Chapter 416 : The Netherstone Gambit

"A Nether Stone [a stone imbued with the essence of the Netherworld]?"

As crimson twilight radiance cascaded across the heavens, the Setting Sun Wheel suddenly spoke.

Gazing at the Nether Stone, it revealed a trace of surprise: "We are precisely lacking a Fifth Rank Treasure to serve as the Formation Eye [the core node that anchors and powers a mystical formation]. If you place this object within the Formation Eye, it can be used to strengthen the suppression of Ignatius the Blazing Lord."

"As long as the demonic fiend desires to break free, it will be compelled to continuously refine the Nether Stone with its True Flame [a cultivator's purified flame essence]. In time, the Netherworld essence within will naturally be purged."

"That is indeed an excellent strategy."

Eldrin Chen remarked with pleasant surprise. This was a true stratagem of open confrontation. To escape its confinement, Ignatius the Blazing Lord would undoubtedly devote its full power to refining the Nether Stone.

This would both suppress Ignatius the Blazing Lord and cleanse the Netherworld essence from the Nether Stone, achieving two objectives with a single action.

Without delay, they joined forces, positioning the Netherworld gemstone as the Formation Eye upon the grand Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for various mystical purposes].

Once the Formation was reinforced, the Setting Sun Wheel offered a final caution: "This Nether Stone is not a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [an artifact of supreme power specifically forged to suppress demonic entities]; it possesses no will of its own. Once the Netherworld essence within the stone is exhausted, it will begin to be refined by Ignatius the Blazing Lord."

"The Netherworld essence will likely be fully consumed within one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle], and the stone itself will be completely refined by Ignatius the Blazing Lord within two such cycles." For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel*com.

"Therefore, you must return within two Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] to retrieve the Void Gem [a rare gemstone containing spatial energies], otherwise it will be far more difficult to deal with once he has refined this treasure."

"We understand."

Lyra Jiang nodded. They could scarcely wait even one Jiazi-time, let alone wait until after two had passed to come and retrieve it.

Seeing their agreement, the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [artifacts of immense power used to suppress demonic forces] revealed faint smiles. With the aid of this Nether Stone [a stone imbued with the essence of the underworld], their task for the next century would be considerably easier.

With this thought, the Moonlight Wheel [a powerful artifact shaped like a wheel of moonlight] still handed over the Creation Treasure Jade [a jade containing the power of creation] and the Abyssal Spirit Treasure Jade [a jade holding the spirit of the abyss] to the pair. "You have aided us greatly this time. Please take this Creation Treasure Jade and Abyssal Spirit Treasure Jade."

"Our thanks, Seniors." Eldrin Chen offered no further refusal. After accepting the treasures, he said, "This Nether Stone is of extraordinary value. We entrust its safekeeping to you both."

"Set your mind at ease. With us here, its security is assured." The Moonlight Wheel spoke, its voice pausing briefly. "We believe that with your talents, your strength will have grown immensely a century hence."

"With your assistance then, perhaps we can slay Ignatius the Blazing Lord and finally eradicate this thorn in our side."

Eldrin Chen's heart stirred slightly. The companion Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact] of Ignatius the Blazing Lord was forged from astonishing materials. If its essence could be extracted and fused into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a sword of returning abyssal fire], it might aid the blade in ascending to become a Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword [an immortal-grade sword for vanquishing demons].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of anticipation. He nodded and said, "Rest assured, Seniors. Once our strength is sufficient, we will naturally take action to utterly annihilate that fiend."

"In that case, our minds are at ease."

The two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [supreme artifacts designed to suppress and vanquish demonic forces] spoke no more, sinking into the Firmament [the vast, overarching sky or heavens] and beginning to draw upon the power of the Spirit Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy] to restore themselves.

Their expenditure in this battle had been immense; even with the aid of the Fifth Rank Formation [a powerful magical array of the fifth rank] for recovery, it would still require no small amount of time.

Seeing matters here concluded, Lyra Jiang, having restored a portion of her spiritual power, said, "The ruins are about to close. We should not linger. Let us return first and discuss matters there."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded and took flight, heading out of the ancient ruins.

Mindful of the two formidable enemies on Heavenly Abode Continent, they did not tarry in the area after departing the ruins.

They soared on their swords over the Heaven's Spine Mountains, returning within the borders of Ji Continent. To prevent any leak of information, they once again avoided using the Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances], making their way back to Spirit Isle Lake in complete secrecy.

Upon returning to Spirit Isle Lake, Eldrin Chen allowed himself a slight sigh of relief. He retrieved the Creation Treasure Jade [a jade imbued with potent creative energies] and the Abyssal Spirit Treasure Jade [a precious jade containing profound abyssal spiritual essence], saying:

"I see the Clan Treasury still holds Cloud-Returning Flowers and the Five Elements Treasure Pearl [a pearl containing the balanced essence of the five fundamental elements]. Later, we shall have the clansmen gather more Spirit Medicine [plants infused with spiritual energy, used in alchemy] to refine both the Creation Abyssal Pill [a pill of profound creation and abyssal power] and the Creation Cloud-Returning Pill."

"I will have our people check as well, to see if the Clan Treasury of the Heaven's Ruin Sect holds any of these treasures."

Lyra Jiang also said with a smile. This time, they had not only achieved their wish but had also obtained this piece of Creation Treasure Jade and two pieces of Abyssal Spirit Treasure Jade.

After consuming the Creation Abyssal Pill, a Golden Core Cultivator can gain one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] worth of cultivation. Both Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang had already taken this pill, but the Old Patriarch and Kael Chen of the clan could still benefit from it.

The Old Patriarch possessed Two Spiritual Roots and had fewer Lifebound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's soul] than Eldrin Chen. With Eldrin Chen's full support, his cultivation speed had always been remarkably fast.

He was now at the Golden Core, 4th Tier [the fourth layer of the Golden Core realm]. Taking the pill would allow him to immediately catch up to Eldrin Chen and likely even surpass him, reaching Golden Core Great Perfection [the peak of the Golden Core realm] even sooner.

To refine the treasure pills, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang mobilized the entire strength of their clan and the Heaven's Ruin Alliance, initiating a large-scale acquisition of the auxiliary Spirit Medicine [herbs imbued with spiritual energy]. Published by audio-novel`com. All rights reserved.

In less than a month, they had gathered all the necessary auxiliary Spirit Medicine, and they immediately began the pill refinement process.

This alchemical endeavor consumed nearly half a year. The two of them refined all the Fourth Rank Spirit Medicine [high-grade spiritual herbs] stored in the clan's Clan Treasury, only then emerging from their Seclusion Chamber.

On this day, as the final cauldron of Creation [the power of genesis and transformation] Origin-Returning Pills was completed, Eldrin Chen stored the pills away and said with joy, "With these pills, within one Jiazi-time, I will undoubtedly break through to the Golden Core, Late Stage."

They had refined a considerable number of Pill this time. First, they consumed two pieces of Abyssal Spirit Treasure Jade and the Five Elements Treasure Pearl to open the furnace and refine two batches of Creation Abyssal Pill.

Of these two batches of Creation Abyssal Pill [a supreme pill that aids in profound cultivation breakthroughs], the first yielded two pills, while the second finally achieved a greater success, producing a full three precious pills.

After obtaining five Creation Abyssal Pill [a supreme pill that aids in profound cultivation breakthroughs], they did not stop immediately. Instead, they proceeded to refine another batch, this time of Longevity Pill [a pill that extends the lifespan of a cultivator].

As far back as two hundred years ago, they had obtained a stalk of Sun Moon Grass [a rare herb that absorbs the essence of the sun and moon] from Celestial Python Lake. Now, after more than two centuries had passed, Celestial Python Lake itself had long since fallen into ruin.

It was only now, after the place had been renamed Heaven's Ruin Lake, that they had finally gathered the complete set of Spirit Medicine [spiritually potent herbs used in alchemy] required for a single batch of Longevity Pill [a pill that extends the lifespan of a cultivator], a testament to the pill's immense rarity.

To refine this single batch of Longevity Pill [a pill that extends the lifespan of a cultivator], Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang labored tirelessly, forgetting sleep and food for an entire month. Their efforts were finally rewarded with success, yielding three precious pills.

A Fourth Rank Longevity Pill [a high-grade pill that extends lifespan by one hundred twenty years] could extend one's lifespan by two Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle]. The high-ranking cultivators of the Chen Clan still possessed relatively long lifespans and had no immediate need for such a pill. Selling it would undoubtedly help alleviate the clan's external debts accrued in recent years.

In addition to the Longevity Pill [a pill that extends the lifespan of a cultivator], they also refined a batch of Nirvana Pill [a pill capable of reconstructing a cultivator's physical body]. This Nirvana Pill was an indispensable treasure for Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy].

Although such a pill could only yield one pill per batch, possessing it meant that even if a clan Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy] suffered bodily destruction in the future, their path of cultivation would not be irrevocably severed.

Furthermore, they refined two batches of Golden Core Formation Pill [a pill that aids in the formation of the Golden Core], producing a total of eight pills. One remaining Fourth Rank High Grade Demonic Core [the condensed spiritual core of a high-level demonic beast] could not be used because they lacked sufficient Heavenly Heart Herb [a core herb for certain high-grade pills], so it was set aside for future use.

The final batch was the Creation Cloud-Returning Pill [a pill of immense creation and restorative power]. Refined using Creation Treasure Jade [a jade imbued with potent creative energies], the cost of materials for a single batch of this pill exceeded fifteen million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Fearing any mishap, the two of them labored diligently for three months before finally completing the refinement. Although the yield was a mere three pills, just enough to ensure they broke even, it was nonetheless considered a significant achievement for both Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang. This chapter is provided by audio‑novel.com. Support the original.