Chapter 468 Goodbye Zixu Daoren

The Nirvana Pool required 3,650 types of spiritual herbs, hundreds of rare minerals, and 1 Soul-Returning Jade(Special Artifact) to successfully refine.

Although spirit herbs and minerals were difficult to find, with the Chen family's current accumulated resources, they could gather them after saving up for some years. However, the Soul-Returning Jade was a rare treasure of heaven and earth, truly something that could be encountered but not sought.

"This Soul-Returning Jade can be arranged for investigation another day."

Eldrin spoke, then turned his gaze to the assembly and said, "There are tens of thousands of low-level immortal clans in Jizhou. Even within our Tianxu Alliance alone, numerous cultivation families are capable of absorbing third-order spirit veins."

"However, the value of a fourth-grade spirit vein starts at tens of millions of spirit stones. Even if sold at half price, few cultivators would be willing to spend such a fortune."

"Make a trip to the various clans of Ji Province and inquire if any Golden Core cultivators wish to make a purchase."

Everyone nodded. Kael (Person Name) said, "I’ll make the trip."

After further discussions to finalize the details of establishing a cultivation nation, the assembly was adjourned.

After the others had dispersed, Lila remained behind. She gazed at Eldrin, clenched her teeth, and said, "Uncle, I wish to journey to the Extreme Northern Ice Plains."

"Alas."

Eldrin let out a soft sigh. Having spent so many years together, he understood Lila’s thoughts all too well.

The girl had an aloof temperament, yet within her lay an unyielding tenacity. Though the path to the Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul was now within reach, she found herself unable to breach its threshold—an agony she could scarcely endure.

With this thought, Eldrin handed her a storage ring. Inside were treasures personally prepared by Eldrin—aside from 2 peerless magical artifacts, there were also 2 precious talismans crafted by his own hand.

"Take these treasures with you. They may save your life at a critical moment."

She did not decline, taking the storage ring and secretly clutching it tightly in her hand.

Seeing her remain silent, Eldrin spoke again, "Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. By my reckoning, the Ancient Inscription Discourse of Tianhu Continent will open in a few years. When the time comes, you should go and seek enlightenment there."

"Good."

Lila watched his retreating figure, her fingers tightening around the ring in her palm. She remained standing there silently for a long while.

2 years passed in the blink of an eye. As the day of the Ancient Ruins Engraving drew near, Eldrin decided to take several Golden Core cultivators from his clan and set out for Tianhu Zhou.

This time, aside from Eldrin, the group also included the old clan leader, Kael, Chen Silas, and Lila—4 individuals in total.

Eldrin could no longer gain insights from the Ancient Runes, yet he had come in person for 1 reason: to secure a slot or 2 from Master Zixu.

The 4 of them traveled aboard the Celestial Crane Treasure Vessel, and with the aid of teleportation arrays that significantly shortened their journey, they traversed the Starfall Continent at a greatly accelerated pace.

Thus, in just half a year's time, they arrived at Tianhu Island. There, Eldrin (Person Name) met Daoist Zixu.

Elder Zixu smiled upon seeing Eldrin arrive and said, "It has only been 1 100 years, yet I've already heard of your feat in slaying a Pseudo-Nascent Soul demon emperor. Your reputation truly precedes you, Fellow Daoist Chen."

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist." Eldrin smiled, his eyes appraising Daoist Zixu. "Brother Zixu, your cultivation has actually reached the False Infant Realm. I'm afraid your strength is now on par with my own."

"You flatter me."

This kid, Void Daoist, possessed a certain Dao Body, and in return, also wielded a Demon-Subduing Treasure (Magic Treasure). He was counted among the renowned prodigies across the vast 100 Provinces.

Now that his cultivation had advanced another step, the sheer depth of his magical power even far surpassed Eldrin (Person Name). Had it not been for the additional demon-refining supreme treasure in Eldrin (Person Name)'s possession, it was uncertain whether he could have emerged victorious.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Daoist Zixu finally smiled and asked, "Might I ask what brings you to seek me out this time?"

"I have come solely to seek 1 or 2 slots to study the ancient inscriptions."

Eldrin smiled faintly, then began introducing Chen Changxuan and the others to Daoist Zixu.

Upon hearing the introduction, Patriarch Zixu’s pupils contracted slightly as he exclaimed in awe, “Fellow Daoist, your Immortal Clan truly enjoys flourishing fortune. I daresay your future prospects are boundless.”

He cast his gaze toward the old patriarch, Kael, and Lila, stroking his beard as he remarked, "Fellow Daoist Changxuan has reached the Golden Core, Late Stage. With the foundation of a mid-grade golden core, your participation in the discourse alone would surely secure you a spot."

"Although Fellow Daoist Kael and Fairy Xingya possess cultivation at merely the Golden Core, Mid Stage, they have formed superior-grade golden cores, enabling them to stand out through the discourse on the Dao."

"Only Fairy Silas's cultivation is somewhat weaker. I can personally grant her a separate spot."

Eldrin (Person Name) gave a nod, then cupped his hands and said, "My gratitude."

"This is but a trivial matter, no need for thanks."

“I have something to discuss with you,” said Master Zixu with a faint smile, turning to Eldrin. “Come with me.”

"Oh."

Eldrin's eyes flickered slightly as he followed the Ethereal Daoist into a pavilion adorned with towers and terraces.

The Daoist Zixu dismissed the attendants and personally poured a cup of tea for Eldrin before speaking, “Fellow Daoist, as an intelligent individual, you must already surmise why I sought your audience.”

"Could it be..."

Eldrin (Person Name) remained expressionless as he remarked calmly, "Could it be for the Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root)?"

"Indeed." Daoist Zixu nodded, then continued, "According to my calculations, the next celestial resonance shall occur in less than a 100 years from now."

"For us, the nearest place of Heaven and Earth Resonance is the Heaven's Spine Mountains."

By then, countless Golden Core cultivators from across the vast 100 Provinces would join the contest. Among them, those possessing superior Golden Cores alone would likely number no fewer than several dozen.

Eldrin took a sip of the spiritual tea, feeling a stir of emotion in his heart.

Although superior-grade Golden Cores were rare, they could be considered 1 in a 100 among Golden Core cultivators.

However, from the perspective of the vast 100 Provinces, while superior Golden Cores could be considered as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, they were not exactly uncommon.

Consider this: even if only 1 or 2 Superior Golden Cores could emerge within a single continent, the collective number of cultivators who achieved the Superior Golden Core across a 100 continents would exceed 1 100.

Though the vast expanse of a 100 continents held several renowned mountain ranges similar to Heaven's Spine Mountains (Location), even if only a small portion of superior Golden Core cultivators were to gather at Heaven's Spine Mountains (Location), it would likely attract over several dozen human Golden Core experts.

As was customary in previous occasions, among these superior Golden Cores, cultivators possessing Dao Bodies would likely number no fewer than a dozen or so.

This did not even account for the prodigies among the demon race. It was foreseeable that demon kings with formidable bloodlines would also emerge to seize this opportunity.

Though Master Zixu prided himself on his extraordinary talents and serendipitous encounters, and even possessed the Demon-Subduing Treasure in his grasp, he dared not claim with absolute certainty that he could overpower all rivals to seize the Heavenly Dao Qi.

So this old codger Xu Daoren had come to seek an alliance with him this time.

At this thought, Eldrin felt a stirring of desire in his heart.

As was customary, the Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root) nurtured by Heaven's Spine Mountains (Location) numbered no fewer than 3 strands, and never more than 5.

Though he and Lyra possessed formidable strength, and there was even the contingency laid by Magnus the Virtuous Lord, seizing 2 strands of Heavenly Dao Qi at once would not be too easy.

If they formed an alliance with Daoist Zixu, joining forces with their trio would significantly increase their chances of seizing the 3 strands of Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root).