Chapter 214 Varen (Person Name) Breaks Through to the Purple Mansion

"This spirit shell is brimming with Ren Water energy. To fully unleash its power, it would be best to pair it with another fire-attributed natural treasure."

"Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Treasure of the fire attribute?"

The old clan leader furrowed his brow. "For now, our clan possesses no purely third-grade fire-attribute treasures."

The Amethyst Essence Gold in the clan treasury does possess water, metal, and fire attributes. However, its elemental nature is too chaotic. While it would serve adequately as a primary material, using it as a supplementary ingredient would be excessively wasteful.

Eldrin frowned, finding himself short of 1 fire-attributed heavenly treasure. "In 13 years, the Chu Kingdom will hold its Zifu Exchange Conference," he said. "I plan to acquire some treasures then, so we can seek it out together at that time."

"Perfect timing. Jointly deducing this Life-Bound Magical Treasure will also require a considerable period of time."

The old clan leader nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips. "This is the only way."

Putting that matter aside for now, Eldrin remembered the medicinal pills he had brought back.

He first handed the Mysterious Jade Pill (Spiritual Object) to the old clan leader, instructing him to store it in the clan treasury. Then, he retrieved several Purple Aura Pills (Spiritual Object) and Nourishing Spirit Pills, distributing a portion to the elder. Only afterward did he produce the Dharma Essence Pill (Spiritual Object) and speak.

"This Dharma Essence Pill (Spiritual Object) can enhance 30 years of cultivation."

"Each of us shall take 1 of these pills, and our cultivation will likely advance by an entire realm."

The old clan leader nodded, taking a Dharma Essence Pill (Spiritual Object) and storing it away carefully. He had no intention of consuming it immediately.

Now, it had been over 9 years since he broke through to the Eldrin Realm. Having refined 3 third-grade spirit peaches, each of which could augment a decade of cultivation, his cultivation base was now on the verge of reaching the second layer of the Eldrin Realm.

He planned to wait until after his breakthrough to consume it, anticipating that he would soon approach the threshold of the third level of the Violet Mansion.

The very next day, Eldrin consumed the pill. Had it not been for the spirit peach, it would have taken him 50 or 60 years to break through a single layer of cultivation. Yet, shortly after taking the Dharma Essence Pill, he advanced to the second level of the Violet Mansion.

After breaking through to the second level of the Purple Mansion, Eldrin's life gradually returned to its usual tranquility.

In the days that followed, he devoted himself to cultivation while collaborating with the old clan leader to deduce the refinement method for his Life-Bound Array Artifact (Magic Treasure).

His workload was quite light. The Old Patriarch was responsible for the research and experimentation of Lifebound Array Glyphs and various other array patterns. Eldrin only needed to provide inspiration and then deduce the outcomes of the Old Patriarch's work.

The task was not particularly time-consuming, merely requiring Eldrin to make periodic trips to Pingyang City. Fortunately, with the Crimson Blood Vessel at his disposal, the journey of 6,000 li took merely 1 shichen (2 hours), ensuring it would not hinder Eldrin's cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, 6 years had passed. Eldrin finally mastered the Bing Fire Divine Thunder and the Jade Spirit Eyes, while the old clan leader had also advanced to the third level of the Purple Mansion.

After years apart, the spiritual vein of Pingyang City had unknowingly advanced to the third grade.

Within the Spirit Pool Hall, 2 figures sat facing each other, silently contemplating the shimmering array patterns hovering before them.

"The refinement method for this Life-Bound Array Artifact is but 1 final step away."

"What a pity, we're missing a divine ability that blends water and fire."

The old clan leader shook his head and said, "According to the innate array patterns deduced by the 2 of them, the forging method for this innate array artifact should contain 3 types of supernatural powers."

However, the Chen family lacked the method to inscribe the Water-Fire Array Patterns, preventing them from fully unleashing the Ren Water energy of the Spirit Pearl Clams and the power of the fire-attribute heavenly treasures.

Eldrin pondered for a moment before speaking, "The Wei Immortal Clan of Mount Tian'e has sent an invitation. It seems Varen has successfully broken through to the Violet Mansion realm and is inviting me to attend the celebration banquet."

Varen's life-bound treasure was known as the Yin-Yang Vial, containing the cultivation art "Yin-Yang Annihilation Vapor"—a peerless area-of-effect technique whose power was exceptionally rare among practitioners of equivalent realms.

After I leave, I’ll see if I can exchange for that innate magical treasure.

The method for refining a life-bound magic treasure is crucial to the family's legacy, and that Varen (Person Name) even cultivates the Yin-Yang Treasure Vase.

The old uncle furrowed his brow and still hesitated, saying, "I'm afraid he might not agree."

"No matter." Eldrin wasn't accustomed to speaking in absolutes, yet he continued, "Varen and I have been friends for many years—we share some rapport between us."

Several days later, Eldrin soared out from Spirit Isle Lake aboard the Purple Blood Skiff, heading directly toward Mount Tian'e.

Mount Tian’e lay a mere 7 1000 li from Dark Iron Mountain (Location), and even from Spirit Isle Lake (Location), the distance was less than 20,000 li. He flew for only a few hours before arriving before the mountain.

At this moment, Mount Tian'e was bustling with activity. The cultivators of the Wei Immortal Clan (Organization) all bore expressions of radiant pride, while numerous major immortal clans from Yangzhou had gathered here as well.

He had just arrived a 100 miles from Mount Tian'e when he saw a figure approaching, followed by a hearty laughter.

"Brother Eldrin (Person Name), I've finally been waiting for your arrival."

The newcomer was none other than Varen, who stepped forward to grasp Eldrin's sleeve and warmly pulled him inside.

"Come, come, let me introduce you to several fellow cultivators from Yangzhou."

"Oh."

Eldrin smiled faintly and followed, landing atop Tian'e Mountain.

At this moment, Mount Tian'e had gathered dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with 3 Purple Mansion cultivators.

Eldrin recognized 1 of them—the man in violet robes, Percival. The other 2 were unfamiliar to him, though he had likely heard their names mentioned in passing.

Varen (Person Name) pulled Eldrin (Person Name) aside and hastily explained, "I presume Brother Pan (Person Name) requires no introduction."

"This is Fairy Qingxuan, the Grand Elder of the Wang Clan, a Purple Mansion Immortal Family in Boyang County."

Eldrin raised a brow, noticing that Fairy Qingxuan possessed delicate features and appeared to be merely 20-7 or 20-8 years of age.

Wang Qingxuan's cultivation had reached the fifth level of the Purple Mansion Realm. It was said she was nearly 3 100 years old, yet her youthful appearance was clearly a testament to her profound spiritual power.

This was the norm for cultivators. Those at the Violet Mansion realm and above had their physical bodies continuously tempered and nourished by spiritual energy, making their physical strength increasingly comparable to that of demonic beasts of the same level.

Righteous cultivators possess pure and luminous spiritual power. Upon reaching profound realms of cultivation, their physical forms gradually attain perfection, with robustness nearly rivaling that of ordinary demons of the same tier.

As the physical body grew increasingly robust, the cultivator would remain perpetually youthful, frozen in the prime of life. Only during the final dozen or so years of waning vitality would rapid aging begin to set in.

The last person was a burly man, a Purple Mansion cultivator from the Yun Immortal Clan of Yunyang County, whose cultivation had merely reached the third level of the Purple Mansion.

After Varen (Person Name) finished introducing them to the group, the 2 promptly bowed in greeting. Wang Qingxuan (Person Name) smiled gently and said.

"I have long heard of the Sword Immortal of Bianzhou, and seeing you today, I understand your reputation is indeed well-deserved."

"You flatter me, Fairy."

Eldrin smiled faintly and spoke with humility.

Although Varen was the protagonist this time, Eldrin still stole the show.

After the battle at Celestial Python Lake (Location), who could remain unaware of Eldrin (Person Name)'s boundless prospects? Even cultivators at Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) now engage with him as an equal.

Although the few individuals present were also Zifu cultivators, they couldn't help but feel slightly inferior when facing Eldrin.

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled through the mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of blood and decay. Li Ming, his clothes torn and stained, stumbled over the jagged rocks. His breathing was ragged, each exhale forming a pale mist in the frigid air. He clutched a small, worn pouch close to his chest – within it, the meager sum of 150 spirit stones was all he had left in this world. "For 3 days and 3 nights, they've pursued me," he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice barely a whisper. "The Zhang Family... they will not rest until this lowly cultivator is utterly destroyed." He paused, leaning against a gnarled ancient tree to catch his breath. Reaching into his pouch, he retrieved a single Foundation Building Pill. Its surface shimmered with a faint, ethereal light. "Only a dozen or so of these remain. If I cannot break through to the next layer of the Profound Sky Art soon..." His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp, mocking laugh that echoed through the pass. "Well, well. The little rat has finally stopped running." From the shadows of the rocks, 3 figures emerged. They were clad in fine blue silken robes, each embroidered with the soaring eagle crest of the Zhang Family. The leader, a tall man with a cruel twist to his lips, stepped forward. It was Zhang Hu (Person Name), a core disciple known for his ruthlessness. "Li Ming," Zhang Hu sneered, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, the Frostbite Blade (Magic Treasure). "You should have known better than to spy on the Young Master's affairs. Hand over the Jade Pendant of Clarity (Magic Treasure) you stole, and we might grant you a swift death." Li Ming's heart hammered against his ribs. The Jade Pendant was no stolen trinket; it was his family's heirloom, passed down for countless generations. He had guarded its secret for over a 100 years. "Spare me your false accusations, Zhang Hu," Li Ming retorted, his voice gaining a steely edge. "This pendant was never the Zhang Family's to claim. Your greed knows no bounds." Zhang Hu's eyes narrowed. "Insolent fool! Do you think your paltry cultivation at the 7th layer of the Qi Condensation stage can withstand us? I, alone, have reached the 9th layer! Men, seize him!" The 2 other disciples flanking Zhang Hu lunged forward, their swords gleaming with a cold light. Li Ming's mind raced. A direct confrontation meant certain death. He had 1 chance – the forbidden technique recorded on the jade pendant, a technique his father had warned him never to use unless facing certain doom. As the first sword slash came towards his throat, Li Ming poured the last of his spiritual energy into the Jade Pendant of Clarity. It flared with an intense, blinding green light. "Since you leave me no choice..." Li Ming's voice echoed with an otherworldly resonance. "Heavenly Desolation, Earthly Annihilation – Reverse the Yin and Yang!" A colossal wave of energy erupted from the pendant, visible as a ripple in the very fabric of space. The 2 advancing disciples were thrown back like leaves in a storm, their bodies slamming into the rock face with sickening crunches. Zhang Hu's eyes widened in shock and fury. "What demonic art is this?! You... you dare!" But Li Ming did not hear him. The backlash from the technique was immense. He felt his meridians shatter, his spiritual sea boiling over. The world swam before his eyes, darkness creeping at the edges of his vision. The last thing he saw was the enraged Zhang Hu charging towards him, the Frostbite Blade raised high for a killing strike. Then, nothing. *** Consciousness returned in a slow, painful trickle. Li Ming groaned, his body feeling as though it had been trampled by a herd of spiritual oxen. He tried to move, but a wave of agony forced him still. He was no longer in the desolate mountain pass. The air was still and warm, and the ground beneath him was soft... far too soft. He forced his eyes open. He was lying on a large, impossibly comfortable bed, draped in silken sheets of a strange, shimmering material. The room he was in was spacious and brightly lit, but not by any candle or spirit lamp. A flat, rectangular object on the wall emitted a steady, white glow. The walls were smooth and painted a pale color, adorned with posters of handsome men and women in peculiar, form-fitting clothing. Where... where am I? Is this the Netherworld? He tried to sit up, his movements clumsy and weak. His hand brushed against something on the bedside table – a small, flat, black mirror. As he touched it, the surface lit up, displaying strange symbols and the time: 07:30 AM. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and a flood of fragmented, alien memories assaulted his mind. A young man named "Li Ming," living in a city called "Shanghai," studying something called "computer science," worrying about "exams" and a "part-time job..." This... this isn't my memory! This is someone else's life! He stumbled out of the bed and towards a full-length mirror on the wall. The reflection that stared back was both familiar and utterly foreign. It was his own face, younger, perhaps 17 or 18 years old, devoid of the scars and hardships of his previous life. But the short-cropped hair, the simple cotton shirt and trousers... they were the attire of the boy from the memories. He looked down at his hands. They were smooth, the calluses from years of wielding a sword were gone. He tried to circulate his spiritual power, but felt only a vast, empty void. His cultivation, painstakingly built over a 100 years, was completely gone. He was a mortal. Just then, the door to the room swung open. A middle-aged woman with a kind but weary face peered in. "Xiao Ming! You're finally awake? Hurry up and get ready, or you'll be late for your summer class! I've left 50 yuan on the table for your lunch." Li Ming stared, speechless. The language was a slightly distorted version of the common tongue he knew, but the words... "summer class," "yuan"... they made sense only through the filter of those strange, new memories. The woman frowned. "What's wrong with you? Did you stay up too late playing on your phone again? I'm telling you, if you don't get into a good university, your future will be ruined! Now, move it!" She closed the door, leaving Li Ming alone in the silence, broken only by the faint hum from the glowing rectangle on the wall. He walked to the window and pulled aside the curtain. A scene of unimaginable chaos greeted him. Towering structures of glass and steel pierced the sky. Strange, wheeled metal boxes sped along paved roads, their horns blaring. Countless people, dressed in similar strange clothing, hurried along the sidewalks. This was not the Netherworld. This was not the Eastern Prosperity Divine Continent he knew. He had not died. He had... transcended? But this realm... it held not a wisp of spiritual energy. It was a world of mundane noise and bustling mortals. A bitter, disbelieving laugh escaped his lips. He, Li Ming, a cultivator who had walked the path of immortality for 1 100 and 20 years, had been reduced to a mere mortal teenager in a world without dao, a world that seemed utterly devoid of magic. He looked at his reflection again, at the young, unlined face filled with confusion. "The Zhang Family... the pursuit... the Jade Pendant..." he whispered to himself. "It seems that chapter is closed. But what heaven-defying joke is this? To be reborn in such a... desolate place." He picked up the small, flat device – the "phone" from the memories. He tapped the screen, and it lit up once more. "Very well," Li Ming said, his voice low but firm, the steel of his past life seeping back into his tone. "If this is my new fate, then so be it. I, Li Ming, have faced tribulations before. I once built a foundation from nothing. If this world has no dao... then perhaps I shall have to create 1 myself."