Chapter 328 : A Priceless Promise

Xavier Xu took the ledger and glanced at it, unable to suppress a look of pleasant surprise.

However, his expression soon shifted to one of regret. Although the spoils from this battle were immense, his own contribution had not been significant. His battle merits would, at most, be enough to exchange for a single Golden Core Formation Pill, and he had already promised that his share of the gains from this campaign would go to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen cast a calm glance and said with a faint smile, "In this battle, you held back a Demon Race Golden Core cultivator. In the future, when a Golden Core Formation Pill becomes available, I will sell one to your Shyu Clan at half price."

"My deepest thanks."

Upon hearing this, Xavier Xu bowed deeply, his excitement palpable. Not long ago, Path Abyss Xu had also reached the ninth layer of the Violet Sanctum realm. The Xu Clan had been struggling, lacking the resources to procure a Golden Core Formation Pill.

If they could purchase one at half price, there was a chance the Shyu Clan might nurture a second Golden Core Cultivator in the future.

"There is no need for such formality."

Eldrin Chen replied with detached calm, then turned his gaze to the ledger in his hand, a smile touching the corners of his eyes.

The spoils from this campaign were unprecedented. As was customary, the captured resources were categorized into three main types: fixed assets, Spirit Herb and Inner Pill [the condensed energy core of a demon beast], Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [rare spiritual ores, plants, and other natural wonders], and magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators].

The fixed assets referred to the Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich in spiritual energy] and Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth energy] of Earth Lion Ridge. Across the hundreds of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] surrounding Earth Lion Ridge, there was one Fourth-Rank Spirit Mountain, one Fourth Rank Earth Vein, twelve Third-order Spiritual Vein [a vein of concentrated spiritual energy], six Third-Rank Earth Vein, and over seventy Second Rank Spiritual Vein. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio–novel.com.

In accordance with the prior agreement, the Third-order Spiritual Vein and the Earth Vein [a subterranean artery of concentrated spiritual energy] were not claimed by Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang; they were instead allocated among the various great Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families with deep legacies].

The Fourth-Rank Spirit Mountain [a mountain peak of the fourth rank, rich in spiritual energy] and the Underground Earth Vein [a subterranean spiritual energy artery] at Earth Lion Ridge were occupied by Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang. This Spirit Mountain and Earth Vein were abundant in resources, their spiritual energy sufficient to support the cultivation of six or seven Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators at the Golden Core stage], and the materials there were enough to allow the two to amass immense wealth.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, within this Fourth Rank Mid-Grade Spirit Mountain, several hundred *mu-area* [one *Mu-area* equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of high-grade Spiritual Field [fields imbued with spiritual energy for growing spiritual plants] could be opened. Theoretically, it could even support the cultivation of four Fifth Rank Spirit Herb [plants imbued with potent spiritual energy].

Furthermore, the Earth Vein would, every Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years], give birth to an Earth Origin Treasure Pearl [a precious pearl condensed from pure earth essence], and every few decades it would produce a precious fourth-rank Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [rare and potent natural treasures of heaven and earth].

In addition, within the Earth Vein were seven or eight mineral veins of varying sizes. The annual output of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures from these was estimated to be worth around one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Moreover, upon the Spirit Mountain grew a Worldly Spiritual Root [a rare plant with profound spiritual properties] known as the 'Earth Spirit Fruit Tree'. The earth-attribute Spirit Fruit [fruit imbued with spiritual energy] borne by this tree was rich in Creation [the vital, life-giving energy of creation] spiritual energy, its effect similar to that of the Fire Spirit Fruit Tree on Green Sun Mountain.

It could be said that after securing this Spirit Mountain, the path of cultivation for Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang would become much smoother.

The second category consisted of Spirit Herb and Inner Pill [the condensed energy core of a demonic beast]. The group had obtained three Demonic Beast Inner Pill [the energy core of a demonic beast], respectively from a Golden Core Early Stage Golden Lion Mastiff, a Golden Core Mid Stage Savage Ox Demon King, and a Golden Core Late Stage Earth Lion Demon King.

These three Inner Pill were exceptionally potent and should be able to refine just over ten Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that aids in forming a Golden Core].

As for the Spirit Herb, they were also plentiful. They had gathered five fourth-rank Spirit Herb and over fifty Third-Rank Spirit Herbs.

Among these five Spirit Herb [a plant imbued with spiritual energy] of the Fourth Rank [the fourth major tier of cultivation power], two were Heavenly Heart Grass [a rare herb said to resonate with the heavens], which should be sufficient to attempt two alchemical refinements of the Golden Core Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming the Golden Core].

Besides the Heavenly Heart Grass, Eldrin Chen recognized the other three Spirit Herb as well. One was a Millennium Verdant Origin Mushroom [a mushroom containing potent life essence cultivated for a thousand years], another was a Returning Cloud Flower [a flower that blooms amidst ephemeral, returning clouds], and the last was a Nirvana Fruit [a fruit symbolizing rebirth and renewal].

The value of the Millennium Verdant Origin Mushroom goes without saying. The Returning Cloud Flower serves as the primary ingredient for both the 'Returning Cloud Tribulation-Breaking Pill [a pill that helps overcome the heavenly tribulation at the Golden Core Mid Stage]' and the 'Returning Cloud Creation Pill [a precious pill crucial for advancing to the Golden Core Late Stage]'.

The Returning Cloud Tribulation-Breaking Pill is a key treasure for breaking through to the Golden Core Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Golden Core realm]. Its refinement requires the Returning Cloud Flower combined with a fourth-rank treasure orb like the Five Essence Treasure Pearl [a magical pearl containing the essence of the five elements].

As for the Returning Cloud Creation Pill, it is a Precious Pill [an exceptionally rare and powerful alchemical pill] for advancing to the Golden Core Late Stage [the late phase of the Golden Core realm]. Crafting this pill requires two Returning Cloud Flower to be refined together with Creation Jade [a mystical jade said to hold the power of creation].

Due to the scarcity of this flower and the extensive utility of the pills derived from it, its price has always remained exorbitantly high, with each specimen often valued at over two million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Generally speaking, the cost of materials for a single attempt to refine the Returning Cloud Creation Pill can reach as high as five million Spirit Stones. If the batch yields fewer than three pills, the endeavor is considered a financial loss.

Compared to the previous herbs, the final Nirvana Fruit was actually the most precious. This particular fruit had reached the Fourth Rank Superior Grade [the highest quality tier within the fourth rank].

It is said that with this fruit as the main ingredient, supplemented by one thousand and eighty auxiliary herbs, one can refine a legendary furnace of Nirvana Precious Pill [a pill of rebirth that can restore a cultivator's body and cultivation]. With this treasure, even a Golden Core Cultivator [a practitioner who has formed a Golden Core, the third major realm] whose physical body has been utterly destroyed can recover both their flesh and their cultivation base.

The three Inner Pill [the condensed energy core of a powerful spiritual beast] and the five Spirit Herb were all priceless treasures. Naturally, Exquisite Jiang had no intention of trading them away, planning instead to keep them for future alchemy or to exchange with high-ranking cultivators for other needed treasures.

Beyond the Spirit Herb and Inner Pill, what brought the greatest joy to the assembly were the captured magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [rare and potent natural resources imbued with spiritual essence].

The spoils of this battle included countless low-grade magical treasure and demon beast materials, which naturally held little interest for the core group. Items below the third rank were left for the various Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] to exchange amongst themselves. What truly stirred their hearts were the Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure and those rare, heaven-defying treasures.

Among the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, the Earth Origin Treasure Pearl was claimed by Exquisite Jiang to refine into an Origin Shattering Tribulation Pill [a powerful elixir to aid in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks]. The Primordial One Treasure Metal was exchanged by Eldrin Chen, who intended to fuse it into the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell to enhance that treasure's potency.

The Great Kun Mother Stone was also taken by Exquisite Jiang. By integrating this material into her Cultivable Earth Kun Origin Disk, both its substance and power would be augmented.

Eldrin Chen secured the Profound Earth Sinking Stone, planning to use it to forge a fourth-rank formation disk. This would be used to replace the core disk of the Seven Stars Demon Refining Grand Formation when the Spiritual Vein [a concentrated ley line of spiritual energy] beneath Pingyang City ascended to the fourth rank.

The two pieces of Celestial Star Jade held special value. Exquisite Jiang planned to craft them into a jade vial and a Treasure Box, intended for storing precious fourth-rank Spirit Herb and elixirs. With that, the few fourth-rank Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were divided cleanly between the two. Continue your cultivation journey at http://www . audio-novel.com.

Compared to these treasures, the magical treasure truly represented the lion's share of the spoils.

Due to the involvement of the Deng Clan, the number of captured Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure exceeded expectations. In total, an astonishing eleven such treasures were seized.

Among these, four were Fourth Rank Superior Grade magical treasure: the 'Vajra Lion-Dragon Seal' belonging to the Earth Lion Demon King, the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor and Purple-Gold Glazed Armor from the Deng Clan, and the Vast Cold Azure Void Vase.

Of these treasures, the Vajra Lion-Dragon Seal was an offensive magical treasure. Forged from Fourth Rank Superior Grade Precious Metal, its power was sufficient to shatter and sink mountains and rivers spanning a hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

Eldrin Chen possessed several offensive magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. Since his Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword was on the verge of advancing to the Fourth Rank Superior Grade, Exquisite Jiang took it for herself.

The Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor and the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor were components of the legendary Seven Treasures Glazed Armor. It was said this mythical magical treasure was used by true Immortals [transcendent beings] and was far too difficult for mortals to forge successfully.

Thus, a great power [a mighty cultivator] had divided it into seven parts, creating methods to forge seven distinct Lifebound Magical Treasures [magical treasures bound to a cultivator's life force]. Legend held that once three of these components were combined, their combined grade would elevate by an entire rank, even capable of bridging the immense power gap between a standard magical treasure and a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order, capable of subduing demons].

The Deng Clan had managed to forge two of these Single Treasure Glazed Armor. Their clear intent was to gather three pieces of the Seven Treasures Glazed Armor to synthesize the Three Treasures Glazed Armor, allowing it to ascend to the realm of a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure. Such a treasure would be invaluable in helping future clansmen survive their Infant Soul Great Tribulation [the catastrophic heavenly trial faced when advancing to the Infant Soul realm].

Exquisite Jiang already possessed two top-tier defensive magical treasures: the Cultivable Earth Kun Origin Disk and the Green Sun Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. Having little need for these two new armors, she bestowed them both upon Eldrin Chen.

The final item, the Vast Cold Azure Void Vase, was also a superior-grade magical treasure. However, Exquisite Jiang did not hold it in particularly high regard and casually gave it to Elara Lin. For more chapters, visit audi novel.com for the complete novel.