Chapter 218 : Auspicious Omen at the Barter Convention

The Separated Flame Spirit Liquid [a potent spiritual liquid refined from the essence of the Separated Flame] was valued at a mere eight thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] per portion; even two portions amounted to only sixteen thousand Spirit Stone. Among Third Rank [a classification for spiritual objects, techniques, or realms of power] spiritual materials, this value was considered to be at the very bottom.

"So it is indeed this item."

A smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. "One of my primary purposes in coming here was precisely to seek the Separated Flame Spirit Liquid," he stated. "Sell me both portions."

"Since you desire it, how could I possibly sell it to you?"

As he spoke, Varen Wei moved to simply give the items to him.

Yet Eldrin Chen firmly pressed the Spirit Stone into his hand. "You must understand the difficulties of managing a clan," he said with a gentle smile. "The method for forging a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force and soul] can be replicated; a gift of that knowledge I might accept. But this material? I cannot take it for free."

"Moreover, even if you do not think of yourself, you should consider your Wei Clan."

"This..."

Varen Wei hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, but ultimately accepted the Spirit Stone.

With this transaction completed, Eldrin Chen's spirits lifted considerably. The Barter Convention [a formal gathering where cultivators trade rare materials and treasures] had not even begun, yet he had already obtained two portions of the Separated Flame Spirit Liquid. It was, without a doubt, a most auspicious omen. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel . com.

"I hope this journey will yield all the items I seek."

A thought flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind. His primary objectives for this trip were to procure Sun Treasure Crystal [a crystal imbued with the condensed essence of solar energy] and Separated Flame Spirit Liquid [a rare spiritual liquid refined from the essence of the Separated Flame].

Beyond that, his aims were to acquire Five Elements Treasure Crystals [crystals containing the purified essence of the five fundamental elements] and Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a high-grade elixir said to enhance one's innate potential and spiritual foundation], along with other resources such as cultivation arts and divine abilities.

Their arrival was already somewhat late. Merely three days later, the Chu Kingdom's Purple Mansion Barter Convention [a grand gathering where Purple Mansion Realm cultivators trade rare resources] was in full swing.

The venue for the Barter Convention was the Firmament Pavilion, an establishment under the banner of the Firmament Sword Sect.

Three days later, Eldrin Chen and Varen Wei entered the Firmament Pavilion. They found over fifty Purple Mansion Cultivator [practitioners who have established their Purple Mansion, the third major stage of cultivation] already present.

Across the vast expanse of the Chu Kingdom, there were only a little over one hundred and thirty Purple Mansion Cultivator in total. For this Barter Convention to attract more than fifty was considered a significant turnout.

Although it was his first time attending a Purple Mansion Barter Convention, Eldrin Chen recognized quite a few familiar faces among the assembly.

Among them were Elara Lin from Celestial Ruins Mountain, Percival Pan of the Pan Clan, Xu Darius from the Xu Clan, and Yang Yuanhe—four individuals in total.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, they each approached to offer courteous greetings. They gathered together and began conversing.

Elara Lin then offered a slight bow, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she spoke softly, "Greetings, Martial Uncle."

"There is no need for such formality,"

Eldrin Chen replied courteously, though he had unexpectedly gained a generation in seniority.

"It is only proper," Elara Lin said with a light laugh before continuing, "This must be your first time attending the Barter Convention [a large-scale gathering where cultivators trade rare materials and treasures], Martial Uncle. Allow me to offer you an introduction."

Having broken through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body] many years prior, Elara Lin was acquainted with virtually every Purple Mansion Cultivator within the Chu Kingdom.

As she detailed their backgrounds with the familiarity of one recounting a treasured inventory, Eldrin Chen swiftly came to recognize the origins of the Purple Mansion Cultivator present.

Of the fifty-some Purple Mansion Cultivator who had gathered, over twenty were in the Purple Palace, Mid Stage, yet a mere three had reached the Purple Palace, Late Stage.

The most formidable among that trio was Lysander Ling of the Firmament Sword Sect. Now three hundred and fifty years of age, he had already attempted a breakthrough to the Golden Core [the fourth major realm, where spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden-hued core] once, making him a powerful cultivator in the False Core Realm.

The second was named Severus Yan, whose cultivation had soared to the Purple Mansion Ninth Layer. He was the Clan Patriarch of the Yan Clan, a top-tier Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a powerful family lineage with cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm] within the Chu Kingdom.

Severus Yan was merely three hundred years old. It appeared he would be able to cultivate to the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion within another two decades or so, and then begin his assault on the Golden Core realm.

The final individual was a female cultivator from the Violet Abyss Sect, named Seraphina Ye, who served as an executive elder within the sect. Her cultivation base was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer.

She was one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] older than Lyra Jiang, reportedly having surpassed three hundred and fifty years of age. Under normal circumstances, she might not have had the opportunity to attempt a breakthrough into the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, forming a solidified spiritual core] realm, though this was not an absolute certainty.

The Violet Abyss Sect possessed the formula for a Third Rank [corresponding to the Purple Mansion stage] Longevity Pill [a pill that extends the lifespan of a cultivator]. Consuming one such pill could increase one's lifespan by thirty years. If a Purple Mansion Late Stage Cultivators spent their entire fortune to purchase three, they could potentially live for five hundred years, granting them a sliver of hope within their lifetime.

In truth, for a Purple Mansion Cultivator [the second major stage of cultivation, where the spiritual sea condenses into a stable mansion], aside from a few destitute Rogue Cultivator [cultivators without sect or clan affiliation], it was generally possible to live to around five hundred years of age.

After all, most Purple Mansion Cultivator could, through sheer perseverance, advance to the Purple Palace, Mid Stage. Accumulating resources over several centuries, it was not overly difficult to exhaust one's wealth to procure three Third Rank Longevity Pill.

As for Core Formation cultivators, while their natural lifespan was only eight hundred years, as long as they did not meet an untimely end, it was not difficult for them to live past one thousand two hundred years through various means—though this required spending a colossal amount of resources to purchase life-extending treasures. Find thousands of chapters at audio novel.com.

As Elara Lin was finishing her introductions, the Barter Convention officially commenced.

Acting as the host, Lysander Ling was the first to step forward, a smile gracing his features as he spoke.

"This old man has three treasures here. Please, take a look."

With those words, he produced three precious items.

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze and saw that the first treasure was two precious pills, each veiled in swirling patterns of Violet Qi [the auspicious purple energy of dawn, highly beneficial for cultivation].

The second treasure was an ancient jade scroll containing a cultivation art, and the third was a method for forging a special type of magical treasure.

"Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pills,"

someone in the assembly exclaimed in astonishment. The Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill could aid a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment, 6th Layer [the sixth stage of building one's foundational cultivation base] to break through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage [the later phase of the Purple Mansion realm, where one's spiritual core is housed].

The value of a single such pill was as high as one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. To think Lysander Ling had produced two at once.

Lysander Ling swept his gaze over the gathered cultivators. Seeing their evident delight, a faint smile touched his lips.

"Esteemed friends, allow me to introduce these three treasures," he said.

"Of these three treasures, the first is the Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill. The second is the Ethereal Void Longevity Art [a profound cultivation method focusing on ethereal energy and longevity]. The third is the forging method for the magical treasure, the Method for Forging the Unseen Immortal Sword."

"The Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill likely needs no further explanation from me. As for the Unseen Immortal Sword, it requires Formless Treasure Gold [a rare, shape-shifting precious metal] for its forging. This material is exceedingly rare, which is precisely why I have brought this method forth."

Before he could finish, someone could not help but ask, "And what of the Ethereal Void Longevity Art?"

"An excellent question!"

That Lysander Ling stroked his long beard with a smile and said, "This Ethereal Void Longevity Art is a peerless technique for extending one's lifespan."

"This art can be cultivated up to the Purple Mansion Ninth Layer. Once mastered, the practitioner's mana [the spiritual energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners] will be imbued with vital essence, granting a Purple Mansion Cultivator an additional Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years] of life."

"However, the mana cultivated through this method is exceedingly gentle, lacking a certain sharpness and ferocity. Consequently, one's combat prowess would likely diminish, and the difficulty of a future breakthrough to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] would double."

Upon hearing this, everyone present could not help but reveal looks of resignation.

Reduced combat effectiveness and diminished breakthrough potential—these were the common flaws of all lifespan-extending cultivation arts.

Yet, even so, many were still keenly interested. After all, among those gathered, numerous individuals were nearing the end of their allotted lifespans.

For them, who harbored no real hope of ever reaching the Golden Core, why not specialize in this art to gain a few more decades of life?

Seeing the widespread interest, Lysander Ling nodded and continued speaking.

"I will be frank with you all. In twenty years, this old man will once again attempt to assail the Golden Core realm."

"I am offering these treasures in exchange for tribulation-surpassing artifacts. If you are willing to present a Third Rank High Grade [the highest quality tier within the third rank of magical treasures] magical treasure, you may choose any one of these three items." Find this and other novels at https://audio-novel.com.