Chapter 187 : The Mirror's Dual Revelation

The fourth and fifth mouthfuls were bestowed upon the Enlightenment Tea Tree and the Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree respectively, while the sixth was given to the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform. Now, this final mouthful of Primordial Essence [the most fundamental and pure energy of creation] was the last remaining within his body.

As the Primordial Essence merged into the Treasure Mirror, the artifact emitted a soft hum and instantly flew out from within the Artificer's Cauldron.

Eldrin Chen drew it into his dantian [the core energy center in a cultivator's lower abdomen]. After a moment of sensing its nature, he discovered the mirror now possessed two divine abilities.

The first ability was naturally the Magnetic Treasure Radiance. This Magnetic Treasure Radiance [a magnetic radiance that disrupts and controls metal-based treasures] was the bane of metal-attribute divine ability treasures. It could easily subdue even those a full minor realm higher in power.

Even when facing a treasure two minor realms superior, it could significantly impair its efficacy and drastically reduce its potency.

Eldrin Chen estimated that if this Treasure Mirror were to reach the Purple Palace, Late Stage, it might even be capable of locking down a metal-attribute fourth-rank Flying Sword magical treasure.

Beyond this primary ability, the Treasure Mirror had spontaneously birthed a second divine power. This power could unleash a destructive beam known as the Yin-Yang Magnetic Divine Radiance [a beam of yin-yang magnetic energy with annihilating properties], capable of disintegrating and erasing a powerful foe into nothing but tribulation ashes—a first-rate offensive ability.

"This second divine ability is imbued with Yin-Yang Magnetic Power and can even tear apart and annihilate an opponent. Let it be named the 'Yin-Yang Magnetic Annihilation Divine Radiance'," he declared.

"As this mirror is the 'Yin-Yang Magnetic Treasure Mirror', we shall simply call it the Magnetic Treasure Mirror."

A faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. The Magnetic Treasure Mirror had gained one more divine ability than anticipated, granting him an additional formidable means of attack. Join our community of readers at audio . novel . com.

However, although the power of the Yin-Yang Magnetic Annihilation Divine Radiance [a devastating beam of light that harnesses the opposing forces of yin and yang to annihilate matter] is exceptionally formidable, it is, after all, a supplementary magical treasure. After each activation, it requires a full three years to accumulate sufficient power again, relegating it to use only as a trump card held in reserve.

Having successfully refined the magical treasure and received this unexpected boon, Eldrin Chen emerged from his seclusion chamber in rather high spirits.

After leaving the chamber, he happened to notice that, at some unknown point, several of the peach trees had undergone an advancement.

He carefully inspected them and discovered that a total of nine trees had ascended to become Spirit Peach Tree [a tree that bears fruit imbued with spiritual energy], their grade reaching First Rank Low Grade.

Although these Spirit Peach Tree were not Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a rare and profound spiritual plant with extraordinary properties] and lacked the profound mysteries of the Spirit Peach Mother Tree, they had become genuine Spirit Tree [a tree that naturally gathers and radiates spiritual energy]. The spiritual fruit they bore could indeed enhance the cultivation of Qi Refinement Cultivators.

Eldrin Chen observed the peach grove and pondered for a moment, roughly deducing the reason for the advancement of these nine trees.

"When the Spirit Peach Tree advanced to the Third Rank, nine of its offspring received a portion of the mother tree's grace, ascending to become First Rank Low Grade Spirit Tree."

"Unless the Spirit Peach Tree itself advances to the fourth rank, it can foster at most nine Spirit Tree. Furthermore, their foundational growth will be as slow as ordinary Spirit Tree, potentially taking centuries to reach the second rank."

He furrowed his brow, then shook his head with a wry smile. "A Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root is exceedingly rare to find. Even First Rank Low Grade Spirit Tree are considered quite valuable treasures."

"With these nine First Rank Low Grade Spirit Tree, the clan will have another specialty product in the future. This is a rather fine harvest."

With such thoughts, he ceased to concern himself with these low-grade Spirit Peach Tree [trees that bear fruit infused with spiritual energy].

In the blink of an eye, another half-month's time had passed.

On this day, Verdant Chariot Mountain was a scene of extraordinary bustle and festivity. The entire Chen Clan was adorned with lanterns and colored streamers, and the cultivators of the Chen Clan wore beaming smiles upon their faces.

Numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation] renowned throughout Bianzhou had arrived at the location, each wearing expressions of deference and restraint, their eyes alight with envy and longing.

The Chen Immortal Clan's ascension to a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm], and the fact that they had produced two Purple Mansion Cultivator [powerful cultivators who have opened their spiritual Purple Mansion] in such a short span of time, could be said to have shaken the entirety of Bianzhou.

Word had even reached the other eight provinces of the Chu Kingdom, letting them know that the Chen Immortal Clan had risen and stepped onto the grand stage of the Chu Kingdom.

Lior Chen stood before the mountain gate of Verdant Chariot Mountain, his face radiant with honor as he greeted the arriving guests. After seeing one Foundation Establishment Cultivator off up the mountain path, he asked quietly to the side without changing his expression.

"Have they all been recorded?"

"They have been recorded."

Chen Seraphina standing beside him nodded, then said in a low voice, "All thirty-one Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [clans with Foundation Establishment cultivators as their pillars] from Bianzhou are present. The gifts from the thirteen immortal clans of Yu County are particularly generous; I suspect none are worth less than one thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]."

"Among these, the gifts from the Mu Clan and the Meng Clan were particularly lavish."

"Hmm." Lior Chen's expression remained unchanged as he added, "Record everything clearly. We must not make any mistakes when it's our turn to reciprocate the gifts."

"Understood."

Seeing her nod, Lior Chen continued, "Judging by the hour, the three great Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families whose patriarchs have reached the Purple Mansion Realm] should be arriving soon. Go and instruct the staff in the back to make the final preparations."

Meanwhile, within a simple courtyard room located in the secluded Back Mountain of Verdant Chariot Mountain, a different scene unfolded.

Eldrin Chen gazed at the figure lying upon the bed, his face pale as he tightly grasped the man's hand. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel-dot-com.

"Uncle Kael..."

Upon the bed, Chen Kael's aged face was as pale as parchment, a clear sign that he was lingering at the very threshold of life.

This Grand Elder had devoted his youth to guarding Pingyang City for the clan for many years. In recent decades, he had remained at Verdant Chariot Mountain to enlighten the younger disciples of the Chen Clan, dedicating his entire life to the family's cause with unwavering loyalty.

Yet, unbeknownst to all, the decades had slipped away, and his lifespan had now reached one hundred and twenty years.

At this moment, Chen Kael wore a gentle smile upon his lips, his expression carrying a profound sense of kindness and peace. He reached out and patted Eldrin Chen's hand, speaking with serene calmness.

"Ah, Young Eldrin, in the blink of an eye, you have reached sixty years of age."

"I still remember the year you came to Pingyang City and together we uprooted the clan's demonic blight. Who could have imagined that over forty years have passed in a mere flash."

"Uncle Kael, what of the Spirit Apricot [a fruit that can extend a cultivator's lifespan]?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes reddened slightly, his fingers trembling with a faint tremor.

Ever since the Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree advanced in rank, it bore its first harvest of Spirit Apricot that year. Thereafter, it ripened every three years. Up to now, it had completed three such cycles, yielding a total of nine second-rank Spirit Apricot.

Of these Spirit Apricot, he had set aside three each for Chen Kael and Riverius Chen. By all logic, Chen Kael should have had at least another thirty years of life remaining. How then had he reached this final, fading moment?

"Eldrin."

Chen Kael grasped Eldrin Chen's hand, shaking his head with tranquil acceptance. "For one such as I, even another thirty years holds little meaning."

"Give it to someone with greater need. Perhaps a decade's extra accumulation of lifespan could be the difference that leads to a successful Foundation Establishment [the crucial breakthrough that solidifies a cultivator's foundation and greatly extends their lifespan]?"

Only then did Eldrin Chen understand. He had given the Spirit Apricot [a rare fruit that can extend a cultivator's lifespan and aid in cultivation] to several younger clan members of the Nian Generation who were under seventy years of age. Among the clan's thirteen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation], Chen Nianzhen had been able to achieve Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] at sixty-one precisely because he had received one of Chen Kael's Spirit Apricot.

It was just that Eldrin Chen had been far away in the Yan Kingdom at the time and was unaware of the specific timing of Chen Nianzhen's Foundation Establishment breakthrough.

The Grand Elder wore a smile tinged with a sense of release. "Compared to Granduncle Changyan, to Cedric and QingRonan, my life has been far too fortunate."

"They have waited below for far too long. It is fitting that I go now to the underworld, to bring them the news of our clan's ascension to a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have at least one cultivator in the Purple Mansion realm], to tell the honored ancestors of our Chen Clan."

"Listen. Look. How lively it is outside."

"Even Purple Mansion Immortal Clan must come to our Chen Clan with courtesy to offer congratulations. This... this was a scene from my dreams."

"To have lived to see this day... perhaps that is the greatest fortune of all..."

His voice grew faint, fading into silence without anyone noticing.

"Father!"

Beside him, the centenarian Chen Sol knelt to the ground, tears streaming down his aged face as he wept openly.

"Uncle Kael."

Eldrin Chen grasped the hand of the Grand Elder, feeling his throat go dry and his hands tremble slightly. A profound sense of helplessness surged within his heart.

He feared the twilight of a hero, dreaded the dusk of a prodigy.

No matter how astonishing his talent or brilliance, before the inexorable cycle of life and death, he ultimately felt utterly powerless.

He clutched Chen Kael's hand tightly, willing to anchor his fading Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], yet he could change nothing. Continue your cultivation journey at audio–novel.com.