Chapter 345: The Foxes of Mount Changbai
Almost every leader of the Taixu Sect was aware of Jiang He’s information. With their ability, it was not difficult for them find out Jiang He’s age, and that he had weathered all nine sufferance retributions for his physique.
Therefore, all of them could not help turning toward the man himself with looks of disbelief when they found out that he had learned item refinement too.
Jiang He nodded then, leaving every member of the Taixu Sect inside the temple in shock.
“Could you craft superior-grade sage items too?” One Mahayana elite pressed.
Jiang He thought about it before answering honestly, “To tell the truth, I had not learned it that long and never actually crafted any item yet. Still, I’m sure a superior-grade sage item wouldn’t be a big deal, yes? As long as there are enough materials, it could be done.”
The room was immediately quiet.
The Taixu Sect cultivators were shooting Jiang He weird looks, which made him frown.
What is it with those eyes, people?
He had no idea that the many Taixu Sect elites were extremely shocked that mountains and seas could well be falling apart in their minds.
Twenty-five years old?
A full-fledged Sufferance cultivator in both physique and qi-refinement, as well as being so skilled in arrays that the arrays he made were so one-of-a-kind, and not even the Taixu Sect chieftain could break it.
And now it turned out that he knew how to refine mystic treasures as well?
After all, one should know that being able to refine inferior-grade sage items was enough to earn one’s t.i.tle as a master of item refinement. And if Jiang He could indeed craft superior-grade sage items, he would be a grandmaster in that field!
When it comes to the other immortal sects, demonic sects, and ancient daemon cultivators, who among them had a grandmaster of item refinement?
The Taixu Sect would not know.
After all, the various factions had not interacted much after their seclusion that lasted more than two thousand years. As such, there was no telling if any master of item refinement improved to grandmaster in that period.
Such characters would definitely be n.o.ble in rank even in the Era of Qi Refinist. While they might not be equals compared to immortals, at the very least, Mahayana cultivators would behave courteously around them.
After all, the weapons Mahayana cultivators wielded were mostly superior-grade sage weapons.
If your weapons were damaged and required maintenance or you simply needed a new one, do you not have to ask them?
Therefore...
A twenty-five-year-old grandmaster of item refinement, physique refinement, and qi refinement?
It hurts to even think about it.
As the Taixu Sect was left in astonishment and the air in the room became a little weird, Jiang He had to change the topic and said, “Actually, I came here with another favor to ask... does your sect happen to have recipes for medicinal pellets? Could you sell me a few types? The higher the grade, the better... rank seven to rank nine would be good, since aside from item refinement and arrays, I am a little learned in pellet refinement as well, and I intend to try refining some.”
It became even quieter just then.
After a dozen seconds later, someone started laughing and said, “Let’s eat, let’s eat... Elder Mo, give the other disciples a shout—it’s time to eat.”
Elder Mo had been s.p.a.cing out and came to his senses then, and promptly rose to his feet and left the temple.
The other Taixu Sect cultivators started to have a lively conversation then. It was especially the case for the Mahayana cultivators who kept chattering away with Jiang He, although they would also stubbornly refrain from mentioning about the pellet recipes.
And since they did not mention it, Jiang He felt too awkward to ask.
In the end, those recipes were quite precious. They might not be willing to sell, and since the Taixu Sect had treated him quite well, Jiang He would not insist on buying it from them.
Soon, the many Taixu Sect elders and disciples started serving scrumptious dishes.
Be that as it may...
Jiang He felt more or less unsettled with seeing those old, burly white-haired man serving drinks and meals. The people of the Taixu Sect noticed that as well, and someone even teased him, “Perhaps our Taixu Sect should venture amongst the mortal realms and pick a few youthful disciples, Brother Jiang He, or we wouldn’t be able to serve our guests.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Jiang He nodded, though his tone soon changed as he added, “But Minister w.a.n.g had mentioned that since the immortal sects and demonic sects did not fight for Earth, no immortal sect should be allowed to recruit disciples. Perhaps you should talk to him about it.”
Some among the Taixu Sect frowned in response, clearly displeased with that.
Did the Taixu Sect have to care about the commoners’ feelings when they recruit disciples?
However, they could not say anything with Jiang He there with them.
On the other hand, Jiang He picked up his chopsticks—food was already served, and he would be a little cold if he did not accept the Taixu Sect’s hospitality. After having a pinch of rice and reveled in its fragrant aroma, he could not help exclaiming, “This is soul rice, isn’t it?”
Though this rice was much inferior to the Dragontooth Rice, it was much better than ordinary rice.
At the same time, one of the Sufferance-tier supreme venerable elders appeared proud upon hearing the words ‘soul rice’, and answered, “Good eye, Brother Jiang He. This rice is called the Taixu Soul Rice and is a rank-seven soul rice. Among the other immortal sects, demonic sects, and ancient daemon cultivators, only the Taixu Sect is able to grow rank-seven soul rice.”
He then waved his hand dramatically, saying, “Elder Mo, go prepare twenty catties of Taixu Soul Rice so Brother Jiang He can have a taste of such novelty. After all, you can’t buy such soul rice in the profane realm.”
Jiang He promptly refused.
To tell the truth, after having gotten used to eating the Dragontooh Rice, eating this was not all that pleasant.
Even so, despite Jiang He’s many refusals, the Taixu Sect cultivators kept insisting on giving it to him. As such, he had to be frank with them, “To tell the truth, I’m actually farmer who enjoy planting various herbs, vegetables, and grains. I have plenty of soul rice back home, so I appreciate your kindness but I must refuse.”
That Taixu Sect’s supreme venerable elder smiled in return. “True, with the Revival of Qi, the profane would be able to grow soul rice now as well. That said, the Taixu Soul Rice is rank-seven, and those average grains cannot hope to match it.”
Jiang He could not help lifting a brow at that.
Though these people were wary of Jiang He’s power and were careful with their speech, these cultivators’ high and mighty att.i.tude, which belittled all commoners, was already deeply ingrained and it could not be changed just then.
And what was with that supreme venerable elder’s repet.i.tive mention of the ‘profane’? Who was he belittling here?
That very same supreme venerable elder picked up the twenty catties of Taixu Soul Rice then and continued to push it to Jiang He, who push it away and said flatly, “I’m sorry, but frankly speaking... it’s not that I don’t want the Taixu Soul Rice—I’m just not used to eating that stuff.”
The supreme venerable elder’s mouth hung open a little at that, but he soon said, “It’s fine, Brother Jiang He. There’s no way you would have eaten rank-seven soul rice, and you aren’t used to it so soon...”
“Buzz off!”
There was a dark look on Jiang He’s face, and he almost slapped out at the supreme venerable elder.
Are you an idiot?
A Sufferance cultivator who has weathered five retributions... you had probably cultivated for over a thousand years, did you not?
Did you live like a pig in those one thousand years too?
Jiang He waved his hand and took out a gurney sack of Dragontooth Rice at that and said, “This is rank-nine Dragontooth Rice which I’ve planted myself. The yield isn’t great since I’ve only managed to harvest a few million catties, but I’m used to eating this, and not some average-grade soul rice.”
At that point, Jiang He was no longer willing to hang around at the Taixu Sect. Standing up and offering a fist-palm salute, he said, “Thank you for your hospitality, brother and sisters. I’ll be going since I have another matter to see to.”
The expression on the Taixu Sect cultivators all changed at that, and they promptly rose to see Jiang He off.
Meanwhile, the Sufferance supreme venerable elder was left frozen like a stone statue, and was left sitting on his chair, unable to recover his senses for a long time.
On the other hand, as the others arrived outside the sect, one of the sect members presented Jiang He with three pellet recipes: one rank-seven, one rank-eight, and rank-nine. Jiang He did not take them for free either, and took out three intermediate-grade sage items, which he offered the Taixu Sect in return as payment for purchasing the pellet recipes.
“By the way, chieftain, you may take your time to come up with a design and function for the superior-grade sage item you want. Just come by my house to look for me when you’ve decided.”
The Taixu Sect chieftain quickly thanked him.
But since it was a very important matter for him, he naturally had to weigh his options before making up his mind.
At the same time, Jiang He was stepping off the path of twilight radiance when he paused and asked, “By the way, brothers and sisters, would you happen to know which immortal sects and demonic sects had come to the seas to watch the show when I wiped out the Penglai Sect?”
“There is one particular daemon—Sufferance-tier, eight retributions, who was injured by one swing of my sword. Which Holy Ground does that daemon belong to?”
The Taixu Sect certainly knew about that matter, just as Sufferance-tier daemons who weathered eight retributions would not be a minor character. As such, their chieftain answered, “That eight-retribution daemon is known as the Greenfox King, and is one of the Daemon Kings of Mount Changbai, the Holy Grounds of the Foxes.”
“Oh?”
“The foxes... do they have many elites? How many Mahayana cultivators? How strong are they compared to the Taixu Sect?” Jiang He asked then.
On the other hand, every person in the Taixu Sect was left with an inward seizing fear...
Could Jiang He be thinking about attacking the Foxes of Mount Changbai?
That Taixu Sect promptly said, “Brother Jiang He, the Foxes of Mount Changbai possess a strong background and have at least two Mahayana elites overseeing them... At the very least, there is no telling if they had any among them who rose to Mahayana over the last thousand years... Moreover, the Foxes of Mount Changbai have a strong bond with the Green Hill Foxes...”
“Just two? Hmm... we could give them the benefit of doubt and consider that they have three. Even so, it wouldn’t be difficult.”
Jiang He muttered to himself before chuckling, “Anyway, I’m just going to borrow something from the Foxes of Mount Changbai, not wipe them out... so, when it comes to who they are buddies with... what does have to do with me?”
With that, Jiang He flew away.
Someone sneered then. “Such audacity. He actually doesn’t even respect three Mahayana cultivators—does he think that he’s immortal already?”
“Silence!”
One of the Taixu Sect’s Mahayana cultivators barked. “He has gained such cultivation at twenty-five, not to mention that he is accomplished at arrays and likely is a grandmaster of item-refinement. Moreover, he possesses an immortal sword and had wiped out the Penglai Sect all by himself, meaning that he has what it takes to be audacious!”
“Maybe he’s just bragging?”
The Sufferance-tier supreme venerable elder with six retributions muttered, “He even claimed that he could refine rank-nine spirit pellets...”
“B*stard!”
The Mahayana cultivator promptly landed a slap across the supreme venerable elder’s face and warned coolly, “Don’t drag the Taixu Sect along with you if you have a death wish. We may be stronger than the Penglai Sect, but Jiang He is merely full-fledged Sufferance right now, despite being twenty-five. Does rising to Mahayana, or even ascending as an immortal, even pose a challenge to him?”
“As long as the immortals don’t return to Earth... Jiang He is untouchable!”
“Diplomacy is the only way when it comes to such people. We must not cross him at all cost.”
The Mahayana cultivator paused for a moment then, before adding, “By the way, gather the medicinal ingredients needed for the pellet recipes we gave him today, and deliver it to him when we have the time... preparing two portions each would be ideal, so that we could ask Jiang He to refine another pellet for our sect. We would know then whether he could actually refine pellets.”
In truth, that Mahayana cultivator was a little afraid to believe that Jiang He could refine pellets... though he was more reluctant than afraid.
What the h.e.l.l...
If a young man who was just twenty-five years was that impressive, does that not mean the two thousand years of the Mahayana cultivator’s life was meaningless?