Chapter 267 Between Heaven and Earth, a Traveler in a Hurry

By then, unless 1 possessed a fourth-tier healing elixir, it would require an entire sexagenary cycle of recuperation to heal the wounds before attempting another breakthrough to the Golden Core.

Although Elara (Person Name) possessed a relatively ample lifespan, she could not afford to wait for a full 60-year cycle. If she could stabilize her False Core, it would still count as meaningful progress—enhancing her confidence for the next breakthrough.

However, if 1 fails to stabilize the False Core, it would mean wasting a full 60 years of cultivation.

She had not built her foundation through her own efforts, and had even used the Purple Sun Jade when breaking through to the Purple Mansion. This left her magic power and spiritual sense insufficiently refined, unable to match the sharpness of Eldrin's.

Precisely for this reason, she privately estimated her chances of stabilizing her false core at no more than 50 percent.

She had been wavering over whether to attempt the Golden Core formation on her own, but with the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object) now before her, her resolve was firmly settled.

As the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. Even an Inferior Golden Core is not incapable of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.

She decided it was better to seize this opportunity to break through to the Golden Core realm first. Once her cultivation advanced further and her lifespan grew more abundant, she could then consider whether to mend her foundation.

In any case, Elara had now broken through to the False Core Realm. Without relying on external aids, she now possessed a 50 percent certainty of forming a Golden Core within 30 years—by all accounts, an excellent outcome.

Not long after Elara (Person Name) had broken through to the False Core realm, auspicious tidings arrived from her clan.

Chen Ethan (Person Name) achieved a breakthrough to the Violet Mansion Realm, becoming the family's seventh Violet Mansion cultivator.

Eldrin had anticipated this. Chen Ethan’s self-initiated foundation establishment had already granted him a 20 to 30 percent higher chance of breaking through to the Violet Mansion than an ordinary cultivator. Now, attempting the Violet Mansion breakthrough for the second time and forcefully impacting it with his life essence blood on both occasions, his success came as naturally as water flowing downhill.

Although this was his second time breaking through to the Violet Mansion, having established his foundation early, he was merely 90-5 years of age.

A 90-5-year-old Zifu-stage cultivator, and 1 who had broken through to the Zifu realm through his own efforts. Though he could not compare to Eldrin, who had achieved the Zifu breakthrough at 60-3, he was still considered a top-tier genius even among Nascent Soul immortal clans.

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin emerged from the seclusion chamber to find Lila had been waiting for quite some time.

Lila glanced at him, her face lighting up with pleasant surprise. "Uncle, you've emerged from seclusion."

"Hmm, my cultivation has reached perfection. After such prolonged stillness, I should move about to refresh my spirit before charging into the Purple Palace, Late Stage."

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke calmly, his spirit wearied by years of secluded cultivation. Attempting a breakthrough at this moment would compromise his condition.

He planned to rest and recuperate, waiting until his true essence reached its natural peak before mustering all his energy to break through the threshold of Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm).

Lila nodded, lost in thought for a moment before speaking. "There is something I should inform you about."

"Hmm?" Eldrin's eyes flickered slightly. "What's wrong?"

Aunt Qingwan returned the Yi Wood Crystal (Spiritual Object).

"Preposterous."

Eldrin's expression shifted slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, he stepped forward and soared atop his sword toward Verdant Chariot Mountain.

No sooner had he landed on Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location) than he found Chen Qingwan (Person Name) cultivating.

Seeing Chen Qingwan, he couldn't help but ask, "Aunt Qingwan, I heard you returned the Yi Wood Crystal (Spiritual Object) to the clan treasury?"

“Eldrin (Person Name)…”

Chen Qingwan shook her head and said hurriedly, "There’s no need to persuade me—my mind is made up."

Eldrin (Person Name) let out a soft sigh, understanding Chen Qingwan's thoughts all too well.

This time, Chen Qingwan was preparing to break through to the Purple Mansion realm—her third attempt. In her previous 2 attempts, she had used 2 5 Elements Crystals, yet still failed to reach the Purple Mansion.

2 consecutive failures filled Chen Qingwan with immense guilt, making her feel she had squandered the clan’s resources. Thus, she refused to use the third 5 Elements Crystal.

Chen Qingwan observed his expression and offered a reassuring smile. "I know you're concerned about me, but I've already opened 80 percent of my Violet Mansion's spiritual pathways. Even without the Yi Wood Crystal (Spiritual Object), I still have a 60 to 70 percent chance of successfully breaking through to the Violet Mansion realm this time."

"There are many in the clan who need this item. There's no need to waste another 5 Elements Crystal on me."

Foolish.

Eldrin shook his head, yet still pressed a Yi Wood Crystal into their hand.

He knew Chen Qingwan's temperament was somewhat gentle and mild; she could not compare to Kael's extraordinary perseverance, nor match Ethan's daring and aggressive spirit, nor equal Silas's unwavering tenacity.

Such a temperament was usually adequate for cultivation, but when breaking through major realms, it ultimately lacked a certain tenacity. Without the Yi Wood Crystal (Spiritual Object), he might not have withstood the torments of the physical body.

Afraid that Chen Qingwan might not use this Yi Wood Crystal (Spiritual Object), he repeatedly urged, "Aunt Qingwan, you’re already over 1 100 and 70 years old. There’s no more time to delay."

"Even if you don’t care for yourself, think of Uncle Lior (Person Name)—the Qing generation of the family now has only the 2 of you left."

Between heaven and earth, human life is but a fleeting sojourn.

Chen Qingwan stood in silence for a long while, only now jolting abruptly from her reverie.

It turned out that Eldrin (Person Name) was already 1 100 and 40 years old, and the next Beast Tide was fast approaching.

The voices and smiles from a century ago seemed just before my eyes, yet in the blink of an eye, over 1 100 years had passed. The family cultivators of the former Qing-generation had gradually faded away 1 by 1, until now only 2 remained.

Eldrin departed from Verdant Chariot Mountain and soared toward Pingyang City.

In Pingyang City, he met the old clan leader.

The old clan leader had broken through to Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), and now appeared noticeably more youthful in appearance.

He was merely 240 years old, yet his cultivation had already broken through to the 7th level of the Violet Palace. It appeared he would likely reach the Great Perfection of the Violet Palace around 270 years of age, after which he could immediately attempt to form the Golden Core.

Although this cultivation speed could not compare to the unparalleled prodigies like Yan Zi Ji, it was already remarkably fast.

That Yan Zi Ji was a prodigy with a Heavenly Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root), having cultivated to the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm in just over 1 100 years. Though her first attempt to break through to the Golden Core (Core Formation) failed, she successfully stabilized at the False Core (Pseudo Core) realm.

Without relying on any external aids, she cultivated in seclusion for a full 60-year cycle. At around 1 100 80 years of age, she finally broke through to the Golden Core Realm.

Cultivators with a Heavenly Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root) possess such inherent superiority that even without external aids, they hold a 40 percent certainty of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm. Moreover, this advantage amplifies their chances by 20 percent when ascending to the Nascent Soul Realm.

After meeting Eldrin, the old clan leader calmly poured him a cup of tea. "You went to find her?"

"Mm." Eldrin nodded, letting out a soft sigh. "Aunt Qingwan's heart is too tender. I fear she may struggle to break through to the Golden Core realm in the future."

The old clan leader shook his head placidly and remarked with utter composure, "How could forming a Golden Core possibly be so easily achieved?"

"She had already achieved the dream of breaking through to the Violet Mansion Realm. Among the dozens of Qing-generation cultivators, many possessed greater perseverance and courage than her, yet how many could truly compare?"

Hearing this, Eldrin felt a faint tremor in his heart.

Within the clan, whether it was the elder Chen Changyan or his uncles—the Grand Elder Chen Qingxu and Second Elder Chen Qinghe of the Qing generation—their perseverance and courage far surpassed that of Chen Qingwan.

Had they lived to this day, they might have progressed even further than Chen Qingwan.

Yet in the path of cultivation, how many "what ifs" could 1 truly afford? In the end, it was Chen Qingwan’s timely age that allowed her to await those 2 Foundation Establishment Pills (Spiritual Object) and journey this far.

Chen Changxuan brewed a pot of tea and handed it to Eldrin.

He was calm. Having walked this path for over 2 100 years, he had long grown accustomed to life and death, accepting it all as a matter of course.

"When you break through to the Golden Core realm, or even reach the Nascent Soul stage, you will come to understand that the cultivators within our clan will ultimately drift further and further apart."

"Whether it's Silas or Lior, even this old man - we are ultimately nothing but dried bones in a burial mound."

"Only that 1 shall remain by your side until the very end, I presume?"

Chapter 1: Rebirth of the Immortal Sovereign The sky tore asunder, crimson lightning dancing across the firmament. Chu Xuan, who had reigned as the Immortal Sovereign for 30 1000 years, felt his primordial spirit shatter under the heavenly tribulation. "So this is the end?" he murmured, consciousness fading into darkness. When he awoke, the scent of medicinal herbs filled his air. Opening his eyes, he found himself in a dilapidated wooden hut. "I've... returned?" he whispered, examining his youthful hands. Memories flooded back - this was his 16-year-old self, just after his spiritual roots were crippled in the Lin family's competition. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. "Lin Feng, Lin Xueyi... you never imagined I'd return from the heavenly tribulation." In his previous life, he had been framed by his cousins and expelled from the family, only to stumble upon an ancient inheritance that began his path to immortality. Now, back at the starting line, he would rewrite everything. Checking his dantian, he found it nearly destroyed, with only a wisp of spiritual energy remaining. But within that wisp, he detected a trace of purple qi - the primordial chaos energy he had cultivated in his previous life! "With this, I can practice the Heaven Swallowing Art," he realized, a smile touching his lips. Suddenly, the door burst open. "Chu Xuan, stop pretending to be dead! The family head has ordered your expulsion!" A burly guard strode in, contempt etched on his face. "A cripple like you doesn't deserve the Lin name." Chu Xuan's gaze turned icy. "Expelled? Very well. But remember these words: the dragon returns to the sea, while the ants remain in the gutter." The guard laughed mockingly. "Still putting on airs? Take your broken body and get lost!" He made to grab Chu Xuan's collar, but his hand froze mid-air as an invisible pressure filled the room. "How... how is this possible?" the guard stammered, face pale. Though Chu Xuan hadn't moved, the guard felt as if a mountain pressed upon him. "Tell Lin Feng that I will reclaim everything that belongs to me." Chu Xuan's voice remained calm, yet carried undeniable authority. "Now, leave." The guard fled without looking back. Alone again, Chu Xuan began gathering what few belongings remained. His gaze fell upon a rusty bronze mirror - his mother's only keepsake. As his fingers brushed its surface, the mirror suddenly glowed, and a ancient voice echoed in his mind: "Heaven Swallowing Art, devouring all creation. Refine the cosmos, command the universe..." New chapters of this novel are published exclusively on WuxiaWorld. To continue reading, please visit the original website.