Chapter 366 : The Pillars of Self-Achieved Foundation

This led to the Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm] being used by relatively few within the clan. Many of these pills were sold off, exchanged for high-grade treasures like the Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal imbued with solar fire energy] to assist cultivators in breaking through to the Violet Sanctum [the realm following Foundation Establishment].

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

A large quantity of Second Rank [refers to treasures suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators] treasures, useless to the clan's higher-tier cultivators, along with items like the Solar Fire Crystal, also flowed in great measure into the hands of those who had achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [reaching Foundation Establishment without relying on a pill].

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

This was one of the reasons behind the fall of Thinking Courtyard Chen and Remembrance Path Chen. Even for those with a Variant Spiritual Root [a superior type of spiritual root talent], within the Chen Clan, failing to achieve Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment meant their claim to resources like the Five Elements Treasure Crystal [a crystal containing the essence of the five elements] was placed behind those who had.

However, with so many clan members achieving Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment, it became exceedingly difficult for the others to obtain such resources through the clan's official channels.

All these factors combined meant that while the Chen Clan had relatively few Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm], a significant portion of them possessed a substantial likelihood of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum.

This vast disparity endowed the cultivators of the Chen Clan with potential far surpassing that of the Heavenly Ruins Sect, to the point where finding a comparable entity was nearly impossible.

For Exquisite Jiang, she could not afford to devote excessive energy to managing the Heavenly Ruins Sect, lest it completely derail her own cultivation pursuits.

To her, establishing the Heavenly Ruins 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 herself. This novel is serialized on audio-novel dot com. Visit for updates.

This is also the core reason for the existence of almost all sects and clans. The fundamental purpose of any Immortal Clan or sect is to generate resources for its upper echelons, not to have those leaders subsidize resources to nurture the lower ranks.

The only way to obtain more resources is to advance one's cultivation, step by step, and rise to become part of the sect's upper echelon.

If a young cultivator with decent talent appeared, Elara Lin and the others might offer some guidance, but Exquisite Jiang would no longer take on any more disciples.

In earlier years, when she was stuck at the Violet Sanctum Realm and had yet to achieve Spiritual Root Completion, she had accepted over twenty nominal disciples. Yet now, almost all were gone, leaving only Elara Lin and two others. Watching disciple after disciple reach the end of their lifespan was not a pleasant experience.

Unless she encountered a truly heaven-defying genius, one blessed with a Path 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 talent satisfied him and they could truly inherit his path.

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

By now, the Heavenly Ruins Alliance had mobilized two fourth-rank War Treasure Ship, gathering over fifty Violet Sanctum cultivators, five hundred at the Foundation Establishment stage, and twenty thousand cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage.

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

Once the group boarded the Treasure Ship, Eldrin Chen addressed them with a grave expression. "This battle is of paramount importance. I expect everyone to give their all, to utterly eradicate the Demon Cave."

Upon hearing this, everyone present nodded in understanding, fully grasping the critical importance of this impending battle.

Over the years, the strength of the Chu Nation had been consistently sapped by the threat of the Demon Cave. Since the great defeat a century ago, every major Immortal Clan had been forced to spend a significant sum of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] each year to retain Freya Ji to stand guard before the Demon Cave.

This was an unavoidable necessity. For if the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent and corrupt energies for power] within the Demon Cave were to emerge, the entire Chu Nation would be plunged into a calamity of demonic scourge.

The major Immortal Clan were perpetually at risk of attack from Demonic Cultivator. They had no choice but to divert a substantial portion of their forces to guard against the Demon Cave, a strategy that consumed vast amounts of manpower, resources, and Spirit Stone.

Once the Demon Cave was purged, they could destroy the Demonic Spring [a corrupted spiritual spring that generates demonic energy] within it. Without the Demonic Spring, there would be no source of Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and corrupt form of spiritual energy]. This would make it exceedingly difficult for mid-to-high level Demonic Cultivator to achieve breakthroughs, and they would lose their primary sanctuary.

At that point, at least until the next Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, large-scale eruption of demonic energy from the depths] erupted, they would no longer need to fear enemies on two fronts. Once destroyed, the Demonic Spring could only be revived by drawing upon the power of a Demonic Abyss Cataclysm.

The next Demonic Abyss Cataclysm was not due for nearly six hundred years. By that time, both Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang would have long since broken through to the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit stage, a high level of cultivation] realm.

By then, the Demonic Cultivator would be like weeds without roots—each one slain would be one less, and within the borders of the Chu Nation, the very soil that gave birth to Demonic Cultivator would be rendered barren.

The safety of the entire Chu Nation Cultivation World would be greatly enhanced. The forces thus freed could even be considered for further campaigns against territories like Demonic Ape Mountain, Crimson Scorpion Ridge, and the Savage Ox Ancient Plain, all domains of Demon King [a powerful demonic entity, equivalent to a Golden Core stage cultivator]-level beings.

Therefore, for this decisive battle, every major Immortal Clan across the Chu Nation Cultivation World was required to contribute—either by sending cultivators or by providing funds—to concentrate their collective strength and utterly eradicate the Demon Cave in one fell swoop.

In terms of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] alone, the thousands of weaker Vital Essence Refinement [the first major stage of cultivation, focusing on refining the body's vital energy] and Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation stage, where a cultivator builds their spiritual foundation] Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators] within the Chu Nation managed to pool five million Spirit Stones for compensation and rewards.

Xavier Xu beamed with pride at this moment, his face alight with joy as he spoke: "For the Merits [a metaphysical 'currency' representing good karma or virtuous deeds] earned in this battle, will there be a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in forming a cultivator's Golden Core] or a Five Essence Treasure Pearl [a magical treasure that harnesses the power of the five elemental essences]?"

"Our major factions will each contribute one Forming the Golden Core [the critical breakthrough stage where a cultivator condenses their spiritual power into a Golden Core] treasure as a reward."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly, well aware that Xavier Xu wished to nurture Path Abyss Xu.

Although the Xu Clan now possessed a Golden Core Patriarch, they still lacked a Fourth Rank Earth Vein [a high-grade spiritual energy ley line embedded in the earth], and thus had no stable means of producing Forming the Golden Core treasures.

For such a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan whose power is anchored by one or more Golden Core stage cultivators] 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 Stones. This content originates from www . audio-novel.com. Please respect copyright.

Path Abyss Xu was nearly the same age as the Old Patriarch, already over three hundred years old. He had attempted a Golden Core [the third major cultivation realm, where spiritual power is solidified into a core] breakthrough some years prior but had become stuck in the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional, unstable state between Foundation Establishment and true Golden Core formation].

Judging by his remaining lifespan, Path Abyss Xu's hope of breaking through to Forming the Golden Core was not insignificant—provided they could obtain a Golden Core Formation Pill.

"Having a Golden Core Formation Pill is good enough."

A look of profound satisfaction spread across Xavier Xu's face, his heart now brimming with confidence for the coming conflict.

Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement. Although the major Golden Core sects and Immortal Clan [powerful clans with immortal heritage] had brought out Forming the Golden Core treasures [rare resources that aid in achieving the Golden Core realm], such items were scarcely sufficient for their own internal needs and thus rarely flowed to the outside world.

It was highly likely that these few Forming the Golden Core treasures would circulate internally among the major Golden Core forces participating in the campaign.

For the Xu Clan to obtain a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in forming a Golden Core], they would either need to perform great Merits [significant deeds that accumulate positive karma or standing] or offer a substantial sum of wealth to cover the price difference.

Without further ado, the Heavenly Python Treasure Ship and the Black Flood Dragon Treasure Ship soared into the sky with the twenty thousand cultivators aboard, heading straight for the Verdant Azure Mountains.

Upon their arrival before the Demon Cave, they found that the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect and the Firmament Sword Sect [a sect renowned for its sword cultivation], being closer, had already arrived.

This time, the Purple Abyss Sect had also arrived a step ahead of them. Leading their contingent were Immortal Maiden Spirit Consort, who had recently broken through to the Golden Core 4th Tier, and Immortal Maiden Hibiscus, who had not long ago achieved Forming the Golden Core.

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

"Esteemed friends, it has been a long time,"

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang disembarked from the Treasure Ship, their gazes sweeping over the several Golden Core Cultivator present.

The cultivator representing the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect was True Person Great Defense. This venerable True Person's lifespan was nearing nine hundred years, and his cultivation had already reached the Golden Core 5th Tier.

From the Vast Firmament Sect came Sect Master Qian and Soaring Serpent Ling. Out of their three Golden Core Patriarchs [the highest-ranking elders who have achieved the Golden Core realm], two had arrived at once—a clear signal that they were holding nothing back.

Adding Immortal Maiden Spirit Consort and Immortal Maiden Hibiscus from the Purple Abyss Sect, along with Freya Ji, brought the total to a full six Golden Core Cultivators [powerful cultivators who have condensed a Golden Core, a solid sphere of immense spiritual power within their dantian]. This chapter is part of a larger work available at *audio-novel.com*.