Chapter 436: 375 Zhangg Westward Journey! [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]
The transaction went smoothly.
With the hostages in hand, the Five Immortal Sects were cautious and played by Chen Jichuan’s rules, obediently delivering the ransom as required.
However, Chen Jichuan was well aware—
"I achieved Divinity Transformation at the age of thirty-eight; the Five Immortal Sects won’t give up so easily."
"After retrieving their people, they’ll surely try something else."
Firmly convinced the Five Sects would continue scheming against him, Chen Jichuan decided he wouldn’t play their game anymore: "I have exceptional skills in hiding and act discreetly. Even if I remain in Great Zhou, they won’t be able to locate me."
But there was no need to stay.
"There’s nothing worth staying for in Great Zhou."
"I now have the resources I need, so there’s no reason to confine myself to a single region. Tu Continent is expansive, and beyond it lies an even broader world. I could easily cultivate while traveling through Tu Continent, experiencing local customs while expanding my knowledge, avoiding narrow isolation."
Cultivation shouldn’t be done in seclusion, nor should one live as a frog in a well.
It’s necessary to wander and explore.
"The Divinity Transformation Stage lasts a minimum of a century, sometimes up to several centuries."
"Spending that time idly would be such a waste."
Chen Jichuan grew intent on leaving.
The Five Immortal Sects knew his background. His achievement of Divinity Transformation at thirty-eight created strong temptation for them.
They would undoubtedly seek to uncover his secrets by any means possible.
Rather than staying and battling them head-on, risking an unexpected misstep and a disastrous outcome—
He figured leaving early was wiser.
"But before I go—"
Chen Jichuan still remembered the kindness of Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin, who had protected him in the past.
Thus, he headed directly to Leiyin Mountain.
After discreet observation, there didn’t appear to be any strong cultivators stationed around Leiyin Mountain.
This was expected. Chen Jichuan had taken the ransom, but the hostages had yet to be returned. If they wanted to strike at him through Wuu Quan and his wife, they should wait until after retrieving their people.
Furthermore, considering Chen Jichuan’s reckless and unpredictable nature, neither Taizhen Sect nor the other four sects, despite being large and high-profile, would dare to easily use Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin to threaten him.
"If I ignore them, it’s the Five Sects who would face embarrassment."
"Especially Taizhen Sect."
Chen Jichuan fully understood this dynamic and knew that, while the Five Sects might eventually resort to such tactics out of desperation, the probability remained uncertain.
They could even conspire with Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin to intentionally lure him out.
"Better to avoid giving them that opportunity."
"Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin protected me in the past; today, I’ll assist them in ascending to Divinity Transformation. That should make us even."
"Two upright Divinity Transformation cultivators—Taizhen Sect wouldn’t want to sacrifice them lightly."
Chen Jichuan stealthily infiltrated Leiyin Mountain.
...
Leiyin Mountain.
Yunding Palace.
Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin sat in silence, their faces clouded with worry.
A year ago, Jiangg Xian underwent tribulation at Leiyin Mountain. Afterward, he abducted Jia Yi and three others, pillaged Divine Capital City, captured fifteen Third-order experts guarding it, and killed Emperor Zhou in the process.
This brought significant unrest among the Five Great Sects.
It also implicated Leiyin Mountain, dragging Wuu Quan and his wife into the fray.
"Sigh!"
"It’s my fault."
"I shouldn’t have saved Jiangg Xian back then, letting him live a peaceful life among mortals. I should never have brought him to Leiyin Mountain or led him onto the path of cultivation."
Wuu Quan sighed deeply, regret welling up within him.
Jiangg Xian’s rampage had disgraced and destabilized Taizhen Sect. It also brought hardship upon Wuu Quan, Zhang Jin, and the entire Leiyin Mansion within Taizhen Sect and the broader Great Zhou cultivation realm.
Taizhen Sect would inevitably hold him accountable later.
Wuu Quan couldn’t help but lament his past decisions.
Beside him.
Zhang Jin remained more sanguine. She smiled at Wuu Quan and said, "Jiangg Xian isn’t entirely bad. Though he wields immense power now, when he pillaged Divine Capital City, he only killed Jiangg Heng and Jiang Chong without harming more innocents. Even after capturing Chancellor Jia and others, he sought fortune rather than taking lives, which shows he still has some benevolence."
Had he been an irredeemable demon, he might have exterminated the entire Great Zhou imperial family, wiped out the Direct Pointing Department, and slaughtered every strong cultivator from the Five Immortal Sects.
Zhang Jin found a glimmer of goodwill in Jiangg Xian’s actions and began to understand the intent behind his words outside Leiyin Mountain that day.
She held a certain fondness toward Jiangg Xian.
"It’s true he has a benevolent streak."
"But ultimately, he’s disgraced the sect and caused significant damage."
Wuu Quan expressed his concerns, lowering his voice as he bitterly smiled at Zhang Jin: "And when Chancellor Jia and the others return, how are we supposed to face them? How will they view us as a couple?"
This was Wuu Quan’s deepest worry.
Sect reprimands or punishments weren’t his chief concern, but Taizhen Sect had lost six Third-order elders to Jiangg Xian. Once they returned to the sect, would they harbor any goodwill for the couple?
In the heat of humiliation, they might even conspire against him further.
"After all, they’re revered elders within the sect. They wouldn’t stoop to petty grievances against us."
Zhang Jin smiled, though uncertainty still lingered.
From what she knew of the six captured elders, two of them were particularly intolerant individuals.
"Sigh!"
"Unless I reach Third-order, I’ll always be under someone’s thumb!"
Throughout his years of cultivation, Wuu Quan had never felt a stronger yearning to break through to Divinity Transformation as he did now.
The couple sat quietly in the palace: one brooding, the other faintly smiling.
Just then—
"The Lord’s resolve is commendable."
A voice resonated in the hall, preceding a figure that materialized from thin air.
"Jiangg Xian?"
"Jiangg Xian!"
Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin lifted their gaze toward Chen Jichuan.
One reacted with fury: "How dare you show up here?!"
The other frowned: "The Five Sects are searching for you; this is too reckless!"
"No need for alarm."
"I’m just passing by and will leave shortly."
Chen Jichuan offered them a smile before producing two pills from his palm. He said, "The two of you have shown kindness to me. Here are two ’Dharma Pills.’ Born with nine acupoints, they can help Second-order cultivators ascend to Divinity Transformation."
"Dharma Pills?"
"Capable of aiding ascension to Divinity Transformation?"
Wuu Quan’s eyes widened in shock, his expression a mixture of astonishment and skepticism.
Zhang Jin stared at the pills in Chen Jichuan’s hand, equally surprised. Instinctively, she thought it might be a trick, but recalling Chen Jichuan’s accomplishments—ascending to Divinity Transformation at thirty-eight—she reasoned that this might indeed be the pills’ secret. Given his prowess, deception seemed unlikely.
The couple exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with hope.
Although Wuu Quan regretted his past decisions and felt anger toward Chen Jichuan, his rational side prevailed, understanding Chen Jichuan had no motive to deceive them.
"What value would deceiving two Second-order cultivators bring him?"
With this in mind.
Their hearts began to race.
"The truth can only be known by trying."
"Apologies in advance."
Seeing their hesitation, Chen Jichuan snapped his fingers lightly, launching the two pills toward them.
"Ah—"
Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin involuntarily opened their mouths as the pills entered their bodies.
Chen Jichuan had taken a risk showing up but wasn’t about to waste time on indecision. He forced the couple to ingest the pills.
Sternly, he warned, "Quickly refine the medicinal essence; delay will cost you the opportunity."
Having consumed the pills, Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin could no longer hesitate.
As Chen Jichuan had stated.
The pills’ efficacy could only be proven through use, and with nothing to lose, they focused entirely on cultivation.
The couple immediately sat cross-legged in the hall, closed their eyes, and concentrated on refining the medicinal power.
An hour later.
Chen Jichuan quietly departed Leiyin Mountain.
Shortly after his departure—
Woo! Woo! Woo!
Whirr! Whirr! Whirr!
Strong winds howled across Leiyin Mountain, clouds spiraled overhead.
The Heavenly Tribulation descended.
...
"It’s time to leave."
Helping Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin ascend to Divinity Transformation marked the end of his business in Great Zhou. Without lingering a moment longer, Chen Jichuan chose a random direction and began his journey.
This time, if he ever returned again, it might very well be when he’d exhausted his wealth.
...
Departing Eastern Earth Great Zhou, he traveled westward.
The first leg of his journey involved crossing the entirety of Great Zhou.
As he walked among common folk, Chen Jichuan occasionally passed through a village, taking the entire settlement—people, houses, and all—into the Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd.
At times, he passed through county towns, also relocating them into the gourd.
"The Immortal Gourd spans a thousand miles and feels too empty."
"Tending spiritual medicines and insects all by myself is exhausting."
"Why not bring in more living beings?"
While the Immortal Gourd Space remained vast and vacant, populating it with mortals could ensure future generations thrived within. Over time, Chen Jichuan might select promising talents for cultivation.
Perhaps among them, a few exceptional geniuses could eventually reach Fourth-order, aiding him in his endeavors.
It was akin to buying lottery tickets.
Winning wasn’t guaranteed.
But not participating assured failure.
"Idle hands are the devil’s workshop."
"It’s worth harboring some hope."
The thousand-mile Immortal Gourd Space equated roughly to a large province or six-to-seven smaller provinces from his previous life, ample enough to house tens of millions of people.
Nonetheless, most of the space needed to be reserved for cultivating spiritual medicines and insects, leaving limited room for inhabitants.
Chen Jichuan ultimately paused his collection at five thousand people.
Traveling westward from the east.
He simultaneously enriched the Immortal Gourd Space.
Rapidly increased his cultivation level.
And immersed himself in foreign customs and traditions.
Chen Jichuan’s life was carefree and relaxed.
Occasionally, he stopped to refine pills and artifacts.
Having looted a considerable amount of spiritual medicines and refining materials from Divine Capital City and acquired numerous high-order resources as ransom from the Five Immortal Sects, Chen Jichuan lacked usable pills and was compelled to forge his own supplies, maintaining his alchemical skills while refining his techniques.
His experiences and insights allowed steady advancement in the Dao of Alchemy.
Artifact refining posed similar challenges.
In both alchemy and artifact refinement, navigating the First and Second orders wasn’t exceedingly difficult.
But the leap to Third-order presented a significant hurdle.
Back in the Central Continent, Chen Jichuan leveraged vast resources and collaborated with top-tier alchemists and artifact refiners from various sects to elevate his Second-order abilities to Third-order mastery.
Even so, the Third-order leap was monumental.
Within the Immortal Dao framework, progressing from Divinity Transformation First Realm ’Heavenly Human,’ to Second Realm ’Primordial Unity,’ then Third Realm ’Divine Separation,’ and ultimately Fourth Realm ’Divine Transformation,’ followed by the dissolution state of ’Independent Immortal’—each realm represented an immense disparity.
Thus, Third-order pills and magical treasures saw similarly dramatic differences across the spectrum.
...