Chapter 306 : A Patriarch's Last Stand

"Old... Patriarch?"

Sylvia Chen stood rooted to the spot, her heart a tumultuous storm of anxiety, before the realization struck her with sudden force.

At that moment, Eldrin Chen cast a few appraising glances at Chen Cyrus, his brow furrowing slightly. "How did you end up in such a state?"

This Chen Cyrus was over twenty years older than Eldrin Chen. By all accounts, he should have had over a decade of lifespan remaining. Yet now, his Vitality [the life force essential for cultivation and longevity] was withered and exhausted; he had reached the very end of his allotted years.

That Chen Cyrus offered a bitter smile, his face ashen and defeated. "The work of an enemy, nothing more."

It turned out that after Chen Cyrus had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their dao foundation] stage, he had come to Ji Nation and established a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator] upon a Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich in spiritual energy]. Over a century, he had managed to accumulate a modest fortune. His clan possessed a Spirit Mountain and numbered over a hundred Vital Essence Refinement [the first and foundational realm of cultivation] cultivators.

Yet, he never imagined that a single Spirit Mountain would draw the covetous gaze of a powerful Immortal Clan [a clan with a long lineage of cultivators]. In a single night, the Chen Clan branch in Ji Nation was nearly annihilated. Only Chen Cyrus, fleeing with Sylvia Chen, managed to escape.

Though he had saved his life, Chen Cyrus had suffered a fundamental injury during the great battle, depleting his vital essence [the refined energy that constitutes a cultivator's life force and cultivation base] nearly to nothing. Now, he was merely clinging to his last breath by sheer force of will.

"Alas."

Eldrin Chen sighed, shaking his head with an air of unspoken resignation. Find thousands of chapters at *audio-novel.com*.

He gazed into the distant void and spoke calmly, "Your trouble has arrived."

"This is bad."

Neve Chen stood up in alarm and quickly looked towards Eldrin Chen, saying, "Patriarch, we must flee! The Wang Clan is too powerful to confront. We must escape for our lives!"

As they spoke, several figures flew across the sky in the distance.

All of them were Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation], and their leader was a powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had even broken through the first layer of the Violet Sanctum [the stage of opening the spiritual sea within the dantian].

Upon arriving before the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy], the leader sneered coldly, "Cyrus Chen, I know you are here. Come out and accept your death!"

"You—"

Seeing his enemies arrive at his doorstep, Cyrus Chen's face twisted with hatred.

Gritting his teeth, he could not help but say, "The cultivators of my Chen Clan were nearly all slaughtered by you. My own lifespan is nearing its end. Must you still pursue such a path of utter annihilation?"

"Hmph."

The leader among them sneered coldly, his expression icy as he declared, "If you do not uproot the weeds, they will surely grow back to haunt you in the future."

"Every last drop of your Chen Clan bloodline, this old man will spare none."

After listening for a few moments, Eldrin Chen understood. This Wang Clan was the most powerful Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan within ten thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. The man leading the charge was the clan's patriarch.

His name was Bright River Wang, and his cultivation had already pierced through half of the Violet Sanctum Meridian of the Path [the meridian pathway associated with the Violet Sanctum realm]. No wonder his actions were so domineering.

Watching several Foundation Establishment Patriarch [a venerable clan leader] descend upon them, the nearby Sylvia Chen felt her death was imminent, a look of utter despair coloring her features.

Her gaze shifted to Eldrin Chen. She could not fathom the depths of these two individuals, but their cultivation aura felt even more formidable than her own clan's Patriarch. Perhaps they held the key to her survival.

At that very moment, the Wang Clan forces in the sky grew impatient. Bright River Wang let out a cold laugh and unleashed his magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] to assault the Spirit Mountain's protective Formation [a defensive array or magical barrier].

This Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with spiritual energy] possessed only a first-tier Spiritual Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy] and could not withstand the assault of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Its mountain-protecting Formation shattered after mere moments of bombardment.

The Wang Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators surged into the Spirit Mountain with savage glee. Before they could even catch their breath, their eyes fell upon Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang.

A single glance was all it took. Their hearts plummeted, and they immediately dropped to their knees.

That Bright River Wang trembled uncontrollably, his face a mask of terror as he stammered, "I... I pay my respects to the two Patriarchs [the supreme leaders of a cultivation clan or sect]."

"Patriarchs…"

A flicker of emotion crossed Sylvia Chen's face. Though she had harbored some suspicions, hearing it confirmed still sent a jolt of astonished joy through her heart.

Upon meeting the two figures, she had guessed her own Patriarch must have some significant background, but she never imagined it would be this staggering.

With this thought, she immediately knelt on the ground, her voice choked with emotion. "The Wang Clan slaughtered over a hundred cultivators of my entire clan. This is a vendetta that cannot exist under the same sky. I beg the Patriarchs to consider the bloodline flowing within this humble member of the Chen Clan and deliver justice for us!"

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Upon hearing this, the members of the Wang Clan were plunged into utter despair.

He could never have imagined that the Chen Clan's bloodline was connected to these two terrifying figures before him—a truth too bitter to accept.

"Do you have any final words?"

Eldrin Chen's tone was utterly calm, as if he were discussing the most mundane of matters.

The several Foundation Establishment cultivators trembled in fear. Knowing full well his past deeds left no possibility for a peaceful resolution, Bright River Wang gritted his teeth fiercely, turned, and fled into the distance on his flying sword.

"Everyone, flee for your lives!" he shouted.

"If we scatter, we might still have a sliver of hope to survive!"

Watching the Wang Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators flee in a frenzy, Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, several streaks of sword energy shot forth, cleaving through vast stretches of empty sky.

Following several agonized screams, the Wang Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators were all slain with a single strike.

Witnessing his enemies fall, Cyrus Chen showed no surprise. Though he had long been absent from Chu Nation, he was well aware of the terrifying prowess of this younger clansman before him.

He coughed weakly a couple of times, glanced at Sylvia Chen, then fixed his gaze on Eldrin Chen.

"The greatest wish of my life was to return to the Clan Genealogy [the official record of a cultivation clan's lineage and members], to make amends for my past failings and come home," he said, his voice frail.

"But now my lifespan is exhausted. I will not live to see that day."

As he spoke, he pulled Sylvia Chen forward. Tears streamed down his aged face. "Regardless of the circumstances back then, this child is innocent. I beg you to let her return to the Clan Genealogy. This is my final wish."

"..."

Several days later, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang emerged from the depths of Spirit Mountain.

Sylvia Chen followed behind them, her eyes red from weeping, cradling an urn of ashes in her hands.

Chen Cyrus had finally passed. He had yearned for his homeland his entire life, yet Eldrin Chen had decreed he could never set foot in Border Province again.

Now, with his lifespan exhausted, all that remained was a handful of ashes to be taken back to the clan. He would be interred in the family's ancient tombs without a headstone, a final return to dust.

Eldrin Chen returned to Ji Continent Market, for the Ji Continent Barter Convention was finally about to commence.

By tradition, the Ji Continent Barter Convention was always hosted by the Ji Clan themselves, typically held within the Ji Boat Pavilion located in the Ji Continent Market.

On that day, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang entered the Ji Continent Pavilion to find nearly one hundred Golden Core Cultivator gathered within.

Among the crowd were familiar faces: Violet Consort Yan, True Person Great Defense from the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect, and Patriarch Qian from the Firmament Sword Sect.

Seeing their arrival, Violet Consort Yan strode over on her long legs. She cast a glance at Eldrin Chen, then turned to Exquisite Jiang with a teasing smile.

"It has been several decades since we last met, yet your young man's cultivation has progressed not insignificantly. It seems in another hundred years he may well catch up to you and me."

Exquisite Jiang's beautiful eyes flickered as she said with a smile, "Then you must cultivate diligently."

"Greetings, Immortal Maiden Violet Consort." Eldrin Chen nodded calmly in acknowledgment.

After a few more exchanges of pleasantries, Eldrin Chen's gaze swept over the assembled crowd.

This Barter Convention was exceptionally lively. Over forty Golden Core Cultivators from across Ji Continent had gathered, meaning a significant portion of the Ji Continent's Ji Immortal Clans were represented by their Golden Core experts. Access the full story on audio-novel.com.