Chapter 228 : The Alchemy of Ambition

Having successfully refined the Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill [a high-grade pill that refines one's spiritual essence and strengthens meridians], he then produced the Li Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of fire, used in high-level alchemy and cultivation].

"With my current level of Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual herbs and materials into potent pills], the Pill Success Rate [the likelihood of successfully completing a pill refinement process] for a Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a legendary pill that can reshape one's spiritual veins and enhance innate talent] would likely still be quite low."

"This Separated Flame Essence [a purified, potent form of fire elemental energy, crucial for advanced forging and alchemy] should be entrusted to you for refinement. Only then can we maximize the potential gains."

Seeing his intent to refine the Cloud Vein Creation Pill, Su Mingwei by his side cast an excited glance towards Lyra Jiang.

She had broken through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body] over two decades before Eldrin Chen and had now cultivated to the Purple Mansion Third Layer. She was precisely in need of a Cloud Vein Creation Pill.

Lyra Jiang, her eyes smiling, understood Su Mingwei's thoughts at a glance. She teased, "This girl, too shy to ask Eldrin directly?"

Su Mingwei's face flushed slightly, but then she heard Lyra Jiang continue, "Rest assured, when it's refined, your share will not be forgotten."

"Hehe..."

"Thank you, Master."

Su Mingwei chuckled, then stole another glance at Eldrin Chen and said, "Thank you, Grandmaster." Support the author by reading on site: audio-novel.com.

"You clever little imp."

Lyra Jiang's cheeks flushed faintly as she gave a light, chiding sound, then began refining the Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a rare pill that can enhance a cultivator's innate spiritual potential].

Given Lyra Jiang's mastery of Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs], her Pill Success Rate [the percentage of successful pills produced from a single batch] for the Cloud Vein Creation Pill was already remarkably high. Astonishingly, she managed to produce eight pills from a single furnace batch.

In theory, a single furnace batch could yield ten pills, but the Dao [the fundamental principle or path] is inherently incomplete, making a perfect ten-out-of-ten yield impossible.

Generally, producing eight or nine pills was already considered to be touching the absolute limit of what was achievable.

Eldrin Chen reflected that with his own level of Alchemy, he would likely only manage to refine three pills from a single batch. The gap between their skills was truly vast.

After successfully refining the Cloud Vein Creation Pill, Lyra Jiang took two pills and handed them to Su Mingwei, then gave the remainder to Eldrin Chen.

After a moment of contemplation, she spoke. "In ten years, I intend to move against the Green Sun Sect. When the time comes, I will send invitations to the Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [powerful clans whose patriarchs have reached the Purple Mansion Realm] of the Three Provinces Region a year or two in advance, summoning them to Celestial Ruins Mountain for an alliance council."

"We can seize that opportunity to host a Barter Convention [a formal gathering where cultivators trade rare resources]. You can bring your surplus pills to trade with the Purple Mansion Cultivator [cultivators who have established their Purple Mansion, the third major realm] from the various great clans."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. He realized Lyra Jiang aimed to nurture more cultivators at the Purple Mansion Mid to Late Stage [the middle and advanced layers of the Purple Mansion Realm] to increase their chances of victory against the Green Sun Sect.

After all, without high-grade treasures for preservation, the efficacy of the Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill [a pill that enhances cultivation by refining violet qi and cloud patterns] lasts only a little over thirty years. Neither Eldrin Chen nor the Old Patriarch had any use for it, so it was better to trade them away for precious treasures like Five Elements Crystals [crystals containing the purified essence of the five fundamental elements].

Departing from Celestial Ruins Mountain, he first made a trip to the Xu Clan, delivered the two Violet Qi Cloud-Vein Pill [pills that enhance cultivation by refining violet qi and cloud patterns], and then returned directly to Pingyang City.

Upon receiving the Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a high-grade pill that aids in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks], the Old Patriarch immediately retreated into his Seclusion Chamber to undertake a closed-door cultivation session aimed at breaking through to the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the intermediate stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm].

Eldrin Chen did not leave either, choosing to remain in Pingyang City to stand guard and protect his ancestor during this critical juncture.

After a mere seven days, the Old Patriarch successfully broke through to the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the intermediate stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm]. The old master emerged from the Seclusion Chamber with a hearty, triumphant laugh.

"This breakthrough consumed two of the Cloud Vein Creation Pill [high-grade pills that aid in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks]," he stated.

"But it proceeded smoothly overall, allowing me to stride directly into the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the intermediate stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm]."

A smile of genuine joy spread across Eldrin Chen's face. He himself was not yet ninety, while the Old Patriarch was ninety-seven years his senior.

Now, having just passed his one hundred and ninetieth year, the Old Patriarch had ascended to the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the intermediate stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm]. With over two centuries of lifespan remaining, and with diligent cultivation, there was a genuine possibility he might one day attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core [a major cultivation realm where one condenses a golden core of immense power] realm.

"Congratulations, Old Granduncle! With your breakthrough to the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the intermediate stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] today, you are surely destined to shatter the barriers and ascend to the Golden Core [a major cultivation realm where one condenses a golden core of immense power] realm in the future."

"My attainment of this day is wholly owed to your support," the elder said, his voice thick with gratitude.

Old Patriarch was in excellent spirits, yet he stroked his beard and chuckled modestly.

Within the clan, he was the sole cultivator whom Eldrin Chen had unconditionally supplied with Spirit Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy that aids cultivation] to nurture his advancement.

Without Eldrin Chen's Spirit Peach, perhaps Old Patriarch would still be stuck at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]. His old injuries might have lingered too long, allowing him at most a single, likely failed attempt to break through to the Purple Mansion [the third major stage, where one opens and refines their spiritual sea], after which he would have quietly awaited the exhaustion of his lifespan.

Yet, having supported each other on this path to the present day, the accounts between them had long since become impossible to settle clearly.

Old Patriarch regarded Eldrin Chen as his own child, and Eldrin Chen in turn saw him as a father figure. Official source: audi0-n0vel.c0m. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Having broken through to the Purple Palace, Mid Stage, Old Patriarch prepared to begin forging his own Lifebound Formation Tool [a magical treasure intrinsically linked to a cultivator's life force and cultivation base].

The White Metal Star Pearl [a set of seven pearl-like treasures] numbered seven in total. With Old Patriarch's own mana reserves, forging them alone would have been an immense challenge. Fortunately, with Eldrin Chen's assistance, they spent three months and finally succeeded in crafting this set of Life-Bound Magical Treasure.

"It is done," he declared.

Gazing upon the seven lustrous white pearls before him, a smile of pure delight spread across Old Patriarch's face.

This White Metal Metallic Essence Pearl [a powerful enchanted artifact] contains three divine abilities. When channeled with the mana of the Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan], who is at the Purple Mansion, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm], the unleashed power rivals that of a Purple Mansion, Late Stage [a cultivator at the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm].

From this day forth, his combat prowess has surged dramatically. Even an ordinary Purple Mansion, Late Stage [a cultivator at the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm] would likely find it difficult to subdue him.

The two of them flew to a desolate wilderness to test these newfound abilities. Eldrin Chen discovered that, even with his own cultivation level, he would struggle to contend with the Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan] unless he employed the combined power of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of legendary, harmoniously linked immortal swords].

However, once the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of legendary, harmoniously linked immortal swords] are merged, the explosive force they unleash approaches the might of the Purple Mansion Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Purple Mansion realm]. Eldrin Chen currently finds it difficult to fully control this overwhelming power; its activation is an all-or-nothing, unstoppable surge. Therefore, he refrained from using it during their sparring match.

After their friendly spar, the two soared back on their flying swords to Pingyang City.

During the flight, Eldrin Chen observed many mortals tilling the land within the Great Wilderness [a vast, untamed region bordering human settlements]. He couldn't help but ask, "The Great Wilderness [a vast, untamed region bordering human settlements] is still teeming with venomous insects and fierce beasts. Isn't it quite dangerous for them to farm out here?"

"It was perilous initially, but the situation has improved greatly now."

The Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan] nodded and began to explain in detail.

Aside from the Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan], Pingyang City is also garrisoned by three hundred Qi Refinement Cultivators [practitioners at the foundational stage of cultivation] and three Foundation Establishment Cultivators [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation], who are stationed there permanently.

The Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan] had ordered them to periodically cleanse the Great Wilderness [a vast, untamed region bordering human settlements]. After several decades of repeated purges, they have eliminated over ninety-nine percent of the Demonic Beasts [monstrous creatures that absorb spiritual energy, often hostile] and venomous pests within a radius of one thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. This has made the land safe enough for mortals to live and work in peace.

Across the plains surrounding Pingyang City now, numerous villages have been established, and the cultivated fields are sufficient to sustain several million people.

The mortal population of the clan has been explosively increasing over these years, now even exceeding two million.

This massive influx of new lives has also brought forth a great number of cultivators. Presently, the Chen Clan boasts over two thousand Qi Refinement Cultivators, a number not far behind that of other Purple Mansion Immortal Clan.

Eldrin Chen nodded, then voiced his concern, "With a population exceeding one million, we must worry about Purple Mansion [the third major stage of cultivation] demonic cultivators taking desperate risks."

"I was just about to discuss this very matter with you."

The Old Patriarch also wore a grave expression. A blood sacrifice of one million mortals would at the very least be sufficient to forge a Third Rank Demonic Treasure [a powerful artifact forged through demonic arts].

The Chen Clan possesses two million mortals, a number still growing. In a few more years, even Purple Palace, Late Stage [cultivators at the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm] might be tempted to take such a desperate gamble.

However, since the Chen Clan dared to encourage such unrestrained growth, they naturally possessed sufficient confidence to manage it.

The Old Patriarch continued, "Now that the six Second Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy] have been fully nurtured, it is precisely the right time to deploy the Seven Stars Demon-Refining Formation."

"Let us join forces and seize this opportunity to complete the setup of this formation."

Eldrin Chen gave a solemn nod. The Seven Stars Demon-Refining Formation was a Third Rank High Grade Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and artifacts used to create powerful effects], capable of enveloping a vast expanse of eight hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Once successfully deployed, it would grant them a century of untroubled peace and security.

Furthermore, should their clan ever ascend to become a Golden Core Immortal Clan [an immortal clan whose patriarch has reached the Golden Core Realm], and provided they possessed a Fourth Rank Formation Master [a master of the art of creating and manipulating formations], they could elevate the formation's power. By replacing the core Formation Plate [the central control artifact of a formation] and upgrading the Formation Flags [banners used to anchor and channel a formation's energy], they could enhance the grade of their Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth]. This would allow the Seven Stars Demon-Refining Grand Formation to unleash power rivaling that of the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] realm itself. Experience the full epic at audio-novel .c om.