Chapter 362 : A Prodigy's Hidden Grudge

"Speaking of which, the Qin Clan must have stumbled upon immense fortune. Over the three millennia of the Heavenly Abode Continent, only four or five Dao Body [a rare and supreme innate constitution for cultivation] have ever been recorded. Yet, their Qin Clan has produced three such Dao Body within a mere five hundred years."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of killing intent passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes, and his gaze shifted towards Malachai Qin.

As if sensing something, Malachai Qin followed the gaze, only to find that Eldrin Chen's attention had already turned elsewhere.

He glanced at Eldrin Chen, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Then, turning to a nearby Golden Core Cultivator, he asked with a smile, "That man's bone age is barely over two hundred, yet he has already broken through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, forming a solidified core of spiritual power]. Which clan does such a peerless prodigy hail from?"

"Which one? That is the Chu Kingdom Sword Immortal, named Eldrin Chen. He is said to be a prodigy of the first rank, truly peerless."

The Golden Core Cultivator then recounted the general origins of Eldrin Chen to Malachai Qin.

After listening, Malachai Qin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Eldrin Chen, emerging from the territory of the Green Sun Sect in Chu Kingdom... Could this be related to what Father did all those years ago..."

"Surely it cannot be such a coincidence?"

Malachai Qin murmured to himself, ultimately falling into silence. Access the full story on http://www . audio-novel.com.

On the other side, Eldrin Chen cast a glance at Lyra Jiang and transmitted a silent message, his voice devoid of any outward sign: "A sliver of killing intent escaped my control a moment ago. It may invite some trouble."

"Then we see it through to the end,"

Lyra Jiang replied with serene composure, withdrawing her gaze.

The Barter Convention commenced not long after. A Golden Core Elder from the Ji Clan stepped forward to address the assembly.

The elder swept his gaze over the gathered cultivators and spoke with a genial smile. "Esteemed guests, the Barter Convention is now open once more."

"Our Ji Clan presents three items. Should any among you possess Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-density form of spiritual energy crystal, vastly superior to Spirit Stones], you are welcome to initiate a trade."

With those words, he clapped his hands and produced the three objects.

A ripple of astonishment passed through the hearts of all who beheld them.

The three items were: one deep violet Treasure Talisman [a powerful, single-use enchanted scroll], one Ancient Bronze Small Furnace, and five Five Elements Spirit Fruit [a rare fruit containing the balanced essence of the five primal elements].

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly as he recognized the origins of these treasures. The Five Elements Spirit Fruit needed no explanation—it was a treasure for breaking through to the Golden Core realm.

That Ancient Bronze Small Furnace resembled an Alchemy Furnace [a vessel used for refining pills and elixirs], yet it was not a true Alchemy Furnace, but rather a peculiar type of Spirit Medicine [a plant imbued with spiritual energy, used in cultivation].

This medicinal plant was named the Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Elixir [a legendary herb that takes millennia to mature and can mend foundational flaws in a cultivator's body]. It required one thousand years to take root, another thousand to blossom, and a final thousand to reach full maturity.

Upon ripening, it would grow into a medicinal treasure shaped like an Alchemy Furnace. Legend held that consuming it was sufficient to help a cultivator repair and solidify their foundational cultivation base.

It was said that using this item as the primary ingredient, combined with Creation Treasure Jade [a jade containing potent creative energies] and Five Elements Treasure Pearls [pearls containing the essence of the five fundamental elements], provided a fifty percent chance of elevating an Inferior Golden Core [a lower-grade solidified core of spiritual power] to a Middle Golden Core [a mid-grade solidified core of spiritual power].

Such a miraculous herb was, naturally, of inestimable value. For those who needed it, they would spare no expense, even if it meant bankrupting themselves, to acquire it.

As for that deep violet treasure talisman, it was a Demon-Subduing Treasure Talisman of the formidable Fifth Rank [a power level equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage]. This item was not only a first-rate offensive Treasure Talisman [a powerful, single-use enchanted scroll], but it could also aid a cultivator in surviving the Nascent Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the catastrophic lightning tribulation one must endure to form a Nascent Soul].

As expected, the moment these treasures were presented, a frenzy of bidding erupted.

Yvonne the Violet Consort made the first move. Drawing upon the Deep-Seated Foundation [centuries of accumulated resources and strength] of the Violet Abyss Sect, she purchased that Demon-Subduing Treasure Talisman for the price of thirty Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-density form of Spirit Stone, used by high-level cultivators].

The Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Elixir sparked an even more frantic competition. Malachai Qin opened with a staggering bid of forty Heavenly Crystal and successfully claimed the prize.

After securing the Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Elixir, Malachai Qin's face broke into an expression of wild, unrestrained joy.

He possessed a Dao Body [a rare and exceptional innate constitution for cultivation]. If he could further elevate his Golden Core [the solidified spiritual core formed by a high-level cultivator], his future chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed a nascent soul, a higher spiritual entity] would reach a full forty percent. Should his father then provide him with a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the formation of a Nascent Soul], it was entirely possible that the Qin Clan might actually give birth to a third Nascent Soul True Lord.

"Hmph."

Watching him purchase the Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Elixir, Eldrin Chen let out a quiet, disdainful snort.

The Barter Convention continued. Not long after, a Cloud-Returning Creation Pill [a pill that aids in breaking through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm] was put up for sale. Its value started at a staggering five million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

In the end, Lyra Jiang secured the treasure with a premium bid of five million eight hundred thousand Spirit Stone.

After acquiring this treasure, the Spirit Stone reserves in their hands were largely depleted. From then on, they could only exchange other treasures for what they sought. Original publication: http://www . audio-novel.com - The source of this chapter.

Fortunately, the two of them possessed numerous treasures. Eldrin Chen traded a Fourth Rank Middle Grade Heaven's Edge God-Slaying Blade for two stalks of Heavenly Heart Herb [a rare spiritual herb]. With these herbs, they could later proceed to refine a batch of Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that aids in the formation of a Golden Core].

Furthermore, he exchanged a Fourth Rank Middle Grade Tribulation Transcendence Mysterious Pearl for a single Cloud-Returning Flower [a spiritual flower used in high-level alchemy].

The Chen Clan Clan Treasury still held one Water Element Treasure Pearl. With this Cloud-Returning Flower, they could now fire up the alchemy furnace to refine a batch of Cloud-Returning Tribulation-Breaking Pill [a pill that aids in overcoming cultivation tribulations].

If they managed to produce six or seven pills from that single batch, it would shorten the time needed for Eldrin Chen, the Old Patriarch, and Elara Lin to break through to the Golden Core, Mid Stage by two whole Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years].

After selling these treasures, the two of them had essentially achieved their goal for this journey, though it was a pity they had not managed to purchase a Void Gem [a rare crystal used for spatial and void-related cultivation and crafting].

Once the Barter Convention concluded, the group departed from the Ji Continent Trading Post.

Just before leaving, Lyra Jiang cast a glance at Yvonne the Violet Consort and said with an impassive expression, "Help me kill someone."

"Kill someone?" Yvonne the Violet Consort paused briefly, then replied, "Agreed."

Without further explanation, Eldrin Chen activated a Tracking Divine Ability and indeed sensed the location of Malachai Qin.

Worried that Malachai Qin might get too far away, they immediately urged the Green Sun Treasure Boat to perform a Void Leap [a spatial teleportation technique], pursuing him relentlessly.

Although Malachai Qin was moving with extreme speed, he was ultimately cornered by the group before the Green Sun Treasure Boat's Void Leap that spanned thirty thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single bound.

Spotting them from a great distance, his heart clenched with a premonition of danger, and he immediately turned to flee.

But the group was well-prepared. Lyra Jiang was the first to strike, directly unleashing the Mount Tai Spirit-Suppressing Curse [a powerful sealing technique that exerts immense pressure like a sacred mountain].

"This is bad!"

In that instant, Malachai Qin felt as if a great mountain were pressing down upon him; his heart sank with a cold dread.

Although he possessed a Dao Body [a rare and powerful innate constitution ideal for cultivation], his cultivation was merely at the Middle Golden Core [the middle stage of the Golden Core realm] level, granting him combat power only on par with an ordinary Golden Core Great Perfection [the peak stage just before attempting to form a Nascent Soul] cultivator.

Lyra Jiang, with her Golden Core Sixth Layer cultivation, already possessed a mana reserve not inferior to his own, and the combat prowess she could unleash surpassed his by a significant margin. Now, as she brought her Divine Ability [a supreme technique born from profound comprehension of the Dao] to bear, Malachai Qin found himself in dire straits.

"Trouble," he muttered, his voice tight.

A chill spread through Malachai Qin's core. Gritting his teeth, he produced a Treasure Talisman [a single-use talisman of immense power, often a life-saving treasure]. Channeling his mana into it with a desperate surge, the talisman activated, tearing through the fabric of space itself to carry him away in a flash.

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed. "Not good," he said, a note of urgency in his voice. "That's a Void-Cleaving Treasure Talisman [a supreme-grade escape talisman capable of rending the void for instantaneous flight]."

"With me here, he won't get far."

Yvonne the Violet Consort declared coolly. With a graceful motion, she raised her hand and summoned forth a pale Violet Treasure Mirror.

This Treasure Mirror [a mirror-type magical treasure], named the 'Violet Cosmos Void-Traversing Mirror', was her Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure refined with one's essence and soul, growing in power with the cultivator]. It was a top-tier artifact for preserving one's life, capable of slicing through the void at any moment to carry its master thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away to safety.

Furthermore, it possessed the marvelous abilities of tracking targets, anchoring spatial coordinates, and sealing the void to prevent escape.

With her current cultivation level, she could now instantly cleave through the void for a distance of one hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. This was one of the reasons Lyra Jiang had requested her presence.

In an instant, the Violet Cosmos Void-Traversing Mirror enveloped the three of them and tore through the void, arriving tens of thousands of Li-length away in a flash, successfully intercepting Malachai Qin and blocking his path.

As soon as she appeared, she unleashed the Violet Cosmos Void-Traversing Mirror to seal the surrounding space, leaving Malachai Qin with no avenue for escape.

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief, his gaze now fixed on Malachai Qin with unmistakable killing intent. Support the author by reading on @udio-novel.com.