Chapter 361 : The Path to Golden Core

Regarding Lila, Eldrin Chen was, in truth, quite confident.

After all, she possessed an Anomalous Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful type of spiritual foundation], had successfully undergone Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [the difficult process of establishing one's cultivation base without external aids], and had subdued her Mortal Tribulation [a personal trial of heart and will that cultivators must overcome]. One could say she had already completed two of the three crucial steps towards forging a Superior Golden Core [the highest quality of Golden Core formation, representing immense potential].

Although Lila only possessed a single Frost Soul Chilling Radiance Sword and her mana was not as refined as Ethan Chen's, her chances of achieving a breakthrough without relying on external treasures were still somewhat higher than those of an ordinary Purple Mansion [the realm of cultivation above Foundation Establishment] cultivator.

Eldrin Chen estimated that as long as Lila maintained her resolve, she could break through to the Golden Core [the realm where a cultivator condenses their spiritual power into a solid core] within her next attempt, or at most within two or three attempts.

With the aid of the Yang-Returning Calamity-Dispelling Pill [a precious elixir that restores vitality and wards off misfortune], she had sufficient lifespan to make several attempts.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen said, "In a few more years, Uncle Lior and Ethan will also begin their attempts at Core Formation [the process of forming a Golden Core]. We should proceed with refining the Earth Lion Demon King's Inner Core [the condensed essence of a powerful demonic beast] into Golden Core Formation Pill [a pill that significantly aids in forming a Golden Core]."

"Indeed," Lyra Jiang nodded. "The Ji Continent Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare goods] is in half a year. We should make our preparations."

Considering the valuable items they intended to purchase this time, the two began to gather their resources.

Eldrin Chen personally visited the Clan Treasury. From its stores, he retrieved the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] accumulated over the years, several stalks of Fourth Rank Spirit Medicine [extremely rare herbs of immense spiritual potency], and a few pieces of Fourth Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [natural treasures of exceptional rarity and power, born from the world itself].

With their materials gathered, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang set out together, turning their path towards the Chu Kingdom. Continue your cultivation journey at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Accompanying them on this journey was also Yvonne the Violet Consort, whose cultivation had advanced another step, having now reached the Golden Core Eighth Layer.

Eldrin Chen understood that Yvonne the Violet Consort's participation in the Barter Convention this time was to purchase a Fourth Rank High Grade Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], in preparation for her breakthrough to the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core formed after the Golden Core stage] realm.

After all, she was a cultivator with a Single Spiritual Root [the highest innate talent for cultivation]. Although she had the aid of the Violet Abyss Furnace, she possessed only one Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure intimately connected to a cultivator's life force]. To guard against unforeseen circumstances, further preparations were necessary.

The trio traveled with extreme speed, arriving at the Ji Continent Trading Post after a mere twenty days.

Arriving at the Ji Continent Trading Post once more after many years, Eldrin Chen perceived that its majesty and grandeur had grown even more profound.

When Eldrin Chen first attended the Ji Continent Barter Convention over seventy years ago, shortly after the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion by hordes of demonic beasts] had just ended, he had not yet broken through to Golden Core and had not felt any great pressure.

Now, eighty years later, with Eldrin Chen having been a Golden Core cultivator for a full Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle], he instead sensed the Ji Continent Trading Post had become increasingly unfathomable.

In Eldrin Chen's eyes at this moment, the Ji Continent Trading Post seemed to harbor a slumbering true dragon, as if awaiting the moment to soar into the heavens.

Furthermore, the Ji Continent Trading Post now hosted several Golden Core Cultivators, most of whom were powerful Golden Core experts not seen in previous years, clearly hailing from beyond the borders of Ji Continent.

"This time, the Ji Continent Trading Post has gained quite a few unfamiliar faces," he remarked.

"It seems that over these years, Ji Clan has already been making preparations, waiting for the opportune moment to act."

Eldrin Chen transmitted his thoughts to Lyra Jiang, stating that after the insight from Feiye the Night's Bane, he understood in his heart that Ji Immortal Clan was bound to eliminate its rivals in advance, paving the way for Ji Clan Patriarch's breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Lyra Jiang nodded slightly; this matter was still a closely guarded secret, not suitable for excessive discussion.

The group had arrived quite early. With the Barter Convention still over a month away from commencing, they decided to stroll through the market stalls within the Ji Continent Trading Post.

Initially, Eldrin Chen had hoped to see if he could stumble upon some hidden treasures, but such opportunities were rarely easy to find.

The world was full of capable and extraordinary individuals. Even if some divine objects concealed their brilliance, they could hardly escape the eyes of high-level cultivators. Any genuinely good items on the stalls had likely been purchased long ago.

After browsing for two days, Eldrin Chen did not acquire any high-grade treasures. However, he did purchase some Third Rank Spirit Medicine and Heaven and Earth Treasures [rare materials formed by the convergence of natural spiritual energies], which counted as a modest gain.

In the blink of an eye, the day of the Barter Convention arrived, and the three of them entered the Ji Continent Pavilion together.

Upon entering the venue where the Barter Convention was held, Eldrin Chen surveyed his surroundings. He noticed that compared to over seventy years prior, the number of participants this time had increased significantly.

The number of attending Golden Core Cultivator [practitioners who have condensed their spiritual energy into a solid Golden Core] had reached over fifty, a considerable increase from the past.

The reason for this significant increase in numbers, aside from some individuals hailing from other continents, is that four hundred years have passed since the last Demonic Abyss [a catastrophic event where demonic forces surge from the abyss] Cataclysm. A new generation of cultivators within the Ji Continent has gradually matured and come into their own.

Take the Chu Kingdom alone; over the past century, it has successively produced five Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified golden core of power] cultivators: Eldrin Chen, Elara Lin, Chen Thalion, Xavier Xu, and Hibiscus, the Immortal Maiden.

While this is related to the Chu Kingdom's consecutive major victories in recent conflicts, it is undeniable that the other great nations also add, on average, three or four new Golden Core Cultivator every hundred years.

Eldrin Chen surveyed his surroundings and noticed that, compared to years past, some faces had changed.

Three individuals who had attained the lofty Golden Core Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Core realm] in the past—Astrael, Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal, and Wei Magnus—were notably absent this time.

Of these three, Astrael needs no elaboration; he is undoubtedly making his final preparations to attempt a breakthrough into the Nascent Soul [the fourth major stage of cultivation, where one forms an independent spiritual entity] realm. Find thousands of chapters at www . audio-novel.com.

As for Wei Magnus, his attempt to break through to Nascent Soul ended in failure. He sacrificed his physical body in a blood ritual to force the ascension. Although he reached the False Nascent Soul Realm [a flawed, incomplete version of the Nascent Soul realm], his mortal flesh was utterly consumed in the process.

He is currently relying on a Nirvana Pill [a legendary pill said to grant rebirth or profound restoration] to reconstruct his physical form. It seems that even if he succeeds in reforging his body, he will likely have only one remaining chance to attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough again, with a success rate probably not exceeding twenty percent.

Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal departed from the Ji Continent a decade ago. Rumor has it he went in search of Heavenly Dao Qi [a supreme, primordial energy aligned with the Heavenly Dao], though the truth of this remains uncertain.

"That Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal's previous life only reached the Earthly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul formed through an Earthly Dao path, considered inferior to the Heavenly Dao path]. Even with the advantage of a tribulation rebirth, it's highly unlikely he could surpass his former attainment."

Lyra Jiang transmitted a secret message to Eldrin Chen, saying, "I am different from ordinary people; I have a deeper understanding of certain secrets."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded, a few conjectures forming in his mind, which he quickly suppressed.

Unlike in previous years, this time's Barter Convention [a large-scale gathering for cultivators to trade rare items] also saw the attendance of several cultivators at the Golden Core Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm, just before attempting to form a Nascent Soul] realm.

Yvonne the Violet Consort, who knew many people present, was the one to explain, "Eight cultivators at the Golden Core, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Golden Core realm] have come this time. But aside from the three at Golden Core Great Perfection, only that Ancestor Mo is truly worth noting."

"You must be familiar with this Ancestor Mo from the Qi Kingdom."

Eldrin Chen nodded, somewhat surprised. In less than thirty years, Ancestor Mo had advanced his cultivation yet again, reaching the Golden Core Seventh Layer [the seventh level of the Golden Core realm].

He possessed a Middle Golden Core [a Golden Core of middling quality, affecting future potential] and wielded a pair of Ink Snow Immortal Sword [twin immortal swords, one dark as ink, the other pure as snow]. His combat prowess likely approached that of a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator.

"Besides this Ancestor Mo, there are three others who demand our attention."

As she spoke, Yvonne the Violet Consort pointed them out for the two. "That is Kunxuzi, that is Wang the Daoist, and that one is Malachai Qin, who hails from Yuan Nation in the Heavenly Abode Continent."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with recognition. Kunxuzi was the premier Rogue Cultivator [an unaffiliated cultivator without a sect or clan] of the Ji Continent. He had broken through to Golden Core Great Perfection fifty years prior and had even made one attempt to ascend to the Nascent Soul [the realm of spiritual consciousness and immense power, following the Golden Core] realm. There was a glimmer of hope that he might one day succeed in that breakthrough.

Wang the Daoist hailed from the Wang Immortal Clan of the Celestial Star Continent. It was said he had forged a Middle Golden Core [a mid-grade core formed during the Golden Core stage], and his strength surpassed that of an ordinary Golden Core Great Perfection [the peak stage of the Golden Core realm] by a fair margin.

The one who truly warranted special attention, however, was Malachai Qin.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen inquired, "Is that Malachai Qin a cultivator from the Qin Immortal Clan of Yuan Nation?"

"Indeed," Yvonne the Violet Consort nodded, her expression turning grave. "Although Malachai Qin has only formed an Inferior Golden Core [the lowest grade of Golden Core], he possesses a certain Dao Body [a rare, heaven-blessed physique ideal for cultivation]. His prospects for breaking through to the Nascent Soul [the realm where one forms an independent spiritual entity] are far from negligible." Continue your cultivation journey at audio novel.com.