Chapter 231 : A Patriarch's Gambit for the Future

The group exchanged glances, for the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill [a high-grade elixir that refines the meridians and enhances spiritual aura] was of extraordinary value.

Now, with a full two pills before them, this was enough to give a Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Violet Palace, the third major realm] a sixty to seventy percent chance of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Violet Sanctum realm].

Patriarch Qian gazed at the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill, his mind churning in contemplation. "My own lifespan is nearing its end," he mused inwardly. "It is time for my clan to nurture a second Violet Sanctum Late Stage cultivator."

"Since I have no hope of reaching the Forming the Golden Core [the realm of condensing a Golden Core, the fourth major realm] myself, I might as well trade that treasure to the Chen Clan."

With this thought, he produced a gourd of violet and azure hue and declared, "I offer this in exchange. Are you willing?"

"The Purple-Green Calamity-Avoiding Gourd!"

A collective tremor passed through the onlookers, their expressions shifting to one of profound astonishment.

This Purple-Green Calamity-Avoiding Gourd [a magical vessel that can unleash a devastating divine thunder] was a unique Third-Rank Magical Treasure [a treasure of the third rank, corresponding to the Violet Sanctum realm]. It could unleash a single Purple-Green Divine Thunder [a bolt of devastating violet and green lightning], a strike of such terrifying power it approached the might of a Fourth-Rank artifact.

However, the Purple-Green Divine Thunder required immense time to coalesce, accumulating only one bolt every hundred years. This made the gourd's offensive capability highly situational, relegating it to the role of a trump card to be used only in the most desperate circumstances.

During the last Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts], Patriarch Qian had been forced to expend his stored Purple-Green Divine Thunder. Now, it would require another sixty or seventy years to generate the next bolt. For that duration, the treasure's potency would be inferior to even a standard Third Rank Lower Grade [the lowest tier of Third-Rank] magical weapon. Continue reading this story at audio-novel[dot]com.

However, this treasure possesses another wondrous function: it can diminish the power of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the divine punishment of heavenly lightning that tests cultivators during major breakthroughs].

When a cultivator attempts a breakthrough into the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses a golden spiritual core], the Purple-Green Calamity-Avoiding Gourd can absorb a portion of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation's power, thereby increasing the cultivator's chances of successfully weathering the trial.

Precisely because of this, the value of this magical treasure is somewhat difficult to pin down, yet it must be acknowledged as a rare and precious artifact.

Patriarch Qian possesses three Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasure [magical treasures of the highest order, used to protect and establish a clan's foundation]. Of the other two, one is his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a treasure bound to one's life force and cultivation], and the other is a defensive treasure vital for his personal safety and survival. Unwilling to part with either of those, he reluctantly offered this gourd for exchange.

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with the Old Patriarch, and a spark of interest ignited within him.

Countless cultivators with insufficient foundation, though they manage to force their way into the Golden Core Realm, ultimately perish beneath the Golden Core Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the specific heavenly thunder tribulation faced when forming a Golden Core], a testament to its terrifying potency.

If they could acquire this Purple-Green Calamity-Avoiding Gourd, their clan would gain another Tribulation Transcendence Treasure [a treasure specifically designed to aid in surviving heavenly tribulations], bolstering their chances of successfully navigating the Golden Core Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

"This Purple-Green Calamity-Avoiding Gourd is indeed remarkable,"

"I accept the trade."

Eldrin Chen produced the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill and completed the transaction with Patriarch Qian.

After selling the Purple-Green Calamity-Avoiding Gourd [an enchanted gourd said to ward off misfortune], the remaining five Creation Cloud Vein Pill [pills that enhance the cultivator's spiritual meridians] were also traded away.

These five Creation Cloud Vein Pill were exchanged in total for one Supple Wood Crystal [a crystal brimming with the essence of supple wood energy], one Third Rank Lower Grade Immortal Sword [a flying sword of the lower grade within the third rank of magical treasures], and one defensive magical treasure [an enchanted artifact] of the third rank middle grade.

The Third Rank Lower Grade Immortal Sword was acquired as a replacement for Lior Chen, the third rank middle grade defensive magical treasure was given to the Old Patriarch, and the Supple Wood Crystal was kept by Eldrin Chen for Verdant Grace Chen.

In the subsequent trades, he purchased two stalks of the main medicinal ingredient for the Energy-Restoring Origin Pill [a pill that restores one's foundational energy], the Origin-Returning Ginseng [a rare ginseng known for its potent restorative properties].

Beyond that, there were no other treasures that particularly caught Eldrin Chen's interest. After all, given his current cultivation level and wealth, few treasures could stir his heart.

After the alliance meeting concluded, everyone returned to Heavenly Ruins Mountain [a mountain range known for its ancient, ruined celestial sites] to gather their forces and make final preparations for the coming campaign.

Eldrin Chen did not leave immediately. He sought out Exquisite Jiang and asked with concern, "That Heaven's Vault Mirror [a legendary mirror said to contain the vault of heaven] is a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order for suppressing demonic beings]. Are you confident you can handle it?"

"Set your mind at ease," she replied with a confident smile. "I have discussed it with Violet Consort Yan, and we will request the presence of the Purple Abyss Furnace [a formidable furnace-treasure forged in the purple abyss]."

"That is good."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief.

Due to the pressing time, he did not linger long at Heavenly Ruins Mountain and soon returned to his clan.

Similar to the previous Beast Tide, ancient powers like the Verdant Sun Sect could not be conquered by a single Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, no matter how powerful.

Therefore, a massive conscription of cultivators was necessary, relying on sheer numbers to wear down the power of the Mountain Protection Formation at Green Sun Mountain before a successful assault could be mounted.

To ensure the complete fall of Green Sun Mountain, every Immortal Clan within the Three Prefectures Region was conscripted for this campaign, required to dispatch over half of their clan's cultivators to besiege the mountain.

The Verdant Sun Sect had long lost the people's favor. The various Immortal Clan had suffered under its tyranny for ages. This assault served both as vengeance for past grievances and was driven by the promise of substantial gain.

Once the vast resources of the Verdant Sun Sect were seized, the participating cultivators and Immortal Clan stood to reap immense rewards based on the merit exchange promised by Exquisite Jiang. This novel is serialized on audio—novel.com. Visit for updates.

Leveraging the power of the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Ship, the Chen Clan mobilized its forces from all directions. After three months of effort, they managed to assemble a contingent of twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators and one thousand Vital Essence Refinement cultivators.

Combined with the forces from the Pan Clan and other large and small Immortal Clan, Yu County alone dispatched a staggering force of over eight thousand Vital Essence Refinement cultivators.

When the forces from the three prefectures and eight counties were tallied together, the total number of cultivators prepared for this war had swelled to over sixty thousand.

Faced with this massive mobilization, the Verdant Sun Sect was powerless to intervene. Patriarch Xu remained secluded, healing from his wounds. The sect's nine Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators who have opened their Violet Sanctum, the third major cultivation stage] dared not venture out from Green Sun Mountain, trapped under the blockade maintained by powerful foes like Patriarch Qian, Eldrin Chen, and Xavier Xu.

That day, as Eldrin Chen returned to Green Chariot Mountain on his flying sword, he was immediately met by the Old Patriarch's inquiry: "How fares the situation in Solar Province?"

Eldrin Chen shook his head. "Perhaps due to the pact established by the Ji Clan, there has been no unusual movement from Scorching Sun Mountain for now."

"The Verdant Sun Sect has also abandoned its holdings in Solar Province. Their main force withdrew back to Green Sun Mountain long ago."

The Old Patriarch nodded. Solar Province had always been one of the vital lifelines for the Verdant Sun Sect.

Besides Scorching Sun Mountain, there was also Cloud Sun Ridge, which housed a Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein. Furthermore, within that Cloud Sun Ridge lay a Third Rank Superior Grade Acrid Metal Earth Vein [a rare earth vein imbued with the sharp, corrosive essence of metal].

Now, having lost Scorching Sun Mountain and voluntarily relinquished Cloud Sun Ridge, the Verdant Sun Sect's actions could only be described as decisively ruthless.

The Spiritual Veins [geographical formations that concentrate and radiate spiritual energy] still held by the Verdant Sun Sect were now reduced to just Green Sun Mountain and the two Third-order Spiritual Veins in its immediate vicinity.

"I've heard that Patriarch Liu's Vitality [the foundational life force of a cultivator] has begun to wane, and he is nearing the end of his seclusion," said Eternal Profound Chen, his expression turning grave. "This move was most likely ordered by Patriarch Mo. He is a formidable and troublesome adversary."

As the two were discussing this, a colossal Treasure Ship [a massive vessel powered by formations and spiritual energy, used for long-distance travel] measuring one hundred Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] appeared, cutting across the distant sky.

This vessel was named the Profound Mystery Treasure Ship. It was forged by Exquisite Jiang using the skeletal remains of a Heavenly Python Demon King as its Dragon Bone [the central keel or framework, often made from powerful dragon or serpent bones for stability and power], augmented with vast quantities of other Spiritual Objects [materials imbued with or capable of channeling spiritual energy].

To forge this Treasure Ship, Exquisite Jiang expended over two million Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. She purchased tens of thousands of first-rank Spirit Wood [wood imbued with spiritual energy, used in crafting and cultivation] and, with the combined efforts of Heavenly Ruins Mountain and the various great clans, had formation patterns [mystical arrays that channel energy] inscribed upon every single piece of that wood.

It could be said that this magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] was forged from the fusion of countless first-rank magical treasures and a fourth-rank Dragon Bone [the bone of a dragon, a creature of immense power], all unified by the power of a grand Formation [a mystical array that channels energy]. This synthesis allowed it to unleash astonishing might.

The Treasure Ship was engraved with four Fourth-Rank Formations [powerful mystical arrays of the fourth rank]. One was named the Profound Mystery Heaven Aura [a defensive technique manifesting as a profound and mysterious protective aura]. This Formation amplified the defensive Art of Divine Subjugation [a cultivation art focused on suppression and defense] innate to the Heavenly Python Demon King [a powerful serpentine demon monarch] to its absolute limit, fully manifesting the Profound Mystery Heaven Aura.

If three thousand cultivators worked in unison to power it, with a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual energy into a golden core] at the formation's core, the defensive power unleashed would be sufficient to withstand the full-force assault of a cultivator at the Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm]. Discover more cultivation stories at *audio-novel.com*.