Chapter 565 : A Banquet of Ascended Souls

For such a grand occasion, the Chen Clan naturally decorated with lanterns and banners, deciding to host a magnificent Infant Soul Banquet [a celebratory feast held upon a cultivator's breakthrough to the Infant Soul Realm].

Eldrin Chen invited over a dozen Infant Soul [the cultivation realm above the Golden Core stage] friends, including Path Master Unreal and Violet Consort Yan, to hold the banquet at Green Chariot Mountain. The grand feast lasted for three days and three nights before concluding.

After the banquet concluded, Eldrin Chen and the other four Infant Soul Cultivators [cultivators who have reached the Infant Soul Realm] gathered together for a brief meeting.

Gazing at the several Peerless True Lords [a title for exceptionally powerful True Lord realm cultivators] beside him, each possessing an extraordinary aura, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a smile. He recalled how, not so long ago, the Chen Clan was merely a minor Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch is at the Foundation Establishment stage] with only a handful of members.

Now, after more than five hundred years, the Chen Clan had become a top-tier Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators] whose prestige shook a hundred continents. These True Lords [cultivators at the True Lord realm, equivalent to the Infant Soul stage] sat together discussing the Dao, each possessing the transcendent demeanor to look down upon the world and calmly observe the vicissitudes of time.

Any single one of the individuals present here was, in the eyes of the countless cultivators under heaven, a revered Great Power and True Cultivator, looked up to by hundreds of millions of low-level practitioners.

Feeling a surge of emotion, Eldrin Chen spoke with pleased eyes, "You have all managed to break through to the True Lord Realm one after another. You have truly not disappointed me."

"The achievements Elara has today are largely thanks to the nurturing of my master and master's husband,"

Elara Lin said, bowing respectfully with a solemn expression. "Without your and my master's full support, this disciple would likely have been trapped for life at the Forming the Golden Core [the cultivation stage of condensing a Golden Core] realm."

"Indeed," the Old Patriarch also smiled, stroking his beard with a sigh. "For cultivators under heaven who wish to journey further, aside from fateful opportunities, the most crucial element is the support of one's seniors." For more chapters, visit audio-novel`com for the complete novel.

"Yet opportunities are elusive and without trace; to excessively pursue them is to neglect the fundamentals. Only unwavering dedication to cultivation is the true path."

"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 Violet Sanctum realm."

Eldrin Chen responded with a noncommittal smile. The Old Patriarch's words were not incorrect.

Opportunities are often ethereal and intangible, grasped by only a fortunate few. Roaming excessively in their pursuit can hinder 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 blessed with immense Fortune, the most practical path for ordinary cultivators is to diligently tend their Spiritual Field and manage their enterprises to earn resources.

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

He glanced at the others, pondered for a moment, and then declared, "I intend to journey to the Far North Icy Plains. During my absence, the three of you must hold the fort for the clan."

"To the Far North Icy Plains?"

Eternal Profound Chen was momentarily taken aback, then quickly understood—Eldrin Chen was going to find Lila.

He sighed softly. "That girl ventured alone to the Northern Plains for her own path. With no kin or acquaintance there, these years must not have been easy for her."

"It is good that you go. Aid her in achieving her Infant Soul [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed] breakthrough sooner. In the future, she will be able to lend you her strength."

Kael Chen also nodded, his expression calm as he spoke. "You can rest assured about 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 [a high-grade classification for spiritual objects] Worldly Spiritual Root [a rare spiritual plant that anchors and nourishes the spiritual energy of a land] belonging to the Chen Clan were gradually becoming known to others. Many Infant Soul Demon Emperor [powerful demonic beasts at the Infant Soul cultivation stage] and even Human Race True Lord [a title for cultivators who have reached the True Lord realm] coveted them greatly.

These precious Worldly Spiritual Root were the very foundation of Eldrin Chen's cultivation path. If they were seized by others, the future paths for both him and Exquisite Jiang would become far more arduous.

It was precisely for this reason that after his breakthrough to the Infant Soul stage, 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, coming and going swiftly, never absent for more than a few months.

Now that the three of them had broken through to Infant Soul, they could finally guard the Spirit Mountain in his stead, allowing him to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Among the three, Kael Chen had forged a Heavenly Path Infant Soul [a superior-grade nascent soul aligned with the Heavenly Path], his combat power already brushing against the threshold of the Infant Soul Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Infant Soul realm], making him comparable to a cultivator at the Infant Soul 4th Tier [the fourth layer of the Infant Soul stage].

Old Patriarch and Elara Lin were slightly less formidable. However, relying on their Earthly Path Foundation [a foundational cultivation method aligned with the Earthly Path] and after refining one or two Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], their combat strength was roughly equivalent to the Infant Soul 3rd Tier [the third layer of the Infant Soul stage].

With their combined strength, augmented by the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense or attack] powered by the Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth emitting fifth-rank spiritual energy], even a Infant Soul Late Stage [the late phase of the Infant Soul realm] cultivator would find it difficult to breach the Chen Clan's key strongholds in a short time.

By that time, they could calmly invite Chen Clan's True Lord [a powerful cultivator who has formed their True Lord core] friends to assist. Even a demonic entity at the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Infant Soul cultivation realm] would likely find it difficult to gain any advantage.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "Then, the matters of Vast Sea and Chen Nation shall be entrusted to you."

"..."

Before parting, Eldrin Chen spent another half a month making preparations.

Considering the difficulty of a single journey to the Far North Icy Plains, he deliberately brought some local specialties from the Eastern Region Great Wasteland and also took the remaining one Longevity Spirit Apricot [a rare spiritual fruit that can extend lifespan] with him.

Furthermore, he swallowed his pride and borrowed two pieces of Fire Vein Spirit Jade [a spiritual jade formed within earth fire veins] from the Ji Clan, intending to sell them in the Far North Icy Plains. Support the author by reading on audi0-n0vel.c0m.

The Far North Icy Plains is a bitterly cold land where Underground Fire Vein [subterranean channels of concentrated fire energy] are virtually nonexistent. Therefore, Fire Vein Spirit Jade often commands an extremely high premium when brought there.

Only after such thorough preparations did Eldrin Chen finally use a Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances] to journey deep into the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

He first went to Azure Luan Province, then, utilizing the Teleportation Formation there, transferred several times, traversing the Three Veins Ancient Domain and the Myriad Voids Ancient Domain, before finally arriving at the Long River Holy Land.

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 itself].

"Such profound and dense spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and the world]."

Eldrin Chen lifted his head and beheld a mighty Long River stretching from the horizon's edge, resembling nine Celestial Silver rivers cascading down from the heavens, possessing an incomparably majestic and grand aura.

"The Eastern Barrens Ancestral River... so this is the supreme Water Primordial Ancestral Vein [the primordial source vein of a specific elemental energy, in this case water] of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland?"

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

This Eastern Barrens Ancestral River resembled a True Dragon [a supreme dragon species], possessing extraordinary Dragon Vein [a powerful, dragon-shaped ley line of spiritual energy] power. It was the very source of the Water Primordial Ancestral Vein for the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

Before the might of this Ancestral Vein, even an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their nascent soul] would be as insignificant as an ant. Pouring all their strength into it would likely only manage to stir up a tiny splash.

Only a Primordial Solar Path Lord [a supreme cultivator who has mastered the path of the primordial sun], whose prestige shakes the world, could command such an Ancestral Vein with an aura that suppresses all under heaven, harnessing its power for their cultivation.

It was the first time either of them had witnessed such an Ancestral Vein, and their minds and spirits were profoundly shaken. It took several breaths before they finally regained their composure.

When Eldrin Chen finally came back to his senses, he noticed a man in golden robes standing not far away. The man possessed an exceptionally noble and composed bearing and smiled at them, saying, "Is this the first time Fellow Cultivator Eldrin and Immortal Maiden Jiang have beheld an Ancestral Vein?"

Eldrin Chen finally reacted, clasping his hands in greeting. "This is indeed our first visit. We were overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of the Ancestral Vein. Please forgive our momentary lapse, Fellow Daoist."

"Where would there be any cause for laughter?" The golden-robed man chuckled. "On my first visit here, my reaction was far more overwhelmed than yours."

Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile and cupped his hands in greeting once more. "Might I inquire, Elder Brother, as to your esteemed name? It is surprising that you recognize us, a mere pair of fellow cultivators."

"I am Cosmos Heaven's Punishment," the man replied. "This is indeed our first meeting. The reason I recognized you is that my master once spoke of you."

"Oh?"

Exchanging a glance with Exquisite Jiang, Eldrin Chen clasped his hands again. "Might we ask which exalted master you have the honor of studying under?" Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel*com.