Chapter 913 : The Demon-Slayer's Legacy

In that fateful battle of old, the Master of Great Mystery Hall fought with desperate valor. Though he succeeded in slaying a Primordial Spirit 9th Tier [the ninth and highest stage of the Primordial Spirit realm] great power from the Fiend Race, he himself ultimately fell amidst the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial faced by cultivators seeking to ascend to higher realms].

In recent years, the decline of the Great Mystery Hall has only deepened, a source of profound anguish in the heart of Jiang Venus.

"Alas…"

Witnessing this, Mysterious Verdant Robe shook his head slightly. His gaze turned towards the depths of the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, and a flicker of concern passed through his eyes.

Just as the two men were lost in their swirling thoughts, Literature Abyss Lu stepped forward to the black-robed man. He reached out and helped the man to his feet.

Before the man could speak, Literature Abyss Lu sighed and said, "My master bade me tell you this: the reason he bestowed upon you the Daoist title Demon-Slayer was for you to inherit the legacy of the late Demon-Slayer Path Lord. Your life's purpose, to the very end, must be the eradication of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use wicked, soul-devouring methods to advance their cultivation]."

"If you cannot accomplish this, I fear you will never be able to repay the debt of that past kindness in this lifetime."

The man trembled slightly, then finally stood straight and clasped his hands in a formal salute. "Please convey my gratitude for the senior's guidance."

"There is no need for such formality."

Literature Abyss Lu shook his head, then offered a warm smile. "Now, come with me." The complete novel can be found at @udio-novel.com.

Accompanied by the three, Literature Abyss Lu journeyed towards Green Chariot Mountain. After traversing layer upon layer of mountain peaks, the group arrived before a Path-Field [a sacred ground for preaching the Dao and imparting cultivation insights].

Green Chariot Mountain was merely a modest peak, its Path-Field far less imposing and magnificent than those belonging to the various Path Lord Sacred Land [sacred lands ruled by powerful Path Lords].

Eldrin Chen's upcoming sermon was arranged with stark simplicity. At the summit of Green Chariot Mountain, he had merely placed several thousand seats, allowing the listeners to be seated in order.

At this moment, those several thousand seats were nearly filled with Infant Soul True Lord [cultivators who have condensed their Primordial Spirit into an Infant Soul, a high-level realm]. The number of lesser cultivators at the Golden Core and Violet Sanctum [the realm where one forms a core of solidified spiritual energy] realms who had come to listen was truly beyond count; they could only settle among the surrounding mountains, quietly awaiting the day the sermon would begin.

Literature Abyss Lu guided the three to their seats. Jiang Venus found himself placed in the very first row, sharing it with over ten other Infant Soul True Lord.

Seeing this, Literature Abyss Lu began introducing everyone to each other.

After listening, the innate pride within Jiang Venus instantly receded.

Among the many True Lord [a title for high-level cultivators, often at the Infant Soul realm or above] present, there were simply too many of prodigious talent. Although he had cultivated the Venus Sword Intent [a supreme sword intent named after the planet Venus, symbolizing piercing sharpness and brilliance] and was hailed as the premier genius of the Sword Path [the Dao of the Sword] within the Central Ancestral Domain, he found it difficult to overshadow this assembly.

To speak not of others, merely the presence of Xuan Qingyi was daunting—he was the direct disciple of the Black Tortoise Patriarch.

His origins and foundation were even more terrifyingly profound, possessing connections to the legendary Supple Wood Azure Dragon [a mythical dragon associated with the Wood element, symbolizing vitality and immense power].

It was originally formed from a wisp of the purest primordial energy of the ancient Supple Wood Azure Dragon. Because it contained benevolent thoughts that hindered the cultivation of the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon, it was severed by the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon and cast into its Path-Field [a cultivator's personal cultivation realm], where it transformed into a True Dragon Egg.

It was only after the fall of the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon that the Black Tortoise Patriarch, having seized the Path-Field of the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon, finally nurtured the True Dragon Egg to hatch, giving birth to Xuan Qingyi, this True Dragon Hatchling.

Those who cleanse the Demonic Path [a cultivation path associated with demonic energies] first succumb to cultivation deviation [a state of spiritual imbalance and loss of control], then achieve a great enlightenment that shatters their demonic barriers. This is the mark of a true Immortal Seed [one destined for immortality]. In the past, within the Purple Seal Realm, two Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] achieved their Dao and broke through to the Immortal realm precisely through this method.

Aside from these two, among the other dozen or so individuals, there was a Primordial Spirit Seed [one with the potential to reach the Primordial Spirit realm] from the lands of the Path Palace, the next-generation successor of the Southern Sea Glazed Palace, and also peerless prodigies from the far northern reaches.

There was even a juvenile Kunpeng [a mythical giant bird-fish] from the North Sea of Darkness. Upon learning of Eldrin Chen's humble and open-minded lectures for all living beings, it personally came to Green Chariot Mountain to listen to the Dao.

Of course, Jiang Venus had heard whispers of the reputations of these individuals, but the others he was hearing of for the first time.

Seeing this, Literature Abyss Lu specifically introduced, "That Clear Heart Path Master is a cultivator from the Verdant Azure Mountains of Ji Continent. In his early years, due to a certain incident, he secluded himself within his mountain sect for several centuries without emerging."

"Afterwards, however, he comprehended the State of Dustless Path Heart [a state of flawless, untainted Dao-heart], and his cultivation advanced a thousand Li-lengths [a great distance] in a single day. Later, he also obtained the legacy of the ancient Daoist sect, the Heart-Questioning Sect. Now, he is not far from the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of the spiritual core]."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Venus's pupils could not help but contract slightly.

The State of Dustless Path Heart—that was the supreme state dreamt of by all Daoist cultivators. A cultivator with such a state of mind possesses a heart free of dust and flaw, unafraid of Inner Demon [demonic thoughts arising from within] or fear. It could be said to be the most perfect and flawless Dao-heart.

At this thought, Jiang Venus could not help but exclaim in awe, "For Clear Heart Path Master to have comprehended the Dustless Path Heart [a legendary state of perfect mental clarity and focus], does that not signify he possesses the potential to ascend to Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality]?"

This was not an overreaction on his part, for legend held that this State of Dustless Path Heart [the legendary state of perfect mental clarity and focus] was a condition theorized by Daoist sages to be attainable only by true Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality].

Having cultivated the State of Dustless Path Heart [the legendary state of perfect mental clarity and focus], Clear Heart Path Master would remain utterly undisturbed by any external distraction during his cultivation. He could enter a state of deep meditation at any moment, devoting his entire being to cultivation with single-minded focus, granting him a monumental advantage over ordinary practitioners.

"The Dustless Path Heart [a legendary state of perfect mental clarity and focus] is indeed a supreme and wondrous state,"

Literature Abyss Lu nodded, then shook his head, adding, "However, my late teacher once asserted that while the Dustless Path Heart [a legendary state of perfect mental clarity and focus] is profoundly mysterious, it remains merely mortal conjecture. It is not, in truth, the true mental state of an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality]."

"For a true Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality], to perpetually reside in the Dustless Path Heart [a legendary state of perfect mental clarity and focus] would be to forget the purest intent that sparked their cultivation journey in the first place." Continue reading this story at audio—novel.com.

"Thus, our master once advised this individual to remember that even while dwelling in the Dustless Path Heart [a legendary state of perfect mental clarity and focus], he must not forget to temper his heart within the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of ordinary human affairs]."

Upon hearing this, the group nodded in understanding. Xuan Qingyi drew a deep breath and said, "Senior Eldrin is nearly my contemporary in age, yet his comprehension of the principles of cultivation far surpasses my own ten thousand years of contemplation."

As their thoughts drifted, streams of radiant light began to cascade down from the void.

They instinctively looked up. There, upon the boundless canvas of the heavens, majestic figures of immeasurable grandeur materialized within the emptiness of space.

Some unfurled Myriad Miles of Violet Aura [a divine ability that manifests as a vast expanse of violet spiritual energy], appearing like a Daoist Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] reclining upon the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms]. Others were enveloped in Seven-Colored Immortal Light [a radiant, multi-hued light characteristic of high-level immortals], resembling peerless immortal consorts descending to the mortal world. Still others, clad in kasaya robes, sat cross-legged upon the void, resembling Buddhas in deep meditation.

Several dozen figures gathered atop the Heavenly Vault [the highest point of the celestial dome], creating a scene akin to an assembly of celestial beings and enlightened ones from the Nine Heavens, all awaiting the commencement of this grand gathering.

"Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit Realm and established their own unique cultivation path]," murmured Jiang Venus, a flicker of yearning appearing between his brows.

Though only several dozen figures hovered in the void before him, each was a peerless Path Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit Realm and founded their own Dao], a name that shook the world.

Among them were venerable, long-established Path Lord such as Violet Firmament Path Lord and Vast Abyss Path Lord.

There were also those who had newly ascended to the rank of Path Lord in recent years: figures like Nine Rivers Path Lord from the Three Veins Ancient Domain [an ancient land defined by three major spiritual veins], Primordial Magnetism Path Lord, Primal Shadow Ji, and the recently ascended Ivy Path Lord.

Some were old acquaintances who had perished during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving a demonic abyss] and undergone Reincarnation [the process of the soul being reborn into a new body], such as Immortal Maiden Dawnlight, the former ruler of the Star Lake Ancient Domain [an ancient domain famed for its star-reflecting lake]. Though their Reincarnation was only seven hundred years past and they had not fully restored their Primordial Spirit Realm [the cultivation realm centered on the Primordial Spirit, the spiritual core of a cultivator], they had come eagerly to listen to the Dao.

Looking around, the number of Path Lord who had gathered here exceeded thirty, making this a truly rare and grand assembly within the Purple Seal Realm [a specific realm or world within the cosmology].

"Even Path Lord cannot resist coming to listen to the Dao. Although Eldrin the Patriarch is not yet a Demigod Patriarch [a patriarch who has reached the half-step to divinity], his presence and influence likely surpass even that of a Demigod Patriarch," someone whispered in awe.

Jiang Venus gazed at the Path Lords [powerful cultivators who have comprehended and embodied a fundamental cosmic principle] hovering in the void above, his face a mask of utter astonishment as he murmured to himself in disbelief.

Beside him, Xuan Qingyi observed his reaction and could only shake his head with a bitter smile. "Do not underestimate Eldrin the Patriarch," he said, his voice carrying a weight of profound respect.

"Having cultivated for a mere two millennia, he can already contend with a Demigod Patriarch [a cultivator who has ascended to the very threshold of true divinity] while still at the Fifth Tier of the Primordial Spirit Realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high stage of cultivation]," he continued.

"A figure of such peerless, unparalleled talent... he is either a Banished Immortal from the Nine Heavens [a celestial being exiled to the mortal world to undergo tribulations] reincarnated to face his tribulations, or he is destined to ascend at the very least to the Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm of true, ascended immortals] in the future."

"The Celestial Immortal Realm," Xuan Qingyi's tone grew solemn, "that is the domain of true Great Powers [beings of immense authority and strength] even within the vast and lofty Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where true immortals reside]." For the best reading experience, visit @udio-novel.com.