Chapter 133 : A Verdant Pill's Promise

After distributing the Violet Radiance Mirror, Lyra Jiang proceeded to arrange the deployment of forces. Only then did she allow everyone to return and begin their final preparations for the impending battle.

"Nephew, a moment, please."

Eldrin Chen had just stepped out from the Cultivation Cave when, after only a few paces, he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

Turning, he saw it was Meng Aethelstan. This Granduncle was watching him from a distance, a warm smile gracing his features as he beckoned.

Exchanging a glance with the Third Elder, Eldrin Chen promptly approached and spoke with respectful courtesy.

"I pay my respects to Granduncle."

"Ah, your cultivation progress is truly astonishing, Nephew," Meng Aethelstan remarked.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Meng Aethelstan came straight to the point. "I see you have broken through to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage. Could it be you obtained a Verdant Origin Pill [a precious pill that aids in advancing one's cultivation foundation]?"

"Indeed," Eldrin Chen replied without hesitation, being forthright. "Some time ago, I acquired a Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a rare spiritual fungus] and refined it into two Verdant Origin Pill."

Hearing there were two pills, Meng Aethelstan's face lit up with delight. He couldn't help but rub his hands together eagerly as he inquired further. Original publication: site: audio-novel.com - The source of this chapter.

"I wonder if any remain now?"

"Indeed, there is still one."

Eldrin Chen nodded. The efficacy of the Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in consolidating one's cultivation foundation] lasts only a little over a dozen years, and now less than ten years remain.

Among the clan's two Foundation Establishment Cultivators [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation], both Lior Chen and Chen Elara had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage. For them to even approach the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, it would likely take more than twenty years.

Therefore, he did not mind trading away this Verdant Origin Pill. If it went to this Granduncle, Meng Aethelstan, it would be for the best.

Hearing that he still desired a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm], Meng Aethelstan could not help but reveal a faint smile.

"Nephew, I wish to purchase a Verdant Origin Pill from you. I wonder if it's possible..."

Over the past thirty years, Meng Aethelstan had procured two Foundation Establishment Pills for his clan, adding two new Foundation Establishment Cultivators to their ranks.

However, the cost had nearly emptied the clan's Clan Treasury. Meng Aethelstan himself was now practically penniless, which was why he had been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer for over twenty years.

This Granduncle was ten years older than Chen Thalion, now over one hundred and fifty years of age. Fifty years ago, his cultivation level was the same as the Old Patriarch's, both at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer. Yet now, he remained merely at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, the gap between them having grown vast.

The Old Patriarch's innate aptitude was nearly on par with this individual. However, the Blazing Sun Void-Treading Art [a profound cultivation technique for treading the void] inherited from the Chen Clan ancestors was more profound than the cultivation art of the Meng Clan, and the grade of the Spirit Vein [a natural formation that gathers and radiates spiritual energy] at Verdant Chariot Mountain was also one rank higher.

Most crucially, in those years, Lior Chen managed the clan's affairs with exceptional order, significantly improving the family's financial situation.

Back then, he first purchased a Jade Marrow Pill [a pill that refines the cultivator's marrow and essence], saving the Old Patriarch twenty years of cultivation. Not long after, the spirit mountain yielded a Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a rare spiritual fungus that enhances cultivation base], which allowed the Old Patriarch to break through two successive cultivation layers in just a few short years, directly widening the gap.

Now, this Meng Aethelstan remains stuck at the Foundation Establishment, 6th Layer [the sixth stage of the Foundation Establishment realm], unable to advance a single step. Meanwhile, with Eldrin Chen's support, the Old Patriarch obtained a Spirit Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy], a Mysterious Jade Pill [an enigmatic pill of great potency], and a Li Fire Crystal [a crystal containing concentrated fire-attribute spiritual energy]. Unbeknownst to all, he has already half-stepped into the threshold of the Purple Mansion [the realm where a cultivator forms their spiritual core mansion] realm.

"On the path of cultivation, beyond innate talent, opportunity and fortune are truly paramount,"

Eldrin Chen thought to himself, then smiled slightly and said, "Since Granduncle has spoken, this Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that nourishes and strengthens one's foundational spiritual essence] can naturally be yours."

"I am truly grateful,"

Meng Aethelstan rubbed his hands together excitedly, took out a pile of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], and said, "In recent years, to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm] for Xingwan, I spent a great many Spirit Stone. Now, I have only a little over three thousand Spirit Stone left on me."

"I know the Verdant Origin Pill commands a high premium, likely selling for around four thousand or so Spirit Stone. Do you think I could owe you one thousand Spirit Stone for now?"

"Granduncle, there's no need for such formality," Eldrin Chen shook his head with a gentle smile. "Our two families are bound by marriage. Just a few years ago, my nephew Caleb married your great-granddaughter. We are practically kin."

"I shall sell it to you at the original price of three thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]."

"This..." Meng Aethelstan felt somewhat embarrassed and shook his head. "This sum of Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] is not small. How could I take advantage of such a bargain?"

Eldrin Chen handed over the Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in consolidating one's cultivation foundation] and said with a slight smile, "For Granduncle to break through to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm [the realm following Qi Refinement, where one builds a solid spiritual foundation] would be a great boon for our Chen Clan as well."

"The Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts] is about to begin. When it does, our Chen Clan will undoubtedly need to rely on Uncle Cedric for support."

In the end, Meng Aethelstan could not refuse the offer and purchased the Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in consolidating one's cultivation foundation] for three thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

After receiving the Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in consolidating one's cultivation foundation], Meng Aethelstan's face lit up with joy. He had been tempering his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy within a cultivator's body] for twenty years; even without the pill, he could have broken through to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm [the realm following Qi Refinement, where one builds a solid spiritual foundation] within another decade or so. Continue your cultivation journey at audi novel.com.

Now, with the Verdant Origin Pill [a pill that aids in consolidating one's cultivation foundation] in hand, his breakthrough to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm [the realm following Qi Refinement, where one builds a solid spiritual foundation] was virtually assured, with little chance of any major mishap.

Thinking this, he still made a solemn promise: "When the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts] arrives, if the Chen Clan faces danger, this old man will certainly lend his full support."

After bidding farewell to Meng Aethelstan, the two did not linger. They directly mounted their flying swords and returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain.

Upon returning to Yu County, the several Foundation Establishment Realm [the realm following Qi Refinement, where one builds a solid spiritual foundation] elders of the Chen Clan convened. They also held a meeting with the heads of the various major families in Yu County. Afterwards, they began mobilizing cultivators household by household to participate in the coming Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts].

Within the entire Yu County [a county within the Chu Kingdom], there are over one hundred major and minor Immortal Clan [powerful families of cultivators]. Each is required to contribute sixty-five percent of their cultivators to participate in this Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts].

Of these, thirty percent of the cultivators, approximately three thousand individuals, will be dispatched to Celestial Ruins Mountain [a major cultivation stronghold] to assist in its defense against the Demonic Beast [monstrous creatures infused with wild spiritual energy].

The remaining thirty-five percent are conscripted to Yuyang Market [a major trading hub for cultivators], where they will be under the unified command of Celestial Ruins Mountain and tasked with defending this Cultivation Market [a market town serving the needs of cultivators] from the invading Demonic Beast.

As for the Rogue Cultivator [cultivators without clan or sect affiliation], they have no family strongholds to defend. Their kinfolk rarely number more than a hundred, and they often share a single, low-grade Spirit Vein [a geological formation that concentrates and emits spiritual energy, essential for cultivation] among several individuals.

Now that the Beast Tide Calamity has arrived, there is little reason for them to remain in their pitifully weak, low-grade Spirit Vein. Virtually all have been conscripted to Yuyang Market and Celestial Ruins Mountain.

When the Six Great Immortal Clans jointly conscript the cultivators of Yu County, none dare refuse. With the Beast Tide Calamity upon them, even if they fled beyond Bianzhou [a border region of the Chu Kingdom], they would still be drafted into the war effort.

A very few escape deep into the mountains, unwilling to fight the Demonic Beast, but such cultivators have their names recorded.

The total number of Rogue Cultivator in Yu County is only three to four thousand. Setting aside those who participate in the Beast Tide Calamity, the deserters number merely about a hundred individuals. With a few inquiries among acquaintances, their identities can be directly registered.

While they may not face immediate reprisal, henceforth they will be barred from entering the major markets of Bianzhou. Furthermore, their fellow cultivators will scorn their actions, and most will be unwilling to associate with them.

The work of conscripting cultivators is a time-consuming and laborious task. Even with the combined efforts of the Six Great Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans of Yu County, it took a full year and more to complete the muster. Only then could a portion of the forces be dispatched to Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Just a few days before this grand army began its march, the eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators [practitioners who have solidified their foundational cultivation base] of the Chen Clan convened within Pingyang City. This marked the first formal gathering of all eight of the clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Even Chen Elara had temporarily stepped away from her post at the Yuyang Market. For the moment, the market was secure, having gathered several thousand Qi Refinement Cultivators [practitioners in the initial stage of cultivation who refine the vital energy within themselves], allowing her to attend with peace of mind. Read, share, and discuss at audi0-n0vel.c0m.