Chapter 403 : A Vow of Future Vengeance

Then, with a sudden shift in tone, he spoke with an unperturbed expression, "Very well. I shall not claim these treasures, nor shall I stand guard before the Spirit Mountain any longer."

"Today's Karma [the principle of cause and effect governing all actions], we shall return to settle in one or two hundred years, after my wife and I have broken through to the Infant Soul Realm [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is fully formed]."

With those words, Eldrin Chen turned, ready to depart with a dismissive flick of his sleeve.

The several Elders of the Huo Clan were struck with horror. The leading elder nearly reached through the scrying mirror to grab Eldrin Chen's sleeve in desperation.

What a jest! If they waited for that couple to reach the realm of Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator who has mastered the Infant Soul stage], what negotiation would remain? The entire Huo Clan would likely face annihilation.

Putting themselves in the other's shoes, if Hugo Huo were to break through to the Infant 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 of Eldrin Chen and his dao companion were simply too terrifying. The Elders of the Huo Clan dared not gamble on the possibility that they *wouldn't* achieve the Infant Soul Realm.

"Please, stay your steps!"

The Golden Core Elder [an elder whose cultivation is at the Golden Core stage] swiftly changed his expression and spoke urgently, "This time, we are willing to offer full compensation. However, we must also sign a contract guaranteeing you will not take action against us."

"Agreed!" For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel dot com.

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

However, no one could guarantee that the Huo Clan's Golden Core Patriarch wouldn't simply abandon all caution in his desperation, forsaking the family's legacy built over millennia in one final, reckless act.

Furthermore, the Ji Clan Patriarch was poised to attempt a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] within the next two centuries. The situation across the Ji Continent was growing increasingly tense.

According to the information revealed by Not Night Ji, it was likely the Ji Clan would make a major move within a hundred years. Securing treasures to bolster their strength first was undoubtedly 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 and high-density form of Spirit Stone], they had no choice but to levy Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy] from their clansmen one by one.

Previously, to aid their Clan Patriarch in his attempt to break through to the Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual form within a Golden Core cultivator], the Huo Clan had already imposed several such levies, leaving their members with few Spirit Stones to spare. This latest demand effectively drained their clansmen's last reserves.

By this point, the Huo Clan's accumulated wealth and foundation had been nearly exhausted. Their predicament now resembled that of the Chen Clan after Verdant Bud Chen's failed attempt at Foundation Establishment.

The situation they faced was dire. It was uncertain if they could nurture a new Golden Core cultivator within the next several hundred years. Should they suffer one or two more Great Tribulations [major calamities or trials of fate], their decline into obscurity seemed almost inevitable.

After three days of frantic activity, the Huo Clan delivered the promised treasures: the Path Pattern Gemstone, the Jadeite Exquisite Jade, the Primordial Magnetic Treasure Bracelet, and others.

Their representative glanced at Eldrin Chen, brow furrowed, and said in a low voice, "We have only seventeen Heavenly Crystals remaining. Therefore, we have gathered four million Spirit Stones as a substitute. Will this be acceptable?"

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and began to sign the contract.

Watching Eldrin Chen sign the contract, the Huo Clan Elders let out a slight sigh of relief. According to the terms of this agreement, Eldrin Chen and his wife would be unable to take action against the Huo Clan in the future.

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

For high-level cultivators like Eldrin Chen, contracts were often taken very seriously, as violating one could summon Inner Demons [malevolent manifestations born from broken oaths and spiritual corruption] and potentially damage one's own Path [the unique spiritual and philosophical journey of a cultivator].

Once the contract was signed, the Huo Clan immediately handed over the treasures to Eldrin Chen.

Having secured the treasures, the pair saw no reason to linger. They departed directly from the Huo Clan's Spiritual Vein [a geographical nexus where the world's spiritual energy naturally concentrates].

Mindful of the precious nature of their new acquisitions and wary of attracting unwanted attention, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang did not tarry in the Celestial Dawn Province. They flew straight for the Crimson River Continent.

"..."

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

This battle yielded them immense gains: besides seventeen Heavenly Crystal [a highly concentrated and pure form of spiritual energy crystal] and four million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], they also obtained five top-grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] and one Path Pattern Gemstone [a rare gemstone containing insights into the laws of the Dao].

Among the several treasures, the Mountain and River Fan [a fan capable of manipulating the power of mountains and rivers] was significantly damaged. It would require procuring Fourth-Rank Heavenly Silkworm Silk [a rare, high-grade silk produced by celestial silkworms] and years of careful nurturing within spiritual energy to restore it.

The Jadeite Exquisite Jade [a jade treasure of ancient craftsmanship] was also a fine ancient treasure. This artifact specifically countered protective Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique mastered by a cultivator]. Used skillfully, it could prove quite effective.

Eldrin Chen simply took this treasure for himself. In the future, it could serve well against cultivators who relied on powerful defensive magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators].

The Primordial Magnetic Treasure Bracelet [a bracelet forged from magnetic essence gold] was refined from Fourth Rank Superior Grade [a high-quality material of the fourth rank] Magnetic Essence Gold [a rare metal with powerful magnetic properties]. Eldrin Chen decided to fuse it into the Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror that manipulates magnetic and void energies] to further enhance that treasure's Primordial Magnetism Power [the power of primordial, fundamental magnetism].

The remaining Four Symbols Formation Flags [a set of formation flags representing the four celestial symbols] were of Extraordinary [a name meaning 'out of the ordinary'] power. Eldrin Chen handed them to Exquisite Jiang and said, "Once activated, this treasure can summon four True Spirit [a powerful spiritual entity] at the Golden Core Late Stage [the late stage of the Golden Core cultivation realm]. With my current spiritual power, I simply cannot activate it. You should take it." Discover more cultivation stories at audio–novel.com.

Exquisite Jiang gave a slight smile as she accepted the set of Four Symbols Formation Flags [a set of formation flags representing the four celestial symbols]. "With my current level of Formation [the art of creating and utilizing magical arrays] mastery, I'll need to study them further before I can use them."

"Moreover, this set of Formation Flag [a flag used as a component in a magical array] is a first-rate treasure, whether for combat or for setting up protective formations around a Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy]."

Eldrin Chen also smiled. If such Formation Flag [a flag used as a component in a magical array] were used to set up a Formation [a magical array] within a high-grade Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy], its power would double.

At that point, the strength of the Four Symbols True Spirits [the spiritual entities summoned by the Four Symbols Formation] would be comparable to four cultivators at the Golden Core Perfection [the perfected stage of the Golden Core realm]. Working together, they could likely overpower even a False Infant Soul Realm Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a nascent soul but not yet fully stabilized it].

In recent years, the Spiritual Peach Tree at Spirit Isle Lake has been on the verge of advancing to Fourth Rank Mid-Grade. Once it reaches Fourth Rank Mid-Grade, it will be able to unleash roughly ninety percent of this formation's ultimate power.

Once the Formation is deployed at that time, combined with the Primordial Unity Heaven-Sealing Formation, it would be capable of offering some resistance even against an Infant Soul Early Stage cultivator.

Exquisite Jiang stored the Formation Flag, her gaze resting on the Path Pattern Gemstone and the Azure-Gold Glazed Armor before her. She smiled and said, "With these treasures, it seems we will soon possess a true Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure of our own."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen took out the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor and the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor, his face alight with joy.

He placed the three Glazed armors together. With a soft *ding*, they fused into one, merging into a single magnificent suit of armor shimmering in crimson, violet, and azure hues.

A radiance of three dazzling lights erupted. The intricate formation patterns on each piece began to intertwine and merge, growing increasingly profound and inscrutable. In the blink of an eye, the armor's power had ascended to the level of a Quasi-Fifth Rank treasure.

Watching the treasures merge, Eldrin Chen turned his attention to the Path Pattern Gemstone.

The Path Pattern Gemstone is ranked alongside the Creation Jade as one of the most precious treasures for Golden Core Realm cultivators. Its paramount value lies in the profoundly mysterious Innate Path Patterns it contains.

When such a Path Pattern Gemstone is fused with a top-grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], it can catalyze the evolution of the treasure's formation patterns, elevating it to the Quasi-Fifth Rank level.

Furthermore, most cultivators who have just broken through to the Infant Soul [the stage where one's nascent soul is formed] realm have not yet elevated their Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded enchanted artifact] to the level of a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a higher-grade bonded treasure with a nascent artifact spirit]. They have not deduced the method for their Lifebound Magical Treasure to advance.

The energy and focus of an Infant Soul Cultivator are also finite. Attempting to deduce the advancement path for multiple Lifebound Magical Treasure often exceeds their capacity, leaving them with the will but not the strength. After all, not everyone possesses the Banished Immortal's Bearing [a destiny marked by profound talent and reincarnated wisdom] like Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang.

At this point, if one obtains a Path Pattern Gemstone [a gemstone containing the natural patterns of the Great Dao] and integrates it into their Lifebound Magical Treasure, it can allow the treasure's formation patterns to evolve on their own.

Generally speaking, just three Path Pattern Gemstone are sufficient to elevate the formation patterns of a Lifebound Magical Treasure to the level of a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure.

This method of advancement has its flaws. The potential of the formation patterns in a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure capable of subduing demons] promoted in this way is greatly diminished. At most, such a treasure can usually only advance to the level of a Mid-Grade Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure. For the best reading experience, visit @udio-novel.com.