Chapter 62 : A Banquet of Blades and Ambition

"Oh?" Ink Achievement Lin's eyes flickered slightly. "May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit?"

Eldrin Chen presented an invitation with a smile. "Two of my Chen Clan uncles have recently achieved a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]. This is a joyous occasion for our clan, and we have decided to host a banquet, inviting all the prominent families of Yu County."

"My purpose here is to formally invite the esteemed members of the Lin Clan to attend."

"Furthermore," he continued, "we wish to revisit the discussion regarding the distribution of tax revenues from the Sunward Market."

"What?!"

Beside him, White Hope Lin's expression shifted dramatically. He could not help but rise to his feet.

Quickly realizing his breach of decorum, he sat back down, his face stiff. "The Chen Clan has produced three Foundation Establishment cultivators in succession. That is... truly worthy of congratulations."

Sensing the sudden tension in the air, Eldrin Chen promptly stood up. "Honored guests, now that the invitation has been delivered, I must take my leave to notify the other families. I shall trouble you no further."

Ink Achievement Lin maintained a cordial smile and nodded. "We will not detain you. Farewell."

After bidding them farewell, Eldrin Chen turned and departed the great hall. Access the full story on audio-novel . com.

Watching him depart on his flying sword, White Hope Lin rose to his feet, his expression icy. "Should we not detain him?" he said to Ink Achievement Lin.

A flicker of killing intent passed through Ink Achievement Lin's eyes. After a moment of internal struggle, however, he shook his head.

"He came openly and honorably to deliver an invitation. If we were to kill him now, the reputation we have built over centuries would be utterly ruined. How could we ever show our faces in Yu County again?"

"Furthermore, according to the news from Heavenly Ruins Mountain, that old curmudgeon Eternal Profound Chen is no longer the man he once was. If he sought revenge, we could not withstand it."

The Lin Clan Patriarch's face darkened further as he continued, "The Beast Tide will descend upon us in thirty years. Our Yu County borders the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland. The Six Great Clans must stand united."

"Alas!" White Hope Lin's face was cold with frustration. "If only we had known then what we know now. We should never have sold the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade to the Zuo Clan."

Ink Achievement Lin's expression was equally frigid, his gaze sharp. "I sold the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade to the Zuo Clan in the hope they would exploit the weaknesses of the Chen Clan's Blazing Sun Dominating Void Art. I wanted them to cripple that old Chen Clan bastard, or better yet, finish him off in the shadows."

"Who could have guessed the Zuo Clan would prove so utterly useless? Not only did they fail to kill the old man, but they lost their own lives in the process."

White Hope Lin shook his head helplessly. "The Zuo Clan's Bright Abyss Path of Grace Art could indeed counter the fire-attribute Blazing Sun Dominating Void Art to a degree. But their cultivation was insufficient. In the end, they were the ones completely suppressed by the Chen Clan."

"There is no point dwelling on it now," Ink Achievement Lin said, his face grim. "The Chen Clan remains our greatest threat. If an opportunity arises in the future to weaken them discreetly, we shall take it."

The Lin Clan Patriarch ultimately rejected the proposal of White Hope Lin, unwilling to risk the clan's reputation by keeping Eldrin Chen.

After soaring away from the Lin Clan's main peak on his sword, Eldrin Chen drew in a sharp, cold breath, only then realizing his back was drenched in sweat.

The Six Great Clans of Yu County were considered a united entity. Even if internal conflicts existed, they generally presented a united front to the outside world to protect their shared interests.

Yet, just moments ago, he had keenly sensed a sliver of killing intent, which had taken him completely by surprise.

Although the Chen Clan harbored some resentment towards the Lin Immortal Clan over the matter of the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, they had refrained from acting on it out of consideration for their shared alliance. He never imagined that White Hope Lin would actually conceive a murderous thought towards him.

"I was careless," he muttered to himself.

"I must not repeat such a mistake."

Eldrin Chen thought with a lingering fear. Just like the Chen Clan's Green Chariot Mountain, the Lin Clan's ancestral lands, cultivated for over a century, were thoroughly laced with various defensive formations [mystical arrays that channel energy for protection or attack].

Once activated, the formations in such a place could likely trap and kill even two or three Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators.

Had the other party truly been willing to cast aside all face and reputation to kill him, he would most likely be trapped there right now.

Of course, the Lin Clan did not dare to truly act in such a manner. If they did, it was likely that no one would ever dare to deal with the Lin Clan again, and the various great families of Yu County would find it difficult to tolerate such behavior.

Furthermore, Eternal Profound Chen's current combat prowess was utterly terrifying. His strength was at least equivalent to three Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators. It was probable that even if the Lin Clan's seven Foundation Establishment Cultivator joined forces, they might still not be his match.

If both sides were to completely tear off all pretense and come to blows, the Lin Clan would likely end up having to fortify themselves within their Clan Patriarch Peak. Venturing outside would carry the risk of perishing.

These various concerns held the Lin Clan back from taking action, but Eldrin Chen learned a valuable lesson from the experience.

He resolved that henceforth, unless he had absolute certainty, he would not lightly enter the protective formation of another clan's stronghold.

Holding to this conviction, during his subsequent visits to the other four families, Eldrin Chen refrained from entering their Clan Patriarch Peaks. He merely delivered the invitations from outside their estates, exchanged a few brief pleasantries, and then departed. Read the full novel exclusively on audi0-n0vel.c0m.

"..."

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

Cangyuan Mountain Range, Green Chariot Mountain.

A joyous occasion lifts the spirits. Today, Green Chariot Mountain was bustling with extraordinary excitement.

The clan's successive emergence of three Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation] filled every clansman with smiles, their faces radiant with pride and honor.

Third Elder led the welcoming of families from all corners of Yu County, his face beaming with a smile as he busied himself tirelessly.

The banquet was a grand affair. Beyond the five great families, the Chen Clan had extended invitations to over one hundred minor Immortal Clan [a family lineage dedicated to cultivation] within Yu County, and even renowned rogue cultivators were on the guest list.

The attending cultivators numbered well over two hundred. Among them were twenty-three Foundation Establishment Cultivator, meaning nearly every such expert in Yu County had gathered.

To host such a gathering, the clan brought out treasured reserves of First Rank Spiritual Peach [a low-grade spiritual fruit] and other Spiritual Object [objects imbued with spiritual energy] for the feast. Even some Azure Verdant Spirit Fish [a type of spiritually nourishing fish] and Violet-Striped Goose [a spiritually infused goose] were prepared into exquisite dishes to honor the guests.

The visiting cultivators did not come empty-handed. Most brought gifts—pills, Spirit Herb [herbs containing spiritual energy], magical instruments, and the like. While generally not of exorbitant value, they were tokens of respect.

Only the five great families made more substantial offerings, with the gifts from the Mu Clan and the Meng Clan being the most precious.

The Mu Clan, having operated in Yu County for centuries, built its wealth on reputation through the Spirit Herb trade at the Xuanming Pavilion. Prosperous and prioritizing harmony, they presented a vial of Second Rank Pill [a mid-grade cultivation pill].

The Meng Clan was the most generous. As Eternal Profound Chen's mother was a Meng Clan cultivator, and the Meng Clan Head was a cousin to the Old Patriarch, they gifted a piece of Blue Vein Steel [a rare spiritual ore], a Second Rank [mid-grade] natural treasure.

During the feast, Eldrin Chen sat at a table with several other Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The Meng Clan Patriarch, Starry River Meng, looked at Eldrin Chen with shining eyes, his face beaming with joy as he said, "Relying on my relationship with your granduncle Eternal Profound, may I presume to call you Nephew Chen?"

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and nodded in acknowledgment.

Within Yu County, the Chen and Meng Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [powerful clans whose patriarchs have reached the Foundation Establishment realm] were as close as brothers, having maintained marital ties for many years.

In the years when the Chen Clan had faced hardship, the Meng Clan had frequently lent them Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] to help them weather the storm.

Having drunk some spiritual wine, Starry River Meng was in high spirits. He patted Eldrin Chen on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

"Nephew Chen, I see you possess the heroic bearing of youth and have yet to take a wife."

"My Meng Clan has a daughter named Graceful Star Meng. Though she may not match your brilliance, her talent is considered quite exceptional."

With wine on his breath, he spoke in a tone that hovered between jest and sincerity, "How about I act as a matchmaker for the two of you?" Visit @udio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.