Chapter 472 : A Delicate Balance of Power

"That's not entirely accurate either,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, his considerations running deeper. "Within the Chen Nation, the Golden Core Demon King [a powerful demonic beast equivalent to a Golden Core realm cultivator] have all been slain or have fled."

"The Violet Sanctum Great Monster [demonic beasts equivalent to the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] left behind have lost their backing. Isn't this precisely the opportunity we are leaving for the Violet Sanctum [the third major cultivation realm] families of the Heavenly Ruins Alliance?"

"We slew the Infant Soul Demon Emperor [a supreme demonic beast equivalent to the Infant Soul realm] and drove away the high-ranking Demon Beasts [monstrous creatures that cultivate demonic energy], leaving a vast number of Demon Beasts below the Violet Sanctum realm like fish in a barrel for us."

"But if he were to go and slaughter a large number of Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast now, it would instead deprive the cultivators and clans who fought alongside us of a massive potential gain for no good reason."

Hearing Eldrin Chen speak of human relations and worldly wisdom, Lila nodded unconsciously in agreement.

Seeing that Lila seemed to grasp it yet not fully, Eldrin Chen continued, "However, in conquering the Chen Nation, the effort we contributed far surpassed that of the other Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] within the Heavenly Ruins Alliance. Therefore, the lion's share of the spoils naturally belongs to us, and the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] we are due must still be earned."

"Moreover, we are severely short-handed. We need Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have reached the fourth major cultivation realm] to garrison the border Spiritual Vein [a subterranean channel rich in spiritual energy] for us and share the pressure from the Demon Race [a race of beings that cultivate demonic energy]. So, these Fourth-Rank Spirit Mountain [a mountain peak housing a high-grade spiritual vein] must still be sold, but we need to find the right balance."

He elaborated methodically. According to his plan, henceforth, the Demon Beasts resources within a certain radius of the Spiritual Vein territories in the Chen Nation would be managed by the respective cultivation clan occupying that Spirit Mountain.

For example, since Feather Sikong purchased the Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein in the Savage Ox Ancient Plain, the Demon Beasts resources within a radius of three hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from his Spirit Mountain would fall under his purview. For uninterrupted reading, go to (audio-novel.com).

If the territories of two Spirit Mountain [a mountain range rich in spiritual energy] overlap, then the matter is submitted to the Heavenly Ruins Alliance [a major alliance of cultivator factions] for judgment, which then decides the allocation of the Demon Beasts [monstrous creatures tainted by demonic energy] resources therein.

In this way, the Chen Clan not only profits from selling the Spirit Mountain, but also distributes the burden of defending the territory among numerous large and small Immortal Clan [cultivator clans that pursue immortality]. This greatly reduces the manpower and material costs required to develop the Chen Nation.

And these various Immortal Clan, for their own development and to protect the lands where their clans live and multiply, will undoubtedly spare no effort in clearing out the Demon Beasts.

After considering all these factors, Eldrin Chen still decided to sell the territory of the Savage Ox Ancient Plain [an ancient, desolate plain inhabited by savage ox-like demon beasts] to the couple, Feather Sikong.

"You may have the Spirit Mountain, but I must first inform you of the rules,"

Eldrin Chen stated calmly, laying out the laws of the Chen Nation for the two of them.

Upon learning they could only slay Demon Beasts within three hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of the Savage Ox Ancient Plain, Feather Sikong nodded in agreement nonetheless.

Although they couldn't take advantage or cross the border to hunt Demon Beasts within the Chen Nation, the Savage Ox Ancient Plain bordered the Demon Race Territory [lands dominated by demonic beings]. They could venture deep into the Demon Race Territory to attempt hunting Demon Beasts there.

While this carried significant danger, as long as they didn't encounter an Infant Soul Demon Emperor [a powerful demon beast equivalent to the Infant Soul stage of human cultivation], their combined strength gave them a fair chance of survival.

Furthermore, the Chen Clan was stationed at the Verdant Lotus Isle [a spiritual island]. Unless a major war erupted, ordinary Demon Emperor [titles for powerful demon rulers] would be unlikely to penetrate deep into the Chen Nation. Calculated this way, the threat level of the Savage Ox Ancient Plain was not excessively high.

With this thought, Feather Sikong produced two Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] and said with a smile, "Henceforth, we shall join the Heavenly Ruins Alliance, and from this day forward, we shall faithfully follow the Alliance Leader's commands."

"Hahaha!" Old Patriarch laughed heartily, accepting the two treasures. "By joining the Chen Nation Cultivation World, we are now allies. In due time, we shall secure positions as Elder [senior members] within the Heavenly Ruins Alliance for both of you."

Immortal Maiden Verdant Dipper also bowed gracefully and said, "Our gratitude..."

That very day, Eldrin Chen and the others boarded the Celestial Crane Treasure Ship [a majestic flying vessel] and set course for the Ji Continent Cultivation World.

Feather Sikong and Flowing Stream True Person accompanied them on the journey, intending to first settle in Chen Nation and begin the process of taking possession of the two Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [sites rich with potent spiritual energy].

Immortal Maiden Verdant Dipper remained behind. The mortal descendants of her and Feather Sikong numbered over ten thousand, and her presence was required to oversee the complex migration.

"..."

As they passed the Ji Continent Market, Old Patriarch continued piloting the Celestial Crane Treasure Ship towards Chen Nation, while Eldrin Chen and Lila disembarked and stayed behind.

Having gained insights from the Ancient Primordial Inscription [a mysterious artifact bearing profound knowledge], Lila was resolved not to delay. She planned to use the long-distance Teleportation Formation [a magical portal network] operated by the Ji Clan to reach the Long River Holy Land, one of the three great Human Race sacred lands within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

Watching Lila prepare to depart, a pang of reluctance stirred within Eldrin Chen's heart.

When I first met her, this girl was but a grimy little beggar. Three hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye, and without my even noticing, she has ascended to become one of the top five peerless immortal consorts among the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solid golden core of condensed spiritual power] female cultivators of the Ji Continent.

Now, across the Ji Continent, who does not know of her single Frost Soul Coldlight Sword [a magical sword imbued with the chilling essence of frost and soul], with which she carved out the formidable reputation of the Vast Cold Immortal Maiden [a title earned through her mastery of ice and cold-based cultivation arts]?

"The journey ahead spans hundreds of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of mountains and rivers. No one knows what year will mark your return. Have you truly considered this fully?"

Eldrin Chen looked at her and asked this final question.

The journey to the Far North Icy Plains requires several transfers. First, one must take the Ji Clan's Teleportation Formation [a magical array that instantly transports cultivators across vast distances] to arrive at Gu Source City, hundreds of millions of Li-lengths away.

Then, one must take another Teleportation Formation to the Long River Holy Land, and wait for the activation of their Sixth Rank Teleportation Formation [a high-grade teleportation array capable of crossing immense cosmic voids], before one can traverse an unfathomable number of hundreds of millions of Li-lengths of void to reach the distant Far North Icy Plains Cultivation World. This content originates from audio novel.com. Please respect copyright.

That Far North Icy Plains is immeasurably remote, a place utterly unfamiliar to cultivators from the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. Even many True Lord [cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul stage, the fourth major realm] never set foot there in their entire lives. Eldrin Chen himself had no idea what conditions were like over there.

Thinking of her going alone to a completely foreign land, Eldrin Chen could not help but feel a pang of worry in his heart.

He asked once more, "Are you truly decided?"

Lila remained silent, merely gazing at him intently before giving a solemn, firm nod.

"Alas," Eldrin Chen sighed, and could only say, "Very well, you have grown up. It is time for you to venture out on your own."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen took out a Storage Bag and handed it to her.

These were the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] obtained from the sale of the Spirit Mountain. Eldrin Chen took out a full ten million of them to give her as travel expenses for her journey.

Looking at the Spirit Stones within the Storage Bag, Lila bit her lip, unwilling to accept them. This sum was a considerable fortune even for Eldrin Chen.

Yet Eldrin Chen firmly pressed it into her hands, his expression resolute as he declared, "Your journey to the Far North Icy Plains will likely incur immense costs for teleportation alone."

"Without the support of the clan's Spirit Mountain in the future, your cultivation will also be troublesome. It is never wrong to carry extra Spirit Stones."

"Uncle Eldrin..."

Lila's eyes reddened slightly, but the words caught in her throat.

"What is it?" Eldrin Chen frowned, his brow creasing.

"It is nothing."

She shook her head once more, though her hand gripping the Storage Bag [a spatial pouch used by cultivators to store items] tightened unconsciously.

Eldrin Chen glanced at her, a faint sigh echoing in his heart. In the end, he chose not to ask. Some things were better left unheard.

With that said, there was little left to advise. Before parting, Eldrin Chen simply stated, "If you cannot return within a century, once I break through to the Infant Soul [the nascent soul stage, a major advancement in cultivation] realm, I will make a journey to the Far North Icy Plains."

Unnoticed, a heavy snow had begun to fall from the sky. Lila stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the retreating figure clad in robes as white as the snow.

She remained there, a silent statue amidst the swirling wind and snow, standing for a long, long time.

"Do you know, my lord," she whispered to the emptiness, "I do not grieve the past, I do not fear growing old, I do not dread my body's demise."

"I fear only that you, like my bygone self, will arrive too late. I dread only that you will live without seeing me. I tremble only that in the next life, you will not remember me." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel . com.