Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 283: Chapter 255: A Skyscraper Rises from the Ground

The concept of luck is a mystery of mysteries.

Some Cultivators go their entire lives without a single fateful encounter, as if the word ”luck” doesn’t apply to them. But others are either having a fateful encounter or are on their way to one. Even on the Earth Element Star, there is talk of ”Children of Destiny.”

Of course, when an opportunity comes, one must have the strength to seize it.

Wasn’t this the case for True Master Chilong? With a mere Low-grade Spirit Root, he managed to become a Golden Core True Master. Not only did he become a renowned Beast Taming Master of his time, but he even managed to take the Xuan Peng Beast Egg and the Tree Seed from that island.

If he had managed to hatch it.

Perhaps one day, he could have even surpassed True Master Chixia; reaching Nascent Soul Formation might have even been possible.

Unfortunately, in the end, he only paved the way for someone else.

’The half Jade Pendant from True Master Chixia’s Cave Mansion, the Mysterious Shell, the Yellow Gourd, and now this mysterious Tree Seed... I suppose I can only figure them out slowly. Who knows how long it will take to uncover the secrets of these things.’

He wasn’t too fixated on it, however.

Fateful encounters cannot be forced; True Master Chilong and Sun Hao were prime examples.

...

Over the next few days, Chen Che didn’t focus on his Cultivation. Instead, he organized the Library Pavilion.

From the Cultivation Techniques recounted by True Master Chilong, he first picked out all the Tier One Spells and arranged them in the Library Pavilion according to the Top, Middle, and Lower Three Grades to supplement the Valley’s collection of Martial Arts.

After all,

The Cultivation Techniques from the Earth Element Star couldn’t be used publicly, and these new additions formed the true foundation of Jinyun Valley.

If disciples wanted to learn them, they could exchange Contribution Points for them.

Although he hadn’t been in charge of Jinyun Valley for long, a rather comprehensive system of Contribution Points had already been established.

With the Contribution Points they earned, disciples could not only exchange them for Cultivation Techniques but also for Magical Artifacts and Weapons in the Treasure House, and even for things unavailable on the outside, like Concentration Incense and some of the Pills he casually refined.

Of course, it was forbidden to share the exchanged Cultivation Techniques with outsiders.

This wasn’t a matter of selfishly hoarding their secrets; a sect’s Cultivation Techniques were the very moat that protected its status.

Contribution Points could be obtained by completing tasks issued by the Sect, such as Alchemy, Forging, Talisman Making, and so on. Even strange and unusual items obtained from outside the Valley could be exchanged for a certain number of Contribution Points after being appraised.

Within the Valley, Contribution Points were far more important than Spirit Stones.

”There are over 2,300 Tier One Low-Grade techniques, over 1,100 Middle-Grade ones, and over 400 High-Grade ones. That’s enough for the disciples to use. As for the Tier Two Cultivation Techniques, they won’t be available to disciples for now.”

Placing the last inscribed Cultivation Technique on the shelf, Chen Che said slowly.

”Yes, Valley Master.”

A voice responded from the void.

Then, the staircase leading from the third to the fourth floor trembled slightly, revealing a watery ripple.

This was the benefit of having an Array Spirit.

Key locations no longer needed to be guarded by manpower. Of course, the Array Spirit would develop its own thoughts over time. Perhaps one day, it might take a liking to a certain disciple and guide them to a suitable Cultivation Technique or Weapon.

As long as personal feelings were involved, such things were unavoidable.

He strolled leisurely to the window, his hands behind his back.

The areas outside the Forging Hall and the Pill Hall were particularly bustling.

The reasonable contribution system had created a virtuous cycle throughout Jinyun Valley. When Pills, Weapons, or various Materials were needed, a mission would be posted in the task hall, and disciples would accept and carry it out.

These finished Pills and Weapons would then be sold through shops or directly under the Jinyun Valley name, and the earned Spirit Stones would be funneled back into the Valley.

Of course,

since most of the disciples had low Cultivation levels, and with about ten Tributors and the various Hall Chiefs to support, Chen Che still needed to subsidize the Valley with forty to fifty thousand Spirit Stones each year.

However, he still had over six hundred thousand Spirit Stones on hand, so there was no need to worry too much.

’Huh? Is he already preparing to switch to the Ghost Dao so soon?’

Chen Che narrowed his eyes, his gaze landing on the Ghost Market, which was shrouded in dense Yin Qi.

Sweeping his Divine Sense over, he immediately discovered a small wooden cabin had appeared in a corner of the Chaotic Burial Mound. Lu Ping’an, who had moved in, was now skeletal and on the verge of death, but Chen Che could sense that his Divine Soul was several times stronger than before.

Clearly, he was preparing to form a ghost body after death.

’It seems Lu Qinglian is dead set on helping him become a Ghost Cultivator.’

He slowly shook his head. ’If Lu Ping’an can successfully reach Foundation Establishment after switching his cultivation path, I might ask Zuo Yishan for some pointers on the Ghost Dao.’

’But if he has immense difficulty even with Foundation Establishment, then I’ll forget about it.’

’Even if I help him reach Foundation Establishment, he won’t get very far in the future.’

Just as he was thinking, several dark figures circled down from above. Leading them was the little chick, Xuan Peng. Following behind it, besides the Profound Cyan Sparrow, were several Foundation Establishment Great Demons, each one a lord of the skies in its own territory.

However, as Xuan Peng and the Profound Cyan Sparrow landed, one of the Great Demons was blocked outside the Valley’s barrier.

Xuan Peng flapped its wings and chirped a few times into the air. A transparent figure appeared in the void, and the two seemed to converse for a moment. Immediately after, a circular vortex opened in the Array, and the Great Demon that had been blocked outside finally flew into the valley, landing with the others in the Locust Tree Forest.

A disciple who saw this was full of confusion, but whenever one asked, someone nearby would explain:

”The biggest one is the Valley Master’s Beast Pet, named Jingfeng. The others are its subordinates. But we have to call them all ’Senior’... They’re all Foundation Establishment Great Demons.”

”Ah... this...”

The disciple was stunned, then asked with great yearning, ”So, can we tame them?”

The other person nodded.

”The Valley Master said we are not allowed to use force. If you can win a Great Demon’s favor and have it willingly acknowledge you as its master, you can, but you must report it to the sect.”

Listening to the disciples’ conversation, the corners of Chen Che’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.

’Since I have such a great Beast Pet like Xuan Peng, how could I not make use of it?’

In the past few days, the Little Chick had gone out and subdued seven or eight Foundation Establishment Great Demons, almost instantly becoming the number one power in the Valley. It wasn’t just the disciples who wanted to tame one; even Lu Qinglian and Rong Zhongxuan had their eyes on them.

Not only did he not stop them, he supported it wholeheartedly.

However, wild Demon Beasts were extremely difficult to tame, and almost no one had succeeded. But everyone fed these Great Demons Pills daily, which also caused the ranks of the beast flock to swell. In just a few days, their number had already grown to eleven.

As he thought, his peripheral vision caught sight of True Master Chilong in mid-air, closing the Array.

’It seems he has truly become the Array Spirit. This is your last path to survival!’

The Array Spirit depended on the Array for its survival.

Spending all day and night with the disciples in the Valley, almost like a pet, it had developed a strong sense of attachment to this place.

With a light flick of his sleeve, a Cyan Bead appeared in his hand.

It was a Divine Soul Bead, crafted from a piece of soul trimmed from the very core of True Master Chilong’s own.

If he ever had thoughts of rebellion, Chen Che only needed to crush this Divine Soul Bead to make him disappear completely.

”I hope I never have to use it.”

Chen Che muttered before casually storing it inside the Yellow Gourd. ’Which Golden Core cultivator didn’t rise to power by stepping on mountains of bones and being forged in blood? It’s not easy to find a lone cultivator like True Master Chilong, who was even willing to become a Ghost Cultivator.’

Just as he was thinking this, the faint sound of footsteps came from outside the Library Pavilion. The visitor seemed to be walking with unusual caution, as if afraid of stepping on an ant.

’Huh, he actually came out on his own initiative?’

The visitor ignored the Array and came straight to the third floor of the Library Pavilion, tiptoeing up to Chen Che before bowing respectfully.

”Valley Master.”

”Tributor Li, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Chen Che said faintly.

The visitor was none other than Li Changqing. Compared to the other Tributors who often went out and even took on missions, he had stayed in the Sacrificial Hall ever since arriving in the Valley, never taking a single step outside. He was even teasingly called the ”Turtle Talisman Master” by the other Tributors.

After being in the Valley for so long, this was the first time Li Changqing had taken the initiative to seek him out.

”Valley Master, these are the Talismans I’ve drawn over the last half-month. There are five in total, and each one is Tier Two Middle Grade.”

Li Changqing respectfully handed over five Talismans.

A Golden Spear Talisman, a Cyan Dragon Technique, a Tidal Water Shield Talisman, a Three Dragons Swallowing Fire Talisman, and an Earth Dragon Flipping Spell—one for each of the Five Elements: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

”Not bad.”

Chen Che reached out and took the Talismans. He swept his Divine Sense over them, felt the fluctuations within, and nodded slightly.

”They still have some minor flaws, but for a Qi Refining Cultivator to reach this level is already quite impressive. By the way, what’s your current success rate for drawing these Talismans?”

”Ten percent.”

Li Changqing said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Chen Che frowned immediately. The success rate was too low; it was practically just leaving things to chance.

Like Alchemy, Talisman Painting required a stable success rate of at least thirty percent just to break even. Only at a stable fifty percent did one begin to turn a small profit.

Seeing Chen Che’s silence, Li Changqing couldn’t guess his thoughts. He bowed and said hastily, ”Valley Master, please give me one more month. I will definitely be able to draw Talismans that satisfy you by then.”

”Don’t be anxious.”

Chen Che raised his hand and returned the Talismans. ”Start by drawing Tier One Lower-Grade Talismans. Once you’re practically guaranteed success, then you can move on to drawing Middle-Grade ones...”

”Valley Master, you’re also proficient in Talisman Painting?”

Li Changqing was somewhat taken aback.

”I know a little. But all great Daos lead to the same destination. Taking things one step at a time is the proper path.”

Chen Che explained casually.

’Both Old Li and Sister Li used to say that all bottlenecks stem from a lack of understanding. While it’s important to advance courageously, you also have to build a solid foundation and fill in the gaps. Only then can you go further.’

’Most of his knowledge of Talisman Painting came from high school theory classes, but it was more than enough to guide these cultivators who lacked systematic training.’

”Yes, yes...”

Li Changqing replied, stunned.

He had pledged allegiance to many families before, but every single one of them had pushed him to draw higher-tier, more powerful Talismans, exploiting him to his limits. That was why he had learned to always hold something back and never speak in absolutes.

The last family he was with even tried to imprison him when they learned he planned to leave.

Only Jinyun Valley seemed to genuinely want to nurture his talent.

”Go to the Treasure House and collect three sticks of Concentration Incense. For the next while, focus on opening your Divine Sense. Once you do, your Talisman Painting success rate should increase by twenty to thirty percent. After you reach Foundation Establishment, I will open a Hall for you.”

Chen Che averted his gaze and said faintly:

”You may go.”

”Thank you, Valley Master!”

Overcome with gratitude, Li Changqing gave three deep bows before retreating.

Li Changqing had barely left when a party of two entered the Library Pavilion.

A few breaths later, they had already arrived on the third floor.

In the lead was a middle-aged Major Cultivator. Though his aura was powerful and unceasing, he had no arms. Following behind him was a young man who stood nine feet tall. It was Jia Chaoyuan and his disciple.

’Are they planning to leave?’

The thought had barely formed in Chen Che’s mind when Jia Chaoyuan chuckled and said, ”Valley Master Chen, we have stayed in your valley for over a month and imposed on you greatly. We have come today specifically to bid you farewell.”