Chapter 558 : Auction of Enlightenment Tea

Seeing that Eldrin Chen was about to offer the spiritual tea for sale, Lyra Jiang nodded and said, "The Fifth Rank Enlightenment Tea [a rare tea that enhances comprehension] ripens once every three hundred years. This time, we shall sell two Liang-weight [one Liang-weight equals fifty grams] of it. The remaining one Liang-weight shall be reserved for Kael, Elara, and the others."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Although the Enlightenment Tea was precious, it held little practical use for him personally.

Furthermore, Lyra Jiang's innate comprehension was already transcendent; seeking further improvement was not something a mere Fifth Rank Enlightenment Tea could accomplish.

While the state of Heaven and Man Resonance [a profound state of unity between the cultivator and the natural world] was invaluable, with her Great Luo Golden Core [the pinnacle foundation for Golden Core cultivators] and her Deep-Seated Foundation [an exceptionally profound and stable cultivation base], Lyra Jiang would likely enter that state on her own before long. Thus, it was better to leave the Enlightenment Tea for the younger generation of their clan.

"However, two Liang-weight of Enlightenment Tea is still rather meager,"

Eldrin Chen mused aloud. After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision. "The Fifth Rank Spirit Apricot [a mythical fruit of immense spiritual power] cannot be refined even by a Golden Core Cultivator. The True Lord [a title for Golden Core stage cultivators] within our clan all have ample lifespan remaining."

"Let us take the three Spirit Apricot with us. If we encounter suitable treasures, we can trade them for the Spirit Apricot."

Three days later, Eldrin Chen had gathered sufficient treasures and embarked on his journey via a Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances] towards the Mysterious Heaven Continent.

Accompanying him on this trip, besides Lyra Jiang, was Yvonne the Violet Consort. The three of them traveled together as companions.

Compared to the Qingluan Continent, the Mysterious Heaven Continent was far more distant from the Ji Continent. The group traveled via multiple Teleportation Formation relays and flew across several great continents. Their journey lasted several months before they finally arrived at the Mysterious Heaven Continent. For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel . com.

"So this is the Mysterious Heaven Continent market?"

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze, observing the Mysterious Heaven Continent market before him, and could not help but frown slightly.

The Heaven's Profound Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the premier sect of the Three Veins Ancient Domain. The market's defensive Formation was named the Nine Heavens God-Slaying Formation, composed of nine Spirit Treasure Formation Artifacts.

It was said this formation required nine Nascent Soul True Lords working in concert to activate. With nine True Lords combined and empowered by a Fifth Rank High Grade Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial energy leyline], it could even withstand three attacks from a Nascent Soul Dao Lord.

"A single market, permanently garrisoned by nine True Lords."

Eldrin Chen took a deep breath, feeling once more the many shortcomings of the Chen Clan.

The sheer might concentrated within a single market of the Heaven's Profound Sect was terrifying, a strength likely surpassing that of many top-tier sects.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh, "Merely a market, yet it has nine True Lords. No wonder rumors claim the Heaven's Profound Sect possesses over forty Nascent Soul cultivators."

Yvonne the Violet Consort shook her head, yet spoke with meaningful implication: "The Heaven's Profound Sect is hailed as the number one sect beneath the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm in the Eastern Wastelands, but its position is not truly unshakable."

"From what I know, that Flood Water Immortal Pear Tree of the Heaven's Profound Sect has lived for tens of thousands of years and is now nearing the end of its great lifespan."

Her words, though left unspoken, caused Eldrin Chen to furrow his brow in contemplation.

The primary reason the Heaven's Profound Sect boasted over forty True Lords was largely credited to that single Fifth Rank High Grade Flood Water Immortal Pear Tree.

Should this tree wither, and the Profound Water Immortal Pears that aid cultivators in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm vanish, it was feared the Heaven's Profound Sect would likely enter a gradual decline in the years to come.

Lyra Jiang also gave a slight nod, transmitting her voice with perfect composure: "The Heaven's Profound Sect has been seeking solutions these past years. From what I know, the Celestial Profound Sect Master has attempted to breach the Primordial Spirit [the highest spiritual core of a cultivator] realm seven times over the last two Millennia [a period of one thousand years], yet he has consistently failed to successfully draw down his Heavenly Soul [the celestial component of one's spirit, necessary for ascension]."

"Furthermore, rumors say they have journeyed to the Central Ancestral Domain on multiple occasions to beseech for Immortal Qi [the purified, transcendent energy of immortals], hoping to elevate their Ren Water Immortal Apricot Tree to the Sixth Rank. Alas, they have failed in this endeavor as well."

"Why is that?"

Eldrin Chen asked, perplexed. If the Profound Water Immortal Pear were to advance in rank, its efficacy would surely increase dramatically, perhaps even offering some utility for breaking through to the Primordial Spirit realm. Why would the Central Ancestral Domain refuse such a request?

Beside him, Yvonne the Violet Consort shook her head with a light laugh. "If the Flood Water Immortal Pear Tree had reached the quasi-Sixth Rank, perhaps one or two strands of Immortal Qi might have sufficed for its advancement."

"But being merely Fifth Rank High Grade, it would likely require at least nine strands of Immortal Qi to ascend. Not to mention whether such a vast quantity of Immortal Qi even exists in the world anymore, using so much of it on a Flood Water Immortal Pear Tree would be a grievous waste of a celestial treasure."

"So that's how it is."

Eldrin Chen finally understood why Verdant Daoist, after obtaining the quasi-sixth-rank Flood Water Treasure Gold, had immediately gone to the Central Continent Ancestral Domain to seek a strand of Immortal Qi [a primordial energy of creation used by cultivators to refine supreme treasures]. It was because that piece of Flood Water Treasure Gold was merely A Step Away from transforming into Pure Yang Treasure Gold [a supreme yang-attributed divine metal].

As they chatted, the group had already entered the market district, waiting quietly for the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare resources] to commence.

Their arrival was rather late; merely five days later, this session of the Barter Convention was convened.

Eldrin Chen stepped into the Celestial Profound Tower where the Barter Convention was being held. He discovered that over two hundred Nascent Soul Cultivators [powerful cultivators whose souls have taken infant form] were participating, many of whom were familiar faces to Eldrin Chen.

"Fellow Daoist Eldrin [a respectful term for a cultivator on the same path]."

A familiar voice reached his ears. Eldrin Chen looked up to see that the speaker was none other than Tianlu Sect Master. For more chapters, visit audio-novel dot com for the complete novel.

Tianlu Sect Master glanced at Eldrin Chen and said with a smile, "It has been many years. I trust you have been well, Fellow Daoist?"

"So it is Sect Master Tianlu."

Eldrin Chen clasped his hands in a polite greeting and replied with a smile, "I see your Mana [the refined spiritual power of a cultivator] has already brushed against the threshold of the Nascent Soul Late Stage. Could it be that your purpose in coming here is to procure a Heavenly Dao Pill [a legendary elixir said to harmonize one's cultivation with the Heavenly Dao, aiding in major breakthroughs]?"

"Fellow Daoist [a respectful term used among cultivators] Your discernment is keen indeed."

Tianlu Sect Master stroked his beard and said, "For many years, I have accumulated my Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound spiritual and material reserves of a cultivator or sect], precisely to take a perilous gamble, to see if I can break through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage [the third and final stage of the Nascent Soul realm] before the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied great calamity involving the demonic realms]."

"Speaking of which fills me with shame. This is the fourth time I have purchased a Heavenly Dao Pill [a legendary pill said to resonate with the Heavenly Dao, greatly aiding cultivation breakthroughs]. The first three times exhausted over half of my Tianlu Sect's Deep-Seated Foundation. If I cannot achieve my wish this time, I will have no face left to meet our founding ancestors."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly. In the past, the Tianlu Sect, as a major sect possessing a Nascent Soul Late Stage powerhouse, should logically have had at least two or three Fifth Rank High Grade [referring to treasures or formations of this rank] legacy Deep-Seated Foundation to guard the sect.

Yet now, the Tianlu Sect possesses only a single legacy treasure, the 'Tianlu Command' [a powerful command seal or artifact of the Tianlu Sect]. It seems these Deep-Seated Foundation were consumed by the Tianlu Sect Master in his attempts to assault the Nascent Soul Late Stage barrier.

"Once one enters the Nascent Soul Late Stage, their status and standing become utterly different. If a breakthrough can be achieved, such a price is indeed worth paying."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, finding no fault in the actions of the Tianlu Sect Master.

One must understand that within the Three Veins Ancient Domain [an ancient and vast cultivation realm], there are well over two hundred cultivators at the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm], yet fewer than thirty have reached the Nascent Soul Late Stage. This illustrates just how rare that late-stage attainment truly is.

If the Tianlu Sect Master could break through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage, the strength of the Tianlu Sect would once again rank within the top thirty of the Three Veins Ancient Domain. The Deep-Seated Foundation represented by a few Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure [the highest grade of spiritual treasures] could naturally be accumulated anew.

"You all have only recently broken through to the True Lord [an honorific title for powerful cultivators, often at the Nascent Soul realm or above] and likely are not yet familiar with the True Lord of the Three Veins Ancient Domain. Allow me to provide you with an introduction."

The Tianlu Sect Master spoke up abruptly, proceeding to introduce the numerous Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul, the spiritual infant that is the core of their power] seated in the hall to the three of them.

Among the Nascent Soul True Lord attending this Barter Convention, those at the Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Nascent Soul realm] were still quite rare, numbering merely five in total.

His gaze fixed upon those five figures, the Tianlu Sect Master spoke directly, "Observe those five. They are the Verdant Enchantress Palace Master, the Celestial Profound Sect Grand Elder, Cangxuan the Daoist, the Profound Continent Ye Clan Patriarch, and the Western Pole True Lord."

"Hmm? Why is he here as well?" For uninterrupted reading, go to audio - novel . com.