Chapter 823 : The Patriarch's Awakening

After a fleeting moment, he smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, honored guests. I shall go inform the Clan Patriarch and discuss how to handle this matter before returning with an answer."

With those words, the Triple Tribulation Path Master hurried off towards a secluded cultivation cave located at the heart of Sword Lake Island.

Within that cave, a white-haired elder was in secluded meditation. This man was the Patriarch of the Zhang Immortal Clan, a veteran Primordial Spirit Path Lord who had established his Path over seven thousand years ago and whose cultivation had reached the profound level of the Primordial Spirit 6th Tier.

Seeing the Triple Tribulation Path Master arrive, the Zhang Clan Patriarch inquired, "What brings you here?"

"Descendants of the Kiang Clan have come."

The Triple Tribulation Path Master then recounted the entire sequence of events to the white-haired elder.

Upon hearing this, the Zhang Clan Patriarch's expression changed drastically. "Before I entered seclusion, the clan specifically reserved two Primordial Spirit Pills. How could there not be a single one left now?" he exclaimed.

"How has the Grand Elder been managing the clan's affairs?"

It turned out that for nearly a millennium, the Zhang Clan Patriarch had been in seclusion attempting a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit Late Stage, while the Triple Tribulation Path Master had been undergoing Reincarnation [a process of spiritual rebirth to refine one's foundation]. During this time, the clan's affairs had been entirely in the hands of the Second Ancestor Zhang.

Seeing the Zhang Clan Patriarch's anger, the Triple Tribulation Path Master offered a bitter smile. "This matter cannot be blamed entirely on him," he said. This content originates from audio-novel dot com. Please respect copyright.

"Of those two Primordial Spirit Pill [a legendary pill that can help a cultivator form their Primordial Spirit], one was used by me, and the other was given to Mystery Wood Zhang."

"For three thousand years now, our clan has not produced a single new Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a major realm of power]. He took out the Primordial Spirit Pill to nurture a clansman precisely to prevent a gap in the clan's succession."

Upon hearing this, the Zhang Clan Patriarch also revealed a complex expression.

Over the last three millennia, the Zhang Clan lineage had also suffered heavy, repeated losses during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving a chasm of demonic energy]. Besides the Triple Tribulation Path Master, two Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit realm and mastered a profound Path] had perished, their Paths extinguished.

In recent years especially, the repeated failures of several Primordial Spirit Seed [a cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core realm, poised to attempt a breakthrough to Primordial Spirit] to advance made the danger of a succession gap within the Zhang Clan grow ever more acute.

In withholding the Primordial Spirit Pill that should have gone to Violet Consort Yan, the Second Ancestor Zhang had acted out of a desperate desire to cultivate a new Primordial Spirit for the Zhang Clan.

With this understanding, the Zhang Clan Patriarch sighed and then spoke. "Regardless, the Kiang Clan are our sworn allies of generations. No matter how bitter our clan's plight, we cannot break our oath."

"I have heard the Path Palace Sacred Land [a holy land dedicated to the study and mastery of cultivation Paths] recently refined a batch of Primordial Spirit Pill. Take funds and purchase one to bring back."

"I shall see to it immediately."

The Triple Tribulation Path Master [a master of a cultivation Path who has survived three Heavenly Tribulations] nodded, yet a wry smile touched his lips. "In recent years, to aid your breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit Late Stage, the Grand Elder has repeatedly procured precious treasures. The clan's reserves of Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-grade form of Spirit Stone currency] are nearly depleted."

The Zhang Clan Patriarch was momentarily taken aback, then sighed with emotion as he produced several Primordial Solar Spiritual Object [spiritual objects imbued with the essence of the primordial sun]. "The path of cultivation is arduous," he said, "more difficult than ascending to the heavens. And it is utterly impossible to walk it without treasures."

"Take these Spiritual Object [enchanted artifacts containing spiritual energy] from me. Sell them to support your clan."

"..."

Eldrin Chen waited outside the Zhang Immortal Clan for the better part of an hour before Triple Tribulation Path Master [a master of the cultivation path who has survived three heavenly tribulations] finally arrived.

Upon meeting Eldrin Chen, the Triple Tribulation Path Master explained the situation. "I must go to the Path Palace Sacred Land [a holy land dedicated to the study and advancement of cultivation paths] to purchase Primordial Spirit Pill [elixirs that nourish and strengthen the cultivator's primordial spirit]. It will likely take some time before I return."

"Would you prefer to wait here for a while, or shall I deliver them to you upon my return?"

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Exquisite Jiang and the others before speaking. "We plan to make a trip to the Western Pole Serene Spirit Temple. We shall collect them on our way back."

"Very well," nodded the Triple Tribulation Path Master. "Then I must bid you farewell for now."

As Eldrin Chen led his companions away, he turned for a final look at the Zhang Clan Path-Field [a field or estate dedicated to cultivation practices]. "Though the younger generation of the Zhang Clan may be somewhat greedy," he remarked, "it seems their Patriarch [the venerable leader of a clan or sect] still upholds a sense of fairness."

"It is merely a matter concerning the Path [the fundamental Dao or Way of cultivation, representing one's spiritual journey and principles]," he concluded.

Verdant Consort shook her head and spoke, "The Primordial Spirit Pill [a supreme elixir capable of nurturing and strengthening one's Primordial Spirit] concerns the vital interests of those True Lord [a high-level cultivator who has mastered their own path], so it is only natural they are extremely anxious."

"Simply put, the parties involved operate on different levels, so their considerations are naturally different as well."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement.

The group spoke no more and proceeded to travel via Teleportation Formation [a mystical array that instantly transports cultivators across vast distances] towards the Western Pole Lands.

After a journey spanning the better part of a year, they finally arrived via Teleportation Formation within the borders of the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain.

As part of the Purple Seal Realm's Western Pole Lands, the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain was a rare and desolate ancient land of sand. The story continues at @udio-novel.com.

Human traces were scarce here. The four horizons stretched into endless desert. The earth was a scorching oven by day, yet plunged into bitter, bone-chilling cold at night. Demon Beasts [monstrous creatures infused with demonic energy] and Immortal Clan [powerful families of cultivators] of all sizes established their Path-Field [a cultivator's personal domain, often a spiritual estate] around the scattered oases.

The trio, led by Eldrin Chen, soared high above. After consulting a map, Eldrin spoke, "Another million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of flight ahead, and we shall reach this region's largest cultivation market, the 'Buddha's Affinity Market'."

"There, we can take a Teleportation Formation directly to the Serene Spirit Temple, foremost among the holy lands of the Western Pole."

Hearing this, Lila and the others by her side could not help but smile.

The Western Pole Sands Realm [a vast and desolate desert region in the western reaches of the cultivation world] was immeasurably vast, yet its resources were exceedingly scarce. It was also sorely lacking in Teleportation Formation [magical arrays that allow for instantaneous travel across vast distances]. Their journey had been one of arduous travel, with precious few opportunities to utilize such formations for swift passage.

The Buddha's Affinity Market [a trading hub frequented by Buddhist cultivators and those seeking spiritual artifacts] possessed a direct Teleportation Formation to the Serene Spirit Temple [a renowned Buddhist temple], which would save them a great deal of time and effort on their travels.

With this thought, the group quickened their pace, arriving at the Buddha's Affinity Market not long after.

Yet, the moment they set foot within the market, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle tremor in his spiritual sense, detecting a presence that felt strangely familiar.

"Her?"

His gaze sharpened, focusing on a figure ahead.

It was a woman of striking beauty, who upon seeing Eldrin Chen, also paused in momentary surprise.

A faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. "Over a thousand years have passed since we last met. I never imagined I would encounter you here, Immortal Maiden. Truly a most unexpected reunion."

For this person was none other than Verdant Mist Yu, an old acquaintance from Eldrin Chen's distant past.

More than a millennium ago, shortly after Verdant Mist Yu had broken through to the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one condenses their spiritual energy into a solid, golden core], she had departed from Ji Continent to wander and experience the wider world.

More than a thousand years had passed since then, and there had been no news whatsoever of Verdant Mist Yu. Eldrin Chen had assumed she had long since passed away, never expecting to see her again today.

"You flatter me, Young Master."

Verdant Mist Yu gave a slight nod, invited the group into her residence, and then said with a smile, "Now, Brother Eldrin's might shakes the heavens, making me almost doubt it's truly you."

"Merely minor achievements, not worth mentioning."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, then smiled faintly. "For you, Immortal Maiden, to have broken through to the Infant Soul Realm [the realm where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed] truly lies beyond my expectations."

In truth, Eldrin Chen was genuinely surprised. Verdant Mist Yu possessed a Wind Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for wind-element cultivation] and had only formed a Lower-Tier Golden Core [the foundational golden core stage, of the lowest grade]. With such aptitudes, the hope of advancing to Infant Soul [the nascent soul stage] was indeed slim.

That she had managed to cultivate all the way to the Infant Soul Realm [the realm where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed] truly astonished him.

Hearing this, Verdant Mist Yu smiled and said, "Over the years, I have traversed the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, journeyed to the Far North Icy Plains, and witnessed the splendor of the Central Ancestral Domain. Having walked the Mortal Realm [the world of ordinary humans], I carry no regrets."

"When I attempted the breakthrough to Infant Soul [the nascent soul stage], my heart was truly free of regret. I embarked on it with the mindset that success would be fortune, failure would be fate. Unexpectedly, the breakthrough proceeded with astonishing smoothness."

"So that's how it was," Lila remarked with wonder, then said with a smile, "It seems one's state of mind, whether it is correct or not, may also determine a cultivator's Path [the grand Dao or way of cultivation one follows]." For more chapters, visit *audio-novel.com* for the complete novel.