Chapter 235 : A Trial of Fire and Will

The two of them took stock and found the casualties from this battle were indeed severe.

The number of fallen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their foundation in the Dao] alone reached twenty-five. Of the remaining nearly one hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivator, most were wounded, tormented by the Fire Malignancy Power [a corrosive and painful energy born from fire element impurities] to an excruciating degree, their combat strength temporarily crippled.

The Chen Clan did not fare well either. Not only did they lose two Foundation Establishment Cultivator in battle, but among the survivors, five others had been invaded by Fire Fiend Qi [a malevolent, impure fire energy], including the promising Kael Chen.

Seeing their pained expressions, Eldrin Chen could only say, "The Clan Treasury still holds a few portions of Sunflower Water Essence [a pure, cooling essence derived from water-attributed spiritual plants]. I will refine several batches of Second Rank Pill Liquid [a medicinal liquid equivalent to a second-rank pill] upon my return. That should be able to extract eighty to ninety percent of the Fire Malignancy Power."

"The remainder should pose no major threat, though it will likely delay their cultivation progress for a few years."

Kael Chen nodded, gritting his teeth against the searing agony of the Fire Fiend Qi within him. "I wonder," he forced out, "how this Fire Malignancy Power compares to the Mortal Tribulation [the perilous trial of tempering one's mortal body with elemental forces] faced when attempting a self-guided breakthrough to the Purple Mansion [the realm where one's spiritual consciousness forms a stable abode]?"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly. "What are you implying?" he asked, unable to hide his concern.

Kael Chen nodded again, his words strained. "I want to try... to see if I can subdue this Fire Malignancy Power. To use the Earthfire Malignant Qi [a volatile, impure energy drawn from deep within the earth] to temper my meridians, to increase my chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion."

It had to be acknowledged—this clan brother's idea held a glimmer of possibility.

Denying the potential in his plan was impossible. Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.

Although the Fire Malignancy Power [a volatile and destructive energy born from fire veins] is domineering, it can temper a cultivator's will. If one can endure its torment and subdue it, the likelihood of overcoming the Mortal Tribulation [the trials of the mortal body during cultivation] in the future increases significantly.

He possessed Fire, Wood, and Earth Three Spiritual Roots [an affinity for three of the five elemental energies], and his True Essence [the refined energy cultivated by a Foundation Establishment cultivator] was forged through Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [a difficult, unaided method of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm], making it exceptionally Sharp True Essence [piercing and potent]. In theory, he could refine the Fire Malignancy Power into his True Essence, thereby augmenting its piercing edge and domineering force.

In the past, Chen Corin had merely been tainted by a wisp of Fire Malignancy Power and could not bear the agony, choosing to end his own life. This illustrated that the pain and difficulty involved were beyond imagination, and accomplishing this feat might be exceedingly arduous.

After the eruption of the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire energy] at Dawn Valley, the entire Spirit Vein [a geological formation that concentrates and emits spiritual energy] was completely corroded by Fire Fiend Qi [a malevolent, corrupted form of fire energy]. The surrounding area for a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] was transformed into a land of molten rock.

Countless spiritual materials were buried within the Fire Fiend Qi, and it would likely take at least several hundred years for the area to settle completely.

"This Spirit Vein and its associated Earth Vein [a geological formation that concentrates earth energy] are both ruined."

"Even after a century, when the Fire Vein [a geological formation that concentrates fire energy] calms, its grade will have plummeted significantly."

Eldrin Chen sighed and could only lead everyone back to the Green Sun Mountain Base Camp.

Green Sun Mountain Spirit Vein [the primary spirit vein located within Green Sun Mountain].

Upon a majestic mountain peak, a solitary figure stood steadfastly before a Cultivation Cave [a cave dwelling used for meditation and cultivation].

This person was none other than Green Sun Sect's Mo the Ancient Ancestor. At this moment, Mo the Ancient Ancestor, his hair and beard completely white, stood silently for a moment before stepping into the Cultivation Cave [a secluded chamber for meditation and cultivation].

At the center of the Cultivation Cave, an old man robed in azure sat cross-legged in serene meditation.

He looked at Mo the Ancient Ancestor and spoke, his expression grave. "Junior Brother Mo, what is the current situation?"

"The soul lamps [magical devices that indicate the life force of their owners] for Wei Chongyang and Mordecai Lin have both been extinguished."

"However, the Fire Vein at Dawn Valley has erupted. Those individuals have likely suffered grievous wounds. It seems Mordecai Lin did not disappoint our expectations."

Mo the Ancient Ancestor spoke with a tone of forced calm, yet a profound, hidden sorrow lingered deep within his eyes.

From the very moment he handed the Heavenly Tribulation Pearl [a treasure containing condensed heavenly thunder tribulation power] to Mordecai Lin, Mordecai Lin had understood the nature of his mission.

He had been sold to the Green Sun Sect as a child, and now, having cultivated to a profound level, his very life was being sold by the sect in turn. The cruelty of it was almost unbearable.

Yet, Mordecai Lin went. He departed already carrying the intent to die within his heart, ultimately repaying the sect's century of nurturing and his karmic debt with his own blood and bones.

After his words fell, Mo the Ancient Ancestor turned his gaze to the azure-robed elder before him. "Senior Brother Liu, have you succeeded?"

"Proceeded with relative smoothness."

The azure-robed elder nodded. He was none other than Liu the Ancient Ancestor, a cultivator at the Purple Mansion Ninth Layer [the ninth and final stage of the Purple Mansion realm] from the Green Sun Sect.

Liu the Ancient Ancestor's gaze turned slightly cold, his expression indifferent as he spoke, "This time, we expended the sect's treasured Quasi-Fourth Rank Longevity Treasure Pill [a near-fourth rank elixir that extends lifespan], granting this old man another fifty years of life. I have finally broken through to the False Core Realm [a pseudo-Golden Core state, more powerful than Purple Mansion but not a true Golden Core]."

"Those people believed this old man was bedridden and on death's door, powerless even to watch as they besieged the Green Sun Sect."

"I imagine that on the day of the decisive battle, we will be able to give them a most unpleasant surprise."

Mo the Ancient Ancestor also revealed a pleased expression, stroking his beard. "After the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of fiery spiritual energy] beneath Dawn Valley erupted, it is likely that many of the Purple Mansion Cultivator [cultivators who have reached the Purple Mansion realm] under Lyra Jiang's command were invaded by Fire Fiend Qi [a malignant, chaotic fire energy]." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel . com.

"This will delay their efforts for at least half a year, while the Ancient Ancestor [a venerable, high-ranking elder] needs only five months to fully recover and emerge from seclusion."

"Once Senior Uncle Xu emerges, with a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a major milestone] presiding over the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array protecting a mountain stronghold], I fear even three or five ordinary Golden Core Cultivator would find it impossible to breach our defenses."

"When that time comes, we will surely make them break their heads against our walls."

Meanwhile, at the foot of Green Sun Mountain.

Lyra Jiang gazed upon the grievously wounded assembly, her elegant brows knitting slightly in concern.

Aside from Eldrin Chen, Chen Thalion, and the profoundly skilled Qian the Ancient Ancestor, every other Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core] cultivator who had participated in the battle bore serious injuries.

In total, only slightly over thirty Purple Mansion Cultivator had joined this fight. Yet, before the true conflict had even begun, more than a dozen had already been afflicted by Fire Fiend Qi [a malignant, invasive energy born of chaotic fire essence] entering their bodies. This was truly an inauspicious start.

This was especially critical for figures like Fang the Ancient Ancestor and Xavier Xu, cultivators at the Purple Palace, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Purple Mansion realm]. They were meant to be the high-tier combatants of this engagement.

Eldrin Chen also sensed the complication, voicing his worry, "With the Fire Fiend Qi invading their systems, I fear they will struggle to regain their combat effectiveness in a short time. Should we postpone the assault?"

"It is not entirely without remedy,"

Lyra Jiang stated calmly. As a Fourth Rank Alchemist [a master of pill refinement at the Golden Core realm level], she naturally possessed methods to suppress the Fire Fiend Qi.

She continued with serene authority, "During the battle at Celestial Python Lake [a vast lake domain said to be the territory of a powerful serpentine demon], did we not seize a number of Third Rank Shellfish Pearl [spiritually potent pearls harvested from high-grade demonic clams]?"

"I still have a few remaining. I can refine them into Water Essence Malignancy-Purging Pill [a pill that uses pure water essence to cleanse invasive malignant energies from the body]. Consuming these will allow them to exert seventy to eighty percent of their full strength."

True to her word, Lyra Jiang dedicated five days, successfully concocting two batches of the Water Essence Malignancy-Purging Pill.

After consuming them, the group expelled approximately sixty percent of the Fire Fiend Qi [a malignant, fiery energy born from earthly impurities] from their bodies. The remaining injuries could be nursed with Healing Pill [pills that accelerate the body's natural recovery processes]. While they were still unable to unleash their full power, they could now muster around seventy to eighty percent of their combat strength.

By this point, although the group's injuries were not yet fully healed, Lyra Jiang had decided they could wait no longer.

Lyra Jiang had meticulously calculated the timeline for Xu the Ancient Ancestor's recovery—including his regimen of Healing Pill and the precise duration of his secluded meditation. Every detail was accounted for.

Now, Xu the Ancient Ancestor's injuries were on the verge of being completely mended. If he were to emerge from seclusion prematurely, all their previous efforts would be rendered futile.

Furthermore, once his wounds were fully healed, he would be able to personally command the Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and artifacts designed to produce specific magical effects]. With a Golden Core Ancestor [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual essence into a Golden Core, representing a major leap in power] presiding over the Fourth Rank Middle Grade Formation [a powerful defensive array] at Green Sun Mountain, it was likely that even several Golden Core Cultivator working in concert would find it nearly impossible to breach.

If that happened, they would inevitably be drawn into a protracted and bitter siege. Even if they eventually succeeded in storming Green Sun Mountain, the cost in manpower and resources would be staggering, resulting at best in a pyrrhic victory where both sides suffered devastating losses.

"Commence the assault,"

Three days later, on Lyra Jiang's command, tens of thousands of cultivators unleashed a torrent of magical treasures and divine abilities, launching a furious assault upon Green Sun Mountain.

"How could they be so swift?"

Upon Green Sun Mountain, the cultivators of the Green Sun Sect paled, scrambling to activate the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [the primary defensive array protecting a mountain stronghold] to withstand the onslaught.

The countenance of Mo the Ancient Ancestor shifted subtly, a flicker of surprise betraying his thoughts. He clearly had not anticipated that Lyra Jiang would resolve to assault the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array that shields a mountain or sect] with such swift decisiveness.

On this front, tens of thousands of cultivators were dispatched to relentlessly drain the energy of the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation, while the Purple Mansion [a major cultivation stage where one forms a spiritual core within the body] and Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation] stood poised in the void, holding their power in reserve for the moment.

This was the optimal strategy: let the lower-ranked cultivators wear down the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation's reserves. The higher-ranked experts would shield their juniors and conserve their strength, waiting for the critical moment to unleash their full might and shatter the grand formation's defenses. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel . com.