Chapter 103 : A Traitor's Despair and a Patriarch's Tea

Before Eldrin Chen could speak, Patriarch Wei stroked his long beard and continued.

"Not long ago, this man came to our Wei Immortal Clan and claimed that your Chen Clan had discovered a Mysterious Iron Vein [a vein of a special metal imbued with spiritual properties], and he wished to sell this information to us."

"Such a person, who betrays his own ancestors and heritage, is truly beneath my contempt."

Varen Wei declared with righteous indignation: "Our Wei Clan and your Chen Clan are both Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [powerful clans whose members cultivate to achieve the Foundation Establishment realm] within the Chu Kingdom. Naturally, we would not allow such a scoundrel to run rampant. Therefore, today we have specifically returned him to your Chen Clan for your own judgment."

Upon hearing this, the members of the Chen Immortal Clan could not help but look towards Chen Silvan. They saw his face turn as pale as parchment, etched with despair and terror.

In that moment, understanding dawned on everyone. Their expressions hardened with anger and profound disappointment.

Eldrin Chen cast a glance at Chen Silvan, his countenance calm. With a silent gesture, he signaled for the others to take him away. Only then did he invite Varen Wei to share tea on a nearby mountain peak.

"This Mysterious Iron Mountain Dao Field [a cultivator's place of practice and seclusion] has only recently been established, so conditions are rather austere. I hope you can forgive its simplicity."

"Not at all, not at all."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their cultivation foundation] took their seats. Eldrin Chen poured a cup of tea for Varen Wei and then expressed his gratitude. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel.com (official site).

"It is a family disgrace, to have produced such an unfilial descendant. I apologize for the spectacle, Fellow Daoist Wei."

"Not at all, not at all."

Varen Wei accepted the tea, took a shallow sip, and then smiled faintly. "We are all fellow cultivators of the human race; this was merely my duty. However, today's incident has significant repercussions. I hope you will take it as a stern warning."

"Your reminder is noted. We will deal with this individual severely to uphold our clan's discipline."

Eldrin Chen nodded. He displayed no outward anger; his expression remained placid. Yet, the calmness in his eyes felt more intimidating than any fury.

Only the weak resort to bluster. With age, a man of his decisive methods learned to keep his emotions veiled before outsiders, his true feelings hidden beneath an unreadable surface.

The three Foundation Establishment Cultivator conversed pleasantly atop the mountain peak. After half a shichen-time [a conventional short duration, roughly fifteen to thirty minutes], Varen Wei did not linger. He rose and bid farewell to the other two.

As they parted, Eldrin Chen escorted him for a stretch of the path. With a smile, he said, "Today's favor, I, Eldrin Chen, will remember."

"One day, I shall visit Heavenly Peak to express my gratitude in person."

"Then this old man will surely prepare a warm welcome."

Varen Wei said with a smile, before finally turning into a streak of flowing light and flying into the distance.

After he departed, Eldrin Chen and Lior Chen exchanged a glance and swiftly flew back to the Mysterious Iron Mountain Dao Field.

Upon returning to the Dark Iron Mountain [the mountain where the Mysterious Iron Vein is located], the two found Chen Silvan in the main hall. At this moment, Chen Silvan was bruised and battered, while his Nian Generation elder brothers, Chen Alaric and Chen Sol, stood nearby with faces ashen and breathing heavily, clearly having just given him a thorough thrashing.

Lior Chen shot him a look, his voice filled with bitter disappointment. "Chen Silvan, you have some nerve!"

"How dare you?"

The Third Elder was so furious his stomach ached, his entire face having paled considerably.

Chen Silvan, his face deathly pale, wept as he clung to Lior Chen's leg, his words choked with sobs.

"Uncle Lior, I was momentarily blinded by folly. I beg you, spare me this once."

"My grandfather was once a revered Clan Elder! He fell in battle during the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts]. I implore you, for his sake, forgive me this time."

"How dare you invoke your grandfather's name?" Lior Chen kicked him away, then, still seething, delivered another slap. "You worthless wretch! Is this how you honor your grandfather's legacy?"

As he spoke, he lunged forward again, intent on kicking him further, but Eldrin Chen held him back.

"Enough. There is no need for further blows."

Eldrin Chen spoke, rising to his feet and walking before Chen Silvan. His expression was calm as he inquired.

"Why did you do this?"

"I need not hear it to know. Was it for that Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that allows a Qi Refinement cultivator to attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm]?"

He stated it as an undeniable fact, his gaze sharpening as a palpable killing intent radiated from his very being. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel*com.

Everyone present suddenly felt their hairs stand on end, a profound sense of dread gripping their hearts.

Witnessing this, Third Elder felt his heart lurch. A single, chilling thought surfaced: "Chen Silvan's life is forfeit."

Lior Chen had initially considered sparing Chen Silvan's life, for the sake of his ancestors and because no irreversible harm had yet been done, intending only to cripple his cultivation.

But he understood clearly that now Eldrin Chen's killing intent had been roused. Unless Old Patriarch himself came to plead for mercy, likely no one could save Chen Silvan.

"Eldrin, I was left with no other choice." Chen Silvan felt the killing intent pierce through him and hurriedly explained, "I am already past fifty-four years of age. If I miss this chance, I fear I will never obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that allows a cultivator to attempt a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm]."

"This was merely a momentary lapse in judgment. I beg you, spare me."

It turned out the reason he had leaked the information to the Feng Clan was to have them seize this Mysterious Iron Vein [a vein of Mysterious Iron, a metal prized for crafting magical tools], thereby preventing Chen Seraphina from acquiring the Foundation Establishment Pill. In that scenario, he would once again become the most suitable candidate for that pill.

His calculations were shrewd. The cultivation world of Yu County had little interaction with that of Yang Province. By informing the Feng Clan in Boyang County, he believed the clan would likely never trace the betrayal back to him.

What he never anticipated was that the Feng Clan, deeming the Chen Clan a force not to be trifled with, would capture him and deliver him as a gift of goodwill.

"Since you chose to betray the clan, you must understand that a price must be paid."

Eldrin Chen stated coldly. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a lifebound magical sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame] descended, severing Chen Silvan's head from his shoulders.

Witnessing Chen Silvan lying dead before them, the assembled clansmen felt a jolt of shock. A sense of grim satisfaction warred with a palpable feeling of being cowed by the display of authority.

After executing Chen Silvan, Eldrin Chen decreed, "Strike his name from the Clan Genealogy. His descendants are to be exiled into the Great Wilderness [a vast, monster-infested wilderness], forever barred from entering the ranks of the Chen Immortal Clan."

The faces of the crowd paled. Over the years, Chen Silvan had taken seven or eight wives and concubines, likely fathering close to a hundred descendants in total. These people, all mortals, cast into the Great Wilderness, would have almost no chance of survival.

After the others had gathered the remains of Chen Silvan and departed the hall, only Third Elder and Eldrin Chen remained standing within the great chamber.

Third Elder glanced at Eldrin Chen, seeming as if he wished to speak, yet in the end, the words remained unvoiced.

Gazing towards the distant Vast and Boundless Wilds, Eldrin Chen shook his head and said, "Does Third Elder perhaps feel my methods were excessively cruel?"

"Executing Chen Silvan was not unjust," Lior Chen replied with a slight hesitation, then continued, "But as the saying goes, the punishment should not extend to the family…"

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen nodded, yet countered firmly, "But those who betray the clan must receive the most severe punishment."

"If we fail to deter others, if everyone follows this example for their own gain, then sooner or later, it will bring calamity and utter ruin upon our family."

"Today, we exile the lineage of Chen Silvan. Yet tomorrow, this act may save the lives of countless souls within the Chen Immortal Clan."

"Therefore, no traitor to the clan shall ever be tolerated or spared!"

"This…" Lior Chen was left speechless, finally sighing, "Perhaps you understand the hearts of men better than I do."

Third Elder spoke, then shook his head and said, "When I returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain, I urged him to wait a little longer, promising his lineage priority in exchanging for a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm] in the future. I never imagined he would still be so foolish."

Eldrin Chen did not reply, instead turning his gaze toward the distant horizon, a faint sigh echoing in his heart.

Having overseen the clan's affairs for many years, Third Elder possessed a temperament inclined toward gentleness, always leaving a margin of grace in his dealings.

While this approach was highly effective in resolving conflicts among the clan's cultivators, allowing everyone to accept resource allocations with calm hearts, it lacked a certain deterrent force at critical junctures.

Lior Chen had indeed spoken with good intentions and gentle words. For ordinary matters, or with a different person, his persuasion might have succeeded. However, in matters concerning one's Dao path [the fundamental path of cultivation and enlightenment], one must employ both kindness and authority—offering promises while also awakening Chen Silvan to the folly of his intended course.

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