Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 175: Chapter 128: White Steed Across the Gap, The Merciless Years

A Tenth-Layer Qi Refining cultivation level was naturally impossible to hide.

Even a major dealer like Wang Kun would show sufficient respect to a Tenth-Layer Qi Refining Demon Hunter like Ruan Tieniu.

”Brother Chen, since you’re a brother to Boss Ruan, then say no more. From now on, if you need anything, just come find me, Wang Kun. I can get my hands on any Demon Beast below Tier Two, but live ones are more expensive, haha...”

”And my prices are absolutely fair.”

Wang Kun said proudly.

Chen Jianghe nodded, then said, ”I also need to buy ten Mid-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts and two Late-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts from you, Boss Wang. Preferably, all with Second-Grade High-Class bloodlines.”

”Haha, looks like Boss Ruan introduced me to a major client! I’ll treat you at the Qingpin Tea House later.”

Wang Kun laughed heartily. ”Mazi, did you hear Brother Chen’s request? Go and prepare them!”

”Yes, Boss.”

Mazi responded and then left, disappearing into the crowd of Demon Hunters, apparently to collect the Demon Beast Flesh Bodies Chen Jianghe required.

”Brother Chen wants Second-Grade High-Class Bloodline Demon Beasts. The Late-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts are thirty-four Spirit Stones each. The Mid-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts are sixteen Spirit Stones each.”

”The total is two hundred twenty-eight Spirit Stones. It won’t be easy for you to carry so many Demon Beasts, Brother Chen. I’ll have Mazi deliver them to you, and you can just give him the Spirit Stones then.”

”Then my thanks to you, Boss Wang.”

Chen Jianghe cupped his fist. ”I wonder if Boss Wang could arrange for someone to come to my door at the beginning of each year to collect Spirit Talismans and deliver Demon Beasts?”

”I can do that,” Wang Kun agreed readily.

A moment later, Mazi had collected the Demon Beasts and left the Demon Hunter Trading Market with Chen Jianghe.

Ruan Tieniu, however, did not leave with him. He remained in the trading market, likely preparing for a trip to the Youxian Mountain Range.

They returned to Qingping Lane, stopping at the gate to his courtyard.

Mazi handed four Storage Pouches to Chen Jianghe and then stood outside the courtyard gate, completely unworried that Chen Jianghe might run off with them.

As the leader of the largest Demon Hunter faction in Qinghe Marketplace, Wang Kun’s influence was considerable. Even Tribulation Cultivators from the outside wouldn’t dare to cross him.

Besides, Demon Hunting teams like Wang Kun’s and Ruan Tieniu’s wished that Tribulation Cultivators would target them; it could be an unexpected windfall.

Chen Jianghe unloaded the twelve Demon Beasts into his courtyard, then came back out and returned the Storage Pouches.

He also took out two hundred twenty-eight Spirit Stones and gave them to Mazi.

”I’ll be taking my leave.”

Mazi accepted the Spirit Stones, turned, and left.

Chen Jianghe didn’t return to the courtyard. He glanced at the sky; it was nearing 3:00 PM, still a long time before he needed to be at Qing Street.

So he headed for the Hundred Treasures Tower.

Alchemist Zhuang had been responsive to his every request, so he shouldn’t make Alchemist Zhuang wait too long.

Upon arriving at the Hundred Treasures Tower, the familiar Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator came up to greet him.

The cultivator informed him that Gao Peiyao had left instructions: upon his arrival, he was to go directly to the fifth floor.

It was only then that Chen Jianghe learned the name of this Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator from the Hundred Treasures Tower.

His name was Chen Ping.

He happened to share the same surname, but in the Cultivation World, the old saying about being family five hundred years ago didn’t exist.

He was at the Seventh-Layer Qi Refining and had just been promoted by Gao Peiyao to Second-Floor Steward of the Hundred Treasures Tower this year.

After becoming the Second-Floor Steward, Chen Ping was even more enthusiastic in his dealings with Chen Jianghe.

In his mind, the main reason for his promotion was his sharp eye in recognizing how to treat Chen Jianghe.

As for the relationship between Gao Peiyao and Chen Jianghe, Chen Ping secretly guessed it was more than just a simple childhood friendship.

But he wasn’t stupid enough to go around talking about it.

As long as he remained extra respectful to Chen Jianghe during Gao Peiyao’s tenure, he knew there would be many benefits for him.

Chen Jianghe arrived at the fifth floor.

He only went in after the same Female Cultivator announced his presence.

”Fairy Peiyao.”

Seeing Gao Peiyao, Chen Jianghe cupped his fist in a salute.

”Ruan Tieniu failed his attempt at Foundation Establishment. He had a fifty percent chance of success. Does Brother Jianghe think his own chances are higher than his?”

Gao Peiyao said, getting straight to the point.

Nothing that happened in Qinghe Marketplace could be hidden from the Hundred Treasures Tower, and thus Ruan Tieniu’s attempt at Foundation Establishment could not be hidden from Gao Peiyao.

Previously, Gao Peiyao didn’t know what deal Chen Jianghe had with Alchemist Zhuang.

But now, through Ruan Tieniu’s attempt at Foundation Establishment, she had guessed the deal between Chen Jianghe and Alchemist Zhuang.

A Foundation Establishment Pill!

”If I’m not mistaken, Brother Jianghe, you have a Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill, which is why you want to use a Youthful Pill to extend your optimal window for attempting Foundation Establishment.”

”However, I must remind you, Brother Jianghe, that until your Physical Body Cultivation and Spiritual Cultivation reach Perfection, any so-called ’chance’ of successful Foundation Establishment is false. It’s all just luck.”

”What!”

Hearing this, Chen Jianghe was stunned. He stared at Gao Peiyao in disbelief, unable to accept that the stated chances of Foundation Establishment were a sham.

In other words.

Only when one had achieved both Body Refining Perfection and Spiritual Perfection would the increased chances of success from the other three Foundation Establishment conditions actually be real.

Otherwise, if one had only achieved perfection in either Body Refining or Spirit, but not both, then any supposed success rate was completely unreliable.

’So, without the prerequisites of Body Refining Perfection and Spiritual Perfection, even the success rate boost from a Foundation Establishment Pill is illusory? Its only real function is to prevent death during the attempt.’

”I can’t tell you too much, Brother Jianghe. It involves too many secrets and implicates many powerful factions.”

Gao Peiyao looked at Chen Jianghe and said, ”So, even with a Youthful Pill and a Lifespan Extension Pill, can you raise your Physical Body Cultivation and Spiritual Cultivation to Perfection within fifteen years, Brother Jianghe?”

”It’s not too late for you to change your mind, Brother Jianghe. I can exchange the Youthful Grass for a Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance instead.”

”In the future, you could use this inheritance to establish a clan and become its Elder Ancestor.”

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath.

He was shocked by Gao Peiyao’s words.

’So Body Refining Perfection and Spiritual Perfection are the true basic requirements for Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, any attempt is a complete gamble.’

’The talk of percentage success rates is meaningless.’

”I want to try. My path of cultivation is a struggle against fate itself. If I back down now, wouldn’t I be betraying the very reason I started cultivating?”

Chen Jianghe said, going against his true thoughts.

’He had to say that, using the struggle against fate as his excuse.’

’After all, with his long life, he wasn’t worried in the slightest about whether he could cultivate his Physical Body and Spirit to Perfection.’

’Fifteen years isn’t enough?’

’Then I’ll take thirty!’

’But he couldn’t say that out loud.’

’Right now, he could only project an attitude of someone who found endless joy in struggling against the heavens.’

Although what Chen Jianghe said was completely at odds with his usual personality, Gao Peiyao listened and couldn’t help but feel he had a point.

’Isn’t the point of cultivation to achieve long life?’

’Isn’t it a struggle against the heavens for one’s destiny?’

”Since your mind is made up, Brother Jianghe, I won’t press the issue. I can only wish you success in achieving Foundation Establishment.”

Gao Peiyao said solemnly.

Inwardly, however, she held out little hope for his success.

He was too old.

Even with the Lifespan Extension Pill and Youthful Pill buying him a twenty-year window, he was already sixty-six years old.

There really wasn’t much time left for him.

In a dozen or so years, achieving Body Refining Perfection was possible.

But to achieve Spiritual Perfection, that would require a large amount of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Back then, she had been lucky to obtain a Profound Soul Mandala, and with the help of her master, Steward Lan, she refined it into Soul Crystal Dew.

It was only with this that she managed to cultivate her Spirit to Perfection in eight years.

’If he were twenty years younger, he might have been able to raise his Spiritual Cultivation to Perfection by taking Nourishing Spirit Pills and Tier One High-Grade Spirit-Enriching Spirit Liquid over a long period.’

’Still, she had already helped Chen Jianghe a great deal. She couldn’t possibly go all out to help him achieve Foundation Establishment.’

Gao Peiyao handed the Youthful Grass to Chen Jianghe. She didn’t try to persuade him any further; everyone had their own path to walk.

’Well-intentioned advice could inadvertently ruin someone’s opportunity.’

’Or even earn their hatred.’

’The bond of Good Karma had been formed. How far he could walk on his path was now up to his own destiny.’

”Brother Jianghe, my term at the Hundred Treasures Tower in Qinghe Marketplace will be over this Mid-Autumn Festival. We should get together again then,” Gao Peiyao said softly.

”So soon?”

Hearing this, Chen Jianghe marveled inwardly at how quickly time flew. Without even realizing it, Gao Peiyao had already completed her ten-year term in Qinghe Marketplace.

He also hadn’t seen Yu Daniu in ten years.

Although they corresponded by letter, he had no idea what Yu Daniu looked like now.

’He’s sixty-six now.’

’His hair must be completely gray by now!’