Chapter 114 : A Windfall of Pills and Power

Ten days later, Eldrin Chen rode upon the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and returned to Yu County.

He did not first return to Spirit Isle Lake, but instead went directly to Pingyang City to find the Old Patriarch, who had just emerged from secluded cultivation.

By this time, Chen Thalion's injuries were mostly healed. There was no longer any serious danger, and he only needed to recuperate quietly for another year to fully recover.

After finding the Old Patriarch, Eldrin Chen told him about the three Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation] he had brought back and the news of the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Boat.

Looking at the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Boat, the Old Granduncle could not suppress a look of ecstatic joy.

"Although slaying that Purple Mansion Demonic Beast was perilous, to obtain two Third Rank Magical Treasure and three Foundation Establishment Pill is truly an unexpected windfall."

"Great risk indeed brings great reward. Were it not for the sheer lethality involved, this old man would be tempted to hunt Purple Mansion Demonic Beast himself."

Eldrin Chen also shook his head with a wry smile. Hunting Purple Mansion Demonic Beast was far from easy. His combined strength with the Old Patriarch was enough to contend with six ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators—a formidable force by any measure.

Yet, if they were to encounter a Purple Mansion Initial Stage Demonic Beast at the peak of its power, they might not even be able to preserve their own lives.

The Old Patriarch reined in his excitement and asked, "How do you intend to allocate these Foundation Establishment Pill?" Continue reading this story at audio–novel.com.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, then after a long pause spoke directly: "Within the clan, the number of cultivators under sixty years of age who have reached the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer is merely seven."

"With the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by monstrous beasts] imminent, it is best to use these Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm] soon to enhance our strength. Nianming, Nianguo, and Nianfeng have only just broken through to the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer and will need at least five or six more years to consolidate their foundations."

"That leaves only four suitable candidates: Uncle Qingyu, Kael, Caleb, and Silas."

As Eldrin Chen laid out the details, the Old Patriarch quickly grasped the identities of these four. He pondered for a moment before speaking again.

"Caleb and Silas are not yet thirty. If they attempt Foundation Establishment [the realm following Qi Refinement, where a cultivator's foundation is solidified] now, they will have one more chance in the future to attempt a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion [the realm following Foundation Establishment, where the spiritual sea condenses into a mansion]. The two Foundation Establishment Pill should be prioritized for them."

"As for Qingyu and Kael..."

Mentioning these two, the Old Patriarch fell into deep thought.

Chen Qingyu was the seventeenth son of Chen Changming. In years past, Chen Changming, at the venerable age of ninety-nine and with a body on the verge of failing, had still mustered his strength to activate the Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation [a powerful defensive and offensive formation] to eliminate the great enemy Zhang Vorgath for the clan—a contribution that could not be called insignificant.

Now, Chen Changming, the Old Granduncle, is one hundred and seventeen years old. His final wish before death is to see Chen Qingyu achieve Foundation Establishment.

As for Kael Chen, he is the youngest son of the Second Elder, Riverius Chen. The contributions of the Second Elder to the clan over the years need no elaboration. Even on his deathbed, he could not bring himself to use the Foundation Establishment Pill, instead instructing Eldrin Chen to bring it back and leave it for the clan.

The selection between these two candidates was not only a headache for Eldrin Chen, but even Old Patriarch found the situation rather thorny.

After a long pause, Chen Thalion finally spoke. "Both possess Three Spiritual Roots [a cultivator's spiritual affinity encompassing three of the five elements], their innate talent is nearly equal, and the disparity in their contributions to the clan is not particularly vast."

"However, Kael is forty-nine this year. Perhaps he can afford to wait a little longer for another opportunity."

"But Chen Qingyu is already fifty-eight. He has no more time to wait. This Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm] should go to Chen Qingyu."

Listening to this, Eldrin Chen felt a pang of melancholy in his heart.

How exceedingly rare was the chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill! Kael Chen had only twelve years left to wait. With the impending Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic onslaught of rampaging demonic beasts], the clan's chances of securing another such pill in that timeframe were, in truth, already slim.

"Alas!"

Eldrin Chen sighed. Yet, there truly was no better solution.

Pushing the thought aside, he suddenly recalled the past events Lyra Jiang was unwilling to speak of, and so he asked,

"Old Granduncle, do you know any news regarding the Eastern Sea Coast?"

"The Eastern Sea Coast?"

Chen Thalion furrowed his brow and shook his head. "That place is separated from the Eastern Wastelands by hundreds of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of mountains and rivers. It is said that even a Nascent Soul True Lord would need to use a Cross-Province Teleportation Formation to reach it."

"Given such a vast distance, the news I have from there is exceedingly scarce."

"I see," said Eldrin Chen, his disappointment palpable. Yet, unwilling to give up, he pressed on, "But do you know if any major events have occurred there in the last few centuries?"

"Major events in recent centuries?"

The Old Patriarch fell into deep thought. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Two hundred years ago, a truly earth-shattering event did occur within the Eastern Sea." This chapter is provided by audio~novel.com. Support the original.

"It is said that the millennial Demonic Abyss Cataclysm erupted, causing a tremendous uproar."

"However, that realm is simply too distant from us. I do not know the specifics of what transpired. Perhaps the Golden Core Ancestor of the Chu Kingdom, with their wider network of information, might know the general outline of events."

"The millennial Demonic Abyss Cataclysm?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen frowned. He had still not gleaned any information concerning Lyra Jiang.

However, this millennial Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a catastrophic event where demonic forces surge from the abyss] coincided rather closely with the time Lyra Jiang arrived in the Eastern Wastelands. Perhaps there was some connection between the two events.

Without obtaining detailed information, and with the Old Patriarch knowing little more, Eldrin Chen did not press further. He understood that if Lyra Jiang had not told him, it was likely because she did not wish to place undue pressure upon him.

"Enough of this. For now, diligent cultivation remains the true path to power."

After bidding farewell to the Old Patriarch, Eldrin Chen did not linger in Pingyang City. He departed for Verdant Chariot Mountain that very day.

Upon his return to Verdant Chariot Mountain, he immediately summoned all clan cultivators at or above the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the ninth and penultimate stage of Qi Refinement]. He then announced the candidates for the Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm], a decision he had finalized in consultation with the Clan Patriarch.

The siblings Caleb and Silas, along with Chen Qingyu, were naturally overjoyed. They excitedly received their allotted Foundation Establishment Pill and Essence Gathering Pill [a pill that helps gather and refine spiritual essence] from Eldrin Chen.

"I wonder how many among these three will succeed in achieving Foundation Establishment [the realm where a cultivator's foundation is solidified]."

Watching the trio depart eagerly with their pills to attempt their breakthrough, a wave of melancholy washed over Eldrin Chen.

The elders of the previous generation, including the Clan Patriarch and the old masters, all possessed decent talent. The Grand Elder and the Second Elder in particular were outstanding figures of their Qing Generation [a specific generational cohort within the clan]. Yet, fate had been unkind; they had all ultimately missed the optimal age for Foundation Establishment.

"What a pity."

With a silent sigh in his heart, Eldrin Chen rose to return to Spirit Lake Isle. Just then, Kael Chen approached him.

He looked at Eldrin Chen, his expression hesitant, as if words were caught in his throat. Finally, he spoke.

"Brother Eldrin."

Eldrin Chen paused, his gaze meeting Kael Chen's. "Cousin, about the Foundation Establishment Pill [a rare elixir that greatly increases the chance of successfully advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm]..."

"I understand," Kael Chen interjected, his voice calm. "Uncle Qingyu truly needs the Foundation Establishment Pill more than I do. So, I did not seek you out for that."

"Then for what?"

"I heard you successfully refined six Essence Gathering Pill [a pill that aids in gathering and condensing spiritual energy for cultivation] last time. I wonder if any remain?"

"You seek to attempt Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [the perilous process of advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm without the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill]?" Eldrin Chen's pupils constricted sharply. He could not help but add, "Without a Foundation Establishment Pill to mitigate the risks, failure means death. Have you truly considered this?"

Kael Chen offered no reply. He turned his head slightly, his eyes fixed on the flickering candlelight in the corner, a resolute flame burning within their depths.

"Before my father decided to attempt his breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm [the second major realm of cultivation, where a cultivator's foundation is solidified], he also spoke with me through the entire night."

"I am very much like my father. Using him as a mirror to see myself, I glimpsed in that moment the man I would become decades hence."

"That image of decrepitude, of waiting each day for death's approach, with no future left to behold."

"Can you fathom the weight of such a vision?"

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