Chapter 383: Vajra Peak!
*Clap, clap, clap!*
Jiang Chen casually tossed Sword Nest No. 1 into the air, letting the metallic construct hover before him as he offered an enthusiastic round of applause.
Just as he calculated, infusing a Spirit Weapon with metal-element spells unlocked its absolute maximum destructive potential.
Based on his current data, this payload was even more terrifying than a max-level Scorching Sun Finger. A max-level Scorching Sun Finger could briefly trade blows with an early Golden Core cultivator. But the sheer kinetic lethality unleashed by Sword Nest No. 1—now integrated with the Golden Blade Technique—would do far more than just “trade blows.” It would shred them.
There was a catch, however. Once the honeycomb payload of sword pellets was fully discharged, he had to manually retrieve the ammunition before initiating a second or third barrage.
The advantages were overwhelming, but the mechanical drawback was glaringly obvious.
Jiang Chen recalled the scattered sword pellets, his mind whirring with tactical applications. *For now, this rotary barrage serves perfectly as a trump card. Catching an enemy off guard with this level of firepower will definitely yield a high return on investment.*
Test concluded. He stowed Sword Nest No. 1 and exited the spatial realm.
Rather than resting, he slapped a Cleansing Talisman onto his robes, donned a woven bamboo hat, and began his daily inspection of his five mu of Spirit Farm.
While he could delegate mundane chores to the Fortress, he refused to take risks with his high-yield spirit plants.The first and second mu were dedicated to Top Grade spirit rice.
The third and fourth housed medicinal herbs.
The fifth was reserved for everyday melons, fruits, and vegetables.
Starting with the first mu, Jiang Chen relied on his own accumulated experience to run a comprehensive diagnostic on the spirit rice. He evaluated the Spirit Qi concentration, stalk height and structural integrity, panicle density, grain luster, soil moisture, ambient temperature, humidity, and light exposure.
Once he formed a preliminary assessment, he cross-referenced his findings with the system’s analytical capabilities for a flawless overview.
This iterative process constantly refined his personal agricultural expertise. Initially, his manual estimates had deviated significantly from the system’s hard data. But through relentless repetition and accumulated experience, his naked eye and spiritual sense had become just as precise as the system’s flawless diagnostics.
*Caw!*
A sharp warning cry echoed from the fire crows circling above.
Jiang Chen seamlessly tapped into their shared vision, spotting a streak of golden sword light tearing through the horizon. He didn’t need to guess the visitor’s identity; it was undoubtedly Qin Hao. They had scheduled a joint expedition to Vajra Peak the previous night.
Moments later, the sword light touched down. Qin Hao stepped forward with a hearty laugh. “Haha! Good morning, Junior Brother Jiang!”
Jiang Chen straightened his back, wiping dirt from his hands before cupping them in greeting. “Morning, Senior Brother Qin.”
Qin Hao’s gaze swept over the meticulously maintained fields. Seeing that Jiang Chen was in the middle of an inspection, he waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t let me interrupt. Finish your work.”
“Understood,” Jiang Chen nodded. He was already on the fourth mu; wrapping up the routine wouldn’t take long.
Left to his own devices, Qin Hao surveyed the surroundings with keen interest. He noted the doghouse, the chicken coop, the pond, the Spirit Farm, and—standing conspicuously nearby—a… poplar tree spirit?
*Good heavens,* Qin Hao mused, *this place is a veritable den of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.*
Not only was it teeming with various spirit beasts and high-grade flora, but it actually housed a sentient tree spirit. The robust life force radiating from its bark proved it had already attained a solid foundation of cultivation.
Anticipating the inevitable questions, Jiang Chen offered a preemptive explanation. “The environment here is a bit unique. A localized disaster occurred a while back, which inadvertently catalyzed this poplar tree’s awakening.”
“Ah, that explains it,” Qin Hao said, enlightened.
Moving on to the fifth mu, Jiang Chen casually snapped a crisp cucumber off a vine, rinsed it in the nearby irrigation ditch, and offered it up. “Care for a snack, Senior Brother?”
Qin Hao smiled and shook his head. “No, thank you.”
Jiang Chen took a bite and continued his inspection.
Seeing this, Qin Hao couldn’t help but remark, “Junior Brother Jiang, with your talent in cultivation and your dual Spirit Roots, you’re bound to become a core disciple and ascend to an Immortal Peak!”
Jiang Chen shook his head. “I have no desire to go up the mountain.”
Qin Hao was puzzled. “Why not?”
Jiang Chen gestured to the surrounding Spirit Farm. “I’m free and unconstrained here. Why would I want to go up the mountain?”
Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “True.”
While the mountain peaks offered dense Spirit Qi for cultivation, as well as access to higher-level techniques and spells, and even fostered a sense of community where everyone relied on each other, there was fierce competition among the peaks for resources.
The top three ranks received the richest rewards, while the fourth to seventh saw a significant drop.
For centuries, the first place had been held by the Profound Abyss Peak, the second by Vajra Peak, and the third by Iron Blood Peak. The fourth was Narcissus Peak, the fifth was Thick Earth Peak, the sixth was Crimson Fire Peak, and the seventh was Verdant Wood Peak.
However, the sixth and seventh were exceptions. Verdant Wood Peak, with its majority of Wood Spirit Roots and many spirit farmers, was the only peak not highly ranked but not lacking in resources. Crimson Fire Peak was even more extreme, relying on its alchemy skills to ensure ample resources and deep reserves for all.
In other words, the real competition was among the first to fifth peaks.
Vajra Peak managed to edge out Iron Blood Peak primarily due to its superior artifact forging techniques.
This didn’t mean Verdant Wood Peak and Crimson Fire Peak had it easy, as they were major resource suppliers and faced their own pressures.
Thus, someone like Jiang Chen, who valued peace and simplicity, truly wasn’t suited for the mountain life. Yet, if he wanted to advance further, such as breaking through to the Golden Core stage, the Immortal Peaks remained the best option.
A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Chen finally finished inspecting the fifth mu of Spirit Farm and stepped out. “Senior Brother Qin, let’s go!”
Qin Hao summoned a sword light to the ground and beckoned. “Hop on.”
Jiang Chen marveled. “Senior Brother, is this a Spirit Weapon? A Magical Artifact? Or a spell?”
Qin Hao replied meaningfully, “It is, and it isn’t.”
Jiang Chen scratched his head. “I think I understand, but not really.”
Qin Hao chuckled, then steered the sword light, and the two soared into the sky.
With a whoosh, they instantly pierced through 10,000 meters of air, flying at incredible speed toward Vajra Peak.
The sword light shot straight into the clouds, and it wasn’t until much later that Jiang Chen sensed the intense concentration of Metal Spirit Qi.
Then, a scene more awe-inspiring than the Yellow Earth Essence washing over Thick Earth Peak appeared before him.
Vajra Peak was less a mountain and more an indescribably massive sword.
It was covered in cracks and scars, a sight that struck fear into the heart.
The peak stood 1,000 zhang tall, its summit blanketed in a layer of “golden snow.”
Around its waist flowed nine rivers of molten red copper, their currents emitting clanging sounds like sword chimes.
Countless black iron chains floated above the rivers, connecting to numerous forging platforms used by core disciples for daily crafting of Spirit Weapons and Magical Artifacts.
Vajra Peak was divided into three main areas: Tai’e Hall, Ten Thousand Sword Tomb, and White Tiger Cave.
Since it was Jiang Chen’s first visit, Qin Hao introduced it with a hint of pride. “In ancient times, there was a Metal-element great power known as Tai’e Sword Venerable. After a battle that shook the ages, he perished together with his opponent. However, his lifebound sword, White Tiger, left behind its remains.”
Jiang Chen ventured a guess. “This Vajra Peak, could it be…”
Qin Hao confirmed. “Exactly. The founding Sect Leader used transcendent means to refine the remains of the sword White Tiger, creating one of our seven Immortal Peaks: Vajra Peak!”