Chapter 871 : The Weight of Millennia

Among his old friends from bygone days were several Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator whose nascent soul has matured into a true spiritual entity], including Patriarch Mo-ink, Ethereal Mistress Ling, Path Master Unreal, and the Heavenly Reed Sect Master [the leader of the Heavenly Reed Sect].

Now, a millennium later, of those few, Patriarch Mo-ink had fallen in battle, and Ethereal Mistress Ling had perished after her lifespan was exhausted, her foundation grievously wounded during the Demonic Abyss Great War [a cataclysmic conflict against demonic forces from the abyss], which had drastically shortened her years.

Path Master Unreal, possessing a Heavenly Path Infant Soul [a nascent soul foundation of exceptional purity and potential], had been favored and protected by several Path Lord [a master who has comprehended and walks a profound cultivation path], yet even he had his physical body destroyed in the great war.

Among the others, the Desolate Heaven Sect Master [leader of the Desolate Heaven Sect] had also met his end in the calamity. The Nine Rivers Path Master had broken through to the Half-Step Primordial Spirit Realm [the threshold stage just before achieving a complete Primordial Spirit], and now, with Eldrin Chen's support, his future held some promise.

But the Heavenly Reed Sect Master faced a far more difficult path. He was even older than the Nine Rivers Path Master.

In his earlier years, he had been stuck before the threshold of the Infant Soul 7th Tier, failing five consecutive breakthrough attempts before finally succeeding. Later, during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [the apocalyptic event of the Demonic Abyss War], he was so severely wounded he was forced into Reincarnation [a process of rebirth to start cultivation anew, often after a near-fatal injury].

Calculating carefully now, the Heavenly Reed Sect Master was over seven thousand years old, yet his cultivation had only barely reached the Half-Step Primordial Spirit realm. One could truly say his Path [the journey and principles of cultivation] had been exceedingly arduous.

"Old friends, withered and fallen like autumn leaves,"

the Heavenly Reed Sect Master murmured to himself, a sigh escaping his lips after a moment.

Then, with resolute determination, he knelt and prostrated himself on the ground, his gaze unwavering as he declared, "This junior has come to beseech an opportunity—a chance to grasp a Primordial Spirit Opportunity [a rare and pivotal fate or circumstance that allows one to advance to the Primordial Spirit realm]." Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.

"I beseech you, Patriarch, in light of my repeated and bloody struggles for the Human Race in these great wars, to grant this junior a sliver of opportunity to achieve the Path."

"Alas!"

Eldrin Chen sighed. He had long since seen through the Heavenly Reed Sect Master's intentions with perfect clarity.

Having heard that Nine Rivers Path Master and others had obtained great opportunities, this Heavenly Reed Sect Master now wished to leverage his long-standing friendship with the Chen Clan to exchange for a Primordial Spirit Opportunity from Eldrin Chen.

However, this Heavenly Reed Sect Master was merely an Earthly Path Infant Soul cultivator. His foundation and latent potential were both severely lacking, making his hope of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator] vanishingly slim, with virtually no chance of success.

Eldrin Chen held little optimism for this outcome and sighed once more, saying, "In the past, due to the matter of the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire, I promised you that I would one day nurture a Heavenly Path Infant Soul cultivator for your Heavenly Reed Sect."

"My thought was that if such a disciple truly possessed the Primordial Spirit Aptitude, and proved worthy of cultivation, I might one day assist them in achieving the Primordial Spirit breakthrough."

"But you must understand," Eldrin Chen paused briefly here, his tone shifting, "if you claim this Primordial Spirit Opportunity now, the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect that binds actions to consequences] that exists between our two families will be settled. It will cease to be."

"Patriarch..."

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master knelt upon the ground. A complex storm of emotions swirled within his eyes—a flicker of struggle, a shadow of melancholy, and a profound, weary resignation.

On one side lay his own elusive and ethereal Path [the fundamental principle or way of cultivation], and on the other, the boundless potential of the Future Sect. This placed Heavenly Reed Sect Master in an agonizingly difficult position, torn between two profound choices.

After an immeasurable span of time, Heavenly Reed Sect Master let out a heavy sigh. Clenching his jaw with resolve, he declared, "This junior has made his decision. If I do not seize this chance to strive now, I fear my remaining years will be spent drowning in regret."

"I understand,"

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. From his sleeve, he produced a single Lotus Seed [a mystical seed known for its profound spiritual properties]. "You must understand," he said, his voice grave, "once you take this step, there is no turning back."

"This junior..."

Gazing at the Lotus Seed before him, Heavenly Reed Sect Master was flooded with a tumult of conflicting emotions, too complex to put into words.

Yet, the terror that resides between life and death is profound. This seed might be his sole hope of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm of a high-level cultivator]. The thought of his millennia of cultivation effort vanishing into nothingness if he did not act was a powerful motivator.

In the end, he suppressed the pang of guilt in his heart and accepted the Lotus Seed. "This junior will forever remember the Patriarch's grace and favor bestowed today."

Watching Heavenly Reed Sect Master depart, Exquisite Jiang stepped forward from the shadows nearby. She sighed softly and remarked, "The great terror at the brink of life and death... it is truly a feeling that words often fail to capture."

"Indeed," Eldrin Chen nodded, yet a subtle shake of his head followed. "But the tapestry of human nature is vast and varied. Not every soul would make the same choice."

Exquisite Jiang [the Immortal Maiden of Exquisite Jade] nodded in agreement upon hearing this. She recalled their old friend Varen Wei [the Sea-Calmer Path Master], who had dedicated his entire life to the clan with utmost loyalty, pouring his heart and soul into its service until his last breath.

Even at the critical juncture between life and death in his twilight years, he withstood the temptation of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using malevolent and unorthodox methods] and relinquished the chance to forge a Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, forming a solidified core of spiritual power] via the Demonic Path [the unorthodox and often corrupt cultivation methods], refusing to betray Eldrin Chen [the Patriarch of the Returning Abyss].

There was also the Grand Elder [the highest-ranking elder] Chen Verdant Ruins [the Patriarch of the Verdant Ruins], who chose to face his own peaceful demise through meditation rather than consume the Longevity Pill [an elixir that extends the cultivator's lifespan], instead bequeathing it to a junior to aid their breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, solidifying one's spiritual foundation] realm.

And let us not forget the Second Elder [the clan's second-in-command elder], Clear River Chen [Elder Verdant River Chen], who, with a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that significantly increases the chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm] within his grasp, restrained his own flicker of hope and yielded the opportunity to one with greater potential.

"The human heart, human nature... they are inscrutable mysteries,"

Eldrin Chen [the Patriarch of the Returning Abyss] sighed softly, ultimately deciding to say no more on the matter. Continue your cultivation journey at http://www . audio-novel.com.

Seeing his expression, Exquisite Jiang [the Immortal Maiden of Exquisite Jade] spoke up, "Elara [the Sword Immortal of Frost] has had good fortune. She successfully broke through to the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the fourth major cultivation stage, where the nascent soul matures] during this period of secluded cultivation."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen [the Patriarch of the Returning Abyss] felt a slight stir in his eyes, and a genuine smile of delight touched his lips.

Elara Lin [the Sword Immortal of Frost] possessed an Ice Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the ice element, granting exceptional talent in related cultivation arts]. Her cultivation speed was astonishingly swift; she had reached the Infant Soul 6th Tier [the sixth minor tier within the Infant Soul stage] even earlier than Eldrin Chen [the Patriarch of the Returning Abyss] himself.

Alas, her foundation was merely that of the Earthly Path Infant Soul [a cultivation method of middling quality]. Thereafter, she remained stuck before the threshold of the Infant Soul 7th Tier [the seventh minor stage within the Infant Soul realm]. She attempted breakthroughs twice in succession, yet neither succeeded, delaying her progress for a full six hundred years and more.

Fortunately, she had a master like Exquisite Jiang. A Heavenly Path Pill [a supreme-grade elixir that ordinary cultivators could only dream of obtaining] that others sought in vain, she could obtain one every two centuries.

Only after breaking through this major barrier three times in such a manner did Elara Lin finally manage to advance, cultivating all the way to the Infant Soul Late Stage [the final major stage within the Infant Soul realm].

Thinking of Elara Lin's breakthrough to the Infant Soul Late Stage, Eldrin Chen sighed and said, "For nearly two millennia, Elara has repeatedly distinguished herself in battle for our clan, standing as one of its greatest contributors."

"Although her cultivation level has somewhat fallen behind ours now, we must never, ever abandon her."

"Let us reserve this final Lotus Seed [a rare spiritual seed with profound effects] for her. It is also time we began preparations for her eventual attempt to break through to the Primordial Spirit [the realm of the spiritual core, a major advancement beyond the Infant Soul stage]."

Exquisite Jiang nodded, then spoke, "However, given Elara's foundational strength, her hopes of breaking through to Primordial Spirit are likely exceedingly slim."

"It is not an insurmountable difficulty," Eldrin Chen shook his head, then sighed. "I still possess three final strands of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a primordial energy of supreme quality, foundational for crafting supreme treasures]. After accumulating for one more Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years, a significant unit of time in fate and cultivation], I can nurture and refine one Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade magical artifact of the highest order]."

"In the coming days, make a trip to the Drifting Snow Palace and exchange for a piece of Frost Soul Precious Metal [a rare spiritual metal imbued with frost and soul attributes]. I shall use the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura to elevate her Frost Soul Coldlight Sword [her signature frost-attribute sword] to the level of a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure."

"Very well," she agreed.

Upon hearing this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but reveal a faint smile. If Elara Lin's Lifebound Immortal Sword were to advance in rank, her hope of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm would increase significantly. However, doing so would greatly heighten the risk of exposing the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme-grade spiritual energy of primordial origin].

After all, when Lila and the others had advanced their Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators], they had either encountered fortuitous opportunities or benefited from the nourishment of a Superior Grade Path Body [an exceptional innate physique]. Elara Lin possessed neither such serendipity nor constitution.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen's cultivation had now reached the absolute pinnacle of this world, making him a peerless figure of Primordial Solar Patriarch [a patriarch who has mastered the primordial solar essence] caliber. Thus, there was no need to worry about the prying eyes and schemes of others.

With that, Eldrin Chen had completely allocated and consumed the Primordial Spirit Pill [a pill that aids in nurturing the Primordial Spirit] and Lotus Seed [a spiritual herb seed] in his possession.

With these matters settled, Eldrin Chen proceeded to the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire [a sea of perpetual, scorching flames] to begin the advancement of the Creation Verdant Lotus Throne [a spiritual lotus throne embodying the power of creation and vitality].

This was his fourth Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure bound to one's life force]. With the experience gained from previous advancements, this process proceeded much more swiftly. In merely nine years, success was achieved.

Afterward, he spent several more years elevating the Creation Verdant Lotus Throne to the Sixth Rank Mid-Grade [the mid-grade level of the sixth rank].

By this time, all four of Eldrin Chen's Innate Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [spiritual treasures born of innate primordial solar essence]—the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords, the Polarity Void Mirror, and the Creation Verdant Lotus Throne—had reached the Sixth Rank Mid-Grade. Discover more cultivation stories at audio - novel . com.