Chapter 437: Chapter 376: 100 Years Later: The Old and Wise Jicong! [Vote for Monthly Tickets!]
Becoming a Third-order Alchemist or Artifact Refiner isn’t too difficult.
But if you wish to continue progressing, and even reach the Fourth-order, the amount of effort, energy, and time required is unimaginable.
In the Central Continent World, the highest level was the Second-order Cultivator, but occasionally you’d see Third-order Alchemists and Artifact Refiners.
However, in the Starry Sky World, Third-order Divinity Transformation cultivators were common, Independent Immortals were numerous, and there were even Fourth-order Great Powers as well as Eleventh Tribulation Independent Immortals comparable to Fourth-order cultivators.
Yet, during Chen Jichuan’s 20,000 years of roaming in the Starry Sky World, he had never encountered a single Fourth-order Alchemist or Artifact Refiner.
It shows how difficult this pursuit truly is.
Chen Jichuan felt it firsthand, and his understanding deepened: "Third-order Divinity Transformation grants prestige in the mortal world. Fourth-order Ascension, however, earns the title of ’Upper Immortal.’"
The gap between Third-order and Fourth-order is indeed considerable.
"To become a Fourth-order Alchemist or Artifact Refiner, what’s needed is more practice, more accumulation, and deeper enlightenment."
Chen Jichuan’s approach to skills like Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and talisman formation has always been to rely on quantity, complemented by his Affiliated Dao Fruit for further solidification and enhancement.
This ’quantity’ refers not just to the number of practices.
It also involves time.
A massive investment of wealth and time, combined with refinement and sublimation, eventually leads to transformation.
Chen Jichuan lacked neither time nor wealth.
During his time in the Starry Sky World, his alchemy and formation skills had already reached a higher tier within the Third-order, promising potential for advancement to the Fourth-order in this life.
Artifact Refining and talisman making, however, still needed more catching up.
With the assistance of his Dao Fruit, it wasn’t a major problem.
...
Time passed.
Chen Jichuan had already left Great Zhou behind, traveling through country after country, crossing mountain after mountain, and river after river.
He didn’t use flight, relying solely on his feet.
Walking steadily across ten thousand miles gave Chen Jichuan, who spent much of his previous lives traversing the Starry Sky, a long-lost feeling.
Along the way.
He witnessed majestic landscapes and secular realms.
He also encountered Immortal Dao cultivators, Demon Kings occupying mountains, and various mysterious entities in the wilderness.
Sometimes as enemies, engaging in fierce battles.
Sometimes as friends, exchanging pointers.
Gradually, Chen Jichuan gained a comprehensive and thorough understanding of this life.
For example, in terms of Magic Skills.
For example, in terms of techniques.
For example, in terms of Magical Treasures, Pills, and talismans.
Chen Jichuan had developed a systematic understanding of them all.
"In the Starry Sky World, Fourth-order cultivators ascend. In this life, while the Chongming Realm is divided into Heaven and Earth, there are Fourth-order cultivators even among the mundane."
"Fourth-order Upper Immortals leave inheritances, leave treasures."
"In comparison, whether it’s Magic Skills, techniques, or the Magical Treasures, Pills, talismans of cultivators of the same tier, all are stronger than those in the Starry Sky World."
To be specific.
In the Starry Sky World, Fourth-order Magical Treasures were exceedingly rare, mostly in the possession of top-tier Independent Immortals.
Such as the Ten Star Lords.
Such as Xiao Lan.
Most Divinity Transformation cultivators and Independent Immortals had never even seen a Fourth-order Magical Treasure.
But in this life, even in the Tu Continent, Fourth-order Magical Treasures were still rare in the Cultivation World, but their availability proportionally far exceeded that of the Starry Sky World.
As for Magic Skills.
"In the Starry Sky World, common Side Door Level Cultivation Methods are the pinnacle of techniques, with Super-level Techniques even rarer."
"In this life, Side Door Level Cultivation Methods and Super-level Techniques are both abundant."
"Even sects like the Taizhen Sect possess Super-level Techniques as their absolute skills, along with Side Door Level Cultivation Methods passed down through generations."
From this perspective, it’s possible that Legendary Level Techniques and Divine Skills exist in this life.
Regarding Magic Skills.
Currently, at the Divinity Transformation Stage, Chen Jichuan could still maintain some advantage. However, once he reached Fourth-order Ascension and achieved Upper Immortal status, his advantage in Magic Skills would possibly vanish.
But Chen Jichuan was not worried, but rather delighted.
Just as he had hoped upon entering the Dao Fruit World, he wished for a world where everyone practiced Divine Skills and Great Divine Skills, studied Mysterious Level and Legendary Level Techniques that could crush and humiliate him!
What he sought was not just victory in a single life.
Being suppressed in one life didn’t matter.
He could learn. He could surpass.
In other worlds, in his next life, or the life after that, he would reclaim his advantage and retain it in reality. That was true profit. That was a great gain.
"Fourth-order."
"Divine Skills."
Chen Jichuan felt very much looking forward to it.
...
Years passed.
Unless you venture out and see, you’ll never know where you fall short.
With years of traveling and gaining experiences, Chen Jichuan became more aware of his deficiencies.
Setting aside cultivation.
Techniques.
Magic Skills.
Magical Treasures.
In these areas, Chen Jichuan was on the verge of falling behind.
He didn’t compare himself to Divinity Transformation cultivators, but rather with Fourth-order Upper Immortals.
"In Alchemy, Artifact Refining, talisman formations, I’m still at the Third-order."
"In terms of Magic Skills, my cultivation technique is adequate, but my Super-level Techniques are already insufficient. I urgently need to deduce them to the Divine Skills level. As for my attainment in Magic Skills, I must quickly raise all Super-level Techniques to the Sixth Realm. Only then, upon advancing to the Fourth-order, can I retain some degree of advantage."
"As for Magical Treasures—"
This was the area where Chen Jichuan was most lacking.
Currently, he possessed only the ’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd’. Although it was a Fourth-order Immortal Treasure and among the best of Fourth-order Magical Treasures, it leaned more towards management and assistance rather than direct confrontation.
In this regard, Chen Jichuan still needed at least three to five other types of Fourth-order Magical Treasures.
"I could attempt making them myself."
"But before I am able to craft Fourth-order Magical Treasures independently, I need to figure out other solutions."
...
Chen Jichuan roamed the Tu Continent, continuously improving himself while keeping a far-reaching perspective, focusing on Fourth-order Ascension and proactively planning and preparing for it.
The Tu Continent was vast.
Chen Jichuan traveled westward, passing through hundreds of states and countries, some stronger and some weaker than Great Zhou.
Time flew.
A year.
Two years.
Ten years.
Twenty years.
Compared to Fourth-order cultivators, Chen Jichuan could pinpoint many inadequacies within himself. However, during his travels, the majority of encounters were with Divine Transformation cultivators or Independent Immortals; given his Daoist foundation and strength, it amounted to a dimensional suppression.
He could fight, and he could escape.
If he wanted to fight, he fought; if he wanted to leave, he left.
Very few could threaten him.
Still, Chen Jichuan remained composed, unassuming, and kind towards others.
At times, upon discovering high-order Alchemists or Artifact Refiners, he would approach them for guidance.
At other times, upon hearing news of strong and formidable Divine Transformation cultivators or Independent Immortals, he would request sparring.
In cultivation, one must simultaneously cultivate and travel.
And along the way, Chen Jichuan reaped a lot.
Occasionally, upon hearing rumors of high-order Spiritual Medicine seeds or spiritual insect eggs, he would similarly join the excitement and find ways to acquire them.
With the ’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd’ in his possession,
Chen Jichuan paid close attention to high-order Spiritual Medicine and spiritual insects alike.
Although this Immortal Gourd was said to be a supportive tool for management, if he could find Third-order or even Fourth-order spiritual insects, cultivate them on a large scale, and use them for control, their power would be formidable.
Take, for instance, the one known as ’Insect Immortal’ and ’Insect Demon’—
Mojia Venerable!
...
"Mojia Venerable was a supreme Great Power that dominated an era."
"He rose 70,000 years ago, making his mark in Liu State of the Ten States with his unique Insect Control Technique. Later, he ascended to Fourth-order, entered the Rain Immortal Realm of Four Directions Heaven, and became peerless and unmatched."
"Among the Upper Immortals of Four Directions Heaven, he was titled both ’Insect Immortal’ and ’Insect Demon.’"
"But sadly, this venerable being suffered failure on the path to true immortality thousands of years ago, fell back into the mortal realm, and met his demise as his life came to an end."
"It is rumored that Mojia Venerable left behind countless treasures in Liu State, prepared for his reincarnation as resources for a resurgence. Among them is the strongest Immortal Treasure forged from slaying hundreds of Upper Immortals practicing Life Dao—’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd.’"
"Numerous powers flocked to Liu State, including Fourth-order Upper Immortals. Yet for thousands of years, none have found anything, and the fervor gradually subsided."
"Daoist Huang might not know, but this ’Golden Backed Mantis’ is impervious to weapons and flames. Back when Mojia Venerable was still at the Divinity Transformation Stage, he relied on this spiritual insect to dominate the Third-order, seizing a wealth of resources that enabled him to achieve Fourth-order ascension."
In the central region of Tu Continent, where Flat Peak Mountain is located.
Within a high-level workshop, an elder carrying an air of Immortal refinement chattered away at Chen Jichuan. This elder prattled on about Mojia Venerable before changing the subject to the ’Golden Backed Mantis,’ revealing two insect eggs in his hands.
"Insect Immortal."
"Insect Demon."
Chen Jichuan gazed at the elder before him, his mind stirred.
At this point, he had spent 120 years since entering this life, which included traveling westward from Great Zhou for a century.
He had arrived in the central region of the Tu Continent.
By chance, he passed Flat Peak Mountain, which housed a high-level workshop frequented by many Third-order cultivators. High-order treasures, Magic Skills, and other finds appeared there often.
Chen Jichuan, weary from the journey, stayed to rest in this area, taking the opportunity to browse for treasures and Magic Skills that caught his interest.
He had been staying here for three years.
The elder, known as ’Jicong,’ hailed from the Nanyang Sect, located on the northern side of Flat Peak Mountain, and was revered as the sect’s Old Ancestor, known for his extensive knowledge and insight.
Chen Jichuan’s stay at Flat Peak Mountain involved putting up his flag within the workshop, selling various Pills, Magical Treasures, talismans, and Magic Skills in exchange for rare Spiritual Medicine, refining materials, and high-order Spiritual Medicine seeds and spiritual insects.
Jicong approached him today, chattering away for half a day, emphasizing the sale of the two ’Golden Backed Mantis’ insect eggs he carried.
To that end, he even invoked Mojia Venerable as a protective cloak.
Chen Jichuan was interested in the Golden Backed Mantis, but he found Mojia Venerable even more fascinating.
After journeying across Tu Continent for a century, this was the first time he’d heard about Mojia Venerable’s name and the ’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd’ from someone else.
"Mojia Venerable."
"Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd."
Chen Jichuan looked towards Jicong, intrigued. "I wonder, what kind of person and cultivation level was Mojia Venerable? Four Directions Heaven gathers countless Upper Immortals. To be called invincible in Four Directions Heaven, could he have reached Fifth-order? And the ’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd,’ could it be a Fifth-order treasure?"
"Fifth-order?"
"Not at all."
"Mojia Venerable was still Fourth-order, and the ’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd’ was merely a Fourth-order treasure."
"Nonetheless, both were capable of reigning supreme among the Fourth-order."
"My sect once had a Fourth-order Upper Immortal who had contact with various secrets in Four Directions Heaven. If Daoist is interested, I can sell this information along with these Golden Back Mantis eggs as a bundled package."
Jicong grinned cheerfully, narrowing his eyes as he raised two fingers in front of Chen Jichuan: "Just two million Primordial Stones."
"..."
Chen Jichuan’s expression stiffened.
This elder who appeared to be refined like an Immortal was, in reality, a slick businessman. Within this area, he had crafted a reputation for himself as someone ’knowledgeable about all secrets,’ claiming expertise over various mysteries. However, none of these secrets came cheap.
Jicong’s Golden Back Mantis eggs were worth at most 1.78 million Primordial Stones.
Adding Mojia Venerable’s information to the deal, he dared to ask for two million Primordial Stones.
It was practically daylight robbery.
But wealth was superficial; secrets and knowledge were priceless.
"Two million is too much!"
Chen Jichuan haggled with Jicong, the two breaking off negotiations several times before Chen left him hanging for several days. Eventually, they closed the deal at 1.82 million Primordial Stones.
Chen Jichuan obtained two Golden Back Mantis eggs and a rough biography of Mojia Venerable.
...