Chapter 332 : A Nascent Soul's Recognition

Perceiving his astonishment, Feiye the Night's Bane gave a calm nod.

He looked at Eldrin Chen and said placidly, "With your talent, your hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spirit forms an independent, immortal entity] is not small. There is no need to be overly reserved."

"My thanks, then."

Only upon hearing this did Eldrin Chen offer a courteous bow.

The two sat facing each other. Feiye the Night's Bane glanced at the Mist-Wisp Incense Burner before asking,

"Have you come regarding the matter of the Deng Clan?"

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen nodded and recounted the events of the battle at Earth Lion Ridge to him.

After listening, Feiye the Night's Bane's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing within his pupils. "In the years I have been stationed at Yan Lake Island, I have spent most of my time in seclusion. I never imagined the Deng Clan would dare to commit such an absurd act."

"Their scheme against you... it seems fate decreed they should meet this calamity." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio . novel . com.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded. A single session of seclusion for a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Primordial Spirit] was often measured in decades or even centuries.

Although Feiye the Night's Bane was stationed at Yan Lake Island, a single period of closed-door cultivation for him could span an entire mortal lifetime. For cultivators below the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within], that length of time was more than enough for countless events to unfold.

If he tried to manage every single affair, Feiye the Night's Bane would never be able to handle it all—unless he was willing to abandon his own cultivation path entirely.

However, since the Ji Clan True Lord [a True Lord from the Ji Clan] had acknowledged their eradication of the Deng Clan, the aftermath of this Deng Clan affair would now be much easier to settle.

At that moment, however, Feiye the Night's Bane let out a sigh and added, "The Essence Plundering Art [a technique that steals the cultivation essence of others] corrupts a cultivator's heart and nature, pushing them onto the Unorthodox Path [a morally ambiguous and often harmful cultivation path]. It seems that in the future, the practice of this art must be forbidden within Ji Continent."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. The Essence Plundering Art was born from the Demonic Path [a cultivation path that embraces malevolent and destructive methods], yet it wasn't as utterly vile as the true Demonic Path. Thus, it had always existed in a gray area.

Therefore, while it was officially prohibited across the Eastern Wastelands, the authorities, knowing it was nearly impossible to fully police, rarely expended significant effort to enforce the ban.

But now that this True Lord [a title for a Nascent Soul realm expert] had spoken, it appeared the Ji Clan would henceforth take a more active role in policing such matters within Ji Continent.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "It seems the Ji Continent Cultivation World [the cultivation society of the Ji Continent] is in for a stroke of good fortune."

"A minor matter, nothing more."

Ji Feiye waved his hand dismissively. Though considered young among Nascent Soul cultivators, he was nearly seven hundred years old. The joys and sorrows, the partings and reunions he had witnessed on his long journey far exceeded what an ordinary person could imagine.

For someone like him, the fleeting joys and sorrows of mortals, lasting mere decades, were ultimately insignificant. No matter how moving or heroic the tale, it would inevitably return to dust, buried by the relentless march of time. How many would remember it after a few hundred years?

Moreover, he understood all too well that in essence, there was no difference between himself and a mortal when compared to those immortal, undying beings.

If he could not break through to higher realms, then his own struggle, spanning a mere few thousand years, would be nothing more to an immortal than a flower that blooms brilliantly only to wither away.

A bud last night, in full bloom this morning, displaying a flash of vibrant color to prove it was here.

Then, as the sun sets, the flower wilts, turning to dust and mud. The cultivation and power borrowed from heaven and earth would ultimately return to them. To those who possessed longevity, such a life was merely a passing guest.

For him, the ultimate goal was simply to keep walking forward, to ultimately break free from the fate of the cycle of life and death, and become an immortal who coexisted with heaven and earth.

"Thank you for your hospitality, True Lord. I shall take my leave now."

After sharing a cup of tea and conversing for a while, Eldrin Chen rose to bid farewell.

Feiye the Night's Bane nodded, standing to see him off. As they parted, he spoke with pointed meaning: "Focus on your cultivation and make some preparations. Within three Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years], I fear a fierce battle awaits."

"A fierce battle?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

If Ji Clan True Lord mentioned a fierce battle, it most likely meant they were about to conscript cultivators from Ji Continent.

The Ji Clan conscripting them for war meant their opponents were undoubtedly a Nascent Soul-grade force. Considering how the Ji Clan had widely invited allies and asked powerful figures like Crimson Dragon True Lord to come to Ji Continent,

there was only one possible reason for all these actions: they intended to eliminate a portion of their enemies before Ji Clan Patriarch broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, lest their foes take advantage during his tribulation.

In a war between such top-tier Nascent Soul forces, even Nascent Soul True Lord could fall. If the tide of battle turned against them, Golden Core experts would perish in droves. Who could possibly remain unscathed? Visit audio-novel-dot-com to enjoy the complete series.

With only three Jiazi-time [sixty-year cycles] of time, it might not even be enough for him to break through to the Golden Core, Late Stage. By then, he might not be able to adequately protect the Chen Immortal Clan.

Thinking of this, a sense of urgency welled up within Eldrin Chen. He promptly offered a deep bow and said,

"Thank you for the warning, True Lord. I will make the necessary preparations."

"Good. It is wise that you are prepared."

Ji Feiye gave a solemn nod. The Ji Clan's current scheme was of immense scale; if it were to leak, it would likely alert their adversaries. Were it not for the face of Lyra Jiang, he probably would not have shared this piece of information with Eldrin Chen.

Departing from Yan Lake, Eldrin Chen rode his flying sword towards Deng Clan Island.

Not long after, Lyra Jiang, having completed the initial handling of affairs at Earth Lion Ridge, left Elara Lin and Xavier Xu to temporarily hold the fort. She then piloted the Green Sun Treasure Boat and brought a group of cultivators to the Yan Kingdom.

After the group convened, the Old Patriarch inquired, "How should we deal with the two Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with concentrated spiritual energy] left by the Deng Clan?"

"Besides the Spirit Mountain, there are also over three hundred million mortals on the Six Stars Island under the Deng Clan's former control," he added, his expression turning grave.

As he spoke, a look of deep concern settled upon his features.

The most significant assets the Deng Clan left behind were two Spirit Island [islands with potent spirit veins], one Water Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated water-element spiritual energy], and a single Water Spirit Fruit Tree.

On top of that, there was the troublesome matter of dealing with those three hundred million mortals. To simply abandon them to their fate would likely violate the natural order and incur karmic repercussions.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "The spiritual energy of the two Spirit Vein [geological formations that concentrate and emit spiritual energy] is extraordinary. The one on the main Deng Clan island is of Fourth Rank Middle Grade quality, while the one on Six Stars Island is Fourth Rank Low Grade."

"Nurturing a Fourth Rank Low Grade Spirit Vein requires an investment of ten million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. A Fourth Rank Middle Grade Spirit Vein is worth twenty million Spirit Stone. The Fourth Rank Water Vein and the Water Spirit Fruit Tree are also assets valued in the tens of millions of Spirit Stone."

"Within the entire Ji Continent, the Immortal Clans capable of producing such a sum can be counted on one hand. At least within the Yan Kingdom, no one could manage it. If we discount the price too heavily, it simply wouldn't be worthwhile."

Upon hearing this, the Old Patriarch abandoned the notion of selling it.

For Immortal Clans from outside the Yan Kingdom to travel a thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to purchase this Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy within the earth] would create an isolated enclave for them.

Unless they were willing to sell at a devastating loss of thirty percent or less, it's unlikely anyone would be interested. Furthermore, the cultivation alliance of the Yan Kingdom could probably afford to buy, at most, one such Spirit Vein.

Unless their luck was exceptionally good—encountering a fabulously wealthy Rogue Cultivator [an unaffiliated practitioner of the cultivation arts] who lacked a Spirit Vein and had abandoned hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator's spirit forms an independent, immortal entity]—selling it would be nearly impossible.

Lyra Jiang pondered for a moment before speaking. "Since selling is not feasible, perhaps we should occupy and manage it ourselves for now."

"We could first invite Xavier Xu to garrison this place. In doing so, these Spirit Mountains and Earth Veins [geological formations that channel and concentrate elemental earth energy] could generate considerable revenue for us." Visit www . audio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.