Chapter 565 : A Gathering of True Lords

For such a grand occasion, the Chen Clan naturally adorned itself with lanterns and decorations, deciding to host a magnificent Nascent Soul Banquet [a celebratory feast held upon a cultivator's ascension to the Nascent Soul realm].

Eldrin Chen invited over a dozen Nascent Soul friends, including Zixu the Daoist and Yvonne the Violet Consort, to hold the Nascent Soul Banquet at Verdant Chariot Mountain. The grand feast lasted for three days and three nights before concluding.

After the banquet ended, Eldrin Chen and the other four Nascent Soul Cultivators gathered for a brief meeting.

Gazing at the several Peerless True Lord [a title for a supreme master of the True Lord realm] beside him, each possessing an aura of transcendent grace, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile. He recalled how, not so long ago, the Chen Clan was merely a minor Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [an immortal family whose patriarch is at the Foundation Establishment realm] with only a handful of members.

Now, after more than five hundred years, the Chen Clan had become a Top-Tier Immortal Clan [a preeminent family of cultivators] whose prestige shook a hundred continents. These True Lord [cultivators who have reached the True Lord realm, a high stage of power] sat together discussing the Dao, each possessing the transcendent demeanor to look down upon the world and calmly observe the vicissitudes of time.

In the eyes of the countless cultivators under heaven, any single one of the individuals present here was a mighty True Cultivator, revered by hundreds of millions of lower-ranked practitioners.

With a heart swelling with emotion and a pleased expression, Eldrin Chen said, "Your successive breakthroughs into the True Lord Realm have truly not disappointed me."

"For the achievements I have today, I owe much to the nurturing of my Master and my teacher's husband," Elara Lin replied, bowing respectfully with a solemn expression. "Without your and my Master's wholehearted support, this disciple would likely have been trapped for life within the Core Formation [the Golden Core formation stage] realm."

"Indeed," the Old Patriarch also smiled, stroking his beard with a sigh of emotion. "For cultivators under heaven who wish to journey further, aside from fate-granted opportunities, the most crucial factor is the support of one's predecessors."

"Yet opportunities are elusive and without trace; to excessively pursue them is to neglect the fundamentals for the trivial. Only unwavering dedication to arduous cultivation is the true path to the Dao [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy]." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel.com (official site).

"In contrast, the support of a senior is tangible and real. Without your support, Eldrin, this old man fears he might not have even broken through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual sea within their dantian]."

Eldrin Chen responded with a noncommittal smile. The words of the Old Patriarch were not incorrect.

Opportunities are often ethereal and intangible, granted only to a rare few blessed by fortune. To wander excessively in their pursuit often hinders one's own cultivation progress. It is far more substantial to devote oneself wholeheartedly to diligent cultivation.

After all, the world's opportunities are finite. Aside from those few with immense destiny, the most practical path for ordinary cultivators is to diligently tend their Spirit Farmland [fields imbued with spiritual energy for growing spirit plants] and focus on managing their enterprises to earn resources.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen drew his mind back to the present.

He glanced at the others, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I intend to journey to the Extreme Northern Ice Plains. During this time, the family will rely on the three of you to hold the fort."

"To the Extreme Northern Ice Plains?"

Thalion Chen was momentarily taken aback, but quickly understood. He realized Eldrin Chen was going to find Lila.

He sighed and said, "That girl ventured alone to the Northern Wastes to forge her own path. With no kin or acquaintances along the way, these years must not have been easy for her."

"It is well that you go. Aid her in achieving her Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into an infant-like spiritual form] breakthrough swiftly. In the future, she will be a great help to you."

Kael Chen also nodded, his expression calm as he spoke: "You can rest assured regarding The Vast Sea and Ji Continent. With the three of us here, we are more than capable of ensuring their safety."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen revealed a faint smile.

The four Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [legendary plants that gather and refine the world's spiritual essence] of the Chen Clan were gradually becoming known to others. Many Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [powerful demonic beasts that have reached the Nascent Soul stage] and even Human Race True Lord [a title for powerful human cultivators] coveted them greatly.

These precious Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [plants that channel and purify heaven and earth spiritual energy] were the very foundation of Eldrin Chen's cultivation path. Should they be seized by others, the future paths for both him and Lyra Jiang would become fraught with difficulty.

It was precisely for this reason that after his own breakthrough to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into an infant-like spiritual form] realm, he dared not leave the clan's several Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy] lightly. Even when he did depart, he traveled in secret, his journeys brief, lasting only a few months.

Now, with these three having broken through to Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into an infant-like spiritual form], they could finally guard the Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy] in his stead, allowing him to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Among the three, Kael Chen had forged a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [the highest grade of Nascent Soul, aligned with the Heavenly Dao]. His combat power had already begun to touch the threshold of the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Nascent Soul realm], his strength comparable to a cultivator at the Nascent Soul, 4th Tier [the fourth tier within the Nascent Soul realm].

Old Patriarch and Elara Lin were slightly less formidable. However, relying on their Earthly Path foundations and after refining one or two Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], their combat power was roughly equivalent to the Nascent Soul, 3rd Tier [the third tier within the Nascent Soul realm].

With the combined strength of these three, augmented by the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein [a vein of concentrated spiritual energy of the fifth rank] and the support of its Formation [a mystical array or defensive barrier], even a Nascent Soul Late Stage [the late phase of the Nascent Soul realm] cultivator would find it difficult to breach the Chen Clan's key strongholds in a short amount of time.

By that time, they could calmly invite the Chen Clan's True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator, often at the Nascent Soul stage or above] friends to assist. Even a Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Nascent Soul cultivation realm] Demonic Monster [a powerful, monstrous entity born of demonic energy] would likely find it difficult to gain any advantage.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "Then, the affairs of the Vast Sea [a vast oceanic region] and Chen Nation [the nation founded and ruled by the Chen Clan] will be entrusted to you."

Before parting, Eldrin Chen spent another half a month in preparation.

Considering the difficulty of a single journey to the Extreme Northern Ice Plains [the vast, frigid tundra at the northernmost reaches of the continent], he deliberately brought some specialties from the Eastern Wastelands [a desolate and dangerous region in the east] and also took along the one remaining Longevity Spirit Apricot [a rare spiritual fruit that can extend one's lifespan] he possessed.

Furthermore, he even swallowed his pride and borrowed two pieces of Fire Vein Treasure Jade [a precious jade formed within veins of fiery spiritual energy] from the Ji Clan, intending to sell them in the Extreme Northern Ice Plains.

The Extreme Northern Ice Plains is a bitterly cold land where Underground Fire Vein [subterranean veins of fiery spiritual energy] are virtually nonexistent. Therefore, Fire Vein Treasure Jade often commands an exorbitant premium when brought there.

Only after making such thorough preparations did Eldrin Chen finally use a Teleportation Formation [a mystical formation that allows instantaneous travel across vast distances] to journey deep into the Eastern Wastelands. Discover more cultivation stories at audio–novel.com.

He first went to Qingluan Continent [a continent named after the mythical Azure Simurgh], then, after several transfers using the Teleportation Formation there, traversed the Three Veins Ancient Domain [an ancient region known for its three great spiritual veins] and the Myriad Void Ancient Domain [an ancient domain associated with emptiness and spatial mysteries] before finally arriving at the Long River Sacred Land [a sacred land renowned for its profound spiritual energy and long history].

The moment he stepped out of the Teleportation Formation, Eldrin Chen was suddenly struck by an overwhelmingly rich and dense wave of spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and the world, the foundation of cultivation].

"Such profound spiritual energy," he murmured.

Eldrin Chen lifted his head and beheld a majestic, endless Ronan [a great river] stretching from the horizon's edge, descending like the Nine Heavens Silver River [the mythical Milky Way] itself, possessing an incomparably grand and imposing aura.

"The Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River [the primordial river vein of the Eastern Wastelands]... So this is the supreme Water Essence Ancestral Vein [the foundational spiritual vein of water essence] of the Eastern Wastelands?"

Lyra Jiang murmured to herself, her brows and eyes also showing a trace of astonishment.

This Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River resembled a True Dragon [a supreme dragon species], possessing extraordinary dragon-vein power; it was the very source of the Water Essence Ancestral Vein for the Eastern Wastelands.

Before the power of this Ancestral Vein, even a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul] was as insignificant as an ant; likely, even exerting their full strength would only manage to stir a tiny ripple.

Only a Pure Yang Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator who has mastered the Pure Yang Dao], whose might shakes the world, could command such an Ancestral Vein with overwhelming presence, harnessing its power for their cultivation.

Witnessing such an Ancestral Vein for the first time, both of them felt their hearts and minds swayed. It took several breaths before they finally regained their composure.

When Eldrin Chen came back to his senses, he noticed a man in golden robes standing not far away. The man possessed an exceptionally noble and graceful bearing and smiled at them, saying, "Is this your first time beholding an Ancestral Vein, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] Eldrin and Immortal Maiden Lyra?"

Only then did Eldrin Chen react. He cupped his hands in salute and said, "This is indeed our first visit. We were overwhelmed by the vastness of the Ancestral Vein. We must seem quite amusing to you, Fellow Daoist."

"Not at all," the golden-robed man chuckled. "When I first came here, my reaction was even more pronounced than yours."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and cupped his hands in a respectful salute once more, inquiring, "Might I ask your esteemed name, fellow Daoist [a term for a cultivator on the same path], and how you came to recognize the two of us as a couple?"

"This humble one is Jaxian Huan," the man replied. "Though this is our first meeting, I recognized you because my Master once spoke of you."

"Oh?"

Exchanging a glance with Lyra Jiang, Eldrin Chen saluted again and asked, "Might we inquire as to which exalted master you serve?" This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio–novel.com.