Chapter 396 : The Quest for Pure Yang Radiances

However, the sole drawback of this path is that cultivation progresses far too slowly. Without the aid of a Dao Body [a special, innately superior constitution for cultivation] and sufficient resources, the hope of even breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their foundation] would be almost nonexistent.

Thinking of this, Lyra Jiang said, "Once a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul Realm [the fourth major realm, where one forms a spiritual infant from their soul], the power of the spirit soul becomes increasingly crucial."

"This method operates day and night, continuously tempering and refining the spirit soul. It may well increase one's chances of achieving immortality in the future."

"From now on, you should also gather all five types of Pure Yang Divine Radiance [a supreme divine ability of pure yang nature] and master them."

Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement. Over the years, the Chen Clan had already collected three of these divine radiances: the Metallic Essence Divine Radiance [the divine radiance of the metallic essence element], the Wood-First Divine Radiance [the divine radiance of the first wood element], and the Water-Flood Divine Radiance [the divine radiance of the flood water element]. Only the Yang Fire Divine Radiance [the divine radiance of yang fire] and the Earth-Fortress Divine Radiance [the divine radiance of the earth-fortress element] remained uncollected.

The Yang Fire Divine Radiance was still manageable; it should still be passed down within the Eastern Wastelands. However, the Earth-Fortress Divine Radiance had been completely lost in this realm for one hundred thousand years. Perhaps he would need to reconstruct it himself.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen said, "This Grand Dao Discourse Assembly [a grand gathering for discussing the Dao] has gathered so many Golden Core Cultivators [cultivators of the Golden Core realm, the third major stage] together, a rare occurrence. In a few days, a Barter Convention [a market event where cultivators trade rare items] will be held. Let's see if we can purchase them there."

"Mm." Lyra Jiang nodded slightly, then pondered and added, "The question is whether we can find the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder [the divine thunder of the earth-fortress element] and the Sunflower Water Divine Thunder [the divine thunder of the sunflower water element]."

The inheritance of the Five Elements Divine Thunder [divine thunders corresponding to the five elements] in this realm was already quite fragmented. The Sunflower Water Divine Thunder had gradually been lost tens of thousands of years ago. Despite her extensive searches over the years, she had never managed to locate these two divine thunders.

Now, with over one hundred Golden Core Cultivators gathered, this was undoubtedly the best opportunity to find the five types of Pure Yin Divine Thunder [divine thunders of pure yin nature]. The story continues at audio-novel*com.

"Once the others have finished their enlightenment, we shall depart first."

Having comprehended the Ancient Primordial Inscription [an inscription left behind from an ancient, primordial era], Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang emerged from the Cultivation Cave [a cave dwelling used for secluded meditation and cultivation].

Outside the Cultivation Cave, Zixu the Daoist opened his eyes. Glancing at the expressions of Eldrin Chen and his companion, he said with a smile, "It seems you two have gained considerable insight."

"We must thank you for guarding our meditation."

Eldrin Chen replied with a gentle smile, nodding to the others present.

Dreamweaver, the Immortal Maiden and Tiangu the Daoist also smiled in acknowledgment. Then, Dreamweaver, the Immortal Maiden, the second among their trio, stepped into the Cultivation Cave.

Meanwhile, Lyra Jiang took Eldrin Chen's arm and said calmly, "Our enlightenment is complete. We shall not linger here. We shall meet again at the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare treasures and resources]."

"Then we shall not see you off."

Zixu the Daoist said with a parting smile.

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang departed, returning to the Cultivation Cave they had rented.

He cast a glance towards the distant Spirit Mountain and sighed, saying, "That Zixu the Daoist seeks the Heavenly Dao Qi [the primordial essence of the Heavenly Dao, the ultimate source of cosmic order]. When the Heaven and Earth Resonance [a rare celestial alignment where Heaven and Earth harmonize, unleashing profound energies] occurs over a century from now, he may well become our rival."

"Who can say what the future holds?"

Lyra Jiang shook her head. The timing of the Heaven and Earth Resonance was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. For the sake of the Heavenly Dao Qi, they might still have to cross swords with that Zixu the Daoist.

With this thought, Lyra Jiang shook her head again and said, "Judging from this Dao Discourse, that Zixu the Daoist seems to be a man of honor."

"If, during the Heaven and Earth Resonance, more than two strands of Heavenly Dao Qi manifest, we could cooperate with him. But if there are only one or two strands, we need not press for a lethal confrontation."

Eldrin Chen also nodded, his expression serene. "We shall decide when the time comes."

The two spoke no more and returned to their secluded cultivation within the Cultivation Cave.

Not long after, the day of the Barter Convention arrived. This particular convention was a joint endeavor organized by over a hundred Golden Core Cultivators from several surrounding provinces.

With so many high-ranking cultivators gathered in one place, the treasures exchanged were bound to be extraordinary, making it an event not to be missed.

Having come this far, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang naturally had no intention of missing this grand assembly.

After all, treasures of Fourth Rank and above are exceedingly rare; often, a nation spanning a million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] may not possess many.

For them, such high-quality gatherings of senior cultivators often present opportunities to acquire treasures that are usually unobtainable.

This Barter Convention was held at the Zixu Pavilion. Early on, over a dozen Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy] had already gathered before the pavilion.

When Eldrin Chen and his companion arrived at the Zixu Pavilion, Kunxuzi approached with a smile and said, "The discourse last time benefited this old man greatly."

"With your comprehension, you must have gained immense insights from contemplating the Ancient Primordial Inscription this time?"

"Merely a few minor realizations," Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio_novel.com.

replied Eldrin Chen with a smile. He conversed with several acquaintances while awaiting the commencement of the Barter Convention.

They did not have to wait long. After half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], the over one hundred Golden Core True Person had finally assembled, and the Barter Convention officially began.

As the host, Zixu the Daoist stepped onto the raised platform. "Esteemed Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for cultivators sharing the same path], this Barter Convention shall commence with this old man."

"Please observe."

As Zixu the Daoist spoke, he raised his hand and released over a dozen beams of treasure radiance.

"Verdant Jade and Gilded Gold [a rare alloy combining the properties of jade and gold], Heavenly Heart True Water [a pure, spiritually potent water essence], three-thousand-year-old Azure Dragon Wood [a divine wood said to have been nourished by dragon's blood]..."

Eldrin Chen glanced at them, and his pupils could not help but contract slightly. Among these dozen or so beams of treasure light, the lowest grade was actually a Fourth Rank Middle Grade treasure.

The most outstanding among them, such as that Verdant Jade and Gilded Gold, was a Fourth Rank High Grade Treasure Metal [a metal of exceptional quality used for crafting powerful artifacts], a key material for forging the Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured artifact] known as 'Azure-Gold Glazed Armor'.

Having obtained the crafting method for the Seven Treasures Glazed Armor, and possessing both the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor and the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor, Eldrin Chen naturally understood the immense value of such materials.

Yet, among these treasures, the Verdant Jade and Gilded Gold was not the most precious. There was also a piece of three-thousand-year-old Azure Dragon Wood.

This was a divine wood said to have sprouted where dragon's blood had fallen. After living for three millennia, its grade had already reached the level of Quasi-Fifth Rank.

Integrating this material into a Life-Bound Magical Treasure could greatly enhance the artifact's strength, elevating its fundamental material quality to the Quasi-Fifth Rank level. This, in turn, significantly increased a cultivator's chances of successfully weathering the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core formed after the Golden Core stage] Heavenly Tribulation.

Eldrin Chen remarked with a tone of awe, "I never imagined this Zixu the Daoist would possess such a trove of treasures."

"Zixu the Daoist occupies Heavenly Lake Island, which boasts a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein [a powerful natural conduit of spiritual energy] and a Fifth Rank Water Vein [a potent natural water essence source]. Naturally, his wealth is beyond measure."

The Wang the Daoist standing nearby spoke with a hint of envy. Many Nascent Soul Rogue Cultivator could not even claim a single Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, yet this young Zixu the Daoist possessed both a Fifth Rank Earth Vein and a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, a testament to his extraordinary fortune.

Thinking of this, Wang Clan Patriarch could not help but voice his lingering desire: "It is said that within this Fifth Rank Earth Vein, a wisp of Earth Mother Qi [the primordial essence of the earth itself] is born every thousand years, and a Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [a treasure of immense power, born from the convergence of heaven and earth] is formed every six hundred."

"The reason Zixu the Daoist was able to elevate one of his treasures to a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure deeply bonded to a cultivator's soul, growing in power with them] was not only due to the nourishment from his own Dao Body [a rare and powerful innate physique aligned with the Dao] but also because of a piece of Fifth Rank Heavenly Lake Treasure Gold [a legendary metal of supreme quality] produced by the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earthly spiritual energy] beneath Heavenly Lake Island."

"A Fifth Rank Earth Vein," murmured Eldrin Chen, his heart stirred by awe. "Such Earth Veins and Spirit Veins [geographical formations that concentrate and radiate spiritual energy] would tempt even Nascent Soul Rogue Cultivators. How has Zixu the Daoist managed to hold them?"

"I know how."

It was Kunxuzi who spoke. Having lived for over seven hundred years, he was privy to many tales of the past.

He began calmly, "More than four hundred years ago, the True Lord [an honorific title for a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator] of the Liu Clan, a Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have produced Nascent Soul cultivators] from Heavenly Lake Continent, fell during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity where demonic forces erupted from the depths]. Nearly all of the Liu Clan's high-ranking cultivators perished in that cataclysm."

"And Zixu the Daoist..." The story continues at audi novel.com.