Chapter 540 : The Alchemy of Ascension

The auxiliary herbs are not of high value. As long as each furnace yields four Treasure Pill [a high-grade cultivation-enhancing pill], the costs are recouped. Yielding five or more turns a profit, and if one can produce six or seven, the gains are substantial.

Consider this: if one furnace yields seven Treasure Pill, three furnaces would produce twenty-one. Each pill increases cultivation by thirty years, amounting to six hundred and thirty years of cultivation—more than double the gain from directly consuming a Spirit Peach [a spiritual fruit that enhances cultivation].

After all, at least until the Spirit Peach Tree [a spiritual tree bearing cultivation-enhancing peaches] advances to Fifth Rank Middle Grade [a specific high tier of spiritual plant quality], its output of Spirit Peach is limited. And waiting for the tree to reach that rank will likely take at least Ten Sixty-Year Cycles [a period of six hundred years].

During this time, after Old Patriarch and others break through to Nascent Soul [a high stage of cultivation where one forms a spiritual infant], the three Spirit Peach produced every hundred years will probably not be enough to distribute among them.

The difficulty of refining this Immortal Peach Pill [a potent pill refined from Spirit Peaches] is not great. With Eldrin Chen's Alchemy [the art of pill refinement], the first furnace yielded four pills, and the subsequent two furnaces each produced a full five.

Once the three batches of Immortal Peach Pill were complete, Eldrin Chen had accumulated fourteen pills in hand—enough for a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul stage] to use for several centuries.

Having finished refining the Immortal Peach Pill, the two emerged from the Seclusion Chamber [a chamber for undisturbed cultivation] and found a Communication Spirit Talisman [a magical slip for sending messages] had been hovering at the chamber's entrance for some time.

Picking it up, he smiled and said, "A letter has arrived from The Vast Sea [a vast oceanic region], summoning us to go there."

"Oh?" Lyra Jiang smiled and remarked, "By my reckoning, it has been nearly thirty years since we secured The Vast Sea. That Spirit Apricot Tree [a spiritual tree bearing longevity-enhancing apricots] should be ready to advance in rank."

"That is likely the case," he agreed. This novel is serialized on audi0-n0vel.c0m. Visit for updates.

Eldrin Chen revealed a smile and said, "Let us go and see it first."

Without further delay, Eldrin Chen set out immediately. He deliberately brought the Void Gem [a rare gemstone containing spatial energy] and rode upon his Spiritual Treasure Immortal Sword [a sentient sword of immense power] as he flew towards The Vast Sea.

Several days later, Eldrin Chen arrived at The Vast Sea. Transforming into a streak of sword light, he descended upon Frostbitten Expanse Island.

As soon as they landed on the Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy], they were greeted by a wave of exceptionally dense spiritual Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things], bringing smiles to their faces.

"The spiritual energy concentration here is already no weaker than Spirit Lake Isle," Eldrin Chen remarked with a smile. "It seems the Immortal Apricot [a legendary fruit that grants longevity and power] tree has successfully advanced."

As Eldrin Chen spoke, several streaks of light flew towards them.

The Old Patriarch arrived with Kael and the others. Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, he exclaimed with excitement, "Come with me, quickly!"

Following Chen Thalion to the summit of the Spirit Island, Eldrin Chen finally laid eyes upon the ancient and vigorous Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree.

The Spirit Apricot Tree stood only a single Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] tall, yet every leaf and branch shimmered with astonishing Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of great power] Dao Runes [mystical patterns that embody cosmic principles], radiating an aura of transcendent wonder.

Upon the Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree hung merely three Spirit Apricot [a fruit imbued with potent spiritual energy]. Yet, each one glowed with a hazy, immortal radiance, pulsating with an extraordinary vitality of Creation [the primordial force of genesis and life].

"It truly has advanced."

Eldrin Chen examined it carefully for a long moment, performing several mental calculations, and his expression grew increasingly delighted.

Back when it was at the Fourth Rank level, the Spirit Apricot Tree would blossom once every thirty years, bear fruit once every thirty years, and then take another thirty years for the fruit to ripen, requiring roughly a century for a full cycle.

The Spirit Apricot it produced could extend one's lifespan by two Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle], making it an exceedingly rare treasure, yet it paled in comparison to its current state.

Now, after the Spirit Apricot Tree had advanced to become a Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a spiritual plant of the highest natural order], its effects had undergone a heaven-shaking transformation.

Henceforth, the Spirit Apricot Tree would blossom once every three hundred years, bear fruit once every three hundred years, and require another three hundred years for the fruit to mature, taking roughly a Millennium [a thousand years] to produce three Spirit Apricot.

The matured Spirit Apricot would be imbued with Creation [the power to generate and nurture life] vitality, becoming a supreme treasure condensed from the essence of heaven and earth. Consuming one would extend one's lifespan by a full Millennium [a thousand years].

Contemplating the profound mysteries of this Spirit Apricot, Eldrin Chen could not contain his joy. "Although the Fifth Rank Low Grade Spirit Apricot Tree only yields three fruits every Millennium [a thousand years], it is more than worthy of being called a treasure of heaven and earth."

"With this treasure in our clan's possession from now on, none of you need worry about insufficient lifespan."

Upon hearing this, everyone present also revealed expressions of joy. A cultivator can only consume three Longevity Treasure [items that extend natural lifespan] in their lifetime. Only after breaking through to the Nascent Soul True Lord realm and receiving the boon from heaven and earth can one consume an additional one.

Given the precious limitations on lifespan extension opportunities, it is naturally more cost-effective to use high-grade Longevity Treasure [a rare treasure that can extend a cultivator's lifespan], which consequently keeps the value of such high-grade treasures exceedingly high.

The Spirit Apricot [a spiritual fruit known for its potent life-extending properties] before them was something even a Nascent Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage] would covet. If sold, each one could be exchanged for a Middle-Grade Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of significant rank].

Chen Thalion was filled with excitement, caressing the Spirit Apricot Tree [the tree that bears the Spirit Apricot fruit] almost reverently as he spoke: "A True Lord [a title for a Nascent Soul stage cultivator] has a lifespan of three thousand years. If one could consume three of these Fifth Rank [referring to the grade of the fruit] Spirit Apricot, wouldn't that allow one to live for six thousand years?"

"And if one further cultivated the Nirvana Tribulation Transference Art [a profound art that allows one to transfer one's cultivation and memories to a new life, effectively 'reincarnating'] to undergo a tribulation transfer, then across two lifetimes, one could theoretically live for nine thousand years!"

His tone was one of awe. Theoretically, a Nascent Soul True Lord living for nine millennia was a truly staggering concept.

Even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage, a step above a True Lord], without using any Longevity Treasure, typically has a lifespan of only ten thousand years. It was astonishing to think a Nascent Soul True Lord could approach that realm. Published by (audio-novel.com). All rights reserved.

Hearing this, Lyra Jiang shook her head. "While that may be true in theory, those who actually live that long are one in a hundred."

"Fifth Rank Longevity Treasure are far too precious. Most True Lord can only afford one or two. Moreover, over eighty percent of True Lord have already used Longevity Treasure before breaking through to the Nascent Soul [the core spiritual form of a high-level cultivator] realm, so they don't have that many lifespan extension opportunities left."

Eldrin Chen also nodded, smiling as he added, "Those who can afford multiple Longevity Treasure are mostly Top-Tier True Lord [elite True Lords at the peak of their power] at the Nascent Soul Late Stage or even Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the absolute pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage]."

"It is said that within the Eastern Wastelands [a vast and dangerous wilderness region], there exist beings at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a state between Nascent Soul and the next major realm, Primordial Spirit] who, lacking confidence to face the Nascent Soul tribulation, remain trapped at the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm [a transitional state within the Nascent Soul stage], seeking fortuitous encounters. They only dare to risk the breakthrough attempt when they are past eight thousand years old and their lifespan is nearly exhausted."

Hearing this, Old Patriarch stroked his beard and said, "When I was young, I heard that within the Lin Immortal Clan of the Eastern Wilderness Mountains, there was a Nirvana Immortal Apricot Tree."

"That Nirvana Immortal Apricot Tree blooms once every Millennium [a period of one thousand years], bears fruit once every Millennium, and takes another Millennium to ripen."

"It is said that the Immortal Apricot it yields upon ripening can grant a mortal two hundred years of extended life just from a single whiff of its scent. If a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has ascended to the Nascent Soul realm and attained the title of Dao Lord] consumes it, they can undergo nirvana and be reborn to live an entire lifetime anew. I wonder if its effects are truly that astonishing?"

"It must be true."

Eldrin Chen said with a smile. Recalling the accounts within the Void-Refining Immortal Scripture, he continued, "It is said that over eighty thousand years ago, an Immortal [a being who has ascended to the Immortal Realm] ascended and departed this world."

"Before his ascension, he had already fully comprehended the Laws [the fundamental principles governing reality], yet he remained at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul realm for twenty thousand years. If we count the time it took him to cultivate to that peak, his lifespan likely exceeded thirty thousand years."

"Such an immense lifespan is several times greater than that of a Nascent Soul Dao Lord. He must have lived through at least three lifetimes, if not more."

Upon hearing this, the others showed surprise but could not help but nod in agreement.

For a cultivator to reach the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul realm requires an immense span of time, let alone one like the Void-Refining Immortal who also deciphered the Laws.

Take the Ji Clan Patriarch as an example. He was already over four thousand years old when he broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, having consumed at least two longevity-extending opportunities. Cultivating further to the Great Perfection would likely require nearly another ten thousand years.

This could not even be considered encountering a bottleneck; many Nascent Soul Dao Lords find themselves stranded before the barrier separating the mid-stage from the late stage of the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a profound level of power and longevity] realm, utterly unable to advance a single step further until their allotted lifespan is completely exhausted. Visit audio-novel.com (official site) to enjoy the complete series.