Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Something flashed in Jing Yan’s glistening eyes.
Soul Crystals were no doubt valuable. But for warriors who couldn’t handle the energy contained within them, they could also be lethal.
“Kid, you don’t look too good. You’ll probably need months to stabilize your cultivation.” Tian Shui shook his head.
Although Jing Yan had succeeded in his breakthrough this time, the process hadn’t gone very smoothly. The Vital Qi inside his martial arts veins and vessels seemed to be under his control, but it might still react unpredictably to any number of stimuli that he might encounter.
Jing Yan furrowed his brows tightly after hearing Tian Shui’s words.
Jing Yan didn’t have the time for proper stabilization.
He only had three months. Breaking through to the Seventh Heaven had already cost him several days, so he actually had less than three months now. By the end of that time period, he would have to fight Jing Tianlong in front of all the Jing Clan disciples.
Tian Shui laughed when he saw the look on Jing Yan’s face.
“However, I do have a solution to this problem of yours,” Tian Shui said as he stroked his long white beard.
“What is it?” Jing Yan locked a hawk-like gaze on Tian Shui.
“Well, kid, have you heard of Nine Yin Fruit?” Tian Shui asked.
“Nine Yin Fruit?” Jing Yan looked puzzled.
He certainly knew about Nine Yin Fruit. In the Western Area Business Zone, which was part of the Jing Clan’s business territory, Nine Yin Fruit were available. The Ru Yi Pavilion, for example, should have some for sale.
Nine Yin Fruit were a type of Third-grade spirit medicine. They were very expensive, and the market for them was very limited because they were an ingredient used to make Healing Potions. Usually, only pharmacists would purchase Nine Yin Fruit.
In fact, even most pharmacists didn’t buy them very often. Although Healing Potions were necessary for warriors who made long trips, Low-ranking Healing Potions were generally enough. Regular warriors couldn’t afford the more expensive Healing Potions.
Usually only warriors above the Precelestial rank would pack one or two High-ranking Healing Potions with them.
High-ranking Healing Potions were simply too expensive. Besides, even High-ranking Healing Potions had their limits. For instance, if someone lost an arm or leg, even a High-ranking Healing Potion couldn’t restore the missing limb.
In other words, High-ranking Healing Potions simply weren’t worth the high price.
Jing Yan looked at Tian Shui, a little bit puzzled. He didn’t understand why Tian Shui had mentioned the Nine Yin Fruit.
“Nine Yin Fruit are good stuff. Jing Yan, once you buy large amounts of Nine Yin Fruit, you can use the Yin energy contained in them to neutralize the Soul Crystal’s Yang energy. With Nine Yin Fruit, not only can you prevent the Soul Crystal’s power from doing damage to you, but you can also increase the speed of your cultivation,” Tian Shui said, giving Jing Yan a tight smile.
“What? Nine Yin Fruit have such an effect?” Jing Yan’s eyes lit up in surprise.
Obviously, Tian Shui wouldn’t lie to him.
If Tian Shui said it would work this way, it absolutely would.
“Oh right, the only thing is that you’re going to need a ton of them. There are even better spirit herbs containing Yin energy, but you’re not currently in a position to get those. So we have to go with the best solution available. Well, I’m tired. I’m done talking for now.”
Tian Shui then vanished in front of Jing Yan’s eyes.
“Nine Yin Fruit…”
Jing Yan’s eyes had brightened with new energy, yet his brows were furrowed.
Now that he had found the solution to his problem, another issue emerged. Jing Yan didn’t have that many Spiritual Stones.
A single Nine Yin Fruit would cost about 1000 Spiritual Stones. Jing Yan only had about 2000 Spiritual Stones to his name. That meant he could buy two Nine Yin Fruits, at most. According to what Tian Shui suggested, two Nine Yin Fruits wouldn’t come close to solving the problem.
In addition, he should be able to partially use Top-grade martial systems now that he was a High-ranking warrior, even if he couldn’t fully execute them. Yet to use Top-grade martial systems, the Arch of Heaven would definitely need improvement, which would also require tons of Spiritual Stones.
Improving a Middle-grade martial system had cost Jing Yan several hundred Spiritual Stones. So even with a conservative estimate, it should cost several thousand Spiritual Stones to improve a Top-grade one.
“My lack of Spiritual Stones is the problem!” Jing Yan sighed quietly.
“Wait a minute, why didn’t I come up with this earlier? There’s a shortcut to earning Spiritual Stones!” After racking his brains for a long while about possible ways to obtain Spiritual Stones, something suddenly occurred to him.
With his current abilities, going to the Blackrock Mountains would undoubtedly be a decent way to get Spiritual Stones. Unfortunately, Jing Yan didn’t have that much time. He should be able to get several thousand Spiritual Stones in the Blackrock Mountains within a month, but he couldn’t wait that long. Besides, several thousand wouldn’t be enough.
As for taking Spiritual Stones from the family’s treasury vault, that was even less practical. Also, even if he could get some Spiritual Stones, the number he could take wasn’t unlimited. Not to mention that doing so meant that he would owe the family a huge favor.
Jing Yan left his little yard, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Young Master Jing Yan, are you going out?” the guard standing outside the yard greeted him.
“Yep. I have something to take care of. I really appreciate your help!” Jing Yan said with a smile.
“No worries. My pleasure, Young Master.” The guard smiled back.
In the Jing Clan, not many people were as friendly and easygoing as Jing Yan toward the servants and guards.
Most of the Jing Clan guards came from outside of the family, so they were hired hands, not family members. Some had been trained in the Jing Clan since they were kids. Among those guards, only personal guards of powerful family members enjoyed decent status in the family. They were strong warriors without exception.
Jing Yan’s gentle manner certainly made the guards feel good.
“Brother Jing Yan, I’ve heard that you’re going to fight Jing Tianlong at the family’s Great Competition?”
Several Jing Clan disciples came to greet Jing Yan as he walked on the road.
“You guys know about that?” Jing Yan was surprised.
“So it’s true! We thought it was a rumor. Brother Jing Yan, why did you take the challenge from Jing Tianlong? There are less than three months left!” This disciple wasn’t on great terms with some of Jing Tianlong’s relatives, so he was on Jing Yan’s side.
“Brother Jing Yan, just so you know, the whole Jing Clan has heard about this.”
“Jing Tianlong and his people are too arrogant. They’re now saying that Brother Jing Yan will be crushed in the fight!”
The disciples were all squawking at the same time.
Jing Yan’s jaw tightened slightly. “You guys don’t need to worry about it. When the time comes, we will find out who will win and who will lose.”
In fact, almost everyone in the Jing Clan was talking about the upcoming fight.
That’s what Jing Tianlong had wanted: to create as much pressure for Jing Yan as possible.
Jing Tianlong wanted everybody to be anticipating the fight and following events closely. The more stress Jing Yan suffered, the more traumatized Jing Yan would be when he was eventually defeated.
“Despicable b*stard!” Jing Yan’s eyes went cold, and the expression on his face became dangerous. “Jing Tianlong, I will make you eat your own bitter fruit! I hope that when the time comes, you won’t regret what you are doing now!”