Chapter 20 : A Purge and a Bitter Return

After handling these trivial matters, the subsequent screening for Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use forbidden, often bloody or soul-consuming methods to advance their power] proceeded in an orderly fashion.

No further incidents occurred during the subsequent screenings. By the time the process concluded over half a month later, not a single Demonic Cultivator had been discovered within Pingyang City.

However, during the inspections of the five surrounding towns, the group managed to root out three Demonic Cultivator at the early to mid Qi Refinement Cultivators [the foundational stage of cultivation where one refines the body's vital energy] stage.

These three Demonic Cultivator posed no significant threat. The Chen Clan Cultivators made short work of them, eliminating the fiends without much effort.

With this campaign, the Demonic Cultivator within Pingyang City and its six towns were purged entirely. The population under the Chen Clan's jurisdiction was also thoroughly re-registered, effectively cleansing the internal hidden dangers within the clan's lands.

Once everything was settled, the group did not linger in Pingyang City. They returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain the very next day.

After a journey of several days, the moment the group set foot back on Verdant Chariot Mountain, they noticed the grim expression on the face of Third Elder who had come to greet them.

Seeming to sense their confusion, Lior Chen offered a bitter smile, his face etched with worry.

"Cedric he…"

In an instant, the news struck them like a bolt from the blue, and expressions of profound distress washed over everyone present. Your portal to cultivation novels: AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

The Sixth Elder, Chen Cedric, secluded himself in a life-or-death retreat to attempt a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]. After a seclusion lasting a full month, he ultimately passed away, his life force extinguished within his cave abode.

"By the time I sensed the anomaly, Cedric had already perished many hours prior,"

"His meridians were shattered throughout his body, his True Qi [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within a practitioner] and blood completely drained. His appearance was... profoundly harrowing."

The Third Elder spoke with a pained expression. Chen Cedric had staked everything on one final, desperate gamble against fate, yet in the end, he had failed to rewrite his destiny and grasp that single, elusive thread of survival.

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, a sudden, wrenching ache tightening in his heart.

Since his transmigration to this world, these elders of the Chen Clan had watched him grow up and had genuinely treated him with great kindness.

In the span of just a few short years, the aged Seventh Granduncle, Chen Changqing, and the still-vigorous Sixth Elder, Chen Cedric—one elder after another had met their end upon the path of cultivation, their fates a stark testament to its merciless cruelty.

"The path to immortality is long, fraught with obstacles and hardship. We can only press forward, step by solitary step."

"If I should fall, and if you possess the strength, then go and behold the scenery at its end in my stead."

The words Chen Cedric had spoken on the day of their parting now echoed in his ears as if whispered beside him. Perhaps even then, Chen Cedric had foreseen his own likely end, yet he had chosen to gamble everything, facing near-certain doom for that one-in-ten chance of life.

Eldrin Chen remained silent for a long while, before finally murmuring to himself, "I will go and see it for you, Twenty-Sixth Uncle."

"..."

While the eradication of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using dark, often sacrificial, methods] had removed a hidden danger for the clan, and the elders had initially planned a celebration, the news of Chen Cedric's fall cast a pall over any such intentions.

The departed were gone; the living must still look forward.

After the funeral rites were concluded, the elders convened a brief council with the clan's Qi Refinement, Late Stage [the later phases of the foundational stage where one refines their vital energy] senior members.

"Although this threat from the Demonic Cultivator has been cleansed, we must remain vigilant henceforth,"

"We have decided to formalize the screening for Demonic Cultivator as a permanent clan decree."

So declared the Third Elder within the Clan Affairs Hall, announcing the Elder Council's decision.

They resolved to establish the purge of Demonic Cultivator as a standing ordinance. Henceforth, according to the new statute, the Chen Immortal Clan would mobilize personnel every three years to conduct a sweep, rooting out any Demonic Cultivator lurking among the mortal populace, thereby safeguarding the clan's foundational security.

With this matter settled for the time being, Eldrin Chen decided to return to Spirit Isle Lake, lest he miss the crucial season for Spring Plowing.

However, just as he was about to depart, Third ElderLior Chen stopped him.

"The clan is currently short-handed everywhere, and your Spirit Isle Lake is no exception. With five new juniors joining the clan this time, I am assigning them to you."

"Caleb, Silas, come here."

From nearby, two children of six or seven years old approached cautiously, their gazes fixed on him with evident nervousness.

Third Elder looked at the two children, a touch of pride in his expression as he said, "From now on, you two will follow the Eighth Elder. He will guide your cultivation."

"Go on." For the best reading experience, visit audio–novel.com.

These two were none other than the dragon-phoenix twins, Chen Ember and Chen Leo, whom he had rescued from Pingyuan Town. After their Spiritual Root [the innate talent for absorbing spiritual energy] was tested and they arrived at Verdant Chariot Mountain, they were entered into the clan genealogy and renamed Silas Chen and Caleb Chen.

By rights, their generation could have been included in the Nian Generation. However, considering that Eldrin Chen was already the Clan Patriarch, and to better highlight his status and position, it was decided to place the two directly into the Xian Generation instead.

This way, if Eldrin Chen were to lead the clan in the future, a group of clan juniors would be easier to command than peers or elders.

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered, instantly understanding Third Elder's intention.

Although this pair of dragon-phoenix twins were young, they were both prodigies with Two Spiritual Roots [a rare and highly favorable innate talent for cultivation]. Barring unforeseen circumstances, they would at least reach the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the peak of the initial stage of cultivation] in the future, and there was even a fair chance they could achieve a Foundation Establishment [a major breakthrough that solidifies one's cultivation foundation and extends lifespan] breakthrough.

Sending these two to his side served a dual purpose: to have him nurture two of the clan's most promising young talents and to bolster his future influence within the family's hierarchy.

Do not underestimate the importance of such influence. If he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he would naturally command authority akin to the Clan Patriarch, whose word was law. However, if he failed, this accrued influence would become critically important.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen did not refuse. Though he possessed sufficient confidence in his own ability to reach Foundation Establishment, spending his spare time cultivating the clan's younger generation would also be a worthwhile experience in his own cultivation journey.

Early one morning, he set off with the two siblings in tow, heading towards Spirit Isle Lake.

By the time he returned to Spirit Isle Lake, two months had passed since his departure.

Returning after two months, he was greeted upon entering Lake Heart Island by the calls of the Purple-Striped Wild Goose [a type of spirit beast resembling a goose with violet markings]. Having been raised for over two years, these spirit geese, though not yet fully grown, had already reached an Qi Refinement, Early Stage level and had begun to develop a rudimentary understanding.

Gazing at the dozen or so vibrantly feathered, half-grown Purple-Striped Wild Goose, Eldrin Chen could not help but allow a faint smile to touch his lips.

"The Purple-Striped Wild Goose reach maturity around five or six years of age, at which point they can begin to breed," he mused.

"In just three or four more years, they will be able to produce Spirit Egg [eggs laid by spirit beasts, often containing nascent spiritual energy] and nurture the next generation."

After being left to roam freely for two months, the Purple-Striped Wild Goose [a type of spirit beast resembling a wild goose with purple markings] had not been fed by anyone. Yet, they had not grown thin; instead, having followed the water and grazed on grasses, they had grown somewhat larger.

However, the Spirit Vegetable [plants infused with spiritual energy, cultivated for consumption] left unprotected by any formation had been ravaged by them, with seven or eight out of ten plants eaten clean.

Fortunately, Spirit Vegetable were not valuable, and Eldrin Chen was not angered. Instead, he harvested the remaining vegetables. Apart from keeping a portion for his own consumption, he fed most of them to the Purple-Striped Wild Goose.

Following this came the season of Spring Plowing. As the Spirit Farmland [fields imbued with spiritual energy for growing spirit crops] had not been nurtured for two months, Eldrin Chen spent several extra days, consecutively casting the Spirit Rain Art [a technique to summon rain infused with spiritual energy] multiple times before he could finally sow the Spirit Rice [a type of rice that absorbs spiritual energy, beneficial for cultivators].

Afterwards, his days grew leisurely once more. Each day, he inhaled and exhaled the Primordial Essence [the pure, foundational energy of heaven and earth], tempering his cultivation at the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the ninth and final stage of the Qi Refinement realm] in preparation for a future breakthrough into Foundation Establishment [the realm following Qi Refinement, where one establishes a solid foundation for the Dao].

In his spare time, he taught the siblings Caleb and Silas to read and write, helping them recognize their own Meridians and Acupoints [the energy channels and focal points within the body through which Qi flows]. This was essential foundational knowledge before embarking on cultivation, as attempting to cultivate without it would inevitably lead to complications.

Fortunately, both siblings were quite intelligent and learned these things quickly. Eldrin Chen estimated that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would grasp the basics around the age of eight or nine, thus beginning to grope their way onto the path of cultivation. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel .c om.