Chapter 689 : A Realm's Fragile Unity

Beside him, Riverlord Chang, Alkaid, the Star Lord, and Dorian Ji all remained silent.

Figures of the Dao Lord [a supreme title for a master of the Dao] level were paramount, untouchable existences within the Purple Realm [a major realm in the cultivation world]. Such individuals guarded their dignity fiercely. An ordinary person, even with a Grudge [a powerful, often malevolent, spiritual artifact], would never dare act so brazenly.

Only a being with combat prowess as awe-inspiring as Lin Tianqi could afford to treat them with such open contempt.

"Enough, enough," Riverlord Chang finally spoke after Lin Tianqi had vented his fury. "The Drifting Snow Palace [a powerful sect] requires the Wang Clan to share their burden. Furthermore, Jaxian Lu is one of the central pillars supporting the Southern Wilderness Cultivation World."

"To sever ties with them completely could fracture the unity of the righteous path within the Purple Realm."

At this point, Riverlord Chang's gaze swept over the assembled group. He then distributed an ancient-looking Jade Slip [a jade tablet used to store information] to each of them. "These are your Meritorious Service Jade Register [a record of contributions and merits] and your Compensation Ledger [a ledger detailing owed compensation]. Review them first."

"Our gratitude, Ancient Ancestor."

The group accepted the Jade Slip and immediately extended their Spiritual Sense [a cultivator's extended consciousness] to probe its contents.

Eldrin Chen's Spiritual Sense quickly scanned the information. The compensation disbursed by the Eastern Desolation Immortal Alliance was indeed the full amount promised beforehand.

According to their established standards, the death of a single Nascent Soul, Early Stage [the early stage of the Nascent Soul cultivation realm] entitled the claimant to receive two Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a precious pill aiding in the formation of a Nascent Soul]. For a mid-stage casualty, an additional one hundred Heavenly Crystal [a high-grade form of spiritual crystal] were provided. For a late-stage casualty, the compensation was supplemented by three hundred Heavenly Crystal. Original English translation available at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

In addition, those who had cultivated an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul formed by aligning with the foundational, worldly principles of the Dao] were to be compensated with one Earthly Dao Essence [a rare spiritual substance containing the concentrated essence of the world's foundational principles], while those with a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul formed by aligning with the celestial, cosmic principles of the Dao] would receive one Heavenly Dao Qi [a strand of pure, celestial energy aligned with the fundamental principles of heaven].

This compensation was by no means insignificant. In the wake of such a cataclysm, to have gathered reparations of this magnitude was already an act of utmost benevolence and duty fulfilled.

Compensation for those below the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator forms their immortal soul core] was to be disbursed in Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] or equivalent resources. Eldrin Chen calculated and found the Chen Clan was entitled to compensation worth over one billion in Spirit Stone.

This sum, combined with the vast quantities of war materiel the Chen Clan had requisitioned earlier, should be just enough to barely cover the compensation owed to the families of the cultivators who had fallen in this war.

After reviewing the compensation details, Eldrin Chen let out a slight sigh of relief before turning his gaze to the ledger of military merits.

In this campaign, the merits earned by the Chen Clan could be described as unprecedentedly glorious.

Throughout the battles, Eldrin Chen had led his forces to first shatter the Six-Winged Demon Race [a powerful demonic race known for their speed and ferocity], then successively vanquish formidable enemies, culminating in the slaying of the Lord of the Flame Demons, who was at the Half-Step Nascent Soul [a transitional state of immense power, just shy of forming a true Nascent Soul].

Furthermore, beyond Water Chariot Island, he had utterly annihilated the Garuda Demon Monarch [a mighty demon king of the avian Garuda race], who wielded the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary demonic blade said to be capable of slaying immortals]. Finally, leading the grand army at the White Tiger Star Palace, he had decisively turned the tide of the war for the Human Race.

It could be said that in this war, the Merit Points [a metaphysical "currency" representing contributions and virtuous deeds, often used for rewards within sects or alliances] accrued by Eldrin Chen were second only to those of the various Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm and comprehended profound Dao principles], making him the foremost among all Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for a respected master who has attained the Nascent Soul realm].

According to the current tally of merits, the Chen Immortal Clan had amassed a staggering sixty-eight points worth of High Grade War Merits [the highest tier of recognition for valor and contribution in a major conflict].

According to the established exchange rate, a single high-grade Merit Points [a metaphysical "currency" representing virtuous deeds and contributions] is equivalent to one hundred Heavenly Crystal [a purified and extremely high-density form of spiritual energy crystal]. The value of these high-grade Merit Points alone rivals several thousand Heavenly Crystal, a fortune that likely exceeds the entire wealth of many Half-Step Primordial Spirit [cultivators at the peak of the Golden Core realm, on the verge of forming their Primordial Spirit].

After confirming the amount of myself Merit Points, Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Lyra Jiang before turning his gaze to the catalog of treasures listed in the military merit ledger.

The treasures recorded within the merit ledger were exceedingly numerous, and even the least valuable among them were astonishingly precious Fifth Rank Spiritual Object [objects of immense spiritual power, suitable for cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm and beyond].

At the very top of the list were items of truly extraordinary rarity, including a full ten strands of Heavenly Dao Qi [a primal, heaven-sent energy of the Great Dao, essential for profound cultivation breakthroughs].

This Heavenly Dao Qi is a treasure one encounters by fate, not by seeking. Even a Nascent Soul Late Stage [a mighty cultivator whose spiritual infant has reached maturity] powerhouse requires a full decade to gather a single strand. Although the Chen Clan possessed a considerable Deep-Seated Foundation [the accumulated resources, heritage, and latent potential of a clan or sect], their need for this substance was urgent.

However, the price of Heavenly Dao Qi was exorbitantly high, with each strand valued at ten Merit Points. Even Eldrin Chen could not afford to exchange for more than a few.

After careful deliberation, Eldrin Chen decided to exchange for three strands of Heavenly Dao Qi, intending to reserve them as part of the clan's strategic Deep-Seated Foundation reserves.

Having secured the three strands of Heavenly Dao Qi, Eldrin Chen shifted his attention to the other treasures. Among the myriad offerings, he discovered ten priceless pieces of Five Source Divine Jade [a legendary jade containing the purified essence of the five primal elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth].

The Five Source Divine Jade was a treasure of immense value. When first refined by a Nascent Soul True Lord [an honorific title for a powerful and respected Nascent Soul cultivator], it could increase their Mana [the cultivated spiritual energy or power wielded by a cultivator] by thirty percent. There was even a chance it could grant enlightenment into the legendary Five Elements Arcane Power [a supreme divine ability that commands the fundamental forces of the five elements].

Eldrin Chen's own Heavenly Flame Arcane Force [a supreme divine ability of celestial fire] was precisely comprehended after refining the Fire Source Divine Jade [the Fire-element variant of the Five Source Divine Jade] contained within a piece of Five Source Divine Jade.

However, this Five Source Divine Jade [a supreme spiritual jade containing the essence of the five primal elements] stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Heavenly Dao Qi [the purest form of Qi, embodying the will of the Heavenly Dao], ranking as the paramount treasure of the Nascent Soul Realm [the realm where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed]. Its value is such that it requires ten high-grade Merit Points [points representing virtuous deeds and contributions] to exchange for it.

Such a treasure can only be nurtured by a Fifth Rank High Grade Earth Vein [a high-grade spiritual earth vein of the fifth rank], and it takes a full Millennium [a period of one thousand years] for a single piece to form, making it exceedingly rare. Now that they have encountered a Fire Source Divine Jade [a divine jade containing the essence of primordial fire] once more, they naturally have no intention of letting it slip away.

After a moment of contemplation, Lyra Jiang sent a voice transmission to Eldrin Chen, saying, "The Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy] within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire [a vast, fiery domain of imprisonment] has been nurturing a Fire Source Divine Jade in recent Annual Assembly [a term for a cycle of years, often used in celestial calculations]. It could be exchanged for other types of Five Source Divine Jade."

Eldrin Chen nodded. He observed that among these Five Source Divine Jade, aside from three pieces of Fire Source Divine Jade, there were also four pieces of Water Origin Divine Jade [a divine jade containing the essence of primordial water]. The remaining three were all Metal Source Divine Jade [a divine jade containing the essence of primordial metal], of which there was only a single piece.

Among the Ancestral Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual vein of immense power] controlled by the Human Race in the Eastern Wastelands, there are no Sixth Rank [the sixth major realm of cultivation] wood or earth attribute Ancestral Vein. Therefore, the scarcity of such treasures was to be expected.

"Scarcity determines value. Let's exchange for the Metal Source Divine Jade." For more chapters, visit audio~novel.com for the complete novel.

As Eldrin Chen pondered and was about to claim the Metal Source Divine Jade, Riverlord Chang reminded him, "The Geng Metal Treasure Banner [a banner of Geng Metal, one of the heavenly stems] within the Feathered Pavilion Master's Five Directions Treasure Banner [a set of five treasure banners representing the cardinal directions] was destroyed. This item should be reserved for him to repair his precious banner."

"Thank you for the reminder."

Seeing Riverlord Chang's insistence, Eldrin Chen could only exchange for two pieces of Water Origin Divine Jade instead.

After acquiring these five priceless treasures, the number of high-grade Merit Points remaining in their possession was reduced to eighteen.

After a moment of contemplation, Eldrin Chen directly exchanged his merits for some precious Fifth Rank Spiritual Object [a spiritual material of the fifth rank, extremely rare and potent] and Healing Pill [a pill that restores vitality and heals wounds], as well as three invaluable strands of Earthly Dao Essence [a concentrated essence containing fragments of the world's fundamental laws].

The Chen Clan suffered severe losses in this battle. Several Fifth Rank Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact of the fifth rank, immensely powerful] were destroyed, including Lila's Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure [a top-tier artifact within its rank], the Frost Soul Jade Condensing Pagoda.

These external losses were one thing, but the critical issue was the five Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing with them] belonging to Lyra Jiang. Most were grievously damaged in her efforts to rescue Eldrin Chen, and would require rare Fifth Rank Spiritual Object to repair.

The injuries sustained by the Chen Clan's several Nascent Soul [the cultivation realm where one forms a nascent soul, a spiritual infant] cultivators also necessitated precious Healing Pill for a swift recovery.

After this series of exchanges, Eldrin Chen's stock of battle merits was completely depleted, but in return, he now possessed a considerable number of extraordinary and valuable items.

Seeing this, the others also stepped forward one after another, exchanging all their battle merits. Each of them clearly left with bountiful gains.

Once the treasures were exchanged, the crowd dispersed. Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang also exited the Cultivation Cave [a cave or chamber used for secluded meditation and cultivation], but were detained by Dorian Ji and led to his temporary Cultivation Cave.

Dorian Ji glanced at Eldrin Chen and said with a faint smile, "You performed admirably in this battle. Were it not for you, the Human Race would have suffered significant losses."

He paused briefly, not waiting for Eldrin Chen's reply, then continued with a grave expression, "However, there is one matter you must be aware of. That Garuda Demon Monarch was the direct descendant, the favored son, of the Garuda Heavenly Demon [a powerful, ancient demon of the Garuda race]."

"By slaying the Garuda Demon Monarch, you have likely invited no small amount of trouble upon yourselves."

At this point, Dorian Ji produced a jade pendant and handed it to Eldrin Chen. "This treasure is called the Heavenly Secrets Protection Jade [a jade artifact that shields the wearer from esoteric curses]," he said. "It can defend against the insidious curses and distant spells favored by demonic cultivators."

"Carry this with you at all times," he warned. "Be vigilant, for even a Demonic Path Nascent Soul [a powerful demonic cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul, the embryonic form of their immortal spirit] master might attempt to assail you with such shadowy arts." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio–novel.com.