Chapter 304 : The Peach Tree Grows

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin stayed with Lyra for a few more days before soaring back to Yujun on his sword.

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

This lifted Eldrin’s (Person Name) 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 attempt the Golden Core Realm once more within 10 years.”

"Much credit goes to your Third-Level Spirit Pearl."

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

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

After breaking through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), Eldrin's cultivation progress had slowed considerably due to the decade spent forging the Earth Sovereign's Bell of Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure).

Yet now, he was confident of reaching 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 Leader.

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'm afraid I 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 lifebound 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, and his life-bound treasure consumed only 30 percent as much spiritual energy as other treasures of the same rank.

However, with his cultivation at the Purple Palace, Late Stage, he no longer possessed the remaining 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 brilliance.

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

He believed cultivation was fundamentally a matter of perseverance. Over the years, no matter how demanding his schedule became, he never neglected his daily training—unless circumstances made it truly impossible.

Amid such day-to-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 gazed upon the peach blossom grove before him, only then realizing that spring had returned once more, its petals carpeting the earth in silent descent.

Another year, the peach blossoms bloom.

Eldrin felt his spirits lift and his heart grow light, his gaze drawn straight to the figure amidst the peach blossom grove.

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

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 sparkled with mirth as he gently 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 so vividly lush they seemed to drip with color, as if the entire peach blossom forest had been touched with newfound radiance.

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

Suddenly, Eldrin reached out and took her hand, a wave of emotion washing over him.

"Smooth talker."

Lyra's cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke, though unconsciously, her delicate hand that was holding his tightened its grip.

The 10-Mile Peach Blossom Grove (Time & Distance) shed its petals, filling the mountain stream.

Beside the murmuring stream, several fish chased after peach blossom petals to nibble on them. Having seemingly mistaken the petals for food, they soon flipped belly-up, their eyes glazing over with a vacant stare. After a moment of discomfort, they swam away in vexation.

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

Yet it stirred a maidenly fancy in Lyra (Person Name), who tugged at his sleeve with a playful smile. "It's been ages since I last heard you play the zither. Will you grace me with a melody 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 trace of indulgence as he watched her.

"This melody is called—Mythology."

Her fingers glided, and a long, melodious tune rose from the zither, like a chant echoing across a 1000 years.

She listened in silence, her bright eyes reflecting the peerless man in white. His robes blazed with such radiance, as if emanating a hazy luminescence that dimmed even the 10-Mile Peach Blossom Grove (Time & Distance) by 3 shades.

Gazing at that figure, she stepped forward with lowered lashes, her snow-white long dress fluttering amidst the swirling rain of blossoms.

Beneath the spirit peach tree, he gazed tenderly at her as his fingers drew forth melodies unheard in the mortal realm. Her graceful form unfolded like a blossom in the zither's cadence, dancing a dance that transcended the dusty world of mortal cares.

The spirit peach tree seemed to sense something, shedding a boundless rain of blossoms.

Amidst blossoms, a dance unfolds; beneath the boughs, a zither's melody resonates.

He strummed the zither of past lives amidst the falling blossoms, while she danced the dance of this lifetime within the peach blossoms—like 2 fragments of time and space intertwining.

By the distant lakeside, Silas stood in silence, her gaze lifted toward the pair of figures. As she listened to the melody and watched the dance, her heart seemed to sink into an endless abyss.

She felt a little breathless, only then realizing that tears were streaming down her face.

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, replaced by a rare tenderness.

Gazing at the blossoming peach tree, a faint smile graced her lips as she remarked, "The beast tide has been quelled. The Grand Bazaar shall convene in 2 months' time within the Kingdom of Ji."

"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) was typically convened once every 60 years, with the sole exception being an additional gathering following the conclusion of a Beast Tide.

The opportunity was rare. Not wanting to miss this grand exchange gathering, 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 the Yan Kingdom (Location), finally arriving at the borders of the Ji Kingdom.

The trade fair this time 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 notable ones throughout the Eastern Wastelands.

Thus, every time the Jizhou Trading Assembly was held, not only would the Golden Core cultivators from Jizhou attend, but even practitioners from nearby continents such as the Heavenly Abode Continent and the 1000 Stars Continent would traverse the vast chasms separating the 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 Country in the Heavenly Abode Continent fell far, far short.