Elian remained silent, quietly pondering without a word.
He stared at the teacup before him, watching a few tea leaves float and sink as wisps of dao-filled steam rose gently.
Taking a sip, he placed the cup down and said calmly, "I don't know what lies ahead."
"But I believe that as long as I grow stronger, I can lend you all a hand and help you go further along this path."
In cultivation, a difference of just one major realm can mean hundreds or even thousands of additional years of lifespan. Sometimes, extending a helping hand is all it takes for companions to walk alongside him for much longer.
In the past, when he first built his foundation, he considered Fire Crystal to be extraordinarily precious. Now, at his current cultivation level, while it still held value, obtaining one merely required some effort and resources.
Likewise, treasures like the Golden Core Pill might seem invaluable today, but once he reached the Golden Core stage, or even ascended to the Nascent Soul realm, such treasures would become commonplace, attainable with enough effort.
After leaving Pingyang City, Elian spent a few days with Jiang Linglong on Qingyang Mountain before returning to Linghu Isle to begin his seclusion for advancing to the late-stage Purple Mansion.
Over the past hundred years, with the nurturing effects of the Spirit Peach Tree, the spiritual vein of Linghu Isle had reached the upper tier of the third rank.
This environment had supported his cultivation progress tremendously.
Speaking of the Spirit Peach Tree, it was worth noting the ancient Spirit Apricot Tree as well. It had also advanced to the middle tier of the third rank.
The Spirit Apricot Tree bloomed once every ten years, bore fruit ten years later, and ripened after another decade. Consuming its fruit could extend one's lifespan by thirty years.
However, its yield was low. Even as a middle-tier third-rank tree, it only produced six Spirit Apricots every thirty years.
These Spirit Apricots were incredibly valuable, each worth 100,000 spirit stones. To avoid attracting undue attention, the Chen family had refrained from selling them in the past.
Over the years, most of the Spirit Apricots had been consumed by senior family members like Chen Nianqian and Chen Yong, who had devoted their lives to the family's growth. Occasionally, even allies like Meng Xinghe of the Meng family received one.
Recently, during the annual trade fair in Chu Kingdom, the family auctioned off three Spirit Apricots as headline items, which were purchased by Purple Mansion cultivators.
Back to the present.
Returning to Linghu Isle, Elian focused on refining his cultivation techniques while continuing his practice. Before he realized it, a year had passed.
One day, Elian sensed his spiritual energy becoming harmonious and complete, signaling that he had reached the threshold of the late-stage Purple Mansion.
"It's time."
With a slight glimmer in his eyes, he stepped into the spiritual pool on Linghu Isle and began his secluded breakthrough.
Thanks to his solid foundation, deep reserves, and the assistance of a Purple Qi Cloud Pattern Pill, his advancement was smooth and natural.
In just a few days, Elian successfully broke through to the seventh level of the Purple Mansion and began refining his spiritual energy.
Polishing one's energy after a breakthrough was relatively straightforward, and in just a month, Elian completed this process.
"It's done."
Feeling the surge of spiritual energy within him, Elian smiled.
With his breakthrough to the late-stage Purple Mansion, his spiritual energy had increased by 50%. Already comparable to a ninth-level Purple Mansion cultivator before his advancement, his energy now rivaled that of an average pseudo-golden core cultivator.
This newfound strength enabled him to wield up to 70-80% of the power of the Red Sun Void-Searing Furnace, resulting in a substantial boost to his combat prowess.
Most importantly, at this stage, Elian's natal treasures could now be advanced to the fourth rank.
"Fourth-rank treasures…"
Elian couldn't help but feel excited. In the entire Chu Kingdom, there were only about twenty fourth-rank treasures.
A fourth-rank celestial sword could achieve sword-flight unity, a technique Elian had envied in Jiang Linglong's Tianxu Sword for years. Now, he could finally elevate his own natal celestial sword to that level.
"I'll start with the Fiery Void Sword."
With a decisive thought, Elian retrieved the Fiery Void Sword, the weapon that had accompanied him for many years. It deserved to be the first to ascend to the fourth rank.
"Clang—"
The sword let out a resonant hum.
Possessing a nascent spirit, the azure-hued sword hovered beside him, as if eagerly anticipating its upgrade.
Raising a natal celestial sword to the fourth rank required materials imbued with five-element essence, valued at roughly 250,000 spirit stones—a staggering cost.
Fortunately, the family had been preparing for decades, stockpiling five-element essence and acquiring large quantities of materials, enough for the upgrade of two treasures.
After months of meticulous refinement and the infusion of fire and metal elemental essence, Elian successfully elevated the Fiery Void Sword to the lower tier of the fourth rank.
"It's done!"
"Clang—"
The dazzling celestial sword hovered in the air, radiating brilliance.
Elian, suppressing his excitement, gazed up at the sword circling the sky. Above, dark clouds began to gather—a sign of an impending tribulation.
"A treasure tribulation."
A grave expression crossed Elian's face.
Just as cultivators faced lightning tribulations upon reaching the Golden Core stage, treasures undergoing advancement were subjected to tribulations as well.
For treasures, this was the "Treasure Lightning Tribulation," consisting of three strikes. Though fewer in number than a cultivator's nine tribulation bolts, each strike carried the full might of a Golden Core cultivator's attack.
Many high-tier treasures had been destroyed during such tribulations due to insufficient resilience or inferior materials.
"This is risky…"
Staring at the roiling clouds, Elian furrowed his brow deeply.
It was his first time attempting such an advancement, and his lack of experience made him apprehensive.
Though the Fiery Void Sword was exceptionally powerful for its rank, its materials weren't fully aligned with fourth-rank standards, leaving Elian unsure if it could withstand the tribulation.
"You have to endure this," Elian murmured, his tone resolute and his expression tense.
The Treasure Lightning Tribulation was a baptism of power bestowed by the heavens.
If the sword overcame it, it would be imbued with divine essence, its spirit reaching true sentience.
At the fifth rank, it could transform into a "Demonic Refining Treasure," capable of independent combat. Such treasures, once fully charged, were as formidable as a Nascent Soul cultivator's full strength.
In essence, a single Demonic Refining Treasure was nearly equivalent to half a Nascent Soul cultivator—a testament to its incredible value and rarity.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D