Chapter 304 : The Peach Tree Grows

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin spent a few more days with Lyra before soaring back to Yu County on his sword.

In Pingyang City, he met with the Old Patriarch. Over the past few years, the Old Ancestor's lifespan had approached 2 100 and 60 years, and his aura had grown significantly more profound. Surprisingly, he had cultivated to the ninth level of the Purple Mansion.

This lifted Eldrin’s spirits even further, and he couldn’t help but remark, “Elder Uncle, with your cultivation having advanced yet again, I suspect you’ll be able to challenge the Golden Core Realm once more within 10 years.”

"Much credit goes to your Tier-3 Spirit Pearl."

The old clan leader said with a smile, "After taking control of Celestial Python Lake (Location), Eldrin (Person Name) and Lyra (Person Name) discovered 3 precious King Shell Pearls from its depths."

The Shell King Pearl could enhance the speed of cultivation for Purple Palace realm cultivators. In the past, Eldrin had also received this treasure as a gift from Lyra, which enabled him to swiftly break through to Purple Palace, Mid Stage.

After breaking through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), Eldrin (Person Name) spent 10 years refining the Earth Sovereign Bell of Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure), which significantly slowed his cultivation progress.

Yet now, he was confident he could reach the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion within 30 years, primarily because he had obtained these few King Shell Pearls.

A single King Shell Pearl could last for 30 years. Eldrin took 2 of them—1 for his own use, and the other intended for the Old Clan Chief.

As the 2 were conversing, Eldrin brought out the Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible: "I came here to entrust this artifact to you."

"With my level of cultivation, I likely cannot unleash this artifact's power as effectively as you can."

The old clan leader spoke, yet still took hold of this Grade-4 magic treasure.

Eldrin now possessed 4 fourth-rank life-bound immortal sword artifacts: the Sky-Severing Twin Swords, the 1000-Demon Slaying Sword, and the Earth-Sovereign's Imperial Bell.

Generally speaking, a cultivator at the Golden Core, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) could barely manage to manipulate 3 or 4 fourth-order magic treasures with their spiritual sense.

Eldrin could simultaneously activate 4 artifacts because his spiritual sense rivaled that of a Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, his Natal Magic Treasure consumed only 30 percent as much spiritual energy as peer-level treasures.

However, with his Purple Palace, Late Stage cultivation realm, he no longer had the strength to activate a fifth fourth-order magic treasure.

Chen Changxuan primarily cultivated the Sunflame Sutra, enabling him to unleash the full potential of this treasure. The Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible (Magic Treasure) falling into his hands was by no means a waste of its power.

After leaving Pingyang City, Eldrin returned to Spirit Isle Lake and continued methodically accumulating spiritual power.

His cultivation was founded on persistence. Over the years, no matter how demanding his circumstances, he never neglected his daily training—unless truly prevented by unavoidable constraints.

Amid such day-after-day cultivation, another half year slipped by unnoticed.

That day, Eldrin finished absorbing the Primordial Purple Qi and completed his cultivation regimen.

He rose to his feet and lifted his gaze to the peach blossom grove before him, only then realizing that spring had arrived once more, leaving the ground carpeted with fallen petals.

Another year, the peach blossoms bloom.

Eldrin felt his spirits lift, his gaze drawn directly to the figure amidst the peach blossom grove.

At the end of the peach blossom grove, a woman in snow-white robes plucked a flowering branch, lowering her gaze to gently inhale its subtle fragrance.

She gazed at Eldrin, her bright eyes holding a trace of pure laughter. "The peach blossoms here are truly breathtaking. I never grow tired of coming for my annual visit."

"Come, help me put it on."

Eldrin’s eyes glimmered with a smile as he took the peach blossom branch and carefully tucked it into his flowing, ink-black tresses.

In an instant, the petals of the peach blossom hairpin grew vividly radiant, as if the entire peach blossom forest had been touched with newfound brilliance.

"Beauty is not of mortal birth, but blossoms from the peach tree's soul."

Suddenly, Eldrin reached out and held her hand with a hint of emotion.

"Smooth talker."

Lyra's cheeks flushed slightly as she retorted, yet her fair hand unconsciously tightened its grasp around his.

Chapter 1 10-Mile Peach Blossom Grove (Time & Distance) fell across the stream.

Beside the babbling stream, several fish chased after peach blossom petals to nibble, only to mistakenly swallow the dog's food. Their bellies promptly turned upward, eyes glazed over in a dead stare, and after a long moment, they swam away in dismay.

Eldrin strolled across the lakeside isle, accompanying Lyra as they admired the 10-Mile Peach Blossom Grove stretching before them.

Yet it stirred a maiden’s heart in Lyra (Person Name), who tugged at his sleeve with a smile. “It’s been so long since I last heard you play the zither. Would you play a tune for me today?”

"Very well."

Eldrin nodded. Clad in pristine white robes, he settled beneath the spirit peach tree with his zither resting across his knees. His gaze held a touch of indulgence as he watched her.

"This melody is called—Mythology."

Her fingers glided, drawing forth a lingering melody from the strings, as if a chant echoing across a 1000 years.

She listened in silence, her bright eyes reflecting the peerless man in white. His pristine robes shimmered with such radiance that they seemed to emit an ethereal glow, casting even the 10-Mile Peach Blossom Grove (Time & Distance) into comparative dimness.

Gazing at that figure, she stepped forward with downcast eyes, her snow-white gown fluttering amidst the swirling rain of blossoms.

Beneath the spirit peach tree, he gazed tenderly at her while playing a melody that transcended the mortal realm. Her graceful figure unfolded like a blossom in the ethereal music, dancing with movements that belonged not to this earthly dust but to realms beyond.

The spirit peach tree seemed to sense something, shedding a dreamlike shower of blossoms.

Amidst blossoms, a dance unfolds; beneath the boughs, a zither's tale is told.

He strummed the zither of past lives amidst the floral rain, while she danced the dance of this realm beneath the peach blossoms—as if 2 separate timelines were merging across the divide.

By the distant lakeside, Silas stood in silence. Her eyes lifted toward the pair of figures, listening to the melody and witnessing the dance, yet her heart seemed to sink into an abyss without end.

She felt a breathlessness grip her chest, only then realizing her face was already streaked with tears.

Some emotions are fated to be like standing at the edge of an abyss, like treading on thin ice—untouchable, unthinkable.

Even if the thought arises, it must be concealed for a lifetime...

As the final note faded, their souls seemed to draw closer.

Lyra nestled in his embrace, her usual sharpness softened, revealing a rare tenderness.

Gazing at the peach blossoms adorning the branches, a gentle smile graced her lips as she remarked, "The beast tide has finally subsided. The Grand Bartering Assembly will be held in the Kingdom of Ji 2 months from now."

"Mm, let's head over together."

Eldrin held her tightly, as if embracing the entire world.

The Grand Bazaar of the Golden Core cultivators in the Chu Kingdom (Location) is typically convened once every 60 years. Apart from this regular schedule, an additional session is held only after the conclusion of the Great Beast Tide.

The opportunity was rare. Not wanting to miss this Grand Barter Convention, the 2 did not linger and departed Yu County early.

The Ji Kingdom was millions of li away from the Chu Kingdom (Location), but a Golden Core Realm cultivator could traverse 2 100 1000 li in a single day. A distance of several million li was ultimately insignificant.

The 2 spent a full month traversing the Cerulean Peaks Range (Location) and crossing the Yan Kingdom (Location), finally arriving at the borders of the Ji Kingdom.

The trade fair was being held right at the Ji Continent Trading Post (Location).

The Ji Continent Trading Post was the largest cultivation market among the neighboring continents, ranking among the most prominent even within the entire Eastern Wastelands.

Thus, every time the Jizhou Trade Fair was held, not only would the Golden Core cultivators from Jizhou attend, but even those from nearby continents such as the Heavenly Abode Continent and the 1000 Stars Continent would traverse the vast chasms between lands to arrive here.

“Ji Continent Trading Post (Location)。”

Gazing at the Ji Continent Trading Post before him, a look of awe flashed in Eldrin's eyes.

This was his first time visiting Jizhou Market, and his first glimpse of such an enormous trading city.

Compared to this place, both the major marketplaces of the Chu Kingdom and the Qin Yuan Market of the Yuan Kingdom in the Heavenly Abode Continent fell far, far short.