Chapter 240 : The Mirror's Threefold Pact

Throughout the ages, numerous Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [supreme artifacts designed to suppress demonic forces], and even the pinnacle Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang [ultimate artifacts of pure yang energy] of this realm have crumbled and been lost within the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a cataclysmic event involving the eruption of a demonic abyss].

If it were to fall into slumber now and fail to restore its power after a thousand years, it would have no choice but to forfeit its freedom and seek the protection of a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm].

Yet, for a Nascent Soul [Nascent Soul realm] cultivator, a magical treasure is ultimately an external tool. Once it falls into their hands, it would lose its autonomy, compelled to shield its master from tribulation and face destruction when the moment demands.

Finally, the Mirror of the Vast Heaven [a legendary magical mirror] made its decision. Its ethereal light swept across heaven and earth before settling upon Lyra Jiang as it spoke.

"I may refrain from intervening in this conflict, but you must agree to three conditions."

"Please state your terms."

Lyra Jiang gave a slight nod. The esteemed status of a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [supreme artifacts designed to suppress demonic forces] was nearly equivalent to half a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm], warranting a measure of her respect.

The Mirror of the Vast Heaven [a legendary magical mirror] paused briefly, its gentle light spilling across the world like water.

"First: The Green Sun Sect has enshrined and venerated me for over a millennium, fostering a bond of spiritual connection. You must not commit acts of utter annihilation against them."

"Second: Should you supplant the Green Sun Sect, you must take up the mantle of safeguarding the peace of the living beings within the Chu Kingdom, making the slaying of demons and vanquishing of evil your sacred duty." For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel . com.

"Third: You shall venerate me, allowing me to draw upon the energy of the Underground Fire Vein beneath Green Sun Mountain to accumulate sufficient power."

The Mirror of the Vast Heaven [a legendary artifact of immense power] paused, then continued: "In exchange, I can, when necessary, protect your domain."

"Ancient Ancestor, Ancient Ancestor…"

Seeing the Mirror of the Vast Heaven was about to renege, Xu the Ancient Ancestor panicked on the spot.

He cried out and moved to plead, but a faint pulse of radiance from the Mirror of the Vast Heaven swept him away.

The Mirror of the Vast Heaven was once the lifebound supreme treasure of a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Primordial Spirit]. Its original master was a righteous True Lord who tolerated no impurity, and the mirror had inherited a measure of that master's unyielding integrity.

Xu the Ancient Ancestor had schemed against his senior brother to seize his position. This Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order, capable of suppressing demons] had never held him in high regard. Now, it had finally resolved to sever its karmic ties with the Green Sun Sect.

At this moment, Lyra Jiang nodded and stated calmly, "These three conditions—I would have fulfilled them even had you not spoken."

"Having guarded Celestial Ruins Mountain for over two centuries, I have heard whispers of your name."

"For now, I shall trust you."

Seeing that Lyra Jiang had agreed to the threefold covenant and ultimately decided not to intervene in this matter, the Mirror of the Vast Heaven [a legendary artifact capable of reflecting vast celestial power] finally sank back into the depths of the Green Sun Mountain Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of potent fiery energy].

Witnessing this from afar, the Violet Abyss Furnace [a grand cauldron imbued with profound abyssal energies] fell silent for a moment before vanishing from the world amidst a surge of overwhelming violet radiance.

"You think you can flee—?!"

At that very moment, however, Xu the Ancient Ancestor sought to seize the chance to escape once more.

Yet how could Lyra Jiang allow a tiger to return to the mountains? With a swift motion, she summoned forth the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword [a divine blade famed for its power to slay even celestial beings] and gave chase.

Eldrin Chen did not join the pursuit. Xu the Ancient Ancestor was already grievously wounded; facing Lyra Jiang's relentless hunt, escape was nigh impossible.

He led the others in pursuing the cultivators of the Green Sun Sect. While they had no intention of exterminating every last member of the sect, they were absolutely resolved not to spare those who had committed heinous deeds.

Over the years, the Green Sun Sect had rotted to its very core. The cultivators from the era of the old sect masters, Mo the Ancient Ancestor and Liu the Ancient Ancestor, were perhaps still tolerable. But the younger the disciple, the more likely they were to have wallowed in wickedness and tyranny.

Long before the battle commenced, each of the great clans had already compiled lists of targets marked for death, based on years of accumulated grievances and enmities.

As Eldrin Chen advanced, he cut down many Green Sun Sect cultivators. He secured control over the sect's critical resources: the core of its guardian Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels for defense or attack], the Treasure Vault, the Spirit Medicine Garden [a garden cultivating plants imbued with spiritual energy], the Scripture Repository, and the Underground Fire Vein. Once these key points were held, he directed the remaining cultivators to begin clearing the battlefield.

Not long after, Lyra Jiang returned, riding her flying sword.

She glanced at Eldrin Chen, a smile gracing her lips as she said, "Finally, that fiend is slain. A great scourge has been removed from Chu Kingdom."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Seizing the moment while they were alone, he drew her into an embrace and said with a laugh, "After this great battle, we can truly say we have a firm foothold in Chu Kingdom from now on."

"Mhm."

A flicker of joy shone in Lyra Jiang's eyes. With a Fourth Rank Spirit Vein now in their possession, coupled with the fourth-rank Underground Fire Vein, her future cultivation path would be much smoother.

Without lingering in their moment of tenderness, Eldrin Chen began to address the spoils from the Celestial Ruins Mountain campaign. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio novel.com.

Lyra Jiang had few capable hands at her disposal. Beyond the few hundred disciples and descendants from Celestial Ruins Mountain itself, the only other force she could rely on was the thousand or so cultivators from the Chen Clan who had participated in the war.

Personnel from both Celestial Ruins Mountain and the Chen Clan were dispersed among various squadrons. Their duties were twofold: to fight and to meticulously record their battle achievements using specialized Magical Tool [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators].

These records served to tally merit for rewards and, crucially, to prevent anyone from lining their own pockets with the spoils of war.

After all, the combatants in this conflict numbered in the tens of thousands. Without the Magical Tool documenting the details of each engagement, not only would awarding merits become a nightmare, but it would also be all too easy for participating cultivators to secretly hoard their gains.

Eldrin Chen was also occupied. The clan's Foundation Establishment Elders were currently tallying the spoils of war, while others were taking inventory of the supplies in the Spirit Medicine Garden and the Scripture Repository.

All this information needed to be consolidated and presented to him for review and confirmation.

Fortunately, cultivators possessed keen eyesight and memory far surpassing that of mortals, allowing them to process these matters with considerable speed.

After a full half-month of meticulous accounting, the complete tally of the battle's gains was finally compiled.

Half a month later.

On this day, the Chen Clan Cultivators, along with the cultivators from Heaven's Ruin Mountain, finished their final verification of the materials and military merits.

After multiple cross-checks confirmed the records were flawless, the account ledgers were presented for review by Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang.

Although both had a rough estimate of the resources seized, a flicker of excitement still stirred within them the moment they received the ledgers.

After reviewing them, Lyra Jiang summoned the Purple Mansion Cultivators from the various great families and began to speak.

"In this battle, we lost forty-seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators, over five thousand six hundred Qi Refinement Cultivators, and one Purple Mansion Cultivator."

"Given the relative smoothness of this battle, in addition to the original standard for compensation, we shall issue an additional fifty percent of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]."

"Our thanks to Immortal Maiden Lyra."

Hearing this, everyone present showed expressions of delight.

Although the disparity in cultivator numbers between the two sides was immense, the casualties in this battle were not exceptionally severe.

Nevertheless, there were still a full five to six thousand cultivators who perished. Providing half again the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] in compensation for so many individuals amounted to a staggering sum of several hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

Lyra Jiang's eyes flickered slightly as she raised a hand to quiet the murmurs. "All of you contributed significantly to this victory," she stated. "First, review the ledgers. They detail the spoils of this campaign and the merit accrued by each of your clans."

"Once you have verified the records and found no discrepancies, we shall proceed to discuss the distribution of the captured treasures."

The clan leaders took the ledgers, and one by one, looks of pleasant surprise spread across their faces.

This battle had been a resounding triumph. The fall of a major power yielded a truly colossal haul of resources.

The spoils of war were nothing short of immense.

The assets of the Green Sun Sect were primarily divided into three categories. The first consisted of fixed assets such as Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with concentrated spiritual energy], Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earthly spiritual energy], and Spirit Farmland [land enriched to grow spiritually potent crops]. The second category comprised the scriptures housed within the Scripture Repository. The final category was liquid wealth, including Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], magical treasures, and Flying Sword [a sword enchanted for flight and combat].

Among these, the Spirit Mountain and Earth Vein held the greatest value. Although the sect had lost two or three of these assets following the fall of the Scorched Sun Mountain [a mountain range known for its intense fiery spiritual energy], the Green Sun Sect still possessed a formidable portfolio.

Even now, they retained thirteen Spirit Vein [a concentrated source of ambient spiritual energy within the earth] and six Earth Vein. These remained the cornerstone of their wealth and power, their most significant and enduring holdings. This chapter is provided by audio-novel.com (official site). Support the original.