The morning after agreeing to become Chongxuan Sheng's retainer.
Jiang Chen had already finished his morning practice. He was currently circulating Dao essence, meticulously cleansing the Gate of Heaven and Earth, making its manifestation clearer to prepare for the next advancement.
Cultivation was a matter of accumulated daily effort; one could not slack off.
Now, his nine Star River Dao Vortices spun ceaselessly, the Star‑binding Spirit Serpent writhing with vigor, so he did not need to worry about Dao essence reserves.
At this moment, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Before Jiang Chen's words had even finished, while he was still meditating on his bed, Chongxuan Sheng's mound of flesh had already rolled in front of him.
His face was all smiles, and like a magician, he produced three jade slips from his hand: "The wooden‑element offensive Dao arts you wanted. All are Grade‑B Upper, the limit of the Heaven‑Piercing realm. Masterworks among masterworks!"
Having decided to be Chongxuan Sheng's retainer for a time, Jiang Chen naturally would not be polite with him. Last night, he had already requested a wooden‑element Dao art of Grade‑B Upper quality to imprint in his Celestial Palace.
This was the disadvantage of being a lone practitioner.
For other disciples of renowned families, the Dao art to be imprinted would have been chosen long before their advancement. How could they be like him, having been in the Heaven‑Piercing realm for so long, yet the second instant‑cast Dao art slot still remained empty, unable to promptly increase his combat power, relying only on a single Flamebloom.
And after becoming Chongxuan Sheng's retainer, it had only been half a night. Chongxuan Sheng had already obtained Dao arts that met the requirements, and even three of them at once.
This fat man clearly had eyes full of expectation for praise, but his mouth was all casual: "My Chongxuan family hasn't studied wooden‑element Dao arts very deeply. Among the Grade‑B Upper ones, only two are what I consider decent. The third one I got from a friend. Take a look first. If they don't suit your fancy, I'll go find more."
Jiang Chen took the jade slips to examine them while saying offhandedly, "Your friend is quite capable."
Chongxuan Sheng didn't care whether there was space to sit or not. He squeezed himself down beside Jiang Chen and said meaningfully, "It was only after coming out of the Celestial Residence Secret Realm that I realized I had so many friends."
This was to comfort Jiang Chen, telling him that they were the true friends who had shared hardships.
Jiang Chen didn't really care about these things; his attention was already captured by the three jade slips.
It wasn't dissatisfaction; it was extreme satisfaction!
So satisfied that he一时 didn't know how to choose.
The three jade slips recorded the Dao arts Sea of Blossoms, Thorn Crown, and Tiger Bind.
Sea of Blossoms leaned toward toxicity, possessing a hallucinogenic effect, very suitable for group battles. Being able to imprint Sea of Blossoms meant one could constantly unfold a battlefield advantageous to oneself. One could say that with this single art, one no longer feared being surrounded.
Thorn Crown looked very much like a defensive Dao art, but it was actually a buff art. Its effect lay in stimulating potential. After using this art, the user's next Dao art's power would increase by twenty to thirty percent!
Do not underestimate this thirty percent. For a Grade‑B Upper Dao art, it could directly elevate its power to near that of a Grade‑A Dao art.
And for Grade‑C Upper Dao arts, such as Flamebloom, it could directly elevate them to the power of Grade‑B Middle.
Tiger Bind was a control Dao art.
The world had five elements, and the human body had five qi. Wooden‑element primordial force was not only abundant in the world; the human body also stored wood qi. The principle of the Tiger Bind Dao art lay in drawing out the wood qi from the opponent's body to bind the opponent themselves.
Of course, the specific effect varied according to the opponent's mastery over their body.
For example, using this art against Jiang Chen before he mastered the Four‑Spirit Body Refining Art and against Jiang Chen after mastering it would yield completely different results.
But in any case, as a control Dao art with almost no room to dodge, Tiger Bind's excellence was unquestionable.
The three Dao arts Chongxuan Sheng presented were masterpieces, whichever one you looked at. Among Grade‑B Upper Dao arts, they were existences that could rival Flamebloom among Grade‑C arts.
The so‑called masterworks referred to those Dao arts whose value already exceeded the scope of their grade. They were extremely rare, and many cultivators might never even see one in their entire lives.
This was more precious than a Dao art of a higher grade, because it was combat power that could be formed at one's current realm.
It was likely that even the Clear River County Dao Academy would find it difficult to produce such precious Dao arts, let alone three at once.
This was called "not having studied wooden‑element Dao arts very deeply"?
This was naked showing off of wealth!
Jiang Chen almost wanted to punch Chongxuan Sheng's flesh, but thinking that these Dao arts were all offered for him to choose from, he couldn't help but feel refreshed again.
After careful consideration, Jiang Chen accepted the jade slip recording Tiger Bind.
For him, this was the Dao art that best fit his current combat system, able to perfectly complement his offensive methods and maximize his combat power.
Chongxuan Sheng smilingly stuffed the remaining two jade slips back: "Remember to return the jade slips to me after you've learned them. These are the originals, not copies."
All three Dao arts were being given to Jiang Chen!
Whether you called it investment in a friend or emotional investment in a so‑called retainer, Chongxuan Sheng's gesture was no small thing.
These were masterwork Grade‑B arts, not common goods. Their value even surpassed ordinary Grade‑A arts.
And he was giving three of them.
Jiang Chen didn't say much else and directly accepted the three jade slips.
His word was his promise. As long as it was his promise, he would definitely do his utmost to fulfill it.
Putting aside the affection between friends, from the perspective of pure investment, no matter what Chongxuan Sheng invested in him, he would definitely demonstrate his own value and give Chongxuan Sheng a return of sufficient weight.
"Oh right, I have one more gift for you." After Jiang Chen put away the jade slips, Chongxuan Sheng leaned his head out and beckoned.
Fourteen, who had been outside the door, walked in, his iron arm holding a jade box.
Having seen him many times before, Jiang Chen smiled in greeting.
To his surprise, Fourteen also nodded at him.
He had thought this iron‑clad man wouldn't respond to anyone other than Chongxuan Sheng. It seemed Fourteen also recognized his importance to Chongxuan Sheng.
"What is this?" Jiang Chen asked.
Chongxuan Sheng shoved the jade box into Jiang Chen's hands, squinting so much his eyes disappeared: "Open it and see."
Jiang Chen silently moved to the side, creating some distance, before opening the jade box.
What came into view was a fruit so green it seemed to drip with color.
It was shaped like an apricot, with green patterns growing on it.
Just looking at it made one feel refreshed and full of vitality. One could also smell a fragrance that uplifted the spirit and filled the room.
"Slap!"
Chongxuan Sheng clapped the jade box shut and explained, "This thing is fully ripe. Either consume it immediately, or the medicinal properties will dissipate."
Jiang Chen felt moved, looking at Chongxuan Sheng, temporarily speechless.
"Don't look at me so moved. Hahaha." Chongxuan Sheng laughed awkwardly, then said, "I had someone go get this Life Fruit a long time ago. Because I wasn't sure if it could be obtained, I didn't mention it to you in advance."
"Eat it. It should increase your lifespan by ten years without problem."
This time, Jiang Chen was truly moved.
The reason he worked so hard, never relaxing at any time, not willing to rest for a single moment, was largely because:
Time was what he lacked most.
He knew his lifespan was damaged.
However, anything that could extend lifespan was extremely precious.
Previously, in the State of You, he had obtained a Youth‑Nourishing Pill that added one year. The effect was merely a drop in the ocean. Moreover, if not for Yin Guan, he might not have been able to keep that Youth‑Nourishing Pill.
This Life Fruit granted ten times that lifespan, but its value was far more than ten times greater!
Such a rare thing could not have been obtained by Chongxuan Sheng overnight. The operation required time.
In other words, it was very likely that the moment Chongxuan Sheng first saw him, he had recognized that Jiang Chen's lifespan was damaged. And immediately mobilized connections to find a life‑extending treasure.
This preparation had been made before they entered the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, even before Jiang Chen had agreed to help Chongxuan Sheng compete for the position of family head.
This sentiment was more precious than the Life Fruit itself.
"Brother Chongxuan, this..." Jiang Chen momentarily didn't know what to say.
Chongxuan Sheng cut off his words: "Don't say anything. You are worth it."
The fat man looked at him, repeating firmly once more: "You, Jiang Chen, are absolutely worth it."
He was just about to unleash his eloquence to deepen his bond with Jiang Chen.
Suddenly, he sensed something and sharply turned his head.
"Who's there?"