Chapter 449 : A Treasure Beyond Measure

Upon seeing these treasures, Eldrin Chen's face lit up with ecstatic joy. The Five Elements Spirit Fruit and the Demon-Subduing Treasure Talisman were impressive enough, but that Ice-Blue Treasure Jade was a truly rare and peerless treasure [a treasure of the highest order, exceptionally difficult to find].

This object was known as Water Vein Treasure Jade. Like the Fire Vein Treasure Jade, it was one of the Five Veins Treasure Jade [a set of five supreme treasures, each corresponding to and born from a specific elemental earth vein].

It could aid a cultivator with a Water Spiritual Root in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm [the stage where a cultivator forms their spiritual infant, a major leap in power and longevity]. Furthermore, it could be used to forge a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a weapon or artifact of the highest grade, capable of suppressing even the most powerful demons].

Lyra Jiang's External Incarnation Body [a powerful technique that creates a separate, autonomous body linked to the cultivator's will] had been forged using a Water Vein Treasure Pearl. Once fused with this Water Vein Treasure Jade, it could elevate its foundation to that of a true Spiritual Treasure [an artifact with its own nascent consciousness and immense power], and its cultivation and mana would reach the level of the Nascent Soul realm.

Although such an incarnation could only utilize Water-attribute Magical Treasures and Divine Abilitys [innate or mastered supernatural powers], and could not integrate a Lifebound Grand Divine Ability [a cultivator's most powerful, soul-bound technique], its mana would be equivalent to that of a Mortal Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul formed through the Mortal Dao path, considered a standard level of power for that realm]. Its combat strength would be roughly on par with someone like Ignatius the Blazing Lord.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen turned to Lyra Jiang and declared, "The value of this item is extraordinary. We must purchase it, no matter the cost."

"Agreed,"

Lyra Jiang nodded firmly. The boost in combat power from a Fifth Rank [equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm] External Incarnation Body would be even greater than that provided by a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure.

However, the Water Vein Treasure Jade required a Millennium [a period of one thousand years] to gestate within a Fifth Rank Water Vein [an underground spiritual water current of the fifth rank, a place of immense power]. Due to its wider range of uses and profound mysteries, its value far exceeded even that of a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a pill that significantly increases the chance of forming a Nascent Soul]. Acquiring it would likely require a staggering sum of Heavenly Crystals [a purified, high-density form of Spirit Stone used by high-level cultivators].

The starting bid for such a supreme treasure was at least six Ten Spirit Stones [sixty Spirit Stones], a price that would make even a Nascent Soul True Lord [an honored title for a powerful Nascent Soul realm cultivator] covet it intensely. The final selling price, after bidding, would likely be driven even higher. For more chapters, visit audio-novel-dot-com for the complete novel.

Although they possessed seventy Heavenly Crystal [a purified and high-density form of Spirit Stone], acquiring this piece of Water Vein Treasure Jade [a precious jade formed within a water essence vein] would not be an easy task.

Having reached this conclusion, Lyra Jiang immediately sent a voice transmission to Ji Aethelred: "I am willing to offer seventy Heavenly Crystal [a purified and high-density form of Spirit Stone] for this piece of Water Vein Treasure Jade [a precious jade formed within a water essence vein]."

Ji Aethelred glanced at Lyra Jiang and promptly replied with a smile, "Ah, it is Immortal Maiden Lyra. Since you desire this item, I naturally will not offer it to anyone else."

"However, our Clan Lord urgently requires Origin Heaven Crystal [a crystal containing the purest essence of heaven and earth], otherwise I would have been willing to offer you a base price."

As Ji Aethelred had not yet reached the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator's spirit forms an independent entity] realm, he was not considered a high-ranking member of the Ji Clan. He roughly understood that Lyra Jiang hailed from the Jiang Clan, but was unaware of her true identity. Nevertheless, he took the initiative to give them five additional Five Elements Spirit Fruit [a rare fruit imbued with the balanced essence of the five elements].

Lyra Jiang did not refuse the gesture. With these extra Five Elements Spirit Fruit [a rare fruit imbued with the balanced essence of the five elements], the clan might be able to produce one or two more Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual essence into a solid golden core], which counted as a profitable gain.

After completing this transaction, their reserves of Heavenly Crystal [a purified and high-density form of Spirit Stone] were nearly exhausted, and their Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] were also running low.

Although many precious treasures remained in the later stages of the auction, including the invaluable Fifth Rank [a grade corresponding to the Nascent Soul realm] Spirit Talisman [a powerful talisman infused with spiritual energy], they no longer had the means to bid for them.

Once the Barter Convention [a grand gathering for cultivators to trade rare resources] concluded, Eldrin Chen did not linger at the Ji Continent Trading Post. After bidding farewell to Liu Seraphina, he returned to the lands of the Chu Kingdom.

"You have finally returned."

Upon returning to Yu County, Old Patriarch immediately sought out Eldrin Chen.

During the years that Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang were absent from the Chu Kingdom, the strongest pillars supporting the clan had been Old Patriarch and Kael Chen.

Between the two, Kael Chen's cultivation was at the Golden Core, 5th Tier. However, bolstered by his Superior Golden Core Deep-Seated Foundation [a profound and stable cultivation base] and three powerful Life-Bound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's soul], his combat prowess surpassed even that of an ordinary Golden Core, Late Stage cultivator by a significant margin.

Old Patriarch's own cultivation had long since reached the Golden Core Sixth Layer. With his Middle Golden Core Deep-Seated Foundation, the depth of his mana rivaled that of a cultivator at the Golden Core Seventh Layer.

In truth, his mana reserves had already brushed against the threshold of the Golden Core Seventh Layer. However, the years spent overseeing the clan's relocation had kept him perpetually occupied.

Compounded by his concern that the clan would be left without a strong guardian during a prolonged seclusion, he had never found the time to retreat and attempt his breakthrough.

The moment he saw Eldrin Chen return, Old Patriarch breathed a sigh of relief. "Now that you are back," he said, "I can finally enter seclusion and attempt to break through to the Golden Core, Late Stage."

"You have borne great hardship these years, Old Granduncle,"

Eldrin Chen nodded, his expression tinged with heartfelt emotion.

Old Patriarch shook his head, a note of helplessness in his voice. "My burden was light compared to theirs. Your Uncle Lior and Aunt Elara have been run ragged, managing affairs with barely a moment's rest."

Listening to his account, Eldrin Chen finally understood. Chen Elara should have broken through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, forming a solidified golden core of power] a few years prior. However, she had delayed her own advancement to acquire Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] for him. She planned to wait until she had finished helping him with this matter before attempting her breakthrough.

Eldrin Chen felt a complex mix of emotions, words failing him. The amount of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] consumed to forge a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a pinnacle-grade magical artifact of immense power, capable of suppressing demonic forces] was truly staggering. Tallying it up, within the short span of a few decades, they had already successfully crafted two Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them].

Now, they were about to embark on forging a third Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them]—the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void [a mystical mirror capable of manipulating the forces of Yin, Yang, and the Void]. Such an immense undertaking, even for a Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a clan with cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm, a major power], would likely consume vast amounts of time and resources.

Acquiring Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] involved dealing with thousands upon thousands of low-level cultivators. The total output of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] from the low-level cultivators of an entire kingdom would still take several decades to accumulate enough for a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a pinnacle-grade magical artifact of immense power, capable of suppressing demonic forces].

This calculation didn't even include the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] they consumed in cultivating their various Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques mastered by high-level cultivators]. Over the years, the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] Eldrin Chen alone had used to train his Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques mastered by high-level cultivators] was worth over ten million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

The Chen Clan now possessed nine Fourth Rank Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with a fourth-rank spirit vein, making them prime cultivation sites], controlled a Fourth Rank [a grade of power corresponding to the Golden Core realm] Spirit Stone Mine [a vein rich in Spirit Stones], and held a vast portfolio of businesses including shops, marketplaces, tax revenues, ferry services, and Pill [elixirs or spiritual pills used for cultivation and healing] trade. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at www . audio-novel.com.

Their annual combined income approached one million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. However, after deducting salaries, operational costs, and other expenses, the net wealth they could accumulate over a century still amounted to tens of millions of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Yet, the Chen Clan had only truly risen to become a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan with Golden Core realm cultivators as its pillars] for less than two centuries. Their accumulated Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and stable accumulation of resources, knowledge, and power that forms a clan's long-term strength] was still somewhat limited.

A single piece of Water Vein Treasure Jade [a precious jade formed at the heart of a powerful water spirit vein] had nearly exhausted the income from two centuries of their clan's diligent management.

If not for the proceeds from Eldrin Chen's three Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful type of spiritual plant that draws energy from heaven and earth] and the spoils from their repeated major battles, Eldrin Chen would likely be living a much more frugal existence even now.

Because he cultivated Divine Ability and Magical Treasure, the consumption of Five Elements Essence was truly immense. Over these years, the majority of his Clan Merit Points had been spent on this Five Elements Essence.

And this was merely at the Golden Core realm, with his Great Divine Ability only at a minor achievement stage. If he were to break through to the Nascent Soul realm and wished to cultivate a Great Divine Ability to major achievement, the expenditure of Five Elements Essence would become an astronomical sum.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen said, "You have all worked hard these years. From now on, minor matters should be left to the Elder Council to handle. You must still focus on your cultivation."

"Someone must always be in charge of major affairs," Old Patriarch replied.

Old Patriarch shook his head with a smile. The Five Elements Essence business was too vast. To prevent any clan member from lining their own pockets, it required a person of sufficient prestige to oversee it.

Within the clan, those with enough prestige, aside from Eldrin Chen and Old Patriarch, were still somewhat lacking.

Kael and Lila had both forged Superior Golden Core. After Silas forged his Middle Golden Core, he also showed some Nascent Soul Potential, and his prestige had gradually risen over the years. In principle, they could barely shoulder this responsibility.

However, they were still young. Old Patriarch hoped they could travel further on their paths. Therefore, he proactively took on the heavy burden himself, overseeing the clan's migration while also managing and coordinating the Five Elements Essence business. The story continues at audio‑novel.com.