Chapter 346 : A Master's Burden and a Disciple's Resolve

"I am defeated."

Patriarch Mo-ink retreated, his face ashen as he muttered to himself.

His loss in this battle was not due to a lack of strength, but because his pair of Lifebound Immortal Sword were countered by the magnetic properties of the magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators].

Although he still had a final trump card to play, if a true life-or-death struggle were to erupt, it would be nearly impossible to rein it in, and one of the two would inevitably fall.

Moreover, while he had confidence in himself, he understood that in such a circumstance, the one to fall would most likely be him.

Eldrin Chen did not press the attack further, his gaze calm as he regarded Patriarch Mo-ink. "I have investigated the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect that binds all actions] from those past events."

"The decline of the Qi Nation Chen Clan to its current state is connected to your disciple's actions. Since you are defeated today, it is only fitting you provide an account."

The expressions of all present shifted dramatically, and Patriarch Mo-ink's face took on a bitter cast.

He shook his head and spoke with a measured calm. "In recent years, my disciple's actions have indeed been excessive."

"But a disciple seeking to redress a grievance for his master embodies the purest path of filial piety. I cannot hand him over to you." For uninterrupted reading, go to (audio-novel.com).

"Master..."

Void Karma Qian supported Patriarch Mo-ink, his eyes slightly reddening.

He shook his head, gritted his teeth, and said, "This matter stems from the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect that binds all actions] I, your disciple, have incurred. If I were to let my master bear the burden, would that not place me in the realm of unfiliality?"

"I shall bear this responsibility myself. I implore you, True Person, not to make things difficult for my master."

"Get back inside."

Patriarch Mo-ink's expression turned cold. With a sweep of his hand, he sent Void Karma Qian tumbling back onto the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy, often serving as a cultivation base].

He looked at Eldrin Chen, clasped his hands once more, and declared, "Sir, since I have been defeated today, I naturally accept my loss."

"Failing to discipline one's disciple is the fault of the teacher. For the wrongs my disciple has committed over these years, I am willing to offer compensation to the Chen Clan today, hoping the matter from back then can be laid to rest."

"If you still wish to pursue my disciple, come directly to me."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he couldn't help but regard the man before him with a newfound measure of respect.

At that very moment, the Lin Clan Patriarch of the Qi Nation Golden Core Cultivators and Immortal Clan stepped forward.

This Lin Clan Patriarch, named Heaven Union Lin, possessed cultivation at the lofty Golden Core Late Stage. In the past, during the assault on Earth Lion Ridge, he had aided them by restraining the Azure Sparrow Demon King. Later, he had also attended the Golden Core Banquet hosted by the Chen Clan, so the two parties could be considered acquaintances.

Lin Clan Leader glanced at Eldrin Chen and spoke with a slight smile, cupping his hands in greeting. "Fellow Daoist Chen, over these years, Fellow Daoist Mo-ink has not acted against the Chen Clan. The deeds of Void Karma Qian are unrelated to Fellow Daoist Mo-ink, and there was originally no enmity between the two of you."

"Since Fellow Daoist Mo-ink is willing to compensate the Chen Clan, it seems to me that this matter should be settled amicably."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Patriarch Mo-ink. 'This Patriarch Mo-ink's protective nature runs deep. If I insist he hand over Void Karma Qian, even if he cannot defeat me today, it will sow the seeds of lasting enmity.'

'Moreover, his character is upright. Slaying him would not only be a great loss for the Human Race of Ji Continent, but the assembled Golden Core cultivators of Qi Nation present would also not stand idly by.'

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen decided to accept the offered compromise. His expression remained calm as he spoke. "The enmity between the Chen Clan and Void Karma Qian was not of my making."

"If you wish to sever this Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect], besides compensation, Void Karma Qian must also personally seek forgiveness from the Chen Clan of Qi Nation."

Hearing his words, the assembled crowd collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

Patriarch Mo-ink also nodded in agreement. Having Void Karma Qian seek the Chen Clan's forgiveness was not a difficult condition to meet.

Void Karma Qian's remaining lifespan was already scarce. He had lived for over four hundred and seventy years and consumed three Longevity Pill [a pill that extends one's natural lifespan], leaving him with only about twenty years of life left. To completely sever ties with a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a condensed sphere of immense spiritual power] over this man was not a rational course of action.

Although the Qi Nation Chen Clan had shown weakness in recent years, it was not Void Karma Qian himself who had directly acted. Moreover, since Eldrin Chen had not demanded Void Karma Qian's life, it was only natural that the Qi Nation Chen Clan would not disregard Eldrin Chen's face [a concept of social standing and respect].

Thinking this, Patriarch Mo-ink said, "Once matters here are settled, I will have Kongye personally visit Dark Ink Mountain to offer his apologies."

"If that is the case, then let us consider the matter concluded here,"

Eldrin Chen declared. He then summoned the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure capable of storing and releasing objects] and released the Ink-Snow Twin Swords from within it.

Watching as Patriarch Mo-ink drew the twin swords into his wide sleeve, Eldrin Chen had no desire to linger. While he privately acknowledged the man's character, from the standpoint of the Chen Clan, it was destined that he could not form a deep friendship with him in the future. Read the full novel exclusively on audio-novel dot com.

"..."

Eldrin Chen rode his sword back to Dark Ink Mountain. Merely three days later, Void Karma Qian arrived at Dark Ink Mountain bearing a large quantity of precious gifts.

The members of the Qi Nation Chen Clan still harbored resentment towards Patriarch Qian in their hearts, but they understood the situation clearly. To refuse forgiveness and insist on killing Patriarch Qian would be to blindly create an enemy for their own Patriarch.

Committing such an unwise act would mean that even if Eldrin Chen bore the Karma [the metaphysical cause and effect of one's actions] this time, the bond between the two clans would be utterly exhausted. In the future, the Chu Nation Chen Clan would likely draw a clear line with the Qi Nation Chen Clan.

Furthermore, Patriarch Qian's attitude was sincere. After receiving the substantial gifts, the members of the Chen Clan chose to sever their Karma [the web of cause and effect binding cultivators] with Patriarch Qian.

After accepting the gifts, Patriarch Chen led over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Chen Clan to find Eldrin Chen. Upon meeting, they all prostrated themselves on the ground.

"We thank the True Person for upholding justice on our behalf."

"Rise."

With a sweep of his long sleeve, Eldrin Chen helped them to their feet.

Tears streamed down Patriarch Chen's aged face as he choked out, "Our Chen Clan has endured for eight hundred years to reach this day. Were it not for the True Person's salvation, I fear the Qi Nation Chen Clan would have ceased to exist by now."

"The Qi Chen and Chu Chen are branches of the same family. It was my duty."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen glanced at Patriarch Chen and asked, "Well? Was Void Karma Qian's compensation sufficient?"

At the mention of compensation, joy lit up their faces.

Patriarch Qian grew animated, his voice brimming with delight. "Among the gifts he sent were two Third-Rank Earth Veins [geological formations rich in earth-attribute spiritual energy] and two Third-order Spiritual Veins [sources of concentrated ambient spiritual energy]."

"In addition, there are six Five Elements Treasure Crystals [crystalline treasures containing the refined essence of the five fundamental elements], fifty Foundation Establishment Pills [pills that aid a cultivator in solidifying their foundation for the next realm], and several other treasures."

Eldrin Chen listened and nodded. The value of just the six Five Elements Treasure Crystals and the fifty Foundation Establishment Pills already exceeded one million Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Combined with the two Third-Rank Earth Veins [veins of earth energy of the third rank, valuable resources for sects and clans] and Spiritual Veins [natural concentrations of spiritual energy within the earth], along with the vast quantity of other materials, these resources were sufficient to sustain a powerful Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [an immortal clan whose patriarch has reached the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm].

The Qi Nation Chen Clan [the Chen Clan of the Qi Nation] had been a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan for barely two centuries. Under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible for them to amass such wealth. It was clear that this time, Patriarch Mo-ink had paid a steep price, relinquishing significant profit to help his disciple resolve his Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect, where actions create consequences that must be faced].

Patriarch Chen understood perfectly well that the reason Patriarch Mo-ink was willing to offer such substantial compensation was due to Eldrin Chen's formidable strength.

Therefore, he handed a storage Treasure Box [an enchanted box capable of storing items in a separate spatial dimension] to Eldrin Chen, saying, "The reason we obtained these treasures this time is entirely thanks to your intervention, True Lord."

"We dare not claim too much. Please dispose of these assets as you see fit."

Eldrin Chen opened the Treasure Box and glanced inside, finding the six Five Elements Treasure Crystals and several dozen Foundation Establishment Pills all contained within.

He pushed the Treasure Box back, shaking his head. "This is what you rightfully deserve. Keep it to nurture your clansmen."

Seeing that Eldrin Chen would not accept it, Patriarch Chen took out another Treasure Box, his expression turning grave. "I know that ordinary Spiritual Objects [objects imbued with or containing spiritual energy] hold little use for a True Lord of your stature."

"However, this Sun-Returning Fruit is a fourth-rank spiritual herb nurtured by the Dark Ink Mountain for eight hundred years. Please accept it as a token of our sincerity."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before finally accepting the Sun-Returning Fruit.

The 'Sun-Returning Tribulation-Dispelling Pill' refined from the Sun-Returning Fruit is a healing elixir for the Golden Core Realm. It can not only restore the injuries of a Golden Core Cultivator, but also treat the aftereffects of attempting a Golden Core breakthrough without external aids.

After a cultivator fails a Golden Core breakthrough, they require thirty years to rebuild their spiritual power reserves. If they did not use a Golden Core Formation Pill, failure inflicts severe internal damage, necessitating an additional thirty years for recovery.

This is precisely why cultivators who attempt a breakthrough without a Golden Core Formation Pill must recuperate for one full Sixty-Year Cycle before they can make another attempt.

The wonder of the Sun-Returning Tribulation-Dispelling Pill lies in its ability to heal the wounds sustained during a Golden Core breakthrough attempt. This allows cultivators who forego the Golden Core Formation Pill to attempt another breakthrough after just thirty years.

This pill is quite precious. For cultivators like Lila, Silas, and Ethan who are determined to forge a Superior-Tier Golden Core, it could play a crucial supporting role. In certain circumstances, its value may not be inferior to that of a Golden Core Formation Pill.

After accepting the Sun-Returning Tribulation-Dispelling Pill, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "This item is indeed useful to me. Since I have accepted it, if you have any requests, you may state them now."

"True Person, to speak frankly, our Dark Ink Mountain Chen Clan wishes to reunite our Clan Genealogy."

Upon hearing this, Patriarch Chen could not suppress a look of joy, speaking with contained excitement.

Hearing his intention to reunite the Clan Genealogy [the official record of a clan's lineage and branches], Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, for this was no trivial matter.

Once the Clan Genealogy was reunited, the question would arise: which branch would be the main lineage, and which would be the subsidiary?

Logically, Dark Ink Mountain was the ancestral homeland, the true main lineage. Yet, Green Chariot Mountain was the foundation he had built with his own hands, step by step, and its strength now far surpassed that of Dark Ink Mountain. It could never accept being relegated to a mere subsidiary branch.

Since the two had already separated, this issue had been moot. But if the Clan Genealogy were to be reunited, this problem would become critically significant.

As if reading his thoughts, the Patriarch Chen had already prepared his answer and spoke directly, "True Person [a title for a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core realm], you need not worry. If the Qi and Chu branches of the Chen Immortal Clan reunite into one, the distinction between main and subsidiary lineages becomes largely irrelevant."

"An Immortal Clan [a powerful clan of cultivators] is defined by its people, not by any single Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy]. Whether from Qi or Chu, we are all of the Chen Clan. Naturally, we would integrate into the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation] Chen Clan."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes gleamed with understanding; he grasped the intention of the Qi Nation Chen Clan.

Compared to the Qi Nation Chen Clan, the Chu Nation Chen Clan was ascendant, its future bright. It might very well become an Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have cultivators at the Infant Soul realm, the fourth major realm].

In time, the Chu Nation Chen Clan might well become known as the Ji Continent Chen Clan, a formidable Immortal Clan spanning multiple nations.

In contrast, the Chen Clan in Qi Nation would at best be known as the Chen Clan of Bright Prefecture. Rather than clinging to that lesser title, it was wiser to merge with the stronger Chu Nation Chen Clan, especially since the resources of Green Chariot Mountain were vital to their Path [the lifelong pursuit of cultivation and enlightenment].

Once merged, the strength of Green Chariot Mountain would far surpass that of Qi Chen. They would have no rightful claim to the position of the main lineage. It would be better to abandon the distinction between primary and secondary branches and directly integrate into the Chen Clan instead.

After a few generations of intermarriage between the two families, their cultivators would naturally blend. Once the cultivators from both clans were fused, newly awakened cultivators born among the mortals would naturally cease to have any distinction between Qi and Chen.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen nodded slightly and said with a faint smile, "The main lineage is currently short on cultivators. This arrangement would be beneficial for both sides."

"I can agree to this." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel`com.