Chapter 339 : An Invitation to Ancient Flames

"The reason for my visit today..."

Verdant Mist Yu cast a hesitant glance at Exquisite Jiang, then continued, "I've come to invite you to explore a set of ruins together."

"My sworn sister, Immortal Maiden Clear Countenance, and her Dao Companion sent word. They discovered a hidden secret realm deep within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire."

She recounted the tale in detail, explaining the purpose of her visit to Eldrin Chen.

It turned out that a few years prior, the Recluse of Elegant Verse had discovered an Ancient Ruins within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire. Judging by its scale, it appeared to be the legacy of a fallen Infant Soul-level power.

The Recluse of Elegant Verse couple had ventured inside once, but their strength proved insufficient. In the end, they were forced to make a hasty and disheveled retreat.

Since they couldn't secure the secret realm on their own, the Recluse of Elegant Verse had no choice but to seek out allies. Thus, Eldrin Chen became their first choice.

After all, they had collaborated before. Based on their past dealings and experiences, Eldrin Chen's character and integrity were assured.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen exchanged a look with Exquisite Jiang before smiling. "Our Elder Brother of the Elegant Verse Path certainly has a knack for stumbling upon good fortune."

The Flaming Prison Sea of Fire had existed for over six thousand years. Any secret realm hidden in its depths was likely left behind by an ancient sect. For ruins to endure such vast stretches of time, there was a real chance they still held some truly precious treasures. Join our community of readers at audio novel.com.

At this thought, both of them felt a stirring of desire.

Thus, Exquisite Jiang nodded, yet spoke with measured caution: "Exploring a secret realm should not consume an excessive amount of time."

"The only fear is that it may harbor some peril. Let us first go and see. If the dangers prove too great, we may have no choice but to devise another strategy."

Seeing Exquisite Jiang agree, Verdant Mist Yu revealed a look of joy. She no longer had the means to purchase a Golden Core Formation Pill. If this opportunity truly concerned a force of Infant Soul cultivators, then even if only a sliver remained, her share of the spoils would likely be enough for her to achieve a Golden Core breakthrough.

Thinking this, Verdant Mist Yu said excitedly, "When shall we set out?"

Eldrin Chen asked, "When will that ancient site open next?"

Verdant Mist Yu replied, "That site only has a chance to open once every thirty years. The Recluse of Elegant Verse and his wife last opened it nearly twenty years ago. We must wait another ten years or so."

"Then there is no rush. With our cultivation, reaching Tianlu Continent would take merely a hundred days. Even with delays along the way, half a year would suffice."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly, making the decision: "We shall depart one year in advance. That will ensure we do not miss the appointed time."

Having agreed to act together again in ten years, Verdant Mist Yu returned from Spirit Isle Lake to her Verdant Mist Mountain in Heavenly Ruins Prefecture.

After her departure, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang continued their days of blissful companionship, akin to a pair of celestial lovers, on Spirit Isle Lake.

On this day, Eldrin Chen flew out from Spirit Isle Lake and arrived at Green Chariot Mountain. Deep within the Hinter Peaks of the mountain, he met with the Old Patriarch.

The Old Patriarch stood before the Spirit Apricot Tree. Seeing Eldrin Chen arrive, his face lit up with joy as he said, "After cultivating it for over two hundred years, this Spirit Apricot Tree has finally matured."

Gazing at the Spirit Apricot Tree before him, Eldrin Chen also revealed a look of delight.

A Fourth Rank Spirit Apricot Tree could be considered a mature Worldly Spiritual Root. Upon advancing to the fourth rank, the tree's cycle had become thirty years to blossom, another thirty to bear fruit, and a final thirty for the fruit to ripen.

Ultimately, over a span of one hundred years, it would produce only three Spirit Apricots. Only upon advancing to the Fourth Rank Superior Grade would it yield nine fruits.

Spirit Apricots of this grade possessed astonishing Primordial Solar vitality [the pure, life-giving energy of the primordial sun]. Consuming one was sufficient to extend a person's lifespan by two Sixty-Year Cycles.

Such a treasure was twenty times the price of a Third-Rank Spirit Apricot, valued at two million Spirit Stones. However, being a Life-Extending Treasure, virtually every Golden Core Cultivator nearing the end of their lifespan would seek to purchase one, ensuring there was no shortage of buyers.

With this treasure, the Chen Clan had gained an excellent foundation, whether for future use by clan cultivators or for trading with other Golden Core Cultivators for valuable resources.

Eldrin Chen collected the three Spirit Apricots and shook his head slightly. "It's a pity the Spirit Apricot Tree matures so slowly, not like the Spiritual Peach Tree which bears fruit every thirty years. We must wait another hundred years for the next batch of Spirit Apricots to ripen."

"The Life-Extending Treasure [a rare treasure that can extend a cultivator's lifespan] grows more slowly, naturally it cannot compare to the Spiritual Peach Tree [a mystical tree bearing peaches that enhance cultivation] and the Enlightenment Tea Tree [a tea tree whose leaves aid in meditation and comprehension]."

The Old Patriarch also smiled faintly, gazing at the incredibly precious Spirit Apricot [a spiritual fruit that nourishes the soul and body] as he spoke.

In recent years, the Enlightenment Tea Tree had advanced to the fourth rank. Not only did this elevate Pingyang City to a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a location where spiritual energy of the fourth rank naturally gathers and flows], but it also played a significant role in aiding Eldrin Chen's comprehension of his cultivation arts.

Thinking of this, Eternal Profound Chen spoke again, "Since the Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] has been upgraded, let us deploy the Formation [a structured array that channels energy for defense, attack, or other effects]."

As soon as their words fell, the two men began to act.

With their mastery of Formation arts, setting up a fourth-rank Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array designed to shield a mountain or territory] was a simple and effortless task. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio novel.com.

After two days of work, using the Mountain-Suppressing Stone Stele [a magical stone monument that stabilizes and anchors a location] and the Golden Sun Divine Flame Lamp [a lamp that emits a sacred, sun-like flame]—two Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts of the fourth rank]—as the Formation Artifact [the core magical treasures that power and anchor a formation array], they successfully established the Golden Sun Mountain-Suppressing Formation [a powerful defensive formation that combines solar energy with earth-stabilizing power].

With the Mountain Protection Formation now in place, Eldrin Chen did not depart immediately. As their periods of secluded cultivation grew longer and longer, it had been some time since they last met. Thus, he simply stayed to accompany the Old Patriarch in a game of Go [a strategic board game] on Green Chariot Mountain.

This game of Go lasted, in the blink of an eye, for six or seven days.

Meanwhile, several hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away at the foot of Green Sun Mountain, two figures watched the majestic Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy] with tense expressions on their faces.

The two individuals, one man and one woman, appeared quite young, their cultivation merely at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage.

At this moment, the young woman tightened her sleeves, her face etched with tension as sweat beaded on her forehead. "Is this truly the Chu Nation Chen Clan?" she whispered.

"Sixth Brother, this is the foremost Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators bound by blood and legacy] in the Chu Nation. Could this Chen Clan truly be connected to us?"

"Chu Nation, Cangyuan Mountain Range, Green Chariot Mountain, Chen Clan," he recited, confirming the location.

The man addressed as Sixth Brother gazed at the majestic Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy] ahead, faintly sensing an overwhelmingly powerful aura emanating from within its peaks.

Here, Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their spiritual foundation], figures of considerable status elsewhere, likely numbered in the dozens upon this mountain. He could even sense the presence of multiple Violet Sanctum Patriarch [powerful cultivators who have opened their Violet Sanctum, a higher spiritual core].

Recalling the rumors he had gathered before his journey, the man's face paled slightly. He wiped the sweat from his brow and swallowed hard before speaking. "It should be them."

"They say over four hundred years ago, our Chen ClanSecond Ancestor was forced to flee the Qi Nation and eventually settled in the Chu Nation to establish an Immortal Clan. Their Spirit Mountain was said to be the Green Chariot Mountain within the Cangyuan Mountain Range."

As he spoke, a flicker of doubt crept back into his heart.

Steeling himself, he added, "It's also said that three hundred years ago, when the clan leader of the Green Chariot MountainPath's Generation [the generation named after the 'Path' character] was still alive, he once traveled to the Qi Nation to visit our Patriarch Zong of that time."

"Yet, it remains unknown what unforeseen events transpired thereafter, for the Path's Generation Patriarch never returned."

"Three hundred years."

The young woman's face paled, and she couldn't help but shake her head vigorously. "Three centuries have passed. Even counting by generations of one hundred years, several generations of Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators at the second major realm of cultivation] would have already passed away. Would they still remember us?"

Hearing her words, the man's own confidence wavered. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Our clan patriarch is nearing the end of his lifespan. Now, the He Clan covets the Sun-Returning Fruit [a rare spiritual fruit that can restore vitality and extend life] our Chen Clan has nurtured for eight hundred years."

"Our family cannot hold out much longer. If this journey fails to find aid, I fear our entire Chen Clan faces the peril of annihilation. Therefore, we must succeed; failure is not an option." Original English translation available at audio‑novel.com.