Chapter 10 : The Messenger's Summon

The Messenger Eagle [a spiritual avian creature used for long-distance communication] was a first-rank spiritual bird purchased by the clan from the Avian Taming Pavilion in Ling Nation. Slightly intelligent, it could travel three thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a day and was typically the medium used by Green Chariot Mountain to communicate with various clan outposts.

The arrival of the Messenger Eagle at Spirit Lake Isle clearly indicated the clan had a message to deliver to him.

Eldrin Chen took out a handful of Spirit Rice [a grain infused with spiritual energy, used as food for cultivators and spiritual beasts] to feed the eagle, then retrieved a letter from a tube attached to its leg.

After reading it, his expression shifted subtly, revealing a hint of delight.

"It seems I must return to Green Chariot Mountain," he murmured.

Early the next morning, Eldrin Chen made his preparations. Leaving the protective formation of Spirit Lake Isle to operate autonomously, he set off for Green Chariot Mountain.

After a journey of merely five days, he arrived at the mountain. The Third Elder, Lior Chen, greeted him with evident joy.

"Good, very good, excellent," Lior exclaimed, grasping Eldrin's hand with great enthusiasm. "The progress of your cultivation is even more astonishing than Verdant Origin's was."

"You flatter me, Thirteenth Uncle," Eldrin Chen replied modestly.

Lior Chen was ranked thirteenth among the Verdant Generation [a generational designation within the Chen Clan], which was why Eldrin Chen typically addressed him as Thirteenth Uncle. This chapter is provided by audio–novel.com. Support the original.

"I am still far from matching Uncle Verdant Origin."

It has been many years since Seventh GranduncleVerdant Origin Chen joined the Verdant Sun Sect. Now thirty-four years old, his cultivation is said to have already touched the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

For disciples within the Green Sun Sect to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, one pill costs only ten thousand Contribution Points, which is equivalent to ten thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. This offers a far greater hope than the Chen Clan spending tens of thousands of Spirit Stones to purchase a single pill.

Furthermore, due to the Karma [the spiritual principle of cause and effect] left behind sixty years ago, Verdant Origin Chen's hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment is considerably greater than that of the clan's cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier.

"No need for modesty. Your innate talent is indeed far superior to Verdant Origin's."

"It is a pity the clan currently lacks the means to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill for you."

Third Elder let out a sigh, then turned to the matter at hand.

"The main reason for summoning you back this time is still regarding the matter of refining the Energy Absorption Pill."

As Lior Chen explained, Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. Of the Chen Clan's seventeen Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spiritual Field [fields infused with spiritual energy for growing rare plants], five Mu were specifically dedicated to cultivating Energy-Nurturing Grass.

The Energy-Nurturing Grass is a first-grade mid-tier spiritual herb. This herb serves as the primary ingredient for refining the Energy Absorption Pill.

The Energy Absorption Pill [a pill that aids in absorbing spiritual energy] is a spiritual elixir supplied for the cultivation of Vital Essence Refinement [the first major stage of cultivation, focusing on refining the body's vital essence] realm cultivators. Because it can assist Vital Essence Refinement cultivators in breaking through bottlenecks, it has always sold very well.

The Chen Clan harvests a batch of Energy-Nurturing Grass [a spiritual herb that nurtures energy] every five years. The harvested Energy-Nurturing Grass can be refined into fifty furnaces of Energy Absorption Pill, making this the most stable source of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] for the Chen Clan's Spirit Herb Garden.

The task of refining the Energy Absorption Pill has always been the responsibility of the Sixth Elder, Verdant Bud Chen. He is a First-Rank High-Grade Alchemist, and his success rate for refining the First-Rank Mid-Grade Energy Absorption Pill has already exceeded sixty percent, bringing considerable profit with each batch.

However, because Verdant Bud Chen failed his Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation stage, where one establishes a solid foundation for the path] breakthrough, his Future potential is limited. The clan thus intends to nurture a new alchemist to prevent the family's alchemical arts from having no successor after Verdant Bud Chen passes away.

For this round of Energy Absorption Pill refinement, although Verdant Bud Chen remains in charge, Eldrin Chen will also participate, assisting the Sixth Elder while learning the art of alchemy.

"This time, you will follow behind the Sixth Elder and diligently learn the art of alchemy,"

Lior Chen instructed while leading Eldrin Chen to the clan's Alchemy Chamber.

Upon entering the Alchemy Chamber, Eldrin Chen saw the Sixth Elder. For the past two years, Eldrin Chen had spent most of his time on Spirit Lake Isle, so their paths had rarely crossed.

But now, the Sixth Elder appeared much more aged and weary; it seemed the failure of his Foundation Establishment breakthrough had dealt him a severe blow.

The blow from his Foundation Establishment failure was too great for him. He owed the clan thirty thousand Spirit Stone, a debt impossible to repay in several lifetimes. It could only become a bad debt for the family, placing an immense and crushing pressure upon him.

Verdant Bud Chen also saw Eldrin Chen. The moment his gaze fell upon Eldrin, he froze momentarily, then a look of utter desolation washed over his face.

"Come in. I have been waiting for you for some time."

As soon as Eldrin arrived, Verdant Bud Chen began the process of alchemy [the mystical art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs].

The sheer quantity of pills to be refined this time meant the task was exceptionally demanding.

Eldrin was tasked with sorting the Spirit Herb [plants imbued with spiritual energy, used in cultivation and alchemy] and performing preliminary preparations on the Energy-Nurturing Grass [a common low-grade spirit herb] and supplementary ingredients. Now a First-Rank High-Grade Spiritual Farmer, his understanding of the medicinal properties of spirit herbs was no weaker than that of an alchemist of the same rank, allowing him to work with remarkable speed.

Verdant Bud Chen's own refining speed was naturally swift, but seeing Eldrin's intent observation, he deliberately slowed his movements, patiently explaining each step. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio novel.com.

At first, Eldrin only grasped the concepts vaguely, but gradually, he began to ask insightful questions and offer his own understanding, engaging in a meaningful back-and-forth. This prompted Verdant Bud Chen to nod repeatedly in approval.

"It seems you possess a certain talent for the art of alchemy as well."

Verdant Bud Chen had broken through to become a First-Rank High-Grade Alchemist in his forties—a testament to his considerable, even superior, innate talent in this field.

To earn his recognition was proof enough that Eldrin indeed possessed notable aptitude for both spirit herbs and the intricate art of pill refinement.

Of course, this was also related to the fact that Eldrin Chen was a First Rank, Upper Grade Spiritual Farmer [a cultivator specializing in cultivating spiritual plants]. After all, he had already attained a certain mastery over the medicinal properties of Spirit Herbs [plants infused with spiritual energy, used in alchemy and cultivation], which had lowered the threshold for learning the art of alchemy by more than half.

Not long after, the first batch was finally successfully refined, yielding five Energy Absorption Pills.

"Not bad at all."

As he stored the pills in the prepared porcelain vial, Verdant Bud Chen revealed a satisfied expression.

The first batch served to temper the alchemical cauldron, and the success rate was generally not high. Achieving a fifty percent success rate was already considered quite commendable.

Sure enough, in the subsequent refinements, the success rate steadily improved. The second batch yielded six pills.

After working diligently for six or seven days, the two of them finally completed the refinement of fifty batches of Energy Absorption Pills, producing a total of three hundred and thirty-six pills.

"Finally finished."

Looking at the successfully refined pills, the two of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Eldrin Chen also praised, "With a success rate approaching seventy percent, Twenty-sixth Uncle could likely attempt to advance to the rank of a Second Rank Alchemist."

Generally speaking, if one achieves a sixty percent success rate in refining First-Rank Mid-Grade pills, then their success rate for First-Rank High-Grade pills should be around thirty percent.

With a thirty percent success rate in refining First-Rank High-Grade pills, one indeed has a certain degree of confidence to attempt the breakthrough to a Second Rank Alchemist.

"It's not that simple. I'm still far from it,"

"It's merely the result of refining several hundred batches of Energy Absorption Pill over these years. Practice makes perfect."

Verdant Bud Chen shook his head, though a broad smile still spread across his face.

"However, three hundred and thirty-six pills were successfully refined this time, over thirty more than in previous years. This is the largest single batch our clan has produced in sixty years."

"It seems that even though my Foundation Establishment attempt failed, breaking through to the tenth layer of Vital Essence Refinement has still brought some benefits to my alchemy."

After the two finished their alchemical work, the Third Elder, who had been waiting, meticulously counted the Energy Absorption Pill once more.

The Energy Absorption Pill can slightly increase the probability of a Vital Essence Refinement cultivator breaking through minor bottlenecks. Within Yu County, they have always sold exceptionally well, with each pill fetching a price exceeding five Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

These three hundred and thirty-six pills, once sold, would bring in roughly over one thousand six hundred Spirit Stones, providing a significant and timely infusion of resources for the clan.

At this thought, Third Elder could not contain his joy and spoke.

"This year has been quite bountiful."