Chapter 421 : A Final Farewell to a Dying Friend

After this Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power or technique] was successfully deduced, Exquisite Jiang's arsenal of offensive methods gained a significant new edge. Drawing inspiration from Eldrin Chen's Two Polarities Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the opposing forces of Yin and Yang], she began to further refine her own combat arts.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen settled his mind and focused his efforts. He set about perfecting the Trinity Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique based on the union of three fundamental forces], aspiring to create his first true Great God Ability [a supreme divine technique of legendary power].

"..."

On this day, a spiritual talisman [a paper charm imbued with magical power for communication or other effects] flew into Spirit Isle Lake.

Eldrin Chen took the talisman and glanced at it. A sigh of resignation escaped him, and he reluctantly halted his cultivation session.

Noticing his somber expression, Exquisite Jiang beside him couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"

"A message from the Wei Clan. It says Varen Wei's lifespan is nearly exhausted; he is on his deathbed." With another sigh, Eldrin Chen set down the talisman and stood up. "I shall go to see him one last time."

"Mm."

Exquisite Jiang said no more. She understood that Eldrin Chen's heart was heavy in that moment.

Having walked her own path to this day, she had witnessed too many partings in life and death. She understood his feelings all too well. For uninterrupted reading, go to audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Eldrin Chen had walked his path to this day with few true companions, and now those old friends were but a dwindling handful. Varen Wei counted as one of those rare, kindred spirits.

Now, with this dear friend on the verge of passing, a profound sorrow settled in his heart.

"…"

Departing from Spirit Isle Lake, Eldrin Chen soared on his sword towards Tian'e Mountain.

More than two centuries had wrought immense changes upon Tian'e Mountain. The Wei Immortal Clan had once been merely a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan.

Yet now, the Wei Clan boasted four Violet Sanctum Patriarch, ranking it among the more formidable Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan within the Chu Nation.

This transformation rested entirely on the shoulders of its founding patriarch, Varen Wei. After breaking through to the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage and realizing his path to Golden Core was closed, he had poured all his energy into his clan.

For years, his stipend had been funneled into establishing the Wei Clan's assets and nurturing its cultivators.

The other three Violet Sanctum cultivators of the Wei Clan had practically been raised by his hand. Because of this, Varen Wei held a position of immense reverence within the clan, beloved by every member.

Now, with Varen Wei gravely ill, the Wei Immortal Clan's three other Patriarchs and its Foundation Establishment Cultivators had all set aside their duties. They returned to Tian'e Mountain from places like the Earth Lion Prefecture and the Heavenly Ruins Prefecture, gathering for one final glimpse of their revered elder.

Eldrin Chen's arrival at Tian'e Mountain naturally stirred the entire Wei Immortal Clan into motion.

Three Violet Sanctum Cultivator personally led the way, their faces etched with sorrow as they spoke. "Our Patriarch has been confined to his sickbed for three years. His Vitality [the fundamental life force of a living being] is now utterly exhausted, sustained only by the last wisp of his Vital Energy [the refined life energy cultivated within a practitioner's body]."

"His final wish was to see you one last time. That is why I dared to send you the letter."

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, not uttering a single word as he was led to Varen Wei's residence.

Varen Wei's dwelling was remarkably simple—a modest bamboo hut with a few medicinal herbs growing in the courtyard. It resembled the home of a mortal farmer more than the abode of the patriarch who once commanded respect across the counties as the head of a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan.

Stepping into the bamboo hut, Eldrin Chen found Varen Wei upon the bed. The old man's hair and beard were stark white, his body emaciated to the point where his bones seemed to press against his skin.

He was too weak to leave his bed, and even the power of speech had deserted him.

A tremor passed through Eldrin Chen's heart. He channeled his spiritual power to dissolve a Precious Pill [a high-grade medicinal pill of exceptional efficacy], infusing a surge of vital essence into Varen Wei to sustain him a while longer.

"Cough! Cough!"

Varen Wei heaved with two deep, rattling coughs. A faint flush of color returned to his cheeks, granting him at last the strength to speak.

He grasped Eldrin Chen's hand, propping himself up from the bed, then waved dismissively, signaling for the others to leave.

After they had departed, Varen Wei looked at Eldrin Chen with a bitter smile. "Time spares no one," he said. "In the blink of an eye, over two centuries have passed. I am now a withered tree nearing its end, yet you remain as youthful as ever."

"It has already been over two centuries..."

Eldrin Chen also sighed, realizing he was now nearly three hundred years old, while Varen Wei had already lived for more than four hundred and thirty years.

An ordinary Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation] cultivator might have been able to sustain themselves for another Sixty-Year Cycle [a sixty-year cycle] with a Longevity Pill [a pill that extends a cultivator's lifespan]. However, he had consumed a Second Rank [a classification for cultivation resources] Longevity Spirit Apricot [a rare spiritual fruit that grants longevity] long ago. Consequently, despite the Wei Clan's considerable wealth, there was no way to further extend his dwindling lifespan.

It was an unavoidable circumstance. Had it not been for the aid of that Second Rank Spirit Apricot [a spiritual fruit], he would have passed away two centuries prior. Official source: audio-novel . com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

At this stage, even with Eldrin Chen's extraordinary abilities, it was nearly impossible to grant him more time.

"You know," Varen Wei began, his gaze fixed on Eldrin Chen, "in this life, the person I have envied most is you."

He looked at Eldrin Chen, his eyes holding a complex mixture of emotions. After a long silence, he continued, "The path of immortal cultivation is arduous and fraught with hardship."

"I have reached its end. My life was neither spectacular nor utterly Nameless [unknown or insignificant]."

"I once believed that leading the Wei Clan to prosperity would be enough to satisfy me. Yet, on the brink of death, I finally understand: those who fail to ascend to immortality are ultimately but dust and mud within the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortal affairs]."

"Whether it is Vital Essence Refinement [the initial stage of refining one's life force], or Foundation Establishment [the stage of solidifying one's cultivation foundation], or even Violet Sanctum [a profound realm where one's spiritual power condenses into a violet core]—in the end, all will return to a handful of yellow earth, merging back into the heavens and the earth."

"To be born into a world of cultivation, yet to lack the courage to strive for immortality—this is the greatest regret of my life."

Varen Wei wept bitterly, his aged face streaked with tears. He had long ago set aside his personal cultivation, devoting his energy entirely to his clan.

He had thought himself at peace with this choice, but only now did he realize that this so-called peace was merely a compromise born of helplessness.

A true cultivator should never lightly abandon hope, not even if the odds were one in a hundred million.

The Immortal Ascension Path [the arduous journey to achieve immortality] is treacherous. Throughout the ages, countless heaven-favored geniuses have emerged, yet few have ultimately attained immortality.

Those who reach the end are invariably individuals with an unshakable Dao-heart [cultivator's core resolve and spiritual foundation] and immense, unwavering perseverance.

As for innate talent and comprehension, these can still be altered through later effort. It is one's character and will that are truly paramount.

Varen Wei remained silent for a long while. His gaze settled on Eldrin Chen, and he suddenly spoke: "Do you know? I envied you. I hated myself for not being your equal."

"You are the person I have seen with the greatest potential to achieve immortality. I wanted to become someone like you, yet I lack the courage to stake everything on a single throw as you do."

"I did not even dare to confront the Mortal Shell Tribulation [a crucial trial where a cultivator sheds their mortal limitations]. My entire life has been a complete failure."

Varen Wei spoke for a long time, eventually falling silent once more.

He finally let out a sigh. After gazing at Eldrin Chen for a long moment, he handed him a pitch-black Treasure Box. "This is the medium for the Demonic Fiendish Energy Entangling Thread Curse [a sinister curse that binds the victim with threads of demonic energy]."

"An old demon from Demonic Ape Mountain [a mountain range inhabited by demonic apes] approached me. He promised to help me convert to the Demonic Path [a cultivation method that harnesses demonic energies] and break through to the Golden Core Realm [the realm where a cultivator forms a solidified core of spiritual power] if I planted this curse on you."

"I see."

Eldrin Chen took the dark demonic box and said calmly, "This is precisely the kind of underhanded trickery one expects from Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who follow the demonic path of cultivation]."

"You should know... I almost decided to use it on you."

Varen Wei shook his head, his eyes filled with a weary, desolate loneliness. "Walk your path well. Carry my blessing with you. See for me... what the Immortal Realm [the legendary realm of immortals]... looks like..."

Varen Wei spoke these words quietly, his voice growing softer and softer until it faded away entirely. The last wisp of his life force dissipated into the world.

Eldrin Chen stood in silence, a still figure before the bed of Varen Wei. He remained there for a long, long time, a quiet vigil in the hushed room.

Finally, he turned and stepped out of the Bamboo Hut. He paused at the threshold, where sunlight spilled down, casting a long, solitary shadow behind him.

"I will." Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel . com.