Chapter 267 : The False Core Gambit

At that time, unless one possesses a Fourth Rank Healing Pill [a powerful pill capable of healing severe injuries], it would require the effort of Nurture for a Sixty-Year Cycle [a full sixty-year cycle of dedicated healing and recuperation] to recover from one's wounds before attempting the next breakthrough to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid, golden core].

Although Elara Lin has a relatively ample lifespan, she cannot afford to wait for an entire Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle]. If she can stabilize her False Core [a quasi-Golden Core state, less stable and potent than a true Golden Core], it would still be a worthwhile gain, increasing her certainty for the next breakthrough attempt.

However, if she fails to stabilize the False Core, it would mean squandering a full Jiazi-time for nothing.

She did not achieve Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [a method of establishing one's Foundation without external aids, resulting in a purer and more solid foundation], and during her breakthrough to the Purple Mansion [the second major realm, where one's spiritual consciousness resides in a 'purple palace' within the dantian], she utilized Purple Sun Jade [a rare spiritual jade that aids in breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm]. This has left her mana and spiritual sense insufficiently refined and condensed, lacking the sharpness and potency of Eldrin Chen's.

Precisely because of this, she privately estimates her chances of successfully stabilizing the False Core at no more than fifty percent.

Originally, she was hesitant and uncertain about attempting to break through to the Golden Core realm on her own. But now, with a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that significantly increases the success rate of forming a Golden Core] within her grasp, her resolve has been firmly set.

As the saying goes, 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' An Inferior Golden Core [the lowest grade of Golden Core, with limited future potential] is not an insurmountable barrier to eventually reaching the Nascent Soul [the fourth major realm, where one cultivates a spiritual infant or 'nascent soul'] realm.

She believes it is better to seize this opportunity, first break through to the Golden Core realm, and then, in the future when her cultivation is more profound and her lifespan more abundant, see if she can mend her foundational shortcomings.

Regardless, for now, Elara Lin's breakthrough to the False Core Realm is excellent news. Thirty years from now, even without relying on external aids, she will have a fifty percent chance of forming a true Golden Core.

Not long after Elara Lin's breakthrough to False Core, more good news arrived within the clan. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio novel.com.

Ethan Chen achieved a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion Realm, becoming the seventh Purple Mansion Cultivator in the clan.

This outcome was anticipated by Eldrin Chen. Having attained Self-Guided Foundation Establishment, Ethan Chen inherently possessed a twenty to thirty percent greater chance of breaking through to the Purple Mansion than an ordinary cultivator. Now, on his second attempt, and having forcefully channeled his Lifebound Essence Blood [the vital blood essence bound to one's life force and cultivation base] to charge the barrier both times, his success flowed as naturally as water finding its course.

Although this was his second breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, because he reached the Foundation Establishment Realm early, he was now merely ninety-five years old.

A Purple Mansion Cultivator at ninety-five, and one who achieved the breakthrough through his own power—while not quite matching Eldrin Chen's feat of breaking through at sixty-three—would still be considered a top-tier genius even within an Nascent Soul Immortal Clan.

Setting aside his thoughts, Eldrin Chen emerged from his Seclusion Chamber. He found Lila waiting for him, having been there for some time.

Lila looked at him, her expression brightening with pleasant surprise. "Uncle, you've ended your seclusion."

"Mn. My cultivation has reached a point of temporary completion," he replied calmly. "After such prolonged stillness, the spirit yearns for movement. I shall ease my mind before attempting to charge the threshold of the Purple Palace, Late Stage."

The years of secluded cultivation had left Eldrin Chen's spirit somewhat weary. Attempting a realm advancement in such a state would undoubtedly affect his condition.

He planned to rest and recuperate. He would wait until his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy within a cultivator's body] reached its natural peak of perfection, then gather his momentum to break through the barrier to the Purple Palace, Late Stage in one concerted effort.

Lila nodded, then paused in thought. "There is a matter," she said after a moment, "that I believe you should be made aware of."

"Hmm?" Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. "What is it?"

"Aunt Elara has returned the Yi Wood Crystal [a crystal imbued with the essence of the First Wood element, used to aid cultivation breakthroughs]."

"Nonsense."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly. With a sweep of his long sleeve, he stepped forth and soared on his sword towards Verdant Chariot Mountain.

No sooner had he alighted upon Verdant Chariot Mountain than he sought out Chen Elara, who was in the midst of her cultivation.

Upon seeing Chen Elara, he could not help but ask, "Aunt Elara, I heard you returned the Yi Wood Crystal to the Clan Treasury?"

"Eldrin..."

Chen Elara shook her head, speaking quickly, "Do not try to persuade me. My mind is made up."

Eldrin Chen sighed, understanding her thoughts all too well.

This time, Chen Elara was preparing for her third attempt to break through to the Purple Mansion realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within the dantian]. Her first two attempts had consumed two Five Elements Crystals [crystals containing the refined essence of the five fundamental elements], yet she had still failed to reach that profound state.

Two consecutive failures filled Chen Elara [the gentle aunt of the Chen Clan] with immense guilt. Feeling she had squandered the clan's resources, she was unwilling to use a third Five Elements Crystals [crystalline treasures containing the essence of the five fundamental elements].

Seeing his expression, Chen Elara offered a comforting smile. "I know you worry for me," she said gently, "but I have already opened eighty percent of my Purple Mansion Dao Meridian [the primary spiritual meridian leading to the Purple Mansion realm]. This time, even without the Yi Wood Crystal [a crystal imbued with the essence of the First Wood element], my chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where the spirit takes residence in a fortified spiritual mansion] are still six or seven in ten."

"Many within the clan have need of such treasures. There is no need to waste another Five Elements Crystals on me."

"Nonsense."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and firmly pressed a Yi Wood Crystal into her hand.

He understood Chen Elara's nature well—her gentle temperament, less formidable than Kael's [a determined clan member] unyielding perseverance, less daring than Ethan's [a bold and aggressive cultivator] fierce ambition, and less single-minded than Silas's [a deeply focused and persistent individual] relentless focus. Find thousands of chapters at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

Such a disposition served her well in daily cultivation, but when breaking through a major realm, it lacked a certain tenacity. Without the Yi Wood Crystal, she might not withstand the Mortal Tribulation [the physical and spiritual ordeal one must endure when advancing to the Purple Mansion realm].

Fearing Chen Elara might still refuse the crystal, he emphasized his point: "Aunt Elara, you have passed one hundred and seventy years of age. There is no more time for delay."

"If not for your own sake, then think of Uncle Lior [her brother from the same generation]. Of the entire Qing Generation [the 'Qing' character generation of the Chen Clan], only the two of you remain."

We dwell between heaven and earth, fleeting as travelers on a distant road.

Chen Elara stood in silent contemplation for a long while, only now jolting back to awareness as if waking from a dream.

She realized that Eldrin Chen was now also one hundred and forty years old, and the next Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts] was fast approaching.

The voices and faces from a century ago seemed to linger just before her eyes, yet in the blink of an eye, over a hundred years had passed. The cultivators of the Qing Generation [the 'Qing' character generation of the Chen Clan] had, one by one, faded into the distance, leaving only two of them remaining today.

Eldrin Chen departed from Verdant Chariot Mountain and flew to Pingyang City.

Within Pingyang City, he met with the Old Patriarch.

The Old Patriarch had broken through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage [the late stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm], and now appeared several years younger in visage.

At merely two hundred and forty years of age, his cultivation had already advanced to the Purple Mansion Seventh Layer. It seemed he would likely reach Purple Mansion Great Perfection [the peak of the Purple Mansion realm] around two hundred and seventy, and could then make his first attempt at Core Formation [forming a Golden Core].

While this pace of cultivation could not match that of a peerless genius like Yvonne the Violet Consort, it was still considered exceptionally swift.

That Yvonne the Violet Consort was a genius blessed with a Heavenly Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root talent]. She had cultivated to Purple Mansion Great Perfection shortly after turning one hundred. Although her first attempt to break through to Golden Core failed, she stabilized her cultivation at the False Core Realm [a quasi-Golden Core state].

Without relying on external aids, she recuperated for one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] and, at around one hundred and eighty years of age, successfully ascended to the realm of Golden Core.

Cultivators blessed with a Heavenly Spiritual Root [the highest grade of innate talent for cultivation] enjoy such profound advantages. Even without relying on external aids, they possess a forty percent certainty of breaking through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] realm. Furthermore, their chances of advancing to the Nascent Soul [the fourth major realm, where the cultivator's spirit forms a powerful, independent entity] realm are increased by an additional twenty percent.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the Old Patriarch calmly poured him a cup of tea. "You went to see her?"

"Mm." Eldrin Chen nodded, letting out a soft sigh. "Aunt Elara's resolve has softened somewhat. I fear it may prove difficult for her to break through to the Golden Core realm in the future."

The Old Patriarch shook his head with serene detachment. "The Golden Core realm is not so easily attained," he stated plainly.

"That she managed to reach the Purple Mansion [the second major realm, where one's spiritual foundation expands into a vast internal mansion] realm is already the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Among the dozens of cultivators of the Qing Generation [a specific generational cohort within the Chen Clan], many possessed greater perseverance and daring than she. Yet, how many could truly match her achievements?"

Hearing these words, Eldrin Chen felt a faint tremor in his heart.

Whether it was the older generation's Chen Dorian, or the Qing Generation elders like the Grand Elder Chen Kael and the Second Elder Chen Riverius—their willpower and courage far surpassed that of Chen Elara.

Had they lived to this day, they might have journeyed even farther than Chen Elara.

Yet, in the arduous path of cultivation, there are few 'what ifs' to be entertained. In the end, it was Chen Elara whose time was right, who was present to receive those two Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation, crucial for advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm] and thus walk the path to where she stands today.

Chen Thalion brewed a fresh pot of tea for Eldrin Chen and passed it to him.

He was serene. Having walked the path for over two centuries, he had long grown accustomed to the sight of life and death, inured to the relentless cycle of it all.

"When you break through to the Golden Core realm, and even to the Nascent Soul realm, you will understand. The cultivators of our clan will inevitably drift further and further away from you."

"Silas, Lior, and even this old man—we are ultimately nothing more than withered bones in a tomb."