Chapter 159 Percival (Person Name)'s Letter

After handling these matters, Eldrin discovered his alchemy and artifact forging skills had advanced significantly once more—he had even touched the threshold of the third tier.

This was because by assisting in the refinement of vast quantities of high-grade elixirs and magical artifacts, the 100 Crafts of Cultivation had naturally advanced by a significant margin.

1 day, the 2 of them were walking along the mountain peak. Lyra (Person Name), noticing his significant progress, revealed a faint smile and said, "Your progress is quite impressive."

"It seems that after breaking through to the Violet Mansion realm, your 4 paths of alchemy, formations, artifact-crafting, and talismans will all step into the Third Order."

"The reason for such progress is simply that I've observed your alchemy and artifact forging, and practice makes perfect."

Eldrin spoke calmly. After his words faded, he glanced once more at Lyra and said, "When do you plan to make your move against the Celestial Python Demon King?"

The Tier 4 Water Essence Pearl within the Celestial Python Lake (Location)'s Tier 4 water vein was crucial to Lyra (Person Name)'s final step in completing her spiritual roots. This matter was far too important; by any means necessary, it had to be seized.

Lyra pondered for a moment before speaking, "The Celestial Python Lake is its lair. Even a Golden Core, Mid Stage cultivator would struggle to slay it within the lake's environment. I, too, am powerless against it."

"However, after cultivating the great supernatural power 'Divine Light of the 5 Void Tribulations (Cultivation Art)' for many years, I am only 1 step away from mastering it completely. Once this technique is successfully cultivated, the Celestial Python Demon King (Demon Beast) will no longer be a concern."

"Let's wait a little longer."

Hearing her words, Eldrin nodded in agreement and informed her that in a dozen or so days, he planned to make a trip to Yan Kingdom to see if he could purchase a Profound Water Crystal.

With a third-tier immortal sword to refine his true essence, he could impact the Purple Mansion as long as his true essence accumulated sufficiently. There was no need for him to spend 20 or 30 years tempering his qi like ordinary ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators.

This signifies that within a dozen or so years, he would undoubtedly be able to assault the Zi Fu Realm. By then, he might be able to lend Lyra (Person Name) a helping hand.

Before this, he had wanted to refine the Ren Water Blue Lotus Platform. With this artifact to store magical power, his attempt to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm would be a sure bet, essentially guaranteeing success in a single attempt.

Lyra remained silent, saying nothing more as she stood quietly in place. The 2 of them stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the vast, primordial wilderness stretching before them.

The journey to Yan Kingdom spanned a distance of 10 1000 li, requiring passage through 3 100 1000 li of demonic territory. Yet bound by her duty to guard Celestial Ruins Mountain against the demon tribes, she could only watch as he embarked alone.

After a long while had passed, she turned and glanced at Eldrin, then retrieved a treasure box and handed it to him.

Eldrin opened it to find a rare piece of Xin Metal Crystal inside.

"I obtained this item from the Earth Lion Ridge. Perhaps it may prove useful to you."

Hearing Lyra's words, Eldrin did not refuse. He had previously deduced the forging method for his life-bound magic treasure with her.

To refine the Magnetic Treasure Gold into a life-bound magic treasure, it is best to combine it with Geng Metal Crystal (Spiritual Object) and Xin Metal Essence. Only through such co-refining can the power of Yin-Yang Magnetic Force be unleashed to its utmost potential.

According to their deductions, once this treasure was forged and cultivated to its profound stages, it would be able to counter all metal-based entities—be they tangible artifacts like magic treasures or intangible abilities such as supernatural powers.

Eldrin remained with Lyra at Celestial Ruins Mountain for 3 days, yet ultimately soared away upon his sword, departing the mountain peaks.

Upon returning to Yu Commandery, he discovered that 5 of the clan's 11 Foundation Establishment Pills (Spiritual Object) had already been allocated. Among the 5 recipients, 3 had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment: Chen Nianfeng (Generation Nian), Chen Nianzhen (Generation Nian), and Chen Xianyu (Generation Xian).

The remaining 6 Foundation Establishment Pills (Spiritual Object) had no suitable candidates for the time being, so they were temporarily set aside. The plan was to wait until other eligible cultivators in the clan broke through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and had sufficiently tempered their primal energy before comprehensively evaluating and selecting the most optimal recipients.

Eldrin had just returned to his clan when the old patriarch sought him out, his expression grave. "There is a matter we must discuss," he said solemnly.

"What matter could possibly warrant such gravity from you?"

Eldrin (Person Name) furrowed his brow and couldn't resist asking.

As the old clan leader’s expression turned grave, he handed over a letter.

"Take a look first."

He took the letter and glanced at it, quickly grasping the whole story.

Not long ago, a Violet Mansion Immortal Clan had sent a letter expressing their desire to settle down in Yu County.

The Zi Fu Immortal Clan was none other than the Pan Clan, the overlords of Scorched Sun County. In the battle of Scorched Sun Mountain, 2 of the Pan Clan's 3 Zi Fu experts fell, and over 70% of their cultivators perished. Only Percival managed to retreat to Bo Yang County with a handful of clansmen and surviving cultivators to recuperate.

After the beast tide had subsided, Percival discovered his clan no longer even had a place to rest their feet. Their once-great family was now reduced to merely 7 or 8 Foundation Establishment cultivators, over 3 100 Qi Refining disciples, and more than 3,000 mortal dependents.

Without the spirit vein, the Pan family faced suspicion from the Violet Mansion immortal clans in Boyang County, leaving them no choice but to turn their ambitions toward Yu County.

It so happened that the Lin Immortal Clan (Organization) had been destroyed, leaving behind the second-grade, top-tier spiritual vein of Verdant Ink Mountain (Location). With no Purple Mansion immortal families present in Yu County, Percival (Person Name) thus conceived the ambition of establishing his dominion there.

Given his status as a Violet Mansion Patriarch, seizing the Verdant Ink Mountain (Location) spiritual vein should have been effortless. Yet now, with the Chen family possessing 2 Violet Mansion-level combatants, the Pan family’s patriarch felt a trace of apprehension.

Thus, Percival sent a letter to the Chen family, expressing his desire to join Yu County and requesting a meeting with Eldrin and the old clan leader for discussions.

After reading the letter, Eldrin folded the parchment, his expression growing solemn as he spoke.

Though the Pan Immortal Clan suffered grievous losses, Percival possessed the Thunder Spiritual Root and had now broken through to the fourth level of the Violet Mansion.

"This person intends to relocate his clan to Yu County, which will inevitably significantly diminish our Chen family's interests."

Chen Changxuan also nodded, then added thoughtfully, "However, the Pan family's arrival in Yujun has brought both advantages and disadvantages."

With a Purple Mansion immortal clan now overseeing Yu County, its strength would be greatly enhanced, capable of attracting even more rogue cultivators to establish their clans within its borders.

Moreover, the Pan family holds significant standing in Yangzhou, which will prompt many Qi Training and Foundation Establishment immortal clans from Yangzhou to relocate to our Yu County. Once these individuals settle in Yu County, they are bound to substantially increase the revenue of the Yuyang Market.

After hearing the old patriarch finish speaking, Eldrin also revealed a thoughtful expression.

Although the Pan family would diminish the interests of Yu County upon their arrival, they would also bring a massive migration of over a 1000 cultivators to the region.

The hundreds of major and minor immortal clans across Jiaoyang County were now all carrying vast movable assets, desperately seeking places to establish themselves.

When these clans and cultivators arrived in Yu County, their first order of business was to spend their accumulated spirit stones to cultivate a large number of first- and second-order spirit veins within the county.

In truth, it wasn't just the displaced families of Jiaoyang County—even many immortal clans from Yunyang County and Boyang County in Yangzhou had grown disillusioned with the Qingyang Sect. Numerous families were gathering spirit stones, preparing to cultivate new spiritual veins across the other 8 provinces of the Chu Kingdom.

Ordinary mortals find relocation extremely arduous. For these clans, Bianzhou, situated not far from Yangzhou and backed by the Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location), was truly an excellent choice.

It was foreseeable that in the near future, Yu Prefecture would grow increasingly prosperous with the arrival of these clans and rogue cultivators.

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped through the jagged peaks, carrying with it the scent of pine and decay. A lone figure sat cross-legged upon a weathered outcrop, his simple grey robes fluttering around him. This was Lin Feng, a humble outer sect disciple of the Verdant Cloud Sect. For 3 years, he had been stuck at the third level of the Qi Condensation stage. His spiritual root was of the lowest grade, a fact the other disciples never let him forget. "Waste of resources," they would sneer as he passed. "Even a mortal peasant has more use." Today, however, was different. A strange calm had settled over him. He closed his eyes, reaching inward to the meager spiritual energy swirling in his dantian. He guided it through his meridians according to the basic sect cultivation method, the "Verdant Cloud Art." *Whoosh.* An energy vortex, invisible to the naked eye, formed around him. The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged, rushing into his body like a tidal wave. A pain, both excruciating and exhilarating, tore through his channels as they expanded to accommodate the influx. **Crack!** A sound like shattering jade echoed from within his core. The bottleneck that had constrained him for a 1000 some days and nights shattered. A wave of powerful, pure spiritual power erupted, washing away the fatigue and stagnation. He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within their depths. The world seemed clearer, the colors more vibrant. He could feel the individual blades of grass trembling in the wind leagues away. "The fourth level of Qi Condensation... I've finally broken through." He stood up, his joints popping softly. His body felt lighter, brimming with strength he hadn't possessed mere hours before. He clenched his fist, feeling the spiritual energy coursing just beneath his skin. From his ragged pouch, he retrieved his remaining resources: a mere 1,250 spirit stones, chipped and dull, and 3 basic Qi Replenishing Pills. It was all he had to his name. A dozen or so other disciples in his cohort had already reached the fifth or even sixth level, their allowances far greater. "No matter," Lin Feng whispered to the wind, a newfound resolve hardening his features. "This is just the beginning." He looked toward the distant main peak, where the Sect Leader's residence pierced the clouds. 1 day, he would stand there too. He would make sure the world remembered the name Lin Feng. Suddenly, a sharp, mocking voice cut through the mountain silence. "Well, well. If it isn't the 'talented' Brother Lin. Did you finally manage to condense an extra wisp of Qi? Or have you just been napping out here in the cold?" Lin Feng turned slowly. Standing a few yards away was Zhao Gang, a burly disciple known for his bullying and his fifth-level cultivation. 2 lackeys flanked him, snickering. Lin Feng's gaze was calm. "What do you want, Zhao Gang?" Zhao Gang sneered, stepping closer. "I want your Spirit Stones. All of them. Consider it a... contribution from the weak to the strong. It's the natural order." He cracked his knuckles, a faint aura of earth-attributed spiritual energy radiating from him. The air grew tense. The lackeys spread out, blocking any potential escape route. Lin Feng didn't move. He simply looked at Zhao Gang, his expression unreadable. The newly advanced spiritual power within him hummed, eager and restless. "Come and take them," Lin Feng said, his voice deceptively soft. Zhao Gang's face contorted in rage. "You dare?!" With a roar, he lunged forward, his fist enveloped in a dull yellow glow—the Mountain Splitting Fist. Time seemed to slow for Lin Feng. He could see the trajectory of the punch clearly, sense the fluctuations of spiritual energy within it. It was powerful, but clumsy. Full of openings. Instead of retreating, Lin Feng took a single, precise step forward. He didn't meet force with force. His hand shot out, not as a fist, but like a serpent's tongue, striking the inside of Zhao Gang's wrist. *Thwack!* A numbing pain shot up Zhao Gang's arm. His spiritual energy flow was disrupted, causing the yellow glow around his fist to flicker and die. His eyes widened in shock and confusion. "How...?" Before he could finish, Lin Feng's other hand was already on his shoulder. A gentle, almost effortless push. Zhao Gang, all 2 100 pounds of him, flew backward as if tossed by a giant. He tumbled head over heels in the dirt, coming to a stop in a tangled heap several meters away. The 2 lackeys stood frozen, their mouths agape. The sneers had vanished, replaced by sheer terror. Lin Feng stood calmly in the same spot, his grey robes settling around him. He hadn't even broken a sweat. He looked down at his hands, a faint, cold smile touching his lips. The power of the fourth level, combined with his flawless control, was far beyond his expectations. He walked over to the groaning Zhao Gang and looked down at him. "The natural order, you said?" he mused softly. "It seems you misunderstood it." He didn't take Zhao Gang's spirit stones. He simply turned and began walking down the mountain path, leaving the 3 bullies in stunned, fearful silence. The wind howled, carrying with it the promise of a storm. And of change.