Chapter 338 : A Gathering of Golden Cores

The Verdant Azure Immortal Sect sent an unfamiliar Golden Core cultivator. Upon arrival, he immediately offered a toast to Eldrin Chen, saying, "This humble Daoist's title is Bright Wilderness. I owe my breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm entirely to your Golden Core Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming a cultivator's Golden Core]."

"Today, my master, True Person Great Defense, was truly unable to get away, so he sent me in his stead to offer congratulations. I hope you will not take offense, Elder Brother."

"You are too courteous, Fellow Daoist Bright Wilderness,"

Eldrin Chen replied with a smile, draining a cup of spiritual wine in acknowledgment of the gesture.

In addition to the three new Golden Core cultivators from Chu Nation and the Verdant Azure Mountains, the Yan Kingdom had also gained one.

This man was named Zhang Yuanxu. After the fall of the Deng Clan, he had obtained a portion of their legacy. Relying on this, he had not only broken through to the Golden Core Realm but had even forged a Middle-Tier Golden Core [a Golden Core of superior quality and potential].

Emboldened by his success, Zhang Yuanxu had initially considered demanding Six Stars Island from the Chen Clan to serve as his Path-Field [a cultivator's personal territory for resources and cultivation]. However, witnessing the formidable presence of Eldrin Chen today, he hastily suppressed that notion.

Eldrin Chen and his Dao-companion were themselves extraordinarily powerful. Furthermore, they had nurtured two Golden Core cultivators in Eternal Profound Chen and Elara Lin, and even had Xavier Xu willingly serving as their vanguard.

The Heavenly Ruins Alliance now boasted a full five Golden Core Cultivator. With such strength, among all the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent, fewer than five Golden Core Immortal Clan [powerful clans founded by Golden Core cultivators] could truly contend with them. Knowing he was in no position to challenge such a force, Zhang Yuanxu could only stand to the side, offering a placating smile.

The Golden Core Banquet lasted for three days and three nights. Only then did the attending cultivators gradually begin to disperse, leaving Eldrin Chen to reflect on the gathering's conclusion. This chapter is provided by audio-novel . com. Support the original.

After the crowd had dispersed, Eldrin Chen allowed the gentle smile to fade from his face.

He stood with Exquisite Jiang atop the peak of Green Chariot Mountain, watching the departing cultivators vanish into the distance. "With the ceremony to celebrate our clan's ascension to a Golden Core Immortal Clan now concluded," he said calmly, "we should be able to enjoy a period of relative peace."

"Fewer troubles would indeed be welcome,"

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement, though a slight frown soon creased her brow. "Yet, after this Golden Core Banquet, we have truly stepped onto the main stage of Ji Continent."

"Can we still remain hidden in the shadows?"

Eldrin Chen shook his head with a wry laugh. Their strength had been revealed in piecemeal through the successive campaigns of recent years. Even a deliberately low-key ceremony to mark the clan's breakthrough to the Golden Core realm could not conceal their true capabilities.

Furthermore, the ascension of a clan to Golden Core Immortal Clan status was a rare event across the entire nation, let alone the rise of a powerful clan like the Chen Clan.

Consider the top-tier Golden Core Immortal Clan of Wei Nation: when Heaven Hero Wei broke through to the Golden Core Late Stage, his celebration banquet had drawn over twenty Golden Core Cultivators from various nations.

By comparison, the Chen Clan had been exceedingly modest.

Such banquets served a dual purpose: to celebrate the clan's new status as a Golden Core Immortal Clan, and, more crucially, to project power and deter potential challengers. This display of strength was essential for securing a favorable share of the realm's resources, which were often allocated based on demonstrated might.

For instance, the medium-grade Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] mine on Ji Continent was originally jointly occupied by the three great sects. Back when Exquisite Jiang had just broken through to the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, forming a solidified core of spiritual power] realm, in order to secure the resources of Green Sun Mountain, she promised to cede the Verdant Sun Sect's share of the medium-grade Spirit Stone mine to the Purple Abyss Sect and the Firmament Sword Sect.

In truth, given the current strength of Exquisite Jiang and Eldrin Chen, they were certainly qualified to propose a reallocation of the medium-grade Spirit Stone mine. However, as the resources under their control had grown increasingly vast over the years, they had refrained from raising the issue to avoid antagonizing the two sects.

Regardless, revealing a portion of one's true strength at critical moments could resolve many unnecessary troubles.

The banquet hosted by the Chen Clan was, in essence, also for the purpose of safeguarding their own interests and deterring those with sinister intentions.

Following this grand ceremony celebrating their ascension to a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan recognized as a major power due to having Golden Core stage cultivators], the pressure they faced over the two Spiritual Vein [a concentrated, naturally occurring flow of spiritual energy within the earth] in Yan Kingdom would ease considerably. The situation should stabilize for at least two Sixty-Year Cycle [a complete cycle of sixty years, a significant unit of time in cultivation].

After two such cycles, once Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang had advanced further in their cultivation, they would no longer need to worry about those harboring ill will.

Furthermore, as the prestige of the Chen Immortal Clan grew, the safety of Chen Clan disciples venturing out into the world would also increase significantly.

After all, even rogue cultivators accustomed to murder and plunder would think twice before provoking a powerful Golden Core Immortal Clan.

"..."

After the Golden Core Banquet concluded, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang returned to Spirit Isle Lake.

Life settled back into its usual quiet rhythm. Eldrin Chen spent his days poring over ancient texts and scrolls, while simultaneously refining and deducing the intricacies of his own cultivation arts.

This period of deep contemplation and deduction unwittingly consumed two full decades. During this time, Eldrin Chen successfully advanced all five of his core cultivation arts to the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.

Furthermore, upon deducing the Five Elements Origin-Returning Scripture to the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, the art yielded yet another profound technique. This newly revealed Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals] was named the Solar True Flame.

The fact that this ability remained a Primordial Solar Divine Ability [a divine power harnessing the pure, purifying essence of the primordial sun] was no accident. Eldrin Chen had deliberately guided its evolution. The world had long suffered under the scourge of demonic and heretical forces. He developed this Primordial Solar Divine Ability specifically to bolster his arsenal for future confrontations with such evils.

While deducing his arts, Eldrin Chen also devoted years to comprehending the Great God Ability [a legendary, world-shaking supernatural technique] known as the 'Light-Splitting Shadow-Condensing Sword Art'. His perseverance finally bore fruit, and he mastered this formidable Divine Ability. He now possessed an overwhelmingly powerful area-of-effect Great God Ability to add to his repertoire.

Having advanced his arts to the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, he paused his deductions for a moment. A faint smile touched his lips as he spoke to Exquisite Jiang. Visit *audio-novel.com* to enjoy the complete series.

"My spiritual power [the cultivated energy that fuels a cultivator's abilities] has grown significantly of late. It seems I am on the verge of a breakthrough to the Golden Core 2nd Tier."

"Excellent. I will stand guard for you," she replied.

Hearing this, a glimmer of joy shone in Exquisite Jiang's eyes.

For cultivators, and especially for those of higher realms, the passage of years holds little meaning; cultivation itself is a journey outside of time.

Unbeknownst to all, more than fifty years had once again passed since the second Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts]. Eldrin Chen was now just over two hundred years of age.

Forty years had elapsed since his breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid golden core]. The process of advancing his numerous Lifebound Magical Treasures [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them] had delayed him somewhat, yet he had finally touched the threshold of the Golden Core 2nd Tier.

The Golden Core 2nd Tier held no true bottleneck for him. This time, his seclusion was brief; after a mere seven days, he successfully broke through to the Golden Core 2nd Tier.

As he emerged from his cultivation chamber, Exquisite Jiang greeted him with a gentle smile. "While you were in seclusion, Verdant Mist Yu came looking for you in quite a hurry. She has been waiting."

"I see."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with a hint of curiosity. "What is the matter?"

"I did not press for details," Exquisite Jiang replied with a soft laugh. "But it seems to concern some affairs over at Tianlu Continent."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a nod. The two of them proceeded together to the reception hall.

Verdant Mist Yu had been waiting for some time. Upon seeing Eldrin Chen arrive, she promptly rose to her feet. "Greetings to both Patriarchs [the esteemed leaders of a cultivation clan or sect]."

"With a century of friendship between us, such formalities are unnecessary."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with realization as he noticed that Verdant Mist Yu had already broken through to the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional state just before forming a true Golden Core]. It seemed she had already consumed one Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in condensing a cultivator's Golden Core].

With this thought, he smiled and said, "It appears the day of your breakthrough to Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden core] is not far off."

Verdant Mist Yu possessed the innate talent of a Wind Spiritual Root [an affinity for wind-element spiritual energy], and at just over two hundred and sixty years of age, having also inherited part of the wealth left by Path Sun Lin of the Verdant Void Sect, her chances of making another attempt at the Golden Core were quite promising.

Yet, Verdant Mist Yu let out a bitter laugh and replied, "Six years ago, I exhausted my fortune to purchase a Golden Core Formation Pill and attempted the Golden Core Realm. In the end, I fell just short. Now, I lack the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] to buy another for a second attempt."

Eldrin Chen gave an imperceptible nod. Although Verdant Mist Yu had once amassed considerable wealth, she had now expended the greater part of her resources. Acquiring another Golden Core Formation Pill would indeed be no small feat.

Pushing the thought aside, Eldrin Chen poured her a cup of tea and inquired, "What brings you to me today?" For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel dot com.