Chapter 590 : A Debt of Pills and Power

With the final Polarity Precious Ginseng Pill [a rare elixir that harmonizes opposing energies to enhance cultivation] claimed, the two delivered the pill to Violet Consort Mountain.

Gazing at the Polarity Precious Ginseng Pill in her hand, Violet Consort Yan exclaimed with delight, "This pill is precisely what I need. I was planning to save more Heavenly Crystal [a highly purified and potent form of Spirit Stone] to purchase one. I never imagined you would refine it so swiftly."

"Unfortunately, I don't have enough Heavenly Crystal on hand. Consider it a debt for now."

"There's no need for that," Eldrin Chen replied with a calm smile. "You aided us greatly this time. Consider this our token of gratitude."

"But..."

As Violet Consort Yan began to protest, Exquisite Jiang interjected, "Between friends, such formalities are unnecessary. In the future, if the Earth Vein [a subterranean spiritual energy conduit] beneath Violet Consort Mountain yields any Earthly Path Energy [a potent, earth-aligned spiritual essence], simply offer it to us first."

"I would have done so even without you asking," she assured them.

Violet Consort Yan chuckled, pouring tea for them both before inquiring, "Have you initiated peace talks with Violet Jade Lake yet?"

"Not yet," Eldrin Chen shook his head, a slight frown creasing his brow. "We've been preoccupied with pill refinement and consolidating the gains from the recent battle. The matter hasn't been addressed."

Hearing this, Violet Consort Yan's expression grew solemn. "Though gravely wounded, the Violet Jade Demon Emperor remains a pinnacle Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beings of immense power]." Continue reading this story at audio . novel . com.

"Though he is gravely wounded now, he will likely recover a portion of his strength within a single Sixty-Year Cycle. If he disregards all decorum and directly attacks the Spirit Island [spiritual islands] of the major Immortal Clan [immortal clans] across the Vast Sea, I fear none of you will know peace."

Upon hearing this, both of them wore solemn expressions. Exquisite Jiang nodded and said, "It seems we truly must discuss this matter."

After departing from Violet Consort Mountain, Eldrin Chen glanced towards the direction of Violet Jade Lake [a demonic territory]. A slight furrow appeared between his brows as he spoke, "That Violet Jade Demon Emperor is unlikely to let this matter rest. Reaching a peaceful accord will not be easy."

Exquisite Jiang also frowned, a flash of icy resolve passing through her eyes.

With the Violet Jade Demon Emperor's power, recovering merely seventy to eighty percent of his combat strength would be enough for him to rampage unchecked across the land.

If he were to venture deep into the Vast Sea alone and act with impunity, even Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang would find it difficult to stop him. The entire Vast Sea would then be plunged into endless calamity.

Such a supreme Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonkind] could likely only be severely wounded, not slain, even if Eldrin Chen rallied his allies and summoned even Vast Righteousness True Lord for a joint assault.

Dealing with such a troublesome and formidable foe would be no simple matter.

With this thought, Exquisite Jiang spoke, "We must negotiate peace with Violet Jade Lake. Otherwise, not only will the supply of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] for the Vast Sea be cut off, but our business ventures across the other continents will also become unsustainable."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of agreement. Over the years, the Chen Clan had been continuously expanding its network of shops to procure Five Elements Essence for Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang.

The Chen Clan's Horizon Tower and Sea's End Pavilion had also expanded to the Tianlu Continent and the Heavenly Star Continent, and were even opening branches across the other great continents. Most of the Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] earned were used to purchase Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements].

If they continued to wage war against the Violet Jade Lake, these enterprises could not be sustained due to a lack of personnel. In the future, Eldrin Chen would have no choice but to purchase Five Elements Essence at exorbitant prices from the various great Infant Soul Immortal Clan [powerful clans led by cultivators at the Infant Soul stage].

Purchasing Five Elements Essence from other major Immortal Clan [clans with immortal-level cultivators] would not only be far more expensive but would also make them overly dependent on others. In critical moments, they might not even be able to procure sufficient quantities.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen declared, "I shall write another letter to the Violet Jade Demon Emperor. If he truly intends to tear all pretense of civility to shreds, I will have no choice but to summon Sea-Calmer Path Master."

The Sea-Calmer Path Master had signed a treaty with the Chen Clan concerning the Enlightenment Tea [a rare spiritual tea that aids in achieving enlightenment], which meant he owed Eldrin Chen a minor favor.

However, requesting his direct intervention would undoubtedly come at a significant cost. Eldrin Chen was unwilling to take that step unless it became absolutely necessary.

Upon returning to Spirit Lake Isle, Eldrin Chen immediately penned a letter. He then captured a Violet Sanctum Great Monster [a powerful monster at the Violet Sanctum cultivation stage] and dispatched it to deliver the missive to the Violet Jade Lake.

"..."

Within the Violet Jade Lake, the Violet Jade Demon Emperor was secluded, healing his wounds, while the Crimson Serpent Demon Emperor was in the process of reconstructing his physical form. The one who received the letter was the wielder of the Hundred-Poison Celestial Scorpion [a legendary venomous stinger artifact].

That Celestial Scorpion Demon Emperor did not dare delay upon receiving the letter. He immediately sought out the Violet Jade Demon Emperor and personally delivered the correspondence into his hands.

"Peace talks? He seeks a truce with this Emperor now?"

After reading the letter, Violet Jade Demon Emperor [a powerful ruler among the demon clans] flew into a rage and tore it to shreds.

Celestial Scorpion Demon Emperor [a fellow demon emperor and ally] flinched slightly, then after a moment of contemplation spoke: "Elder Brother, your wounds are not yet healed, and Returning Abyss Path Master [a title for Eldrin Chen] has superior numbers. Even if we fight on, I fear we will struggle to gain any advantage."

"If you were to suffer another grave injury in battle, there is a real danger your Path [the foundational cultivation journey of a cultivator] could be severed forever."

Upon hearing this, Violet Jade Demon Emperor's expression turned icy. After a long silence, he finally said, "The enmity between this Emperor and Returning Abyss [a title referring to Eldrin Chen] is irreconcilable. I wish I could flay the flesh from his bones and tear out his sinews. There is no possibility of settlement."

"Elder Brother, heed my counsel!" Original English translation available at audi novel.com.

Seeing that Violet Jade Demon Emperor remained unmoved, Celestial Scorpion Demon Emperor pressed on urgently: "Today's defeat was not due to any failing on our part, but simply because they outnumbered us."

"With the enemy's forces superior to ours, fighting on to mutual ruin serves no purpose. We should bide our time and plan carefully. Only then can we properly avenge this day's humiliation in the future."

Violet Jade Demon Emperor frowned at these words and fell into a heavy silence.

Seizing the moment, Hundred-Poison Celestial Scorpion [a powerful demonic weapon or title] pressed his advantage: "The Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, world-shaking calamity of demonic origin] has barely two hundred years remaining. If we simply wait until it concludes, it is likely that many of them will perish in the cataclysm's fires."

"During this time, we have been both rallying the surrounding Demon Emperors and nurturing new Infant Soul Demon Emperors. Once the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm concludes, we shall let that Returning Abyss Path Master taste the bitterness of being outnumbered."

The Violet Jade Demon Emperor paced in place for a moment before finally nodding. "I've heard that the Returning Abyss couple is on very close terms with the Ji Clan, and the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor had its physical body destroyed by Dorian Ji. A grudge of that magnitude is no small matter."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Go to Azure Wave Lake. Tell them that if they are willing to annihilate the Chen Clan, then I, this Emperor, am willing to serve the True Dragon Demon Ancestor faithfully and join him in pacifying the Ji Immortal Clan together."

"..."

Not long after, within Azure Wave Lake, the avatar of the Golden Flood Dragon Demon Emperor watched the Hundred-Poison Celestial Scorpion depart, a cold, sharp glint flashing in its eyes.

After the Hundred-Poison Celestial Scorpion had left, he entered the Seclusion Chamber of the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor and relayed the situation.

The Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor listened in silence for a long while before letting out a cold laugh. "Before I have even transformed into a True Dragon, that Violet Jade Demon Emperor addresses me with the honorific of True Dragon Demon Ancestor. But the unspoken implication is that unless I break through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm, he will not deign to serve me, is it not?"

"That demon appears to be pledging allegiance, yet in truth, his pride is immense, believing himself destined for the stature of a Demon Ancestor."

The Golden Flood Dragon Demon Emperor also nodded, a sneer in its gaze. "That Violet Jade Demon Emperor keeps proclaiming he wishes to honor you as his master and join you in destroying the Ji Clan, yet his scheme is to have us eliminate the Chen Clan. Truly a flight of fancy."

Upon hearing this, the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor fell silent for a beat, then shook its head. "The Chen Clan are allies of the Ji Clan. If I possessed the strength, it would indeed be prudent to prune them away." Find this and other novels at audi novel.com.