Chapter 48 : A Clan's Ascendant Path

The Bright Abyss Dao Marsh Art [a water-attribute cultivation technique] is a water-attribute cultivation art. Furthermore, it contains the method for forging the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword [a specific ethereal spirit sword]. This can be considered as having filled a gap in the clan's collection of techniques. With this art available, the water-attribute cultivators of the clan will find their future cultivation paths much smoother.

If, in the future, they can also obtain an earth-attribute Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivation art, then the Chen Clan will have a complete set of the five elemental arts for the Foundation Establishment Realm.

That Zuo Mingxu dared to venture out with this set of techniques to participate in a vendetta, likely never imagining that five Foundation Establishment cultivators would join forces against him, with two of them wielding three Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool [powerful enchanted artifacts] and Spirit Talisman [enchanted paper slips that release pre-stored spells], and that he would perish in this battle.

One cannot blame them for this miscalculation. The Old Patriarch had acquired the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Banner [a powerful set of formation flags], and Eldrin Chen had broken through to Foundation Establishment on his own. These two unforeseen variables combined completely upended their expectations.

Returning to the main point, the spoils from this battle included several sets of magical tools and over five thousand Spirit Stone [minerals that store spiritual energy, used for cultivation and currency]. The Chen Clan Cultivators cast off years of hardship and worry, their faces alight with joy.

They knew that after this journey to Celestial Ruins Mountain concluded, life for the Chen Clan Cultivators was about to take a turn for the better.

Now, as they neared Celestial Ruins Mountain, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace.

"What is going on?"

Upon arriving at the Heaven's Ruin Mountain Market, Eldrin Chen immediately sensed something was amiss.

He noticed the cultivators in the market were all hurrying about. Most wore expressions mingling alarm or excitement with a distinct layer of gravity. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel dot com.

The two exchanged a glance, and Old Patriarch shook his head, transmitting his voice discreetly.

"Let us first go to Heaven's Ruin Pavilion to conclude the business of this journey's Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], and gather some news while we are there."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Heaven's Ruin Pavilion was an enterprise of Jiang the Ancient Ancestor, so any information disseminated from there would be utterly reliable.

The group proceeded with their cargo and soon arrived at Heaven's Ruin Pavilion. The cultivators of the pavilion spotted them from afar, and a woman promptly emerged to greet them.

Clad in crimson robes, the woman possessed a handsome countenance and appeared to be in her twenties. She called out with a smile from a distance.

"I had been counting the days. The shipment of Five Elements Essence from Yu County should be arriving about now."

"I wondered which fellow Daoist would be delivering it this time. I did not expect it to be you, Daoist Chen."

"I had heard earlier of your injury and wished to visit, but my duties kept me bound," the woman said, her smile lingering on Chen Thalion. "Seeing you here at Celestial Ruins Mountain [a mountain range known for its ancient ruins and spiritual energy] means your recovery is complete."

Old Patriarch offered a slight, courteous smile. "I am grateful for your concern, Immortal Liu."

The woman offered a faint smile, her gaze sweeping over Eldrin Chen, a flicker of surprise in her pupils as she inquired, "And who might this be?"

"This is my grandnephew, Eldrin Chen," Old Patriarch replied, gesturing for Eldrin to step forward. "This is the esteemed disciple of Jiang the Ancient Ancestor, the Daoist Immortal Liu Seraphina."

Eldrin Chen looked up, discerning her cultivation at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage. She was not Elara Lin, whom he had met years prior. He promptly stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "I pay my respects to Senior Liu."

"You are also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; the title of 'Senior' does not suit me," Liu Seraphina demurred, sidestepping the gesture with a light laugh. "Judging by your bone age, you cannot be past thirty. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator of such youth is destined to become a pivotal figure in the Chu Kingdom."

"With such exceptional talent, the day may come when I must address *you* as Senior."

Old Patriarch chuckled at her words, though he quickly added, "This youngster acted impulsively in his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."

"He merely had fortune on his side, gambling against odds of nine deaths to one life. How could he compare to the vast prospects awaiting Daoist Liu?"

After a few more pleasantries, the group turned to the matter at hand.

The trade in Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] was crucial to the cultivation of Jiang the Ancient Dao Ancestor. Celestial Ruins Mountain [a major cultivation site and market] placed great importance on it, expending nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] annually to procure the essence from Yu and Feng Counties.

After a thorough tally, the final transaction price was set at over nine thousand five hundred Spirit Stone. This was lower than the expected sum of just over ten thousand because the tempering of the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade had consumed over two thousand strands of both Metallic Essence Qi [the refined energy of the Metal element] and Separated Flame Qi [the refined energy of the Fire element].

Payment upon delivery; after receiving the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], Liu Seraphina invited the two men into the Heaven's Ruin Pavilion for tea.

Within the pavilion's upper chamber, Chen Thalion offered a faint smile, finally unable to contain his curiosity. "Since my arrival at the market today, I have noticed everyone moving with a distinct sense of urgency," he inquired.

"Has some event transpired here at the Celestial Ruins Mountain [a mountain range and key cultivation site]?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Seraphina revealed a knowing smile. "That is precisely the matter I wished to discuss with you."

Her expression grew solemn as she continued. "By careful reckoning, there remain but thirty-one or thirty-two years until the century's cycle culminates in the outbreak of the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by monstrous beasts]."

As her words unfolded, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle contraction in his pupils. He swiftly grasped the reason for the restless, unsettled atmosphere pervading the Celestial Ruins Mountain. This novel is serialized on audio–novel.com. Visit for updates.

To the north of the Celestial Ruins Mountain, the Vast and Boundless Marsh [an immense, primordial wetland] stretches for countless Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], a formidable barrier within the Eastern Wastelands [the Eastern Territories, a vast and perilous region].

As one of the most terrifying domains within the Eastern Wastelands, the Vast and Boundless Marsh teems with innumerable demonic beast tribes flourishing and multiplying. Among them dwell horrors such as Golden Core Demon King [a demonic beast sovereign of immense power] and Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [an emperor among demonic beasts, a being of near-divine might].

Legends even whisper that in the marsh's deepest, most ancient heart, a timeless Black Dragon Demon Progenitor [the primordial ancestor of black dragons, a being of mythic power] lies coiled. Its draconic bloodline is awe-inspiring, having cultivated to a realm bordering on the divine—a state so profound that even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator of the highest mortal realm] on the verge of ascension could scarcely contend with it.

Of course, such entities remain far beyond the concerns of the people here, indeed, beyond the concerns of the entire Chu Kingdom [the Kingdom of Chu].

Yet, a grave threat loomed perilously close to Celestial Ruins Mountain—the Celestial Python Lake, situated four hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to the north.

Celestial Python Lake was the domain of the Celestial Python Demon King, a territory teeming with countless demonic beasts that bred and multiplied incessantly, swelling their ranks with each generation.

Whenever the population of demonic beasts within the several hundred-thousand Li-length territory surrounding the lake neared a breaking point, the Celestial Python Demon King would muster its legions and launch an assault upon the Chu Kingdom.

Success in such campaigns would allow it to seize vast swathes of human territory, expanding its own dominion.

Even in failure, the onslaught would cull the ranks of the lower-tier demonic beasts, preventing ecological collapse and the grim specter of the beasts turning upon one another.

The century-long cycle of these conflicts was an unspoken rule, a tense equilibrium maintained between the human Nascent Soul Immortal Clan, the Ji Clan, and the opposing Demon Emperors within the Great Wilderness.

With the next Beast Tide Calamity predicted to erupt in roughly three decades, Celestial Ruins Mountain—one of the three primary defensive bulwarks of the Chu Kingdom against the demonic hordes—would inevitably bear the initial brunt of the assault.

To alleviate the impending pressure, Jiang the Ancient Ancestor resolved to take the offensive, aiming to slay several Purple Mansion-realm demonic beasts first to weaken the enemy's forces.

"Our master has decided to assault Demon Wolf Mountain and is mustering all cultivators within Celestial Ruins Mountain to join the campaign," she declared.

"As Foundation Establishment Cultivators, you two are also called to answer this summons and participate in the attack on Demon Wolf Mountain."

Liu Seraphina spoke, her gaze settling upon the two men.

Chen Thalion let out a bitter laugh, yet his voice remained resolute. "It is better to face the Demon Race in battle now than to be besieged by them thirty years hence."

"I support this campaign," he declared. "We will both participate with our full strength."

He paused briefly before continuing. "However, on our journey here, we were ambushed by Demonic Cultivators. Several of our clan's younger members in the later stages of Qi Refinement were gravely injured and will likely be unable to join this fight."

"Having the two of you is sufficient," Liu Seraphina replied with a faint smile, for it was precisely these two individuals she valued. "Let those six Qi Refinement Cultivators remain behind to garrison Celestial Ruins Mountain." Published by audio-novel.com (official site). All rights reserved.