Chapter 362 : A Prodigy's Hidden Grudge

"Speaking of which, the Qin Clan must have stumbled upon immense fortune. Over three thousand years, the entire Tianlu Continent has only accumulated four or five individuals with the Path Body constitution. Yet, their Qin Clan has produced three such Path Body holders within just five hundred years."

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

As if sensing something, Malachai Qin followed the gaze and looked over, only to find Eldrin Chen's attention had already shifted into the distance.

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 faint smile, "That man's bone age is barely over two hundred, yet he has already broken through to the Golden Core realm. Which clan does this peerless prodigy hail from?"

"That one? He is the Chu Nation Sword Immortal, named Eldrin Chen. He is said to be a truly exceptional talent, first among his generation."

The Golden Core Cultivator then recounted Eldrin Chen's general background to Malachai Qin.

After listening, Malachai Qin's eyes narrowed slightly. "An Eldrin Chen emerging from the territory of the Verdant Sun Sect in Chu Nation... Could this be related to what Father did back then..."

"Surely it can't be such a coincidence?"

Malachai Qin murmured to himself, finally falling into silence. Published by *audio-novel.com*. All rights reserved.

On the other side, Eldrin Chen cast a glance at Exquisite Jiang and transmitted a soundless message, "A sliver of killing intent escaped my control just now. It may cause some trouble."

"Then we see it through to the end."

Exquisite 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.

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

"Our Ji Clan offers three items. If any among you possess Heavenly Crystal [a supreme-grade crystal of immense spiritual purity], you are welcome to 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: a deep violet treasure talisman, an ancient bronze miniature furnace, and five Five Elements Spirit Fruit.

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly as he recognized the origins of these treasures. The Five Elements Spirit Fruit [a spiritual fruit harmonizing the five elemental energies, crucial for a major cultivation breakthrough] needed no explanation—it was a treasure for breaking through to the Golden Core realm.

As for that small bronze furnace, it resembled an alchemical cauldron in form, yet it was not a true cauldron, but a peculiar type of Spirit Herb [a plant imbued with spiritual energy, used in cultivation and alchemy].

This medicinal herb was named the Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Herb [a rare spiritual herb that matures into a furnace-like form, prized for its ability to mend a cultivator's foundational cultivation]. It takes one thousand years to take root, another thousand to bloom, and yet another thousand to fully mature.

Upon maturation, it grows into a precious medicinal form resembling a pill furnace. It is said that consuming it is sufficient to help a cultivator repair and solidify their foundational cultivation base.

Legend holds that using this herb as the primary ingredient, combined with Creation Jade [a mystical jade containing the essence of creation] and Five Elements Treasure Pearl [a spiritual pearl harmonizing the powers of the five fundamental elements], grants a fifty percent chance of elevating a Lower-Tier Golden Core [the initial, most common grade of the Golden Core cultivation stage] to a Middle-Tier Golden Core [a superior grade of the Golden Core stage, denoting greater purity and power].

Such a miraculous herb is, naturally, of inestimable value. For those who require it, they would willingly spend their entire fortune to acquire it.

As for that deep violet treasure, it was a Demon-Subduing Treasure Talisman [a powerful enchanted talisman specifically designed to suppress and vanquish demonic entities] of the exalted Fifth Rank [a classification denoting extremely high-grade magical artifacts]. This item was not only a top-tier Slaughter [a formidable offensive divine ability or technique] treasure talisman but could also aid a cultivator in surviving the Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly thunder tribulation one must overcome to advance from the Golden Core to the Infant Soul stage].

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

Violet Consort Yan was the first to act. Drawing upon centuries of accumulated resources from the Purple Abyss Sect [a powerful cultivation sect], she purchased the 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 Herb incited an even fiercer competition. Malachai Qin opened with a staggering bid of forty Heavenly Crystal and successfully claimed the prize.

After securing the Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Herb, Malachai Qin's face was alight with rapturous joy.

He possessed the Path Body [a rare constitution that grants a natural affinity for comprehending the Dao]. If he could further advance his Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where spiritual energy condenses into a solid core], his chances of breaking through to Infant Soul [the fourth major realm, where the cultivator's spirit forms a nascent soul] in the future would reach a full forty percent. Should his father then secure a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that significantly increases the odds of forming a nascent soul], it was entirely possible the Qin Clan could give birth to a third Infant Soul True Lord [an honorific title for a cultivator who has reached the Infant Soul realm].

"Hmph."

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

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

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

After this purchase, the Spirit Stones in their possession were largely depleted. From then on, they could only exchange other treasures for what they sought. Experience the full epic at audio-novel . com.

Fortunately, the two of them held no shortage of valuable artifacts. Eldrin Chen traded a Fourth Rank Mid-Grade Heaven's Edge God-Slaying Blade for two stalks of Heavenly Heart Grass. With these herbs, they could later attempt to refine a batch of Golden Core Formation Pill [a pill that aids in the formation of a Golden Core].

Furthermore, he exchanged a Fourth Rank Mid-Grade Calamity Passage Mystic Pearl for a single Returning Cloud Flower.

The Chen Clan Treasury still held one Water Essence Treasure Pearl. With this Origin-Returning Flower, they could fire up the alchemical furnace and refine a batch of Returning Cloud Tribulation-Breaking Pill [a pill that assists in overcoming tribulations during the Golden Core stage].

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 Golden Core Mid Stage by a full two Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years, often used to measure significant periods in a cultivator's life].

After selling these treasures, the two of them had essentially achieved the goal of this trip, though it was a pity they had not managed to purchase any Void Gem this time.

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

Before leaving, Exquisite Jiang cast a glance at Violet Consort Yan and said with an impassive expression, "Help me kill someone."

"Kill someone?" Violet Consort Yan 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 propelled the Green Sun Treasure Ark into a void leap, chasing after him.

Although Malachai Qin was extremely fast, he was still intercepted by the group when faced with the Green Sun Treasure Ark's void leaps spanning thirty thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] at a time.

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

But the group was well-prepared. Exquisite Jiang was the first to strike, directly unleashing the Mount Tai Crushing Deity Curse.

"Oh no!"

In that instant, Malachai Qin suddenly felt as if a great mountain were crushing down upon him, and his heart immediately sank with dread.

Although he possessed the innate Path Body [a constitution exceptionally attuned to comprehending the Dao], he was ultimately only at the Lower-Tier Golden Core [the initial stage of the Golden Core realm] level, and his combat prowess was merely that of an ordinary Golden Core Perfection [the peak stage of the Golden Core realm] cultivator.

Exquisite Jiang, with her cultivation at the Great Encompassing [a profound and comprehensive stage] Golden Core 6th Tier [the sixth tier within the Golden Core realm], already possessed spiritual power not inferior to his own, and the combat strength she could unleash was even greater by a fair margin. Now, as she pressed down with her Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique], Malachai Qin immediately found himself in a perilous situation.

"Trouble," he muttered.

A chill ran through Malachai Qin's heart. Gritting his teeth, he produced a precious talisman, channeled his spiritual energy into it, and instantly tore through the void, vanishing from sight.

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed. "Not good," he couldn't help but say. "That's a Void-Sundering Treasure Talisman [a rare talisman capable of forcibly tearing through space to facilitate escape]."

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

Violet Consort Yan let out a soft cry. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a pale Purple Treasure Mirror [a magical mirror with a violet hue].

This treasure mirror, named the 'Violet Cosmos Void Escape Mirror' [Violet Firmament Void-Escape Mirror], was her Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact intimately bound to its owner's life force]. It was a first-rate life-preserving treasure, capable of slicing open the void at any time and place to carry its master thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away in an instant.

Furthermore, it possessed the marvelous abilities of tracking, anchoring space, and sealing the void.

With her current cultivation level fueling it, she could now instantly tear open a void spanning one hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. This was one of the reasons Exquisite Jiang [the Immortal Maiden of Exquisite Jade] had requested her presence.

In a flash, the Violet Cosmos Void Escape Mirror [a mystical mirror capable of instantaneous void traversal] enveloped the three of them and shot through the fractured space, arriving tens of thousands of Li-length away in an instant, successfully cutting off the path of Malachai Qin [a formidable cultivator from the Qin lineage].

The moment she appeared, she activated the Violet Cosmos Void Escape Mirror to seal the surrounding void, leaving Malachai Qin with no avenue for escape.

Eldrin Chen [the patriarch known as Eldrin of the Chen Clan] let out a sigh of relief, his gaze turning murderous as it settled upon Malachai Qin. This chapter is provided by audio–novel.com. Support the original.