Chapter 82 : Assault on the Spiritual Mountain

Now that the Chen Clan [a prominent cultivation family] was preparing to deal with the Lin Clan [a rival cultivation family], they decided to make the first move against the Spiritual Apricot Mountain [a mountain imbued with spiritual energy and home to ancient apricot trees]. Seizing this spirit vein would be enough to inflict serious damage upon the Lin Clan.

The two of them wasted no time, setting off by flying sword for the Spiritual Apricot Mountain that very day.

The Spiritual Apricot Mountain was located just over ten thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Pingyang City [a major city in the region]. Traveling day and night without rest upon their flying swords, they arrived at the outskirts of the Spiritual Apricot Mountain in less than two days.

"This is the Spiritual Apricot Mountain," one of them stated.

Gazing at the mountain before them, Eldrin Chen [a young cultivator of the Chen Clan] furrowed his brow, his expression turning grave. "A second-rank defensive formation has been erected upon this mountain. We must proceed with caution."

The Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan] nodded in agreement. "It is the Verdant Wood and Earth-Fortress Formation [a defensive formation that combines the resilience of earth and the vitality of wood], of Second Rank Middle Grade [a mid-level grade for artifacts and formations]. Not even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators [cultivators who have reached the advanced phase of the Foundation Establishment realm] could breach it easily."

"It is said the Lin Clan has also stationed the Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their foundational cultivation base] Lysander Lin [a Foundation Establishment expert of the Lin Clan] here to oversee its defense. We would be wise to remain vigilant."

Lysander Lin was a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage [the initial phase of the Foundation Establishment realm]. With his cultivation level powering the formation, it was likely that even a typical Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators who ventured inside might struggle to emerge alive.

Fortunately, Chen Thalion [the Old Patriarch of the Chen Clan] possessed the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful offensive formation that harnesses a rare, scorching flame]. Its combined power was at least equivalent to two or three Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators, and Eldrin Chen possessed strength sufficient to trade blows with a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators as well.

Joining forces, they stood a reasonable chance of breaking through this Verdant Wood and Earth-Fortress Formation. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio . novel . com.

"Begin the assault."

With Spiritual Apricot Mountain [an ancient mountain named for its spirit-infused apricot trees] now in sight, Chen Thalion immediately unleashed the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful formation that conjures soul-scorching flames] to envelop it.

Simultaneously, Lysander Lin atop Spiritual Apricot Mountain paled dramatically. He hastily activated his defensive formation to block the surging tide of Separated Flame [a potent, otherworldly fire used in high-level cultivation arts].

Once the Separated Flame was held at bay, Lysander Lin finally recognized his assailant as Chen Thalion. A look of utter disbelief crossed his face as he demanded,

"Patriarch Chen Clan, what grievance exists between our Lin Clan and yours? Why do you lay siege to my Spiritual Apricot Mountain?"

"No grievance?"

The Old Patriarch let out a cold sneer, pouring more of his mana into the fiery formation. "At the Barter Convention [a grand gathering for cultivators to trade rare resources] held at the Fengyang Trading Post, your clansmen, Lin Lysander and Lin Morwen, conspired with Zane Zhang to ambush my grand-nephew."

"Such enmity cannot exist under the same sky!"

"A misunderstanding! It must be a misunderstanding!"

"Fellow Daoist, cease this at once! Do not let this escalate into an irreparable calamity!"

"The Lysander Lin said with a face pale as death, still trying to stall for time, hoping for rescue from the Lin Clan cultivators."

But Chen Thalion paid him no heed. He continued to channel the Separated Flame [a potent, refined flame essence] to fuel the formation while simultaneously unleashing the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade in a relentless assault.

With Eldrin Chen joining the fray, the defensive formation atop Spiritual Apricot Mountain trembled violently, its radiance visibly dimming by the moment.

At this rate, the formation would be shattered in less than a day.

Meanwhile, upon the spirit vein of Ink Verdant Mountain, the four remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Clan had gathered.

Following the demise of Lin Lysander, aside from those stationed at Yuyang Market and Spiritual Apricot Mountain, every Foundation Establishment Cultivator the Lin Clan could mobilize was present.

At the head of the gathering, both Lin Mordred and Lin Morwen wore faces of grim fury, leaving the other two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who had just emerged from secluded cultivation, utterly bewildered.

A woman in violet robes, sensing the oppressive atmosphere, could not hold back. "You summoned us from our seclusion with such urgency," she asked. "What calamity has befallen us?"

"Disaster has struck," Lin Morwen replied, his expression one of bitter remorse. He recounted the events, then added, "The fault lies with me. I failed to dissuade him."

After hearing the tale, the violet-robed woman paled. She shook her head with a rueful smile. "I always knew Lysander was stubborn and narrow-minded. You cannot blame yourself for this."

"Now that Lysander Chen has been slain by that upstart, a blood feud has been forged. We cannot simply ignore it."

In her heart, she was deeply dissatisfied with Lin Lysander's actions, but as a cultivator bound by clan loyalty, such matters could not be disregarded.

Putting herself in their place, if this grievance went unavenged, the very heart of the clan would begin to wither and scatter.

If the clan did nothing today when Lin Lysander was slain, then if she were to be killed tomorrow, would anyone care to seek justice for her?

At the head of the chamber, Lin Mordred's face was dark, a sliver of icy killing intent leaking through. "I summoned you all here for the sole purpose of avenging Lysander."

"But..." Lin Morwen interjected, a trace of fear in his voice. "The Chen Clan is no longer what it once was. Both Chen Thalion and Eldrin Chen possess power far beyond the ordinary. I fear we are no match for them." Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel*com.

"It seems your courage has already fled," another Foundation Establishment cultivator said with displeasure. "Do not bolster their morale while extinguishing our own."

"Enough bickering."

Lin Mordred cut them off, his expression grave. "That old fox Chen Thalion is indeed extraordinary. His strength likely far surpasses our own."

"So be it. We shall take the Talisman of the Gale Soul-Cleaving Sword [a powerful enchanted artifact that unleashes soul-severing gale-force attacks] and settle this with them once and for all."

"The Talisman of the Gale Soul-Cleaving Sword!"

The expressions of those present shifted slightly. The Talisman of the Gale Soul-Cleaving Sword was a Third Rank Low Grade Talisman [a powerful, single-use magical scroll], and it represented the greatest legacy that the Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their third major energy center] Mordecai Lin had left for the Lin Clan.

Back when Mordecai Lin had broken through to the Purple Mansion realm, in order to settle the karmic debt of his bloodline, he had paid a tremendous price to inscribe his divine ability, 'Gale Soul-Severing Sword' [a powerful sword technique that attacks the soul], into a Talisman. This talisman, along with three Foundation Establishment Pills [pills that aid in solidifying one's cultivation foundation], was entrusted to the Lin Clan.

Once activated, this talisman was nearly equivalent to Mordecai Lin personally unleashing the divine ability 'Gale Soul-Severing Sword', possessing earth-shattering, terrifying power. If used at the right moment, it could even severely injure a Purple Mansion Cultivator.

Hearing his intention to use this talisman, Lin Morwen's face changed, and he couldn't help but say, "That is the legacy Mordecai left for us. How can we use it lightly before the moment of our clan's destruction?"

"What moment are we waiting for if not now?" Lin Mordred retorted coldly. "If we do not avenge this, what right do we have to stand firm in Yu County?"

As they were arguing, a cultivator rushed into the hall from outside, his face filled with panic.

"Disaster! A message via the Mother-Child Communication Talisman [a paired talisman set for instant long-distance communication] reports that someone is attacking Spiritual Apricot Mountain [a mountain named for its ancient spirit apricot trees]!"

"The Chen Clan moves swiftly," Lin Mordred said, immediately rising to his feet and sweeping his sleeve. "Let us go and settle this with the Chen Clan. We must make them pay the price."

Meanwhile, Lior Chen had gone to Yuyang Market. Using the market's communication talismans, he sent messages to the various great clans, informing them of the incident's details. Then, he headed directly for Spiritual Apricot Mountain.

Simultaneously, atop Spiritual Apricot Mountain, Eldrin Chen and Old Patriarch were relentlessly assailing the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array protecting a mountain stronghold].

The defensive prowess of this Verdant Wood and Earth-Fortress Formation [a defensive array combining the resilience of wood and earth] was indeed extraordinary. Were it two or three ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their foundation in the Dao] attacking, they would likely find it difficult to breach in a short time.

However, the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a formidable offensive array that harnesses a potent, isolating flame] wielded by the Old Patriarch was even more formidable. Had this formation been anchored to a Second Rank High Grade spirit vein, it could likely have held off a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened the mystical Purple Mansion within their dantian] for a time.

Though its power was diminished when channeled by the Old Patriarch's cultivation base, it was still no less potent than this Second Rank Middle Grade Verdant Wood and Earth-Fortress Formation.

Coupled with their incessant assaults using Second Rank High Grade magical treasures [enchanted artifacts of significant power], they soon had the formation protecting Spiritual Apricot Mountain teetering on the brink of collapse.

"This won't do. If this continues, we likely won't hold out for half a day."

Seeing the dire situation, Lysander Lin's expression turned grave.

He drew a deep breath, preparing to channel the formation's power for a counterattack, hoping to drive the two assailants back.

Original English translation available at audi0-n0vel.c0m.