Chapter 300 : The Blue Jade Lake's Secret

"We understand."

Upon hearing this, the group immediately began their selections.

Among the seven Spiritual Vein [a concentrated vein of spiritual energy within the earth], the most precious was undoubtedly the Third Rank Superior Grade Blue Jade Lake. This Spiritual Vein was located less than thirty thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Heavenly Ruins Lake, and within it flowed a Third Rank Superior Grade Water Vein [a vein of spiritually-charged water].

The Blue Jade Lake was renowned for the Blue Jade [a precious spiritual jade] found within its Water Vein. This Blue Jade was an exceptionally rare gemstone, used to craft storage jade vials and boxes that could extend the preservation period of Spirit Herb [plants imbued with spiritual energy] and spiritual pills, making it a highly valuable treasure.

Every ten years, the Blue Jade Lake would yield one piece of third-rank Blue Jade. Once refined into a Treasure Box [a container for storing precious items] or jade vial, it could extend the storage life of pills and Spiritual Object [objects infused with spiritual power] by thirty years.

Its value was estimated at several tens of thousands of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Therefore, acquiring this mineral vein would bring substantial benefits, whether used personally or sold for profit.

The Water Vein itself could also be used to cultivate Spirit Shell [spiritually-enhanced shellfish or mollusks]. Securing it would ensure the family would no longer face scarcity of water-attribute resources.

Old Patriarch and Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance and, without a word, claimed this Spiritual Vein in exchange for their contribution points.

Among the remaining individuals, Xavier Xu and Patriarch Fang, aiming for the Golden Core Formation Pill [a pill that aids in forming a Golden Core], did not exchange their points for any of these Spiritual Vein or Earth Vein [a vein of spiritually-rich earth].

The Qian Clan, the Pan Clan, and several other Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators] with Violet Sanctum Late Stage [a high stage of cultivation] elders took action. They exchanged for a third-rank medium-grade Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich in spiritual energy]. Once these Spiritual Vein were fully developed, the foundation and resources of the Future family would be greatly enhanced. Published by audio-novel.com. All rights reserved.

After all, the resource consumption of the Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan is fixed. Under such circumstances, each additional Spiritual Vein [a subterranean current of concentrated spiritual energy] essentially represents a massive, unearned windfall. Over the long term, this would undoubtedly allow the clan's foundation to grow increasingly vast.

Apart from these Immortal Clan, Verdant Mist Yu also exchanged her share with great satisfaction for a third-rank mid-grade Spirit Mountain: the Thunderclap Valley.

That Thunderclap Valley was once the Spirit Mountain of the Thunderclap Great Roc lineage. Beneath the mountain lay a special mineral vein producing Thunderclap Treasure Gold [a rare metal imbued with the power of thunder], a rare thunder-attributed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [exceptional natural resources prized by cultivators].

This material contained Thunderclap Force [a potent, explosive thunder energy]. Whether used for forging thunder-attributed magical treasures or cultivating thunder-based Divine Ability [supernatural arts and techniques], it was an excellent resource. For cultivators with a Thunder Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for thunder-element spiritual energy] or for Eldrin Chen, who practiced thunder arts, it was also a fine treasure.

To secure the Thunderclap Valley, Verdant Mist Yu did not claim any other treasures. She essentially used a large portion of her Merits [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and karma] to compensate the others, finally obtaining this Spirit Mountain.

After the various Immortal Clan had exchanged for the third-rank Spirit Mountain and Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial spiritual energy current], Exquisite Jiang withdrew the illusory map.

There were still quite a few second-rank Spirit Mountain, and also an enormous quantity of other second-rank treasures. However, these would naturally be handled by Exquisite Jiang's disciples and descendants, as well as the disciples of the Chen Immortal Clan.

Once these demon beast pelts, bones, and other materials were refined into pills, magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators], talismans, and other supplies, it was foreseeable that the disciples of the Future Chen Immortal Clan and Heavenly Ruins Mountain would see their skills in the Hundred Crafts of Cultivation [the myriad arts and crafts practiced by cultivators, such as alchemy and forging] rapidly improve and would also make a substantial profit in Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

After everyone had finished exchanging treasures, Exquisite Jiang stated calmly, "I will procure the Heavenly Heart Grass as soon as possible to refine the Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that aids in forming a Golden Core]."

"You should return first and attend to the matter of the Spiritual Vein."

"Our gratitude, Immortal Maiden."

Xavier Xu and Patriarch Fang exclaimed with pleasant surprise. After their breakthrough into the Pseudo-Core Realm, they already had a thirty percent chance of Forming the Golden Core.

If they could obtain another Golden Core Formation Pill [a legendary pill that greatly increases the chance of forming a Golden Core], that probability would soar to a full fifty percent. Thinking of this, both returned to their clans with immense joy, ready to mobilize their resources and purchase the Golden Core Formation Pill.

After all, they were both Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator. With the Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing virtuous deeds and contributions] their two great clans had earned in this battle, which were worth nearly a million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], and by mortgaging or selling some of their clan's foundational assets, they indeed had the means to exchange for a Golden Core Formation Pill from Exquisite Jiang.

"You may withdraw."

After the others had departed, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang remained before the Spirit Pond [a pond infused with concentrated spiritual energy], beginning to tally the spoils of this battle.

Exquisite Jiang retrieved the Inner Pill [the condensed energy core of a high-level demonic beast] of the Crimson Scorpion Demon King, sealing it within a fourth-rank Treasure Box. She then placed the Inner Pill of the Black Flood Dragon into a jade case, sighing with a hint of regret.

"This Inner Pill from the Black Flood Dragon is severely damaged. I fear it won't yield more than two pills."

"Given my cultivation level, being able to slay it required me to exert my full strength."

Eldrin Chen also felt a pang of loss. The value of a single Golden Core Formation Pill started at two million Spirit Stone. Losing the potential for one pill meant a loss of two million stones—a blow that felt like a fracture to their very foundation.

More crucially, once damaged, the Inner Pill [the condensed life essence core of a powerful demon beast] of the Black Flood Dragon would lose its Creation Energy [the primordial life-giving energy within] within three years. Even if sealed with a Fourth-Rank Jade Box [a high-grade enchanted container for preserving spiritual items] to contain its medicinal potency, that period could only be extended to around ten years or so.

At this thought, he furrowed his brow and could not help but say, "I wonder where one could find this Heavenly Heart Grass [a rare spiritual herb known for its heart-nourishing properties]?"

"Do not worry."

Exquisite Jiang put away the Treasure Box and then said, "According to tradition, after the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demon beasts] concludes, cultivators at the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, forming a solidified golden core] realm and above in Ji Continent will convene a Barter Convention [a high-level gathering for trading rare cultivation resources]. We should be able to purchase the Heavenly Heart Grass there."

"Then the matter is settled."

Eldrin Chen nodded calmly. Having journeyed to this point, his solo slaying of a Golden Core Demon King [a demon beast lord possessing a Golden Core] served as a declaration—he had now stepped into the ranks of the high-level cultivators of Ji Continent. Experience the full epic at @udio-novel.com.

Even Golden Core True Person [a formal title for a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core realm] would treat him as an equal, and might even regard him with greater esteem.

In this world, strength ultimately dictates one's standing. Using cultivation realm to delineate seniority is, in truth, merely one method of measuring that strength.

Observing his expression, a flicker of a smile passed through Exquisite Jiang's eyes before she spoke again.

"For the next Barter Convention, we have quite a number of items to procure."

"With Green Sun Mountain and Heavenly Ruins Lake, we already possess two Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [spiritual energy channels of the fourth rank]. The Worldly Spiritual Root [a spiritual root that anchors and nourishes a region] at Spirit Isle Lake should also reach the fourth rank within a dozen or so years."

"Furthermore, your Green Chariot Mountain and Pingyang City will also reach the fourth rank within a few decades. By then, we will have five Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [spiritual energy channels of the fourth rank]."

"To simultaneously occupy several Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [spiritual energy channels of the fourth rank], we must establish at least three Teleportation Formation [magical teleportation arrays] to link them into a unified network."

Eldrin Chen nodded. The most crucial treasure required to establish a Teleportation Formation [magical teleportation array] was the Void Gem [a rare gemstone attuned to spatial energies].

A single Void Gem [a rare gemstone attuned to spatial energies] started at a value of a million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. Purchasing several at once would likely strain the finances of even Exquisite Jiang and Eldrin Chen.

The few extra Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts of the fourth rank] in their possession probably wouldn't remain in their vaults for long; they would need to be traded one by one for other valuable resources.

At this thought, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he gazed towards the direction of Earth Lion Ridge. "If we could capture Earth Lion Ridge, then Heavenly Ruins Lake, Earth Lion Ridge, and Green Sun Mountain would form a defensive triangle. Our cultivation resources would then become quite abundant."

"Let's not be hasty."

This proposal stirred her interest, but after a moment of contemplation, Exquisite Jiang shook her head.

Eldrin Chen also nodded, suppressing the thought. The Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth that concentrates and channels spiritual energy] at Earth Lion Ridge was as high as Fourth Rank Mid-Grade, and with the Earth Lion Demon King backed by its grand defensive formation, its strength was formidable indeed.

Not to mention the uncertainty of victory, even if they could conquer it, doing so would heap immense pressure upon the Heavenly Ruins Alliance.

Only after the Old Patriarch and Elara Lin achieved their Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] breakthroughs would they possess the necessary margin for such an endeavor.

Furthermore, ideally, they would need to prepare three or four Void Gem [a rare spatial gemstone used to create stable teleportation links] to properly link several Fourth-Rank Spirit Mountain into a unified defensive network.

Otherwise, even stationing Golden Core cultivators there would fragment the alliance's strength, increasing the peril of its Golden Core Cultivator being picked off one by one. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel[dot]com.