Chapter 471 : Ancient Inscriptions and Stellar Treasures

The Old Patriarch, Kael Chen, and Lila had, to everyone's surprise, surpassed the others with their profound cultivation and Path Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path], earning the right to contemplate the Ancient Primordial Inscription [a mysterious stone carving containing profound ancient truths].

Silas Chen's cultivation was slightly weaker, having just reached the Golden Core 4th Tier himself, but he still secured an internal nomination slot given by Path Master Unreal.

For a time, it seemed that four of the ten slots for contemplating at this Path Discussion Assembly were occupied by members of the Chen Immortal Clan, a fact that truly stirred envy in many hearts.

After another dozen or so days, the group finished their contemplation of the ancient inscription and emerged from the Seclusion Chamber with expressions of joy.

Seeing their radiant expressions, Eldrin Chen knew their gains were immense and asked with a smile, "How do you feel?"

"The harvest was substantial," the Old Patriarch replied, stroking his beard with a pleased smile. "This old man has sorted through his cultivation path, and many confusions accumulated over the years have been resolved. My future cultivation should proceed much more smoothly."

"Furthermore, my Venus Stellar Pearl [a lifebound magical treasure modeled after the planet Venus] has been refined to a state of perfect harmony. I have begun to grasp the gateway to the methods of the Spiritual Treasure Chapter [the stage of cultivation arts focused on nurturing spiritual treasures]."

"However, Spiritual Treasure-grade Formation Artifact [a set of artifacts designed to work together in a formation] are exceedingly complex. Their refinement can easily take several centuries. To advance it swiftly to the Spiritual Treasure Chapter, I will still need your assistance."

Eldrin Chen nodded with a gentle smile. Refining a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure grown and nurtured alongside a cultivator's own life force] was inherently a monumental task, let alone an entire set of Spiritual Treasure.

The potential of the Old Granduncle's Venus Stellar Pearl was indeed Extraordinary, but relying solely on his own power, it would take at least ten Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years] of effort to complete the refinement—and that was assuming he successfully broke through to the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit stage] first. This novel is serialized on audio-novel-dot-com. Visit for updates.

However, if we wait until Eldrin Chen breaks through to the True Lord Realm [a high stage of cultivation where one's spirit and body are refined to a profound level], and he has some leisure time to help deduce a Lifebound Formation Artifact [a powerful enchanted artifact that is bound to one's life force and soul], that would be the optimal choice.

This is because Eldrin Chen's comprehension far surpasses the ordinary, and he has extensive experience in deducing Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure of immense spiritual power bound to its wielder's very essence]. After advancing to the Infant Soul [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed], deducing a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure should become considerably simpler for him. Moreover, the process of deducing a Formation Artifact [an artifact designed to create or anchor powerful magical formations] and studying its array patterns would also bring him significant benefits.

"Clan Uncle, do not worry. When the time comes, I will lend you my aid," Eldrin Chen said, his gaze then shifting towards Kael Chen and the others.

Seeing his look, Kael Chen nodded calmly and stated, "During this seclusion, I did not dedicate my efforts to deducing a new Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique derived from profound cultivation], nor to refining a Spiritual Treasure. Instead, I focused solely on consolidating and organizing my own cultivation Path Fruit [the tangible results and profound understandings gained from one's unique cultivation journey]."

"It proceeded smoothly enough. By synthesizing the insights from my many years of cultivation, I have founded a cultivation art that is the most perfectly suited to me. I have named it the Tribulation of Demons Ancient Scripture [an ancient and profound scripture focused on overcoming inner and outer demonic tribulations]."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. This elder brother of his clan could not be said to possess astonishing innate talent, but over the years, his perseverance and comprehension had increasingly set him apart.

Long ago, he had gradually come to understand his own Dao-heart [the core conviction and purpose that guides a cultivator's path], and his cultivation progress had grown ever more swift and refined.

Having drafted the foundations of his own cultivation art for many years, he had now used this opportunity to perfect it completely. It seemed he was systematically shoring up his weaknesses, truly growing into his own power.

Beside him, both Lila and Silas Chen had also reaped great rewards. They had successfully organized their own cultivation Path Fruit, and the doubts and perplexities that had accumulated over years of cultivation were suddenly and utterly clarified in this single moment of enlightenment.

Lila had also comprehended several ice-attribute Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique derived from profound cultivation], and Silas had likewise gained clarity on his own path of cultivation.

Seeing that each of them had gained immense harvests, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "Since your contemplations are complete, let us return for now."

"Agreed."

"True Person, please wait a moment."

Just as the group prepared to depart, two figures hurried over.

The arrivals were Feather Sikong and Immortal Maiden Verdant Dipper. They first offered a respectful salute with clasped fists to Old Patriarch and the others, then turned to Eldrin Chen and bowed deeply. "We pay our respects to Fellow Daoist Chen."

"There is no need for such formality."

Eldrin Chen gave a light chuckle and asked calmly, "Have you reached a decision?"

Feather Sikong and Immortal Maiden Verdant Dipper exchanged a glance, their expressions tinged with embarrassment. "To speak truthfully," they said, "we indeed desire the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy] and its Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth-attribute spiritual power]. However, the Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] in our possession..."

Hearing their words, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with understanding. So the reason Feather Sikong and his wife had not agreed immediately was simply because their coffers were empty.

As the saying goes, a single copper coin can bring a hero to his knees. Though both were esteemed Golden Core True Person [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a major milestone], they had a large family of descendants and juniors relying on their care.

They were rogue cultivators at the Golden Core [the Golden Core stage of cultivation] realm, possessing no truly precious assets. Yet, supporting an entire family's cultivation required vast amounts of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

For decades, they had toiled and journeyed tirelessly. The spirit stones they earned were never spent extravagantly; they even begrudged purchasing fourth-rank cultivation elixirs [pills that aid in cultivation]. Consequently, it took them seventy or eighty years just to advance a single minor layer in their cultivation.

If not for Path Master Unreal taking them in and leasing them a Spiritual Vein [a geographical formation that concentrates and emits spiritual energy] cave abode at a rock-bottom price, securing even the basic spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and the world] for their cultivation would have been a monumental struggle.

Yet, despite such meticulous frugality, the spirit stones they had managed to save paled in comparison to the several Golden Core cultivators of the Chen Clan. Naturally, they could not produce the massive sum required to purchase a Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with powerful spiritual energy] anchored by an Earth Vein [a deep, potent vein of earth-attributed spiritual energy], a treasure valued at tens of millions of spirit stones.

After hearing their tale, Kael Chen and the others felt a pang of sympathy.

Without industries to sustain their own cultivation and without a sufficient clan to generate wealth for them... Dive deeper into the Dao at audio - novel . com.

For rogue Golden Core cultivators like them, unless one possessed a profound mastery in one of the Hundred Crafts of Cultivation [the various specialized arts and crafts practiced by cultivators, such as alchemy or artifact forging], merely maintaining one's own cultivation was a formidable challenge, let alone advancing to higher realms.

It was precisely because the sum they lacked was so vast that the couple had been too embarrassed to broach the subject earlier.

Now, with Eldrin Chen's imminent departure looming before them, the husband and wife could no longer restrain themselves. Swallowing their pride, they had finally come to plead their case.

Feather Sikong observed the expressions of the group and revealed a bitter smile. "May I ask, True Person, we wish to acquire the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy], but our funds in Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] are insufficient. Would it be possible to repay this sum in installments?"

The others remained impassive. It was Eternal Profound Chen who spoke up. "How do you propose to structure this repayment?"

"Could we..."

Feather Sikong hesitated, words caught in his throat. It was Immortal Maiden Verdant Dipper who finally voiced their plea. "We wish to purchase the Spirit Mountain and the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth-attribute spiritual energy] located within the Savage Ox Ancient Plain, with the payment spread over two hundred years."

"Impossible."

Eternal Profound Chen shook his head without a moment's hesitation, his refusal absolute.

The combined value of the Spirit Mountain and Earth Vein on the Savage Ox Ancient Plain exceeded twenty million Spirit Stone. The reason they had offered a fifty percent discount was precisely to recoup a massive lump sum of Spirit Stone immediately.

If the other party insisted on stretching payments over two centuries, why wouldn't the Chen Clan simply develop the resources themselves in that time? Two hundred years would be ample to recover seven or eight million Spirit Stone, all while retaining ownership of a complete Spiritual Vein [a concentrated flow of spiritual energy within the earth] that would yield substantial annual profits.

Furthermore, two centuries was far too long a span. Should some cataclysmic upheaval occur, there was no guarantee the Chen Clan would even still exist to collect.

Seeing Eternal Profound Chen's firm rejection, Feather Sikong quickly grasped his arm. "Fellow Daoist, please be assured, we are willing to pay interest on the loan."

"If the repayment is spread over two hundred years, I can offer you two Fourth-Rank Magical Treasures [enchanted artifacts of significant power, ranked fourth among cultivators' treasures] as a deposit, and I can also provide an additional five million Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] as interest."

After hearing this, Lila sent a mental message to Eldrin Chen: "Sikong Feather and his wife lack sufficient Spirit Stones. They will inevitably be forced to hunt a great number of Demon Beasts [monstrous creatures tainted by demonic energy]."

"Allowing them to occupy the Savage Ox Ancient Plain [a vast, untamed grassland region] would also be of considerable benefit to our Chen Nation [the sovereign territory ruled by the Chen Clan] in its efforts to cleanse the lands of Demon Beasts." This novel is serialized on audio-novel . com. Visit for updates.