Chapter 163 : The Verdant City's Veil

Following the map, he flew for over seven thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] more before finally arriving before a city built upon a mountain peak.

"So this is Verdant City?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he descended with his sword before the city gates.

Verdant City was one of the cities closest to Black Eagle Ridge. It sat upon a Third Rank Spirit Vein [a spiritual energy source of moderate power]. Three millennia ago, this land had been the territory of a Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [a powerful demonic creature of the Purple Mansion Realm]. Later, it was captured by the Verdant Sword Sect [a sect specializing in sword cultivation], who established a city here.

This city primarily served to provide lodging for Rogue Cultivators [independent cultivators without sect affiliation] operating within the Firmament Mountain Range, and was one of the few Cultivation Markets [a marketplace for cultivators to trade goods and services] within the Cerulean Peaks Range [a vast and rugged mountain range].

Upon entering the city, Eldrin Chen found it housed five to six thousand cultivators. The majority were Qi Refinement [the foundational stage of cultivation] Rogue Cultivators, alongside several tens of thousands of mortal inhabitants.

Within the Chu Kingdom, a Third Rank Spirit Vein in a reasonably favorable location could typically sustain a population of several million mortals. Yet here, there were merely tens of thousands—a stark testament to the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Cerulean Peaks Range.

"Esteemed Senior, you seem unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting the Verdant Mountains?"

No sooner had Eldrin Chen stepped into the area suffused with spiritual energy from the Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy], than he heard a voice.

Turning, he saw a middle-aged man looking at him, his face wreathed in an ingratiating smile. "This junior has been in Verdant City for decades. My information is absolutely reliable." For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel .c om.

"This humble one possesses all the information you seek, Senior."

"Oh? Speak, then."

Eldrin Chen's brow twitched slightly as he tossed a single Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] over.

The man caught the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], his face lighting up with joy as he polished it reverently.

Life for a Rogue Cultivator [an independent cultivator without sect or clan backing] was truly arduous without a patron. For someone like him, still in the Qi Refinement, Early Stage [the initial stage of cultivating one's vital energy], the Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy] he could scrape together in an entire year might not even number three or five.

Most days, he earned only thumb-sized fragments of Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy]. Even then, the bulk of his annual earnings was consumed by the fees required to remain within the city walls.

Otherwise, if cast out, not only would he face the perils of the wilds, but even sourcing the Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] for cultivation would become a monumental struggle. Without the aid of the Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] beneath Verdant City, the thin, ambient spiritual energy would make his progress agonizingly slow.

From this perspective alone, clan-born cultivators were blessed with inherent advantages. The spiritual energy Chen Clan Cultivators absorbed annually was worth a small fortune. If one had to rent a Cultivation Cave [a chamber or cavern enhanced for cultivation] to access similar resources, the cost would likely rival their own annual stipend.

Returning to the matter at hand, the man, delighted by this display of generosity, eagerly led Eldrin Chen forward, chattering excitedly as they walked.

"Senior, you've also come for the Ancient Cultivator's Cave, haven't you?"

"Ancient Cultivator's Cave?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, his expression betraying nothing as he replied, "Tell me more."

As the man recounted the tale in detail, Eldrin Chen gradually understood the events unfolding within the Cerulean Peaks Range.

It turned out that a few years prior, a rumor had begun to spread: an ancient Cultivation Cave [a secluded dwelling used for cultivation and meditation] belonging to a Purple Mansion [a major cultivation stage] Rogue Cultivator [an unaffiliated cultivator] was about to be revealed to the world once more.

It was said this Cultivation Cave was the cultivation abode of Mo the Daoist, a Purple Mansion Rogue Cultivator from a thousand years ago. This venerable senior had possessed extraordinary fortune in his youth, having obtained high-level inheritances in both Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs] and Formation Art [the art of creating and manipulating magical arrays].

It was precisely by relying on these two signature skills that Mo the Daoist cultivated all the way to the ninth layer of the Purple Mansion realm, becoming a figure of considerable renown even within the vast Cerulean Peaks Range.

Now, with rumors that this Purple Mansion Cultivator's Cultivation Cave was soon to manifest, the entire Cerulean Peaks Range was set ablaze with excitement. Countless cultivators were scouring the mountains, searching for traces of Mo the Daoist's hidden sanctuary.

"A Cultivation Cave of a cultivator at the Purple Palace, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Purple Mansion realm]."

"High-level inheritances in Alchemy and Formation Art."

A flicker of interest stirred within Eldrin Chen's heart, though his brow merely twitched imperceptibly.

After a long moment, he suppressed the thought. Such a legacy was far too precious; it was likely that Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened the third major spiritual sea within their dantian] would be involved in its pursuit.

The risks were simply too great. For him, the true path forward was to purchase a Profound Water Crystal [a crystal imbued with profound water essence, used for refining certain treasures], refine his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded magical artifact, growing in power with them], and achieve a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a spiritual sea within the dantian] as soon as possible.

After inquiring further about the recent situation in the Cerulean Peaks Range [a vast and mist-shrouded mountain range], and confirming there were no other anomalies, Eldrin Chen dismissed his guide. He then rented a Cultivation Cave [a secluded cave abode used for meditation and cultivation] to restore his depleted True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a Foundation Establishment or higher realm cultivator].

After resting for three days within Verdant City, Eldrin Chen took to the skies on his flying sword, entering the territory of Black Eagle Ridge.

Perhaps the commotion caused by other cultivators searching for the Ancient Cultivator's Cave [the sealed dwelling place of a cultivator from a bygone era] had drawn the attention of the local Demonic Tribe [a tribe or society of intelligent demonic beasts]. For whatever reason, his flight across Black Eagle Ridge proceeded without drawing pursuit from any Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [a demonic beast whose power is equivalent to a human Purple Mansion cultivator].

With the Purple Mansion Demonic Beast occupied and most Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast [demonic beasts equivalent to human Foundation Establishment cultivators] incapable of sustained flight, his journey was, for the most part, surprisingly uneventful. Join our community of readers at audio-novel .c om.

He flew cautiously at a low altitude, carefully skirting around Third Rank [a grade denoting power equivalent to the Purple Mansion realm] or higher Spirit Vein [a natural geological formation that concentrates and emits spiritual energy] that were likely occupied by the Demonic Tribe. In this manner, he traversed over three hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before finally leaving the shadows of Black Eagle Ridge behind.

Then, expending another two months of travel, he finally crossed the Cerulean Peaks Range and arrived within the borders of the Yan Kingdom.

Upon reaching Yan Kingdom, he drew in a deep, shuddering breath, only then realizing the sheer distance he had covered—nearly two million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

Once within Yan Kingdom, Eldrin Chen made straight for Yan Mountain Market. This Yan Mountain Market was established upon a Third Rank High Grade [a high-quality spirit vein suitable for Purple Mansion realm cultivators] Spirit Vein.

This market town also served as the first line of defense for the Yan Kingdom against the Demonic Tribe of the Cerulean Peaks Range. Its strategic importance within the Yan Kingdom was nearly equivalent to that of Scorched Sun Mountain within the Chu Kingdom.

Of course, compared to the Chu Kingdom, which bordered the Vast and Boundless Marsh, the Cerulean Peaks Range harbored far fewer Golden Core Demon King. Consequently, the pressure faced by Yan Mountain Market was significantly less than that borne by Scorched Sun Mountain and Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Upon entering Yan Mountain Market, Eldrin Chen wasted no time. He proceeded directly to the largest establishment within the market, the Spirit Rhyme Pavilion.

The Spirit Rhyme Pavilion was an enterprise of the Deng Clan, a Golden Core Immortal Clan from the Yan Kingdom. It was said this clan was the most powerful Golden Core Immortal Clan in the kingdom, boasting a full three Golden Core cultivators. Their patriarch was a True Person [a title for a Golden Core realm expert] who had reached the Golden Core, Late Stage.

"I wonder if this Spirit Rhyme Pavilion has any Profound Water Crystal for sale?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with thought. Then, he stepped forward and entered the Spirit Rhyme Pavilion.

The shopkeeper was an elder at the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage. Recognizing Eldrin Chen's cultivation level at a glance, the man promptly rose to his feet and ushered him inside.

The shopkeeper possessed a keen eye. His first impression was that Eldrin Chen was unfamiliar, so he spoke with a genial smile.

"You seem unfamiliar, Fellow Daoist. You likely come from beyond the Cerulean Peaks Range, do you not?"

"Your discernment is sharp, Fellow Daoist," Eldrin Chen nodded, his expression calm as he replied. "To be frank, my purpose in coming is to seek the purchase of a single Profound Water Crystal."

The shopkeeper furrowed his brow upon hearing this, stroked his long beard, and shook his head. "Given your cultivation level, Fellow Daoist, and your willingness to traverse a million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of mountain ranges to reach the Yan Kingdom, I presume your purpose is most likely also for the Profound Water Crystal [a rare crystalline essence formed from profound water spiritual energy]."

"Unfortunately, within this Spirit Rhyme Pavilion, we currently do not possess such an item."

"Ah." Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, and he couldn't help but cup his hands in a respectful gesture. "I beg you, Fellow Daoist, to inform me where I might find a Profound Water Crystal for sale."

The shopkeeper poured Eldrin Chen a cup of tea and proceeded to explain. "Although the Yan Kingdom has many Water and Wood Earth Vein [a subterranean channel that concentrates and emits spiritual energy of a specific element], this item is, after all, exceedingly precious. It is generally only brought out for trade at auctions or Barter Convention [a formal gathering where cultivators exchange rare resources]."

"Every ten years, Thousand Star Island hosts a Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]-level Barter Convention. If you truly wish to obtain this item, you must go to Thousand Star Island."

Emerging from the Spirit Rhyme Pavilion, Eldrin Chen frowned thoughtfully, retrieved a map of the Yan Kingdom, and began to study it.

Unlike the topography of the Chu Kingdom, the Yan Kingdom was a veritable kingdom of water and wood. Spanning a million Li-lengths in all directions, its landmass constituted only about forty percent of its total area.

To call the Yan Kingdom a kingdom was almost a misnomer; it could just as aptly be described as the million-Li Yan Lake. It was merely that within this vast Yan Lake, thousands upon thousands of islands, large and small, were scattered like stars across the water.

Among these islands, the largest stretched for a hundred thousand Li-lengths, capable of supporting the prosperity of Golden Core Immortal Clan [a powerful clan whose patriarch has reached the Golden Core realm]. The smallest measured a mere dozen or so Li-lengths across and were often occupied by Qi Refinement Cultivators [practitioners in the first major realm of cultivation, focused on refining their vital energy].

Within this expansive Yan Lake, the Water Element Cycle [the natural circulation and nourishment provided by water spiritual energy] and the Earth Vein nourished the land and its archipelagos, giving rise to the unique, sprawling forests found nowhere else within the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent.

Therefore, within the Yan Kingdom, the Five Elements Water Vein [a vein of earth that channels and concentrates water-attributed spiritual energy] and Earth Vein [a vein of earth that channels and concentrates earth-attributed spiritual energy] are in no short supply. This leads to frequent travel between the cultivators of the Yan Kingdom and the Chu Kingdom, primarily for the purpose of exchanging treasures such as the Profound Water Crystal [a crystal formed from the concentrated essence of profound water, prized for refining water-attribute treasures and cultivation arts].

In the past, Varen Wei failed to purchase a First Wood Crystal [a crystal formed from the concentrated essence of first wood, prized for refining wood-attribute treasures and cultivation arts] in the Chu Kingdom, yet managed to acquire this very treasure in the Yan Kingdom. This clearly demonstrates that obtaining such an item is considerably easier within the borders of the Yan Kingdom. Your portal to cultivation novels: @udio-novel.com.