Chapter 21 : The Path of Vital Essence Refinement

While this could not compare to the innate talent of Eldrin Chen, who began his cultivation at the tender age of three and possessed the potential of a Celestial Being [a being who has ascended to the celestial realm], it was still far superior to most cultivators, who typically could only begin their journey after the age of eleven or twelve.

Thus, he cultivated in peace, and in the blink of an eye, another four months passed.

"Hah..."

On this day, after concluding his cultivation session, Eldrin Chen slowly exhaled a wisp of mist.

Feeling his Vital Energy [the foundational life force cultivated within a practitioner's body] had grown yet another fraction, a flicker of joy appeared on his face.

For a cultivator, breaking through to the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier did not mean they could immediately attempt Foundation Establishment [the process of solidifying one's cultivation foundation, a major life leap]. On the contrary, it required further meticulous tempering and refinement of one's Vital Energy.

The so-called Foundation Establishment involved the continuous compression of Vital Energy, ultimately transforming it into the liquid state of True Essence [a purified, potent form of energy marking a qualitative leap]. This fundamental change completed the leap in one's life essence.

The amount of Vital Energy required for this process was immense.

Typically, a Vital Essence Refinement cultivator would first cultivate their Vital Energy until their meridians were brimming full. Then, through relentless tempering, they would condense this energy to the very limits their meridians could withstand.

Furthermore, they had to use their Vital Energy to temper and refine their meridians themselves, ensuring their channels reached peak resilience before even attempting Foundation Establishment. This preparatory phase alone often demanded nearly a decade of meticulous, grinding effort. This chapter is provided by audio—novel.com. Support the original.

Even so, without the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that significantly increases the chance of successfully advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm], the success rate of Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their cultivation foundation] is merely one in ten. Should the condensation of True Essence [the refined, potent energy of the Foundation Establishment realm] fail, the violent Vital Energy [the basic life-force energy cultivated by Qi Refinement stage practitioners] would erupt, shattering every meridian in the body and leading to certain death.

This critical step was precisely why Sixth Elder Verdant Bud Chen perished after his failed attempt at Foundation Establishment.

The function of the Foundation Establishment Pill is to temper the Vital Energy, making it more docile, and to temporarily double the resilience of one's meridians.

It is for this reason that cultivators who use a Foundation Establishment Pill to attempt a breakthrough will, at worst, suffer a severe depletion of their vital essence if they fail, but face no mortal danger.

Eldrin Chen's physical body had been elevated by the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme, primordial energy that enhances one's innate potential and constitution], and since childhood, his meridians had been tempered by both Vital Energy and the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura. Consequently, his meridians were far broader than those of an ordinary Vital Essence Refinement [the first major realm of cultivation, also known as Qi Refinement] cultivator, and their elasticity and strength far surpassed that of a typical practitioner at the Vital Essence Refinement Peak Stage.

By his estimation, nourishing his meridians with the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura for a few more years would increase their strength to more than double that of an ordinary person. When that time came, his chances of a successful Foundation Establishment breakthrough would increase by severalfold, almost equivalent to having consumed a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"My meridians are broad and can hold thirty to forty percent more Vital Energy than a cultivator of the same level," he mused. "That alone should add another ten to twenty percent to my odds of achieving Foundation Establishment."

"So, from here, I need only proceed steadily and surely. I will use the Spiritual Peach [a spirit fruit that aids in accumulating cultivation energy] to accumulate Vital Energy, and after several more years of diligent polishing, I will likely have a fifty to sixty percent chance of success."

Eldrin Chen thought with satisfaction. With such a foundation, securing a single Foundation Establishment Pill would make his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment virtually assured.

In high spirits, he concluded his cultivation session. Stepping out of his wooden hut to tend to the Spirit Fish [fish that have absorbed spiritual energy and possess minor mystical properties] and Violet-Striped Goose [a type of spiritual goose valued for its feathers and meat] as usual, he had taken only a few steps when he noticed the Spiritual Peach on the Spiritual Peach Tree [a tree that bears spirit-nourishing fruit] were nearly ripe.

A surge of joy at the impending harvest welled up in his heart, greatly lifting his spirits.

"This year's Spiritual Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy, beneficial for cultivation] seem slightly more plentiful than in previous years."

Eldrin Chen gazed at the Spiritual Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually charged peaches], a slight furrow appearing between his brows.

It seemed that due to the influence of the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a primordial and potent form of spiritual energy], the Spiritual Peach Tree's fundamental nature had undergone a change, producing more Spiritual Peach with each passing year.

The first year yielded fifty-six Spiritual Peach, the second year sixty, and this year it had already borne over seventy unripe fruits.

This was nearly the limit for a first-grade, lower-tier Spiritual Peach Tree [the lowest cultivation grade for spiritual plants]; one more step and it would break through to the first-grade, middle-tier.

"Could it be that this Spiritual Peach Tree has broken through its innate limitations and can advance in grade as it ages?"

"If that's truly the case, judging by the trend, it should reach the first-grade, middle-tier in another year or two."

Eldrin Chen thought with burgeoning delight. A first-grade, middle-tier Spiritual Peach Tree would yield roughly double the number of Spiritual Peach compared to a lower-tier one, typically around one hundred fruits annually.

"..."

On that very day, at the edge of Spirit Isle Lake, three cultivators—one woman and two men—gazed into the distance towards Lake Heart Island.

Among them, a middle-aged woman whose graceful charm had not faded with time looked upon the scenery and could not help but exclaim in wonder.

"I never imagined the Chen Clan would control such a beautifully scenic Spiritual Lake [a lake imbued with potent spiritual energy]."

"If one could claim this Path-Field [a plot of land cultivated for spiritual growth] and spend the rest of one's days cultivating here, what a splendid thing that would be."

As soon as the woman finished speaking, another gaunt, elderly cultivator shook his head. "This Spirit Isle Lake is the territory of the Chen Clan. With our level of cultivation, dreaming of seizing it is pure folly."

"That unique specialty of the Chen Clan, the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish, is most likely raised here, isn't it?" Find thousands of chapters at http://www . audio-novel.com.

"If we could net them all, our cultivation resources for the next dozen or so years would be quite sufficient."

"Enough, enough. Stop obsessing over the Path-Field and the Spirit Fish. We have more pressing matters to attend to."

The third person suddenly spoke up. He was a burly cultivator clad in gray robes.

His gaze was grave as he stared at Lake Heart Island, and after a long moment of silence, he spoke thoughtfully.

"According to the intelligence we have gathered, the one who slew our junior brother is within this Spirit Isle Lake."

"Now that our master has commanded us to come and exact vengeance, we must not be negligent."

These individuals were all disciples of Zhang Old Demon. They had come seeking Eldrin Chen, intent on avenging the descendant of Zhang Old Demon who had been slain during the blood sacrifice at Pingyuan Town.

At the thought of their mission's target, the middle-aged woman's expression shifted, and she cursed with clear dissatisfaction.

"That old fiend is afraid of Eternal Profound Chen, too cowardly to come himself, and instead sends us to risk our lives."

"That Eldrin Chen is a Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier cultivator, protected by a formation. Coming here is practically suicide for us!"

Among Demonic Cultivator, notions of kinship or loyalty were notoriously absent. They pursued their interests by any means necessary—examples of fathers and sons turning on each other, or masters and disciples betraying one another, were commonplace.

The gaunt old man paid no mind to the woman's open cursing of Zhang Old Demon. Instead, he shook his head, his expression turning icy as he spoke:

"Each of us bears the Malevolent Ghost Heart-Devouring Curse left by Zhang Old Demon. Obeying his commands offers a sliver of hope for survival. To defy him is to suffer the agony of having one's heart devoured by vengeful spirits. Do you truly think you can resist?"

The hulking Demonic Cultivator was the only one among the three at the Vital Essence Refinement ninth tier, making him the strongest. His expression was also grim, yet he spoke with a tone of confidence.

"Before this journey, my master gave me a Six Ghosts Talisman [a powerful talisman capable of summoning and controlling six spectral entities], which should be sufficient to handle the formations here."

"When the time comes, the three of us, all at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the advanced phase of refining one's foundational life energy], surely won't be unable to subdue a mere lone individual."

"To avoid unforeseen complications, let's act now."

The Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using unorthodox, often malevolent methods] made their decision. They immediately boarded their solitary boat, riding the waves as they rowed towards Lake Heart Island.

Unfortunately, their luck was poor. They had only covered half the distance when Eldrin Chen, who was taking inventory of the Spirit Fish [fish infused with spiritual energy, valuable for cultivation], spotted them.

"Trouble—Demonic Cultivator!"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted. The aura of Demonic Fiendish Energy [a corrupt and malevolent form of spiritual power] emanating from the cultivators was far too conspicuous. He recognized them instantly. He immediately retreated to Lake Heart Island and activated the Guardian Formation [a defensive magical array].

The Mist Veil [a magical artifact that generates concealing mist] released a thick layer of clouds and fog, enveloping the entire Lake Heart Island.

"Damn it!"

The three Demonic Cultivator immediately changed expression. The hulking demonic cultivator gritted his teeth and spoke with decisive urgency.

"We can't afford to hesitate any longer. Charge in!"

The several fiends plunged into the misty clouds, only to find their vision obscured, their sight limited to a mere one Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters].

The gaunt old fiend, seeing this, sensed great peril and urgently cried out, "This mist can block spiritual sense and physical sight. Even we cannot see through it. To avoid being picked off one by one, we must not stray more than one Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] from each other!" Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio . novel . com.