Chapter 940 : A Desperate Flight Through Eternal Sands

"This..."

The Mystic Jade Divine Silkworm's expression shifted repeatedly. The Demonic Abyss Cataclysm erupted once every Millennium, and guarding the Eastern Sea Cultivation World during it was said to be an exceedingly perilous task.

Yet he understood perfectly well that given Eldrin Chen's current standing, his personal arrival in the Western Sea Cultivation Realm to make this request left absolutely no room for negotiation.

Helpless, he adopted a look of distress and sighed, "Since Your Excellency has personally spoken, this one naturally has no grounds for refusal."

"I shall make my preparations and depart for the Cosmic Star Archipelago tomorrow."

The Mystic Jade Divine Silkworm gathered its belongings and handed over the Mystic Jade Silkworm Thread [a precious, spiritually infused silk produced by the Mystic Jade Divine Silkworm] it had accumulated over many years to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen took stock and found the quantity of Mystic Jade Silkworm Thread was neither excessive nor lacking—it was just barely sufficient to forge seven Formation Flags.

"Perhaps it is the will of heaven,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, and said no more on the matter.

Having secured the treasure, Eldrin Chen then took the Mystic Jade Divine Silkworm with him and set off on the journey back towards the Eastern Wastelands. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio_novel.com.

The two traversed the boundless heavens and earth, journeying eastward. Yet, as they passed through the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow, his steps halting for a brief moment.

There, amidst the endless desert, a Nascent Soul [the spiritual embryo formed after the Golden Core stage, representing a cultivator's true spiritual foundation] female cultivator was fleeing for her life in desperation. In pursuit were several Nascent Soul monks clad in kasaya robes, followers of the Esoteric School.

"They are monks from the Vajra Temple,"

Mystic Jade Divine Silkworm [a legendary demonic beast of immense spiritual power, said to weave fate with its silk] murmured, a flicker of understanding in its gaze. "It is said the Vajra Temple specializes in the cultivation of the Blissful Buddha Dharma [a dual cultivation path focused on union and enlightenment]. They are likely capturing a Vajra Maiden [a female practitioner destined or forced to serve as a cultivation partner in certain esoteric practices]."

"Is that so?"

Eldrin Chen's brow remained slightly creased. Without another word, he flicked his sleeve. Spiritual energy surged, transforming into a colossal hand that blotted out the sky, instantly suppressing the pursuing Esoteric Nascent Soul monks.

Witnessing the capture of her formidable pursuers, the Nascent Soul female cultivator was overcome with ecstatic relief. She prostrated herself upon the sand. "This junior offers her deepest gratitude for the Ancient Ancestor's life-saving grace!"

"There is no need for such formalities."

Eldrin Chen spoke with detached calm. Yet, memories of past dealings with the Vajra Temple surfaced, casting a cold glint in his eyes. "For what reason were they hunting you?"

"These monks..."

The female cultivator's heart surged with excitement, and she was just about to speak.

However, the several Nascent Soul monks, still struggling to comprehend the situation, fought desperately within the grip of the Primordial Chaos Giant Hand. With faces etched in shock and fury, one of them cried out, "Rowena Luo is a Vajra Maiden [a guardian maiden of the Vajra Temple] of our Vajra Temple! This person has willfully betrayed our temple!"

"Our pursuit to apprehend her is merely upon the orders of Kumarajiva the Divine Monk! We beg the Ancient Ancestor for mercy!"

"Kumarajiva the Divine Monk..."

Upon hearing this, Rowena Luo felt a spike of terror. She understood the veiled threat in their words and, for a moment, dared not speak recklessly.

"Who gave you leave to speak in my presence?"

Eldrin Chen merely snorted coldly. With a slight increase of pressure from the Primordial Grasping Hand, the Nascent Soul monks were crushed, their bodies cracking like porcelain as they suffered grievous, terrifying wounds on the spot.

The taste of imminent death flooded their senses. Even these Nascent Soul True Lord dared not act arrogantly any longer. In unison, they cried out in utter panic, "Senior, have mercy!"

"Hmph..."

Eldrin Chen let out another cold snort, paying the pleading monks no further heed. His gaze settled upon Rowena Luo. "I have heard that the lineage of this Vajra Temple often takes in so-called Vajra Maidens. Tell me, are there hidden truths behind this practice?"

"Ancient Ancestor Save us, I beg you!"

Rowena Luo had long resided within the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain. Having broken through to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator forms their immortal infant soul] realm less than a century ago and having participated in few Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [the great calamitous war against the demonic forces], she had failed to recognize Eldrin Chen at first.

But now, comprehension dawned upon her. Overwhelmed with emotion, she prostrated herself upon the ground. "We beseech you, Ancient Ancestor, to champion our cause. Please, save my sisters and me from this plight."

"Speak. Tell me your tale."

Eldrin Chen's eyes glinted with a flicker of interest as he posed the question.

Thus emboldened, Rowena Luo gathered her courage and began to recount the vile practices of the Vajra Temple. Visit site: audio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

It was revealed that the so-called Vajra Maiden [a title for female guardians in esoteric Buddhist sects] of the Vajra Temple, purported to be protectors of the esoteric Buddhist sect, were in truth nothing more than human Furnace Cauldron [a term for a person used as a vessel for absorbing their cultivation essence]—slaves to the likes of Kumarajiva the Divine Monk and his ilk.

The Vajra Temple lineage boasted two Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a title for a master who has reached the Nascent Soul realm]. As one of the most majestic Sacred Land [a place of immense spiritual power and significance] within the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain, their word held near-absolute authority throughout the domain.

They diligently practiced the Blissful Meditation Dharma [an esoteric cultivation method focused on meditative bliss]. To augment their cultivation, the temple's high monks kept vast numbers of Vajra Maiden captive, using them as Furnace Cauldron for the purpose of essence absorption.

Within the vast expanse of the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain, any female cultivator who had attained the Nascent Soul realm and lacked powerful patronage was, unless she fled beyond the domain's borders, almost certainly doomed to fall prey to their sinister machinations.

Rowena Luo was originally a cultivator from a minor clan. By a stroke of fate, she managed to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm [the stage where a cultivator's soul condenses into a nascent, immortal form], a feat that promised a future of great potential.

Yet, no sooner had she attained the Nascent Soul than she was targeted by the Vajra Temple [a powerful Buddhist sect]. They dispatched four Nascent Soul Cultivators to "invite" her.

These four claimed she had a profound karmic connection with the Buddha, grandly stating their intention to guide her into their sect to become a Vajra Maiden [a title for a female practitioner of their esoteric arts]. In truth, their aim was to take her in as a Furnace Cauldron [a cultivator used by another to absorb their cultivation base and vital essence through dual cultivation techniques]. Naturally, Rowena Luo refused.

The Vajra Temple, long accustomed to getting its way, would not tolerate refusal. They immediately dropped all pretense, accusing her of being plagued by Inner Demons [malevolent spiritual entities that feed on a cultivator's doubts and negative emotions] and declaring they would capture her and take her back to the Vajra Temple to "purify her soul."

Once their true faces were revealed, a fierce pursuit ensued. It was during this chase that Eldrin Chen, passing through the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain [a vast, desolate desert region], happened upon the scene.

"Ancient Ancestor [a respectful title for a venerable and powerful senior cultivator]," Rowena Luo knelt on the ground, her voice choked with emotion. "Within the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain, everyone knows the vile reputation of the Vajra Temple."

"Countless senior female cultivators with bright futures ahead of them... once they enter that temple, they are inevitably drained through cultivation absorption until their foundation is utterly ruined and their path to the Dao is severed forever."

"Is this truly the case?"

Eldrin Chen's expression turned icy. He could not help but ask, "And the Tranquil Spirit Temple [another prominent Buddhist sect in the region]... do they simply turn a blind eye to this?"

"It is not that they ignore it entirely..."

The Mystic Jade Divine Silkworm shook its head, its gaze flickering as it spoke, "The Vajra Temple [a powerful Buddhist sect] possesses an ancient legacy. Once, it was a glorious power that gave birth to an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality]."

"Even now, its Deep-Seated Foundation [profound and enduring foundational strength] retains a measure of potency. To turn hostile outright would likely incur a significant cost."

"Hmph—"

Eldrin Chen clenched his fist. Primordial Chaos Qi descended from his Primordial Grasping Hand [a supreme divine ability to grasp and control reality], reducing the four Vajra Temple Nascent Soul [cultivators whose souls have formed a nascent infant form] to ashes of calamity.

He then turned his path towards the Western Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple [a major Buddhist temple in the Western Polar region], his expression icy as he declared, "If the Western Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple will not intervene, then this sovereign shall go and test the mettle of this so-called Immortal's Dao Heritage [a supreme cultivation art left behind by an immortal]."

Over a Millennium [a period of one thousand years] ago, Eldrin Chen had already crossed blades with Kumarajiva the Divine Monk of the Western Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple.

At that time, due to matters concerning Qingyan Yu, Eldrin Chen had forged a grudge with that lineage. Afterwards, preoccupied with cultivation and the relentless efforts [constantly working and striving] surrounding the great calamity, he had set aside that enmity.

Now, passing through the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain [the vast, sandy domain of the Western Pole], it was time to settle that old karma.

Eldrin Chen journeyed onward, traversing the Boundless Void [the endless expanse between realms] almost without notice, and before long arrived before the Vajra Temple.

The Vajra Temple was situated upon the Western Pole Great Awakening Mountain Range [the Great Awakening Mountain Range of the Western Pole], the ultimate peak of the northwestern highlands of the Purple Realm [the central world of cultivation]. This mountain range was perpetually clad in pristine snow, yet it gathered the world's most exquisite spiritual energy, making it a rare and precious Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy].

Upon this Spirit Mountain stood a vast and majestic palace, crowning the peak. Incense smoke rose thick and heavy from the Buddhist halls, and countless disciples of the Esoteric Sect moved among them, lending the place an air of solemn and sacred dignity.

"What a solemn and sacred Buddhist Daoist Assembly Ground," he remarked.

"A pity that beneath this sacred, solemn Buddhist light lies nothing but filth and defilement."

Gazing upon the ancestral temple of the Esoteric Sect, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh. Then, he raised his hand and brought it down in a crushing palm strike.

In that instant, a hand vast enough to blot out the heavens descended upon the Boundless Void, like the Primordial Grasping Hand capable of plucking stars and seizing the moon. Each wisp of Primordial Chaos Qi that cascaded down seemed to be performing an act of World Creation. Official source: @udio-novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.