Chapter 967 : The Sword's Heavenly Trial

"Boom—"

Just as the crowd was marveling, the vast and mighty Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a divine trial of thunder and lightning sent by the heavens to test cultivators and artifacts] from the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome, the sky] finally descended.

Such a rare Primordial Solar Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a supreme-grade heavenly thunder tribulation of the highest yang purity] had not been witnessed in the Purple Seal Realm for many years. Its power was truly earth-shattering, causing even someone like Eldrin Chen, who possessed a Mortal Realm Immortal Body [a physical body tempered to near-immortal perfection while still in the mortal world], to reveal an expression of utmost gravity.

Faced with the might of this Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, Eldrin Chen estimated that even with his Immortal Body, a direct and full-force confrontation would likely not be easy.

Yet, confronting this Heavenly Thunder Tribulation head-on, the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a divine sword forged from solar fire and abyssal essence] showed not a trace of fear. It erupted with a dazzling, peerless sword radiance and shot straight into the roiling Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Sea [a sea of concentrated heavenly tribulation lightning].

The Immortal Sword [a sword that has transcended mortality and attained an immortal nature] possessed a Slaughter [an aura or principle of absolute, world-shaking destruction] that dominated the age. It held an indomitable, unyielding edge that would rather break than bend, a peerless sharpness that did not flinch even before the Primordial Solar Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

And indeed, reality proved this true. This Heavenly Thunder Tribulation for the Immortal Sword's ascension concluded without any unforeseen complications.

After the three waves of Primordial Solar Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation were overcome, the violet sword-rainbow finally descended, vanishing into Eldrin Chen's glabella [the point between the eyebrows, a key spiritual center].

"Immortal Sword, Immortal Sword!"

Eldrin Chen closed his eyes, sensing the dazzling sword radiance within his Elixir Field [the dantian, the core energy center in a cultivator's lower abdomen]. He could not help the surging tide of emotion in his heart. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel-dot-com.

The Immortal Sword [a legendary blade of peerless sharpness and power, said to be capable of slaying gods] is the ultimate treasure most coveted by countless cultivators. Thus, all swords wielded by the world's cultivators are bestowed with the title of Immortal Sword, yet how exceedingly rare is it to find a true one?

Within the entire Purple Seal Realm, looking back across one hundred thousand years, only Imperial Sovereign Jiang ever possessed a single Immortal Sword.

After cultivating arduously for over four thousand years, Eldrin Chen had finally elevated his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword forged with and bound to its wielder's very life force and soul] to the realm of an Immortal Treasure [an artifact of divine power, surpassing mortal craftsmanship]. From this day forth, everything would be profoundly different.

With this Peerless Immortal Sword in hand, his Slaughter techniques would possess the genuine power to threaten even an Outer Realm Demon God [a malevolent deity from beyond the known cosmos]. Coupled with his Immortal Body [a physical form tempered to withstand countless calamities], which possessed the Indestructibility [the quality of being impervious to destruction] of ten thousand tribulations, even an Outer Realm Demon God would have to think twice before daring to strike at him.

Thinking of this, a surge of profound excitement naturally welled up within Eldrin Chen's heart.

The Demigod [a being who has transcended mortality but not yet attained full divinity] cultivators present, including the Lord of the Path Palace, exchanged glances upon witnessing this. They then stepped forward, cupping their hands in salute towards Eldrin Chen. "Our congratulations, Fellow Daoist," they said. "Our heartfelt felicitations."

"With Fellow Daoist's successful ascension of your Immortal Sword this time, it seems your confidence in overcoming the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial one must endure to shed mortality and ascend to immortality] is now assured, a matter of nine parts certainty out of ten."

"You honor me too much, Fellow Daoists,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, then smiled and returned the salute. "Today, with the successful advancement of my sword 'Departure,' my heart is filled with great joy. Since you have all come, why not stay for a brief visit at my Green Chariot Mountain?"

"Then we shall not decline your gracious invitation."

The successful advancement of a single Immortal Sword [a legendary blade forged with immortal power] is a cause for immense celebration.

Though Eldrin Chen did not host a grand banquet, he did invite several Demigod Patriarchs [cultivators who have ascended halfway to godhood] to celebrate at Green Chariot Mountain.

After the festivities concluded, Eldrin Chen bid farewell to his guests.

Before parting, the Lord of the Path Palace [the supreme master of a major cultivation sect] lingered for a moment. He cast a meaningful glance at Eldrin Chen and inquired, "Now that you have forged your Immortal Sword, when do you believe you will fully comprehend the Heavenly Flame Path Principles [the fundamental laws governing celestial fire]?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with thought. After a brief moment of contemplation, he replied, "With the assistance of the Departure Sword, it should not be long before I completely grasp the Heavenly Flame Path Principles."

"That is good."

The Lord of the Path Palace nodded, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Deep within the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, in the Spirit-Severing Sea [a perilous ocean said to sever the soul], lies an Immortal Treasury [a vault of treasures left behind by an ancient immortal]."

"Once you have comprehended the Heavenly Flame Path Principles, you should journey to the Spirit-Severing Sea. Perhaps you will discover the location of that Immortal Treasury."

"Senior, do you know something of this matter?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes lit up, and he could not help but press for more information.

The Spirit-Severing Sea is one of the forbidden lands within the Purple Seal Realm, a place of profound strangeness and wonder. Legend speaks of a Supreme Immortal Treasure hidden within, a contingency left behind by an ancient Immortal [a being who has ascended to a higher state of existence].

Eldrin Chen had ventured into the domain of the Spirit-Severing Sea on multiple occasions, seeking the immortal relics said to be concealed there. Yet, the Spirit-Severing Sea stretches for hundreds of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]; searching for its Immortal Treasury [a legendary vault of immortal artifacts] was akin to dredging a needle from the vast ocean.

Each time Eldrin Chen journeyed there, he returned empty-handed.

Now, hearing the implication in the words of the Lord of the Path Palace [the master of a major cultivation institution], who seemed to possess some knowledge of the Immortal Treasury, he could not help but press for answers.

To his surprise, the Lord of the Path Palace shook his head, his expression tinged with regret. "I have attempted numerous divinations and consulted elders from bygone eras, yet I too have been unable to pinpoint the location of the Immortal Treasury."

"The legend holds that this Immortal Treasury was left behind tens of thousands of years ago, just before the Void-Refining Immortal [an immortal who mastered the art of refining void] of the Ji Clan ascended to the higher realms." This chapter is provided by audio . novel . com. Support the original.

"The Path Principles [the fundamental laws and insights of one's cultivation path] cultivated by the Void-Refining Immortal were those of the 'Void-Refining Divine Flame' [a divine flame capable of refining the void itself]. I believe that if you can comprehend the Heavenly Flame Path Principles [the profound truths of heavenly flames], you might be able to resonate with the power left by the Void-Refining Immortal and thus locate that Exotic Treasure [a rare and powerful magical artifact]."

"So that's how it is."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded, a glimmer of understanding dawning in his eyes.

As the last Immortal to depart before the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving a demonic abyss], the Void-Refining Immortal had left the Purple Seal Realm just before it was cast adrift into the void. That he left behind no trace of a contingency plan was, in itself, a profoundly puzzling matter.

Now that it is known the Spirit-Severing Sea ruins are connected to Void-Refining Immortal [an ancient immortal renowned for his mastery over refining the void], it seems to make a certain degree of sense.

In ages past, Void-Refining Immortal was a figure of astonishing talent and brilliance. As early as one hundred thousand years ago, he had cultivated the Path Principles [the fundamental laws governing a cultivator's chosen Dao] of the 'Void-Refining Divine Flame' [a divine flame capable of refining the void itself], standing merely a single Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the final, cataclysmic heavenly trial required to ascend to immortality] away from achieving immortality.

Yet, after this, Void-Refining Immortal did not rush to ascend. Instead, he remained within the Purple Seal Realm for a full twenty thousand years.

During those twenty millennia, Void-Refining Immortal sought to forge an Immortal Body [a body tempered to perfection, a foundation for immortality] and cultivate a certain Immortal Ascension Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path, harvested upon ascension]. Regrettably, he always fell short at the final step.

It was not until the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity where demonic forces erupted from the abyss] descended that Void-Refining Immortal hurriedly underwent his Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and departed through Ethereal Ascension [the process of transcending the mortal realm to become an immortal].

Having cultivated his Path Principles, Void-Refining Immortal lingered in the Mortal Realm for twenty thousand years. If, during that time, he left behind contingency plans for the coming calamity, they would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

This could very well be one of the keys to quelling the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, a matter Eldrin Chen could not afford to treat lightly.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen cupped his hands respectfully. "My thanks for this guidance, Senior. Once I have comprehended my own Path Principles, this Returning Abyss [Eldrin's Dao title, meaning 'Returning Abyss'] will certainly make a journey to the Eastern Sea."

"Very well. I shall detain you no further."

Seeing that his words had been understood, the Lord of the Path Palace [the master of the Great Wasteland Path Palace] gave a slight nod. With a flick of his sleeve, he vanished into the void.

"..."

Clad in a black and gold daoist robe, Xavier Chen ascended the mountain step by step, his expression a mix of excitement and nervous apprehension.

As a rising star within the Chen Clan over the past millennium, Xavier Chen had cultivated from the Vital Essence Refinement stage all the way to the Infant Soul Realm, a journey that had taken him a mere four hundred years.

Now, having just passed one thousand seven hundred years of age, he had already reached the Infant Soul Late Stage. This pace of advancement could only be described as unstoppable.

A figure of his caliber was considered a first-rate genius even within a Path Lord Sacred Land like the Chen Clan, and across the world, he was a True Lord revered by countless cultivators.

In theory, his mental state should have long been flawless, achieving a state of unshakable calm. Yet today, Xavier Chen was filled with trepidation.

For the person he was about to meet was a living legend of the entire Chen Immortal Clan, a mythic figure within the Purple Seal Realm.

"You have arrived."

At some unknown moment, a tranquil voice sounded from ahead.

Xavier Chen looked up to see a youth dressed in a verdant robe standing before him.

With a single, silent glance, Xavier Chen felt a tremor in his heart. He hurriedly bowed and said, "This disciple pays his respects to the Patriarch [the revered leader of the clan or sect]!"

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