Chapter 218 : Auspicious Trade at the Barter Convention

The Solar Fire Spirit Liquid [a potent liquid essence refined from solar and fire energies] was valued at merely eight thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] per portion. Two portions would only amount to sixteen thousand Spirit Stones, a price that placed it firmly at the bottom tier among third-rank Spiritual Object [objects imbued with spiritual power].

"So it is indeed this item."

A faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. "One of my primary purposes for coming here was to procure Solar Fire 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 Stones into his hand. "You must understand the difficulties of managing a clan's affairs," he said with a gentle smile. "The crafting method for a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its user's life force] can be replicated, so a gift of that nature I might accept. But this, I cannot take for free."

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

"This..."

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

With this transaction completed, Eldrin Chen's spirits lifted considerably. The Barter Convention [a gathering where cultivators trade goods and resources] had not even begun, yet he had already secured two portions of Solar Fire Spirit Liquid. It was, without a doubt, a most auspicious omen. Support the author by reading on audio-novel .c om.

"I hope this journey yields all the items I seek."

The thought flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind. His primary objectives for this trip were to procure Solar Treasure Crystal [a rare crystalline substance infused with solar essence] and Solar Fire Spirit Liquid [a potent spiritual liquid containing the essence of solar fire].

Beyond that, his aims were to acquire Five Elements Treasure Crystal [a precious ore containing the balanced essence of the five fundamental elements], Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a high-grade elixir said to forge new spiritual pathways], along with various cultivation arts, divine abilities, and other necessary supplies.

Their arrival was already somewhat late. Merely three days later, the Violet Sanctum Barter Convention [a grand gathering for high-level cultivators to trade rare resources] of Chu Nation commenced in full force.

The Barter Convention was held at the Vaulting Pavilion [a prestigious trading hall], an establishment under the banner of the Firmament Sword Sect [a renowned sword cultivation sect].

"..."

Three days later, Eldrin Chen and Varen Wei entered the Vaulting Pavilion. They found over fifty Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators who have reached the Violet Sanctum realm, a significant stage of power] already present.

Across the vast expanse of Chu Nation, there were only slightly over one hundred and thirty Violet Sanctum Cultivator in total. For this Barter Convention to attract more than fifty was considered a notably large gathering.

Although it was his first time attending the Violet Sanctum Barter Convention, Eldrin Chen recognized quite a few familiar faces among the assembled crowd.

Among them were Elara Lin from Heavenly Ruins Mountain, Percival Pan of the Pan Clan, Path Abyss Xu from the Shyu Clan, along with four others including Distant Grain Yang.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the group approached him courteously to offer their greetings, then gathered together to begin conversing.

Elara Lin in particular offered a slight bow, a smile gracing her features as she said softly, "Greetings, Martial Uncle."

"There is no need for such formality."

Though he had unexpectedly gained a seniority in status, Eldrin Chen replied with equal courtesy.

"It is only proper," Elara Lin replied with a light laugh before continuing, "This must be your first time attending the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare resources and treasures], Martial Uncle. Allow me to provide an introduction."

Having broken through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical energy center within the dantian] many years prior, Elara Lin was acquainted with virtually every Violet Sanctum Cultivator in the Chu Nation.

As she recounted their backgrounds with the familiarity of an expert, Eldrin Chen quickly came to recognize the origins of the Violet Sanctum Cultivator present.

Of the fifty-some Violet Sanctum Cultivator who had gathered, more than twenty were at the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage, yet only three had reached the Violet Sanctum Late Stage.

The most formidable among those three was Soaring Emptiness Ling of the Firmament Sword Sect. Now three hundred and fifty years old, he had already attempted a Golden Core [the fourth major realm, where spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] breakthrough once, making him a powerful Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator [a cultivator who has partially condensed their core but not fully stabilized the realm].

The second was a man named Mingxu Yan, whose cultivation had reached the Violet Sanctum 9th Tier. He was the patriarch of the Yan Clan, a top-tier Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a powerful clan whose strength is anchored by Violet Sanctum realm cultivators] within the Chu Nation.

That Mingxu Yan was merely three hundred years old, and it seemed he could cultivate to the Great Perfection of Violet Sanctum [the peak stage of the Violet Sanctum realm] in just over twenty more years, beginning his attempt to break through to the Golden Core Realm [a major cultivation stage where one forms a solidified golden core of spiritual power].

The final person was a female cultivator from the Purple Abyss Sect. Her name was Brocade Book Ye, and she served as a managing Elder for the sect, with a cultivation base at the eighth layer of the Violet Sanctum [the cultivation stage focused on opening and refining the mystical energy centers within the body].

She was a full Sixty-Year Cycle [a complete cycle of sixty years] older than Exquisite Jiang, reportedly already over three hundred and fifty years of age. Under normal circumstances, she might not have had the chance to attempt the Golden Core Realm, though this was not an absolute certainty.

The Purple Abyss Sect possessed the formula for the Third-Rank Longevity Pill [a high-grade elixir that extends the lifespan]. Consuming one pill could add thirty years to one's lifespan. If a Violet Sanctum Late Stage cultivator exhausted their entire fortune to purchase three, they could live for five hundred years, giving them a faint hope within their lifetime.

In truth, for Violet Sanctum cultivators [cultivators at the Violet Sanctum stage], aside from a few destitute rogue cultivators, most could generally live to around five hundred years of age.

After all, most Violet Sanctum cultivators could, through sheer perseverance, cultivate to the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage. Accumulating resources over several centuries, it was not difficult for them to spend their entire fortune to acquire three Third-Rank Longevity Pills. This content originates from audio—novel.com. Please respect copyright.

While Forming the Golden Core [Golden Core realm] cultivators only had a natural lifespan of eight hundred years, as long as they did not meet an untimely death, living past one thousand two hundred years through various means was not difficult—though this required spending a colossal amount of resources to purchase Life-Extending Treasures [magical artifacts specifically designed to prolong life].

As Elara Lin was finishing her introductions, the Barter Convention [a gathering where cultivators trade rare items] formally commenced.

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

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

As he spoke, he retrieved three precious treasures.

Eldrin Chen glanced up and saw that the first treasure was two Precious Pill wrapped in Violet Aura cloud patterns.

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

"Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pills."

Someone in the gathering exclaimed in astonishment. The Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill could aid a cultivator at the sixth layer of the Violet Sanctum realm [the third major stage of cultivation] in breaking through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage.

The value of a single such Precious Pill was as high as one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Yet, Soaring Emptiness Ling had actually produced two at once.

Soaring Emptiness Ling swept his gaze over the assembly. Seeing the delight on everyone's faces, he smiled faintly and said.

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

"Of these three treasures, the first is the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill. The second is the Verdant Void Longevity Art. The third is the forging method for the magical treasure, the Formless Immortal Sword."

"I likely need not elaborate on the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill. As for the Formless Immortal Sword, it requires Formless Precious Metal to forge. That material is exceedingly rare, which is precisely why I have brought this method forth."

Before he could finish, someone could not help but ask, "What about the Verdant Void Longevity Art?"

"An excellent question!"

Soaring Emptiness Ling stroked his long beard with a smile and said, "The Verdant Void Longevity Art is a marvelous cultivation art for extending one's lifespan."

"This art can be cultivated up to the Violet Sanctum 9th Tier. Upon mastery, the cultivator's spiritual energy [the vital force used in cultivation] becomes imbued with life force, granting a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum Cultivator realm an additional Sixty-Year Cycle of life."

"However, the spiritual energy cultivated through this method is excessively gentle, lacking the sharpness and ferocity needed for combat. Consequently, one's battle prowess would likely diminish, and the difficulty of breaking through to the Golden Core realm would double."

Upon hearing this, everyone present wore expressions of resignation.

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

Even so, many were still keenly interested, for among those gathered, numerous individuals were nearing the end of their allotted years.

Since they had little hope of ever reaching the Golden Core realm anyway, why not specialize in this art to gain a few more decades of life?

Seeing their keen interest, Soaring Emptiness Ling nodded and began to speak.

"I shall not conceal from you all," the old man declared, "that in twenty years' time, I shall once more attempt the breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, radiant core]."

"My purpose in parting with these treasures now is to acquire a Tribulation Transcendence Treasure [a powerful artifact specifically designed to aid a cultivator in surviving the heavenly tribulations that accompany major breakthroughs]. Should any of you be willing to offer a Third Rank Superior Grade [a high-quality artifact of the third rank] magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], you may choose any one of these three items in exchange." Continue your cultivation journey at www . audio-novel.com.