Chapter 326: The Calyx Boat |
Stepping into the clearing, he glanced skyward.
It was, indeed, Long Ao and Storm Crane 7.
Seeing him emerge, the man and his crane descended swiftly.
Jiang Chen stared at his friend’s unblemished features, surprised. “Senior Brother Long, your pretty face is all healed up?”
Long Ao gave a slight nod and explained, “I just returned from Iron Blood Peak. My new Master accepted me as a disciple and, while she was at it, restored my face.”
“And your Spirit Root?” Jiang Chen pressed.
Long Ao offered a cryptic smile. “That… is one of the reasons I came looking for you.”
A flicker of understanding crossed Jiang Chen’s face. “So it’s restored as well.”
Closing the distance, Long Ao retrieved an object from his storage space. “Your Liquid Water Essence worked wonders—better and faster than I could have hoped. I’ve already consumed it.”
The item in his hand looked like a boat. It was smaller than his Demon Dragon Water-Avoiding Boat, but far more exquisite. Its body was a pure, jade-like white, shaped like a blooming flower.
The corners of Long Ao’s mouth twitched as he fought to keep a straight face. “I’ve seen you zipping around on that spinning Giant Leaf of yours, and frankly, it doesn’t quite fit the image of a Spirit Cultivator. So, I brought you this Calyx Boat.”
Jiang Chen eyed the vessel with suspicion. “Isn’t this a bit… much?”
Long Ao’s composure finally cracked, a hint of awkwardness in his voice. “My Master is a woman, you see. Most of the artifacts she possesses are… of this particular style.”
Jiang Chen’s gaze flicked to Storm Crane 7, who guiltily averted its eyes. The truth dawned on him instantly. “Ah, I see. This was a gift from your Master… *for you*.”
Exposed, Long Ao could no longer contain himself and burst out laughing. “Hahaha!”
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes. “Seriously? This is how you treat your brother?”
Long Ao waved a dismissive hand. “First, this kind of transport really isn’t my style. Second, I have the great Lord Storm Crane 7, don’t I?”
At the mention of his name, Storm Crane 7 puffed out its chest, looking immensely proud.
Jiang Chen frowned. “And you think *I* want to be seen in this thing?”
“It’s an improvement on the Giant Leaf, isn’t it?” Long Ao retorted, unable to suppress a grin. Every time he pictured those four massive leaves spinning wildly, he had to fight back laughter. Since he had no use for his Master’s gift, he might as well pass it on. It was, in every conceivable way, a major upgrade.
Jiang Chen fell into a contemplative silence.
He was reluctant to use the Demon Dragon Water-Avoiding Boat. Its current form was far too conspicuous. If some old monster recognized its true nature, he’d have a target painted on his back.
But this Calyx Boat… it was ostentatious in a completely different way.
“This is a highly sought-after treasure in the Inviting Moon Immortal Sect,” Long Ao said earnestly. “Countless female cultivators would kill for it. My Master had to snatch it from someone else.”
Jiang Chen asked tentatively, “When you say ‘snatch,’ do you mean…?”
“Exactly what you think,” Long Ao confirmed with a grin. “My Master boasted to me personally that she thrashed the Orchid Fairy of the Inviting Moon Immortal Sect and took it right from her.”
Jiang Chen couldn’t help but ask, “Just who at Iron Blood Peak *is* your Master?”
“The Deputy Peak Master of Iron Blood Peak,” Long Ao replied promptly. “Dual Water-Wood Spirit Root, early-stage Nascent Soul.”
Jiang Chen’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me it’s that Nascent Soul True Lord, the one who plunders from all seven peaks without equal?”
The True Lord was infamous throughout the sect, her reputation a mix of awe and notoriety. It was said that if she saw something she liked, she would simply take it. If she couldn’t take it right away, she would wait—for her target to be injured, to enter secluded cultivation, or even to grow old.
In short, her methods were as overbearing as they were devious.
Jiang Chen gave him a thumbs-up. “Looks like your luck has finally turned after hitting rock bottom.”
Long Ao blinked. “If you don’t like the Calyx Boat, you can always give it to someone else.”
*Give it to Senior Sister Yu?* The thought crossed his mind, but they hadn’t seen each other since the incident. He had no idea what her situation was, and showing up unannounced felt intrusive.
Suddenly, Long Ao remembered something else. “In a few days, Mystic Heart City is hosting its centennial Thousand Sails Event. Are you going?”
Jiang Chen paused, then considered it. “I’ve always wanted to visit Mystic Heart City but never had the chance. If that’s the case, let’s go together.”
“You should invite your friends, like Jin Fugui and Chen Bo,” Long Ao added. “The more the merrier. I hear that since this is the centennial event, the rewards are exceptionally lavish.”
Jiang Chen naturally agreed.
“Alright, that’s all for today. We’ll head to Mystic Heart City in a few days,” Long Ao said, turning back toward his crane.
In moments, man and beast launched into the air, vanishing into the distance, likely heading back to Beast Mountain.
Jiang Chen lowered his gaze to the Calyx Boat in his hand. Normally, he would absolutely gift this to someone else. But with the Thousand Sails Event coming up, a proper vessel was essential. He wouldn’t summon the Demon Dragon Water-Avoiding Boat unless his life depended on it.
So, he’d have to make do with this… thing… for now. He could always palm it off on someone else after the event in Mystic Heart City was over.
His mind made up, Jiang Chen channeled his Wood Spirit Qi into the Calyx Boat and tossed it into the clearing before him.
As it absorbed the spiritual energy, the boat swelled to its full size before his eyes. It was crafted entirely from flowers. The main body was a magnificent seven-stamen Qiong Flower, which naturally pulsed with pure Wood Spirit Qi. Its petals were a semi-translucent jade-white, their edges blushing with a faint pink hue. Each petal spanned over ten feet, possessing the toughness of spirit wood yet retaining the supple grace of a living blossom.
The seven petals unfurled to form a circular cabin, its interior lined with a plush, spiritual velvet woven from the flower’s own pollen and golden silkworm silk. The material was warm to the touch and designed to absorb the turbulence of flight. The petals were tethered by the sinews of some great beast, allowing them to flex and adjust their angle, forming comfortable seats within a space that could expand to a diameter of thirty feet, easily accommodating a dozen people.
The control center was located where the stamens converged. Dozens of golden filaments coalesced, their tips supporting a fist-sized Spirit Stone that served as the heart of the formation. Encircling the stone were seven smaller leaves, each corresponding to one of the main petals. The first leaf on the left, for instance, controlled the fragrance emitted by the petals, while the third on the right adjusted the flight altitude. Each leaf governed a unique function.
*Clap. Clap. Clap.*
Jiang Chen couldn’t help but applaud as he finished his inspection. “The artisan who forged this Calyx Boat was a genius,” he murmured in admiration. “They understood their target audience perfectly. No wonder it’s such a sensation in the Inviting Moon Immortal Sect!”
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