Chapter 307 : Gathering of Golden Cores

In addition, there were Golden Core Cultivators [cultivators who have reached the Golden Core stage of cultivation] from several surrounding continents, numbering over thirty individuals.

Combined, this meant nearly one hundred Golden Core Cultivators had gathered, a sight that could truly be called exceedingly rare.

At that moment, Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened slightly, focusing on the three individuals among the crowd whose auras were the most powerful.

Beside him, Violet Consort Yan, who had broken through to the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified core of spiritual power] realm a relatively long time ago and was more familiar with the surrounding Golden Core Cultivators, took it upon herself to introduce them.

With a faint smile and a glint of amusement in her eyes, she began, "Among those present, most are cultivators at the early or mid Golden Core stage. Those powerful enough to have reached the Golden Core Late Stage number fewer than ten."

"And among those ten," she continued, "only three have attained Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage, where the core is perfectly refined and one stands at the threshold of the next realm]."

As she spoke, her gaze settled on a refined-looking Middle-aged Man. "That man is named Heaven Hero Wei. He is considered the foremost Golden Core cultivator in the Wei Nation. It is said he formed a Middle-Tier Golden Core [a Golden Core of middling quality, which affects future cultivation potential]."

"However," she added, her tone turning slightly regretful, "he has consumed two fourth-rank Longevity Pills [elixirs that significantly extend a cultivator's natural lifespan] and his lifespan has already exceeded a millennium. I fear his hope of breaking through to the Infant Soul [the stage following Golden Core, where the cultivator's soul begins to take independent form] realm is now quite slim."

As she narrated this information, Eldrin Chen gained a clearer understanding of these three cultivators who had reached Golden Core Perfection.

Aside from Heaven Hero Wei, one of the other two individuals at Golden Core Perfection present was also a cultivator from the Ji Continent. For uninterrupted reading, go to www . audio-novel.com.

She was a woman of graceful and alluring form, with long, straight legs and an ethereal, otherworldly air about her brows and eyes.

"That person is named Ethereal Mistress Ling [a title for a powerful female cultivator], the Clan Patriarch [the supreme leader of a cultivation clan] of the Ling Clan of Cang Nation."

"She ranks among the top three on the Ji Continent Immortal Maiden Ranking [a prestigious list of the most talented and beautiful female cultivators on the Ji Continent], a peerless immortal maiden who has actually forged a Superior-Tier Golden Core [the highest possible grade of Golden Core foundation]. In the future, she likely has at least a seventy percent chance of breaking through to the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit cultivation realm]."

Eldrin Chen could not help but glance over. He saw that Ethereal Mistress Ling possessed a tall, slender figure and a bearing of extraordinary grace. Her form and beauty were actually not inferior to Violet Consort Yan.

There were quite a few female cultivators on Ji Continent whose talent and beauty were stunning. Busybodies had compiled rankings for them, though these lists were largely based on cultivation level.

After all, during the cultivation process, nourished by pure spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things], physical imperfections gradually fade away, and one's appearance and bearing become increasingly flawless.

To a certain extent, apart from one's Innate [referring to one's inherent, foundational talent and constitution] foundation, different cultivation arts, Spiritual Root [one's innate affinity for absorbing and channeling spiritual energy], Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques], and spiritual energy all influence a cultivator's bearing and appearance. Generally speaking, the higher one's cultivation level, the more perfect the physical form becomes.

Therefore, using cultivation level and Golden Core [a solidified core of spiritual energy formed during a major breakthrough] quality to rank this list of immortal maidens generally did not lead to major surprises.

However, individuals like Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, whose beauty was peerless even before they began cultivating the Dao [the fundamental principle or path of cultivation and existence], were exceedingly rare and extraordinary. Such cultivators either did not appear on the rankings at all, or if they did, they were destined to claim the top spot.

Eldrin Chen could not suppress his astonishment and exclaimed in admiration, "A Superior-Tier Golden Core! To think that on Ji Continent, there exists such a prodigious talent."

Upon careful calculation, if one includes Freya Ji, the number of Superior-Tier Golden Core cultivators on the Ji Continent has reached a full three. What struck him as particularly unexpected was that all three were peerless immortal maidens.

Exquisite Jiang gazed calmly at Ethereal Mistress Ling and said with a faint smile, "That Ethereal Mistress Ling... she is likely a True Lord who has undergone Tribulation Transmigration [a process where a high-level cultivator's soul is reborn to cultivate anew]."

"Tribulation Transmigration?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of shock passing through his heart.

Although he had long known that many Infant Soul cultivators practiced the Nirvana Tribulation Transmigration Art, encountering a being suspected to be a reborn True Lord still filled him with awe.

As Exquisite Jiang recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen gradually understood the circumstances surrounding Ethereal Mistress Ling.

It was said that three centuries ago, the Ling Clan had been an Infant Soul Immortal Clan. Their fall from grace occurred during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, when their Infant Soul True Lord perished.

Now, over three hundred years later, she had cultivated her way back to the Golden Core 9th Tier. If she truly was a True Lord who had undergone Tribulation Transmigration, her breakthrough to Infant Soul could not be far off.

Shifting his gaze, Eldrin Chen looked upon the final individual, his expression turning grave.

Violet Consort Yan glanced at the figure, her brow arching slightly. "I have not met this person before," she said, "but judging by his appearance, I can surmise his origins."

"He must be the foremost rogue cultivator of the Tianlu Continent."

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang exchanged a glance, their eyes narrowing instantly as a flicker of killing intent passed through their hearts.

Yet, they quickly suppressed the thought. The foremost rogue cultivator of the Tianlu Continent, Celestial Star Child, was a formidable cultivator with one foot already in the Infant Soul Realm.

It was said that Celestial Star Child, born a mere rogue cultivator, had only forged a Middle-Tier Golden Core. Nevertheless, his hope of breaking through to the Infant Soul realm was not insignificant.

Now, at just over eight hundred years of age, he likely still held a fair chance of achieving that Infant Soul breakthrough.

"I sense he is not far from the Infant Soul realm," Access the full story on audio . novel . com.

Exquisite Jiang remarked, a shadow of gravity passing over her brow.

A Golden Core Cultivator could attempt the Infant Soul breakthrough once every century. By consuming a fourth-rank Longevity Pill [a pill that extends the lifespan of a cultivator], Celestial Star Child could extend his lifespan by a hundred years. Consuming all three pills would grant him three extra centuries.

This alone afforded him two more chances to attempt the Golden Core breakthrough. As a Middle-Tier Golden Core cultivator, if he could obtain a treasure like the Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that greatly aids in forming the Infant Soul], his odds of successfully breaking through to Infant Soul would likely exceed fifty percent.

Yet, the chasm between Golden Core Perfection and the Infant Soul Realm was vast and profound, a divide exceedingly difficult to cross.

Exquisite Jiang looked towards Eldrin Chen, a flicker of concern in her heart.

Eldrin Chen shook his head, his voice calm as he transmitted his thoughts: "It is of no consequence. There are still four hundred and fifty years [a conventional long duration in cultivation]. That is more than enough time to slay him."

"Mm."

As his words faded, his eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a surge of killing intent emanating from nearby.

Frowning, he followed the sensation with his gaze and found a man clad in violet robes staring at him with icy malevolence.

Violet Consort Yan also sensed the anomaly. She lifted her head and looked in the same direction, then could not help but ask, "That is Heaven Leviathan Deng of the Deng Clan of Yan Kingdom. How have you offended him?"

"The Deng Clan," Eldrin Chen replied, exchanging a glance with Exquisite Jiang. "A minor grudge, nothing more."

Meanwhile, Heaven Leviathan Deng furrowed his brow, his gaze filled with confusion. "I have never met this man. Why then does the Grudge Soul-Snatching Curse [a sinister curse that draws power from a deep-seated vendetta] resonate within me?"

"Could it be..."

"My grandson, Origin Martial!"

In that instant, Heaven Leviathan Deng's gaze turned icy, a flicker of killing intent flashing through his heart.

However, this was, after all, the Ji Continent Market. He swiftly suppressed the thought, burying that surge of murderous desire deep within.

"..."

In the time it took for the group to exchange thoughts and considerations, this Barter Convention finally commenced in earnest.

A Golden Core Cultivator from the Ji Immortal Clan stepped forward. His gaze swept over the assembled crowd before he produced several treasures for trade.

Upon seeing them, Eldrin Chen felt his spirit tremble violently, his pupils contracting sharply.

For these were three truly Extraordinary treasures. The first was a set of five Spirit Fruit, each a different hue.

Although it was Eldrin Chen's first time seeing these particular Spirit Fruit, he still recognized their origin. They were known as the Five Elements Spirit Fruit.

The Five Elements Spirit Fruit is a precious fruit borne from the Five Elements Fruit Tree, a Worldly Spiritual Root. Consuming it can assist a cultivator in breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, its efficacy rivaling that of the Golden Core Formation Pill.

Thanks to possessing a Fifth Rank Five Elements Spirit Fruit Tree, the Ji Immortal Clan could harvest nine Five Elements Spirit Fruit every thirty years upon its ripening. Over the long term, this ensured they were almost never short of Golden Core Cultivator. Read the full novel exclusively on @udio-novel.com.