Chapter 365 : Gifts of Power and Protection

Violet Consort Yan possessed a single Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation that determines a cultivator's elemental affinity and potential], and owned only two top-grade magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. Therefore, she also had her eyes on these four top-grade magical treasures.

Exquisite Jiang exchanged a glance with Eldrin Chen, then handed the four top-grade magical treasures, including the Black Gold Ancient Alms Bowl and the Violet Mist Veil Canopy, to Violet Consort Yan.

"With your single Spiritual Root, you lack sufficient Lifebound Magical Treasures [magical treasures that have been refined and bound to a cultivator's very life force]," she said.

"These four treasures can help you survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly lightning that cultivators must endure to advance to higher realms]. Keep them."

Violet Consort Yan shook her head and passed the Violet Mist Veil Canopy back to Exquisite Jiang. "Your Green Sun Demon-Suppressing Pagoda was destroyed in this battle. You should keep a defensive magical treasure."

"Not necessary."

Exquisite Jiang smiled faintly and replied, "Back when we faced Old Ghost Deng, we obtained one Purple-Gold Glazed Armor and one Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor. We still have one Purple-Gold Glazed Armor left unused."

Hearing this, Violet Consort Yan finally accepted all of these top-grade magical treasures.

Having acquired four top-grade magical treasures, Violet Consort Yan revealed a look of joy. With these gains from the battle, her confidence in surviving the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation had grown immensely. Now, she only needed to wait until her cultivation reached Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm].

After Violet Consort Yan took several top-grade magical treasures, the remaining 'Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Herb' and the two Void-Sundering Treasure Talismans naturally fell into the hands of Eldrin Chen and his wife. For uninterrupted reading, go to audi novel.com.

The Ancient Furnace Heaven-Mending Herb [a legendary herb capable of mending profound foundational damage] possesses extraordinary efficacy, its value far surpassing that of four top-grade magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. The couple intended to reserve this item for Elara Lin.

The members of the Chen Clan, such as Kael Chen, were all quite driven and capable; they likely would not need such an item. As for Lior Chen and others, whether they could even break through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, forming a solidified core of spiritual power] was uncertain, let alone afford to use such a precious treasure.

Although Elara Lin had also been supported by the couple to reach her current state, she had, after all, journeyed alongside them and provided significant assistance in numerous major battles along the way.

Aside from her true disciple Elara Lin, Exquisite Jiang's other disciples were merely nominal ones. By now, except for Tea Rose Su and Like Dream Willow, they had all passed away from old age. Their disciples and grand-disciples certainly had no use for a treasure of this caliber.

Exquisite Jiang felt a surge of joy. Elara had been with her for so many years; strictly speaking, their relationship was more akin to that of mentor and friend, even bordering on a deep sisterly bond.

Now that she and her husband's future shone brightly, if Elara Lin were to pass away prematurely, it would surely grieve her for a long time.

The remaining two Void-Sundering Treasure Talisman [a talisman that tears through space for instantaneous escape], Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang each took one. These were supreme treasures for fleeing danger.

With such an artifact in hand, one could instantly escape tens of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away, potentially even evading pursuit from an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Primordial Spirit, the fifth major realm].

After dividing the treasures, the group returned to Chu Nation. No sooner had they arrived back at Spirit Isle Lake than Lior Chen hurriedly found them.

"Word arrived not long ago," he reported. "Immortal Maiden Ji is preparing to move against the Demon Cave."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Freya Ji had been guarding the Demon Cave for a century, and throughout those hundred years, she had consistently used a Fifth Rank Formation to refine and purify the demonic energy [the corrupt, malevolent spiritual force associated with demons] within the cavern.

Furthermore, Eldrin Chen understood clearly that Freya Ji's very purpose for stationing herself at the Demon Cave was to harness its formidable power to temper her own cultivation, thereby increasing her certainty in forging a Heavenly Path Infant Soul [a supreme-grade foundation for the Infant Soul realm, representing a profound connection to the Heavenly Dao].

Now that Freya Ji was finally preparing to completely eradicate the Demon Cave, it seemed she felt her strength was sufficient and the time was ripe to attempt her breakthrough into the Infant Soul realm [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed, marking a significant leap in power and longevity].

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen declared, "Since we are taking action, we must commit our full strength."

"Uncle Lior, arrange to mobilize personnel and conscript cultivators from every prefecture and commandery who are at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the final phase of refining one's vital life force] or above."

"Understood."

Lior Chen nodded. At this moment, the Old Patriarch was still in seclusion, mending his foundational cultivation. Eldrin Chen was also preoccupied with refining the Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in the formation of a Golden Core]. These logistical matters would have to be handled by their Council of Elders.

After seeing Lior Chen off, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang immediately proceeded to Green Sun Mountain to begin pill refinement.

The first pills they set out to refine were the Returning Cloud Tribulation-Breaking Pill [an elixir that assists in breaking through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm]. With the alchemical skills of Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, crafting this type of pill presented little difficulty.

Working together and aided by a Fourth-Rank Earth Fire [a potent subterranean flame of the fourth rank, ideal for high-level alchemy], the two of them successfully completed the refinement of this cauldron of pills in merely one month.

Furthermore, this batch yielded a full six Returning Cloud Tribulation-Breaking Pill [a pill that aids cultivators in weathering heavenly tribulations]. For a Fourth-Rank Superior Grade Alchemist [an alchemist of the highest skill within the fourth rank], this success rate was by no means poor.

After refining the Returning Cloud Tribulation-Breaking Pill, they once again lit the furnace to concoct the Golden Core Formation Pill [a crucial pill for forming the Golden Core cultivation stage]. Using the Inner Pill [the condensed life essence core of a powerful demon beast] from the Earth Lion Demon King and two stalks of Heavenly Heart Grass [a rare spiritual herb], they managed to produce seven pills from this single batch.

"With these seven Golden Core Formation Pill [a crucial pill for forming the Golden Core cultivation stage], our stock of these pills finally has a comfortable surplus," Eldrin Chen remarked.

He looked at the seven pills, a smile gracing his features.

In recent decades, they had three Golden Core Formation Pill remaining. However, over the past thirty-some years, Tea Rose Su had attempted a breakthrough twice using two of the pills, both times ending in failure. This left their stock with only a single pill remaining. The story continues at audio-novel[dot]com.

Seeing that cultivators of the Chen Clan would soon begin attempting to assault the Golden Core [a major cultivation stage representing a solidified spiritual core] in the coming years, the supply of Golden Core Formation Pill had ironically become a pressing concern.

With these eight Golden Core Formation Pill now serving as a safety net, it should be sufficient for the needs of Lior Chen, Caleb Chen, Verdant Grace Chen, and others over the next century.

Exquisite Jiang watched as the eight Golden Core Formation Pill were stored away, then sighed softly. "With Tea Rose's two failures, it seems her path will likely end at the Golden Core."

"I will support her with one more Golden Core Formation Pill. If she still cannot break through to the Golden Core Realm [the cultivation stage of the solidified spiritual core], then she shall retire and live out her remaining years in peace." Eldrin Chen nodded slightly, his expression calm. Tea Rose Su had already consumed two Golden Core Formation Pill. If she failed a third time, it would be a clear sign that her aptitude was insufficient, and further investment would be a waste of precious resources.

Eldrin Chen listened quietly from the side. Tea Rose Su had failed to break through to the Golden Core realm twice in succession and already owed Exquisite Jiang four million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Adding another pill would bring the debt to six million Spirit Stones.

It was only because the couple possessed immense wealth, and this Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in forming a Golden Core] had been refined from a Demon King [a powerful demonic entity] he himself had slain. Any ordinary cultivator in the early or middle stages of the Golden Core realm would have long been unable to bear such a burden.

This was an unavoidable situation. Tea Rose Su's temperament was similar to Verdant Grace Chen's, and both possessed dual Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual affinity that determines a cultivator's elemental aptitudes] of Fire and Wood.

Now over three hundred years old, if she failed yet again, others within the clan would likely begin to voice dissent. After all, both the Chen Clan and the Heavenly Ruins Sect had many Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators who have opened their Violet Sanctum, the third major cultivation stage]. These individuals would also covet the Golden Core Formation Pill in the future.

Speaking of cultivators, both the Heavenly Ruins Sect and the Chen Clan had developed rapidly over these years.

Among the disciples and descendants under Exquisite Jiang's tutelage, Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their foundation, the second major cultivation stage] now numbered over two hundred, with five or six among them having reached the Violet Sanctum Cultivator realm.

Although the Chen Clan had only slightly over eighty Foundation Establishment Cultivator, more than half of them had achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [reaching Foundation Establishment through one's own efforts, without relying on external pills]. Consequently, their proportion of Violet Sanctum Cultivator far exceeded that of the Heavenly Ruins Sect, already surpassing seventeen or eighteen individuals.

In truth, after centuries of development, the mortal population of the Chen Clan now exceeded thirty million. Cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement [the initial stage of cultivation, refining one's vital energy] stage numbered over forty thousand. Yet, Foundation Establishment Cultivator remained scarce at just over eighty.

Typically, within a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose power is anchored by Foundation Establishment cultivators], the ratio of Foundation Establishment Cultivator is about one in three hundred cultivators. For a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a clan anchored by Violet Sanctum cultivators], the rate of Foundation Establishment is about one in two hundred.

The Chen Clan's rate of one Foundation Establishment cultivator per five hundred was pitifully low even among Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan. The root cause was the vast number of clan members who chose the arduous path of Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment.

The scarcity of Foundation Establishment Cultivator within the Chen Clan stems from the fact that many talented cultivators have stumbled at the threshold of Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment, a fate that has befallen even two geniuses possessing Variant Spiritual Root.

Behind every successful Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment often lie eight or nine cultivators who failed their Foundation Establishment breakthrough and perished. This is a price so staggeringly high it is almost unbearable to contemplate.

Yet, the Chen Clan has cultivated a tradition that venerates Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment. Many clan members look down upon those who rely on a Foundation Establishment Pill, and the status accorded to the two groups within the family hierarchy is not on the same level. For the best reading experience, visit *audio-novel.com*.