Chapter 103 Thunderbolt Methods, Awe-Inspiring

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

"Not long ago, this individual came to our Wei Immortal Clan, claiming your Chen Family had discovered a Dark Iron Vein and wished to sell this information to us."

"Such a disgrace who has forgotten their own heritage truly disgusts this old man."

Varen declared with righteous conviction, "Our Veyne clan and your Chen clan are both foundational cultivation families of Chu Kingdom. We would never allow such a scoundrel to run rampant, which is why we've specifically returned this individual to your Chen family today to face your own judgment."

Upon hearing this, everyone from the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) instinctively turned to Chen Nianxu, only to see his face turn deathly pale, revealing an expression of utter despair and terror.

In that moment, everyone understood. Their faces turned ashen, wearing expressions of bitter disappointment at someone’s failure to meet expectations.

Eldrin cast a calm glance at Chen Nianxu, silently gesturing for the attendants to escort him away. Only then did he invite Varen to share tea atop a nearby mountain peak.

"This Dark Iron Mountain (Location) dojo has only just been established, and conditions remain rather austere. I sincerely hope you can overlook its shortcomings, Fellow Daoist."

"You flatter me."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the 3 Foundation Establishment cultivators took their seats. Eldrin poured a cup of tea for Varen before expressing his gratitude.

"It is truly a family misfortune to have produced such an unfilial descendant. I apologize for embarrassing you, Fellow Daoist Wei."

"You flatter me."

Varen accepted the tea, took a delicate sip, and then smiled faintly. "We are all fellow practitioners of the human race, and this was merely what this old man ought to do. However, today's events have indeed caused significant repercussions. I hope you, Fellow Daoist, will take this as a cautionary lesson."

"Fellow Daoist, regarding the matter you've brought to our attention, we shall deal with this individual severely to uphold the discipline of our sect."

Eldrin nodded calmly. Rather than showing anger, his expression remained composed, yet the tranquility in his eyes made him appear all the more intimidating.

Only the weak resort to bluster. With the passage of years, those as ruthless as him had learned to conceal their emotions behind an impenetrable facade.

3 Foundation Establishment cultivators conversed cheerfully atop the mountain peak. After half an hour, Varen (Person Name) did not prolong his stay, rising to bid farewell to the other 2.

At the moment of parting, Eldrin accompanied him for a stretch of the journey before smiling and saying, "I, Eldrin, shall remember the kindness shown today."

"I shall surely pay a visit to Tian'e Mountain another day to express my gratitude."

"Then this old man shall certainly prepare a warm welcome."

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

After he departed, Eldrin and Lior exchanged a glance before swiftly flying back to the Dark Iron Mountain dojo.

Upon returning to Dark Iron Mountain (Location), the 2 found Chen Nianxu in the main hall. His face was already bruised and swollen, while his elder cousins Chen Nianyong and Chen Nianyang—fellow "Nian-generation" clansmen—stood nearby with ashen faces, breathing heavily. Clearly, they had just given the young man a thorough thrashing.

Lior cast a glance and said with exasperation, "Chen Nianxu, you have the nerve!"

"How dare you?"

The Third Elder was so furious his stomach ached, his entire face having turned deathly pale.

Chen Nianxu’s face was deathly pale as he tearfully clung to Lior’s (Person Name) leg, choking out his words between sobs.

"Uncle Lior, I acted foolishly in a moment of confusion. I beg you to spare me this once."

"My grandfather was once the family's Eldrin (Person Name). He fell in battle during the Beast Tide Rebellion back then. I beg you, for his sake, please spare me this once."

"You have the nerve to mention Uncle Changming?" Lior kicked him aside, then slapped him again in fury. "You worthless wretch! Are you worthy of your grandfather?"

He spoke while making a move to continue kicking him, but Eldrin stopped him.

"Alright, there's no need to continue fighting."

Eldrin spoke as he rose to his feet and approached Chen Nianxu, his expression serene as he inquired.

"Why did you do this?"

"Needless to say, I already know—it's for that Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object), isn't it?"

He remarked noncommittally, a murderous intent gleaming in his eyes.

Everyone present suddenly felt their hairs stand on end, as an overwhelming terror gripped their hearts.

The Third Elder’s heart sank at the sight, and a single thought surged through his mind: “Chen Nianxu’s life cannot be saved.”

Lior had initially intended to spare Chen Nianxu's life out of respect for his ancestors and because no grave consequences had yet occurred, planning only to cripple his cultivation base.

But he understood clearly that Eldrin was now emanating killing intent. Unless the old patriarch came personally to intervene, no 1 could possibly save Chen Nianxu.

"Eldrin, I had no other choice." Chen Nianxu felt the killing intent piercing through his very bones and hastily explained, "I'm already over 50-4 years old. If I miss this chance, I'm afraid I'll never get another opportunity for the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"I was merely confused for a moment, I beg you to spare me."

The reason he had leaked the information to the Feng Clan was precisely to let them seize this Mysterious Iron Vein, ensuring that Chen Seraphina (Person Name) would fail to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object). When the time came, he would naturally become the most suitable candidate for that very Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object).

His plan was well-calculated. The cultivation world of Yu Prefecture had little interaction with Yangzhou. By informing the Feng Clan of Boyang County, his family would likely never trace the leak back to him.

Yet he never could have imagined that the Feng Clan, deeming the Chen Family too formidable to provoke, would capture him and present him as a tribute.

"Since you have betrayed the clan, you should understand that this comes at a price."

Eldrin said coldly as the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss descended, severing Chen Nianxu's head.

Everyone watched as Chen Nianxu was about to fall lifeless on the spot, their hearts suddenly jolting with a mix of vindication and awe.

After beheading Chen Nianxu, Eldrin declared, "Expel him from the clan registry. His descendants shall be exiled to the Great Wastelands, forever barred from entering the Chen Immortal Clan."

Everyone’s faces turned pale. Over the years, Chen Nianxu had taken 7 or 8 wives and concubines, and his descendants likely numbered over a 100 in total. All of them were mortals—once exiled into the Great Desolation, their chances of survival were nearly nonexistent.

After the crowd had gathered Chen Nianxu’s remains and departed from the hall, only the Third Elder and Eldrin (Person Name) remained standing within the great hall.

The Third Elder glanced at Eldrin (Person Name), seeming to want to say something, but ultimately held his tongue.

Eldrin gazed at the vast wilderness in the distance, shaking his head as he said, "Does the Third Elder believe my methods to be excessively cruel?"

"Putting Chen Nianxu to death would not be unjust." Lior (Person Name) hesitated briefly before continuing, "But as the saying goes, 1 should not visit the sins upon the family..."

"I understand."

Eldrin nodded, yet countered, "But the clan traitors must face the most severe punishment."

"If we fail to command respect, everyone will follow suit for their own interests, and sooner or later this will bring calamity upon our clan—the kind that eradicates a bloodline."

"Today we are exiling Chen Nianxu's lineage, but what we may save in the future are tens of thousands of lives within the Chen Immortal Clan."

"Thus, no traitor to our clan shall ever be tolerated!"

"This..." Lior fell silent, eventually sighing, "Perhaps you understand human hearts better than I do."

The Third Elder spoke, then shook his head again. "When I returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain, I advised him to wait a while longer. I promised his lineage priority access to Foundation Establishment Pill exchanges in the future. Never imagined he'd still be this foolish."

Eldrin (Person Name) did not respond, instead turning his gaze toward the distant horizon as a faint sigh escaped his heart.

The Third Elder had presided over the family affairs for many years, yet his temperament leaned toward gentleness, always leaving others a margin of retreat in his dealings.

While this proved highly effective in resolving conflicts among the clan's cultivators, allowing everyone to accept resource allocations with equanimity, it lacked sufficient deterrence during critical moments.

Lior (Person Name) spoke with sincere and gentle words indeed. Had this been an ordinary matter, or had it involved someone else, his persuasion might have succeeded. But when it concerned the path of cultivation, both kindness and authority must be employed—not only must promises be given, but Chen Nianxu (Person Name) must also be reminded not to commit any foolish acts.

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped through the valley, carrying with it the scent of pine and decay. A lone figure sat cross-legged upon a weathered boulder, his simple grey robes fluttering around him. This was Lin Feng, a humble outer sect disciple of the Verdant Cloud Sect. His eyes were closed in deep concentration, his breathing a slow, rhythmic tide. For 3 years, he had been stuck at the third level of the Qi Condensation stage. It was a painfully common bottleneck, 1 that had crushed the aspirations of countless disciples before him. Today, however, felt different. A strange warmth, faint yet persistent, had been circulating in his dantian since dawn. *Is this it?* he wondered, a flicker of hope igniting within his calm heart. *After 1 100 years of relentless cultivation, is a breakthrough finally at hand?* He focused his mind, guiding the stream of spiritual energy through his meridians according to the Verdant Cloud Art. The energy, usually docile and thin, now felt like a nascent torrent, pushing against the invisible barrier that had confined him for so long. Suddenly, a crisp *ding* echoed in his consciousness, a sound so clear it seemed to originate from both within and without. [Ding! Host's persistence detected. The 'Omnipotent Cultivation System' is now activating!] Lin Feng's eyes snapped open. A translucent blue screen, shimmering with ethereal light, hovered before his vision. [Welcome, Host: Lin Feng] [Cultivation Base: 3rd Level of Qi Condensation] [Cultivation Technique: Verdant Cloud Art (Basic Tier)] [Spirit Stones: 87] [System Functions: Mission Board, Cultivation Simulator, System Shop (Locked)] He stared, utterly bewildered. A system? Such things were the stuff of legends, tales told by drunken elders to wide-eyed novices. Yet here it was, undeniable. "H-how... what is this?" he whispered to the empty air. [This system exists to assist the host in achieving the pinnacle of cultivation. Your first mission is now available.] [Mission: Breakthrough] [Objective: Advance to the 4th Level of Qi Condensation.] [Reward: 1,000 spirit stones, 1 x Low-Grade Qi Gathering Pill, Unlock the 'System Shop'.] A 1000 spirit stones! It was a fortune unimaginable to an outer sect disciple who scrounged for months to gather a mere 100. And a Qi Gathering Pill? That could shave months off his cultivation! A fierce determination hardened his gaze. He did not know from whence this boon had come, but he would grasp it with both hands. Closing his eyes once more, he plunged back into his cultivation, the system's interface a constant, reassuring presence at the edge of his perception. The spiritual energy of the world began to swirl around him, drawn in more rapidly than ever before. The barrier of the third level, once as solid as a mountain wall, now felt as fragile as glass.