CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 326 PROCUREMENT AND CRISIS! [10 MORE UPDATES TOMORROW!]

After performing ’Sun Chasing Walk,’ a total of 21 instances of Enlightenment were carried out, all focused on the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve,’ preparing to concentrate firepower and elevate this technique to the fifth layer first.

Twenty-one instances of Enlightenment.

Equivalent to 2,100 years of arduous cultivation and comprehension in the Heavenly Human Realm, Chen Jichuan’s grasp of the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve’ deepened significantly, and its power steadily increased.

But it was still far from the fifth layer.

"At my current speed, if I were to remain in the Heavenly Human Realm, it would likely take twenty thousand years of bitter cultivation to elevate a super-level technique to the fifth layer."

In the Divinity Transformation Realm, only geniuses among fourth-realm Divine Transformation Great Powers could master a fifth-layer super-level technique.

They might have started learning and comprehending a super-level technique back in the Heavenly Human Realm.

Continuing in the Primordial Unity Realm.

Continuing in the Divine Separation Realm.

Until reaching the Divine Transformation Realm, when their cultivation and accumulation hit an extreme, they might achieve the fifth layer.

Whether in the Divine Transformation Realm, the Divine Separation Realm, or even just the Primordial Unity Realm, the speed and difficulty of comprehending a super-level technique couldn’t compare to that of the Heavenly Human Realm.

Chen Jichuan’s comprehension remained at the Heavenly Human Realm, making the difficulty exponentially greater.

He considered himself a mediocre talent.

Twenty thousand years.

This was already a conservative estimate.

"Yet even if it’s twenty thousand years, it’s only 200 instances of Enlightenment, a mere 10 million Primordial Stones!"

Chen Jichuan, rich and unconcerned, wielded Enlightenment tools with fearless confidence.

Diligently cultivating.

Constantly improving.

The mastery of the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve’ grew increasingly profound.

However, in terms of cultivation progress,

starting from the 58th year, when Chen Jichuan ascended to the sixth layer of the Heavenly Human Realm, the progress had already begun to slow. Progressing further to the seventh and eighth layers would not be particularly difficult.

But achieving that was not a matter that could be accomplished in just a few decades.

Chen Jichuan was inclined to withdraw from worldly affairs and immerse himself in isolated cultivation.

Yet the reality did not permit him—

The Taiyin Sect.

The Wuhe Star.

The Dual-element Immortal Spider.

All these matters required quick resolution and arrangement.

Therefore, in the 60th year after his return to Magic Sound Mountain, after somewhat consolidating his newly attained sixth-layer cultivation, Chen Jichuan officially exited seclusion.

This year, Chen Jichuan was 803 years old, with a bone age of 440 years.

...

On this day.

The Four Directions Sect.

Chen Jichuan strode in, quickly greeted by a second-order attendant.

Soon after, another man emerged, smiling as he walked forward, "Brother Xu, it’s been some time since you last came."

"Cultivation is arduous; it’s hard to find the time."

Chen Jichuan also smiled, following the man into the Four Directions Sect’s VIP room.

Within the Four Directions Sect, all attendants and staff were second-order cultivators.

This particular branch in Magic Sound Mountain was overseen by four Divinity Transformation cultivators.

The man addressing Chen Jichuan as a brother was one of the overseers, called ’Zhang Qiao,’ with a Primordial Unity Realm cultivation.

It was said that above the four overseers, the Four Directions Sect had a third-realm expert stationed in Magic Sound Mountain.

Rarely seen in public.

Chen Jichuan had only heard bits and pieces about him from Zhang Qiao and had never met him in person.

In truth,

if not for being a major patron and regular customer of the Four Directions Sect, even Zhang Qiao wouldn’t have treated him with such enthusiasm.

However, over the years, Chen Jichuan had conducted significant business with the Four Directions Sect—

Purchasing various pills was one aspect.

Pills used for cultivation.

Pills used for Enlightenment.

These two alone cost him an astronomical 110,000 Primordial Stones annually at the Four Directions Sect.

Sixty thousand on various cultivation pills.

Fifty thousand on recovery pills for post-Enlightenment.

When cultivating year-round at maximum intensity, Chen Jichuan spent about 30,000 Primordial Stones annually on pills. But given that he devoted only half of each year entirely to cultivation, ordinarily 15,000 Primordial Stones’ worth of pills would suffice.

However, Chen Jichuan had long planned to return to Wuhe Star.

This trip might take decades, perhaps even a century or more.

Naturally, he needed to stock up on extra cultivation pills.

The same went for Enlightenment recovery pills.

For the former, he typically purchased four times the usual amount: one share for daily use, three for stockpiling.

For the latter, he bought twice the usual amount: one share to use as needed, one to reserve.

Over one cycle of sixty years,

for these two types of pills alone, Chen Jichuan spent 6.6 million Primordial Stones at the Four Directions Sect.

This excluded expenses for leasing cultivation treasures like the ’Five Elements Tower’ and the ’Thunderbolt Star.’

Zhang Qiao earned sizeable commissions from these transactions, naturally treating Chen Jichuan with warm enthusiasm.

Not to mention, Chen Jichuan not only came to spend money but also procured various spiritual medicines for his own alchemy, selling the refined pills back to the Four Directions Sect.

This reciprocal exchange.

The Four Directions Sect earned handsomely, and Zhang Qiao, too, benefited greatly.

His attitude grew ever more courteous—from initially addressing Chen Jichuan as ’Daoist,’ over the decades, he upgraded to calling him ’brother,’ treating him like family!

Every time Chen Jichuan came by, Zhang Qiao personally welcomed him.

This time was no different.

The two sat down, tea was served, and after exchanging pleasantries, Chen Jichuan finally brought up business: "This time, I need forty times the usual amount of ’Xuanlong Pill,’ ’Bright God Pill,’ ’Dream Cold Water,’ and ’Purple Gold Jade Liquid.’"

The ’Xuanlong Pill,’ ’Bright God Pill,’ ’Dream Cold Water,’ and ’Purple Gold Jade Liquid’ were spiritual pills and water used for recovering Primordial Qi after performing Enlightenment.

In the past, he typically purchased 50,000 Primordial Stones’ worth annually.

Using half, saving half.

After sixty years in Magic Sound Mountain, Chen Jichuan still had enough in reserve for thirty instances of Enlightenment. At his current pace, this would last him another sixty years.

But this return trip to Wuhe Star was bound to take more than sixty years.

Chen Jichuan needed to purchase more for the journey to avoid delaying his technique cultivation.

Forty portions.

Adding this to the thirty already stockpiled.

It would suffice for 140 years.

As for cultivation pills,

over the past sixty years, Chen Jichuan accumulated reserves sufficient for ninety years, allowing for 180 years of cultivation.

By then, it would be roughly time for him to reach the ninth or tenth layer of the Heavenly Human Realm.

Regardless of whether he managed to advance to the Second Realm in the short term, pills suitable for the Heavenly Human Realm would no longer be of use.

...

"Forty times?"

Zhang Qiao was startled.

Previously, it was 50,000 Primordial Stones’ worth annually; now forty times that was 2 million Primordial Stones.

Recalling the past sixty years,

this single individual had spent nearly 10 million Primordial Stones in such a short span!

"Did he discover a Primordial Stone star?!"

Even the well-informed Zhang Qiao, an overseer of the Four Directions Sect, was stunned by Chen Jichuan’s spending pace.

He looked at Chen Jichuan and quietly asked, "Brother Xu, is it just coincidental, or have you heard some news?"

"Hmm?"

Chen Jichuan looked up at Zhang Qiao, puzzled, and asked in return, "What news?"

"..."

Unable to discern if Chen Jichuan’s expression was genuine or feigned, Zhang Qiao lifted his brows slightly and lowered his voice: "Two hundred years ago, the Fourth Ancestor of Magic Sound Mountain failed to overcome the Fifth Realm Independent Immortal Tribulation and perished. Last year, the Seventh Ancestor also fell under the Fifth Realm Independent Immortal Tribulation. By my estimation, in another two hundred years, the Tenth Ancestor will face the same tribulation. Brother Xu, at this moment—"

Zhang Qiao spoke in a mysterious tone.

Chen Jichuan finally understood his implication and couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Magic Sound Mountain’s thriving trade and lack of disputes relied on the suppression of several ancestral figures.

But with time.

Among the ten ancestors, five had passed away due to old age, and the remaining five advanced to Divine Transformation before succumbing one by one, becoming Independent Immortals.

For Independent Immortals, the tribulation came once every thousand years.

The further one progressed, the more terrifying it became.

Although the Magic Sound Five Ancestors were united in purpose, it was impossible for all to overcome the tribulations.

Two hundred years ago, the Fourth Ancestor failed the tribulation.

Last year, the Seventh Ancestor failed as well.

Two of the five were gone.

The deterrent Magic Sound Mountain once held over the Jiulong River System’s major powers immediately weakened substantially.

In another two hundred years, it would be the Tenth Ancestor’s turn; if he too failed, leaving only two ancestors, the once-formidable Magic Sound Mountain would be left teetering.

Many were already anxious that great chaos might soon befall Magic Sound Mountain at any moment.

It just so happened that Chen Jichuan’s vast procurement and apparent plans to leave coincided with these speculations. Zhang Qiao made the connection and casually inquired whether Chen Jichuan knew of any insider information.

As an overseer of the Four Directions Sect, it was part of his duty to collect and forward all manner of rumors and information back to headquarters.

"Brother Zhang overestimates me."

"I’ve simply been in Magic Sound Mountain for too long, and my cultivation progress has stagnated. Restlessness compels me to step out and explore for a while."

"With two Five Tribulation Independent Immortals and a Fourth Tribulation Independent Immortal overseeing Magic Sound Mountain, the situation is as stable as a boulder. There won’t be any issues for at least another four hundred years."

"Even if I were to flee, it would be far too premature."

Chen Jichuan chuckled wryly.

Of the three remaining ancestors of Magic Sound Mountain, the Tenth Ancestor would face the Fifth Realm Independent Immortal Tribulation in two hundred years, while the First Ancestor’s Sixth Realm Tribulation would arrive in four hundred years.

If neither survived their tribulations, leaving only the Third Ancestor, Magic Sound Mountain would indeed face a crisis.

But for the next two hundred to four hundred years, there wouldn’t be any immediate issues.

"Brother Xu is too conservative."

Zhang Qiao shook his head vigorously after hearing this.

He held a dim view of Magic Sound Mountain’s situation: "The Fourth and Seventh Ancestors specialized in arrays, making them particularly troublesome to deal with. That both failed their tribulations in succession doesn’t bode well for Magic Sound Mountain."

Looking at Chen Jichuan, he sighed, "Brother Xu leaving now might indeed be for the best."

After voicing his thoughts,

Zhang Qiao quickly dropped the topic, smiling instead: "Brother Xu, drink your tea. I’ll have someone prepare the pills right away; it’ll only take a moment."

"Let’s drink."

Chen Jichuan responded with a laugh.

...

Although the fortyfold quantity Chen Jichuan requested was considerable,

the Four Directions Sect’s inventory in Magic Sound Mountain was abundant, and gathering the supplies wasn’t difficult.

Within the time it took for them to drink some tea, the goods were already delivered.

Chen Jichuan carefully checked everything, confirming its accuracy.

"And the medicinal herbs."

He then purchased sufficient spiritual medicines from the Four Directions Sect to refine 500 furnaces of ’Brocade Spirit Pills’ and a few other pills to obscure his intentions.

The total may have seemed substantial, but refining a single furnace of ’Brocade Spirit Pills’ required ingredients worth only 16,800 Spirit Crystals.

Even refining 500 furnaces amounted to only 8.4 million Primordial Stones.

Adding the other deceptive herbs, the total came just over 10 million.

Compared to the earlier 20 million, the impact was considerably less.

"And the ’Brocade Spirit Pills.’"

This visit wasn’t only for purchases.

Chen Jichuan also sold pills.

He handed over all the ’Brocade Spirit Pills’ he and Gan Chen had refined over the last sixty years.

A total of 90 bottles, 1,080 pills.

At a price of 1,600 Primordial Stones per pill, he earned 1,728,000 Primordial Stones.

Although it didn’t offset his 3 million procurement cost, it did allow him to recover some funds.

...

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