Chapter 170: 164. Jiuji Submits (1/2)

164. Jiuji Submits (1/2)

Days passed by one after another.

In the blink of an eye.

Only three days remained until the day of the Heaven and Earth Sect test.

Qianhua Forest.

Underground tunnel.

Inside the Alchemy Room.

Chen An devoted himself to learning how to refine Third-tier Pills.

Every day was like this.

To date, he had already mastered the refinement of over one hundred types of Third-tier Pills.

Far exceeding the average standard of a Third-Rank Alchemist.

"The test is Wen now."

Chen An looked at a newly learned Third-tier Pill in the alchemy furnace, his heart growing increasingly confident.

At this moment, he had already begun to look forward to the Alchemy Hall test at the Heaven and Earth Sect three days later.

He extinguished the Pill Fire.

He cleaned the Alchemy Room thoroughly.

He sat for a moment to relax.

Then, very quickly, Chen An used the Earth Escape Technique to tunnel to Gu Xinyue's room.

He went to find her to linger in intimacy and deepen their bond as husband and wife.

Ever since that day he forced the Essence Blood Enslavement upon Jiuji, Chen An had not gone to visit her.

It had been nearly two months now.

For two long months, she had been locked in a pitch-black cave.

Without a drop of water, with no one to communicate with.

Moreover, the Spirit Power in her body was drained completely by the Sea Tower Stone, making it impossible to pass the time through cultivation.

Under such circumstances, a person would go mad sooner or later.

Even an immortal would be the same.

Because darkness devours a living being's perception of time, making them feel as if every day is a year, causing their body and mind to suffer torment, making life worse than death.

Chen An guessed that Jiuji was likely on the verge of a mental breakdown by now.

However, he had no intention of visiting Jiuji.

If she breaks down, let her break down.

As long as she doesn't starve to death, it is fine.

After the test at the Heaven and Earth Sect's Alchemy Hall is over, he would go check on her state and feed her a sliver of vital energy to prevent her from using Severing Tail to Escape by starving herself to death.

In Gu Xinyue's room.

Chen An had just finished comfortably lingering with the icy concubine in his arms, holding her close while enjoying the tranquility after the storm.

"Husband, I really want to bear you a child."

Gu Xinyue snuggled in Chen An's arms, her slender, snow-white right hand stroking his chiseled eight-pack abs, her voice filled with both sorrow and longing.

Chen An stroked her pretty face to comfort her: "It will happen. Once we join the Alchemy Hall of the Heaven and Earth Sect, I will find a way to solve this problem."

"Mm."

Gu Xinyue responded softly, her mind already beginning to envision herself with a large belly.

As she thought about it, a sweet smile could not help but appear on her cold, pretty face, and she was full of anticipation for the days to come.

Chen An sat up from the bed, patted Gu Xinyue in his arms, and said:

"Yue, you've rested enough, let's continue."

"Mm."

Gu Xinyue responded softly once more, then continued to respond with "mm, mm, mm" incessantly, constantly reciprocating Chen An's love for her, while simultaneously praying in her heart that she could soon conceive her husband's flesh and blood.

In a flash.

Two days passed.

Tomorrow was the day to go to the Heaven and Earth Sect's Alchemy Hall to take the test.

On this day.

Chen An stopped learning alchemy and stopped seeking intimacy with his wives and concubines.

He needed to save his energy to deal with the test.

In the room.

Chen An had just woken up after sleeping for half an hour, sitting up from the bed full of spirit.

Afterwards, with a thought, he opened his long-neglected personal information panel.

【Name: Chen An】

【Cultivation: Golden Core Fifth Layer · 18%】

【Alchemy: Third-Tier Advanced · 68%】

【Divine Sense: Third-Tier Advanced · 77%】

【Fire Spirit Root: Saint Grade · 55%】

【Gold Spirit Root: Saint Grade · 58%】

【Wood Spirit Root: Supreme Grade · 89%】

【Earth Spirit Root: Top-grade · 2%】

【Dharma Spells mastered: Golden Finger (Law · Max Level), Shadow Kill Technique (Law · Max Level), Immobilization Technique (Law · Max Level), Memory Erasure Technique (Law · Max Level), Mirror Flower Water Moon (Mastery · 2%)……】

【Dharma Artifacts owned: Soaring Cloud Boots (Third-tier), Sun Moon Seven Star Robe (Third-tier), Ever-Changing Mask (Third-tier), Roaming Dragon Sword (Third-tier), Thunder-Struck Wood Shackles (Third-tier)……】

【Spouses: Song Huaying (5 stars · Max stars), Gu Xinyue (5 stars · Max stars), Wen Zhiyun (5 stars · Max stars), Shen Qingyi (5 stars · Max stars)】

【Offspring: Chen Yuejian (4 stars · 64%), Chen Yike (3 stars · 85%)】

Looking at the current personal information panel, it was simply luxurious at a glance.

Especially the Dharma Artifacts column.

Ever since he took Jiuji's Storage Ring as his own, the Dharma Artifacts inside had all become his property.

First-tier Dharma Artifacts were as numerous as ox hair.

Second-tier Dharma Artifacts were also so numerous they made people green with envy.

There were even over a dozen Third-tier Dharma Artifacts.

Chen An only kept the Third-tier Dharma Artifacts for himself.

As for the remaining First-tier and Second-tier Dharma Artifacts, he gave them all to his wives and daughters, arming them from head to toe.

As long as they didn't encounter a Golden Core great cultivator, they could rely on the Dharma Artifacts on their bodies to save their lives.

And this act of gifting Dharma Artifacts increased the affection between husband and wife quite a bit.

Furthermore, during this period, Chen An did not go to visit Jiuji again; apart from going to the Market to purchase alchemy recipes, he spent all his time at home cherishing his wives and concubines and playing with his daughters.

Seeing such a family-oriented husband, the marital affection level of his wives and concubines soon rose to 5 stars.

Everyone obtained the bond "Shared Fortune".

At the same time, they also received three surprise blind boxes.

Chen An opened these three blind boxes and obtained the illusion-type Dharma Spell "Mirror Flower Water Moon", the Third-tier Dharma Artifact "Sun Moon Seven Star Robe", and the Third-tier Dharma Artifact "Ever-Changing Mask", respectively.

Mirror Flower Water Moon can make the target fall into an endless illusion, unable to distinguish reality.

The Sun Moon Seven Star Robe can resist fifty percent of incoming damage.

The Ever-Changing Mask can change one's appearance at will.

"Although my cultivation is still only at the Golden Core Fifth Layer, I feel that I should be no weaker than an average Golden Core Ninth Layer creature, or even far stronger."

"Just like that python demon in the swamp, I should be able to easily exterminate it now."

Chen An thought to himself as he looked at the luxurious panel before him.

Early the next morning.

After Chen An finished breakfast, he soon flew toward the Heaven and Earth Sect under the gaze of his wives and daughters.

Just as he flew to the outskirts of the sect, he saw Tian Deacon, who was responsible for registering people, and a group of cultivators surrounding him.

A faint medicinal scent emanated from all these cultivators.

Clearly, they were all Alchemists who had come to participate in the Heaven and Earth Sect's Alchemy Hall test, all wanting to become a member of the Heaven and Earth Sect's Alchemy Hall.

Soon.

Chen An descended on his sword.

As soon as Tian Deacon saw him, he immediately spoke up to greet him:

"Alchemist Chen, you have arrived."

He used the honorific "you".

Chen An was a Third-Rank Alchemist; if nothing went wrong, he would definitely pass the test and become a Deacon of the Heaven and Earth Sect's Alchemy Hall.

After all, a Third-Rank Alchemist was an existence even rarer than a Golden Core great cultivator, and they held a transcendent status wherever they went.

And Tian Deacon, who was only responsible for managing the sect's outer perimeter, had a status far inferior to Chen An's.

Therefore, he was so respectful to Chen An at this moment, respectful to the point of carrying a hint of ingratiation.

The others heard this and were confused, thinking Chen An was an Alchemist from within the Heaven and Earth Sect, and they all cast envious gazes at him.

Some female Alchemists saw Chen An's appearance and were instantly dazed by his handsomeness.

Chen An ignored these gazes and walked straight toward Tian Deacon to register his information.

When the others saw this, they couldn't help but be a little surprised.

What was going on?

This person was actually also an outside Alchemist who came to participate in the test?

But... why was this Tian Deacon of the Heaven and Earth Sect so respectful to him?

The crowd could not figure it out.

As time passed continuously.

Gradually.

The registration time ended.

A total of nearly two hundred Alchemists were registered.

The lowest were all Second-tier Alchemists.

At the same time, the majority were also Second-tier Alchemists.

Including Chen An, there were only five Third-Rank Alchemists.

And apart from him, the other four were only Third-tier Primary Alchemists.

Upon learning this registration information, Chen An felt like he was using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken.

For today's test, he had prepared a lot over the past half year.

As a result, he didn't expect that among the opponents in this test, there wasn't even one who could fight!

They were all too weak!

"Alchemist Chen, I never expected that in just half a year, you would have become a Third-tier Intermediate Alchemist. Many Deacons in the Alchemy Hall do not even have an Alchemy Dao realm as high as yours."

Tian Deacon looked at Chen An's registration information, his glowing face full of emotion.

Third-tier Intermediate? No, no, no, actually I am currently a Third-Tier Advanced Alchemist...

Chen An thought to himself, then smiled and humbly replied: "Tian Deacon, you overpraise me. I merely possess the Alchemy Dao realm; when it comes to Alchemy Experience, I still have much to learn from the Deacons in the Alchemy Hall, and even from the disciples inside."

Hearing the conversation between the two, some of the Alchemists at the scene came over to join in, adding themselves to the discussion with the intention of making connections and currying favor.

"Alchemist Chen is right; one should not be ashamed to ask and learn about alchemy. Among any three people, there must be one who can be my teacher."

"Alchemist Chen is truly humble; you are a model for our generation."

"Alchemist Chen, my daughter is an Alchemist from the Red Cedar Forest Lu Family. She is currently unmarried, and I would like to introduce her to Alchemist Chen so you can exchange Alchemy Experience in depth."

"..."

Among these Alchemists who came to join in, there were both men and women.

Among them, the female Alchemists who were somewhat attractive basically all wanted to develop a romantic relationship with Chen An.

After all, in their eyes, Chen An was a Third-tier Intermediate Alchemist, destined to successfully join the Alchemy Hall of the Heaven and Earth Sect and become a Deacon.

As long as they could cling to his leg, they could save a hundred years of struggle in the Heaven and Earth Sect in the future.

"Everyone, come over here! Check if you are carrying any Thousand-Mile Mirrors or Recording Stones on your person!"

"If you have any, please hand them over to us for temporary safekeeping now; they will be returned after the test ends!"

"If anyone is found to have brought a Thousand-Mile Mirror or Recording Stone inside, their test qualification will be revoked without exception!"

Tian Deacon shouted to the group of Alchemists before him.

As soon as these words fell, everyone immediately checked their Storage Bags, as well as their clothing, for any Thousand-Mile Mirrors or Recording Stones.

If they had any, they handed them over to Tian Deacon at the first opportunity.

After collecting the test contraband.

Very quickly.

Tian Deacon led these nearly two hundred Alchemists onto a Flying Boat.

They flew together toward the Alchemy Hall.

The Flying Boat's altitude was extremely high.

It was so high that unless one was a Nascent Soul stage great cultivator, their Divine Sense would not be enough to see the terrain below.

Chen An knew this was to prevent these outside Alchemists from seeing too much of the Heaven and Earth Sect.

After all, they were all outsiders, and their true identities were unknown, so this had to be guarded against.

Who knew if there might be spies sent by sects from other regions among them?

About half an hour later.

The Flying Boat had been flying and circling in the high sky the entire way.

It finally arrived at the Alchemy Hall.

After the Flying Boat landed.

Nearly two hundred Alchemists were all brought to a stop in front of the Alchemy Hall.

Then, people from the Alchemy Hall soon came out and led all the Alchemists inside.

The first thing the Alchemists did upon entering was to listen to the person in charge of this test introduce the test content and rules.

First, test the pill success rate.

Second, test the quality of the pills.

Third, test how many types of high-tier pills one can refine in total.

After listening to these contents and rules.

The group was taken to corresponding quarters to rest.

Waiting for the test to arrive the next morning.

The next day.

Early morning.

Chen An was sitting cross-legged in his quarters, cultivating.

Seeing the sky outside gradually brightening, he knew the time was nearly up; it was time to go participate in the test.

The test was very dull and tedious.

On the first day, the pill success rate was tested, and this stage alone eliminated half the people.

On the second day, the quality of the pills was tested, eliminating nearly seventy percent of the people.

After two days of screening, only 25 people remained in the end.

And these 25 people had already successfully joined the Alchemy Hall of the Heaven and Earth Sect.

As for the third day's test, testing how many types of high-tier pills one could refine, this test was mainly used to grade the Alchemists who had successfully made the cut.

The grading from this test would determine whether an Alchemist would be an apprentice, a disciple, or a Deacon upon entering.

After a day passed.

The test ended.

Just as previously thought, the five Third-tier Alchemists, including Chen An, were all rated as Deacons.

Of the remaining twenty people, half were disciples and half were apprentices.

"Congratulations to everyone for successfully passing this year's Heaven and Earth Sect Alchemy Hall test and becoming a member of our Alchemy Hall."

"In the coming month, the Alchemy Hall will prepare Cave Abodes for the five Deacons, single rooms for the ten disciples, and five-person rooms for the ten apprentices."

"During this month, everyone can go back to handle your affairs, such as packing your luggage to move, bringing your families to the Heaven and Earth Sect to settle in the mortal area, holding grand banquets in your hometowns, and so on."

"One month from today, everyone will come to the Outer Area to board the Flying Boat and come here to the Alchemy Hall to move in."

"Alright, Tian Deacon is already waiting for you fellow Daoists on the Flying Boat; everyone, do not keep Tian Deacon waiting for long."

After saying these words, the person in charge of the test turned around and went back into the Alchemy Hall, successfully concluding their task.

As for the twenty-five Alchemists who had successfully qualified outside the Alchemy Hall, they all flew off toward the Flying Boat using Sword Flight while chatting and laughing along the way.

Among them, several female Alchemists flew beside Chen An, striking up conversations with him while harboring thoughts of developing a romantic relationship with him.

Chen An cast a glance at these few female Alchemists.

Their figures were all quite good.

It was just that their appearances were a bit lacking.

The only one with a decent appearance was a pregnant woman with a protruding belly.

Chen An had zero interest in this.

After boarding the Flying Boat.

Tian Deacon, who was responsible for steering, came to congratulate Chen An at the first opportunity, saying with a face full of smiles: "Alchemist Chen—no, it should be Deacon Chen now. From now on, we are fellow sect members, so we must look out for each other."

"That is for certain."

Chen An replied with a polite smile.

Before long.

The Flying Boat flew to the Outer Area of the Heaven and Earth Sect.

The Alchemists on the boat were still chatting and laughing with each other.

Many Alchemists, although they had failed the Heaven and Earth Sect Alchemy Hall test, had still gained something.

Some had gained a confidant.

Some had gained a Dao companion.

And there were even those who had found a mother they had been separated from for many years.

Chen An did not converse with anyone, nor did he listen to others conversing.

Seeing that the Flying Boat had already flown to the Outer Area, he simply bid farewell to Tian Deacon and, ignoring the attempts of several female Alchemists to make him stay, soon left using Sword Flight.

The test to join the Heaven and Earth Sect Alchemy Hall had been passed.

It was time to go and check on Jiuji.

To see how this nine-tailed fox, who viewed the human race as inferior beings, was faring now in that dark, sunless cave, and whether her mind could remain clear without breaking down.

A desolate mountain, in front of the cave.

Chen An landed using Sword Flight and used the Earth Escape Technique to enter the cave.

It was very dark inside the cave, pitch black.

However, none of this was an issue for him.

Because his powerful Divine Sense granted him an extremely strong ability to perceive.

Even without a single ray of light, he could see everything clearly in this pitch-black cave.

In contrast, Jiuji, who was lying motionless on the bed at this moment with her hands and feet restrained by Sea Tower Stone, was trapped in darkness like a blind person due to the loss of Spirit Power support, unable to see her own fingers.

Chen An walked silently all the way to the front of Jiuji and stopped.

Having lost her Divine Sense perception, Jiuji failed to detect his approach.

She still lay motionless on the bed.

Like a corpse.

But Chen An knew that Jiuji was not dead, just listless.

"Are you still alive?"

Chen An spoke, asking a question he already knew the answer to.

Hearing this voice that suddenly rang out, Jiuji was so startled that her delicate body trembled, and she abruptly opened her eyes.

However, she could see nothing.

But she knew it was Chen An who had come, and she immediately cried out in a near-hysterical manner.

"Young Master, I was wrong, I will never dare to have any small schemes against you again!"

"I am willing to acknowledge you as my master, I am willing to acknowledge you as my master; from now on, you are Jiuji's master, for all eternity you are Jiuji's master!"

"Master, I have Mastery in the art of disguise and can change my appearance at will; whether it is a princess of a kingdom or a Saintess of a sect, I can change into any appearance you like!"

"Furthermore, I am capable; no matter what work it is, I can do it. I am willing to be a beast of burden for you, to eat grass and provide milk!"

"Please, Master, I beg you, I beg you, take me away from this cave. I cannot stay here any longer, I am going crazy, no, I have already gone crazy!"

Jiuji's voice was filled with despair and resignation.

While crying and shouting, she crawled in the direction from which Chen An's voice had just come, fearing that Chen An would leave and abandon her trapped here.

"Thump!"

Jiuji crawled too anxiously and fell directly off the bed, her body—already so weak she couldn't even stand—feeling as if it were about to fall apart, her pretty face filled with a look of pain.

But she continued to crawl, crawling incessantly.

Only when she touched Chen An's shoes and grabbed his pant leg did the pain on her face instantly dissipate, replaced by an irrepressible joy.

Chen An looked down at Jiuji, who was teary-eyed and weeping with joy, but did not say anything.

He simply took out a few Night Pearls and flicked his fingers, shooting them into the surrounding cave walls with several "pop" sounds, instantly illuminating most of the cave.

Jiuji had been in the dark for a long time and found it difficult to adapt to this brightness for a moment; feeling her eyes irritated and uncomfortable, she instinctively raised her arms to shield them.

A moment later, she gradually adapted to the light, looked up at Chen An with excitement in her eyes, and pleaded with a face full of resignation and submission:

"Master, take me away from this cave!"

"I will go to your home and be a beast of burden for you, at your beck and call!"

"Please, will you take me away from here?"

As she said these words, she gripped Chen An's trouser leg tightly, fearing that Chen An would abandon her and run away.

Chen An was silent for a moment, then said, "How about this: I will give you three days to calm down and consider whether you are truly determined to submit to me. I will come back to you for an answer in three days."

"No, don't!"

"Master, I don't need to consider it; I am willing to submit, I am willing to submit to you!"

"I beg you, take me away from here right now!"

"I want to leave right now!"

"I beg you!"

Jiuji's voice was filled with servility and pleading.

Seeing that her mental state was on the verge of collapse, Chen An knew it was time to end the imprisonment of this Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, so he looked into her beautiful eyes and said calmly, "Since you are willing to submit, I have no reason to keep you imprisoned any longer. I hope that in the future, you will behave yourself in my home and not harbor any malicious intentions."

"I won't, I won't, I will never harbor malicious intentions toward Master!"

Jiuji shook her head desperately in denial.

Chen An's expression remained completely unmoved as he silently mobilized the energy within his body, condensing a wisp of vital essence that hovered quietly at his fingertip.

"Eat it; this is a reward for your submission to me."

"Thank you, Master!"

Jiuji completely cast aside her dignity—at least for this moment, while she was famished, she had cast aside her dignity—and impatiently opened her cherry lips, sucking the wisp of vital essence hovering at Chen An's fingertip into her mouth.

PS: Setting out my bowl, begging for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!