Chapter 119 : A Patriarch's Pivotal Exchange

Eldrin Chen suddenly felt an immense pressure bearing down on him from behind. He turned to see a man clad in violet robes standing at the entrance, his gaze fixed with a flicker of fervent heat upon the Cloud Vein Creation Pill.

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

"So it is Senior Pan," the woman named Su Ling smiled faintly, taking the Cloud Vein Creation Pill. "The Supple Wood Crystal is precisely what I need. Naturally, I am most willing to make the exchange."

It turned out the rarity of the Cloud Vein Creation Pill had stirred the attention of the Patriarch of the Pan Clan, the sole Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan in Scorching Sun County. This person was the Pan Clan Patriarch, Percival Pan.

The Pan Clan controlled the only third-rank Supple Wood Earth Vein [a spiritual earth vein aligned with the Wood element] in all of Solar Province. Currently, Percival Pan was stuck at the Violet Sanctum 3rd Tier [the third level of the Violet Sanctum cultivation stage], so he was naturally willing to trade the Supple Wood Crystal for this Cloud Vein Creation Pill.

After completing the exchange for the Cloud Vein Creation Pill, Percival Pan glanced at the Solar Fire Crystal, then ultimately shook his head.

"The Solar Fire Crystal is far too precious. My Pan Clan currently lacks a suitable candidate poised to break through to the Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation stage]. With the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive onslaught of demonic beasts] imminent, we must prioritize strengthening our own power first."

With this thought in mind, Percival Pan turned his gaze towards the Earthfire Mysterious Gold.

"I am in need of Earthfire Mysterious Gold to forge a Third-Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact]. I offer you a 'Calamity-Shaking Thunder Trigram Heavenly Strike Treasure Talisman' in exchange. What say you?"

Percival Pan was a cultivator with a Thunder Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the Thunder element]. The divine ability he cultivated, the 'Calamity-Shaking Thunder Trigram Heavenly Strike Art', was renowned throughout Solar Province. It was an immensely powerful technique, its destructive force surpassing even the Blazing Heaven Sword by a significant margin. This chapter appears courtesy of https://audio-novel.com.

It is said that once this divine ability is forged into a treasure talisman, its activation unleashes a blow nearly equivalent to his full power. Even a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage [the fourth major stage of cultivation, where one forms a Violet Palace within the dantian] might hesitate to face it head-on.

Upon hearing that Percival Pan wished to trade this treasure talisman for her artifact-forging materials, Su Ling's face blossomed into a smile of deep satisfaction.

"I will make this trade with you."

For Su Ling, while the Earthfire Mysterious Gold [a rare metal forged in the earth's core, ideal for crafting powerful artifacts] could be used to forge a Third-Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact], she could not unleash the full might of such a treasure. In her hands, it would be far less useful than this Calamity-Shaking Thunder Trigram Heavenly Strike Treasure Talisman [a talisman that channels devastating heavenly thunder].

Having secured the two treasures, Patriarch Pan left the Barter Convention [a gathering where cultivators trade rare items] with a heart full of contentment.

Su Ling, too, wore a pleased smile. With the Supple Wood Crystal [a crystal brimming with the vital essence of wood, used for breakthroughs] in her possession, she could now attempt a breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum Realm [the realm of the Violet Palace].

After Patriarch Pan's departure, the gathered cultivators collectively breathed a sigh of relief. The competition for the Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal containing the condensed essence of solar flame] then began in earnest.

To purchase a treasure like the Solar Fire Crystal, a top-tier Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Foundation Establishment realm] would need to marshal the wealth of its entire lineage. Eldrin Chen lacked such capital and thus could only watch from the sidelines.

The cultivators bid fiercely. In the end, the Zhang Immortal Clan [the Zhang Clan of cultivators] from Cloud Sun County in Solar Province exhausted their clan's treasury. They paid a staggering premium of ninety-six thousand Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] to secure the Solar Fire Crystal.

The Zhang Immortal Clan was the foremost Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan in Cloud Sun County. Unlike the wealthier Wei Clan, the Zhang Clan had to mortgage two of their family's Spirit Mountains [mountains rich in spiritual energy, coveted cultivation sites] to raise the necessary funds for the Solar Fire Crystal.

After acquiring the Solar Fire Crystal, the Zhang Immortal Clan dared not linger. Their party of seven Foundation Establishment Cultivator hurriedly departed the Barter Convention, clearly fearing they might become a target. Their intention was to hasten back to the safety of their clan with their prize.

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

One of them was Senior Brother Yan from the Verdant Sun Sect. Standing before him was a gray-haired elder—this was Bright Distance Wei, the son of the Verdant Sun Sect's Patriarch Wei.

Senior Brother Yan looked at Bright Distance Wei and couldn't help but whisper, "Senior Brother Wei, if we go after the Zhang Clan now, won't that allow Eldrin Chen to slip away?"

"Do not worry, I have people watching him," Bright Distance Wei replied with a cold sneer, his tone brimming with confidence. "The immediate priority is seizing the Solar Fire Crystal. That is paramount."

"I have already attempted two breakthroughs, opening up the greater part of my Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path. If I can obtain another Solar 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 Violet Sanctum realm."

"To secure the Solar Fire Crystal, all other matters can be set aside."

Hearing this, Senior Brother Yan could only nod, though a trace of unease remained. "But the Zhang Clan is, after all, 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," Bright Distance Wei sneered, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. "Even if they have some tricks, I possess the Green Sun True Flame Talisman. What can the Zhang Clan possibly use to contend with me?"

Senior Brother Yan's expression shifted with shock. The Green Sun True Flame Talisman was a third-rank treasure talisman, sealed within it the Verdant Sun Sect's most potent offensive divine ability, 'Green Sun Divine Fire'. This was the ultimate trump card left to Bright Distance Wei by Double Sun Wei, a weapon that would give even a Violet Sanctum Patriarch pause for thought.

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

"..."

Meanwhile, the Barter Convention continued.

Eldrin Chen noticed that many treasures appeared at the Barter Convention, but the Verdant Origin Pill and Verdant Origin Mushroom 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, surnamed Sun, was the highest cultivation rogue cultivator in Solar Province, with a cultivation base reaching the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment. He produced a Treasure Box and presented it before the crowd before speaking. Read the full novel exclusively on AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

"This old man has here a stalk of Verdant Origin Mushroom. Its value, I trust, needs no elaboration from me."

"I wish to exchange this item for a single Second Rank High-Grade Flying Sword. Is anyone willing to make the trade?"

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

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

With this thought, he ventured an offer: "I am willing to pay seven thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] for this Verdant Origin Mushroom."

"No."

Upon hearing this, Old Man Sun considered for a brief moment before shaking his head.

"This old man possesses dual Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation that determines a cultivator's elemental affinity and cultivation potential] of Earth and Wood. What I need most is a flying sword aligned with these two attributes. Such dual-element swords are quite rare. With the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts] upon us, even having spirit stones doesn't guarantee one can buy one."

"I'll trade with you."

At that moment, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] produced a Second Rank High-Grade flying sword, forged from thousand-year-old peach wood.

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

In the subsequent trades, both the Verdant Sun Elixir [a high-grade elixir that nourishes the Primordial Spirit] and the Verdant Origin Mushroom seemed to have vanished entirely, neither appearing again.

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

"What do you mean?" A flicker of hope crossed Eldrin Chen's face as he couldn't help but ask, "Please, fellow Daoist, explain."

Varen Wei pondered for a moment before finally speaking. "Are you aware of the place known as Wang Clan's Ink-Splashing Ridge?" he inquired.

As Wei Clan Patriarch recounted the tale in detail, Eldrin Chen quickly grasped the method Varen Wei was alluding to.

The story began over ninety years ago. Within Scorching Sun County, there existed a premier Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan known as the Wang Clan.

This Wang Immortal Clan had been established in Scorching Sun County for several centuries, amassing formidable strength over the generations. Their Clan Path-Field, Ink-Splashing Ridge, was situated upon a Second Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy].

Upon that Ink-Splashing Ridge, the Wang Immortal Clan had cultivated over one hundred Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spiritual Field [land infused with spiritual energy for growing rare plants], where they nurtured a considerable quantity of valuable Spirit Herb [plants that absorb spiritual energy and possess medicinal or alchemical properties]. Continue reading this story at site: audio-novel.com.