Chapter 349: High-Demand
Translator: Alsey Editor: Chrissy
Mount Putuo with its lustrous cliffs and groves of Bodhi trees was suffused with surging golden mist.
There were numerous ancient temples at its summit inundated by a Buddhist glow while the bells tolled pensively in the background.
"What? Marry?!" Jiang Luoshen cried out in shock. Her impressive figure was clad in a long robe, accentuating all or curvaceous figures. She was truly full of beauty and charm.
"It's not marriage. It's recruiting a son-in-law," her mother corrected.
Jiang Luoshen was on Mount Putuo recently, cultivating both her body and spirit. This national goddess, with a Buddhist scroll in her hand, possessed a different type of style.
However, she was currently pale and terribly shocked. She naturally had her own visions for future romance but her family had brought this up too suddenly.
"I'm not moved by him," Jiang Luoshen denied swiftly.
"I'm only suggesting that you can be friends with him." A warm female voice came through from the other end of the communicator.
On Mount Lao, currently occupied by Deity Biomedicals, some people were in heated discussion.
"Who would've thought this Chu Feng is so capable. He went to study domains after his path towards evolution was cut off and actually reached such an astonishing level. We should approach him. He and Naoi already share a good relationship. It'll be safer to invite him over to Mount Lao!"
Someone was suggesting that they should move soon, otherwise, Chu Feng would be taken by other parties.
During these few days, winds and waves were raging in the outer world.
All of this was caused by the excursion on Mount Tai. They had walked into the sacrificial grounds of the ancient evolved beings and witnessed the gigantic sacrificial altar they had left behind. This caused boundless storms across the world.
Peaches of Immortality, the Nine Cauldrons, Ginseng Fruits…
These offerings were all shocking to say the least. It shook the whole world that such legendary items were actually found within the folded space on Mount Tai.
This was no longer a secret because there were simply too many participants in this excursion. All parties already knew of the existence of this city-sized altar.
"Oh god, Peaches of Immortality are the mutant fruits which the Queen Mother of the West usually serves her immortal guests. Won't we rise meteorically if we ate one?!"
Countless people were looking forward to this as large batches of people headed towards Mount Tai!
"Stop dreaming. Even the horde of kings had no luck with the Peaches of Immortality, let alone people like us. Those are just mutant fruits. Whether or not the Queen Mother of the West really exists, that's another matter. All of them were evolved beings, there were neither immortals nor demons."
In any case, the world was boiling over.
Every capable evolved being began to move. They wanted to visit the Pilgrimage Grounds despite knowing they wouldn't obtain anything.
The Hollow Jade Temple Master and the Eight Visions Temple master were livid. They had already considered this place as their private grounds, but now, they could hardly block so many people.
The whole world had their eyes on this place. Like a powerful current, this place soon became a location everyone yearned to visit.
Now, it could be said that no single power could claim Mount Tai for their own!
The Hollow Jade Temple Master was extremely regretful and his face was dark. Back then, he had acted too rashly and missed a great domain genius like Chu Feng. The loss was simply too great!
Currently, there were countless people with designs on Chu Feng. The journey to Mount Tai had toppled everyone's understanding. Everyone had now realized that a domain researcher was even more important than they had ever realized.
Even though Chu Feng was crippled, he was currently a strategic talent who held the keys to opening the famed mountains.
Who wouldn't covet the offerings on that altar? Any single item was a rare treasure. One would be able to produce an unfathomable expert with a single Peach of Immortality.
And this was just the beginning. What of the other mountains?
There were divine mountains everywhere that needed opening. Those able to enter deep into the legendary grounds would inevitably undergo rapid evolution!
During these few days, many people had designs of Chu Feng. Several of them utilized various methods to communicate Chu Feng.
Capturing him was a very direct method—simple, violent, and perhaps the most efficient.
Many people moved out in search of Chu Feng's traces. They would secretly kidnap him once found.
They all knew Chu Feng's good relationship with the old grandmaster and that he had saved many sect masters such as the Golden-Winged Roc King and the Mountain Tortoise. That was why they had to act in secret.
Any price was worth it if they could capture Chu Feng.
Because some of them viewed Chu Feng as an enemy and were planning to kill him some time ago. But now, even his archenemies weren't willing to kill him since capturing him alive held greater meaning.
People only found out at this time how much foresight Chu Feng possessed in running away from Mount Tai that day. It wasn't just to evade the old Taoist but also to prevent others from scheming against him.
Naturally, not everyone wanted to capture him. This was too violent and lacking in artistry. Some people believed they should weave a net for him to fall into willingly. They wanted him to cooperate with them willingly and obediently.
During these few days, countless evolved beings visited Mount Tai, and the whole place was densely packed with people.
Unfortunately, at least nine out of ten people couldn't even find the altar. Even though Chu Feng had already broken the domains and opened a pathway, it wasn't so easy for the newcomers to find their way.
They were only able to enter the depths of this space after being led in by the experts who had come here before.
But in the end, these people had to return in low spirits after seeing the altar. They had no method, whatsoever, to deal with it.
At this point, many people realized just how valuable Chu Feng was.
Presently, Chu Feng was the only one in the world proficient in the field of domains. Others found it extremely difficult to enter this field. They could hardly make any progress despite having secret books and volumes.
The Pre-Qin Research Institute spread news that they had dug up an ancient ruin and obtained a bottle of medicinal liquid. It was extremely mysterious—a single drop would be able to heal all diseases.
At the same time, they had already tested it out and found that the drug was highly effective on evolved beings. Even lost limbs could be regrown.
"Chu Feng is a heavenly genius who was accidentally crippled. This is a great loss to all of us. We are willing to try and restore his path towards evolution."
This was what the Pre-Qin Research Institute said to the outside world.
Following which, an elder dragon from the eastern sea spoke. He was the Dragoness' father said to be seeking the Draconification Fruit. He promised to use the fruit to restore Chu Feng once he finds it.
It was rumored that the Draconification Fruit possessed mystical qualities. Not only can it help flood serpents become dragons, but it could also allow experts to undergo an intense transformation and eliminate all defects within the body.
In their eyes, a single draconification fruit would be sufficient to solve Chu Feng's problems because he was still alive and well despite suffering a tribulation.
"Even the eastern sea dragon race is taking part in this even if they had to offend the southern sea dragon race!"
The people cried out in alarm. The wolf has come—to be precise, the dragon has come—even the marine race wants to join in on the struggle for Chu Feng. This made his importance as a domain researcher even more prominent.
Everyone knew the eastern sea dragon race's ambition. They wanted to open the true dragon's lair by borrowing Chu Feng's strength!
There was finally news about Chu Feng after many days. Some people believed that he had gone back to Mount Wudang.
Within moments, all parties could no longer sit still and began to move.
"Yellow Ox, how are things on your end?" Chu Feng contacted Yellow Ox from Mount Wudang to ask about his condition.
The great horde of Kunlun demons had gone into hiding for a period of time. None of them had made their appearances up till now.
"No problem here. I've already recovered and I'm now searching for mutant fruits of good quality in order to break through!" Yellow Ox informed Chu Feng. Their group wasn't resigned to their fate.
That was because many newcomers had overtaken them rapidly during the most recent upheavals. They, on the other hand, encountered a tribulation and had their evolution deterred, wasting such precious time.
Recently, all of them had recovered but were in no rush to come out. They were searching through the famed mountains of the western region, hoping to evolve to a higher level.
Presently, severing six shackles was the end of the evolutionary path for continental entities. That was because they hadn't yet discovered fruits of a higher grade.
The Kunlun group was taking this opportunity to break through to top grade kings.
"Very good!" Chu Feng nodded. He was also prepared to sever the sixth shackle on his own, but if there were top grade fruits to assist him, his evolution would proceed more rapidly!
Currently, he couldn't act rashly because the little grinding stone was undergoing a nirvanic transformation. It was currently enveloped in a membrane and might break through to an even higher level later on.
If he tried to sever his sixth shackle during this period, the intensely surging blood energy in his body might affect the transformation of the grinding stone.
"Mm, I'll search for a divine fruit to sever my sixth shackle and save my own essence and blood energy to sever the seventh!"
Chu Feng had a certain plan in his mind. Perhaps, at that time, he would become the first continental expert to sever his seventh shackle!
For now, he would profit in silence.
He had already heard rumors about how the major corporations, the marine race hegemons, and even the top Western powers were hoping to cooperate with him. They were looking to send him valuable gifts.
He felt that it would be quite inappropriate if he didn't accept these offerings. He would kindly accept as much as people offered.
So much that if any major power wanted to work with him on finding certain top-grade mutant fruits, he would fully "cooperate" and help them consume a few, allowing himself to evolve in the process.
Currently, Chu Feng had deployed dozens of domains on Mount Wudang. It was extremely well fortified. Apart from obtaining large amounts of materials from the corporations, he had also dug up rare magnetic stones and spiritual stones on Mount Tai.
These things could support his domains for a long time!
Add that to the simple domains left behind on Mount Wudang since ancient times which Chu Feng had reactivated, this place was like a metal bucket. It wouldn't be easy to break through.
He was now completely relieved. Even if the major powers laid siege to this place, they could hold out for a period of time.
Besides, did they really think he was a soft persimmon? Heads would roll continuously once he displayed his true powers. It would be a shocking scene.
These two days, Chu Feng was studying Mount Wudang and was trying to open the mysterious space therein. He wanted to see if he could obtain some great fortune.
"Lord of Profound Heaven? What level of evolved being is this?"
Chu Feng wandered around Mount Wudang and found, according to ancient records, that this was the ritual grounds of a certain Lord of Profound Heaven.
He revealed an odd expression because the Lord of Profound Heaven was also known as the Xuanwu Emperor [1]. There were bronze statues of Xuanwu on Mount Wudang, depicting a tortoise entangled by a snake.
At this point, Chu Feng didn't just believe these ancient legends but was also viewing them from the perspective of evolved beings.
"The Xuanwu Tortoise had evolved to become a top-grade evolved being. I wonder if there'll be any medicinal grasses here? There might actually be a medicine garden left behind by a demonic sage level Xuanwu Tortoise." Chu Feng pondered.
He truly wanted to open the mysterious space and pick out some divine fruits.
Meanwhile, some people were mobilizing and heading towards Mount Wudang to find him—some were trying to move him with generous offers, hoping to secure a close cooperation later on, while others wanted to capture him in a direct and violent move.
Within moments, the wind and clouds had moved towards Wudang from every direction and enshrouded it. The famed mountain was placed under a great deal of attention.
"We have to make a decision now. It's said that the old monk from Bodhi Biogenetics is about to make a move personally and will bring along that so-called national goddess."
On Mount Lao, the headquarters of Deity Biomedicals, some people were discussing their strategy in a secret meeting.
"That old monk has a golden arhat body and even has a halo behind his head. He's actually doing such a thing? Does he want to act as a matchmaker by bringing Jiang Luoshen?!"
The important members of Deity Biomedicals were stirred.
"Actually, we should take the initiative. Not to mention us, even the outside world knows Naoi and Chu Feng are classmates and that their relationship isn't ordinary. Why not take it to the next level?"
An old man spoke with sparkling eyes.
"Don't take the wrong fork in the road. The descended being from twenty-one, no, twenty-two years ago, who's currently sleeping, had said that Lin Naoi isn't a person we can set up. She's especially important to them beyond our imagination."
"That's true. Let's not bring up this topic again because Lin Naoi is destined to leave this world. The present geniuses are too inferior compared to the divine sons of the outer regions who would soon descend."
They had already gone to ask the old woman about people like Chu Feng. They were told that domain researchers were rare in every celestial realm.
The old woman kept her eyes closed and didn't say a lot.
That was because her master already had plans for Lin Naoi. She wouldn't speak about them thoughtlessly.
"Let Naoi go and meet Chu Feng. He's actually a good kid," someone suggested.
Mount Wudang became quite lively as people from everywhere began to appear.
...
[1] Confusing, to say the least but this god is related to the black turtle xuanwu. There's more about him on my patreon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuanwu_(god)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tortoise