Chapter 354 : Sermon of the Virtuous Peak

After dividing the treasures, the group immediately departed from the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire.

Considering the threat posed by Astrael, Qingci the Recluse and His Wife temporarily abandoned Peach Blossom Mountain and left Heavenly Abode Continent together with the others.

The party traveled aboard the Green Sun Treasure Boat, crossing over the Heaven's Spine Mountains. After a journey lasting over a month, they finally arrived at the Heaven's Spine Mountains.

As was customary, they made their stop at Virtuous Peak. Upon arriving, Yu Qingyan said with a smile, "Magnus the Virtuous holds a sermon on the Dao [a profound lecture on cultivation principles] once every Jiazi-time."

"By my reckoning, there are only three years left until the True Lord's next sermon. Why don't we stay here at the Heaven's Spine Mountains and wait to hear it before we leave?"

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this. One hundred and twenty years ago, he too had been fortunate enough to attend a sermon by the True Lord, from which he had benefited greatly.

Thinking of this, he smiled slightly and said to Lyra Jiang, "The Virtuous Peak possesses a fifth-rank Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of potent fire-aspected spiritual energy]. Since you need to advance your Alchemy to the Fourth Rank High Grade level, this would be a perfect time to cultivate and enhance your skills."

"That is most fitting."

Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement. Having obtained the Abyssal Spirit Treasure Jade, she now had the resources needed to elevate her Alchemy to the Fourth Rank High Grade realm.

The assistance of a high-grade Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial spiritual energy channel] could positively influence her Pill Success Rate [the likelihood of successfully crafting a pill], thereby increasing her confidence in achieving the Alchemy breakthrough. Published by audio~novel.com. All rights reserved.

"Then let us settle here for the time being and return after listening to the True Lord's discourse on the Dao."

The five of them ascended Virtuous Peak and sought out the peak's administrator, Verdant Spirit True Person.

This Verdant Spirit True Person was the Personal Disciple of Magnus the Virtuous. He was said to be merely six hundred years of age, yet his cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Eighth Layer. It was estimated he still had a thirty to forty percent chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm in the future.

Upon seeing them, Verdant Spirit True Person spoke with great courtesy, "So it is Immortal Maiden Lyra and Fellow Daoist Chen. I have long heard that you two are peerless talents of the first rank in Ji Continent. Seeing you today, I understand the reputation is well-deserved."

"You jest, True Person. I observe your mana is profound and vigorous, likely not inferior to one at the Golden Core Great Perfection. You may well attempt to charge the Nascent Soul realm within a century."

Eldrin Chen smiled slightly and praised graciously, "By that time, we might have to respectfully address you as Senior True Lord."

"Not at all, not at all. This brother's aptitude is dull. I fear it is unlikely I will break through to the True Lord realm within three hundred years."

Verdant Spirit True Person waved his hands repeatedly in denial, yet a trace of confidence flickered in his eyes.

Hearing this, a subtle light shifted in the gazes of the others. 'Not possible within three hundred years' also implied a certain degree of confidence *after* those three centuries.

If one broke through to the True Lord realm at nine hundred years of age, the lifespan granted by the subsequent Nascent Soul realm would be quite ample, allowing advancement to at least the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage in the future.

The higher the cultivation realm, the greater the gap between major realms becomes, especially after reaching the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a profound advancement] realm.

After all, the Nascent Soul realm represents a monumental qualitative transformation. A Fourth Rank High Grade Longevity Pill [a pill that extends the lifespan of a cultivator] can only extend one's life by one hundred and twenty years, yet a fifth rank high grade True Lord [an honorific title for a Nascent Soul realm cultivator] longevity treasure pill is potent enough to grant an extension of a full thousand years.

It is precisely because of such a vast disparity that fifth rank Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] and Pill [a refined medicinal elixir for cultivation] are granted their own distinct titles, revered as True Lord treasure pills and Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact specifically designed to suppress demonic forces].

Faced with such an immense gap, Verdant Spirit True Person still believed he had a direct chance to break through to the Nascent Soul realm. It seemed he truly possessed a certain degree of confidence.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile and said, "With a Dao heart [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy] as resolute as yours, Venerable One, it is entirely possible that in a few centuries, the Heaven's Spine Mountains may indeed witness the rise of another True Lord."

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist."

Verdant Spirit True Person shook his head, not dwelling on the topic. "By the way, I have yet to learn the purpose of your visit today?"

"To speak plainly," Eldrin Chen clasped his hands and stated directly, "we have come today for two reasons. First, for the True Lord's sermon on the Dao three years hence. Second, to rent the Earthfire Chamber [a specialized chamber harnessing geothermal fire energy for crafting and cultivation] at Virtuous Peak."

Eldrin Chen offered a respectful salute and spoke forthrightly.

Although Magnus the Virtuous held the world in his heart and was willing to expound the Dao for all cultivators of the Human Race, for high-ranking members who had reached the Golden Core [a solidified spiritual core representing a major power level] realm, wishing to attend Magnus the Virtuous's sermons required prior notification.

If it were ordinary individuals, it would be one matter, but knowledge useful to a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a solidified golden core of power] is often an exceedingly precious secret. To hear Magnus the Virtuous speak of such things inevitably invites karmic entanglement.

Therefore, while Eldrin Chen and the others might listen to his discourse, if they wished to seek personal enlightenment from Magnus the Virtuous, they would have to fulfill one of three conditions.

These three conditions were: first, to become a nominal disciple of Magnus the Virtuous; second, to accept the karmic debt now and repay it in the future; or third, to offer a substantial fee in exchange.

Sure enough, the gaze of the True Lord Qingyang shifted, and he spoke calmly, "Since you have come here, you must be aware of this Master's rules."

"Which path do you choose?"

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang exchanged a glance. Becoming a nominal disciple of Magnus the Virtuous held benefits: not only would they be able to attend his discourses freely in the future, but Magnus the Virtuous would also regularly resolve their cultivation doubts. Original publication: audio-novel dot com - The source of this chapter.

However, the drawback was troublesome. Once they became his disciples, they could no longer remain aloof if Virtuous Peak [the mountain stronghold of Magnus the Virtuous] ever had need of them.

Neither of them were unattached Rogue Cultivator [cultivators without sect or clan allegiance], nor did they have the spare capacity to devote their attention to the affairs of Virtuous Peak. Thus, this path was highly unsuitable.

The second option, accepting the karmic debt for future repayment, was a decent choice for most. Yet, such a debt was not easily settled.

For now, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang were not lacking in resources. Therefore, choosing the final option was their best course.

With this thought in mind, Lyra Jiang then spoke: "We are willing to offer a sum of Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] as the fee for attending this lecture on the Dao."

"Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], is it?"

"I had hoped to gain two more junior fellow disciples."

Verdant Spirit True Person shook his head regretfully and said with a sigh of resignation, "Very well. Each to their own path. Each of you shall present one million Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen promptly presented three million Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], also purchasing a spot for Qingci the Recluse.

He then spent another five hundred thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to rent a Fourth Rank High Grade Earthfire Chamber [a specialized chamber harnessing geothermal fire energy for crafting and alchemy].

After securing the Earthfire Chamber [a specialized chamber harnessing geothermal fire energy for crafting and alchemy], Verdant Spirit True Person led the two of them to its entrance. Gazing at the chamber before them, he advised,

"This Earthfire Chamber [a specialized chamber harnessing geothermal fire energy for crafting and alchemy] is the second-ranked one on Virtuous Peak, surpassed only by the Fifth Rank chamber our Master commonly uses."

"You must exercise caution during the Pill [a refined medicinal elixir used for cultivation] refinement process to avoid the earthfire's intensity becoming too fierce and incinerating the Pill [a refined medicinal elixir used for cultivation]."

"We thank you for the guidance."

Lyra Jiang [the Immortal Maiden Lyra] nodded and stepped into the Earthfire Chamber [a specialized cultivation chamber that harnesses the power of subterranean fire veins].

As Eldrin Chen [Eldrin of the Chen Clan] entered the Earthfire Chamber, a flicker of delight crossed his features. The chamber not only housed an earthfire of quasi-fifth rank potency, but also contained a quasi-fifth rank Alchemy Furnace [a specialized vessel used for refining spiritual pills and elixirs].

Compared to this Earthfire Chamber, the Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible [a magical treasure crucible] they usually employed for their alchemy was left in the dust, its capabilities lagging far behind.

After the Verdant Spirit True Person [the True Person of Verdant Spirit] had departed, Eldrin Chen ran his hand over the Alchemy Furnace, his expression one of profound satisfaction. "With this earthfire and this furnace," he said, "your breakthrough to the Fourth Rank High Grade [the high-grade level of the Fourth Rank] in Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs] is as good as assured."

"Let us hope so,"

Lyra Jiang replied, her own joy evident. The furnace before them was named the Violet-Infused Alchemy Furnace [a magical treasure alchemy furnace]. It was imbued with a certain creative Violet Qi [a primal, auspicious spiritual energy often associated with dawn and profound creation], which could slightly increase the Pill Success Rate [the likelihood of successfully refining a pill] when crafting Fourth Rank [the Fourth Rank] Pill [a refined spiritual medicine]. It was, without a doubt, an exceptional Alchemy Furnace. Original English translation available at audio-novel dot com.