Chapter 402 : A Clan's Desperate Bargain

Within the Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy] of the Huo Clan, inside the Clan Grand Hall [the main administrative building of a cultivation clan].

Five Huo Clan Elders [senior members of the Huo Clan] gathered together, their faces ashen, each revealing a trace of terror.

The leading Golden Core Elder [a senior cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, the third major stage of cultivation] held a Spirit Talisman [an enchanted slip of paper or jade imbued with a spell] in his hand. After scrutinizing it for a long moment, he passed it to the others present, his expression grave as he said, "That vile brigand has sent a message, saying he wishes to negotiate peace with us."

"Impossible!"

Another man roared, his face livid. "Our Clan Patriarch [the male leader of a clan] was just slain by them. Such a great enmity cannot exist under the same sky! How could we face our clansmen who died in battle if we negotiate with him now?"

As he spoke, he noticed the others wore complex, differing expressions. He slammed the table and stood up. "Do you truly intend to negotiate?"

"It is not that we do not wish for vengeance, but the situation is against us," a Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified core of spiritual essence] elder said with a bitter laugh, looking at the assembly. "With our current strength, to continue opposing that husband and wife pair is nothing but seeking our own doom."

"Now we can only cower within this Clan Grand Hall to preserve our lives. If we do not negotiate, all our clan's external assets will be carved up and divided by the other major Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have Golden Core cultivators as its pillars] sects of the Dawn Continent."

Upon hearing this, the others also wore expressions of bitter resignation. The Huo Clan was one of the two strongest Golden Core Immortal Clan sects on the Dawn Continent, and the resources they controlled had long been coveted by countless others.

Once they were trapped and confined to their clan's Dao Field [a cultivator's personal territory and place of practice], the two Fourth Rank Spirit Vein [a high-grade source of spiritual energy, suitable for Golden Core cultivators] owned by the Huo Clan outside would be utterly indefensible. This novel is serialized on audio-novel.com. Visit for updates.

With this thought, the elder spoke again: "We were in the wrong in this conflict. Furthermore, with the fall of our Clan Lord who possessed Nascent Soul potential, I fear we cannot find any allies to aid us."

"Our only course now is to negotiate peace with this person. We must be prepared to pay a grievous price and sign a pact to preserve our clan."

The elder spoke with a bitter smile. Hearing his words, the others present also revealed expressions of helplessness.

Even the man who had been roaring with rage suppressed his fury and finally fell silent.

Seeing him quiet, the elder continued: "According to the letter from Eldrin Chen, we are to offer the Dao Pattern Gem [a gemstone inscribed with profound Dao patterns], the Magnetic Treasure Bracer, and the Jadeite Exquisite Jade as compensation."

"In addition, we must provide Twenty Heavenly Crystals [a high-grade form of spiritual energy currency] as reparations for our defeat."

"Why doesn't he just rob us outright?"

The man could not restrain another furious roar, his face contorting with rage.

The others were also filled with indignation. The value of the Dao Pattern Gem and the two Supreme Grade Magical Treasure [magical artifacts of the highest quality] alone exceeded twenty million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Adding the Twenty Heavenly Crystals, the Huo Clan would be forced to part with resources worth forty million Spirit Stone. And this did not even account for the Azure-Gold Glazed Armor, the Mountain and River Fan [a fan artifact depicting mountains and rivers], and the Four Symbols Flag Formation [a powerful formation based on the four celestial beasts] that had already fallen into Eldrin Chen's hands.

As a top-tier Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a clan with cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm], the Huo Clan had accumulated a Deep-Seated Foundation [profound reserves of wealth, resources, and power built over generations] over several millennia. The wealth within their Clan Treasury far surpassed that of ordinary clans, yet even such reserves could not withstand such a drain.

In recent years, the Huo Clan had failed in their attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul [the realm of cultivation where one forms a spiritual infant, a major milestone] realm, consuming a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in the formation of the Nascent Soul] purchased with over thirty Heavenly Crystal [a purified and high-density form of Spirit Stone, extremely valuable].

Currently, although there were still seventeen Heavenly Crystal within the Huo Clan's Clan Treasury, this sum had been scraped together only by mortgaging a vast portion of the clan's assets and through the collective financial and labor contributions of their tens of thousands of clan members.

If they were to compensate Twenty Heavenly Crystals and also surrender items like the Dao Pattern Gem [a gemstone inscribed with natural patterns of the Dao, enhancing comprehension], then the Huo Clan would certainly have to sell one of the two Fourth Rank Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with a powerful fourth-rank spiritual energy vein] they had mortgaged. Their clan's Deep-Seated Foundation would be utterly depleted.

At that point, the entire Deep-Seated Foundation accumulated by the Huo Clan over thousands of years would be completely exhausted. Their future stipends would become a major issue, and it might take them a millennium or more to fully recover.

Furthermore, the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] debt owed to their own clan members would be impossible to repay—a significant portion of which had come from these very Golden Core [the realm where a cultivator forms a solidified golden core of power] elders themselves.

Thinking of this, the female cultivator at the Golden Core, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Golden Core realm] said with an icy expression, "That Eldrin Chen is asking for far too much, like a lion opening its maw."

"The Jadeite Exquisite Jade in my possession is an ancient treasure passed down through our clan for a thousand years. How can we simply hand it over?"

Over several millennia, the Huo Clan had produced close to ten cultivators who reached the Golden Core, Late Stage [the late stage of the Golden Core realm], including even four who attained Golden Core Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Core realm, just before attempting the Nascent Soul breakthrough]. One could say their accumulated Deep-Seated Foundation was considerable, and they once possessed no small number of Fourth Rank High Grade [indicating the high-grade quality/power level within the fourth rank] Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators].

However, with four successive clan members attempting to shatter the barrier to the Nascent Soul realm, each failure consumed a portion of the Huo Clan's accumulated Deep-Seated Foundation. By now, aside from the Formation Plate [the core control disk of a large-scale defensive or offensive formation] for their Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array protecting their territory], the Huo Clan held only two Supreme Grade Magical Treasure [magical treasures of the highest quality and power] in their possession.

If these last two Supreme Grade Magical Treasures were also lost, the Huo Clan would likely be forced into submission by all in the future, with any Golden Core, Mid Stage cultivator daring enough to prey upon their weakened state.

Seeing that the Golden Core Female Cultivator was unwilling to part with the Jadeite Exquisite Jade, the leading elder could only offer a bitter smile. "I possess a Communication Treasure Mirror [a magical artifact for long-distance communication]," he said. "Let us use it to negotiate with him."

Not long after, a Purple Mansion Cultivator from the Huo Clan emerged from the Spirit Mountain, his face deathly pale.

He arrived before Eldrin Chen, his entire body trembling. "This junior... this junior pays his respects to the two Ancient Ancestors."

"Hmm." Eldrin Chen opened his eyes, his gaze calm. "Have you brought the items?"

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The Huo Clan Purple Mansion Cultivator was drenched in cold sweat. He produced a Treasure Mirror and said, "My clan's Ancient Ancestor wishes to discuss terms with you."

"A World's-End Sound-Transmission Mirror [a communication mirror capable of transmitting sound over vast distances]?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. A World's-End Sound-Transmission Mirror typically needed to be anchored to a Second Rank Spirit Vein to draw upon its vast spiritual energy for activation.

However, with his level of cultivation, such formalities were unnecessary. With a casual wave of his hand, he channeled his power and activated the mirror.

Once activated, the Treasure Mirror [an enchanted artifact used for scrying and observation] revealed the scene within the great hall opposite.

At the sight of Eldrin Chen, the several Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have reached the Golden Core Realm] from the Huo Clan all lowered their gazes. Even the man who had shown the most backbone moments before, roaring defiantly at the heavens, bowed his head, rendered speechless for a time.

Such was the awe born of bloodshed. Even when they had outnumbered him five to one, they had been no match for Eldrin Chen. Now, with Hugo Huo no longer standing before them as a shield, their fear of Eldrin Chen turning completely hostile grew even greater.

Seeing their expressions shift so dramatically, Eldrin Chen let out a derisive chuckle. Compared to the mettle and courage of Hugo Huo, the fortitude of these men was truly lacking.

No wonder Hugo Huo held the potential to reach the Nascent Soul [a profound cultivation realm where one forms a spiritual infant, a step towards immortality] realm, while these others remained mired in the Golden Core [the realm where a cultivator condenses their spiritual power into a solid golden core] realm, seemingly destined to never glimpse the heights of Nascent Soul in their lifetimes.

It was precisely for this reason that Eldrin Chen was willing to negotiate with them—they simply posed no credible threat.

With this thought, he spoke calmly, "Do you have anything further to say?"

"Esteemed one..."

The men exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, the elder among them spoke, choosing his words with care. "The reparations you demand are... excessive. Our Huo Clan simply cannot produce such a sum at present."

"Moreover... the Magnetic Treasure Bracer [a powerful enchanted bracelet that manipulates magnetic forces] and the Jadeite Exquisite Jade [a treasure of peerless jadeite, renowned for its spiritual purity] are ancient treasures passed down through our Huo Clan for a thousand years. To surrender them as compensation... I fear our ancestors in the spirit realm would never forgive us."

"So, you are unwilling to give it?" Lyra Jiang's brow furrowed, her gaze sharpening.

The Golden Core Female Cultivator gathered her courage and declared, "Even now, you cannot breach our Huo Clan Dao Field. If you truly force us into an impossible situation, then we shall simply remain upon this mountain and never descend."

"Do you truly believe you can guard the entrance to my cultivation grounds for the rest of your lives?"

"I understand your position."