Chapter 576 : A Pact Forged in Spirit Stone

After hearing them out, Grand Elder Xu smiled faintly and said, "That Soaring Cloud Mountain is merely three million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from our Xu Clan. Since it is to become ownerless land, why wouldn't we simply wait for your departure before claiming it ourselves?"

"I fear Fellow Daoist is overthinking matters," Eldrin Chen replied with a serene smile, countering with a question of his own. "If you wait until we leave, do you truly believe you could contend with the Lingering Snow Sect for it?"

Upon hearing this, both men fell into a heavy silence, their expressions making it clear they already knew the answer in their hearts.

Seeing their reaction, Eldrin Chen continued, "If I sell the Spirit Mountain to you in advance, and you deploy a Fifth Rank Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array of the fifth rank], it would become far more difficult for the Lingering Snow Sect to seize it from you later."

Patriarch Xu was visibly tempted, yet he shook his head. "We lack a Fifth Rank Formation Master [a master capable of setting up fifth-rank formations]. Holding Soaring Cloud Mountain would be... inadvisable."

"That is a simple matter to resolve, for I am precisely a Fifth Rank Mid Grade Formation Master," Eldrin Chen declared with a confident smile. "I can arrange the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and nodes for defense or other purposes] on your behalf."

"That would indeed be acceptable,"

Patriarch Xu nodded, then added a stipulation, "However, we will provide the most crucial component—the Formation Tool [the core artifact used to anchor and control a formation]—ourselves."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. The Formation Tool was the heart of any Formation; their insistence was a prudent measure to prevent him from leaving any hidden vulnerabilities within it. Access the full story on audio-novel*com.

After reaching a preliminary agreement, both parties began negotiating the price. After several rounds of relentless haggling, a final deal was struck for thirty thousand strands of Profound Ice Qi [a refined spiritual essence of extreme cold, often used in ice-attributed cultivation arts and formations].

This price was exceedingly cheap. In the past, when Eldrin Chen sold the Spirit Mountain belonging to the Qin Clan, he had fetched a full two hundred million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Now, the value of these thirty thousand strands of Profound Ice was roughly equivalent to one hundred million Spirit Stones. It could be said that this Spirit Vein [a subterranean conduit of concentrated spiritual energy that nourishes the land above] was being sold at a ludicrously low, bargain-basement price.

However, this was essentially a transaction with no initial cost for him. Eldrin Chen could not remain in this place to occupy the Spirit Mountain, so naturally, he could not demand an exorbitant price.

Furthermore, if these strands of Profound Ice Qi were to be purchased in the Eastern Wastelands, the price would likely increase by eighty percent. Thus, relatively speaking, both sides had actually made a tremendous profit.

The transaction lasted for three months. Only after Eldrin Chen finished setting up a Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and nodes, often for defense, attack, or cultivation] for the Xu Clan did he finally receive this batch of Profound Ice Qi.

Gazing upon Soaring Cloud Mountain, Patriarch Xu could not help but reveal a look of delight. Eldrin Chen had not only laid down a Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive formation designed to protect an entire mountain] for this peak but had also installed a set of Fourth Rank Teleportation Formation [a high-grade spatial transportation array capable of moving people or objects over vast distances].

The distance between the Xu Clan stronghold and Soaring Cloud Mountain was merely three million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. This Fourth Rank Teleportation Formation was more than sufficient for their needs, which filled him with considerable surprise and joy.

Thinking of how his clan had acquired a Fifth Rank Spirit Mountain [a mountain peak nourished by a powerful fifth-grade spirit vein, a priceless asset for any cultivation force], thereby greatly increasing their Deep-Seated Foundation [the fundamental strength and potential of a cultivator or clan, built over generations], Patriarch Xu said joyfully, "This success is entirely thanks to you, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term used between cultivators]. Without this Fourth Rank Teleportation Formation, holding onto this Soaring Cloud Mountain would have been a truly difficult endeavor."

"It was merely a trivial effort, nothing more."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and cupped his hands in salute. "Since the Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, cultivation, or other mystical purposes] has been successfully laid, we shall not overstay our welcome."

"Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a cultivator walking the same path], please wait a moment."

Seeing Eldrin Chen prepare to depart, Patriarch Xu smiled and said, "I suspect, Fellow Daoist, that your journey will take you beyond the borders of the Snowy Mountain Ancient Domain."

"However, Three Years Later, the Snowy Mountain Ancient Domain's True Lord Barter Convention [a grand gathering where high-level cultivators trade rare treasures and resources] is scheduled to commence. This convention will be held at the Heavenly Mountain Flying Snow Pavilion. If you are not in urgent haste to leave, perhaps you might consider staying until the Barter Convention concludes."

"A Barter Convention?" Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Lyra Jiang before cupping his hands once more. "Thank you for the reminder."

After bidding farewell to Patriarch Xu, Eldrin Chen led his companions aboard their Treasure Boat [an enchanted vessel used for flight and travel] and soared deeper into the heart of the Celestial Mountain.

Aboard the Treasure Boat, Lyra Jiang spoke up. "This time, we brought two pieces of Fire Vein Treasure Jade [a rare jade imbued with potent fire-attribute spiritual energy]. It is a scarce treasure within the Northern Wastes, so we may be able to exchange it for some truly precious items."

Lila nodded in agreement, a gentle smile gracing her features. "Many of the unique treasures native to the Northern Wastes, if brought back to the Eastern Wastelands, could likely fetch a handsome price."

"Then let us proceed to the Flying Snow Pavilion,"

Eldrin Chen said with a light chuckle, guiding the Treasure Boat on its course deeper into the majestic peaks of the Celestial Mountain.

Upon arriving at the Flying Snow Pavilion market, the group conducted a brief investigation and quickly grasped the formidable strength of this Flying Snow Pavilion.

This Flying Snow Pavilion was one of the top five most powerful factions within the Snowy Mountain Ancient Domain [an ancient, perilous region dominated by snow-capped peaks and glaciers]. It boasted not only a single Half-Step Nascent Soul Powerhouse but also more than thirty Nascent Soul True Lord.

Contemplating the terrifying might of this Flying Snow Pavilion, Eldrin Chen exclaimed with awe, "Merely a single Flying Snow Pavilion alone possesses a strength approaching that of the Heaven's Profound Sect, the foremost Sect beneath the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm in the Eastern Wastelands. How can the factions of the Extreme Northern Ice Plains be so overwhelmingly powerful?"

"It is precisely because of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm," Lyra Jiang sighed, her voice tinged with helplessness.

Eldrin Chen sighed inwardly, understanding the reason all too well.

The Eastern Wastelands and the Eastern Sea Cultivation World shared a fate as close as lips and teeth; with each occurrence of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, they mobilized their entire forces to hold the line. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel*com.

In contrast, the various powers within the Extreme Northern Ice Plains needed only to dispatch one-third of their cultivators. Even when they suffered losses, they could recover swiftly.

More critically, the Eastern Wastelands had been overrun and devastated by Extraterrestrial Demonic Fiend [demonic entities from beyond this world] on multiple occasions. Aside from a handful of exceptionally powerful Nascent Soul Immortal Clan, the vast majority of Immortal Clan [clans focused on cultivation and immortality] had risen to prominence only after those cataclysms. Their Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound, accumulated strength and heritage of a cultivation force] and legacies paled in comparison to those of the Extreme Northern Ice Plains.

Witnessing this, Lila nearby also let out a sigh. "Strictly speaking," she said, "the Eastern Wastelands possesses richer resources and is far more suitable for mortal life to flourish."

"Were it not for the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, it would likely be far more prosperous than what we witness today."

Eldrin Chen fell silent for a moment, his resolve hardening as he finally declared, "We must cultivate diligently. In time, we shall surely purge the source of that great calamity and carve out a realm of lasting peace for all living beings under heaven."

The group rented a Cultivation Cave within the Flying Snow Pavilion market district. There, they settled in to cultivate in seclusion while awaiting the commencement of the Barter Convention.

Time flowed swiftly by, and in the blink of an eye, three years had passed.

On this day, Eldrin Chen was deep in cultivation within his Seclusion Chamber. Unnoticed, streams of starlight began to manifest within his body.

In a trance-like state, countless stellar Dao Patterns [mystical patterns representing the fundamental principles of the cosmos] converged. They wove together like a gown of celestial gauze, enveloping both his physical form and his spiritual soul. His flesh took on a radiant, divine aspect, as if forged from crystalline stars.

"It is done."

Suddenly, Eldrin Chen opened his eyes, a smile of satisfaction gracing his features.

Through years of relentless cultivation, he had long ago advanced the Great Derivation Heaven Art to the Minor Vehicle [the initial mastery stage of a profound ability] realm. Now, he had finally succeeded in cultivating the 'Stellar Glazed Body' [a divine physique technique from the Star-Gazing Ancient Scroll] from the Star-Gazing Ancient Scroll to the same Minor Vehicle realm.

This 'Stellar Glazed Body', much like the 'Great Derivation Heaven Art', is a Great Divine Ability [a supreme and profound mystical technique] of the Heaven's Secrets Lineage.

Between the two, the 'Great Derivation Heaven Art' excels in divination and calculation. Once activated, it can deduce Heavenly Secrets [the hidden workings of fate and the cosmos]. With the aid of the Astral Computator of the Great Deduction, it can even unveil many of the world's most deeply concealed opportunities and fortunes.

Meanwhile, the Stellar Glazed Body [a special constitution that grants immense defensive capabilities] excels in defense, capable of warding off curses from the Demonic Path [a collective term for unorthodox and malevolent cultivation sects] and also shielding against the divinatory arts of others.

After Eldrin Chen cultivated this Stellar Glazed Body to the Minor Vehicle [the initial or lesser stage of mastery for a divine ability] realm, then aside from Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul and comprehended a Great Dao] and a select few top-tier Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator [a supreme master of the Nascent Soul realm] who specialize in Heavenly Secrets [esoteric arts of fate-reading, divination, and celestial calculation], it would be exceedingly difficult for ordinary individuals to harm him through curses or the covert machinations of Heavenly Secrets.

"A pity that to cultivate the 'Stellar Glazed Body' to its Great Perfection, one still requires the assistance of the Heavenly Secrets Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact attuned to the laws of fate and celestial bodies] known as the Star-Gazing Tower,"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a wry smile once again touching his lips.

The myriad Divine Ability [supernatural powers and techniques cultivated by immortals] under heaven are diverse and varied, and the conditions required to master them are equally distinct.

Beyond the commonly required Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth], some Divine Ability demand precious Spirit Medicine [plants imbued with spiritual energy, used in alchemy and cultivation] as a catalyst, others impose stringent requirements on one's innate comprehension, and still others necessitate special Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of significant power used by cultivators] to serve as aids. Read, share, and discuss at audi novel.com.