Chapter 486: Crafting the Teleportation Array
Chapter 486: Crafting the Teleportation Array
Empowered by the Four Seasons Scripture, Jiang Chen possessed the ability to accelerate the growth and maturation of spirit plants to an extraordinary degree.
Under normal circumstances, he could continuously cultivate rare, mutated flora such as the Spatial Earth Essence Fruit at will.
In truth, however, he was bound by the ambient Spirit Qi within his spatial realm. The rarer the spirit plant, the more profound the spiritual essence required to force its maturation.
Overextending this ability would inevitably disrupt the delicate balance of the other crops.
The most common consequence was a severe drought of Spirit Qi.
In dire cases, the very soil would be bled dry of its vital essence.
Thus, it was not a lack of ambition that kept Jiang Chen from mass-producing mutated spirit plants, but the pragmatic understanding that every forced harvest exacted a toll on the surrounding flora.
Unless driven by absolute necessity, he preferred to let nature take its course.
Now, urgently requiring a Spatial Earth Essence Fruit to forge a small teleportation array, he had no choice but to draw upon the realm’s Earth Vein Qi.As the subterranean energies converged, the rich hue of the surrounding soil began to fade, taking on an ashen pallor as its vitality was siphoned away.
Fortunately, this desolation had not yet spread across the entirety of his spatial realm.
Atop the earthen platform, petals unfurled at a visible pace. Once they numbered exactly nine, the blooming ceased, locking into a state of perfect equilibrium.
The petals bore a pale, translucent amber hue. Cryptic runes pulsed faintly within their veins, while motes of pale golden light drifted along their edges like stardust.
A single glance was enough to reveal the profound ancient mysticism radiating from the blossom.
Yet, as the Earth Essence Fruit bloomed, it resonated with the Earth Vein Qi, drawing the subterranean energies into a violent, accelerating vortex.
Initially, only a faint ochre mist seeped from the ground. As the incense sticks burned down, this mist thickened into a suffocating, cloud-like expanse.
The domain of drained earth expanded outward, creeping dangerously close to the Spirit Rice fields.
Having initiated the process, he could not afford to sever the connection.
A heavy breath escaped Jiang Chen’s lips. “Mature quickly.”
In truth, it was not merely the Earth Vein Qi being devoured; his own Magic Power was being drained at a terrifying rate.
Had he still been in the Foundation Establishment realm, he would have collapsed two or three times over, forced to rely on medicinal pills to sustain the flow.
Fortunately, he now stood at the Golden Core stage. The vast, oceanic reserves of his Heavenly-Grade Golden Core provided more than enough Magic Power to endure the toll.
Thus, as the Four Seasons Scripture circulated endlessly and his spiritual reserves depleted, two small fruits gradually swelled into existence within the cradle of the nine petals.
Jiang Chen paused, his eyes widening in mild astonishment. “Fascinating. I only intended to forge one, yet the Dao provides an unexpected bounty.”
The complication, however, was that a single Spatial Earth Essence Fruit required a monumental tribute of Earth Vein Qi.
Birthing two simultaneously yielded a predictable devastation.
Sweeping his gaze across the realm, he saw the extent of the blight.
The soil’s rich texture and vibrant color had been entirely stripped away, leaving a barren husk compared to a mere half-shichen prior.
Through the unique laws of his spatial realm and the harmony of his Five Elements Spirit Root, the black earth had bypassed the ordinary Spirit Soil stage and was on the verge of evolving into primordial Five-Colored Soil.
Now, to forge these two Spatial Earth Essence Fruits, centuries of accumulated Spirit Qi and profound nutrients had been sacrificed.
At this rate, it would take several months of natural cycling to restore the lost vitality.
Yet, the sacrifice was justified. A teleportation array would grant him the freedom to traverse vast distances at will.
Jiang Chen settled into a meditative calm, waiting patiently. Perhaps due to the twin burden of the fruits, the final maturation process stretched on.
He waited.
And waited.
Finally, the celestial resonance peaked.
The earthen platform and the nine petals withered into dust. In the instant of their perfection, the two translucent Spatial Earth Essence Fruits crystallized into solid, ochre gems.
Each was roughly the size of a man’s palm, swirling with liquid golden shadows trapped within their crystalline depths.
Jiang Chen did not harvest them immediately. After a brief inspection, he turned and walked away.
There was no need to disturb them until the remaining array materials were gathered.
In the ancient arts, teleportation arrays were categorized into grand and minor formations.
By distance, they spanned short-range leaps, long-distance voyages, and cross-realm ascensions.
The Cloud Sea Sect lay at least ten thousand li from Azure Rock Peak, firmly placing it in the realm of long-distance travel.
Considering he was the sole traveler-even accounting for Little Linglong in the future-a grand formation was unnecessary. A minor array would suffice.
The required components were relatively straightforward, especially now that he possessed two of the core Spatial Earth Essence Fruits.
He only needed to procure Earth Spirit Marrow, Meteor Star Sand, and Earth Essence Crystal to complement the earthen platform forged from the Earth Vein Qi.
The market value for these three profound materials started at several hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones per jin or per piece.
Their exorbitant cost was a direct reflection of their extreme rarity.
A faint smile touched Jiang Chen’s lips. “It is fortunate I have amassed several hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones over the years through the Spirit Wine trade. It is more than enough to fund a minor array, and perhaps even a grand one.”
Thus, his heart remained as placid as an ancient well.
In the days that followed, alongside his daily cultivation, he dedicated his focus to hunting down the remaining materials.
Unfortunately, the worldly supply of such treasures was pitifully sparse, with only a handful surfacing at any given time.
Left with no alternative, Jiang Chen instructed the Azure Alliance to monitor the Flower Sea Market. Should even half a jin or a single fragment appear, they were to secure it immediately, regardless of the cost in Spirit Stones.
…
…
This meticulous gathering process spanned a full two months.
The gentle breezes of spring gave way to the searing heat of summer.
Within the spatial realm, the thirty-two mu of Spirit Farm accumulated an additional lifespan of five hundred and eight years.
In the mortal world outside, the seven mu of Spirit Farm gained sixty years of vitality.
His total accumulated lifespan now reached twenty thousand and eighty-three years.
He had successfully doubled his reserves, crossing the threshold from ten thousand to twenty thousand years.
Even if he abandoned the Dao entirely and spent his days idling in Red Leaf Valley, he would outlive the cultivators, spirit plants, and spirit beasts around him countless times over.
As for the probability of inducing a mutation, it had risen from a mere one in a thousand to five in a hundred.
Yet, the whims of heaven were fickle. Fortune ebbed and flowed like the tide.
Over the past two months, he had only coaxed a successful mutation twice.
On this particular day, Miao Huayu arrived at his door, respectfully presenting a small Storage Bag. “Senior Brother, everything you requested is within.”
Jiang Chen accepted the pouch, sweeping his Divine Sense through its contents. Confirming the presence of the exact materials required for the minor array, he gave a satisfied nod. “Well done. You have all labored diligently these past months.”
Miao Huayu parted her lips, a hesitant look crossing her features as if wrestling with unspoken words.
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. “We are of the same fold. Speak your mind freely.”
Only then did Miao Huayu voice her concern. “Senior Brother, the Linghe Society has been unnervingly quiet lately. Have they truly abandoned their schemes?”
Jiang Chen shook his head slowly. “The hearts of men are difficult to fathom. Regardless, pass word to the Azure Alliance. Instruct everyone to maintain their guard during any interactions.”
Miao Huayu bowed her head slightly. “Understood.”
Jiang Chen then produced fifty Mid-grade Spirit Stones, offering them to her. “Take these for your efforts. Consider it compensation for the time spent away from your own cultivation. Do not refuse.”
Miao Huayu hurriedly waved her hands in decline. “Senior Brother, you just said we are of the same fold. Why such formality? We did not offer our aid for the sake of Spirit Stones.”
Jiang Chen’s tone grew firm. “The Dao of commerce demands balance. I will not treat your labor as a free tribute, especially not for two consecutive months.”
Moved by his principled stance, Miao Huayu had no choice but to accept the stones. “Very well.”
With a final bow, she turned and departed.
Clutching the materials, a rare spark of anticipation lit Jiang Chen’s eyes as he ascended to his second-floor bedchamber.
With a thought, the world blurred, and he stepped once more into his spatial realm.
The moment his boots touched the soil, Little Linglong waved enthusiastically from the distance. “Daddy, drink!”
Jiang Chen offered a warm smile. “I have a task to complete first. Wait for me.”
Little Linglong nodded with exaggerated solemnity. “Okay!”
By then, Jiang Chen had already crossed the distance to the Spatial Earth Essence Fruit tree.
He meticulously arranged the newly acquired materials alongside his previous purchases. Piled together, the profound resources formed a small, shimmering mound.
Aware that this was his first attempt at forging a teleportation array, he had deliberately procured a surplus. A single misaligned rune or unstable fusion would instantly reduce the precious materials to ash.
Regardless, true resources were never wasted; any excess would simply be stored for future endeavors.
Centering his breath, he commenced the forging process.
Though it was merely a minor array, Jiang Chen approached the task with the reverence of an ancient master artisan.
First, he summoned a searing Spirit Fire to temper the Earth Spirit Marrow. He watched intently as the solid mass melted into a glowing liquid, then meticulously guided its cooling process until it congealed into a viscous, spiritual paste.
With utmost care, Jiang Chen plucked one of the Spatial Earth Essence Fruits and submerged it within the marrow. It would need to steep in this primordial essence for three full days.
This delicate infusion would awaken the fruit’s dormant spatial laws while harmonizing its earth-attribute resonance with the marrow, ensuring the spiritual currents would not violently rebel once it was seated as the array’s core.
He then cleaved the Earth Essence Crystal in twain. One half was preserved to serve as the spatial anchor, while the other was ground into a fine, shimmering dust for the runic inscriptions.
Finally, he turned to the Meteor Star Sand. He purified the celestial grains with pure Spirit Spring Water three times over, preparing them to be bathed in the ambient moonlight of the realm to absorb the necessary yin essence.
By the laws of cultivation, this lunar tempering would also require exactly three nights.
Thus, the crucible of creation demanded a vigil of three days and three nights.
Having already endured a two-month search, a few more days of patience were but a fleeting breath.
His task set in motion, Jiang Chen rose and walked unhurriedly toward Little Linglong.
Having waited for so long, the child was nodding off. The jade cup in her small hands tilted dangerously, threatening to spill its contents onto the earth.
Yet, the moment it began to slip, she would jolt awake, her tiny fingers clamping down on the cup with sudden determination.
Witnessing this display, Jiang Chen felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation. “If you are tired, simply go to sleep.”
Little Linglong let out a soft yawn. “No, I have to wait for Daddy.”
Jiang Chen’s gaze fell upon the liquid within the cup. Its hue was alarmingly vibrant, swirling with a chaotic blend of five distinct colors. A sense of foreboding mixed with curiosity. “What profound inspiration possessed you this time?”
Little Linglong puffed out her chest with pride. “This time, I infused it with Five-Colored Soil, powder ground from various Spirit Rice, Spirit Wine, and a dash of Ice Heart Jade Pot Wine!”
The warm smile on Jiang Chen’s face instantly stiffened. Maintaining a facade of calm, he suggested, “How about you go rest your eyes, and I shall slowly savor this masterpiece in solitude?”
Little Linglong shook her head vigorously, her tone brooking no refusal. “No, no, no! I want to watch Daddy drink every last drop!”
Jiang Chen’s expression grew deeply complicated. “Consuming it all at once might be slightly…”
Little Linglong offered no counterargument. She merely tilted her head, fixing her large, unblinking eyes upon her father.
The two stared at one another.
A silent battle of wills ensued.
After a long stalemate, Little Linglong’s exhaustion won out. Rubbing her heavy eyes, she compromised, “Alright. Just take one sip, and I will go to sleep.”
Only then did Jiang Chen accept the jade cup. His lips twitched imperceptibly, yet he could not bring himself to tilt the rim past his teeth.
It could not be helped. The concoction was not merely a visual terror; its aroma was aggressively potent.
A mere whiff of the chaotic spiritual fumes made him feel as though his very soul was threatening to escape through his crown.
Little Linglong urged, “Daddy, why aren’t you drinking?”
Jiang Chen forced a strained chuckle. “Our family’s resources are too meager. I simply cannot bear to squander such a peerless vintage.”
Little Linglong beamed and pointed a tiny finger toward a massive wooden vat nearby. “It’s okay! I made a whole big barrel of it!”
Jiang Chen stared in absolute horror. “Ah?”