How enchanting was she to be able to do that?
Yet someone actually ignored her charms and actually rebuked her as a little girl!
Zhu Xuan’er was really very displeased. If Ling Han was an old man in his fifties or sixties, she would have nothing to say. But it was obvious that this guy was three or four years younger than herself, yet acted all aged and experienced; how could she not explode with anger?
Most importantly, Ling Han’s expression seemed to be so natural. He did not look at all like he was playing a cat and mouse game with her. This was practically like stabbing a few dozen times directly into Zhu Xuan’er’s heart that had always been so confident!
At this moment, she really felt a strong impulse to pull off her veil. She was sure that once Ling Han saw her magnificent beauty, he, too, would fallt captive to her charms.
However, firstly, she had never wanted to make use of her beauty, and secondly, she was more fearful that Ling Han would fall for her and use the Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass, or his status as an Earth Grade alchemist, to force her to his will. Thus, she gritted her teeth and suppressed this kind of impulsive urge.
“Grandmaster Ling, you look to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. If Xuan’er is a little girl, then what are you?” she countered.
“Silly girl, whether one is mature or not is decided by one’s mental age, not by the way one looks. I know already just by listening to you that you’re really a silly girl.” Ling Han shrugged, turned and left.
Meanwhile, Hu Niu made a face at Zhu Xuan’er, then caught up to Ling Han. Tugging on the corner of Ling Han’s shirt, she giggled in laughter.
‘Damn! Damn! Damn!’
Zhu Xuan’er felt like she was about to go crazy. How could there be such a man that would drive one to such anger; he was really too irritating, wasn’t he? He really made one want to throw something at him, right?
***
Ling Han was very satisfied. This trip to the Dark Devil Forest was practically perfect. Not only did he reap massive benefits from this journey, he had also managed to con Asura Demon Emperor and solve a huge problem. He had also met the Rain Emperor again. This dominating Emperor had already set out on his path of a ruler, and his future achievements were boundless.
He brought Hu Niu with him back to Extreme Yang City. If Yin Lan already managed to obtain the Nine Leaf Black Ganoderma for him, he would be able to concoct the Restore Spirit Pill.
Zhu Xuan’er actually caught up with them and travelled alongside Ling Han. This made Hu Niu very displeased—she felt that this woman that liked to move her behind as she walked was really too annoying. Why did she keep trying to seduce her Ling Han?
Ling Han had already transplanted the Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass. Actually, this stalk of Spiritual Herb had yet to reach full maturity, but after growing in the Black Tower for over a dozen days, it should be mature enough. Thus, when Ling Han returned to Extreme Yang City, this stalk of Spiritual Herb was fully grown, but bore only three pieces of fruit. Yet the main stem very rapidly wilted, as if it had transferred all its life into these three pieces of fruit.
The fruit could not be used; the value of the Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass lay in its stem. However, these three pieces of fruit meant that over a month later, Ling Han would be able to gain three stalks of hundred-year-old Crimson Red Chilling Ice Grass.
At that time, he would use one and sell another to Zhu Xuan’er. He would leave the last to continue bearing fruit, and in the future, he would no longer be short of this Spiritual Herb.
He returned to the inn, yet found out that Liu Yu Tong and the others had long moved out. However, they had left behing an address for Ling Han with a waiter. Naturally, it was because Liu Yu Tong and Li Si Chan had decided, and finally found a new home for them.
When they reached Extreme Yang City, Zhu Xuan’er floated away, whereas Lign Han went to his new home.
It was located in the eastern part of the city. From the outside, it looked very ordinary, but there was actually a sizable lake inside. Willow trees hung over the lake, making for a very pleasant scenery. Furthermore, there were platforms and towers, water pavilions and stone bridges, making one feel as if one had found a spot of calm in chaos.
They had actually even hired guards at the doorway—they halted Ling Han’s advance. This made Hu Niu display her ferocious true nature and she almost bit them. Thankfully, Zhu Wu Jiu just happened to come out and hurriedly welcomed Ling Han into the residence. He also informed the guards that this was the real owner of the Ling Residence.
They had also hired some servants to work in the manor. After all, the manor was extremely large, and Liu Yu Tong and the others had other matters they needed to do, primarily cultivation and pill concoction, so how would they have time to do trivial tasks?
Soon, Liu Yu Tong and the others came out to receive him.
Ling Han roughly grasped the current state of events. Whether it was Forget Not or Alchemist King Pavilion, due to Liu Ji Tong’s care, naturally no one dared to make any designs on them. However, because Ling Han had left for too long, the ingredients at Forget Not were almost finished. From last month onwards, they had even used the method of selling those dishes that needed these ingredients and limited the amount. Otherwise, they would have had no more ingredients to sell by now.
It was the same for the Alchemist King Pavilion. The higher grade alchemical pills that Ling Han had concocted were practically sold out, and although Li Si Chan had considerable talent in alchemy, she was still a very far way off from the Alchemy Emperor.
Thankfully, Ling Han finally returned.
Naturally, business matters had to be dealt with as soon as possible. Lign Han withdrew a large amount of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as some livestock from the Black Tower and told Zhu Wu Jiu to deliver them to Forget Not. As for alchemical pills, when he had the time, he would enter into the Black Tower to concoct them. After all, they needed time to be concocted, and could not just be withdrawn like those food ingredients.
When it was time for lunch, Gong Letian came without an invitation.
He was already addicted to the good stuff sold in Forget Not, yet after they limited the supply of dishes, he could only eat one excellent dish with each meal. How could his mouth, which had grown picky, tolerate this? Thus, he would come everyday to join them for a meal because Liu Yu Tong and the others had long become picky as well and had to have dishes made with the food ingredients from the Black Tower for every meal.
When he saw that Ling Han had returned, this guy immediately pounced on him and wailed, “Brother, you have finally come back. I’m almost about to die from waiting for your meat!”
Ling Han could not help but wear a dark expression. Did this guy know how to talk? He wanted to eat his flesh?
Ling Han had returned today, so everyone naturally needed not continue conserving their supplies. Multiple kinds of gourmet dishes were served; they fiercely ate their meal, causing all of their stomachs to become rounded from the feast. After Gong Letian left, Ling Han gathered all of them around him.
“This is the Heavenly Luck Stone,” Ling Han said, and explained the effects as well.
This made everyone astonished. If they refined this small rock, then when they broke through to the next Tier in future, they would gain an additional four or five Battle Stars worth of battle prowess? That was really too shocking; how could such a priceless treasure exist in this world?
They were people of Rain Country, and due to their limited knowledge, they naturally could not have heard of such a treasure.
Everyone was extremely excited. Even elite cultivators of the Flower Blossom and Spiritual Infant Tier would fight over such a treasure so that they could help their own juniors raise their ability, but Ling Han actually managed to get as many as nine pieces of such a rock; it was really astonishing.
They were filled with gratitude and each swallowed a piece of Heavenly Luck Stone. Once they broke through to the next major
Tier, their battle prowess would spike up a long way. This would be proven earliest through Liu Yu Tong and Zhu Wu Jiu, because they were both already on the ninth layer of the Gushing Spring Tier. They had already strengthened their cultivation foundations close to perfection and were ready to break through.
Can Ye would be much slower. He had just broken through to the second layer of the Spiritual Ocean Tier and still had a very long way to go until the Spiritual Pedestal Tier. Guang Yuan was worse off. Because he was cultivating anew, he was indeed advancing at a faster rate than Can Ye. However, because his cultivation had regressed, even if he once again broke through to the Spiritual Pedestal Tier, he would still only be recovering his original ability and not breaking through. As a result, the benefits offered by the Heavenly Luck Stone would only be visible when he broke through to the Flower Blossom Tier.
On the other side, Li Si Chan was unwilling to swallow the Heavenly Luck Stone no matter what. To her, this was an extreme waste. She only needed the advancement of her cultivation level, and it would be enough for her to be able to concoct alchemical pills. For her, very powerful battle prowess was really not of much use.
Chapter 426
Chapter 426: Tiandu Thunder Star Array
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
Ling Han did not coerce her, either; having Li Si Chan refine the Heavenly Luck Stone was indeed a bit of a waste. Since she did not need it, then they’d just put it aside for now. Anyways, no matter when, this kind of priceless treasure would be able to fetch an astronomical price.
He headed to the Spirit Treasures Pavilion and asked if there was any news about the Nine Leaf Black Ganoderma. The result of his queries brought him much unexpected joy. Yin Hong had already gotten some news about the Nine Leaf Black Ganoderma, and would be able to obtain it in another one or two months’ time.
There was nothing to be done about that. A Level Seven Spiritual Herb was extremely valuable, and Yin Hong was only the beloved daughter of the Pavilion Master of the north region branch of the Spirit Treasures Pavilion, so she had limited means at her disposal. Most importantly, being the Pavilion Master of a branch of the Spirit Treasures Pavilion did not mean one had absolute authority. After all, the Spirit Treasures Pavilion was a very, very large party.
It was just another one or two months’ wait; Ling Han was still willing to wait. Moreover, about a month later, the Prodigy Roll of the north region would once again open up, and though Ling Han was not interested to participate, he might as well see how strong the prodigies of this era were.
“Right, do you still have any other array techniques? I can take out some cultivation or martial arts techniques to exchange for them,” Ling Han said.
Yin Hong rolled her eyes and replied, “Don’t talk to me in the tone that you use to speak with kids!”
“Just take a look at the goods!” Ling Han waved his right hand, and instantly, ten books with martial arts techniques appeared on the table, every one of them Earth Grade.
Yin Hong flipped through them and could not help but look shocked. She asked, “Where did you steal so many martial arts techniques from?”
“Don’t you worry about that. Are you willing to trade?” Ling Han said, smiling.
Yin Hong could not help but be moved, but said, “Didn’t I give you a Little Tianyuan Spirit Snake Array previously?”
“I already learnt that,” Ling Han said very casually.
Pu!
Yin Hong instantly spat out a mouthful of tea; already learnt? What kind of joke was he playing here? That was a Level Four Array Technique, and you already learnt it in a few months’ time? One had to understand that array techniques could not be learnt overnight; one had to first learn Level One array patterns, followed by Level Two, Level Three, then Level Four.
Ordinarily, one or two months would be enough to learn Level One array patterns, but Level Two would at least need one or two years, Level Three would require four to five years, and Level Four would at least need over ten years to be learnt successfully. It would be easy in the beginning, but the further one advanced, the slower the rate of improvement.
Thus, array techniques were only support techniques, and no one would actually only cultivate array techniques.
Yin Hong could also be considered a genius of array techniques, yet even she had spent three whole months to fully grasp the Little Tianyuan Spirit Snake Array, and this was still based on the fact that she had already grasped a large amount of Level Four array patterns.
“You’re bluffing!” She did not believe him.
Ling Han smiled slightly and spread out his right hand. Seven golden patterned rods appeared, and the Little Tianyuan Spirit Snake Array appeared in his consciousness. Instantly, the power of nature gushed forth, and a white snake suddenly appeared.
“What?!” Yin Hong stood up abruptly, her beautiful eyes wide. “You, you, you are practically a monster!”
“Hey, even if we know each other well, I will still get angry if you insult me like that,” Ling Han said, smiling.
Yin Hong still looked dumbfounded and said, “I thought that I was a genius of array techniques, but when compared with you, I feel like I’m an idiot.”
“True, I am a genius.” Ling Han nodded.
Yin Hong could not help but sigh. “Can’t you be a little modest?”
“This is the truth. If I act modest, that would be being pretentious. Acting pretentious is something that only bastards would do,” Ling Han said in mock seriousness.
Yin Hong instantly broke out in laughter, and as she laughed, her beautiful body shook with her peals of laughter, without worrying if she would ignite Ling Han with her voluptuous movements or that he would be overcome by lust and push her down. After a while, she said seriously, “With your level in array techniques, perhaps you may be even more impressive than I am a year later, and can take my place as the main force in the array techniques competition.”
“Then you’d have to increase my pay!” Ling Han said seriously.
Yin Hong rolled her lovely eyes at him and said, “Just a few words of praise and you’re over the moon already? However, be it for array technique, alchemy, or martial arts, every region can send three people, and the one who has achieved the best result will be used in the judgement. The higher your achievements in array techniques, the higher the possibility of us getting higher marks in array techniques. All right, I’ll trade with you!”
She drew out an ancient book and placed it in front of Ling Han.
“Tiandu Thunder Star Array.” Ling Han cast a glance over it; these words were written on the book’s cover.
“A Level Five Array Technique!” Yin Hong declared, her expression somber. “However, this is the highest level of array technique that I can obtain. In the case of Level Six Array Tehcniques, I am not yet qualified to learn. But even if I have, I could not possibly teach you, either. There are very strict rules about that.”
Yet Ling Han was pleased. The might of a Level Five Array Technique was equivalent to the Spiritual Pedestal Tier, and he was only a hair’s breadth away from breaking through to the Spiritual Pedestal Tier. Level Four Array Techniques, on the other hand, were not of much help, as very soon, they would not be useful to him anymore.
“Deal.” He grabbed the book of array techniques and left.
Yin Hong could not help but grit her teeth. She was, in any case, a great beauty, and was naturally charming in disposition. Was this brat blind?
The reason why Ling Han was able to advance so fast on the path of array techniques naturally was related to the fact that he had a sliver of the divine sense left behind from the Heaven Tier. Furthermore, he had entered into various ancient historical sites in his last life, so had studied much about array techniques. Thus, he had not begun from absolute zero.
He flipped through the book. This Tiandu Thunder Star Array could induce the attack of lightning, and it was divided into two versions. One version was the main array, which needed one to lay
out one hundred and thirty-six array stones. Even a Level Five Array Master was not able to control it freely, and could only set it up as a dead array.
A so-called dead array was similar to the Mountain Protection Great Array; it could only be set up in a certain location, and would only be activated when an intruder entered into the bounds of the array. The advantage was that it was completely automatic and possessed great force; there were also a lot of disadvantages, however. Firstly, it could not be moved, so once it was set up somewhere, it would stay there. Secondly, it could not differentiate between enemies and friends, so one wrong step, and he could still activate the array to attack him.
“I could set up one here. It could block any enemies at the level of the Spiritual Pedestal Tier,” Ling Han mumbled. However, there were one hundred and thirty-six array stones needed. How many materials would that need? He was definitely unable to set it up for the time being.
There was another version which was a supplementary array. The power of this array was much smaller, but it only needed thirty-six array stones. It could be considered as the compact version of the main array. The advantage of this array was that it could be actively controlled completely by the array master and he could command it to attack as he desired, just like the Little Tianyuan Spirit Snake Array.
“Looks like I’m going to have to spend a lot! Thankfully, three Bone Forming Pills had been auctioned off for seven thousand Two Star Origin Crystals, as well as a dozen over thousand One Star Origin Crystals, which would be enough to buy them.” Ling Han huffed out a breath of air. Looking at things, array techniques were also extremely costly, and were not that much better than alchemy.
However, though array masters could also earn money by helping another to set up a great array, once the array was set up, it could be used for more than a hundred, or even a thousand, ten thousand and more years. It was not a consumable item like alchemical pills. As a result, array masters most probably did not earn as much money as alchemists.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 227