Chapter 303 : The Alchemist's Ascendant Path

I recall during the last Beast Tide Calamity, Lyra Jiang also refined twenty-one batches of Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in establishing the foundational cultivation stage]. At that time, without the aid of a Fourth Rank [a high-grade level of power] earthfire, it took roughly five days to complete a single batch.

Back then, the number of successfully refined Foundation Establishment Pill was one hundred and five. This time, the yield is slightly higher, primarily because the main ingredient for five of the batches was the Purple Marrow Fruit [a rare spirit fruit that enhances the efficacy of cultivation pills].

After all, the quality of Demonic Beast Inner Core [the condensed energy core of a demonic beast] varies greatly. The Creation Power [the fundamental life-giving and transformative energy] contained within the inner cores of Purple Mansion Early to Mid Stage [the initial and middle phases of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] demonic beasts simply cannot compare to that of the Purple Marrow Fruit.

As he was lost in thought, Chen Elara offered a gentle smile. "Your Pill Success Rate [the percentage of successful pill refinements] is already among the very best even among Third Rank Alchemist [master alchemists of the third rank]."

"In my view, once you break through to the Golden Core [the Golden Core cultivation stage], you will be able to advance to become a Fourth Rank Alchemist [a grandmaster alchemist of the fourth rank]."

Eldrin Chen shook his head with a faint smile, choosing not to comment on that particular matter.

After refining the twenty-one batches of Foundation Establishment Pill, he took time to consolidate his insights, feeling his alchemical skill had improved. He then began refining Third Rank [pertaining to the third cultivation rank] low to middle-grade Pill [cultivation-enhancing elixirs].

He refined several batches of Purple Aura Pill [a pill that nourishes the cultivator's spiritual aura] and Spirit-Nourishing Pill [a pill that strengthens the soul and spirit]. He found he could maintain an eighty percent Pill Success Rate for the Purple Aura Pill, and around sixty percent for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill.

This level of skill was truly extraordinary. Achieving a sixty percent success rate for Third Rank Middle Grade [middle-grade items of the third rank] Pill indicated he indeed possessed the Deep-Seated Foundation [a profound and stable cultivation base] necessary to challenge the realm of a Fourth Rank Alchemist.

Once these batches of Pill were complete, the remaining Second Rank Pill [pills of the second cultivation rank] no longer required Eldrin Chen's personal attention. He then sought out Lyra Jiang to begin assisting her with her own alchemical work. This chapter appears courtesy of audio - novel . com.

At this moment, Lyra Jiang was in the process of refining the Dharma Essence Pill [a high-grade cultivation pill that condenses and refines one's spiritual essence]. Seeing this, Eldrin Chen stepped forward to assist her with the alchemical work.

Noticing Eldrin Chen's arrival, Lyra Jiang said with a smile, "Just two more batches of the Dharma Essence Pill remain. With your aid, the task will be considerably lighter."

The two spent over half a month completing the refinement of the two batches of Dharma Essence Pill, successfully producing a total of seventeen pills.

Gazing at the freshly refined Dharma Essence Pill, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile. "Leave a few of these pills for me," he said. "Several of my uncles and elder brothers within the clan who have reached the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian] have yet to consume one. Taking a single pill could save them decades of arduous cultivation."

"Agreed."

Lyra Jiang nodded. Pills of such high grade were essentially never sold on the open market.

She took seven pills for Eldrin Chen, kept five for her own reserves, and set aside the remaining five to be offered as a benefit within the Heaven's Ruin Alliance. These would be sold at a low price to Purple Mansion cultivators of the alliance who had accumulated substantial Merit Points [a points-based credit system representing contributions to an organization].

After the pill refinement was complete, Eldrin Chen stayed with Lyra Jiang for a few more days of rest at Green Sun Mountain.

However, after only a few days, a streak of light flew in from the distance, delivering a message directly into their hands.

Eldrin Chen glanced at it and could not help but shake his head. "It seems the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts] near Qi Kingdom and Western Spirit Lake will need to be contained for another three full years."

"Hmm." Lyra Jiang nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. "Fortunately, it appears both sides are exercising restraint for now. This conflict likely won't involve Nascent Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators whose souls have taken nascent form], but I fear some Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed a golden core of immense power] will inevitably fall."

Eldrin Chen gazed calmly at the distant lands, a weight settling in his heart.

Setting aside the wars within the Chu Kingdom, this surging Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, massive invasion by demonic beasts] had already claimed the lives of five Golden Core True Person [a respectful title for a Golden Core cultivator] from Ji Continent, while the Demonic Beast [monstrous creatures that cultivate demonic energy] hordes had lost seven of their Golden Core Demon King [demonic beasts who have reached the Golden Core realm].

This was no small number. Golden Core True Person and Demon King were all high-ranking cultivators, their lifespans easily exceeding a thousand years. The fall of even one was a significant event for the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent.

Across the entire Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent, excluding the Ji Immortal Clan, the total number of Golden Core Cultivator numbered barely over forty.

Even at the peak of their strength three hundred years ago, on the eve of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving an eruption of demonic energy from the abyss], the Ji Continent had only just over a hundred Golden Core Cultivator, again excluding the Ji Immortal Clan.

Each Beast Tide Calamity lasted at most three years. If the fighting continued at this intensity for the full term, who could say how many more Demon King and True Persons would perish?

"You need not worry over this."

"For now, this matter does not concern us."

Seeing his solemn expression, Lyra Jiang took his hand and spoke reassuringly.

Eldrin Chen nodded. The Chu Kingdom was currently recuperating and building up its strength. Unless absolutely necessary, the Ji Clan would not be determined to conscript them into action.

In fact, the subsequent conflicts were somewhat more subdued than they had anticipated.

After losing over a dozen Demon King [powerful demonic beasts equivalent to Golden Core cultivators] and Golden Core True Person [Golden Core realm cultivators] in succession, both the Golden Core Ancestor [Golden Core realm patriarchs] and the Demon King recognized that their opponents were tough adversaries.

Since neither the Ji Clan True Lord [True Lords of the Ji Clan] nor the Demon Emperor [rulers of demon tribes, equivalent to Nascent Soul cultivators] wished to tear up the existing pact, the Golden Core True Person and Demon King beneath them naturally had little desire to risk their own destruction in a desperate fight to the death.

The Human Race Golden Core Ancestor still harbored the will to defend their Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with concentrated spiritual energy], but the fighting spirit of the Demonic Tribe Demon King had diminished by more than half.

Consequently, the subsequent assaults launched by the Demonic Tribe never employed their full strength. They were repeatedly repelled by the Human Race without suffering severe casualties, and they never truly threatened the critical Spirit Mountain Earth Vein [the spiritual energy channels within the earth that nourish a region]. Experience the full epic at audio‑novel.com.

This situation was naturally insufficient to compel the Nascent Soul True Lord [Nascent Soul realm True Lords] to take action, let alone force the hand of the secluded Ji Clan Patriarch.

Although the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts] had not yet concluded, the Beast Tide Calamity within the Chu Kingdom had already subsided. This granted him over two years to refine and consolidate his cultivation base.

During this period, Eldrin Chen fused the Water Element Treasure Pearl [a treasure pearl containing concentrated water elemental essence] into his Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform [a magical treasure in the form of an azure lotus platform], beginning the arduous process of tempering this Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul].

Among his five Life-Bound Magical Treasure, only the Magnetic Treasure Mirror and the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform now remained un-advanced to the Fourth Rank [the Golden Core realm].

With the integration of the Water Element Treasure Pearl [a precious pearl containing the condensed essence of the water element], the material quality of this treasure was enhanced by more than double. Then, Eldrin Chen began to temper it extensively by infusing it with Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements].

Refining a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of the fourth rank] is no easy task, especially since the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform [a magical lotus throne imbued with the power of flood water] is a relatively fragile Fourth Rank Magical Treasure. It took Eldrin Chen over a year to successfully advance this Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact] to the Fourth Rank [the fourth major stage of cultivation].

On the day the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform successfully advanced, the heavens churned with Tribulation Clouds [ominous clouds that gather to unleash heavenly punishment], heralding the brewing of a Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial by heavenly lightning that a magical treasure must endure to solidify its rank].

Watching the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform soar into the sky, Eldrin Chen remained remarkably calm.

After fusing with the Water Element Treasure Pearl, the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform had seen its material quality and defensive capabilities enhanced by a significant margin. The watery radiance barrier it could project now possessed formidable defensive power even against Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the devastating lightning strikes of a heavenly trial].

As Eldrin Chen had anticipated, although the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation raged furiously, the first two bolts of the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation failed to breach the defensive barrier.

The final bolt of Heavenly Thunder Tribulation did manage to shatter the barrier, but its power had been diminished by seventy to eighty percent. The remaining force merely inflicted heavy damage upon the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform, failing to destroy it completely.

As the Heavenly Tribulation Nectar [a miraculous, restorative liquid that descends after a successful tribulation] descended, the spiritual glow of the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform was restored. It blossomed with an extraordinary azure radiance before flying back to nestle between his brows.

"The Fourth-Rank Profound Water Azure Lotus Throne," Eldrin Chen murmured, a smile gracing his features. With the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform now advanced, it could store three times his normal mana reserves, increasing his total mana by more than double.

A wave of satisfaction washed over Eldrin Chen. The successful advancement of the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform meant he could now channel a reservoir of mana threefold his own, effectively more than doubling his available power.

Lyra Jiang [the female cultivator and companion of Eldrin Chen] was also delighted for him and couldn't help but say with a smile, "With this treasure in hand, your chances of a breakthrough to the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation where one forms a solid golden core of spiritual power] are all but assured."

"It's a pity my spiritual energy reserves are insufficient. I will need another thirty years to complete the required cultivation cycles and reach perfection."

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a cultivator from the Chen Clan] was also pleased, yet a sense of urgency regarding his Golden Core breakthrough stirred within his heart.

However, he now possessed five Life-Bound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts personally forged and spiritually bonded to a cultivator, requiring constant energy to sustain], which placed an immense drain on his spiritual energy reserves.

Furthermore, after reaching the Purple Mansion, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the third major cultivation stage, where one's spiritual foundation is greatly expanded], his meridians could accommodate far more spiritual energy. This meant that even with the aid of a Third Rank Spirit Peach [a high-grade spiritual fruit that accelerates cultivation], it would still take him over twenty years to advance a single layer of cultivation.

Fortunately, he had obtained several Spirit Clam Pearl [pearls formed by spirit clams, which enhance the rate of absorbing ambient spiritual energy] from the Celestial Python Lake [a large lake inhabited by powerful serpentine creatures]. These could accelerate his absorption of spiritual energy. Yet, having only recently broken through to the eighth layer of the Purple Mansion [the third major stage of cultivation, focused on building a spiritual residence within oneself], he would need to wait another thirty years to cultivate to Purple Mansion Great Perfection [the peak of the Purple Mansion stage, the prerequisite for attempting a Golden Core breakthrough] before he could attempt to assail the Golden Core realm. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel*com.