Chapter 267 : The Pseudo-Core Gambit
At that point, unless one possesses a Fourth-Rank Alchemist-grade healing elixir [a pill of exceptional quality used to treat severe cultivation injuries], one would require an entire Sixty-Year Cycle to recuperate before attempting another breakthrough into the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses their spiritual energy into a solid, golden core].
Although Elara Lin possessed a relatively ample lifespan, she could not afford to wait out an entire Sixty-Year Cycle. If she could stabilize her Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional state where a cultivator has partially formed a Golden Core], it would still be a gain, increasing her certainty for the next breakthrough attempt.
However, if she failed to stabilize the Pseudo-Core Realm, she would have wasted a full Sixty-Year Cycle for nothing.
She had not achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [the ideal method of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm through one's own power, resulting in a more solid foundation], and had even used a Purple Sun Jade [a rare spiritual jade that aids in breaking through to the Violet Sanctum realm] during her breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum [the second major realm of cultivation]. This left her spiritual energy and divine sense insufficiently refined and sharp, falling short of the incisive potency possessed by Eldrin Chen.
Precisely because of this, she privately estimated her chances of successfully stabilizing the Pseudo-Core Realm at no more than fifty percent.
Originally, she had been hesitant, debating whether to attempt the Golden Core Realm breakthrough 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 reach, her resolve was finally steeled.
As the saying goes, 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' Furthermore, a Lower-Tier Golden Core [a Golden Core of lesser quality, which limits future potential] did not preclude a future breakthrough to the Infant Soul Realm [the fourth major realm of cultivation, where the cultivator's soul begins to mature].
She felt it was better to seize this opportunity and achieve the Golden Core Realm first. Later, when her cultivation was more profound and her lifespan more abundant, she could then see if there was a way to mend her foundational shortcomings.
Regardless, for now, Elara Lin's breakthrough to the Pseudo-Core Realm was an excellent outcome. In thirty years, even without external aids, she would have a fifty percent chance of forming her Golden Core.
Not long after Elara Lin's breakthrough into the Pseudo-Core Realm, welcome news also arrived from within the clan. Discover more cultivation stories at audi0-n0vel.c0m.
Ethan Chen [the Worthy Night of the Chen Clan] achieved a breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum Realm [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens a mystical palace within the dantian], becoming the family's seventh Violet Sanctum Cultivator.
This outcome was anticipated by Eldrin Chen [the Patriarch of the Chen Clan]. Ethan Chen had achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [building his cultivation foundation without external aids], which inherently granted him a twenty to thirty percent greater chance of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum than an ordinary cultivator. Now, on his second attempt to breach this realm, having forcefully channeled his Vital Essence Blood [a potent life-force essence refined from one's own blood] both times, his success flowed as naturally as water finding its course.
Although this was his second breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum, because he attained Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation realm] at a young age, he was now merely ninety-five years old.
A ninety-five-year-old Violet Sanctum Cultivator, and one who achieved the breakthrough through his own power—while he could not rival Eldrin Chen's legendary feat of breaking through at sixty-three—would still be considered a top-tier genius even within an Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by a cultivator of the Infant Soul Realm, the fifth major realm].
Setting aside his thoughts, Eldrin Chen emerged from his Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for deep, undisturbed meditation]. He found Lila [the young girl raised by the Chen Clan] had been waiting for him for some time.
Lila glanced at him, a flicker of pleasant surprise in her eyes. "Uncle, you've finished your seclusion."
"Mn. My cultivation has reached a satisfactory completion for now," he replied calmly. "The spirit grows restless from prolonged stillness. I shall rest and refresh my mind before attempting to charge into the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Violet Sanctum Realm]."
The years of isolated cultivation had left a weariness upon his spirit. Attempting a realm breakthrough in such a state would undoubtedly affect his focus and chances of success.
He planned to recuperate, allowing his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within a practitioner] to reach its natural peak. Then, with momentum gathered in a single breath, he would shatter the barrier to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage.
Lila nodded, pondered for a moment, then spoke. "There is a matter I believe you should be made aware of."
"Hmm?" Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. "What is it?"
"Aunt Verdant Grace has returned the Supple Wood Crystal [a crystalized essence of pure wood-element spiritual energy]."
"Nonsense."
Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly. With a flick of his long sleeve, he stepped forth and soared on his sword towards Green Chariot Mountain.
No sooner had he alighted upon Green Chariot Mountain than he found Verdant Grace Chen in the midst of her cultivation.
Upon seeing Verdant Grace Chen, he could not help but ask, "Aunt Verdant Grace, I heard you returned the Supple Wood Crystal to the Clan Treasury?"
"Eldrin..."
Verdant Grace Chen shook her head, speaking quickly. "Do not try to dissuade me. My mind is made up."
Eldrin Chen sighed. He understood Verdant Grace Chen's reasoning.
This attempt by Verdant Grace Chen to break through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core] would be her third. Her previous two attempts had consumed two Five Elements Crystals [crystals containing the refined essence of the five fundamental elements], yet she had still failed to ascend to the Violet Sanctum Realm.
Two consecutive failures had filled Verdant Grace Chen [a female cultivator of the Chen Clan] with immense guilt. Feeling she had squandered the clan's resources, she was unwilling to use a third Five Elements Crystal [a rare crystal containing the balanced essence of the five elements].
Seeing the concern on his face, Verdant Grace Chen offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "I know you worry for me," she said, "but I have already opened eighty percent of my Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path [the primary meridian channel required to advance to the Violet Sanctum realm]. This time, even without a Supple Wood Crystal [a crystal imbued with the vital, life-giving essence of the Wood element], my chances of breaking through to Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body] are still six or seven in ten."
"Many within the clan need this treasure. There's no need to waste another Five Elements Crystal on me."
"Nonsense."
Eldrin Chen shook his head and firmly pressed a Supple Wood Crystal into her hand.
He understood Verdant Grace Chen's nature well—she was gentle and kind, but lacked Kael's extraordinary perseverance, Ethan's daring and combative spirit, or Silas's unyielding conviction. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audi novel.com.
Such a temperament served her well in daily cultivation, but when breaking through a major realm, it often lacked the necessary tenacity. Without the Supple Wood Crystal, she might not withstand the ordeal of the Mortal Shell Tribulation [the tribulation where one's mortal body is reforged with spiritual energy during a major realm breakthrough].
Fearing she might still refuse to use it, he emphasized his point. "Aunt Verdant Grace, you are already past one hundred and seventy years of age. There is no more time to delay."
"Even if you won't think of yourself, think of Uncle Lior. Of the clan's Verdant Generation [the generation of the Chen Clan bearing the 'Verdant' character in their names], only the two of you remain."
"..."
Between heaven and earth, a human life passes as fleetingly as a traveler on a distant journey.
Verdant Grace Chen stood in silent stillness for a long while, only now jolting back to awareness.
She realized that Eldrin Chen was already one hundred and forty years old, and the next Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts] was fast approaching.
The voices and faces from a century ago seemed as vivid as yesterday, yet in the blink of an eye, over a hundred years had flowed by. The cultivators of the Verdant Generation [a specific generation within the Chen Clan] had faded away one by one, until now only two remained.
"..."
Eldrin Chen departed from Green Chariot Mountain and flew to Pingyang City.
Within Pingyang City, he met with the Old Patriarch.
The Old Patriarch had broken through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the final phase of the Violet Sanctum 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 Violet Sanctum 7th Tier. It seemed he would likely reach the Great Perfection of Violet Sanctum [the pinnacle of the Violet Sanctum realm] around two hundred and seventy, at which point he could make his first attempt at Forming the Golden Core [the critical breakthrough to the Golden Core realm].
While this cultivation speed could not match that of a peerless genius like Violet Consort Yan, it was still considered exceptionally swift.
That Violet Consort Yan was a prodigy blessed with a Heavenly Spiritual Root [the highest grade of innate talent for cultivation]. She cultivated to the Great Perfection of Violet Sanctum [the peak of the third major cultivation realm] just past a hundred years of age. Her first attempt to break through to the Golden Core [the fourth major cultivation realm] failed, yet she managed to stabilize her cultivation at the Pseudo-Core Realm [a quasi-realm between Violet Sanctum and Golden Core].
Without relying on any external aids, she recuperated for one full Sixty-Year Cycle [a complete cycle of sixty years, a significant unit of time in fate and cultivation] and then, at around one hundred and eighty years old, successfully ascended to the Golden Core Realm [the fourth major cultivation realm].
Such was the superiority of a cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root [the highest grade of innate talent for cultivation]. Even without external aids, they possessed a forty percent chance of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm [the fourth major cultivation realm], and it could even increase their odds of reaching the Infant Soul [the fifth major cultivation realm] by 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 Verdant Grace's heart is a bit too soft. I fear it will be difficult for her to break through to the Golden Core Realm [the fourth major cultivation realm] in the future."
The Old Patriarch shook his head with serene detachment. "The Golden Core Realm [the fourth major cultivation realm] is not so easily attained."
"That she managed to reach the Violet Sanctum Realm [the third major cultivation realm] is already the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Among the dozens of cultivators of the Verdant Generation [a specific generational cohort within the Chen Clan], many possessed greater perseverance and daring than her. Yet, how many could truly compare to her achievements?"
Hearing these words, Eldrin Chen felt a slight tremor in his heart.
Whether it was the elder generation's Eternal Spread Chen, or the Verdant Generation [a specific generational cohort within the Chen Clan] elders like the Grand Elder Verdant Void Chen and the Second Elder Verdant River Chen, their willpower and courage far surpassed that of Verdant Grace Chen.
Had they lived to this day, perhaps they could have journeyed even further than Verdant Grace Chen.
Yet, in the arduous path of cultivation, there are few 'ifs' to be found. In the end, it was Verdant Grace Chen who, blessed with the right timing of years, was able to wait for those two Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation] and reach this day.
Eternal Profound Chen brewed a pot of tea and passed it to Eldrin Chen.
He was calm. Having walked this path for over two hundred years, he had long grown accustomed to the specter of death, inured to the cycle of it all.
"When you break through to the Golden Core [the stage where a cultivator condenses their spiritual energy into a solid, golden core], and even to the Infant Soul Realm [the stage where the cultivator's soul begins to take independent form], you will understand. The cultivators of our clan will inevitably drift further and further apart."
"Be it Silas or Lior, or even this old man myself—in the end, we are but desiccated bones awaiting the tomb."
"The one who can walk with you to the very end... it will likely be her, won't it?" For the best reading experience, visit @udio-novel.com.