Chapter 433 : The Spiritual Peach's Ascension

Seeing his expression, Exquisite Jiang smiled and said, "During your seclusion, the Spiritual Peach Tree has finally advanced another step, reaching the Fourth Rank Superior Grade."

"However, at this stage, the potential of this Spiritual Peach Tree has reached its limit; it will be difficult for it to break through to the Fifth Rank level."

Eldrin Chen nodded, stepped forward to look at the Spiritual Peach Tree, and said, "The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Peach is crucial to our cultivation; it is a Worldly Spiritual Root we must nurture. We should prioritize using Primordial Chaos Violet Aura to advance it first."

As his words fell, he exhaled three streams of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura.

As the three streams of Violet Aura descended and were absorbed into the seed of the Spiritual Peach Tree, Eldrin Chen could clearly sense that a certain shackle binding the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Peach Tree seemed to have been unlocked.

It could now continue to grow without further restriction until it encountered the bottleneck of advancing to a Sixth Rank Worldly Spiritual Root.

"Success," Eldrin Chen revealed a smile and said to Exquisite Jiang, "Within three Sixty-Year Cycle, this tree will advance to the realm of a Fifth Rank Worldly Spiritual Root."

"A Fifth Rank Worldly Spiritual Root..."

Exquisite Jiang also marveled. A Fifth Rank Worldly Spiritual Root was considered a supreme treasure even within the vast expanse of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

For example, the Five Elements Spirit Fruit Tree of the Ji Clan, whose Five Elements Spirit Fruit ripened every century, was capable of nurturing a great number of Golden Core Cultivator. The story continues at audio—novel.com.

Similarly, the Spirit Apricot [a spiritual fruit] borne by a Fifth Rank Spirit Apricot Tree [a tree of the highest spiritual grade] could extend one's lifespan by a full millennium with just a single fruit, a treasure that would make even an Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator at the Infant Soul stage] covet it with deep longing.

In stark contrast, a Fourth Rank Spirit Apricot [a spiritual fruit of the fourth grade] could only extend life by two Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years], revealing the immense, almost unfathomable chasm in efficacy between the ranks.

Thus, once this Spiritual Peach Tree [a tree bearing spiritual peaches] ascended to the Fifth Rank [the pinnacle grade for spiritual items], its effects would undoubtedly undergo a similarly monumental enhancement, offering immense benefits even to a True Lord [a high-ranking cultivator lord].

"The value of a Fifth Rank Worldly Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of the highest earthly grade] would likely stir the hearts of Infant Soul True Lord cultivators with irresistible desire."

Exquisite Jiang [Patriarch Jiang's title, meaning 'Exquisite'] reined in her joy, her expression turning grave as she spoke, "It would be best for us to achieve a breakthrough to the Infant Soul [the Infant Soul cultivation stage] before that happens. Otherwise, if word were to leak, you and I might not be able to defend it."

"A span of three Sixty-Year Cycle is more than sufficient time."

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, Chen Nianzhi] gazed forth with a steely glint in his eyes. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, a measure of confident certainty settled within his heart.

After emerging from his Seclusion Chamber [a chamber for secluded cultivation], Eldrin Chen made his way to Pingyang City [a city name] and sought out the Old Patriarch [the venerable elder of the clan], who had also just concluded his own period of secluded cultivation.

"You have broken through as well."

The moment they met, a look of mutual surprise flashed across both their faces.

It turned out that Old Patriarch had, unbeknownst to him, gradually caught up in cultivation, having already broken through to the Golden Core 6th Tier a few months earlier than Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen was initially taken aback, but comprehension dawned on him swiftly.

Although Old Patriarch had formed his Golden Core over a decade later than him, he was, after all, a cultivator with a Dual Spiritual Root [a rare and superior spiritual foundation]. Coupled with Eldrin's full support and resources over the years, it was only natural for his cultivation to catch up.

Furthermore, given the Old Patriarch's innate talent, he would likely reach Golden Core Perfection [the peak of the Golden Core stage] even sooner than Eldrin, allowing him to attempt the breakthrough to the Infant Soul Realm [the stage where the cultivator's soul begins to take independent form] at an earlier date.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "I have been carefully preserving the 'Fire Vein Spirit Jade' [a rare jade imbued with fire-attribute spiritual energy] that Silas brought last time. It seems it can still be reserved for you."

"I have only just reached the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm. To cultivate to Golden Core Perfection, I will need at least another two Sixty-Year Cycle [a full cycle of sixty years, a significant period in a cultivator's life]."

"Come, let us have a game of Go."

Old Patriarch shook his head gently, then smiled and invited Eldrin Chen to sit down.

The grandfather and grandson set up the Go board within the great hall and began their game. As he placed a stone, Eternal Profound Chen inquired, "Caleb recently made his third attempt to break through to the Golden Core realm and has finally succeeded."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile touched his lips. The successive breakthroughs of several elders within the clan to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a solid golden core of condensed spiritual power] filled him with genuine delight.

With this thought, he inquired further, "By the reckoning of time, Aunt Verdant Grace should have made her second attempt to assail the Golden Core a few years ago. How did it fare?"

"It was not successful."

Old Patriarch shook his head, his voice tinged with helplessness.

Verdant Grace Chen's own breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum [the second major realm, where one opens a mystical violet palace within the dantian] had come relatively late. Furthermore, she had borne both a son and a daughter in succession, which consumed a significant portion of her cultivation time.

This delay meant her second attempt to storm the Golden Core came over a decade later than initially hoped. Consequently, Verdant Grace Chen was already over three hundred and fifty years of age when she made that second bid for the Golden Core realm. The complete novel can be found at audio—novel.com.

This year, Verdant Grace Chen has reached three hundred and sixty years. At this age, she approaches the very limit of the Violet Sanctum Lifespan Limit [the maximum natural lifespan for a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum stage], making her an elder among Violet Sanctum Cultivator.

Considering that her third attempt will likely come in another twenty-some years, Verdant Grace Chen would then be nearing three hundred and eighty. By that time, her Vitality [the foundational life force and vigor essential for cultivation breakthroughs] would undoubtedly have begun to wane and grow insufficient.

Upon reaching this conclusion, Eldrin Chen spoke decisively, "The clan still possesses Fourth Rank Spirit Apricot [a high-grade spiritual fruit that can replenish vitality and aid cultivation]. We shall have one delivered to Aunt Verdant Grace."

"That seems the only course left to us."

Old Patriarch let out a sigh. Consuming a Fourth Rank Spirit Apricot could extend one's lifespan by two Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years]. Its value started at two million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

To use such a precious treasure on a mere Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum realm] was an act of sheer waste. Only someone of immense wealth like Eldrin Chen would be willing to use it for Verdant Grace Chen.

"Enough, let us speak no more of this," Old Patriarch shook his head, changing the subject. "By the way, what brings you here this time?"

Hearing the question, Eldrin Chen smiled. "The Spiritual Peach Tree has advanced to the Fourth Rank Superior Grade [the highest grade within the Fourth Rank]."

"Truly?" Eternal Profound Chen's face lit up with delight.

"Mhm."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then continued, "My purpose in coming was to propose using the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a primordial, chaotic energy of violet hue] to advance both the Spirit Apricot Tree and the Enlightenment Tea Tree at once."

"Oh?" Old Patriarch's eyes gleamed with interest. "The Enlightenment Tea Tree is not so urgent."

Before Eldrin Chen could ask, Old Granduncle elaborated, "After a full Sixty-Year Cycle of repeated reclamation efforts, nearly ninety-five percent of the demonic beasts and venomous insects in the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland have been cleared."

"We have already established dozens of Second and Third-Rank Cities within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. The time has come to consider a large-scale migration of mortals."

After the Old Patriarch finished speaking, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow and asked, "A large-scale migration is no small matter. How have you decided to handle it?"

"I plan to relocate Pingyang City, along with the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree,"

the Old Patriarch stated, producing a map and drawing a circle at the heart of the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland.

Then, pointing at the territory within the circle, he said with grave seriousness, "A Formation [a mystical array or defensive barrier] laid down with a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a ley line of the fourth rank, a source of concentrated spiritual energy] and seven cities would be sufficient to envelop an area spanning a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in radius."

"If we use a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [a ley line of the fifth rank, an even more potent source of spiritual energy] as the core and coordinate it with three hundred and sixty-five cities to set up the array, we can establish the Cosmic Stellar Demon-Refining Grand Formation [a grand celestial array that refines demonic energy using stellar power]."

"At that point, everything within a radius of thirty-six thousand five hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] would fall under the formation's protection, enough to thoroughly safeguard the greater part of the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland."

Watching as the Old Patriarch used his magic power to project the image of three hundred and sixty-five cities onto the map, Eldrin Chen couldn't help but focus his spirit to examine it closely.

After a long while, his brow deeply furrowed, he spoke with a grave expression, "You mean to relocate the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree [a mystical tree that enhances comprehension and nourishes the soul] to serve as the foundational anchor for the future Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein?"

"Precisely so."

The Old Patriarch nodded, a smile gracing his features as he said, "The Enlightenment Tea Tree [a tree whose leaves enhance mental clarity and comprehension] can elevate one's comprehension and has an excellent nourishing effect on the spiritual souls of newborn children."

"Moreover, once the Enlightenment Tea Tree [a spiritual tree whose leaves aid in meditation and enlightenment] advances to the Fifth Rank [the fifth tier in the classification system for spiritual items], it will evolve into the 'Spirit-Awakening Enlightenment Tree' [a legendary spiritual tree that can awaken latent spiritual potential]."

"That Spirit-Awakening Enlightenment Tree not only assists cultivators in their practice, but it also increases the likelihood of ordinary mortals being born with a Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation required for cultivation]. This would significantly boost the proportion of future cultivators within the clan." Join our community of readers at audio-novel[dot]com.