Chapter 555 : The Path of Gratitude and Power

Literature Abyss Lu felt a stirring in his heart. Assisting the Lu Clan in becoming a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan whose foundation is built upon cultivators who have achieved the Golden Core realm] would be sufficient to repay the kindness he had received over the years.

Within the entire Lu Clan, aside from the Patriarch, his bonds with others were far more superficial. Helping a few close relatives, who would otherwise have exhausted their lifespans, achieve a Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where spiritual energy condenses into a solid golden core] breakthrough would be the greatest aid he could offer his family.

Centuries hence, when his cultivation had reached profound heights, the clansmen of the Lu Clan would have long since become distant relations, their emotional ties faded, and he would no longer need to concern himself with their affairs.

With this thought, he prostrated himself, kowtowing nine times in succession, and declared, "Your disciple, Literature Abyss Lu, pays homage to his master and his master's wife!"

"Very good."

Eldrin Chen accepted the grand gesture of respect, then with a flick of his sleeve, helped the young man to his feet. "From this day forward, you are the second disciple under my tutelage."

"Now that you are my disciple, you must understand my principles."

"As my student, you must grasp one fundamental truth. In this life, one need not kneel to heaven and earth, nor bow to immortals or demons, nor submit to tyranny. But one must always understand gratitude."

"My acceptance of you as a disciple is a grace akin to rebirth—a grace that grants you the path to the Dao [the ultimate principle and way of the universe]. This is the kindness of granting you the Way."

"Whether you ascend to immortality or descend into demonhood in the future, as long as you do not commit acts that enrage both heaven and mankind, and as long as you remember your master, then I shall be your most steadfast support." Access the full story on audio - novel . com.

Literature Abyss Lu felt his blood surge with fervor. He immediately prostrated himself once more and said with a deep bow, "Even if this disciple were to sink into the Nine Nether Abysses [the deepest, most dreadful layers of the underworld], I would never forget my master's profound kindness."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He handed Literature Abyss Lu an ancient-looking scroll and a Storage Bag [a spatial pouch that can hold many items], then said, "This contains the refinement method and the required treasures for crafting the Four Symbols Formation Flags."

"This set of Formation Flag [enchanted banners used to set up powerful arrays] possesses extraordinary power. It was once the signature magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] of a formidable enemy I faced long ago. Back then, his cultivation had reached the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-realm just below the true Infant Soul stage]. Relying on this treasure, he roamed the Golden Core Realm [the realm of the Golden Core cultivator] with few who could rival him. I was forced to expend a precious Fifth Rank Thunder Pearl [a powerful, one-time use artifact of the fifth rank, containing devastating thunder energy] to finally slay him."

"Now, I have re-differentiated and deduced it into Four Lifebound Magical Treasures [a set of four magical treasures that can be bound to a cultivator's life force]. The Formation [a structured arrangement that channels energy for attack, defense, or other effects] it can deploy is now several times more potent than its original incarnation."

"If you use these four treasures as your Innate Formation Treasure [a foundational set of treasures designed to form a core array], and cultivate them to their ultimate limit, you should be able to contend with an Infant Soul True Lord [a master who has attained the Infant Soul stage] even while at the Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Core realm]. They can serve as your means to make your mark upon the world."

Literature Abyss Lu received the treasures, his face alight with ecstatic joy. The entire Lu Clan did not possess a single method for refining a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure that grows with its owner and is bound to their life essence]. He never imagined he would directly obtain a complete set of the most elite Lifebound Magical Treasure.

Seeing his expression, Eldrin Chen waved his hand with a light laugh. "Verdant Edge is your senior apprentice-brother. I have urgent matters to attend to. For now, follow your brother to arrange the affairs of the Lu Clan."

"On a chosen day, I will summon you. I will reference your physique to create a new cultivation art, one perfectly suited for the Four Symbols Path Body [a rare innate constitution aligned with the powers of the Four Symbols—Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise]."

Literature Abyss Lu hurriedly bowed once more. "Thank you, Master. This disciple takes his leave."

Beside him, Ye Verdant Peak also offered a slight bow, then looked at Literature Abyss Lu with a smile. "Junior Brother, please follow me."

The two exited the Great Hall. Ye Verdant Peak glanced at Support Revive Chen, who had been waiting for some time, and spoke with a gentle smile.

"You may enter now."

"My thanks, Patriarch."

Support Revive Chen offered a slight bow in return. His gaze met Literature Abyss Lu's, and he chuckled. "It seems I have gained another Patriarch of my own generation from now on."

Literature Abyss Lu had finally steadied his emotions, a genuine smile gracing his features once more.

Their ages were not far apart, and their innate talent and foundational cultivation were similarly matched. Though their formal statuses within the clan hierarchy would now differ vastly, in private, their relationship would likely remain that of close friends.

With this thought, Literature Abyss Lu clasped his hands. "Between us, such formalities are unnecessary. Once I have settled the affairs of the Lu Family, I shall host a banquet in your honor."

"Then I shall eagerly await the grand feast from our young Patriarch."

With a final laugh, Support Revive Chen turned and strode into the depths of the Great Hall.

In a few strides, he entered the Great Hall [the main ceremonial and gathering hall of the clan]. Upon seeing the two figures within, he promptly knelt and said, "This humble Support Revive pays his respects to the two Patriarch [the supreme leaders of the clan]."

"Has the clan already reached the Fu Generation [the generation designated by the character 'Fu' in the clan's generational naming system]?"

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a senior patriarch of the Chen Clan] raised an eyebrow slightly, a trace of a smile appearing on his lips.

Pursuing the Path, Everlasting Verdure, Remembering the Virtuous, Reflecting on Ancestors, Supporting Each Other, Revitalizing the Clan, Ascendant Immortal, Achieving Immortality.

The Sixteen-Character Generation Names [the sixteen-character poetic verse used to determine generational names for the Chen Clan] of the Chen Clan had, almost imperceptibly, progressed to the Fu Generation. This was only possible because, after the clan's ascension to a Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has achieved the Golden Core cultivation realm], the span of years between each new generational character had been extended. Otherwise, the sixteen characters would likely have been nearly exhausted by now.

"I heard that after we became an Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has achieved the Infant Soul cultivation realm], the Old Patriarch [the venerable founding ancestor of the clan] decided that henceforth, only one new generational character would be used for clan members born within each three-hundred-year period. It seems that is indeed the case." This chapter is provided by audio-novel.com. Support the original.

Eldrin Chen mused silently. According to the Old Patriarch's decree, once the Chen Clan's Sixteen-Character Generation Names were fully used, no new generational sequence would be created.

By that distant time, the mortal bloodlines of the Chen Clan would have branched out over hundreds, even thousands, of generations. The generational gap between two individuals of the same age could span centuries.

At that point, re-establishing a strict generational order would become meaningless, as the intricate web of ancestry would be nearly impossible to untangle.

In such an era, seniority would naturally be determined by one's cultivation realm [the level of power and enlightenment achieved through spiritual practice].

According to the generational naming system of the Chen Clan, those at the Vital Essence Refinement Stage belong to the Decay Generation; those at Foundation Establishment belong to the Immortality Generation; those at Violet Sanctum belong to the Immortal Generation; those at Golden Core belong to the Ascension Generation; those at Infant Soul belong to the Clan Generation; and those at Primordial Spirit belong to the Prosperity Generation.

This method of assigning generational names would not affect the status of the earliest, clearly documented patriarchs like the Old Patriarch or Eldrin Chen, while also allowing later generations of clansmen to elevate their status and standing through their cultivation achievements.

Furthermore, with the sixteen-character generational sequence of the Chen Clan, even if the clan were to one day produce true Immortal and ascend to become a glorious Immortal Clan [a clan with an Immortal as its foundation], this naming system would remain perfectly sufficient, even within the Immortal Realm [the realm where Immortals reside].

The Ji Immortal Clan employs a similar system. Apart from cultivators whose lineage can be clearly traced, when a True Lord [a Golden Core cultivator] of the Ji Clan breaks through to Infant Soul, male True Lords adopt the generational character 'Fei' [meaning 'not' or 'non-'], while female True Lords adopt the character 'Fei' [meaning 'consort' or 'imperial concubine'].

For example, Not Night Ji and Consort Countenance Ji obtained their generational names in this manner. As for Freya Ji, being the direct daughter of Dorian Ji with a clearly traceable lineage, she was born with the 'Fei' [Consort] generational character.

"Generational names based on cultivation realm,"

Eldrin Chen pondered this concept, then shook his head with a wry smile. He had only recently broken through to Infant Soul himself, yet here he was contemplating generational naming for a future Immortal Realm. He was getting far ahead of himself.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to Support Revive Chen and smiled warmly. "Since emerging from seclusion, I have heard tales of a peerless prodigy emerging from the Fu Generation. Seeing you today, the rumors do not disappoint."

"You honor me too much, Patriarch."

Support Revive Chen replied, his voice tinged with excitement. Although his discovery as a bearer of the Path Body [a rare and powerful innate constitution] had drawn the attention of several Golden Core Cultivator within the clan, this was his first time standing before an Infant Soul Patriarch in person.

Eldrin Chen smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the youth with an inscrutable expression. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, "The Triad Path Body, also known as the Three Talents Path Body, is a rare Superior Grade Path Body [a constitution of exceptional quality that grants great cultivation potential] found in this world."

"With your innate talent, you could be considered the foremost among the three million cultivators born to our Chen Clan over the past several centuries. With proper nurturing, your future prospects are truly boundless."

"It is a pity, however, that you are a member of my own Chen Clan. It would be improper for me to directly take you as my personal disciple."

As he spoke these words, he fell into thought once more before producing an ancient scroll and handing it to Support Revive Chen.

Only after Support Revive Chen had taken the scroll and finished reading its contents did Eldrin Chen continue, "This scroll is titled the Ancient Vast Sea Scroll. It is the foundational legacy text of the Eastern Sea's great cultivation sect, the Verdant Void Sect."

"Long ago, I made a promise to the Verdant Void Sect to find a suitable successor to inherit their orthodox lineage. Are you willing to shoulder this Karma [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect, a debt or obligation that binds one's destiny]?" Original English translation available at https://audio-novel.com.