Chapter 15 : Twin Flames of Destiny

"The weeping I heard earlier outside the town must have been theirs."

"Why did the old demon sacrifice everyone, yet spare only these two?"

"Hmm?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered. He grasped the little girl's wrist, and a glimmer of surprise soon touched his features.

He could sense with perfect clarity that the girl possessed a Fire-Wood Dual Spiritual Root [a rare cultivation aptitude where two compatible spiritual roots coexist]. This synergistic Spiritual Root [the innate channels within a person that determine their affinity for absorbing spiritual energy] granted cultivation speed surpassing even that of ordinary Dual Spiritual Root [a cultivation aptitude where two spiritual roots coexist], making it an exceptionally rare find.

"A Dual Spiritual Root [a cultivation aptitude where two spiritual roots coexist]... No wonder the demon slaughtered the entire Pingyuan Town, yet left these two untouched."

"If she has a Dual Spiritual Root [a cultivation aptitude where two spiritual roots coexist], what about him?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted to Leo Chen, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. Twin siblings born together often shared remarkably similar innate talents.

With this thought, he promptly examined the boy's Spiritual Root [the innate channels within a person that determine their affinity for absorbing spiritual energy]. As expected, he discovered the child possessed a Fire-Metal dual Spiritual Root [the innate channels within a person that determine their affinity for absorbing spiritual energy].

Having discovered a pair of twin Dual Spiritual Root [a cultivation aptitude where two spiritual roots coexist] bearers, Eldrin Chen lingered no longer. After a swift check of the town confirmed no other survivors, he immediately set off for Pingyang County, the children in tow.

As for the remains in Pingyuan Town, there were simply too many to handle alone. He could only instruct the authorities of Pingyang County Town to arrange for their proper disposal.

Upon returning to Pingyang County, he immediately relayed the news. Several days later, the investigating cultivators from the Chen Family delivered their findings.

It was revealed that years prior, the Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner of malevolent and forbidden arts] had infiltrated Pingyuan Town under a false identity. After gaining the townsfolk's trust, he ambushed the Chen Family cultivator responsible for maintaining the town's protective formation. This treacherous act was the root cause of the calamity.

"That damned Demonic Cultivator! To be so cunning and deceitful!"

"Death by a thousand cuts would be too merciful for such a crime!"

Upon hearing the report, Solas Chen could not contain his fury.

The Grand Elder raised a hand, his gaze sweeping over the dozen or so cultivators assembled before him, and shook his head with a weary sigh.

"The disaster has already struck. Recriminations serve no purpose now."

"Issue the command: from this day forward, every major town and city is to conduct a full census of its population. Any unfamiliar face is to be scrutinized with the utmost severity."

"For anyone not of Chen Family bloodline, their identity must be verified thrice over. Even among our own townsfolk, we must remain vigilant against possession by evil spirits or demonic parasites."

"We must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past…"

After conveying all this, Sylas Chen turned his gaze to Eldrin Chen. "When you return to Verdant Chariot Mountain, have the Third Elder dispatch more personnel here."

"Understood."

Muzhi Chen nodded solemnly. The sins of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using malevolent and often sacrificial methods] were immense. The recent blood sacrifice of an entire town's populace was a truly unspeakable tragedy.

To prevent such a horrific event from recurring, he decided that upon returning to Verdant Chariot Mountain, he would immediately report the situation to the clan patriarch. They would then convene a Council of Elders meeting to reformulate their strategy against the Demonic Cultivator and arrange for a thorough, individual screening of all mortal descendants.

The mortal descendants of the Chen Immortal Clan now numbered nearly two hundred thousand. Screening each one individually would be an enormous undertaking.

There were only about twenty cultivators stationed in Pingyang City. Not only did they have to guard the city, but they also now had to search for hidden Demonic Cultivator. Their manpower was utterly insufficient; they would likely need to summon reinforcements from Verdant Chariot Mountain.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen clasped his hands and said, "Time is of the essence. I shall set out shortly."

"There is no need for such haste." The Grand Elder stroked his long beard. "Now that the Demonic Cultivator has been slain by you, a day or two's delay matters little."

"You have spent days testing for Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation that determines one's potential for cultivation] and have just fought a battle against a Demonic Cultivator. Your mental focus and spiritual energy are considerably depleted. It would be better to rest here tonight. Tomorrow, you can take the children who tested positive for a Spiritual Root back with you to Verdant Chariot Mountain."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded. "That would be for the best," he said.

Early the next morning, Eldrin Chen set out for Verdant Chariot Mountain, leading the five children whose Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual potential of a cultivator] had been detected.

The journey there had taken him merely two days, but the return trip, burdened with the five young ones, stretched to a full seven or eight days before they finally reached Verdant Chariot Mountain.

The moment he returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain, he headed straight for the Spirit Spring [a natural spring imbued with spiritual energy] in the Back Mountain. There, he found the clan patriarch, Alistair Chen.

As a cultivator of the Chang Generation, Old Patriarch Chen was now over one hundred and ten years old. Compared to the two-century lifespan of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he was still considered quite young.

In theory, given his remaining lifespan, he still had a chance to attempt a breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical mansion within their dantian]. However, two years prior, he had been grievously wounded in an ambush, his meridians damaged. Now, his path forward seemed increasingly uncertain.

Eldrin Chen looked at Old Patriarch Chen, a silent sigh echoing in his heart.

He knew that even if Old Patriarch Chen fully recovered from his injuries, the clan's current dire straits meant they lacked the resources to purchase the materials needed to support his breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum.

It was a twist of cruel fate. Sixty years ago, at the peak of the Chen Immortal Clan's power, they had possessed the means to support a cultivator's ascent to the Violet Sanctum.

At that time, the Chen Family boasted several Foundation Establishment Cultivator and was led by a patriarch who had reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. The clan had exhausted centuries of accumulated wealth and resources to procure a rare treasure to aid in the breakthrough: a piece of Purple Sun Jade [a heavenly material and earthly treasure said to assist in opening the Violet Sanctum].

Had the clan patriarch of that time succeeded in his breakthrough, the present-day Chen Immortal Clan would likely have become a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan renowned throughout the State of Chu.

Alas, during the Beast Tide battle sixty years ago, the Chen Immortal Clan was evidently ensnared in a plot. The cultivators of the Chen Family who went to battle, including that generation's patriarch, were nearly all lost, and the Purple Sun Jade vanished without a trace along with them.

"Ahem."

Seeing Eldrin Chen, Old Patriarch Chen's pallid complexion gained a faint touch of color.

He coughed once, burying a trace of worry deep within his eyes, and managed to reveal a gentle smile as he spoke.

"Eldrin, what brings you to see me this time?"

"I have returned because the clan has encountered a demonic tribulation."

Collecting his thoughts, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before recounting the events that had transpired in Pingyuan Town.

After listening, a sharp glint flashed within Alistair Chen's eyes.

"These demonic whelps grow ever more brazen."

"Do you truly believe the Chen Family has no one left to stand against you?"

Seeing Old Patriarch Chen's anger rising, Eldrin Chen feared it would aggravate his injuries and quickly offered words of consolation:

"Granduncle, there is no need for such fury."

"The demonic fiend has already been vanquished. Anger serves no purpose now."

Upon hearing this, Old Patriarch Chen reined in his emotions slightly, his expression turning grave as he spoke.

"Qingxu is correct. Our most urgent task now is to prevent such a tragedy from recurring."

"Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use sinister and forbidden methods to gain power] are insidious, creeping into every crack. It is likely that more than one hides within Pingyang County, skilled in infiltration and concealment."

"Now that I am gravely wounded and cannot act rashly, to avert another calamity, you must wield thunderous force to uproot the hidden threats within our clan."

Eldrin Chen nodded. "I have already begun formulating a plan for this."

"Soon, I will convene a Council of Elders meeting to deploy personnel and investigate the mortal populace of Pingyang County. Once any demonic presence is found, we shall show no mercy."

"Very well," Old Patriarch Chen said with a tone of deep satisfaction. "The several Elders of our clan are all prudent and experienced individuals. In this matter, you must consult with them thoroughly. Let safety be the paramount concern in all your decisions."

"..."

After departing from the Spirit Spring, Eldrin Chen immediately convened a meeting of the Council of Elders.

The Grand Elder was in Pingyang County, and Mordecai Chen had left for Yuyang Market shortly after the Lunar New Year celebrations.

For this Clan Assembly, aside from Eldrin Chen himself, only the Third Elder, the Fourth Elder, and Elara Chen were in attendance.

The four of them sat within the Clan Affairs Hall. Eldrin Chen cast a glance towards the seat reserved for the Sixth Elder. Noticing his expression, the Third Elder spoke with a heavy heart.

"After the New Year, Kylan entered a life-or-death seclusion [a state of intense, uninterrupted meditation where the cultivator seeks a breakthrough, risking failure and potential death]."