Chapter 1624 : Pill Refinement and Dao Tribulation

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a faint smile touching his heart. Having refined six pills in this batch, he still possessed the materials for seven more cauldrons of the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Pill [a pill that aids in comprehending the profound principles of Yin and Yang]. If he succeeded in refining them all, would he not obtain over forty more of these precious pills?

With a full forty-plus Yin-Yang Enlightenment Pill, even if Eldrin Chen sought to comprehend five distinct Taiyi Dao Principle [the fundamental principles of the Supreme Unity], it should surely be sufficient.

With this resource for her cultivation, Lyra Jiang's chances of grasping five Taiyi Dao Principle and successfully forging her Dual Taiyi Foundation [a supremely stable and potent foundational cultivation stage] would undoubtedly see a significant increase.

At this thought, a surge of excitement welled up within Eldrin Chen.

However, he did not continue refining the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Pill. The Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare cultivation resources] was drawing ever nearer.

His priority was to refine two cauldrons of Ninth Rank Immortal Pill [pills of the highest mortal grade, bordering on the immortal] before his impending Dao Tribulation [a heavenly trial testing a cultivator's path], thereby further solidifying myself's Alchemy [the art of pill refinement].

Having broken through to Ninth Rank Alchemy, Eldrin Chen's Pill Success Rate [the likelihood of a successful pill refinement] had improved slightly when he once again attempted the Ninth Rank Cloud-Patterned Immortal Pill [a high-grade pill marked with cloud-like patterns]. Aided by the Minor Universe [a pocket dimension or self-contained realm], his Alchemy speed had also seen considerable advancement.

Roughly two Millennium [a span of one thousand years] later, Eldrin Chen had successively refined both the Taiyi Soul-Returning Pill [a pill that can restore a damaged soul] and the Taiyi Wind Soul Pill [a rare pill that tempers the soul with the essence of wind].

Among them, the Taiyi Wind Soul Pill was more esoteric and difficult to refine; Eldrin Chen managed only two. The Taiyi Soul-Returning Pill, with moderate difficulty, yielded a full three pills.

These two types of Pill were more challenging to refine, and their market value was correspondingly much higher. Access the full story on audio‑novel.com.

"With my current Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs], I only need to refine a few more Eighth Rank Immortal Pill [a high-grade pill for immortals] to consolidate my skills. My Pill Success Rate [the likelihood of successfully completing a pill refinement] for lower-grade Ninth Rank [a supreme cultivation tier] Pill [a refined spiritual medicine] will then be no less than forty percent."

Gazing upon the five successfully refined Cloud-Patterned Immortal Pill [an immortal pill marked with cloud-like patterns], Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a smile touching the corners of his eyes.

He stored the Cloud-Patterned Immortal Pill away and emerged from his Seclusion Chamber [a private chamber for cultivation and meditation], only to find Lyra Jiang had been waiting for him for some time. Seeing him, Lyra Jiang spoke up, "The Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare treasures] will commence in another hundred years."

"If you hadn't come out soon, we were prepared to go ahead without you."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, his gaze lingering on the Cloud-Patterned Immortal Pill in his hand. "Though it delayed us somewhat, this additional harvest may allow us to procure more rare treasures."

Lyra Jiang glanced at the pills, her eyes brightening slightly. "Your breakthrough in Alchemy is a tremendous boon for our clan."

Having successfully refined the Ninth Rank Cloud-Patterned Immortal Pill, Eldrin Chen wasted no further time. To conceal their true strength, he decided to attend the Barter Convention accompanied only by Lyra Jiang. The others would remain within the Five Elements Microcosm [a pocket dimension embodying the five fundamental elements], keeping their full capabilities hidden.

They traveled to the Flowing Fire Abode of Bliss [a blessed land of flowing flames] and, utilizing a Void Gate [a portal capable of traversing vast distances], swiftly crossed the boundless heavens and earth, arriving soon after within the Central Celestial Domain.

As the Central Realm [the heartland] of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [a vast realm of immortal cultivation], the Central Celestial Domain had always been the most prosperous and bustling territory within the entire domain.

The vast Central Celestial Domain is further divided into seven great Celestial Domains: the Purple Tenuity Celestial Domain, the Green Sun Divine Domain, the Grand Brilliance Ancient Domain, the Supreme Profound Dao Domain, the Ancient Ruins Domain, the Bifang Fire Domain, and the Central Myriad Demons Sea.

Within these seven Celestial Domains, there are dozens of large and small Grotto-Heaven [a superior realm of cultivation, often a sect's headquarters or a paradise], yet each domain possesses at least one dominant, hegemon-level power.

Within the Purple Tenuity Celestial Domain, the hegemon is the Human Race's Purple Tenuity Dao Palace. This lineage is a branch of the 'Ancient Purple Tenuity Sect' from the Primal Immortal Domain's Great Luo Ancient Sect. It is said the cultivation of the Purple Tenuity Dao Palace's Sect Master is unfathomably deep, a being who has reached the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal realm]. The Green Sun Divine Domain is the territory of the Green Sun Ancient Deity, a lineage that is also a branch of the Divine Race under the Great Luo Imperial Lord. Its ruler, the Green Sun Celestial Deity, has cultivated to the Ancient Immortal Realm [a realm beyond Celestial Immortal, denoting immense age and power] and is a Sea Steading Pillar [a metaphorical term for a foundational, stabilizing force] of the Divine Race. As for the Grand Brilliance Ancient Domain and the Ancient Ruins Domain, the most powerful Grotto-Heaven within them belong to the Hundred Clans of Immortal Spirits [a collective of powerful spirit and ancient clans]. The Ancient Ruins Clan ranks thirty-seventh among the Hundred Clans of Immortal Spirits, while the Grand Brilliance Ancient Clan holds the prestigious ninth position.

Both of these Grotto-Heaven are branches of the broader Hundred Races [a collective term for the myriad non-human sentient races], and their respective masters are counted among the notable Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm powerhouses within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain.

The Supreme Profound Dao Domain was founded by the native Human Race of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, while the Bifang Demon Domain is ruled by the supreme Demonic Tribe [a powerful race of demons], the Bifang.

The Central Myriad Demons Sea is jointly governed by five upper-grade Grotto-Heaven of the Demonic Tribe. These five Grotto-Heaven possess formidable strength, each garrisoned by an existence at the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [a high stage within the Heaven Immortal realm]. United, even a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm powerhouse would find them difficult to subdue.

"Within the Central Ancient Domain, aside from these top-tier Grotto-Heaven, while there are indeed more ordinary Grotto-Heaven, they are comparatively insignificant and not a major concern."

Recalling the intelligence concerning the seven Celestial Domains of the Central Realm, a weighty solemnity flickered within Eldrin Chen's gaze.

From what he knew, the strength of the Central Realm's seven domains was unfathomably deep. Those hegemon-level powers not only possessed at least one Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm powerhouse on the surface but likely harbored even more terrifying Deep-Seated Foundation [hidden reserves of power and legacy] in the shadows. As Eldrin Chen was aware, during the campaign to exterminate the Ancient Demon [a primordial and powerful type of demon] in ages past, an Ancient Immortal Great Power [an immensely powerful being from the Ancient Immortal realm] from the Purple Tenuity Dao Palace had once taken action.

Although that Ancient Ancestor of the Purple Tenuity Dao Palace later passed away, Eldrin Chen suspected that even in demise, such an existence would have undoubtedly left behind astonishing contingencies for their lineage.

"This Dao Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests a cultivator's path] is the final one before the Hundred Calamities Rebirth [an era of immense upheaval and renewal]. It remains to be seen whether these powers will begin to lay their schemes."

Eldrin Chen pondered silently, then continued flying deeper into the Void [the formless, boundless expanse between realms].

Within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, there are currently five major powers who ascended to the Ancient Immortals [beings of immense age and power who have transcended mortality] realm from within this domain. They are: from the Human Race, the Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor of the Pure Yang Grotto-Heaven; from the Spirit Race, the Evergreen Ancient Immortal of the Evergreen Ancient Domain; and from the lineage of the Demon Race Celestial Emperor, the Golden Crow Ancient Ancestor.

Furthermore, the Divine Race possesses the greatest strength, with two Ancient Immortals [beings of immense age and power who have transcended mortality] gazing down upon the Calamity Tribulation [a period of great disaster and heavenly retribution]: the Green Sun Ancient Deity and the Frost Soul Ancient Deity.

As one of the only five Ancient Immortals [beings of immense age and power who have transcended mortality] realm powers within the current Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, aside from the Four Poles True Spirits [primordial divine beasts representing the cardinal directions], the Green Sun Divine Domain where the Green Sun Ancient Deity resides is the very core of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain. It is within this Green Sun Divine Domain that this cycle's Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare treasures and resources] is being held.

"We have arrived."

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang, their auras concealed, flew all the way to the Green Sun Divine Domain and soon arrived before a majestic ancient city. The complete novel can be found at www . audio-novel.com.

It was a city of staggering grandeur, seemingly forged entirely from azure-gold. Every brick and tile was cast from Divine Metal [a rare, spiritually conductive metal] and inscribed with Innate Dao Patterns [natural formations that embody cosmic principles].

Eldrin Chen even had the distinct feeling that even if he unleashed his full power, he might not be able to damage a single brick or tile of this ancient citadel.

Just as Eldrin Chen was struck with awe, a voice drifted over: "They say this Green Sun Ancient City has an ancient heritage, constructed dozens of Calamity Tribulation [periods of great disaster and heavenly retribution] ago."

"The Inheritance Realm has changed hands over a dozen times since its revival. Through successive generations of city lords who continuously fortified it, this ancient city has long become impregnable," he explained. "Even an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a cultivator of immense power who has attained immortality] would find it exceedingly difficult to destroy."

Eldrin Chen looked up at the voice and saw it was Zixuan the Daoist who had spoken.

Not just him, but Sky Abyss Daoist, Divine Lord Glaze, Separated Flame Deity, and the others had also been waiting for some time.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen quickly clasped his hands in greeting. "My apologies for the delay. You have all been waiting."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of amusement shone in the eyes of Separated Flame Deity. "Had you been any later, the Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare cultivation resources] would likely have already commenced." Original English translation available at (audio-novel.com).