Chapter 242 : A New Alliance Rises

For ordinary cultivators within the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid, golden core], advancing a single layer of cultivation typically requires a full Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years]. However, with sufficient Creation Power [a fundamental creative force that can reshape reality and accelerate growth] provided by spiritual fruits of creation, this breakthrough period can be shortened to forty or even thirty years.

Henceforth, with this Five Elements Spirit Fruit [a rare fruit imbued with the balanced essence of the five fundamental elements], Lyra Jiang's cultivation speed will also increase significantly.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen revealed a smile and said, "With this treasure, your future cultivation progress will also be greatly accelerated."

Lyra Jiang nodded, her expression also bright with joy. "While an Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root of legendary rarity] is priceless, this Fire Spirit Fruit Tree [a spiritual tree that bears fruits infused with pure fire essence] is also a remarkable treasure in its own right."

In the world beyond, news of the Green Sun Sect's fall instantly spread throughout the Chu Kingdom, its echoes even reaching the other five nations among the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent.

Lyra Jiang took possession of Green Sun Mountain, establishing herself as a formidable new power within the Chu Kingdom.

Following the collapse of the Green Sun Sect, Lyra Jiang and the major immortal clans of the Three Provinces formed a loose coalition known as the 'Heaven's Ruin Alliance'.

The Chu Kingdom Cultivation World [the society and realm of cultivators within the Chu Kingdom] soon settled into a new order. The various great clans, restored to stability, began to digest the gains harvested from the recent conflict.

Lyra Jiang relocated her seat of power to Green Sun Mountain, while Elara Lin was appointed to guard Celestial Ruins Mountain [a mountain range shrouded in ancient mystery and spiritual energy] in her stead.

While Elara Lin's strength might be slightly insufficient to fully secure Celestial Ruins Mountain alone, the pressure on the region had been halved with the slaying of the Celestial Python Demon King [a mighty serpent demon king that once terrorized the mountains]. Thus, the danger there was no longer overwhelming. The story continues at audio-novel .c om.

The Chen Clan now occupied the Third Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy within the earth] of Origin-Starting Mountain, along with a newly acquired Third Rank High Grade Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of potent fire-aspected spiritual energy]. This wealth of resources was enough to make even Purple Mansion Late Stage Cultivators [powerful cultivators who have reached the advanced stages of the Purple Mansion realm] salivate with envy.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen simply remained stationed at Origin-Starting Mountain, overseeing the territory while simultaneously cultivating and delving into the profound mysteries of cultivation arts.

He combed through the treasury of the Green Sun Sect, meticulously copying every cultivation art from the Foundation Establishment [the foundational stage of cultivation where one builds their spiritual base] realm and above. Each day at Verdant Chariot Mountain, apart from his own cultivation, was devoted to the arduous task of comprehending these arts.

Having been reborn into this world for nearly a century, this was the first time Eldrin Chen had the fortune to access such a vast trove of high-level cultivation arts. Naturally, he became utterly immersed in this ocean of knowledge, day and night, diligently absorbing the precious techniques and accumulated wisdom of his predecessors.

Time flowed by swiftly.

Eldrin Chen remained in secluded cultivation at Origin-Starting Mountain, his days and nights consumed by study.

In the span of a single year, he had thoroughly mastered over one hundred volumes of Foundation Establishment Cultivation Art.

He then spent another seven years, attaining a profound level of mastery over twenty-seven different Purple Mansion Cultivation Art [esoteric methods for cultivating one's spiritual energy within the Purple Mansion realm].

With this immense foundation laid, he began the monumental task of deducing and expanding the Solar Separated Flame Scripture. After three years of intense focus, he successfully advanced this art to the level of Purple Mansion Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Purple Mansion realm, just before the Golden Core breakthrough].

Once the Solar Separated Flame Scripture was perfected for the Purple Palace, Perfection Stage, Eldrin Chen looked back upon those twenty-seven other Purple Mansion Cultivation Art. From his new, elevated perspective, he perceived numerous flaws and imperfections within them. Thus, he embarked on revising and refining all twenty-seven arts once more.

After a year had passed, he looked back upon these cultivation arts and found their underlying concepts far too narrow. No matter how he revised them, he remained unsatisfied.

Thus, he decided to start anew, to forge a new Purple Mansion Cultivation Art [a high-level method for cultivating one's spiritual core and energy within the Purple Mansion realm]. In the span of a mere three years, he deduced and created an earth-attribute Purple Mansion Cultivation Art—the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Scripture.

This Earth-Fortress Sovereign Scripture was a synthesis of the strengths of a hundred different arts, the pinnacle of Eldrin Chen's work, in no way inferior to the Solar Separated Flame Scripture.

The spiritual essence [the refined energy cultivated by practitioners] cultivated by this method, while not as overwhelmingly potent as that of the Solar Separated Flame Scripture, surpassed it in sheer depth and resilience by a significant margin.

Furthermore, within this art, Eldrin Chen had also deduced the method for refining a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact intimately connected to a cultivator's life force and soul]—the 'Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell'.

The Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell was a superior-grade Defensive Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact designed primarily for protection]. Once forged, its defensive capabilities could reign supreme among treasures of its same rank.

Time flowed like a ceaseless river, light and shadow rushing past.

In the blink of an eye, fifteen years slipped away within the depths of his secluded contemplation on these arts.

"Hah."

On this day, Eldrin Chen slowly drew in a breath and emerged from his seclusion.

The reason for ending his seclusion was twofold: first, he had fully digested the insights from his cultivation art, and second, joyous news had arrived from the clan.

Not long before, Lior Chen entered seclusion once more. Using a Geng Metal Crystal for the second time to attempt a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual foundation is solidified into a 'Purple Mansion'], he succeeded in a single stride, ascending into that very realm.

In truth, he was not the first cultivator from the clan to achieve this breakthrough.

In the fifteen years since the fall of the Green Sun Sect, three individuals within the clan had successively attempted to assail the gates of the Purple Mansion.

In the sixth year of his own seclusion, Kael Chen finally subdued the Underground Fire Malignancy Power [a potent and volatile earth-fire energy used to temper one's cultivation] and embarked on his first attempt to breach the Purple Mansion.

The Fire Malignancy Power not only fortified his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner] but also tempered his will. Through six years of enduring the scorching trials of the Fire Fiend Qi, Kael Chen forged an unshakable Dao-heart. Astonishingly, without relying on any external aids, he burned his Lifebound Essence Blood [a cultivator's vital life-force essence, tied to their core being] and shattered the barrier to the Purple Mansion. Discover more cultivation stories at @udio-novel.com.

Of course, Kael Chen's all-or-nothing gamble came at a steep price. After his breakthrough, his vital essence was severely damaged. Even after consuming a Qi Replenishing Return Pill, it took him five or six years of dedicated recovery.

The year after Kael's breakthrough, Chen Elara entered seclusion to challenge the Purple Mansion. This attempt ended in failure, though she managed to penetrate four and a half tenths of her Purple Mansion Dao Meridian [the primary spiritual channel that must be opened to form the Purple Mansion].

As for others like Caleb, Silas, Ethan, and Lila, they had already touched the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer. It seemed that within three to ten years, they too would successively launch their assaults on the Purple Mansion.

"How swiftly time flows," he murmured.

After emerging from seclusion, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh.

Time had slipped by in a blur. Fifteen years had passed, and he had now crossed the threshold of one hundred years of age. Even the Old Patriarch had celebrated his two hundredth birthday.

"Eldrin."

Kael Chen had arrived at Origin-Starting Mountain at some point unnoticed. He looked at Eldrin Chen with a smile on his face and said.

"I have come to relieve you and take over the guardianship of this Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy]."

"Mm, I appreciate your efforts."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Now that the clan had gained two more Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one refines their spirit within a metaphysical 'Purple Mansion' in the dantian] cultivators, their manpower was finally becoming more sufficient.

With a Purple Mansion cultivator guarding Origin-Starting Mountain, he would finally be able to extricate himself from this duty.

After handing over Origin-Starting Mountain to Kael Chen, Eldrin Chen paused for a moment before departing and offered a reminder.

"Clan Brother, to have subdued the Mortal Tribulation [a perilous trial of the physical body faced during the Purple Mansion breakthrough] and achieved a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion in a single attempt speaks to a Dao-heart [one's fundamental will and connection to the Dao] of extraordinary firmness."

"Since my remaining lifespan is still relatively ample, I can attempt to forge a Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, radiant core] through my own efforts."

Upon hearing this, Kael Chen's expression faltered slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

Aside from those with Anomalous Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful spiritual root type] or a Heavenly Spiritual Root [the pinnacle of spiritual root talent], the chance for an ordinary cultivator to break through to the Golden Core realm unaided is merely one in ten.

Even with his exceptionally profound foundation, without relying on external aids, he dared only claim a two-in-ten chance of achieving a Golden Core breakthrough. This difficulty far surpassed that of breaking into the Purple Mansion [the second major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy forms a stable, internal mansion] realm.

Observing his expression, Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke with calm authority. "Within the Golden Core realm, there exists the distinction of a Superior Golden Core [the highest quality and most potent form of Golden Core, granting greater future potential]."

"Having reached this stage, it would be a profound pity to rely on external objects for your Golden Core breakthrough."

"You possess Three Spiritual Roots [a spiritual root configuration with three elemental affinities]. Why not refine several more Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them]? Use these Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts of significant power used by cultivators] to temper and refine the spiritual energy within you. This may increase your chances of a breakthrough."

After Eldrin Chen departed, Kael Chen remained, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation for a long while. Then, a faint, resolute smile touched his lips.

Having walked the arduous path of cultivation to this point, his Dao-heart [the cultivator's fundamental will and commitment to their path] had grown ever more steadfast. Since the path to a Superior Golden Core lay before him, why not strive to tread it?

Eldrin Chen left Origin-Starting Mountain and soared through the skies on his flying sword, arriving swiftly at Green Sun Mountain.

Fifteen years had passed, and Lyra Jiang's cultivation advanced another step, breaking through to the realm of Golden Core Second Layer.

It had been forty years since her Golden Core breakthrough. To advance to Golden Core Second Layer while simultaneously refining five Lifebound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's soul and life force] was, in truth, not a slow pace of progress at all.

After spending three days with her at Green Sun Mountain, Eldrin Chen spoke, "I am preparing to make a journey to Heaven's Ruin Continent [a legendary continent said to be the ruins of a celestial realm]." Support the author by reading on audio novel.com.