Chapter 1084 : The Lost Art of Spiritual Fusion

Heaven Wind Immortal [an ancient immortal whose path is aligned with the winds of heaven] wore a bitter smile and sighed deeply. "During my travels across the starry heavens long ago, I did indeed obtain a legacy concerning the cultivation of the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a legendary spiritual shoot that embodies the essence of jade marrow and metallic gold]."

"To cultivate the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot, at least two conditions must be met. The first is to refine Mysterious Gold [a rare, spiritually conductive metal with profound properties] and Jade Marrow [the condensed spiritual essence found within ancient jade veins] using a special, secret technique, and then fuse them into the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo [a spiritual bamboo species that serves as the progenitor for the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot]."

"Alas, that method has long been lost. I did not receive the crucial secret technique, so I could only attempt to bury a Metallic Gold Ore Vein [a vein of ore rich in spiritually-attuned gold] and a Spirit Jade Vein [a vein of jade imbued with spiritual energy] within the Spiritual Field [a field nourished by spiritual energy for growing rare plants]. This was my poor imitation of the true method."

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator from the Chen Clan] nodded upon hearing this. Without the specific secret technique, forcibly integrating external materials into such a Spirit Wood [a type of spiritually attuned wood or plant] would only result in its spiritual death.

Having not obtained the secret method, Heaven Wind Immortal dared not fuse the Mysterious Gold and Jade Marrow directly. He could only embed the ore veins into the Immortal Field [a field of the highest spiritual grade, suitable for immortal plants], hoping the Spiritual Root [the spiritual foundation or core of a plant] would naturally absorb their spiritual essence and grow.

Yet, he still failed. These Mysterious Jade Golden Bamboo [a variant of spiritual bamboo that absorbed jade marrow and metallic gold essence] absorbed the Jade Marrow and the Metallic Gold Ore Vein, greatly enhancing their grade and unique properties, but they never underwent the true metamorphosis.

By now, Heaven Wind Immortal had abandoned hope of cultivating a true Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot, which was why he sought to purchase this one from Eldrin Chen.

At this point, Heaven Wind Immortal sighed once more. "Besides the special secret technique, the second condition is that it must be cultivated using precious Immortal Soil [soil of celestial grade, brimming with immortal-grade spiritual energy and vitality]."

"Immortal Soil?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, a trace of solemnity coloring his features. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel dot com.

How precious is Immortal Soil [the divine earth capable of nurturing immortal flora]? It is a true Immortal Artifact [an object of profound spiritual power], a material from which an Immortal Treasure [a supreme enchanted artifact] can be forged.

If one merely sought to purchase a small portion, the cost might be manageable, perhaps one or two pieces of Incense Offering Celestial Silver [a rare, high-purity spiritual metal]. However, to cultivate an Immortal Root [the foundational spiritual plant of an immortal], the quantity of Immortal Soil required is immense.

When Eldrin Chen once ventured into the core Immortal Field [a field blessed for growing immortal plants] of the Crimson Sun Blessed Land, the Immortal Soil he witnessed covered an area of merely two Fen-area [approximately one hundred thirty-three square meters].

That Immortal Soil represented one of the core treasures accumulated by the Crimson Sun Blessed Land over tens of millions of years, nurturing several hundred Immortal Herb [plants of immortal grade] upon it.

Unfortunately, having been unattended for those countless eons, the divine essence within that Immortal Soil had long been mostly depleted, leaving behind only a thin layer.

Even so, its value was no less than that of a single Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a pinnacle-grade immortal artifact], and likely even exceeded it.

Had the group not agreed beforehand to only harvest the Spirit Herb [spiritually infused plants] and not destroy the Immortal Field, they might very well have come to blows over that Immortal Soil.

Now, this Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a rare bamboo shoot with jade-like marrow and golden hue] actually required Immortal Soil for its cultivation—a fact that took Eldrin Chen completely by surprise.

Noticing the slight change in Eldrin Chen's expression, Heaven Wind Immortal shook his head with a smile. "It is not an absolute necessity," he said. "There is a significant chance the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot can sprout using the secret method alone."

"However, to reliably produce a large quantity of Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot, one must employ both the secret method and the Immortal Soil in tandem."

"Only by employing both methods can the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot grow swiftly to the Immortal Realm upper-grade."

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and said no more.

He gazed at this grove of Mysterious Jade Golden Bamboo and mused for a moment before speaking. "Regardless, since I have obtained the Elixir Formula, I must give it a try."

"Sell me these ten Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo, and I will plant them on the mountain to test their growth."

"Ten Mu-area is too much. This old man must keep some for sentimental reasons."

Heaven Wind Immortal shook his head, stroking his long beard. "For three hundred Immortal Source [a highly concentrated source of immortal energy], I will sell you half."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded, finalizing the transaction.

Three hundred Immortal Source was enough to purchase a Mid-Grade Immortal Treasure [a mid-tier enchanted artifact of immortal quality]; using it to buy Mysterious Jade Golden Bamboo was slightly extravagant.

However, these five Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Mysterious Jade Golden Bamboo [a rare, spiritually attuned bamboo with jade-like qualities and golden hues], even the lowest grade among them had reached the Sixth Rank [a high level of spiritual potency for materials or beings] within the Primordial Solar Realm [a specific tier within the cultivation hierarchy]. The grove, with its large and small golden stalks, likely numbered over three thousand individual plants.

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

After purchasing the Mysterious Jade Golden Bamboo, Eldrin Chen shifted his gaze slightly and spoke, "Fellow Daoist, you obtained quite a few Immortal Herb [plants of immense spiritual value used in alchemy] during your last venture to the Crimson Sun Blessed Land [a realm of great spiritual abundance]. You must have also acquired many precious, aged medicinal plants."

"This time, I have bought a significant amount of treasures. I wonder if you could include those aged herbs as an additional bonus for me? My Green Chariot Island [Eldrin Chen's personal spiritual island] Spiritual Field [a plot of land enriched with spiritual energy for growing rare plants] was established relatively recently. I wish to plant some of these old herbs to improve the soil quality of my Spirit Herb Garden [a dedicated garden for cultivating spiritual plants]."

"That can be easily arranged."

Heaven Wind Immortal nodded, yet remained shrewd in the transaction, "I still have thirty-three aged medicinal plants. Add another hundred Immortal Source, and you may have them all." Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.

"Elder Brother, you truly calculate every detail."

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 [the immortal's abode], and the Immortal Source from my pockets has been thoroughly drained by you."

"Heh."

Heaven Wind Path Master [a title for a master of the Heavenly Wind cultivation path] gave a knowing chuckle. He returned to his Spirit Herb Garden to gather over thirty near-immortal grade aged herbs and handed them to Eldrin Chen, saying:

"One who does not manage a household cannot fathom the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt," he sighed. "My Wind Mist Island has seven Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and attained immortality]. Every single Immortal Source [a concentrated source of immortal-grade spiritual energy] they consume in their cultivation is something I, this old man, have had to scrimp and save for, bit by bit."

"That is indeed true."

Eldrin Chen felt a deep resonance with this sentiment, sharing a sense of kindred hardship with the Heaven Wind Immortal.

Yet, the moment he remembered that it was his own coffers being drained, a wave of helplessness washed over him. Fortunately, these thirty-three ancient herbs were all of Extraordinary value. Among them were five Primordial Solar Fruit [a fruit imbued with the pure essence of the primordial sun] and three Primal Shadow Flower [a flower that blooms in the deepest shadows, containing yin essence].

Once they ascended to immortal-grade and were refined into the Polarity Supreme Polarity Pill [a supreme elixir that harmonizes the dual polarities of yin and yang], just one or two pills would be enough to recoup all of today's expenditures.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen clasped his hands and said, "This Mysterious Jade Golden Bamboo and these ancient herbs should be planted in the Spiritual Field [a field saturated with spiritual energy, ideal for growing spiritual plants] as soon as possible."

"I shall not impose further. Let us meet again in the future, Elder Brother."

"Allow me to see you out."

The Heaven Wind Immortal escorted Eldrin Chen off Wind Mist Island. Just before parting, he suddenly looked at Eldrin Chen and asked, "Fellow Daoist, have you received an invitation from the Lingering Sun Immortal Sect [an immortal sect] in recent times?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, his gaze sharpening. "Elder Brother, are you referring to the Great Tribulation [a catastrophic heavenly trial] of the Setting Sun Patriarch, sixty thousand years from now?"

"Indeed."

Heaven Wind Immortal [an ancient immortal associated with celestial winds] nodded slightly, then spoke with profound meaning: "For us Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality], facing a Tribulation [a heavenly trial or calamity] that occurs only once in a million years is perilous, yet the odds of successfully overcoming it are not insignificant."

"However, the sixth tribulation of Setting Sun Patriarch [a patriarch whose title evokes the waning sun] coinciding with the Earth Immortal World [a realm of earthbound immortals] is destined to evolve into a Great Tribulation [a widespread and devastating heavenly calamity] of considerable scale."

"With our level of power, recklessly intervening in such an event could easily lead to our utter annihilation, reduced to mere ashes of the calamity itself."

At this point, Heaven Wind Immortal offered a meaningful reminder: "Our conversation today has been most pleasant, and I feel compelled to offer you a word of caution. Unless the bond is exceptionally close, it is unwise to involve oneself in another's Tribulation."

"Lest the Celestial Mechanism [the inscrutable workings of heavenly fate and karma] become obscured, and one finds oneself foolishly entangled in the Tribulation."

"My thanks for the warning."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of goodwill towards Heaven Wind Immortal and immediately cupped his hands in acknowledgment. "The Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a sacred land associated with the lingering light of the sun] did seek me out, but I have already declined their request."

"That is well."

Heaven Wind Immortal offered a faint smile and said in a drawn-out tone, "Then this old man shall not see you off."

"This journey is for secluded cultivation to refine the Jade Marrow Golden Core [a legendary pill that can solidify one's foundation and enhance the Golden Core]. Upon emerging from seclusion, this old man's Immortal Body [a perfected physical form that is the pinnacle of body cultivation] shall reach its state of completion. Fellow Daoist, if you have the leisure, you are welcome to attend the grand feast celebrating my achievement."

"Very well. Until we meet again."