Chapter 823 : Secrets of the Nascent Soul

After a fleeting moment, he smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, honored guests. I shall go inform the Clan Lord and discuss how to handle this matter before returning with an answer."

With those words, Tribulation Triad Daoist hurriedly departed for a Cultivation Cave located at the heart of Sword Lake Island.

Within that Cultivation Cave was a white-haired elder in secluded meditation. This person was Lord of the Zhang Immortal Clan, a veteran Nascent Soul Dao Lord who had attained the Dao over seven thousand years ago and whose cultivation had reached the profound level of the Nascent Soul Sixth Layer.

Seeing Tribulation Triad Daoist arrive, the Zhang Clan Clan Lord inquired, "What brings you here?"

"Descendants of the Jiang Clan have come."

Tribulation Triad Daoist then recounted the entire sequence of events to the white-haired elder.

After listening, the Zhang Clan Clan Lord's expression changed abruptly. "Before I entered seclusion, the clan specifically left behind two Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming the Nascent Soul]. How is it that not a single one remains now?"

"How exactly has the Grand Elder been managing the clan's affairs?"

It turned out that for nearly a Millennium, the Zhang Clan Clan Lord had been in seclusion, striving to break through to the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Primordial Spirit realm, the spiritual core of a cultivator], while Tribulation Triad Daoist had been undergoing Reincarnation Tribulation [a perilous process of rebirth to refine one's foundation]. During this time, the clan's affairs had been entirely under the stewardship of Second Ancestor Zhang.

Seeing the Zhang Clan Clan Lord's anger, Tribulation Triad Daoist let out a bitter laugh and spoke, "This matter cannot be blamed entirely on him." Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel-dot-com.

"Of those two Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary pill that can aid in the breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm], one was used by me, and the other was given to Sylvan Zhang."

"For three Millennium now, our clan has not seen a single new Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing the Nascent Soul realm] emerge. It was precisely to prevent a generational gap in our strength that he felt compelled to use the Nascent Soul Pill to nurture a clansman."

Upon hearing this, the Clan Lord of the Zhang Clan could not help but reveal a complex expression.

Over the past three Millennium, the Zhang Clan lineage had also suffered grievous losses repeatedly during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving the eruption of demonic forces from the abyss]. Besides the Tribulation Triad Daoist, two other Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator at the Nascent Soul realm] had met their end, their Dao extinguished.

In particular, the recent failures of several Nascent Soul Seed [a cultivator with the potential to reach the Nascent Soul realm] to advance had increasingly placed the Zhang Clan in peril of a talent drought.

In withholding the Nascent Soul Pill that was rightfully due to Yvonne the Violet Consort, the Second Ancestor Zhang had acted out of a desperate desire to cultivate a new Primordial Spirit for the Zhang Clan.

With this thought, the Clan Lord of the Zhang Clan sighed and then spoke, "Regardless, the Jiang Clan are our sworn allies of generations. No matter how dire our clan's straits, we cannot break our oath."

"I have heard the Dao Palace Sacred Land [a revered sanctuary and place of cultivation] recently refined a batch of Nascent Soul Pill. Take this and purchase one to bring back."

"I shall see to it immediately."

The Tribulation Triad Daoist nodded, yet a wry smile touched his lips. "In recent years, to aid your breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage, the Grand Elder has repeatedly procured precious treasures. The clan's reserves of Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-grade form of spiritual energy crystal] are nearly depleted."

The Zhang Clan Clan Lord was momentarily taken aback, then sighed with a touch of emotion as he produced several Pure Yang Spiritual Object [spiritual objects imbued with the pure essence of Yang energy]. "The path of cultivation is arduous," he said, "more difficult than ascending to the heavens. And without treasures to aid you, it is utterly impossible."

"Take these Spiritual Object [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] from me. Sell them to support your clan."

Eldrin Chen waited outside the Zhang Immortal Clan for the better part of an hour before Tribulation Triad Daoist [a Daoist master specializing in navigating heavenly tribulations] finally arrived.

Upon meeting Eldrin Chen, Tribulation Triad Daoist explained the situation. "I must travel to the Dao Palace Sacred Land [a holy land renowned for its connection to the fundamental Dao] to procure the Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the formation of a Nascent Soul]. It will likely take some time before I return."

"Would you prefer to wait here for a while, or shall I deliver it upon my return?"

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Lyra Jiang and the others before speaking. "We plan to journey to the Western Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple [a temple of serenity located at the western extremity]. We shall collect the pill on our way back."

"Very well," Tribulation Triad Daoist nodded. "Then I must beg your pardon for not seeing you off."

As Eldrin Chen led his companions away, he cast a final look back at the Zhang Clan Dojo. "Though the younger generation of the Zhang Clan may be somewhat grasping," he remarked, "it seems their Ancient Ancestor [a venerable progenitor of a clan] still possesses a sense of fairness."

"It is merely a matter concerning their own path to the Dao [the fundamental principle or way of cultivation]."

Verdant Consort shook her head. "The Nascent Soul Pill touches upon the vital interests of those True Lord [a title for cultivators who have reached the Golden Core realm]. Naturally, they are exceedingly anxious about it."

"Simply put, their perspectives differ, so the matters they consider naturally differ as well."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement.

The group spoke no more, traveling westward towards the Western Pole by means of a Teleportation Formation [a magical formation that allows for instantaneous travel across vast distances].

After journeying for the better part of a year, they finally arrived within the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain [the vast, eternal desert realm at the westernmost edge of the Purple Realm] via Teleportation Formation.

As the westernmost extremity of the Purple Realm, the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain was a rare and ancient desert land.

Human presence here was sparse. The four horizons stretched into endless dunes. By day, the earth was like a steaming cauldron; by night, it grew bitterly cold. Demonic Beast [monstrous beasts that have cultivated spiritual energy] and Immortal Clan [powerful families of cultivators] of all sizes established their Daoist Assembly Ground [a gathering place or settlement for cultivators] around the scattered oases. Read, share, and discuss at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

The trio, including Eldrin Chen, flew high in the sky. After consulting a map, Eldrin spoke, "Another million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] ahead lies the largest Cultivation Market [a marketplace where cultivators trade spiritual goods] in this region: 'Buddha's Affinity Market'."

"There, we can take a Teleportation Formation to reach the Tranquil Spirit Temple [a major sacred site], foremost among the Western Pole's Sacred Land [places of immense spiritual power and significance for cultivation]."

Beside him, Lila and the others could not help but smile upon hearing this.

The Western Pole Sands Realm [another name for the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain] was immeasurably vast yet extremely resource-poor and sorely lacking in Teleportation Formation. Their journey had been arduous, with few opportunities to utilize such formations.

The Buddha's Affinity Market possessed a Teleportation Formation that led directly to the Tranquil Spirit Temple, which could save them a considerable amount of travel time.

With this thought, the group quickened their pace and soon arrived within the Buddha's Affinity Market.

Yet, the moment they set foot in the Buddha's Affinity Market, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle stir between his brows, detecting a rather familiar aura.

"Her?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted, his eyes settling on the figure before him.

It was a woman of striking beauty, who also paused in mild surprise upon seeing Eldrin Chen.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile. "Over a thousand years have passed since we last met. To encounter you here, Immortal Maiden, is truly unexpected."

This person was none other than Qingyan Yu, an old acquaintance Eldrin Chen had known since his early years.

More than a thousand years prior, shortly after Qingyan Yu had broken through to the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where spiritual energy condenses into a solid golden core], she had left the Ji Continent to wander the world.

For over a millennium since then, there had been no word of Qingyan Yu. Eldrin Chen had assumed she had long since passed away in meditation, never expecting to see her again now.

"Young Master, you flatter me."

Qingyan Yu [Yu Qingyan] gave a slight nod and invited the group into myself [my] residence. With a smile, she said, "Now that Brother Eldrin [Brother Eldrin]'s might shakes the world, I can scarcely believe it is truly you."

"Merely a minor achievement, not worth mentioning."

Eldrin Chen [Eldrin Chen] shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "For you, Immortal Maiden, to have broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm [Nascent Soul Realm] is truly beyond my expectations."

In truth, Eldrin Chen [Eldrin Chen] was genuinely surprised. Qingyan Yu [Yu Qingyan] possessed a Wind Spiritual Root [Wind Spiritual Root] and had only formed an Inferior Golden Core [Inferior Golden Core]. With such aptitudes, the hope of reaching the Nascent Soul [Nascent Soul] stage was slim indeed.

That she had still managed to cultivate to the Nascent Soul Realm [Nascent Soul Realm] was a fact that left him genuinely astonished.

Hearing this, Qingyan Yu [Yu Qingyan] smiled and replied, "Over these years, I have wandered the Eastern Wastelands [Eastern Wastelands], journeyed to the Extreme Northern Ice Plains [Extreme Northern Ice Plains], and witnessed the splendor of the Central Ancestral Domain [Central Ancestral Domain]. Having walked this mortal world, I carry no regrets."

"When I attempted my breakthrough to Nascent Soul [Nascent Soul], my heart was truly at peace. I ventured forth with the mindset that success would be fortune's favor, and failure simply fate's decree. Unexpectedly, the breakthrough proceeded with astonishing smoothness."

"So that is the way of it." Lila [Lila] remarked with a note of wonder, then said with a smile, "It seems the correctness of one's state of mind can perhaps also determine a cultivator's path." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel`com.