Chapter 98 : The Pill of Ascendant Dreams

"Success."

Eldrin Chen gazed at the three Origin-Breaking Pill [a potent pill used to break through cultivation bottlenecks] before him, unable to suppress a flicker of joy on his face.

After concluding his secluded cultivation, he had rented another Cultivation Cave [a cave dwelling imbued with spiritual energy for cultivation] of Second Rank High Grade quality. He spent two days adjusting his state, preparing to charge into the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm].

Logically, having broken through to the Foundation Establishment Third Layer less than a year ago, even with the aid of the Spirit Peach [a spiritual fruit that enhances cultivation], he would still need five years to accumulate True Essence [the refined spiritual energy within a cultivator's body] to reach the limit of the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage.

However, to break through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage, Eldrin Chen had specifically purchased a single Jade Marrow Pill [a precious pill refined from jade marrow essence] from the Heaven's Ruin Pavilion.

This Jade Marrow Pill was of Second Rank High Grade quality. Su Mingwei had refined it using two Second Rank Treasure materials: Millennium Jade Marrow [a precious, millennia-old jade essence] and Snow Jade Ginseng [a rare ginseng that grows in snowy jade]. It was a rare treasure pill; consuming one could increase a Foundation Establishment Cultivator's cultivation by approximately twenty years.

Such pills were scarce even in the Heaven's Ruin Pavilion, and their price was a staggering two thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Most ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator truly could not bear to purchase one.

Furthermore, this pill had a drawback: only one could be consumed within a Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle]. Over thirty years ago, Chen Thalion had also taken one, which was why, even with the means now, he had not purchased another.

After consuming the Jade Marrow Pill, Eldrin Chen spent seven days finally cultivating his True Essence to the absolute limit of the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage.

At this moment, the True Essence within his meridians was brimming. To continue its growth, one would typically need to temper it for another twenty or thirty years to naturally and smoothly break through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage. Read the full novel exclusively on audio‑novel.com.

Over these decades, a cultivator's True Essence [the refined spiritual energy within a cultivator's body] would make almost no progress, requiring day after day of monotonous tempering. Many cultivators, seeing no hope of a breakthrough, would lose their drive for cultivation altogether.

Once their confidence waned and their resolve for arduous cultivation faltered, their efforts to temper their True Essence would become sporadic and inconsistent. This is precisely why nearly eighty or ninety percent of Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation] find their cultivation stalled in the early or middle stages of the Foundation Establishment [the realm of solidifying one's spiritual foundation] realm.

However, with the Origin-Breaking Pill [a pill that forcibly breaks through cultivation bottlenecks], there emerged a possibility to directly breach the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage barrier.

This pill differs from the Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in establishing the spiritual foundation]. Pills like the Foundation Establishment Pill and items such as Li Fire Crystal [a crystal containing purified fire energy] work by making a cultivator's True Essence more pliant and protecting their meridians.

While this lowers the difficulty of a breakthrough, it inadvertently causes the cultivator's True Essence to become somewhat unstable and lacking the solid, sharp quality achieved through a self-guided breakthrough.

The effect of the Origin-Breaking Pill, however, is similar to that of the Essence Gathering Pill [a pill that rapidly gathers spiritual energy]. Both cause a cultivator's True Essence to surge violently, forcibly breaking through the bottleneck and increasing the probability of success.

This saves the time needed for tempering True Qi [the initial, unrefined spiritual energy]. Once the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage barrier is broken, the cultivator, having reached a higher realm, can then look back and temper their True Essence from a position of strength. This becomes a trivial task, like building from a lofty vantage point, and does not lead to an unstable foundation.

Eldrin Chen was brimming with confidence at this moment. A single Origin-Breaking Pill was enough to increase his chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage by thirty percent. With three in his possession, his confidence was virtually absolute.

In truth, Eldrin Chen required only one Origin-Breaking Pill. His meridians were exceptionally broad, and his True Essence was far more profound, dense, and sharp than that of an ordinary cultivator. Upon consuming the pill, it immediately triggered a chain reaction.

Without expending great effort, he smoothly broke through to the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer, and his True Essence increased by more than forty percent in an instant.

"Success."

Feeling the surge of True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner] within him, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile. After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm, where one's spiritual foundation is solidified], his power was poised for explosive growth.

Next, he only needed to refine his True Essence to completion. Once polished, his True Essence would be no weaker than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators [a cultivator in the late phase of the Foundation Establishment realm]. This would allow him to unleash the full ten-tenths power of both the Violet Radiance Mirror [a magical treasure that emits a violet light] and the Purple Sun Furnace [a magical furnace imbued with the essence of the purple sun].

Furthermore, the two divine abilities, the Blazing Solar Skyfire Sword [a sword technique that channels blazing solar skyfire] and the Metallic Essence Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the essence of metal], would manifest with a potency in his hands nearly equal to when Old Patriarch wielded them.

Most crucially, he could now refine the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword of the Returning Abyss, imbued with Li Fire] to the Second Rank High Grade [the high grade of the second rank, denoting superior quality]. Once achieved, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss would radiate a sword radiance spanning ten Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], and its destructive might would be vastly enhanced.

At this thought, Eldrin Chen could not suppress a look of delight. Once the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss was successfully refined, his strength would likely surge by a significant margin.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment, Late Stage cultivator typically possessed only one or two proficient Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool [a magical tool of the second rank, high grade]. A rare few might command a single divine ability. Who else, like him, lacked for neither magical tools nor divine abilities, and even possessed a superior immortal sword? His power naturally far surpassed the common lot.

By then, he would be like the Old Patriarch, capable of single-handedly confronting two or three Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators.

Moreover, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss was an exceptionally superior immortal sword. While its defensive capabilities might not match those of the Old Patriarch, its offensive prowess would likely surpass his by a fair degree.

With this in mind, Eldrin Chen resisted the urge to leave seclusion. He spent another half a month, continuing until his True Essence was fully refined and polished. Only then, his heart stirred with excitement, did he finally emerge from the cultivation chamber.

Yet, the moment he stepped out of his seclusion chamber, he found several clan cultivators already waiting, their faces etched with profound sorrow.

"What has happened?"

Eldrin Chen observed their expressions, and his heart gave a sudden, heavy thud. A foreboding sense of dread welled up within him.

Among the gathered, the leader, Chen Alaric, wore a countenance of deep anguish and grief as he spoke.

"Uncle Riverius... he has passed away in meditation!"

"What?" Support the author by reading on audio-novel dot com.

The night was hazy, a fine drizzle falling from the sky.

Eldrin Chen stood before the Cultivation Cave where Riverius Chen had undertaken his final meditation. Gazing at the white cloth covering his uncle's form, he could not help but close his eyes.

"Uncle Riverius left a letter for you."

"And also this..."

Beside him, Chen Alaric handed over a letter, along with a small, delicate jade box.

Eldrin Chen opened the jade box and found the Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir used to attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm] still resting within, perfectly intact and radiating a soft, verdant glow.

He broke the seal on the letter and, his face an impassive mask, Eldrin Chen read its contents word by word.

"To Eldrin.

Young Eldrin, you have finally grown up. In the blink of an eye, nearly thirty years have passed, and you have at last become a pillar of our clan.

You are far stronger than I. Your Uncle Riverius was incompetent—achieving nothing in my youth, lacking the courage to attempt the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one builds a solid foundation for their future path] breakthrough in my prime, and in my old age, only able to manage some of the clan's business affairs.

Before the end, to make one final attempt at the Foundation Establishment realm... I suppose that is this old man's last act of stubborn defiance.

I knew success was impossible. Even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was impossible. Rather than waste a precious Foundation Establishment Pill merely to preserve my failing life, it was better to leave it behind for someone who truly needs it.

You are still young, still too sentimental. But if you cannot be pragmatic, then I must be!

Take this Foundation Establishment Pill back to the clan. May it help our family gain another Foundation Establishment cultivator. Consider it this old man's final contribution.

After my death, do not grieve.

For me, to die while attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one builds a solid foundation for their future path] is far better than watching my lifespan limit approach day by day, only to end my days filled with regret and resentment.

I also hope you can learn from my lesson. When faced with a difficult crossroads, do not hesitate. Be bold, dare to venture and act. Succeed, and you achieve your wish; fail, and you will have no regrets!

For if you hesitate and miss the opportunity, leading to a lifetime of remorse and a bitter, regretful end, that is the true tragedy!

Eldrin Chen closed the letter with an expressionless face, only sensing a chill on his cheek. Reaching up to touch it, he realized tears had been streaming down his face for some time.

That night, the darkness was hazy, a fine drizzle falling from the gloomy sky.

His long hair was tied up by a silver crown, his robes white as snow. He sat alone on the cliff's edge, strumming a zither, silently letting the rain fall upon him as he played a melody of autumn longing.

He did not know how much time had passed when a paper umbrella extended over him. She stood there quietly, clad in a snow-white gown, holding the umbrella, shielding him from the wind and rain.

The two of them remained silent, silent…

Only when the sky began to lighten and the drizzle gradually ceased did Eldrin Chen press his hand upon the zither strings and ask.

"If one day, would you too leave me behind?"

"Leave..."

Her words trailed off. She lifted her gaze to the distant firmament, a certain light gleaming in her eyes.

"All powerlessness stems from a single truth—not being strong enough."

"I will walk this path by your side, until time itself reaches its end."

Continue reading this story at audio_novel.com.