The abandoned cannon fodder girl's path to immortality

Chapter 305 The Seal is Loosening!

As the sword energy dissipated, Jiang Yi stood holding his sword, his aura surging dramatically, indicating that he had broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment!

His eyes were bright as stars, and the scar on his left cheek seemed to have faded a bit. His whole demeanor changed, becoming calm and reserved, yet with a hidden sharpness.

"Nine Slashes of the Blazing Sun..." He looked down at the Radiant Blazing Sword in his hand, softly reciting the name of the sword technique he had just comprehended, a relieved and joyful smile slowly curving his lips.

Chen Jinshu watched from afar, a barely perceptible hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

With a clear and discerning sword mind, he has comprehended his own unique sword technique. This young man's talent in swordsmanship is indeed extraordinary.

"Congratulations. You have crossed the crucial threshold of sword cultivation."

Jiang Yi took a deep breath, suppressing his overwhelming joy, stood up, and bowed deeply to Chen Jinshu, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "It's all thanks to your guidance, senior! I will never forget this kindness!"

"You figured it out yourself." Chen Jinshu waved his hand, his gaze falling on the crimson sword intent in his palm.

Although still rough, its intent is noble and its sword spirit pure. Given time to hone it, it will surely become a superior sword technique. From this point on, you have truly entered the path of swordsmanship.

Jiang Yi blushed with excitement and bowed again:

"This junior will certainly study diligently and tirelessly, living up to the expectations of my seniors, and also living up to the sword in my hand!"

……

Several days later, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

tide Yue sat cross-legged on the blue stone by the pool, her hands forming a mudra, with moon-white light swirling around her fingertips.

She closed her eyes and concentrated, chanting the incantation of the "Taiyin Ning Shui Jue" in a low voice, which was ethereal and far-reaching, as if it were a whisper from the deep sea.

Strands of moonlight gathered from the void, forming a pale silver halo around her.

Even in broad daylight, the power of the moonlight was clearly visible, flowing around her like ripples on water.

"Concentrate, draw the moonlight into your dantian, using water as the foundation, and transform it into your natal true essence..."

She silently recited the mantra, guiding the pure moonlight power to flow slowly through her meridians.

At first, everything went smoothly; the moonlight, like water, gently nourished her meridians and dantian.

But just as she was trying to channel the moonlight into her heart meridian, a sudden change occurred.

"Om-"

The seal that Chen Jinshu had placed on his chest suddenly trembled slightly.

A faint golden light emanated from the seal, rippling out like water.

tide Yue felt a warm force surging from the depths of her heart. The feeling was not painful, but rather carried an indescribable sense of intimacy, like a mother's embrace or the call of her hometown.

Immediately afterwards, her consciousness seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, falling into a strange state.

She saw a deep, dark sea.

The seawater wasn't the usual azure, but rather the deep, almost inky blue of the ocean.

Sunlight can only penetrate a hundred feet or so into the surface; beyond that lies eternal darkness.

In that darkness, a golden light flickered. The light was not dazzling, but it carried an ancient and noble aura, like a king sleeping at the bottom of the sea issuing a silent summons.

"Come...come..."

The sound was indistinct and distant, yet it reached the depths of her soul.

The golden light seemed to be calling to her, guiding her through the boundless darkness to some unknown place.

tide Yue felt her Mermaid bloodline boiling, responding to that call.

She could even feel her fishtail swaying uncontrollably, as if trying to break free from her body's constraints and swim into the embrace of the deep sea.

"tide Yue!"

A cold, low shout resounded like thunder in her mind.

tide Yue shuddered, suddenly opened her eyes, and gasped for breath.

She found herself collapsed on the bluestone, drenched in cold sweat. Her simple cloth clothes were soaked through and clung tightly to her body.

Chen Jinshu stood before her, his expression solemn, the blue lotus birthmark between his brows gleaming with a gentle luster.

She placed one hand on Xiyue's shoulder, her fingertips flashing with azure light, as she channeled a pure azure wood spiritual energy into her body to help calm her surging blood and qi.

"Master...Master?" tide Yue's voice trembled, and her eyes showed a hint of confusion and fear.

"I...I just..."

"The seal has loosened," Chen Jinshu said in a low, serious voice.

She crouched down and lightly traced a line on Xiyue's chest with her fingertip, a wisp of azure light entering it.

tide Yue felt a cool force flowing through her heart, and the heat and the call from the deep sea gradually faded away, and her breathing slowly became steady.

"What did you feel?" Chen Jinshu asked, his gaze fixed on Xiyue's eyes.

tide Yue lowered her head, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her dress, her voice trembling slightly: "I...I saw the sea."

“A very, very deep sea. There is light there, golden light… It called me… to come to it…” She raised her face, a hint of fear still lingering in her azure eyes.

"I couldn't control myself, it was like... it was like my whole body wouldn't obey me, I just wanted to swim in that direction... that feeling... it was like going home..."

"Go home?" Qingheng peeked out from the jade hairpin, her little face full of curiosity.

"Xiyue, didn't you say you were driven out of your tribe? How come you still have a home?"

tide Yue shook her head, looking bewildered. "I don't know... The feeling was vague. It didn't seem to be the direction of the Yuexi tribe. It was more like... a place further away, like the depths of the sea... something was calling to me."

Chen Jinshu remained silent for a moment, then condensed a bluish-white spiritual light at his fingertips, outlining several complex runes in the void.

The talismanic symbols, like chains, wrapped layer upon layer around Xiyue's heart, reinforcing the seal.

tide Yue let out a soft snort, her face paling for a moment, but the unease from the depths of her bloodline subsided completely.

Chen Jinshu stopped and looked at her with a serious expression: "The Mermaid King bloodline in your body is more active than I thought."

“I previously suppressed it with a seal, thinking I could completely isolate it, but it seems that as your cultivation level improves, your bloodline power is gradually recovering. That seal can no longer suppress it for long.”

"Then... what should we do?" tide Yue grabbed her sleeve, her eyes filled with unease.

"Master, I don't want to be controlled... I don't want to be taken away by that voice..."

Chen Jinshu patted her hand reassuringly: "Don't worry too much. Although the seal is loose, it hasn't been broken yet. As long as you don't excessively draw out the moonlight or deliberately stimulate your bloodline power, you won't be in any major trouble in the short term."

“However…” she said, her tone becoming more serious, “In the near future, you must not practice the advanced techniques of the Taiyin Ning Shui Jue, especially those parts that draw upon the power of the moon and the deep sea. Focus on the basic breathing techniques for daily practice, and we’ll discuss it further once I come up with a more reliable method.”

tide Yue lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Yes, Master."

She was silent for a moment, then raised her head, her eyes filled with pleading: "But Master, the 'Taiyin Condensing Water Technique' is indeed very compatible with my bloodline... When I cultivate it, I can feel my cultivation level steadily improving, and the quality of the woven silk has also improved a lot..."

“I know.” Chen Jinshu’s voice softened a bit. “The Taiyin Condensing Water Technique is an excellent water-based cultivation method that is compatible with your bloodline. If you cultivate normally, you will break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage in no time. But right now, the abnormal fluctuations in your bloodline are more important than your cultivation level. If your foundation is unstable, the higher your cultivation level, the more dangerous it will be.”

tide Yue pursed her lips and finally nodded: "tide Yue understands. Don't worry, Master, I won't act rashly."

Chen Jinshu looked at the dimness in her eyes, sighed inwardly, took out a light blue bracelet from his storage bag, and handed it to her.

"This is my 'Soul-Suppressing Bead Bracelet' made from deep-sea cold jade. It can stabilize the soul and suppress inner demons. Wearing it on your wrist can help you calm your mind and resist interference from the outside world."

tide Yue took the bracelet; it was cool to the touch. It was strung with twelve pale blue beads the size of longan fruits, with faint, fine runes flowing across their surfaces, radiating a warm, spiritual light.

She put the bracelet on her wrist and felt a cool and gentle power flowing slowly through her meridians, which calmed her previously chaotic mind.

"Thank you, Master." She said her thanks solemnly.

Chen Jinshu nodded slightly and stood up: "I'm going outside the valley. You all keep a close watch on the house. If there's any unusual activity, send a message using the jade token."

"Where is Master going?" Qingheng flew out of the jade hairpin, landed on the ground, and asked with her blue eyes blinking.

"Go to the nearby market for independent cultivators and exchange for some supplies." Chen Jinshu said, taking out a gray cloth cloak from his storage bag and putting it on. He then made a simple change to his face, transforming himself into an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman, and even deliberately suppressed his aura to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

"The market?" Qingheng's eyes lit up. "I want to go too!"

“You stay in the valley.” Chen Jinshu shook his head. “The spiritual herbs in the valley need to be cared for, and Xiyue’s bloodline is unstable and needs someone to watch over her. If you stay, it will be good for someone to look after her.”

Qingheng pouted, but couldn't argue, so she could only nod: "Alright... Master, come back soon."

Chen Jinshu responded, and with a flash, he transformed into a gray shadow, swept across the bamboo forest, and quickly disappeared into the mist at the valley entrance.

……

About three hundred miles east of Qingluan Valley, there is a market town for independent cultivators called "Qingshiji".

It was called a market, but it was really just a few dilapidated stone houses and simple stalls made of wooden planks, sparsely arranged around a flat area in the valley.

Most of those who come here to trade are independent cultivators who hunt monsters and collect spiritual herbs in the surrounding area, and a few cultivators come from towns further away to purchase supplies.

The goods traded were incredibly diverse: there were freshly hunted monster corpses and demon cores, picked spiritual herbs and fruits, discarded low-level magical artifacts, and some broken jade slips and ancient objects of unknown origin.

Chen Jinshu, wearing a gray cloth cloak, walked along the stone-paved road of the market, his gaze sweeping over the various stalls, his expression indifferent.

Her cultivation level was suppressed to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, which was not conspicuous in this market and made it easier for her to be noticed.

"Top-quality Crimson Sun Stone! Freshly mined from Crimson Python Ridge, three hundred spirit stones each!"

"The carapace of a peak-stage second-tier 'Ironback Centipede'! Made into armor, it can withstand a full-force attack from a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator! Only five hundred spirit stones!"

"A 300-year-old Blood Ganoderma! A holy remedy for refining blood and replenishing qi, and for healing! Only 800 spirit stones!"

The cries of vendors echoed through the market, carrying a strong sense of bargaining.

Chen Jinshu walked and looked around, then stopped in front of a stall selling medicinal herbs.

The stall owner was a middle-aged rogue cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. He had dark skin, wore a patched Taoist robe, and was squatting behind his stall smoking a pipe.

"Fellow Daoist, are you looking to buy some spiritual herbs?" Upon seeing a customer arrive, the middle-aged rogue cultivator quickly put down his pipe and put on a solicitous smile.

"I have quite a few good items here. Look, this is 300-year-old Polygonatum, and this is 50-year-old Poria cocos..."

Chen Jinshu squatted down, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the goods on the stall.

The quality of the medicinal herbs varies greatly. Some herbs are good materials, but they are not top-grade.

"How much are these Crimson Flame Grasses?" she asked, pointing to several bright red herbs in the corner of her stall.

The herb was about half a foot long, its leaves unfolding like flames, faintly emitting a fiery aura.

The middle-aged rogue cultivator's eyes lit up: "Fellow Daoist has excellent taste! This Crimson Flame Grass is a valuable item, one of the main ingredients for refining fire-type pills. It's a low-grade third-tier spiritual herb, each costing eight hundred spirit stones. I have three here; if you take them all, I'll give you two thousand two hundred spirit stones. How about it?"

"Too expensive," Chen Jinshu said calmly, his voice deliberately lowered.

"Although the Crimson Flame Grass is rare, it is not cooked properly, and its medicinal power is only 70% at most. Three plants cost 1,100 spirit stones, which is a fair price."

The middle-aged rogue cultivator paused for a moment, then carefully examined Chen Jinshu. Seeing that she had accurately described the quality and grade of the spiritual herbs, he knew he had encountered an expert. He didn't press the matter further and readily nodded.

"Alright! We'll do as you say, fellow Daoist! One thousand one hundred, I'll take all three!"

Chen Jinshu took out a bag of spirit stones, counted out 1,100 and handed them over.

The middle-aged rogue cultivator took the spirit stones, counted them with a beaming smile, put the spirit herbs into a wooden box, and handed it to Chen Jinshu.

After the transaction was completed, Chen Jinshu was about to leave when the middle-aged rogue cultivator called out to her, "Fellow Daoist, please wait!"

Chen Jinshu turned around and looked at him calmly.

The middle-aged rogue cultivator chuckled and then said, "Fellow Daoist, are you here to collect medicine? If you're looking to buy some good stuff, I do know a place."

At midnight tonight, there will be an "underground transaction" behind the market; some items that are not suitable for open sale will be displayed there.

“If you’re interested, you can go and take a look. Just say my name, ‘Old Herbalist,’ and you can get in.” He winked at Chen Jinshu, giving him a knowing look.

Chen Jinshu's heart stirred slightly, but he remained expressionless on his face, only nodding slightly: "Thank you for informing me."

After leaving the medicine stall, she wandered around for another half an hour, exchanging pills for some spirit stones and materials for setting up the array.

Just as she was about to find a corner to rest, a commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd ahead.

"Go quickly! Those people are back from the south! They say they encountered something incredible!"

"what?"

"It looks like... a Golden-Winged Roc! Fighting a Black Dragon! It's right above Tianzhu Peak on the edge of the Southern Frontier!"

"The Golden-Winged Roc? Isn't that a legendary ancient bird? How could it appear in the southern border region?"

"I heard it flew over from the Western Regions. I don't know why, but it collided with that black dragon. The two great demons fought so fiercely that the sky darkened and the battle could be felt for miles around!"

Chen Jinshu walked calmly to the edge of the crowd and listened to the discussions over there.

Several cultivators at the late Foundation Establishment stage and early Golden Core stage gathered together, chattering about what they had just witnessed.

"I saw it clearly!" A cultivator with a full beard slapped his thigh and said with great momentum, "That Golden-Winged Roc has a wingspan of a hundred feet! Its whole body shines with golden light, and its feathers are like sharp swords. With a flap of its wings, it sends up a sky full of golden light!"

That black dragon was no weakling either; its entire body was jet black, with a single horn on its head, and it spewed forth black, poisonous mist from its mouth! The two great demons fought for a full half hour above Tianzhu Peak, until finally the Golden-Winged Roc shattered the black dragon's scales with a single claw. The black dragon fled into the depths of Yunmeng Marsh, and the Golden-Winged Roc also flew away.

"Is it that serious?" A tall, thin old man next to him frowned.

"Two powerful demons at the late Golden Core stage fighting in the Southern Border is not a good sign. Could it be that the demon beasts are about to revolt?"

"Who knows!" the bearded cultivator shook his head. "Anyway, I'm planning to go down the mountain and avoid it. I heard that something similar happened before the last beast tide. First, there were frequent battles between high-level demonic beasts, and then the beast tide came." (End of Chapter)