Chapter 193 : A Foundation Forged in Will

And though Ethan Chen was young, he dared to risk the perilous attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]. This demonstrated immense willpower and extraordinary courage, making his Future prospects even more promising.

How could Eldrin Chen not view someone who dared to face life and death so directly with special regard?

In comparison, the three from the clan—Caleb, Silas, and Kael Chen—though outstanding in their own right, still fell considerably short of Ethan Chen.

As for the remaining seven who reached Foundation Establishment, namely Seraphina, Remembrance Truth, Remembrance Seal, Worthy Cosmos, and the others, their success was largely due to fortunate circumstances. With the exception of Seraphina Chen, they all managed their breakthroughs by seizing the opportunity presented by the clan's great victory during the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts].

The potential of these individuals was merely that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their innate talent and willpower were unremarkable, and their dedication to cultivation could not match that of Lior Chen or Verdant Grace Chen. Even with the clan's full support, it would be difficult for them to break through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major stage of cultivation, where one opens their mystical core].

In Eldrin Chen's view, among the clan's thirteen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their spiritual foundation], only a few were truly worthy of focused cultivation: Caleb and Silas, Kael who achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [breaking through to Foundation Establishment without external aid, a sign of exceptional will], and finally Lior Chen and Verdant Grace Chen.

Both Lior Chen and Verdant Grace Chen possessed Dual Spiritual Root [an affinity for two of the five elemental spiritual energies, considered a good talent]. Though they established their foundations a bit later than some, their cultivation was exceptionally diligent, and their wills were ironclad. When the time came for the clan to distribute treasures to aid in breaking through to Violet Sanctum, they would undoubtedly be the first in line.

And now, there was another: Ethan Chen. For one so young to achieve Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment clearly marked him as a seed for Violet Sanctum—a youth of tremendous daring and extraordinary perseverance.

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen spoke.

"Speak, what reward do you desire?"

Ethan Chen gazed at Eldrin Chen, his eyes revealing a look of admiration.

He prostrated himself on the ground and said with utmost sincerity, "The achievements Ethan has today are entirely due to the nurturing and cultivation provided by the clan. What further reward could I possibly need?"

"You rascal."

Eldrin Chen chuckled and shook his head. Ethan Chen's words held truth. Without the clan's dedicated cultivation, it would have been impossible for him to break through to the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier at such a tender age.

For the vast majority of rogue cultivators, even those with Dual Spiritual Root, reaching the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier typically took until their forties.

Though he spoke humbly, Eldrin Chen felt a substantial reward was still warranted. Such cultivators were seeds for the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a mystical core within their body], their Future potential truly limitless, deserving of the clan's full investment in their growth.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, seeing this as an opportunity to revise the clan's cultivation protocols. He addressed the assembled crowd.

"Cultivators who achieve Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm without relying on external pills] possess at least a thirty to forty percent chance of later breaking through to the Violet Sanctum. Young individuals like this, who achieve it on their own, have a far greater reservoir of lifespan compared to ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their future odds of reaching the Violet Sanctum could very well approach fifty percent—and that's not even accounting for treasures like the Five Elements Crystal."

"Moreover, they conserve the clan's precious Foundation Establishment Pill [a rare elixir that significantly increases the chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm]. Therefore, we must encourage our clan's cultivators to strive for Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment, and we must focus our resources on nurturing those who succeed."

"Because only such individuals possess a significantly greater chance of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical palace within their dantian] and even Forming the Golden Core [the fourth major realm, where one condenses their spiritual energy into a solid, golden core of immense power]."

Eldrin Chen stated, his gaze sweeping over the assembled clan members.

Noting the varied expressions on their faces, he tapped the table lightly, his countenance calm as he continued to speak.

"The clan's rules must be revised. Henceforth, any cultivator who achieves Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [the rare and esteemed feat of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm solely through one's own efforts and comprehension, without external elixirs] shall be rewarded by the clan with ten thousand Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds accrued by the clan], and their stipend shall be doubled compared to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator of the second major realm, where one builds a stable foundation for their future cultivation]."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present shifted repeatedly, a storm of thoughts visible in their eyes.

Those capable of Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment were already prodigies favored by heaven. A one-time grant of ten thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] would undoubtedly cause their cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds.

Coupled with a doubled stipend, not only someone like Ethan Chen with his Dual Spiritual Root [a spiritual root aptitude that grants affinity for two of the five elemental energies], but even someone like Kael Chen with his Three Spiritual Roots [a spiritual root aptitude that grants affinity for three of the five elemental energies] would see their cultivation speed increase dramatically, potentially reaching the Foundation Establishment 9th Tier [the ninth and final minor stage within the Foundation Establishment realm] before reaching a century in age.

For a diligent cultivator like Ethan Chen, such a windfall of resources could truly allow him to soar. He might even follow in the footsteps of Eldrin Chen, becoming qualified to attempt a breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum Realm in his sixties or seventies.

After all, Eldrin Chen's Spiritual Root [the innate talent that determines a cultivator's affinity for absorbing and refining spiritual energy] was only equivalent to a Three Spiritual Roots, slightly inferior to a true Dual Spiritual Root. It was only with the aid of the Spiritual Peach [a mystical fruit imbued with potent spiritual energy that can greatly enhance cultivation] that he had been able to advance so rapidly.

Before the assembly could fully process this announcement, Eldrin Chen spoke once more.

"Furthermore, under equal circumstances, the opportunity for a clan member to break through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, representing the opening of the spiritual sea within one's dantian] must be prioritized for those who achieved Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, forming a stable spiritual foundation] through their own efforts, without external aids."

"This..."

The expressions of the assembled elders shifted slightly. They wished to voice an objection, yet ultimately found no words to say.

This was because a cultivator who attained Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [reaching the Foundation Establishment realm solely through personal cultivation, without using a Foundation Establishment Pill] did not consume a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that significantly increases the chance of successfully forming one's spiritual foundation]. In essence, they left that pill available for an ordinary clan Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation].

Moreover, their hope of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum was greater by an additional twenty percent. For a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator relying on external aids, the chance of a single attempt to open their Violet Sanctum was a mere ten percent. For one of Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment, that probability was threefold.

If such a cultivator had sufficient lifespan to make multiple attempts at the Violet Sanctum barrier, this disparity in success rates would only widen further. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel-dot-com.

Clearly, whether viewed from an individual's perspective or that of the clan's long-term strength, focusing resources on nurturing cultivators of Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment was the optimal choice.

After all, the clan's resources were finite. As the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivator within the family grew, it would become impossible to cultivate every single one into a Violet Sanctum expert. Difficult choices and prioritization would inevitably be required.

Those who pursued Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment risked their very lives to take that perilous step. It was only fitting they receive greater attention and cultivation support in return.

Seeing that no one had further objections, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, imperceptible nod and continued speaking.

"This rule shall be inscribed within the Clan Regulations [the formal code of laws governing the clan], and even within the Clan Genealogy [the sacred record of the clan's lineage and history], as the foremost unbreakable law of our family."

"Remember, this is the ironclad law of our family's inheritance. Not even the clan leader of any generation may alter this rule."

Beside him, Lior Chen took up brush and paper, formally adding this rule to the Clan Regulations.

None present that day could have known that this ironclad law would become the most crucial cornerstone upon which the Chen Immortal Clan would establish its awe-inspiring might for ten thousand generations and achieve its enduring Immortality [a state of eternal existence and prosperity].

Even in the most trying of times, the Chen Clan would pour its utmost effort into upholding this law. In the end, it gave birth to generation after generation of supreme prodigies, step by step ascending to become one of the most glorious and peerless Immortal Clans [a clan whose members have achieved immortality and wield immense power] within this realm of heaven and earth.

The terror that lies between life and death is immense. Those who achieve Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [the act of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm solely through one's own willpower and effort, without external aids] are all individuals of extraordinary perseverance. The most exceptional among them can even subdue the torments of the flesh, forcibly breaking through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical space within the body] without relying on external aids.

Eldrin Chen's original intent was to use substantial rewards and the prioritized opportunity to break through to the Violet Sanctum to motivate the clansmen, and also to alleviate the pressure on the supply of Foundation Establishment Pills [pills that assist in the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm]. Unknowingly, however, this policy also tempered their minds and wills.

The bountiful resources from the rewards allowed them to touch the threshold of the Violet Sanctum earlier. Once these Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment cultivators touched that threshold, their lifespan would also be more ample compared to ordinary Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivators.

At that point, some would begin to think: since they could achieve Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment, why couldn't they also break through to the Violet Sanctum on their own?

As more people thought it, more people attempted it. And as more people attempted it, more people succeeded.

Of course, these were matters for later. At this moment, among the gathered clan members, both Ethan Chen and Kael Chen revealed looks of delight. Both of them had achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [attaining the Foundation Establishment realm through their own efforts, a significant milestone], and would receive a substantial sum of family Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing virtuous deeds and contributions within the clan]. Furthermore, their future stipends would also see a significant increase.

Fortunately, the Chen Clan's current income was quite substantial. A reward of twenty thousand Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] was, after all, an expense they could readily afford. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel[dot]com.