Chapter 85 Verdant Ink Mountain (Location), The Peacemaker

"You—"

Lin Mocheng nearly spat out a mouthful of blood in fury. Had the battle continued, he estimated it would have taken merely 1 quarter-hour to subdue Chen Changxuan.

But at this critical moment, Lin Moqin dropped the ball, causing the situation to spiral completely out of control. With the Purple Light Mirror—a top-grade, second-tier magic tool specifically designed to counter such artifacts—Eldrin’s combat prowess was nearly on par with a Foundation Establishment, Late Stage cultivator.

Had he joined forces with Chen Changxuan, it would have been Lin Mocheng lying buried here. With no other choice, he could only force Chen Changxuan into retreat before turning to flee into the depths of the void.

Before departing, he glanced back and saw Eldrin summon the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. A sapphire blade light swept across the heavens, striking down the injured beauty in violet robes amidst the void.

"Ah—"

Lin Mocheng’s aged face was streaked with tears, a surge of rebellious blood rising in his throat. The killing intent in his eyes nearly overflowed.

Eldrin (Person Name), you vicious star of death.

"The grudge of this day, I, Lin Mocheng, shall never forget for all eternity!"

Eldrin and the old clan leader did not give chase. When a Foundation Establishment, Late Stage expert was fully committed to fleeing, it was nearly impossible to detain them.

Moreover, their magical power was severely depleted, the old clan leader had suffered a backlash, and he was also nursing some internal injuries.

The 2 quickly cleared the battlefield before descending upon Spiritual Apricot Mountain (Location). The old clan leader cast a glance at Eldrin (Person Name), a faint smile gracing his lips as he remarked, "That old cur is getting desperate."

"From now on, you must be wary of him."

Eldrin's eyes flickered slightly. The Lin family had a total of 7 Foundation Establishment cultivators, and 4 of them had fallen by his hand. He truly deserved to be called a Star of Slaughter.

The 2 Foundation Establishment, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) cultivators of the Lin family possessed few treasures, with only 5 or 6 second-tier, low-grade magical instruments between them—all of little value to either.

Chen Changxuan stored these items directly into his storage pouch, intending to deposit them into the clan treasury later. As for the remaining 2,000-odd spirit stones, the 2 of them split them evenly down the middle.

After distributing the Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object), the 2 ascended to the spiritual spring atop Spiritual Apricot Mountain (Location). The old clan leader gazed at the spring and shook his head with a bitter smile, saying,

"What a pity."

The spiritual vein of Spiritual Apricot Mountain (Location) was merely at the second-tier lower grade, and the spiritual energy within the spring was insufficient, unable to unleash the full power of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure).

In this battle, he suffered a strike from the Talisman of the Gale Soul-Cleaving Sword (Magic Treasure). Not only was the Li Fire Soul Incineration Array Banner severely damaged, but even the spiritual spring of Spiritual Apricot Mountain (Location) suffered a backlash, causing the entire spiritual spring to collapse.

Without the spirit spring, the spiritual energy of Spiritual Apricot Mountain (Location) would gradually decline to the upper first-grade level. Restoring it to the lower second-grade would require an investment of over 10,000 spirit stones to nurture it back.

However, given the Chen family's current circumstances, they simply couldn't afford such an amount—32,000 spirit stones. If they did possess such funds, they would be better off investing them to upgrade Pingyang City's spiritual vein to mid-grade second-level.

Eldrin shook his head and could only say, "Before the spiritual energy dissipates, let us first replenish our true essence."

The 2 of them replenished their true essence atop Spiritual Apricot Mountain (Location). In the blink of an eye, a full day had passed. Only after their magical power was fully restored did Lior (Person Name) arrive belatedly.

The moment he saw him, the old clan leader lifted his head and asked, "How did it go?"

"I have already informed the 5 Great Families (Organization) of this matter using the Sun-Remnant Messenger Talisman from Yuyang Market. As for their reaction, it remains unknown."

The Yu Yang Market's Mother-Child Communication Talisman is a low-grade, third-tier 1-way messaging talisman. Any message inscribed on the mother talisman would instantly appear on the child talisman, though the reverse was not possible.

The purpose of this object was to enable immediate requests for reinforcements from the great families in the event that the Yuyang Market came under attack.

Necessity knows no law. In this assault on the Lin family, the Chen clan had opted for a surprise attack without prior consultation with the other major families.

The major families of Yu Prefecture were bound by a common cause. In just over 2 decades, they would need to unite against the demonic beasts, so internal strife was hardly welcome news.

Hearing this, the old clan leader nodded and said, "With the Lin family suffering a crushing defeat, now is the time for us to press our advantage."

"Let us head to Verdant Ink Mountain (Location)."

The Lin Family's rise to prominence began just over 2 100 years ago, yet their lineage spans a full 5 centuries. Tracing back more than 2 centuries prior, the Lin Family was merely a destitute Qi Refining clan struggling to survive each passing day.

This lineage was truly blessed by fortune. Over 2 100 years ago, 1 of its patriarchs had actually achieved Foundation Establishment through his own cultivation. Moreover, he exhausted centuries of accumulated resources to elevate the family’s mortal city, Lincheng, to the rank of a low-grade second-tier spiritual land.

Amidst the beast tide turmoil, a Foundation Establishment immortal clan collapsed, leaving the Verdant Ink Mountain (Location) vacant.

The Lin Clan's Ancestor distinguished himself during the Beast Tide, not only seizing the Verdant Ink Mountain (Location) ahead of others but also obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object). With this, he actually managed to nurture a second Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Thus, the Lin Family rose to prominence in an exceedingly short time, becoming 1 of the acknowledged Foundation Establishment clans in Yu County.

Verdant Ink Mountain (Location) itself was a mid-grade tier-2 spiritual vein. After over 2 100 years of cultivation by the Lin Clan, this spiritual vein had finally been elevated to a high-grade tier-2 level several decades ago.

"This Verdant Ink Mountain (Location) spiritual vein appears rather troublesome."

Several figures stood beneath Verdant Ink Mountain (Location), their expressions tinged with solemnity.

Lior frowned and said, "The spiritual vein here has reached the Upper Grade of the Second Order, and the defensive formations far surpass those of Spiritual Apricot Mountain. With Lin Mocheng personally guarding this place, I fear even a Purple Mansion cultivator would struggle to breach it in a short time."

"Then we shall not attack." Chen Changxuan also showed a trace of solemnity. "We will guard the foot of this mountain and starve them out. I refuse to believe they won't emerge."

Eldrin shook his head and said helplessly, "They're trapped here, sustained by the spirit vein for their cultivation."

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

As they were speaking, several streaks of sword radiance flew across the distant sky.

Eldrin (Person Name) looked up and recognized the newcomer as a Foundation Establishment cultivator from 1 of the few prominent Foundation Establishment immortal clans in Yu County.

Mu Xuanming, Meng Xinghe, and the others arrived together. Upon spotting the trio, they promptly descended on their sword glows and hurried forward.

"Family Head Chen, Fellow Daoist Eldrin (Person Name), what has brought matters to such a pass?" Mu Xuanming's face was clouded with worry the moment he stepped forward.

The old clan leader frowned, a murderous gleam flashing in his eyes. "The 2 Foundation Establishment experts from the Lin family joined forces to ambush my grand-nephew. Had he not kept a few tricks up his sleeve, his soul would have long been severed in the Great Barrens."

"How can such an irreconcilable blood feud be so easily set aside?"

"But..." Mu Xuanming's expression shifted, yet he still attempted to persuade them. "You are all decision-makers of Yu County. If you turn on each other now, wouldn't it bring grief to your allies and joy to your enemies? Wouldn't that make the demonic fiends gloat with schadenfreude?"

He paused, then said, "In my opinion, why don't I act as a mediator and have everyone cease hostilities here and now?"

The Sun and Zhang family heads standing nearby also nodded in agreement. "The beast tide is imminent, and your Chen and Lin families are the pillars of Yu County. There's still time to reconcile and join forces."

"There's no time left." Eldrin shook his head, speaking calmly. "I've slain 4 of the Lin family's Foundation Establishment cultivators. This matter can no longer be peacefully resolved."