Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Trouble of the Purple Mansion

One after another, they recited the merits and subsidies of various cultivator clans, as well as those of loose cultivators.

Quickly, it was the turn of the Lu Family, who had slain fifty Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts and thirteen Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, earning 280,000 Spirit Stones.

This was much higher than the data estimated earlier.

Soon the list was finished.

To reward meritorious cultivators and console the fallen ones, a total expenditure of 17 million Spirit Stones was required.

The expenditure was significant, especially on rewards and condolences, which constituted the bulk of it.

But this money couldn’t be saved; not only couldn’t it be saved, it had to be given out generously.

Otherwise, who would work hard in battles next time?

These are just the consolations and rewards, not to mention the damage to Spirit Treasures, the consumption of Elixirs, and Talismans, which weren’t calculated in these expenses.

This means that for this battle, Grandfather Jin consumed nearly 20 million Spirit Stones.

Cannons thunder, gold vanishes.

In war, money is heavily consumed regardless of victory or defeat.

Only Grandfather Jin could afford such an extravagantly grand battle; others just didn’t have the wealth to organize such a massive war.

This was based on the fact that the battle was won.

If this battle had resulted in huge losses, or even complete annihilation, the financial consumption would have been even greater.

These rewards would not be directly distributed in the form of Spirit Stones.

If distributed directly, it could lead to inflation and market chaos.

Instead, they were converted into Elixirs, Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Treasures, Secret Realms, Spiritual Mountains, Spirit Veins, etc., and distributed to cultivator clans; some could even be delayed for some time before being issued.

Grandfather Jin said, “I have a treasure exchange counter here; cultivator families can send cultivators to exchange treasures. The Wu Family comes first!”

Saying this, Grandfather Jin entered the private room.

The Patriarch of the Wu Family entered and retreated shortly after, his face beaming with joy.

Then it was the turn of the Ye Family, the Sun Family, and others, each entering the room one by one to exchange treasures.

Upon exiting, they all appeared delighted and very happy.

Soon, it was the turn of the Lu Family.

The Grand Elder said, “Xuanji, you go, see to the exchange.”

“Alright!”

Lu Xuanji did not refuse and directly entered the private room.

Grandfather Jin sat opposite, waved his hand, and tossed over an exchange list, saying, “The items for exchange are on it, choose as you wish!”

Lu Xuanji took the treasure list and began to browse.

[Foundation Establishment Pill, priced at 15,000 Spirit Stones]

[Purple Mansion Pill, priced at 170,000 Spirit Stones]

[Purple Sun Jade, priced at 230,000 Spirit Stones]

[Celestial Fire Infinite Technique, cultivable to late Golden Core stage, costs 100,000 Spirit Stones for personal purchase, 500,000 Spirit Stones for family purchase]

[Pure Yang Celestial Fire, graded as a Great Divine Technique, costs 500,000 Spirit Stones for personal purchase, 1,000,000 Spirit Stones for family purchase]

[Pure Yang Pill, can refine physique, purify True Essence, increase the probability of impacting Purple Mansion realm by one layer, priced at 100,000 Spirit Stones.]

[Three days of guidance from Grandfather Jin, priced at 200,000 Spirit Stones]

…

The exchange list contained Golden Core stage cultivation techniques, Great Divine Techniques, Third Grade Elixirs, Golden Core guidance, etc., with starting prices over 100,000, and some priced in the millions.

Lu Xuanji clicked his tongue in amazement.

Only when the need arises, one feels the lack of money.

With 280,000 Spirit Stones in his pocket, he thought he was wealthy.

But looking at the exchange list, he realized he was still poor.

Many items were simply unaffordable.

The items were somewhat expensive, but you get what you pay for; many things just couldn’t be bought on the market.

Or rather, even if he could buy them, he would worry about exposing his wealth, attracting strong enemies and being hunted down.

But here with Grandfather Jin, he could exchange with ease, not worried about being killed for his treasures.

“Senior, why don’t you advise me on what I should exchange for?”

Lu Xuanji asked.

Even though the exchange list had item descriptions, he didn’t understand, so it was better to ask Grandfather Jin directly!

Grandfather Jin nodded and said, “Do you know about the Nine Tribulations of the Purple Mansion?”

“I’ve heard of it somewhat, but not too clearly!”

Lu Xuanji directly said.

“The Purple Mansion has nine tribulations: Longevity Tribulation, True Essence Tribulation, Meridians Tribulation, Acupoints Tribulation, Soul Tribulation, Celestial Fire Tribulation, Nightmare Wind Tribulation, Celestial Human Tribulation, Self-Questioning Tribulation, Path Tribulation, Destiny Tribulation, Cause and Effect Tribulation.” Grandfather Jin seemed to recall something and suggested, “Foundation Establishment longevity is merely 240 years, too short a lifespan. Dual Spirit Root, Anomalous Spirit Root, these are still manageable; but as for Three Spirit Roots striving for the Purple Mansion, its difficulty is comparable to Five Spirit Roots achieving Foundation Establishment.”

“Without great opportunities, before exhausting your longevity, Three Spirit Roots can at most reach the Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment, this is the first tribulation.”

“Only with extensive consumption of Spirit Medicines and Spirit Pills can one reach the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment peak before exhausting longevity, with a slight chance of achieving the Purple Mansion. But extensive use of Spirit Medicines leads to unstable foundation, impure True Essence, falling at the second tribulation.”

“If you buy the Pure Yang Pill, it can purify the True Essence to the Eighth Layer, overcoming the first two tribulations, enabling your Grand Elder to take half a step into the Purple Mansion!”

“Thank you, Senior.” Lu Xuanji said, “In a certain opportunity, I acquired a Pure Yang Pill, which can help the Grand Elder purify to the Eighth Layer.”

He did not have a Pure Yang Pill.

But he possessed the Heaven Mending Cauldron, and when the Heaven Mending Cauldron reached the Second Grade Spiritual Artifact level, it could purify True Essence to the Eighth Layer, providing a partial substitute for the Pure Yang Pill’s effect.

“Oh, you managed to get lucky!”

Grandfather Jin remarked, “But the third tribulation requires opening 108 small meridians in the human body, 1,000 tiny meridians, and 100,000 micro meridians. Well, that’s too challenging for you with Three Spirit Roots. For you Three Spirit Roots, just opening 108 small meridians counts as passing!”

“The fourth tribulation requires opening 365 acupoints in the human body. For these two tribulations, you need the Purple Sun Pill. If Dual Spirit Root only needs one Purple Sun Pill, Three Spirit Roots would need three.”

“The fifth tribulation requires strengthening the Divine Soul, needing Purple Sun Jade. Dual Spirit Root needs one piece, Three Spirit Roots require three.”

“The sixth, seventh, and eighth tribulations are life and death trials; failing is fatal!”

“As for the latter four tribulations, they affect one’s future potential.”

“Now, do you understand the challenges of the Purple Mansion?”

Lu Xuanji bowed and thanked, “Thank you, Senior, for the guidance regarding the difficulties of the Purple Mansion.”

The Lu Family had once produced three Purple Mansion cultivators who left notes recording the twelve tribulations of the Purple Mansion, but they were ambiguous and not detailed in their descriptions.

They only stated that the Three Spirit Roots had a one-tenth chance of achieving the Purple Mansion, Dual Spirit Roots a third chance, and Anomalous Spirit Roots a half chance, with only Five Spirit Roots certain to enter the Purple Mansion.

They simply mentioned that Pure Yang Pills, Purple Sun Pills, and Purple Sun Jade could assist cultivation, aiding in breaking through limits.

As to why this was so.

The specifics of the twelve tribulations, their difficulty, and the process were not described.

Back then, it was unclear, but now it is understood.

Not plainly explaining was to prevent certain Foundation Establishment cultivators from falling into despair.

Many times, ignorance is bliss, at least for the ignorant who don’t witness the difficult side.