Chapter 42 : The Patriarch's Decisive Gambit

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen also revealed a faint smile. The Blazing Heaven Sword Divine Ability of the Chen Clan was renowned throughout Yu County.

With this divine ability alone, the Old Patriarch was not inferior to the vast majority of Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators. Moreover, he had now obtained the even more powerful Solar Fire Soul-Burning Banners.

The Solar Fire Soul-Burning Banners possessed extraordinary might. Controlled by a clan leader who was a Second Rank High-Grade formation master, this set of Formation Flag alone was sufficient to contend with one or two ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators.

"With this set of Formation Flag, it should be enough to handle them even if they have some hidden cards to play."

"The question now is how to lure them out."

Eldrin Chen spoke, his brow furrowing. This was a rather troublesome problem.

"No need for such complexity." The Old Patriarch smiled with absolute confidence. "As long as we resume the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] trade at Heavenly Ruins Mountain, they will naturally come to us."

"Why is that?" Eldrin Chen asked, puzzled.

The Old Patriarch stroked his beard with a knowing smile. "Because they will be afraid."

Eldrin Chen gave a wry chuckle, realizing then that he had still underestimated the deterrent power of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator. For the best reading experience, visit audi0-n0vel.c0m.

As one of only three cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the third major stage of cultivation] in Yu County, and having mastered the county's most potent offensive divine ability, the Blazing Heaven Sword [a sword technique that channels scorching celestial flames], the Old Patriarch's power was far from ordinary. This was proven five years prior when, despite being besieged by five Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners at the Foundation Establishment stage], he managed to slay one of his assailants.

Having provoked such a formidable Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the third major stage of cultivation] expert, the other participants from that battle had likely been living in dread for years.

Although the Old Patriarch's injuries had now healed, he had been forced to sell off his personal magical artifacts, leaving him at his most vulnerable state in terms of combat strength.

If, in a few years, the Old Patriarch managed to acquire a new set of Second Rank Magical Artifact [enchanted artifacts of the second rank, suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators], those families would face a grim choice: be picked off one by one, or live in constant, nerve-wracking vigilance.

Therefore, the moment the Chen Clan resumed its trade in Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] from Heavenly Ruins Mountain, and the Old Patriarch ventured beyond the centuries-fortified Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array protecting a mountain stronghold] of Green Chariot Mountain, his enemies would be compelled to strike.

"Since their hand will be forced, the matter becomes simpler to manage," Eldrin Chen concluded.

"Now that you have emerged from seclusion, we can dispatch envoys tomorrow to discuss terms with the other major families."

"It has been ten years since our Chen Clan last handled the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] trade from Heavenly Ruins Mountain. The turn is rightfully ours once more."

Eldrin Chen said with a faint smile, for the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] business from Heavenly Ruins Mountain promised substantial profits.

The Old Patriarch calculated silently for a moment before speaking thoughtfully. "To restart the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] trade, the clan's current reserve of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] is likely insufficient."

Within Yu County, the combined efforts of over a hundred cultivation families, both large and small, along with rogue cultivators, involve nearly ten thousand low-level cultivators. Each year, they refine more than fifty to sixty thousand strands of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements].

To purchase this amount of Five Elements Essence from the rogue cultivators, based on previous years' prices, would require approximately eight thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. The selling price at Heavenly Ruins Mountain is around ten thousand Spirit Stones.

This business venture, with a potential profit of two thousand Spirit Stones, is not easily undertaken. It requires not only sufficient strength but also the capital of eight thousand Spirit Stones.

Eldrin Chen calculated for a moment before speaking. "In recent years, most of the Spirit Stones earned by the Clan Treasury have been used to repay internal and external debts. Not much remains."

"However, the Energy-Nurturing Grass matured not long ago. After the Energy Absorption Pill [a pill that aids in absorbing spiritual energy] are sold, we should have around two thousand Spirit Stones."

"Once this year's Spiritual Peach [a spiritual fruit that enhances cultivation] ripens, I can contribute over eight hundred Spirit Stones from my share. We can delay distributing this year's clan stipends until after we return from Heavenly Ruins Mountain next year, saving nearly a thousand Spirit Stones."

"Calculating it this way, if we borrow four thousand Spirit Stones from the various major families, we can proceed with this venture."

Eternal Profound Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Borrowing four thousand Spirit Stones urgently for one year would incur an interest of three hundred Spirit Stones. Although the cost is high, we would still turn a profit."

"Then it's settled," Eldrin Chen declared with a firm nod. "Tomorrow, I will have the Third Elder handle the arrangements. The Evergreen Pavilion at the Sunward Market can begin purchasing the Five Elements Essence."

"..."

The news that the Chen Clan had taken on external debts from several major Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan families in Yu County to begin purchasing Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] quickly spread throughout the entire county.

This sent a clear signal to the outside world: Eternal Profound Chen's injuries had healed. Otherwise, the Chen Clan would have been utterly incapable of engaging in the Five Elements Essence trade.

Half a year later, tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away from Yu County, in the neighboring Feng County, three figures gathered together.

Had Eternal Profound Chen been present, he would have recognized them instantly. These three were the sworn enemies of the Chen Clan.

The two on the left were Bright Void Zuo and Daylight Wonder Zuo, both Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation] from the Zuo Clan, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan of Feng County. The man on the right was the rogue cultivator Peaceful Harmony Lin from Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

Bright Void Zuo frowned as he looked at Peaceful Harmony Lin. "Fellow Daoist Lin [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator]," he asked, "what brings you to seek us out from such a great distance?" Original publication: (audio-novel.com) - The source of this chapter.

"Patriarch Zuo, there's no need for pretense," Peaceful Harmony Lin sneered coldly, his expression icy. "You must have heard the news as well. Eternal Profound Chen has recovered from his injuries and emerged from seclusion."

Bright Void Zuo's expression shifted. Gritting his teeth, he said, "What? Do you still intend to seek revenge?"

"Eight years ago, the five of us joined forces, yet not only did he escape, he even managed to kill one of us in return. Now that his wounds are healed, what can we possibly do to him?"

"That's not the way to look at it," Peaceful Harmony Lin replied, a trace of helplessness coloring his tone. "He recognized all of us back then. If we don't act, he will pick us off one by one, sooner or later."

"Why not seize this chance to slay him now, when he is at his weakest, having lost his Second Rank Magical Artifact and his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to its user's life force]?"

"Easier said than done," Bright Void Zuo replied with a grave expression, a trace of lingering fear in his voice. "You've seen that Blazing Heaven Sword Divine Ability [a divine sword technique of immense power]. Remember how Abiding Center Liu perished? Remember how all of Zhang Old Demon's Demonic Treasure [magical treasures forged with demonic energy] were utterly destroyed?"

"With just the three of us, I fear charging in would not end with his death, but would instead claim one or two of our own lives."

"*Hum*—"

As the two were speaking, Peaceful Harmony Lin released his own aura, causing both men to startle and their expressions to turn deeply serious.

Seeing their astonished looks, Peaceful Harmony Lin allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. "And now? Can we test our strength against his?"

"You've broken through to the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm]?" Daylight Wonder Zuo asked, a note of envy in his voice.

"After that battle where Abiding Center Liu fell, I visited his cave abode once," Peaceful Harmony Lin explained.

Peaceful Harmony Lin licked his lips, a flicker of greed appearing in his eyes. "Fellow Daoist Liu's hoard was quite substantial. It allowed me to purchase an elixir [a potent spiritual pill] from the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion, which shattered the bottleneck to the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage."

"Even though you've broken through to the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, with the strength of just us three, I fear we still cannot ensure his demise."

Bright Void Zuo pondered the plan in detail once more, but ultimately shook his head in refusal. As the patriarch of a clan, he was not a rogue cultivator like Peaceful Harmony Lin, free to act without attachments or burdens.

Furthermore, he was acutely aware that as long as he remained within the Zuo Clan, protected by the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array that has guarded the clan's mountain for centuries], Eternal Profound Chen could do nothing to him. Continue reading this story at audi0-n0vel.c0m.