Chapter 192 Ethan (Person Name) Builds Foundation

However, the Divine Thunder technique could only be recorded after successful cultivation. After some discussion among the group, it was ultimately claimed by Eldrin (Person Name), who possessed the highest comprehension.

In exchange, once Eldrin (Person Name) successfully completes his cultivation, he must engrave 3 Divine Ability Jade Slips (Cultivation Item) and deliver them to the 3 great families.

Although this would make the First-Wood Divine Thunder (Cultivation Art) relatively common in Bian Province, its divine thunder supernatural power was ultimately not a cultivation method. Since it was extremely difficult to find ways to counter it, no significant impact would arise.

In addition, there were 7 or 8 foundational establishment cultivation techniques. Naturally, everyone made copies of these invaluable manuals, enriching the clan's repository with them.

After distributing these supplies, Eldrin (Person Name) spoke again, "Our actions this time have already offended the Qingyang Sect (Sect Name)."

"Although the Green Sun Sect has lost all popular support and likely lacks the strength to reclaim Cangkun Mountain (Location), we should still station some personnel here as a precautionary measure."

The brows of the several individuals twitched almost imperceptibly. Xu Daoyuan nodded and said, "Very well. Each of our 4 great clans shall dispatch several Foundation Establishment cultivators, and we shall take turns stationing a Purple Mansion cultivator here."

Everyone nodded upon hearing this. The Azure Sun Sect was now overwhelmed with its own troubles. Many high-level cultivators had long set their sights on Elder Xu, and the immortal clans of the 2 Azure Sun provinces had already severed ties with them. It could be said they were beset by troubles both within and without.

Even Lyra (Person Name) and the firmament Sword Sect had half a mind to take action. Were it not for Lyra (Person Name)'s urgent need to replenish her spiritual roots and achieve the Golden Core breakthrough, they would likely have already moved to seize the interests of the Azure Sun Sect.

After all, the Verdant Sun Sect had dominated the 3 prefectures of the Chu Kingdom for many years, controlling resources so vast they could make even Golden Core Elders covetous.

Under such circumstances, the Verdant Sun Sect no longer possessed the capacity to intervene in Border Province affairs. This was precisely why the various factions dared to take action to remove the thorn that was Cangkun Mountain (Location).

After deliberating on their strategy, the group ultimately decided that each family would dispatch 3 Foundation Establishment cultivators on average. The Pan Family, holding the smallest share, needed to send only 2 Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the Xu Family, with the largest stake, contributed 1 additional cultivator.

As for the Golden Core cultivators presiding over the formation, they were dispatched in rotation by the 5 Great Families, with Xavier being the first to assume guardianship.

With this cultivator at the sixth level of the Purple Mansion standing guard, even if the Green Sun Sect dispatched a Purple Palace, Late Stage cultivator, they would find it difficult to subdue him.

The Green Sun Sect originally had 3 cultivators at the Purple Palace, Late Stage. Among them, 1 fell in battle during the Beast Tide.

Among the other 2, although Patriarch Liu had reached the ninth level of the Purple Mansion, his remaining lifespan was less than 10 years. As the only third-rank high-grade alchemist of the Qingyang Sect, his passing would likely reduce the sect’s supply of Foundation Establishment Pills (Spiritual Object) by nearly 30 percent.

Eldrin still remembered that Chen Qingyuan had perished during his failed attempt at Foundation Establishment all those years ago, precisely because the Foundation Establishment Pill refined by Patriarch Liu had been tainted by the power of Fire Fiend Qi.

Thus, the only truly combat-capable figure left in the Verdant Sun Sect was the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer Elder Mo. As Patriarch Xu's right-hand man, he held profound affection for the sect, yet he too was pinned down in Yang Province, guarding against the demon tribes.

Among the remaining Zifu cultivators of the Qingyang Sect, the strongest was Chongyang. Though he oversaw the sect's affairs with cultivation at the 5th layer of Zifu, his combat prowess likely fell short of Xavier's—who wielded the formidable Dry Gold Fire Dragon Shears.

After careful analysis, the group concluded that with Xavier holding the fort, Cangkun Mountain would remain impregnable unless Patriarch Xu intervened personally despite his injuries.

Due to his actions during the 2 beast calamities and the misdeeds committed by the Azure Sun Sect over the past 100 years, Patriarch Xu had thoroughly offended the entire cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom.

Now that he was gravely wounded, once he left Qingyang Mountain, countless individuals would surely seek his life.

His injuries were now so severe that even without the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect taking action, just a dozen or so Violet Mansion immortal clans from the 3 border provinces of Qingyang harbored deep-seated hatred toward him. They were eagerly awaiting his emergence to besiege and exact vengeance upon him.

Not to mention the demonic cultivators and yaoguai coveting his Golden Core and flesh, who had long been eager to slay him and transform him into a blood sacrifice.

For the human race, the next Beast Tide was still nearly a century away. Losing 1 such detestable Golden Core combatant at this moment would have little impact on the Chu Kingdom for the time being.

Elder Xu was loathed by humans, demons, and monsters alike—1 could say he had utterly failed at the art of being human.

"From now on, all Purple Mansion cultivators from every major family shall be assigned to 10-year rotational duties."

"Then it is settled. The first decade shall be entrusted to Fellow Daoist Xu for guardianship."

Eldrin spoke thus, and the assembly finalized the candidates for Cangkun Mountain before proceeding to deliberate on personnel allocation for the borderlands' spirit stone mines.

For the spirit stone mines in Bianzhou, the Chen Clan must dispatch 3 Foundation Establishment cultivators. In return, the clan can claim 20-5 percent of the profits from this venture.

After handling these matters, the group did not depart immediately. Instead, they waited at Cangkun Mountain (Location) for a full month. Only when they confirmed that the Qingyang Sect (Sect Name) had taken no action did they finally return to their respective clans.

After returning to Yu County, the old clan leader went to Pingyang City, while Eldrin headed back to Verdant Chariot Mountain. The moment he arrived home, he noticed Lior approaching with evident delight.

Seeing the smile on his face, Eldrin’s eyes flickered with curiosity as he remarked with a light smile, "Uncle Lior, you seem overjoyed. Could it be that something delightful has occurred?"

Lior nodded with a smile. "Ethan has established his foundation."

"And it was self-established Foundation Building."

Ethan builds his foundation?

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted, revealing pleasant surprise.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin's eyes flickered slightly as a vague impression of Chen Ethan formed in his mind.

This Ethan (Person Name) was a dual-spirit root cultivator of water and fire, counted among the most exceptional prodigies of the family's younger generation.

Since childhood, Chen Ethan had always regarded Eldrin as his idol. He cultivated with immense diligence, breaking through to the ninth level of Qi Refining at merely 19 years of age. Now, he was only 20-4.

Lior had initially proposed purchasing a Foundation Establishment Pill for Ethan Chen, but to his surprise, Ethan declined the offer. Instead, he requested a Soul-Gathering Elixir and entered seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm on his own.

Over the years, as the family's Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object) had become relatively abundant, scarcely anyone in the clan attempted to build their foundation through sheer will. Yet against all expectations, Chen Ethan (Person Name) not only dared to take the risk but also succeeded in a single stroke, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm.

After Lior (Person Name) finished speaking, a flicker of astonishment crossed Eldrin's (Person Name) expression. Establishing Foundation at merely 20-4 years of age—such extraordinary talent and boldness were truly remarkable, earning his particular admiration.

"As for the younger generation of the Ethan family, we should offer them proper encouragement," Eldrin spoke, then stepped forward. "Summon Ethan to the Clan Affairs Hall. All of you shall join as well to convene the year-end assembly."

In the Hall of Clans, Eldrin gazed at Chen Ethan before him, a flicker of admiration passing through his eyes.

Clad in a black robe, Chen Ethan (Person Name) possessed a sharp and handsome countenance with an air of extraordinary bearing. Yet his spiritual energy still wavered uncontrollably, clearly indicating his cultivation base had not yet fully stabilized.

At just 20-4 years of age, he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator—1 who had achieved this realm through his own breakthrough. Even among Golden Core immortal clans, such talent would be considered peerless.

Unlike Kael, who had attempted to forge his foundation at 40-9 solely because he felt he could no longer await a Foundation Establishment Pill and was compelled to gamble on a desperate breakthrough.

Chapter 1: The Reborn Eldrin The air in the Nether Abyss trembled as a crimson streak tore across the ashen sky. Eldrin's body plummeted like a broken sparrow, blood tracing arcane patterns across his torn robes. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss hummed in his grip, its spiritual light flickering like a dying star. "Xuan Ji..." he rasped, the name tasting of blood and betrayal. "After 3 1000 years of brotherhood..." His consciousness wavered between realms. Memories flooded him - their first meeting at the Grand Ascension Summit, sharing a gourd of Immortal's Nectar beneath the twin moons, vowing to conquer the 9 Heavens together. Now, the Poisoned Soul Dagger she'd buried in his back still pulsed with venomous energy. The fall seemed eternal. Just as his spiritual sea began to dissipate, a brilliant light erupted from his spatial ring. The Ancient Dragon Pendant, silent for centuries, now glowed with primordial power. *Whoosh!* His descent halted abruptly. When his vision cleared, Eldrin found himself staring at carved sandalwood beams and smelling faint medicinal herbs. His body... it felt different. Lighter. Weaker. "Young master! You're awake!" A girl in simple servant's garb rushed to his bedside, her eyes red-rimmed. "This humble 1 thought... when you fell from the training cliff..." Eldrin's mind reeled. Training cliff? He examined his hands - smooth, unmarked, devoid of the celestial scars that had adorned his original form. Probing inward, he discovered his cultivation had collapsed to the mere Foundation Establishment stage. "Bring me a mirror," he commanded, his voice unfamiliar in its youthfulness. The bronze reflection showed a face barely 16, handsome but pale. This was the body of Lin Yuan, direct disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect's outer division. The boy had perished during routine meditation, creating the perfect vessel for a fallen immortal's soul. A cold smile touched Eldrin's lips. Xuan Ji, oh Xuan Ji. You thought you could destroy me? I have walked the path of cultivation for over 30 1000 years. What is death but another trial? His gaze fell upon a simple wooden tablet in the room - the Azure Cloud Sect's foundational cultivation manual. Child's play compared to the Cosmic Genesis Art he'd perfected in his previous life. Yet... perhaps starting over wasn't entirely disadvantageous. "Young master," the servant girl whispered, "the monthly allowance of 50 spirit stones arrived today. And... Elder Ming wants to see you about your lack of progress." Eldrin's eyes narrowed. 50 spirit stones? In his prime, he wouldn't bother picking up such petty currency. But now... "Tell the elder I'll be there shortly." He rose, his new body protesting the movement. First, he needed to consolidate his spiritual foundation. Then, he would reclaim everything that was his. The cycle of karma turned endlessly. Xuan Ji would learn that some falls were merely the beginning of greater ascensions. Chapter 2: The Azure Cloud Sect's Secret Eldrin sat cross-legged in his modest quarters, the moonlight filtering through the window to illuminate swirling motes of spiritual energy. With practiced ease, he began circulating the Cosmic Genesis Art - a technique that had taken him centuries to master in his previous life. The result was instantaneous. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged into visible streams, pouring into his meridians like raging rivers. The Foundation Establishment realm that had trapped Lin Yuan for years shattered in a single night. Early Foundation Establishment... Mid Foundation Establishment... Late Foundation Establishment! 3 consecutive breakthroughs in mere hours. Had any witness been present, they would have thought a monster walked among them. Eldrin opened his eyes, golden light flashing within their depths. "Pathetic," he murmured, examining his newly fortified body. "This vessel can barely handle 1-10-thousandth of my true power." A crisp notification echoed in his consciousness - the Heavenly Dao recognition system he'd created millennia ago, now bound to his soul: [Cultivation breakthrough reward: 5,000 karma points] [New objective: Join the Inner Sect within 1 month] [Reward: Unlock the Primordial Chaos Cauldron] Karma points... Eldrin smiled. In his previous life, he'd used this system to train countless disciples. Now, it would serve his resurrection. The following morning, Eldrin reported to the Assignment Hall. Dozens of outer sect disciples milled about, their cultivation levels pitifully low. None noticed the transformed youth in their midst. "Lin Yuan!" A sharp voice cut through the chatter. A tall youth in finer robes approached, his expression contemptuous. "I heard you took a nasty fall. Surprised you can still walk." Eldrin searched Lin Yuan's memories - this was Zhang Hu, son of a sect elder who'd bullied the original owner for years. "Some falls teach valuable lessons," Eldrin said calmly. "Others merely reveal 1's limitations." Zhang Hu's face darkened. "Watch your tongue, trash. Or have you forgotten who provides your family with their monthly stipend?" Before Eldrin could respond, a commotion erupted at the hall's entrance. The disciples parted like wheat before the wind as a graceful figure entered. It was a young woman whose beauty seemed to dim the sunlight. Silver hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes held the frost of high mountains. This was Ling Xue, the Azure Cloud Sect's prodigy - rumored to have reached Core Formation at 18. "Senior Sister Ling!" disciples murmured in awe. Her gaze swept the room, pausing momentarily on Eldrin. A flicker of surprise crossed her features before she continued to the mission board. Zhang Hu recovered first, sneering at Eldrin. "Don't get any ideas, trash. Someone like you isn't fit to even look at Senior Sister Ling." Eldrin's lips curved slightly. How amusing. In his previous life, beings of her talent wouldn't be permitted to clean his training grounds. He approached the mission board, his eyes settling on a specific request: [Urgent: Gather 10 stalks of 7-Colored Spirit Grass from the Western Hills] [Reward: 1,000 spirit stones, 100 sect contribution points] [Danger Level: High - multiple disciples missing] Perfect. As Eldrin reached for the mission jade, Ling Xue's voice sounded beside him. "That mission has claimed 3 Foundation Establishment disciples. Are you certain?" Eldrin met her gaze evenly. "Some prey merely awaits the right hunter." Her frosty eyes showed the barest hint of interest. "The Western Hills hide more than spirit grass. There are... ancient things there." "All the better," Eldrin said, taking the jade. "The oldest prey often provides the richest rewards." As he turned to leave, he missed the strange light that kindled in Ling Xue's eyes - a recognition that transcended logic, a spark of something ancient and knowing. The hunt had begun.