Chapter 85 : Vengeance in the Shattered Void

"You—"

Lin Mordred nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood in his fury. Had the fight continued, he estimated he could have subdued Chen Thalion in just one Ke-time [one Ke-time equals fifteen minutes].

But this Lin Morwen had failed at the critical moment, causing the situation to spiral completely out of control. With a Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool like the Violet Radiance Mirror—a treasure specifically designed to counter other magical artifacts—Eldrin Chen's combat prowess was nearly equivalent to that of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators.

If he joined forces with Chen Thalion, it would likely be Lin Mordred himself who met his end here. With no other choice, he could only force Chen Thalion back and then turn to flee deep into the void.

Before departing, he glanced back one last time. He saw Eldrin Chen summon the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. A deep azure sword radiance swept across the sky, cleaving the injured Violet-Robed Beauty down amidst the emptiness.

"Ah—!"

Tears of bitter rage streamed down Lin Mordred's aged face. A surge of rebellious blood choked his throat, and the killing intent in his eyes threatened to overflow.

"Eldrin Chen, you damned star of slaughter."

"I, Lin Mordred, will never forget the enmity of this day!"

Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch did not give chase. When a powerhouse of the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage was determined to flee for their life, it was exceedingly difficult to stop them. Discover more cultivation stories at audio novel.com.

Moreover, their mana was severely depleted, Old Patriarch had suffered a backlash, and he had sustained some internal injuries as well.

The two of them cleaned up the battlefield and then descended upon Spirit Apricot Mountain [the mountain where the ancient Spirit Apricot tree grows]. Old Patriarch glanced at Eldrin Chen and said with a faint smile, "That old scoundrel is desperate."

"From now on, you must be on your guard against him."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. The Lin Clan had a total of seven Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivators, and four of them had fallen by his hand. He truly deserved the title of a star of slaughter.

The two early-stage Foundation Establishment, Early Stage cultivators from the Lin Clan did not possess many treasures, only five or six Second Rank Low Grade [a classification for magical tools of modest power] magical tools, all of little value to the two of them.

Chen Thalion simply stored these items away in his Storage Bag [a spatial pouch for holding items], intending to deposit them into the Clan Treasury later. However, there were also over two thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. The two of them split them evenly, fifty-fifty.

After dividing the Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm], the two ascended to the Spirit Apricot Mountain Spirit Spring [the spiritual spring located on Spirit Apricot Mountain]. Looking at the Spirit Spring [a natural spring infused with concentrated spiritual energy], Old Patriarch shook his head with a bitter smile.

"What a pity."

The spirit vein of Spirit Apricot Mountain was only of Second Rank Low Grade quality. The spiritual energy within the Spirit Spring was insufficient to unleash the full power of the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful defensive and offensive array].

Having endured a strike from the Talisman of the Gale Soul-Cleaving Sword [a powerful talisman that unleashes a gale-force sword strike capable of severing souls] in this battle, not only were the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation Flags [the array flags that power the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation] severely damaged, but even this Spirit Apricot Mountain Spirit Spring suffered a backlash. The entire Spirit Spring had collapsed.

Without the Spirit Spring [a natural spring imbued with spiritual energy], the spiritual energy of Spiritual Apricot Mountain would gradually decline to the level of a First Rank High Grade [the highest grade within the first rank] spirit vein. To restore it to a Second Rank Low Grade [the lowest grade within the second rank] would require an investment of over ten thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

This sum of Spirit Stone, given the current circumstances of the Chen Clan, was simply unaffordable. Furthermore, if they had such a sum at their disposal, it would be far more prudent to use it to nurture the spirit vein beneath Pingyang City to the Second Rank Middle Grade [the middle grade within the second rank] instead.

Eldrin Chen shook his head, finding no other recourse. "Before the spiritual energy dissipates further," he could only say, "let us first restore our True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a Foundation Establishment or higher realm cultivator]."

The two of them spent the day on Spiritual Apricot Mountain recovering their True Essence. By the time their mana was fully restored, Lior Chen had finally arrived.

The moment he saw him, the Old Patriarch looked up and asked, "What is the situation?"

"I have already used the Mother-Child Communication Talisman [a set of talismans where writing on the 'mother' talisman appears on the 'child' talisman] at Yuyang Market to inform the Five Great Families of this matter. As for their reaction, that remains unknown."

The Mother-Child Communication Talisman at Yuyang Market was a Third Rank Low Grade [the lowest grade within the third rank] one-way communication Talisman [a piece of paper, silk, or other material inscribed with mystical symbols to produce a specific magical effect]. Any message inscribed upon the mother talisman would manifest upon the child talisman, but the reverse was not possible.

Its purpose was to allow Yuyang Market to call for aid from the various great families the instant it came under attack.

Given the urgency of the situation, this assault on the Lin Clan was a sudden strike by the Chen Clan, undertaken without prior consultation with the other families.

The great families of Yu County shared a common breath and linked branches. In just over twenty years, they would need to stand together against the beast tide. Internal strife, therefore, was not welcome news.

Hearing this, Old Patriarch nodded and then said, "Now that the Lin Clan has suffered a major defeat, it is the perfect time for us to press our advantage and pursue them."

"We head for Verdant Ink Mountain."

The Lin Clan rose to prominence a little over two hundred years ago, yet its lineage stretches back for a full five centuries. Looking back more than two hundred years, the Lin Clan was merely a minor Qi Refinement family struggling for survival day by day.

This branch of the family had considerable fortune. Over two centuries ago, one of its patriarchs actually achieved Foundation Establishment through his own efforts. He then exhausted the clan's accumulated resources built up over several hundred years to elevate their mortal city, Lin City, to a Second Rank Low Grade spiritual grade.

It so happened that during a Beast Tide Calamity, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan was destroyed, leaving Verdant Ink Mountain vacant.

The founding ancestor of the Lin Clan distinguished himself with meritorious service during that Beast Tide Calamity. Not only did he manage to seize Verdant Ink Mountain ahead of others, but he also obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm]. Astonishingly, he used it to cultivate a second Foundation Establishment Cultivator for his clan. Read, share, and discuss at audio . novel . com.

Thus, the Lin Clan rose to power in an extremely short time, becoming one of the acknowledged Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan within Yu County.

Verdant Ink Mountain itself originally possessed a Second Rank Middle Grade spirit vein. After more than two centuries of careful nurturing by the Lin Clan, this spirit vein was finally elevated to Second Rank High Grade several decades ago.

"This spirit vein at Verdant Ink Mountain... it seems it will present some difficulties," one of them remarked.

The group stood at the foot of Verdant Ink Mountain, their expressions growing solemn.

Lior Chen furrowed his brow and said, "The grade of the spirit vein here is as high as Second Rank High Grade [the second-highest quality tier for spiritual resources]. The defensive power of the formation far surpasses that of Spiritual Apricot Mountain [a mountain known for its ancient apricot trees imbued with spiritual energy]. Furthermore, with Lin Mordred personally holding the fort, I fear that even if a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened the third major energy center, the Purple Mansion] were to come, it would be difficult to take this place down in a short time."

"Then we shall not attack," Chen Thalion replied, his expression also turning grave. "We will lay siege at the foot of this mountain and starve them out. I do not believe they will never emerge."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a note of helplessness in his voice. "They are entrenched here, supplied for their cultivation by the spirit vein."

"But the spiritual energy here is sparse. If we remain stationed here indefinitely, I fear it will hinder our own cultivation progress."

As they were speaking, several streaks of sword-light flew across the distant sky towards them.

Eldrin Chen looked up and saw that the arrivals were precisely the Foundation Establishment Cultivators [cultivators who have solidified their foundation, the second major realm] from several of Yu County's great Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans [powerful families whose strength is anchored by Foundation Establishment cultivators].

Marcus Mu, Meng Aethelstan, and others arrived together. Upon seeing the three, they promptly descended their sword-light and hurried forward.

"Patriarch Chen, Fellow Daoist Eldrin, how has it come to this?" Marcus Mu stepped forward, his face a mask of worry and distress.

The Old Patriarch's brows knitted together, his gaze sharp with killing intent. "Two Foundation Establishment experts from the Lin Clan joined forces to ambush my grand-nephew. Had my grand-nephew not kept a few tricks up his sleeve, his soul would have long since been severed in the Great Wilderness [a vast, untamed, and perilous expanse of wild lands]."

"Such a grievance, one that cannot exist under the same sky, how can it be easily set aside?"

"However," Marcus Mu's expression shifted, and he still attempted to persuade them: "You are all the decision-makers of Yu County. To turn on each other now would only delight our enemies and bring grief to our allies, allowing those demonic monsters to gloat with glee."

He paused briefly, then continued: "In my view, why not let this old man act as a mediator? Let us all lay down our arms here and now, what say you?"

The heads of the Sun and Zhang clans, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, adding their voices: "The Beast Tide Calamity is upon us. Your Chen and Lin Clans are the very pillars of Yu County. There is still time to clasp hands and make peace."

"There is no time left," Eldrin Chen shook his head, stating with calm finality. "I have slain four of the Lin Clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The bridge is already burned; there can be no peaceful resolution." Visit audio_novel.com to enjoy the complete series.