The Green Hill Foxes attitude worried Jiang He a little. To think that they came to him on their own initiative, inviting him to his territory—could they be setting a trap for him?
Jiang He quickly left his yard at the thought and went to the Thunder Talisman Daoist.
Anything could wait until after he gathered dozens of Violet Sky Thunder Talismans to calm his nerves.
The Thunder Talisman Daoist was standing on the deck of his mystic ship right then. The Eminent Fox’s arrival had caused a huge commotion which left him startled, and even as he stared at the daemonic clouds rolling away into the distant horizon, he said somberly, “You must not be fooled by the Green Hill Foxes’ deception, Brother Jiang He. The foxes are a cunning kind—they definitely are up to no good.”
“It’s fine. They are merely the Green Hill Foxes; they can’t move the world.”
Jiang He waved him off and shifted away from that topic, and instead asked, “How many Violet Sky Thunder Talismans have you crafted over the last two days, Daoist?”
“What Violet Sky Thunder Talisman?”
The Thunder Talisman Daoist appeared utterly confused and said, “I have never come across any talismans of that name, nor do I know how to craft them… weren’t you telling me to make as many Nine Retribution Talismans, Brother Jiang He?”
“Oh… right, it’s the Nine Retribution Talisman,” Jiang He muttered.
Since the Violet Sky Thunder Talismans were what Jiang He harvested after planting the Nine Retribution Talismans for strengthening, the Thunder Talisman Daoist naturally wouldn’t know about it.
Still, the Thunder Talisman Daoist could not help holding back an excited look when Jiang He mentioned the Nine Retribution Talismans, and he smugly said, “Brother Jiang He, I’ve managed to craft eighteen of the Nine Retribution Talismans over the last few days, with most of them being high-grade, including one grade-nine Nine Retribution Talisman.”
“Oh?”
Jiang He gaze changed.
A tier-nine Nine Retribution Talisman?
In other words, it was refined from the heavenly thunderbolt of retribution for Sufferance who had reached nine retributions. Such was how the Nine Retribution Talismans were categorized, which in turn inspired Jiang He since his Violet Sky Thunder Talismans could be categorized in the same way too!
With that, Jiang He accepted the eighteen Nine Retribution Talismans.
Of the eighteen talismans, there was one grade-nine, two grade-eights, three rank-sevens, while the rest ranged from rank one to six.
After acquiring the Nine Retribution Talismans, he said, “It’s been hard on you recently, Thunder Talisman Daoist… by the way, you may return to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect now, though there should be no delays in the progress of crafting new Nine Retribution Talismans, and it would be best if you could refine every thunderbolt that I have given you into Nine Retribution Talismans… of course, if you think you don’t have enough thunderbolts, I could catch more for you.”
Delighted, the Thunder Talisman Daoist said, “Many thanks, Brother Jiang He.”
However, he refrained from mentioning the part about ‘catching heavenly thunderbolts’…
Catch, my foot!
There are so many heavenly thunderbolts in store that he had yet to use them all. It would take him at least a month to refine all of them, and most importantly, the talismans place a huge toll on mind and mystic energy. He would have to rest at least several years if he is going to refine all those thunderbolts, not to mention that his cultivation had yet to stabilize after reaching seven-retribution by literally stealing Jiang He’s thunder.
Uh-huh.
After he returned, he would confine himself for ten years before crafting more Nine Retribution Talismans. The key was that he could weather his retributions by force if Jiang He used up his heavenly thunderbolts, and having Jiang He catch his thunderbolts of retribution… it would be killing two birds with one stone, so what was not to like?
On the other hand, Jiang He did not ask any further questions. Returning to his farm, he began to plant the new Nine Retribution Talismans…
Even so, he had no idea that word about the Green Hill Foxes’ ‘invitation’ had spread among all cultivators, with the Green Hill Foxes themselves stirring up the hype. They were intent on having news of it spread so far that if Jiang He proved unwilling to visit their Holy Grounds, they could make him utterly lose face while strengthening their own reputation.
Jin Sidao of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and the Taixu Sect had both sent word to dissuade Jiang He, telling him not to get emotional and reckless.
On the other hand, the elites of the other sects who were unacquainted with Jiang He were actually feeling wary about Jiang He, a person who would destroy a sect if anything rubbed him the wrong way. Right now, many elites had left their seclusion and were discreetly observing it all, while guessing whether Jiang He would dare to visit the Green Hill Foxes!
“Jiang He’s not a fool. Going to challenge the Green Hill Foxes alone? Even if the immortals have yet to return, the Green Hill Foxes hold such a strong depth that the average immortal cannot hope to challenge them.”
One such elite offered his analysis, and sighed in slight disappointment. “Still, I really hope that he would visit them, since every cultivator sect would never have peace as long as he is not dead. Everyone is afraid that he would suddenly come knocking down their doors, demanding that they answer to some bizarre crime!”
Indeed, Jiang He had already become an archdemon among cultivators—was there any among those secluded elites who did not bore teeth-gnashing hatred toward him?
They had been cultivating for up to a thousand years in seclusion. Though they had assumed that Chaos was at hand and they could lead their sects to reclaim their past glory, they did not imagine that Jiang He would oppress them to the point that none of them were holding their heads high once they left their mountains.
Who could be pleased about that?
***
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Martial Arts Department (MAD), Lin Tianzheng was rubbing his temples and smiling bitterly.
A lot of people in Lingzhou City saw and heard how one of the Green Hill Foxes’ Eminences had ‘invited’ Jiang He to their Holy Grounds, and that piece of news naturally reached Lin Tianzheng himself.
Even so, he could not do a thing.
He called Jiang He, who told him he did not have to worry about a thing.
He called Wang Hou, who had left Jingdu City the three days prior and was now gone without a trace. He had said he was searching for his providence…
And was now nowhere to be seen.
“Forget it…”
“Our country wouldn’t have the power to interfere with this matter anyway. We can only hope that Jiang He’s power overwhelms all and that he would pacify the Green Hill Foxes.” Lin Tianzheng slowly sat down and sighed softly, feeling a feebleness inside.
He finally understood what Wang Hou was thinking.
Dejection, helplessness—those feelings would wear out an entire person in spirit.
“Improve… I must improve as soon as possible!”
“Even so… so what if I alone gain power? Unless I could be like Jiang He, dominating everything with his own power!”
Lin Tianzheng started to study the cultivation manuals that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had donated. Then, he called in the divine-tier martial artist who was replacing Zhou Yu’s place as deputy, asking, “Where is the person that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect have sent us?”
“He’s staying at a hotel and had been loafing around on the streets over the last two days. The people from the secluded immortal sects seem to be interested in everything since they haven’t left their mountains for centuries.”
“Please ask him to come.”
Lin Tianzheng replied. “I need to discuss the promotion of cultivation methods. The Ten Thousand Swords Sect would certainly use this opportunity to spread their own teachings and this is precisely one such opportunity.”
Soon, he was face to face the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s elite.
The man was a Sufferance elite with three retributions.
Though he had only left the mountains two days ago, he had pretty much assimilated into the city. He had his long hair trimmed away in a favor of a stylish fade hair style and was also wearing a white jersey. And since his face was not elderly, he had a prim handsomeness to him.
Still, because Jin Sidao had reminded him repeatedly, he was quite courteous with Lin Tianzheng even though he was merely a Void-tier martial artist.
Lin Tianzheng himself cut straight to the chase without preamble. “I have a general idea why the Ten Thousand Swords Sect would offer these cultivation manuals kept secret among your sect—karmic connection. Even if your techniques were spread throughout this country, those who cultivate it would be bound to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect even if they were formally initiated as disciples, and are basically your disciples anyway.”
The Sufferance elite from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect did not deny it, and said, “This is a win-win for both the Hua Nation and my sect. Aside from donating our inherited cultivation manuals, we would also be sending several of our cultivators to promote cultivation across the nation, enlightening those who need guidance and instructing their cultivation.”
“With the Revival of Qi, there has been many soul herbs and plants growing out in the wildlands. I would save some since I can see that you are not able to use them to full potential for now, as well as newly train pellet-refinists and instructing them on pellet-refinement, thereby giving new cultivators a quicker way to gather cultivation resources.”
“In fact, should Chaos descend in the future, or should disciples of demonic sects and ancient daemon cultivators cause havoc, we, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, would aid you in fending them off as well.”
The Ten Thousand Swords Sect were indeed keeping themselves humble because of Jiang He.
Every condition mentioned were certainly beneficial to the Hua Nation.
It was definitely a win-win situation when examined for the long term, as the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s rise might depend on their partnership with Hua Nation… if all goes well, they would not only possibly gain some extent of great fortune despite the Chaos, but also assuredly strengthen ties with Jiang He.
With Jiang He around, would there be any cultivator who would dare to cross the Ten Thousand Swords Sect?
***
While Lin Tianzheng hammered out the specifics of a partnership with the elite from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, Jiang He was busy harvesting Violet Sky Thunder Talismans in his farm.
After he kept all eighteen Violet Sky Thunder Talismans in his System Backpack, Jiang He felt as if…
He had gained some measure of confidence.
When the time comes, he would just have to blow up the Green Hill Foxes to boost his presence and hype. He would be charged with energy when he fought then.
With that, he left, steering a sword flash as he headed straight towards the Green Hill Holy Grounds.
Just as he was about to arrive, he suddenly turned his hand, drawing out a Violet Sky Thunder Talisman with a hesitant look before saying, “I didn’t test how powerful this paper talisman is. Wouldn’t I be absolutely humiliated if it fails me at the Green Hill Holy Grounds?”
Pausing up in the skies, he clenched his teeth and said, “Let’s test it right now… and I’ll have an idea when it’s go time!”
Still, how he should test it was a major problem.
Beneath him were wildlands.
Should he capture a Feral to test it?
However, using a Violet Sky Thunder Talisman to hit a high-rank Feral was such a waste, and even more wasteful than killing a mosquito with a laser canon.
“Should I test it on Jin Sidao?
“Isn’t this Violet Sky Thunder Talisman supposed to have an auto-targeting gimmick that locks in on auras? The mystic treasures and spirit stones Jin Sidao gave me still have some of his aura lingering… hmmm?”
Jiang He could not help blinking at that very thought.
He took out an invitation letter with a turn of his hand.
The Eminent Fox’s aura was upon it.
Should he give it a try?
***
The Classic of Mountains and Seas had mentioned that Green Hill was within Green Hill Country.
However, there was no point of reference for Green Hill Country.
All Jiang He knew was that Green Hill was 150 kilometers away from Mount Ji, which was in turn located Northwest of Shandong Plains, on the border between Lingcheng District and Linyi County. Northwest of Shandong Plains also basically referred to the northern part of the Yellow River within Shandong District.
It had been a fertile ground of commercial cotton and agriculture, though it was all wildlands now.
A hundred and fifty kilometers eastward from Mount Ji were several plain and ordinary hills, around which where foxes dwells.
These foxes varied in strength. The weak ones never mutated or evolved, while some of the stronger ones had reached rank-nine—judging from the faint Daemonic Qi from their bodies, they had clearly cultivated daemonic arts.
The hills were also covered in arrays. Elites watching would notice that this place was actually a valley that extended over a hundred miles…
And the Holy Grounds of the Green Hill Foxes was within.
“Jiang He is coming!”
A voice called out in the Holy Ground of the Green Hill Foxes then. After that, the Eminent Fox who had ‘exchanged two blows’ with Jiang He and sent him the written invitation abruptly appeared, while beside him, many other Eminent Foxes arrived one after another.
“Has Jiang He arrived, Fabulous Fox?”
One of the other Eminent Fox asked then, speaking the extremely questionable name of the Eminent Fox who assumed the form of a young man. Even so, Fabulous Fox was quite insistent on that name because he thought himself fabulous and an unparalleled prodigy among all foxes.
He smiled. “I left a portion of my own aura on the invitation, and I could feel it approaching our Holy Grounds rapidly. It must be Jiang He, bringing it here… Eh? It stopped…”
The smile on Fabulous Fox’s face stiffened at that.
At the same time, a pang of fear arose deep inside his heart.
Fabulous Fox promptly looked up at the skies, only to find dark clouds rolling toward their direction, with horrific thunderbolts flashing within.
“Whose heavenly retribution has arrived?”
One of the Eminent Foxes cried out in surprise as his face turned ashen green, and it barked, “Wretch, why don’t you step out to suffer your retribution? Are you trying to trigger every Sufferance eminence’s retribution, weathering it in the Holy Grounds… eh?”
Before he could finish, he could sense that something was wrong with Fabulous Fox.
After all, he was shaking and mumbling, “Is… Isn’t that my heavenly retribution?”
