Chapter 162 Cerulean Peaks Range (Location), Journey to Yan Kingdom (Location)

After reaching an agreement with the various great families, each clan began gathering spirit stones to upgrade the spiritual vein of Yuyang Market.

The Chen Clan currently lacked sufficient spirit stones, yet the number of low-level demon beasts slain during this beast uprising was truly staggering. The blood, flesh, and materials harvested from these low-level demon beasts had accumulated beyond their capacity to process.

Lyra then produced a considerable amount and distributed it as rewards to the cultivators who had participated in the battle. The Chen Immortal Clan was specially granted a generous portion, and after their cultivators refined the various materials into talismans and magical instruments, the total value astonishingly amounted to tens of thousands of spirit stones.

With this sum of money, and after the Chen Family's several Foundation Establishment Elders each contributed a portion of spirit stones, they finally managed to gather 40,000 spirit stones.

It took a full 3 months of concerted effort before the various great families finally gathered sufficient spirit veins. By deploying a Third-Order Spirit Nurturing Grand Formation at Sunrest Market, they gradually elevated this spirit vein to the third order.

With the third-order spirit vein now secured, the 7 major Foundation Establishment immortal clans from Yangzhou, particularly those with weaker foundations, chose to temporarily settle within the Yu Yang Market.

3 prominent families with deep foundations selected several spiritual mountains within Yu County, consuming vast quantities of spirit stones to begin cultivating second-order spirit veins.

Those 7 great Foundation Establishment clans had lost the majority of their accumulated foundations. Now merely putting down roots in Yu County, it would likely take at least a 100 years of effort to restore their former glory. All this held little relevance to Eldrin.

After handling the matters related to his promotion in Yuyang Market, Eldrin prepared to depart for the Yan Kingdom.

Before departing, he instructed the siblings Chen Silas and his sister, "My journey to the Yan Kingdom will likely take at least a year or 2."

"You are tasked with guarding Spirit Isle Lake (Location), a responsibility of utmost importance. The security of Spirit Isle Lake (Location) must remain your highest priority."

Chen Silas (Person Name) nodded with a solemn expression and declared, "Rest assured, we will definitely guard this place well for you."

Eldrin nodded in acknowledgment. Spirit Isle Lake was merely over 6,000 li from Pingyang City. With the Old Patriarch's cultivation level, he could fly there in half a day, and with the protection of a second-tier superior-grade formation, it was truly secure beyond doubt.

After bidding farewell to the siblings, he soared into the sky astride the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure), flying southeast without pause.

How vast the Eastern Wastelands (Location) truly was? Perhaps even a Golden Core Elder would struggle to comprehend its immensity.

However, the vast marshlands that dominated the Eastern Wastelands (Location) alone were said to span hundreds of millions of miles in legend. Using 100-million-mile units as a measure of length demonstrated just how boundless and immense the Eastern Wastelands (Location) truly were.

Across the vast expanse of the Eastern Wastelands (Location), not all territories were suitable for settlement and prosperity. Lands like the Chu Kingdom (Location), when viewed from the perspective of the entire Eastern Wastelands, were actually considered remarkably level terrain.

As far as Eldrin (Person Name) knew, the Eastern Wastelands (Location) spanned millions of miles, where vast mountain ranges towering tens of thousands of miles high and mighty rivers stretching for tens of millions of miles were all commonplace.

Even in legends, deep within the Eastern Wastelands (Location) there exist indescribable primordial mountains that have stood since time immemorial.

Those majestic mountain ranges were akin to the vast, boundless marshes, stretching across hundreds of millions of miles with ease. Even the ancient stars of his past life, which spanned tens of thousands of miles, were nothing more than a drop in the ocean in comparison.

These majestic mountain ranges and vast rivers stretched across the Great Wilderness, separating numerous kingdoms. Within them thrived countless demonic beasts, forcing even cultivators to tread carefully when crossing. Mortals could scarcely glimpse their true splendor throughout their entire lives.

In his previous life, Eldrin had also enjoyed reading, yet mere words on a page could never truly convey the vastness of such an immense world of cultivation.

But on this day, as he flew past Ling Province and Qingzhou, traversed the territories of the Firmament Sword Sect, journeyed over 600,000 li, and crossed the boundless Vast Mountains to finally reach the borders of Chu Kingdom (Location), he finally grasped the true immensity of this world.

“Cerulean Peaks Range (Location)。”

Gazing at the boundless mountains stretching before him, Eldrin couldn't help but murmur under his breath.

What a magnificent mountain range it was. A full month ago, when Eldrin soared over Qingzhou, he had already spotted it straddling the horizon like a colossal dragon coiled within the Great Wilderness.

Now, a month had passed. Eldrin had traveled several 100 1000 miles with intermittent stops, yet it still stretched endlessly before him—only now, it appeared somewhat larger.

The worlds described in books often span millions of miles, yet when speaking of heights, they frequently measure in tens of thousands of zhang—such limited scales merely reflect never having witnessed the true boundlessness of the cosmos.

This world was no mere sheet of parchment. Eldrin lifted his gaze beyond the mountains to behold the heavens, unable to suppress the thought: If 1 were to soar upward for a million miles, 10 million miles, even a 100 million miles, could they ever reach the very apex of the 9 Heavens?

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin continued flying on his sword deeper into the Great Wilderness.

The Cerulean Peaks Range (Location) stretched continuously for over 3 million miles, dividing the 4 kingdoms of Yan, Chu, Qi, and Wei.

The mountains were a realm where dragons and fish jostled together—countless rogue cultivators staked their claims on spiritual peaks, carving out abodes; demonic tribes held sway over vast territories; the Golden Core immortal sect, the Verdant Azure Sect, stood as a bastion of orthodox cultivation; and lurking in the shadows were forces like the Demonic Abyss Cave, a stronghold of devilish practitioners.

Due to the extremely complex terrain and harsh environment, it was difficult for mortals to survive.

However, for the demons and rogue cultivators in the surrounding nations, this place served as an excellent refuge. Thus, no 1 truly knew how many cultivators dwelled within these vast mountains.

Legend has it that deep within the mountain ranges, the Verdant Azure Sect controls 2 fourth-order spirit veins and 2 fourth-order Wutu Earth Veins, their strength rivaling even the 3 great sects of the Chu Kingdom.

The place was far too chaotic, a veritable den of snakes and dragons where killings and plunderings occurred almost every moment. Moreover, with no water veins present in the area, Eldrin had no intention of settling here.

He avoided the locations of the third-order spirit veins within the Cerulean Peaks Range (Location), riding his sword southeastward all the way. After flying for over a month along the journey, he had finally traversed half of the Skyreach Mountains.

"Hoo—"

On this day, Eldrin descended on his sword radiance, gazing upon the towering mountain range ahead as he drew a deep breath.

After flying for hundreds of thousands of miles, the terrain had grown increasingly elevated. The mountain ranges here reached heights of over 20,000 miles, and flying at such altitude doubled the consumption of spiritual power.

Even with Eldrin's cultivation level, he would feel quite exhausted from long-distance sword flight under such circumstances.

"Up ahead lies the territory of the Black Eagle Ridge."

"I should head to Cangcheng first to rest and recover my condition before anything else."

Eldrin gazed at the map in his hand, his expression growing solemn.

The Black Eagle Ridge was the domain of the Black Eagle Demon King. This demon king possessed astonishing speed and formidable cultivation, ruling over a territory stretching over 1,000,000 li in length and more than 300,000 li in width.

Within the vast expanse of the Cerulean Peaks Range, over 10 percent of this territory belongs to it alone. Even the Azure Horizon Sect could do nothing to curb its dominance. For any cultivator, traversing the 3 100 1000 li breadth of the Black Eagle Ridge remains an exceedingly perilous endeavor.

Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would have to carefully traverse the periphery, staying far from the core territory where the Black Eagle Demon King resides.

Fortunately, the terrain within the Cerulean Peaks Range (Location) was complex. As long as Foundation Establishment cultivators possessed a decent flying sword or an escape technique, they could rely on the intricate landscape to shake off demonic beasts and vanish into the vast, boundless mountains.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, this still posed considerable danger, and Eldrin naturally dared not let his guard down.

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled across the snowy plains, whipping up flurries of ice crystals that shimmered under the pale moonlight. Amidst this desolate landscape, a lone figure sat cross-legged atop a glacial peak, his robes fluttering violently in the gale. Yun Che's (Person Name) eyes snapped open, twin beams of azure light piercing through the darkness. "After 90-8 1000 years..." he whispered, his voice barely audible yet carrying the weight of eons. "I've finally reconstructed my shattered dantian." A faint, crystalline glow emanated from his lower abdomen where his energy core had been destroyed all those years ago. The Heaven Swallowing Art (Cultivation Method) circulated through his meridians, drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy like a vortex. Countless ice particles swirled around him, dancing to the rhythm of his breathing. Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed across the mountains. "Yun Che! Did you truly believe you could hide here forever?" A massive figure descended from the sky, his crimson cloak billowing like a banner of blood. Elder Ming (Person Name) of the Blood Fiend Sect (Sect) landed heavily, cracking the glacial surface beneath his feet. His eyes glowed with malevolent red light as he raised the Soul Devouring Staff (Magic Treasure). Yun Che remained seated, his expression unreadable. "Elder Ming," he said calmly. "You've pursued me across 3 continents. Don't you ever tire?" "Hand over the 9 Revolutions Spirit Pearl (Magic Treasure), and I might consider granting you a quick death!" the elder snarled. He swung his staff, releasing a wave of crimson energy that shattered the surrounding ice formations. With a subtle movement of his fingers, Yun Che summoned the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). The blade ignited with blue flames that danced despite the freezing temperatures. "You want the Spirit Pearl?" he said softly. "Come and take it." The 2 figures shot toward each other, their collision sending shockwaves through the mountain range. Sword met staff in a cataclysmic explosion of energy, illuminating the eternal night with brilliant colors. Elsewhere, in a secluded valley... "Senior Sister! Look what I found!" A young disciple named Lin Feiyu (Person Name) held up a glowing herb. "This is a 3 1000 Years Snow Lotus (Spiritual Herb)! With this, your cultivation can break through to the next realm!" The woman he addressed stood gracefully beside a frozen waterfall, her white robes pristine against the snowy backdrop. Eldrin (Person Name) smiled faintly. "Your luck continues to amaze me, Junior Brother. But remember, such treasures often come with dangers." As if on cue, a low growl rumbled from the cave behind the waterfall. 2 enormous ice wolves emerged, their crystalline fur bristling with killing intent. Lin Feiyu immediately drew his sword. "I'll protect you, Senior Sister!" Eldrin shook her head, her fingers already weaving an intricate seal. "Stand back. These are 1000 Year Frost Wolves (Spiritual Beast). Their strength equals the Foundation Establishment realm." Azure energy gathered around her hands as she began chanting an ancient spell. The air grew colder, and the very moisture in the atmosphere began to crystallize. "Let me show you the true power of the Frozen Cloud Arts (Cultivation Method)." Back on the glacial peak, the battle reached its climax. Yun Che's sword techniques grew increasingly profound, each movement containing the essence of the Dao. "You've forced my hand, Elder Ming," he said, his voice echoing with power. "I didn't want to use this, but you leave me no choice." The Heaven Swallowing Art (Cultivation Method) erupted with full force, draining the spiritual energy from everything within a 100-mile radius. The sky darkened as clouds gathered, swirling into a massive vortex centered above Yun Che. Elder Ming's eyes widened in horror. "This... this is the legendary Heavenly Tribulation! You're attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage!" Lightning crackled across the heavens, casting eerie shadows on the snow below. Yun Che raised his sword toward the sky, his figure silhouetted against the brewing storm. "Let us see if heaven itself can stop me today."