Chapter 430 : A Prodigy of the Triple Moon

"It seems I should also focus my efforts on deducing the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword."

Recalling the various wondrous applications of the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword, Eldrin Chen remarked with a sigh.

After speaking, he remembered Withering Liana Gu and added, "The Recluse of Elegant Verse couple has a daughter who surprisingly possesses the Triple Lunar Constitution [a rare cultivation physique attuned to the power of the moon]. They have asked me if I could have her become your disciple."

"Oh?"

Exquisite Jiang's eyes flickered slightly. A Triple Lunar Constitution [a rare cultivation physique attuned to the power of the moon] was an Extraordinary talent—it was the caliber for reaching the Infant Soul True Lord [a high stage of cultivation where one's nascent soul matures into a true spiritual lord] realm. With proper nurturing, her potential was truly significant.

Having considered this, Exquisite Jiang said, "A Path Body [a physique naturally aligned with a specific cultivation path] of such Extraordinary quality indeed warrants taking her as a personal disciple."

Having decided to accept a disciple, Exquisite Jiang did not waste time. The two of them directly took a Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances] to the Yan Kingdom.

After meeting the Recluse of Elegant Verse, Exquisite Jiang examined Withering Liana Gu's aptitude and nodded with a smile. "It is indeed the Triple Lunar Constitution [a rare cultivation physique attuned to the power of the moon]."

The couple, the Recluse of Elegant Verse and his wife, revealed their joy. A Path Body [a physique naturally aligned with a specific cultivation path] of this caliber was exceedingly rare; such aptitude would be considered quite outstanding even among Infant Soul True Lord [a high stage of cultivation where one's nascent soul matures into a true spiritual lord] cultivators.

The Immortal Maiden Clear Countenance suppressed her joy and, looking at Exquisite Jiang, asked with some concern, "I wonder if our daughter's Spiritual Root [the innate channel within a person that determines their ability to absorb and cultivate spiritual energy] can be fully mended?" Read the full novel exclusively on audio-novel`com.

"If she possessed a Four Spiritual Roots or Five Spiritual Roots constitution, then I might have had no means to sever her superfluous Spiritual Roots [the innate channels that determine one's affinity for absorbing spiritual energy]."

Exquisite Jiang offered a faint smile and replied, "But she is of Dual Spiritual Roots. My Heaven-Mending Secret Art [a profound technique capable of altering one's spiritual foundation] can indeed be of use to her."

"That is excellent news." Immortal Maiden Clear Countenance exclaimed with unbridled joy, her face alight with happiness. She eagerly pulled Withering Liana Gu forward. "What are you waiting for? Hurry and pay your respects to your master."

"I greet my honored master."

Though Withering Liana Gu was not yet seven years of age, she was already remarkably well-mannered and perceptive. She promptly spoke up in a clear, sweet voice.

Delighted to have gained a disciple of such exceptional talent, Exquisite Jiang was visibly pleased. She helped Withering Liana Gu to her feet and said with a warm smile, "From this day forth, you shall be the second true disciple under my tutelage."

In the traditions of cultivation within this world, the bond between master and disciple was profound. The adage "a teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime" held immense weight; the master-disciple relationship was considered no less significant than the bond with one's birth parents.

While a cultivator might take on nominal disciples with little ceremony, accepting a true disciple was a grave matter, typically preceded by extensive trials and observations.

This process scrutinized the candidate's character and moral fiber, and often involved careful assessment of their family background and parents. Only after such evaluation would one consider taking them as a true heir.

For a true disciple would inherit a portion of their master's legacy and be treated as one's own child, requiring immense dedication and resources to nurture properly.

The reason cultivators take on personal disciples is fundamentally because they perceive the disciple's potential to be at least comparable to their own, if not capable of surpassing them.

The motivation for such devoted nurturing often stems from the mentor's own uncertainty about achieving immortality. Should the disciple one day ascend to profound heights, they would be honor-bound to remember the immense debt of guidance and cultivation.

It is said that tens of thousands of years ago, when the Purple Seal Realm still shone with unparalleled glory, the very first act of any newly ascended Immortal was to seek out the reincarnated form of their master, to repay the Karma [the cosmic debt of cause and effect] of being guided onto the path.

A supreme cultivator like Exquisite Jiang is a master countless clans dream of for their most gifted daughters. Yet, few ever meet her exacting standards.

Possessing the innate makings of an Immortal herself, devoting immense effort and resources to raising a disciple could very well hinder her own cultivation journey.

Her agreement to accept Withering Liana Gu as a disciple was due not only to the girl's notably Extraordinary talent, but primarily because of Eldrin Chen's personal recommendation.

Returning to the matter at hand, after performing the grand ceremonial bows, Withering Liana Gu was ultimately accepted as Exquisite Jiang's second personal disciple.

Exquisite Jiang brought her back to Spirit Lake Isle, imparting foundational cultivation arts and the Heaven-Mending Secret Art. After personally instructing her for three months, she then entrusted Withering Liana Gu to the care of Elara Lin.

The stages of Vital Essence Refinement and Foundation Establishment Realm present no great conceptual difficulty. Having a Golden Core True Person [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy] of Elara Lin's stature personally oversee her foundational training was already a rare and immense privilege.

Exquisite Jiang would only need to periodically examine her progress and comprehension herself.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang devoted their primary focus, beyond their daily cultivation regimen, to deducing the principles behind Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of great power] and Divine Ability [profound supernatural techniques].

Time flowed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, another two years had passed.

On this day, the Old Patriarch personally arrived at Spirit Isle Lake, which took Eldrin Chen somewhat by surprise.

Eldrin Chen poured a cup of tea for the Old Granduncle and asked with a smile, "You arrived in quite a hurry today, Granduncle. Is something the matter?"

"A calamity has occurred," the Old Patriarch declared, his face ashen. "The Qian Clan has been annihilated."

As soon as he saw Eldrin Chen, the Old Patriarch delivered this grim news, his expression steely. Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel[dot]com.

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly. "But the Qian Clan was a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan founded by a Golden Core stage cultivator]. How could they be wiped out so suddenly?" he couldn't help but ask.

"I had someone investigate. This Qian Clan..."

The Old Patriarch cut his sentence short, his expression turning icy as he handed a letter to Eldrin Chen. "Read this first."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he took the letter and glanced over it, his expression quickly turning icy.

After reading it, he passed the letter to Exquisite Jiang and said with a cold laugh, "The Qian Clan truly sought their own demise."

According to the investigation results detailed in the letter, the Qian Clan's annihilation was entirely self-inflicted.

It turned out that over a Sixty-Year Cycle ago, the Qian Clan had discovered a Medium-Grade Spirit Stone Vein [a rich deposit of mid-quality spiritual energy-storing minerals] within the territory of Earth Lion Prefecture.

The Earth Lion Prefecture had been conquered primarily by the Chen Clan and Exquisite Jiang, with Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang claiming eighty percent of the Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds] from the campaign.

During that battle, the compensation for True Person Great Defense of the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect who participated was paid by the couple themselves, as was the reward for the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, forming a solidified golden spiritual core] sects responsible for containing the other Demon King [a powerful demonic entity, equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator].

According to the agreement, the Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] from that time received substantial rewards, which included Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with potent spiritual energy] and mineral veins.

Back then, as a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan, the Qian Clan did not even possess a single cultivator at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the peak of the fourth major cultivation stage]. Among the several dozen Violet Sanctum Immortal Clans that participated in the war, their contributions did not rank within the top ten.

Therefore, although this medium-grade vein was discovered by the Qian Clan, their strength and contribution were insufficient, disqualifying them from claiming the lion's share.

However, wealth can cloud men's hearts. Greedy for this fourth-rank mineral vein, the Qian Clan chose not to report it to the Heavenly Ruins Alliance. Instead, they concealed its existence and secretly began mining it.

To prevent detection by the Heavenly Ruins Alliance, the Qian Clan did not even mobilize their mortal clan members. Instead, they secretly dispatched two thousand Vital Essence Refinement cultivators to carry out the mining.

They mined in this manner for a full sixty years, and the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] they obtained astonishingly exceeded eighteen million pieces.

The reason Rising Harmony Qian was able to break through to the Golden Core Realm [the third major realm of cultivation where one forms a solidified golden core of spiritual power] was precisely the immense profits brought by this Spiritual Vein [a subterranean vein rich in concentrated spiritual energy].

It is said that to prevent the Chen Clan from noticing anything amiss, Rising Harmony Qian even secretly traveled beyond the borders of Ji Continent to the territory of Tianlu Continent to purchase a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious elixir that aids in the formation of the Golden Core].

After Rising Harmony Qian achieved his Golden Core breakthrough, the Spirit Stone mine continued to be worked for several more years. It is known that until two or three years ago, he still had ten million Spirit Stone remaining in his possession.

Therefore, to further nurture Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core Realm], Rising Harmony Qian once again secretly took a massive fortune in Spirit Stone to Tianlu Continent.

This time, emboldened by his increased strength and status after reaching the Golden Core Realm, he remained unaware that he had long been marked by a ruthless individual. Original publication: audio-novel.com (official site) - The source of this chapter.