Chapter 79 : A Treacherous Alliance Refused

As Lin Lysander took the Mother-Child Resonance Stone, Lin Morwen spoke up, "By doing this, you have already offended the Chen Clan. Why not join forces with us to eliminate that Eldrin Chen and cut off the problem at its root?"

"If you agree to cooperate, the Violet Radiance Mirror [a magical mirror that emits a purplish light] shall be yours upon success. What say you?"

Upon hearing this, Zane Zhang's expression betrayed a flash of greed. A Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool [a powerful enchanted artifact] was far too precious, enough to make even Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators [powerful cultivators at the late stage of the Foundation Establishment realm] covet it.

However, after careful consideration, he suppressed the avarice in his heart and shook his head in refusal.

"That Chen Thalion is the foremost expert in Yu County. In the past, at Celestial Ruins Mountain, he once single-handedly held off thirty Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast [demonic beasts at the Foundation Establishment level] for the time it takes two incense sticks to burn [approximately thirty minutes]."

"If I merely scheme against his clansmen, there might still be room for reconciliation. But to forge a feud of life and death with him would be most unwise."

"And to speak plainly, I do not trust you."

"Let me offer you a word of advice: you had best make this venture clean. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to flee far beyond the borders of Bianzhou."

With those final words, Zane Zhang turned and departed from the courtyard.

Watching him leave, Lin Morwen felt his heart sink. He turned to Lin Lysander and advised, "Perhaps we should abandon this plan." This chapter appears courtesy of audi0-n0vel.c0m.

"That Eldrin Chen's strength surpasses ours by a hair's breadth, and he wields the Violet Radiance Mirror. Even if we join forces and prevail, slaying him is far from certain."

Alas, Lin Lysander was beyond counsel at that moment. A flicker of maddened crimson shone in his eyes as he seized Lin Morwen's arm, his voice trembling with fervor. "Uncle Morwen, if I do not avenge this severed limb, I shall find no peace in this life."

"That scoundrel possesses uncommon talent, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer in mere years. If we do not strike him down now, the chance may never come again."

"Enmity is already sown. If we do not suppress the Chen Clan now, our Lin Clan will inevitably face reckoning in days to come."

"But..." Lin Morwen's expression was one of hesitation, and he could not help but urge caution once more. "With our cultivation, ensuring his complete demise is far from guaranteed."

"Set your heart at ease, Uncle." A cruel smile twisted Lin Lysander's lips, his gaze turning icy. "With the Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] brought from the clan, I have procured an Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder Pearl from the Fengyang Pavilion."

"What?!"

Lin Morwen's countenance shifted dramatically. The Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder Pearl of the Xu Clan was a single-use divine thunder [a powerful, condensed attack of elemental energy], forged by a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their spiritual core within the Purple Mansion realm] by condensing their own divine ability.

Though limited by the material used as its vessel, its power fell far short of a Purple Mansion Cultivator unleashing the technique personally, if deployed skillfully, it was more than sufficient to annihilate Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators.

The potency and value of such a divine thunder pearl rivaled even the Talisman of the Blazing Heaven Sword Talisman of the Blazing Heaven Sword [a talisman containing the sealed power of a mighty flaming sword technique], which the Chen Clan ancestors had crafted at immense cost using precious materials. The Xu Clan was typically most reluctant to part with such an item.

Logically, the value of this item should be around four thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. To purchase it, Lin Lysander spent a staggering premium of seven thousand Spirit Stones, a clear testament to his ruthless determination.

"How could you act on your own authority?" Lin Morwen's expression shifted repeatedly, finally settling into one of resignation. "Alas, if we fail to slay him this time, it will likely bring calamity upon our clan. You are on your own now."

Seeing his elder relent, Lin Lysander breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled darkly. "Do not worry, Uncle. With the Mother-Child Resonance Stone [a pair of stones that resonate over great distances, allowing tracking] in hand, even if he survives a direct hit from the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder Pearl [a treasure that unleashes a powerful blast of earthen divine thunder], he will not escape our grasp."

Early the next morning, Eldrin Chen bid farewell to Meng Aethelstan and the others, then took flight towards Verdant Chariot Mountain in Yu County.

Although the Sunflower Water Essence [a pure, yin-aligned spiritual essence] was somewhat expensive, being able to procure it along with three Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] and four Liang-weight [one Liang-weight equals fifty grams] of Golden Thread Silkworm Silk [a resilient, spiritually conductive silk] meant Eldrin Chen had already accomplished his mission with great success.

Furthermore, he had managed to acquire a magical tool for both the Third Elder and the Fourth Elder. These elders, having only recently achieved Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual foundation is solidified], would typically rank among the weakest in the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage.

Now, however, each possessed several magical tools, including a Second Rank Middle Grade Magical Tool [a mid-quality artifact of the Foundation Establishment level] as their trump card. Even if their limited True Essence [the refined spiritual energy of a Foundation Establishment cultivator] allowed them to wield these tools at only seventy to eighty percent of their full power, their combat strength would no longer be considered weak within the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage.

After flying for three days and covering over ten thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], Eldrin Chen finally sensed that something was amiss.

That day, as Eldrin Chen was resting, two streaks of sword light suddenly closed in from a distance, attempting to flank him. Lifting his gaze, Eldrin Chen immediately recognized the newcomers as Lin Lysander and Lin Morwen.

"They come with ill intent."

Eldrin Chen's eyes turned cold. Confident in his superior skills, he did not retreat immediately. Instead, he charged directly towards Lin Lysander.

Since the newcomers harbored ill intent, he would strike first. Seizing the moment as they fanned out to encircle him, he launched a preemptive attack.

Seeing Eldrin Chen's assault, Lin Lysander immediately summoned a cyan sword radiance and sent the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike flying towards him.

True to his status as a Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] expert of the Lin Clan, his opening move involved two Second Rank Middle Grade Magical Tool [enchanted artifacts of significant power]. An ordinary Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage [a cultivator in the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm] cultivator would have frowned and needed to respond with caution.

However, Eldrin Chen was no longer the man he was five years ago. In the mere five years since the Green Chariot Mountain Sword Competition, his cultivation had broken through another layer, and his mana [the refined spiritual energy used to power spells and techniques] had increased by a significant margin.

More crucially, his Separated Flame Immortal Return Sword [his lifebound flying sword, imbued with the power of Separated Flame] had advanced to Second Rank Middle Grade [a higher tier of power for magical treasures]. Its current might far surpassed its power from five years prior. The six-zhang-length [approximately twenty meters] sword radiance it now unleashed was exceptionally sharp and fierce, its offensive power not inferior to a Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

A resonant sword cry echoed through the air. The Separated Flame Immortal Return Sword erupted with a dazzling sword aura. Its deep azure radiance twisted and cleaved, forcefully knocking aside both the Cyan Flying Sword and the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike.

The sword's momentum was undiminished. With a metallic shriek, it continued its arc towards Lin Lysander. The power of this sword, now far greater than before, retained terrifying residual force even after having over half its energy consumed by clashing with the two magical tools.

If that strike landed, it was likely that Lin Lysander's defensive magical tool would be shattered in a single clash.

"Not good!"

Witnessing the extraordinary prowess of Eldrin Chen, Lin Morwen rushed over in alarm. In haste, he summoned and launched a flying dagger, three Cun-lengths [approximately ten centimeters] long, to intercept the attack.

This blade was named the Void-Severing Flying Dagger, Lin Morwen's signature . Even among Second Rank Middle Grade artifacts, it was considered a fine piece. As it shot forth, it proved effective, successfully blocking the residual force of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

Not stopping there, the experienced Lin Morwen deftly summoned another treasure—a streak of Glazed Golden Radiance—that shot directly towards Eldrin Chen's brow. This turned out to be a spear-type , also of Second Rank Middle Grade quality.

"*Hummm—*"

Eldrin Chen activated the Bell of Nine Echoes, its protective chime forming a barrier. Ignoring Lin Morwen's assault, he unleashed his own trump card once more.

A brilliant white radiance streaked across the space—it was the White Metal Dust-Severing Blade.

This blade was a Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool. While Eldrin Chen's current True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a Foundation Establishment cultivator] could only unleash seventy percent of its power, that was more than enough to easily slay a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage. Even Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators would need to treat it with serious caution.

"The White Metal Dust-Severing Blade?"

As the White Metal Dust-Severing Blade descended upon him, Lin Lysander, who had finally managed to catch his breath, paled. He realized, with a sinking heart, that he had miscalculated.

He had never imagined that Eldrin Chen had not only advanced his Lifebound Immortal Sword by another grade but had also acquired this famously potent artifact from the Green Sun Sect.

With no other recourse, Lin Lysander gritted his teeth and summoned one of the Lin Clan's foundational treasures, the Purple Sun Furnace [a powerful alchemical furnace capable of channeling intense spiritual flames]. A torrent of Purple Sun True Flame [a potent, purifying flame of solar essence] cascaded forth, seeking to engulf and smelt the White Metal Dust-Severing Blade [a legendary blade famed for its sharpness and ability to sever all worldly attachments].

"You dare use this very Purple Sun Furnace before me?"

Eldrin Chen let out a cold laugh. The Violet Radiance Mirror [a mystical mirror that reflects and captures spiritual energies] in his hand blossomed with a beam of mirror-light, which seized and pulled down the descending Purple Sun Furnace.

Original English translation available at audio‑novel.com.