Chapter 1397 : A Feast of Immortals and Unclaimed Veins

Seeing that everyone had gathered, Eldrin Chen commenced the grand feast.

During the banquet, he exchanged toasts with the assembled immortals, fostering an atmosphere of exceptional harmony.

The grand feast lasted for three years. Only after its conclusion did Eldrin Chen retain Earth Spring Patriarch, Sun Consort, Great Mystery Divine Spirit, Heaven Wind Path Master, and a few others.

He led the group into the Great Hall and then spoke, "All of you present here today were participants in the battle of the Heavenly Demon Sea [a vast and perilous sea region infested with demonic beings]."

"The reason I have gathered you now is to settle some unfinished business from that time."

Upon hearing his words, a flicker of realization passed through the eyes of the assembled immortals.

Sun Consort, however, seemed to have anticipated this. She spoke up promptly, "Is it regarding the Earth Vein [powerful subterranean energy channels that concentrate spiritual essence] from back then?"

"Precisely," Eldrin Chen nodded, then continued, "During the battle at the Heavenly Demon Sea, we slew the Demon Race Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has attained a profound connection with the earth's spiritual essence] White Nether Patriarch, along with several Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators on the cusp of the Earth Immortal realm] such as Grand Granary Black Fish."

"After the great battle, we divided the spoils of war, but several Earth Vein remained unallocated."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded slightly in agreement.

The Great Mystery Divine Spirit [a powerful divine entity] pondered briefly before speaking. "After that great battle long ago, the Pale Nether Blessed Land [a sacred land imbued with yin and cold energies] fell into the hands of the Earth Spring Patriarch."

"The remaining few top-grade Spiritual Vein [underground currents of concentrated spiritual energy] were also occupied by the various Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators on the cusp of the Earth Immortal realm]."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and spoke directly. "Since the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly calamity], Fellow Daoist Earth Spring has contributed greatly. Let us grant him the Pale Nether Blessed Land. What say you all?"

Upon hearing this, the brows of the assembled immortals furrowed slightly.

Seeing this reaction, the Earth Spring Patriarch immediately spoke up. "Do not worry, esteemed ones. I shall offer several precious treasures as compensation to you all."

Witnessing this, Sun Consort [a powerful immortal consort] spoke. "Agreed."

Seeing Sun Consort's assent, the Great Mystery Divine Spirit's gaze flickered, and he too offered no further objection.

In the battle of the Heavenly Demon Sea [a sea realm contested by celestial and demonic forces], the Chen Immortal Clan had rendered the greatest service, followed by the lineage of the Glazed Blessed Land [a sacred land renowned for its crystalline purity]. With these two figures making the decision, the others naturally had no right to choose.

Thus, after the Earth Spring Patriarch provided partial compensation to the others, he obtained the right to use this Blessed Land [a land of profound spiritual fortune].

After settling this matter, Eldrin Chen asked Heaven Wind Path Master [a master of the heavenly wind path] to remain. He inquired, "Since the Great Tribulation, I have already acquired the Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a blessed land touched by the last light of the sun] as my Path-Field [a personal domain for cultivating one's Dao]."

"However, this Path-Field [a special cultivation ground where the laws of the Dao are exceptionally clear] still requires a Earth Immortal Patriarch [a powerful cultivator who has ascended to the Earth Immortal realm] to guard it."

"I wonder if you, Fellow Daoist, would be willing to guard this Path-Field for us?"

Upon hearing this, Heaven Wind Path Master [a title for a powerful cultivator whose path is aligned with the winds of heaven] immediately smiled and said, "I was just lamenting the lack of a Path-Field for my cultivation. For you to bestow this Path-Field upon me is a gift I accept with the utmost gratitude."

Eldrin Chen nodded and then spoke again, "I plan to transform the Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a land blessed with the lingering essence of the setting sun] into a cultivation market town."

"In addition to shops, I will construct numerous alchemical Artifact Forging Chamber [specialized chambers for crafting magical artifacts] based on the Fire Vein [an underground ley line rich in fire-attribute spiritual energy] within the Lingering Sun Blessed Land. Furthermore, I will carve out many cave abodes within the blessed land to rent out to rogue cultivator Immortal [a general term for cultivators who have achieved a significant level of power] for their practice."

"For you to preside over such a place, teeming with all manner of folk, will require not only sufficient power to command respect but also fairness and impartiality in your dealings."

Eldrin Chen elaborated carefully, adding a final admonition, "I will provide you with a substantial annual stipend, but I must ask you to devote your full attention to this task."

Only then did Heaven Wind Path Master understand that Eldrin Chen intended to use the Lingering Sun Blessed Land as a precious resource to generate income for his clan, earning Immortal Source [a high-grade spiritual resource essential for immortal cultivation] and Immortal Artifact [powerful enchanted artifacts used by immortals].

Considering this, Heaven Wind Path Master adopted a solemn expression and said, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I will take this matter to heart."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, satisfied nod.

With the matter of the guardian for the Lingering Sun Blessed Land resolved, Eldrin Chen felt a slight sense of relief settle within him.

He was just about to depart when he noticed Heaven Abyss Path Master already waiting for him outside the Great Hall.

He promptly invited the Heaven Abyss Path Master inside, and the Path Master began, "I have heard that every ten thousand years after a Great Tribulation concludes, the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea hosts an exceptionally grand auction."

"By my reckoning, that time is roughly seven or eight thousand years from now. Would you be interested in making the journey together?"

"An auction?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with interest.

From what he knew, within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, an auction of the Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to a higher plane of existence, anchoring their power to a blessed land] level was held once every hundred thousand years.

Historically, each such auction attracted the participation of over a thousand Earth Immortal Patriarch.

Furthermore, the first auction held after each Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and upheaval that reshapes the world] was always the most magnificent of all.

This was because every Great Tribulation inevitably gave rise to a multitude of newly ascended Earth Immortal Patriarch, while also witnessing the destruction of numerous Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a realm of power and cultivation anchored by an Earth Immortal].

During this process, newly advanced Earth Immortal Patriarch [a cultivator who has attained the Earth Immortal realm, a master of profound power] might have treasures like World-Opening Energy [a primordial energy used in the creation and expansion of inner worlds] and World-Opening Marvel [a rare treasure that aids in world-creation] they wish to sell, while others might seek to offload various exotic treasures plundered from destroyed Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy and natural blessings].

Therefore, for an Earth Immortal Patriarch, this inaugural auction is often the grandest of all.

"I require a vast quantity of World-Opening Energy, so I certainly cannot miss this auction."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then spoke with a smile, "This auction is definitely not to be missed."

Heaven Abyss Path Master [a master of the profound and abstruse Heavenly Abyss cultivation path] offered a slight smile and said, "When the time comes, we shall go together. It is better to have someone to watch one's back."

With those words, the banquet drew to a close.

After all the immortals had departed, Eldrin Chen recalled the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare treasures and resources] and said to Exquisite Jiang, "A super-large Barter Convention at the Earth Immortal [the Earth Immortal cultivation realm, a stage of profound power and longevity] level is sure to contain treasures as numerous as the hairs on an ox."

"We must prepare in advance, lest we encounter World-Opening Energy or other desired treasures but lack the means to acquire them."

Exquisite Jiang nodded, understanding the wisdom in Eldrin Chen's words. The Earth Immortal World [the inner world cultivated within an Earth Immortal, a vast personal realm] belonging to Eldrin Chen and herself was simply too expansive.

While this granted them spiritual power far surpassing that of ordinary Earth Immortal, it also meant the pace of their cultivation progress was considerably slower.

Under such circumstances, they would need to cultivate one World-Opening Spiritual Root within each layer of their inner heavens to rapidly accelerate their cultivation progress.

And to advance a World-Opening Spiritual Root, World-Opening Energy [a primordial energy essential for evolving spiritual roots] was an indispensable resource.

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang spoke up: "Let us take stock of the resources within the Clan Treasury."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen nodded. The group then personally inspected the Clan Treasury, tallying the resources the clan had accumulated over the years.

It was only through this accounting that Eldrin Chen realized the clan's wealth was astonishingly vast.

Just the Incense Offering Celestial Silver [a high-grade spiritual currency used in celestial transactions] numbered over five thousand pieces, while the Immortal Source [the foundational energy currency of immortals] amounted to a staggering six hundred twenty thousand pieces.

Various immortal-grade rare treasures and Spiritual Object [objects imbued with spiritual power] were beyond counting, their total value nearing one million pieces of Immortal Source.

Setting aside the several dozen Acquired Spiritual Root and World-Opening Spiritual Root the clan had stored, the vaults alone held twenty-seven Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [the pinnacle grade of immortal artifacts] and thirteen World-Opening Treasure [treasures of primordial, world-creating power].

After reviewing the inventory, Eldrin Chen could not help but express his astonishment: "I had not imagined the clan had amassed such immense wealth."

Verdant Consort also showed a flicker of surprise, then sighed with a touch of emotion, "Throughout this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event ordained by fate, bringing immense conflict and upheaval], we have successively eradicated several major powers: the Suwei Sea, the Lingering Sun Sea, the Heavenly Demon Sea, and the Thousand Dragon Lake."

"Afterwards, you slew multiple Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have nearly ascended to the Earth Immortal realm, possessing immense power] powerhouses at the very heart of the Great Tribulation. Such a harvest of achievements was, in truth, to be expected."