Chapter 447 : The Uninvited Sword of Soaring Cloud

In earlier years, the Yun Clan maintained a reputation for benevolence. However, in recent times, as the cultivation of Desert River Yun grew ever more profound, the clan's demeanor began to shift towards arrogance and domineering behavior.

They commenced the exploitation of the lower-tier Immortal Clan under their sway, and began to extort and demand tribute from the weaker Immortal Clan. This conduct gradually earned them a number of formidable adversaries.

Although Desert River Yun did not personally involve himself in these affairs, he turned a blind eye to them. The root cause lay in the clan's insufficient foundational resources; such actions were deemed necessary to accumulate the capital required for Desert River Yun's breakthrough into the Infant Soul realm [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed].

Then, on this day, an uninvited guest arrived at the Path-Field [a clan's primary cultivation territory] of the Yun Immortal Clan, the mountain known as Soaring Cloud Mountain.

A man clad in robes white as snow strode through the air. With a single sword stroke, he cleaved the thousand-zhang Guest Greeting Peak in twain. The colossal mountain peak collapsed, crushing rivers and valleys, sending forth earth-shaking tremors and a sky-rending shockwave.

"Who dares to destroy our Guest Greeting Peak?!"

A single stone cast into a pond sends ripples across its surface. In that instant, the entire Yun Immortal Clan erupted into turmoil.

Powerful experts of the Yun Immortal Clan soared into the sky, their expressions a mix of grave concern and furious indignation. The leading few Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed a golden core of spiritual power] gazed with solemn gravity at the snow-white figure standing before them.

Exchanging glances, the Clan Patriarch, Desert River Yun, revealed a deeply troubled countenance.

Recognizing the identity of the figure in white, his expression darkened as he spoke, "Fellow Daoist Chen [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator], a century ago we fought side by side at the Void Gem Mine Vein. What grievance compels you now to lay waste to our Guest Greeting Peak?" Find this and other novels at audio-novel.com.

The one who arrived was none other than Eldrin Chen. The Guest Greeting Peak served as the public face of a Golden Core Immortal Clan; by cleaving it in two with a single sword stroke, he had effectively slapped the Yun Immortal Clan across the face.

However, Eldrin Chen had come today precisely to thoroughly subdue the Yun Immortal Clan, using their defeat as a warning to all the Immortal Clan sects across Ji Continent.

As the saying goes, a single decisive blow delivered now can prevent a hundred future strikes.

The Chen Clan was growing ever more powerful, and the interests it controlled would expand accordingly. It was inevitable that other major powers would cast covetous eyes upon them. To safeguard these hard-won gains, the Chen Clan had to make it unequivocally clear to every Immortal Clan on Ji Continent that they were not to be trifled with.

As his and his wife's cultivation advanced, their need for resources would swell immensely. The Chen Clan's own development also demanded vast resources. Therefore, he had to deter any and all who harbored ill intentions.

With this resolve firm in his heart, Eldrin Chen declared with icy detachment, "Thirteen years ago, your Yun Clan intercepted a Chen Clan Treasure Ship. A Golden Core Cultivator [a master at the third major stage of cultivation] even bullied the weak, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of our Chen Clan cultivators and one Violet Sanctum [a master at the second major stage of cultivation] elder."

"Furthermore, the Path [the lifelong pursuit of spiritual ascension] of two junior disciples at the Violet Sanctum realm was severed because of it. Today, I have come to demand justice."

"This..."

Desert River Yun's heart sank. He realized this matter would not be settled simply.

He looked at Eldrin Chen, his expression grave, and said, "That incident all those years ago was an unfortunate misunderstanding. I have already disciplined our clan's Third Elder for his role in it."

"I am willing to compensate your Chen Clan with two Five Elements Crystal [a crystal containing the refined essence of the five fundamental elements] for each Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Violet Palace, the third major cultivation stage] who perished in battle or had their Path [one's personal cultivation journey and destiny] severed. I hope we can let this matter rest here."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen let out a sharp laugh, his gaze suddenly turning icy and resolute. "What if I were to behead you," he said coldly, "and then offer your Yun Clan two Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that aids in the formation of a cultivator's Golden Core] as compensation? Would you find that acceptable?"

"You—!"

The Third Elder of the Yun Clan flushed with anger. "How dare you compare us, honored Golden Core True Persons [cultivators who have condensed a Golden Core, the fourth major cultivation stage], to mere Violet Sanctum Cultivators?" he spat out indignantly.

"Third Brother, step back." Desert River Yun quickly pulled the Third Elder behind him, sensing they might not be Eldrin Chen's match. He then clasped his hands in a formal salute. "It was wrong for our Yun Clan Elder to bully the weak. We are willing to offer compensation."

"Name your price for restitution. My Yun family will ensure you are satisfied."

"What I want is simple," Eldrin Chen said, his voice pausing as a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "A life for a life. Not a single one of those who raised a hand against my Chen Clan all those years ago shall be spared."

"Impossible!"

The Yun Clan's Grand Elder spoke up immediately. In his view, thirty Violet Sanctum Cultivators were not worth a single Golden Core Cultivator.

To the Chen Clan, it was merely a matter of one death and two injuries. How could they possibly demand a life for a life from a Golden Core Elder of the Yun Clan? As for the other low-ranking Chen Clan cultivators who fell in battle, in his view, they were even less significant—a compensation of Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] would suffice.

"Unwilling to pay a life for a life, then?"

Seeing the Yun Clan's refusal, Eldrin Chen stated calmly, "Then I shall take it myself."

"*Clang!*"

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen summoned his Heavenly River Positive Water Sword. With a resonant ring, the blade shot directly towards the Yun Clan's Third Elder.

Witnessing his attack, Desert River Yun's expression shifted slightly. He hastily summoned his Lifebound Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], the 'Cloud River Saber', to intercept. Yet, in the briefest clash, he felt his magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] sustain damage, and a numbing tremor shot through the meridians within his body. For the best reading experience, visit audio_novel.com.

"How can his spiritual energy [the vital energy cultivated and used by practitioners] be so refined and pure? It likely approaches the level of an Infant Soul Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed their nascent soul, a higher stage of spiritual development]," he thought with alarm.

Heart pounding with dread, Desert River Yun watched as the other several Golden Core Cultivators [practitioners who have formed a golden core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy] swiftly intervened, finally managing to pull the Third Elder to safety.

Having narrowly escaped death, the Yun Clan's Third Elder shot a venomous glare at Eldrin Chen. "Elders," he snarled, his face contorted, "let us act together and teach this man a lesson he won't forget."

"Wait—"

Clan Patriarch Desert River Yun initially intended to mediate peace, but the words died on his lips before he could finish speaking.

After all, no matter what, he could not accept the idea of sacrificing Third Elder to atone for the lives of the Chen Clan cultivators. Left with no other choice, he could only charge forward as well, joining the others in their attempt to surround and attack Eldrin Chen.

Facing the encirclement, Eldrin Chen's expression remained unchanged. With a casual flick of his hand, he summoned the Polarity Void Mirror and effortlessly captured three Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts].

Seeing the terrifying power of the Primordial Magnetism magical treasure [enchanted artifact], they hastily withdrew their own treasures, forced to rely solely on their Divine Ability [supernatural techniques derived from profound cultivation] to engage Eldrin Chen in battle.

After a mere thirty-some exchanges, a cold glint flashed in Eldrin Chen's eyes. He casually unleashed a three-colored divine thunderbolt, aiming it directly at the Yun Clan's Third Elder.

"Beware! It's the Great God Ability [a supreme supernatural technique]!"

Desert River Yun's face paled with horror. He frantically summoned several magical treasure [enchanted artifacts] and even expended multiple precious protective talismans in a desperate attempt to block the strike.

Yet, with the level of spiritual power Eldrin Chen now commanded, the might of this Trinity Divine Thunder [Three-in-One Divine Thunder technique] was in no way inferior to an attack from an Infant Soul Cultivator [a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage].

Even with five Golden Core Cultivator [Core Formation stage cultivators] combining their efforts to defend, shattering several Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] in the process, a residual wave of power still managed to erupt through their defenses.

That single strike utterly obliterated the Third Elder's physical body, leaving only his Golden Core [the condensed core of spiritual power at the Core Formation stage] to flee for its life. The remaining cultivators suffered severe spiritual backlash; among them, the Second Elder and the Fourth Elder, both at the Golden Core Early Stage [early Core Formation stage], were left grievously wounded, their vital essence severely depleted.

"Flee, now!"

Seeing that even their combined efforts of five were no match for Eldrin Chen's Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals], Desert River Yun ensnared the Golden Core [the solidified core of spiritual power within a Golden Core cultivator] of the Third Elder and fled into the Formation [a mystical array or defensive barrier].

As they were so close, they vanished into the Spirit Mountain in the blink of an eye.

Once inside the Spirit Mountain, the Golden Core of the Third Elder emerged, his spectral face a mask of shock and fury. "Patriarch," he cried out, "you must avenge me!"

Desert River Yun scanned his surroundings. The other Golden Core Cultivators [practitioners who have formed a Golden Core, a major realm of power] were all pale and shaken, each seemingly unable to comprehend how utterly they had been defeated.

At this thought, a wave of desolation washed over Desert River Yun. He sighed heavily and addressed the Third Elder of the Yun Clan:

"Mokong, Mokong. You broke through to the Golden Core at four hundred years of age. Your Path [the Dao, the ultimate principle and goal of cultivation] was already severed, and since then you have drowned yourself in pleasure, your temperament growing ever more capricious and volatile."

"Over these years, you have forcibly taken over one hundred concubines, even stooping to attack juniors on multiple occasions, casting aside all dignity. Resentment against you has festered in many clans across the Ji Continent, held back only by fear of our Yun Clan's might."

"Out of deference to your status as a clan Elder, I turned a blind eye. But now you have kicked an iron plate, and I cannot afford to be lenient."

As he spoke these words, Desert River Yun's gaze turned icy. His hand shot out and seized the Golden Core of the Third Elder.

Seeing the murderous intent flash in Desert River Yun's eyes, the Third Elder was overcome with despair. He pleaded in utter terror, "Spare me, Clan Patriarch! I intercepted the Chen Clan's Treasure Ship [a large, enchanted vessel used for transporting valuable goods] solely to gather resources for your Nascent Soul [the fourth major stage of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual infant] breakthrough!"

"Spare me…"

His words had barely faded before Desert River Yun completely subdued and imprisoned him.

After suppressing Desert Void Yun, Desert River Yun turned his gaze upon the assembled clan members. His expression was a tortured mix of ruthless resolve and profound anguish as he declared, "By sacrificing one, we save the clan."

"In this dire hour, only by severing the poisoned limb can we preserve the Yun Clan." The story continues at https://audio-novel.com.