Chapter 359 : The True Lord's Praise

"We understand."

The assembly promptly rose to their feet, respectfully seeing off the departure of Vast Righteousness True Lord.

Thus concluded this session of the True Lord's sermon on the Dao. Before leaving, Verdant Spirit True Person smiled and said to Eldrin Chen, "Fellow Daoist, your innate talent is truly extraordinary to have earned our master's praise. Your future prospects appear boundless indeed."

"You flatter me. It was merely the True Lord's magnanimity,"

Eldrin Chen replied modestly, then deftly changed the subject. "Fellow Daoist Verdant Spirit, now that the sermon has concluded, we shall not overstay our welcome."

"Very well. Our paths shall cross again in the future."

After bidding farewell to Verdant Spirit True Person, the five of them boarded the Green Sun Treasure Ark and set course for Ji Continent.

Along the way, they temporarily settled the couple, Recluse of Elegant Verse, on Six Stars Island. With them stationed there and Xavier Xu holding Heavenly Ruins Island, the two locations could support each other, significantly enhancing the security of their operations within Yan Kingdom in the days to come.

Having attended to this matter, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang continued their journey back to Chu Nation, returning once more to the shores of Spirit Isle Lake.

Upon their return to Spirit Isle Lake, Exquisite Jiang made a special trip to the Purple Abyss Sect to deliver the remaining one Creation Returning Abyss Pill. This chapter is provided by site: audio-novel.com. Support the original.

After completing all these tasks, the two of them finally managed to extricate themselves from their busyness.

Eldrin Chen also breathed a sigh of relief and discussed with Exquisite Jiang: "For this single piece of Creation Jade [a miraculous jade capable of mending foundational flaws and aiding breakthroughs], I intend to use it first to help Old Granduncle mend his cultivation foundation."

"As for the Returning Cloud Creation Pill [a high-grade elixir that aids in advancing to the late Golden Core stage] you need for your breakthrough to the Golden Core Late Stage, I plan to wait until the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare resources] opens in some time to purchase it then."

"I still have several decades before my breakthrough to the Golden Core Late Stage, so there's no rush."

Exquisite Jiang nodded. Refining a Returning Cloud Creation Pill required one piece of Creation Jade and two Returning Cloud Flower [a rare spiritual herb that resembles drifting clouds]. The cost for a single batch was as high as fifteen million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. With their current alchemy skill, they could at most produce two pills per batch.

This was a money-losing venture. Now that her alchemy skill had already broken through, she no longer needed this pill to improve her technique. It was better to simply buy it directly at the Barter Convention.

"The list of things we need to buy at the next Barter Convention is still quite lengthy."

Eldrin Chen said with a smile. The next Barter Convention was still over a decade away. By then, they would also need to procure some Heavenly Heart Grass [a spiritual grass used in core-formation elixirs] to refine the Earth Lion Demon King's Inner Pill [the condensed energy core of a demon beast] into Golden Core Formation Pill [pills that significantly increase the chance of forming a Golden Core].

Furthermore, they also wanted to see if they could purchase some Void Treasure Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with spatial properties], and now they had added the Returning Cloud Creation Pill to their list.

Having decided on the use for this piece of Creation Jade, Eldrin Chen directly departed from Spirit Isle Lake.

His speed was extraordinary. Utilizing the Teleportation Formation to reach Green Sun Mountain first saved him considerable effort, allowing him to arrive at the Firmament Sword Sect on the third day.

The current sect master of the Firmament Sword Sect is True Person Qian. This True Person Qian is now six hundred and fifty years old, yet his cultivation has stalled at the Golden Core 5th Tier. It is feared he may not reach Golden Core Perfection before his lifespan is exhausted.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen's arrival, True Person Qian promptly welcomed him to the Guest Greeting Peak. With utmost courtesy, he said, "A distinguished guest graces our doors today. This old man failed to greet you properly from afar—a grave oversight, a grave oversight."

"True Person, there is no need to humble yourself so before this Chen."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered as he feigned solemnity.

True Person Qian laughed heartily. As old acquaintances of many years, excessive formality was unnecessary between them.

He personally poured a cup of tea for Eldrin Chen before asking, "Fellow Daoist, you are a rare visitor. Your presence on our Vault Heaven Mountain today surely isn't merely to see this old man."

"To speak frankly, I do indeed have business today."

"Oh?" True Person Qian paused his movements, quietly awaiting Eldrin Chen's next words.

Eldrin Chen nodded and said, "My purpose here is twofold. First, for the Metal Essence Orb [a precious orb containing the condensed essence of metallic spiritual energy] within your fourth-rank Golden Origin Earth Vein [an earth vein rich in metallic spiritual energy]."

"Secondly, I wish to borrow your Sword Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool used to purify and temper spiritual swords]."

True Person Qian's eyes flickered slightly, grasping the general purpose of Eldrin Chen's visit.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke. "We currently have one Metal Essence Orb [a treasure orb containing concentrated metallic spiritual essence] in our inventory. However, the Metallic Gold Spirit Liquid [a rare, metallic-gold spiritual fluid used for refining] within the Sword Cleansing Pool is scarce. Generally, we do not sell it to outsiders."

"For the Metal Essence Orb, I am willing to exchange one Earth Origin Treasure Pearl [a precious pearl containing primordial earth essence] and supplement it with fifty thousand Spirit Stones."

"As for the Metallic Gold Spirit Liquid from the Sword Cleansing Pool..."

Eldrin Chen paused, lifted his teacup to ponder for a moment, then said, "To allow me to cleanse and temper my Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of immortal swords named Celestial Abyss] within it, I offer two Fourth Rank Spirit Apricots [fourth-rank spiritual apricots, also known as Longevity Spirit Apricots] in exchange. What do you think?" Discover more cultivation stories at http://www . audio-novel.com.

"Longevity Spirit Apricots?"

True Person Qian's eyes widened. Seeing Eldrin Chen nod in confirmation, a look of pleasant surprise spread across his face.

Fourth-rank Longevity Spirit Apricots were treasures of immense value, even for Golden Core Cultivators [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, a solidified core of spiritual power]. At six hundred and fifty years of age, with slim hopes of breaking through to the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit stage, where the cultivator's spiritual core matures into an infant-like soul], it was time for him to make preparations for his later years.

Thinking this, a smile touched his lips. "The Metallic Gold Spirit Liquid within the Sword Cleansing Pool of our Vault Heaven Mountain [a mountain range known as Vault Heaven] possesses extraordinary and wondrous properties. Using this pool to cleanse your Celestial Abyss Twin Swords will undoubtedly increase the potency of these twin Immortal Swords [swords of immortal grade] by another thirty percent."

"I hope so."

Seeing his agreement, Eldrin Chen smiled and completed the transaction.

He did not rush to cleanse the Immortal Sword. Instead, he returned to Pingyang City with the Metal Essence Orb. Just as he entered the city gates, he saw Lior Chen walking out, his expression downcast.

His eyes flickered slightly, but he still asked, "Uncle Lior, has something happened?"

"You're back."

Lior Chen sighed, seemingly unwilling to say more. After a brief greeting, he departed.

Watching his retreating figure, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. He still stepped forward and entered the Pingyang Great Hall.

Inside the great hall, the Old Patriarch, seeing his return, began preparing tea for him as usual and said, "You left again as soon as you returned this time, without even catching your breath."

"It wasn't far. It didn't delay anything."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen recounted his experiences of the past few years to the Old Patriarch.

After speaking, he smiled faintly and retrieved the Fire Essence Treasure Pearl [a precious pearl containing the pure essence of fire], the Metal Essence Orb [a mystical orb infused with the concentrated power of metal], and the Creation Jade [a legendary jade said to hold the power of creation and foundation].

He handed these three treasures to the Old Patriarch. Eldrin Chen said, "My journey to the Firmament Sword Sect [a renowned sect of sword cultivators] was precisely for this Metal Essence Orb."

"This..."

Gazing at the three treasures before him, the Old Patriarch revealed an expression of astonished delight.

He caressed the three treasures with an almost reverent touch, his voice tinged with excitement. "With these treasures, I can truly mend the flaws in my foundation and forge a Middle-Tier Golden Core [a solid, mid-grade core of condensed spiritual power]. In the future, there may even be a genuine chance for me to break through to the Infant Soul [the realm where one's spiritual essence forms a nascent, independent soul]."

"Hahaha!" Eldrin Chen laughed heartily. "If you cultivate diligently, Old Granduncle, you will undoubtedly achieve the status of an Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful lord of the Infant Soul realm] and become a dominant force, roaming supreme across the Eastern Region Great Wasteland [the vast and perilous wilderness of the eastern continent]."

Eternal Profound Chen carefully stored the three treasures, then grasped Eldrin Chen's hand firmly, giving a solemn and earnest nod.

"You have supported me time and again over these years. I swear I will not let your efforts be in vain."

"Between us, it has always been about mutual support. There's no need to keep such a precise tally."

Eldrin Chen smiled, then recalled the demeanor of Lior Chen from earlier. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Just now, I noticed Uncle Lior seemed downcast. Has something happened?"

"Lior... Alas!"

The Old Patriarch let out a sigh, shaking his head as he spoke. "Your younger brother, Remembrance Path, recently failed in his attempt at Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [a perilous method of advancing one's cultivation without external aid] and has passed away, entering eternal meditation."

"Remembrance Path?"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly, a weight settling in his heart. Official source: audio—novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.