Chapter 48 : A Clan's Ascendant Path

The Bright Abyss Path of Grace Art [a water-attributed cultivation technique] is a water-element cultivation art, and it also contains the refinement method for the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword [a specific type of ethereal spirit sword]. This effectively supplements the clan's collection of techniques. With this art, the water-attributed cultivators of the clan will find their future cultivation paths much smoother.

If, in the future, we can obtain an earth-attributed Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivation art, then the Chen Clan's collection of Foundation Establishment Stage [the stage within the Foundation Establishment realm] Five Elements Cultivation Art [a set of cultivation arts based on the five elements] will be complete.

That Bright Void Zuo dared to carry this set of techniques with him while participating in a vendetta. He likely never imagined that five Foundation Establishment cultivators would act together, with two of them wielding three Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts of the second rank, high-grade] and spirit talismans, and that he would perish in this battle.

This outcome cannot be blamed on them. The Old Patriarch had acquired the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Banners [a set of powerful banners that burn with solar fire], and Eldrin Chen had broken through to Foundation Establishment on his own. These two unforeseen variables combined completely exceeded their expectations.

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

They knew that once this journey to Heavenly Ruins Mountain [a significant mountain location] concluded, life for the Chen Clan cultivators would begin to improve.

Now, as they neared Heavenly Ruins Mountain, he felt a growing sense of relief and quickened his pace toward it.

"What is going on?"

Upon arriving at the Heavenly Ruins Mountain Market [the market located at Heavenly Ruins Mountain], Eldrin Chen immediately sensed something was amiss.

He noticed the cultivators in the market were all hurrying about. Most wore expressions of either alarm or excitement, yet all carried a distinct air of gravity. This novel is serialized on *audio-novel.com*. Visit for updates.

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

"Let's go to the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion first. We'll conclude the business for this batch of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] and gather some information while we're at it."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded. The Heavenly Ruins Pavilion was an enterprise of Patriarch Jiang, so any news emanating from it would undoubtedly be the most reliable.

The group proceeded with their cargo and soon arrived at the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion. The cultivators stationed there spotted them from a distance, 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 afar.

"I was just 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 didn't expect it to be you, Fellow Daoist Chen."

"I heard earlier that you were injured, Fellow Daoist Chen, and wished to visit, but my duties kept me tied up." Her smile then turned towards Eternal Profound Chen. "Seeing you here at Heavenly Ruins Mountain now, it seems your recovery is complete."

Old Patriarch offered a polite smile. "Thank you for your concern, Immortal Maiden Willow."

The woman smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over Eldrin Chen. A flicker of surprise appeared in her pupils as she inquired, "And who might this be?"

"This is my grandnephew, Eldrin Chen," Old Patriarch replied, gesturing for Eldrin to come forward. "This is the esteemed disciple of Patriarch Jiang, the Immortal Maiden Like Dream Willow."

Eldrin Chen looked up. He sensed her cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, and she was not the Elara Lin he had met years prior. He promptly stepped forward and offered a respectful bow. "I pay my respects to Senior Willow."

"You are also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; the title 'Senior' is one I cannot presume to accept," Like Dream Willow said, gracefully sidestepping the full formality of his bow. A playful smile touched her lips. "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 future of Chu Nation."

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

The Old Patriarch chuckled at her words, though he quickly added, "This boy acted recklessly, rushing his Foundation Establishment breakthrough."

"He merely had fortune on his side, gambling against overwhelming odds and surviving. How could he compare to the vast prospects awaiting Fellow Daoist Willow?"

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

The trade in Five Elements Essence [refined spiritual essences containing the power of the five elements] was crucial to the cultivation of Path Master Jiang, the Patriarch. Heavenly Ruins Mountain placed immense importance on it, spending twenty thousand Spirit Stone [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy] annually to procure the essence from the two prefectures of Yu and Feng.

After a thorough inventory, the final transaction price was settled at over nine thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. This was because the refinement of the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade had consumed over two thousand strands of both Essence of Metallic Gold and Solar Fire Essence. Otherwise, the deal would have been worth just over ten thousand Spirit Stones.

Payment upon delivery. After receiving the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], Like Dream Willow invited the two men into the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion for tea.

Inside the pavilion, Eternal Profound Chen finally could not contain his curiosity and asked with a slight smile, "Ever since I entered the market today, I have noticed everyone seems to be in a great hurry."

"Has something happened here at Heavenly Ruins Mountain?"

Hearing this, Like Dream Willow revealed a knowing smile. "I was just about to discuss this very matter with you."

Her expression grew solemn as she continued, "By my calculations, in roughly thirty-one or thirty-two years, the century-spanning Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts] will erupt once more."

As she spoke, Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly. He quickly understood the reason for the restless atmosphere pervading Heavenly Ruins Mountain. Original publication: https://audio-novel.com - The source of this chapter.

To the north of Heavenly Ruins Mountain, stretching for countless millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], lies the Vast and Misty Marsh, a vast and treacherous expanse within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

As one of the most perilous territories in the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, the Vast and Misty Marsh teems with countless Demon Race [demonic beings and beasts] thriving and multiplying. Among them are terrifying entities such as Golden Core Demon King [a demonic beast equivalent to a Golden Core stage cultivator] and even Infant Soul Demon Emperor [a demonic beast equivalent to an Infant Soul stage cultivator].

Legends even speak of an ancient, eternal Black Dragon Demon Ancestor dwelling in the marsh's deepest reaches. That Black Dragon possesses a bloodline of awe-inspiring power and has cultivated to the Near-Immortal Realm [a realm bordering on true immortality], its power touching the mysteries of Creation [the fundamental act of world-creation]. It is said that even a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator at the Primordial Spirit stage, one step from ascension] on the verge of ascension could do nothing against it.

Of course, such beings are far too distant a concern for the people here, or even for the entire Chu Nation.

Yet, a grave threat loomed perilously close to Heavenly Ruins Mountain. Four hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to its north lay Heavenly Python Lake.

Heavenly Python Lake was the domain of the Heavenly Python Demon King. Within its vast territory, multitudes of the Demon Race [a race of sentient, often bestial, beings that cultivate demonic arts] thrived and multiplied, producing countless offspring.

Whenever the population of the Demon Race within the hundreds of thousands of Li-lengths surrounding the lake grew unsustainable, the Heavenly Python Demon King would command its hordes to launch an assault upon the Chu Nation.

Success would mean seizing vast swathes of Human Race territory, expanding their own domain.

Failure, however, served to cull the lower ranks of the Demon Race, preventing ecological collapse and the inevitable infighting that would follow.

The century-long cycle of these conflicts was an unspoken rule, a tacit agreement born from the stalemate between the Great Wasteland Human Race [the collective human forces of the Great Wasteland region], the Infant Soul Immortal Clan Ji [the Ji Clan, an immortal clan whose patriarch has reached the Infant Soul cultivation realm], and the Demon Emperor [the supreme ruler of a demonic empire].

With the next Beast Tide [a massive, organized invasion by demonic beasts] due in roughly thirty years, Heavenly Ruins Mountain, as one of the Chu Nation's three primary defensive lines against the Demon Race, would bear the initial brunt of the onslaught.

To alleviate the coming pressure, Patriarch Jiang decided to take the initiative. He planned a preemptive strike to slay several Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [demonic beasts whose power is equivalent to the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm], thereby weakening the Demon Race's forces.

"Our master intends to assault Dire Wolf Mountain and has decreed the conscription of all cultivators within Heavenly Ruins Mountain for this campaign," he declared.

"As Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation, the second major realm], you two are also summoned to answer the call and join the offensive against Dire Wolf Mountain."

Like Dream Willow spoke, her gaze shifting to the two of them.

Eternal Profound Chen 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 from now."

"I support this battle," he declared. "We will both fight with our full strength."

He paused briefly before continuing. "However, we were ambushed by Demonic Cultivator on our way here. Several of our clan's juniors in the Vital Essence Refinement [the foundational stage of cultivation where one refines their vital life force] were gravely injured. I fear they will be unable to participate in this fight."

"Having the two of you is sufficient," Like Dream Willow replied with a faint smile. It was these two before her that she truly valued. "Let those six Vital Essence Refinement cultivators remain behind to garrison Heavenly Ruins Mountain." Find thousands of chapters at audio—novel.com.