Chapter 310. Void Gem (Spiritual Object)

Eldrin was momentarily stunned. An additional 500,000 spirit stones to purchase the final Void Gem—this was practically a 70% discount, almost like giving it away for free. It seemed the Ethereal Mist Fairy was deliberately offering him a favor.

Lyra nodded with a smile and completed the transaction.

Although they had lost 7 lower fourth-grade magical artifacts and the remains of a Golden Core, Mid Stage demon king, acquiring 2 Skyheart Herbs and 4 Void Gems made this trade a considerable gain for the 2 of them.

It seemed the Ethereal Void Fairy was truly determined to overcome her Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation, as her demand for fourth-tier magic treasures was immense. After acquiring 7 lower-grade fourth-tier treasures from the 2 of them, she was still seeking to purchase more.

He acquired over a dozen mid-to-low grade Tier-4 magical artifacts in succession, expending a vast sum of spirit stones and treasures—enough to purchase several top-grade Tier-4 artifacts.

The subsequent transactions settled into a more routine exchange of treasures, with participants primarily trading fourth-tier natural wonders, cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, and similar items.

Fourth-tier treasures are generally valued between 400,000 spirit stones to several million spirit stones.

The most precious top-grade Rank-4 magic treasure, valued at approximately 5,000,000 spirit stones, holds marginal utility even for Nascent Soul cultivators. It stands as 1 of the pivotal treasures for weathering the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation.

However, precisely because they are exceedingly rare and precious, whenever a fourth-tier superior-grade magic treasure is put up for sale, countless individuals willingly offer 5,000,000 spirit stones to acquire it. Yet, if you seek to purchase 1 yourself, it would likely prove nearly impossible to obtain.

To return to our story, over 2 100 Grade-4 treasures emerged during this transaction.

Eldrin also expended 600,000 spirit stones to acquire a Crimson Flame Qi treasure metal, intending to fuse it into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss to enhance the blade's structural resilience.

Lyra also spent 2,000,000 spirit stones to purchase a Returning Abyss Calamity-Breaking Pill.

With this elixir in hand, she could save herself 2 cycles of 60 years' effort in refining her spiritual power. Once her cultivation in the Golden Core, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) reached perfection in due time, she would break through to the Golden Core, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm). When that moment came, her strength would surge by yet another significant margin.

Soon, the Trading Assembly concluded, and Eldrin (Person Name) emerged from the gathering alongside Lyra (Person Name).

He glanced around and only then realized that Deng Tiankun (Person Name) had already left at some point.

His brows furrowed slightly as he remarked with a hint of gravity, "The Deng Clan might encounter some trouble."

"It's of no consequence." Lyra shook her head, speaking calmly. "That Deng Tiankun is merely at Golden Core, Mid Stage. Unless he returns to the Deng family to seek reinforcements, he likely wouldn't dare confront me personally."

A flicker of sharpness passed through Eldrin's eyes—his greatest concern was that the Deng Family would call for reinforcements.

However, he soon averted his gaze. Times had changed—even if the Deng Family were to strike against him now, with their current strength, neither he nor his companion had any reason to fear.

"What grudge do you hold against the Deng family?"

Beside them, Yan Zi Ji, who had been listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but ask.

Eldrin glanced at her, then recounted how Deng Yuanwu had once attempted to seize Lila.

After hearing this, a frown creased Yan Zijie’s brow, and a cold gleam flashed in her eyes. "The Deng family’s direct descendants cultivate dual cultivation techniques. Over the years, who knows how many female cultivators they’ve ruined?"

"If an opportunity arises in the future, we must not let them off lightly."

As a female cultivator, Yan Zijie naturally held great disdain for the Deng Clan's practice of the Dual Harvest Art, and a trace of killing intent flickered through her heart.

Eldrin also nodded. Although the Patriarch of the Deng Clan possessed cultivation at the 8th level of the Golden Core Realm, his lifespan was nearing its end, and his combat prowess had become utterly mediocre.

This individual had already consumed 2 fourth-grade Life Extension Pills and would inevitably pass away within a century. By then, he would naturally employ his methods to deal with the Deng Family.

The Ji Clan turned a blind eye to forces like the Deng Family primarily because the Dengs had never stirred up significant trouble—their actions never reached the ears of the Ji Clan's upper echelons.

The primary reason was that the Deng Clan, being of human descent, would ultimately respond to conscription in critical moments, serving as a considerable force during the Cataclysm of the Demonic Abyss.

However, Eldrin was no member of the Ji Clan—his eyes could least tolerate grit. If his strength proved sufficient, he would naturally deal with them.

Just then, Yan Zijie furrowed her brow slightly and said, "We should still be cautious of the Deng Clan. Let us return together."

"Hmm."

Lyra nodded, understanding that Violet Banquet was worried about them.

Yan Ziji had forged a superior-grade Golden Core, her cultivation having reached Golden Core, 5th Tier (Cultivation Realm). Her strength now rivaled that of a Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) expert.

With the combined strength of the 3 of them, even if the Deng Clan were to exhaust their entire clan's power to cause trouble, they would likely suffer a heavy defeat and stand no chance against them.

The journey proceeded without incident. The group traveled aboard the Qingyang Treasure Ark, flying beyond the borders, and after approximately 1 month, they arrived within the territory of the Chu Kingdom (Location).

Meanwhile, Deng Tiankun returned to the Deng Clan and immediately sought out their Ancestral Elder.

After briefly explaining the situation to the clan leader, he said with a murderous expression, "Our Deng Clan has dominated the Yan Kingdom for so many years. Now that our direct descendants have been killed, this blood debt must be avenged."

The patriarch of the Deng Clan was an elderly man in gray robes, who furrowed his brows, his gaze carrying a trace of icy intent.

A flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes. After a long pause, he shook his head and said, "Lyra's strength is at least comparable to a top-tier Golden Core, Mid Stage cultivator. There are even rumors claiming she rivals those at Golden Core, Late Stage."

"Given our strength, capturing her is impossible. It would be far too reckless to rashly make an enemy of her."

Deng Tiankun’s face was etched with unwillingness. Yet, as he thought of his beloved grandson, his gaze turned icy as he advised, “Rumors say that Lyra (Person Name) is born with a Dao Body—a true immortal’s grace and jade-like bone.”

"If we can capture her to serve as a cultivation vessel, Ancestor, you might just be able to break through to the Nascent Soul realm."

A flicker of greed flashed in Patriarch Deng's eyes, but after a long moment, he sneered and shook his head. "Slaying a Golden Core cultivator is already an immensely difficult feat, let alone capturing 1 alive."

"With my cultivation level, capturing a Golden Core, Early Stage cultivator would be nearly impossible, let alone someone with an upper-grade golden core like Lyra."

Starting with him, many of the Deng family's upper echelons practiced the art of Dual Cultivation.

His rise to this day was built upon secretly capturing numerous female cultivators from Yan Kingdom to serve as cultivation vessels. Yet among these female cultivators, let alone Golden Core practitioners, even Purple Mansions were few and far between—most were low-level cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Seeing that the Ancestor disagreed, Deng Tiankun couldn't help but add, "I've heard that during this beast tide, Lyra (Person Name) and her Heavenly Ruins Alliance have stolen the spotlight. The demon race already harbors deep-seated hatred toward her."

"I suspect she will likely attack the Earthlion Ridge again in the future. This might be our opportun..."

"Are you colluding with the demon race?"

The Deng Clan Leader cut him off, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

This sent a jolt through Deng Tiankun’s heart, and he hurriedly tried to dissuade him, “Patriarch, if you can break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, what does any of this even matter?”

Hearing these words, Patriarch Deng felt a flicker of temptation stir within him.

His lifespan was now nearing its end, and his obsession with breaking through to the next realm had grown increasingly intense. Further amplified by the corrupting influence of unorthodox and demonic cultivation arts, his greed had festered into an all-consuming abyss.