Chapter 106 : A Pill of Destiny and Breakthrough

"This..."

Chen Seraphina's face lit up with joy, yet a flicker of hesitation remained.

The Meridian Tempering Pill was a Second Rank Low Grade elixir [a refined spiritual pill used for cultivation] that could aid a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation] in tempering their meridians [the channels through which spiritual energy flows]. Its value often reached over a thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], enough for her to complete her meridian refinement, yet it felt far too precious a gift.

Seeing her hesitation, Eldrin Chen added, "Take it first to attempt your Foundation Establishment [the process of solidifying one's spiritual foundation]. Once you succeed, your clan stipend will increase significantly. You can repay me then."

Hearing this, Chen Seraphina finally accepted the Meridian Tempering Pill. The resolve to break through to Foundation Establishment burned even brighter within her heart.

"Thank you, Eldrin."

After expressing her gratitude to Eldrin Chen, she entered the Back Mountain Spirit Spring [a spring imbued with concentrated spiritual energy] to begin her secluded cultivation.

To prevent any disturbance, Eldrin Chen did not leave. He stationed himself outside the Spirit Spring to cultivate and, in doing so, stand guard for her.

Two moons waxed and waned. On this day, Eldrin Chen sensed a surge of power swelling within the Spirit Spring, a pressure that gathered and then condensed. A smile touched his lips.

"Success." Read, share, and discuss at www . audio-novel.com.

Chen Seraphina emerged from her secluded cultivation, having successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation], becoming the clan's fifth Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Such momentous news warranted immediate celebration. Eldrin Chen personally escorted Chen Seraphina to Pingyang City that very day to meet with the Old Patriarch, summoning Lior Chen back as well.

Upon seeing Chen Seraphina, the Old Patriarch broke into a hearty laugh. "It seems the heavens themselves decree a glorious rise for our Chen Clan!"

Smiles graced the faces of all present. With five Foundation Establishment experts and control over four Second Rank Spirit Vein [spiritual energy sources of the second tier], the current Chen Clan could now be ranked among the top three Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [cultivation families with Foundation Establishment experts as their pillars] across the entire Bianzhou region.

Fresh from her breakthrough, Chen Seraphina was not only penniless but also lacked a proper Second Rank Magical Tool [an enchanted artifact of the second rank]. The Old Patriarch generously gifted her one: the Crimson Flame Immortal Sword.

Now in possession of Zuo Yuannian's defensive treasure seal, the Third Elder passed his old Golden Light Shield to Chen Seraphina as a congratulatory gift.

Eldrin Chen's gift was the most extravagant. He presented a Second Rank Middle Grade Mysterious Iron Treasure Bracelet. Over the past few years, he had smelted the Metal-Devouring Beast carcass, yielding seven thousand Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] of Mysterious Iron [a rare, spiritually conductive metal], using the abundant material to hone his Artificing Art [the art of crafting magical tools].

Though the repeated smelting and forging incurred significant loss, the sheer volume of material allowed him to advance his Artificing Art to the Second Rank Middle Grade level.

This Mysterious Iron Treasure Bracelet was his first successfully forged Second Rank Middle Grade Magical Tool. Inscribed within it were Diamond Formation Runes [runes of extreme hardness and durability]. Once activated, it became heavy as a mountain, capable of shattering a massive city wall. Even a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast would likely suffer shattered bones and ruptured sinews from a single blow.

Chen Seraphina accepted it with unbridled delight, unable to put it down, and offered her heartfelt thanks again and again.

After exchanging greetings with several people and receiving their congratulatory gifts, Chen Seraphina proceeded to the Mysterious Iron Mountain Dao Field. As Lior Chen needed to remain at Verdant Chariot Mountain to oversee the clan's myriad affairs, it was more appropriate for her to hold the fort there.

Eldrin Chen did not linger for long either. Before his departure, he presented one Spirit-Concentrating Pill [a pill that aids in focusing one's spiritual energy and consciousness] to the old patriarch and placed the remaining one into the Clan Treasury. He then returned to Spirit Isle Lake to continue his secluded cultivation.

Time flowed like water, swift and unceasing, passing in the blink of an eye.

Two years later, with the aid of the Spirit Peach [a mystical fruit that enhances a cultivator's cultivation base], Eldrin Chen's cultivation broke through another layer, reaching the fifth layer of the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] realm.

During those two years, the grade of the Spirit Peach Tree [a spiritual tree that bears cultivation-enhancing peaches] had risen by another tier. It now bore seventy-two Spirit Peach every three years, a number that corresponded with the Earthly Fiend Number [a mystical number of seventy-two, often associated with earthly powers and formations]. This provided the Clan Foundation Establishment Cultivators with a slightly more abundant supply of cultivation resources once again.

Following the established custom of previous years, the Merchant Caravan journeyed forth under the leadership of Eldrin Chen. After several months of travel, they finally arrived at Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Upon reaching Celestial Ruins Mountain, they were received by the familiar face of Liu Seraphina. She greeted them warmly, saying, "Fellow Daoist Chen, your cultivation grows ever more profound. I can scarcely perceive its depths now."

"You flatter me, Fairy Liu. My meager cultivation is nowhere near as lofty as yours,"

Eldrin Chen replied with a smile. Over the years, Liu Seraphina's own cultivation had also progressed significantly. From the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment when they first met, she had now reached the seventh layer, becoming one of the rare Foundation Establishment, Late Stage [cultivators in the advanced stages of the Foundation Establishment realm] cultivators.

The Chen Clan conducted its trade in Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth] at Celestial Ruins Mountain once every six years. Calculating carefully, this was already Eldrin Chen's fourth journey to engage in this Five Elements Essence trade.

He had attained the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their foundation for the path ahead] realm at the age of twenty-two. That was the year he first came to Celestial Ruins Mountain to conduct business involving Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements]. By this reckoning, he had been at the Foundation Establishment realm for eighteen years and was now forty years of age. Truly, the passage of time holds no sway over one immersed in cultivation.

According to the covenant established between the Six Kingdoms Hegemon and the Ji Immortal Clan on one side, and the Demon Emperor [a supreme ruler among demonic beings] on the other, the time until the next Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts] was now only about fifteen years away.

After concluding the Five Elements Essence transaction, Eldrin Chen remained at Celestial Ruins Mountain for half a month before returning to Verdant Chariot Mountain with his Merchant Caravan. However, scarcely three months after his return to Yu County, a shocking piece of news swept through the Three Counties of Bianzhou.

Eldrin Chen set aside his cultivation without delay and convened a meeting with the Old Patriarch and the Third Elder in Pingyang City.

Chen Thalion looked at Lior Chen and could not help but ask, "Is this matter true?"

"I had people investigate. It is said that even Senior Mordecai of Heaven's Ruin Mountain's Purple Mansion took action," the Third Elder affirmed with a nod. Find thousands of chapters at audio - novel . com.

"Then it is almost certainly true."

Eldrin Chen nodded as well, his expression a mix of gravity and pleasant surprise.

Not long before, a piece of news had begun to spread from the mouths of Rogue Cultivator [cultivators not affiliated with any major clan or sect] at Celestial Ruins Mountain.

It was said that the Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [a demonic beast whose power is equivalent to a human Purple Mansion realm cultivator] known as the Golden Lion Mastiff had, for reasons unknown, suddenly attacked the territory of the Thunder Roc and was now locked in battle with that tribe.

That Golden Lion Mastiff was a Purple Mansion Demonic Beast under the command of the Earth Lion Demon King, its strength having reached the Third Rank High Grade level.

Although the Thunder Roc Tribe had the backing of the Celestial Python Lake, their strength was far inferior. Furthermore, after losing two Purple Mansion powerhouses in the battle at Demon Wolf Mountain eighteen years prior, their power had been greatly diminished. Naturally, they could not withstand the Golden Lion Mastiff clan.

After a great battle, the Thunder Roc tribe was nearly annihilated. Even their Third Rank Spirit Vein territory, Thunderclap Valley, was seized by the Golden Lion Mastiff clan.

Only two Purple Palace Demon Roc managed to escape. One of them, a Third Rank Low Grade demonic roc, in its desperate flight from the Golden Lion Mastiff pursuers, actually crossed over Celestial Ruins Mountain and fled deep into the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness.

With Lyra Jiang standing guard, the Golden Lion Mastiff naturally dared not pursue beyond Celestial Ruins Mountain, forced to let the creature escape with its life.

Yet once this news spread, it immediately caused a stir among the major immortal clans of Bianzhou.

A solitary and grievously wounded Purple Mansion Demonic Beast held staggering value. Not only could its Demonic Core [the condensed energy core of a powerful demonic beast] be used to refine a full cauldron of Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm], but its bones and hide could also be forged into Third Rank Magical Tool grade Talisman [enchanted slips of paper or other materials inscribed with spells]. For any Purple Mansion Cultivator, this represented a considerable fortune.

Thus, not only the Foundation Establishment level Rogue Cultivator [cultivators unaffiliated with any major clan or sect] of Celestial Ruins Mountain, but even the great immortal clans of Bianzhou could no longer sit idle. All sought to locate this Purple Palace Demon Roc, slay it, and claim its Demonic Core.

As he relayed the information he had gathered, Lior Chen could not contain his excitement. "That Thunder Roc broke through to the Purple Mansion less than ten years ago and was severely wounded by the Golden Lion Mastiff. Right now, it is at its most vulnerable state."

"If we can find and slay it, the Demonic Core we obtain would be enough to refine a full cauldron of Foundation Establishment Pill."

Eldrin Chen also nodded, yet he spoke with measured caution: "A Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [a powerful monster whose strength is comparable to a cultivator in the Purple Mansion Realm] possesses formidable power. Even grievously wounded, it is not certain we can subdue it. Moreover, Old Granduncle must remain to guard Pingyang City and cannot be absent for long." He paused, then continued, "This is my proposal: I shall venture into the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness first, to see if I can locate the hiding place of that Purple Palace Demon Roc [a monstrous roc of immense power dwelling in the Purple Mansion Realm]." Find thousands of chapters at audio . novel . com.