Chapter 620 : The Primordial Spirit's Ascent

"Xuan Yue the Celestial Alchemist has broken through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a realm beyond the Nascent Soul]?"

Eldrin Chen revealed a look of surprise, yet he also nodded, his expression tinged with a sense of inevitability.

It had already been over one hundred years since he himself had advanced to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into an infant-like soul form] realm. Regarding the top-tier Nascent Soul cultivators of the Eastern Wastelands, he had, in fact, heard some rumors.

Among those few individuals, the Celestial Profound Sect Master naturally needed no elaboration. This person had attempted to assault the Primordial Spirit realm several times in succession. By now, his lifespan was likely nearly exhausted. Having suffered severe damage to his vital essence from this latest failed breakthrough, he might not even live to see the time of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied great calamity involving the demonic realms].

As for Jaxian Huan, he was the Personal Disciple of Riverlord Chang. He himself ranked among the top ten Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage] in the Eastern Wastelands. His recent step into the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm [a transitional state approaching the true Nascent Soul realm] was within expectations.

Eldrin Chen was not familiar with Evergreen the Daoist, but he had heard legends of this person. It was said he was one of the thirty-some Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a transitional state approaching the Primordial Spirit realm] mighty figures in the Eastern Wastelands, and his fame had been established for over seven thousand years.

It was said that Evergreen the Daoist had made thorough preparations and offered immense promises to borrow a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact imbued with pure Yang energy, used to withstand heavenly tribulations] for his tribulation from the Lin Clan, the Premier Immortal Clan of the Eastern Wastelands.

However, this person's age was simply too advanced. Although he had used a foundation accumulated over several Millennium [a period of one thousand years] to purchase a Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary elixir that aids in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm] to assault the Primordial Spirit Realm, and had successfully drawn down the Heavenly Soul [the celestial soul essence required for the Primordial Spirit breakthrough]...

...it was a pity that at the moment of breaking through to Primordial Spirit, his vital blood and Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] had already declined. In the end, his Mana [the spiritual energy used to power techniques and artifacts] actually proved insufficient. Unable to muster the power to activate the Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure to withstand the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the lightning calamity sent by the heavens to test cultivators], he was reduced to ashes by the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation [the specific heavenly tribulation for advancing to the Nascent Soul realm].

Finally, regarding Xuan Yue the Celestial Alchemist, Eldrin Chen had also heard of her. This woman was a Divine Maiden of the Star Palace, possessing one of the Cosmic Star Divine Body [a rare innate physique aligned with celestial stars] known as the Celestial Alchemist Dao Body. It corresponded to one of the Northern Dipper Seven Stars [the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation, each holding profound cosmic significance], the Ancient Star of Celestial Alchemy. Published by https://audio-novel.com. All rights reserved.

Although the Celestial Alchemist Divine Body [a rare and potent physical constitution] could not be considered a Superior Grade Dao Body [the pinnacle of innate physical endowments], and paled in comparison to the supreme Superior Grade Dao Body possessed by peerless Heaven's Chosen [individuals blessed by heaven with extraordinary talent] like Maris the Sea Steader and Caelum the Wavestrider, it was nonetheless a physique that came exceedingly close to that of a true Heaven's Chosen.

It was said that long ago, when Xuan Yue the Celestial Alchemist was still at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, the Star Palace Master had expended the Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound, accumulated spiritual reserves of a sacred place] of their Sacred Land [a place of immense spiritual power and significance] to channel the Nine Heavens Stellar Power [a celestial power drawn from the highest heavens] to nourish and refine her Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact].

With the full support of the Star Palace, Xuan Yue the Celestial Alchemist thus came to possess an Innate Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure born of pure yang energy]. For over a Millennium [a period of one thousand years], she had been hailed as the foremost Heaven's Chosen of the Eastern Wastelands, her combat prowess even said to surpass that of Dorian Ji.

Therefore, her current breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm beyond the Nascent Soul] was something Eldrin Chen had anticipated.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile. "With Dao Lord Dorian included, the Eastern Wastelands has gained two new Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a title for a supreme expert at the Nascent Soul realm] in the past Millennium. Our Human Race is finally no longer facing a dearth of rising talents."

"Indeed," came the agreement. "The birth of a new Dao Lord signifies a strengthening of our Human Race power. It greatly increases our hope of weathering the next Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, catastrophic invasion from the demonic abyss]."

Lyra Jiang spoke these words, feeling a slight easing of the pressure that had long weighed upon her heart.

Throughout the entire Eastern Wastelands, only one or two batches of Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming the Nascent Soul] were refined every Millennium. In times of good fortune, this might yield one or two newly ascended Primordial Spirit; in times of ill fortune, perhaps not a single cultivator would succeed in their advancement.

Thus, Xuan Yue the Celestial Alchemist's ascension to Primordial Spirit was, at the very least, not the worst possible outcome.

Eldrin Chen gave a nod of acknowledgment, then shifted his gaze back to the three figures upon the platform. Each of them was a mighty expert at the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm [a transitional state just below the true Nascent Soul realm].

Besides Maris the Sea Steader, the other two individuals were the master of the Mysterious Void Continent, Xuanxu the Daoist, and the master of the Feathered Pavilion from the Qingluan Continent.

Standing alongside the two Half-Step Dao Lord cultivators, Maris the Sea Steader noticed Eldrin Chen's gaze. He offered a slight, acknowledging smile in greeting.

Noticing this, Xuanxu the Daoist beside him asked with a gleam of interest, "Who is that man, to earn such regard from Brother Dinghai?"

Maris the Sea Steader chuckled heartily before replying, "That is the Abyssal Daoist and his wife. It is said they hold dominion over The Vast Sea and even repelled the Purple Jade Demon Emperor."

"Oh?" Xuanxu the Daoist's eyes brightened further, and he could not help but add, "I heard they occupy a Fifth Rank High Grade Earth Vein. I wonder if that is true."

"I have heard the same rumor."

The Feathered Pavilion Master nodded, yet his expression turned grave. "However, I must advise Fellow Daoist not to entertain any schemes. After that one from the Ji Clan broke through to the Primordial Spirit realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator], he personally sent word to this old man. That person is not to be trifled with."

"This..."

Xuanxu the Daoist's heart quivered. The only one who could make the Feathered Pavilion Master speak with such solemn caution was that peerless existence who now stood at the pinnacle of power.

With that thought, Xuanxu the Daoist dismissed his previous notions. He smiled and said, "You think too much, Fellow Daoist. It is merely a Fifth Rank High Grade Earth Vein."

"If it were truly unclaimed land, that would be one matter. But since it already has an owner, this old man would not be so shameless as to seize it by force."

"That is good to hear." Feathered Pavilion Master smiled, then continued, "With the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a cataclysmic event where demonic forces surge from the abyss] upon us, ordinary True Lord [a title for cultivators who have reached the Golden Core realm] might be of little consequence, but those of us who aspire to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high level of cultivation] realm are pillars of the Human Race. It is far better for us to stand united."

Unaware of this exchange between the others, Eldrin Chen greeted a few close acquaintances and then settled in to await the commencement of the Barter Convention.

The first to ascend the platform at this Barter Convention was Xuanxu the Daoist. Upon reaching the high stage, he swept his sleeve, revealing several precious objects.

"This old man has a few items here that are of no further use to me. You may all make your offers. If the price is right, a transaction can be made."

Eldrin Chen glanced over the items and saw they were all Fifth Rank Rare Treasures. Among them, the most valuable were two Heavenly Dao Pill [a legendary elixir said to grant profound insights into the Heavenly Dao, or the fundamental laws of the universe]. This content originates from audio novel.com. Please respect copyright.

Unfortunately, among these treasures, there was neither the Fire Source Divine Jade [a divine jade containing the primordial essence of fire] nor the Tribulation Transcendence Flower [a miraculous herb that aids cultivators in surviving their heavenly tribulations] that Eldrin Chen sought.

However, the Tianlu Sect Master nearby revealed a look of delight. He produced a black-and-red crown—the High Grade Demonic Treasure left behind by the Flame Demon Monarch Emperor—and said, "Might I exchange this for a Heavenly Dao Pill?"

"Agreed!"

Xuanxu the Daoist nodded, and the transaction with the Tianlu Sect Master was completed.

The Black-Red Crown was forged from extraordinary materials, yet to be usable, it would require complete re-smelting to extract its components. Its value fell considerably short of that of a Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure [a top-tier enchanted artifact].

Nevertheless, since this item could ultimately be refined into a Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure, exchanging it for a Heavenly Dao Pill [a legendary pill said to grant profound insights into the Heavenly Dao] still yielded him a slight profit.

With this transaction concluded, both parties were thoroughly satisfied. The Tianlu Sect Master received the Heavenly Dao Pill with trembling hands, feeling as if the Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Nascent Soul realm] had never felt so tantalizingly within his grasp.

The Spiritual Object [a rare object imbued with spiritual power] held by Xuanxu the Daoist was swiftly traded away. The next to step forward was Maris the Sea Steader.

With a wave of his hand, Maris the Sea Steader produced three Spiritual Objects: an ornate bracelet, a delicate vase, and a pill furnace containing a single Pill.

"The three treasures I present," he announced, "are the Vajra Bracelet, the Pure Yang Divine Liquid, and a Spirit Refining Pill."

As Maris the Sea Steader elaborated, Eldrin Chen grasped the origins of these artifacts.

The Vajra Bracelet was a Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure. The Spirit Refining Pill was a Treasure Pill [an exceptionally rare and potent pill] that enhanced a cultivator's spiritual sense [the extended perception of a cultivator], its grade reaching the lofty Fifth Rank High Grade. It was said to boost the spiritual sense of a Nascent Soul cultivator by thirty percent.

The liquid within the vase was the Pure Yang Divine Liquid [a divine liquid of pure Yang essence], a treasure of the sixth rank, typically only birthed within a Sixth Rank Ancestral Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual energy leyline].

This Pure Yang Divine Liquid was a supreme treasure for artifact forging. Legend held that adding a single portion during the crafting of a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure imbued with pure Yang energy] could increase its potency by ten to twenty percent. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel.com.