Chapter 118 : A Step Away from the Purple Mansion

He looked up and saw a familiar face speaking to him—it was none other than Varen Wei, the Clan Patriarch of the Wei Immortal Clan from Boyang County.

Varen Wei had been standing with several other Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have established their spiritual foundation]. Upon spotting Eldrin Chen, he bid farewell to his companions and stepped forward, clasping his hands in greeting. "Fellow Daoist Eldrin [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator], it has been over ten years since we last parted ways."

"To think that in just a little over a decade, you have broken through two successive realms. Such speed in cultivation truly puts this old brother to shame."

"You flatter me, Dao-brother. My meager cultivation is nothing compared to your profound and unfathomable depth." Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile, returning the compliment. "I have heard that your own cultivation has reached profound heights, standing but A Step Away from the Purple Mansion realm [the stage where a cultivator forms a spiritual mansion within their dantian]."

"With such attainment, you must be very close to that breakthrough indeed."

Varen Wei shook his head, a bitter smile touching his lips. "It is a matter of shame to speak of. A few years ago, I exhausted the clan's treasury of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] and called upon all my connections to procure a First Wood Crystal [a crystalized essence of primordial wood energy, used for breakthroughs] from the Yan Kingdom. Yet, in the end, my attempt to assault the Purple Mansion realm still ended in failure."

"Do not be disheartened, Fellow Daoist," Eldrin Chen consoled him upon hearing this. "Even with the aid of a First Wood Crystal, the chance of successfully breaking into the Purple Mansion realm is only about thirty percent."

"Aside from the truly peerless geniuses of our age, it is exceedingly rare for anyone to succeed on their first attempt."

"Your lifespan reserves are still ample. Once your meridians recover in twenty or thirty years, you will have another opportunity to attempt the breakthrough. It is not impossible that you will yet ascend to Purple Mansion."

Hearing this consolation, Varen Wei nodded, his heart feeling somewhat eased.

He was merely one hundred and sixty years old. Although this breakthrough attempt had failed, he had managed to open up a small portion of his Purple Mansion Dao Meridian [the primary spiritual channel leading to the Purple Mansion realm].

Having opened this portion of the Purple Mansion Dao Meridian, his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy of a cultivator] had increased by thirty percent. With this additional thirty percent of True Essence, his chances of successfully impacting the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation] next time would increase by ten to twenty percent.

However, to purchase the First Wood Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with potent Wood-element spiritual energy], he had paid a premium of one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], depleting the wealth that the Wei Immortal Clan had accumulated over a century.

Although the Wei Immortal Clan occupied six Second Rank Spirit Vein [sites where spiritual energy naturally concentrates, of the second rank], the clan had to support eleven Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivators and over a thousand Qi Refinement Cultivators [practitioners in the first major realm of cultivation]. The annual surplus of Spirit Stone they managed to save was likely not much greater than that of the Chen Clan.

Under such circumstances, if he wished to purchase a treasure like the First Wood Crystal again, he would likely have to stake everything by borrowing heavily, both internally and externally, in a desperate gamble.

If he succeeded in such a gamble, the clan would naturally ascend to become a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a clan led by a Purple Mansion realm cultivator], able to claim greater resources and gradually repay its debts.

But if he failed again, then the Wei Clan would suffer the same fate as the Chen Clan ninety years prior, which had purchased Purple Sun Jade [a precious jade aiding Purple Mansion breakthroughs] and exhausted centuries of accumulated family wealth.

By then, with Varen Wei, his lifespan nearly spent, passing away, the cultivators of the Wei Clan would be thrown into panic. Other clans would then transform into tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves, ready to pounce.

Even the existing Purple Mansion Immortal Clan would take a bite of the carcass. When that time came, the Wei Clan might not be able to retain even half of their current six Spirit Vein [sites where spiritual energy naturally concentrates].

The matter weighed heavily upon him, and not wishing to dwell on such somber topics, Varen Wei deftly steered the conversation elsewhere.

"By the way," he inquired, "what brings you to the Yang Province Barter Convention this time? Are you seeking to purchase something specific?"

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before replying candidly, "My purpose is to acquire either a Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a rare spiritual fungus that aids in cultivation breakthroughs] or a Green Sun Pill [a potent elixir for advancing one's cultivation realm]."

"I suspected as much," Varen Wei said, shaking his head. He felt compelled to offer a word of caution. "With the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of monstrous beasts] less than a decade away, many seek the Verdant Origin Pill [an elixir that aids Foundation Establishment]. I fear you may not succeed in obtaining either the pill or the ganoderma."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a measure of confidence. He had brought over ten thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] with him. While the Verdant Origin Pill was costly, its usual price hovered around three thousand Spirit Stone, and the Verdant Origin Ganoderma typically sold for about five thousand.

The Verdant Origin Pill only increased one's chances of a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage by thirty percent. Those with ill fortune might consume three or four such pills and still fail to advance. Consequently, its price rarely reached exorbitant heights.

Even with the impending Beast Tide Calamity driving up demand and causing a premium, he refused to believe that with ten thousand Spirit Stone in his possession, he would fail to secure one.

As the two conversed, the Barter Convention finally commenced.

The event was presided over by a female cultivator from the Green Sun Sect.

Tall and slender, she appeared to be in her late twenties, yet her cultivation had reached the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment realm—a match for Su Mingwei, the disciple of Lyra Jiang. Clearly, she was skilled in arts that preserved youthful appearance.

"Esteemed fellow Daoists, this humble one, Su Lin [a cultivator from the Green Sun Sect], pays her respects."

After stepping onto the platform, she offered a slight bow to the assembly, then produced three treasures.

The moment Eldrin Chen beheld those three treasures, his pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of intense desire igniting within his heart.

Among the three treasures, the first was a Li Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of the Li Fire element]. Eldrin Chen's own Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personal sword, bound to their soul] had been forged from this very material, so he understood its profound value all too well.

The second treasure was the Third Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [a rare natural treasure of significant power] known as Earthfire Mysterious Gold [a third-rank fire-attribute ore used for crafting high-grade treasures]. This Earthfire Mysterious Gold is a Third Rank [refers to the Purple Mansion realm] fire-attribute material for artifact crafting.

It can be used to forge Purple Mansion Grade [suitable for cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm] magical treasures and can only be nurtured within a Fourth Rank Underground Fire Vein [a powerful subterranean vein of fiery spiritual energy]. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio—novel.com.

Even within the Green Sun Sect's own Fourth Rank Low Grade [a specific grade of power level] Underground Fire Vein, only one or two pieces are formed every ten years, making its price virtually incalculable due to scarcity.

The third treasure was a precious pill, its surface shimmering with a hazy spiritual light and intricate cloud-like patterns, seemingly containing a wisp of creative power, making it appear exceptionally precious.

"A Cloud Vein Creation Pill,"

Eldrin Chen murmured, his alchemy expertise having grown profound enough to recognize the pill's origin at a single glance.

The Creation Cloud Pattern Pill [a mystical pill that can enhance a cultivator's spiritual foundation] is a Third Rank Low Grade [a classification for high-level cultivation resources] treasure pill. Legend holds that to refine this pill, one must combine the Third Rank Spirit Medicine [a high-grade spiritual herb] 'Cloud Vein Fruit' [a rare fruit imbued with cloud-patterned spiritual energy] with 'Li Fire Crystal' [a crystal containing potent fire-attribute spiritual essence] in the alchemical process. Once successfully forged, the pill contains an exceedingly precious Creation Spirituality [a spark of life-giving, foundational spiritual power].

It is said that after consuming this pill, there is a thirty percent chance it can assist a Purple Mansion Third Layer [the third stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] cultivator in breaking through the bottleneck to the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm], saving them sixty years of arduous effort spent honing their spiritual power.

The Third Rank Spirit Medicine Cloud Vein Fruit typically starts at a value of fifty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], while the Li Fire Crystal ranges between fifty and eighty thousand Spirit Stone. Without the right connections, one would be at the mercy of sellers and forced to pay a significant premium to acquire them.

Given that Purple Mansion Ancestor Liu of the Green Sun Sect [a senior elder from the Green Sun Sect], with his Third Rank Middle Grade [a mid-level rank within the third cultivation tier] Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs] skill, can only produce three pills per successful refinement batch, the sheer preciousness of this pill becomes evident.

"What exactly is the background of this Su Lin [a female cultivator], that she can produce three such priceless treasures?"

Eldrin Chen pondered this, unable to resist sending a sound transmission to Varen Wei to inquire.

Varen Wei, perceiving his confusion, transmitted a hushed reply: "This Su Lin is said to be a disciple of Xu the Ancient Ancestor of the Green Sun Sect [the venerable founder of the Green Sun Sect]."

"But every cultivator in Qing and Yang Provinces [two neighboring provinces] knows the truth—she is actually Xu the Ancient Ancestor's concubine."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, and he chose not to pursue that line of conversation further.

At that moment, Su Lin, having finished introducing the three treasures, spoke again with a smile.

"The value of these three treasures is, I trust, clear to all present, so I shall not belabor the point."

"I wish to exchange them for a First Wood Crystal [a crystalline essence of pure primordial wood energy] and a Wood Attribute Third Rank Magical Tool [a magical tool of the third rank, aligned with the wood element]. If you possess sufficient Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], a transaction is not out of the question, provided the price is right."

As her words faded, a murmur of discussion rippled through the assembled crowd.

After a moment of heavy silence, a voice suddenly cut through. "I offer one First Wood Crystal in exchange for one of your Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a third-rank pill that refines one's spiritual foundation]." This content originates from audio‑novel.com. Please respect copyright.