Chapter 114 : A Legacy of Pills and Power

Ten days later, Eldrin Chen returned to Yu County, riding upon his Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword.

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

By now, Eternal Profound Chen's injuries had mostly healed. There was no longer any great danger; he only needed a year of quiet recuperation to recover completely.

After finding the Old Patriarch, Eldrin Chen informed him of the three Foundation Establishment Pills he had brought back and the news regarding the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Ship.

Gazing upon the Foundation Establishment Pills and the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Ship, the Old Granduncle could not suppress a look of wild joy.

"Though slaying that Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast was perilous, to obtain two Third-Rank Magical Treasures and three Foundation Establishment Pills is truly a most welcome surprise," he said.

"Indeed, great risk brings great reward. Were it not for the sheer danger involved, this old man would be tempted to hunt Violet Sanctum Demonic Beasts himself."

Eldrin Chen shook his head with a wry smile. Hunting Violet Sanctum Demonic Beasts was no simple matter. He and the Old Patriarch together could contend with six ordinary cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage—a formidable force by any measure.

Yet, faced with a Violet Sanctum Early Stage demonic beast at the peak of its power, they might not even be able to preserve their own lives.

Suppressing his excitement, the Old Patriarch asked, "How do you intend to allocate these Foundation Establishment Pills?" Access the full story on audio novel.com.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, then after a long pause spoke directly, "Within the clan, there are only seven cultivators under sixty years of age who have reached the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier."

"With the Beast Tide imminent, it would be best to use these Foundation Establishment Pill soon to enhance our strength. Eldrin Ming, Eldrin Guo, and Eldrin Feng have only just broken through to the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier and will need at least five or six more years to consolidate their foundations."

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

As Eldrin Chen explained patiently, the Old Patriarch quickly understood the identities of these four. He pondered for a moment before speaking again.

"The siblings Caleb and Silas are not yet thirty. If they use the Foundation Establishment [the process of establishing one's cultivation foundation] now, they will have one more chance in the future to attempt a breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation realm]. The two Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in establishing one's cultivation foundation] should be prioritized for them."

"As for Greenjade and Kael..."

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

Greenjade Chen was the seventeenth son of Eternal Brightness Chen. In years past, Eternal Brightness Chen, at the venerable age of ninety-nine, had dragged his aged and failing body to activate the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation [a powerful defensive and offensive magical array], eliminating the great enemy Zhang Old Demon for the clan. His contribution was undeniably immense.

Now, Eternal Brightness Chen, the Old Granduncle, was one hundred and seventeen years old. His final wish before death was to see Greenjade Chen achieve Foundation Establishment.

As for Kael Chen, he was the youngest son of the Second Elder, Clear River Chen. The contributions of the Second Elder to the clan over the years went without saying. On his deathbed, he could not bring himself to use the Foundation Establishment Pill, instead having Eldrin Chen bring it back to be left for the clan.

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

After a long moment of silence, Eternal Profound Chen finally spoke. "Both possess Three Spiritual Roots [a mid-tier innate talent for cultivation], their natural endowments are nearly identical, and the difference in their contributions to the clan is not particularly vast either."

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

"But Greenjade Chen is already fifty-eight. He can wait no longer. This Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that allows a Qi Refining cultivator to attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm] should go to Greenjade Chen."

As Eldrin Chen listened, a wave of melancholy washed over his heart.

How exceedingly rare was the chance offered by a Foundation Establishment Pill! Kael Chen had only twelve years left to wait. Yet, with the impending Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts], the clan's chances of obtaining another such pill within that timeframe were now slim indeed.

"Alas!"

Eldrin Chen sighed deeply. Yet, he knew in his heart there was truly no better solution.

Pushing these thoughts aside, he suddenly recalled the past events Exquisite Jiang had been unwilling to speak of. Seizing the moment, he posed a question.

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

"The Eastern Sea Coast [the eastern coastline of the vast continent]?"

Eternal Profundity Chen furrowed his brow and shook his head. "That place is separated from the Eastern Region Great Wasteland [a vast, desolate region in the eastern part of the continent] by mountains and rivers spanning tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. I've heard that even Infant Soul True Lords [powerful cultivators who have condensed their nascent soul] must rely on Cross-State Teleportation Formations [large-scale magical arrays capable of transporting people across vast distances] to reach it."

"Given such immense distance, my knowledge of news from that region is exceedingly sparse."

"I see," said Eldrin Chen, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features. Yet, unwilling to give up, he pressed on, "Then, do you know if any significant events have occurred there in the last few centuries?"

"Significant events in recent centuries?"

The Old Patriarch fell into deep thought. After a long moment, he spoke, "Two centuries ago, a truly earth-shattering event did indeed take place within the Eastern Sea [the vast ocean to the east of the continent]." Official source: audio–novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"It is said the millennial Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, catastrophic eruption of demonic energy from a deep abyssal rift] erupted, causing an immense uproar."

"However, that place is ultimately too distant from us. I do not know the specifics of what transpired. Perhaps the Golden Core Patriarchs [cultivators who have formed a golden core, a powerful cultivation stage] of the Chu Nation [a powerful human nation-state], with their wider networks, might know the general outline of events."

"The millennial Demonic Abyss Cataclysm?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen frowned. While he had gained a piece of information, it still yielded no clue regarding the whereabouts of Exquisite Jiang.

However, this millennial event, the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a catastrophic convergence of demonic energies that occurs once every thousand years], coincided rather closely with the time Exquisite Jiang arrived in the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. Perhaps there was some connection between the two.

Without detailed information and with the Old Patriarch knowing little more, Eldrin Chen did not press further. He understood that if Exquisite Jiang had not told him, it was likely to avoid placing undue pressure upon him.

"Enough of this. For now, diligent cultivation is the true path forward."

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

Upon his return to Green Chariot Mountain, he immediately summoned all clan cultivators at or above the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier [the ninth and penultimate stage of refining one's vital life force]. He then announced the candidates for the Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation], a decision made in consultation with the clan leader.

Caleb and Silas, the sibling pair, along with Greenjade Chen, were naturally overjoyed. They excitedly received their Foundation Establishment Pill and Essence Gathering Pill [a pill that helps gather and condense spiritual essence] from Eldrin Chen.

"I wonder how many among these three will succeed in achieving Foundation Establishment [the critical stage of solidifying one's cultivation base]."

Watching the trio depart eagerly with their elixirs to attempt their Foundation Establishment, a wave of melancholy washed over Eldrin Chen.

The elders of the older generation all possessed commendable talent, particularly the Grand Elder and the Second Elder, who were among the finest of the Verdant Generation. Yet, fate had not been kind; 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, but just then, Kael Chen approached him.

He looked at Eldrin Chen, his expression carrying a trace of hesitation as if he had something to say but held back. Finally, he spoke.

"Brother Eldrin."

Eldrin Chen paused mid-step and glanced at Kael Chen. "Elder Brother, about the Foundation Establishment Pill..."

"I understand," Kael Chen interjected, his tone calm. "Uncle Greenjade indeed needs the Foundation Establishment Pill more than I do. So, I'm not here for the pill."

"Then what is it?"

"I heard you successfully refined six Essence Gathering Pill last time. I was wondering if you have any left?"

"You want to attempt Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment?" Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply. He couldn't help but add, "Without a Foundation Establishment Pill to mitigate the risks of Foundation Establishment, failure means death. Are you certain about this?"

Kael Chen did not answer immediately. He turned his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight in the corner, a look of resolute determination settling in his eyes.

"Before my father decided to attempt his breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm, he also spoke with me through the entire night."

"I am very much like my father. Looking at him was like looking into a mirror of my own future self. In that moment, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the man I would become decades hence."

"That image of a withered old man, waiting each day for Death [the final end of all mortal life], unable to see any Future [the time yet to come, the potential for what lies ahead]."

"Can you fathom the weight of that feeling?"

"..." Access the full story on audio-novel dot com.