Chapter 42 : The Blazing Sword's Hidden Gambit

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen also revealed a faint smile. The Chen Clan's Blazing Heaven Sword Divine Ability [a formidable sword technique passed down through the Chen family] was renowned throughout Yu County.

With this divine ability alone, the Old Patriarch was a match for most Foundation Establishment, Late Stage [cultivators who have reached the advanced phase of the Foundation Establishment realm] cultivators. Now, bolstered by the even more powerful Separated Flame Soul-Burning Banner [a set of enchanted banners that can unleash soul-scorching separated flames], his strength was formidable indeed.

The Separated Flame Soul-Burning Banner possessed extraordinary might. In the hands of a Second Rank High Grade Formation Master [a master of formation arts at the peak of the second rank] like the Clan Patriarch, this single set of Formation Flags [enchanted flags used to anchor and power formations] could contend with one or two ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators.

"With this set of Formation Flags, it should be sufficient to handle any hidden cards they might play."

"The question now is how to draw them out."

Eldrin Chen stated, his brow furrowing. This was a rather troublesome problem.

"There's no need for such complexity." The Old Patriarch replied with a confident smile. "Once we resume the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] trade at Celestial Ruins Mountain, they will come to us of their own accord."

"Why is that?" Eldrin Chen inquired, puzzled.

The Old Patriarch stroked his beard, smiling. "Because they will be afraid."

Eldrin Chen chuckled wryly, realizing he had once again underestimated the deterrent power of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel`com.

As one of only three Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators in Yu County, and having mastered the county's most formidable offensive divine ability, the Blazing Heaven Sword, the Old Patriarch's strength was far from ordinary. This was proven five years prior when, despite being besieged by five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he managed to slay one of his assailants.

Having provoked such a powerful Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators, the remaining participants from that battle had likely been living in fear for years.

Although the Old Patriarch's injuries were now healed, he had sold off his personal magical tools, leaving him at his most vulnerable state.

If given a few years for the Old Patriarch to acquire a new set of Second Rank Magical Tools, those families would face a grim future—either being picked off one by one or living in perpetual dread.

Therefore, if the clan resumed its trade of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] with Celestial Ruins Mountain, forcing the Old Patriarch to venture beyond the centuries-old defenses of the Verdant Chariot Mountain Mountain Guardian Grand Formation, his enemies would have no choice but to act.

"Since they are compelled to strike, the matter becomes straightforward," Eldrin Chen concluded.

"Now that you have emerged from seclusion, we shall dispatch envoys tomorrow to confer with the other great families," he continued.

"A decade has passed since our Chen Clan last handled the Five Elements Essence trade to Celestial Ruins Mountain. It is our turn once more."

Eldrin Chen said with a faint smile, for the Five Elements Essence trade was a lucrative source of income.

The Old Patriarch pondered for a moment before speaking thoughtfully, "To resume the Five Elements Essence trade, the clan's current reserves of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] are likely insufficient."

The hundreds of Cultivation Clan [families dedicated to the practice of cultivation] in Yu County, large and small, along with the Rogue Cultivator [independent cultivators with no sect or clan affiliation], together number nearly ten thousand low-level cultivators. Each year, they refine over fifty to sixty thousand strands of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth].

Purchasing this quantity of Five Elements Essence from the Rogue Cultivator, based on previous years' prices, would require approximately eight thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Selling it at Heaven's Ruin Mountain Market would fetch around ten thousand Spirit Stone.

A business venture with a profit of two thousand Spirit Stone is no easy matter. It requires not only sufficient strength but also the capital of eight thousand Spirit Stone to begin with.

Eldrin Chen calculated for a moment, then said, "In recent years, most of the Spirit Stone earned by the Clan Treasury [the clan's central repository of resources] have been used to repay internal and external debts. What remains is not much."

"However, the Qi Absorption Herb [an herb that aids in gathering and absorbing ambient Qi] matured not long ago. After the Essence Gathering Pill [a pill that helps gather and condense spiritual essence] made from it is sold, we should have around two thousand Spirit Stone."

"Once this year's Spirit Peach [a peach imbued with spiritual energy] harvest ripens, I can contribute over eight hundred Spirit Stone from my share. As for this year's clan stipends, we can delay issuing them until after we return from Heaven's Ruin Mountain next year, which would save us nearly one thousand Spirit Stone."

"Calculating it this way, if we borrow another four thousand Spirit Stone from the various great families, we can proceed with this venture."

Thalion Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Borrowing four thousand Spirit Stone urgently for a year would incur an interest of three hundred Spirit Stone. Though the cost is steep, we would still turn a profit."

"Then it is settled," Eldrin Chen affirmed with a nod. "Tomorrow, I will have the Third Elder handle the arrangements. The Evergreen Tower [the Chen Clan's establishment] in Yuyang Market can begin purchasing the Five Elements Essence immediately."

"…"

The news that the Chen Clan had borrowed funds from several major Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan in Yu County to begin purchasing Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] quickly spread throughout the entire county.

This sent a clear signal to the outside world: Chen Thalion's injuries had healed. Otherwise, the Chen Clan would have possessed no capability whatsoever to engage in the trade of Five Elements Essence.

Half a year later, tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Yu County, within the neighboring Feng County, three figures gathered.

Had Chen Thalion been present, he would have recognized them instantly. These three were the sworn, mortal enemies of the Chen Clan.

The figure on the left was none other than Zuo Mingxu of the Zuo Clan, one of Feng County Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans, accompanied by his clansman Zuo Zhouqi—both Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The man on the right was Lin Taihe, a Rogue Cultivator [an unaffiliated cultivator] from Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Zuo Mingxu regarded Lin Taihe with a furrowed brow. "Fellow Daoist Lin," he inquired, "what matter brings you across ten thousand Li-lengths to seek us out?" For uninterrupted reading, go to audio~novel.com.

"Patriarch Zuo, spare me the pretense of ignorance," Lin Taihe retorted with a cold sneer, his expression icy. "You must have heard the news by now. Chen Thalion has recovered from his injuries and emerged from seclusion."

Zuo Mingxu's face darkened, his jaw tightening. "What of it? Do you still harbor thoughts of vengeance?"

"Eight years ago, the five of us joined forces, yet not only did he escape, he turned the tables and slew one of our number. Now that his strength is restored, what hope do we have against him?"

"That is not the way to see it," Lin Taihe replied, a trace of helplessness coloring his tone. "He recognized each of us that day. If we do not act, he will surely hunt us down, one by one, in time."

"Why not seize this moment, when he is stripped of his Second Rank Magical Tool and has lost his Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its user's life force], to strike him down at his weakest?"

"Easier said than done," Zuo Mingxu replied with a grave and somewhat fearful expression. "You've seen that Blazing Heaven Sword Divine Ability [a powerful sword technique passed down through the Chen family]. How do you think Liu Yuyang perished? And how were Zhang Vorgath's Demonic Treasure [a powerful artifact forged with demonic energy] utterly destroyed?"

"With just the three of us, I fear charging in would not only fail to finish him but might cost one or two of us our lives."

"*Hum—*"

As the two were speaking, Lin Taihe released his own aura, causing both men to startle and adopt expressions of renewed seriousness.

Noting their astonished looks, Lin Taihe allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. "And now? Do we have the strength to test him?"

"You've broken through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage?" Zuo Zhouqi said, a note of envy in his voice.

"After that battle where Liu Yuyang fell, I paid a visit to his Cultivation Cave [a secluded dwelling used for meditation and cultivation]," Lin Taihe explained.

Lin Taihe licked his lips, a flicker of greed shining in his eyes. "Fellow Daoist Liu's hoard was quite substantial. It allowed me to purchase a pill from the Heaven's Ruin Pavilion [a prominent trading establishment in the Heaven's Ruin Mountain market] to shatter the bottleneck to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage."

"Even though you've broken through to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage, with just our trio's strength, I fear we still cannot guarantee his capture or demise."

Zuo Mingxu pondered the proposal in detail once more, but ultimately shook his head in refusal. As the patriarch of his clan, he was not like Lin Taihe, a Rogue Cultivator [a cultivator with no sect or clan affiliation] who could act without any attachments or burdens.

Furthermore, he was well aware that as long as he remained within the Zuo Clan, protected by the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array formation] his family had maintained for centuries, Chen Thalion could do nothing to harm him. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel dot com.