Chapter 403. Dao Pattern Gem (Spiritual Object)

Then, in a sudden shift, his expression remained unperturbed as he said, "Very well, I shall neither claim these treasures nor guard the entrance to the Spirit Mountain."

"The karma of today shall be settled 1 or 2 100 years from now, when we, husband and wife, break through to the Nascent Soul realm and return to claim our due."

With that, Eldrin (Person Name) turned and made to leave with an indignant sweep of his sleeve.

The several Huo Clan elders all wore expressions of astonishment, with the leading elder nearly unable to resist reaching through the mirror to tug at Eldrin's (Person Name) sleeve.

Are you kidding? By the time they break through to the Nascent Soul True Lord realm, there’ll be nothing left to discuss—the entire Huo Clan would likely face annihilation.

Put yourself in his shoes—if Hugo were to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, he certainly wouldn’t bother discussing compensation. The entire clan’s wealth would already be his for the taking.

This was a case where circumstances overpowered individuals. Given that Eldrin (Person Name) and his wife possessed such astounding talent and brilliance, the several elders of the Huo Clan naturally dared not gamble on their inability to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

"Pray, stay your steps, both of you."

The golden core elder’s expression shifted, and he hastily spoke, “This time, we are willing to offer full compensation. However, we must also sign a contract to ensure you will not take action against us.”

"Granted!"

Eldrin nodded slightly. Perhaps when the time came to move against the Huo Clan, the treasures to be gained would be even more plentiful.

However, no 1 could guarantee that the Golden Core Elder of the Huo Clan wouldn't completely abandon all restraint and recklessly forsake their family's legacy spanning thousands of years in 1 fell swoop.

Moreover, the Patriarch of the Ji Clan would attempt his Soul Formation breakthrough within 2 100 years, and the situation in Ji Province was growing increasingly tense.

According to the information Ji Feiye had revealed, the Ji Clan was likely to make a major move within 1 100 years. Securing the treasure first to enhance his strength was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.

Seeing Eldrin agree, the Huo Clan hastily drafted a contract and began mobilizing resources. As they were short on Heavenly Crystals, they had no choice but to collect 32,000 spirit stones from their clansmen 1 by 1.

The Huo Clan had previously levied spirit stones several times to aid the clan leader in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, leaving its members with scant reserves. This latest requisition effectively drained them of their remaining spirit stones.

By this point, the Huo family's accumulated resources had been thoroughly depleted, leaving them in a state reminiscent of the Chen family after Chen Qingmeng's failed Foundation Establishment.

The situation they faced was already dire enough. It might take several 100 years before they could cultivate a new Golden Core cultivator. If they were to suffer 1 or 2 more great calamities, they would likely face a swift decline.

After 3 full days of bustling activity, the Huo Clan finally delivered the treasures: the Dao Pattern Gem (Spiritual Object), the Jadeite Lyra (Person Name) Jade, and the Magnetic Treasure Bracer (Magic Treasure).

They glanced at Eldrin, furrowing their brows as they said, "We only have 17 Heavenly Crystals left, so we've gathered 4,000,000 spirit stones as a substitute. Will that be acceptable?"

"Hmm."

Eldrin (Person Name) gave a slight nod and signed the contract.

Seeing Eldrin sign the contract, the Huo family elders breathed a faint sigh of relief. According to the terms of this agreement, Eldrin and his wife would henceforth be forbidden from taking action against the Huo clan.

Should the Huo Clan dare to make a move against the Chen Clan, this contract shall be rendered null and void.

For a high-level cultivator like Eldrin, contracts were often held in the highest regard, as breaking 1 could invoke the descent of inner demons and potentially jeopardize their own path to immortality.

After the contract was signed, the Huo Family immediately bestowed the treasure upon Eldrin.

The 2 retrieved the treasures and had no desire to linger in the Chu Kingdom (Location) spirit vein, departing directly.

Considering the precious treasure he had obtained this time, Eldrin did not linger in Tianming Province with Lyra to avoid attracting unwanted attention, instead flying directly toward the Scarlet River Province.

That day, the Azure Sun Treasure Ark raced through the void. Eldrin and Lyra sat within the flying vessel, casually beginning to take stock of the treasures in their possession.

This battle yielded immense rewards for them. Apart from 17 Heavenly Crystals (Spiritual Object) and 4,000,000 spirit stones, they also obtained 5 peerless magical treasures and 1 Dao Pattern Gem (Spiritual Object).

Among the several treasures, the Mountain and River Fan had suffered considerable damage. It required the acquisition of fourth-order heavenly silkworm silk and would need years of nurturing to restore.

The Jade Lyra (Magic Treasure) is also a fine ancient treasure. This artifact specifically counters defensive supernatural powers, and if used skillfully, it might prove quite effective.

Eldrin simply kept the treasure in hand, figuring it would prove quite effective in the future when dealing with cultivators whose defensive magical treasures were particularly formidable.

The Magnetic Treasure Bracer (Magic Treasure), forged from fourth-tier superior-grade Primordial Magnetic Aurum, was to be integrated by Eldrin (Person Name) into the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void (Magic Treasure) to further amplify the artifact’s primordial magnetic power.

The remaining 4 Symbols Flag Formation (Formation) possessed remarkable power. Eldrin (Person Name) handed it to Lyra (Person Name) and said, "Once activated, this treasure can summon 4 Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) spirit entities. Given my current cultivation, I lack the spiritual energy to wield it—you should be the 1 to keep it."

Lyra smiled faintly as she received the 4 Symbols Flag Formation. "With my current mastery of formations, I'll need to study this further before I can wield it properly."

"Moreover, this set of formation flags is first-class treasure, whether deployed in battle or for arranging formations around spirit veins."

Eldrin also smiled. If such formation flags were deployed within a high-grade spirit vein, their power would double.

By then, the strength of the 4 Symbols True Spirits would be comparable to 4 cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core Realm. If they joined forces, even a False Infant cultivator would likely be no match for them.

Over the years, the spirit peach trees of Spirit Isle Lake (Location) were on the verge of advancing to mid fourth-grade. Once they reached mid fourth-grade, they would barely be able to unleash 90 percent of the formation's ultimate power.

Once the formation is fully deployed and coordinated with the Taiyi Heaven-Sealing Formation (Formation), it would offer some resistance even against a Nascent Soul, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) expert.

Lyra put away the array flags, her gaze resting on the Dao Pattern Gem and the Lapis Lazuli Glazed Armor as she smiled. "With these treasures, it seems we'll soon possess a true demon-refining treasure of our own."

"Yes."

Eldrin retrieved the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor, his face radiant with delight.

He placed the 3 Glazed Armors together, and with a soft chime, they merged into 1, coalescing into a single treasure armor of crimson, violet, and azure hues.

3 dazzling rays of treasure light erupted as arrays of runes began to intertwine and merge, growing increasingly profound and unfathomable. In the blink of an eye, they had reached the quasi fifth-order level.

Watching the treasures merge into 1, Eldrin turned his gaze toward the Dao Pattern Gem.

The Dao Pattern Gem (Spiritual Object) stands alongside the Creation Jade Disc as 1 of the most treasured artifacts in the Golden Core Realm, primarily because it contains profoundly mysterious innate Dao patterns.

Once this Dao Pattern Gem (Spiritual Object) is integrated into a supreme-grade magical treasure, it can transform the artifact's formation patterns, elevating it to the quasi-fifth-rank level.

Moreover, most cultivators who had just broken through to the Nascent Soul realm had yet to elevate their Natal Magic Treasures to the level of Natal Spirit Treasures, as they had not deduced the method to advance their Natal Magic Treasures.

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator's energy has its limits. Attempting to deduce multiple Life-Bound Magical Treasures would leave 1 with more ambition than capacity—after all, not everyone possesses the celestial grace of Eldrin (Person Name) and Lyra (Person Name), whose very presence mirrors that of banished immortals.

At this moment, if 1 could obtain the Dao Pattern Gem (Spiritual Object) and fuse it into their Lifebound Magical Treasure, the treasure would spontaneously evolve its own array patterns.

Generally speaking, only 3 Dao Pattern Gems (Spiritual Object) are required to elevate the array patterns of 1's life-bound magic treasure to the level of a life-bound spirit treasure.

This method of advancement also has its drawbacks, as the potential of the array patterns on the refined demon treasure would be significantly diminished, often allowing it to progress only to the level of a Medium-Grade Refined Demon Treasure at most.

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled across the snowy plains, whipping up flurries of ice crystals that shimmered under the pale moonlight. Amidst this desolate landscape, a lone figure sat cross-legged atop a glacial peak, his robes fluttering violently in the gale. Yun Che's (Person Name) eyes snapped open, twin beams of azure light piercing through the darkness. "After 90-8 1000 years of cultivation," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper yet carrying through the storm, "the Heavenly Tribulation finally approaches." Deep within his dantian, spiritual energy swirled like a nascent galaxy, each revolution following the profound mysteries of the 9 Revolutions Nirvana Scripture (Cultivation Method). He could feel the barriers between realms thinning - from the peak of Soul Formation to the legendary Nascent Soul stage. Suddenly, the heavens tore asunder. 7-colored lightning descended like divine punishment, each bolt capable of vaporizing mountains. Yet Yun Che merely smiled, raising a single hand. The Grandmist Spirit Shield (Magical Technique) materialized around him, its pearlescent surface absorbing the cataclysmic energy. "Again!" he roared at the heavens, his black hair whipping about like furious serpents. The tribulation intensified, space itself beginning to distort. But within the maelstrom, Yun Che remained as steadfast as ancient bedrock, his cultivation base circulating through 36,000 spiritual channels simultaneously. 3 drops of Dragon Phoenix Blood (Heavenly Material) ignited within his meridians, their primordial power mending his wounds faster than lightning could tear him apart. When the final bolt struck - a colossal pillar of golden lightning that illuminated the entire northern continent - Yun Che erupted upward, the Frostbound Celestial Sword (Magic Treasure) appearing in his grasp. With 1 fluid motion, he severed the heavenly wrath itself. Panting slightly, he landed gracefully as golden motes of light descended around him like benevolent snow. The scent of divine nectar filled the air as his cultivation base solidified at the early Nascent Soul stage. "Fellow Daoist Yun's breakthrough was truly magnificent," an aged voice echoed from the void. An elderly man materialized, riding a jade-green flying shuttle. "The 7 Profound Sect (Sect Name) offers congratulations." Yun Che inclined his head slightly. "Elder Ming (Person Name) honors me. Though I've reached Nascent Soul, the path ahead remains long." The elder's eyes twinkled. "Then you may be interested in the Ancient Dragon Phoenix Realm (Secret Realm) opening in 3 days. They say countless opportunities await within, including the legendary Sun Moon Cauldron (Magic Treasure)." A faint smile touched Yun Che's lips. Countless years of cultivation had taught him that while treasures were precious, the true reward was the Dao itself. Still, he wouldn't refuse such an invitation. "Then I shall trouble Elder Ming to lead the way."