Chapter 243 : A Journey of Solar Vengeance

"Tianlu Continent [the Celestial Deer Continent]?"

Exquisite Jiang furrowed her brow. The distance from Ji Continent [the Continent of Ji] to Tianlu Continent was over seven million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

To travel there from Chu Nation [the State of Chu] would require traversing mountains and rivers spanning over ten million Li-length. Such a vast distance filled her with concern.

"Indeed. My journey serves two purposes: first, to purchase Solar Treasure Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with pure solar essence]."

"And second, to gain experience through travel and trial."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly. His journey to Tianlu Continent was not solely for cultivating the Solar True Aegis [a divine defensive art harnessing solar power]. In truth, he also intended to gather intelligence on the enemy responsible for his mother's death.

Exquisite Jiang remained worried. Tianlu Continent lay tens of millions of Li-length away. Should any trouble arise, she feared her ability to aid him would be severely limited.

Unfortunately, the Three Prefectures Region [a territory encompassing three prefectures] required the presence of a Golden Core Cultivator [a master who has condensed their spiritual energy into a Golden Core] to maintain stability. It would be difficult for her to leave her post and accompany him.

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

"With my current level of cultivation, I am more than capable of journeying across the world." Find thousands of chapters at *audio-novel.com*.

"Mm-hmm."

Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod. A Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Violet Sanctum, the third major realm] was considered a mid-to-high-tier powerhouse anywhere. Unless a major beast tide or demonic uprising erupted, it was exceedingly rare for one 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 retrieved a crimson Treasure Furnace [a specialized furnace for refining pills or artifacts] and handed it to Eldrin Chen.

"The Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace?"

The moment he laid eyes on that crimson-gold Treasure Furnace, Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and he couldn't help but murmur the name.

The preciousness of this treasure needed no elaboration. Back during the battle at Green Sun Mountain, that Patriarch Liu had relied on this very artifact to dominate the field, forcing a retreat from four opponents whose combat power rivaled the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the final phase of the Violet Sanctum realm].

That clash was a rare spectacle even for Chu Nation. Wielding this furnace, Patriarch Liu had decisively defeated four Violet Sanctum Late Stage cultivators.

Had Eldrin Chen not paid the price of severe injury, unleashing the full, combined might of the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords, at least two of the four, including the Old Patriarch, would likely have been dragged to their graves alongside him.

"Mm."

Exquisite Jiang nodded again, her gaze fixed on Eldrin Chen as she said, "With your spiritual power, which rivals that of a Violet Sanctum 7th Tier [the seventh layer of the Violet Sanctum realm], you should be able to barely activate this Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace."

"With this treasure in hand, even if you encounter a Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator [a cultivator whose power approaches the Golden Core Realm], you will have the means to forcefully suppress and slay them."

Eldrin Chen did not decline. He accepted the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace [a powerful furnace capable of refining with solar fire], his hands caressing the artifact with an almost reverent touch, unable to put it down.

After so many years of cultivation, this was the first time he had obtained a Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [a high-tier enchanted artifact of immense power]. A surge of excitement welled up within his heart.

Once he had calmed his emotions, Exquisite Jiang smiled and said, "Your departure for Tianlu Continent [the Continent of Heavenly Reed] is actually quite timely."

"In another fifty years, the next Beast Tide [a periodic, massive onslaught of demonic beasts] will erupt once more. By then, I fear the Demon Cave [the Demon's Lair] will not remain quiet either."

"To avoid being attacked from both front and rear, I have been considering taking action against Scorching Sun Mountain [the Blazing Solar Peak] in the coming years, to see if we can reclaim that lost territory first."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. In the fifty years since the last Beast Tide, the strength of the Three Prefectures Region [the territory encompassing three prefectures] had recovered significantly.

This was especially true for the Border Province [the Frontier Prefecture] where the Chen Clan was based. In those fifty years, the Chen Clan alone had added four new Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation] cultivators. Combined with other families, the Border Province had likely seen six or seven new Violet Sanctum Cultivator emerge in that time.

The eight great families of the Green Sun Two Prefectures [the Verdant Sun Dual Prefectures] had divided the assets of the fallen Verdant Sun Sect. In the next few decades, Future [a person's name] would also see an increase in Violet Sanctum Cultivator, and the populations of mortals and low-level cultivators would grow considerably as well.

As the number of cultivators increased, the available Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy, used as cultivation bases] became insufficient. The best course of action was to contest the territories held by the demonic beasts and reclaim the ancestral lands lost over the years.

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

"In another twenty years."

Exquisite Jiang stated calmly. After the campaign against the Verdant Sun Sect, the Heavenly Ruins Alliance had expended a significant portion of its low-grade spirit talismans and magical treasures.

Recuperating for a few more years now would substantially increase their chances of success when reclaiming the demon beast territories later.

"Twenty years... I will return before then."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Although Chu Nation was separated from Tianlu Continent by a distance of ten million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], with his current cultivation level, a round trip would take roughly two years. He shouldn't be delayed for too long. Immerse yourself in the complete world at (audio-novel.com).

In truth, with his cultivation, piloting the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword allowed him to travel one hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a day. Logically, traversing ten million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] should only require one hundred days.

However, long-distance flight involved more than just raw speed. A cultivator's spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things] was ultimately finite, and flight speed was also affected by environmental factors.

Over mountain ranges tens of thousands of Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] high, where the atmosphere grew thin, flight not only consumed vastly more energy but also became significantly slower.

Furthermore, certain extraordinary peaks might even generate a Primordial Magnetism Power [a powerful force that attracts or repels metal objects and energy], which could increase the energy expenditure for sword flight a hundredfold compared to normal conditions.

Furthermore, within these special terrains, there exist various phenomena stretching for millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], such as nether winds, miasmic vapors, thunderous ridges, and blazing prisons. Even a Violet Sanctum Cultivator would find it difficult to fly directly over them, forced instead to take lengthy, laborious detours.

Coupled with the need to stop and recuperate when spiritual energy runs low, undertaking a long-distance flight spanning tens of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] is, all things considered, an exceedingly troublesome affair.

"..."

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

At Pingyang City, he met with the Old Patriarch.

Due to the time spent forging the Venus Stellar Pearl, the Old Patriarch had delayed his own cultivation by a full decade to nurture the treasure, and thus had not yet broken through to the Violet Sanctum 5th Tier.

However, with the seven Venus Stellar Pearl tempering his spiritual energy, the Old Patriarch's power had grown increasingly refined and pure.

While a Lifebound Magical Treasure can slow one's cultivation progress, having such a treasure to assist in refining one's spiritual energy does increase the odds of a successful breakthrough to the Forming the Golden Core in the future.

After all, if the purity of one's spiritual energy is insufficient, breaking through to the Golden Core Realm is nearly impossible.

Now, the Old Patriarch appeared radiant, his spiritual energy markedly more refined, and his foundation no longer showed the instability typical of someone who had just recently advanced to the Violet Sanctum 4th Tier.

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

"For a cultivator like Kael who has broken through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation] 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 spiritual materials of the third rank] to forge several Third-Rank Lifebound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts of the third rank that bond with the user's life force]."

Upon hearing this, the Old Patriarch also nodded in agreement. A lump sum of twenty years' stipend amounted to one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

Kael Chen possessed Three Spiritual Roots [a cultivation aptitude allowing affinity with three elemental energies]. To forge three Lifebound Magical Treasure, he would need at least six Third-Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure, with a combined value easily exceeding another one hundred thousand Spirit Stone.

These two expenditures alone would cripple an ordinary Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a clan led by a Violet Sanctum realm cultivator]. Only a clan like the Chen Clan, whose resource holdings were among the greatest in the Chu Nation, could afford such a lavish reward without hesitation.

However, since Kael Chen had achieved his breakthrough without consuming a Five Elements Crystal [a precious crystal containing balanced elemental energy, used to aid breakthroughs], he had saved the clan a tremendous expense. This reward was well-deserved.

After settling the matter of Kael Chen's reward, Eldrin Chen brought up his impending journey to the Tianlu Continent and the planned recapture of Scorching Sun Mountain twenty years hence.

"The road ahead is long and perilous, and you are a stranger in the lands of the Tianlu Continent."

"Once you arrive there, your safety must be your paramount concern." Experience the full epic at audio-novel`com.