Chapter 412 - 383: Jinghai Market and the Dragon Turtle Egg

Chapter 412: Chapter 383: Jinghai Market and the Dragon Turtle Egg

Aboard the Spiritual Boat, by the railing.

Chen Che sat casually before the furnace, his hands constantly forming sealing techniques. The furnace fire before him churned, its Spiritual Mechanism flowing without end.

After about a hundred breaths...

POP!

An elixir shot past the cauldron lid, hovering in mid-air.

PHEW—

The surrounding disciples, who had been watching so intently they hadn’t even dared to breathe, finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

「Recently.」

As the Black Tortoise Calm Sea grew more and more bustling, the demand for elixirs had surged. In addition to those needed for immediate use, many Cultivators were also looking to purchase large quantities to serve as strategic reserves for their families.

Profits soared.

Of course, many Cultivators also came to him seeking elixirs.

But given Chen Che’s status, he would only personally fire up the furnace when a Golden Core Cultivator came seeking an elixir, and he would take the opportunity to give his disciples some pointers on Alchemy.

The very elixir he had just refined was requested by a Golden Core Loose Cultivator who claimed to be from the Celestial State.

"The elixir is finished. The rest is up to you to comprehend."

Chen Che reached out, plucked the elixir from the air, and stored it in a Jade Bottle. Leaving the group of disciples on the Spiritual Boat, he then slowly stepped onto the island.

As the number of Cultivators increased, the island had been expanded again, now spanning twenty li in all directions. The Lu Family had also sent a team of Cultivators here to start a Spiritual Boat repair business.

In addition, a tavern and teahouse had even sprung up, specifically for Cultivators to relax. Although the prices were steep, it was the only one of its kind in this several-thousand-li stretch of sea, so it was almost always packed.

The Cultivators who came here would also exchange information, discussing where the best places were to capture members of the Aquatic Race.

"The Aquatic Race is getting harder and harder to catch lately."

"Of course they are. There are several times more people now, and even a few Golden Core Cultivators. But speaking of which, why are these Golden Core experts joining the fray?"

"Who knows? I heard someone found some ruins at the bottom of the sea and even brought back several treasures."

In the tavern, a few Cultivators were discussing in low voices.

’Ruins?’ Chen Che’s expression turned pensive.

’Could it be the Undersea Palace?’

’It’s possible.’

’After all, with so many Cultivators gathered here, even if it’s like finding a needle in a haystack, someone was bound to find a clue leading to the Undersea Palace.’

"Valley Master Chen, you’ve finished refining the elixir already?"

On the third floor of the tavern, a middle-aged Golden Core Cultivator drinking alone in a corner immediately stood up to greet Chen Che upon seeing him.

It was Xu Chuan, a Golden Core Loose Cultivator from the Celestial State.

This Healing Elixir was what Chen Che had refined for him.

"A Tier Three Middle Grade Elixir isn’t that difficult to begin with."

"That’s only for you, Valley Master Chen. Other Pill Masters don’t have this level of skill. Mmm, excellent... The medicinal effect is potent and pure, a cut above what the Pill Masters in Faqian City can produce."

Xu Chuan, whose face was pale and who coughed intermittently like a consumptive, scraped off a bit of powder from the elixir. After just one taste, he couldn’t help but praise it. "If only I had sought you out sooner, Valley Master Chen, I wouldn’t have had to endure so many years of suffering!"

"How were you injured, Fellow Daoist Xu?" Chen Che observed him. The man’s Realm was not low; the aura that occasionally leaked from him revealed he was around the Fifth Layer.

"A Qi deviation. It’s nothing to be proud of."

Xu Chuan seemed unwilling to elaborate and pushed forward a sky-blue porcelain bottle. "This is your payment for the Alchemy, Valley Master Chen. Please inspect it so we can consider our transaction complete."

Chen Che swept his Divine Sense over it and, after confirming there were no hidden Arrays on the porcelain bottle, picked it up. The bottle looked simple, but it felt as if it weighed a ton. Uncorking it, he saw it was filled with a pool of black water.

Sensing the surging Water Energy within the black water, Chen Che nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad."

This was no ordinary water, but the Essence of Water. It contained numerous tiny water droplets, each weighing over a hundred jin. This single bottle weighed several hundred thousand jin; if it were to fall to the ground, even a powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivator might not be able to lift it.

’It couldn’t be more perfect for cultivating the Celestial Derivation Five Elements Skill.’

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I was wondering if you might have any more of this Essence of Water in your collection?"

Chen Che accepted the porcelain bottle.

"Well..."

"I’m a businessman; I don’t take things for free. If you have any more Essence of Water to spare, Fellow Daoist, I can trade for it with elixirs, Spiritual Artifacts, or Spirit Stones."

Xu Chuan pondered for a moment. He poured a cup of wine and presented it with both hands before speaking, "To be honest with you, Valley Master Chen, I actually bought this half-bottle of Essence of Water from an old friend. I don’t have much left myself."

"My old friend has a peculiar temperament. I was only able to buy this half-bottle from him because we became acquainted before my Foundation Establishment, and even that used up most of the goodwill between us."

Chen Che didn’t doubt him. Celestial and Earthly Treasures were limited and went to the first to claim them. When it came to competing for them, even a father and son wouldn’t yield to each other. Nodding, Chen Che asked, "What is his name, and where does he live...?"

"His name is Cheng Jingfeng. He’s a Loose Cultivator, so you’ve likely never heard of him, Valley Master Chen. As for his Cave Mansion..."

Xu Chuan shook his head. "Forgive me, but it’s not convenient for me to disclose that."

"Could I trouble you to ask him for me, Fellow Daoist Xu? I’m willing to purchase his remaining Essence of Water. Please have him name a reasonable price."

Chen Che’s eyes flickered.

"I can do that!"

Xu Chuan readily agreed.

"Then I won’t disturb you any longer. Please let me know if you hear anything."

Stowing the blue-and-white porcelain bottle, Chen Che cupped his fist to Xu Chuan and then left the tavern.

...

After leaving the tavern, Chen Che returned to the Spiritual Boat.

There, he saw Meng Qianxun with a joyous expression on his face.

"Old Sir, what’s happened?"

Chen Che asked, somewhat curious.

"The Sword-Patterned Silver Flood Dragon has reached Core Formation."

Meng Qianxun waved his hand, and a slender Silver Flood Dragon coiled around him, its Flood Dragon Head resting on his left shoulder. Its once mottled and broken scales were now pristine.

However, the flood dragon was still somewhat afraid of Chen Che.

"This is a joyous occasion!"

Chen Che cupped his hands in congratulation.

Chen Che had taken this Sword-Patterned Silver Flood Dragon from Bai Shibao. It had already been raised to the stage of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and Core Formation was just the final step. After arriving at the Black Tortoise Calm Sea, besides hunting in the sea on its own every day, it was also supplemented with a large amount of prey from the Aquatic Race. With this constant supply, it had now finally achieved Core Formation.

For a Beast Master, the strength of their Spirit Pet is paramount. If a Spirit Pet’s Realm cannot advance, it will only hold the Beast Master back. But once it breaks through, the Beast Master’s own power will increase dramatically.

"Also, I found something good earlier as well."

Meng Qianxun flipped his right hand over, and a fist-sized egg, as white as jade, appeared in his palm.

"This is..."

Chen Che’s brow twitched slightly.

Although the egg looked exquisite, when he swept his Divine Sense over it, he found its Life Force was extremely weak.

If not for the faint pulse that beat once in a long while, one would think it was a dead egg.

"That’s right."

Meng Qianxun nodded slightly. As he began to explain the origin of the turtle egg, he couldn’t help but light up with excitement.

"Earlier, a street stall was selling turtle eggs, and at first, I also mistook this one for a dead egg. But after a careful inspection, I discovered that it’s actually a Dragon Turtle’s egg. The few customers before me didn’t recognize it, so I managed to snag a bargain."

"Nice find," Chen Che remarked.

Dragon Turtles lay their eggs in extremely hidden locations. Once hatched, they immediately return to the sea and are incredibly difficult to find. Moreover, when young, they are indistinguishable from ordinary turtles, only showing their differences as they grow.

Who knew how many ages the Dragon Turtles they had seen before had lived.

"It’s more than enough to serve as a Sect Guardian Demon Beast, though."

Meng Qianxun smiled faintly and casually tossed the turtle egg to Chen Che. "I don’t have many good things to offer, so take this Dragon Turtle egg as a gift."

"Thank you, Old Sir."

Chen Che didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’He knew that while Dragon Turtles had an extremely high growth ceiling, they took far too long to mature, growing much slower than similar Demon Beasts. And the purer the bloodline, the longer it took. This Dragon Turtle would probably outlive him.’

’Then again, a Dragon Turtle egg was still incredibly precious. After all, it was a Great Demon that could reach the Nascent Soul Realm upon maturity.’

’If word of this egg were to get out, I’m afraid even the Primordial Sect would step in to seize it.’

’The main reason for this was its long lifespan.’

’A Nascent Soul Great Demon that could live for over ten thousand years was enough to guarantee the continued prosperity of a clan or faction. Even if they faced a crisis, they would have enough time to rise again. Furthermore, a Demon Beast that hatches from an egg imprints on the first creature it sees as its parent.’

’Even someone who wasn’t a Beast Master could raise it.’

CHIRP~

Just then, the Little Chick returned from hunting, landing with a flap of its wings.

It glanced at the turtle egg and swallowed it in one gulp.

"Spit it out!"

Chen Che grabbed the Little Chick by the neck.

...

After obtaining the Dragon Turtle Egg, Chen Che’s life didn’t change much, other than having the new task of incubating it.

He wasn’t sure if it was because the egg had been laid recently or because it simply required a massive amount of Spiritual Qi, but even after nourishing it with his Golden Core Realm Cultivation for seven or eight days straight, there was no reaction whatsoever.

In any case, with the Little Chick by his side, Chen Che wasn’t in a hurry.

He had never expected this Dragon Turtle to be of any help to him anyway; at most, it was just a strategic piece to be played in the future.

On the other hand, there was news from Xu Chuan.