Chapter 54 : A Patriarch's Bold Request

"There is no need to investigate further. He has already fled."

Exquisite Jiang stated calmly. Just moments before, she had ordered another sweep, confirming that among the seven fallen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation], one had feigned death to escape.

After speaking, her gaze swept over the assembly. "For the next few months, I shall be secluded, refining the Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in solidifying one's spiritual foundation]. You may settle your battle merits with the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion."

"Once the Foundation Establishment Pill are complete, I will allocate them appropriately for compensation and rewards."

The crowd offered their thanks in haste before filing out. Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch were specifically asked to remain.

Within the Spirit Pool Cave Abode [a secluded cultivation chamber nourished by a spiritual spring] on Heavenly Ruins Mountain, Exquisite Jiang regarded Eldrin Chen, then turned her gaze to the Old Patriarch.

"In that battle, you alone held back over thirty Second Rank [a classification for demonic beasts equivalent to Foundation Establishment cultivators] demonic beasts for two Ke-time [one Ke-time equals fifteen minutes]. Your stand was pivotal to our victory."

"My initial thought was to reward you with three Foundation Establishment Pill once they were refined. However, upon further reflection, I wished to inquire."

She paused briefly before continuing. "Is there any other form of reward you desire?"

Upon hearing this, the Old Patriarch exchanged a glance with Eldrin Chen, then replied with palpable excitement, "Might the three Foundation Establishment Pill be exchanged for Solar Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of solar flame]?" Join our community of readers at https://audio-novel.com.

"A Solar Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with concentrated solar and fire essence]?" Exquisite Jiang's eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Eternal Profound Chen. "You are only at the Foundation Establishment 7th Tier [the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage], yet you are already preparing for your breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum [the realm beyond Foundation Establishment, where one's spiritual sea condenses into a Violet Palace]?"

The Solar Fire Crystal is an exceedingly precious treasure. It can be used to forge magical artifacts, refine elixirs [spiritual pills], or assist cultivators with a Fire Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the fire element] in breaking through to the Violet Sanctum Realm. It can increase a fire-attributed cultivator's chances of a successful breakthrough by twenty percent.

Eternal Profound Chen possesses a Dual Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for two spiritual elements] of metal and fire. If he obtained a Solar Fire Crystal, his future chances of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum could reach thirty to forty percent. No wonder Exquisite Jiang thought of this.

Hearing her words, Eternal Profound Chen shook his head with a faint smile. "This junior will need to wait at least three or four more decades before attempting to break through to the Violet Sanctum Realm. How would I dare to keep such a treasure on my person for so long?"

"I intend to use this item to forge a Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword bound to its wielder's life force, growing in power with them] for my grandson here."

"Granduncle..." Eldrin Chen's expression shifted, and he began to speak.

But the Old Patriarch stopped him, his voice resolute. "A treasure's value is meaningless if one lacks the life to use it."

"With the strength of our Chen Clan, trying to safeguard a Solar Fire Crystal for three or four decades would be a fool's dream. It is far better for you to refine it into the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword."

"Furthermore, I promised you long ago that if there was ever a chance to obtain a Solar Fire Crystal, the Clan Assembly [the formal gathering of the clan's elders] would spare no cost to acquire it for you."

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, a complex surge of emotion stirring within him, impossible to voice. He could only etch every word, every sentiment, deep into his heart.

Exquisite Jiang observed everything with a faint smile in her eyes. Only after the two had finished their discussion did she speak.

"Exchanging three Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm] for one Solar Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of solar fire] is indeed a fair trade."

"A few years ago, a Solar Fire Crystal was nurtured within the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean vein of fiery spiritual energy]. I had not yet found a use for it, so consider this your good fortune."

"I agree to this arrangement."

As she spoke, she retrieved a crystal emitting a hazy, radiant glow and handed it to the pair.

Eldrin Chen accepted the Solar Fire Crystal, his heart surging with emotion. A treasure of this caliber was exceedingly rare; even an ordinary Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has reached the Violet Sanctum realm] would covet it.

Strictly speaking, they had profited from this exchange. While a Foundation Establishment Pill could be valued at thirty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] on the open market, its internal price within major factions was typically around ten thousand.

This was because ordinary Immortal Clan [powerful, long-established families of cultivators] lacked the ability to refine Foundation Establishment Pill, leading to a supply shortage. Consequently, the price was often driven up to twenty or thirty thousand Spirit Stones.

However, during periods of Beast Tide [a periodic, massive onslaught of demonic beasts], if the harvest of Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [demonic beasts equivalent in power to Violet Sanctum cultivators] was plentiful, the price of a Foundation Establishment Pill could drop to around fifteen thousand Spirit Stones.

After all, the Inner Pill [the core energy source within a demonic beast] from a Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation stage] beast had a shelf life of merely three to five years, and a Foundation Establishment Pill itself could only be preserved for about ten years. When large batches were refined at once, the market price naturally fell.

With Exquisite Jiang's alchemical arts, the cost of each Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation] could be controlled to around six to eight thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. Therefore, for her, the Foundation Establishment Pill was merely scarce in materials; if calculated at an internal price, it wasn't considered exceptionally precious.

The price of a Solar Fire Crystal [a crystalized essence of solar fire energy] typically hovered around fifty thousand Spirit Stones. Generally, the premium wouldn't exceed eighty thousand Spirit Stones. The problem was that this item was virtually impossible to purchase within the Chu Nation.

Within the Chu Nation, the essence of Solar Fire [a powerful flame-based divine ability] was only produced by the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean vein of fiery spiritual energy] belonging to the three great sects and Heavenly Ruins Mountain. Essentially, every time it appeared, it drove Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Foundation Establishment realm] cultivators from major powers into a frenzy, compelling them to exhaust all means to exchange for it.

Thus, by swapping the reward from a Foundation Establishment Pill to a Solar Fire Crystal, the two of them could be considered to have profited handsomely.

Watching the two excitedly store away their Solar Fire Crystal, Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod of approval. Her gaze then turned to Eldrin Chen.

"You played a significant role in helping Elara break the stalemate, and you expended a precious talisman," she said. This chapter is provided by AUDIO-NOVEL.COM. Support the original.

"Very well. Once the Foundation Establishment Pill is refined, I shall reserve one for you as well. Additionally, I will grant you one Meridian Nourishing Pill [a pill that heals and strengthens the body's energy channels]."

Eldrin Chen's eyes lit up, and he nodded with heartfelt joy. He knew this Meridian Nourishing Pill was intended for Eternal Profound Chen.

The Old Patriarch had suffered meridian injuries this time. While not severe, it would require several years of recuperation. Now, with this Meridian Nourishing Pill, he would likely recover within a month.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen promptly expressed his gratitude: "My sincere thanks."

"Go," Exquisite Jiang said with a flick of her sleeve, tossing a medicine vial over.

Having obtained the Meridian Nourishing Pill, the two men bid farewell to Patriarch Jiang and departed from the Spirit Pool Cave Abode.

After returning to the inn, Eternal Profound Chen entered seclusion to swallow the Meridian Nourishing Pill and heal his wounds, while Eldrin Chen stood guard for him.

More than a month passed in the blink of an eye. The Old Patriarch emerged from the Seclusion Chamber, and the two finally had time to discuss matters.

Having recovered from his injuries, the Old Patriarch said with great cheer, "This time, we obtained the Solar Fire Crystal. This item is far too precious; carrying it back might invite danger."

"I think it would be better to use the Earthfire Forging Chamber at Heavenly Ruins Mountain to successfully forge your Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword before we leave."

"I was thinking the same," Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. "But I know neither formation arts nor artifact forging. For this Lifebound Immortal Sword, I will still need the Old Granduncle's assistance."

Eternal Profound Chen laughed heartily, stroking his long beard. "That is a simple matter."

The initial grade of a Life-Bound Magical Artifact is often not high, so the difficulty of its forging is usually not great. The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword is the same in this regard.

However, as a top-tier Immortal Sword, its materials and forging method are exceedingly precious and unique, making it considerably more difficult to craft than an ordinary Life-Bound Magical Artifact.

Especially that Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal born from the heart of earthly fire], which was conceived and nurtured within the earth's fiery veins. To refine it, one would need the aid of Third-Rank Earthfire [a potent, third-grade flame drawn from the earth's core] paired with a high-grade forging furnace. This necessitated renting the Earthfire Forging Chamber [a specialized chamber harnessing earthfire for artifact crafting] at Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

To rent the Earthfire Forging Chamber, the two soon sought out their acquaintance, Freya Willow [an Immortal Maiden of the Heavenly Ruins Mountain].

This time, Freya Willow was exceptionally warm. Upon learning their purpose, she smiled and said, "There are only three third-rank Earthfire Forging Chamber at Heavenly Ruins Mountain. The finest one is currently occupied by my master, who is within it refining Foundation Establishment Pill [a crucial pill that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation]."

"As for the other two Earthfire Chamber [chambers for harnessing earthfire], one is of the third-rank middle grade, and the other is Third Rank Lower Grade [the lowest tier within the third rank]. Which one would you prefer to rent?"

Eternal Profound Chen offered a slight smile. "This time, we intend to forge a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to one's life force and soul]. We will also require the use of a Third-rank Forging Furnace [a furnace of the third rank for artifact creation]. I wonder which chamber has a Third-rank Forging Furnace available." Official source: audio-novel . com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.