Chapter 332 : A True Lord's Decree

Perceiving his astonishment, Noctis the True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator who has mastered the path of night or darkness] nodded calmly.

He looked at Eldrin Chen and said indifferently, "With your talent, your hope of breaking through to the Infant Soul [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed] is not small. There is no need to be overly reserved."

"My thanks, then."

Only after hearing this did Eldrin Chen offer a polite bow.

The two sat facing each other. Gazing at the incense burner from which verdant smoke curled, Noctis the True Lord finally asked,

"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, Noctis the True Lord'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 secluded cultivation. I never imagined the Deng Clan would dare to commit such an absurd act."

"For scheming against you all, they have truly brought this calamity upon themselves." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel.com.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded. A single session of secluded cultivation for an Infant Soul True Lord was often measured in decades or even centuries.

Although Noctis the True Lord was stationed at Yan Lake Island, a single period of his seclusion could span an entire mortal lifetime. For cultivators below the Violet Sanctum realm, enough events could transpire in such a span to fill many lifetimes.

If he tried to manage every single affair, Noctis the True Lord would be overwhelmed, leaving him no time for his own cultivation.

However, since Ji Clan True Lord had tacitly approved their eradication of the Deng Clan, dealing with the aftermath of this clan's fall would now be much simpler.

At that moment, Noctis the True Lord sighed once more and said, "The Essence Plundering Art [a forbidden technique that steals the cultivation base of others] corrupts the practitioner's heart, leading them down a wicked path. It seems we must henceforth ban the practice of this art within Ji Continent."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. The Essence Plundering Art was derived from the Demonic Path [the wicked cultivation methods of demonic cultivators], yet it was not as utterly vile as true Demonic Path arts. Thus, it had always existed in a gray area.

Previously, while officially prohibited across the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, it was nearly impossible to enforce such a ban effectively. Therefore, the major powers seldom expended the effort to police it strictly.

But now, with this True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] making his stance clear, it appeared the Ji Clan would begin to regulate such matters more actively within Ji Continent.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "It seems the Ji Continent Cultivation World [the world of cultivators on Ji Continent] is in for a more fortunate era."

"A minor matter, nothing more."

Not Night Ji waved his hand dismissively. Though he was considered young among Infant Soul cultivators, he was already close to seven hundred years old. The journey to this point had exposed him to far more joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, than an ordinary person could ever imagine.

For someone like him, the fleeting joys and sorrows of mortals, spanning mere decades, were ultimately insignificant. No matter how moving or tragic a tale, it would inevitably return to dust, buried by the relentless march of time. Who would remember it a few centuries hence?

Moreover, he understood all too well that compared to the Immortal who possessed Immortality and Indestructibility, he and mortals were fundamentally no different.

If he could not break through to higher realms, then his own struggle, lasting a mere few thousand years, would be nothing more than a flower that blooms and withers in the eyes of an Immortal.

A bud last night, a blossom this morning, bursting forth with a flash of vibrant color to proclaim its brief existence.

Then, as the sun sets, the flower wilts, turning to dust and mud. The cultivation and spiritual power [the mystical energy harnessed through cultivation] cultivated from the world would return to it through the process of Creation [the cosmic cycle of returning energy to the universe]. To a being of Longevity, one is ultimately just a passing traveler.

For him, the ultimate goal was simply to keep walking forward, to ultimately break free from the fate of Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth], and become an Immortal who coexists 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 and bid his farewell.

The Noctis the True Lord nodded, standing to see him off. As they parted, he spoke with pointed meaning, "Focus diligently on your cultivation and make some contingency preparations. Within three Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years], I fear a fierce battle awaits."

"A fierce battle?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a sudden tremor 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 the opponent was undoubtedly a force at the Infant Soul level. Considering how the Ji Clan had widely invited allies and brought powerful figures like Crimson Dragon True Lord to Ji Continent, there was only one possible explanation.

They intended to eliminate a portion of their enemies before the Ji Clan Patriarch attempted his breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator], lest their foes take advantage during that critical moment.

In a war between such top-tier Infant Soul forces, even Infant Soul True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator at the Infant Soul realm] could fall. If the battle turned unfavorable, Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation where one forms a solid golden spiritual core] experts would perish in droves. Who could remain untouched? Access the full story on www . audio-novel.com.

With only three Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years, often used to measure long-term fate or planning] 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.

This line of thought instilled a sense of urgency in Eldrin Chen. He promptly offered a deep bow and said,

"Thank you for the warning, True Lord [a respectful title for a powerful cultivator]. I will make the necessary preparations."

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

Not Night Ji gave a solemn nod. The plans of the Ji Clan this time were of immense scale. If they were to leak, it would likely alert their adversaries and allow them to prepare defenses. Were it not for the face he owed to Exquisite Jiang, he probably would not have shared this piece of information with Eldrin Chen.

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

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

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

"Besides the Spirit Mountain, there are also over three hundred million mortals on the Six Stars Island belonging to the Deng Clan."

As he spoke, a grave expression settled upon his face.

The most significant assets left behind by the Deng Clan were two Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy], one Water Vein [a subterranean current of concentrated water-element spiritual energy], and one Water Spirit Fruit Tree [a spiritual tree bearing fruits infused with water-element energy].

On top of that, there was the troublesome matter of dealing with over 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 Spiritual Vein [natural conduits of concentrated spiritual energy] is extraordinary. The one on the main Deng Clan island is of the Fourth Rank Mid-Grade [a specific tier and quality level for spiritual objects], while the one on Six Stars Island is Fourth Rank Low-Grade."

"Cultivating a Fourth Rank Low-Grade Spiritual Vein requires an expenditure of ten million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. A Fourth Rank Mid-Grade Spiritual Vein is valued at twenty million Spirit Stones. The value of a Fourth-Rank Water Vein and the Water Spirit Fruit Tree also starts in the tens of millions of Spirit Stones."

"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 can manage it. If we discount the price too heavily, it simply wouldn't be worthwhile."

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

For an Immortal Clan from outside the Yan Kingdom to travel a thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to purchase this Spiritual Vein [a concentrated flow of spiritual energy within the earth] would turn it into an isolated enclave.

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

Unless their luck was exceptionally good—encountering a rogue cultivator who was wealthy yet lacked a Spiritual Vein and had lost hope of breaking through to the Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual form stage of cultivation] realm—it was likely impossible to sell.

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

"We can first invite Xavier Xu to guard this place. In doing so, these Spirit Mountains and Earth Veins [terrestrial energy channels] can bring us considerable income." Join our community of readers at audio–novel.com.