CHAPTER 405: CHAPTER 346: 40 YEARS OLD: SHORT OF MONEY! [VOTE FOR MONTHLY TICKET!]

[Name: Qilin Treasure Medicine]

[Level: Fourth-order]

[Description: This spiritual medicine grows on the ’Qilin Immortal Bone’ and is nourished by immortal energy. It can nurture the origin of the primordial spirit, accelerating its transformation. Cultivators in the Divinity Transformation stage can directly reach the Ninth Transformation of the primordial spirit upon consuming it. Note: This medicine is ineffective for those at the peak of Divine Transformation and the Nine Tribulations Independent Immortal. Note II: The medicine contains a trace of the characteristics of an Immortal Elixir, capable of breaking shackles in cultivation realms, such as bloodline, innate, and postnatal limitations, and granting the chance to advance to the Fourth-order!]

...

In the real world.

Seven Mysterious Mountain.

Red Maple Valley.

Chen Jichuan sat meditating in his cave abode.

He decided not to enter the Starry Sky World for a while, feeling a sense of relief.

This gave him the leisure to recall the insight he caught a glimpse of while harvesting the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine.’ That one glance left him enlightened.

"No wonder!"

"No wonder Xiao Lan covets both the ’Qilin Immortal Bone’ and the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine.’"

"Turns out, the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ not only allows one to unobstructedly reach the Ninth Transformation of the primordial spirit but can also break through cultivation caps."

"Although Xiao Lan’s true body is Fourth-order,"

"her human clan avatar is still stuck at the Ninth Transformation. Moreover, due to being cultivated through the ’Pure Yang Immortal Lotus,’ breakthrough beyond the Fourth-order is utterly hopeless, nor can she dissolve into becoming an Independent Immortal."

"With the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ and the insights from her true body, she will definitely achieve a breakthrough."

"At that time, her true body and avatar will both reach Fourth-order, greatly enhancing her advantage upon ascending to the Upper Realm."

Only now did Chen Jichuan understand.

A single ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ alone was enough for Xiao Lan to forgo numerous Fourth-order magical treasures and even abandon 82 Divinity Transformation Demon elders recorded in the ’Ten Thousand Demon List.’

"With Xiao Lan’s cultivation level, how many Divinity Transformation-stage demon clans can she not apprehend after ascending to the Upper Realm?"

"Never mind 82, even 820 wouldn’t be as significant as one Fourth-order avatar."

If he were able to go online at this moment, he would gladly offer one of his extra ’Qilin Treasure Medicines’ to Xiao Lan, fulfilling her ambition of having both her true body and avatar reach Fourth-order, and in return, secure greater benefits for himself.

One ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ was sufficient for his own use.

But alas, he dared not log in now.

Thus, this opportunity was wasted, leaving Xiao Lan with yet another regret.

Furthermore,

the ’Ten Thousand Demon List,’ ’Black Cloud Divine Shark Net,’ and other four Fourth-order magical treasures—all belonging to Xiao Lan—had been left behind during her attempt to break through at the Qilin Mountain Immortal Vine Ancestral Land, only to be picked up by Chen Jichuan.

Initially, he thought of returning them to Xiao Lan after the conflict was resolved.

However, now he dared not enter the Starry Sky World for the time being, and with Xiao Lan’s true body ready to ascend while her avatar neared its lifespan limit, neither could afford a millennium’s wait.

"It’s unlikely to make it in time!"

Chen Jichuan sighed softly.

Those treasures meant little to him, as they coincidentally fell into his hands, giving off the impression of deliberate scavenging and hoarding, leaving him slightly uneasy.

But there was no alternative.

Compared to returning treasures, preserving his own life was clearly more critical. Xiao Lan would surely understand.

And in time, if a Fourth-order cultivator were to rise in the Wuhe Immortal Sect, they could deliver those treasures to the Upper Realm on his behalf, returning them to Xiao Lan.

...

"The world seldom goes as one desires."

"It’s already a great joy that I acquired the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ and Xiao Lan acquired the ’Qilin Immortal Bone.’

Chen Jichuan ceased dwelling on the matter of treasures.

Thinking of Xiao Lan, his mind turned to the ’Qilin Immortal Bone.’

The ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ grows on the ’Qilin Immortal Bone.’

By comparison, the ’Qilin Immortal Bone’ must be even more precious.

If merely a ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ warranted Xiao Lan’s considerable effort, what about the ’Qilin Immortal Bone’?

"It must be of utmost priority!"

"Maybe—"

Chen Jichuan shook his head, tossing aside the mundane dealings of the Dao Fruit World.

He stood up and paced his cave abode.

"Right now, going online is inadvisable."

"The safest approach is to wait two or three years before re-entering."

"Two or three years—"

Chen Jichuan contemplated.

This period would be too short to fully explore a new Dao Fruit World, producing little more than cultivation progress into the First or Second Divinity Transformation realm, which ultimately would be of limited use.

Moreover, activating a Dao Fruit World consumed source energy, which presented another challenge.

Besides that—

"In the Starry Sky World, with the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine,’ I could directly reach the peak of the Divinity Transformation stage. Venturing into worlds of similar ranking would merely waste time and source energy."

"It would be better to focus on reality."

"Creating the Starry Sky World alone cost a billion source energy; the next Dao Fruit World, by prediction, should require ten billion source energy."

"Moreover, condensing affiliated Dao Fruits in this life, according to calculations, demands as high as thirty-two billion source energy."

"Relying solely on secluded alchemy to earn is too slow; the income pales in comparison. Finding alternative sources of revenue is imperative!"

Chen Jichuan mused.

The upcoming phase necessitates preparation of forty-two billion source energy,

translated to 4,200,000 standard spirit stones,

equivalent to 2,100 primordial stones in total.

When calculated this way, the figure doesn’t seem daunting.

And truthfully, it isn’t.

Even an ordinary Second-order alchemist can earn a million spirit stones annually.

4,200,000 stones would merely take 42 years of effort.

With Chen Jichuan’s expertise in alchemy, even with intentional restraint, his annual revenue for the past 11 years averaged at three million spirit stones.

Totaling to 33 million in earnings.

However, this represents income.

Chen Jichuan also has expenditures.

A significant portion is dedicated to cultivation.

These spirit stones, converted into source energy, barely suffice for his day-to-day cultivation, let alone savings.

"Spirit stones."

"Source energy."

The issue of source energy has troubled Chen Jichuan for a long time, prompting him to deliberate extensively, eventually formulating a plan.

Previously, due to his lower cultivation strength in reality, he was unable to act.

But now—

[Name: Chen Jichuan]

[Age: 40]

[Immortal-order: 2]

[Immortal-position: None]

[Cultivation: Fourth Realm of Enlightenment]

[Talent:]

Creation·Insight;

Creation·Derivation;

Creation·Enlightenment;

Creation·Commanding All Laws;

[Cultivation Techniques:]

White Tiger Sword Prison Scripture (True Sect Level);

Vermilion Bird Glaze Scripture (True Sect Level);

Azure Dragon Longevity Scripture (Side Door Level) [Eightfold Derivation];

[Magic Skills:]

Low-tier: Omitted

Middle-tier: Omitted

High-tier: Omitted

Super-tier:

Fifth Realm: Daluo Heavenly Sleeve, Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape, Five Elements Escape Technique, Guiyuan Hiding Method, Seven Elements Relieving Calamity Ruyi Tiangang Splitting Light Sword Technique, Three-in-One Indestructible Golden Light Body Protection Technique, Blood Light Refraction Taiyin Divine Mirror Technique, Nine Doubts Skill

Fourth Realm: Five Thunders True Skill, Daluo Heavenly Fire, Heaven Mending Seal, Najia Divination Method, Dutian Rakshasa Chaos Yin Yang Nine Netherworld Reincarnation Life and Death Treasure Method, Corpse Refining Technique, Seven Saints Calling Name Divine Spell, Six Ding Mountain Opening Skill, Heavenly Yin True Qi, Green Lotus Descent, Pill Dragon Map, Mother-child Primordial Yang Divine Needle, Three-Seven Soul Searching Method, Mystical Gate Skill, Sun Chasing Walk, Soul-shaking Bell, All Heavens Desire Demon Five Lustful Fat Magic, Innate One Qi Demon Suppression Technique, Divine Splitting and Thought Transformation

[Magical Treasures:]

Second-order: Inverted Eight Gates Immortal Suppression Banner, Five Thunders Hurricane Mother Car, Taiyin Qingling Bamboo Leaf Divine Talisman, Ten Thousand Leaf Sword River, Three Flowers Divine Shuttle, Fire Dragon Immortal Banner

[Skills: Alchemy (Third-order); Artifact Refining (Third-order); Talisman Making (Third-order); Arrays (Third-order)]

[Immortal Salary: 1000]

[Source Energy: 75,497,101]

...

"Forty years old."

"Fourth Layer Heaven."

Chen Jichuan opened the ’Immortal Record’ interface, his face lighting up with a smile.

In the Starry Sky World, four thousand four hundred and twenty-two years had passed, and Chen Jichuan advanced to Divinity Transformation. With the help of the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine,’ he was on the brink of reaching the peak of Divinity Transformation.

In the real world, the past eleven years had likewise seen significant progress.

Quietly yet steadily.

His cultivation advanced step-by-step, now reaching True Person Fourth Layer Heaven.

This progress stemmed from abundant resources obtained through Seven Mysterious Sect and the conversion of spirit stones to source energy accumulated over the years.

Additionally, the cultivation realm and Dao insights steadily honed through the Dao Fruit World contributed substantially.

Mastery in his cultivation techniques.

Profound Dao insights.

Chen Jichuan only needed to persistently accumulate mana and temper his physical body in reality.

His cultivation naturally grew by leaps and bounds.

However, he couldn’t ignore the fact—

Post-Enlightenment cultivation required exponentially greater source energy consumption, and efforts in tempering mana and the physical body grew increasingly arduous.

Over the past eleven years, leaping from Qi Refinement Seventh Layer to Fourth Realm of Enlightenment represented achievements that would take ordinary cultivators hundreds of years.

Even for prodigies, it would take decades.

For Chen Jichuan to achieve this in just eleven years demanded an unimaginable expenditure of pills and spirit stones.

Mana accumulation.

Physical tempering.

Divine soul elevation.

These pursuits, if done systematically, would progress painfully slowly, necessitating substantial investments to accelerate.

And all these efforts—their costs—hinged on spirit stones.

...

"Insufficient spirit stones."

"Limited time."

"Seven Mysterious Sect is of no further assistance to me."

Eleven years ago, before entering the Starry Sky World, Chen Jichuan joined Seven Mysterious Sect. Over the years, he indeed reaped gains through its support.

However, as his cultivation advanced, his unparalleled alchemy prowess enabled earnings that far exceeded those from Seven Mysterious Sect’s provided opportunities.

This wasn’t his limitation.

It was the limitation of the Seven Mysterious Sect.

"After all, Seven Mysterious Sect is merely one of the three factions within the Fire Dragon Cave Market; its channels are restricted."

"Going forward, unless I join eminent sects like the Seven Treasures Sect or the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, it would become more challenging to sustain my cultivation."

Yet even with membership in the Four Great Immortal Sects, relying on alchemy, artifact refining, or talisman making to earn spirit stones would seem inefficient: "Time is precious in reality; it shouldn’t be wasted on such endeavors."

In the past, he had no alternative.

But now, with his cultivation reaching True Person Fourth Layer Heaven, combined with his array of magical skills and treasures, Chen Jichuan could navigate even the presence of Divinity Transformation cultivators.

Not to mention defeating them outright, but survival was surely attainable.

"The immediate priority is uncovering the full situation of Panlong Mountain."

"How many Divinity Transformations are in the Four Great Immortal Sects?"

"How many Divinity Transformations reside within Panlong Mountain?"

"What lies beyond Panlong Mountain?"

Chen Jichuan possessed plentiful means of earning wealth, tremendous amounts of wealth.

Yet, nesting inside Seven Mysterious Mountain through Seven Mysterious Sect stifled his knowledge of Panlong Mountain’s broader dynamics.

He might harbor ambitions for a grand venture but remained restrained by the need to gather intelligence and achieve greater familiarity with all corners of Panlong Mountain beforehand.

Lives depended on clarity; recklessness held dire consequences.

"This matter should be addressed sooner rather than later."

"For now, I’ll aim to complete the ’Divine Splitting Technique.’

"However, when it comes to splitting the divine soul, the spiritual objects necessary for nourishing and replenishing soul strength must not be overlooked."

With a plan in mind, Chen Jichuan strode out of his cave abode.

...