Chapter 342 : A Clan's Last Hope Blooms

Therefore, even after advancing to become a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm], the Qi Nation Chen Clan [the Chen Clan of the Qi Nation] suffered grievous losses with each Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion of demonic beasts]. Over the past three centuries, these tides have been a chronicle of blood and tears for the clan.

This relentless pressure left the clan perpetually on the defensive. To this day, they have failed to secure even a single Third-Rank Earth Vein [a high-grade spiritual land node], leaving their strength at the very bottom among the Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan.

The situation grew more dire as the Violet Sanctum Patriarch [the clan's highest-ranking cultivator] of the Chen Immortal Clan neared the end of his lifespan. Unfortunately, the clan had still not managed to nurture a second cultivator to succeed him at the Violet Sanctum realm.

Then, not long ago, a Sun-Returning Fruit [a legendary fruit that gathers the essence of the setting sun], which the Chen Immortal Clan had cultivated for over eight hundred years, finally ripened.

The Sun-Returning Fruit is a fourth-rank Spirit Herb [a plant imbued with potent spiritual energy]. As the primary ingredient, it can be used to refine the Sun-Returning Tribulation-Dispelling Pill [a supreme healing elixir for the Golden Core realm], a precious healing pill for those in the Golden Core Realm [a core formation stage of cultivation], making it an exceptionally valuable treasure.

Furthermore, the Sun-Returning Fruit is also a key component of the Longevity Pill [an elixir that extends a cultivator's lifespan]. When combined with Sun and Moon Grass [a grass that absorbs the essences of the sun and moon], it can be refined into a Longevity Pill capable of extending a cultivator's life by two full Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years]. It is said that a stalk of Sun and Moon Grass currently grows within Heavenly Ruins Lake [a mystical lake amidst ancient ruins].

In short, this fruit is a treasure of immense value, one that would stir the interest of even a Golden Core Patriarch [a patriarch who has formed a Golden Core].

While Patriarch Mo-ink is known for his upright character and enjoys a sterling reputation within Qi Nation, disdaining to take advantage of others' misfortune, there are those who covet that Sun-Returning Fruit. They seek to present it as a birthday tribute to the Patriarch.

The newly-ascended Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan in Bright Prefecture, the Zhang Clan, has already begun to move against the Qi Nation Chen Clan. They wait only for the Chen Clan Ancestor [the founding ancestor of the Chen Clan] to pass, intending to then completely swallow up the Chen Clan's Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich in spiritual energy] and territories.

The Zhang Clan's scheme is cunning. Once they supplant the Chen Immortal Clan, they plan to offer the Sun-Returning Fruit to Patriarch Mo-ink, securing his support for their claim to the third-rank Spirit Mountain formerly held by the Chen Clan. This chapter is provided by audio—novel.com. Support the original.

After listening, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly before he spoke. "I have also heard of that True Person Mo-ink."

"That individual is the foremost Sword Cultivator [a practitioner who specializes in the way of the sword] within Qi Nation. Although his cultivation is merely at the Golden Core Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Golden Core realm], during the last Beast Tide [a massive invasion by demonic beasts], he achieved the feat of single-handedly slaying a Golden Core Mid Stage Demon King [a powerful demonic beast lord]."

"It is said True Person Mo-ink hates evil as he would a personal enemy and is a relatively fair-minded person. Why did you not simply offer the Sun-Returning Fruit [a rare spiritual fruit] to him and seek his protection?"

Upon hearing this, Void Cosmos Chen revealed a bitter expression.

He swallowed hard before speaking. "That True Person Mo-ink is in seclusion year-round. It is exceedingly difficult for us to gain an audience with him under normal circumstances."

"Furthermore, the disciples of Patriarch Mo-ink's lineage harbor significant prejudice against us. We simply have no way to secure an audience through their channels."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch exchanged a glance.

Setting aside the fact that Qi Nation was, after all, the ancestral land of the Chen Clan, even if only for the sake of their forefather Thalion Chen's honor, they had to intervene in this matter.

After all, the Karma [the web of cause and effect binding all actions] with Patriarch Mo-ink was originally incurred by their own clan's Patriarch, Thalion Chen.

Centuries ago, the ancestral land in Qi Nation had offended the lineage of Patriarch Mo-ink by standing up for Thalion Chen. In a sense, the ancestral branch had borne the burden of this enmity on their behalf for hundreds of years.

With these thoughts in mind, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Regardless of the circumstances, the ancestral homeland bore the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect] on our behalf. Now that we have prospered, we cannot simply abandon you."

"I shall make a trip to the Qi Nation, and while I'm there, I will pay a visit to Patriarch Mo-ink."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen placed the chess piece in his hand back onto the board.

The Old Patriarch pondered for a moment before saying, "That Patriarch Mo-ink was able to single-handedly slay a Golden Core Mid Stage Demon King. His strength is likely not inferior to a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator."

"It is of no consequence."

Eldrin Chen replied with calm assurance. During the battle at Earth Lion Ridge, he had already been capable of holding his own against a Golden Core Late Stage opponent.

Now, his cultivation had progressed significantly. All five of his Lifebound Magical Treasure [magical artifacts bound to a cultivator's life force] had advanced to the Fourth Rank Mid-Grade tier. His combat prowess had grown considerably since those days; an ordinary Golden Core Late Stage cultivator might no longer be his match.

Furthermore, his purpose for this journey was merely to meet Patriarch Mo-ink. Unless absolutely necessary, he had no intention of forcing a confrontation and severing all ties.

Hearing that Eldrin Chen intended to go personally, the two siblings' faces lit up with excitement.

Void Cosmos Chen was overjoyed. Patriarch Mo-ink had long since ceased his pursuit of the Chen Clan. Now, with a Golden Core True Person [a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core realm] intervening, the Chen Clan was certain to survive this calamity.

Eldrin Chen rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over Kael. "Kael," he said, his voice carrying the weight of command, "you shall accompany me on this journey as well."

"Understood." Kael Chen gave a firm, silent nod of assent.

Eldrin Chen first made his way to Spirit Isle Lake [a vast spiritual lake dotted with isles]. There, he sought out Exquisite Jiang to retrieve the Green Sun Treasure Ark [a magnificent flying vessel imbued with solar essence], before finally returning to the familiar peaks of Green Chariot Mountain [the verdant, chariot-shaped mountain that serves as the Chen Clan's stronghold].

No sooner had he set foot back on Green Chariot Mountain than Ethan Chen came bounding over, his eyes alight with excitement. "Uncle Eldrin!" he exclaimed, "I heard you're returning to the Ancestral Lands?"

"It's been far too long since I've had a proper fight. Take me with you!"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen reached out and gave the young man's head a light, admonishing tap. "I will allow you to come," he conceded, a note of sternness in his voice, "but you must promise not to act recklessly or harm others without cause." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio novel.com.

"You have my word!"

Ethan Chen grinned, a flash of eager anticipation crossing his features, before he practically leapt aboard the waiting Green Sun Treasure Ark.

Eldrin Chen could only shake his head with a wry smile. It was then he truly noticed that Ethan Chen's cultivation had already advanced to the Violet Sanctum 6th Tier [the sixth level of the Violet Sanctum realm, where one's spiritual sea takes on a violet hue].

Over the past few years, the three earliest among the clan to break through to the Violet Sanctum [the realm where one's spiritual foundation condenses into a violet-hued sanctum]—Kael Chen, Lior Chen, and Lila—had all progressed to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Violet Sanctum realm]. Remarkably, Lila had even reached the eighth layer of the Violet Sanctum.

If nothing unexpected occurs, the three of them will likely touch the threshold of the Golden Core realm one after another within the next three to five decades.

Ethan Chen is younger, and his cultivation speed is a bit slower than Lila's, but he has already reached the threshold of the Violet Sanctum Late Stage. This pace is already considered outstanding.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen spoke again, "After I return, I will refine a batch of Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill. You must break through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage within five years. Do not neglect your cultivation."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen nodded, saying nothing more, and then picked up Kael Chen and the two siblings, Void Cosmos and Void Spirit.

Qi Nation is situated in the northeastern borderlands of Chu Nation, separated by a vast distance of over three million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] and the immense expanse of the Verdant Azure Mountains.

Eldrin Chen piloted the Green Sun Treasure Ark, covering two hundred thousand Li-lengths in a single day. In just over ten days, they crossed the Verdant Azure Mountains and entered the territory of Qi Nation.

The geographical location of Bright Prefecture happens to be not far from the Verdant Azure Mountains. After flying for another day or two, they arrived at Bright Prefecture, where the Chen Clan is located.

Following the guidance of the two siblings, Eldrin Chen steered the ark directly towards the ancestral lands of the Chen Immortal Clan.

"..."

Bright Prefecture, Dark Ink Mountain.

The Dark Ink Mountain Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth that concentrates and emits spiritual energy] is precisely the ancestral land of the Chen Clan, a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [an immortal clan whose patriarch has reached the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] within Bright Prefecture.

As the most ancient Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan in Bright Prefecture, the history of the Chen Clan is nearly as weighty as a tome of chronicles.

Eight hundred years ago, the founding ancestor of the Chen Clan, having lost hope of a Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] breakthrough, exhausted the clan's wealth to purchase a low-grade, first-tier Spiritual Vein at Dark Ink Mountain and established the Chen Clan as a Vital Essence Refinement [the first major realm of cultivation, where one refines their vital life energy] Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators].

For the next three hundred years, the Chen Immortal Clan remained a precarious Vital Essence Refinement Immortal Clan, struggling for survival in the narrow gaps between greater powers.

It was not until five hundred years ago that the Chen Immortal Clan experienced a sudden surge of Fortune [destiny or favorable circumstances], producing two Foundation Establishment Patriarch simultaneously.

These two were the Great Ancestor Profound Darkness Chen and the Second Ancestor Thalion Chen. Between them, Profound Darkness Chen was relatively ordinary, having achieved Foundation Establishment by depleting the clan's accumulated resources to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in solidifying one's spiritual foundation].

In contrast, Thalion Chen possessed exceptional talent, achieving Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm through one's own efforts, without relying on external aids like pills]. After his breakthrough, his cultivation progressed with astonishing speed, making him one of the top prodigies among the Foundation Establishment cultivators in all of Bright Prefecture. By all logic, the Chen Clan should have ascended to become a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan back then.

Unfortunately, due to a fateful encounter, he was defeated by Patriarch Mo-ink and subsequently forced to flee from the Chu Nation. From that point on, the Chen Clan fell into a decline from which it never recovered.

It was only two hundred years ago that the seventh-generation Patriarch of the Chen Clan, having exhausted the clan's remaining heritage [accumulated resources and legacy], managed to advance to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens the Violet Palace within their dantian] realm. This single feat allowed the clan to finally rise and establish itself as a true Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan.

Through eight hundred years of meticulous management, the Chen Immortal Clan has forged Dark Ink Mountain into an impregnable fortress. Even a Violet Sanctum Patriarch [a powerful cultivator at the Violet Sanctum realm] who dared to enter would likely meet their end.

Yet today was starkly different from the usual quiet. At the foot of Dark Ink Mountain, figures moved like shadows, a crowd seemingly waiting for something momentous.

Many understood the situation clearly. The Chen Clan now resembled the twilight of a setting sun, teetering on the brink of falling from its status as a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [an immortal clan led by a Violet Sanctum realm cultivator]. Vultures circled, eager to claim their share of the spoils.

Most prominent among them was the newly ascended Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan, the Zhang Clan. They had besieged Dark Ink Mountain for two full years, biding their time, waiting only for the Chen Clan Ancestor [the founding patriarch of the Chen Clan] to draw his final breath before seizing his place.

High upon the Heavenly Vault [the firmament, the sky], a tall, straight-backed man in black robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was calm, fixed upon the majestic Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich with spiritual energy] below.

"Old relic," he murmured, his voice cold. "You've clung to life for a decade now."

"If you refuse to die, do not blame this lord for personally sending you on your final journey!" This novel is serialized on audio—novel.com. Visit for updates.