Chapter 134 : A Clan's Strength Before the Tide

With the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion of demonic beasts] imminent, the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness [a vast, untamed and dangerous frontier region] bore the brunt of the threat. Caleb Chen, who had been stationed at Yang Alistair's Cultivation Cave [a secluded dwelling place for focused cultivation], abandoned the Ancient Cultivator's Cave [the ruins of a powerful cultivator's former abode] and returned to Pingyang City.

Gazing upon the seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators [practitioners who have solidified their spiritual foundation, a major milestone] of his clan, the Old Patriarch could not suppress a smile. He spoke with evident excitement.

"If our Chen Clan were to field eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators, this Beast Tide Calamity could very well herald a period of great prosperity for us."

"Indeed," another voice agreed. "Who could have imagined that in the span of mere decades, our Chen Clan would successively add seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators to its ranks?"

Smiles graced every face present, a clear reflection of their shared optimism for the clan's future prospects.

After a few more moments of cheerful discussion, the Old Patriarch's expression grew thoughtful. He spoke again, his tone measured.

"For this crisis, Yu County is required to contribute ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators to the defense of Celestial Ruins Mountain [a strategic mountain fortress]. As Yu County's Premier Clan, our Chen Clan must dispatch at least two."

"Who do you believe would be the most suitable to send?"

"Perhaps Kael and I should go," Lior Chen suggested after a moment of contemplation. "Uncle Thalion and Eldrin are the central pillars of our clan. It would be unwise for them to risk themselves at Celestial Ruins Mountain."

"With Kael at the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage and myself at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage, our combined strength should be appropriate for the task." This novel is serialized on audio-novel[dot]com. Visit for updates.

"No."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, his heart still refusing the notion.

"Lior is now at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer [the fourth stage of the Foundation Establishment realm], and possesses his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword. He has also mastered the divine ability Metallic Essence Divine Thunder [a powerful thunder technique harnessing metallic essence]. He is already the clan's third most potent combatant."

"With the Crimson-Gold Banner of the Three Treasures in hand, Old Granduncle's combat prowess is nearly on par with an early-stage Purple Mansion [the realm following Foundation Establishment] cultivator. He is clearly a top-tier force for quelling the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts], and thus cannot remain behind to guard Pingyang City."

"Therefore, you must take Old Granduncle's place and be responsible for defending Pingyang City."

As he spoke, his gaze turned toward Kael Chen.

Although Kael Chen possesses only Three Spiritual Roots [a moderate innate talent for cultivation], he achieved Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [a more difficult but purer method of advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm without external aids]. His future potential surpasses even that of Caleb and Silas by a significant margin. Eldrin Chen held great expectations for this clan brother; such talent was not suited for the dangers of Heaven's Ruin Mountain.

Having reached this conclusion, he declared his decision: "So be it. For this journey to Heaven's Ruin Mountain, Aunt Elara and Seraphina shall go together."

Since Eldrin Chen had made the final call, the matter was settled.

With this decided, a smile returned to Eldrin Chen's face. "Our Yu County is closest to Heaven's Ruin Mountain, so reinforcements will come from Ling County and Feng County to support us."

"Feng County will support us with one thousand Qi Refinement Cultivators [cultivators at the initial stage of absorbing spiritual energy], along with five Foundation Establishment Cultivators [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation]. Furthermore, the Ancient Ancestor Xu Darius will also come."

"Ling County is separated from us by the whole of Feng County and does not border the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness either. Therefore, all the Qi Refinement Cultivators they can spare have been sent to Heaven's Ruin Mountain. However, they will also send one Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator whose spiritual consciousness resides in a fortified inner palace] and five Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Moreover, the Purple Mansion Cultivator coming is none other than the Ancient Ancestor Zhengyuan Yang."

Upon hearing this, everyone present showed signs of relief and joy.

Zhengyuan Yang is two generations senior to the Ancient Ancestor Yang Yuanhe. Now three hundred and fifty years old, his cultivation has reached the sixth layer of the Purple Mansion realm. Within Bianzhou, his power is second only to Lyra Jiang.

This venerable has weathered four Beast Tide Calamity [periodic invasions by monstrous beasts], his experience in battling Demonic Beasts [monstrous creatures infused with demonic energy] is profound. Wielding a Third Rank High Grade magical tool, his strength allows him to trade blows even with a Purple Mansion, Late Stage Demonic Beast.

With him guarding Yu County, even if a Purple Mansion, Late Stage Demonic Beast were to come, it would find Yu County a formidable fortress to breach.

Hearing this, the Old Patriarch also smiled. "With Heaven's Ruin Mountain holding back the main force of the Demonic Tribe [a collective of sentient demonic beings], the Demonic Beasts under the command of the Celestial Python Lake will find it difficult to bypass that stronghold."

"If only a flanking force arrives, with two Ancient Ancestors holding the line, our Yu County will be more than capable of standing against them."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and continued, "Once the Beast Tide Calamity begins, I and the Old Granduncle will take up station at the Yuyang Market."

"For the clan's defense, Uncle Lior will hold Pingyang City, Silas will hold Spirit Isle Lake, Caleb will hold Dark Iron Mountain, and Kael will hold Verdant Chariot Mountain."

"Remember this: in a dire hour, you may abandon even Verdant Chariot Mountain, but never Pingyang City or Spirit Isle Lake."

"Kael and Caleb, you two will garrison Dark Iron Mountain and Verdant Chariot Mountain. Should the tides of war shift, we may call upon you to join the fray."

The four of them nodded in understanding, committing Eldrin Chen's instructions firmly to heart.

With the arrangements settled, Eldrin Chen produced several treasures: a law blade, a net woven from divine thunder, a Flying Sword, a spherical magical treasure, and a seal-shaped Defensive Magical Tool.

A look of astonishment crossed their faces as they beheld these artifacts. Each one radiated the potent aura of a Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool. For uninterrupted reading, go to (audio-novel.com).

The law blade was named Heaven's Net Blade, the Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally forged and soul-bound artifact] of a certain Severus from the Green Sun Sect. Having fallen to Eldrin Chen's hand, its master's treasure now belonged to him.

The divine thunder net was of extraordinary origin—it was none other than Wei Mingyuan's Lifebound Magical Treasure, the Yang Fire Divine Thunder Net [a net that unleashes the blazing divine thunder of Yang Fire]. The Flying Sword, the spherical treasure, and the seal artifact had all likewise been claimed from Wei Mingyuan.

"These are spoils taken in battle."

"They hold little further use for me. I entrust them to you now."

Eldrin Chen spoke, and after a moment of contemplation, he gave the most precious Second Rank High Grade Flying Sword to Chen Elara. With this sword in hand, her offensive power and means of escape would be greatly enhanced.

The second most valuable defensive treasure seal, Eldrin Chen gave to Lior Chen. Third Elder possessed a Lifebound Immortal Sword and Metallic Essence Divine Thunder, and thus lacked no offensive means.

With this Second Rank High Grade Defensive Magical Tool, Lior Chen's strength would increase dramatically, placing him among the top tier within the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage realm.

The Heaven's Net Blade was given to Kael Chen. He had achieved Self-Guided Foundation Establishment; once he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Third Layer, he would wield power equivalent to the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage and could thus unleash the majority of this treasure's potential.

The others' cultivation had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage, and they were not practitioners of Self-Guided Foundation Establishment. Naturally, they could not wield the other two or three magical tools and had to make do with the Defensive Magical Tool items discarded by Third Elder and Chen Elara.

The remaining spherical magical treasure and the Yang Fire Divine Thunder Net were also extremely valuable. After a moment of thought, Eldrin Chen spoke to the Old Patriarch.

"Although Pingyang City's Solar Divine Flame Formation is of Second Rank Middle Grade caliber, its power is still somewhat lacking."

"This Yang Fire Divine Thunder Net should be suitable for replacing the Solar Divine Flame Pearl, thereby elevating the formation to the Second Rank High Grade level."

The Old Patriarch pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "With my current mastery of formation arts, I can indeed reforge the City Guardian Grand Formation."

"I believe we can modify a set of the Solar Divine Flame Formation's Formation Flags and establish a new Yang Fire Divine Thunder Formation in its place."

"That is good."

Eldrin Chen revealed a faint smile. Taking the final spherical magical tool, he said with a laugh,

"The Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy within the earth] at Spirit Isle Lake has already reached the Second Rank High Grade level. Continuing to use a Second Rank Middle Grade formation is somewhat unsuitable now."

"However, with this Earth Marsh Treasure Pearl [a treasure pearl imbued with the essence of earth and marsh], I can attempt to upgrade the formation at Spirit Isle Lake to Second Rank High Grade."

Over the years, he had come to understand that he possessed a special, innate talent—or perhaps it was an inherent, transcendent insight and genius.

For instance, during combat, he could keenly detect his opponent's subtle mistakes and seize that fleeting, lightning-quick instant to deliver a fatal strike.

It was precisely by relying on this unparalleled, razor-sharp intuition that over the years, through numerous conflicts, he had consistently capitalized on others' minor errors, successively slaying formidable foes and forging a reputation of awe-inspiring might.

Moreover, he discovered this talent was not limited to battle. In his daily cultivation and study of the Hundred Arts, he could always pinpoint the core of a problem and intuitively find its solution.

Even when practicing cultivation arts, he always felt the clan's heirloom technique, the Blazing Sun Void-Treading Art, was riddled with too many flaws and intolerable minor imperfections. He could only continuously refine and perfect the art as he practiced it.

After years of cultivation, he had unknowingly transformed the 'Blazing Sun Void-Treading Art' beyond recognition. The potency of the True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner] it now produced exceeded that of the original version by more than twenty percent.

Relying on this seemingly 'extraordinary' talent, his Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs] had now advanced to the Second Rank High Grade [a high level of proficiency within the second major tier of cultivation arts]. His progress in the arts of formation tools and artificing was, in truth, not slow either, having already approached the Second Rank High Grade [a high level of proficiency within the second major tier of artificing and formation mastery] as well. For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel.com.