Chapter 243 : A Journey of Sun and Secrets

"Heavenly Abode Continent [a vast and legendary continent in the cultivation world]?"

Lyra Jiang furrowed her brows. The distance between Heavenly Abode Continent and Ji Continent was over seven hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

To travel there from the Chu Kingdom would require traversing over ten million Li-length of treacherous mountain ranges. Such an immense distance filled her with concern.

"Indeed. My journey serves two purposes: first, to procure the Sun Treasure Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of the sun]."

"And second, to undertake a journey of experience and tempering."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly. His journey to Heavenly Abode Continent was not solely for cultivating the Solar True Aegis [a defensive technique harnessing the power of the sun]; it was also to gather intelligence on the enemy responsible for his mother's death.

Lyra Jiang remained worried. Heavenly Abode Continent lay tens of millions of Li-length away. Should any peril befall him, she feared she would be powerless to aid him from such a distance.

Yet, the Three Provinces Region required the presence of a Golden Core Cultivator [a master who has formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual power] to maintain stability. It was difficult for her to leave her post and accompany him.

Sensing her anxiety, Eldrin Chen gently stroked her hair. "Set your heart at ease. All will be well."

"Mm."

Lyra Jiang gave a slight nod. A Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their spiritual core within the Purple Mansion realm] was a mid-to-high-tier powerhouse anywhere; unless a large-scale Demonic Beast [a beast that has absorbed spiritual energy and gained monstrous power] war or demonic uprising erupted, it was rare for such figures to perish unexpectedly.

Like Eldrin Chen, she was not one for many words, preferring action over speech. Suppressing her worries deep within her heart, she took out a crimson-gold treasure furnace and handed it to Eldrin Chen.

"The Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible?"

The moment he saw that crimson-gold treasure furnace, Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and he couldn't help but murmur.

The preciousness of this treasure needed no elaboration. Back during the battle at Green Sun Mountain, that Liu the Ancient Ancestor had relied on it to dominate all challengers, forcing a retreat from four opponents, each possessing combat power at the Purple Palace, Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Purple Mansion realm].

That clash could be called a rare confrontation within the Chu Kingdom. Relying on this treasure, Liu the Ancient Ancestor had decisively defeated those four Purple Palace, Late Stage cultivators.

If not for Eldrin Chen paying the price of severe injury to unleash the combined power of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords with all his might, at least two of the four, including the Old Patriarch, would likely have been dragged down to a shared grave with him.

"Mm."

Lyra Jiang nodded again, looking at Eldrin Chen as she said, "With your mana, which rivals that of the Purple Mansion Seventh Layer [the seventh layer of the Purple Mansion realm], you should be able to barely activate this Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible."

"With this treasure in hand, even if you encounter a False Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a flawed or incomplete Golden Core], you will have the means to forcefully suppress and slay them."

Eldrin Chen did not refuse. He accepted the Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible [a powerful cauldron-type treasure capable of incinerating void and refining essences], his hands caressing the precious artifact with an almost reverent touch, unable to put it down.

After cultivating for so many years, this was the first time he had obtained a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure [a treasure of immense power, suitable for Golden Core Realm cultivators], and a surge of excitement stirred within his heart.

Once he had calmed his emotions, Lyra Jiang smiled and continued, "Your departure for the Heavenly Abode Continent [a distant and fabled continent] is actually quite timely."

"In another fifty years, the next Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts] will erupt once more. By then, I fear the denizens of the Demon Cave Cavern [a notorious demonic stronghold] will also grow restless."

"To avoid being caught between two fronts, I intend to move against the Scorched Sun Mountain [a mountain range lost to demonic beasts] in the coming years, to see if we can reclaim that lost territory first."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. In the fifty years since the last Beast Tide Calamity, the strength of the Three Provinces Region had recovered significantly.

This was especially true for Bianzhou, where the Chen Clan was based. In those five decades, the Chen Clan alone had added four new Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm] cultivators. Combined with gains from other clans, Bianzhou had likely seen six or seven new Purple Mansion Cultivator emerge in succession.

The eight great clans of Qing and Yang Provinces, having divided the assets of the former Green Sun Sect, would also produce several more Purple Mansion Cultivator in the coming decades. The populations of mortals and low-level cultivators were swelling as well.

With the cultivator population growing, the available Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with concentrated spiritual energy] were becoming insufficient. The best course of action was to contest the territories held by Demonic Beast [monstrous creatures that absorb spiritual energy, often hostile to humans], reclaiming the ancestral lands lost over the years.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen inquired, "When do you plan to make your move against Scorching Sun Mountain?"

"In another twenty years."

Lyra Jiang stated calmly. After the campaign against the Green Sun Sect, the Heaven's Ruin Alliance had expended a significant portion of its low-grade Spirit Talismans [enchanted paper slips that channel spiritual energy to produce effects] and Magical Treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators].

By recuperating and rebuilding their strength for a few more years, their chances of successfully reclaiming the Demonic Beast Territories [lands dominated by monstrous spiritual beasts] would increase substantially.

"Twenty years. I will return before then."

Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod. Although the distance between the Chu Kingdom and the Heavenly Abode Continent spanned thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], with his current level of cultivation, a round trip would take roughly two years. It should not delay him for too long. For more chapters, visit audio novel.com for the complete novel.

In truth, with his cultivation base, he could command the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss to traverse one hundred thousand Li-lengths in a single day. Flying a distance of ten million Li-lengths should, in principle, require only one hundred days.

However, long-distance flight involved considerations beyond mere speed. A cultivator's mana reserves were ultimately finite, and flight speed was also subject to environmental influences.

Over mountain ranges tens of thousands of Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] high, where the atmosphere grew thin, flight not only consumed vastly more mana but also proceeded at a significantly reduced pace.

Furthermore, certain extraordinary peaks exerted magnetic forces that could pull at a flying cultivator. Navigating a Flying Sword [a sword enchanted for aerial travel and combat] in such places might demand a hundredfold the usual mana expenditure.

Moreover, within these special terrains, there exist vast expanses of howling winds, miasmic fogs, thunder-riddled ridges, and fiery hellscapes, each stretching for millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Even a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Purple Mansion, the third major realm] would find it difficult to fly directly over them, forced instead to take lengthy and laborious detours.

Furthermore, when their spiritual energy [the vital power cultivated by practitioners] runs low, they must stop to rest and recover. Considering all these factors, undertaking a long-distance flight spanning tens of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] is an exceedingly troublesome affair.

Reluctantly parting from Lyra Jiang, Eldrin Chen first rode his flying sword back to his clan.

At Pingyang City, he met with the Old Patriarch.

Due to the time spent forging the White Metal Star Pearl [a powerful magical treasure], the Old Patriarch had delayed his cultivation for a full decade to nurture and temper the treasure, thus he had not yet broken through to the Purple Mansion Fifth Layer [the fifth layer of the Purple Mansion realm].

However, the process of tempering his spiritual energy with the seven White Metal Star Pearl [powerful magical treasures] had rendered his mana [cultivated spiritual energy] increasingly pure and refined.

While a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing with them] can slow one's cultivation progress, having such a treasure to assist in refining one's mana increases the chances of a successful breakthrough to the Golden Core [the fourth major cultivation realm, forming a solidified golden core of power] in the future.

After all, if the purity of one's mana is insufficient, it is nearly impossible to ascend to the Golden Core realm.

Now, the Old Patriarch appeared radiant, his mana significantly purified, and his foundation no longer showed the instability typical of someone who had just recently advanced to the Purple Mansion Fourth Layer.

Seeing Eldrin Chen return, he smiled and said, "Your timing is perfect. I was just about to discuss Kael's matter with you."

"For a cultivator like Kael who has broken through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian] on his own, what kind of reward is appropriate?"

"Hmm." Eldrin Chen nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Award him a lump sum equivalent to twenty years of his stipend."

"Then, help Kael gather the necessary Third Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [rare materials imbued with potent spiritual energy from heaven and earth, used to forge high-grade treasures] to forge several Third Rank Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact that is soul-bound to a cultivator, growing in power with them]."

The Old Patriarch also nodded upon hearing this. A lump sum of twenty years' stipend amounted to one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Kael Chen possesses Three Spiritual Roots [an affinity for three of the five elemental spiritual energies, a moderate talent level]. To forge three Life-Bound Magical Treasure, he would need at least six pieces of Third Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure, with a combined value easily exceeding one hundred thousand Spirit Stone.

These two expenditures alone would be enough to strain the finances of an ordinary Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a cultivation family or clan led by a Purple Mansion realm expert]. It was only because the Chen Clan controlled resources that ranked among the very best in the Chu Kingdom that they could afford such rewards; most other Purple Mansion Immortal Clan would likely hesitate to part with such a sum.

However, since Kael Chen had not required the use of Five Elements Crystals [precious crystals containing the essence of the five elements, used for breakthroughs], he had already saved the clan a significant expense. Therefore, this reward was well-deserved.

After settling the matter of Kael Chen's reward, Eldrin Chen brought up the journey to the Heavenly Abode Continent [a distant and fabled continent], as well as the plan to reclaim the Scorched Sun Mountain [a mountain range known for its intense yang energy and fiery spiritual veins] twenty years hence.

"The journey is long and perilous, and you will be a stranger in a strange land upon reaching the Heavenly Abode Continent."

"Once you are there, your safety must be your paramount concern above all else." The story continues at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.