Chapter 489 : The Nirvana Pool's Sacrifice

"This..."

Eldrin Chen's expression darkened slightly, and he could not help but ask, "Is there truly no way to save him?"

"It is already too late."

"The optimal window for extracting the blood malignancy energy has already passed. Even if we expend immense effort and resources to forcibly purge it, we would only be left with a ruined physical vessel."

"It would be better to simply abandon the current body and spend three hundred years within the Nirvana Pool [a mystical pool capable of recreating a cultivator's physical form] to forge a new one."

Nine Rivers True Lord shook his head with a bitter smile. He explained to Eldrin Chen that the Blood Malignancy Heart-Piercing Spike [a vile enchanted weapon that inflicts a corrupting curse] was exceptionally malicious. The residual blood malignancy energy had already seeped deep into his organs and was now nearly impossible to completely eradicate.

His vital organs and essence blood had been contaminated. Unless he were a cultivator who practiced a Pure Yang Dao Method [a cultivation art of ultimate yang purity, effective against corruption], it would be exceedingly difficult to purify such a defiling force.

The only alternative would be to employ an overwhelmingly potent Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power] or a rare treasure elixir to incinerate it. However, using such a violent method, even if successful in purging the corruption, would utterly devastate the physical body in the process.

After speaking, he fixed a grave gaze upon Eldrin Chen. "Once I discard this body and enter the Nirvana Pool to rebuild my form, I will be unable to take action for three hundred years."

"I fear the Demonic Monsters [malevolent beings that cultivate through demonic or monstrous paths] will not let this matter rest. I wonder if I might entrust Nine Rivers Island to your care for the time being?" Access the full story on @udio-novel.com.

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly. The right to utilize a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein [a high-grade source of spiritual energy] and an Earth Vein [a terrestrial energy channel] was a temptation that would stir the heart of any Golden Core Cultivator [a master who has condensed their spiritual power into a golden core] or even a Rogue Nascent Soul True Lord [a powerful, unaffiliated cultivator who has formed their nascent soul].

Yet, after a moment of contemplation, he shook his head. "Our purpose in coming to the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the realm of cultivators bordering the Eastern Sea] is of great importance. Furthermore, we do not plan to linger here long. I fear we would be ill-suited to provide long-term guardianship for this place."

"Alas, I thought it might be so," the other replied, a note of resignation in his voice.

"It seems I must seek aid from my friends within the Eastern Sea Immortal Alliance [a coalition of powerful cultivators and sects of the Eastern Sea]," Nine Rivers True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] sighed. He then made another request: "However, before a suitable True Lord [an honorific for a Nascent Soul realm master] arrives, could you, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator], assist this old man by keeping watch over the area for a time?"

"That is only reasonable," Eldrin Chen agreed with a nod. "We can remain here temporarily. I only ask that the delay not be overly long."

"You have my word, Fellow Daoist. I will not detain you for an excessive period."

As he spoke, Nine Rivers True Lord's face finally broke into a rare smile.

With that matter settled, Lyra Jiang produced the several precious treasures they had seized from the battle.

These treasures were the carapace and physical remains of the Bixia Demon Emperor [a mighty turtle demon sovereign], along with the immensely valuable Demon Emperor Nascent Soul [the condensed spiritual core of a demon emperor].

Surveying the three items, she stated calmly, "We all contributed significantly to this battle. Let us divide the spoils amongst ourselves."

"There is no need for such formality."

The Nine Rivers True Lord hastily declined, shaking his head. "The Bixia Demon Emperor was slain by you, and you have also saved my life. How could I possibly have the audacity to claim a share of the spoils?"

"True Lord, you need not worry overmuch."

Eldrin Chen's expression was calm, a faint, composed smile gracing his lips. "Had you not intercepted the Black-Robed True Lord, Fellow Daoist, it is likely my wife and I would have struggled to achieve such a result."

"Moreover, you expended a Metallic Essence Demon-Slaying Sword Talisman and deployed the Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Formation Flags. One could say your contribution was far greater than ours."

"As for the debt of saving your life, let us consider it a karmic bond between us. Perhaps when the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm arrives, we may yet support one another."

Hearing this, the Nine Rivers True Lord gave a slight, inward nod.

In this battle, his contribution had indeed been the greatest. Furthermore, having more friends meant more paths in life. If one insisted on settling every karmic debt immediately, true friendship would be hard to forge, and in times of future hardship, there would be few to lend support.

With this thought, the Nine Rivers True Lord spoke. "This old man shall remember the debt of saving my life and will surely repay you in the future, Fellow Daoist."

"Your consideration is noted, Fellow Daoist."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, his gaze settling upon the Bixia Demon Emperor's carapace. "This object," he said, "is the concentrated essence of the Bixia Demon Emperor's entire being. It is more than sufficient to forge a Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact designed for protection]."

"I possess a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact intrinsically linked to its owner's life force] that requires this very material for its refinement. I shall, with some embarrassment, claim it for myself."

Nine Rivers True Lord gave a nod of understanding. His eyes then turned to the demon emperor's massive corpse. "This creature's bloodline is extraordinary," he mused. "If I use its flesh and blood essence to reconstruct my physical form, the resulting body's resilience could be formidable indeed."

"Furthermore, its skeletal structure is a crucial component for crafting a Fifth Rank [a grade corresponding to the Nascent Soul stage] demon-hunting treasure ship. I must swallow my pride and request it be allotted to me."

"That is only fitting," Eldrin Chen agreed.

Eldrin Chen chuckled, his demeanor accommodating. "This Demon Emperor's remains are far too colossal. Transporting them would require me to constantly expend spiritual energy to sustain the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a spatial treasure capable of containing vast objects]. It is far more practical to leave them with you, for your shipbuilding and physical restoration." Original English translation available at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

With that settled, the trio's attention shifted to the Bixia Demon Emperor's Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator or demon that forms after the Golden Core stage].

The Bixia Demon Emperor possessed a noble lineage, and the Nascent Soul it had condensed was comparable to a Human Race cultivator's Earthly Dao Nascent Soul [a high-quality Nascent Soul formed with a strong connection to earthly principles]. It brimmed with an abundance of Primordial Creation Qi [the fundamental energy of creation, essential for high-level cultivation and alchemy], potent enough to refine three Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the formation of a Nascent Soul].

Contemplating this, the Nine Rivers True Lord spoke. "To refine the Nascent Soul Formation Pill, a significant quantity of auxiliary Spirit Medicine [plants imbued with spiritual energy, used in alchemy] will be required. Allow this old man to gather these materials."

"Once prepared, I shall entrust the task to a master alchemist within the Immortal Alliance. Given the skill of their Fifth Rank High Grade Alchemist [an alchemist capable of crafting Nascent Soul-grade pills], we can be assured of successfully producing all three Nascent Soul Formation Pill."

"After the matter is accomplished, one of the pills will go to the Alliance's Alchemist [a master of the art of refining spiritual pills], and the remaining two we shall split evenly between us?"

"Then I shall trouble you with this."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Gathering the supplementary ingredients for a single Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the formation of a Nascent Soul] was no simple task. Only a force like Nine Rivers Island, with its heritage spanning several Millennium [a period of one thousand years] and possessing sufficient Deep-Seated Foundation [profound and stable foundational strength], had the necessary resources.

Since the other party was willing to handle this, it saved him considerable effort and planning.

After settling this matter, Eldrin Chen's expression held a trace of hesitation before he spoke. "I observed that your Fellow Daoist's Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner [a set of eight banners used to form a powerful demon-subduing formation] possesses extraordinary power, capable of allowing a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual power into a Golden Core] to unleash combat strength rivaling a Nascent Soul [a cultivator whose spirit has formed an independent Nascent Soul, a higher realm of existence]."

"I wonder if you could impart the method for this formation to us? I am willing to exchange it for cultivation arts or Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques derived from profound cultivation]."

"The Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner?" The Nine Rivers True Lord [a title for a powerful Nascent Soul realm cultivator] was momentarily taken aback, then laughed. "Your Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] has a keen eye."

"The crafting method for this set of Formation Flags [magical flags used as the core components of a formation] was something I obtained by chance in my youth. Its potential power far exceeds its current state. It is merely my own insufficient cultivation and the lack of suitable materials that limited me to crafting only a Fifth Rank Low Grade [a treasure of the fifth rank, the lowest grade within that tier] version."

"If you acquire this crafting method, you may study it carefully. Perhaps you can forge a set of Formation Flags capable of shaking the heavens and the earth."

As he spoke, the Nine Rivers True Lord handed a jade slip to Eldrin Chen. "As for an exchange, it is unnecessary. While such a treasure is precious, creating a copy incurs virtually no cost."

"As long as Fellow Daoist vows not to sell it to others, then this set of Formation shall be gifted to you."

Eldrin Chen accepted it without demur, merely cupping his hands in acknowledgment. "Since Fellow Daoist is willing to bestow this gift, I shall accept it with gratitude."

This exchange, resulting in the acquisition of the extraordinary crafting method for these Formation Flags, fostered a sense of deepened camaraderie between them.

At that moment, Nine Rivers True Lord was seized by a fit of heavy coughing.

His face was pale, his aura frail as he spoke, "This old man's mortal frame cannot endure much longer. Before I must abandon this flesh, I must journey once more to the Pure Yang Immortal Clan Lin, to entrust their Grand Elder with the crafting of a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the formation of a Nascent Soul, the next major stage of cultivation]."

"It is not the time for lengthy discourse today. Once I have restored my physical form, I shall return for a proper, extended conversation with Fellow Daoist." This chapter is provided by audio - novel . com. Support the original.