Chapter 162 : The Spiritual Vein's Ascent

After reaching an agreement with the various great clans, each family began gathering Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to elevate the Sunward Market Spiritual Vein.

The Chen Clan currently did not have enough Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] on hand. However, the number of low-tier demonic beasts slain during this Beast Tide [a periodic, massive assault by demonic beasts] was truly staggering. The flesh, blood, and materials from these low-tier beasts were so abundant they could not be fully processed.

Therefore, Exquisite Jiang allocated a considerable portion as rewards for the cultivators who participated in the battle. The Chen Immortal Clan was specifically granted a large share. After the clan's cultivators refined these various materials into talismans and magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators], their total value astonishingly amounted to tens of thousands of Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

With this sum, the several Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] Elders of the Chen Clan each contributed an additional portion of their own Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], finally managing to raise forty thousand stones.

It took a full three months of concerted effort before the various great families finally gathered enough resources for the Spiritual Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy]. They deployed a Third-Rank Spirit Vein Nurturing Formation [a magical array designed to nourish and upgrade a spiritual vein] at the Sunward Market, gradually elevating this Spiritual Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy] to the third rank.

With the establishment of a Third-order Spiritual Vein, the seven great Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [immortal clans with cultivators at the Foundation Establishment realm] from Yangzhou found their footing. Those with weaker foundational strength and heritage temporarily settled within the Sunward Market.

Three families with stronger foundational strength and heritage selected several Spirit Mountains [mountains imbued with spiritual energy] within Yu County. They began investing vast amounts of Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to cultivate Second Rank [the second tier of power for objects or locations] Spiritual Veins [subterranean channels of concentrated spiritual energy].

Having lost the majority of their foundational strength and heritage, these seven Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] families were merely putting down roots in Yu County. Restoring their former glory would likely take at least a century of effort. These matters held little direct relevance to Eldrin Chen.

After handling the affairs related to the Sunward Market's elevation, Eldrin Chen prepared to depart for the Yan Kingdom.

Before leaving, he instructed the two siblings, Silas Chen and his sister: "My journey to the Yan Kingdom will likely take at least one or two years." The story continues at audio-novel[dot]com.

"Your duty to guard Spirit Isle Lake is of paramount importance. The safety of Spirit Isle Lake must be your foremost priority."

Silas Chen nodded, his expression grave. "You have our word," he said solemnly. "We will guard this place in your stead."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Spirit Isle Lake lay a mere six thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Pingyang City. With Old Patriarch's cultivation level, he could fly the distance in half a day. Furthermore, the lake was protected by a Second Rank High-Grade Formation [a complex array of energy channels and symbols used for defense, confinement, or amplification], making it truly secure.

After bidding farewell to the siblings, he mounted his Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword and soared into the heavens, flying southeast.

"…"

How vast was the Eastern Region Great Wasteland? Perhaps not even a Golden Core Patriarch [a patriarch who has formed a Golden Core, the third major stage of cultivation] could fully comprehend its scale.

Yet, the Vast and Misty Marsh alone, which dominated a portion of this Eastern Region Great Wasteland, was said to span hundreds of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. The fact that its dimensions were measured in *hundreds of millions* of Li-length revealed the truly unfathomable, boundless expanse of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

Within this immense Eastern Region Great Wasteland, not all lands were suitable for habitation and prosperity. From the perspective of the entire wasteland, terrain like that of the Chu Nation was considered remarkably flat and stable.

As Eldrin Chen understood it, the Eastern Region Great Wasteland was riddled with mountain ranges stretching for millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] and soaring tens of thousands of Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] high, as well as great rivers that wound for tens of millions of Li-length.

There were even legends speaking of primordial, indescribably colossal peaks deep within the heart of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

Those majestic mountain ranges were akin to the Vast and Misty Marsh, stretching for hundreds of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] with ease. Even the ancient, ten-thousand-Li-spanning stars of his past life were but a drop in the ocean before them.

These colossal mountains and vast rivers lay across the Great Wasteland, separating nation from nation. They teemed with countless demonic beasts, making even cultivators tread with extreme caution. For mortals, glimpsing their true scale was an impossibility within a single lifetime.

In his past life, Eldrin Chen had also enjoyed reading. Yet, words on a page could never truly convey the profound sense of scale inherent to such an immense world of cultivation.

Only now, having flown across Ling County and Qing Province, traversed the territories of the Firmament Sword Sect, and journeyed over six hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of endless, sprawling mountains to finally reach the border of Chu Nation, did he begin to comprehend the true vastness of this world.

"The Verdant Azure Mountains,"

Gazing upon the boundless peaks before him, Eldrin Chen could not help but murmur the name.

What a mountain range it was. A full month ago, while soaring over Qing Province, he had first seen it sprawled across the horizon's edge, a colossal dragon coiled within the heart of the Great Wasteland.

Now, after a month of intermittent travel covering several hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], it still lay there, dominating the view, having merely grown larger in his perception.

Books often spoke in terms of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] and heights measured in ten-thousand Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], but such descriptions were born from never having witnessed true, unfathomable grandeur.

This world was no flat parchment. Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze, looking past the mountains toward the Heavenly Vault. He wondered: if one flew upward for a million, ten million, even a hundred million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], could one ever reach the very limits of this world's Nine Heavens?

Suppressing his thoughts deep within, Eldrin Chen continued to ride his sword, flying deeper into the heart of the Great Wasteland.

The Verdant Azure Mountains stretch for over three million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], forming a natural barrier that divides the Yan, Chu, Qi, and Wei Nations.

The mountain range is a chaotic melting pot. Countless rogue cultivators occupy Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy] to establish their cave abodes. Factions of the Demon Race hold sway over territories, while the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, forming a solidified golden core of energy] immortal sect, the Verdant Azure Sect, maintains its presence. Furthermore, sinister forces like the Demon Cave [a stronghold of demonic cultivators] represent the power of the Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use unorthodox, often malevolent methods].

The terrain is far too complex and the environment too harsh for ordinary mortals to survive.

Yet, for the demons, monsters, and rogue cultivators of the surrounding nations, this is an ideal refuge. Consequently, no one truly knows how many cultivators dwell within this vast expanse of peaks and valleys.

It is said that deep within the mountains, the Verdant Azure Sect controls two Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a high-grade source of ambient spiritual energy] and two Fourth Rank Bulwark Earth Vein [a high-grade source of earth-element spiritual energy]. Their strength rivals that of the three great sects of the Chu Nation. Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.

This place is far too lawless; acts of murder and treasure theft occur almost constantly. Furthermore, the absence of any Water Vein [a source of water-element spiritual energy] here meant Eldrin Chen had no intention of settling down.

He deliberately avoided areas in the Verdant Azure Mountains known to harbor Third-order Spiritual Vein [a mid-grade source of spiritual energy]. Flying southeast on his sword for over a month, he finally traversed half the length of the Vault Heaven Mountain Range.

"Hah—"

On this day, Eldrin Chen descended, his sword light dissipating. He gazed upon the towering peaks ahead and drew a deep, steadying breath.

After flying for several hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], the terrain grew increasingly elevated. The mountain ranges here soared to heights exceeding twenty thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Flying at such altitudes doubled the consumption of magical power [the energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners of the mystical arts].

Even with Eldrin Chen's cultivation level, maintaining long-distance sword flight under these conditions left him feeling considerably fatigued.

"Ahead lies the territory of Black Eagle Ridge."

"Best to first rest at Verdant City and recover my strength before proceeding."

Studying the map in his hand, Eldrin Chen's expression grew solemn.

Black Eagle Ridge was the domain of the Black Eagle Demon King. That demon king possessed astonishing speed and formidable cultivation. Its territory stretched for a million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in length and spanned over three hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in width.

This accounted for more than one-tenth of the vast Verdant Azure Mountains. Even the mighty Verdant Azure Immortal Sect could do little to challenge it. For any cultivator, traversing the three hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] breadth of Black Eagle Ridge was a perilous undertaking.

Even Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their foundational energy core] attempting the crossing had to stick carefully to the peripheral regions, steering clear of the core territory where the Black Eagle Demon King held sway.

Fortunately, the complex topography of the Verdant Azure Mountains offered some refuge. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their foundational energy core] with a decent flying sword or a proficient Escape Technique Divine Ability [a mystical art focused on rapid evasion or flight] could use the rugged landscape to lose pursuing demon beasts and vanish into the boundless mountains.

Nevertheless, significant danger remained for Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their foundational energy core]. Eldrin Chen naturally dared not let his guard down. Original English translation available at audio-novel[dot]com.