Chapter 244 : A Patriarch's Burden and a Youngster's Resolve

Old Patriarch listened and nodded. He truly wished to aid Eldrin Chen as well, but the clan still could not do without him.

Currently, the population of Pingyang City was in a phase of explosive growth. Without his presence to oversee matters, it was difficult to feel at ease.

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and spoke calmly, "Set your mind at ease. With my current level of cultivation, ordinary individuals would find it difficult to pose a threat."

"Mm."

Eternal Profound Chen also allowed a smile to touch his lips. Eldrin Chen's cultivation was no longer what it had been in the past. Moreover, he possessed sound judgment and was not some greenhorn just stepping into the world.

Setting his worries aside, he pondered for a moment before speaking. "Silas and Caleb have both perfected their True Essence [the foundational energy of a cultivator]. In recent days, they have begun preparing to attempt their breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one opens a mystical energy center]."

"I instructed Lior to deliver a Solar Fire Crystal [a crystalized mineral imbued with solar and fire energies] to each of them. However, Silas sent hers back."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen frowned slightly. Silas Chen's foundation was not exceptionally strong, and her temperament was gentle. Attempting to break through to the Violet Sanctum on her own would likely prove quite challenging.

Noting his expression, the Old Patriarch hesitated briefly before continuing, "That girl harbors a deep-seated resolve. If she can channel it into motivation, it may yet be a good thing." Discover more cultivation stories at https://audio-novel.com.

"After all, she is still quite young; it is worth letting her try."

Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and finally gave a nod.

Without uttering a word, he departed from Pingyang City and soared back to Spirit Lake Isle on his flying sword.

Lila saw him and immediately lowered her head, saying, "Uncle..."

Seeing his silent demeanor, Lila timidly bowed her head and spoke.

"Sister Silas is attempting a breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one opens a mystical energy center within the body]."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly and stood motionless before the Spirit Pool Seclusion Chamber, his expression calm and unreadable.

From within the Seclusion Chamber, an aura emanated that felt somewhat withered, even carrying a suppressed sense of extreme weakness and pain.

As if sensing his arrival, that aura rallied slightly. A stubborn, unwavering will reasserted itself and continued to persevere.

He stood before the Seclusion Chamber for seven days, until that aura within had withered to its absolute limit. Only then did Eldrin Chen open the chamber's heavy doors.

Within the Spirit Pool, he saw Silas Chen covered in blood, her face deathly pale, looking at him with utterly exhausted eyes.

"This foolish child."

With a silent sigh in his heart, Eldrin Chen took out a Energy-Restoring Origin Pill [a potent elixir that replenishes one's foundational life force and energy] and fed it to her. Only then did a sliver of strength return to her limbs.

This time, in her attempt to break through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical palace within the dantian], Silas Chen had not relied on any external aids. In the end, she had fallen just short of success.

The torment of her Mortal Shell Tribulation [a unique and severe bodily affliction that hinders cultivation progress] was too overwhelming, making it difficult for her to fully mobilize her True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner]. Even after exhausting all her power, she had only managed to clear one and a half tenths of the Meridian of the Path [the specific meridian channel that must be opened to advance to the Violet Sanctum realm].

Yet, though this girl appeared gentle and graceful, her nature was stubborn to the core. Sensing Eldrin Chen's arrival, she had somehow reignited her resolve.

Clutching onto sheer willpower, she endured the excruciating pain of her Mortal Shell Tribulation. Forcing her Vital Essence Blood [one's foundational lifeblood essence, the source of vitality] to substitute for her depleted True Essence, she launched another assault on the Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path. Astonishingly, she managed to clear another two tenths of the meridian.

She was not a Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [one who reached the Foundation Establishment realm purely through their own efforts, granting superior potential] cultivator. Yet, to have cleared three and a half tenths of the Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path without any external aid was an exceptionally outstanding feat.

One could say that although she had failed this time, she had barely managed to withstand the onslaught of her Mortal Shell Tribulation. If she attempted the Violet Sanctum breakthrough again in twenty-some years, she might very well subdue it completely.

"Alas."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh. The path of cultivation is arduous, as difficult as ascending to the azure heavens.

Although Silas Chen possessed decent innate talent, it seemed she was seeking the possibility of forging a Middle-Tier Golden Core [a high-quality, solidified spiritual core representing the third major stage of cultivation] in the future.

However, she had ultimately not achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [the ideal method of building one's cultivation foundation through personal enlightenment, without external aids], so she could never attain the legendary Superior-Tier Golden Core [the highest possible grade of spiritual core]. Nevertheless, a Middle-Tier Golden Core was already an exceedingly remarkable achievement.

How incredibly difficult it was to forge a Middle-Tier Golden Core. She still had a long road ahead, and this was merely glimpsing a sliver of hope.

This time, her ability to penetrate thirty-five percent of the Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path [the crucial energy channel for advancing to the Violet Sanctum realm] relied on nothing but a thread of stubborn determination in her heart. For the best reading experience, visit audio—novel.com.

For a cultivator, such determination is both a boon and an Inner Demon [a manifestation of one's own mental and spiritual flaws that can hinder cultivation].

Those with stubborn temperaments and hidden obsessions often cultivate with extreme diligence and can unleash astonishing latent potential.

Such individuals either meet an early demise, or those who survive often travel further than ordinary people.

Silas Chen's vital essence was depleted. Even with Energy-Restoring Origin Pill [a pill that replenishes one's foundational life force] to supplement it, she would likely need five years of recuperation.

Eldrin Chen did not linger. He handed a few elixirs [cultivation-enhancing pills] to Lila, instructing her to take good care of things there, then turned and departed from Spirit Isle Lake.

He did not know when he would return from this journey to Tianlu Continent. His first stop was Green Chariot Mountain, where he withdrew one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy] and several third-rank treasures from the Clan Treasury.

Just as he was about to leave after collecting the items, Ethan Chen found him.

"Uncle Eldrin."

"Is something the matter?"

Looking at Ethan Chen, Eldrin Chen offered a faint, gentle smile.

Eldrin was quite fond of Ethan. The young man possessed extraordinary talent and a bold, decisive character. During the great battle at Green Sun Mountain, he had slain three Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivators, earning himself no small measure of renown.

He had dared to attempt Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm without external aid] at the age of twenty-four. Now, merely in his sixties, he had already cultivated to the Foundation Establishment 9th Tier [the ninth and final tier of the Foundation Establishment realm], making him one of the family's most promising talents.

Ethan Chen looked at Eldrin Chen, rubbing his hands together with a somewhat sheepish expression. "Uncle Eldrin, didn't the family say that those who achieve Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment are given priority for a Five Elements Crystal [a crystal containing balanced elemental energies] to aid their breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation]?"

"I was wondering... could I exchange for a Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal imbued with pure solar and fire essence] from you in advance?"

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow and couldn't help but ask, "You want to use a Solar Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with the essence of solar fire] to attempt a Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical inner sanctum] breakthrough?"

"No, no." Ethan Chen chuckled and shook his head quickly. "If Kael Uncle can break through to Violet Sanctum on his own, why can't I?"

He continued, a wide grin spreading across his face:

"Let's make a deal. How about you give me one Solar Fire Crystal and one Positive Water Crystal [a crystal containing the essence of pure, life-giving water] first?"

"I want to forge a pair of Celestial Abyss Twin Swords."

Eldrin Chen was taken aback for a moment before he realized that Ethan Chen was simply coveting his own Celestial Abyss Twin Swords.

Ever since the great battle at Heavenly Ruins Mountain, the fame of his Celestial Abyss Twin Swords had already shaken the entire Chu Nation.

Both the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword and the Heavenly River Positive Water Sword [a divine sword technique channeling the power of the celestial river] had entered the Chu Nation Weapon Ranking List [a prestigious list ranking the most powerful magical weapons in the nation]. Among the sixty or seventy Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasure [the most powerful magical artifacts a clan possesses, used to secure its legacy] listed, both Immortal Sword [a sword of legendary power, often passed down through generations] had secured places within the top ten.

When the twin swords were combined, their power was unquestionably supreme, claiming the top spot on the list, and was even sufficient to rival a Fourth-Rank Golden Core Magical Treasure [a magical treasure of immense power, forged by a Golden Core Patriarch].

Such a formidable Immortal Sword [a legendary blade wielded by powerful cultivators] had long since shaken the world, inspiring envy in countless hearts. Ethan Chen was naturally no exception, his eyes gleaming with desire to forge a pair of Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a matched set of swords, one embodying celestial yang and the other abyssal yin energies] for himself.

"You rascal."

Eldrin Chen shook his head with a wry smile. However, Ethan Chen possessed a Dual Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for two opposing elemental energies, in this case fire and water], making him perfectly suited to craft a pair of Celestial Abyss Twin Swords.

Considering this, he said with a smile, "In recent years, several clan members have attempted to break through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a core of violet spiritual energy], depleting our stock of Five Elements Crystal [a rare crystal containing balanced energies of the five fundamental elements]. We would have had to wait a few more years to purchase one for you."

"Fortunately, your sister Silas has decided to attempt her Violet Sanctum breakthrough without external aids, leaving behind a Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal brimming with pure yang and fire essence]. I shall retrieve it for you later."

"As for the Positive Water Crystal [a crystal of pure yin water essence]..."

At this point, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly.

Within the Chu Nation, Positive Water Crystal were exceedingly scarce. Acquiring one would require a perilous journey over mountains to the Yan Kingdom, a trip for which he currently lacked the leisure.

Yet, in the next moment, another possibility occurred to him. "Never mind," he continued, "I shall procure the Positive Water Crystal for you as well."

That very night, Eldrin Chen soared into the heavens upon his sword. In a single flight, he traversed the Heavenly Ruins Mountain and sped towards the Heavenly Python Lake.

"Whoosh—"

Within the Demon Race Territory [the lands controlled by the demonic races], lies the Golden Butterfly Valley [a valley inhabited by powerful butterfly demons].

A streak of azure light cleaved through the sky, its sword aura parting the sea of clouds as it soared into the heavens, startling the myriad demon beasts along its path into trembling.

"How dare you, Human Race cultivator!"

Watching the Human Race cultivator brazenly fly his sword over the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy], a Violet Sanctum 1st Tier Six-Winged Golden Butterfly [a powerful butterfly demon with six golden wings] roared with its spiritual sense, preparing to charge forth and intercept.

Yet it was swiftly held back by a Violet Sanctum Late Stage Golden Butterfly. The Six-Winged Golden Butterfly King [the monarch of the Six-Winged Golden Butterflies] pinned it to the ground, its face filled with terror as it spoke.

"You dare to block that person's flying sword? Have you no regard for your life?" Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio–novel.com.