Chapter 366 : The Pillars of Self-Guided Foundation

This resulted in relatively few clan members actually using the Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in establishing one's cultivation foundation]. Many of these pills were sold off, exchanged for high-grade treasures like the Li Fire Crystal [a crystal containing potent fire-attribute energy] to assist cultivators in breaking through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body].

The reduced number of Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] cultivators also led to a concentration of resources in this area. The stipend for Chen Clan cultivators who achieved Foundation Establishment through their own efforts was already double that of other clans.

A large number of Second Rank Treasure [magical artifacts of the second rank, suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators] were of little use to the clan's high-ranking cultivators. Treasures like the Li Fire Crystal also flowed abundantly into the hands of those who practiced Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [the method of establishing one's foundation without external pill assistance, resulting in greater potential].

According to the ironclad rule established by Eldrin Chen, opportunities to break through to the Purple Mansion were prioritized almost exclusively for those who had undergone Self-Guided Foundation Establishment. Cultivators who relied on the Foundation Establishment Pill could scarcely obtain the resources needed for a Purple Mansion breakthrough.

This was one of the reasons for the fall of Chen Soren and Nian Dao Chen. Even with an Anomalous Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful spiritual root affinity], within the Chen Clan, if one could not achieve Self-Guided Foundation Establishment, their claim to resources like the Five Elements Treasure Crystals [crystals containing the refined essence of the five fundamental elements] would be placed behind those who had.

However, with so many clan members practicing Self-Guided Foundation Establishment, it became nearly impossible for others to obtain such resources through the clan's official channels.

When all these factors combined, the Chen Clan had relatively few Foundation Establishment cultivators, but a significant portion of them possessed a substantial likelihood of breaking through to the Purple Mansion.

This vast disparity meant the potential of Chen Clan cultivators far surpassed that of Heaven's Ruin Sect [a major cultivation sect], to the point where few could even be considered comparable.

For Lyra Jiang, she could not afford to devote excessive energy to managing the Heaven's Ruin Sect, lest it completely consume her own cultivation time.

To her, establishing the Heaven's Ruin Sect was primarily a means to acquire Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] and to operate her several Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy] enterprises, generating resources for her own cultivation. Continue reading this story at audio-novel.com (official site).

This is also the core reason for the existence of nearly all sects and clans. The fundamental purpose of any Immortal Clan or sect is to generate resources for its upper echelons, not for those leaders to deplete their own resources to nurture others.

The only way to obtain more resources is to break through in cultivation, step by step, and become part of the sect's upper leadership.

If there were promising young cultivators, Elara Lin and others might offer some guidance, but Lyra Jiang would no longer take on any more disciples.

In earlier years, while she was stalled in the Purple Mansion Realm and working to mend her Spiritual Root, she had accepted over twenty nominal disciples. Yet now, almost only Elara Lin and two others remained. Watching disciple after disciple reach the end of their lifespan was not a joyful experience.

Unless she encountered a truly heaven-defying talent, one possessing a Dao Body capable of inheriting her legacy, she would not entertain the thought again.

In truth, Eldrin Chen felt the same. He would not lightly accept a disciple unless their innate talent satisfied him and they could truly inherit his path.

Returning to the matter at hand, after refining two batches of Pill, the two of them emerged from the Alchemy Chamber.

By now, the Heaven's Ruin Alliance had mobilized two Fourth Rank war treasure ships, gathering over fifty Purple Mansion cultivators, five hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, and twenty thousand Qi Refinement, Late Stage cultivators.

For this campaign, Eldrin Chen had even summoned Xavier Xu and Qingci the Recluse from the Yan Kingdom.

Once everyone had boarded the treasure ships, Eldrin Chen spoke with grave solemnity, "This battle is of paramount importance. I expect everyone to exert their utmost effort to utterly annihilate the Demon Cave Cavern."

Upon hearing this, everyone present nodded in agreement, understanding the profound significance of this impending battle.

Over these years, the strength of the Chu Kingdom had been consistently drained by the threat of Demon Cave Cavern. Since the great defeat a century ago, every major Immortal Clan was forced to spend a considerable sum of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] each year to secure the presence of Freya Ji as a guardian before the cavern's entrance.

This was an unavoidable necessity. For if the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who harness corrupt and malevolent energies for power] within Demon Cave Cavern were to emerge, the entire Chu Kingdom would be plunged into a Demonic Calamity [a cataclysmic event of widespread demonic invasion and corruption].

Every major Immortal Clan lived under the constant threat of attack from these Demonic Cultivator. They were compelled to divert vast amounts of their strength, manpower, and resources—including immense quantities of Spirit Stone—to maintain a vigilant defense against Demon Cave Cavern.

However, if they could utterly cleanse Demon Cave Cavern, they could destroy the Demonic Spring [a fount of corrupt spiritual energy that nourishes demonic beings] within it. Without this Demonic Spring, the flow of Demonic Fiend Qi [the vile, corrupting energy that fuels demonic cultivation] would cease. This would make it exceedingly difficult for mid-to-high rank Demonic Cultivator to break through their bottlenecks and would strip them of their primary sanctuary.

Thereafter, at least until the next Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, continent-wide eruption of demonic energy from the depths], they would no longer need to fear enemies at their backs. Once destroyed, a Demonic Spring could only be rekindled by the power of such a cataclysm.

The next Demonic Abyss Cataclysm was not due for nearly six hundred years. By that time, both Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang would have long since broken through to the Nascent Soul [a high cultivation realm where one's spiritual essence condenses into an independent, immortal soul].

By then, the Demonic Cultivator would be like weeds without roots; each one slain would be gone for good. Within the borders of Chu Kingdom, at least, the very soil that gave birth to Demonic Cultivator would be rendered barren.

The safety of the entire Chu Kingdom Cultivation World would increase dramatically. The forces thus liberated could even consider launching further campaigns against several Demon King [a ruler among demonic beasts, equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator] territories, such as Demonic Ape Mountain, Crimson Scorpion Ridge, and the Savage Ox Ancient Plains.

Therefore, for this decisive campaign, every major Immortal Clan across the Chu Kingdom Cultivation World was called upon to contribute—either with warriors or with wealth. The goal was to concentrate their collective might in a single, overwhelming strike to completely purge Demon Cave Cavern from the land.

For the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] allocation alone, the thousands of weaker Qi Refinement [the initial stage of cultivation] and Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose highest-level cultivators have reached the Foundation Establishment realm] within the Chu Kingdom managed to pool five million Spirit Stone for compensation and rewards.

Xavier Xu beamed with pride at this moment, his face alight with joy as he inquired, "Regarding the Merit Points [a points-based credit system within an organization or sect] from this campaign, will there be a Golden Core Formation Pill [a supreme elixir that aids in forming a Golden Core] or perhaps a Five Elements Treasure Pearl [a treasure pearl containing the balanced essence of the five elements]?"

"Each of our major factions will contribute one Core Formation Treasure [a precious resource or artifact that aids in achieving Core Formation] as a reward,"

Eldrin Chen stated calmly, understanding perfectly that Xavier Xu sought to nurture Xu Darius.

Although the Xu Clan now possessed a Golden Core Ancestor [a venerable elder who has attained the Golden Core realm], they still lacked a Fourth Rank Earth Vein [a powerful, naturally occurring conduit of earth-attribute spiritual energy], and thus had no stable means of producing Core Formation Treasure.

For such a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch is a Golden Core cultivator] to purchase a Golden Core Formation Pill from external sources would incur exorbitant markups; a single pill could easily cost over a million extra Spirit Stone. Continue reading this story at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Xu Darius was of an age similar to the Old Patriarch, now over three hundred years old. He had attempted a Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid core] breakthrough some years prior but had become stuck at the False Core Realm [a quasi-realm where a cultivator has formed an unstable, imperfect core].

Judging by his remaining lifespan, Xu Darius's hope for achieving Core Formation [the process of forming a stable Golden Core] was not insignificant—provided they could obtain a Golden Core Formation Pill.

"It is good that there will be a Golden Core Formation Pill,"

Xavier Xu replied, his expression one of profound relief and newfound confidence for the coming conflict.

Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement. Although the major Golden Core sects and Immortal Clans had brought forth Core Formation Treasures [rare treasures that aid in forming a Golden Core], such items were scarcely sufficient for their own internal use, making it exceedingly difficult for them to circulate outside their circles.

It was highly probable that these few Core Formation Treasures would circulate primarily among the major Golden Core forces participating in the campaign.

For the Xu Clan to obtain a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that catalyzes the breakthrough to the Golden Core realm], they would either need to achieve significant Merit Points or offer a substantial sum of wealth to cover the difference.

Without further discussion, the Heaven-Devouring Serpent Treasure Boat and the Black Flood Dragon Treasure Boat soared into the sky with the twenty thousand cultivators aboard, heading straight for the Cerulean Peaks Range.

Upon their arrival at the outskirts of the Demon Cave Cavern, they found that the Verdant Immortal Sect and the Firmament Sword Sect, being geographically closer, had already arrived.

This time, the Violet Abyss Sect had also arrived a step ahead of them. Leading their contingent were Spirit Consort, the Immortal Maiden, who had recently broken through to the fourth tier of the Golden Core realm, and Hibiscus, the Immortal Maiden, who had not long ago achieved Core Formation.

As for Yvonne the Violet Consort, she needed to guard against Demonic Ape Mountain and thus did not personally take part in the expedition.

"Esteemed friends, it has been too long,"

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang disembarked from the treasure boat, their gazes sweeping over the assembled Golden Core Cultivators present.

The representative from the Verdant Immortal Sect was Taiwu the True Person, an elder whose lifespan was nearing nine hundred years and whose cultivation had reached the fifth tier of the Golden Core realm.

From the Firmament Sect came Qian the Sect Master and Lysander Ling. Of the three Golden Core Ancestors [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, the third major stage of cultivation], two had arrived at once, signifying they were committing their full strength to the endeavor.

Adding the Spirit Consort, the Immortal Maiden and Hibiscus, the Immortal Maiden from the Violet Abyss Sect, along with Freya Ji, brought the total to a full six Golden Core Cultivators [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, the third major stage of cultivation]. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel-dot-com.