Chapter 75 : A Clan's Calculated Alliance

She paused, then continued, "In my view, among the hundred or so Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have established their foundational cultivation base] in the entire Bianzhou region, only a little over ten possess the potential to break through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian]."

"Both Chen Thalion of the Chen Clan and this Eldrin Chen are among those dozen or so. We might very well find ourselves living under their shadow in the future. Making friendly overtures now is certainly not a mistake."

"You always see only the surface of things," the female Clan Patriarch [the leader of a cultivation clan] of the Liu Clan shook her head, speaking with a tone of resignation. "That is precisely why our clan uncle passed the position of Clan Patriarch to me and not to you."

"..."

As Eldrin Chen rode his flying sword towards the Fengyang Trading Post, he pondered the intentions of the Liu Clan Clan Patriarch.

This woman who helmed the Liu Immortal Clan was indeed a master of deft maneuvering. While Liu Junran clearly wished to foster goodwill with the Chen Clan, she did so without a hint of obsequiousness, striking a perfect balance.

Strictly speaking, seventy years ago, the Liu Clan had suffered a great loss alongside the Chen Clan and had even united with them in opposition to the Green Sun Sect.

Yet, for such a shrewd Clan Patriarch of an immortal clan to so directly snub the cultivators of the Green Sun Sect and sell the treasure to him instead was something he had not anticipated.

What he did not know was that the very catalyst which had steeled Liu Junran's resolve to sever ties with the Green Sun Sect was, in fact, the matter of Chen Corin passing away in seclusion after consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm].

On the surface, this incident seemed insignificant. But to the discerning eye, it was a telling sign—a single leaf heralding autumn, a minute detail revealing the whole. Those who paid attention had glimpsed, through this event, the profound callousness festering within the upper echelons of the Green Sun Sect, and had thus abandoned any lingering, impractical illusions. This novel is serialized on audio-novel.com. Visit for updates.

This matter chilled the hearts of many, resonating deeply with more than one Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Foundation Establishment realm]. It steeled the resolve of the various great families, whose long-simmering grievances had finally reached a boiling point.

People can be wounded, can be defeated; as long as they regain their confidence, they can start anew. But once hearts are scattered and trust is lost, it is nearly impossible to return to how things were before.

"It seems these Feng County Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans, or at least this Liu Clan, are signaling a desire for an alliance,"

Eldrin Chen mused. The Chen Clan was now Yu County's Premier Immortal Clan, and the Six Great Immortal Clans jointly governed Yu County. Faced with shared interests and looming crises, they could be considered a unified entity.

To a certain extent, the present Chen Clan could speak on behalf of the various great families of Yu County.

The Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts] would descend in just over two decades. No single county within Bianzhou possessed the strength to withstand the demonic hordes under the command of the Celestial Python Demon King alone.

This Liu Junran was likely seeking to establish a personal connection first. In the future, she would probably convene with the other great families of Feng County to discuss the possibility of a formal alliance.

"Perhaps I am overthinking it."

"The relationships among the great families of the Three Counties of Bianzhou are a tangled web of complexity. Countless grudges linger from past struggles over resources and power, with deep-seated hatreds festering between many."

"Unless the Beast Tide Calamity were to erupt right upon our doorstep, it seems unlikely they could set aside their enmities and forge a true alliance."

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Eldrin Chen suppressed his musings and continued to ride his flying sword towards the Fengyang Trading Post.

After a mere two days, having traversed over ten thousand Li-length, he arrived at the largest Cultivation Market [a hub for cultivators to trade goods and services] within Feng County.

Compared to Yu County, which lay closer to the perilous Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness, the cultivation world of Feng County was somewhat more prosperous. By rough estimate, it boasted seven or eight more Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their cultivation foundation] than its neighboring county.

The most crucial factor was the presence of a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by a Purple Mansion realm expert] stationed here: the Xu Clan.

This Xu Immortal Clan had a lineage stretching back over eight hundred years. Their true ascent began three centuries ago with the emergence of their first Purple Mansion Cultivator [a master who has opened the mystical Purple Mansion within their dantian].

Upon ascending to the status of a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan, the Xu Clan nurtured a Third Rank Spirit Vein [a ley line of concentrated spiritual energy of the third rank]. Furthermore, they secured control over the Third Rank Underground Earth Vein [a subterranean earth-energy ley line of the third rank] within Feng County.

Though that underground earth vein was only of the third rank, low grade, it periodically gave birth to earth-attribute spiritual treasures. Most importantly, once every century, it would condense a single Wu Earth Crystal [a crystalized essence of profound earth energy, containing a trace of creative power].

The Wu Earth Crystal was a precious treasure born from the depths of an earth vein. Like the Li Fire Crystal [a crystal of separated flame essence], it contained a wisp of creative power, capable of assisting cultivators with Earth Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for earth-element spiritual energy] in breaking through to the Purple Mansion [the realm of the opened mystical mansion] realm.

Additionally, they claimed a share of the profits from Bianzhou's sole small-scale Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] mine, the Bian Mountain Vein.

Such small-scale veins could transform Earth Mother Qi [the primordial, nurturing energy of the earth] to gestate Spirit Stone, making them a renewable resource. With proper investment and maintenance, they could be mined for tens of thousands of years.

This vein yields over ten thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] annually. After the shares for the two Purple Mansion Immortal Clans [immortal clans led by cultivators of the Purple Mansion realm]—the Xu Clan and the Yang Clan of Ling County—are deducted, it still generates an average yearly income of more than seven thousand Spirit Stones.

Relying on the Spirit Stone mine and the Third Rank Underground Earth Vein [a vein of earth-attributed spiritual energy deep underground, ranked third in potency], the Xu Clan has nurtured three Purple Mansion Cultivators [cultivators who have established their Purple Mansion, the third major cultivation realm] over the past three hundred years. Setting aside their first Purple Mansion Ancestor who passed away from natural causes, and another who perished in the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts] seventy years ago, two remain alive to this day.

"An underground earth vein, a Spirit Stone mine in Bianzhou."

"Leaving the earth vein aside, the dividends from the Spirit Stone mine alone surpass the entire annual revenue of the Yuyang Market. The interests a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan can secure far exceed what our Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [an immortal clan led by a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator] can ever hope to attain."

As Eldrin Chen stepped into the Fengyang Trading Post, he could not help but sigh inwardly.

With a Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm, where a cultivator establishes their spiritual core mansion] family overseeing it, the Fengyang Trading Post was considerably more bustling than the Yuyang Market. Join our community of readers at audio-novel . com.

In the Yuyang Market, it was nearly impossible to purchase a Second Rank Magical Tool [a magical artifact of the second rank, suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators]. However, within the shops operated by the Xu Clan at the Fengyang Trading Post, a limited number of Second Rank Magical Tools were available for sale.

This fact alone placed it second only to the Heaven's Ruin Mountain Market in prominence. Indeed, among the three provinces under the governance of the Green Sun Sect, it was considered a trading post of respectable stature.

With over ten days remaining until the barter convention, Eldrin Chen did not simply wait. Instead, he decided to explore the Fengyang Trading Post.

The Fengyang Trading Post was jointly managed by the Xu Immortal Clan and the Six Great Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans of Feng County. The Xu Immortal Clan alone held a fifty percent share of the trading post.

Within the Fengyang Trading Post, the only establishment capable of procuring Second Rank treasures was the shop operated by the Xu Clan.

No sooner had Eldrin Chen stepped into the Xu Clan's establishment, the Fengyang Pavilion, than the managing Foundation Establishment Cultivator emerged with a welcoming smile.

This man possessed the refined demeanor of a middle-aged scholar. Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, he smiled and said, "I am Mingyang Xu. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

With these words, he ushered Eldrin Chen into an inner chamber, had tea served, and then inquired cordially.

"You seem unfamiliar to me, Fellow Daoist. May I ask from whence you hail?"

"I am Eldrin Chen of Verdant Chariot Mountain," Eldrin Chen replied with a cupped-hand salute. "This is my first visit to the Fengyang Trading Post, so it is only natural you find my face unfamiliar."

"So it is Fellow Daoist Chen in person,"

said Mingyang Xu, his expression turning solemn and respectful. "I have heard you achieved Foundation Establishment through your own efforts and decisively defeated Lin Lysander in the Sword Competition at Verdant Chariot Mountain. Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved."

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist," Eldrin Chen demurred promptly. "It is but a fleeting reputation."

After exchanging further pleasantries, Mingyang Xu finally asked, "Might I inquire what you seek to purchase?"

"This is the catalog of treasures within the shop," he said, handing over a ledger.

Eldrin Chen took the ledger and perused it, finding that most items listed were second-rank [the second major stage in the cultivation hierarchy] natural treasures and magical tools.

Most of these natural treasures were of the earth attribute. Eldrin Chen saw items like Ethereal Verdant Earth [a rare, spiritually-charged earth element material] and Black Cloud Stone [a dark, cloud-patterned ore], all suitable for refining second-rank Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured enchanted artifact].

There were also several magical tools, the majority likewise being earth-attribute treasures. Find thousands of chapters at https://audio-novel.com.