Chapter 456: Ten Thousand Years of Lifespan! |
Jiang Chen asked with a smile, “How is it?”
Although Long Ao had heard of milk wine before, he had never actually tried it. Today was his very first time, and he had never expected it to taste like this. He couldn’t help but give a thumbs up. “The milk flavor is rich, the texture is mellow, and after drinking it, I feel my entire mind calm down.”
Jiang Chen thought to himself, This is the Heavenly Horse Milk… flavored wine that even Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators pursue. Not only are the taste and texture excellent, but its effects are astounding.
He had long since figured out how to brew it in large batches, secretly having his puppets handle the production.
By now, he had stored around five hundred jin of it.
The reason he hadn’t reported to Zhao Mo even after several months was because he felt that producing a wine of this quality too quickly would make it seem cheap.
Therefore, he decided to hold off and wait another half a year before saying anything.
After all, the other party had already waited this long; they wouldn’t mind waiting a little longer.
Long Ao smacked his lips, carefully savoring the aftertaste, before asking, “Do you have a lot of it?”
Long Ao looked slightly regretful. “In that case, I’ll just have to buy it from you in the future.”
Jiang Chen grinned. “While there isn’t much milk wine, there’s more than enough Spirit Wine.”
That was exactly what Long Ao wanted to hear. “Perfect.”
Next, the two of them chatted endlessly about the events of the past half a year.
“Tell me, did any major events happen while I was sealed in ice?”
“Does the integration of outsiders into our Cloud Sea Sect count?”
“I have indeed heard about that.”
“Senior Brother, you must be on guard against those people.”
“I know.”
And so, the two exchanged what information they had.
In the end, these were merely suspicions; there was no actual evidence to back them up.
…
…
Time flew by, and four years passed.
During this period, a few things happened.
First, Zhu Fuxian went out to seek a glimmer of hope for survival. Second, Long Ao achieved an Earth-Grade Golden Core. Third, Pei Mo returned. Fourth, the Heavenly Horse Milk Wine sold incredibly well. Fifth, Chen Tian went out into the world for experiential cultivation.
Overall, neither the Cloud Sea Sect nor the entire Azure Realm had experienced any particularly major events.
Even the Yellow Springs Alliance, which many feared, had vanished without a trace recently. No one knew if they were lying low or brewing up some new scheme.
As for the portable space, it had also undergone significant changes with the passage of time.
It had expanded from over two hundred mu to three hundred mu, looking more and more like a true blessed grotto-heaven.
Furthermore, unlike its previous disorganized state, the layout had now been properly arranged.
The west, which was the far left side, was entirely composed of Spirit Farms planted with spirit rice and spirit plants. To the east lay the initial form of a vast lake, teeming with all sorts of fish. In the north, the Water Spirit Palace had been repaired. Although it couldn’t compare to its former glory, it was completely habitable with basically no issues. In the south, a plot of land had been fenced off specifically for raising the Dragon-Transformed Meridian-Reversing Worm Mother and “her” children.
In short, everything had become neat and orderly.
As for Jiang Chen, he had gone from twenty-five to thirty years old.
He had shed his last trace of youthful immaturity. His features had grown more mature, and his temperament more steady.
A fine layer of stubble even lined his upper lip.
At this moment, he sat cross-legged in an open clearing, rich Earth Spiritual Qi gathering all around him.
Nine stone pillars surrounded him, each carved with mysterious runes.
Several breaths later, a yellow shield enveloped his body, slowly rotating.
The surrounding soil began to surge inexplicably, and the Earth Spiritual Qi grew even denser.
After an unknown amount of time, a low hum suddenly rang out.
Jiang Chen opened his eyes, spiritual light flickering in his gaze. As his Adam’s apple bobbed, he spoke in a low voice: “The Great Earth Heaven Bearing Art has reached max level.”
This art was something Tie Zhu had obtained by chance. Since it was of no use to him, he had traded it for cultivation resources.
Initially, it was merely an incomplete fragment, consisting of only a single page.
Yet Jiang Chen had stubbornly studied it, spending over a year just to reach the Novice stage.
Afterward, he consumed 150 years of Lifespan to forcefully complete it and push it to max level.
At the same time, the contents of his attribute panel shifted.
Name: Jiang Chen
Gender: Male
Age: 30 years old
Spirit Root: Five Elements Spirit Root
Cultivation: Heavenly-Grade Golden Core: Initial Stage
Divine Abilities: Five-Colored Divine Light, Myriad Bug Broodmother, Calling Wind and Summoning Rain, Thousand Mechanisms Myriad Transformations
Miracle Hands Level: Puppetry, Rune Arts, Artifact Refining
Max-Level Arts: Myriad Insects Secret Record, Nine Flames Mystic Art, Nine Curves Tide Generating Art, Great Earth Heaven Bearing Art, Water-Wood Rotation Script, Five Elements Art, Four Seasons Scripture
Max-Level Spells: Overturning Sea Seal, Spirit Pointing Finger, Scorching Sun Finger, Golden Blade Spell, Vine Bind, Forest Stealth, Wood Armor Spell
Technique: Nine Transformations of the Wandering Dragon: Third Transformation
Remaining Lifespan: 19765 years
After reading through all the effects, Jiang Chen took a deep breath. “Almost there. As long as I obtain one more Earth-grade metal-attribute art and one more Earth-grade fire-attribute art, I can perform a second fusion. By then, the Five Elements Art will become even more heaven-defying.”
“Daddy!”
Just then, a crisp call rang out from behind him.
Jiang Chen smiled faintly, turning around to reply, “Yes?”
Soon, little Linglong, who was already four years old, came staggering over with a cup of wine in her hands.
Perhaps because she was half-human and half-dragon, she was naturally growing up as well. However, compared to normal humans, her growth rate was incredibly slow.
Her features still carried the round, innocent chub of a toddler, and her forehead remained full. Her baby hair had shifted from its original silver-gray to a light cyan. Her eyes were even brighter than when she was born, the corners tilted slightly upward beneath long eyelashes. Her nose was small and button-like, and her ears were slightly more pointed than a normal child’s.
The fine scales on her body were now hidden beneath a light cyan short jacket. Below, she wore white pleated pants and a pair of brown embroidered shoes on her feet.
She looked tiny and utterly adorable.
In no time at all, she arrived in front of Jiang Chen, raising the cup of wine high. Because she wasn’t tall enough, she even stood on her tiptoes.
Jiang Chen took the wine with his right hand and naturally stroked her head with his left. “Which kind of wine did you learn to make from the Wine Steward today?”
Linglong spoke as if claiming credit, “Ice Heart Jade Pot Wine!”
Surprised, Jiang Chen quickly took a sip. “Why does the taste feel a bit strange?”
Linglong gave an innocent smile. “I also added the liquid that Auntie Worm Mother secretes!”
Pfft!
Jiang Chen instantly spat it out, his eyes and the corners of his mouth twitching madly.
“Good heavens, are you brewing wine or concocting poison?”
“Don’t do this again, or there won’t be any New Year’s gifts for you!”
“Got it?”
Hearing this, Linglong pouted, looking incredibly wronged and pitiful.
Jiang Chen’s heart softened. He shook his head and said, “Seeing as you’re still little, I’ll let it slide this time.”
Linglong immediately broke into a goofy grin. “Hehehe.”
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes. “I knew you were faking it.”
He picked Linglong up, and the two headed toward the Water Spirit Palace.
Along the way, Linglong leaned against his right shoulder and couldn’t help but ask, “Daddy, when can I go outside to look around?”
Jiang Chen repeated the same excuse he had given many times before. “It’s too dangerous outside. Wait until you’re a little bigger.”
Linglong asked again, “Then… what about Mommy?”
Jiang Chen froze for a moment, then sighed helplessly. “Our family is simply too poor. We only have this little bit of Spirit Farm, this rundown house, and a few old puppets. Your mommy has to work hard outside all by herself just so she can afford your New Year’s gifts.”
Linglong nodded, half-understanding. “When I grow up, I’ll definitely work hard to earn money.”
Jiang Chen chuckled inwardly, then put on a gratified expression. “Our Linglong is so sensible!”
