Chapter 605 : The Soul Nourishing Wood Bargain

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen's brow twitched slightly, and he inquired, "May I ask how much you are asking for it?"

Seeing an opportunity, the Desolate Heaven Sect Master smiled and said, "An ordinary piece of Fifth Rank Spirit Wood is worth seventy Heavenly Crystal [a high-grade crystalized form of spiritual energy used as currency by powerful cultivators]. This Soul Nourishing Wood [a rare spiritual wood that can nourish and strengthen the soul] can warm and nurture the soul, offering a sliver of aid in breaking through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm of a cultivator, representing the coalesced essence of one's soul and cultivation]. It requires one hundred Heavenly Crystal to trade."

"Fellow Daoist, you jest," Eldrin Chen frowned, immediately shaking his head. "Although the Soul Nourishing Wood possesses remarkable properties, it is not the Spirit Nourishing Divine Wood [a legendary divine wood said to directly nourish the foundational spirit]. Its assistance in a Primordial Spirit breakthrough is likely negligible."

"To demand an extra thirty Heavenly Crystal for such a minor effect seems far too high."

"But it can still nurture the soul, making it a rare treasure for spiritual cultivation," the Desolate Heaven Path Master insisted, then added, "At the very least, I must have ninety-five Heavenly Crystal to sell it to you."

"..."

After a round of haggling between the two, Eldrin Chen finally acquired this precious Soul Nourishing Wood for the price of eighty-eight Heavenly Crystal.

Having secured this piece of Fifth Rank Spirit Wood, Eldrin Chen steered his treasure boat back towards Ji Continent. Gazing at the Soul Nourishing Wood within the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure capable of storing and preserving spiritual objects], he smiled. "Performing the Celestial Mechanism [a profound divination art that deduces heavenly secrets] places great strain on a cultivator's soul and consumes spiritual sense [a cultivator's extended perception and mental power] immensely."

"Using Soul Nourishing Wood as the core material to construct the Star Observation Tower [a tower designed for celestial observation and divination] may be costly, but for us, it remains the most suitable choice."

"Precisely," Exquisite Jiang also smiled, then said, "Once the Star Observation Tower is forged, our Stellar Glazed Body [a divine ability that tempers the body with stellar energies, making it resilient and radiant] can advance further. In the future, we will have greater confidence in dealing with the Extraterrestrial Evil Demons [malevolent demonic beings that originate from beyond this world]." Visit audio–novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

Without further words, they hurried back to Spirit Isle Lake. Once there, Eldrin Chen produced the treasures he had accumulated.

To forge the Star Observation Tower, one first needed a stalk of Fifth Rank Spirit Wood [a high-grade spiritual wood] to craft its main structure. Next, a Void Gem [a gemstone that stabilizes spatial energies] was required to solidify the void. Then, seven Stellar Fragment [fragments of fallen stars] were needed to refine into seven Stellar [star cores], which would be used to manifest the Big Dipper [the seven stars of the Northern Dipper constellation].

Eldrin Chen had already gathered the seven Stellar Fragment. He also had a Void Gem in reserve. With the Soul Nourishing Wood [a wood that nourishes the soul] obtained this time, he had finally assembled all the materials for the Star Observation Tower and could now proceed with its forging.

However, before beginning the forging of the Star Observation Tower, Eldrin Chen brought out two more treasures.

One was a dazzling Stellar Gem [a gem imbued with stellar essence]. The other was a piece of translucent, crystalline jade.

The Stellar Gem was the Stellar Sky Enlightenment Stone [a stone that aids in celestial divination and enlightenment]. Back then, Patriarch Mo-ink had offered this treasure to Eldrin Chen, securing his support to break through to the True Lord Realm [a high stage of cultivation].

The crystalline jade was called Icy Heart Precious Jade [a jade that calms the heart and subdues inner demons]. Eldrin Chen had purchased it in the Far North Icy Plains. This object possessed the effect of subduing Inner Demon [demonic thoughts and temptations born from within a cultivator's own heart], and it also held some utility in helping cultivators overcome the Inner Demon Tribulation [a tribulation of inner demons] during their breakthrough to the Infant Soul [a core cultivation realm].

Looking at the two treasures in his hand, Eldrin Chen smiled faintly. "Over these years, I have continuously deduced and finally found methods to refine these two Spiritual Object [spiritually potent materials]."

"This Stellar Sky Enlightenment Stone can be refined into a Stellar Enlightenment Platform [a platform for celestial observation and enlightenment]. And this Icy Heart Precious Jade can be refined into an Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror [a mirror that calms the heart and repels inner demons]. Both can aid in the art of Celestial Mechanism [divination and understanding of heavenly patterns], and they can assist cultivators in subduing their Inner Demon."

Exquisite Jiang nodded, then said with a gentle smile, "Since that is the case, let us begin the forging."

Without further delay, the two of them acted. They summoned the Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations Cauldron and began forging two Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of significant power].

Both the Stellar Enlightenment Platform and the Icy Heart Precious Jade were merely Inferior-Grade Spiritual Treasure [the lowest rank of Spiritual Treasures]. Forging them posed little difficulty given their mastery of artifact-crafting.

Working together, they succeeded in forging these two Spiritual Treasure in just two years.

Once completed, the 'Stellar Enlightenment Platform' measured over three Zhang-lengths [approximately ten meters] across. It radiated a hazy, starlight luminescence, with faint echoes of the Dao [the fundamental principle of the universe] resonating in the surrounding space.

The 'Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror', meanwhile, was a translucent, Glazed-like treasure mirror. Crafted as if from Glazed ice crystal, it emanated waves of frigid power that washed over Eldrin Chen, instantly quelling any distracting thoughts in his mind.

"Excellent treasures,"

Eldrin Chen murmured, seated upon the Path Platform [a platform for meditation and enlightenment]. He gazed with delight at the Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror floating before him.

The Stellar Enlightenment Platform accelerated a cultivator's comprehension of the Dao and granted him deeper insight into Celestial Mechanism [the profound workings of fate and cosmic patterns], potentially increasing the potency of his Celestial Mechanism-related Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power] by thirty percent.

The Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror possessed the effects of warding off Inner Demon [mental demons born from one's own heart] and defending against Demonic Path Curse Technique [curses cast by demonic cultivators]. This treasure could not only aid Chen Clan cultivators in overcoming their Inner Demon Tribulation [a tribulation of the heart and mind] but also shield them from the curses of Demonic Path [the cultivation path of demons and malevolent beings] practitioners.

Specialization yields mastery. Given the Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror's potent suppression of Inner Demon, even a Demonic Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Infant Soul [the peak of the Infant Soul cultivation stage] would likely find it difficult to gain an advantage by secretly cursing Eldrin Chen.

After refining the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasures, Eldrin Chen smiled faintly and remarked, "Although the offensive and defensive capabilities of these two special Spiritual Treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] are relatively weak, they possess excellent auxiliary effects."

"If they are integrated into the Star Observation Tower, they will undoubtedly increase the tower's might by several tenths."

Exquisite Jiang also smiled. "That is an excellent idea."

Eldrin Chen took out the materials for refining the Star Observation Tower, a trace of solemnity appearing between his brows.

The Star Observation Tower was a special Spiritual Treasure of the Fifth Rank High-Grade tier. Refining it was no simple task; failure would likely result in a significant loss for them. Typically, only a Fifth Rank High-Grade Artificer [a master craftsman of magical treasures] would have sufficient confidence to undertake it.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen was bolstered by the state of Celestial-Mortal Symbiosis [a profound cultivation state where celestial and mortal energies harmonize], giving him considerable confidence in his ability to refine the tower. Furthermore, he wished to seize this opportunity to break through to the level of a Fifth Rank High-Grade Artificer. Thus, he did not expend great resources to commission someone else for the task. Published by @udio-novel.com. All rights reserved.

"To refine the Star Observation Tower, the primary step is crafting the tower's main structure. Let us begin there," Eldrin Chen stated calmly, before commencing work on the Soul Nourishing Wood.

This Soul Nourishing Wood stood a thousand Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] tall. Eldrin Chen refined it down to a size of thirty Zhang-lengths, cutting it into numerous high-grade timber pieces. He then tempered each piece with True Flame [a pure, potent flame used in high-level crafting and alchemy] and meticulously carved formation patterns onto every block of Spirit Wood [wood imbued with spiritual energy].

The workload was immense. The two of them toiled for three full years before finally succeeding in crafting the main structure of the Star Observation Tower.

Afterward, Eldrin Chen refined another Void Gem and fused it into the Star Observation Tower, forming a vast, ethereal void within.

Having completed these two steps, Eldrin Chen's expression grew even more solemn. Refining the Stellar Fragment to manifest the Big Dipper constellation was the most critical stage in forging the Star Observation Tower.

Eldrin Chen took the seven Stellar Fragment and, harnessing the power of the Underground Fire Vein, began their meticulous refinement. He carefully inscribed formation patterns, laboring ceaselessly for seven years before finally transforming the seven fragments into seven radiant Stellar [celestial bodies imbued with profound stellar essence].

They were Celestial Pivot, Celestial Rotating Jade, Celestial Shining Pearl, Celestial Authority, Alkaid, Opening Sun, and Twinkling Light.

Gazing upon the seven brilliant Stellar before him, Eldrin Chen's eyes blazed with intense light. With a wave of his hand, he sent the seven Stellar soaring into the heart of the Star Observation Tower.

"The Seven Stars take their place. The Star Observation Tower is complete!"

Seven crisp, resonant chimes rang out in succession. The Star Observation Tower erupted with seven dazzling beams of light. Profound and intricate formation patterns ignited, weaving together into a resonating tapestry of Dao patterns before gradually fading from sight.

"It is done."

A faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips as he stepped into the completed Star Observation Tower.

Within the tower, an endless void stretched out. Seven resplendent Stellar hung in the expanse, their light etched with the patterns of myriad Heavenly Path [the fundamental laws and principles of the cosmos], concealing within them the profound mysteries of the Great Path [the ultimate, unifying truth of cultivation and existence].

And beneath the starry firmament, a Stellar Enlightenment Platform [a mystical platform used for celestial observation and enlightenment] hovered within the void, emanating an aura of profound and unfathomable Dao principles.

Alongside it, a Glazed-like, translucent treasure mirror [a magical artifact with a smooth, glassy surface] also floated in the emptiness. It radiated a chilling, frosty intent, unleashing beams of demon-subduing light.

"Is this the Star Observation Tower [a legendary tower for observing celestial phenomena and divining fate]?" he murmured.

Gazing upon the Star Observation Tower before him, a surge of pleasant surprise welled up within Eldrin Chen's heart. The story continues at audio novel.com.