Chapter 213 : A Forbidden Thunder's Exchange

Old Patriarch observed his expression and then chuckled, "While at Heavenly Ruins Mountain, I encountered Distant Grain Yang. Knowing his Yang Clan possessed the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder divine ability [a powerful thunder-based mystical technique], I sought to trade our Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique imbued with metallic energy] for it."

"That Distant Grain Yang isn't a complete fool. Knowing he had already offended the Xu Clan, he was naturally unwilling to cross us as well, so he agreed to the exchange."

"Not necessarily. Distant Grain Yang possesses Metal-Water Dual Spiritual Roots [a rare innate affinity for both metal and water spiritual energies]. Acquiring the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder was hardly a loss for him,"

Eldrin Chen remarked impassively, his inner thoughts holding little esteem for the man named Distant Grain Yang.

Three years prior, after the four great Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families with immortal heritage] obtained the Positive Water Crystal [a crystal brimming with pure, life-giving water energy], the Pan Clan gambled everything, using one of the crystals immediately. Their Soaring Pan used it and managed to clear fifty percent of his Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path [the crucial spiritual meridian one must open to advance to the Violet Sanctum realm].

The remaining Positive Water Crystal, Percival Pan still intended for Soaring Pan. It seemed likely that in twenty years, Soaring Pan would most likely achieve a breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation realm where one's spiritual sea turns violet].

The Xu Clan's Spirit Daylily Xu had succeeded in her second attempt to break through to Violet Sanctum a few years ago, using the Acrid Metal Crystal [a crystal containing sharp, corrosive metal energy] produced from Cangkun Mountain. She still had her Positive Water Crystal unused, meaning the Xu Clan might yet cultivate another Violet Sanctum expert in the future.

Only the Yang Clan met with misfortune. Distant Grain Yang split the two Positive Water Crystal between two clan members. The result was that each only managed to clear thirty to forty percent of their respective Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path.

While splitting the resource might have seemed fair to the clan members on the surface, where in this world does absolute fairness truly exist?

For these Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [Immortal Clans capable of producing Violet Sanctum realm experts], whether they could nurture a Violet Sanctum Patriarch [a Patriarch who has reached the Violet Sanctum realm] was a matter of paramount, life-and-death importance. Published by audio-novel.com (official site). All rights reserved.

The Yang Clan now relies solely on Distant Grain Yang to uphold its prestige. Yet, he possesses two Third Rank Superior Grade Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasures [the most powerful artifacts a clan possesses for its defense and foundation] and controls the vast resources of Ling County along with a Third-Order Underground Fire Vein [a vein of subterranean fire energy used for forging and alchemy]. This is likely to attract covetous eyes from others.

Under such circumstances, the wisest course is to concentrate efforts on a grand endeavor, funneling all resources into the cultivator with the highest potential for a breakthrough.

Once a second Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical palace within] cultivator is nurtured, the two Violet Sanctum cultivators can jointly safeguard the Yang Immortal Clan's assets. In time, they will inevitably cultivate a third.

Eldrin Chen could roughly guess Distant Grain Yang's line of thought. The Yang Clan had profited handsomely from both the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive onslaught of demonic beasts] and the battle at Heavenly Python Lake.

To put it bluntly, the Yang Clan was now overflowing with wealth. The resources in their Clan Treasury combined with the clan's annual profits were sufficient for him to cultivate in peace all the way to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, and perhaps even grant him a future chance to assault the Golden Core Realm [the fourth major realm, where one condenses a golden core of immense power].

Distant Grain Yang was not particularly keen on nurturing more Violet Sanctum Cultivators, as it would dilute both his authority and the clan's resources.

However, in Eldrin Chen's view, after the death of Cyrus Yang, the Yang Clan's strength was now perilously thin. Distant Grain Yang's own combat prowess and methods were ultimately somewhat lacking. Those two Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasures and that immense hoard of resources might well become the very cause of their downfall.

After all, the combined value of two Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasures exceeded four hundred thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Even Violet Sanctum Late Stage cultivators, and perhaps even Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivators [those who have partially formed a Golden Core but not fully stabilized it], would likely covet such treasures.

Of course, this had little to do with Eldrin Chen. He smiled and said, "With the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of the Fire element], our Chen Clan has now gathered three of the five types within the Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a supreme set of five thunder techniques, each aligned with one of the five fundamental elements]."

"I've heard the Shyu Immortal Clan still possesses the Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder [the Earth-aligned technique of the set]. I wonder if they would be willing to part with it."

"Impossible."

Old Patriarch shook his head and sighed helplessly. "I asked Xavier Xu, and he told me the Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder [a powerful earth-attribute thunder technique] inheritance of the Xu Clan was obtained from the Verdant Sun Sect through an exchange several centuries ago."

"Now, every cultivator who learns this divine ability has sworn a Heart Demon Blood Oath [a binding magical vow that inflicts severe spiritual backlash if broken] never to teach it to anyone outside the clan."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded. This was a common method to prevent powerful techniques from becoming too widespread and devalued.

When the Old Patriarch exchanged the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a powerful metal-attribute thunder technique] with Yang Yuanhe for the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a powerful fire-attribute thunder technique], they had also sworn mutual Heart Demon Blood Oath. For Eldrin Chen to learn this ability, he too would need to swear such a blood oath.

Watching Eldrin Chen swear the blood oath and receive the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder technique, the Old Patriarch smiled faintly once more.

"My visit also has another purpose—I need your assistance with a matter."

Eldrin Chen raised an eyebrow. "With what?"

"After witnessing Patriarch Jiang's Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a supreme technique for summoning and controlling heavenly tribulation lightning], I have come to understand my own shortcomings."

Without hesitation, the Old Patriarch spoke with a grave expression. "I intend to forge a second Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them]."

As the words of Eternal Profound Chen fell, Eldrin Chen swiftly grasped the intent of the Old Patriarch.

Ever since witnessing Exquisite Jiang transcend her Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly lightning that cultivators must survive to advance to higher realms], Eternal Profound Chen had come to understand his own shortcomings.

Although he possessed the Three Treasures Crimson Gold Flags, the potential of this treasure was ultimately finite; as his cultivation progressed, it would inevitably fail to keep pace.

The only thing he could truly rely upon in the long term was a single Crimson Flame Spirit Blade. Yet, with merely one Crimson Flame Spirit Blade in hand, he privately reckoned that even with immense fortune allowing him to cultivate to the Golden Core Realm [the third major realm where a cultivator forms a solidified golden core of spiritual power], he would have no chance of survival under the onslaught of the Golden Core Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the specific heavenly tribulation one must face to form a Golden Core].

"My idea is to forge a second Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them], and one that is a set of Formation Flag Magical Treasure."

"A Formation Artifact [a magical treasure designed to deploy or power a formation]?" Official source: audio-novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

A glimmer of light flashed in Eldrin Chen's eyes, for a Lifebound Formation Artifact was an exceedingly rare treasure.

This was because a Lifebound Formation Artifact comprised an entire set, relying on overwhelming numbers and the power of its Formation [a structured arrangement of energy or objects to produce specific magical effects] to subdue foes, thus demanding a tremendous consumption of materials.

Furthermore, the higher one's cultivation climbed, the scarcer suitable materials became, whether for forging the artifact's body or for the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth] required, both of which were needed in significant quantities.

While rare spiritual materials of lower grades were relatively easier to find, at higher tiers, if the artifact's foundational materials could not be upgraded, there was a grave danger of the treasure shattering under strain.

Moreover, to use a Lifebound Formation Artifact as one's Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bound and nurtured magical artifact], one requires profound mastery in the Formation [the art of creating and manipulating magical arrays] arts. Otherwise, even if successfully forged, it would be utterly impossible to activate.

Even if successfully forged and activated, Formation Artifact [magical treasures designed to form arrays] possess a significant flaw: the Formation places a heavy burden on the user's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], spiritual energy reserves, and even mental focus.

The mental exertion required to activate a single set of Formation Artifact is at least equivalent to that needed for three or four ordinary magical treasures. Furthermore, Formation can be countered by specialized array-breaking techniques. For these reasons, Eldrin Chen was disinclined to forge a Formation-type Lifebound Magical Treasure.

Setting these drawbacks aside, the Force Extreme [the ultimate expression of power and force] of a Formation is exceptionally formidable, capable of allowing one to challenge opponents of a higher cultivation realm. It stands as one of the most potent means to amplify one's combat prowess.

With these thoughts in mind, Eldrin Chen inquired, "Old Granduncle, what manner of Lifebound Magical Treasure do you intend to forge?"

"Observe this."

"From the previous division, we obtained seven Shell Pearl [lustrous pearls formed within spiritual mollusks]. These treasures share the same origin and essence, making them ideal primary materials for a set of Lifebound Magical Treasure."

As he spoke, the Old Patriarch produced seven Third-Rank Shell Pearl [high-quality spiritual pearls of the third rank], his face alight with satisfaction.

Eldrin Chen nodded thoughtfully before offering his counsel. "Your affinity lies with the Metal Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the Metal element]. Metal gives birth to Water. You could incorporate Venus Metallic Gold [a rare metallic ore associated with the essence of Venus] into them. This would harmonize the elements, creating a suitable foundation for a Lifebound Magical Treasure."

"My thoughts precisely."

The Old Patriarch revealed a faint smile. Within the clan's treasury, there remained a piece of Venus Metallic Gold [a rare metal imbued with the essence of the planet Venus, prized for its sharpness and spiritual conductivity], which could serve perfectly as the second primary material for his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally forged and soul-bound enchanted artifact].

Furthermore, within the Metallic Gold Earth Vein [a subterranean spiritual vein rich in metallic ores], there was a Second Rank Metallic Gold Ore Vein [a secondary-grade deposit of metallic gold ore]. It yielded one or two portions of Venus Metallic Gold annually, allowing for a substantial amount to be extracted and fused into the treasure to enhance its potency.

Gazing at the seven Third-Rank Shell Pearl [lustrous pearls of the third spiritual rank, often harvested from powerful spirit beasts], Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking again. Find this and other novels at @udio-novel.com.