Chapter 961 : Legacy of Sacrifice and Ascension

The younger generation felt little, but Lila and Ethan Chen and the others, upon hearing this, were filled with a profound sense of nostalgia and melancholy in their hearts.

In those years, the Chen Clan had only one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators. They relied entirely on the arduous efforts of Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch, who struggled desperately to support the clan, exhausting every means to compete for precious resources.

They successively nurtured multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators for the family, and through successive great battles, they steadily increased the clan's Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and stable spiritual foundation of a cultivation force]. It was through such efforts that they developed step by step to reach their present state.

Among the older generation of cultivators, Riverius Chen, Kael Chen, Alistair Chen, Lior Chen, and Elara Chen and others, all contributed immensely to the family.

Alas, the cultivators of the Qing Generation [the generation bearing the character 'Qing' in their names] were ill-fated. The Second Elder, Riverius Chen, the Grand Elder, Cedric Chen, and the Fourth Elder, Alistair Chen—all missed the optimal period for Foundation Establishment and passed away early, having sat in meditation until their life force extinguished several Millennium ago.

Lior Chen and Elara Chen had slightly better fortune, successfully achieving their Foundation Establishment breakthroughs. Afterwards, under the cultivation and guidance of Eldrin Chen, Lior Chen broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm, and Elara Chen attained the Golden Core realm.

Yet, tragedy struck again. Elara Chen fell in the struggle against the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor while defending the clan. Lior Chen perished during the first Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving the eruption of demonic forces from an abyss], sacrificing himself to save Eldrin Chen.

That grand Qing Generation, clearly an era teeming with talent, was unfortunately born into the wrong age. To this day, not a single one of them remains.

"Alas!"

The Old Patriarch sighed, gathering and tucking away his look of remembrance. Continue your cultivation journey at http://www . audio-novel.com.

He glanced at the assembled clan members, shaking his head with a bittersweet smile. "For our Chen Clan to have reached this day... if the Elders from those early years could witness it from beyond the grave, their hearts would surely be filled with profound contentment."

"You should not grieve. You should rejoice."

Eldrin Chen watched silently, noticing how the Old Patriarch subtly wiped the corner of his eye.

A complex tapestry of emotions wove through Eldrin Chen's heart: a thread of quiet satisfaction, another of poignant remembrance, a bright strand of joy, and an inexplicable thread of wistful melancholy.

He did not elaborate, merely sighing with feeling. "Sixteen Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high level of attainment] cultivators in a single lineage, and over eight hundred True Lord [a title for Golden Core stage cultivators]. If our uncles and elders from back then could know of this, it would be enough for them to smile with peace in the nine springs [a Chinese idiom for the afterlife]."

Reflect on Virtue and Ancestors, Mutual Support to Prosper the Clan, Ascend to Immortal Eternity.

The clan's Sixteen-Generation Hierarchy had now reached the 'Xiu' generation. The number of mortal clan members was long past counting, and for the vast majority of cultivators within the family, tracing exact bloodlines had become an impossible task.

For the last several centuries, the generational designation for newly born clan cultivators had begun to be determined by their cultivation realm.

Thus: the 'Xiu' generation for Qi Refinement [the initial stage of cultivation, refining one's vital energy] cultivators; the 'Enduring' generation for Foundation Establishment [the stage of solidifying one's cultivation foundation]; the 'Immortal' generation for Purple Mansion [the stage of opening one's spiritual sea mansion]; the 'Ascendant' generation for Golden Core [the stage of condensing a golden spiritual core]. Upon breaking through to Nascent Soul [the stage of nurturing a spiritual infant], one could ascend to the prestigious 'Clan' generation.

Most of the newly advanced Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for Nascent Soul stage cultivators] from the past century belonged to this 'Clan' generation of juniors, creating a gap of several generational tiers between them and the family's earlier-generation Nascent Soul True Lord.

Fortunately, cultivators below the Nascent Soul realm [the stage where one forms a spiritual infant within the dantian] generally do not possess overly long lifespans. Over the four Millennium [a period of one thousand years] of the clan's inheritance, most cultivators of the 'Deng' generation and earlier, aside from those who have already broken through to Nascent Soul and become True Lord [a title for a Nascent Soul cultivator], have already passed away, particularly those below the Golden Core [the stage where one forms a solidified golden spiritual core] realm.

Therefore, the sight of a Nascent Soul True Lord addressing a Golden Core Cultivator as Ancient Ancestor [a respectful title for a venerable senior within a clan] is not a common occurrence.

As time flows onward, after ten thousand years, when the cultivators from earlier generations have gradually ascended to higher realms or passed away, the remaining Nascent Soul True Lord will most likely be those of the 'Deng' generation.

By that time, the bloodline connections between clan members will often have grown distant, and determining seniority based on cultivation level will no longer cause any awkwardness.

As for figures of the Dao Lord [a title for a cultivator who has comprehended a profound Dao and reached the Dao Integration stage] rank, they are considered Ancient Ancestor figures within the clan. No matter how glorious the clan becomes, their number is inevitably limited.

By then, if Eldrin Chen and the others ascend, Thalion Chen having gradually relinquished worldly affairs for many years, the reins of the clan will likely fall into the hands of those with greater seniority, such as 'Ethan Chen' and 'Silas Chen'.

Contemplating the clan's present glory, Eldrin Chen set aside his inner reflections and spoke:

"The Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a cyclical calamity where demonic forces surge from the abyss] draws near once more. As the paramount power of the Purple Realm [a major realm within the cultivation world], our Chen Clan naturally cannot stand aside."

"Issue the command. For this campaign, we shall dispatch ten Dao Lord and four hundred True Lord to the Cosmic Star Archipelago [a strategic archipelago located at the edge of the known realms]."

"Your command shall be obeyed!"

Ethan Chen nodded and immediately accepted the command.

As the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a cyclical, world-shaking calamity where demonic energies surge from the abyss] drew near once more, Eldrin Chen settled the clan's miscellaneous affairs and then, ahead of schedule, led Lyra Jiang and the others to the Cosmic Star Archipelago.

Gazing upon the Cosmic Star Archipelago before him, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with a subtle light. Without lingering, he soared towards Sun God Island.

Upon Sun God Island, there stood a fiery-red mulberry tree.

Eldrin Chen cast a glance at it, and a faint ripple of thought stirred between his brows.

Beneath that Fire Mulberry Tree, the Master of the Dao Palace and several other Demi-Immortal [cultivators who have transcended mortality but not yet achieved full immortality] had already been waiting for some time. The story continues at audio - novel . com.

Noticing Eldrin Chen's gaze, the Master of the Dao Palace stroked his long beard and said, "This tree is named the Fire Mulberry Tree, a rare specimen of Pure Yang Spiritual Wood [a type of sacred wood imbued with the pure, unadulterated energy of the sun]."

"Legend holds that this Fire Mulberry Tree sprouted from a severed root of the 'Fusang Tree' [the mythical sun-perching tree of the Immortal Realm], inheriting a wisp of its Mysterious Profound [profound and ineffable divine power]."

"In ages past, Jiang the Sovereign Emperor discovered this wood in the Western Sea and transplanted it here to Sun God Island, using it as the Formation Eye [the core and power source of a mystical array] to establish and empower this very island."

"So that is the way of it," Eldrin Chen acknowledged.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and spoke, "The Formation of the Star Archipelago was breached in the past, and its full power has remained unrestored to this day. Perhaps it is time we undertook its repair."

Upon hearing this, the others' brows twitched slightly. The Sky-Watching Dao Master said, "We, too, have wished to restore the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation. However, its structure is profoundly intricate and Mysterious Profound. Without formation mastery that could startle the immortals, I fear there is no way to mend it."

At this point, the Sky-Watching Dao Master could not help but look at Eldrin Chen and ask, "Judging by Fellow Daoist's words, do you perhaps have the confidence to restore it?"

"Not yet, I do not."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and continued, "I have heard that Jiang the Sovereign Emperor once gathered the formation legacies of a hundred schools, pooling the strength of the entire Purple Realm to establish this grand Formation."

"Perhaps we, too, could attempt it?"

"Truly?"

Upon hearing this, the Master of the Dao Palace could not contain his delight. "If Fellow Daoist possesses even a measure of confidence, then it is indeed worth an attempt."

"There is no rush!"

Eldrin Chen shook his head once more, his thoughts then turning to the matter of myself Comprehending Laws.

He pondered briefly before speaking, "I cultivate five types of Secret Power [a profound and esoteric energy source] and seek to comprehend five distinct Law Power [the fundamental principles governing reality] to forge my Primordial Law [the foundational cosmic law upon which one's cultivation path is built]."

"If you, esteemed sirs, would be willing to lend me your sect's foundational Immortal Scripture [a supreme cultivation manual left by an immortal] for study, allowing my understanding of the Laws of the Dao [the ultimate principles of existence] to advance further, then I would perhaps possess absolute certainty of success."

"This..."

Upon hearing his words, hesitation flickered in the hearts of those present.

The ancient scriptures passed down by an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] were treasures of paramount importance to any major Sacred Land [a place of immense spiritual power and sect heritage], their value far surpassing that of mere Formation [a structured array that channels energy for defense or attack] inheritance.

After all, the power of a Formation represented but a single branch of a sect's legacy. How could it compare to an object of true Immortal Inheritance [a direct legacy from an immortal being]?

With this thought, the reluctance within many hearts grew.

At this critical juncture, the Master of the Dao Palace spoke, his voice decisive. "I am willing to lend you all nine volumes of our Immortal Scripture for your contemplation."

"This..."

The others were taken aback for a moment. Then they heard the Master of the Dao Palace continue, "In the face of the Abyssal Demon Tribulation [a cataclysmic calamity involving demons from the abyss], what place is there for holding back our secrets?"

"If Fellow Daoist Eldrin can ascend to the Dao [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy] by this means and quell the calamity that has stretched on for tens of thousands of years, only then can our Purple Realm [a major realm in the cultivation world] finally rest and recuperate."

"As the saying goes, 'When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken.' When weighed against the peril of the Purple Realm's utter annihilation, what is the importance of guarding one's sect's Immortal Scripture [a supreme cultivation manual]? And when measured against the greater righteousness of the Purple Realm, what do mere parochial prejudices and clan pride amount to?" Dive deeper into the Dao at audio‑novel.com.