Chapter 181 : The Patriarch's Crucial Breakthrough

Eldrin Chen cast a solemn glance over the assembled group and spoke with grave emphasis.

"I must guard the Clan Patriarch during his seclusion. During this time, you ten Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] cultivators will remain here, using the two Third-Rank Treasure Ship [powerful enchanted vessels] to secure Dark Iron Mountain."

"Understood."

The group nodded in unison, fully aware of the critical importance of the Third Rank Earth Vein [a powerful underground source of earth-attribute spiritual energy].

After giving his instructions, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch departed for Spirit Isle Lake. For the Old Patriarch to attempt his breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major stage of cultivation, where the cultivator's spiritual core expands into a 'mansion'], it was essential to be within a Third Rank Spirit Vein [a powerful source of ambient spiritual energy] to avoid the risk of insufficient spiritual energy.

As they reached the crucial moment for the Purple Mansion breakthrough, both Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch himself were filled with fervent anticipation. Although ascending to a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have a Purple Mansion cultivator] would bring a host of matters requiring attention and management, such concerns were momentarily set aside.

After Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch had departed, Lior Chen turned to the assembled Foundation Establishment Elder with a smile.

"The Mysterious Iron Mountain Spirit Vein is currently only at the Second Rank Low Grade level. To establish a Third Rank Grand Formation [a powerful, large-scale defensive or offensive magical array], it needs to be elevated to at least Second Rank High Grade first."

"The required Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] for this upgrade amounts to over fifty thousand pieces. The reserves within the Clan Treasury are somewhat insufficient. Let us all contribute for now, and you will be reimbursed later."

Following Lior Chen's words, everyone nodded in agreement. With the Clan Patriarch and Eldrin absent, it fell to the elders to manage these essential, if mundane, affairs. Visit www . audio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

For instance, matters such as upgrading the Mysterious Iron Mountain Dao Field's Second Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a high-quality spiritual energy source suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators], or expanding the shops in the Yuyang Market—these affairs no longer required the personal attention of the two men.

It is said that Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch flew for half a day and soon returned to the heart of Spirit Isle Lake.

The Old Patriarch immediately entered the Spirit Pool [a concentrated pool of spiritual energy ideal for profound cultivation] within Spirit Isle Lake to begin his secluded cultivation, aiming to break through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian] realm. Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen stood guard outside the Spirit Pool, cultivating himself while protecting his Patriarch's crucial endeavor.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Eldrin Chen was tempering his Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss with Metallic Essence and Separated Flame Qi [refined spiritual essences of the Metal and Fire elements].

For many years now, the Five Elements Qi [refined spiritual essence of the five fundamental elements] refined by the Chen Clan Cultivators had ceased to be sold externally. Instead, the clan had been aggressively purchasing all available Five Elements Qi.

Over these years, a considerable stockpile had been amassed. Three months prior, he had mobilized the clan's recent accumulation of Dual Metallic Essence and Separated Flame Qi [a potent dual-element spiritual essence] and had been tirelessly using it to temper his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's primary weapon, soul-bound and grown with their power].

Now, after a full three months, he had finally guided the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss to the very threshold of the Third Rank Middle Grade [a mid-tier power level for magical treasures, equivalent to the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm].

"Hmm—"

As Eldrin Chen fused one final wisp of Separated Flame Qi into the blade, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss suddenly emitted a soft, clear hum. Its deep azure sword aura surged dramatically, definitively ascending into the realm of Third Rank Middle Grade.

Gazing upon the greatly enhanced azure Immortal Sword, a smile touched Eldrin Chen's eyes. With his Lifebound Immortal Sword now at Third Rank Middle Grade, his offensive capabilities had finally gained another significant edge.

Although the Great Metallic Immortal Sword [a legendary sword forged from the purest metallic essence] possessed immense power, its drain on one's mana was far too great, relegating it to a final, desperate measure. With this Third Rank Middle Grade Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword imbued with the power of the Separated Flame], his Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure forged with and nourished by a cultivator's own life force] was now no weaker than those wielded by cultivators in the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm].

"Hmm…"

Just as joy blossomed in his heart, the void around him trembled faintly. Countless streams of spiritual energy surged forth like a great whale drawing in the sea, pouring into the Spirit Pool [a pool concentrated with spiritual energy, ideal for cultivation].

Eldrin Chen turned his gaze with delight toward the direction of the Spirit Pool, understanding in his heart that the Old Patriarch's breakthrough to the Purple Mansion [a major cultivation realm where one forms a spiritual mansion within their dantian] was now assured.

A figure pushed open the doors of the seclusion chamber. The Clan Patriarch stood there, his hair like crane's feathers yet his face youthful, his bearing truly extraordinary.

For many years, Eldrin Chen had always seen the Old Patriarch as a man in his sixties. Yet now, upon this meeting, he found the Old Patriarch had undergone a rejuvenation. Disregarding the crown of white hair, his visage more closely resembled that of a youth in his late twenties.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the Old Patriarch let out a hearty, unrestrained laugh.

"Hahaha…!"

"To think that this old man would one day break through to the Purple Mansion!"

Eldrin Chen also wore a smile, offering his congratulations from the side: "Congratulations, Old Granduncle. With your achievement of the Purple Mansion today, I have no doubt you will one day ascend to become a Golden Core Ancestor [a venerable cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual essence]."

"The matter of Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] is still somewhat distant for me. Achieving Purple Mansion [the second major stage, where one opens and refines a spiritual palace within the body] would already bring me great satisfaction."

Chen Thalion shook his head, a faint smile also gracing his features as he spoke.

Though his words said one thing, a glimmer of aspiration still shone in his gaze. At one hundred and fifty-six years of age, breaking through to Purple Mansion at this stage would grant him roughly two hundred and fifty more years of lifespan.

Typically, a cultivator with Two Spiritual Roots [an affinity for two of the five elemental energies, considered a good talent] who breaks through to Purple Mansion advances one layer in cultivation approximately every thirty years. With diligent cultivation, this timeframe can be shortened to around twenty-five years.

If a Purple Mansion cultivator possesses substantial resources—for instance, an annual stipend exceeding five thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]—and can afford Third Rank [refers to items or beings at the Purple Mansion level] spirit pills and treasures to enhance their cultivation, that time can be further reduced to seventeen or eighteen years, or even less.

Furthermore, the Chen Clan possesses the Third Rank Spirit Peach [a mystical fruit that significantly boosts a cultivator's spiritual power]. This fruit is a supreme treasure for increasing cultivation base. Old Patriarch estimated that he might be able to break through one cultivation layer every ten years with its aid. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Calculated this way, barring any prolonged stagnation at the bottlenecks of Purple Palace, Mid Stage or the late stage, Old Patriarch would still have over a century of lifespan remaining by the time he cultivated to the Purple Palace, Peak Stage.

A Purple Mansion cultivator can attempt to break through the Golden Core Bottleneck once every thirty to forty years. By this reckoning, he would likely have three or four opportunities to attempt the Golden Core breakthrough. His chances of success would probably be greater than those of most Purple Mansion Cultivator.

Of course, this premise hinged on one condition: that the bottlenecks at Purple Palace, Mid Stage and Purple Palace, Late Stage could be overcome swiftly.

These two bottlenecks are notoriously troublesome. Without treasures like the Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a rare pill that aids in refining one's spiritual energy and breaking through cultivation barriers] or the Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill [another high-grade pill for cultivation advancement], the process of tempering and purifying one's spiritual essence could easily consume thirty to fifty years.

Combined, this would require the consumption of several decades, approaching a full century, of time—a truly arduous and time-consuming endeavor.

Furthermore, refining the Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a pill that aids in the creation and refinement of one's spiritual foundation] requires the consumption of precious Five Elements Treasure Crystals [crystals imbued with the concentrated essence of the five fundamental elements], such as the Li Fire Crystal [a crystal containing the essence of the Li Trigram Fire] and the Geng Metal Crystal [a crystal containing the essence of the Geng Heavenly Stem Metal]. Refining the Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill [a high-grade pill that nourishes the Violet Mansion realm] demands an even rarer primary ingredient: the Purple Sun Jade [a mystical jade that absorbs and refines the energy of the purple dawn].

This is precisely the primary reason why, within the Chu Kingdom, there are over a hundred Purple Mansion Cultivator [cultivators who have opened their third spiritual palace, the Purple Mansion], yet the number of Purple Mansion Late Stage Cultivators [cultivators who have reached the later stages of the Purple Mansion realm] barely exceeds a dozen.

"Ahem..."

While pondering the future, the Old Patriarch suddenly coughed, his complexion turning somewhat pale.

Eldrin Chen swiftly moved to support the Old Patriarch, his expression etched with concern. "What is this?" he asked.

"It is of no consequence," the Old Patriarch shook his head, his demeanor calm. "When I attempted the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a spiritual palace within the dantian], my True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner] proved insufficient. I was forced to expend a portion of my Lifebound Essence Blood [the vital blood essence intrinsically linked to a cultivator's life force and cultivation base]. With twenty or thirty years of rest and recuperation, I shall recover fully."

A flicker of understanding passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes. He recognized this as a sign of severe damage to one's foundational vitality. If not addressed promptly, the Old Patriarch would indeed require those two or three decades to heal.

Yet, a solution was not beyond reach. The Qi Replenishing Return Pill [a restorative pill designed to replenish depleted vital essence], recorded within Chen Primus's alchemical formulas, was precisely created for Purple Mansion Cultivator who had just undergone such a taxing breakthrough.

With this in mind, Eldrin Chen spoke with composed assurance. "There is no need to sacrifice twenty years. The medicinal efficacy of the Origin-Returning Ginseng [a rare ginseng that helps restore one's origin energy] within the Spirit Medicine Garden [a garden dedicated to cultivating spiritually potent herbs] is more than sufficient."

"Once I refine a batch of Qi Replenishing Return Pill [a restorative elixir that replenishes one's vital energy and essence], I can mend the severe depletion of your foundational essence."

To procure the ingredients for the Qi Replenishing Return Pill, Eldrin Chen journeyed to Verdant Chariot Mountain and harvested the Origin-Returning Ginseng [a rare ginseng known for its potent restorative properties].

He then sought the supplementary herbs, numbering twenty-nine in total, from the Yuyang Market and the Clan Treasury. Between these two sources, Eldrin Chen managed to gather twenty-seven varieties, but discovered he was still short two crucial components. For more chapters, visit audi0-n0vel.c0m for the complete novel.