Chapter 97: Chapter 95: Secluded Cultivation
Inside the Moonlight Transmission Array, Jiang Jichen waved vigorously and shouted, "Goodbye, Dabai!"
The Moonlight Beast snorted. ’Only my little master can call me that. Who the hell do you think you are?’
"Goodbye, Old Rogue Turtle!"
The Old Rogue Turtle grimaced. ’That little bastard... he plucked two of my Immortal Leaves, and I’m still smarting from the loss. Who knows how many thousands of years it’ll take for them to grow back!’
"Little Yue’Er... Goodbye!"
Finally, the figures of Jiang Jichen and the Little Skeleton vanished. In that instant, tears streamed from Little Yue’Er’s eyes.
The Tear of the Moon God fell into the Moon Pool. The Ten Thousand Arrays resonated, and the Moon God Ancient Hall was sealed!
Jiang Jichen and the Little Skeleton were teleported thousands of miles away, appearing instantly in the middle of the Moonlight Forest!
It was still nighttime. But the moment the Moon God Ancient Hall was sealed, the full moon vanished from the sky. The Moonlight Grass across the land instantly withered, and the world was plunged into darkness.
In truth, from the moment Jiang Jichen arrived at the Moon God Ancient Hall until now, only a single double-hour had passed. Yet the experience felt like an eternity.
The Moon God slumbered, the night faded, and a faint, inexplicable sorrow settled over the Moonlight Forest.
Jiang Jichen and the Little Skeleton walked through the darkness in silence. But the Little Skeleton was far too conspicuous; the enormous Treasure Pearl Necklace around its neck illuminated the surroundings, visible even from miles away. This turned them into a shining target in the dark.
Powerful Spirit Beasts continuously lunged at them from the darkness. Fortunately, Jiang Jichen was far stronger than before. With the Little Skeleton’s help, he could even slay Spirit Beasts at the level of the Innate Fifth Realm without fail!
Don’t be fooled by the Little Skeleton’s adorably dopey appearance; in battle, it was more cunning than anyone.
It would always appear at the most unexpected moments, its Little Bone Hand easily piercing a Spirit Beast’s heart. Afterward, the Spirit Beast Inner Core and other materials would go to Jiang Jichen, while the Little Skeleton absorbed the Beast Soul.
As he advanced, slaying Spirit Beasts along the way, Jiang Jichen contemplated his next move.
’The Moonlight Trial Competition isn’t over yet. After all, it’s supposed to last for a whole month!’
So much had happened since he first entered the Moonlight Forest, yet less than twenty days had actually passed. In that time, his cultivation had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
His status as the enemy of all sects and the battle in the Ice Dragon Valley had made his name known to everyone in the Moonlight Forest. Moreover, reports of his deeds were sent to the various Sects and Noble Families; even the Song Family of Yun Country had received a file on him.
Of course, Jiang Jichen knew that the greater his fame, the more enemies he would make. ’If my cultivation isn’t strong enough, I could get chopped to pieces on the street and not even see it coming.’
’I now have two Immortal Leaves and the entire fortune of Cang Songzi. That’s enough for me to push for the First Turn Great Perfection Realm of the Undying Scripture, reconnect my broken path of Body Refining, and step into the Innate Body Refining Realm. That settles it. I’ll go into seclusion here for a while!’
Finally, Jiang Jichen made his decision: he would enter secluded cultivation.
As for the Moonlight Trial Competition, he couldn’t care less. He was holding the entire fortune of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; the competition’s rewards were nothing in comparison.
’Innate Realm-Breaking Pills? I have nearly ten of them in my High-Level Storage Bag. Innate Spirit Weapons? I’m not short on any of that stuff now...’
’Sigh. Being this rich really makes you bold. I could go for months without having to scam people into duels and I still wouldn’t starve!’
Jiang Jichen recalled the difficult times just after his rebirth. He had to fight people almost every day just to get the Spirit Pills he needed to cultivate. He couldn’t help but sigh at the memory.
Of course, thinking of those duels made him think of Han Qing. ’I wonder if that guy has left the Moonlight Forest yet.’
The Sound Transmission Jade he had for contacting Han Qing was already used up, so there was no way to reach him now.
After a night of fruitful combat, he found a mountain peak and began his life as a hermit cultivator.
In the Moonlight Forest, a series of unexpected events—the activation of the Trapped Dragon Array in Ice Dragon Valley, the sealing of the Moon God Hall—made many realize that there were no more opportunities to be found. One by one, they began to withdraw.
Furthermore, because of one person, far too many people had died during the Moonlight Trial Competition and the training expeditions for the various Sects and Noble Families. Ten days later, the Moonlight Forest had become a dead forest that no one dared to enter, and it returned to its usual tranquility.
Of course, in the dozen or so days following the incident at Ice Dragon Valley, many powerful experts searched for Jiang Jichen. However, upon learning he had entered the Forest of Lost Souls deep within the Moonlight Forest, they all assumed he couldn’t possibly have survived and must have perished there.
As for Ghost Blood Hand Bai Zihua and Elder Kong, after being sent flying by the Moonlight Beast, they fled the Moonlight Forest immediately, not lingering for even a moment.
The Grey-clothed Swordsman, Qingxu, entered Cyan Moon City, but no one was able to see him.
Jiang Ling’Er returned directly to the Spirit Moon Sect instead of the Jiang Mansion in Cyan Moon City.
Just then, a young woman stomped indignantly out of the edge of the Moonlight Forest.
It was none other than Lady Qingya!
She had just walked out of the Moonlight Forest, but she spun around to face it, planted her hands on her hips, and cursed, "Jiang Jichen, you damn swindler! With that treacherous personality of yours, everyone else in this forest could drop dead and you’d still be alive! You think you can fool me? Not a chance! Hmph, I’ll just wait for you right here at the exit. When you deliver yourself to my doorstep, I’m going to settle this score—with interest!"
However, just as her tirade ended, a young man with a saber on his back slowly walked out of the Moonlight Forest. Ignoring Qingya’s stunned expression, he spoke up. "In the Ice Dragon Valley, I was the one who covered your retreat. My name is Ding Xiaodao. Jiang Jichen owes me a favor, so I’m waiting for him here, too. You... don’t mind me. Feel free to keep cursing him."
With someone else present, Qingya restrained herself a bit. She shot Ding Xiaodao a threatening glance. "You’d better not tell anyone I was tricked. Or else..."
As she spoke, the young miss extended her small, snow-white hand and made a sharp, threatening gesture across her throat at Ding Xiaodao.
Ding Xiaodao didn’t dare say another word. But he suddenly sensed something and turned to look back into the Moonlight Forest. He saw a woman walking out, her aura serene and her expression as gentle as still water.
"Luo Xue!"
Qingya cried out in surprise upon seeing the newcomer.
"Sister Qingya!"
Luo Xue was also surprised. She hadn’t expected to run into anyone else, thinking she was the only person who had remained in the Moonlight Forest this long.
"Luo Xue, you... Don’t tell me you’re waiting for that big swindler, too?"
Qingya asked in disbelief. ’Why on earth would so many people be waiting for a swindler?’
"Sister Qingya, Brother Jichen is a good person! He’s not a swindler, I promise!"
Upon hearing Qingya speak ill of Jiang Jichen, Luo Xue immediately jumped to his defense.
"..." Qingya was left speechless, which only made her more indignant inside.
...
Jiang Jichen had no idea so many people were waiting for him. He was completely immersed in his cultivation.
