Chapter 1084 : The Lost Art of Spiritual Fusion

Skywind the Immortal wore a bitter smile, sighing deeply as he spoke, "During my travels among the stars in the past, I did indeed obtain the legacy for cultivating the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a legendary spiritual bamboo shoot said to be nurtured with jade marrow and profound gold]."

"Cultivating the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot requires at least two conditions. The first is to refine Profound Gold and Jade Marrow using a special esoteric method and fuse them into the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo."

"Alas, that method has long been lost. This old man did not obtain the crucial esoteric legacy. I could only attempt to bury a Metallic Essence Vein and a Spirit Jade Vein within the Spirit Farmland [a field specially nourished with spiritual energy for growing spiritual plants], which was my way of emulating the ancient technique."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this. Without the special esoteric legacy, forcibly fusing external materials into such a Spirit Wood [a type of wood imbued with spiritual energy, often used in cultivation] would only result in its spiritual death.

Having not obtained the esoteric method, Skywind the Immortal dared not fuse the Profound Gold and Jade Marrow directly. He could only integrate the ore veins into the Immortal Fields [fields of exceptional spiritual fertility, often used by powerful cultivators], hoping the Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation of a plant or cultivator] would naturally absorb their spiritual essence to grow.

Yet, he still failed. These Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo absorbed the Jade Marrow and Metallic Essence Vein, greatly enhancing their grade and properties, but they never underwent the true metamorphosis.

By now, Skywind the Immortal had lost hope of cultivating a true Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot, which is why he sought to purchase this one from Eldrin Chen.

At this point, Skywind the Immortal sighed again and continued, "Besides the special esoteric method, the second condition is that it must be cultivated using rare Immortal Soil [a sacred soil imbued with immense spiritual energy, essential for nurturing the highest-grade spiritual plants]."

"Immortal Soil?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, a trace of solemnity coloring his features. This chapter appears courtesy of AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

How precious is Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence]? It is a true Immortal Treasure [an object of immense power and rarity from the immortal realms], a material from which Immortal Treasure [peerless enchanted artifacts of the highest order] can be forged.

If one merely sought to purchase a small portion, it would be manageable, costing perhaps one or two pieces of Incense Fire Celestial Silver [a rare, luminous silver alloy]. However, to cultivate an Immortal Root [the foundational spiritual core of an immortal-grade plant], the quantity of Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence] required is staggeringly vast.

When Eldrin Chen once ventured into the core Immortal Fields [the celestial gardens] of the Crimson Sun Blessed Land, the Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence] he witnessed was only enough to cover a mere two Fen-area [one Fen-area equals one-tenth of a Mu, approximately sixty-six point six seven square meters] of land.

That Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence] represented one of the most core treasures accumulated by the Crimson Sun Blessed Land over tens of millions of years, nurturing several hundred stalks of Immortal Herbs [plants of legendary potency and rarity].

Alas, having been untended for those tens of millions of years, the divine essence within that Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence] had long been mostly depleted, leaving behind only a thin, fading layer.

Even so, its value was no less than that of a single Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [a pinnacle artifact of the immortal realms], and perhaps even exceeded it by a significant margin.

Had the group not agreed beforehand to only harvest the Spirit Medicine [plants cultivated for their potent spiritual properties] and not despoil the Immortal Fields [the celestial gardens], they might well have come to blows over that Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence].

Now, this Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a legendary bamboo sprout with jade-like marrow and golden hue] actually required Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence] for its cultivation—a revelation that took Eldrin Chen greatly by surprise.

Noting the slight change in Eldrin Chen's expression, Skywind the Immortal shook his head with a faint smile. "It is not an absolute necessity," he said. "There is a fair chance the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a legendary bamboo sprout with jade-like marrow and golden hue] can sprout using the secret method alone."

"However, to reliably produce a substantial quantity of Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a legendary bamboo sprout with jade-like marrow and golden hue], one must employ both the Immortal Soil [the sacred earth imbued with immortal essence] and the secret method in tandem."

"Only through this dual approach can the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot grow swiftly to the Upper Grade of the Immortal Realm."

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and said no more.

He gazed at the grove of Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo for a long moment before speaking thoughtfully. "Regardless, having obtained the Pill Formula, I must at least make the attempt."

"Sell me these ten Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo. I shall plant them upon the mountain and see if they thrive."

"Ten Mu-area is too much. This old man must keep some for remembrance's sake."

Skywind the Immortal shook his head, stroking his long beard. "For three hundred Immortal Source [a highly concentrated form of spiritual energy crystal], I shall sell you half."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded, finalizing the transaction.

Three hundred Immortal Source was a sum sufficient to purchase a Mid Grade Immortal Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact]; using it for Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo was a slightly extravagant price.

However, these five Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo were all of at least the Sixth Rank Pure Yang Realm. The grove, comprised of bamboos both large and small, likely numbered over three thousand stalks.

The investment Skywind the Immortal had poured into them was probably no less than one or two thousand Immortal Source [a highly concentrated and potent form of spiritual energy crystal]. Acquiring them at this price was indeed a favorable deal.

After purchasing the Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo, Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted thoughtfully before he spoke. "Fellow Daoist [a respectful term used among cultivators], you obtained a considerable number of Immortal Herbs during your last venture to the Crimson Sun Blessed Land. You must have also gathered many rare, ancient medicinal plants."

"This time, I have bought quite a few treasures. I wonder if you could include those ancient herbs as an additional bonus for me? The Spirit Farmland [land imbued with spiritual energy for growing spiritual plants] on my Green Chariot Island was only recently developed. I wish to plant some ancient herbs to improve the soil quality of the Spirit Medicine Garden."

"That can be easily arranged."

Skywind the Immortal nodded, yet showed no willingness to take a loss. "I still have thirty-three ancient medicinal plants. Add another hundred Immortal Source, and you can have them all." Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel . com.

"You truly are meticulous in your calculations, Fellow Daoist."

Eldrin Chen produced another hundred Immortal Source, only to find his supply nearly depleted. He chuckled wryly, "A single visit to your Wind Mist Island has drained the Immortal Source from my pockets."

"Heh."

Skywind the Daoist gave a knowing grin. He returned to the Spirit Medicine Garden and harvested over thirty Near-Immortal Ancient Medicines [extremely rare medicinal plants approaching the potency of true Immortal Herbs], handing them to Eldrin Chen as he said:

"Those who do not manage a household know not the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt," he said. "My Wind Mist Island has seven Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and attained immortality]. Every single Immortal Source [a condensed source of immortal-grade spiritual energy] they consume in their cultivation is something I have meticulously saved and scraped together."

"That is indeed true."

Eldrin Chen felt a deep resonance with this sentiment, finding a kindred spirit in Skywind the Immortal.

Yet, the moment he remembered that the other was draining *his* own coffers, a wave of helplessness washed over him. Fortunately, these thirty-three ancient herbs were all of exceptional value. Among them were five Pure Yang Fruit [a fruit brimming with pure Yang essence] and three Profound Yin Flower [a flower containing profound Yin essence].

Once they ascended to immortal-grade and were refined into the Yin-Yang Supreme Ultimate Pill [a supreme elixir harmonizing Yin and Yang forces], just one or two pills would be enough to recoup today's entire expenditure.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen clasped his hands and said, "This Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo [a rare bamboo with jade-like stalks and golden leaves] and these ancient herbs should be planted in the Spirit Farmland [land enriched with spiritual energy for growing spiritual plants] as soon as possible."

"I shall not linger further. Let us meet again in the future, Fellow Daoist."

"Allow me to see you out."

Skywind the Immortal escorted Eldrin Chen off Wind Mist Island. Just before parting, he suddenly looked at Eldrin Chen and asked, "Has the Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] received an invitation from the Setting Sun Immortal Sect in recent times?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, his gaze sharpening. "Are you speaking of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] facing Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor, sixty thousand years from now?"

"Indeed it is."

Skywind the Immortal gave a slight nod, then spoke with profound meaning: "For us Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and attained immortality], facing a tribulation that occurs only once in a million years is perilous, yet the odds of successfully overcoming it are not insignificant."

"However, Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor's Sixth Tribulation coinciding with the Earth Immortal Realm [a realm of cultivation for powerful Earth Immortals] is destined to evolve into a Great Tribulation [a calamitous event of cosmic scale] of considerable scope."

"With our level of power, rashly intervening in such an affair could easily lead to us being reduced to ashes of calamity with a single misstep."

At this point, Skywind the Immortal meaningfully advised: "Our conversation today has been most pleasant, and I feel compelled to offer you a word of caution. Unless your ties are exceedingly close, it is best not to meddle in another's Human Tribulation [a tribulation specific to human cultivators, often involving mortal affairs and karmic entanglements]."

"Lest the Heavenly Secrets [the inscrutable workings of fate and cosmic law] become obscured, and you find yourself blindly fulfilling a calamitous fate."

"My thanks for the warning."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of goodwill towards Skywind the Immortal and promptly cupped his hands in acknowledgment. "The Setting Sun Blessed Land [a sacred land of cultivation] did seek me out, but I have already declined their request."

"That is well."

Skywind the Immortal offered a faint smile and declared in a clear voice, "Then this old man shall not see you off."

"This journey is for secluded cultivation to refine the Jade Marrow Golden Pill [a supreme elixir for forging an immortal-grade body]. Upon emerging from seclusion, this old man's Immortal Physique [a perfected, immortal-grade physical form] shall reach its completion. If you, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator], have leisure, you are welcome to attend the grand feast celebrating my achievement."

"Very well. Until we meet again."

Finally, Eldrin Chen gave a slight wave of his hand and departed from Wind Mist Island. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel . com.