Chapter 119 : A Pillar of Ancient Power

Eldrin Chen suddenly felt a tremendous pressure bearing down from behind. He turned to see a man robed in purple standing at the entrance, his gaze fixed upon the Cloud Vein Creation Pill with a fervent intensity.

"This pill would be of great use to this old man. Would you be willing to trade it with me?"

"So it is Senior Pan," Su Lin replied with a slight smile, taking the Cloud Vein Creation Pill. "The Yi Wood Crystal [a crystalized essence of primordial wood energy] is precisely what I require. I am most willing to make the exchange."

It seemed the rarity of the Cloud Vein Creation Pill had stirred the interest of the Purple Mansion [a major cultivation stage where one forms a spiritual core within the body] Ancestor of the Pan Clan, the Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a powerful clan with cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm] that held sway over Scorching Sun County. This man was Pan Clan Ancient Ancestor, Percival Pan.

The Pan Clan controlled the sole Third Rank [a classification for resources, artifacts, or beings of power equivalent to the Purple Mansion realm] First Wood Earth Vein [a rare earth vein rich in primordial wood energy] in all of Yang Province. Currently, Percival Pan was stuck at the Purple Mansion Third Layer [the third minor stage within the Purple Mansion realm], making him naturally willing to trade the Yi Wood Crystal for this Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a rare pill that aids in spiritual breakthroughs and enhances one's foundational potential].

After securing the Cloud Vein Creation Pill, Percival Pan cast a glance at the Li Fire Crystal [a crystalized essence of the Li Trigram fire element], but ultimately shook his head.

"The Li Fire Crystal is far too precious. My Pan Family currently lacks a suitable candidate on the verge of a Purple Mansion breakthrough. With the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts] imminent, it is wiser to first strengthen our own immediate power."

Having settled on this thought, Percival Pan turned his attention to the Earthfire Mysterious Gold [a rare metal forged deep within the earth by potent fire energies].

"I am in need of Earthfire Mysterious Gold to forge a Third Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact]. I offer you a 'Calamity Thunderstrike Heavenly Blast Treasure Talisman' [a single-use talisman that unleashes a cataclysmic thunderous blast] in exchange. What say you?"

Percival Pan was a cultivator with a Thunder Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for thunder and lightning energies]. The 'Calamity Thunderstrike Heavenly Blast Art' [a formidable divine ability technique] he practiced was renowned throughout Yang Province—a supremely powerful divine ability whose destructive force surpassed even the Blazing Heaven Sword [a powerful sword technique] by a significant margin. For uninterrupted reading, go to http://www . audio-novel.com.

It is said that once this divine ability is forged into a treasure talisman, its activation unleashes a force nearly equivalent to his full-power strike. Even a cultivator at the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] might hesitate to face it head-on.

Upon hearing that Percival Pan wished to trade this treasure talisman for her artificing materials, Su Lin revealed a deeply satisfied smile.

"I shall make this trade with you."

For Su Lin, while the Earthfire Mysterious Gold [a rare metal refined by earthfire, suitable for crafting high-grade treasures] could be used to forge a Third Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of the third rank], she could not unleash the treasure's full potential. In contrast, this Calamity Thunderstrike Heavenly Blast Treasure Talisman [a talisman that channels a devastating heavenly thunderstrike] would be far more useful to her.

Having obtained two precious items, Pan the Ancient Ancestor left the Barter Convention [a grand gathering for cultivators to trade rare resources] with a heart full of contentment.

As for Su Lin, she too wore a smile of satisfaction. With the Yi Wood Crystal [a crystalized essence of primordial wood energy] in her possession, she could now attempt a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the realm where a cultivator opens their spiritual mansion] realm.

After Pan the Ancient Ancestor's departure, the gathered crowd collectively breathed a sigh of relief, and the competition for the Li Fire Crystal [a crystal containing the essence of the Li Fire, one of the celestial stems] began in earnest.

To purchase a treasure like the Li Fire Crystal, it would require the combined wealth of a top-tier Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Foundation Establishment realm]. Eldrin Chen lacked such capital and thus could only watch from the sidelines.

The participants continuously raised their bids. In the end, the Zhang Immortal Clan from Cloud Sun County in Yang Province exhausted their entire clan's resources. They paid a staggering premium of ninety-six thousand Spirit Stone [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] to secure this single Li Fire Crystal.

The Zhang Immortal Clan was the foremost top-tier Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan in Cloud Sun County. Unlike the wealthier Wei Clan, the Zhang Clan had to mortgage two of their spirit mountains to raise the necessary Spirit Stone for purchasing the Li Fire Crystal.

After acquiring the Li Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of fire, used to aid in cultivation breakthroughs], the Zhang Immortal Clan dared not linger. Their party of seven Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their foundation in the Dao] hastily departed the Barter Convention, clearly fearful of attracting unwanted attention and intent on swiftly returning the treasure to the safety of their clan.

Just as the members of the Zhang Clan were leaving, two figures quietly slipped out from the Scorching Sun Market and began to follow them.

One of them was Severus from the Green Sun Sect. Standing before him was a grey-haired elder—this was Wei Mingyuan, the son of the Green Sun Sect's Wei Chongyang.

Severus looked at Wei Mingyuan and couldn't help but whisper, "Wei Alistair, if we go after the Zhang Clan now, won't that allow Eldrin Chen to slip away?"

"Rest easy, I have people watching him," Wei Mingyuan replied with a cold, confident sneer. "The priority right now is seizing the Li Fire Crystal. That is paramount."

"I have already attempted two breakthroughs and have cleared the majority of my Purple Mansion Dao Meridian [the spiritual channels that must be opened to reach the Purple Mansion realm]. If I can obtain another Li Fire Crystal, then once my meridians recover in ten years, I will have at least a fifty to sixty percent chance of breaking through to the Purple Mansion [the realm where one's spiritual sea condenses into a stable, radiant mansion]."

"To obtain the Li Fire Crystal, all other matters can be set aside."

Hearing this, Severus could only nod, though a trace of unease remained. "But the Zhang Clan is a top-tier Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan in Cloud Sun County. They came with seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, clearly prepared. Dealing with them might prove troublesome."

"It matters not," Wei Mingyuan sneered, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. "Even if they have some tricks, I hold the Green Sun True Flame Talisman [a powerful talisman that unleashes the Green Sun Sect's most devastating flame]. What can the Zhang Clan possibly use to contend with me?"

Severus's expression shifted with awe. The Green Sun True Flame Talisman was a Third Rank treasure talisman, sealed within it the Green Sun Sect's most formidable offensive divine ability, 'Green Sun Divine Flame' [a devastating emerald fire capable of incinerating spiritual essence]. This was the ultimate trump card Wei Chongyang had left for Wei Mingyuan. Once unleashed, even a Purple Mansion Ancestor [a venerable elder who has reached the Purple Mansion realm] would have to frown in caution.

As they spoke, the two flew out of the Scorching Sun Market and quietly pursued the members of the Zhang Clan.

Meanwhile, the Barter Convention was still in progress.

Eldrin Chen noticed that many treasures had appeared at the Barter Convention, but the Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in Foundation Establishment] and the Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a rare spirit herb crucial for certain alchemical recipes] he desired had yet to be offered by anyone.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye, and a white-robed elder stepped forward.

This man's surname was Sun. He was the most powerful Rogue Cultivator [an unaffiliated cultivator] in Yang Province, with a cultivation base as high as the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment realm. He produced a treasure box and presented it before the crowd before speaking.

"This old man has here one stalk of Verdant Origin Ganoderma. Its value, I trust, needs no elaboration from me." This novel is serialized on audio_novel.com. Visit for updates.

"I wish to exchange this item for a single Second Rank High Grade Flying Sword [a sword enchanted for flight and combat]. I wonder who is willing to make the trade?"

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment. The value of one stalk of Verdant Origin Ganoderma was generally around five thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], while a Second Rank High Grade Flying Sword was worth about six thousand Spirit Stone.

Considering the price inflation during the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts], the price of both items was likely to increase by another thousand Spirit Stone.

Thinking this, he tentatively made an offer: "I am willing to pay seven thousand Spirit Stone to purchase this Verdant Origin Ganoderma."

"No."

Upon hearing this, Sun the Elder pondered for a moment before shaking his head and saying.

"This old man possesses dual Spiritual Root of Earth and Wood. Ideally, I require Flying Sword [magical swords capable of flight] imbued with these two attributes. Such dual-element Flying Sword are rather rare. With the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of monstrous beasts] upon us, even if one has Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], it is not guaranteed one can purchase them."

"I will trade with you."

At that moment, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the second major cultivation realm] produced a Flying Sword of Second Rank High Grade [a high-quality artifact of the second rank]. It was actually forged from millennium-old peach wood.

Sun the Elder's face lit up with delight. Without further haggling with Eldrin Chen, he completed the transaction directly.

In the subsequent trades, the Green Sun Pill [a pill that nourishes the cultivation base] and the Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a rare spirit fungus] seemed to have vanished entirely, not appearing again.

Eldrin Chen felt a pang of disappointment. Varen Wei, observing this beside him, suddenly spoke. "If you seek the Verdant Origin Ganoderma, it is not entirely without hope."

"What do you mean?" A flicker of hope crossed Eldrin Chen's face as he could not help but ask, "Please elaborate, Fellow Daoist."

Varen Wei paused in thought before finally speaking. "Are you aware of the place known as Ink-Splashing Ridge?"

As Patriarch Wei recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen quickly understood the method Varen Wei had spoken of.

The story began more than ninety years ago, when a premier Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan named the Wang Clan flourished within Scorching Sun County.

That Wang Immortal Clan had been established in Scorching Sun County for several centuries, amassing formidable strength. Their clan's Dao field, Ink-Splashing Ridge, was home to a Second Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy].

Upon that Ink-Splashing Ridge, the Wang Immortal Clan had cultivated over a hundred Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spirit Farmland [land enriched with spiritual energy for growing special crops], nurturing a considerable quantity of Spirit Medicine [plants infused with spiritual energy, used in alchemy and cultivation].

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