Chapter 558 : The Enlightenment Tea's Secret Trade

Seeing that Eldrin Chen intended to offer the Spirit Tea [a tea infused with spiritual energy, often used to aid meditation and enlightenment] for sale, Exquisite Jiang nodded and said, "The Fifth Rank Enlightenment Tea [a rare tea that enhances comprehension and spiritual insight] ripens once every three hundred years. This time, let us sell two Liang-weight [one Liang-weight equals fifty grams] and keep the remaining one Liang-weight for Kael and Elara and the others."

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

Furthermore, Exquisite Jiang's innate comprehension was already transcendent; seeking further improvement was beyond the reach of mere Fifth Rank Enlightenment Tea.

While the state of Celestial-Mortal Symbiosis [a profound cultivation state where celestial and mortal energies harmonize] was invaluable, given Exquisite Jiang's profound foundation of a Great Encompassing Golden Core [the pinnacle grade of Golden Core cultivation], it would likely not be long before she naturally entered such a state herself. Therefore, it was better to reserve 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 spiritual fruit that can extend lifespan and enhance cultivation] cannot be refined even by a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, the third major realm]. The True Lord [a title for Golden Core 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 use the Spirit Apricot for exchange."

"..."

Three days later, Eldrin Chen, having prepared sufficient treasures, departed via a Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances] for the Heaven Mystery Continent.

On this journey, besides Exquisite Jiang, Violet Consort Yan also accompanied them, the three traveling together as companions. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel .c om.

Compared to Azure Luan Province, the Heaven Mystery Continent was far more distant from Ji Continent. The group traveled by Teleportation Formation [a magical array capable of instantaneously transporting people and objects across vast distances], journeying circuitously and flying over several other great continents. It took them several months before they finally arrived at the Heaven Mystery Continent.

"Is this the market city of the Heaven Mystery Continent?"

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

The Heaven's Profound Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost sect of the Three Veins Ancient Domain. The protective formation [a large-scale defensive or offensive magical array] surrounding the market city was known as the Nine Heavens God-Slaying Formation, composed of nine Spiritual Treasure-grade Formation Artifact [powerful artifacts specifically designed to anchor and empower grand formations].

It was said this formation required nine Infant Soul True Lord [cultivators who have reached the Infant Soul realm, a high stage of cultivation] to join forces to activate. With nine True Lord working in concert and drawing upon the power of a Fifth Rank High-Grade Earth Vein [a powerful, concentrated ley line of earth-attributed spiritual energy], it could even withstand three attacks from a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has ascended to the Primordial Spirit realm, a master of the Dao Path].

"A single market city, permanently garrisoned by nine True Lord."

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

The sheer might concentrated in just one market city of the Heaven's Profound Sect was terrifying, a level of strength that likely surpassed even many top-tier great sects.

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

Violet Consort Yan shook her head, a meaningful glint in her eyes. "The Heaven's Profound Sect is hailed as the number one sect beneath the Primordial Spirit realm in the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, but its position is not as unshakable as a mountain."

"From what I know, the Positive Water Immortal Pear Tree [a legendary tree bearing fruit that aids cultivation] within the Heaven's Profound Sect has lived for tens of thousands of years and is now nearing the end of its natural lifespan."

Her words, though left unfinished, caused Eldrin Chen to frown thoughtfully.

The primary reason the Heaven's Profound Sect boasts over forty True Lord [cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage] is largely due to that single Fifth Rank High-Grade Positive Water Immortal Pear Tree.

Should this tree wither, and the sect lose the Positive Water Immortal Pear [the fruit of the tree, which aids in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm] that helps cultivators achieve Infant Soul [the Nascent Soul stage], it is likely the Heaven's Profound Sect would gradually decline in the centuries to come.

Exquisite Jiang also nodded, transmitting her voice secretly, "The Heaven's Profound Sect has been seeking solutions for years. I've heard the Heaven's Profound Sect Master has attempted to break through to the Primordial Spirit [the stage beyond Nascent Soul] seven times over the last two millennia, yet has consistently failed to successfully draw down and integrate his Heaven Soul [the celestial component of one's soul essence, required for the Primordial Spirit breakthrough]."

"Furthermore, rumors say they have journeyed to the Central Ancestral Domain [the legendary central realm of the cultivation world] several times to beseech for Immortal Energy [a rare, potent energy required for advancing supreme treasures], hoping to elevate their Positive Water Immortal Apricot tree to the Sixth Rank [a transcendent rank for spiritual objects]. Unfortunately, they failed in that endeavor as well."

"Why is that?"

Eldrin Chen asked, puzzled. If the Positive Water Immortal Pear tree were to advance in rank, its effects would be vastly enhanced, potentially even offering some aid in breaking through to Primordial Spirit. Why would the Central Ancestral Domain refuse such a request?

Violet Consort Yan, standing nearby, shook her head with a light laugh. "If the Positive Water Immortal Pear Tree had reached the level of Quasi-Sixth Rank [borderline Sixth Rank], perhaps one or two strands of Immortal Energy might have sufficed for its advancement."

"But being merely Fifth Rank High-Grade, it would likely require at least Nine Strands of Immortal Energy to successfully ascend. Such a cost is prohibitive."

"Leaving aside whether there are even that many Immortal Energy [a primordial, pure form of energy used for the most profound cultivation and refinement] left in the world, even if such a vast quantity existed, using it to advance a Positive Water Immortal Pear Tree would be a grievous waste of a divine treasure."

"So that's how it is."

Only then did Eldrin Chen understand. After obtaining the Quasi-Sixth Rank Positive Water Precious Metal [a rare metal imbued with the essence of pure, life-giving water], why had Verdant Seal Path Master gone to the Central Continent Ancestral Domain to seek a strand of Immortal Energy? It was because that piece of Positive Water Precious Metal was merely a single step away from transforming into Primordial Solar Treasure Gold [a legendary metal forged from the essence of the primordial sun].

As they chatted, the group had already entered the market district, quietly awaiting the commencement of the Barter Convention.

"..."

The three of them had arrived rather late. Merely five days later, this Barter Convention was convened. Access the full story on audio - novel . com.

Eldrin Chen stepped into the Heaven's Mystery Tower where the Barter Convention was being held. He discovered that over two hundred Infant Soul Cultivator [cultivators who have formed their nascent soul, a core of spiritual consciousness] were participating, many of whom were familiar faces to Eldrin Chen.

"Fellow Cultivator Eldrin."

A familiar voice reached his ears. Eldrin Chen looked up to see that the speaker was none other than the Heavenly Reed Sect Master.

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master glanced at Eldrin Chen and said with a smile, "Many years have passed. I trust you have been well, Fellow Daoist."

"So it is the Heavenly Reed Sect Master," he acknowledged.

Eldrin Chen clasped his hands in a respectful salute, a faint smile gracing his lips. "I perceive your spiritual power has brushed against the threshold of the Infant Soul Late Stage. Might your journey here be for the purpose of procuring a Heavenly Path Pill [a legendary elixir said to illuminate one's path to a higher realm of cultivation]?"

"Your insight is keen, Fellow Daoist," the other replied.

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This old man has spent many years accumulating the necessary foundation, all for a final, daring attempt to see if I can break through to the Infant Soul Late Stage before the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm descends."

"To speak of it brings shame," he continued, a sigh in his voice. "This is the fourth time I have sought to purchase a Heavenly Path Pill. The previous three attempts exhausted the greater part of my Heavenly Reed Sect's accumulated wealth. If I fail to achieve my wish this time, I will have no face left to meet my ancestors in the afterlife."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly upon hearing this. In the past, the Heavenly Reed Sect, as a major sect that once possessed an Infant Soul Late Stage cultivator, should logically have retained at least two or three Fifth Rank High-Grade treasures as its foundational, sect-protecting assets.

Yet now, the Heavenly Reed Sect possessed only a single Sect-Suppressing Supreme Treasure—the 'Heavenly Hut Command'. It seemed those lost foundational treasures had been consumed by the Heavenly Reed Sect Master in his relentless pursuit of the Infant Soul Late Stage breakthrough.

"Once one steps into the Infant Soul Late Stage, one's status and standing are utterly transformed. If a breakthrough can be achieved, such a price is indeed worth paying," Eldrin mused silently.

Eldrin Chen thought to himself, finding no fault in the Heavenly Reed Sect Master's actions.

One must understand: within the Three Veins Ancient Domain, cultivators at the Infant Soul Mid Stage numbered well over two hundred, yet those who had reached the Infant Soul Late Stage were fewer than thirty. This stark contrast highlighted just how rare and formidable an Infant Soul Late Stage cultivator truly was.

If the Heavenly Reed Sect Master could break through to the Infant Soul Late Stage [the third of four major stages within the Infant Soul realm], then the strength of the Heavenly Reed Sect could re-enter the ranks of the top thirty powers within the Three Veins Ancient Domain, and the foundational resources of several Superior Spiritual Treasure [a high-grade enchanted artifact] would naturally accumulate once more.

"You have only recently broken through to the True Lord [the title for an Infant Soul realm cultivator] and likely are not yet familiar with the True Lord of the Three Veins Ancient Domain. Allow me to introduce them to you."

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master spoke up suddenly and began introducing the many assembled Infant Soul True Lord to the three of them.

Among the Infant Soul True Lord attending this Barter Convention, cultivators at the Infant Soul Late Stage were still quite rare, numbering only five.

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master's gaze settled on those five figures, and he spoke directly: "Observe those five. They are the Mistress of Ivy Palace, the Grand Elder of Heaven's Profound Sect, the Azure Mystery Path Master, the Patriarch Ye of Mystery Continent, and the Western Pole True Lord."

"Hmm? Why is he here as well?" Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio‑novel.com.