Chapter 1 : Dawn's Breath and Destiny's Path

"Young Master, Third Elder summons you."

The maidservant called softly from a short distance away, her demeanor tinged with a hint of apprehension.

Eldrin Chen sat cross-legged upon a massive boulder at the cliff's edge, his eyes closed as he inhaled and exhaled the morning's radiant glow, continuously nurturing the wisp of Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a profound and pure energy born from the essence of dawn] within his chest.

"Has the hour of the Dragon [the period from seven to nine AM] already arrived?"

He murmured to himself, then added, "Go inform Third Elder that I shall be there shortly."

After the maidservant departed, Eldrin Chen continued to absorb the final strands of the morning's radiance before finally, slowly, concluding his cultivation session.

Fifteen years had passed since his rebirth into this world. Each dawn and dusk, he would come to this place to absorb the essence of the Sun and Moon [the sun and moon, representing the dual sources of celestial energy], transforming it into Primordial Mist Violet Aura.

This cultivation art of devouring the morning radiance was named the Primordial Mist Scripture. He had stumbled upon it by chance in a market stall in his previous life. After crossing over to this world, it had become the supreme method that altered his Destiny [the predetermined course of one's life, a fundamental concept in cultivation].

The Primordial Mist Scripture could convert the morning radiance and Moonlight Essence [the refined spiritual energy contained within moonlight] into Primordial Mist Genesis Violet Aura [the foundational, purest form of the Primordial Mist Violet Aura]. This wisp of Purple Qi [a common term for a potent, auspicious spiritual energy, often violet or purple in nature] possessed wondrous and profound uses. Among those he had discovered so far was its miraculous ability to enhance the quality of one's Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation that determines a cultivator's talent and affinity for absorbing spiritual energy].

He possessed Five Spiritual Roots [the lowest grade of spiritual root, indicating affinity for all five base elements but with extremely poor absorption efficiency], a talent considered exceedingly poor. However, he was born with an innate wisp of Primordial Mist Genesis Violet Aura, which had elevated his aptitude to rival that of someone with Three Spiritual Roots [a mid-grade spiritual root, indicating significantly better talent].

Eldrin Chen understood deeply that this cultivation method was the greatest opportunity of his current life. For over a decade, he had practiced it diligently without cease, painstakingly absorbing the essence of dawn's rosy clouds and the moon's silvery light to accumulate Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a rare and potent spiritual energy], and had never revealed it before anyone.

He was even unwilling to let others know his true Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation that determines a cultivator's potential], claiming only to possess Dual Spiritual Root [a spiritual root with two elemental affinities] talent.

In this life, his family background was relatively favorable. The Chen Clan was a minor cultivation family clan with over one hundred cultivators among its members, and was further anchored by the presence of a single Foundation Establishment Stage [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] Ancient Ancestor.

Though it might be considered insignificant when viewed across the vast world, within the tens of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] radius of Yu County, the clan's words still carried considerable weight.

As the most outstanding talent among the younger generation of the Chen Family, he had been burdened with great expectations since childhood. He did not disappoint, astonishingly breaking through to the Vital Essence Refinement 7th Tier [the seventh level of the first cultivation realm, focused on refining one's vital energy] at the mere age of fifteen—a feat that could rival many old cultivators who had practiced for decades.

In comparison, the vast majority of his peers, at that age, would have barely reached the first or second tier of Vital Essence Refinement [the foundational cultivation realm focused on refining one's vital energy].

Most cultivators laid their foundations before the age of ten, began formal cultivation around eleven or twelve, and only through relentless, grinding effort reached the mid-to-late stages of Vital Essence Refinement by their forties or fifties.

Blessed with the wisdom of a past life, he had begun his Vital Essence Refinement at three years old. This granted him eight or nine extra years of the most precious cultivation time, allowing his cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, culminating in his breakthrough to the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the advanced phase of the first cultivation realm] just three months prior.

After this breakthrough, his importance within the family soared. His status in the Chen Clan had risen significantly, marking his initial entry into the ranks of the clan's upper echelons.

Gathering his wandering thoughts, Eldrin Chen rose to his feet and made his way towards the Clan Affairs Hall [the main administrative building for clan matters] of the Third Elder.

The Cangyuan Mountain Range [a vast and rugged mountain chain] spans thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Its main peak, Green Chariot Peak, is one of the few renowned Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy] within Yu County. The mountain houses a Second Rank Mid-Grade Spirit Vein [a subterranean channel that concentrates and emits spiritual energy]. For centuries, this place was said to be the territory of a Second-Order [a classification for powerful demonic beasts] demon beast known as the Green Ape.

Later, the founding ancestor of the Chen Clan slew the beast, seized this precious Spirit Vein, took wives and concubines, and thus established this immortal cultivation clan.

The spiritual energy across the entire Verdant Chariot Mountain Spirit Vein is thinner at the foothills and grows richer towards the summit. Most clan cultivators below the Vital Essence Refinement 6th Tier [the sixth stage of Qi Refinement, the foundational cultivation realm] establish their cultivation caves on the mountain slopes.

Farther up the mountain lie the seventeen Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spiritual Field [fields nourished by spiritual energy for growing rare plants] cultivated by the Chen Family, along with the main clan hall. The Back Mountain area, where the Spirit Vein spring emerges, serves as the cultivation ground for the clan patriarch.

Third Elder Lior Chen, who oversees the clan's daily affairs, resides at the Clan Affairs Hall located at the mountain's peak.

As soon as Eldrin Chen entered the Clan Affairs Hall, he sensed an unusual tension. The atmosphere within the great hall was heavy, with over a dozen figures seated solemnly.

"I pay my respects to the esteemed Granduncle [a respectful term for a senior male relative], uncles."

Those present were all high-ranking members of the Chen Family: Third Elder Lior Chen, Fourth Elder Kaelen Chen, Elara Chen Gwendolyn Chen. The remaining individuals were Granduncle from the Chang Generation [the generation using the character 'Chang' in their names]. Among the Nian Generation [the generation using the character 'Nian' in their names], aside from himself, there was only one elder brother present.

Pursuing the Dao, Everlasting Verdure, Remembering the Virtuous, Reflecting on Ancestors, Supporting Each Other, Revitalizing the Clan, Ascending to Immortality, Achieving Eternity.

This Sixteen-Character Genealogy [the clan's motto and generational naming poem] of the Chen Family has been passed down to this day. Within the Chang Generation, aside from the clan patriarch, only six or seven individuals remain.

The Chen Family had a total of seven Elders, all of them cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier from the Verdant Generation. Among them, the Grand Elder, Sylas Chen, was stationed in Pingyang County Town.

Pingyang County Town had a population of over one hundred thousand, all descendants of the Chen Family bloodline. Every year, these mortals would produce one or two offspring with Spiritual Roots [the innate potential to cultivate], forming the very foundation of the clan's legacy.

Mortals were considered a great tonic for both Demonic Cultivators and the Demon Race. Therefore, to protect these clansmen, the Grand Elder would not leave Pingyang County Town unless absolutely necessary.

Mordecai Chen and Mortimer Chen were at the Yuyang Market, managing the family's several shops and thus unable to leave their posts.

The seventh Elder, Caleb Chen, was only thirty-one years old and possessed exceptional talent. However, he had joined the Green Sun Sect and could now only be considered half a member of the family, unable to fully attend to its affairs.

Seeing that the three Elders who could attend from the family were all present—aside from the Patriarch who was in secluded meditation healing his wounds in the Back Mountain—Eldrin Chen sensed that something significant must have occurred.

As Eldrin Chen entered, the Elders nodded in acknowledgment. His breakthrough to the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage at the age of fifteen marked talent that rivaled even a Variant Spiritual Root [an exceptionally rare and powerful type of cultivation aptitude]. He carried the family's great hopes, seen as having a considerable chance of achieving Foundation Establishment in the future.

Lior Chen, who was presiding over the family council, nodded as well, his stern expression softening with a rare hint of warmth.

"Eldrin, you are here."

"Now that everyone has arrived, I shall inform you all of the matter at hand."

Seeing that the dozen or so cultivators of the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the final stage of Qi Condensation] who could attend from the family had all arrived, Lior Chen let his smile fade, revealing a look of deep worry.

At the sight of his expression, Eldrin Chen felt his heart sink slightly, already guessing the topic of this clan meeting. One year ago, Jiang the Daoist of Heavenly Ruins Mountain [a mountain range known for its spiritual energy and alchemical traditions] successfully refined a batch of Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm]. Four pills were produced from that batch, and two were put up for auction.

The Foundation Establishment Pill was a treasure that could be chanced upon but not sought. At the time, the Chen Family sold off a significant portion of their assets and even incurred substantial debts, ultimately spending over thirty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to purchase one of these pills.

Patriarch Alistair Chen was ambushed by rivals precisely because of this pill. Fortunately, as a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment 7th Tier [the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage], he managed to fight his way out of the encirclement with the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Although Alistair Chen slew a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a practitioner who has established their spiritual foundation] in that battle, he himself suffered serious injuries. Since returning to Verdant Chariot Mountain [the ancestral mountain of the Chen Family], he has been in seclusion at the Spirit Spring [a spring imbued with spiritual energy] in the Back Mountain [the secluded rear section of the mountain], and his current condition remains unknown.

After the family obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill, they had to choose the candidate to use it. For the best chance at a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage [the realm where a cultivator solidifies their spiritual foundation], the candidate ideally should not be older than sixty years. Cultivators beyond that age have diminished Vitality [the innate life force and vigor of a living being], and even with the aid of the Foundation Establishment Pill, their success rate often does not exceed twenty percent.

Within the family, seven cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier [the peak of the Qi Condensation realm] remained. Setting aside Caleb Chen, who had joined a sect, the Grand Elder was already over seventy, Mordecai Chen and Mortimer Chen were both past sixty, and the Third Elder had his foundation damaged in a past duel, extinguishing any hope of a breakthrough.

Among the others, Kylan Chen, the Sixth Elder, was an alchemist. His status and value to the family surpassed that of the Fourth Elder and Elara Chen. In the end, he borrowed a large amount of Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds] and secured the Foundation Establishment Pill.

For the past three months, Kylan Chen had been in seclusion attempting his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage. By now, regardless of success or failure, a result should have emerged. Seeing the Third Elder wear such a troubled expression, Eldrin Chen could not help but feel his throat grow dry.