Chapter 705 : A Step from Primordial Spirit

Upon hearing this, Linnea Nie could not help but steal a glance at Ethan Chen before nodding and saying, "This junior is willing!"

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen handed the Western Pole Magnetic Essence Peak to her and then said, "Ethan, please escort her out."

After the others had departed, Eldrin Chen looked at Maris the Sea Steader, his expression turning grave. "By slaying Jareth Fang this time, we have likely provoked Xuan Fang. Should we seize this opportunity to move against him?"

"Xuan Fang himself and the strength of the Fang Clan are not to be underestimated. Dealing with them would be no easy task."

Maris the Sea Steader shook his head. "He possesses a Deep-Seated Foundation [a profound and resilient cultivation base, often inherited from powerful lineages] passed down from an Nascent Soul Immortal Clan. Even if we join forces, it is uncertain we could subdue him."

"Moreover, the one who acted was Jareth Fang. Now that Jareth Fang has been slain, the blame cannot be traced back to Xuan Fang. It is unlikely the Nascent Soul Dao Lords [cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul stage and comprehended profound Dao principles] of the Eastern Wilderness would intervene on his behalf."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement upon hearing this. Xuan Fang was vastly different from Jareth Fang. Such a figure stood but A Step Away from the Primordial Spirit Realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a higher state of being]. If they failed to capture him in one decisive move, both sides would suffer grievous losses.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen mused, "My only concern is that he may not swallow this grievance and might seek an opportunity to strike at us."

"Worry not. Although Xuan Fang possesses considerable strength, if we set aside the Deep-Seated Foundation he gained from the Central Ancestral Domain, he is essentially just an ordinary Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the very cusp of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit stage]."

Maris the Sea Steader offered a faint smile and added, "Neither of us are easy targets. He likely would not dare to act rashly." Continue your cultivation journey at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

"Indeed."

With his mind settled, Eldrin Chen then thought of the Nascent Soul [the immortal soul formed at the peak of the Golden Core stage] of the Fire Luan Demon Emperor. He turned to Maris the Sea Steader and said, "That Demon Emperor Nascent Soul [the immortal soul core of a slain Demon Emperor, a potent cultivation resource] would be of some use to me. Brother Maris, would you consider selling it to me?"

"Hahaha, there's no need for such formalities."

Maris the Sea Steader chuckled before continuing, "We both fought in this battle and have jointly offended the Fang Clan. Let us split the spoils from these three Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beasts, equivalent to a human Nascent Soul cultivator] evenly."

"The Demon Emperor Nascent Soul shall be yours. I intend to refine its physical body and feathers into a Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact], so I will keep those."

With a simple agreement, the two divided the spoils from the three Demon Emperor. In a gesture of reciprocity, Eldrin Chen also shared a portion of the treasures found within Jareth Fang's Storage Bag [a spatial artifact for holding items] with Maris the Sea Steader.

After concluding this exchange, the two saw no reason to linger. They exchanged Communication Talisman [enchanted slips used for long-distance messaging] and then took their leave.

Thus concluded the Barter Convention. The Chen Clan secured a substantial share of valuable Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-grade form of Spirit Stone] before returning to their abode within Spirit Isle Lake.

"Eldrin, the Abyss! Maris, you old thief!"

Meanwhile, far on the other side of the Three Veins Ancient Domain, within a majestic Grand Hall situated upon the Guyuan Mountain Range, a burly man crushed the Spirit Talisman [an enchanted paper slip often used for messages or spells] in his hand. His eyes blazed with a terrifying, murderous intent.

Beside him, a woman wept bitterly, her eyes brimming with hatred as she said, "Husband, that wretched thief Eldrin, the Abyss slew our son Heavenly Secrets. You must avenge him."

"I will tear him to pieces and imprison his soul within the Soul-Devouring Tower [a sinister artifact that torments and consumes souls], refining it day and night to quench the hatred in my heart."

The man remained silent, yet his gaze was filled with a chilling, murderous intent.

After a long silence, however, he gritted his teeth and shook his head. "That Chen Immortal Clan firmly holds The Vast Sea. Their strength is enough to rank among the Ten Great Immortal Clans of the Three Veins Ancient Domain, and they possess the Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure Green Abyss Sword [a legendary sword imbued with pure Yang energy].

"With our power, even if we sought to annihilate them, we would likely suffer grievous losses. Moreover, Maris the Sea Steader has also resolved to stand with him."

"And this time, Heavenly Secrets has provoked widespread fury. If I seek revenge for this, I fear I will incur the enmity of the many Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] across the entire Three Veins Ancient Domain."

The woman's pupils were icy cold. Gnashing her teeth, she said, "So Heavenly Secrets dies for nothing? This matter just ends here?"

"No, no, no. We are merely waiting for the opportune moment."

Xuan Fang said with a cold expression, then sneered. "Although the Chen Clan's strength is formidable, they are too sharp and exposed. I doubt they will survive the next Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, catastrophic invasion from the demonic realms].

"As for that Maris the Sea Steader, I am indeed no match for him. However, this man is destined to attempt a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm beyond the Nascent Soul] within a Millennium [a thousand-year cycle]. Provoking me now is truly seeking his own doom."

At this point, Xuan Fang's gaze grew increasingly frigid, and he finally spoke, "As for now, let us first collect some interest."

Not long after Eldrin Chen returned to Spirit Lake Isle, Thalion Chen emerged from his Seclusion Chamber.

Upon seeing the Old Patriarch, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "Granduncle, your injuries are not yet fully healed. Why have you ended your seclusion so soon without resting for a few more years?"

"My injuries are no longer a major concern," Thalion Chen replied. "As long as I do not exert myself excessively in battle from now on, I will be fine."

Thalion Chen shook his head as he spoke. During the previous great battle, he had severely depleted his Lifebound Essence Blood [the vital life force bound to a cultivator's core]. Not only did he suffer grave injuries, but he also lost a full Millennium of his lifespan.

Although his wounds had now recovered by eighty or ninety percent, the lost lifespan was difficult to restore. Access the full story on audio–novel.com.

Gazing at Thalion Chen's graying hair, Eldrin Chen sighed inwardly before asking, "Since you sought me out this time, Old Granduncle, what matter requires our attention?"

"You are right. Let us attend to the pressing matter," Thalion Chen agreed.

Thalion Chen nodded, then produced and handed a list to Eldrin Chen.

The names on the list were: Nianxuan Chen, Siyan Chen, Siyuan Chen, Zoran Chen, Zuxuan Chen, and Lucian Chen.

Eldrin Chen opened it and saw six names recorded on the list, most of them promising rising stars of the Chen Clan in the Golden Core Realm.

In the blink of an eye, over four hundred years had passed since the Chen Clan ascended to become a Nascent Soul Immortal Clan, and a full century had elapsed since the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [the great calamity triggered by the demonic abyss].

Now, with the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm behind them, the cultivation of the Chen Clan's Golden Core True Person had mostly advanced significantly. Among them, eight or nine had already reached the Ninth Layer of Golden Core or higher.

Seeing that Eldrin Chen had finished reviewing the list, Thalion Chen then spoke: "These six are all the clan's Nascent Soul Seed [cultivators with the potential to form a Nascent Soul], each possessing a Middle Golden Core foundation. I came to discuss with you the matter of their Nascent Soul Formation Spiritual Materials [the rare spiritual resources required for the Nascent Soul breakthrough]."

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this, but a pang of sorrow pierced his heart as he gazed upon the names.

Before the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, during the Chen Clan's peak, the clan boasted a full one hundred and twenty-nine Golden Core cultivators. While most were in the Golden Core Early to Mid Stage, there was no shortage of those with exceptional talent among them.

At that time, the clan had thirteen cultivators with a foundation of Middle Golden Core or higher. Those thirteen were all the clan's Nascent Soul Seed, yet now, only these six remained.

Setting aside Ethan Chen, who successfully broke through to Nascent Soul, five of those thirteen Middle Golden Core cultivators had fallen in battle during the great calamity.

Among the remaining six, the one with the highest innate aptitude was Nianxuan Chen. She was the daughter of Lior Chen and a cultivator born with a Fire Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the fire element]. She had forged a Superior Golden Core foundation, making her future prospects the brightest.

Reflect on Virtue and Ancestors, Support and Prosper the Clan, Ascend to Immortal Eternity. [the clan motto of the Chen family, emphasizing filial piety, legacy, and the ultimate pursuit of the Dao]

Within the Chen Clan's Sixteen-Generation Hierarchy [a formal system of sixteen generational ranks used to organize clan members], the Xian Generation [the generation bearing the character 'Xian' (meaning 'virtuous' or 'worthy') in their names] now boasted only a handful of Golden Core Cultivators [practitioners who have condensed their spiritual energy into a solid, golden core], in addition to its two supreme patriarchs at the Nascent Soul [a profound cultivation stage where the practitioner's soul takes nascent form] stage: Silas Chen and Ethan Chen. Continue reading this story at audio-novel-dot-com.