Chapter 81 : The Foundation's Cruel Threshold

It turns out that attempting a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their foundation] without a Foundation Establishment Pill [a special elixir that significantly increases the chance of successfully establishing one's cultivation foundation] is actually the norm. The vast majority of Rogue Cultivator [cultivators without sect or clan affiliation] and minor clan cultivators do precisely this, though nine out of ten of them fall at the very threshold of Foundation Establishment.

Furthermore, achieving Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [the perilous method of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm without external aids like pills] does not guarantee a smoother path forward. Even if Rogue Cultivator and minor clan cultivators successfully break through to Foundation Establishment, merely securing a stable footing is a monumental struggle for them.

To be recognized by the Yu County Six Great Clans and be permitted a share of the county's resources, a clan must possess at least two Second Rank Spirit Vein [a vein of earth that emits spiritual energy of the second rank]. One vein is for nurturing the mortal population, ensuring a steady stream of potential cultivators, and the other is dedicated to supporting the clan's existing cultivators in their practice.

Even if cultivators from these minor immortal clans break through to Foundation Establishment, without the stable income and stipends of a true Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, and without a proper Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivation Art [a cultivation technique specifically designed for the Foundation Establishment Realm to efficiently absorb spiritual energy], their cultivation journey becomes arduous. They would waste the majority of their lives scrambling for meager resources.

Most of these individuals end their days trapped in the early or middle stages of Foundation Establishment. Only the rare one or two, blessed with exceptional fortune, manage to painstakingly cultivate their way to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage.

Yet, when facing the barrier to breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm, where one opens a spiritual mansion within their dantian], without precious aids like Purple Sun Jade [a rare jade that aids in stabilizing the spiritual mansion during breakthrough] or Li Fire Crystal [a crystal containing refined Separated Flame essence, used to temper the spirit], their chance of success dwindles to a mere ten or twenty percent.

Even among the Rogue Cultivator of Celestial Ruins Mountain, someone like the Ice Spiritual Root [a rare innate affinity for the ice element] Purple Mansion Cultivator Elara Lin only managed to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm with the direct support and patronage of Jiang the Ancient Ancestor.

In comparison, Cultivation Clan [a family dedicated to the cultivation arts] like the Chen Clan, with centuries of legacy, several Second Rank Spirit Vein at their disposal, and stable sources of income that prevent them from living feast-or-famine, hold a significantly greater hope of producing a Purple Mansion cultivator.

"The path of cultivation is fraught with hardship," he murmured.

"And are we, the Yu County Six Great Immortal Clans, not in a similar position when viewed by those true Purple Mansion Immortal Clan?" The story continues at audio-novel .c om.

"Without a Third Rank Earth Vein [a high-grade spiritual energy source embedded within the earth], without a Third Rank Spirit Vein [a high-grade spiritual energy source], and without a Third Rank Cultivation Art [an advanced cultivation method for the Purple Mansion Realm], what does it matter if a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has reached the Purple Mansion Realm] occasionally emerges? Even the path of cultivation itself becomes a treacherous climb, and taking the next step is a monumental challenge."

"After a few centuries, the Purple Mansion [the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] cultivator passes away, their achievement merely a fleeting bloom, unable to truly pass down the mantle of a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [an immortal clan with a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator as its pillar]."

As he spoke, Old Patriarch let out a sigh tinged with regret.

Eldrin Chen listened quietly, a slight frown creasing his brow. "With the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root of exceptional rarity and potential] present, our Chen Clan will undoubtedly possess a Third Rank Spirit Vein in the future. The true issue lies with obtaining a Purple Mansion Cultivation Art [a cultivation method for advancing to and cultivating within the Purple Mansion Realm]."

"At this Barter Convention [a grand gathering for cultivators to trade rare resources], the Yang Family of Ling County did offer a Purple Mansion Realm Cultivation Art, but the terms of exchange were prohibitively harsh."

"These established Purple Mansion Immortal Clan are exceedingly unlikely to allow a Third Rank Cultivation Art to fall into our hands." Old Patriarch shook his head, then offered a wry smile.

"The future is shrouded in mist. If we can one day break through to the Purple Mansion and possess a Third Rank Treasure [a treasure of the third rank, suitable for Purple Mansion Realm cultivators] of sufficient value, an exchange is not entirely beyond reach."

"After all, even among Purple Mansion Cultivator, there is a need to trade and share resources."

Eldrin Chen's eyes gleamed with a thoughtful light. "Our Chen Clan's Blazing Sun Void-Treading Art and Separated Flame Soul-Burning Art are both exceptional arts. As I cultivate, I sense a profound synergy between them, as if they complement one another."

"If we could, in time, refine them—extracting their essence and discarding the dross—we might synthesize a path that leads further, one that undoubtedly surpasses their current limitations."

Old Patriarch's pupils contracted, then he laughed heartily. "If you could truly achieve that, your talent would likely rival that of Jiang the Ancient Ancestor [a legendary figure renowned for his mastery across all cultivation arts]."

"Jiang the Ancient Ancestor possessed heaven-defying genius, mastering alchemy, formations, artificing, and talismans to a profound, creative level. I am far from his equal."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly, continuing to inspect the contents of Lin Lysander's Storage Bag [a spatial pouch for storing items].

As the second most powerful figure in the Lin Clan, Lin Lysander possessed considerable wealth. His Storage Bag contained over two thousand Spirit Stones [minerals that store spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Furthermore, two of the Lin Clan's foundational treasures—the Purple Sun Furnace [an alchemy furnace imbued with solar energy] and the Azure Descent Thousand-Star Needles [a set of enchanted needles that strike like falling stars]—both Second Rank High Grade Magical Tools [powerful enchanted artifacts], had fallen into Eldrin Chen's hands.

Additionally, the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike [a spike designed to pierce defenses and disrupt an opponent's focus] and the Cyan Flying Sword were both Second Rank Middle Grade [a classification for powerful magical tools] magical tools. The value of these artifacts alone was enough to make many Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators [powerful cultivators at an advanced stage of the Foundation Establishment realm] drool with envy.

"The Lin Clan truly lives up to its reputation as Yu County's Premier Clan," Old Patriarch said, his aged face creasing into a delighted smile. "Leaning on Mordecai Lin, that Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened the third major energy center, the Purple Mansion], they clearly managed to secure quite a few advantages."

Soon, the two of them finished allocating the treasures. Eldrin Chen now possessed more magical tools than he could effectively manage; adding more would strain both his spiritual sense and his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner].

Thus, he simply replaced the Green Ape Pearl with the Purple Sun Furnace, consigning the artifact that had accompanied him for many years to the Clan Treasury.

Furthermore, he deposited the Cyan Flying Sword and the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike into the Clan Treasury, intending to allocate them to Chen Elara and the Third Elder.

In truth, the True Essence [the refined energy cultivated by a practitioner] of the two of them was somewhat insufficient; they could wield at most three Second Rank Magical Tool [enchanted artifacts of the second rank] at a time.

Therefore, the surplus Eldrin Chen intended to leave in the Clan Treasury untouched, to be used later for trading treasures with others or reserved for the clan's future Newly Advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

After dealing with Lin Lysander's Storage Bag [a spatial pouch for storing items], the Third Elder, having received the message, hurried over.

The moment he arrived at Pingyang City, he could not help but ask, "What exactly happened?"

Eldrin Chen recounted the entire sequence of events. After listening, the Third Elder said with a grave expression,

"With Lin Lysander slain, the Lin Clan is unlikely to let this matter rest." This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel[dot]com.

"If they will not rest, this old man certainly will not let it go either."

The Old Patriarch declared, his words laced with killing intent, "That Lin Lysander and Lin Morwen laid a Tracking Magical Tool [a magical device for tracking targets] to hunt him down. Had it not been for Eldrin's formidable strength, even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators might not have escaped with their life."

"This debt must naturally be repaid." Lior Chen furrowed his brow and could not help adding, "But the Lin Clan is backed by the Second Rank Spirit Vein [a vein of earth that emits spiritual energy of the second rank] at Ink Verdant Mountain, making it difficult for us to truly bring them to heel."

"It matters not. Though we cannot storm Ink Verdant Mountain, we can certainly seize Spiritual Apricot Mountain [a mountain named for its ancient spirit apricot trees]."

Spiritual Apricot Mountain was one of the three Second Rank Spirit Vein [a vein of earth that naturally gathers and radiates spiritual energy] occupied by the Lin Clan. More than seventy years ago, this very mountain still belonged to the Mo Clan, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose power is anchored by cultivators who have established their foundational cultivation base] within Yu County.

However, when the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts] struck over seventy years ago, both of the Mo Clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their foundational cultivation base] perished in the ensuing battle. From that moment, the clan's decline was sealed.

At that time, the Mo Clan's two Second Rank Spirit Vein were divided. One was seized by the newly risen Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, the Sun Family, who made it their new clan seat. The other fell into the hands of the Lin Clan.

The vein claimed by the Lin Clan was precisely the Spiritual Apricot Mountain. This mountain's spiritual grade was only Second Rank Low Grade, and it produced no other special resources. Yet, upon its slopes grew a single, remarkable Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree.

That Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree, having weathered the centuries for hundreds of years, had reached the First Rank High Grade [a high-quality classification for spiritual plants or artifacts]. Each year, it bore over a dozen Spirit Apricot.

While these Spirit Apricot possessed no power to enhance a cultivator's cultivation, they held a far rarer virtue: they could extend one's lifespan. It was said that consuming one Spirit Apricot could add one Zai-time [an era, conventionally one thousand years] to a cultivator's life. The sole limitation was that a cultivator could only benefit from three such fruits in their entire lifetime.

Though the lifespan extension was modest, as a treasure that defied the heavens by adding years, each Spirit Apricot commanded a value of five hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

For years, the Lin Clan had relied on this Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree, reaping an additional seven or eight hundred Spirit Stone in income annually. This windfall had long been the object of covetous envy for the other great families of Yu County.

Chen Thalion uttered a cold laugh. "You inform the Six Great Clans of the situation. Meanwhile, Eldrin and I will take them unawares and strike first at the Spiritual Apricot Mountain." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel dot com.