NABC Chapter 260 Top-Grade Magic Treasure, 4th-Order Causality
Chapter 260 Top-Grade Magic Treasure, 4th-Order Causality
Chapter 260 Top-Grade Magic Treasure, Fourth-Order Causality
"All of it? All of this combined only accounts for 25% of the gains?"
Chen Yi looked at the treasure in front of him, his tone carrying a slight hint of surprise.
"Uh—all of these together, we're still short one more item to reach 25%.
Ji Wuchen's voice grew softer and softer, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He raised his hand to wipe it away and added somewhat hastily, "In addition, I, Ji, also owe Brother Chen a favor."
"I'll see if I can get a spot from the Ji family's Enlightenment Pool or the special physical training space in Hongfeng Cave Heaven. I'll make sure you get the remaining spots, making sure we reach 25%."
Chen Yi looked at him with an increasingly strange expression.
The main materials for two sets of top-grade magic weapons, plus important auxiliary materials such as Phoenix Perching Wood and Spirit Fire Stone, and an extra favor, are barely enough to yield a quarter of the harvest.
Just how many treasures did Ji Wuchen obtain during his visit to the special space of the Black Mountain Secret Realm?
In fact, Chen Yi had already vaguely guessed the answer in his heart. He was afraid that one of the two damaged spiritual treasures had fallen into Ji Wuchen's hands.
However, matters involving top-tier opportunities are best left unsaid. If they were spoken of in public, they might trigger a response from heaven and earth, and would no longer be a secret, but would instead bring disaster.
Chen Yi didn't press further or waste any more words. He simply raised his hand and put all the treasures in front of Ji Wuchen into his storage bag, then said, "Brother Ji, you don't need to worry about compensating him for the favor."
I wonder if Brother Ji knows any high-level weapon refiners?
Mr. Chen intends to forge these materials into two top-grade magic weapons. If he can find a suitable weapon refiner, the previous profit-sharing arrangement will be completely settled.
"No problem! Brother Chen, just wait and see, I'll take care of this!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wuchen instantly breathed a sigh of relief, his previous embarrassment vanishing completely. He patted his chest and promised, "Once I successfully break through to the Nascent Soul stage in seclusion, I will definitely arrange for a high-level weapon refiner for you, and I will absolutely not delay your crafting of magic weapons."
He had been on tenterhooks, fearing that Chen Yi would press him about the specific source of the harvest. Now that Chen Yi had taken the initiative not to mention it, it suited his wishes perfectly.
Ji Wuchen himself did not expect that this trip to the secret realm would be so lucky. In the end, he actually managed to obtain the damaged Yuan Magnetic Yin-Yang Ring in secret.
However, this good fortune also brought immense pressure. Now, all the forces in Zhongzhou are searching for the whereabouts of the Yuan Magnetic Yin-Yang Ring, including people within his own Ji family. No matter where he hides now, he feels unsafe.
He knew very well that he had to master the Yuan Magnetic Technique he had learned from the spiritual treasure in the shortest possible time, and then use it as a foundation to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.
If he can successfully form his Nascent Soul and fully master this damaged spiritual treasure, even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would probably be no match for him.
By then, even if he were to expose his possession of a damaged spiritual treasure, he would have a certain degree of influence. Coupled with his status as a descendant of the Ji family, he would no longer need to fear anyone's covetousness in the Central Plains.
Afterwards, Ji Wuchen told Chen Yi more about the Black Mountain Secret Realm, especially the details of their battle with the Black Peak Realm cultivators. The scene was chaotic, and the Black Peak Realm cultivators launched a fierce attack. It was Fairy Kongling who stepped forward and fought against ten Golden Core Peak geniuses on her own. Her moves were ruthless, and she actually fought against five opponents at once, completely extinguishing their arrogance and creating a chance for her group to escape.
After they escaped the special space, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Black Peak Realm refused to give up and chased after them, intending to kill them all. At the critical moment, the Nascent Soul Grandmaster Yuan Yin Zhenjun arrived in time and unleashed several black demonic flames. The demonic flames were incredibly powerful, and in an instant, they burned the three early Nascent Soul cultivators from the Black Peak Realm who had come to chase them to ashes!
As Chen Yi listened to these details, he was deeply shocked. Although he had not experienced it firsthand, he could imagine the dangers in the secret realm at that time, and he also had a deeper understanding of the opportunities and crises of this trip to the secret realm.
He secretly felt a sense of relief: fortunately, he had been injured several years ago and was unable to use his Xuan Tian Qi, which prevented him from entering the secret realm with them.
Even if he hadn't been injured at the time, given the danger level of the secret realm, he probably wouldn't have gained much, and might even have ended up in danger.
Unlike now, he only paid two bottles of near-fourth-tier Thunder Brew Essence to obtain the main materials for two sets of top-grade magic weapons, both of which are top-grade offensive magic weapons that are compatible with his thunder-type cultivation techniques. Once he forms his Nascent Soul in the future, he will be able to fully control them.
This harvest, calculated to be more than twenty times the profit, is truly an unexpected delight.
After a brief exchange, the two parted ways in the Qi Refining Market and quietly departed.
Their departure was peaceful, without any scene of a Foundation Establishment ancestor trying to bully or rob them because they were disguised as Qi Refining cultivators. Even if some foolish cultivator dared to provoke them, given their current situation, they wouldn't expose their identities and would most likely secretly silence them without leaving a trace.
After leaving the market, Ji Wuchen went straight to find a secluded place to cultivate in seclusion and prepare for breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.
Chen Yi then returned to the Star Moon Sect and resumed his daily cultivation.
The Central Plains are now a place of great upheaval, with a world on the verge of transformation.
Everyone knows that the Nascent Soul stage is the key threshold for maintaining one's will and not being easily eliminated in the great storms to come.
During this period, almost all the prodigies who had reached the peak of the Core Formation stage were trying their best to find opportunities.
Accumulate resources and strive to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.
Two years later, Chen Yi turned 107 years old and had been with the Star Moon Sect for 27 years.
[A wisp of Xuan Tian Qi has been detected and is currently being absorbed.]
As the system notification sounded in his mind, the last wisp of mysterious aura lingering on the Xuan Tian gourd shell with its intricate and mysterious patterns was slowly absorbed into his body.
The next moment, the gourd shell that had been with him for nearly thirty years suddenly made a faint cracking sound. The cracks spread like a spider web, and then disintegrated into countless luminous, spirit-like powders that gently drifted in front of Chen Yi before finally disappearing completely.
The moment the aura was completely absorbed, a flood of insights suddenly surged into Chen Yi's mind, as if the door to a new world had been opened. The causal energy that was originally invisible between heaven and earth became incredibly clear in his eyes, like interwoven threads connecting all things in the world.
At this moment, he could not only perceive the world as before, but also mobilize the refined Xuan Tian Qi within his body to gently manipulate the causal lines within his range of abilities.
He could clearly sense that as long as the movements were small and within his control, these minor actions would not cause too much backlash.
At the same time, Chen Yi expanded his perception range and discovered that, apart from him, there were several other places on the entire Central Continent where the power of cause and effect of heaven and earth was exceptionally thick, and he could hardly manipulate it with his current abilities.
As fragmented pieces of information arrived, Chen Yi instantly understood:
Those places must be places where beings, like him, can control the power of cause and effect.
A fourth-tier divination master?
He secretly guessed to himself, and as soon as this thought arose, more information about the divination master naturally surfaced in his mind, confirming his deduction.
At the same time, Chen Yi also understood his position in controlling causality: [Fourth Order].
He needs to compare himself with others to confirm his exact stage within the fourth tier, but he is certainly not a beginner in the fourth tier.
The power of Xuan Tian Qi gave Chen Yi unparalleled favor from heaven and earth within the Great Green cultivation world.
Besides these four "causal dead zones," there is another, even more profound and mysterious place in the Central Continent, where the power of cause and effect far exceeds his understanding, and even carries a trace of aura that transcends the mortal world.
A thought flashed through Chen Yi's mind, and a name came to mind:
[Old Hu?]
Withdrawing his scattered senses, Chen Yi narrowed his focus to Moon Lake Spiritual Land and its surrounding area, beginning to unravel the causal threads related to himself.
Thundercloud Sect, Ji Family, Azure Cloud Cave, Eagle Ridge Mountain, Clear Wind Ridge, Medicine King Valley —
He followed the direction of the causal threads and observed almost all the forces and people he had ever interacted with, then arranged them from deepest to shallowest level of malice towards him.
Unsurprisingly, the one ranked first is Black Serpent True Lord. The two have a long-standing feud, and the other's malice is clear and intense.
When Chen Yi saw the second person, he was taken aback. It turned out to be a powerful elder from Qingyun Cave Heaven!
Both of them were at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.
Chen Yi wondered to himself: When did he offend such a big shot?
He carefully recalled his past interactions, but could not recall having any direct conflict with this elder of Qingyun Cave.
Chen Yi carefully traced the causal link with the elder of Qingyun Cave and quickly found the root of the problem. It turned out that during his dual cultivation with Yue Qingqiu over the years, he not only absorbed the moon spirit essence that Yue Qingqiu had accumulated over decades, but also the pure essence that would naturally be nurtured by her in the years after she formed her nascent soul and reshaped her body. This was equivalent to him indirectly "taking it" from her.
This very point completely thwarted the elder's plan to seize the opportunity and also snatched away the chance that the elder had long coveted.
As Chen Yi probed deeper into the causal chain, he sensed a trace of malevolent energy. Combining this with the other party's cultivation level and intentions, he deduced that this elder was likely in control of some kind of evil cultivation technique involving the exploitation of vital essence. He originally intended to use the exploitation of Yue Qingqiu's essence to break through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm after she formed her Nascent Soul!
[That cunning old fox! We can't let him succeed with such a vicious plan. We must find a way to strike first!]
A cold glint flashed in Chen Yi's eyes as he secretly listed this elder as his primary target.
After resolving this matter, Chen Yi continued to investigate the next person who harbored ill will towards him. However, when he saw the other party's identity, he was even more astonished. The source of this malice was actually hidden right under his nose—it was Ping Dong, a seemingly ordinary cultivator from the Star Moon Sect!
Chen Yi focused his senses and discovered many suspicious points about Ping Dong:
He possesses the spiritual strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and his cultivation level rises far faster than ordinary people. However, his actual cultivation level is only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, and he is already close to achieving perfection.
In just a few short years, it's impossible for the first repair to achieve such a speed; it's clearly a complete overhaul!
【Hoshino Hirahara? 】
A name suddenly popped into Chen Yi's mind. This was both an intuition and the most likely conclusion he reached after analyzing the cause and effect of heaven and earth through the Xuan Tian Qi.
So it was you, kid!
Chen Yi recalled the past. Over the years, Ping Dong had been helping him retrieve and deliver the Star Tears, and had almost watched him pour the Star Liquid into Yue Qingqiu's body to help nourish her body. Ping Dong had even contributed to the process in some aspects.
Yet this seemingly harmless "helper" managed to conceal his true intentions throughout, without even him noticing a single flaw. This level of forbearance is truly terrifying.
However, now that we know your background, we can no longer let you live.
Chen Yi had already made up his mind. "You're like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Brother Ping, I'm sorry."
After reviewing these two most dangerous hidden dangers, Chen Yi continued to trace the cause and effect, only to unexpectedly discover that among the remaining people, there were not many who harbored strong hostility towards him.
This even includes a key figure from the second branch of the Ji family who recently arrived in the Yuehu area.
Chen Yi deduced through causal perception that this Ji family member should already know about his special skills in refining near-fourth-tier thunder brew essence, escape technique thunder brew, and enlightenment thunder brew. He originally thought that the other party was there to deal with him or to forcibly bring him back to the Ji family for control, but the result was unexpected. The other party did not have much killing intent towards him.
Using the Xuan Tian Qi, he probed the other party's causal intentions and quickly understood the reason: this member of the second branch of the Ji family did not take him seriously at all; her attention was focused on Ji Wuchen from beginning to end.
What Chen Yi found interesting was that after Ji Wuchen came out of the Black Mountain Secret Realm, he was surrounded by most of the karmic and wishful energy of that second branch of the family. Clearly, he was not the only one who guessed that Ji Wuchen might have obtained the Yuan Magnetic Yin-Yang Ring Spirit Treasure.
Following the cause and effect, Chen Yi pondered further: If Ji Wuchen wanted to cultivate the Yuan Magnetic Technique, he would inevitably need to collect all the geomagnetic treasures in the world. No matter how discreetly he did it, it would be impossible for him to completely escape the sight of the Ji family's higher-ups.
The core figure of the second branch of the Ji family was clearly more interested in the Yuan Magnetic Yin-Yang Ring Spirit Treasure in Ji Wuchen's possession. As for Chen Yi, he was nothing more than an insignificant lackey in the other party's eyes. His only role might be to use him as a lead to Ji Wuchen or to disrupt Ji Wuchen's plans.
Having figured this out, Chen Yi understood completely and put aside his concerns about this member of the Ji family.
In addition, Chen Yi turned his senses to several familiar friends to briefly investigate their causal situations.
The karmic connections between Qiu Li, Yun Tian Zhenren, and Yue Qingqiu are mostly benevolent; they not only lack malice but are also entangled with an aura of "willingness to lend a helping hand."
As for Yuan Lingling, her causal connection with him was extremely weak, and she clearly had no special feelings towards him, neither liking nor disliking him.
"Wait a minute, something seems to be missing?"
As Chen Yi glanced at these friendly or indifferent people, a sudden sense of unease arose in his heart.
He carefully checked everything and was astonished to find that the causal information of an important person in his life had disappeared.
He subconsciously spread his divine sense, scanning his outer cave. [Is he here?]
Hu Mingyue was cultivating in the outer cave, her breathing steady.
Strangely, he couldn't sense Hu Mingyue's presence at all within the causal chain!
It wasn't until Chen Yi concentrated and scanned the area several times that he managed to catch a faint trace of causal energy, almost disappearing, lingering around Hu Mingyue.
Chen Yi was shocked: It was absolutely impossible that Hu Mingyue and he had no connection whatsoever!
The two of them had been living together in the Star Moon Sect for nearly thirty years. Although he had never taken special care of her, as his status in the sect gradually rose, Hu Mingyue, as the head steward of his cave dwelling, was increasingly valued by the sect.
Moreover, Hu Mingyue is currently attempting to break through to the Core Formation Realm, and she didn't even need his help to obtain the Crystallization Pill needed to condense her Golden Core; she managed to do it all herself.
These intersections and entanglements are real bonds; how could they possibly leave not even a trace of cause and effect?
A possibility that sent chills down his spine quietly surfaced in his mind:
Could it be that Hu Mingyue's strength in a certain aspect has become so great that she can sever or conceal the causal threads on her own?
At the same time, Hu Mingyue, who was cultivating in Chen Yi's outer cave, suddenly froze, her cultivation forcibly interrupted.
She raised her head and looked in the direction of Chen Yi's inner cave, a mysterious and unfathomable look flashing in her eyes, before letting out a soft sigh.
She stretched out a finger and casually drew a few lines in front of her. The movements seemed random, but they subtly conformed to some kind of rule of heaven and earth.
As her fingertips traced a path, the almost vanished aura of cause and effect slowly condensed around her and reappeared in Chen Yi's perception.
How could Uncle Chen have advanced to the level of controlling cause and effect so quickly?
Hu Mingyue wondered to herself, "Could he also be—? If so, who could he be?"
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, but she could not find the answer.
Although Hu Mingyue had some doubts, she quickly suppressed these chaotic thoughts. The path of cultivation is full of unknowns, and getting too caught up in things that cannot be confirmed will only delay one's own cultivation.
She took a deep breath, regained her composure, and returned to her cultivation chamber in the outer cave to continue her secluded cultivation to break through to the Core Formation Realm.
A few days later, Chen Yi finished a marrow refining cultivation session and went to the outer cave. He called to Hu Mingyue, who was organizing spiritual materials, "Mingyue, prepare for the move. We're going to move to a new place soon."
Hu Mingyue was taken aback upon hearing this, then respectfully replied, "Yes, Uncle Chen."
She didn't ask any more questions, but silently began to take inventory of the items in the cave.
The reason for this move is that Yue Qingqiu has emerged from seclusion. She had been cultivating the Star-Moon Fusion Divine Power in seclusion and has now finally achieved some success.
Upon exiting the seclusion, he immediately sought out Chen Yi. Seeing that Chen Yi was free, he directly suggested, "Junior Brother, why don't you come with me to live in the fourth-tier spiritual vein cave on the top floor of Star Peak?"
That cave dwelling is no ordinary place. It was the residence of Ping Xingye, the former chief of Xingfeng Peak, and also the place where Yue Qingqiu secluded herself when she was breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. The spiritual veins there are far more concentrated than Chen Yi’s current residence.
To the outside world, Yue Qingqiu did not give any explanation to the sect, but simply announced in an unquestionable tone: "That's the decision."
Now she is the undisputed leader of the Star Moon Sect, and she has the final say in almost all sect affairs, with no one daring to raise any objections.
Internally, she explained to Chen Yi: "You are now in the late stage of Golden Core, and it is time to prepare for the future formation of Nascent Soul. The spiritual energy of the fourth-order spiritual vein is more suitable for accumulating foundation."
Moreover, I will often come to cultivate the Star-Moon Union with you in the future, and that cave will be more convenient for our dual cultivation.
Chen Yi did not refuse upon hearing this. He had already thoroughly understood the cause and effect of good and evil in the Moon Lake region and was well aware that even if he occupied another fourth-order spiritual vein cave, it would not cause too much causal fluctuation.
The only one who might be unsettled by this is Pingdong.
that's the truth.
When Ping Dong learned of this news, his heart was filled with tremendous turmoil.
That fourth-tier spiritual vein cave was originally his residence when he was Ping Xingye. The spiritual herbs and medicines planted inside were all over a hundred years old. The spiritual fish raised in the pond, the building materials of the cave, and even the spiritual stones used to set up the formation were all prepared by him back then.
What he finds even more difficult to accept is that even his former Daoist partner, Yue Qingqiu, has now fallen for Chen Yi.
It's like it's taken up everything he has.
This time, Chen Yi not only wanted to occupy his cave dwelling, but also stripped him of his right to cultivate in Chen Yi's outer cave dwelling.
Chen Yi gave a plausible reason: "Pingdong, you have formed your Golden Core several years ago, and your cultivation is stable enough to stand on your own. It is no longer appropriate for you to continue to stay in my cave and cultivate with me."
The sect will arrange a separate cave dwelling for you, suitable only for a Golden Core cultivator. Take good care of yourself from now on.
Ping Dong stood aside, watching Yue Qingqiu personally help Chen Yi pack his belongings and decorate his new home. Her face was full of gentle smiles, an expression he had never seen on her face before.
His heart was filled with bitterness, and his throat tightened, but he didn't even have the right to step forward and say a word. In Yue Qingqiu's eyes, he was now an insignificant stranger.
"well----"
Ping Dong sighed softly, turned around and left silently, his back view full of loneliness.
He knew that the era that belonged to Hirahoshino had long since come to an end, and his current forbearance and waiting seemed to be becoming increasingly hopeless.
After moving to the fourth-tier spiritual vein cave at the top of Star Peak, Chen Yi discovered that the spiritual veins in this cave were far more abundant than he had imagined.
Since his two pet demonic beasts were not with him for the time being, there was still a small space available in the high-level spiritual vein area of the inner palace.
After a moment's thought, he decided to allocate this space specifically to Hu Mingyue for her to build a secret meditation chamber.
When Chen Yi found Hu Mingyue, he explained with a smile, "Uncle Chen has recently gained some insights into his cultivation, thanks to Old Hu's help back then. I am indebted to him."
Mingyue, you are about to form your core. The spiritual energy of the fourth-order spiritual vein will greatly help you solidify your foundation and break through your cultivation level. From now on, you should cultivate in this inner palace.
"By the way, the spiritual herbs and medicines planted in this cave, the spiritual fish raised in the pond, and the maintenance of the cave's formations are all under your full management. You can take them directly if needed in the future; there's no need to inform me."
Regardless of whether Chen Yi had any doubts about Hu Mingyue's true identity, he decided to treat her better. In case Hu Mingyue really had a hidden background, this kindness, even if it didn't bring great opportunities, could at least leave a good impression so that it wouldn't block a path in the future.
Upon hearing this, Hu Mingyue quickly bowed and expressed her gratitude, saying respectfully, "Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Chen. I will certainly live up to your trust."
However, Chen Yi secretly observed the cause-and-effect relationship between the two and found that there was almost no change.
This discovery made him realize that for ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, being able to cultivate in a high-level spiritual vein in the inner palace and manage the resources of their cave dwelling is an opportunity that can change their destiny. However, for Hu Mingyue, it could not affect her karma at all. Obviously, her vision and level are far beyond that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Having figured this out, Chen Yi stopped insisting on deepening his causal connection with Hu Mingyue.
He knew very well that if Hu Mingyue was indeed a powerful figure hidden by his side, excessive and deliberate flattery would backfire. The law of cause and effect is extremely mysterious, and sometimes letting things take their natural course is more effective than forcibly intervening.
Moreover, being able to cultivate together peacefully in the same cave for a period of time, and being able to smile at each other and not interfere with each other if we meet again in the future, is already a rare and precious fate.
After that, Chen Yi stopped making any special arrangements for Hu Mingyue, and Hu Mingyue visibly breathed a sigh of relief, becoming increasingly low-key in her cultivation.
Six months later, she quietly succeeded in forming her core, but the quality of her core was only "half-step Golden Core," which was inconspicuous among the many Golden Core cultivators in the Star Moon Sect.
The sect members simply offered their usual congratulations, which did not attract much attention from forces outside the sect.
Only Chen Yi vaguely sensed an unusual aura when Hu Mingyue was forming her core. The aura far exceeded the fluctuations that a half-step Golden Core should have, but it was cleverly concealed by some means.
Since Hu Mingyue clearly wanted to hide her strength, Chen Yi didn't deliberately pry. Everyone has their own secrets, and the best way to get along is to respect each other and live in peace.
During this period, with the help of dual cultivation with Yue Qingqiu, Chen Yi's magical power increased rapidly, and his foundation as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator became increasingly solid.
He knew it was time to start working on refining the Nascent Soul Pill to prepare for his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.
Another year passed, and Chen Yi received two messages: Yun Tian Zhenren and Qiu Li had both successfully formed their Nascent Souls and become early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
He immediately took out two mid-grade third-tier puppets from his storage bag in his personal capacity and sent them as congratulatory gifts to Qingyun Cave Heaven and Leiyun Sect respectively, to celebrate their advancement.
To his surprise, Ji Wuchen, who had previously been the most popular and favored by everyone, had not yet announced any news of achieving Nascent Soul, as if he had completely disappeared from everyone's sight.
On this day, a commotion was heard at the gate of the Star Moon Sect, as a distinguished guest arrived: Ji Wuxin, one of the promising talents within the Ji family who was vying for the position of successor.
Ji Wuxin was extremely beautiful, with a touch of baby fat on her face that made her big eyes even more lively. Her small mouth outlined a soft shape, and with her tall and slender figure, she looked like a charming and cute girl.
Those who know her well know that beneath her cute appearance lies an extremely ruthless style of doing things, and her decisive methods are quite famous among the younger generation of the Ji family.
Despite being a Nascent Soul cultivator like Yue Qingqiu, the moment she stepped into the Star Moon Sect's territory and met Yue Qingqiu at the mountain gate from afar, she exuded an extremely pure and profound magical power.
The fluctuations spread like a tide, causing the entire protective array of the Star Moon Sect to tremble slightly, and even the spiritual energy flowing in the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Yue Qingqiu felt this pressure and subconsciously activated her own Moon Blade magic to resist it. However, she clearly realized that the quality of her magic power seemed somewhat weak in the face of the opponent's solidified magic power, and she was completely at a disadvantage.
The initial test of their magical powers made her realize that this prodigy of the Ji family was far more powerful than an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
She's giving us a warning.
The meaning is clear: compared to the profound foundation of the Ji family, your small Nascent Soul sect is nothing at all.
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