Chapter 479 : The Earth Mother Energy Gambit

The Barter Convention continued unabated. Treasures of the Fifth Rank [the highest classification for magical items], each one a rarity that could scarcely be found across entire nations, appeared one after another in this moment, truly broadening Eldrin Chen's horizons.

Regrettably, these treasures were all exceptionally precious. Many were items that even with Eldrin Chen's considerable wealth, he found himself somewhat unable to afford.

After a long while, an Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator at the Infant Soul stage] stepped onto the central platform. With a sweep of his sleeve, he revealed a mass of hazy, heavy, primal energy and announced, "I possess a strand of Earth Mother Energy [a primordial essence of earth, vital for cultivation breakthroughs and treasure refinement]. Those who desire it may state their offers."

"Earth Mother Energy."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. This was the fourth strand of Earth Mother Energy to appear during this Barter Convention.

The Earth Mother Energy was not only used to forge an Earthly Path Infant Soul [a specific, powerful type of cultivation core], but was also a key material for breaking through to the Infant Soul Mid Stage, and could even be used to elevate a Medium-Grade Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact].

Consequently, it was highly sought after. The previous three strands had all been acquired by formidable True Lord of profound cultivation.

Moreover, the transaction prices had already exceeded two hundred Heavenly Crystals [a high-grade form of spiritual currency], a sum clearly beyond Eldrin Chen's means.

Fortunately, this fourth strand of Earth Mother Energy appeared during the latter stages of the Barter Convention, so the number of contenders was not as great.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen decided to make an attempt. He sent a mental transmission to that True Lord: "I possess several cultivation manuals and Great God Abilities [powerful divine techniques]. I wonder if they could be exchanged for this Earth Mother Energy?" This chapter is part of a larger work available at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

As he spoke, he presented the crafting method for the Sun and Moon Twin Wheels's Spiritual Treasure Chapter, along with the Ancient Setting Sun Scroll and the Selene's Ancient Scroll [an ancient cultivation manual], to this person.

These two sets of True Lord [a cultivation realm equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage] legacies contained methods for forging Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's personal, soul-bound magical artifact] and two Great God Ability [powerful supernatural techniques]. They could be considered remarkably complete True Lord inheritances.

For a Golden Core Cultivator, they were treasures one could only dream of encountering. Even for a True Lord in the early or middle stages of Infant Soul [the Nascent Soul cultivation realm], they held significant value for reference and insight.

The True Lord showed a flicker of interest upon reviewing them. The Fifth Rank Spirit Mountain [a mountain peak imbued with potent spiritual energy] he occupied possessed a spring of Earth Mother Energy [a rare, pure earth-attribute spiritual essence], which could condense a single strand of this energy every thousand years.

However, having recently broken through to the True Lord realm, his own inherited techniques were not particularly advanced. He lacked both an Infant Soul Cultivation Art [a cultivation manual for the Nascent Soul stage] and a method for a Spiritual Treasure.

Acquiring these two legacies would be an excellent choice—whether to cultivate the techniques and Divine Ability [supernatural powers] within them himself, or to use them as references to deduce his own Divine Ability and even his future Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure forged with and bound to one's life force].

Just as he was considering whether to agree, however, the Frigid Stream True Person [a cultivator known as the True Person of the Frigid Stream] from nearby also transmitted a voice bid. No one knew what treasure the Frostriver Path Master [a title for a master of the Frost River cultivation path] offered, but it immediately secured his agreement to the trade.

"Hmph—"

Watching the Frigid Stream True Person swoop in and obtain the priceless Earth Mother Energy, Exquisite Jiang [Jiang the Exquisite] narrowed her eyes, a cold, sharp glint within them. She transmitted her voice to Eldrin Chen [Eldrin of the Chen Clan], saying, "That Frigid Stream has obtained the Earth Mother Energy. It seems his breakthrough to the Earthly Path Infant Soul [a specific Nascent Soul cultivation method aligned with the earth element] is not far off."

Eldrin Chen listened quietly, but a flash of killing intent also passed through his gaze. While treasures went to the highest bidder, the Frigid Stream True Person held unresolved enmity with him. If an opportunity presented itself, Eldrin would not let it pass.

However, this individual reacted swiftly. After obtaining the Earth Mother Energy [a rare and potent spiritual essence associated with the nurturing power of the earth], he immediately departed the Featherflight Pavilion and, to their surprise, directly utilized a Teleportation Formation to leave the market city of Azure Luan Province. His destination remained unknown.

Eldrin Chen attempted to cast the Grudge Soul-Tracking Art [a mystical technique to trace a target's spiritual signature] to follow his trail, but he could only sense a vast, immeasurable distance. He was utterly unable to pinpoint the other's location.

"It seems he was well-prepared,"

Exquisite Jiang remarked with a frown. This outcome was, in truth, anticipated. Anyone purchasing such a priceless treasure as the Earth Mother Energy would naturally take precautions against the prying eyes of True Lord-rank experts.

After the Barter Convention concluded, the pair returned to their abode. Eldrin Chen shook his head and said, "We gained nothing from this Barter Convention. It appears that to obtain Earth Mother Energy, we must still make the journey to the Eastern Sea Coast."

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement. "Since we must go, then let us not delay."

The two did not linger in the market city of Azure Luan Province. That very day, they boarded a Teleportation Formation and departed Azure Luan Province.

This time, their destination was not a return to Ji Continent, but a direct teleportation to the Star Lake Ancient Domain [an ancient, vast domain centered around a legendary star-reflecting lake], a staggering eighty million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away.

The Star Lake Ancient Domain, much like the Three Rivers Ancient Domain, was one of the eight great ancient domains of the Human Race within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. It encompassed nearly one hundred majestic and expansive continents.

At its heart lay 'Star Lake', which, akin to the Vast Sea, was counted among the seven great freshwater lakes of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

Legend holds that this lake was formed from a celestial Starry River [a metaphorical river of stars in the heavens] that fell to earth, creating this vast heavenly lake. The Stellar Ancestral Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual energy vein attuned to stellar forces] within it draws power from the Cosmic Stellar [the cosmic energy of the stars].

Ten thousand years ago, this Spiritual Vein [a conduit of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] was a Sixth Rank [the sixth highest grade] Star Lake Ancestral Vein [the supreme spiritual vein of Star Lake]. However, during the great calamity of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland [a vast, perilous wilderness in the eastern part of the continent] many years past, the Star Lake Ancient Domain [the ancient realm centered on Star Lake], bordering the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the cultivation society of the Eastern Sea region], bore the brunt of the assault and suffered unprecedented devastation. Even the Star Lake Ancestral Vein was severely damaged and fell from its former rank.

After arriving at the Star Lake Ancestral Vein via a Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances], Exquisite Jiang sighed and said, "Before the last Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a cataclysmic invasion from the demonic abyss], the Star Lake Ancient Domain still had a Teleportation Formation connected to the Eastern Sea Cultivation World."

"But the other end of that Teleportation Formation was destroyed during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm. Now, if we wish to reach the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, we have no choice but to fly there on our swords."

Eldrin Chen nodded. He decided to simply fly his sword across the Star Lake Ancient Domain, heading directly for the Eastern Sea Cultivation World.

They flew eastward, traversing six or seven great continents and crossing tens of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], finally arriving at the edge of the Celestial Lake Continent Immortal Realm [the domain of cultivators]. Access the full story on audio-novel . com.

One day, the two paused before a mountain range. Exquisite Jiang consulted a map in her hand and said, "Beyond this Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range lies the Eastern Sea Coast. We can consider ourselves within the sphere of the Eastern Sea Cultivation World now."

Eldrin Chen gazed upon the majestic mountain range before him, a look of profound reverence flashing in his eyes.

The Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range ranks among the top five famed mountains and great rivers of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. It is said that nearly ten thousand years ago, the Primordial Era Azure Dragon [an ancient and mighty azure dragon], a hegemon from the depths of the Eastern Sea, fell to demonic corruption. It aided the Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic deity from beyond this world] in overthrowing the Eastern Sea Cultivation World.

Afterward, the Primordial Era Azure Dragon entrenched itself within these ancient mountains, becoming a key lieutenant for the Outer Realm Demon God. This lasted until six thousand years ago, when Imperial Sovereign Jiang led a force here. With a single, earth-shattering sword strike, he slew the Primordial Era Azure Dragon upon these very peaks. It is from this legendary feat that the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range derives its name.

"The Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range."

Gazing upon the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range before him, a look of profound reverence colored Eldrin Chen's eyes.

Within the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range lay the Indestructibility Sword Intent left behind by Imperial Sovereign Jiang, an aura so potent that even after six thousand years, it could still strike fear into the hearts of countless demons and monsters.

As a descendant of the Human Race, he naturally felt a deep sense of veneration and a desire to behold the legacy left by this ancient sage.

"Let's go."

With those words, Eldrin Chen soared upwards, following the contours of the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range towards its summit.

He journeyed for what felt like an eternity, his spiritual energy [the vital force cultivated by practitioners] beginning to wane, before he finally reached the peak of the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range.

When viewed from its base, the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range had seemed a fathomless abyss, a stairway to the heavens, its true form shrouded in clouds and mist.

At its midpoint, the world felt vast and desolate, the mountain's majesty eternal and its summit perpetually out of reach.

Yet, upon finally cresting the peak, Eldrin Chen felt the world open up before him. The Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range sprawled beneath his feet for countless millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], coiled like a slumbering dragon and crouched like a watchful tiger, exuding an overwhelming, ancient majesty that seemed capable of crushing the weight of eternity itself.

"Roar—" [a deep, resonant sound like that of a dragon]

Suddenly, Eldrin Chen felt a dragon's roar [a powerful, earth-shaking cry] shake the very heavens and earth. Continue reading this story at audio-novel*com.