Chapter 181 : The Patriarch's Ascension

Eldrin Chen cast a solemn glance over the assembly, his expression grave as he issued his instructions.

"I must guard the Patriarch during his secluded cultivation. During this time, the ten of you at the Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] realm shall remain. Use the two Third-Rank Treasure Ship [powerful enchanted vessels] to secure Mystic Iron Mountain."

"Understood."

The group nodded repeatedly, fully aware of the critical importance of the Third-Rank Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial energy leyline].

After giving his orders, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch flew towards Spirit Isle Lake. For the Old Patriarch to attempt his breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum [the third major stage of cultivation], it was essential to be within a Third-order Spiritual Vein [a high-grade spiritual energy leyline] to avoid any risk of insufficient spiritual energy.

As they reached the crucial moment for the Violet Sanctum breakthrough, both Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch himself were filled with excitement. Although ascending to a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have a Violet Sanctum cultivator] would bring many matters requiring attention, such concerns were momentarily set aside.

After Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch departed, Lior Chen looked upon the gathered Foundation Establishment Elder [senior clan members] with a smile.

"The Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy] beneath Mystic Iron Mountain is only at the Second Rank Low-Grade [a low-quality second-tier level]. To deploy a third-rank grand formation, it needs to be elevated to at least Second Rank High-Grade [a high-quality second-tier level]."

"Advancing the Spiritual Vein will require approximately fifty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. The Clan Treasury is somewhat short. Let us all contribute for now; you will be repaid in the future."

After Lior Chen finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement. With both the Clan Leader and Eldrin absent, it fell to these Elder to handle the necessary mundane affairs. Read, share, and discuss at https://audio-novel.com.

For instance, matters such as the promotion of the Second Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein [a high-quality vein of spiritual energy suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators] at Mystic Iron Mountain Path-Field or the expansion of the shops at Sunward Market no longer required the personal attention of the two of them.

"..."

Meanwhile, 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] within Spirit Isle Lake to begin his secluded cultivation, aiming to break through to the Violet Sanctum Realm [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a Violet Palace core]. Eldrin Chen stood guard outside the Spirit Pool, cultivating himself while protecting his elder's meditation.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Eldrin Chen was refining his Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword by tempering it with Metallic Gold and Solar Fire Essence [a dual-element spiritual essence combining the properties of metal and solar fire].

For many years now, the Five Elements Energy [refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] refined by the cultivators of the Chen Clan had ceased to be sold externally. Instead, the clan had been aggressively purchasing large quantities of it.

A considerable stockpile had been accumulated over these years. Three months prior, he had mobilized the clan's recent reserves of Metallic Gold and Solar Fire Dual Energy and had been continuously using it to temper his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured sword, growing in power with them].

Now, after a full three months, he had finally guided the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword to the threshold of the Third Rank Middle Grade.

"*Hmm*—"

As Eldrin Chen fused one final strand of Solar Fire Essence into the blade, the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword suddenly emitted a clear, resonant hum. Its azure sword aura surged dramatically, officially ascending into the realm of Third Rank Middle Grade artifacts.

Eldrin Chen gazed at the Immortal Sword [a powerful, sentient sword forged by an immortal], now radiating with significantly increased power, a smile gracing his features. With his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personally forged and soul-bound sword] advancing to the mid-grade of the third rank, his offensive capabilities had finally gained a substantial boost.

While the Great Geng Immortal Sword [a sword of immense, heaven-shaking power] was formidable, its consumption of spiritual energy [the vital energy that permeates the world, used by cultivators] was simply too draining, relegating it to a trump card. Now, with this mid-third-rank Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a sword imbued with the essence of solar flame and abyssal power], his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's primary, soul-linked enchanted artifact] was no longer inferior to those wielded by cultivators at the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Violet Sanctum realm, a significant stage in cultivation].

"Hmm..." A resonant hum filled the air.

Just as joy blossomed in his heart, the void around him trembled faintly. Countless streams of spiritual energy converged like a great whale drinking from the sea, pouring into the Spirit Pool [a pool or reservoir concentrated with spiritual energy].

Eldrin Chen turned his gaze, delight and surprise flashing in his eyes, toward the direction of the Spirit Pool. He understood instantly—the Old Patriarch's breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum [a major realm where a cultivator forms a violet-colored spiritual core within their body] was now complete.

A figure pushed open the doors of the Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for undisturbed meditation and cultivation]. The Clan Leader emerged, his hair white as crane feathers yet his face youthful and radiant, his bearing truly Extraordinary.

For many years, Eldrin Chen had always seen the Old Patriarch as a man in his sixties. But now, he beheld a man who had seemingly reversed the flow of time. Disregarding the crown of silver hair, his visage 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 achieve a breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum!"

Eldrin Chen also wore a smile as he offered his congratulations from the side, "Congratulations, Old Granduncle. Having achieved the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical palace within the dantian] today, you are sure to attain the Golden Core Patriarch [a venerable cultivator who has formed a Golden Core] realm in the future."

"The matter of the Golden Core [the fourth major realm, where spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] is still somewhat distant for me. I am already very content with having reached the Violet Sanctum," Eternal Profound Chen shook his head, though a smile still graced his features.

Though he spoke these words, a flicker of longing shone in his gaze. He was now one hundred and fifty-six years old. Achieving a breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum at this age meant he still had roughly two hundred and fifty years of lifespan ahead.

For a cultivator with Dual Spiritual Root [a mid-tier innate talent for cultivation, allowing absorption of two types of spiritual energy] who breaks through to the Violet Sanctum, it typically takes about thirty years to advance by one minor stage. With diligent cultivation, this time could be shortened to around twenty-five years.

If a Violet Sanctum cultivator possessed 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 could afford third-rank spiritual pills and treasures to enhance their cultivation, that timeframe could be reduced to seventeen or eighteen years, or even shorter.

Furthermore, the Chen Clan possessed a third-rank Spiritual Peach [a mystical fruit that greatly enhances a cultivator's spiritual power]. This item was a supreme treasure for increasing cultivation base. The Old Patriarch estimated he might advance one minor stage in just ten years. For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel-dot-com.

Proceeding this way, as long as he wasn't stalled for too long at the bottlenecks of the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage and the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, the Old Patriarch would still have over a century of lifespan remaining by the time he cultivated to the Violet Sanctum Peak Stage.

As for the bottleneck of breaking through from the Violet Sanctum to the Golden Core, one could attempt it every thirty to forty years. By this calculation, he might have three or four opportunities to attempt the Golden Core breakthrough. His chances of success were likely greater than those of most Violet Sanctum Cultivator.

Of course, this premise hinged on being able to swiftly overcome the bottlenecks at the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage and the Violet Sanctum Late Stage.

Both of these bottlenecks are troublesome matters. Without the Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a pill that aids in refining the spiritual veins within the body] and the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill [a superior pill for tempering one's spiritual energy and meridians], I'm afraid polishing one's spiritual power would require three to five decades of dedicated effort.

Combined, this would mean expending several dozen, nearly a hundred years—a truly time-consuming and laborious endeavor.

Furthermore, concocting the Cloud Vein Creation Pill requires consuming precious Five Elements Treasure Crystal [crystals imbued with the essence of the five fundamental elements], such as Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal containing pure fire essence] and Metallic Gold Essence Crystal [a crystal containing pure metal essence]. As for refining the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill, it demands an even rarer primary ingredient: the Purple Sun Jade [a mystical jade that radiates a purplish solar energy].

This is precisely the primary reason why, despite there being over a hundred Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators who have reached the Violet Sanctum realm] in Chu Nation, the number of cultivators who have reached the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the late stage of the Violet Sanctum realm] barely exceeds a dozen.

"Ahem..."

Just as he was pondering the Future, the Old Patriarch suddenly coughed, his complexion turning somewhat pale.

Eldrin Chen swiftly moved to support the Old Patriarch, his face etched with concern. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's nothing serious," the Old Patriarch shook his head, his expression calm. "When I was breaking through to the Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation realm], my True Essence [the refined, foundational spiritual energy of a cultivator] was slightly insufficient. I had to expend a portion of my Vital Essence Blood [the life force and foundational essence contained within one's blood]. Resting and recuperating for twenty or thirty years should see me fully recovered."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, recognizing this as a sign of severe depletion of one's foundational life force. If not restored promptly, the Old Patriarch would indeed need to spend those two or three decades solely on healing.

However, it was not without remedy. The Energy-Restoring Origin Pill [a pill specifically designed to restore foundational energy and vitality] recorded within Heaven Origin Chen's alchemical formulas was, in fact, created precisely for Violet Sanctum Cultivator who had just undergone such a breakthrough.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen's expression remained calm as he spoke, "There is no need to sacrifice twenty years. The medicinal efficacy of the Origin-Returning Ginseng from the Spirit Herb Garden is already sufficient."

"Once I refine a batch of Energy-Restoring Origin Pill [a pill that replenishes one's foundational life essence], it will fully restore the severe damage to your vital essence."

"..."

To refine the Energy-Restoring Origin Pill, Eldrin Chen journeyed to Green Chariot Mountain to harvest the Origin-Returning Ginseng.

He then gathered the supplementary ingredients from both the Sunward Market and the Clan Treasury. The Origin-Returning Ginseng required twenty-nine different supplementary herbs. Eldrin Chen managed to procure twenty-seven of them from these two locations, but discovered two types were still missing. Experience the full epic at audio-novel dot com.