Chapter 5. Spirit Peach Tree
Eldrin held Seventh Granduncle’s icy hand, silently reciting the Chen family’s 16-character generational sequence. These brief 16 words embodied the founding ancestor’s hopes for his descendants.
The funeral arrangements for Seventh Uncle were overseen the Third Elder. Seventh Uncle's sons, unable to cultivate, had preceded him in death by many years. His grandchildren were already septuagenarians, yet none were as close to him as Eldrin (Person Name).
The funeral arrangements were simple. After the old man’s first 7-day mourning period had passed and he was laid to rest, Eldrin finally departed from Verdant Chariot Mountain and set off for Lingzhou Lake, some 5 1000 miles away.
The Spirit Lake Continent lay a full 5 1000 li from Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location). Fortunately, Eldrin (Person Name) possessed considerable cultivation strength. By employing the Wind Riding Art, he could traverse a 1000 li per day, arriving at the Spirit Lake Continent in merely 5 or 6 days.
Along the way, he took stock of Elder Qi’s remaining possessions. The items left behind by Elder Qi were few, and the truly valuable treasures amounted to no more than 2 spirit talismans and 1 Green Leaf Sword.
2 Spirit Talismans: 1 named Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) Talisman, the other a Golden Armor Talisman. Both were top-grade first-tier spirit talismans, and they were masterpieces crafted over many years by Seventh Granduncle.
The Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) Talisman could unleash the true flame of Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root). When wielded skillfully, its power was sufficient to severely injure a cultivator at the 9th level of Qi Refinement, making it a lethal trump card even against those at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm).
The Golden Armor Talisman could manifest a suit of golden armor to protect its user, capable of withstanding the full-force strike of a Qi Refinement, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) cultivator. Moreover, this spiritual talisman could still be used 3 more times.
The Verdant Leaf Sword was forged from the leaves of the Verdant Bamboo—a highly prized mid-grade spirit bamboo of the second rank. Its leaves could be refined into a multitude of first-rank magic swords.
The Verdant Leaf Sword not only possessed formidable power but was also remarkably cost-effective. Its sole drawback lay in the fact that only cultivators with a wood spiritual root could unleash its full potential. Those with other spiritual roots could, at most, harness 60 to 70 percent of its power.
Even so, the great sect of Qingyang Sect in the Kingdom of Chu relied on their Greenleaf Bamboo Grove. The Greenleaf Bamboo they produced monopolized the entire low-grade magical instrument market of the Kingdom of Chu, bringing in considerable revenue each year.
The Greenleaf Sword left to Eldrin by Seventh Uncle was a top-grade first-tier weapon, possessing formidable power. As a practitioner with 5 spiritual roots, Eldrin could naturally unleash its full potential.
"Is this the Spirit Lake Continent?"
Standing before a vast lake, Eldrin gazed at the breathtaking scenery of the waters ahead, unable to suppress a sense of awe.
Spirit Lake Province was a vast expanse of interconnected lakes spanning hundreds of miles, with an island nestled at its very center. This isle was not only blessed with breathtaking scenery, but was also home to rare and mystical creatures.
Over a dozen years ago, this place was still a barren wasteland.
Later, the clan leader happened to discover a first-grade, high-quality spirit vein here. He then mobilized manpower to slay the first-grade, high-quality demon beast that had been entrenched in this area, thus seizing this treasured land.
Over the years, the Chen Clan had deployed a first-tier, high-grade formation on the Lakeheart Isle. By harnessing the spiritual energy of the leyline, they cultivated Azure-Scale Spirit Fish in the lake waters. Through meticulous management, this once-uninhabited treasured land evolved into an additional outpost for the Chen Clan.
When Eldrin arrived at the lake's central island, the 2 Chen Family cultivators stationed there breathed a sigh of relief.
"The clan has finally sent someone."
During this period, the ones stationed at the Lakeheart Isle were Eldrin’s ninth brother, Chen Nianqian, and the fourteenth-ranked among the Nian generation, Chen Nianyuan.
Chen Nianqian was now 30-2 years of age. Unfortunately, his innate talent was lacking, and his cultivation base remained stagnant at the third level of Qi Refinement. It seemed he would never break through to Qi Refinement, Late Stage in this lifetime. Chen Nianyuan possessed an even more futile 5 Spiritual Roots constitution. At 20-5 years old, he had only just managed to advance to the first level of Qi Refinement.
The Chen Clan originally had an Elder of the Chang generation at the ninth level of Qi Refinement stationed at Spirit Lake Isle. Unfortunately, to protect the Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object), the clan had mobilized all its ninth-level Qi Refinement elders from the Chang generation—despite their dwindling lifespans. In the end, not 1 of the 7 or 8 ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivators returned alive.
Naturally, that granduncle from Spirit Lake Continent never returned either. Thus, during this period, Chen Nianqian and Chen Nianyuan had been living on tenterhooks.
At last, they spotted a Qi Refinement, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) cultivator arriving today, and both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Nianqian smiled. "Since Eldrin has arrived, let's hand over the duties."
As they planned to cultivate spirit fields and breed spirit fish, the family decided not to station any other cultivators at Spirit Lake Isle, lest insufficient spiritual energy should hinder Eldrin's cultivation.
Of course, the primary reason was the clan's shortage of personnel. With several Qi Refining ninth-layer granduncles from the Chang generation having fallen in battle, the Chen Clan was critically understaffed and required both of them to return.
In fact, as the Spirit Lake Province had only been established a mere 10 years ago and wasn't considered a key family asset, there was very little that needed to be handed over.
The most crucial asset was the Azure Spirit Fish in the lake, a unique species native to Azure Mist Lake. Not only were they exquisitely flavorful, but consuming them could also enhance 1's cultivation.
There were only 137 spiritual fish in the lake. Each mature Cyan-Scale Spirit Fish was worth 5 spirit stones, yet most of the fish in the lake were adolescent specimens bred in recent years, still requiring time to reach full maturity.
However, as these spirit fish gradually matured, it was foreseeable that they would bring the family a considerable profit.
The most prized Fish King possessed cultivation at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm). Most of the spirit fish in the lake were its descendants, and this fish was exceptionally docile in nature, serving as the most vital asset of Linghu Zhou.
After counting the number of spirit fish, Eldrin nodded and signed his name on the handover ledger.
"Alright, it's finally time to head back."
Seeing him sign, the 2 couldn't help but break into smiles.
Although Spirit Lake Isle boasted breathtaking scenery and abundant spiritual energy, it remained an uninhabited, barren land in the end.
Although there were protective formations in place, it was still not as secure as being atop Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location).
After seeing the 2 off, Eldrin first inspected the lake-island's protective formation.
This formation was known as the Twofold Solar Array, its core comprised 2 Grade 1, high-tier magical instruments: 1 was the Cloudveil Drapery, the other the Solar Blaze Sword.
The formation, drawing upon the power of the morning glow and the water spiritual energy of Spirit Lake Isle, could unleash astonishing might.
The Cloud Veil Cape could block spiritual sense. It transformed into a mist that enveloped the lake's central island, rendering even Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators incapable of discerning the situation within the isle.
The Flame Sword accumulates the power of the dawn's glow, capable of being unleashed 9 consecutive times. Each strike rivals the trump card of a Qi Refinement, Late Stage cultivator, with force sufficient to slay a ninth-level Qi Refinement practitioner.
However, once the accumulated power of the morning glow is depleted, it requires 9 full years to replenish it completely. Thus, this sword must not be wielded lightly.
After taking over the formation, Eldrin felt a slight sense of security. With this formation guarding Linghu Zhou, even 3 to 5 ordinary Qi Refinement, Late Stage cultivators attempting to breach it would be courting death.
After refining the array disk, Eldrin began to explore the lake's central islet.
The Cyan-Scale Spirit Fish fed on aquatic plants and required no deliberate feeding, yet cultivating spirit fields was no trivial task.
The first-grade superior spiritual vein in Spirit Lake Prefecture could support the development of 3 mu of spiritual fields, but success wasn't guaranteed by haphazard selection. 1 must conduct thorough observations to locate the convergence point of spiritual energy.
Eldrin hadn't walked far before discovering the convergence point of spiritual veins. To his astonishment, there stood a peach tree growing precisely where the spiritual currents intertwined.
It was early spring, and the peach tree was in full, resplendent bloom, its blossoms shimmering faintly with a glimmer of spiritual light.
"Spirit Peach Tree?"
A flicker of delight crossed Eldrin's face, but he quickly shook his head. This peach tree had taken root where spiritual energies converged, inching infinitely close to evolving into a spirit root—yet ultimately falling half a step short.
The Spirit Peach Tree bore fruit annually, and the spirit peaches it produced were treasured cultivation aids for Qi Refining cultivators—even more effective than many Qi Gathering Pills (Spiritual Object). In the market, a single spirit peach was valued at 5 spirit stones.