Chapter 230 : A Clan's Ascent and a Patriarch's Sigh

Leveraging this connection, the Meng Clan had developed with remarkable speed. They now boasted seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including two who had even reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Among them, Star Grace Meng was a true standout. Despite her youth, she had already attained cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer, and in the future, she might even have the potential to attempt the breakthrough to Violet Sanctum twice.

Rumor had it that even Kael Chen held some interest in her. However, while the flower was willing, the stream flowed on indifferently; Star Grace Meng had politely declined Kael Chen's advances.

The Old Patriarch swept his gaze over Star Grace Meng and the several Meng Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators beside her. He nodded with a smile and asked,

"Why haven't I seen my cousin Starry River Meng today?"

"Patriarch..."

Star Grace Meng hesitated for a moment before replying, "The Clan Leader has been bedridden for many days now. I fear... he may not have much time left."

"How is that possible?"

The Old Patriarch's expression shifted slightly. He couldn't help but ask, "Didn't I send him several Longevity Spirit Apricots [spirit fruits that can extend one's lifespan] a few years back?"

"The Clan Leader cherished his grandson dearly," Star Grace Meng explained. "He gave the Spirit Apricots to his younger clansman, Source Luo." This chapter is provided by audio-novel dot com. Support the original.

Beside him, a Meng Clan Foundation Establishment cultivator [a cultivator at the second major realm of cultivation] wore a despondent expression and spoke in a low voice.

The Old Patriarch let out a sigh, his eyes dimming slightly. Just as mortals face birth, aging, sickness, and death, so too does the moon wax and wane.

Within the clan, many of the Nian Generation—including Remembrance Heaven, Remembrance Origin Chen, and Eternal Remembrance Chen—were running out of lifespan. The number of cultivators in need of Life-Extending Treasure [a rare treasure that can extend a cultivator's natural lifespan] was not small, and he could not keep giving away the clan's treasures indefinitely.

A few years prior, the patriarch of the Mu Clan, Declaring Brightness Mu, had purchased a Five Elements Treasure Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of the five primal elements] in an attempt to break through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation]. He failed, ultimately exhausting his lifespan and passing away seated in meditation within his cave abode. Now, Starry River Meng too was nearing his end. Of their generation, only a pitiful few remained.

His mood somber, the Old Patriarch had little heart for further conversation.

Eldrin Chen glanced at the assembled group. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed a jade vial of medicinal pills to Star Grace Meng. "I will have another Longevity Treasure Apricot [a miraculous fruit that can significantly extend one's lifespan] sent over," he stated. "And this one is not to be touched by anyone."

"Thank you..."

Star Grace Meng caught the vial and hurriedly offered her thanks, only to find he had already walked far into the distance.

She could only stand there in silence, watching that snow-white robe recede further and further, until it vanished at the very edge of the world.

In this life, I shall not see you again, merely drifting through the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals, filled with worldly attachments and suffering].

To have met you in this life has ruined my entire existence.

A person's life is always filled with various regrets and feelings of powerlessness.

"......"

Ascending Heavenly Ruins Mountain, one finds pavilions, terraces, and towers standing in clusters across the mountainside.

Numerous Violet Sanctum Patriarch and Foundation Establishment Cultivator cultivators had been waiting for some time, gathered in small groups, clearly anticipating the start of the alliance meeting.

As soon as Eldrin Chen arrived, four or five cultivators from Border Province, including Percival Pan and Xavier Xu, approached him.

Standing beside Percival Pan was a young man named Soaring Pan, a newly advanced Violet Sanctum Cultivator of the Pan Clan whom Eldrin Chen had met before.

Xavier Xu, whose cultivation had now broken through to the Violet Sanctum 7th Tier, said with a pleased expression, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Chen, on your great advancement. Having broken through to the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage, I fear this old man may no longer be your match."

"Not at all. With your cultivation having entered the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, there is hope you may yet reach Golden Core in the future,"

Eldrin Chen replied with a slight smile. Xavier Xu was not yet three hundred years old. A cultivator at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage at such an age would likely have two opportunities to attempt a breakthrough to Golden Core.

If one were willing to invest heavily to purchase a Longevity Pill [a pill that extends a cultivator's lifespan], living for five hundred years would be a certainty, and Future might genuinely have a twenty percent chance of breaking through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a solidified core of spiritual power].

However, the Golden Core Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly thunder calamity one must face to ascend to the Golden Core realm] is notoriously difficult to survive. One would need to expend at least several Third Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasures [powerful enchanted artifacts of the third rank] to have any hope of weathering that Heavenly Tribulation [a divine trial of thunder and lightning sent by the heavens]. Whether the Xu Clan possesses such capital remains to be seen.

As this thought flashed through his mind, Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted towards the distance.

Seizing the opportunity, Xavier Xu introduced them, "Those few are all Fellow Daoists [a respectful term cultivators use for each other] from the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation] within the Two Prefectures of Green Sun."

Following Xavier Xu's introductions, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch gained a clearer understanding of these cultivators' backgrounds.

Currently, within the Two Prefectures of Green Sun, there are still eight Violet Sanctum Immortal Clans [powerful clans with cultivators at the Violet Sanctum realm], totaling fifteen Violet Sanctum Cultivators. This is six more than the number of Violet Sanctum Cultivators belonging to the Verdant Sun Sect. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Among these fifteen Violet Sanctum Cultivators, two are at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, while the remainder are in the early or middle stages of the Violet Sanctum realm.

For this occasion, the eight great Immortal Clans of the Two Prefectures of Green Sun have dispatched eight Violet Sanctum Cultivators, including those two Violet Sanctum Late Stage Patriarchs.

Of the two Violet Sanctum Late Stage Patriarchs, one is Green Plum Fang from the Fang Immortal Clan of Cloud Sun County, Solar Province. This female cultivator is at the Violet Sanctum 7th Tier [the seventh level of the Violet Sanctum realm], her cultivation level matching Xavier Xu's, and she too has only recently made her breakthrough.

The other hails from the Qian Immortal Clan of Qing Province—Patriarch Qian. His cultivation soars at the Violet Sanctum 9th Tier [the ninth and penultimate level of the Violet Sanctum realm]. The Qian Clan boasts four Violet Sanctum Cultivators, ranking it among the top three Violet Sanctum Immortal Clans in the Chu Nation. It is not far behind the Yan Immortal Clan of Yan Old Demon.

Patriarch Qian [the leader of the Qian Clan] is now four hundred and sixty years of age, a venerable elder. However, having consumed three Third-Rank Longevity Pill [pills that extend one's lifespan], he still has thirty years of life remaining.

That Patriarch Qian has now personally come to Heavenly Ruins Mountain [a significant mountain stronghold] clearly indicates his intent to settle this score with the Verdant Sun Sect [a major cultivation sect] before his vital essence [the foundational life force of a cultivator] completely withers away.

During the previous Beast Tide [a massive invasion by demonic beasts], the Qian Clan lost two of its Violet Sanctum Patriarch [powerful clan elders at the Violet Sanctum realm] in battle. Nearly all of the more than thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators at the Foundation Establishment realm] who participated were also slain. Yet, Patriarch Xu of the Verdant Sun Sect fled without engaging the enemy. This reveals the depth of the Qian Clan's hatred for the Verdant Sun Sect.

Just as the various parties finished exchanging greetings, the Heavenly Ruins Alliance [a coalition formed at Heavenly Ruins Mountain] finally commenced its assembly.

Exquisite Jiang emerged from seclusion to meet the gathered crowd. Then, Elara Lin [a senior disciple] standing beside her spoke: "Esteemed allies, the Verdant Sun Sect reaps the greatest benefits from these three provinces, yet shirks its duty to defend their borders."

"We shed blood on the front lines for the Human Race, while they hoard the spoils of war, withhold compensation for the fallen, and even retreat without a fight before the Demon Race. All the while, they lounge in safety, feasting upon the bounty of Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth that concentrates spiritual energy] and Earth Vein [a terrestrial energy leyline]."

"Now that our Master has broken through to the Golden Core [a major realm of cultivation where one forms a solidified core of power], we can no longer tolerate the existence of such parasitic leeches as the Verdant Sun Sect."

"The purpose of this Heavenly Ruins Alliance is to forge a pact with you all. Together, we shall storm Green Sun Mountain [the mountain headquarters of the Verdant Sun Sect] and seek justice for our countless fallen comrades."

As Elara Lin's words fell, the assembly nodded in unanimous agreement. It was clear they had been waiting for this moment for many years.

Seeing their satisfaction, Elara Lin presented each person with a written covenant.

Eldrin Chen was intimately familiar with the terms of this pact. At its core, it was essentially an extension of the old alliance between Border Province and Heavenly Ruins Mountain, albeit with certain modifications.

After confirming there were no unexpected clauses, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch signed the contract on behalf of the Chen Immortal Clan.

The alliance meeting lasted for three Shichen-time [a period of two hours]. Heavenly Ruins Mountain then hosted a grand feast for all attendees, with the festivities continuing until the following day.

Once the formalities concluded, the gathered cultivators did not depart. With over twenty Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators at the Violet Sanctum realm] assembled, it was the perfect opportunity to convene a Barter Convention [a gathering for cultivators to trade rare resources].

This Barter Convention was held within the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion. Elara Lin, representing Heavenly Ruins Mountain, was the first to step forward, presenting three treasures.

The three treasures were: a vial containing a third-rank Precious Pill [a high-grade cultivation elixir], a Fourth Rank Low-Grade [the lowest tier of fourth-rank items] spiritual talisman, and several Third Rank Superior Grade [the highest tier of third-rank items] spiritual talismans.

With a great conflict looming on the horizon, the importance of such talismans and elixirs needed no elaboration.

Patriarch Qian expended four hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to purchase the Fourth Rank Low-Grade Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword Talisman. The Precious Pill was acquired by Immortal Maiden Fang of Cloud Sun County.

The three Third Rank Superior Grade spiritual talismans were purchased at a high price by Xavier Xu.

Eldrin Chen was the second to step forward. He produced two Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill and five Cloud Vein Creation Pill and announced.

"Esteemed guests, the value of these two treasures is surely evident to all."

"Two Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill [a high-grade pill that refines the cultivator's meridians and enhances their spiritual aura] in exchange for one Third Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of the third rank, superior grade]. For the Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a legendary pill said to forge new spiritual pathways within the body], you may name your price." Join our community of readers at audio-novel dot com.