Chapter 90 : The Ancient Spirit Apricot's Journey

The next day.

The party from the Green Sun Sect returned to Green Sun Mountain, while Eldrin Chen and Chen Thalion made a special trip to Spiritual Apricot Mountain.

Gazing upon the Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree before them, both men felt a surge of excitement. This tree had stood for centuries and was one of the rare, prized specialties of Yu County.

Although the Spirit Apricot it bore could only extend one's lifespan by three years at most, it was still a rare longevity-enhancing treasure, scarcely seen even across the whole of Bianzhou.

Thanks to this ancient tree, the Lin Clan had prospered immensely over the years. It was no wonder Lin Lysander had possessed two Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool.

"Well?" The Old Patriarch asked, suppressing his inner excitement as he looked at the ancient tree. "Are you confident you can transplant it?"

"Transplanting it is possible,"

Eldrin Chen said, then furrowed his brow. "However, this tree has been rooted here for several hundred years; it is quite aged. Once moved, it will require meticulous care to survive."

"Furthermore, even if the transplant succeeds, it likely will not bear fruit for a decade."

"As long as it can be kept alive, that is enough. We certainly cannot leave it for the Lin Clan to use against us." Find this and other novels at audio-novel*com.

Chen Thalion hesitated for a moment, then decisively declared.

After making their decision, the two began personally excavating the ancient tree. This Spirit Apricot Tree stood over one Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] tall and was no light weight, making the process of transporting it a laborious and meticulous task.

To prevent the tree from withering, Eldrin Chen and Chen Thalion took turns channeling their True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by adepts] to carry it. It took a full seven days of effort before they finally returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain.

This was the final decision reached after their discussion. While Spirit Isle Lake was more secluded, its defensive capabilities paled in comparison to Verdant Chariot Mountain.

Just as the defensive formations of the Lin Clan's Spiritual Apricot Mountain were far inferior to those of Verdant Ink Mountain, leading to its breach and devastating losses for the clan.

Putting all one's eggs in a single basket was never wise; it often invited the covetous gaze of enemies. Thus, they decided to plant the tree at Verdant Chariot Mountain.

"It is done."

Carefully planting the Spirit Apricot Tree upon Verdant Chariot Mountain, Eldrin Chen finally let out a sigh of relief.

Gazing at the Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree before him, a flicker of hesitation crossed his features. His primary reason for supporting its transplantation to Verdant Chariot Mountain was the future ambition to elevate the tree's foundational grade, thereby enhancing the spirit vein tier of the mountain itself.

And now, he possessed a mouthful of Primordial Essence [the pure, foundational energy of creation], sufficient to elevate the foundation of this Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree, allowing it to ascend into an Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of exceptional quality, harmonized with the forces of heaven and earth].

"This Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a legendary spiritual root of supreme quality] is far too precious. In the entire Chu Kingdom, there are only two or three such specimens. If its existence were revealed, it would likely invite immense peril."

"Verdant Chariot Mountain is crowded with too many eyes. It is better to wait until I break through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation] before considering this matter further."

Suppressing these thoughts, Eldrin Chen returned to Spirit Isle Lake the very next day.

Upon this return to Spirit Isle Lake, he once more embraced a life of secluded cultivation. Each day, beyond his regular practice, was devoted to comprehending divine abilities and mystical techniques, and to the patient nurturing and tempering of his immortal swords.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, five years passed.

It was again the season of autumn harvest when Seventeenth GranduncleChen Lucius, rowing a small boat, arrived once more at Spirit Isle Lake.

Even before setting foot on the lakeshore, the Old Granduncle called out from a distance.

"CalebSilas, your great-grandfather is here! Have you missed your old grandpa?"

"Already at the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the penultimate stage of the first cultivation realm]? You two little rascals are advancing your cultivation at a truly remarkable pace."

As soon as he stepped ashore, he saw Caleb Chen and Silas Chen waiting for him and could not help but exclaim with delighted surprise.

Caleb Chen was now twenty-three years old, having grown into a handsome young man. He spoke with gentle refinement.

"Thanks to Uncle Eldrin's guidance, I managed to break through just before the new year."

"A Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the ninth stage of refining one's vital energy] cultivator in your teens... you truly have been blessed by fate." Chen Lucius shook his head, then asked, "And where is your Uncle Eldrin?"

Silas Chen offered a faint smile and led Chen Lucius to the shore of Lake Heart Island. He pointed towards the distant, shimmering waters of the lake.

"Over there."

Chen Lucius gazed into the distance. Beneath the setting sun, upon the lake, a solitary boat rested at the seam where water met sky, as if cleaving heaven from earth. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

A figure robed in snow-white silk sat with his back to them, cross-legged upon that lone vessel. A zither [a traditional Chinese stringed instrument] lay across his knees, from which flowed a melody that seemed not of this world.

To those who listened, the notes were like orchids blooming in a secluded valley. A profound sense of solitude arose, as if the very strings were plucking at their own hearts.

When the final note faded, Eldrin Chen stowed the zither and glided across the rippling waves towards them.

His gaze fell upon Chen Lucius, and a smile touched his lips. "A year has passed, yet you remain as vigorous as ever, Seventeenth Uncle. Truly, age has not diminished your spirit."

"What melody is this?" Chen Lucius could not help but ask.

Eldrin Chen smiled gently. "This piece is called Millennium Elegance [a musical composition evoking timeless grace and beauty]."

"Your mastery of the musical arts grows ever more profound."

Seventeenth Granduncle sighed with admiration, then recalled the matter at hand. "Before I came, Lior asked me to tell you that the clan still has not managed to purchase any Barrier-Breaking Fruit [a rare spiritual fruit used as a primary ingredient in breakthrough pills]."

"The Mu Clan has a few plants, but the fastest will still take thirty years to mature."

"Thirty years." Eldrin Chen shook his head. "That is too long to wait."

The Barrier-Breaking Fruit is the primary ingredient for refining the Origin-Breaking Pill [a pill that aids cultivators in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks], which can assist Foundation Establishment, Early Stage cultivators in overcoming their bottlenecks, increasing their chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage by thirty percent.

Ever since obtaining the Alchemy Tome from the youth, Eldrin Chen had instructed the clan to seek out and purchase this Barrier-Breaking Fruit. Unfortunately, the fruit is quite rare. Within Yu County, aside from the Mu Clan, none of the other clans cultivate it.

Thus, even after more than a decade of searching, the Chen Clan had still not managed to acquire it.

Half a year ago, Eldrin Chen broke through to the Foundation Establishment Third Layer. Seeing that in a few more years he could attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage, he had once again intensified the clan's efforts to procure this item.

This time, Chen Lucius came, yet he still did not bring that item, which shows how difficult it is to find.

Seeing Eldrin Chen's disappointment, Chen Lucius said regretfully, "The clan has cultivated some Barrier-Breaking Fruit [a rare fruit used as a primary ingredient in pills that help cultivators break through cultivation bottlenecks] over these years. Unfortunately, the Barrier-Breaking Fruit requires a full century to mature before it can be used in alchemy. The current plants are still far from reaching that age."

"This is within my expectations," Eldrin Chen said calmly. "After all, the Barrier-Breaking Fruit is like the Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a type of spiritual fungus prized for its medicinal properties]; both are primary ingredients for refining breakthrough pills and are inherently extremely difficult to obtain."

After a moment's thought, he continued, "I recall that in a few months, it will be our clan's turn to travel to Celestial Ruins Mountain for the trade of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth]."

"Very well. I shall go to Celestial Ruins Mountain myself and see if I can purchase this herb there."

Several months later, Eldrin Chen led the merchant caravan away from Verdant Chariot Mountain and set out towards Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Since the battle with the Lin Clan five years ago, Eldrin Chen had carved out a formidable reputation for himself. Consequently, the journey passed without encountering any significant trouble.

After traveling for three or four months, they finally arrived at the Heaven's Ruin Mountain Market. Upon entering the market, Eldrin Chen guided the caravan straight to the Heaven's Ruin Pavilion.

Once again, it was Liu Seraphina who received him. The moment she saw Eldrin Chen, she greeted him warmly.

"By my reckoning, this should be the year for your Chen Clan to visit. It has been far too long since we last met."

"Your reputation has only grown more illustrious with each passing year," she remarked, a playful glint in her eyes. "Whispers fill the entire Bianzhou [a region within the Chu Kingdom], proclaiming it's only a matter of time before you break through to the Purple Mansion Realm [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body]."

As she spoke, she directed her attendants to begin tallying the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth]. "Should you ascend to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation] in the days to come," she teased, "do not forget your dear sister here." For the best reading experience, visit AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.