Chapter 396 : The Quest for Lost Divine Lights

However, the sole drawback of this path is its excruciatingly slow pace of cultivation. Without the aid of the Path Body and sufficient resources, the hope of achieving a Foundation Establishment breakthrough is virtually nonexistent.

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang remarked, "Once a cultivator reaches the Infant Soul and Primordial Spirit Realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator], the power of the soul essence becomes increasingly paramount."

"This method operates ceaselessly, day and night, tempering and refining the soul essence. It may well increase one's chances of attaining immortality by a few percent in the future."

"Henceforth, you should strive to gather all five types of Primordial Solar Divine Light [a supreme divine light technique of the solar element] and master them."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Over the years, the Chen Clan had already collected three of these divine lights: Metallic Gold, First Wood, and Positive Water. Only the Blazing Third Fire and Bulwark Earth lights remained unacquired.

The Blazing Third Fire Divine Light was less of a concern; its legacy likely still persisted within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. However, the Bulwark Earth Divine Light had been completely lost to this world for over one hundred thousand years. He might have to reconstruct it himself.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen said, "This Path Discussion Assembly has gathered an unprecedented number of Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, the third major realm]. In a few days, a Barter Convention will be held. Let us see if we can procure what we need there."

"Agreed," Exquisite Jiang inclined her head thoughtfully before adding, "The question is whether we might find the Cultivable Earth or the Final Water Divine Thunder."

The legacy of this world's Five Elements Divine Thunder [supreme thunder techniques aligned with the five elements] was already fragmented. The Final Water Divine Thunder had gradually faded into oblivion 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 Cultivator gathered, this presented the best opportunity in ages to find the five types of Pure Lunar Divine Thunder [supreme thunder techniques of the lunar element]. Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.

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

Having comprehended the Ancient Primordial Inscription, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang exited the cave abode.

Outside the cave abode, Path Master Unreal opened his eyes. Glancing at the expressions of Eldrin Chen and his companion, he smiled and said, "It seems you both have gained significant insights."

"We must thank you for guarding our cultivation."

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

Immortal Maiden Dream Spirit and Path Master Heavenly Valley also smiled. Then, Immortal Maiden Dream Spirit, the second among the three, entered the cave abode.

Meanwhile, Exquisite Jiang took Eldrin Chen's arm and said calmly, "Our enlightenment is complete. We shall not linger here any longer. We shall meet again at the Barter Convention."

"Then we shall not see you off."

Path Master Unreal said with a smile.

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang departed, returning to the cave abode they had rented.

He cast a glance toward the distant Spirit Mountain and sighed, saying, "This Path Master Unreal seeks the Heavenly Path Energy [a rare and potent spiritual energy said to be the essence of the Heavenly Path]. A hundred years from now, when the Heaven and Earth Resonance [a rare celestial alignment where the energies of Heaven and Earth converge] occurs, he may well become our rival."

"Who can say what the future holds?"

Exquisite 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 Path Energy, they might yet have to cross blades with this Path Master Unreal.

With this thought, Exquisite Jiang shook her head again and said, "Judging from this recent discourse on the Dao, this Path Master Unreal seems to be a man of honor."

"If, during the Heaven and Earth Resonance, more than two strands of Heavenly Path Energy manifest, we could cooperate with him. But if there is only one or two strands, we need not press for a fight to the death."

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

The two spoke no more, returning to their secluded cultivation within the cave abode.

Not long after, the day of the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare treasures and resources] arrived. This particular convention was jointly hosted by over a hundred Golden Core Cultivators [powerful cultivators who have condensed a Golden Core, the third major realm] from several surrounding provinces.

With so many high-level cultivators gathered in one place, the treasures changing hands were bound to be astonishing, making it an event not to be missed.

Having come to this place, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang naturally had no intention of missing this grand assembly.

After all, treasures of the Fourth Rank and above are exceedingly rare; often, a nation spanning a million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] might 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. Well in advance, over a dozen Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy within the dantian] had already gathered before the pavilion.

When Eldrin Chen and his companion arrived at the Zixu Pavilion, the Kunxu Child [a Daoist title meaning 'Child of Kunxu', suggesting a connection to primordial mysteries] approached with a smile and said, "Our last discussion on the Dao benefited this old man greatly."

"With your comprehension, you must have gained immense insights from studying the Ancient Primordial Inscription [a mysterious inscription containing profound, ancient truths] this time, no?"

"We merely grasped a few fragments of understanding," Join our community of readers at audio - novel . com.

Eldrin Chen replied with a smile. He exchanged greetings with several acquaintances while waiting for the Barter Convention to commence.

The wait was not long. After the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn [a conventional short duration, roughly fifteen to thirty minutes], the final members of the gathering—over a hundred Golden Core True Person in total—arrived, and the Barter Convention officially began.

As the host, Path Master Unreal stepped onto the raised platform. "Fellow Daoists," he began, "for this Barter Convention, let this old man start first."

"Please observe."

As he spoke, Path Master Unreal raised his hand and released over a dozen beams of radiant treasure light.

"Azure Jade Gilded Gold, Heavenly Heart True Water [a pure spiritual water of exceptional quality], a three-thousand-year-old Azure Dragon Wood..."

Eldrin Chen glanced at them, and his pupils involuntarily contracted slightly. Among these dozen or so radiant treasures, the lowest grade was actually a Fourth Rank Mid-Grade treasure.

The most outstanding among them, such as that piece of Azure Jade Gilded Gold, was a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Precious Metal. It was a key material for forging the Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personal artifact bound to their soul] known as 'Azure Gold Glazed Armor'.

Having obtained the forging 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 Azure Jade Gilded Gold was not the most precious. There was also a single stalk of three-thousand-year-old Azure Dragon Wood.

This object was a divine wood born from being bathed in Dragon Blood [the potent blood of a dragon, imbued with immense life force]. After living for three thousand years, its grade had already reached the level of Quasi-Fifth Rank.

Integrating this material into a Lifebound Magical Treasure could greatly enhance the artifact's strength, elevating its fundamental material quality to the Quasi-Fifth Rank level. This, in turn, would significantly increase a cultivator's chances of successfully weathering the Infant Soul [the nascent soul stage] tribulation.

Eldrin Chen remarked with a tone of awe, "I never imagined that Path Master Unreal would possess such a trove of treasures."

"Path Master Unreal occupies Heavenly Lake Island, which sits upon a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [a powerful ley line of spiritual energy]. He also controls a Fifth Rank Water Vein [a potent underground current of spiritual water]. Naturally, his wealth is beyond measure."

The Path Master Wang standing nearby spoke with a hint of envy, "Many rogue cultivators at the Infant Soul [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed] realm cannot even secure a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [a location where spiritual energy of the fifth rank naturally gathers and concentrates], yet this Path Master Unreal possesses both a Fifth Rank Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial energy leyline of the fifth rank] and a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein. His fortune is truly remarkable."

Thinking of this, Patriarch Wang continued, his voice dripping with avarice, "It is said that from this Fifth Rank Earth Vein, a wisp of Earth Mother Energy [the primordial, nurturing essence of the earth itself] is born every thousand years, and a Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [a natural treasure of immense power, born from the convergence of heaven and earth energies] is formed every six hundred years."

"The reason Path Master Unreal was able to elevate one of his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them] was not only due to the nourishment from his own Path Body [a rare innate physique aligned with a specific cultivation path], but also because of a piece of Fifth Rank [the fifth and highest rank of power for artifacts and materials] Heavenly Lake Treasure Gold [a legendary metal born from celestial lakes] produced by the Earth Vein beneath Heavenly Lake Island."

"A Fifth Rank Earth Vein," murmured Eldrin Chen, a flicker of astonishment crossing his mind. He couldn't help but ask, "Such Earth Vein and Spiritual Vein [a vein of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] would tempt even Infant Soul rogue cultivators. How has Path Master Unreal managed to hold onto them?"

"I know how."

The Kunxu Child [a Daoist title meaning 'Child of Kunxu'] spoke up. Having lived for over seven hundred years, he was privy to many tales of the past.

He began calmly, "Over four hundred years ago, the True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator, often at the Nascent Soul stage or above] of the Liu Clan, an Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a clan founded by and centered around a powerful Infant Soul cultivator] from the Celestial Lake Continent, perished within the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving a rupture to a demonic realm]. Nearly all of the Liu Clan's high-ranking cultivators were wiped out."

"And Path Master Unreal..." This chapter appears courtesy of https://audio-novel.com.