Chapter 250. Spirit Tempering Method (Cultivation Art)

"Oh, that truly is a child of heaven."

Eldrin's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly as he set down his teacup with practiced composure.

Smoothly sidestepping the topic, he continued, "I have come seeking to purchase Sun Treasure Crystal (Spiritual Object). Might your esteemed pavilion possess such a treasure?"

"Sun Treasure Crystal (Spiritual Object)?" A subtle movement flickered between the brows of the Qin-named Zifu practitioner as he smiled and remarked, "It appears you cultivate a pure yang mystic art, fellow Daoist."

As soon as he finished speaking, he shook his head again and said, "Although our Qin family has accumulated some, they were all taken by an Ancestral Elder to cultivate a certain divine ability."

"You might as well wait a few more years. When the Eldrin Trade Assembly begins in 5 years, you'll surely be able to purchase this item if you can afford the price."

Hearing this, Eldrin gave an imperceptible nod.

The Sun Treasure Crystal (Spiritual Object) is exceptionally rare. When encountered by the right individual, it often commands a steep premium. Most likely, they would only offer it for competitive bidding at an exchange gathering.

At this thought, Eldrin rose to take his leave and said, "It seems we can only wait until 5 years from now."

"Fellow Daoist, take care on your journey."

The Qin-named Zi Fu adept politely escorted Eldrin (Person Name) out of the shop before rising and retreating into the inner chambers.

At this moment, 2 cultivators were already seated cross-legged inside the private chamber, sipping tea. A middle-aged man among them glanced toward the shopkeeper and said.

"How is it?"

The Qin-named Zi Fu bowed slightly and shook his head, "It is not a Dao Body."

The middle-aged man waved his hand impassively, signaling the shopkeeper to withdraw.

After the shopkeeper had left, he shook his head in disappointment and remarked, "Given his natural talent, I thought he might possess a Dao Body. It seems I overestimated him."

Seventh Brother.

The elder across from him furrowed his brow, his expression turning grave as he said, "Both Ancestors have long warned against targeting Dao Bodies above the Purple Mansion realm. Do you still dare to covet this 1?"

"Third Brother..."

The middle-aged man looked slightly embarrassed and chuckled awkwardly, "I was merely asking out of curiosity, I won't take any action."

"I would still advise you to exercise caution, brother."

When a Dao Body cultivates to the Violet Mansion realm, it often manifests certain divine peculiarities. Even if such individuals do not hail from major powers, they are likely to have garnered the attention of eminent experts.

"If this is exposed, not even my Qin Clan could save you—even the entire Qin Family would be buried alongside you."

The elder's expression turned grave as he recalled the repeated warnings from the clan's Ancestral Elder.

As 1 of the few Golden Core Elders of the Qin Clan, they were among the handful who knew the truth behind the Qin Clan's rise.

Extracting bloodlines to refine elixirs, seizing innate constitutions through forbidden arts—this was an utter loss of humanity.

Even the Qin Immortal Clan was on edge, for this inheritance was far too sinister and malevolent in origin. The terrifying forces behind it were utterly intolerable—if word were to spread, they would find no refuge left in the entire Violet Realm.

Although the Qin Clan was a Nascent Soul family, the few high-ranking members who knew the truth were also living on edge.

Once exposed, none of the immortal clans in the Eastern Wastelands (Location), not even the Dao Lord's Holy Land, would ever tolerate their existence.

Even if they were merely a newly ascended Nascent Soul clan, let alone having given birth to a Primordial Spirit Dao Lord, none would likely leave the Eastern Wastelands alive.

To speak of more recent times, any 1 of these forces alone—the Heavenly Abode Sect of the Heavenly Abode Continent, Magnus the Virtuous Lord of the Heaven's Spine Mountains, or the Ji Clan Immortal Family of Ji Province—would have been more than enough to sweep them all away.

At this moment, the elder grew solemn and repeatedly cautioned, "When Second Ancestor was in Ji Province all those years ago, he even stirred the consciousness of a terrifying entity while attempting to extract the bloodline of a Dao Body."

"If we hadn't fled immediately upon sensing danger, we might not have returned alive. Fearing they might track us through our residual aura, the Qin Clan has strictly forbidden its disciples from setting foot in Ji Province for all these years."

"That Dao Body is merely at the Qi Refining stage. If you dare lay a hand on a prodigy with a Purple Mansion Dao Body, I'd say there's an 80 percent chance things will go terribly wrong."

The middle-aged man’s pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of lingering fear crossing his expression.

Even after becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the Second Ancestor of the Qin Clan remained deeply wary of the Ji Province, a clear indication that some great terror lay concealed there.

His heart trembled faintly as he couldn't help but murmur, "What manner of existence from back then could make even the Second Ancestor(Person Name) fear to this extent?"

"Perhaps it was the Ji Clan?"

The elder gazed in the direction of Ji Zhou, his eyes revealing a trace of solemnity.

Within that territory resided the Ji Clan, a once-glorious immortal lineage whose radiance had illuminated countless epochs.

Throughout the vast expanse of time, that lineage successively gave birth to several Dao Lords of Primordial Spirit, and even produced the legendary supreme Immortals.

Though the Ji Immortal Clan had declined in recent times, their profound foundations remained intact. The clan’s ultimate heirloom, the Refining Immortal Furnace, commanded awe across the cosmos. Legends spoke of its awakened form capable of striking down immortals and demons alike, ranking it among the top 10 Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang (Magic Treasure) on the Purple Realm’s Divine Armaments List.

After leaving the Qin Clan's shop, Eldrin (Person Name) did not linger any longer within the Qin Yuan Market.

At present, he simply lacked the capability to take action against the Qin Clan, nor did he dare to verify whether they were truly responsible for what had happened back then.

Yet this journey had yielded some gains after all. Though he dared not be absolutely certain, he believed the Qin Clan was undoubtedly highly suspect.

"Go cultivate first. We’ll make plans after you break through to the Golden Core, or even achieve the Nascent Soul stage."

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin purchased a map of the Heavenly Abode Continent (Location) and soared on his sword toward the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire.

As Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) had stated, the Flaming Prison of Blazing Seas was an ideal place for spirit refinement. Having arrived at the Heavenly Abode Continent (Location), he would naturally not let this opportunity slip by.

He rode his sword northward, flying over 2 million li until he finally reached the northern frontier of the Heavenly Abode Continent, where he discovered the legendary Sea of Blazing Flames.

"Is this the Sea of Blazing Flames?"

Gazing at the vast, boundless sea of flames stretching before him, Eldrin couldn't help but swallow hard.

What a truly perilous realm this was—a blazing inferno stretching over 1,000,000 li, where molten lava and raging flames blanketed the earth.

There was no trace of life here—only boundless killing intent and all-consuming flames. Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, Eldrin would have believed he had stepped into a world of purgatory.

Flame Prison Inferno.

"No wonder they describe it as a sea of flames, a prison of fire."

Eldrin's heart trembled as he recalled the origins of this blazing sea of flames in the Inferno Prison.

It is said that 8 1000 years ago, this Sea of Flaming Prison was once the forbidden ground of a formidable demonic cultivator—the Blood Demon Ridge, where a Demon Lord whose power could shake the ages held his dominion.

That era was far too ancient, so ancient that even the historical records known to Eldrin contained only fragmented accounts.

The peerless Dao Lord Jiang Huang arrived from the Central Ancestral Domain, unleashing an epoch-making battle against the Blood Demon Ridge. He shattered a Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang (Magic Treasure) and eradicated this ancient stronghold that had endured for countless eras.

After the great battle, the earth's lung beneath the Crimson Demon Ridge was shattered, unleashing boundless subterranean fire that completely incinerated the ridge, transforming it into what is now the million-mile Sea of Blazing Abyss.

From that point onward, a multitude of cultivators began migrating from the ancestral lands of Central Province, bringing mortal populations with them. Over time, these settlers multiplied and gradually formed what is now known as the Heavenly Abode Continent and the Ji Province Cultivation World.

Speaking of which, the cultivation worlds across several major continents nearby today all gradually flourished after that great war.

Generation after generation of ancient sages expanded our territories, battling demons and monsters in bloody warfare for our human race.

"Thus, the thriving world of cultivation we see today came to be."

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind swept across the mountain peaks, carrying with it the scent of snow and pine. Lin Feng stood at the edge of the cliff, his white robes fluttering in the gusts. 1 100 years had passed since he last set foot on this very spot. He gazed at the distant horizon, where the setting sun painted the clouds in hues of crimson and gold. Countless memories flooded his mind—the arduous cultivation sessions, the life-and-death battles, the bittersweet partings. Yet, all seemed like yesterday. "Eldrin," a voice called from behind, pulling him from his reverie. Lin Feng turned to see an old friend approaching, his steps light yet firm. "It's been a long time," the man said, his eyes holding a depth that spoke of millennia. "Indeed," Lin Feng replied, a faint smile gracing his lips. "20-some years, to be precise." The man chuckled. "Time flies when you're traversing the path of immortality. How is your cultivation progressing?" "I've reached the seventh layer of the 9 Revolutions Art," Lin Feng said, his tone calm. "But the eighth layer remains elusive, like trying to grasp the moon's reflection in water." "Patience, my friend. The Dao is not meant to be rushed." The man produced a small jade vial from his sleeve. "This contains 3 Heaven Evolution Pills. They might aid your breakthrough." Lin Feng's eyes widened slightly. Heaven Evolution Pills were rare treasures, each worth over 10 1000 spirit stones on the market. 3 would be worth a fortune. "I cannot accept such a valuable gift," he declined politely. "Nonsense," the man insisted, pressing the vial into Lin Feng's hand. "Consider it an investment. The upcoming Heavenly Tribulation won't be easy to overcome. You'll need all the help you can get." Lin Feng nodded slowly, accepting the pills. The mention of the Heavenly Tribulation sent a chill down his spine. Countless cultivators had fallen while attempting to transcend their mortal coils and ascend to immortality. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "I shall remember this kindness." The man waved a dismissive hand. "We've been through much together. A few pills are nothing compared to the bonds we share." As they spoke, a sudden tremor shook the mountain. The air grew thick with spiritual energy, and the sky darkened ominously. "What's happening?" Lin Feng asked, his hand instinctively reaching for the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss at his waist. The man's expression turned grave. "It seems your tribulation has arrived earlier than expected." Lin Feng took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He had prepared for this moment for over a century. Now, facing the terrifying power of heaven and earth, he felt both fear and anticipation. "Let it come," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with determination.