Chapter 506 : A Mountain's Fall and a Clan's Fury

In days past, this place was always veiled in the ethereal mists of Immortal Energy [a sublime and potent form of spiritual energy], with Vast Righteous Energy [a purifying divine force] cleansing the void. Yet now, Dark Ink Mountain had been transformed into a scene of utter ruin.

The towering peak had been pierced through, the once vibrant Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich with spiritual energy] overturned. For a thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in every direction, the earth was rent with countless fissures.

It was as if an unstoppable force had erupted at the summit of Dark Ink Mountain, a cataclysm that had flattened the majestic mountain range, reducing it all to barren ground.

All that remained was an aura of overwhelming ferocity and profound tragedy, lingering in the air like a silent proclamation.

Eldrin Chen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a silent sentinel in the void. His expression was inscrutable as he gazed down upon the ruins of Dark Ink Mountain, revealing nothing of the tempest within.

Only in the depths of his pupils could one glimpse a sliver of piercing light, sharp and brilliant as an Immortal Sword [a divine blade wielded by immortals], a gaze too fierce for most to meet.

"Three days ago, a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a legendary artifact of immense power designed to vanquish demons] launched a sudden assault,"

"The entire Dark Ink Mountain was obliterated. Nearly ten thousand cultivators of the Chen Clan stationed here, along with over ten million mortals, were annihilated in a single night. Not a single soul survived."

Behind Eldrin Chen, the siblings Void Cosmos Chen and Void Spirit Chen spoke with eyes reddened and voices choked with emotion.

The recent calamity had shaken the entire Qi Nation. The two siblings had left Dark Ink Mountain to manage a shop in a nearby market town. They could never have imagined that Dark Ink Mountain would be utterly erased from the world overnight. Published by audio–novel.com. All rights reserved.

At that very moment, a black-robed man strode through the air, arriving on the scene.

The newcomer was none other than Patriarch Mo-ink, and standing behind him was Lior Chen.

Patriarch Mo-ink cast a glance at Eldrin Chen before speaking. "That Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact designed to suppress demonic beings] attacked the market district, intending to slay Fellow Daoist Lior. I managed to drive it off for the time being."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod. The attacker had not dared to enter Chu Nation, where Eldrin Chen resided. They had not even acted personally, merely unleashing a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure to wreak havoc across the land.

Patriarch Mo-ink's cultivation had already broken through to the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-advanced stage just below the true Infant Soul realm]. Realizing he could not be swiftly subdued, the assailant had retreated in haste.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen clasped his hands in salute. He produced a vial of precious Precious Pill [a high-grade elixir that significantly aids cultivation] and offered it, saying, "I shall remember the favor you have shown by aiding us this time, Elder Brother. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude."

"There is no need for this," Patriarch Mo-ink shook his head, pushing the Precious Pill back. He sighed deeply. "For the other party to dare commit such a heinous act that incurs the wrath of both heaven and man... I fear their enmity with you runs deep, a feud of life and death."

"Regardless, it would be wise for you to make preparations sooner rather than later."

"I understand the gravity of the situation," Eldrin Chen nodded. Seeing that Patriarch Mo-ink would not accept the gift, he had little heart for further pleasantries. "I have pressing matters to attend to today and cannot linger any longer."

After bidding farewell to Patriarch Mo-ink, Eldrin Chen led his companions back to Green Chariot Mountain.

Upon returning to Green Chariot Mountain, the siblings Void Cosmos Chen immediately knelt down, their faces streaked with tears, and pleaded, "Patriarch, the other party has committed such a cruel and brutal act. We beseech you, Patriarch, to uphold justice for us."

Eldrin Chen stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the great hall, his expression calm as he observed the assembly. He noted that every single Golden Core cultivator of the Chen Clan present was filled with righteous indignation, their eyes blazing with furious killing intent.

He stood there in utter silence, yet to all present, Eldrin Chen seemed like a vast, placid sea on the cusp of a violent storm.

There are beings who, when not angered, remain tranquil, but whose wrath, once provoked, shatters stone and startles heaven, erupting with the fury of thunderous waves that shake the very earth.

An immeasurable span of time seemed to pass before the snow-white-robed figure in the great hall finally stirred.

He took a step forward, his countenance as unruffled as still water, and declared, "Issue the command. Halt all our trade outside of Chu Nation and Chen Nation."

"All cultivators of the Chen Clan are to withdraw immediately to Chen Nation and Chu Nation. None are to venture rashly beyond the lands of our Spirit Mountain."

"..."

Departing from Green Chariot Mountain, Eldrin Chen traversed a thousand Li-lengths of mountains and rivers in the blink of an eye, arriving at the shore of Spirit Isle Lake.

He stood silently by the Spiritual Lake, hands behind his back, gazing at the setting sun on the horizon. He remained there, steeped in a profound and wordless silence.

A light rain began to fall from the sky, which, unnoticed, swelled into a downpour. Nine Celestial Silver serpents danced wildly through the clouds, as if the Thunder God himself was venting his wrath.

Exquisite Jiang stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him as they watched the ripples spreading across the Spiritual Lake. "What do you intend to do?"

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The boundless karma of slaughter... I shall bear it."

After a long silence, Eldrin Chen spoke. "Perhaps my temperament in the past was too mild, lacking the necessary edge."

"..."

Days spun like a top beneath the setting sun, whirling in an endless cycle of Reincarnation. The story continues at audio-novel-dot-com.

In the blink of an eye, a thousand sunrises and sunsets had passed. Three fleeting years went by, and the time for the once-in-a-millennium Heaven and Earth Resonance event was finally drawing near.

On this day, Eldrin Chen entrusted the care of the Chen Nation to Violet Consort Yan and the Ji Immortal Clan, then departed for the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range together with Exquisite Jiang.

The two ascended Vast Righteousness Peak and met Vast Righteousness True Lord within the grand hall at the mountain's summit.

Inside the hall, Vast Righteousness True Lord looked at Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang and stated plainly, "According to my divinations, this Heaven and Earth Resonance should commence three months from now."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then inquired, "May I ask, True Lord, during this moment of Heaven and Earth Resonance [the rare convergence of the wills of Heaven and Earth], can an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator whose Primordial Spirit has matured into an Infant Soul] intervene?"

"They cannot."

Vast Righteousness True Lord shook his head and explained, "This Heaven and Earth Resonance is a rare occasion when the Heavenly Path Will [the conscious intent of the Heavenly Dao] of the Purple Seal Realm merges with the will of the earth."

"One could say this is a chance bestowed by the will of Heaven and Earth upon the Golden Core Cultivators of this world. Only cultivators at the Golden Core Realm [the realm where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid Golden Core] are qualified to contend for it."

"If an Infant Soul True Lord rashly interferes, they will inevitably incur the Thunderclap [a manifestation of divine wrath] of the heavenly and earthly wills."

As Vast Righteousness True Lord elaborated, Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. Even a Primordial Solar Path Lord [a supreme master of the Solar Path] could not withstand the wrath of the Heavenly Path Will, let alone an Infant Soul True Lord.

However, Vast Righteousness True Lord paused briefly, his expression shifting slightly, and added, "Although Infant Soul True Lords cannot intervene directly, they can covertly support their disciples and followers, increasing their chances of obtaining the Heavenly Path Energy [a pure, condensed essence of the Heavenly Dao's power]."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen grasped the general picture in his mind.

The Heavenly Path Energy was a priceless treasure, coveted even by True Lords at the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Infant Soul realm].

While Infant Soul True Lords could not intervene personally, they could provide their disciples with Fifth Rank [a high-grade classification for talismans and artifacts] protective talismans and Spiritual Treasures [powerful enchanted artifacts]. They could also lay preparations in advance, much like Vast Righteousness True Lord had done, to aid the cultivators they supported.

Nevertheless, Eldrin Chen remained brimming with confidence. "We are certain to reap rewards from this opportunity concerning the Heavenly Path Energy [a rare and potent spiritual energy said to be the essence of the Heavenly Path itself]," he declared with conviction.

"..."

After bidding farewell to Vast Righteousness True Lord, Eldrin Chen returned to his cave abode to rest and prepare.

In the following days, an increasing number of cultivators converged upon the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range, each one at least a Golden Core True Person [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, the third major stage of cultivation] of the Golden Core Late Stage.

By the time over a month had passed, the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range had astonishingly gathered more than three hundred Golden Core True Persons.

That day, Path Master Unreal also arrived at the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range. His first stop was Eldrin Chen's abode, where he presented a dossier. "This is information I have secretly had people gather over the past century," he said, handing it over. "Take a look."

"This is information I have secretly had people gather over the past century. Take a look."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with interest. He accepted the dossier and began to peruse its contents.

The dossier contained detailed records on the more than three hundred Golden Core Cultivators who had gathered at the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range for this event.

According to the records, these cultivators hailed from over thirty major continents in the surrounding regions. The weakest among them had attained at least the seventh layer of the Golden Core Stage.

Yet among this multitude, only a select few—scarcely more than thirty individuals—truly commanded attention and warranted serious regard. These were the true prodigies, the chosen ones who had attained the Superior-Tier Golden Core [the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage, representing a cultivator of extraordinary talent and foundation]. Dive deeper into the Dao at audi0-n0vel.c0m.