Chapter 215 Taibai Star Pearl

The banquet lasted for several hours, only dispersing after both hosts and guests had thoroughly enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

Varen was in excellent spirits. After negotiating the distribution of Yang Province's resources with the Purple Manor representatives of the 2 great immortal clans, the Wei Immortal Clan's annual revenue would increase by 50 percent henceforth.

After the banquet concluded, Varen and Eldrin retreated alone to the mountain abode. With utmost solemnity, Varen knelt and pressed his forehead to the ground in a deep bow.

"Brother Dao, rise quickly."

Seeing him suddenly perform such a grand gesture, Eldrin quickly held his hands and couldn't help saying, "This is absolutely unacceptable."

"There is no need to support me."

Varen shook his head, his expression turning solemn as he declared, "Had you not retrieved the spirit peach for me, my lifespan would have long been exhausted, ending in silent demise. The spiritual veins of the Wei Immortal Clan would have been carved up among the major immortal families."

"This bow I make is not only for my own sake, but also for the hundreds of thousands of mortals and cultivators of the entire Wei Immortal Clan."

"This..."

Hearing this, Eldrin said no more and calmly accepted the bow.

Varen knelt upon the ground, performing 3 successive bows. The first kneel was for the mortal members of the Wei Clan, the second for the nearly 1 1000 cultivators of the Wei Clan, and the third for himself.

After 3 consecutive defeats, Eldrin helped him to his feet, his expression turning grave as he said, "I’ve come to seek your assistance with a matter."

"Between you and me, is there any need for the word 'beg'?" Varen quickly shook his head before asking, "What is it you wish to say?"

Eldrin nodded, yet spoke candidly, "I have come seeking the refinement method for exchanging my Life-Bound Magical Treasure—the Yin-Yang Treasure Vase."

"My Chen Family possesses no small number of Tier-3 treasures. You may select 1."

Varen was taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.

He grabbed Eldrin’s hand firmly, his expression earnest, and said, “Back in the days of the Yan Kingdom, I once vowed that if the Chen family ever needed assistance in the future, I would spare no effort to lend my full support.”

"These words henceforth are not to be spoken lightly. You may take the method for refining the Yin-Yang Treasure Vase, but never speak of exchange again."

Hearing this, Eldrin did not insist further. Relationships between close friends must be sustained through mutual interactions and assistance.

Human connections and favors are necessary. If everyone fears incurring karmic debts and insists on settling every matter cleanly, then in the end, relationships will inevitably remain shallow.

Among cultivators, the closest of friends who have known each other for years may even lend their signature magical treasures to 1 another to withstand heavenly tribulations. If all feared being entangled in karmic debts, how could such life-defining artifacts ever be entrusted to others?

Eldrin never feared the entanglement of karma. He had always faced all causes and emotions with equanimity, confident that even if karma arose, he could resolve it with grace.

After acquiring the crafting method for the Yin-Yang Treasure Vase, Eldrin silently etched this gesture of goodwill into his heart. Should an opportunity arise in the future where he could extend assistance, he would naturally not forget this longtime friend.

Departing from Tian'e Mountain, Eldrin (Person Name) returned to Pingyang City.

The old clan leader couldn't help but exclaim in awe upon seeing the refinement method for the Yin-Yang Treasure Vase.

"The method of refining a Life-Bound Magical Treasure is of utmost importance, as it could even allow others to discover ways to counter it."

"Varen is even willing to exchange this technique with you. Your relationship must have reached the level of sworn brotherhood."

"It is not an exchange," Eldrin shook his head, stating calmly, "He gifted it to me."

The old clan leader fell silent for a long moment, his expression grave as he gazed at the cultivation method in his hand. "You didn't misjudge this person."

"Mm." Eldrin nodded calmly and said, "He possesses good character, a worthy friend to befriend."

With the method to forge the Yin-Yang Treasure Vase, the final step was at last successfully deduced.

The 2 retrieved the relevant formation patterns of the Yin-Yang Annihilation Vapor (Cultivation Art) and integrated them into their array artifacts and magical treasures. After much effort, they finally succeeded in deducing the complete refinement method for this set of treasures.

It is done.

Observing the successfully deduced refinement method for his life-bound array artifact, Eldrin revealed a faint smile.

This treasure was forged from Taibai's Gold Essence, the Water Spirit Pearl, and the Liquid Fire Essence, then fused with the 3 elemental energies of Metal, Fire, and Water. Ultimately, 7 luminous orbs were refined.

According to the method derived through deduction, once this treasure is forged, it will coalesce into a complete array capable of unleashing 3 divine abilities.

After the first gate formation is activated, it can unleash the divine ability 'Yin-Yang Gengjin Sword Qi'. This set of formation patterns was modified from an array collected in the Qian Yuan Formation Canon, making it a first-class divine ability of slaughter and conquest.

After the second array is activated, it can unleash the 'Yin-Yang Annihilation Vapor (Cultivation Art)'. This divine ability possesses unparalleled power and stands as the pinnacle of area-of-effect techniques.

The final layer of the formation was a defensive array. Once activated, it could unleash a defensive supernatural power known as the Great White True Aegis. The defensive capability of this supernatural power was exceptionally formidable.

With the cultivation base of the old clan leader, once this life-bound array artifact treasure is successfully forged, he should be able to confront enemies a full realm above his own.

The old clan leader joyfully recorded the refinement method, a smile gracing his features as he spoke.

This Life-Bound Array Artifact treasure contains the power of yin and yang, forged with Taibai Gengjin. It shall be named the "Taibai Stellar Pearl." When 7 pearls unite, they form the "Taibai 7 Stars Formation (Formation)."

"The Great White Star Pearl has completed its deduction. Now we just need to wait for the Bartering Assembly to see if we can acquire the Li Fire Spirit Liquid."

Eldrin nodded slightly and said, "I shall visit the Celestial Ruins Mountain later to see if she happens to possess any Li Fire Spirit Liquid."

The Li Fire Spirit Liquid is a third-tier treasure born from the subterranean fire veins, considered 1 of the most common third-tier treasures, typically nurtured within these underground fire currents.

This item isn't particularly expensive either, with each portion costing around 8,000 spirit stones. However, to correspond with the pearl, a rather substantial quantity is required—a full 7 portions of spiritual liquid all at once.

"Although your relationship with Patriarch Jiang of Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location)..."

The old clan leader hesitated slightly before replying, "To advance the artifact, Patriarch Jiang likely finds his reserves of 32,000 spirit stones somewhat strained at present."

"In that case, take some spirit stones from the clan treasury. Don’t accept others’ belongings without giving anything in return."

"Granduncle."

Eldrin (Person Name) could neither laugh nor cry, and could only say, "I understand."

Leaving Pingyang City, he headed straight for the Celestial Ruins Mountain.

It had been some days since they last met, and he found himself missing her.

After finding Lyra (Person Name), he discovered that only 1 portion of Li Fire Spirit Liquid remained in Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location).

Previously, Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location) had accumulated a considerable stockpile. However, following the beast tide upheaval and the battle at Celestial Python Lake (Location), all of this Li Fire Spirit Liquid had been expended in alchemy and artifact forging. The reserves of Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location), and indeed the entire Border Province, were now completely depleted.

Left with no other choice, Eldrin reluctantly purchased that portion of Li Fire Spirit Liquid.

After spending 3 days at Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location), he finally returned to Yujun County, and life resumed its usual tranquility.

Time flowed by like rushing water, and in the blink of an eye, another 6 years had passed.

On this day, Eldrin successfully refined his eighth strand of Primordial Purple Qi, only to realize he had already passed 80 years of age.

"Time truly flies."

In the blink of an eye, nearly 20 years had passed since his breakthrough to the Zi Mansion. The cultivators within the clan had also made considerable progress.

The old clan leader's cultivation had grown increasingly profound. Having saved 30 years of arduous training by consuming the Dharma Essence Pill (Spiritual Object), he had now maintained his breakthrough to the third level of the Purple Mansion for several years.

He estimated that in another 5 or 6 years, he would approach the bottleneck of the fourth level of the Violet Mansion. By then, he would need to begin refining his spiritual power.

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped through the valley, carrying with it the scent of frost and decay. Lin Feng tightened his threadbare robe, the coarse fabric offering little protection against the chill. His fingers, numb and cracked, traced the familiar grooves of the Fire-Charred Wood he was gathering. At 16 winters, he had known little else but this meager existence at the outer edge of the Verdant Cloud Sect. "Still stuck at the third level of the Foundation Establishment stage," a voice, laced with mockery, cut through the wind. "After 3 whole years. Even the dullest of spirits would have progressed further." Lin Feng didn't need to look up to recognize Zhang Hu. He kept his head down, continuing his task. A dozen or so pieces of Fire-Charred Wood were already in his basket—his daily quota. He had learned long ago that retorts only invited more trouble. Zhang Hu sneered, kicking a pebble that skittered past Lin Feng's knee. "Don't waste the sect's resources. Someone like you will never amount to anything. You'd be better off leaving and saving yourself the shame." A familiar, cold bitterness welled up inside Lin Feng, but he swallowed it down. He simply nodded, his silence a shield against the constant barrage of disdain. Zhang Hu, satisfied with the lack of reaction, snorted and strode away, his own cultivation at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment granting him an easy arrogance. Alone again, Lin Feng finally allowed his shoulders to slump. He looked at his calloused palms, feeling the faint, stagnant swirl of spiritual energy within his dantian. 3 years. 1 100 years had passed since he first arrived in this world, yet he remained at the very bottom, a mere ant in the vast, merciless world of cultivation. The path of immortality seemed like a distant, mocking dream. As he stood to leave, his foot struck something hard and metallic half-buried in the dirt. Frowning, he brushed away the soil, revealing a small, unadorned bronze mirror. It was tarnished and seemed utterly mundane. Yet, as his fingers made contact, a jolt, faint but unmistakable, shot through his arm—a sensation he hadn't felt in years. A flicker of something... ancient. Heart thudding against his ribs, a wild, desperate hope he thought long extinguished sparked to life. He quickly stashed the mirror inside his robe, his movements furtive. Perhaps... just perhaps, his fortune was about to change.