Chapter 522 - 491: Sitting Down to Divide the Spoils and Heading to Jinghai Island Reef

Chapter 522: Chapter 491: Sitting Down to Divide the Spoils and Heading to Jinghai Island Reef

As they watched the Jinyun Valley Flying Boat depart and vanish over the horizon, Celestial Ghost City erupted with excitement once again. Without this powerful outsider looming over them, it meant the entire city was now theirs.

"Order the Qi Refining Cultivators to speed up the reconstruction of Celestial Ghost City. Everything must be built to the highest standards."

"Also, set up the City Defense Array and other offensive and defensive armaments immediately. We must guard against a counterattack from the Star-Picking Sect."

"Chen Che is gone. Have the Golden Core Daoists hurry over. We need to push forward in one fell swoop and reclaim the lost territories of the Three States as quickly as possible. And put a rush on searching for the resources plundered by the Star-Picking Sect!"

Excitement was one thing, but they didn’t skimp on the necessary preparations.

"Yes!"

As they received their orders, they couldn’t help but dream about the wonderful days ahead.

...

「At that very same moment.」

「Qingtian Peak, within the Star-Picking Sect’s territory.」

Seventeen streaks of Escape Light shot across the sky, arriving like crashing thunder and landing on the peak in the blink of an eye.

The light faded, revealing a man with a heroic, martial bearing, clad in a large black cloak. He was the first to appear. He glanced back at the sixteen panting figures who landed after him, then waved his hand and said:

"You have all endured days of strenuous travel. Past this point is the territory of the Primordial Sect, and we are only three days from Celestial Ghost Ridge. Let’s rest here for two days, then we’ll set out again."

"We obey the Right Protector’s command!"

Hearing this, everyone heaved a great sigh of relief.

This group was none other than Right Protector Jiang Shaotian and a contingent of the Star-Picking Sect’s elite.

They had set out the moment they received the message from the Sect. After flying at full speed for the better part of half a month, even the Golden Core cultivators were exhausted. Without complaint, the group quickly found their own spots, swallowed some pills, and seized the time to recover their cultivation.

Because a vicious battle awaited them.

Of course, they were merely the vanguard. The main army was still behind them—at least three full Spiritual Boats of cultivators, totaling nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators and thirty thousand Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators.

The fall of Celestial Ghost City, and the successive shattering of the Divine Soul Plaques of Zuo Qinlong, Dou Shanhe, and True Master Xuehai Gong Liangyi, had naturally alarmed the upper echelons of the Star-Picking Sect. This was the greatest loss the Star-Picking Sect had suffered since the war between the two sects began.

They had come under orders not only to retake the bridgehead of Celestial Ghost Ridge but also to avenge the three and recover the resources from the Three States.

Rumor had it that the Jinyun Valley group had annihilated the three high-ranking members. However, Jiang Shaotian always suspected Jinyun Valley lacked the strength for such a feat and that there was something fishy going on. Unfortunately, the three main combatants were already dead...

’No matter who it is, I will not let this go!’

Jiang Shaotian stood on the peak, his gaze like a torch, the cliffside wind whipping his robes, making them crackle like a banner.

...

But what Jiang Shaotian could never have imagined, not in his wildest dreams, was that Chen Che’s group had also departed from Celestial Ghost City at the same time.

「Meanwhile.」

Inside the main cabin of the Spiritual Boat, the Golden Core cultivators were gathered once more. Thousands of large crates were piled unceremoniously all around. They were now in Primordial Sect territory, which should have been quite safe. No one would be stupid enough to try and rob a Spiritual Boat from Jinyun Valley.

Originally, everyone had planned to wait until they returned to Jinyun Valley to divide the spoils, but Chen Che announced that he had other matters to attend to and would be gone for at least another half a month. So, they decided to divide it now.

"Spirit Stones, ores, and Spirit Herbs are all hard currency. Whether we resell them or use them ourselves, it won’t arouse suspicion as long as we don’t bring out too much at once."

Naturally, these were the first things to be divided.

Especially with the war breaking out in the territories, the prices of all kinds of raw materials had skyrocketed. Often, you couldn’t buy these things even if you had the money.

Whether for personal use or for stockpiling as reserves, they were excellent choices.

"Jinyun Valley gets thirty percent. The Meng Family and Xiao Chan each get twenty percent. The Chen Clan gets fifteen percent. Lu Yuntian, Zhao Yunchen and his son, and Yu Qian each get five percent."

With a light wave of his hand, Chen Che set the shares.

"Alright!"

Everyone agreed.

Only Zhao Shifeng was stunned. He never would have imagined that he and his son would also get a share.

Beside them, Lu Yuntian smiled without saying a word.

He had followed Chen Che for so long and had never once been short-changed. As long as you put in the effort, you were guaranteed a reward. With these resources, even if the Primordial Sect was defeated in the war, they could still make a comeback.

"Learn from this."

Zhao Yunchen sent a voice transmission to his son. "Everyone knows the principle of ’drink from large bowls, divide gold with large scales,’ but not everyone has the guts to actually do it."

Even Yu Qian was clicking his tongue in amazement. ’Chen Che is just too generous,’ he thought. ’There have been so many times I’ve wanted to just leave my family and join Jinyun Valley. As long as you follow him, he never treats you like an outsider.’

"Those four crates of Starfire Stone, I’ll take them. I also want the other Water and Wood Element Spiritual Objects of the same type."

Chen Che paused for a moment before continuing, "I hope you’ll all indulge me in this. I’m willing to compensate everyone with extra Magical Artifacts, Talismans, and Pills from the remaining shares."

The Celestial Derivation Five Elements Skill he cultivated required a massive amount of elemental items. Even with Jinyun Valley collecting them for him, the progress was too slow.

If he could obtain these Spiritual Objects, it would be no problem to advance his Nine Transformations Spirit Flame Technique to the Third Transformation.

"No problem."

Everyone quickly agreed.

"As for the rest, you all can divide it amongst yourselves. Just remember to set aside a share for me and Xiao Chan." Now that he had what he needed, Chen Che wasn’t as desperate for the remaining items, which were mostly Magical Artifacts, Pills, and Talismans. At best, they were just icing on the cake.

Besides, there were too many types, and it was too tedious. Dividing everything piece by piece would take at least ten days to half a month.

"Che’er, you’re not coming back to the Valley with us?"

Meng Qianxun asked in surprise.

"The Primordial Sect is trying to steal my things. I have to go get them back..."

Chen Che grinned, then strode out of the cabin with Xiao Chan.

...

「Three days later.」

Riding the Little Chick at full speed, the Black Tortoise Calm Sea was already visible in the distance.

Compared to when he had left, the Black Tortoise Calm Sea had become a bustling port with immense traffic. Countless ships came and went, creating a lively scene. The most eye-catching sight was a massive, two-hundred-zhang-long Spiritual Boat docked on one side of Jinghai Island Reef.

Countless cultivators were carrying large wooden crates toward the Spiritual Boat. From a distance, they looked like busy lines of ants.

"Please pay the island entry fee!"

The entire Jinghai Island Reef was sealed by a Grand Array, prohibiting flight. Two Jinyun Valley disciples were on duty at the entrance.

Seeing someone approach, one of them stepped forward and blocked the pair.

The newcomers were none other than a disguised Chen Che and Xiao Chan.

These few days were when the Primordial Sect came to collect their share of the Anomalous Copper Ore. They didn’t lift a finger, yet with a mere word, they took fifty percent of the share. Chen Che was naturally unwilling to let that stand, so he had brought Xiao Chan here to intercept them.

Chen Che found it a bit amusing. He was being charged a fee to enter his own territory. Still, he handed over two Spirit Stones.

He found an inn to stay in. Before long, the sound of faint footsteps came from outside the door. The visitor seemed to be moving with extreme caution, as if afraid of disturbing anyone else.

The visitor was none other than the Isle Master of Jinghai and the future Chief of the Pill Hall, Zhao Changping.

He had been handling official business when he received Chen Che’s Divine Sense transmission. He immediately dropped everything he was doing and rushed over.

"Greetings, Valley Master. Greetings, Senior Fushan."

Zhao Changping quickly paid his respects.

"Since when do we charge an entry fee for the island?"

Chen Che asked casually, lightly tapping his finger on his teacup.

"About nine months ago..."

Zhao Changping answered immediately. "The island gets an average of two to three thousand ships per day, with a considerable number of cultivators. Seeing the high volume of traffic, I started charging a fee per head."

"Cancel it."

Charging an entry fee wasn’t some unique invention of Jinghai Island Reef; almost every city did it.

But Jinyun Valley was the sole exception.

Regarding this, Chen Che just said faintly, "When you have more people, everything else will follow. Jinyun Valley doesn’t need this paltry amount of Spirit Stones."

"Understood."

Zhao Changping replied respectfully at once.

"How is your cultivation coming along? And your alchemy skills?" Seeing that Zhao Changping was so readily compliant, Chen Che didn’t linger on the topic and instead asked about his cultivation.

"I’m at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Currently, I have an eighty percent success rate when refining Tier Two Middle-grade Elixirs. Valley Master, this is an elixir I refined a few days ago. Please, appraise it..."

Zhao Changping said, respectfully handing over an elixir.

"Not bad. The elixir is smooth and lustrous, perfectly formed. Your cultivation hasn’t fallen behind, and your alchemy skill is also improving. I thought you might get bogged down by trivial matters and neglect your cultivation."

Chen Che gave it a glance and didn’t hold back his praise.

"Thank you for your praise, Valley Master!"

Zhao Changping cupped his hands, heaving a great sigh of relief internally.

Although matters on Jinghai Island Reef were hectic, he had always squeezed out time to cultivate. For a long time now, he had only taken a single day of rest every half a month, precisely because he didn’t dare let his cultivation progress or his alchemy practice fall behind.

Because he knew that no matter what, one’s Cultivation Realm was fundamental. Otherwise, even if the Valley Master personally promoted him to the position of Chief of the Pill Hall, no one else would be convinced of his merit.

Now, it seemed his year of hard work had not been in vain.