Chapter 82 : Assault on Spirit Apricot Mountain

Now that the Chen Clan was preparing to deal with the Lin Clan, they decided to make the first move against this Spirit Apricot Mountain. Seizing this Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] 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 Spirit Apricot Mountain that very day.

The Spirit Apricot Mountain was located a little over ten thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Pingyang City. Traveling day and night by flying sword, they reached the outskirts of the Spirit Apricot Mountain in less than two days.

"This is the Spirit Apricot Mountain,"

Gazing at the mountain before them, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow, a look of gravity settling on his features. "A Second Rank Formation [a powerful defensive or offensive array] has been deployed here. We must proceed with caution."

The Old Patriarch nodded. "It's a Second Rank Mid-Grade Verdant Wood Cultivable Earth Formation. An ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator wouldn't be able to breach it."

"I've heard the Lin Clan has also stationed their Foundation Establishment Cultivator, White Compassion Lin, here to guard it. We must be extra careful."

White Compassion Lin was an Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator. With his cultivation powering the formation, even an average Foundation Establishment Late Stage expert might find it difficult to escape with their life, let alone break through.

Fortunately, Eternal Profound Chen possessed the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation, giving him combat strength equivalent to at least two or three Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators. Eldrin Chen's own power was also sufficient to contend with a Foundation Establishment Late Stage expert.

With their combined strength, they stood a reasonable chance of overcoming this Verdant Wood Cultivable Earth Formation. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel[dot]com.

"Make your move."

With Spirit Apricot Mountain [a mountain renowned for its spiritual apricot trees] now in sight, Eternal Profound Chen wasted no time. He directly unleashed the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation [a formation that conjures soul-scorching solar flames], sending it to envelop the peak.

Simultaneously, White Compassion Lin atop the mountain paled drastically. He hurriedly activated the defensive arrays to block the deluge of Solar Fire [a divine ability that channels the purifying and destructive power of the sun].

Only after fending off the Solar Fire did White Compassion Lin realize the attacker was Eternal Profound Chen. With disbelief coloring his voice, he demanded,

"Patriarch Chen, what grievance exists between our Lin Clan and your Chen Clan that you would assault our Spirit Apricot Mountain?"

"No grievance?"

The Old Patriarch let out a cold laugh, pouring more spiritual power into the formation to intensify the flames. "At the trade conference of Fengyang Market [a major trading hub for cultivators], White Hope Lin and Ink Respect Lin conspired with Interpretive Tranquility Zhang to ambush my grandnephew."

"Such enmity is a feud that cannot be shared 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!"

White Compassion Lin said with a face drained of color. Even now, he sought to stall for time, hoping for rescue from the cultivators of the Lin Clan.

Yet, how would Eternal Profound Chen pay him any heed? While continuously channeling the Solar Fire to refine the formation, he also unleashed the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade in a relentless assault.

Coupled with Eldrin Chen joining the fray, the defensive formation atop Spirit Apricot Mountain trembled violently, its radiance visibly dimming at a rapid pace.

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

"..."

Meanwhile, upon the Spiritual Vein of Ink Green Mountain, the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Clan had gathered.

Following the fall of White Hope Lin, aside from the Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed at Sunward Market and Spirit Apricot Mountain, all four of the Lin Clan's available Foundation Establishment Cultivators were present here.

The two seated at the head, Ink Achievement Lin and Ink Respect Lin, both wore faces ashen with fury, leaving the other two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who had just been urgently summoned from secluded cultivation, utterly bewildered.

A woman in violet robes, sensing the tense atmosphere, could not help but ask, "You called us out of seclusion with such urgency. What in the world has happened?"

"Disaster has struck," Ink Respect Lin replied with a pained expression. He recounted the events, then added, "This is also my failing, for I failed to dissuade him."

After listening, the woman in violet robes paled slightly, then shook her head with a bitter laugh. "I could see long ago that White Hope was stubborn and narrow-minded. This matter is not your fault."

"But now that White Hope has been slain by that upstart, a feud has been forged. We cannot simply ignore it."

In her heart, she was deeply dissatisfied with White Hope Lin's actions. Yet, as a cultivator of her clan, such a matter could not be left unaddressed.

Putting herself in others' shoes, if this vengeance were not pursued, the clan's morale would shatter.

If the clan did nothing today after White Hope Lin was slain, would anyone care if she herself were killed tomorrow?

At the head of the gathering, Ink Achievement Lin's expression was dark, a thread of icy killing intent surfacing. "I summoned you all here precisely to avenge White Hope." For the best reading experience, visit audio - novel . com.

"But..." Ink Respect Lin interjected, a flicker of fear in his eyes. "The Chen Clan is no longer what it once was. Both Eternal Profound Chen and Eldrin Chen possess power far beyond the ordinary. I fear we are no match for them."

"It seems your courage has been shattered," another Foundation Establishment cultivator said with displeasure. "Do not bolster their prestige while diminishing our own."

"Enough bickering."

Ink Achievement Lin cut them off, his expression grave. "That old curmudgeon Eternal Profound Chen is indeed extraordinary. His strength likely far surpasses our own."

"Enough. We shall take the Gale Soul-Severing Sword Talisman and settle this with them in a decisive battle."

"The Gale Soul-Severing Sword Talisman!"

The expressions of the group shifted slightly. The Gale Soul-Severing Sword Talisman was a Third Rank Lower Grade talisman, and also the greatest legacy that the Violet Sanctum Cultivator Mordecai Lin had left for the Lin Clan.

Back when Mordecai Lin had broken through to the Violet Sanctum realm, in order to repay the bloodline Karma [the spiritual debt or consequence of one's actions], he had paid a great price to inscribe his divine ability, 'Gale Soul-Severing Sword', into a talisman. This talisman, along with three Foundation Establishment Pills, had been handed over 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 Violet Sanctum Cultivator.

Hearing that he intended to use this talisman, Ink Respect Lin'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 annihilation?"

"What time is it for holding back?" said Ink Achievement Lin coldly. "If we do not avenge this, how can we establish ourselves in Yu County?"

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

"Trouble! A message from the Parent-Child Communication Talisman [a talisman used for communication between closely related individuals] says someone is attacking Spirit Apricot Mountain!"

"The Chen Clan moves swiftly." Ink Achievement Lin immediately stood up, flicking his sleeve. "Let us go and face the Chen Clan. We must make them pay the price."

Meanwhile, Lior Chen traveled to Sunward Market. Using the market's Communication Talisman [a magical device for long-distance messaging], he relayed messages to the various major clans, informing them of the situation's details. He then set off directly for Spirit Apricot Mountain.

At the same time, upon Spirit Apricot Mountain, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch were relentlessly assailing the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array protecting the mountain stronghold].

The defensive power of this Verdant Wood Cultivable Earth Formation [an earth-nourishing defensive array] was indeed Extraordinary. Were it an ordinary two or three Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators at the second major realm] attacking, they likely would have struggled to breach it in a short time.

However, the Old Patriarch's Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation [a fiery offensive array] was even more formidable. Had this formation been anchored to a Second Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein [a high-quality spiritual energy source], it could likely have withstood even a Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator at the third major realm] 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 Mid-Grade Verdant Wood Cultivable Earth Formation.

Coupled with their relentless assault using Second Rank High-Grade magical treasures [powerful enchanted artifacts], they soon had the defensive arrays of Spirit Apricot Mountain teetering on the brink of collapse.

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

Seeing the dire situation, White Compassion 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. Access the full story on *audio-novel.com*.