Chapter 283 : The Spirit Source Mountain's Prosperity

After years of careful management, the current Spirit Source Mountain [a mountain peak rich in spiritual energy] has become the largest haven for rogue cultivators in the Border Province. Countless cultivators without access to a Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] have come to rent cave abodes here, cultivating Spiritual Field [fields imbued with spiritual energy for growing rare plants] and establishing their trades.

Consequently, the Spirit Source Mountain Market has flourished. In recent years, it has consistently generated an annual tax revenue of twenty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] for the Chen Clan.

As Eldrin Chen descended from his flying sword, he saw Varen Wei already approaching with a welcoming smile.

"What brings you here today?"

"I've come to see my old friend."

Eldrin Chen replied, his gaze sweeping over Varen Wei. He noted that Varen Wei had already reached the peak of the Violet Sanctum 3rd Tier [the third and final stage of the Violet Sanctum realm].

In the blink of an eye, more than eighty years had passed since Eldrin Chen's own breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation stage where the practitioner opens a mystical energy center within their body]. Varen Wei, having been delayed by a failed initial attempt, was now over seventy years into his own journey within this realm.

For the first two decades, lacking both a Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich with spiritual energy] and a steady stipend, Varen Wei's cultivation progress had been painfully slow.

His fortunes changed after accepting the invitation to oversee Spirit Source Mountain. Not only did he clear his clan's debts, but he also managed to gather three hundred thousand Spirit Stone to elevate the Wei Clan's Tian'e Mountain to the Third Rank Lower Grade [a classification for spiritual sites, indicating a mid-tier level of energy concentration].

Seeing his friend at the peak of the Violet Sanctum 3rd Tier, Eldrin Chen handed him two Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in the formation of spiritual veins within the cultivator's body] he had prepared long in advance. Find this and other novels at audio–novel.com.

"The Cloud Vein Creation Pill [a rare pill that aids in the formation of spiritual veins] is far too precious. How can I possibly accept it?"

Varen Wei hastily declined, feeling it improper to receive such a treasure.

Eldrin Chen merely smiled and shook his head. "It has been some thirty or forty years since my Chen Clan's Kael and Uncle Lior broke through to the Violet Sanctum [a major cultivation stage]. They will likely attempt to advance to the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage within the next decade."

"I refined these Cloud Vein Creation Pill myself and had two extra, so I brought them for you."

"Do not be overly modest. Your Wei Clan cultivates the Cloud Vein Fruit [a spiritual fruit that aids in vein formation], do you not? Once it ripens, you can trade it with me."

Only after hearing this did Varen Wei finally accept the Cloud Vein Creation Pill.

The Wei Clan indeed cultivated the Cloud Vein Fruit, though it still required some time before it would fully mature.

While the Cloud Vein Fruit could not compare to the Five Elements Treasure Crystal [a crystal containing the essence of the five elements], it remained one of the crucial primary ingredients for refining both the Cloud Vein Creation Pill and the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill [a pill that strengthens the Violet Sanctum realm's spiritual veins].

Such fruits were perpetually scarce, making a trade for the Cloud Vein Creation Pill a fair and suitable arrangement.

After conversing with Varen Wei for a short while, Eldrin Chen made his way to the cultivation abode of Verdant Mist Yu.

When Verdant Mist Yu saw him arrive at Spirit Source Mountain, she rolled her eyes and said, "You promised to bring me to Chu Nation to seize a Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy], yet here I am, still without a single one."

"There is no need to rush this matter,"

Eldrin Chen replied with a calm smile. "With the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive onslaught of demonic beasts] imminent, even if we captured a Demon Race Spirit Mountain, the resources invested in developing it would be lost when the tide arrives, making the effort futile."

"It is wiser to strike after the Beast Tide has passed; then we can secure a century of peace."

Hearing his reasoning, Verdant Mist Yu found it sound and could only nod in reluctant agreement.

Noting her expression, Eldrin Chen inquired further, "What was the matter you sought me for earlier?"

"This matter..."

Verdant Mist Yu hesitated briefly, then, after a long pause, gritted her teeth and spoke. "To be frank, I sought you out this time to ask for your help in avenging me."

"Vengeance?"

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he studied Verdant Mist Yu. Matters of vengeance were deeply entangled with Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing a cultivator's fate], and were never simple.

Ever since acquiring the legacy treasures of Path Sun Lin, Verdant Mist Yu received a share of treasures worth over a million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. This allowed her cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, and not long ago, she even broke through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the final stage of the Violet Sanctum realm, just before forming the Golden Core].

Given her current level of cultivation, if she still felt uncertain about exacting revenge and wanted to enlist his help, it was clear her opponent's strength was at least at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, and could even be at the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional state between Violet Sanctum and Golden Core] or possibly a full-fledged Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has successfully condensed a Golden Core, a major milestone].

Although their relationship was good, it had not yet reached the point where he would risk life and limb against a high-level cultivator for her sake.

"It's a long story," she began.

After glancing at Eldrin Chen's expression, Verdant Mist Yu proceeded to recount the tale in detail.

It turned out that Verdant Mist Yu herself had a notable background. She was originally a disciple of the Yu Clan, a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have at least one Golden Core Patriarch] from Cang Nation within the Ji Continent. The story continues at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

About a hundred years ago, the Yu Immortal Clan faced a crisis of succession. Their last Golden Core Patriarch [the clan leader who had achieved the Golden Core realm] passed away while in seclusion within the clan's Spiritual Vein [a concentrated vein of earth that emits spiritual energy, ideal for cultivation].

The fall of a Golden Core Immortal Clan from its lofty status naturally made it appear as easy prey in the eyes of other powerful Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families]. They all swooped in, eager to take a bite of the proverbial feast.

Initially, the Yu Immortal Clan tried to hold onto its assets, hoping to use its substantial resources to nurture a new Golden Core [the solidified spiritual core that marks a major advancement]. However, after several fierce battles, they suffered heavy losses instead. Furthermore, several of their Patriarch [senior clan leaders] passed away one after another due to various reasons.

Compounding their woes, the last clan leader proved incompetent. He failed three consecutive attempts to break through to the Golden Core and ultimately perished in the process, depleting more than half of the Yu Immortal Clan's accumulated wealth and foundational resources.

With no other choice, the Yu Immortal Clan was forced to relinquish the majority of its interests in the Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich in spiritual energy]. They even had to surrender the clan's Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth that channels potent spiritual energy], barely managing to preserve a sliver of their foundation.

Yet, before the Yu Immortal Clan could even catch its breath, a rogue cultivator at the Great Perfection of Violet Sanctum [the peak stage of the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] launched an assault upon them.

In a single night, the last vestiges of the Yu Immortal Clan's strength were utterly extinguished. Only Verdant Mist Yu, due to her exceptional talent, had been sent away earlier and thus survived.

"The one who attacked us that year was named Ancient Mystic Path Master. He was the foremost rogue cultivator in all of Cang Nation."

"His lifespan is now nearing its end, yet he has broken through to the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional state just below the Golden Core realm]. His Path-Field [a cultivator's personal domain or territory] is hidden deep within Ronan Ji."

As Verdant Mist Yu spoke, a flicker of hatred still burned in her gaze.

That Ancient Mystic Path Master acted with ruthless tyranny. After slaughtering the high-ranking cultivators of the Yu Immortal Clan, to prevent future revenge from the Yu Clan descendants, he systematically hunted down and executed tens of thousands of the clan's lower-level cultivators. He was truly a figure of merciless cruelty.

It was precisely because of this that the cultivators of the Yu Clan were nearly wiped out. With no one left to protect the Yu Clan's mortal populace, this indirectly led to the near-total annihilation of their more than eighty million clansmen.

Countless souls perished, ultimately falling prey to demonic beasts and the maws of Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use dark, often sacrificial methods]. There were even rumors that the Lord of Demon Cave's breakthrough to Golden Core Late Stage was achieved by secretly performing a blood sacrifice using a vast number of the Yu Clan's mortals.

In the past, she had sworn a blood oath to avenge her clan. Now, with the Ancient Mystic Path Master's lifespan dwindling, if she did not seek vengeance soon, the opportunity would be lost forever.

After listening, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow. Generally, wars between righteous cultivators did not involve ordinary mortals.

Exquisite Jiang had occupied Green Sun Mountain, yet she had also made proper arrangements for the hundreds of millions of mortals under the Verdant Sun Sect's jurisdiction.

Most of these mortals were divided up by the various Immortal Clans nearby, while the remainder were looked after by Exquisite Jiang's disciples and descendants, becoming the primary source of cultivators for the Heavenly Ruins Alliance.

That Ancient Mystic Path Master was ruthless and cruel. To prevent the Yu Clan from seeking revenge, he hunted down their cultivators everywhere, yet he was unwilling to settle the mortals. This indirectly led to countless mortals dying at the hands of demons and monsters. His actions were excessively brutal.

Seeing his frown, Verdant Mist Yu gritted her teeth and said, "That Ancient Mystic Path Master possesses a Fourth-Rank Immortal Sword [a powerful enchanted blade wielded by high-level cultivators], which is my Yu Clan's Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasure [a magical artifact of paramount importance used to protect and symbolize a clan's legacy]."

"If you join forces with me to help me take revenge and slay him, all the treasures on his person, including that Fourth-Rank Immortal Sword, will be yours."

"Furthermore, I am willing to pay an additional three hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] as compensation for your assistance."

Even Eldrin Chen felt a stir of desire at the offer of three hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Especially that Fourth-Rank Immortal Sword. Obtaining it would be an excellent choice, whether to wield it directly or to smelt it down into Precious Metal [a rare, spiritually conductive metal used in crafting high-grade artifacts] to advance a Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact]. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel*com.