Chapter 870 : A Pact of Spirit and Bloom

Upon the Grand Hall, Eldrin Chen observed the Gu Clan Patriarch. After a brief, measured appraisal, he gave an imperceptible nod of approval.

This Gu Clan Patriarch was, as expected, a pillar of an Nascent Soul Immortal Clan. Although his cultivation had not yet reached the Primordial Spirit Realm, his foundation was solid, and it seemed his hope of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a higher state of being] was not insignificant.

With this thought, his mood lightened a fraction. A faint smile touched his lips as he spoke, "I hear you wish to trade a Nascent Soul Flower [a rare spiritual herb crucial for crafting the Nascent Soul Pill] for an Azure Lotus Seed?"

"That is correct," the Gu Clan Patriarch nodded, his demeanor one of utmost reverence. "My only hope is that once the Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary elixir that aids in forming the Nascent Soul] is refined, this junior may receive one."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of understanding and spoke plainly, "Your innate talent is commendable. With the aid of a Nascent Soul Pill and the Lotus Seed, you should be able to break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm within a century."

"Very well. I shall grant your request."

"My deepest gratitude, Senior!"

The Gu Clan Patriarch hurriedly expressed his thanks and promptly presented the Nascent Soul Flower to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen accepted the Nascent Soul Flower. He sensed its potent medicinal aura, vibrant and fresh, clearly having been recently harvested from a Spirit Medicine Garden [a garden cultivated with spiritual herbs].

With a heart contented by the treasure now in his possession, Eldrin Chen nodded once more and declared, "When the time comes for your breakthrough to Primordial Spirit, if you lack confidence in weathering the External Tribulation [a trial of heavenly lightning and calamity faced during major cultivation breakthroughs], you may seek me out in the Eastern Wastelands." Read the full novel exclusively on audio-novel . com.

Upon hearing this, Gu Clan Patriarch was overjoyed. He promptly prostrated himself on the ground and said, "Senior's great kindness, this junior will surely repay it a hundredfold in the future."

"There is no need for that," Eldrin Chen said, his eyes shimmering faintly as he shook his head with a smile. "On my own path, I too have received grace and aid from the esteemed seniors of the Human Race."

"When one drinks water, one should remember its source [a Chinese idiom meaning to be grateful for one's origins]. Now that my cultivation can be considered somewhat accomplished, it is only right that I offer shelter and guidance to the younger generation."

"You need not think of repaying me. Simply cultivate diligently, and if you have strength to spare in the future, extend your care to those who come after you."

Gu Clan Patriarch listened quietly, feeling that the figure before him possessed a jade-like elegance and grace. Merely standing there, he exuded an aura of transcendent solitude and peerless distinction.

Overwhelmed with reverence, the patriarch said, "Senior's heart is with all living beings. This junior will surely engrave today's teachings in his heart."

After seeing off Gu Clan Patriarch, Eldrin Chen immediately proceeded to the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire to begin refining the Nascent Soul Pill.

In the past, when Riverlord Chang was at the Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage realm, refining a single batch of Nascent Soul Pill required several decades.

Now, Eldrin Chen's Mana [the spiritual energy used to perform arts and techniques] was even more profound than Riverlord Chang's had been back then. Furthermore, aided by the Sixth-Rank Subterranean Fire Vein, the time required to refine the Nascent Soul Pill was less than one-third of what Riverlord Chang had needed.

After only nine years, he successfully completed the refinement of this batch of Nascent Soul Pill.

This attempt to refine the Nascent Soul Treasure Pill [a supreme elixir that aids in the breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm] was Eldrin Chen's first endeavor to craft a Treasure Pill [a pill of exceptional quality and potency] of the Nascent Soul Grade [a rank corresponding to the Nascent Soul cultivation stage]. Yet, to his surprise, the process yielded four such pills.

This outcome filled Eldrin Chen with considerable delight. After all, even a top-tier Sixth-Rank Low Grade Alchemist [an alchemist of the sixth rank, low grade] would typically produce only three Nascent Soul Treasure Pill from a single cauldron.

For Eldrin Chen to refine four such pills in his very first attempt at a Pure Yang Grade [a rank corresponding to the Pure Yang cultivation stage] Treasure Pill, his Alchemy [the art and skill of pill refinement] was likely already on par with that of a Sixth-Rank Mid Grade Alchemist [an alchemist of the sixth rank, mid grade].

"Given my Mana [the spiritual energy and power of a cultivator] and comprehension," he mused, "it seems that refining a few more batches of Sixth Rank Treasure Pill should be enough to elevate my Alchemy to the Sixth Rank High Grade [sixth rank, high grade]."

With this thought in mind, he emerged from his Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared chamber for undisturbed cultivation or crafting].

After concluding his seclusion, he sought out Verdant Consort and Lyra Jiang to share the good news of successfully refining four Nascent Soul Treasure Pill.

Hearing this, they were all quietly pleased. Lyra Jiang spoke directly, "Since you've produced four Nascent Soul Treasure Pill, how do you plan to allocate these Treasure Pill?"

Eldrin Chen pondered briefly before replying, "Of the Nascent Soul Treasure Pill, one must go to the Gu Immortal Clan [a powerful clan of immortal cultivators]. That leaves three for us."

"If we wish to reclaim the Eastern Wastelands [a vast, contested territory] from the grasp of the Outer Realm Demon Race [a demonic race from beyond this realm]," he continued, "we must concentrate our resources to first nurture a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a powerful cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm and comprehended a profound Dao]."

Upon hearing this, the others understood Eldrin Chen's intention: the Nascent Soul Treasure Pill were destined for those candidates who had received the Lotus Seed [a rare spiritual herb symbolizing potential and enlightenment].

Lyra Jiang also nodded, then smiled wryly and said, "This method could indeed nurture several Primordial Spirit [the highest spiritual core of a cultivator, representing their immortal essence] cultivators. However, Nine Rivers Dao Lord, Lucian Ji, and that Lilith, Mistress of Desire simply do not possess such vast wealth."

"They will have to go into debt for it."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh and spoke, "Summon them to Spirit Isle Lake to see me."

Not long after, Nine Rivers Dao Lord, Lucian Ji, and Lilith, Mistress of Desire arrived one after another at Spirit Lake Isle.

Eldrin Chen personally received them. After securing their promises to repay the treasures in the future, he bestowed upon them the Lotus Seed [a sacred seed from a spiritual lotus, prized for its potent life-nurturing properties] and the Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary elixir that aids in the formation of a cultivator's Nascent Soul].

Considering the unstable situation in the Purple Realm [a vast and mystical cultivation realm], Eldrin Chen offered a final piece of advice before their departure: "You may choose a Sixth Rank Spiritual Vein [a location where spiritual energy of the sixth rank converges, ideal for high-level cultivation] within places like the Three Veins Ancient Domain [an ancient land famed for its convergence of three powerful spiritual veins], Gu Yuan Mountain, Spirit Isle Lake, or the Azure Lotus Continent [a continent named for its azure lotus flowers] to attempt your Primordial Spirit breakthrough." Find thousands of chapters at audio . novel . com.

The three expressed their profuse thanks and departed with their treasures. Meanwhile, on the other side, an elder with hair and beard white as snow arrived at Spirit Isle Lake in a state of great haste.

The visitor was none other than Tianlu Sect Master. He rushed to the shores of Spirit Isle Lake and, without uttering a single word, knelt directly upon the ground.

"Senior Tianlu, this is not permissible…"

Witnessing Tianlu Sect Master kneel, several nearby Chen Clan Cultivators were visibly shocked and moved forward to help him up.

Yet the Tianlu Sect Master remained kneeling in silent prostration, offering no words in reply.

"Alas."

At the same moment, within a Cultivation Cave on Lake Heart Island in Spirit Isle Lake, Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh as he sat in meditation.

Seeing this, Lyra Jiang beside him also sighed and said, "You guessed correctly. He truly has come."

"When one's very path to immortality and life itself are at stake, how many can remain calm?"

With a sigh, Eldrin Chen then addressed Alistair Lu: "Go and bring Fellow Daoist Tianlu to Lake Heart Island."

"As you command."

Alistair Lu accepted the order respectfully and departed from Spirit Isle Lake.

He personally helped the Tianlu Sect Master to his feet and said with a sigh, "Senior, please follow me."

Seeing that Eldrin Chen had agreed to see myself, a flicker of hope stirred within the Tianlu Sect Master's heart, and he promptly rose to stand.

The two stepped into the Spirit Isle Lake and strolled through the Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Grove, arriving at its very heart.

As the Tianlu Sect Master swept his gaze across the Peach Blossom Grove, he saw beneath the Millennium Ancient Peach Tree a stone table, where a youth clad in snow-white robes sat quietly, watching him.

"This junior, Tianlu, pays his respects to Eldrin, the Ancient Ancestor."

His heart trembling, the Tianlu Sect Master immediately sought to prostrate himself upon the ground.

Yet he found an invisible force supporting him, rendering him utterly unable to bow down.

It was then that Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and spoke. "With over a millennium of friendship between us, why such formality?"

"Sit."

Only then did the Tianlu Sect Master gather his courage and approach the stone table. He dared not presume equality, speaking instead in a low voice. "Senior is a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator whose soul has taken nascent form]. How could this junior presume to overstep?"

"Alas."

Eldrin Chen sighed softly before beginning his tale. "A millennium ago, shortly after my breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm, I had many close friends in the lands surrounding the Ji Continent."

"With the passage of merely a Millennium [a period of one thousand years], the mortal world has already witnessed seas transform into mulberry fields and mulberry fields into seas; the faces of old friends have withered and fallen like autumn leaves."

As he spoke of this, Eldrin Chen revealed a tinge of profound regret upon his countenance.

Throughout this Millennium, many once-familiar figures from bygone days had vanished from the world.

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