Chapter 61 : Reclaiming the Lost Glory

Sixty Years Ago [a period of six decades in the past], at the peak of the Chen Clan's power, they even secured nearly thirty percent of the tax revenue share from the Yuyang Market [a major trading hub for cultivators], receiving annual dividends exceeding one thousand five hundred Spirit Stone [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

One thousand five hundred Spirit Stone annually meant fifteen thousand over ten years. Such immense wealth allowed the Chen Clan of that era to be extraordinarily affluent. They not only spent heavily to cultivate several First Rank High Grade [the highest quality within the first rank] spirit veins, but could also afford treasures like the Purple Sun Jade [a rare and potent spiritual jade].

However, after the clan's decline, lacking the strength to station a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation] at the Yuyang Market, the Chen Clan's share was carved up and divided among the Six Great Clans [the six most powerful cultivation families in the region].

"Back then, each of the Six Great Clans took a large portion of our share," said the Third Elder, furrowing his brow. "Now, convincing them to spit out everything they swallowed won't be easy."

"If they refuse to give it back, then we shall settle it by martial contest."

The Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan] waved his sleeve with spirited determination. "We shall follow the old custom. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator from each major immortal clan will duel. Strength shall decide the tax revenue distribution from the Yuyang Market."

"Since we are already hosting a banquet for the various clans, they need not make an extra trip. We can hold the contest right here on Verdant Chariot Mountain [the spiritual mountain that serves as the Chen Clan's ancestral home]."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. The major Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [clans with the power and legacy of Foundation Establishment cultivators] jointly managed the Yuyang Market, and a mature system for allocating its tax shares had long been established.

According to the rules set down in the past, the distribution of shares from the Yuyang Market was based on the number of Foundation Establishment [the realm of solidified spiritual foundation] cultivators a clan possessed. If families had an equal number, then allocation was determined by the cultivators' respective levels of cultivation.

Furthermore, if any clan was dissatisfied with its allotted share, it could challenge another clan to a martial contest to resolve the dispute. Join our community of readers at audio-novel dot com.

Each side in the [a formal contest of martial and magical prowess between cultivators] shall dispatch three cultivators. Following the rule of best-of-three, the victor may claim the share of the defeated.

The strength of the Old Patriarch was already sufficient to contend for the title of foremost in Yu County, and he held great confidence in Eldrin Chen as well. Thus, he resolved to strive for greater benefits for the clan.

Once his mind was set, his gaze turned towards Eldrin Chen. "Elara and Lior have only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] realm. They still need to consolidate their cultivation base."

"I must trouble you to make the journey and deliver the invitations to the Five Great Immortal Clans."

Eldrin Chen nodded with a slight smile. "That is easily managed. I shall visit the Six Great Clans tomorrow."

After all, they were inviting the Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has reached the Foundation Establishment realm] of each great clan, and the matter involved the Sword Duel at Verdant Chariot Mountain. Sending a mere Qi Refinement Cultivators [cultivators in the initial stage of cultivation, focusing on refining their vital energy] would have shown a lack of propriety.

Having a young member of the new generation, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him, deliver the invitations struck the perfect balance—neither subservient nor arrogant, yet showing due respect to the great clans.

The assembly continued their discussions, finally deciding to set the banquet for three months hence.

"..."

Early the next morning, Eldrin Chen took the invitations and departed from Verdant Chariot Mountain.

Yu County [a county within the Chu Kingdom] spanned tens of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. The distances between its various great clans often exceeded ten thousand Li-length. If a message were to be delivered by Qi Refinement Cultivators [practitioners at the initial stage of cultivation], a single letter could easily consume over half a month in transit.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a young cultivator from the Chen Clan], being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation], could soar through the skies astride his Three-Zhang Sword Radiance [a sword beam extending three Zhang-lengths, one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. In merely three days, he traversed over fifteen thousand Li-length and arrived at the Lin Immortal Clan [the Lin Clan, a family of cultivators].

As the foremost among the six great immortal clans of Yu County, the Lin Immortal Clan held the highest position in both strength and accumulated heritage [profound legacy and resources] within the region.

A century ago, the Lin Immortal Clan was still a relatively ordinary Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose highest-level cultivators are at the Foundation Establishment Realm] in Yu County. Yet now, the Lin Clan astonishingly boasted seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Furthermore, their Clan Patriarch, Lin Mordred [the stern and powerful leader of the Lin Clan], had reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer [the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm], making him the highest-level cultivator in all of Yu County.

This remarkable ascent was owed entirely to the Lin Clan's extraordinary fortune. Nearly a century prior, they had produced a cultivator with a Wind Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful elemental affinity for wind]—Mordecai Lin [a prodigious talent from the Lin Clan].

Cultivators with variant Spiritual Roots [exceptionally rare and potent spiritual roots] are top-tier geniuses, appearing perhaps once in ten thousand. Within the entire Green Sun Sect [a major orthodox cultivation sect], there were only two or three such individuals. Therefore, while Mordecai Lin was still young, the Lin Clan sent him to the Green Sun Sect in exchange for three Foundation Establishment Pills [precious pills that significantly increase the chance of successfully advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm].

Relying on these three Foundation Establishment Pills, the Lin Clan managed to add two new Foundation Establishment Cultivators in one stroke, dramatically boosting their clan's power [overall strength and influence] from that moment onward.

Furthermore, over a decade ago, Mordecai Lin successfully broke through to the Purple Mansion [the realm following Foundation Establishment, where one opens a spiritual palace within]. To sever his remaining karmic ties with his birth family, he personally provided another three Foundation Establishment Pills to the Lin Clan. This act propelled the Lin Clan to their current prosperous state.

However, after being sent to the sect, Mordecai Lin was raised and nurtured with the sect's resources; he could no longer be considered a true member of the clan.

After all, the Green Sun Sect had invested significant effort and resources into cultivating him—not to raise a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm] for someone else. After settling his karmic debt with the Lin Clan, Mordecai Lin was strictly forbidden from having any further contact with them.

The Lin Clan sold off Mordecai Lin, losing a potential pillar of the clan who could have broken through to the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid, golden core]. Yet, from that point on, the clan prospered and grew. It was hard to say whether this transaction was ultimately a gain or a loss for them.

"The Lin Clan is ultimately far too self-serving,"

Eldrin Chen thought to himself, this notion flashing through his mind as he gazed upon the Lin Clan's estate before him.

In his view, trading away the potential to become a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have a Golden Core Realm cultivator as its patriarch] for a mere handful of Foundation Establishment Pills [pills that significantly increase the chance of successfully advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm] was a disastrously poor bargain.

Even if Mordecai Lin had failed to reach the Golden Core Realm, with his talent of a variant Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual affinity that determines a cultivator's elemental alignment and potential], his chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm [the stage following Foundation Establishment, where one opens a spiritual palace within the dantian] would have been at least fifty or sixty percent. The benefits and resources a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan could command were in no way measurable by a paltry few Foundation Establishment Pills.

The greatest benefit the clan gained from selling those pills was that the few individuals in power at the time were able to use them to achieve Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one builds a stable foundation for their spiritual power]. Find this and other novels at audio-novel[dot]com.

While this appeared to strengthen the clan in the short term, it truly only benefited those specific individuals. For the clan's long-term potential and vitality, it was a grievous wound.

"A Purple Mansion Immortal Clan,"

"Among the three counties of this border region, only our Yu County lacks one."

His flying sword continued its journey, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived before the mountain gate of the Lin Clan. Eldrin Chen suppressed his wandering thoughts and descended, the light of his sword dissipating as he landed.

He stood before the mountain gate and called out in a clear, carrying voice, "I am Eldrin Chen of Verdant Chariot Mountain, here to request an audience with the Clan Patriarch of the Lin Clan."

Moments later, Eldrin Chen saw a streak of sword-light flying towards him from the distance.

While still several Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away, a hearty laugh arrived before the man himself. "I have long heard that the Chen Clan has produced a young genius. Seeing you today, the reputation is well-deserved indeed."

The newcomer was a young man at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage. He landed his sword-light and smiled. "I am Lin Lysander. Greetings, fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a cultivator]."

Eldrin Chen cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "The honor is mine."

"Truly a prodigy of youth." Lin Lysander carefully appraised Eldrin Chen, his expression turning more serious. "Our Clan Patriarch has requested your presence. Please, follow me."

The two flew up to the main peak of the Lin Clan. The Lin Clan's Clan Patriarch, Lin Mordred, was already waiting in the reception hall.

Clad in a long robe, the man smiled as he looked at Eldrin Chen. "I had heard, young friend, of your breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment realm [the second major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual foundation is solidified] and intended to offer my congratulations. I did not expect you would come to our Lin Clan so soon."

"Such a distinguished guest truly brings honor to our humble abode."

As his words faded, a glimmer of light flashed within Eldrin Chen's eyes.

The address "young friend" [a term typically used by a senior to address a much junior cultivator] is, generally speaking, a form of address used by those of higher cultivation realms towards juniors of lower realms. He was now in the Foundation Establishment Realm, and the two were not even clan relatives. By convention, Lin Mordred should have addressed him as "fellow Daoist" [a term of equal respect between cultivators].

Who would have thought that at this moment, he would actually call him "young friend"? Was this an attempt to assert superiority and put him in his place, or simply a sign that he did not take him seriously at all?

Eldrin Chen was not one to be easily slighted. Without a change in expression, he countered, "You flatter me, fellow Daoist. I, too, have pressing business that brings me to this place." Access the full story on AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.