Chapter 1564 : A Ghost Progenitor's Bargain

The moment he laid eyes on the Profound Nether Ancient Gold, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately sent a voice transmission to inquire, "I wonder what kind of treasure Fellow Daoist requires?" That Ghost Progenitor [a powerful ghost cultivator who has reached the Earth Immortal realm] glanced at Eldrin Chen and replied with a smile, "If Fellow Daoist can produce one 'Incense Silver Phoenix' [a condensed form of immense spiritual power from incense offerings, invaluable to ghost cultivators], I can hand this item over to you."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into deep contemplation.

The so-called 'Incense Silver Phoenix', also known as the 'Incense Nether Phoenix', is an object formed from the condensation of vast amounts of Incense Offering Power [spiritual energy generated from ritual incense offerings]. For Ghost Cultivator [cultivators who follow the ghostly or spectral path], it is a Supreme treasure of the highest order.

It is said that one hundred thousand pieces of Incense Fire Celestial Silver [a special spiritual silver refined from incense ashes and celestial fire] are required to refine a single 'Incense Silver Phoenix', and the refinement process itself incurs significant losses. Therefore, typically, the value of one 'Incense Silver Phoenix' is equivalent to that of a single Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure of immense power].

This object can assist a Ghost Progenitor in cultivating the 'Incense Silver Body' [a powerful ghostly physique] and breaking through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm just below that of a true Celestial Immortal]. Thus, within the Netherworld [the realm of the dead and ghosts], its value is several times higher, even comparable to a Supreme Grade Heaven-Opening Rare Treasure [an exceptionally rare treasure of supreme grade].

Calculating based on the value of one piece of Incense Fire Celestial Silver being equivalent to one hundred Immortal Source [a concentrated source of immortal energy], the price offered by the other party could be considered quite fair. "This price shall be settled, then."

Eldrin Chen pondered silently within his heart and finally agreed to the Ghost Progenitor's proposed trade.

During his previous journey to the Yin Plane Microcosm [a small, yin-aligned pocket dimension], he had seized over two hundred thousand pieces of Incense Fire Celestial Silver.

Coupled with the endless Incense Offering Power gathered over the years from Eldrin's Hundred Seas [a domain or territory associated with Eldrin Chen], Eldrin Chen indeed still possessed several Incense Silver Phoenix in his possession, enough to complete this transaction.

Eldrin Chen produced the Incense Silver Phoenix and exchanged it for the Profound Nether Ancient Gold, a sense of quiet satisfaction settling within him. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at http://www . audio-novel.com.

The ongoing Barter Convention continued its course. Eldrin Chen procured several more rare Ancient Medicinal Herb [precious herbs cultivated in ancient times, often possessing potent spiritual properties], specialties of the Netherworld [the underworld or realm of the dead]. Before he knew it, the Barter Convention had drawn to a close.

Once the Barter Convention concluded, Eldrin Chen bid farewell to Verdant Abyss Daoist and hurriedly returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain. Back atop the mountain, he sought out Lyra Jiang and the others, recounting to her the entire sequence of events.

After listening, Lyra Jiang nodded thoughtfully. "Since Senior Qingyuan has chosen not to reincarnate, then this matter can be considered settled." Hearing this, Nyssa Qu inquired, "To find Netherworld Turbid Qi [a chaotic, impure spiritual energy unique to the underworld], one must venture into the Bottomless Nether Abyss. Should we begin preparations to act?" "There is no need for haste yet,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, then spoke after a moment of contemplation. "The Netherworld Ancient Beasts [primordial monstrous creatures native to the underworld] capable of nurturing Netherworld Turbid Qi are all great perils, comparable to Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the very cusp of ascending to true immortality]. Furthermore, the Bottomless Nether Abyss is an exceedingly treacherous place. Let us wait a while longer. It will not be too late to act after we break through to the Earth Immortal Nine Layers [the ninth and final stage of the Earth Immortal realm]."

Speaking to this point, Eldrin Chen looked at the piece of Netherworld ancient gold in his hand and said with a faint smile, "Now that I have obtained this Profound Nether Ancient Gold [a rare metallic ore forged in the profound depths of the Netherworld], the time has come for my Heavenly Separated Twin Swords to advance."

"What comes next is to continue my cultivation. Achieving a breakthrough to Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the state of flawless mastery within the Earth Immortal realm] at the earliest opportunity remains the most crucial task." "..."

Not long after, Eldrin Chen journeyed to the Flowing Fire Abode of Bliss. There, harnessing the power of the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire-attribute spiritual energy], he successfully elevated the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword. Upon its advancement, much like the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, three Taiyi Dao Patterns [primordial Daoist inscriptions representing fundamental cosmic principles] had manifested within its core.

Using the Primordial Chaos Limitless Rule, Eldrin Chen purified the sword, washing away all impure and discordant Dao Patterns [cosmic patterns or inscriptions representing fragments of the Great Dao]. True to his expectations, he once again achieved the perfect union of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords. Testing their power, Eldrin Chen discovered that the combined might of the reunited twin swords was now comparable to that of a genuine Taiyi Immortal Weapon [a supreme-grade immortal artifact].

However, given the current quality and profound depth of his Mana [the refined spiritual energy wielded by cultivators], activating the Heaven-Severing Twin Swords Union [the ultimate technique of merging the twin swords] could only be sustained for a brief battle. It remained a trump card to be used sparingly.

Even so, with this new ace up his sleeve, Eldrin Chen's combat prowess had increased yet another notch.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, before his Mana [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by an immortal] is depleted, relying on the power of several Taiyi Rare Treasure [extremely rare and powerful artifacts from the primordial Taiyi era], he would be sufficient to contend with a powerhouse at the Dual Taiyi Foundation [a profound cultivation foundation that harmonizes two aspects of the primordial Taiyi principle] realm.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen resumed his life of secluded cultivation.

For him at this moment, the most crucial task was to break through to Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] as soon as possible, allowing his Mana to undergo another metamorphosis. However, this period of secluded cultivation lasted only a little over thirty thousand years before Eldrin Chen was abruptly awakened from his deep slumber.

"Who dares disturb my serene cultivation?"

On this day, Eldrin Chen suddenly sensed something and slowly roused from his deep meditation.

The Immortal Mark Seal [a divine seal marking an immortal's brow] between his brows glowed faintly, reflecting an image of a location within the Great Thousand World [the vast cosmos comprising countless realms]. It was an ancient mountain range stretching for millions upon millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Eldrin Chen slowly opened his eyes. Piercing through layers of dense mist, a strand of his divine consciousness traversed the boundless Void [the formless emptiness between realms] and projected towards the source of the disturbance. At the same moment, within the Purple Realm, inside the Verdant Chariot Mountain Great Hall of the mortal world...

Dozens of cultivators stood assembled. One powerful true cultivator after another had gathered in this hall. Each of them was a top-tier existence at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [the advanced stage of cultivating one's spiritual core], among them were several Demigod Ancestor [progenitors who have attained a state between immortal and deity] whose might shook entire realms.

Yet at this moment, these Ancient Ancestor [venerable progenitors of great age and power] who commanded awe throughout the Purple Realm dared not even breathe heavily. One by one, they bowed with utmost reverence towards the front of the hall. There, before them, a silver strand of Immortal Trace Incense [an incense used to trace and communicate with immortals] was lit, its smoke rising in a thin, ethereal plume.

And behind that wisp of smoke, the Void was forcibly torn asunder. In that fleeting glimpse, one could see the majestic Immortal Domain [a realm inhabited by true immortals], where countless Immortal Palace Celestial Court [palaces and courts of the celestial bureaucracy] stood in grand array.

Within that Immortal Domain, a figure clad in White Robe as pure as snow sat in serene meditation. He sat there motionless, enveloped by boundless immortal mist that veiled his Supreme [of the highest, peerless quality] immortal visage from sight.

Yet, standing there in serene stillness, his presence seemed to overshadow the vast expanse of the Immortal Domain. "Who dares disturb my secluded cultivation?"

Finally, that figure murmured softly, his voice akin to the gentle chime of a Great Dao Immortal Bell, its majestic Great Dao divine resonance sweeping through the Great Thousand World. Yet, it also carried the weight of an Ancient Immortals Monarch speaking, soothing all unrest and turmoil.

Within the Grand Hall, the assembled Nascent Soul Ancient Ancestor knelt prostrate. The leader, clad in fiery crimson Daoist robes, spoke with utmost gravity: "Your unfilial descendant, Xinghong Chen, along with seventy Second Elder of the Chen Clan, pays respects to our Immortal Progenitor from the Upper Realm."

"Xinghong Chen..."

Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted subtly as he finally emerged fully from his deep meditation.

He now understood that the lower realm's Chen Immortal Clan had ignited the Immortal Trace Incense [a special incense used to send a signal across realms] he had left behind. Support the author by reading on audio-novel*com.

In the past, when Eldrin Chen descended to the lower realm, he had left three sticks of Immortal Trace Incense, instructing that they were not to be lit lightly unless a matter of grave importance arose.

Over the years, as more Immortal ascended to the Upper Realm, the Chen Immortal Clan would typically contact Ethan Chen and others for major affairs, and Xinghong Chen and other Immortal for minor matters, rarely disturbing Eldrin Chen himself.

It could be said that unless a truly catastrophic event occurred, the Chen Immortal Clan would not light the Immortal Trace Incense to disturb Eldrin Chen.

And indeed, this had been the case. Over the hundreds of thousands of years, only one of the three sticks of Immortal Trace Incense left by Eldrin Chen had been used. Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "For what reason have you lit the Immortal Trace Incense today?"

"It truly is the Progenitor Immortal Ancestor."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned to fervent excitement.

Xingzu Chen immediately prostrated himself on the ground, his face etched with utmost reverence, and declared, "I report to the Ancient Ancestor [the revered founding progenitor of our lineage]. Now, a cataclysmic tribulation looms over the starry heavens. The three thousand great realms and the million ancient stars all teeter on the brink of peril. We beseech you, Immortal Ancestor, to descend and quell this chaos." Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.