Chapter 207 : The Pill's Allure and Clan's Favor

The materials for the Jade Marrow Pill [a pill that nourishes the marrow and strengthens the cultivator's foundation] were not abundant. Eldrin Chen managed to refine only two batches. Fortunately, those two batches yielded a total of eleven pills, which was a pleasant surprise.

After completing the alchemy, he did not delay. He directly flew back to Green Chariot Mountain on his sword and placed these Second Rank Precious Pill [a general term for high-grade cultivation pills] into the Clan Treasury.

Upon hearing the news, the family Elders who had sufficient Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing contributions and good karma within a clan or sect] hurriedly and joyfully exchanged for the Precious Pill. Those like Remembrance Truth and Remembrance Seal, whose Merits were insufficient, began borrowing from other Elders.

The allure of these treasures was simply too great. For instance, purchasing a Jade Marrow Pill from the outside would cost two thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Yet, within the clan, one could exchange for it using Merits equivalent to merely one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.

The Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in consolidating one's cultivation origin] also required only one thousand six hundred Merits at cost price. This was one of the greatest benefits for cultivators within a powerful Immortal Clan [a clan with a long lineage of cultivators]; valuable resources were prioritized for internal members at low prices, only being sold externally at high prices when there was no internal demand.

Rogue cultivators wishing to buy such treasures not only had to pay exorbitant prices but often found them utterly unavailable. In the past, Eldrin Chen had to travel over one hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to Scorching Sun Mountain in Solar Province just to purchase a single Verdant Origin Pill.

"Jade Marrow Pill, Verdant Origin Pill."

"This old man now has hope of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the third and final phase of the Foundation Establishment realm]."

Lior Chen was the first to exchange for a Jade Marrow Pill and then for two Verdant Origin Pills, unable to contain his excitement as he spoke.

He had broken through to the Foundation Establishment 6th Tier a few years prior and originally thought it would take seven or eight more years to even approach the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. He never expected fortune to arrive so suddenly. Dive deeper into the Dao at *audio-novel.com*.

With this Jade Marrow Pill and the two Verdant Origin Pill, he now had a sixty to seventy percent chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

At this thought, he excitedly grasped Eldrin Chen's hand and said gratefully, "This time, you and the Patriarch risked your lives fighting the Demon Race on the front lines, while we simply reaped the benefits safely in the rear."

"This old man truly feels unworthy of such favor."

"You speak too gravely, Uncle Lior," Eldrin Chen said, helping him up with a gentle smile. "How could we have fought with peace of mind if you all weren't holding the fort behind us?"

"If you wish to be of help, focus on your cultivation. Perhaps if you can advance to the Violet Sanctum Realm in the future, you'll be able to lend us a hand."

Eldrin Chen was acutely aware of his own circumstances. His innate cultivation speed was equivalent to that of a Three Spiritual Roots cultivator, far slower than individuals like Lior Chen or the Old Patriarch, who possessed Dual Spiritual Root talent.

A Violet Sanctum Cultivator with Three Spiritual Roots, relying on only one Lifebound Magical Treasure and no external aids, would typically take about forty years to advance one minor stage.

However, once he successfully forged the Heavenly River Positive Water Sword, he would possess four Lifebound Magical Treasure. This would significantly slow his cultivation speed, stretching the forty-year cycle for one stage into a full Sixty-Year Cycle.

With a third-grade Spiritual Peach that could grant a decade's worth of cultivation with each consumption, and being able to refine one every three years, he would need roughly eighteen years to break through each subsequent minor stage.

The cultivation speed for a Dual Spiritual Root in the Violet Sanctum was much faster. Typically, someone like the Old Patriarch—a Dual Spiritual Root cultivator with only one Lifebound Magical Treasure—would advance one minor stage in about thirty years without using any external cultivation accelerants.

With the full support of Eldrin Chen, Old Patriarch cultivates using the Spiritual Peach and other resources. It is estimated that he will likely need only around ten years to break through one layer of his Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens the mystical palace within the dantian] cultivation.

It can be foreseen that Old Patriarch's cultivation speed within the Violet Sanctum Realm will be faster than that of Eldrin Chen, and even Lior Chen and the others might achieve similar progress.

However, Old Patriarch's foundation is not as solid as Eldrin Chen's. His chance of breaking through to the Golden Core [the fourth major realm, where one condenses a golden core of immense power] is merely one in ten. Even with the aid of treasures for Forming the Golden Core, his chances would likely only rise to three in ten—a probability that remains far too low.

In contrast, Eldrin Chen has at least a three in ten chance of breaking through to the Golden Core based on his foundation alone. Furthermore, he possesses several Lifebound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's life force, growing with them] that continuously temper and refine his spiritual energy, making it even more pure and potent.

Particularly, the Positive Water Verdant Lotus Throne [a spiritual artifact shaped like a lotus throne that stores and purifies spiritual energy] can store vast amounts of spiritual energy, increasing his breakthrough chances by another two tenths. Therefore, even without relying on external aids, his probability of forming a Golden Core is at least six in ten or higher.

Although Old Patriarch's cultivation speed is somewhat faster, if he fails to break through to the Golden Core, he would require thirty years of recuperation.

If luck is not on his side, or if his willpower, foundation, or the purity of his spiritual energy falls just short, he could end up like Patriarch Mo of the Pseudo-Core Realm [a flawed or incomplete Golden Core realm]—exhausting centuries of accumulated effort through multiple failed attempts, forever lacking that final, crucial step.

Thus, by comparison, Eldrin Chen's future path shines far brighter.

As for Lior Chen, he is now unburdened by debt. He cultivates with extreme diligence, possesses the talent of a Dual Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for two of the five elemental spiritual energies], and now has the backing of a prosperous Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan.

At this pace of cultivation, perhaps in another thirty-some years, when he is around one hundred and twenty years old, he can begin his assault on the Violet Sanctum Realm. This would be over a dozen years younger than when Old Patriarch first attempted his breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum.

Returning to the main narrative, after distributing the treasures, Eldrin Chen soared back to Spirit Isle Lake upon his flying sword.

No sooner had he returned to Spirit Isle Lake than he witnessed a vortex of spiritual energy churning, a powerful aura steadily growing in strength within it.

"Who is undergoing Foundation Establishment [the crucial process of solidifying one's cultivation foundation]?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered, his pupils contracting slightly, before he descended on his sword onto Lake Heart Island.

Silas, who was guarding the area outside the Spirit Pool [a pool concentrated with spiritual energy], saw him and hurried forward to greet him.

"Uncle." Official source: audio–novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Eldrin Chen nodded, a trace of worry in his voice as he asked, "Is it Lila?"

"Yes," Silas Chen nodded, fiddling with the hem of his robe. "Don't worry, Uncle. Lila has already passed the most critical stage. Her Foundation Establishment is now complete."

"That girl,"

Eldrin Chen felt a wave of relief, mingled with a lingering sense of apprehension.

Within the clan, while there were many Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation], none dared claim they could steadily advance to the Violet Sanctum [the realm where one opens the mystical Violet Palace within the dantian].

A Variant Spiritual Root [a rare and superior innate spiritual aptitude] not only grants a vastly greater chance of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum, but also increases the likelihood of a Future [a personification of destiny or a future great power] achieving Forming the Golden Core [the process of condensing a Golden Core, a pivotal milestone] by an additional twenty percent. This boost is nearly equivalent to consuming a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in Golden Core formation], making such an individual a veritable seed for Forming the Golden Core.

Across the entire Verdant Sun Sect [a major cultivation sect] and the Three Prefectures Region [a vast territory] under its dominion, including the sect itself, individuals with a Variant Spiritual Root numbered merely five or six, a testament to the extreme rarity of such prodigies.

If Lila were to perish before the threshold of Foundation Establishment [the foundational cultivation stage], it would not only be the tragic early demise of a genius but also an immense loss for the entire Border Province [a frontier region].

Furthermore, having raised the little girl himself over many years, Eldrin Chen had grown deeply fond of Lila. Her potential fall would leave a wound in his heart that would linger for a long time.

As the swirling vortex of spiritual energy finally began to dissipate, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief. She had succeeded in her Foundation Establishment.

Learning that Eldrin Chen had returned, Lila emerged from her secluded cultivation the moment her breakthrough was complete. She rushed over, her face alight with joy, and spoke with affectionate familiarity.

"Uncle, I achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [breaking through to Foundation Establishment through one's own power, without external aids]! See how amazing I am?"

"Silly girl."

Eldrin Chen ruffled her hair, a look of profound satisfaction gracing his features. With her Variant Spiritual Root and her Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment, Lila's future path promised to be one of dazzling brilliance.

As a reward, Eldrin Chen gifted Lila several superior-grade magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. He even spent two months crafting three precious third-rank spiritual talismans [inscribed charms that channel spiritual power] from the harvested hide of the Violet Sanctum Demonic Python, providing them to her for self-defense. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel dot com.