Chapter 77 : A Prodigy's Entry into the Circle

The woman smiled faintly and teased, "This is a prodigy of the Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment generation. In the future, I might even have to address him as 'Senior.' How could I dare to take advantage of him?"

Hearing this, the others couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Merely achieving Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment wasn't the most remarkable part. The true astonishment lay in Eldrin Chen's youth at the time of his Foundation Establishment. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he would have two more opportunities than an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator to attempt a breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum realm [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens the mystical palace within].

For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator attempting to break through to Violet Sanctum, even a failed attempt yields valuable experience. It allows the cultivator to at least clear more of their spiritual meridians, thereby increasing their chances of success in the next attempt.

In the eyes of those present, Eldrin Chen had at least a fifty to sixty percent chance of becoming a Violet Sanctum expert before his lifespan was exhausted.

With a hearty laugh, Starry River Meng continued introducing the several Foundation Establishment Cultivators present to Eldrin Chen.

These individuals were all long-time friends of Starry River Meng. The woman was named Spiritful Beauty Yu and served as the Grand Elder of the Yu Clan, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan from Ling County.

The other two were a rogue cultivator from Feng County and the clan leader of the Jiang Clan, another Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan from Feng County. Both were cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage.

Through Starry River Meng's introductions, Eldrin Chen met many of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. This marked his formal entry and recognition within their circle, allowing him to mingle among their ranks.

One's circle determines the resources one can access. Most Second Rank treasures [spiritual objects of significant power] are held by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Items that Vital Essence Refinement cultivators [those in the first major realm] might desperately seek but rarely find are often possessed in some quantity by those at the Foundation Establishment level. The complete novel can be found at audio-novel.com (official site).

Though it was but a fleeting encounter, establishing an acquaintance meant they could at least exchange information and resources in the future. Should any needed treasures arise later, it would be easier to visit for an exchange or purchase.

After half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], a figure ascended the central high platform of the Dingxuan Pavilion. This man was Famous Solemnity Xu, his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. He served as an Elder of the Xu Clan.

Famous Solemnity Xu swept his gaze over the assembly and said with a faint smile, "Fellow Daoists, this old man is Famous Solemnity Xu. I am honored to preside over this Barter Convention."

"I shall not waste words. To set the stage, this old man will begin the trading, starting with my Xu Clan."

As he spoke, he produced three Treasure Boxes and opened them one by one.

Eldrin Chen looked over and saw that the first Treasure Box contained an ancient, unadorned stone bell of a dark azure hue. Within the second lay a clump of top-grade Verdant Void Earth [a rare, spiritually rich earth with properties of growth and void]. The final box held a jade slip.

Famous Solemnity Xu lifted the first Treasure Box and announced, "These three items are the treasures my Xu Clan offers for trade on this occasion."

"This stone bell is a Second Rank High-Grade defensive magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] forged from Deep Azure Gemstone. Its value, I trust, is clear to all. You may freely make your offers—be it in Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] or other suitable treasures."

Eldrin Chen glanced at it, a flicker of interest stirring within him.

Deep Azure Gemstone was an earth-attribute treasure. Crafted by a master artificer into this magical treasure, the bell's defensive capabilities were truly extraordinary. Its power likely rivaled that of the Old Patriarch's ancient bronze pagoda without the slightest disadvantage.

However, it was abundantly clear that he was not the only one whose heart stirred at the sight of this item. Soon, a cultivator offered a price of four thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

An ordinary Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact] typically holds a value of around four thousand Spirit Stones. Defensive magical treasures, being far rarer, command a significant premium.

Before long, it was purchased at a premium price of five thousand two hundred Spirit Stones by a Foundation Establishment Late Stage [an advanced stage of the second major cultivation realm] cultivator from the Yang Clan [a prominent clan], an Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] of Ling County.

The second treasure was a piece of top-grade Verdant Void Earth [a rare, spiritually-charged earth element material]. This particular clump of Verdant Void Earth was of a quality not inferior to the Millennial Crimson Iron [a rare, thousand-year-old crimson iron ore] that Eldrin Chen once possessed, making it an excellent material for forging a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure that is soul-bound to a single cultivator, growing with them]. In the end, it was exchanged by the Mu Clan of Yu County for a vial of Second Rank High-Grade Pill [a high-quality pill suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators].

After the transaction for the Verdant Void Earth was concluded, Famous Solemnity Xu produced the final jade slip, his expression one of hopeful anticipation as he spoke.

"This item is a treasured divine ability [a powerful supernatural technique] of my Xu Clan—the Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder [Divine Thunder of the Unyielding Earth]. We wish to exchange it for a copy of the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [Divine Thunder of the Blazing Third Fire] divine ability. I wonder if any fellow Daoists present would be willing to make this trade?"

Upon hearing his words, the assembled crowd fell into a profound silence, not a single person uttering a word.

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he grasped the underlying intent of the Xu Clan.

Divine abilities were the foundational heritage of every great clan, their deepest reserves of power. Within Yu County, only the Chen Clan and the Lin Clan possessed such legacies. The Lin Clan's Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder had been acquired at great cost from the Verdant Sun Sect [a major cultivation sect], thanks entirely to Mordecai Lin's connections.

Such trump cards, the very bedrock of a clan's inheritance, were typically guarded with utmost secrecy. They were never divulged lightly, reserved only for the most dire of circumstances.

Among the two Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has reached the Violet Sanctum Realm] from the Xu Clan, one broke through to the Violet Sanctum Realm [the third major realm of cultivation] forty years ago. It is said this individual is a cultivator with dual Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation determining one's elemental affinity] of fire and earth.

That Violet Sanctum Patriarch possesses both talent and combat prowess that are utterly Extraordinary. Having already mastered the Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of the earth element], if he could also learn the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a powerful fire-element divine thunder technique], his combat power would likely increase by another thirty percent.

This desire to exchange for the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder is almost certainly the intention of that particular Violet Sanctum Cultivator.

The only entity within the entire Border Province that possesses the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder divine ability is the Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a clan with a Violet Sanctum Realm cultivator as its pillar] known as the Yang Clan, located in Ling County. Thus, the target of the Xu Clan this time is quite evident.

At this moment, the gazes of the assembly turned towards the several cultivators from the Yang Clan side. However, the members of the Yang Clan remained utterly composed, not uttering a single word and showing not the slightest intention to exchange for the divine thunder technique.

"It seems the relationship between the Yang Clan and the Shyu Clan is likely not amicable," Eldrin Chen mused inwardly. Support the author by reading on audio - novel . com.

"Indeed. In essence, the relationship between the two Violet Sanctum powers within the Border Province is one of both cooperation and rivalry," he concluded.

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen roughly deduced the nature of the relationship between the two great Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan.

Neither of the two great Immortal Clan [a clan with a long history of cultivation] could single-handedly secure the Border Mountain Spirit Stone Vein [a vein of Spirit Stones, the mineral currency and cultivation resource]. They had to cooperate to claim this prize from under the very nose of the Verdant Sun Sect.

Yet, between themselves, they would also compete for the various resources within the Border Province. The relationship was, indeed, complex.

The Yang Clan did not wish to see the Xu Clan grow stronger. They were even willing to relinquish a foundational treasure like the Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder [a powerful earth-attribute divine thunder technique] rather than allow the Shyu Clan to gain more power.

Since they could not obtain the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a powerful fire-attribute divine thunder technique] in exchange, the Shyu Clan naturally refused to sell their Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder, and thus this third treasure went unsold.

After the Shyu Clan representative descended from the high platform, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm] from the Yang Clan stepped up. This person was also at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the late stage of the Foundation Establishment realm], and he presented three treasures of his own.

Eldrin Chen glanced at them and saw they were respectively: a Second Rank High-Grade [a high-grade artifact of the second rank] fire-attribute flying sword, a piece of Millennial Crimson Iron [a rare, thousand-year-old crimson iron ore], and a jade slip scroll.

Eldrin Chen was not surprised by these offerings. The Shyu Clan controlled a Third Rank Lower Grade [a lower-grade spiritual vein of the third rank] Fire Vein [a spiritual vein rich in fire energy], which could produce one Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal imbued with solar fire essence] every century. Occasionally, rare fire-attribute heavenly materials like the Millennial Crimson Iron could also appear there.

Both the Second Rank High-Grade Flying Sword and the Millennial Crimson Iron were precious treasures and were quickly traded away. Finally, the Yang Clan Foundation Establishment Cultivator held up the jade slip and announced.

"This jade slip contains a Violet Sanctum Realm [the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] cultivation art named the Verdant Wood Longevity Art. While this art does not greatly enhance combat prowess, it can grant a Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum realm] an additional Sixty-Year Cycle [a full cycle of sixty years] of lifespan."

"If any of you possess a metal-attribute cultivation art of the Violet Sanctum Realm, you may come to this old man for an exchange."

Upon hearing the description of that cultivation art, Eldrin Chen felt his breath catch slightly.

The preciousness of a Violet Sanctum Realm cultivation art was beyond doubt. Moreover, this particular art could extend the lifespan of a Violet Sanctum Cultivator by a full sixty years—a truly immense boon.

A cultivator who has attained the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual foundation is solidified within a mystical inner sanctum] enjoys a lifespan of four centuries. Imagine, if one mastered this cultivation art and supplemented it with Longevity Pills [elixirs specifically refined to extend the natural lifespan], one could potentially live for over five hundred years! Published by @udio-novel.com. All rights reserved.