Chapter 701 : A Pact Forged in Enlightenment Tea

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly. Before he could utter another word, a figure soared through the distant void, approaching swiftly.

The newcomer was none other than Maris the Sea Steader. From afar, his laughter rang out, "A century has passed. I trust you have been well, Eldrin, the Abyssal Junior?"

"Brother Maris, your timing is impeccable. You've saved me a journey,"

Eldrin Chen replied with a smile. The person he had been waiting for here was precisely Maris the Sea Steader, the foremost Nascent Soul expert in the Eastern Wastelands.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Eldrin Chen produced a Treasure Box. Within it lay the Chen Clan's specialty: the Enlightenment Spirit Tea [a rare spiritual tea that temporarily enhances one's comprehension and connection to the Dao].

Maris the Sea Steader glanced at it and promptly stored it away, his smile widening. "With the aid of this Enlightenment Tea, I can temporarily enter a state of Heaven and Earth Resonance [a profound meditative state where one's spirit harmonizes with the natural world]. Perhaps it will grant me a sliver of progress in comprehending a secret force."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen also allowed a smile to grace his features. Bolstered by his Sea-Steadying Divine Pearl, Maris the Sea Steader's chances of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm beyond Nascent Soul] realm were estimated at roughly four or five in ten.

That probability, however, remained somewhat low. If he could comprehend a secret force [a profound and unique power derived from deep understanding of a specific aspect of the Dao], Maris the Sea Steader's strength would increase dramatically, making his breakthrough to Primordial Spirit almost a certainty.

For years, in his pursuit of a secret force, Maris the Sea Steader had secured a Millennium's worth of Enlightenment Tea from Eldrin Chen during their very first meeting. This transaction marked the second such exchange.

Over the next five centuries, two more transactions with Maris the Sea Steader were planned. These might truly tip the scales, granting him a greater measure of certainty in unlocking a secret force. Original publication: (audio-novel.com) - The source of this chapter.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Then I offer my congratulations in advance, Brother, on comprehending a Secret Power [a profound and esoteric force derived from the fundamental laws of the world] and even forging your Dao Lord Realm."

"It is far from that simple."

Maris the Sea Steader shook his head, then continued, "Secret Powers are profound and inscrutable. After years of contemplation, I have only just grasped the faintest thread of understanding."

"Although drinking the Enlightenment Spirit Tea can induce a state of Heaven and Man Resonance [a temporary, profound union between the cultivator and the natural order], that state is ultimately fleeting. To fully cultivate and master a single Secret Power... I fear the odds are still not in my favor."

After offering a few more simple words of encouragement, Eldrin Chen led Maris the Sea Steader towards Virtuous Peak.

As they walked, Eldrin Chen inquired casually, "Brother Maris, your injuries from the great calamity were not severe, so you must have traveled the lands in recent years. You surely have some insights into the current state of the Eastern Wastelands?"

"Indeed, that is true."

Maris the Sea Steader nodded and began to recount for Eldrin Chen the changes that had swept the Eastern Wastelands in the wake of the great calamity.

As his narrative unfolded, Eldrin Chen gradually came to understand the recent situation in the Eastern Wastelands. The past century had seen no shortage of significant events within its borders.

During this Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, the Eastern Wastelands had lost a staggering seven of its Half-Step Primordial Spirit [cultivators who have reached the peak of the Nascent Soul realm and stand on the threshold of the Primordial Spirit realm] powerhouses. Considering the entire region had only thirty-two such mighty figures to begin with, this represented a loss of more than one-fifth—a truly devastating blow.

The fall of a great number of Half-Step Primordial Spirit [cultivators on the verge of achieving their Primordial Spirit] signifies a reshuffling of power among the forces of the Eastern Wilderness.

Although the Eastern Desolation Immortal Alliance has provided ample compensation for the fallen Half-Step Primordial Spirit, without an Ancient Ancestor of that caliber to anchor them, these factions ultimately cannot maintain the peak influence they held in their glorious days.

Take the Mysterious Heaven Continent, for instance. In its heyday, the Heaven's Profound Sect controlled multiple Fifth Rank Spirit Vein [sites of exceptionally dense spiritual energy], two Fifth Rank High Grade Earth Vein [geological formations rich in earth-attribute spiritual energy], and a large-scale Spirit Stone Mine.

Now, with the Heaven's Profound Sect bereft of a Half-Step Primordial Spirit to command respect and having lost over half of its Nascent Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage], the sect has fallen into utter decline.

Their diminished strength leaves them incapable of holding onto such vast interests. They have been forced to relinquish major assets outside the Mysterious Heaven Continent, such as the large Spirit Stone Mine and the Spirit Mountain Earth Veins, concentrating their remaining power within the continent itself to defend their core territories.

The clan of Xuanxu the Daoist has also suffered losses, compelled to abandon many of their Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with spiritual energy] and other enterprises.

After listening, Eldrin Chen frowned and said, "Xuanxu the Daoist fell in the great war, and the Heaven's Profound Sect suffered grievous losses. For other forces to move against them so swiftly... does the Eastern Desolation Immortal Alliance not intervene?"

"They do intervene," Maris the Sea Steader shook his head, then explained. "But only concerning the compensation issued by the Immortal Alliance and the Spirit Mountain the sect cultivated itself. The Alliance will step in only if those specific assets are seized."

"As for their Earth Vein, mines, and all their other holdings..."

Maris the Sea Steader gave a bitter laugh. "In the Cultivation World, what claim of permanent ownership can one truly have over a Spirit Mountain or a blessed land? Were not the very holdings of the Heaven's Profound Sect seized from other Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] when they first rose to power?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a trace of helplessness in his expression.

For an Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators seeking immortality] in this world to rise, aside from nurturing a Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy] oneself, the only other path is to seize Spirit Mountain and Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth-attribute spiritual energy] from the hands of others.

The Human Race within the Purple Realm [a vast and ancient cultivation realm] has passed down its legacy for millions of years. Some Spirit Mountain have been inherited from antiquity to the present day, while others have been newly born from the world's essence.

Regardless, most of these Spirit Mountain have likely changed hands countless times over the ages. If one were to truly try to determine their rightful ownership, it would be an utterly impossible task to clarify.

For the weak to have their assets seized is an all-too-common sight. Even if someone ostensibly steps in to manage affairs, it is merely because they have powerful backing. In the end, it all boils down to whose fist is mightier.

"Alas, it is still rather unseemly conduct in the end," Continue reading this story at *audio-novel.com*.

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a flicker of displeasure appearing between his brows.

In his heart, he understood clearly that so-called rules were, in truth, nothing more than the pronouncements of the powerful.

If he could become a Dao Lord [a supreme master of the Dao, a title of immense power and authority] whose word was law in the Eastern Wastelands, then he could very well establish the rules himself.

For instance, he could decree that for three to five centuries following a great calamity, no action could be taken against Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [clans possessing cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage] that had suffered grievous losses, granting those who fought in the war a period to catch their breath.

Maris the Sea Steader also nodded, then spoke, "In truth, most of the Nascent Soul Cultivators who participated in the war, mindful of the camaraderie forged in battle, did not seize the chance to kick a man when he was down."

"Those who truly took action were mostly the Nascent Soul Immortal Clan who prized their pristine reputations and had only contributed supplies."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's gaze turned slightly cold, and he sighed, "A pity my strength is insufficient. Otherwise, I would never have allowed them to act so recklessly."

At this point, Eldrin Chen wished to speak of this topic no longer.

He glanced at Maris the Sea Steader and asked, "By the way, have you any news of Hemlock the Bloodweaver?"

Mention of Hemlock the Bloodweaver caused Maris the Sea Steader's expression to tighten. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, "It is said that during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, Hemlock the Bloodweaver performed a bloody sacrifice of seven Nascent Soul Immortal Clan in an attempt to break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator] deep within the Wild Goose Range Mountain of the Eastern Wilderness."

"Fortunately, the fiend's luck was poor. This attempt at a breakthrough failed, and his whereabouts since are unknown."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of relief, the weight upon his heart lightening considerably.

Upon reflection, this outcome was to be expected. Though Hemlock the Bloodweaver was formidable and wielded the Pure Yin Demonic Treasure [an enchanted artifact of pure Yin energy] known as the Heaven-Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Blade,

the Heaven-Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Blade was not his Lifebound Demonic Treasure [a demonic artifact bound to a cultivator's life force]. Its power to aid his breakthrough was therefore limited, leaving his chances of success at merely thirty to forty percent. Failure, then, was within the realm of expectation. The complete novel can be found at audio-novel dot com.