Chapter 234 : A Century's Grudge Settled

After this incident, his father Verdant Brightness Chen was deeply disappointed by the inaction of the Verdant Sun Sect and thus withdrew from the sect, taking him along.

The journey back for Verdant Brightness Chen was fraught with peril. It was only through the tireless efforts of his maternal grandfather, whose cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment 9th Tier but who was already advanced in years, leveraging his old connections within the Verdant Sun Sect to mediate, that Verdant Brightness Chen was barely able to return to the Chen Clan.

Even so, by the time they reached the foot of Green Chariot Mountain, Verdant Brightness Chen was grievously wounded and on the brink of death. Covered in blood, he delivered the child into the hands of Eternal Verdancy Chen before breathing his last.

"Tianlu Continent, Qin Surname Cultivator…"

Eldrin Chen closed his eyes, pressing those memories deep into the recesses of his heart.

Having settled this thread of Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect that binds all actions], Eldrin Chen cleaned up the battlefield and then took to his sword, flying towards Dawn Valley.

Upon his arrival at Dawn Valley, he saw that Old Patriarch and the others had already reached the valley and were currently assaulting its protective mountain Formation [a complex array of energy channels and symbols used for defense or other mystical purposes].

Seeing him, Old Patriarch could not help but ask, "How did it go?"

"My wish has been fulfilled," Eldrin Chen nodded in affirmation.

Witnessing his nod, Old Patriarch excitedly grabbed his hand: "The grudge of Path Void Clan Uncle has lasted for a hundred years. Our Chen Clan has finally brought closure to the enmity from a century ago." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel . com.

The members of the Chen Clan were all rather stirred. After their emotions had settled, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array that draws upon the power of a mountain] guarding Dawn Valley.

This Dawn Valley truly lived up to its reputation as a Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein [a high-quality site where the earth's spiritual energy converges and concentrates]. Even with several combatants possessing strength equivalent to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the final phase of the Violet Sanctum realm] joining forces, they had spent three full days without managing to breach this formation.

Seeing Eldrin Chen arrive, Patriarch Qian stepped forward eagerly and said, "With Elder Brother Eldrin here, we are certain to shatter this formation in short order."

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen glanced at Patriarch Qian and asked with an inscrutable expression, "Is Patriarch Qian aware of the matter concerning Origin Source Mountain?"

Patriarch Qian started slightly, his eyes darting to Eldrin Chen's face, which remained placid, revealing neither joy nor anger.

His heart sank. He quickly nodded and said,

"Set your mind at ease, Fellow Daoist. I am aware of what Rising Brightness did. I will certainly provide a satisfactory resolution to this matter for everyone."

"Let us hope so."

Eldrin Chen replied with detached calm, his emotions perfectly concealed, which inexplicably increased the pressure Patriarch Qian felt.

Setting this matter aside for the moment, the group prepared to resume their assault on Dawnbreak Valley. The forces originally assigned to attack Dawnbreak Valley already included two Violet Sanctum Late Stage cultivators from the Qian and Fang families, along with four ordinary Violet Sanctum cultivators.

Now, with the addition of three more combatants possessing Violet Sanctum Late Stage strength—Xavier Xu, Eldrin Chen, and Eternal Profound Chen—plus the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage cultivator from Border Province, their power had swelled considerably.

This assembled force was formidable indeed. Even a Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator would have to turn tail and flee when faced with the combined might of five Violet Sanctum Late Stage experts. They could even hold their own for a time against an ordinary Golden Core Early Stage cultivator.

To ensure a swift victory, both Eldrin Chen and Patriarch Qian each unleashed a Formation-Breaking Treasure Talisman.

A single one of these precious talismans could suppress a Third Rank Superior Grade Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense or attack] by thirty percent. While using two simultaneously caused some overlapping effect, their combined power still managed to suppress the Mountain Protection Formation by over fifty percent.

Even so, bolstered by the Third-order Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth rich with spiritual energy], it still took the group nearly half a day of relentless assault to finally breach the defenses.

"Where is Mordecai Lin?"

After breaking through to the Spiritual Vein, the group found no trace of Mordecai Lin.

Eldrin Chen frowned, his concern mirroring the others', as they all flew towards the entrance of the Underground Fire Vein.

There, at the mouth of the Underground Fire Vein, stood Mordecai Lin alone. He waited calmly, his expression serene as he watched the group approach.

They surrounded him, and Rising Brightness Qian stepped forward, intending to seize the Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds]. He sneered coldly, "Mordecai Lin, you have nowhere left to run."

"Indeed. Faced with the siege of over a dozen Violet Sanctum Patriarch [powerful cultivators at the Violet Sanctum realm], what means of escape do I have?"

Mordecai Lin's expression was calm. He was merely at the Violet Sanctum 3rd Tier [the third stage of the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm], yet he possessed a certain serenity, a readiness to meet his end.

He stood there quietly, producing a violet-hued treasure pearl. He gazed at the crowd with detached composure and spoke.

"If, before I die, I can take a few of you with me, then I shall not have failed the nurturing grace of my sect."

"Watch out! It's a Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Pearl [a treasure pearl condensed from the power of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation]!" This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel.com (official site).

Eldrin Chen's face changed drastically. He immediately grabbed the Old Patriarch and pulled him into a swift retreat.

By now, everyone recognized the origin of that violet pearl. When a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core] undergoes their Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of heavenly lightning], they can refine the tribulation lightning absorbed by their magical treasures, condensing it into a fourth-rank Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Pearl.

This Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Pearl contains the power of heavenly thunder, a force comparable to a full-strength strike from a Golden Core Cultivator.

Yet that was not the most critical point. The true danger lay in Mordecai Lin's position—he stood directly before the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of potent fire-attribute spiritual energy].

If this Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Pearl [a pearl containing the condensed power of heavenly thunder tribulation] were launched at the group, the combined efforts of over a dozen Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators at the Violet Sanctum realm] would undoubtedly be sufficient to block it.

However, once he threw it into the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean river of concentrated fire energy], it would inevitably trigger a cataclysm, causing the volatile Underground Fire Vein to erupt completely. The land for a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in all directions would likely be scorched into barren earth.

Mordecai Lin was well-prepared and had no intention of letting anyone escape. Gripping the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Pearl, he directly leaped into the heart of the Underground Fire Vein.

"BOOM—"

A deafening roar that shook the heavens and earth was followed by a cataclysmic peal of thunder, as if the sky itself were splitting apart.

Eldrin Chen raised the Purple Blood Pagoda [a defensive pagoda artifact], the Old Patriarch summoned the Venus Metallic Gold Pearl [a defensive pearl artifact], and each Violet Sanctum [the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] and Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators at the Foundation Establishment realm] acted swiftly, deploying layer upon layer of protective barriers to withstand the terrifying force.

Then, it was as if a second sun ignited within the world. A dreadful, crimson shockwave swept across a thousand Li-length, shearing through the several great mountains surrounding Dawn Valley.

The Underground Fire Vein erupted, unleashing an endless tide of Fire Fiend Power [malevolent, chaotic fire energy] that scoured the void, forcing everyone back with faces flushed red from the heat.

Rising Brightness Qian, being closest, suffered the worst fate. Despite his Violet Sanctum Late Stage [late-stage Violet Sanctum realm] cultivation, he lacked a powerful defensive magical treasure or Divine Ability [a supernatural technique powered by spiritual energy] to protect him. Combined with his slower reaction, half his body was instantly blasted apart; it was clear he would not survive.

The other Violet Sanctum Cultivator reacted a half-step faster, managing to retreat several thousand Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] in the critical moment, avoiding the full brunt of the Fire Vein's eruption. Though each was seriously injured, they were not in mortal danger.

Many Foundation Establishment Cultivators [cultivators who have solidified their foundational cultivation base] scouring the mountain for treasures met a terrible fate. Those closest were instantly swept away, reduced to ashes of calamity. Those slightly farther had their defensive magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] shattered, allowing streams of Fire Fiend [a malevolent, sentient energy born from subterranean fire and negative emotions] essence to invade their bodies.

The virulent power of the Subterranean Fire Fiend [a powerful, earth-bound entity of pure fire and malice] was exceptionally potent. Even the Violet Sanctum Cultivators [cultivators who have opened their third spiritual center, the Violet Palace] present would require several months of arduous effort to fully purge such fiendish energy from their bodies.

For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if contaminated by the Fire Fiend, the only recourse was to temporarily suppress it with their True Essence [the refined, foundational energy cultivated within a practitioner's dantian] and slowly neutralize its baleful influence over time using rare spiritual treasures.

"My boy…"

Witnessing the fall of his clan's newly nurtured Violet Sanctum Late Stage [a cultivator at the advanced stage of the Violet Sanctum realm] expert, Patriarch Qian wept openly, cradling the severed remains of Rising Brightness Qian.

Eldrin Chen observed this scene with an impassive gaze. In his view, Rising Brightness Qian was the type who hesitated before great deeds out of fear for his own life, yet forgot all caution when chasing petty gains.

This man had deemed Double Sun Wei too formidable to confront and let him go. Yet, upon encountering the Violet Sanctum Early Stage [a cultivator at the initial stage of the Violet Sanctum realm] Mordecai Lin, and emboldened by superior numbers, he believed he could claim the glory of the kill and charged to the forefront. To Eldrin, such an outcome came as no surprise.

Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch had retreated swiftly. Their profound cultivation and the protection of high-grade defensive magical treasures shielded them from serious injury. This chapter is provided by http://www . audio-novel.com. Support the original.