Chapter 549 : A Stone's Worth and a True Lord's Bargain

Eldrin Chen closed the Treasure Box, his eyes thoughtful as he pondered.

After a moment of silence, he looked at Patriarch Mo-ink and said, "The Stellar Sky Enlightenment Stone [a rare stone that aids in spiritual enlightenment and comprehension] has a unique and wondrous function. If encountered by an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator at the Infant Soul stage who has earned the title of True Lord] in dire need, its value might rival that of a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a top-tier magical artifact specifically designed to suppress and vanquish demons]."

"However, our Chen Clan possesses an Enlightenment Tea Tree [a spiritual tree whose leaves brew tea that enhances enlightenment], so this Stellar Sky Enlightenment Stone is not an urgent necessity for us. I fear I can only offer you a base price of sixty Heavenly Crystal [a high-purity crystalized form of spiritual energy, more potent than Spirit Stones]."

Patriarch Mo-ink had anticipated this outcome, yet he still calculated inwardly: "I do not know many True Lord [a title for powerful cultivators, often at the Infant Soul stage or above], and those I can truly trust are virtually nonexistent."

"With my current level of cultivation, even if I were to sell this item to another True Lord, I would likely be pressured into accepting an extremely low price, or worse, it might provoke them to simply take it by force."

"In contrast, this True Lord Chen is known for his hatred of evil and his fair and just conduct. Moreover, sixty Heavenly Crystal is sufficient for me to forge the foundation needed to attempt a breakthrough to the Infant Soul [the stage of cultivation where the cultivator's nascent soul is formed]."

Having reached this conclusion, Patriarch Mo-ink spoke, "I shall accept your price, Senior."

Eldrin Chen took out a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a precious elixir that significantly aids in forming the Infant Soul] and handed it to Patriarch Mo-ink, then said calmly, "I will sell you this Nascent Soul Formation Pill for thirty-five Heavenly Crystal. For the remaining twenty-five Heavenly Crystal, would you prefer the crystals themselves or other treasures?"

Patriarch Mo-ink accepted the Nascent Soul Formation Pill and clasped his hands respectfully. "This junior has already considered this. I wish to use the remaining Heavenly Crystal to rent a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [a location where spiritual energy of the fifth rank naturally converges, ideal for high-level cultivation] for my Infant Soul breakthrough. I wonder if you, Senior, would be willing to lease one to me."

"Rent a Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit or concentration of spiritual energy within the earth]?" Access the full story on audio - novel . com.

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed. For a cultivator to achieve a breakthrough into the Infant Soul realm required a vast consumption of spiritual energy [the vital force that permeates the world and fuels cultivation].

If the spiritual energy was insufficient, failure was highly likely. Even a forced breakthrough would leave one's foundation unstable, requiring three centuries of recuperation to fully consolidate one's cultivation.

The reason why the Celestial Star Child had been slain by Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, who were of a lower cultivation realm, was not solely due to their possession of several Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure. The primary factor was the Celestial Star Child's own unstable foundation.

Yet, to stabilize an Infant Soul foundation, the spiritual energy provided by a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a ley line of concentrated spiritual energy, ranked by potency] was utterly inadequate, like trying to extinguish a cartload of burning firewood with a single cup of water.

If Patriarch Mo-ink wished to attempt his breakthrough on a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein, he would likely need to expend a staggering fifty million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to supplement the energy and fully consolidate his cultivation.

This immense expenditure of Spirit Stones would be far more economical if he were to rent a Spirit Mountain [a mountain peak where a Spiritual Vein converges, creating an ideal cultivation site] for the purpose.

However, renting a Spirit Mountain for a breakthrough required absolute trust. Patriarch Mo-ink's decision to rent the Chen Clan's Spirit Mountain stemmed from his faith in Eldrin Chen's character.

Given the past enmity between Patriarch Mo-ink and the Chen Clan, if Eldrin Chen had truly wished to deal with him in those bygone years, he likely would not have survived to see this day.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen smiled. "Renting the Spiritual Vein is of no consequence. This venerable one can even lend you a Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact] to aid you in weathering the heavenly tribulation."

"However, upon your successful breakthrough, you will owe me a favor."

Patriarch Mo-ink revealed a trace of delight. If he could use a Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of immense power] to transcend the tribulation, his chances of a successful breakthrough to the True Lord [the Infant Soul Realm] would be considered extremely high. "If the True Lord is willing to lend me a Spiritual Treasure for the tribulation, this junior will naturally follow your lead after my breakthrough."

"There is no need for such formalities. After your breakthrough, we shall be peers."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, lending the Sole Supremacy Sword to Patriarch Mo-ink before saying, "Go and prepare for your breakthrough."

After receiving the Spiritual Treasure, Patriarch Mo-ink offered his thanks repeatedly before departing from the great hall.

After he left, Eternal Profound Chen, who had been waiting outside, entered. He looked at Eldrin Chen and said thoughtfully, "Having obtained the Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a supreme elixir that aids in forming the Infant Soul] and now borrowing the Sole Supremacy Sword, Patriarch Mo-ink's chances of successfully breaking through to the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit Realm] must be exceedingly great."

"However, using a Spiritual Treasure to endure a tribulation will inevitably drain some of its power. After lending it to him to withstand the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the divine trial of heavenly lightning], the Spiritual Treasure will likely require two or three Sixty-Year Cycle [a Jiazi, a cycle of sixty years] to fully recover its potency."

Eldrin Chen's expression remained serene. He shook his head and said, "My actions are not merely to secure a favor from him, but also for the sake of our clan and the Human Race."

"The Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied calamity where demonic forces surge from the abyss] draws ever nearer. Every additional True Lord our Human Race gains adds another sliver of strength, increasing our chances of withstanding the coming storm."

"Moreover, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. By befriending another True Lord today, our Chen Clan gains another potential ally for the trials to come."

Old Patriarch nodded in agreement upon hearing this, acknowledging that the exchange of favors and goodwill among cultivators was a necessary part of their world.

The reason the Ji Clan Patriarch was able to attain the Primordial Solar realm [the highest echelon of cultivation, representing the purest yang energy] was not solely due to his own connections; the favors left behind by the former Sun Consort clan were also pivotal.

Now, within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland [a vast, perilous wilderness region in the east], whether it is the Long River Path Lord who founded the Long River Holy Land, the Lin Clan, the Premier Immortal Clan of the Eastern Barrens, or even the Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit realm and comprehended a Path] from the Stellar Palace...

When they made their breakthroughs in the past, many of them had received support from the Ji Clan's Primordial Spirit Path Lord.

Precisely because of this, when Dorian Ji was breaking through to the Primordial Spirit realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a major milestone], these Path Lord reciprocated, shielding him from the prying eyes of demonic Primordial Spirit cultivators.

Eldrin Chen's act of lending the Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of immense power] to Patriarch Mo-ink today was also to forge a strand of Karma [the metaphysical principle of cause and effect, action and consequence]. After all, Patriarch Mo-ink was at the Middle-Tier Golden Core stage and had a great chance of breaking through to Infant Soul [the nascent soul stage, a profound advancement].

The Karma of a True Lord [an honorific title for a Golden Core stage expert] would, in the future, bring considerable benefit to the junior cultivators of the Chen Clan, even if Eldrin Chen himself paid it no mind. Experience the full epic at audio–novel.com.

Thinking of this, the Old Patriarch sighed and said, "In the past, I only kept my eyes fixed on the Chen Clan's own small plot of land, fearful of others taking advantage. Only today do I understand that this was still the mindset of a small household."

"You have finally grown, becoming a pillar of strength for the Human Race, and have begun to consider the overall interests of our kind."

Eldrin Chen smiled faintly before replying, "The Vast Righteousness True Lord has been lecturing on the Dao at Heaven's Ridge Mountain for many years, benefiting countless cultivators. *That* is the mark of a true great power of the Human Race."

"I intend to follow his example. Starting three years from now, once every century, I will hold a lecture on the Dao at Verdant Lotus Isle, elucidating the path ahead for all cultivators under heaven and expounding upon the mysteries of cultivation's bottlenecks."

"..."

Patriarch Mo-ink possessed a Middle-Tier Golden Core foundation, so his chances of breaking through to the Infant Soul realm were already not insignificant. After obtaining the Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that greatly aids in forming the Infant Soul], his confidence soared even higher.

Thus, his breakthrough to Infant Soul proceeded with only minor alarms. After waiting approximately half a month, he finally managed to weather the Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the devastating lightning tribulation that tests a cultivator upon forming their Infant Soul], relying on the power of his Spiritual Treasure.

After surviving the tribulation, Patriarch Mo-ink was naturally overflowing with gratitude. Without the aid of the Spiritual Treasure, even if he had barely succeeded in his breakthrough, his two Lifebound Magical Treasure [magical treasures bound to a cultivator's life force and soul] would likely have been destroyed within the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

Now that his Lifebound Magical Treasure remained intact, it saved him the immense effort of reforging them from scratch. This also increased his future chances of elevating them into Spiritual Treasure.

Following Patriarch Mo-ink's breakthrough, Eldrin Chen's cultivation journey returned to a state of tranquil seclusion. Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

"..."

Heavenly Ruins Prefecture, Heaven's Fate County, Clear River Island.

Over one hundred and thirty years had passed since the opening of the Chen Nation Cultivation World. Compared to the barren wilderness of the past, the present-day Chen Nation now hosted a considerable number of Immortal Clan [powerful, long-lived families dedicated to the path of cultivation].

The Chen Nation was divided into nine provinces and thirty-six counties, home to Immortal Clan of various sizes. Among them were five major Golden Core powers and sixty-three Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [Immortal Clans led by a cultivator who has reached the Violet Sanctum realm].

Beyond these, there were also tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment and Vital Essence Refinement Immortal Clan [powerful families of cultivators] thriving and multiplying within it, ultimately forging a flourishing Immortal Realm [a world where cultivation is practiced and immortals dwell].

And this Lu Clan of Clear River Island, was one of the thirteen great Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [powerful clans led by Foundation Establishment cultivators] within Heaven's Fate County.

Deep within Clear River Island, in the main hall at this moment, two figures, one old and one young, sat facing each other.

The youth looked at the elder, a trace of confusion on his face as he asked, "For what purpose has the Patriarch [the venerable leader of the clan] summoned me today?" Find this and other novels at audio-novel .c om.