Chapter 284 : A Pact Forged in Jade Mist

Having thought this through, Eldrin Chen decided to accept the matter.

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

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

"With the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts] imminent, let us act just before it arrives."

After the two settled on the timing for Verdant Mist Yu's revenge, Eldrin Chen rode his sword back to Yu County. Finding the Old Patriarch, he gave a brief account of the affair.

After listening, Eternal Profound Chen fell into thought, stroking his beard. "I have heard of that Ancient Mystic Path Master," he said. "He is a rogue cultivator at the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional state between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core], indeed a rather troublesome opponent."

"Dealing with such a rogue cultivator, defeating him is not difficult, but killing him is a far greater challenge."

Eldrin Chen nodded. This was precisely why he had come to seek the Old Patriarch's counsel.

Although confident in his ability to defeat the Ancient Mystic Path Master, he knew many factors could influence a duel between cultivators.

That Ancient Mystic Path Master was entrenched within the Ronan Ji [a major river], having seized a Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] in its midst as his Path-Field [a cultivator's personal domain for cultivation and residence]. Furthermore, he had erected a third-rank mid-grade Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array]. To attack under such circumstances would likely mean suffering a disadvantage before the battle even began. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio~novel.com.

Even with Eldrin Chen's cultivation level, he had no confidence in single-handedly breaching the great formation and slaying its master. Therefore, he decided to gather some additional forces 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 calmly. "To be safe, let Kael and the others join this expedition as well. Now that they have broken through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a violet-colored spiritual core], they can be of some help."

"Yes, that would be wise."

"..."

Once the decision was made, the clan immediately carried out a personnel transfer that very day.

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

The clan was left under the guard of Lior Chen, Verdant Grace Chen, and Silas, who had only recently broken through to the Violet Sanctum.

With six Violet Sanctum Cultivator attacking together, they were more than sufficient to breach a mid-grade third-tier mountain-protecting Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes that creates defensive or offensive effects]. However, to guard against any unforeseen circumstances, Eldrin Chen also retrieved a treasured Formation-Breaking Talisman [a single-use magical artifact designed to disrupt and shatter formations] from the Clan Treasury.

Once the group was assembled, Eldrin Chen summoned the Purple Blood Boat [a flying vessel crafted from the essence of a powerful creature]. He boarded everyone, met up with Verdant Mist Yu, and then set course for Cang Nation.

The Cang Nation is one of the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent, and like the Yan Kingdom, it is separated by the Verdant Azure Mountains.

The group spent over twenty days on their journey, flying more than two million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before crossing the Verdant Azure Mountains and arriving in the Cang Nation.

Before they knew it, the group reached the banks of the Ji Continent River. Eldrin Chen gazed upon the immeasurably vast Ronan Ji and could not help but take a deep, steadying breath.

This was the second time he had beheld the boundless Ronan Ji, yet the sight still made him feel profoundly insignificant.

To call it a river was a misnomer; it was more akin to a vast inland sea. Its endless waters flowed like nine silvery celestial torrents, tumbling onward with no visible end in sight.

The Old Patriarch was also moved by the sight. "A river of such magnitude," he said with a faint smile, "never fails to stir a sense of boundless ambition within one's heart."

"They say the Ronan Ji begins in the Vast and Misty Marsh and flows into the Eastern Barrens Ancestral River, stretching for over ten million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Seeing it today, I know those tales are no exaggeration."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he recalled the origins of the Eastern Barrens Ancestral River.

Legends held that the Eastern Barrens Ancestral River was the Water Primordial Ancestral Vein of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. It gathered the cyclical laws of water essence for the entire Eastern Region Great Wasteland, and within its course, a Spiritual Vein of the Sixth Rank was said to be nurtured.

The Eastern Barrens Ancestral River stretched for countless hundreds of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], traversing more than half of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. Its upper reaches were occupied by the Human Race Patriarch, the Long River Path Lord, while its lower reaches formed the domain of the Crocodile Ancestor.

However, the existence of a Path Lord and a Demon Ancestor was far too distant a matter for him to concern himself with at present; there was no need to dwell on it excessively.

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

"That Ancient Mystic Path Master is hiding within the Ronan Ji [the vast, chaotic river of stars and primordial energies]. The location of his Spirit Island [a floating isle of condensed spiritual energy] is a closely guarded secret. I presume you have a way to locate it?"

"Since we have come, naturally, preparations have been made."

So saying, Verdant Mist Yu performed a Tracking Divine Ability [a mystical art for locating targets], sensing the position of her sworn enemy.

She led the group along the Ronan Ji, pursuing their quarry for over two hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before finally halting deep within the river's heart. Visit audio-novel-dot-com to enjoy the complete series.

"This is the place."

Verdant Mist Yu stopped in the void, her eyes fixed on a stretch of river ahead shrouded in a dense, misty fog.

The others looked up to see the river waters veiled by the mist, so subtle that one might overlook them without careful observation.

"A concealing Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and flows used for defense, concealment, or other mystical purposes]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his eyes shimmering with spiritual light as he activated his Jade Spirit Eye [a mystical technique that grants supernatural vision] to see through the Formation [a defensive or offensive energy array].

Having identified his foe, Eldrin Chen summoned forth his Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a divine sword imbued with solar and abyssal energies]. With a resonant *shing*, its cerulean blade erupted into a sword-light hundreds of Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] long, cleaving through the air towards its target.

A single stroke was all it took. The concealing Formation shattered, revealing the scene hidden within.

There, amidst the river's flow, lay a small island spanning several Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. It was a veritable paradise, lush with flowers, birds, fish, and insects—a secluded haven untouched by the outside world.

Sensing the assault, the Ancient Mystic Path Master [a venerable master of profound and ancient cultivation arts] on the island paled slightly. He swiftly activated the Island Protection Grand Formation [a powerful defensive energy array designed to shield an entire island].

A radiant, five-colored glow enveloped the sky, intercepting the advance of the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword.

Seeing his opponent wield a Fourth-Rank Immortal Sword [a sword of immense power, forged for and used by immortal beings], the Ancient Mystic Path Master grew visibly more anxious. Straining to maintain the mountain-protecting Formation, he shouted, his voice echoing across the water.

"I bear you no grudge, sir! Why do you attack this old man?"

"Ha! Truly no grudge?"

Verdant Mist Yu let out a cold laugh. She summoned her Warm Wind Bone-Eroding Soul-Shattering Vase [a magical artifact that unleashes a soul-corroding, bone-decaying gale], from which torrents of azure, corrosive wind began to pour down upon the island.

Eldrin Chen's expression remained unperturbed as he summoned his two Immortal Sword and launched a relentless assault. Beside him, the Old Patriarch, Kael, and the other four cultivators also unleashed their attacks. The Mountain Protection Formation shuddered violently under the onslaught, its protective radiance flickering wildly.

"This is bad."

Only then did the Ancient Mystic Path Master realize the gravity of the situation. Seven Violet Sanctum Cultivator had arrived, three of them at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, and their leader wielded a fourth-rank Immortal Sword. They had clearly come prepared.

Although this Spirit Island was also nourished by a Third-order Spiritual Vein, its grade was merely Third Rank Lower Grade. Even paired with a third-rank mid-grade Island Protection Grand Formation, it would inevitably be breached given enough time.

Thinking this, he decided to activate the Formation [a complex array of energy channels and symbols used for defense or attack] to counterattack, hoping to injure and repel the assailants.

The Guardian Formation of this Spirit Island was named the Positive Water Treasure Union Formation. Its core was forged from two magical treasures: the Positive Water Pearl and the Treasure Union Seal.

Both the Positive Water Pearl and the Treasure Union Seal were water-attribute magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. The former could unleash the Positive Water Divine Thunder [a powerful lightning technique imbued with yang water energy], while the latter could project a formidable defensive barrier. Both were excellent artifacts.

"BOOM—"

A thunderous roar echoed as the Ancient Mystic Path Master activated the Positive Water Pearl, unleashing a dazzling bolt of divine thunder that crashed down upon the attackers.

This Formation drew upon part of the power of the Water Vein [a concentrated underground current of water-attuned spiritual energy] beneath Ronan Ji's control. It could release nine bolts of Positive Water Divine Thunder, each strike comparable to the full-force attack of a Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator.

"Be careful."

As the divine thunderbolt surged towards them, Old Patriarch summoned his Venus Seven Stars Pearl to intercept the attack. His expression turned grave as he issued the warning. Original publication: audio . novel . com - The source of this chapter.