The patriarch nodded after listening. He had considered accompanying Elian to assist him, but the family still required his presence.
Currently, Pingyang City's population was surging, and without his oversight, he couldn't feel at ease.
Elian smiled slightly and said calmly, "Don't worry. With my cultivation level, few can pose a threat to me."
"Alright," the patriarch replied, smiling slightly. Elian's cultivation had far surpassed what it once was, and he acted with discretion, no longer the reckless youth stepping into the world for the first time.
Setting his worries aside, the patriarch hesitated briefly before saying, "Xianyan and Xianling's spiritual essence has reached perfection, and they are about to attempt breakthroughs to the Purple Mansion stage."
"I had Qinghao deliver each of them a Crystal of Blazing Flame, but Xianyan returned hers."
"Oh?" Elian frowned upon hearing this. Chen Xianyan's foundation was not especially strong, and her temperament was gentle. Attempting to break through to the Purple Mansion stage on her own would undoubtedly be challenging.
Seeing his expression, the patriarch hesitated for a moment but said, "The girl has a determination in her heart. If she can transform it into motivation, it might not be a bad thing."
"She's still young and has the opportunity to try."
Elian took a deep breath and eventually nodded.
Without saying another word, he left Pingyang City, flying on his sword to Linghu Isle.
When Yaya saw him, she immediately bowed her head and said timidly, "Uncle…"
Seeing Elian silent, Yaya lowered her head further and said quietly, "Sister Xianyan is attempting to break through to the Purple Mansion."
"Hmm."
Elian nodded and stood silently outside the secluded chamber at the Spirit Pool, his expression calm.
Inside the chamber, an aura flickered weakly, suppressed by extreme fatigue and pain.
Sensing his arrival, the aura rallied slightly, bolstered by a stubborn resolve.
Elian stood outside the chamber for seven days until the aura inside weakened to its lowest point. Finally, he opened the door to the secluded chamber.
Inside the Spirit Pool, Chen Xianyan lay covered in blood, her face pale and weak as she looked at him with exhaustion.
"You foolish child," Elian sighed inwardly.
He took out a Qi Restoration Pill and fed it to her, helping her regain some strength.
Chen Xianyan had attempted to break through to the Purple Mansion without any external aids but ultimately failed.
The pain from her physical tribulations was too overwhelming, preventing her from fully mobilizing her spiritual energy. Despite exhausting her power, she managed to open only 15% of the Purple Mansion Meridian.
Yet, despite her gentle demeanor, her stubbornness shone through. Upon seeing Elian, her resolve reignited.
Driven by sheer determination, she endured the excruciating pain of her tribulations and forcefully burned her natal blood essence to substitute for her spiritual energy, managing to open 35% of the Purple Mansion Meridian.
Though she had not built her foundation entirely on her own, breaking through 35% of the Purple Mansion Meridian without external aids was remarkable.
This attempt, though a failure, had allowed her to withstand the physical tribulation to some extent. Perhaps in twenty years, she could try again and fully overcome it.
"Sigh," Elian sighed heavily. Cultivation was indeed a path as arduous as ascending to the heavens.
Though Chen Xianyan's talent was decent, it seemed she aspired to forge a mid-grade Golden Core in the future.
Still, as she had not built her foundation alone, achieving the legendary Supreme Golden Core was impossible for her. But even aiming for a mid-grade Golden Core was no small feat.
To forge a mid-grade Golden Core was incredibly difficult. Though she had glimpsed a sliver of hope, she still had a long way to go.
This time, breaking through 35% of the Purple Mansion Meridian relied solely on her determination.
For cultivators, determination could be both a blessing and a heart demon.
Those with stubborn temperaments and deep resolve often cultivated with exceptional diligence, unleashing tremendous potential.
Such people either perished young or, if they survived, often surpassed others in their journey.
Chen Xianyan's essence would require five years of recovery, even with Qi Restoration Pills.
Elian said little more. He handed Yaya a few pills and instructed her to care for Chen Xianyan before leaving Linghu Isle.
His journey to Tianlu Continent would be long, and he didn't know when he would return. He stopped by Qingyuan Mountain and withdrew 100,000 spirit stones and several third-rank treasures from the family treasury.
As he prepared to leave, Chen Xianye found him.
"Uncle Elian."
"What is it?"
Elian smiled slightly at Chen Xianye.
Elian had always been fond of Chen Xianye. Talented and brave, he had slain three Foundation Establishment cultivators during the Qingyang Mountain battle, earning significant renown.
At twenty-four, Chen Xianye had dared to build his foundation independently. By sixty, he had reached the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, marking him as one of the family's finest talents.
Looking slightly embarrassed, Chen Xianye rubbed his hands and said, "Uncle, doesn't the family reward Five Elements Crystals for those who build their foundation independently to help them break through to the Purple Mansion?"
"I was wondering if I could exchange mine for a Crystal of Blazing Flame."
"Oh?"
Elian frowned and asked, "Do you intend to use the Crystal of Blazing Flame to break through to the Purple Mansion?"
"No, no," Chen Xianye said quickly, grinning sheepishly.
"If Uncle Nianchuan can break through the Purple Mansion on his own, why can't I?"
With a grin, he added, "Let's make a deal. Could you give me a Crystal of Blazing Flame and a Water Crystal? I want to forge my own Heavenly Twin Swords."
Elian paused and then understood—Chen Xianye was envious of his Heavenly Twin Swords.
During the Tianxu Mountain battle, Elian's Heavenly Twin Swords had shaken the Chu Kingdom.
The Fiery Void Sword and the Heavenly River Deep Water Sword were both listed among the top ten treasures of the Chu Kingdom.
When wielded together, the swords' power rivaled fourth-rank Golden Core treasures, cementing their reputation.
Countless people envied these swords, and it was no surprise that Chen Xianye also coveted them, wanting to forge a pair of his own.
"You brat," Elian said with a laugh, shaking his head.
Still, Chen Xianye's dual water and fire roots made him well-suited for crafting a pair of Heavenly Twin Swords.
Smiling, Elian said, "Several people have been breaking through to the Purple Mansion lately, and the Five Elements Crystals are running low. You might have to wait a few years for one."
"Fortunately, your sister Xianyan doesn't plan to use external aids for her breakthrough, leaving behind a Crystal of Blazing Flame. I'll retrieve it for you."
"As for the Water Crystals…"
Elian frowned slightly.
Water Crystals were rare in the Chu Kingdom, and acquiring one required a journey to the Yan Kingdom—a trip he didn't have time for.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Never mind. I'll retrieve the crystal for you as well."
That night, Elian soared into the sky on his sword, crossing Tianxu Mountain in a single night and heading toward Sky Python Lake.
In the demon territories, within the Golden Butterfly Valley, a streak of blue light tore through the sky.
The sword radiance split the clouds, alarming the myriad demons below.
"How dare a human fly so brazenly over Spirit Mountain!"
A six-winged Golden Butterfly, a first-level Purple Mansion demon, roared furiously and prepared to intercept.
But it was swiftly stopped by a late-stage Purple Mansion Golden Butterfly King, who pressed it to the ground with a look of terror.
"You dare block the path of someone wielding that sword? Do you have a death wish?"
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D