Chapter 117 : The Scorching Sun's Bulwark

Among the three counties, Boyang County lies in the heartland, shielded to the west by Yu County and to the north by the counties of Scorching Sun County and Cloud Sun County, making it the most secure of the three.

The Scorching Sun County that Eldrin Chen was heading to was quite similar to Yu County. They were the closest to the Lion's Brow Ridge and served as the first line of defense for Solar Province.

Within Scorching Sun County, besides six or seven Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families whose patriarchs have reached the Foundation Establishment realm], there was also a Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein [a concentrated flow of spiritual energy through the earth, crucial for cultivation]. This vein was the primary bulwark for Solar Province against the threats from Lion's Brow Ridge.

This Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein had been nurtured by the previous sect master of the Verdant Sun Sect against all opposition, consuming over a million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. A Fourth-Rank Formation [a powerful defensive or offensive magical array] was established upon it, and a significant force of cultivators was stationed there.

It was precisely this formidable barrier that, for five hundred years, had prevented the forces of Lion's Brow Ridge from ever breaching Solar Province and penetrating deep into the heartland of Chu Nation. This allowed the Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] of Qing Province centuries of peace to recuperate and strengthen.

Eldrin Chen traversed the Bianyang Mountain Range, crossed Boyang County, and flew a distance of one hundred thirty thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before finally arriving at Scorching Sun County.

"Scorching Sun Market."

Gazing at the market town before him, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he recalled the intelligence he had gathered.

The Scorching Sun Market was the largest cultivation market in Solar Province, situated at the foot of Scorching Sun Mountain, which was nourished by the Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein. It was jointly managed by the Verdant Sun Sect and the major Immortal Clan of Scorching Sun County.

Fifty percent of this market's tax revenue went to the Verdant Sun Sect. The Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a cultivation family whose patriarch has reached the Violet Sanctum realm] known as the Pan Clan claimed thirty percent, while the remaining twenty percent was shared among the various Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan of Scorching Sun County. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel dot com.

Do not underestimate these shares. You must understand that the tax revenue of the Scorching Sun Market far surpasses that of the Sunward Market. It is essentially a combination of the Fengyang Market and the Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

This market town has been in operation for over five hundred years, ranking within the top ten across the entire Chu Nation. Its annual tax revenue alone exceeds thirty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], which is more than six times that of the Sunward Market.

With these thoughts in mind, Eldrin Chen stepped into the Scorching Sun Market.

Once inside the Scorching Sun Market, he intended to locate the Green Sun Pavilion. That establishment was a business under the Verdant Sun Sect [a major cultivation sect], specializing in the sale of elixirs [spiritual pills used for cultivation] and magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators].

After inquiring about the location of the Green Sun Pavilion, he proceeded directly there. He was received by a steward from the Verdant Sun Sect.

This man was named Frost Source Qin, with a cultivation base at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm]. Upon seeing Eldrin, he greeted him with a warm smile.

"Fellow Daoist, your face is unfamiliar. Is this your first time at the Scorching Sun Market?"

Eldrin Chen nodded. "I hail from the Chen Clan of Yu County. I have come for the Solar Province Barter Convention [a major trade gathering in the region]."

"The Border Province is several hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Scorching Sun Mountain. You have traveled a great distance, Fellow Daoist," Frost Source Qin remarked courteously before finally getting to the point. "Might I ask what brings you to our Green Sun Pavilion? What are you looking to purchase?"

"To be frank, I have come to the Scorching Sun Market specifically for the Verdant Origin Pill [a high-grade elixir that aids in cultivation breakthroughs]."

Hearing his request to purchase the Verdant Origin Pill, Frost Source Qin [a cultivator surnamed Qin] revealed a bitter smile and shook his head repeatedly. "To be perfectly honest, in the two months leading up to the Barter Convention [a large-scale cultivator trading fair], you are the sixteenth fellow Daoist to inquire about the Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in Foundation Establishment breakthrough]," he said.

"My stock has long been exhausted. Even if someone intends to trade one at the Barter Convention, you should steel your heart for disappointment."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could only shake his head helplessly and take his leave.

No sooner had he departed than Frost Source Qin stepped into an inner chamber. Within this private room, an unfinished game of Go was laid out on a board.

Seated across from the board, a white-haired elder held a Go stone, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation.

Seeing Frost Source Qin approach, the elder smiled faintly. "Why have you returned so soon, junior brother?"

"Another one seeking the Verdant Origin Pill," Frost Source Qin replied, picking up a stone and preparing his move. He added casually, "A Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivator from the Chen Clan of Yu County in Border Province. He traveled all the way to Scorching Sun County for a single pill. I suspect his journey will be in vain."

"Enough about him. It has been over a decade since we last met, senior brother. Let us continue our game!"

"Wait a moment—"

Before he could finish, the smile vanished from the white-haired elder's face.

The old man's mood for chess had vanished. He tossed down his piece, his expression turning impassive as he spoke.

"The Chen Immortal Clan from Yu County?"

"If my memory serves, my brother-in-law, Remaining Years Zuo, met his end at their hands."

"Senior Brother Yan..."

Frost Source Qin's expression shifted slightly. He rose, closed the door securely, and only then spoke in a hushed, cautionary tone.

"I have heard some whispers about the strength of that Chen Clan." For more chapters, visit @udio-novel.com for the complete novel.

"The one who has come is Eldrin Chen. His power is not to be underestimated."

The man addressed as Senior Brother Yan furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze boring into Frost Source Qin for a long moment before finally withdrawing it. He resumed speaking with deliberate calm.

"If the visitor is indeed Eldrin Chen, then caution is indeed warranted."

"But set your mind at ease. Senior Brother Wei has been stationed at Scorching Sun Mountain these past years. He and Remaining Years Zuo were friends for a century, as close as brothers born of the same flesh and blood."

"Now that the opportunity has arisen, Senior Brother Wei likely will not let it pass."

Following Senior Brother Yan's words, Frost Source Qin finally gave a nod.

Although the Senior Brother Yan before them was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, his strength was rather ordinary. However, the origins of that Senior Brother Wei were anything but common.

That Senior Brother Wei was named Bright Distance Wei. Now over one hundred and seventy years old, he was the biological son of Double Sun Wei, a Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation stage above Foundation Establishment] expert from the Verdant Sun Sect. Relying on the support of his Violet Sanctum father, he had already attempted to break through to the Violet Sanctum realm twice.

Although both attempts had failed, wasting two Solar Fire Crystal [a rare crystal containing concentrated solar fire energy, used for breakthroughs], he had managed to open up more than half of his 'Violet Sanctus Meridian of the Path' [the primary meridian that must be opened to ascend to the Violet Sanctum realm]. His strength far surpassed that of ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators.

Thinking of this, Frost Source Qin nodded again, a faint smile gracing his lips as he said, "If Senior Brother Wei makes a move, this time we are certain to leave Eldrin Chen's corpse lying cold in Solar Province."

"..."

Unbeknownst to Eldrin Chen, he had already drawn the attention of cultivators from the Verdant Sun Sect.

It was within the Chen Clan's expectations that Remaining Years Zuo, having spent nearly two hundred years within the Verdant Sun Sect, would have forged some lasting friendships.

What Eldrin Chen had not anticipated was that these friends would be willing to seek vengeance for the deceased Remaining Years Zuo, nor that he would coincidentally encounter them at the Scorching Sun Market.

After departing from Green Sun Pavilion, Eldrin Chen was unwilling to give up. He proceeded to the establishments of the Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan and the Pan Clan. Unfortunately, neither shop had any Verdant Origin Mushroom or Verdant Origin Pill available for sale.

Left with no other choice, Eldrin Chen could only wait for the Solar Province Barter Convention to commence.

Time flows unnoticed during cultivation. More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and on this day, the Solar Province Barter Convention finally began.

Compared to the Border Province Barter Convention, this Solar Province Barter Convention was noticeably more bustling. At the previous Fengyang Market, the cultivators participating in the Barter Convention were primarily from the Border Province and were at the Foundation Establishment realm, numbering only around fifty individuals.

However, both Solar Province and Qing Province were largely under the control of the Verdant Sun Sect. Therefore, this time, in addition to cultivators from Solar Province, many from Qing Province also attended.

Coupled with the approaching Beast Tide, this Border Province Barter Convention was exceptionally lively, attracting well over one hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivator participants.

Upon entering the Barter Convention venue, Eldrin Chen observed cultivators gathered in small groups of two or three. Standing alone, he felt conspicuously isolated and drew more attention than he wished.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, it has been a long time."

Just at that moment, a voice called out to him: This novel is serialized on audio-novel*com. Visit for updates.