Demon Cultivator with Celestial Book-Chapter 118 - 100: A Dragon Girl in Huaihai, First Arrival at Observing Sun Peak
In the mountains, the passage of time is forgotten.
Cuihuang Forest was quiet, secluded, and beautiful, making it an excellent place for quiet Cultivation.
After his promotion to Inner Peak Disciple and successfully avoiding the conflict between Observing Fate Peak and Observing Sun Peak, where he would have been caught in the middle, Jiang Yi finally had a moment of peace.
For the past two or three days, he had been performing Breathing and Qi Collection at dawn, napping at noon, and practicing his Cultivation at midnight.
He would also set aside four hours to refine the Black Shadow Magical Robe. His days were full and orderly.
In this daze, he actually felt some of the "carefree joy" of a true Cultivator.
’A balance of work and rest is the way of both the scholar and the warrior. Back in the Outer Sect, my Heart Spirit was always taut. I was constantly afraid of making a mistake and inviting disaster, so my Cultivation was inevitably rushed. Now, I can finally relax a bit.’
Jiang Yi sat in the pavilion in the backyard of the grass hall. It was clear that the previous owner of the Meditation House, a Senior Brother Zhao Yue, had put a lot of effort into maintaining it.
A clear pond had been dug in the courtyard, fed by a stream of fresh water. Aromatic herbs like orchids, angelica, and wild ginger were planted beside it.
This perfectly embodied the principle of a Water Vein nourishing the plants, and the plants in turn feeding back Purifying Qi.
Over time, the small courtyard had developed a certain Spiritual Essence, making one feel relaxed and refreshed.
The surrounding ground was covered with several layers of fine sand, interspersed with a few peculiar stones. They were left uncarved, allowed to lie askew, adding a touch of rustic charm.
’It truly is a fine place.’
Jiang Yi retracted his gaze. The grass pavilion he was in had four round wooden pillars, a thatched roof, and cattail mats placed inside.
Sitting here and reading Daoist Scriptures, his mind seemed to become exceptionally focused, making it difficult for his thoughts to wander.
’The treatment of Inner Peak Disciples isn’t just about the Magical Robe on my back or the title of "Senior Brother." It’s about the difference in resources.’
’Everything in the Inner Peak is beneficial to Cultivation, from the monthly stipend and resources to the Meditation House itself.’
’Because of these different standards and treatment, the gap in Cultivation will silently widen over time.’
Jiang Yi sat up, ending his short rest. Beside him, Cat Master was still fast asleep, basking in the daylight. Its round back rose and fell, letting out a faint, rumbling purr.
He looked down at the Black Shadow Magical Robe he was wearing. He had already refined it to about seventy or eighty percent. The wide, ink-black robe shimmered with golden threads, adding an air of nobility to the young man’s calm and composed features.
Even True Master Xuanmiao couldn’t help but praise it profusely the first time he saw it, saying things like, "Clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha! Xiao Jiang, you’re so handsome! You could totally go to Zhaoyao Mountain and become a Demon King’s live-in son-in-law!"
Jiang Yi’s face darkened as he listened. This calico cat, who only knew how to make empty promises, was completely fixated on taking him to Beiju Continent to trade him for a few mountains of First-Grade Divine Sand to forge its Dao Body.
But was that kind of free ride really so easy to get?
He had specifically made inquiries. Beiju Continent was dominated by the True Descendants of the Dragon Monarch, and beneath them were lineages like "Chi," "Qiu," "Jiao," and "Mang."
Besides them were the descendants of other demon gods who had later joined and integrated into the Daoist Lineage. They all coexisted, for the most part, in peace.
It was said that on the Huaihai, year after year, thousands of Huaihai Tower Ships would dock, supposedly to recruit husbands for some Dragon Girl.
Many Demon Cultivators from Nanzhan Continent, arrogant and unaware of the world’s dangers, prided themselves on their superior Root Qi and mastery of draining partners through prolonged intercourse. Deceived by the lies of human traffickers, they would be lured over, dreaming of making a fortune overnight.
But in less than three to five days, they would be drained of all their Essence and thrown off the ship.
Jiang Yi had specifically begged the Celestial Book to learn the inside story. Only then did he realize that the Huaihai Tower Ships were just using the "Dragon Girl" as a front to attract robust male cultivators with abundant Primordial Yang and handsome appearances, all for the amusement of some Black Flood Dragon Ladies and Lady Gray Pythons.
It was rumored that the Jiao Girls had powerful physiques and the Lady Pythons had stout figures. Moreover, because they possessed a minuscule trace of the True Descendant bloodline, they were extremely resilient to being drained.
When their passion peaked, they would reveal their true forms. Like bottomless pits, they would turn the tables and swallow the male cultivators whole, not stopping until every last drop of Essence Qi was gone.
Just imagining such a scene sent a chill down Jiang Yi’s spine.
’That’s some seriously hard-earned money!’
He felt that any male cultivator who could survive the brutal gauntlet of the Huaihai Tower Ships truly deserved such outrageous fortune!
’The True Descendants of the Dragon Monarch may be obscenely wealthy—forget ten mountains of First-Grade Divine Sand, they could probably even offer "Five Elements Mother Essence" and "Milk Heaven Root Qi."’
’But a human body without a forged Dao Body could never withstand it.’
As a Demon Cultivator, Jiang Yi wasn’t stingy with his Primordial Yang. But to be drained to the point of physical weakness and Essence deficiency by some other Demon Dao creature? That would be utterly humiliating.
’We masters of the Demon Dao have our pride, you know!’
Pushing aside his stray thoughts, Jiang Yi lowered his head, feigning to study a Technique.
[I beg the Celestial Book, show me my current status.]
The golden paper was summoned, sending out faint ripples.
[Celestial Book Bearer: Jiang Yi]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer (Fifty-two Percent)]
[Techniques: True Meridian Qi Flowing Technique (Ungraded), Mixed Refining and Forging Yuan Fire Control Technique (Seventh Grade)]
[Daoist Skills: Embrace Thought Nourishing Spirit Seven Emotions Curse (Small Success), Cloud Soaring and Flame Riding Skill (Mid-Stage)]
[Items: Five Yin Pouch (Qi Cultivation Ninth Grade), Blood Soul Mirror (Qi Cultivation Ninth Grade), Black Slaughter Lock (Qi Cultivation Ninth Grade), Black Shadow Robe (Qi Cultivation Seventh Grade)]
’With my current Cultivation and abilities, I wonder where I rank among the Inner Peak Disciples?’
Jiang Yi did a quick calculation. His current "outfit" was worth at least two million talisman coins.
With such assets, he could have easily taken on ten Xiao Tongquans or a thousand Zhang Chaos and Dong Bas in the Outer Sect.
His curiosity piqued, Jiang Yi’s eyes gleamed as he continued to query the Celestial Book.
[I beg the Celestial Book, show me the answer directly. Where does Jiang Yi of the Qianji Sect’s Inner Peak rank among all disciples?]
After seventeen or eighteen breaths, tiny, tadpole-like words jumped onto the paper and into his sight.
[Eleventh]
’Now I’m "Jiang Eleven." That doesn’t sound very good. I still need to work hard and strive to become "Jiang Da" in the future.’
Habituated from his past life to always coming in first on every exam, Jiang Yi had never liked being second to anyone.
He counted on his fingers. Among the Inner Peak Disciples, the only ones he thought could definitely suppress him were a handful of people like Xu Yan, Zhou Fu, and Han Li.
But the Celestial Book was never wrong. Since it confirmed he was ranked eleventh, it meant the Qianji Sect’s Dharma Lineage still had some depth and wasn’t suffering from a decline where the new generation couldn’t replace the old.
’People like Xu Yan and Zhou Fu are considered the third generation of the sect. Above them, there should be "Second Generation Disciples."’
’Most of them have lost their potential and have no hope of reaching the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. They can only repeatedly polish their Cultivation at the seventh or eighth layer and improve their various techniques. It’s reasonable that they’d be a cut above me.’
Jiang Yi’s mentality was very stable. Ever since learning the secret of the "Daoist Can," he had come to believe that being a prodigy of astonishing talent wasn’t necessarily a good thing without a powerful background or backer to protect you.
In the strict Dharma Lineages under the rule of the Demon Dao, mediocrities couldn’t advance and were destined to be consumed as resources. Geniuses didn’t live long; they were destined to become Daoist Cans.
’Blending in with the crowd and hiding my light is the correct path.’
Jiang Yi sat quietly for a moment. After True Master Xuanmiao slowly woke up, he gently scooped it into his arms, stood up, and walked out of the Grass Hall Meditation House.
Today was the day he was supposed to report for duty at the Merit Supervision Institute.
If he delayed any longer, he was afraid Observing Sun Peak would send someone to hurry him along.
’Now we’ll see if the Long-term Nourishing Daoist Embryo Skill that Cat Master revealed can help me subdue the Ren Water and devour the Bing Fire.’
Jiang Yi walked slowly out of Cuihuang Forest. Nestled in his arms, True Master Xuanmiao clutched a lustrous Fire Essence Jade Gui with both paws and vowed solemnly:
"Xiao Jiang, just relax and watch my methods! I absolutely will not disappoint you!"
This Fire Essence Jade Gui, used to reveal the Long-term Nourishing Daoist Embryo Skill, was a Fourth Grade Spiritual Object of superior quality and immense value.
If Jiang Yi hadn’t happened to have a Yuan Containing Pill that Xu Yan desperately needed, it would have been impossible to trade for it from this core disciple of Observing Fate Peak.
Now that he was in the Inner Peak, the value of talisman coins had greatly diminished and was not what it used to be.
Spiritual Materials and Resources were the real hard currency. Many sought-after and useful cultivation supplies couldn’t be bought just because one’s purse was full.
Without familiar connections or equivalent bargaining chips, there was simply no way to acquire them.
Fortunately, Jiang Yi had won the grand prize at the Zhizhen Garden’s Gambling Pool earlier and had saved this Yuan Containing Pill.
Plus, he had long since figured out that Xu Yan wanted a Yuan Containing Pill to increase his Cultivation, so he simply took it out and logically traded it for the Fire Essence Jade Gui.
’The Yuan Containing Pill is tainted with blood qi. If one hopes for a Flying Foundation Establishment, one must absolutely not touch it.’
’Giving it to Senior Brother Xu not only allows me to obtain a world-shaking secret technique for condensing a Dao Body, but it also counts as forming a good connection.’
Jiang Yi’s pace was swift. When he reached the halfway point of Guanlan Peak, he first went to the Qi Gong Institute to register his name and take down his assignment notice.
Then, he rode his flames into the air and rushed towards Observing Sun Peak to receive his assignment from the Merit Supervision Institute.
This was the first time he had laid eyes on one of the Qianji Sect’s important Dharma Lineage grounds. Compared to the thousand-ren-high Guanlan Peak, Observing Sun Peak appeared even more imposing.
Thick clouds and mist cloaked it like a white mantle. After Jiang Yi pierced through them on his flames, he could see palaces, temples, and pavilions built along the mountain, with terraces and kiosks interspersed among them.
Looking down from above, a thousand cliffs vied for beauty, and ten thousand ravines competed in charm. Ancient pines clung to the rocks, and green cypresses reached for the heavens.
The numerous halls and palaces situated on the summit were also topped with jade-green tiles that shimmered like flowing gold in the sunlight.
’This finally looks like the headquarters of a proper Cultivation Dharma Lineage!’
