Chapter 180 : Vein of Metallic Fortune

"Three pieces of Geng Metal Crystal [a crystalline essence of pure metallic energy], and four pieces of Third-Rank Treasured Gold [a rare and valuable type of metal ore of the third rank]."

"This Metallic Essence Earth Vein [an earth vein rich in metallic spiritual essence] truly lives up to its reputation," Old Patriarch said, unable to contain his excitement as he gazed upon the treasures. "With this Metallic Essence Earth Vein, our Chen Clan is destined for great prosperity."

Eldrin Chen also looked at the several treasures before him with eyes full of pleasant surprise, unable to suppress an expression of wild joy.

Among the seven pieces of Third Rank Treasure [a treasure classified as third rank], the Geng Metal Crystal needs no further explanation. The remaining four pieces of Third-Rank Treasured Gold are all precious Third Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [rare treasures formed by the convergence of heaven and earth's spiritual essence].

Those four pieces of treasured gold were respectively Violet-Infused Azure Gold [a rare gold infused with violet and azure spiritual properties], White Metal Metallic Essence [a pure, white-hued essence of metallic energy], Flood Water Treasure Gold [a gold imbued with the essence of flood waters], and one piece of Formless Treasure Gold [a rare, nearly invisible gold with concealment properties].

These treasures were all of immense value. The White Metal Metallic Essence and Flood Water Treasure Gold were each worth around thirty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

The Violet-Infused Azure Gold was worth over fifty thousand Spirit Stone. This material contained the attributes of metal, fire, and wood, making it an exceptionally rare and valuable treasured gold, capable of forging magical treasures of the Third Rank Middle Grade [a mid-grade classification within the third rank of cultivation realms].

The Formless Treasure Gold was the rarest of all. This gold was transparent in color and contained innate Breath-Concealment Dao Runes [mystical runes that conceal one's spiritual presence and aura]. If one did not observe carefully, its presence could go entirely unnoticed. It was a superior-grade treasured gold for forging the 'Unseen Immortal Sword [an immortal sword famed for its invisibility and stealth]'.

Legend had it that the clan lord of the Ji Clan, one of the Six Kingdoms Hegemon [the six dominant powers across the kingdoms], used high-grade Formless Treasure Gold as the primary material to forge the fifth-rank immortal sword 'Sumeru Formless Sword [the Formless Sword of Sumeru, a legendary weapon]', and even relied on it to ambush and slay a Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [a demonic emperor who has attained the Nascent Soul realm].

Although the grade of this piece of Formless Treasure Gold before them was not high, if it were forged into a Third Rank Immortal Sword [an immortal sword of the third rank], it would become a deadly trump card, capable of ambushing and killing even a cultivator at the Purple Mansion, Late Stage [the late stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm]. Discover more cultivation stories at audio—novel.com.

"Old Granduncle [a respectful term for a senior male relative in a cultivation clan], your breakthrough to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian] is now within reach."

Eldrin Chen took the Geng Metal Crystal [a crystalized essence of pure metallic energy, a rare treasure for cultivation], and handed it to the Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan].

The Old Patriarch accepted it with visible emotion. He had originally estimated a fifty to sixty percent chance of successfully impacting the Purple Mansion. Now, with the Geng Metal Crystal in hand, his confidence soared to seventy or eighty percent.

After securing the treasure born from the Earth Vein [a concentrated line of terrestrial spiritual energy] spring, the two did not depart immediately. Instead, they waited within the Earth Vein for three days.

Three days later, the members of the Chen Clan had finished cataloging the resources within the Earth Vein. They all gathered at the heart of the Earth Vein to convene a council.

Lior Chen looked towards Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch seated at the head of the gathering. With a broad smile, he presented a ledger.

"We have completed the tally of resources within the Earth Vein. This is the account book we have compiled."

"Most excellent."

The Old Patriarch took the ledger, glanced over it, and then passed it to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen leafed through the pages of the account book, and a look of profound satisfaction dawned upon his features.

The spoils from this engagement were exceedingly rich. The most precious, naturally, was that pool of Sword-Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool used to purify and temper spiritual swords]. The spiritual liquid within the Sword-Cleansing Pool, accumulated over many years, represented the most refined essence of the Earth Vein [a concentrated channel of earth-attribute spiritual energy within the world], its value almost beyond measure.

Next in value were the three Geng Metal Crystal [a crystalized form of pure Metallic Essence, a rare spiritual material] and the four pieces of Treasure Metal [a generic term for spiritually infused metals of high quality]. These were the accumulated foundational treasures nurtured over many years within the Metallic Essence Earth Vein, enough to significantly bolster the Chen Clan's reserves and potential.

With this harvest, the clan would have the resources to grant its cultivators several additional opportunities to attempt a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within a metaphysical 'Purple Mansion']. Perhaps it could even help the family gain one or two new Purple Mansion cultivators. Furthermore, it could serve as cultivation resources for Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch after their own breakthroughs into the Purple Mansion realm.

Moreover, after the treasures nurtured within the eye of the Metallic Essence Earth Vein spring were taken, new Geng Metal Crystal and Third Rank Treasure Metal [a high-grade spiritual metal suitable for crafting third-rank treasures] would naturally form there again in the future.

Among these, a Geng Metal Crystal would condense once every sixty years. Even if no suitable clan member was ready to use it upon formation, it could be traded at a Purple Mansion Barter Convention [a high-level gathering where Purple Mansion cultivators exchange rare resources] with other Purple Mansion Cultivator for treasures such as a Li Fire Crystal [a crystal of Separated Flame essence] or similar items.

As for the Third Rank Treasure Metal, a piece would form every thirty to forty years. Accumulated over the long years, this would also build a not-insignificant foundation for the clan.

Beyond these Third Rank Treasure [items of power suitable for Purple Mansion cultivators], the ore veins within the Earth Vein, continuously tempered by the Metallic Essence Qi [the spiritual energy of the Metal element], had accumulated a considerable amount of other Heaven and Earth Treasures [rare materials naturally formed by the world's spiritual energies].

The group scoured the Earth Vein for resources, finding over one hundred portions of various second-rank Treasure Metal. This single category alone was worth more than one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

There were seven First Rank Spirit Ore [veins producing ore suitable for first-rank magical tools] veins, each with substantial output. The annual yield from these mines was enough to forge over one hundred first-rank magical instruments.

Furthermore, there were Two Second-Rank Mineral Veins. One was the Second Rank White Metal Metallic Essence Vein [a vein producing ore rich in White Metal Metallic Essence], and the other was the Blue-Veined Mysterious Steel Vein [a vein producing a type of steel with blue spiritual veins].

Both of these ore veins are of a micro-scale, each year yielding approximately three portions of Heaven and Earth Treasures [rare materials imbued with natural spiritual power], which can be refined into about three Second Rank Magical Tool [enchanted artifacts of the second rank].

After reviewing the report, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "With these seven First Rank Spirit Ore [first-rank spiritually infused ores] and the two Second Rank Ore Vein [second-rank ore veins], we are nearly in a position to monopolize the market for low-grade, metal-attribute Magical Tool [enchanted tools and weapons] within Bianzhou."

Hearing this, everyone present also broke into smiles.

The operational lifespan of a First-Rank Magical Instrument [a first-rank enchanted instrument] is relatively short, typically not exceeding one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] before it deteriorates.

Second Rank Magical Tool [Second-rank magical tools] possess a considerably longer lifespan. However, after one or two centuries of use, their formation runes and material composition inevitably suffer significant wear, potentially diminishing their potency to a quasi-second rank level.

This degradation occurs even without frequent combat. Engaging in battles accelerates a treasure's decline, as conflict inevitably inflicts damage upon the Magical Tool [enchanted artifact]. Published by audio-novel . com. All rights reserved.

During the recent assault on the Metallic Essence Earth Vein [a vein rich in Metallic Essence energy], several of the Second Rank Magical Treasure [second-rank magical treasures] wielded by the clan's Foundation Establishment Elder [Foundation Establishment Realm Elders] were shattered by the Purple Mansion Spirit [a spirit entity of the Purple Mansion Realm], with many others sustaining severe damage.

Years prior, during the Beast Tide Calamity [a catastrophic invasion by demonic beasts], the cultivators of Yu County saw the destruction of over thirty to forty percent of their low-grade Magical Tool [enchanted tools].

In contrast, the lifespan of a Third Rank Magical Treasure [a third-rank magical treasure] is vastly more enduring. Such treasures routinely last for centuries, their longevity stretching even further if their materials can withstand the relentless grind of time.

Take the Great Metallic Immortal Sword for instance. This blade, a Third Rank High Grade [high-grade third-rank] weapon forged from supremely resilient, superior Third Rank Treasure Metal [third-rank treasure-grade metal], has endured a millennium of careful preservation without any loss of its formidable power.

If nurtured with care, this immortal sword's usable lifespan would be at least three to five hundred years. By that time, it might even be possible to smelt out a portion of Third Rank Treasure Metal from it.

Therefore, the trade in low-grade Magical Tool [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] is the most profitable, due to the immense demand. With these nine ore veins now under their control, the clan could not only cultivate some skilled Artificer [a master of crafting magical treasures], but also earn substantial profits.

According to Lior Chen's estimates, the Treasure Metal [a rare metal imbued with spiritual properties, used in crafting] produced annually from these veins alone, once forged into magical treasures, would bring extraordinary returns to the Chen Clan. Each year, it could earn the clan seven thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Furthermore, with these second-rank and Third Rank Treasure Metal as a draw, the Yuyang Market would undoubtedly attract a great influx of cultivators in the future. The share of taxes the Chen Clan could claim each year would also increase significantly.

"This harvest is indeed substantial,"

Old Patriarch stroked his long beard and said with a smile, "In a few days, I will enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian]."

"After my breakthrough, I will re-establish grand formations for Dark Iron Mountain and several other Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] sites belonging to our clan."

"The grade of the Spirit Vein at Dark Iron Mountain needs to be elevated. These treasures can be exchanged for some Spirit Stone, allowing us to accumulate a reserve."

Everyone nodded upon hearing this. After the clan produced a Purple Mansion cultivator, its status and standing had undergone a profound transformation.

Pingyang City, Verdant Chariot Mountain, Spirit Isle Lake, and now Dark Iron Mountain where the Metallic Essence Earth Vein [an earth vein rich in Metallic Essence spiritual energy] is located—all were vital lifelines of the clan. Each required the protection of a Third Rank Formation [a powerful, large-scale defensive or offensive magical array].

This was especially true for Pingyang City. After its ascension to a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan, the mortal population under the Chen Clan's protection was projected to swell to three million souls. Such a concentration of life force would inevitably draw the covetous gaze of Purple Mansion Demonic Cultivator [powerful cultivators who follow a dark, soul-consuming path]. To ensure the city's safety, a Third Rank Formation [a powerful, large-scale defensive or offensive magical array] would be indispensable, but it would also require the vigilant presence and coordination of a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a master cultivator who has established their spiritual foundation within the Purple Mansion realm] to operate at its full potential. Continue reading this story at (audio-novel.com).