couldn’t force his own mindset onto someone else. After all, he had his Golden Finger and could live for three hundred and sixty years. Even achieving Foundation Establishment at a hundred years old would be fine for him.

But it was different for Yu Daniu. If he didn’t risk it all at sixty, he would likely never get another chance.

”Little Black, let’s head out for a bit,” Chen Jianghe transmitted a message.

”I’m busy.”

”Uh... We’ll be back soon. It won’t take up much of your time.”

It was then that Chen Jianghe noticed Little Black was actually still demonstrating for Fur Ball. He got the distinct feeling that Little Black was being played by Fur Ball.

Fur Ball was hopping around cheering, letting out happy ”CHIRP CHIRP” sounds.

No matter how you looked at it, it was flattering Little Black.

With his ego stroked this much, Little Black ended up chopping off all four claws of that demon beast.