Chapter 490 : A Treasure Forged in Mountain and River

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded and rose to his feet. "Then I shall not impose further," he said. "I wish you a swift recovery from your injuries, True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator]."

After the three parted ways, Nine Rivers True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator], bearing his wounded body, personally escorted the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] of the Bixia Demon Emperor via teleportation to the Pure Yang Immortal Clan Lin. His intent was to commission the Lin Clan's premier Alchemist [a master of pill refinement] to refine a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming the Nascent Soul].

As for Eldrin Chen, he returned immediately to his Cultivation Cave [a secluded abode for meditation and cultivation] and began to take stock of the gains from this venture.

Gazing at the Bixia Turtle Shell in his hand, he could not suppress a smile. "This Bixia Turtle Shell bears the weight of mountains and the flow of Ronan's rivers, and it has been fused with a vast quantity of Primordial Unity Refined Gold Vein [a rare and potent metallic ore]."

"It possesses the resilience of Profound Earth Boulder and the domineering nature of Immortal Mysterious Gold. It can truly be called a first-rate Defensive Treasure Material [a material of exceptional quality for crafting defensive treasures]."

"It is indeed a supreme treasure," he affirmed.

Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement. The Bixia Turtle Shell was Innately Embedded Dao Runes [naturally inscribed with mystical patterns of the Dao]. With just a modest amount of refinement, it could be forged into a Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact for protection].

Alternatively, if smelted down into raw materials, it could be integrated into a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bonded to a cultivator's life force], elevating it to the realm of a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a more advanced, spiritually bonded artifact].

Contemplating this, Lyra Jiang spoke. "For my Earth-Fortress Earth Origin Disk to advance, the ideal primary material would be 'Earth Origin Dao Vein Stone' [a stone imbued with the essence of the earth's origin]. The Six Realms and Eight Desolations Cauldron would be more suited to Metal-Fire Dual Attribute [possessing affinities for both metal and fire elements] Fifth Rank Spirit Material [a high-grade spiritual material]."

"This Bixia Turtle Shell," she asked, "do you intend to fuse it into the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell, or refine it into a separate Spiritual Treasure [a general term for powerful enchanted artifacts]?" Access the full story on audio-novel dot com.

Upon hearing his inquiry, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate and replied with certainty, "Integrating this object into the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell will undoubtedly greatly enhance the defensive power of this Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], transforming it into a peerless Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual-grade treasure bound to its wielder's soul]."

"Indeed, you are currently in need of a Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual-grade treasure specializing in protection]," Lyra Jiang acknowledged with a nod. She then picked up the jade slip containing the information on the Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner and began to examine it.

After merely a few glances, she passed the jade slip to Eldrin Chen, a note of surprise in her voice. "This Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner is truly extraordinary. It seems we have made a fortunate acquisition this time."

"Oh?"

Intrigued, Eldrin Chen took the jade slip and focused his spiritual sense upon it.

After just one look, a slight frown creased his brow, revealing his astonishment.

The Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner was indeed remarkable. Its origins were unknown, having been obtained by chance by the Nine Rivers True Lord [a title for a powerful Nascent Soul realm cultivator]. However, it was undoubtedly a top-tier set of Spiritual Treasure [a treasure of immense power, superior to ordinary magical treasures] Formation Flags [flags used to set up and power formations].

According to the records on the jade slip, this Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner represented a pinnacle-grade set of Spiritual Treasure Grade Formation Flags [formation flags crafted to the standard of spiritual treasures].

This set of Formation Flags was composed of eight individual banners: Heaven, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Separated Flame [a potent, purified flame essence], Water, Mountain, and Marsh. Each banner could unleash a unique and profound Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power mastered by high-level cultivators]. Furthermore, they could be combined in various ways to unleash astonishing synergistic power.

To forge a true set of Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner [a powerful banner formation used to refine and subdue demons], one requires eight rare and wondrous treasures: Heaven Cloud [a celestial cloud essence], Profound Earth [a deep, primordial earth essence], Wind Bamboo [a bamboo imbued with the essence of wind], Thunder Wood [wood that has absorbed the power of thunder], Separated Flame Jade [jade containing the essence of the Separated Flame], Water Liquid [a liquid essence of pure water], Mountain Stone [stone carrying the essence of mountains], and Marsh Gold [gold refined in the heart of a spiritual marsh].

Each of these eight treasures is exceedingly rare in the world, each one a Fifth Rank [a realm of power equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage] Heaven and Earth Treasures [a treasure born from the convergence of heaven and earth's spiritual essence]. Even a Nascent Soul Late Stage True Lord [a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm] would find it immensely difficult to gather them all.

Yet, once assembled, each of these eight Formation Flags [flags used as the core components of a powerful formation] would become a supreme treasure of the Spiritual Treasure [a grade of magical treasure surpassing ordinary artifacts] grade. Once successfully cultivated, one could dominate the Nascent Soul [the realm of spiritual cultivation where one forms a nascent soul] realm, becoming one of the most supreme Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for a powerful master of the Nascent Soul realm].

No matter the thousand Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] or the myriad Divine Ability [supernatural powers cultivated by immortals] arrayed against you, as long as this set of Formation Flags remains unbroken, one would be truly invincible.

Yet, precisely because these eight rare treasures are so difficult to find, the Formation Flags possessed by Nine Rivers True Lord [a True Lord whose Dao title is Nine Rivers] fell far short of their true potential.

The Formation Flags in his hands were merely a flawed set, forged using Fourth Rank [a realm of power equivalent to the Golden Core stage] materials as substitutes. Each flag was only at the Supreme Grade Magical Treasure [the highest grade of magical treasure below the Spiritual Treasure level] tier.

It was also because this Magical Treasure set of Formation Flags was of insufficient grade that Nine Rivers True Lord, when entrusting them, instructed everyone to use them with great care and avoid damaging them.

Even so, this set of Formation Flags could still unleash power approaching that of a Spiritual Treasure, capable of encircling and hunting a Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [a demonic beast emperor at the Nascent Soul realm]. This alone proved it was a rare and peerless treasure in all the world.

In comparison, the White Metal Star Pearl [a set of seven star pearls forged from White Metal] possessed by Chen Thalion was also a set of Formation Flags, with each of its seven pearls also at the Supreme Grade Magical Treasure tier.

Yet, its power only reached the level of Quasi-Fifth Rank [approaching but not fully attaining Fifth Rank power]. The gap between it and this Eight Trigrams Formation Flags [a formation based on the eight trigrams of the I Ching] set was not merely vast; they were simply not on the same level.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen sighed and said, "It is a pity that these eight rare treasures are exceedingly scarce in this world. Even if one could find substitute treasures of the same attributes, it would require the backing of an immense power or a heaven-defying stroke of fortune to gather them all."

"Indeed."

Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement. The number of powers capable of assembling the eight treasures was few, each at least a force with one foot already within the threshold of a Dao Lord Sacred Land.

For powers of that caliber, such a supreme treasure set would likely be considered a Clan-Suppressing Foundation, not something easily gathered.

They still lacked the capability to assemble it themselves. Thinking this, Eldrin Chen stored the jade slip away.

"If fate grants us the opportunity in the future, we shall find a way to gather them."

"But with our current means, I fear it remains beyond our reach." Visit audio–novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

Thus spoke Eldrin Chen, deciding to postpone consideration of the Eight Trigrams Formation Flags until after his breakthrough into the Nascent Soul realm.

After storing the treasure, tranquility returned to their lives. In the following days, he divided his time between mentoring Sylas Ye and beginning to deduce the crafting method for the Spiritual Treasure Chapter of the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell.

Time flowed by in this manner, and in the blink of an eye, seven years had passed.

Over these seven years, Sylas Ye had also embarked upon the path of cultivation. As a cultivator with Five Spiritual Roots [the lowest grade of spiritual affinity, making cultivation extremely slow], even with the aid of his Pure Yang Immortal Physique [a rare and powerful innate constitution that enhances cultivation], his cultivation speed was merely equivalent to that of someone with Three Spiritual Roots [a mid-grade spiritual affinity].

However, one must not forget who his Master was. With the full support of Eldrin Chen, Sylas's cultivation resources were in no way inferior to those afforded to the direct descendants of a Nascent Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul, the spiritual infant that is the core of their being].

Even treasures like the First Rank Heaven and Earth Spirit Peach [a rare spiritual fruit that nourishes the foundation of low-level cultivators] and the Azure Lotus Seed [a spiritual seed that purifies and refines a cultivator's Qi], which would be considered priceless to ordinary Qi Refinement Cultivators [cultivators in the initial stage, refining their vital energy], could be easily procured for him by Eldrin, increasing his cultivation speed by more than threefold.

In the span of just a few short years, Sylas Ye, barely past twelve years of age, had already reached the Qi Refinement, Mid Stage.

At this pace, he would likely achieve Foundation Establishment [the stage where a cultivator solidifies their Dao foundation] in his early twenties, a feat not much slower than Eldrin Chen's own legendary ascent.

Early one morning, just after Eldrin Chen had finished instructing Sylas in his daily lessons, he saw Lyra Jiang approaching.

"Master's Wife,"

Sylas Ye offered a slight bow and tactfully withdrew.

Once he was gone, Eldrin Chen inquired, "Any news?"

Lyra Jiang smiled and replied, "Word has come from the Eastern Sea Immortal Alliance [a major coalition of sects and clans in the Eastern Sea region]. They will dispatch a True Lord [an honorific title for a Nascent Soul realm cultivator] to garrison Nine Rivers Island within the next two days."

"They have finally arrived."

Eldrin Chen also revealed a smile. The Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the vast cultivation realm encompassing the eastern seas] suffered from a severe shortage of Human Race [the collective term for humanity] True Lord [a title for cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul stage], making it no simple task to reassign one to provide assistance.

Considering that Eldrin Chen and the others were temporarily garrisoning Nine Rivers Island, the Eastern Sea Immortal Alliance [a major coalition of immortal forces in the Eastern Sea region] had delayed for seven years before finding a suitable candidate to take over the defense of the island.

For Eldrin Chen, the Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the formation of a Nascent Soul] had been successfully refined several years prior, and they had already received one of the pills.

Now, they were merely waiting for the Eastern Sea Immortal Alliance to dispatch a replacement, so they could extricate themselves and journey to the Outer Sea Cultivation World [the more remote and perilous cultivation regions beyond the inner seas] to investigate the ruins of the Ethereal Void Sect.

Thinking of the True Lord who was about to arrive, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "It is timely. In recent years, Qingfeng has embarked upon the path of cultivation and no longer requires my daily instruction; he can now practice independently."

"It is time for us to depart." Continue reading this story at audio—novel.com.