Chapter 284 : A Pact Forged in Vengeance

With this thought, Eldrin Chen decided to accept the matter.

He pondered for a moment, weighing his words carefully before speaking: "I can agree to this, but when do you plan to make your move?"

"His remaining lifespan is not long, so naturally, the sooner the better." Seeing his agreement, Yu Qingyan replied with immense joy.

"With the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts] looming before us, let us act just prior to its arrival."

Having settled on the timing for Yu Qingyan's vengeance, Eldrin Chen flew back on his sword to Yu County. After finding the Old Patriarch, he gave a brief account of the affair.

After listening, Chen Thalion fell into thought, stroking his beard. "I have heard of this Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic as well. He is a Rogue Cultivator [an unaffiliated cultivator] at the False Core Realm [a pseudo-Golden Core stage], and indeed poses a troublesome opponent."

"Dealing with such a Rogue Cultivator, defeating him is not the hard part; the true difficulty lies in ensuring his demise."

Eldrin Chen nodded. This was precisely why he had sought out the Old Patriarch.

While confident in his ability to overcome Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic, many factors could influence a duel between cultivators.

That Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic was entrenched within Ronan Ji, having claimed a Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] within Ronan as his Dao field and fortified it with a Third Rank Middle Grade Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array]. To attack him there would mean facing a disadvantage before the battle even began. Experience the full epic at https://audio-novel.com.

Even with Eldrin Chen's cultivation level, he had no certainty of breaching the grand formation alone and slaying its guardian. Therefore, he decided to gather a force to assault the formation together.

Having reached this conclusion, he spoke, "For this battle, I must ask for your assistance, Granduncle."

"It is no trouble," Old Patriarch nodded, replying calmly, "To be cautious, let Kael and the others accompany you. Now that they have broken through to the Purple Mansion [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within], they can provide substantial aid."

"Indeed, that would be wise."

Once the decision was made, the clan immediately began mobilizing its personnel for the campaign.

The cultivators participating in this battle were solely the clan's Purple Mansion Cultivator. Besides Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch, four others would join the fray: Kael, Caleb, Ethan, and Lila.

The clan would be left under the guard of Lior Chen, Chen Elara, and Silas, who had only recently advanced to the Purple Mansion.

With six Purple Mansion Cultivator joining forces, they possessed more than enough power to shatter a Third Rank Middle Grade Mountain Guardian Formation [a powerful defensive array protecting a mountain stronghold]. Yet, to guard against unforeseen circumstances, Eldrin Chen also retrieved a precious Formation-Breaking Talisman [a powerful charm designed to disrupt and dismantle formations] from the depths of the Clan Treasury.

Once the group was assembled, Eldrin Chen summoned the Purple Blood Skiff [a swift, boat-like magical vessel]. He boarded his companions, sought out Yu Qingyan, and then set course for the Cang Nation.

The Cang Nation was one of the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent. Like the Yan Kingdom, it was geographically separated from the others by the formidable Cerulean Peaks Range.

After spending over twenty days on their journey, the group flew for more than two million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], traversed the Cerulean Peaks Range, and finally arrived at the Cang Nation.

Before they knew it, the group reached the banks of the Ji Continent River. Gazing upon the million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] expanse of the Ronan Ji, Eldrin Chen could not help but draw a deep, reverent breath.

This was the second time he had beheld the vastness of the Ronan Ji, yet it still made him feel profoundly insignificant.

To call it a river was almost a misnomer; it was more akin to a boundless sea. The endless waters of the Ronan cascaded down like a silvery torrent from the Nine Heavens, its distant shores lost to sight.

The Old Patriarch also seemed moved, a faint smile gracing his lips as he remarked, "To stand before such an immense flow of the Ronan is to feel one's spirit swell with boundless ambition."

"It is said the Ronan Ji begins its journey in the Vast and Boundless Marsh and eventually merges with the Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River, stretching for over ten million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Seeing it today, I know those tales hold true."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with recognition as he recalled the origins of the Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River.

Legends spoke of the Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River as the primordial water vein of the entire Eastern Wastelands, a convergence point for the region's Water Element Cycle [the fundamental cycle governing the flow and transformation of water-based spiritual energy]. It was said to nurture Spirit Veins [geological formations that concentrate and emit spiritual energy] of a staggering Sixth Rank within its depths.

The Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River wound its way for countless hundreds of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], bisecting a vast portion of the Eastern Wastelands. Its upper reaches were held by the Clan Elder Ancestor Riverlord Chang, while its lower course fell within the domain of the Crocodile Progenitor.

However, the existence of such Dao Lord [a title for a cultivator who has comprehended a fundamental Dao principle and reached the Nascent Soul Realm] Demon Progenitors was far too remote a concern for him at present, not worth dwelling upon overmuch.

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards Yu Qingyan and spoke.

"That Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic is hidden within the Ronan Ji [the Ji Continent River]. The location of his Spirit Island is a closely guarded secret. I presume you have a way to locate it?"

"Since we have come, we naturally came prepared."

So saying, Yu Qingyan activated a tracking divine ability, sensing the location of her sworn enemy.

She led the group along the Ronan Ji [the Ji Continent River] in pursuit, traveling over two hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before finally halting deep within the river's winding course.

"This is the place." Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel-dot-com.

Yu Qingyan stopped in the void, her eyes fixed on a stretch of mist-shrouded Ronan [Ji Continent River] waterway ahead.

The others looked up and saw that the Ronan [Ji Continent River] water was enveloped in mist, so subtle that one might overlook it without careful observation.

"A concealment Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for various magical effects]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly. A spiritual light flickered in his eyes as he activated his Jade Spirit Eye [a mystical eye technique granting enhanced perception], piercing through the veil of the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for various magical effects].

Having identified his foe, Eldrin Chen summoned forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. With a resonant *shing*, its deep azure radiance surged, transforming into a sword-light hundreds of Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] tall that cleaved through the air towards its target.

A single strike was all it took to breach the concealing Formation, revealing the scene hidden within.

There, amidst the Ronan waters, stood a small island spanning ten Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. It was a veritable paradise, complete with blooming flowers, singing birds, and teeming fish—a secluded utopia.

Sensing the assault, Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic on the island paled slightly. He swiftly activated the Island Guardian Grand Formation.

A five-colored radiance enveloped the sky, blocking the advance of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

Seeing his opponent wield a Fourth Rank Immortal Sword, Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic's expression shifted. While channeling energy to sustain the Mountain Guardian Formation, he called out loudly,

"I bear you no enmity, honored one. Why do you attack this old man?"

"Hah, truly no enmity?"

Yu Qingyan let out a cold laugh and unleashed the Corroding Wind Soul-Scattering Vase. A torrent of azure, corrosive aegis-winds howled downward.

Eldrin Chen remained impassive, commanding his twin immortal swords in a relentless assault. Beside him, the Old Patriarch, Kael, and the other four cultivators joined the fray. Their combined might hammered against the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation, causing its protective glow to shudder violently.

"Disaster," he muttered, his heart sinking.

Only then did Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic realize the dire situation. Seven Purple Mansion Cultivator [powerful cultivators who have opened their spiritual core mansion] had arrived, three of them at the Purple Palace, Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Purple Mansion realm]. The leader even wielded a Fourth Rank Immortal Sword [a sword of immense power, suitable for Golden Core realm masters]. They had clearly come prepared.

Although this Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] was also a Third Rank Spirit Vein [a source of spiritual energy of the third rank], its grade was merely Third Rank Low Grade. Even bolstered by the Third Rank Middle Grade Island Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array protecting the island], it would inevitably be breached.

With this thought, he decided to activate the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense or attack] to counterattack, hoping to wound and drive the attackers back.

The guardian Formation of this Spirit Island was named the Flood Water Treasure Union Formation. Its core was forged from two Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts of great power]: the Flood Water Pearl and the Treasure Union Seal.

Both the Flood Water Pearl and the Treasure Union Seal were water-attribute Magical Treasure. The former could unleash the Flood Water Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of the flood water element], while the latter could erect a defensive barrier. Both were formidable treasures.

"BOOM—"

A thunderous roar echoed as Gu Xuan the Elder Mystic summoned the Flood Water Pearl. A dazzling bolt of divine thunder erupted from it, crashing down upon the assailants.

This Formation drew upon part of the power of the local Water Vein [an underground current of concentrated water-element spiritual energy], enabling it to unleash nine bolts of Flood Water Divine Thunder. Each strike was comparable to a full-force attack from a False Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a pseudo-Golden Core, stronger than Purple Mansion but weaker than true Golden Core].

"Beware!"

As the divine thunderbolt surged towards him, Old Patriarch summoned forth his White Metal Seven Stars Pearl [a magical pearl forged from white metal and imbued with the power of seven stars] to intercept the attack. His expression turning grave, he issued a solemn warning. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel .c om.