Chapter 617 : Forging of the Twin Polarities Treasure

It was precisely for this reason that Sea-Calmer Path Master was willing to incur a personal debt to secure an advance reservation for the Enlightenment Tea [a rare spiritual tea that aids in achieving enlightenment] production share from Eldrin Chen for the next millennium.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt a slight sense of relief. He had actually been somewhat worried that the Heavenly Reed Sect Master might claim the Fire Source Divine Jade [a divine jade containing the pure essence of primordial fire].

Seeing Eldrin Chen take the Fire Source Divine Jade, Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod of approval before turning her gaze to the remaining treasures.

Among the remaining treasures, the four Superior Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] were the most precious, with the Crimson Flame Spirit Shield and the Crimson Flame Treasure Lotus holding the highest value.

Both of these treasures were top-tier Defensive Spiritual Treasure [artifacts specialized for protection], their worth considered nearly equal.

Exquisite Jiang pondered for a moment. Recalling the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus [a legendary lotus that grows in the highest, coldest peaks] she had brought back from the underground ice veins of the Frost Snow Pavilion, she decided to exchange for the Crimson Flame Treasure Lotus.

Eldrin Chen, who understood her well, smiled and transmitted his thoughts: "Combining a Fifth Rank High-Grade Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus with this Crimson Flame Treasure Lotus to forge a single Spiritual Treasure might result in a truly astonishing artifact."

"That is precisely my thought as well."

Exquisite Jiang spoke, then added with a smile, "We can use our Water-Fire Divine Thunder [a divine ability that merges the opposing forces of water and fire] and the insights from the Two Polarities Divine Aegis [a supreme defensive technique based on the harmony of opposites] inherited from Senior Verdant Seal as references. Perhaps we can forge a peerless Spiritual Treasure."

"It is certainly worth contemplating." Find this and other novels at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded. The Two Polarities Divine Aegis was a Sixth Rank Supreme Primordial Solar Divine Ability [a supreme-level divine art of the primordial sun], its defensive power was truly peerless in the world. Despite cultivating it for many years, he had only just begun to grasp its fundamentals and had not yet mastered it completely.

Violet Consort Yan was the third to choose. After a moment of contemplation, she still took the Crimson Flame Spiritual Shield. As a cultivator with a Fire Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the fire element], this treasure was of immense use to her.

Seeing this, Ethereal Mistress Ling took the final Blazing Flame War Spear, thus obtaining the first Superior Spiritual Treasure [a top-grade enchanted artifact] of her current life—and indeed, of any life she could remember.

When it was Lila's turn, only the Black-Red Crown remained. That crown was a Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with demonic energy], and could only be smelted down to extract some high-grade Spiritual Object [spiritually infused materials].

Smelting such a Demonic Treasure would incur significant losses. The remaining materials likely wouldn't be enough to forge a complete Superior Spiritual Treasure. Therefore, she simply took two drops of the Primordial Solar True Blood [the pure, potent blood essence of a primordial sun entity] instead.

This item was of great use to the Old Patriarch, as it could help him mend part of his foundation and increase his chances of breaking through to the Infant Soul Late Stage [the late stage of the Infant Soul realm] by ten percent.

Although its effect was not as potent as the Heavenly Path Pill [a pill that enhances one's connection to the Heavenly Path], which increased the probability by twenty percent, its advantage lay in being a permanent enhancement. Moreover, its effects could stack with those of the Heavenly Path Pill.

Seeing that Lila had not chosen the Black-Red Crown, Immortal Maiden Heavenly Daylily immediately exchanged for it, clearly intending to keep it as a foundational treasure for her sect.

Only five drops of the Primordial Solar True Blood remained. This substance was a rarity of the world, far more uncommon than even a Medium-Grade Spiritual Treasure [a mid-grade enchanted artifact].

Thus, there was little left to discuss. Although Eternal Profound Chen and Elara Lin had accumulated fewer Merits [a metaphysical currency representing good karma and virtuous deeds], they each exchanged for one drop, intending to preserve it as a foundational asset for their clan.

The remaining three cultivators from the Heavenly Reed Sect were all Mortal Path Infant Soul cultivators. They hurriedly exchanged for the final three drops of Primordial Solar True Blood [a potent blood essence infused with the power of the primordial sun], clearly intending this treasure for their Heavenly Reed Sect Master.

By this point, no higher-grade treasures remained, but there were still quite a few Fifth Rank Spiritual Objects [spiritual materials of the fifth rank, suitable for crafting powerful artifacts]. The group proceeded to divide these remaining spoils amongst themselves.

Considering the unforeseen circumstances of the battle and the fact that Patriarch Mo-ink and his companions had lent their strength against the Flame Demon Monarch Sovereign [the supreme ruler of the Flame Demons], the group deliberated and decided to allocate one Spiritual Object [a rare object imbued with spiritual power] each to Patriarch Mo-ink and Quentin Qiu.

This was the first time either of them had obtained a Fifth Rank Treasure [an artifact of the fifth rank, a mark of significant power]. They could not contain their excitement, handling the treasures with reverent care before carefully storing them away.

With the treasures distributed, only the three captured Flame Demon Infant Soul [the nascent souls of powerful Flame Demon cultivators] remained.

In this conflict, they had slain six Flame Demon True Lord [powerful Flame Demon lords]. The Flame Demon Monarch Sovereign and the Flame Demon Monarch [a powerful Flame Demon ruler] were entities of such immense power that the group had been forced to fight with all their might, utterly annihilating their Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual core of a cultivator] and leaving nothing but ashes.

Of the remaining four Infant Soul, one had also been inadvertently destroyed in the fierce battle. Thus, only these three Flame Demon Infant Soul remained intact.

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master glanced at Eldrin Chen and spoke up, unable to hold back his request. "I have heard of your peerless skill in alchemy, Fellow Daoist. Might I trouble you to refine some Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the formation of a Nascent Soul]?"

"It is certainly possible,"

Eldrin Chen nodded, then said thoughtfully, "Although these Flame Demon [demonic beings born of and attuned to elemental fire] are not Extraterrestrial Evil Demons [demonic entities from beyond this world], they are still born from corruption by a thin, pervasive demonic energy. The demonic taint within their Infant Soul will likely be exceedingly difficult to purge."

"The demonic energy [the corrupting power wielded by demons] was suppressed by the flames and had long been mostly refined by the earth fire. These Flame Demon were not heavily tainted by it."

Ethereal Mistress Ling suddenly spoke up. After a moment of contemplation, she added, "If we use Heart-Cleansing Spirit Liquid [a rare spiritual liquid that purifies the soul and dispels impurities] for cleansing, each Flame Demon would require three or four drops to be completely purified."

"Then the matter is settled," Eldrin Chen said with a smile upon hearing her words. "Ethereal Mistress Ling can prepare the Heart-Cleansing Spirit Liquid. We shall entrust this task to you."

With that, the group had finished distributing all the spoils.

Only then did Eldrin Chen speak again. "Let us now discuss the shares of this Underground Fire Vein."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned serious. Compared to the immediate gains, the stake in the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire was the key to the long-term benefits for the major powers involved. Original English translation available at audio–novel.com.

Thinking of this, the Longbeard True Lord hurriedly spoke up. "This place was discovered first by our Heavenly Reed Sect. Furthermore, our Heavenly Reed Sect has five True Lord [a high-level cultivator title]. We should rightfully claim half of the proceeds."

"Fellow Daoist, your greed knows no bounds."

Eldrin Chen frowned slightly and said, "In this battle, my Chen Clan contributed the most effort. For you to take half is far too excessive."

Seeing Eldrin Chen's frown, the Longbeard Path Master felt an inexplicable pang of alarm and promptly fell silent.

The combat prowess of the two was formidable. Eldrin Chen alone, based on the strength he displayed in this battle, was already close to eighty percent of a late-stage Infant Soul cultivator's power. Combined with Exquisite Jiang, it was likely that even an average late-stage Infant Soul cultivator would not necessarily be their match.

The strength of either one of them was significantly greater than that of Heavenly Hut Path Master. If the two joined forces, it was probable that even if all five True Lords of their Heavenly Reed Sect combined their strength, they would still be no match.

Not to mention that Lila, Old Patriarch, and Elara Lin were all individuals of exceptional combat power, their strength far surpassing that of the True Lords from the Heavenly Reed Sect.

Seeing that Longbeard Path Master remained silent, Eldrin Chen then spoke in a measured tone, "The emergence of the Flame Demon Monarch Sovereign as a major enemy in this battle was, in itself, a failure of your intelligence."

"Yet I did not hold it against you. I honored our agreement and let you choose the treasures first. If you grow greedy over the share of this Underground Fire Vein as well, it would be the height of insatiability."

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master, noticing Eldrin Chen's frown and feeling that taking the 'Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword' was already a significant gain, quickly offered an appeasing smile. "The matter of the Flame Demon Monarch Sovereign was indeed our fault," he said.

"I offer my sincere apologies for this. Let us follow Fellow Cultivator Eldrin's suggestion. How do you propose we allocate the shares this time?"

Seeing him being so diplomatic, Eldrin Chen finally nodded and laid out the Great Path [the fundamental principles of cultivation and the universe]. "Regarding the share of this Underground Fire Vein, our Chen Clan will take fifty percent. The Heavenly Reed Sect will take thirty percent. Fellow Daoist Violet Consort and Ethereal Mistress Ling will each take ten percent."

"What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Reed Sect Master's heart stirred slightly. He then nodded and said, "Such a distribution is indeed reasonable. Our Heavenly Reed Sect has no objections."

Violet Consort Yan and Ethereal Mistress Ling voiced no objections upon seeing this arrangement. After all, each of them had come alone this time, and their claim to a full tenth share was based purely on their formidable combat prowess.

Seeing that no one had any further objections, Eldrin Chen said with a faint smile, "Then it is settled."

"According to our respective shares, we shall pool a sum of Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to nurture a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [a major underground current of concentrated spiritual energy] here."

"Fellow Daoist Mo-ink and Fellow Daoist Qiu shall henceforth be stationed here as guardians. Our various families and sects will then take turns dispatching a True Lord [a cultivator who has attained the True Lord realm, a high level of power] to stand watch as well." Access the full story on audio-novel.com (official site).