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 jade was a truly rare and peerless treasure [a treasure of exceptional rarity and value].

This object was known as the Water Vein Spirit Jade [a spiritual jade formed within a water vein, containing concentrated water-attribute essence]. Like its counterpart, the Fire Vein Spirit Jade, it was one of the legendary Five Veins Precious Jade [a set of five supreme spiritual jades, each corresponding to one of the five elemental veins].

It could aid water-attribute cultivators in breaking through to the Infant Soul Realm [the realm where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed], and could also be used as a core material for forging a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade magical treasure specifically designed to suppress and vanquish demons].

Exquisite Jiang's External Incarnation [a powerful divine ability that creates an external, autonomous avatar] had been forged using a Water Vein Spirit Pearl. Once it fused with this Water Vein Spirit Jade, its very foundation could ascend to the level of a Spiritual Treasure [a sentient, self-aware magical treasure], and its cultivation base and spiritual power would reach the Infant Soul Realm.

Although such an incarnation would be limited to using only water-attribute magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] and Divine Abilitys [supernatural powers mastered through cultivation], and could not integrate any Innate Great God Ability [a supreme divine ability born from one's innate constitution], its spiritual power would be equivalent to a Mortal Path Infant Soul cultivator [an Infant Soul cultivator following the standard mortal cultivation path]. Its combat strength would be roughly on par with someone like Crimson Flame True Lord.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen turned to Exquisite Jiang and declared, "The value of this item is extraordinary. No matter the cost, we must acquire it."

"Agreed."

Exquisite Jiang nodded in affirmation. The boost in combat power from a Fifth Rank External Incarnation would surpass even that provided by a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure.

However, the Water Vein Spirit Jade required a millennium of gestation within a Fifth Rank Water Vein [a fifth-grade spiritual land node rich in water-attribute energy]. Due to its wider range of uses and profound mysteries, its value far exceeded even that of a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming the Nascent Soul]. Acquiring it would likely require a staggering sum of Heavenly Crystals [a high-purity, high-density form of spiritual energy crystal used as currency by high-level cultivators].

A treasure of this caliber started with a base price of sixty Heavenly Crystals, a sum that would make even an Infant Soul True Lord [an honorary title for a powerful cultivator at the Infant Soul Realm] covet it intensely. The final selling price, driven by bidding, was often significantly higher. For the best reading experience, visit audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Although they possessed seventy Heavenly Crystal [a highly refined and potent form of spiritual energy crystal], acquiring this piece of Water Vein Spirit Jade [a rare jade infused with the essence of water veins] would not be an easy task.

Having reached this conclusion, Exquisite Jiang immediately sent a voice transmission to Profound Fate Ji: "I am willing to offer seventy Heavenly Crystal [highly refined spiritual energy crystals] to purchase this Water Origin Spirit Jade [a jade containing the primordial essence of water]."

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

"However, our Clan Patriarch urgently requires Origin Heavenly Crystal [the most primordial and potent grade of Heavenly Crystal], otherwise I would have been willing to give you a more favorable price."

As Profound Fate Ji had not yet reached the Infant Soul Realm [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed], he was not considered a high-ranking member of the Ji Clan. He roughly knew that Exquisite Jiang hailed from the Kiang Clan, but was unaware of her true status. Nevertheless, he took it upon himself to gift them an additional five Five Elements Spirit Fruit [fruits imbued with the balanced spiritual essence of the five elements].

Exquisite Jiang did not refuse the offer. The extra Five Elements Spirit Fruit [spiritual fruits of the five elements] gifted by the other party might allow their clan to produce one or two more Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed a golden core of spiritual energy], which counted as a profitable gain.

After completing this transaction, the Heavenly Crystal [high-grade spiritual crystals] in their possession were nearly exhausted, and their reserve of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] was also dwindling.

Although many precious treasures followed in the auction, and they coveted the invaluable Fifth Rank Spirit Talisman [a talisman of immense power, ranked fifth among spiritual artifacts], they no longer had the means to purchase them.

Once the Barter Convention concluded, Eldrin Chen did not linger at the Ji Continent Market. After bidding farewell to Like Dream Willow, he returned directly to Chu Nation.

"..."

"You have finally returned."

Upon their return to Yu County, Old Patriarch sought out Eldrin Chen.

During the years that Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang were absent from Chu Nation, the strongest pillars supporting the family had been Old Patriarch and Kael Chen.

Between the two, Kael Chen's cultivation was at the Golden Core 5th Tier, yet with the foundation of a Superior-Tier Golden Core and three powerful Lifebound Magical Treasure, his combat prowess surpassed even that of an ordinary Golden Core Late Stage cultivator by a significant margin.

Old Patriarch's cultivation had long since reached the Golden Core 6th Tier. Relying on the foundation of his Middle-Tier Golden Core, the depth of his spiritual power was not inferior to that of a Golden Core 7th Tier cultivator.

In truth, his spiritual power had already touched the threshold of the Golden Core 7th Tier. However, he had been exceedingly busy these years overseeing the family's relocation.

Furthermore, concerned that the family would lack a strong guardian if he entered 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 and said, "Now that you are back, 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 emotion as he spoke.

The Old Patriarch shook his head and spoke with a tone of helplessness, "I have it relatively easy. Your Uncle Lior and Aunt Verdant Grace are the ones truly swamped, running around with their hands full."

Listening to his account, Eldrin Chen finally understood. Verdant Grace Chen should have made her Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where spiritual power condenses into a solidified core] breakthrough several years prior. However, she had delayed it to help procure Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth] for him, planning to attempt her breakthrough only after she had finished helping him through this busy period.

Eldrin Chen felt a wave of speechless emotion wash over him. The amount of Five Elements Essence consumed in forging a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a top-tier magical artifact of immense power, capable of suppressing demonic forces] was truly staggering. Tallying it up carefully, within the short span of a few decades, they had already successfully forged two Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure personally 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—the 'Polarity Void Mirror' [a mystical mirror capable of manipulating the forces of yin and yang and spatial voids]. Such an immense workload would likely demand a significant investment of time and effort even from an established Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by cultivators at the Infant Soul stage, the fourth major realm].

Procuring the Five Elements Essence involved dealing with a clientele numbering in the thousands—low-level cultivators. The total Five Elements Essence produced by the low-level cultivators of an entire nation over several decades would only be sufficient to forge a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure.

This calculation didn't even include the vast quantities of Five Elements Essence they had consumed in cultivating their various Divine Ability [supernatural arts and techniques mastered by high-level cultivators]. Over the years, the Five Elements Essence Eldrin Chen alone had used up while training his Divine Ability was worth over ten million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Visit audi0-n0vel.c0m to enjoy the complete series.

The combined assets of the Chen Clan and Exquisite Jiang now included nine Fourth-Rank Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with potent spiritual energy of the fourth rank], a fourth-rank Spirit Stone mine, and control over a vast network of shops, marketplaces, tax revenues, ferry services, and elixir trade businesses.

Their combined annual income was approaching one million Spirit Stone. After deducting salaries, various other expenses, and operational costs, the wealth they managed to accumulate over a century still amounted to several tens of millions of Spirit Stone.

However, the Chen Clan's rise to become a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan whose foundation is built upon cultivators at the Golden Core stage] had occurred less than two hundred years ago. Their accumulated foundation and reserves were still somewhat limited.

The acquisition of a single piece of Water Vein Spirit Jade [a rare type of spirit jade that channels and purifies water-element spiritual energy, often found in spiritual water veins] had nearly drained the entire income generated from two centuries of their clan's diligent management.

Were it not for the three Worldly Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of exceptional quality that can absorb worldly spiritual energy] and the spoils from numerous battles acquired by Eldrin Chen, he would likely be living a life of stringent frugality even now.

The consumption of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] required for his cultivation of Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique] and magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] was truly immense. Over these years, the majority of his family's contribution points had been spent on this very Five Elements Essence.

And this was merely at the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation where one forms a solidified golden core of spiritual power]. The Great God Ability [a supreme-level divine technique] he practiced had only reached the minor accomplishment stage. Should he break through to the Infant Soul Realm [the fourth major stage where the golden core matures into a nascent spiritual infant], the amount of Five Elements Essence required to cultivate a single Great God Ability to major accomplishment would represent an astronomical expenditure.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "You have all toiled diligently these years. Henceforth, minor matters should be handed over to the Council of Elders [the governing body of senior clan members] for disposition. Your focus must remain on cultivation."

"Someone must always take charge of major affairs,"

Old Patriarch replied with a shake of his head and a smile. The business of Five Elements Essence was far too vast. To prevent any clan member from lining their own pockets, it required a person of significant authority to oversee it.

Within the clan, those possessing sufficient prestige, aside from Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch himself, all fell somewhat short.

Both Kael and Lila were at the Superior-Tier Golden Core [the highest grade within the Golden Core Realm]. After forging a Middle-Tier Golden Core [the middle grade within the Golden Core Realm], Silas also showed some potential to reach the Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual infant stage], and his prestige within the clan had been steadily rising in recent years. In principle, they could barely shoulder this responsibility.

Yet, they were still young. The Old Patriarch hoped they could journey much farther on their cultivation paths. Therefore, he proactively shouldered the heavy burden himself, overseeing both the clan's relocation and managing the overall operations of the Five Elements Essence trade. Support the author by reading on audio-novel`com.