Chapter 223 : Ancestor's Vow and the Demon's Return

Yet, who could have foreseen that in the brief span of less than half a month, such astonishing upheavals would occur? The demonic scourge, unseen for over a hundred years, has resurfaced in the nation, and a Purple Mansion [a major cultivation stage representing a fortified spiritual residence] immortal clan, with a heritage spanning centuries, was reduced to dust overnight.

"Enough, rise,"

Eldrin Chen said with a wave of his sleeve, helping them to their feet, his expression calm. "If the opportunity arises in the future, after I break through to the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, forming a solidified core of spiritual power] realm, I will naturally slay Morgrim Yan and level the Demon Cave Cavern with a single sword."

"Thank you, Ancestor! Our deepest gratitude, Ancestor!"

The group kowtowed once more, with Yanxing Yang offering a thousand thanks, his aged tears streaming as he bowed his head repeatedly.

After the three had calmed somewhat, Eldrin Chen continued, "I have taken possession of your Yang Clan's Daoist Abode [a cultivator's personal sanctuary and place of practice], inheriting a portion of your karmic ties. Naturally, I will not treat you unfairly."

"I will nurture two second-rank high-grade Spirit Veins [natural conduits of spiritual energy that enhance cultivation environments] for you, allowing your clan to rebuild. Furthermore, I will grant your Yang Clan a one-time compensation of fifty thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]."

"In addition, should your Yang Clan ever face an existential threat of annihilation in the future, the Purple Mansion cultivators of my Chen Clan will intervene on your behalf three times."

Nurturing a single third-rank high-grade Spirit Vein requires the expenditure of tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, so two would consume one hundred thousand. Coupled with the fifty thousand in compensation, this reparation is, by all accounts, exceedingly generous.

After all, the Yang Clan no longer possesses the strength to hold onto their former interests. Even if the three great Purple Mansion immortal clans do not act, numerous Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, solidifying one's spiritual foundation] immortal clans would eagerly seize them, both openly and covertly. Join our community of readers at audio . novel . com.

In years past, were not these Spirit Veins and Earth Veins [the spiritual energy channels and terrestrial energy arteries of the land] also seized by the Chen Clan from the hands of the previous Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [an immortal clan whose patriarch has reached the Purple Mansion cultivation realm]?

However, after a moment of contemplation, Eldrin Chen recalled the several Purple Aura Pill [a high-grade elixir that aids in cultivating the Purple Mansion realm] gifted by Yang the Ancient Ancestor. Those pills had been of significant help to him and Old Patriarch during the Beast Tide Calamity [a catastrophic invasion by monstrous beasts].

"Now that Yang the Ancient Ancestor has departed, this debt of gratitude should rightly be repaid to the Yang Clan."

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment longer and decided that the Yang Family deserved a chance.

Thus, he raised his hand and summoned a golden edict [a formal decree imbued with spiritual authority]. Upon it, he inscribed a line of text before handing it to Yanxing Yang.

"This is my edict. Guard it well."

"If, in the future, anyone from your Yang Clan cultivates to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm], you may present this to my Chen Clan to exchange for a single Five Elements Crystal [a rare crystal containing the balanced essence of the five elements, crucial for attempting a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm]."

The three members of the Yang Family received the edict, their emotions surging as they prostrated themselves once more.

The Five Elements Crystal was far too precious. Even a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan found them exceedingly scarce and was loath to part with them for others.

Countless Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [an immortal clan whose patriarch has reached the Foundation Establishment cultivation realm] had to exhaust centuries of accumulated wealth to barely afford a single crystal, a testament to its immense value. While Purple Mansion Immortal Clan had relatively fixed means of production, the demand always far outstripped the supply.

If it were merely a verbal promise, one could still renege, but this Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their foundational spiritual residence] personally signed the edict, proving that Eldrin Chen indeed cherished past sentiments and had treated them with utmost benevolence and fairness.

After the three departed, overflowing with gratitude, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch remained within the Spirit Pool [a pool concentrated with spiritual energy].

The Old Patriarch gazed at the Spirit Pool and the Earth Vein [a subterranean conduit of concentrated earth-attribute spiritual energy], his expression a mix of joy and worry. "We finally managed to save up some Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to deploy the Seven Stars Demon-Refining Formation [a formation array that uses seven star-aligned nodes to refine and suppress demonic energy] at Pingyang City. It seems this will have to be delayed for a few more years."

"It matters not. While the initial outlay is significant, in the long view, it is a sound investment,"

Eldrin Chen said with a gentle smile. After seizing the Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] at Spirit Source Mountain and the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean vein of concentrated fire-attribute spiritual energy], the clan's income would increase by a substantial margin.

The Underground Fire Vein alone produced first and second-rank materials worth five thousand Spirit Stone annually.

Furthermore, the Underground Fire Vein at Spirit Source Mountain was the only Fire Vein [a vein of fire-attribute spiritual energy] in all of Bianzhou. Renting out its several dozen Earthfire Chamber [chambers built to harness subterranean earth-fire energy for cultivation or crafting] would also bring the clan an annual tax revenue of three thousand Spirit Stone.

"An annual profit of eight thousand Spirit Stone is quite acceptable."

The Old Patriarch also nodded, calculating silently before speaking. "However, the Spirit Farmland [fields nourished by spiritual energy to grow spiritual crops] on Spirit Source Mountain has been utterly devastated. Replanting Spirit Medicine [herbs imbued with and nourished by spiritual energy] would likely take over a century of effort. For the foreseeable future, it will be difficult for this land to yield profits for the Chen Clan."

"Now that we control so much Spirit Farmland, our clan lacks sufficient manpower. I fear fully developing this Spirit Vein will also prove challenging for now."

"The destruction of the Spirit Farmland [cultivated land infused with spiritual energy for growing spiritual crops] is indeed vexing," Eldrin Chen frowned, then his eyes suddenly brightened. "I have a plan that might revitalize this Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy within the earth]."

"We could completely transform Spirit Source Mountain into a series of Spirit Spring Cave Abode [cultivation dwellings built around natural spiritual springs] and rent them out to Rogue Cultivator [independent cultivators not affiliated with a major clan or sect] and cultivators from the Various Great Immortal Clans."

Hearing this, Thalion Chen's eyes couldn't help but gleam with a spark of interest.

After the Beast Tide Calamity [a catastrophic invasion by demonic beasts], the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation, the second major realm] in Bianzhou increased dramatically. Combined with the cultivators who migrated from Yang Province, the Bianzhou Foundation Establishment Cultivators now numbered over one hundred and eighty.

This was nearly double the number from Sixty Years Ago. With this population surge, the Spirit Vein in Bianzhou had become severely insufficient.

At this time, if they cleared out Spirit Source Mountain and rented it to the Bianzhou Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Rogue Cultivator, there would surely be many willing to lease a Spirit Spring Cave Abode long-term. Find thousands of chapters at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

Furthermore, once enough cultivators gathered, they could establish a cultivation market on Spirit Source Mountain.

Ling County originally had a cultivation market. The Lingyang Market was jointly managed by the Yang Family and eight major Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families with Foundation Establishment cultivators as their pillars], with the Yang Family holding the largest share.

However, now that the Yang Clan had fallen, the Lingyang Market, deprived of the Yang Family's resources, would inevitably decline sharply.

Under normal circumstances, most of its clientele would likely be drawn away by the Yuyang Market and the Fengyang Trading Post.

If the Chen Clan were to establish a market town at Spirit Source Mountain, it would effectively capture the flow of cultivators from Ling County and keep them within the confines of Spirit Source Mountain.

"An excellent idea," Eldrin Chen concurred.

After deliberating for half a day, the two decided to proceed with this plan. In the future, they would establish a cultivation market town at Spirit Source Mountain, to be named the Spirit Source Market.

Once the plan was settled, the Old Patriarch furrowed his brow once more. "But who shall we assign to garrison this place?"

"Garrison it..." Eldrin Chen murmured, his eyes glinting thoughtfully.

Spirit Source Mountain possessed a Third Rank Spirit Vein and a Third Rank Middle Grade Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial energy channel]. In the future, a cultivation market would be established there.

Once the market fully matured, the combined revenue from these three sources would likely bring the Chen Clan an annual income exceeding twenty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

The interests at stake were far too vast; it was imperative to station a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their spiritual foundation within the Purple Mansion realm] there for its defense.

Yet, the Chen Clan currently had only two Purple Mansion Cultivator. In a couple of years, after Verdant Chariot Mountain advanced, the clan would possess four Third Rank Spirit Vein within Yu County.

Therefore, a permanent garrison was absolutely necessary. The Old Patriarch had to guard Pingyang City and oversee Yu County, making it impossible for him to be absent for long periods. Eldrin Chen, too, was unsuited for being permanently confined to a single location.

"Alas, the interests our Chen Clan now commands are far too vast."

"With only the strength of the two of us, our mortal lifespans are simply insufficient to manage it all."

The Old Patriarch suddenly did not know whether to laugh or cry. The interests the Chen Clan now held were so immense, they had already surpassed those of most Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families whose patriarchs have reached the Purple Mansion realm].

This time, the Chen Clan had secured an entirely new Spirit Vein [a geological formation that concentrates and emits spiritual energy], and also gained a Third Rank Middle Grade Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean vein of concentrated fire-attribute spiritual energy]. From now on, not only would they obtain one Li Fire Crystal [a crystalized essence of concentrated fire energy] every sixty years, but they could also become self-sufficient in fire-attribute Heaven and Earth Treasures [rare natural materials imbued with potent spiritual power] of the second and Third Rank.

Calculating carefully, after securing this Earth Vein [a spiritual vein with earth-attribute properties], the Chen Clan would come to possess, solely for themselves, both the Metallic Essence Earth Vein and the Underground Fire Vein, while also holding a twenty-five percent share in both the Ji Earth Spiritual Vein and the Refined Gold Earth Vein. This content originates from audio_novel.com. Please respect copyright.