Chapter 403 : A Vow Forged in Nascent Soul

Then, in a sudden shift, his tone changed, and he spoke with an unperturbed expression, "Very well. I shall not claim these treasures, nor shall I stand guard before the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with concentrated spiritual energy]."

"Today's karma, we shall settle one or two centuries from now, after my wife and I have broken through to the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator's spirit forms an independent, immortal entity] realm. We shall return then to collect what is owed."

With those words, Eldrin Chen turned, preparing to sweep his sleeves and depart.

The Several Elders of the Huo Clan all wore expressions of shock and dread. The leading elder nearly reached out through the mirror to grab Eldrin Chen's sleeve in desperation.

What a preposterous notion! To wait until they had ascended to the realm of Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator who has achieved the Nascent Soul realm]? There would be nothing left to negotiate then; the entire Huo Clan would likely face utter annihilation.

Putting themselves in the other's position, if Hugo Huo were to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, he certainly wouldn't bother with mere compensation. The entire clan's wealth would be his for the taking.

Such was the tyranny of circumstance. The talent and potential displayed by Eldrin Chen and his wife were simply too terrifying. The elders of the Huo Clan dared not gamble on the possibility that this pair *wouldn't* achieve the Nascent Soul realm.

"Please, both of you, stay your steps!"

The Golden Core Elder [a senior cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, the condensed essence of their power] hastily spoke up, his expression shifting. "This time, we are willing to offer full compensation. However, a contract must be signed, guaranteeing you will not take action against us."

"Agreed!" This novel is serialized on site: audio-novel.com. Visit for updates.

Eldrin Chen nodded. Perhaps in the future, taking action against the Huo Clan would yield even greater treasures.

However, no one could guarantee that the Huo Clan Golden Core Cultivator wouldn't simply abandon all caution and, in a fit of desperation, forsake the family's millennia-old legacy entirely.

Furthermore, the Ji Clan Patriarch would attempt his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm within the next two hundred years. The situation across the Ji Continent was growing increasingly tense.

According to the information revealed by Ji Feiye, it was likely that the Ji Clan would make a major move within one hundred years. Therefore, securing treasures to enhance one's strength first was the wisest course of action.

Seeing Eldrin Chen's agreement, the Huo Clan hastily drafted a contract and began mobilizing resources. As they lacked sufficient Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-density form of Spirit Stone], they had no choice but to levy Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] from their clansmen one by one.

Previously, to aid their Clan Lord in his attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, the Huo Clan had already imposed several levies of Spirit Stone. Their clansmen's reserves were already low, and this final levy essentially emptied their hands of the precious stones.

By this point, the Deep-Seated Foundation [the accumulated wealth and resources built up over generations] of the Huo Family had been thoroughly depleted. Their situation now somewhat resembled that of the Chen Clan after Chen Cedric's failed attempt at Foundation Establishment.

The predicament they faced was exceedingly grave. It was uncertain if they could cultivate a new Golden Core cultivator within the next several centuries. Should they suffer one or two more major calamities, their decline into obscurity was a very real possibility.

After three days of frantic activity, the Huo Family delivered the promised treasures: the Dao Pattern Gem [a gemstone inscribed with natural patterns of the Dao], the Jadeite Exquisite Jade, and the Magnetic Treasure Bracer [a bracer imbued with magnetic power], among others.

They glanced at Eldrin Chen, their brows furrowed, and said humbly, "We have only seventeen Heavenly Crystal remaining. Therefore, we have gathered four million Spirit Stone as a substitute. Would this be acceptable to you, my lord?"

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and, after signing the contract himself, handed it over.

Seeing Eldrin Chen sign the pact, the Huo Family elders let out a subtle sigh of relief. According to the terms of this covenant, Eldrin Chen and his wife would henceforth be forbidden from taking action against the Huo Clan.

However, should the Huo Clan dare to move against the Chen Clan, this contract would naturally become null and void.

For high-level cultivators like Eldrin Chen, such covenants were typically held in great regard. Violating one could summon a heart demon [a manifestation of inner turmoil and karmic debt that obstructs cultivation], potentially jeopardizing one's own Dao path.

With the contract signed, the Huo Family promptly handed over the treasures to Eldrin Chen.

Having secured the treasures, the pair saw no reason to linger and departed the Chu Kingdom Spirit Vein directly.

Mindful of the precious nature of their recent gains and wishing to avoid prying eyes, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang did not linger in Dawn Continent. They set their course straight for the Crimson River Continent.

On this day, the Green Sun Treasure Boat raced through the void. Seated within the flying vessel, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang began to take stock of their newly acquired treasures.

The spoils of this battle were immense. Beyond seventeen Heavenly Crystal [a purified and high-density form of Spirit Stone] and four million Spirit Stone, they had also gained five Supreme Grade Magical Treasure and one Dao Pattern Gem [a gemstone naturally inscribed with patterns of the Great Dao, containing profound insights].

Among the several treasures, the Mountain and River Fan [a fan that can conjure illusory mountains and rivers] was significantly damaged. It would require procuring Fourth Rank Heavenly Silkworm Silk [a rare, incredibly resilient silk produced by a heavenly silkworm] and nurturing it with spiritual energy for many years to restore it.

The Jadeite Exquisite Jade [a jade artifact of ancient make] was also a fine ancient treasure. This item specialized in countering protective Divine Ability [supernatural powers cultivated by immortals]. Used skillfully, it could prove quite effective.

Eldrin Chen simply took this treasure in hand. In the future, it could serve well against cultivators who relied on powerful Protective Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts designed for defense].

The Magnetic Treasure Bracer [a bracer imbued with magnetic power] was forged from Fourth Rank High Grade Magnetic Treasure Gold [a rare metal with innate magnetic properties]. Eldrin Chen decided to fuse it into the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void [a mirror that manipulates opposing forces and space], further enhancing that treasure's magnetic power.

As for the remaining Four Symbols Flag Formation [a formation based on the four celestial beasts], its power was extraordinary. Eldrin Chen handed it to Lyra Jiang and said, "Once activated, this treasure can summon four Golden Core, Late Stage [a high level of power within the Golden Core stage] spirit avatars. With my current mana, I cannot possibly activate it. You should be the one to wield it."

Lyra Jiang smiled faintly as she accepted the set of Four Symbols Flag Formation. "With my current level of Formation [the art of creating magical arrays] mastery, I will need to study it further before I can use it." Published by audio-novel . com. All rights reserved.

"Moreover, this set of Formation Flags [flags used as focal points for formations] is a first-rate treasure, whether for combat or for setting up a Formation to protect a Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy]."

Eldrin Chen also smiled. If such Formation Flags were used to establish a Formation within a high-grade Spirit Vein, its power would double.

At that point, the strength of the Four Symbols' spirit avatars would be comparable to four cultivators at the Golden Core Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage]. Working in unison, they could likely overpower even a False Nascent Soul Cultivator [one who has attempted but not fully achieved the Nascent Soul realm].

Furthermore, in recent years, the Spirit Peach Tree [a tree bearing peaches that enhance cultivation] on Spirit Isle Lake was nearing a breakthrough to Fourth Rank Middle Grade [a mid-tier level for spiritual plants]. Once it advanced to Fourth Rank Middle Grade, it would be sufficient to unleash roughly ninety percent of this formation's ultimate potential.

Once the Taiyi Heaven-Sealing Formation [a supreme formation designed to seal away even the heavens] is deployed, then even an Nascent Soul, Early Stage [the initial stage of the Nascent Soul realm, where one's spiritual essence condenses into an infant form] cultivator would find it somewhat difficult to breach.

Lyra Jiang stored away the Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to anchor and power formations], her gaze resting upon the Dao Pattern Gem [a gemstone inscribed with the primordial patterns of the Dao, the fundamental laws of existence] and the Blue-Gold Glazed Armor [a suit of armor forged from blue-gold and tempered to a glazed, crystalline hardness]. A smile touched her lips. "With these treasures in hand, it seems we will soon possess a true Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a pinnacle-grade magical artifact specifically designed to suppress and vanquish demonic entities] of our own."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen produced the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor [armor forged from purple-gold and tempered to a glazed finish] and the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor [armor forged from crimson-gold and tempered to a glazed finish], his face alight with undisguised joy.

As he placed the three suits of glazed armor together, they emitted a clear, resonant *ding* and fused into one, merging into a single magnificent suit of armor that shimmered with hues of crimson, violet, and azure.

Three types of dazzling treasure-light radiated forth. The intricate formation runes upon them began to intertwine and merge, growing increasingly profound and inscrutable. In the blink of an eye, the fused armor's aura had ascended to the level of Quasi-Fifth Rank [a state just below the Fifth Rank, possessing power that brushes against the boundaries of a higher realm].

Watching the treasures merge, Eldrin Chen turned his attention to the Dao Pattern Gem.

The Dao Pattern Gem is ranked alongside the Creation Treasure Jade [a jade imbued with the primordial power of creation] and hailed as one of the most precious treasures within the Golden Core Realm [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into a solid, golden core]. The key reason lies in the profound and mysterious innate Dao patterns it contains.

When such a Dao Pattern Gem is fused into a Supreme Grade Magical Treasure [a magical treasure of the highest possible grade within its rank], it can catalyze the evolution of the treasure's formation runes, allowing it to break through its limits and advance to the Quasi-Fifth Rank.

Furthermore, most cultivators who have just broken through to the Nascent Soul [the realm where one's spiritual essence forms an independent infant soul] find that their Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to one's life force, growing in power with the cultivator] has not yet reached the state of a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a lifebound treasure that has evolved to possess its own spiritual consciousness]. They often lack the esoteric methods required to guide such an evolution for their Lifebound Spiritual Treasure.

Even the energy of a Nascent Soul [the spiritual core formed after the Golden Core stage] cultivator has its limits. To deduce the patterns for multiple Life-Bound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's soul] would often leave one's spirit willing but strength insufficient. After all, not everyone possesses the Exiled Immortal Bearing [a legendary aptitude akin to a banished celestial] of figures like Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang.

At such times, obtaining a Dao Pattern Gem [a rare crystal containing the imprints of natural laws] and fusing it into a Life-Bound Magical Treasure allows the treasure's formation runes to evolve autonomously.

Generally, just three Dao Pattern Gem are sufficient to elevate a Life-Bound Magical Treasure's runes to the level of a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a higher-grade artifact with awakened spiritual intelligence].

This method of ascension, however, carries a flaw. The potential of the formation runes within the promoted Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a pinnacle-grade artifact for vanquishing demons] is greatly diminished, often reaching at most the stage of a Middle-Grade Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel[dot]com.