Chapter 968 : The Patriarch's Immortal Gaze

Clad in verdant robes, his features were refined and handsome, his posture tall and straight. He stood there in silence, yet his presence was akin to that of a supremely noble Path Lord.

Gazing at the Xavier Chen before him, he offered no lengthy words, merely nodding and saying, "The Master has been waiting for some time. Follow me."

Xavier Chen's heart pounded fiercely as he cautiously followed Alistair Ye into the Great Hall.

The moment he stepped inside the Great Hall, Xavier Chen looked up and felt an intangible pressure wash over him.

Within the hall, before a grand desk, stood a man robed in snow-white. His mere presence exuded an indescribable aura that seemed to radiate from his very core.

It was a power difficult to articulate, a natural emanation from within that could seize one's spirit with but a glance.

Xavier Chen understood clearly in his heart: if this man before him chose to act, he likely wouldn't even be able to muster a thought of resistance.

"One on the verge of immortality... a true Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] could be no more than this," he thought.

"They say the Patriarch has refrained from ascending to immortality solely to forge a more potent Immortal Ascension Path Fruit [the metaphysical fruit of one's cultivation path, representing the culmination of one's journey to immortality]. It seems that rumor holds more than a grain of truth."

"Tap—" Visit audio-novel`com to enjoy the complete series.

Eldrin Chen stood before the writing desk, quietly writing something with a brush in hand.

After an indeterminate amount of time, he set down the brush and turned his gaze towards Xavier Chen.

With a slight nod, Eldrin Chen spoke in a gentle tone, "It has not been long since your breakthrough to the Infant Soul Late Stage. How is the consolidation of your cultivation base progressing?"

As Eldrin Chen's words fell, Xavier Chen suddenly felt a pressure lift. It was as if his entire being—his Vital Essence, Energy, and Spirit [the three foundational aspects of a cultivator's power: physical vitality, internal energy, and spiritual essence]—had undergone a cleansing, seemingly growing more potent.

His heart eased, and he couldn't help but bow deeply. "In reply to the Patriarch, thanks to the clan's great favor, this disciple's cultivation has been consolidated."

"That is good."

Eldrin Chen's eyes carefully appraised Xavier Chen before he spoke again. "I have heard you are a cultivator with a Metal Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the Metal element, influencing cultivation speed and compatibility with related arts], and that you possess an innate Metal-element Path Body [a special physical constitution that grants advantages in cultivation]?"

A surge of joy rose in Xavier Chen's heart. "This disciple does indeed possess a Metal-element Path Body," he confirmed.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment.

The Metal-element Path Body is one of the Five Elements Path Body [special constitutions aligned with the five fundamental elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth]. While this type of constitution is not considered a Superior Grade Path Body [the highest tier of special constitutions], it provides significant advantages in cultivating Metal-element Arcane Power [mystical energies and techniques] and comprehending Metal-related Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of the Dao, or cultivation path].

Moreover, Xavier Chen possessed one of the Heavenly Spiritual Root—specifically, the Metal Spiritual Root. The synergy of these two factors meant he was a born prodigy, a natural seed destined for cultivation along the path of Metal Elemental Energy [the fundamental energy associated with the element of metal].

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen spoke. "I have summoned you today to entrust you with a task."

Upon hearing this, Xavier Chen felt an inexplicable surge of joy within his heart. He could not help but declare, "Whatever task the Patriarch assigns, this disciple will spare no effort to accomplish it."

"Good."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He tossed a scroll of Ancient Scripture towards Xavier. "This is the Ascendant Immortal Vein-Forging Art. It is the very method by which our clan's Patriarch Eternal Profound achieved his own Dao."

"By passing this art to you today, my intention is for you to journey to the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range to cultivate. There, you shall forge for our Chen Clan a Golden Origin Ancestral Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual land vein that serves as the foundation for a cultivation clan's prosperity]."

The reason Eldrin Chen had summoned Xavier Chen today was precisely to lay plans for advancing a Golden Origin Ancestral Vein to the Sixth Rank.

Currently, Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physical constitution renowned for its near-unbreakable durability] had reached the Minor Accomplishment stage. He stood but a single step from the Great Perfection Realm. Yet, to take that final step, he required the aid of five Primordial Solar Ancestral Vein [spiritual land veins of the purest solar essence]. Only by using them to supplement the elemental energies within his Five Viscera [the five vital organs in traditional Chinese medicine: heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys] could he achieve the breakthrough.

Within the clan's current holdings, among the needed Five Elements Ancestral Veins, the Fire Element Ancestral Vein was represented by the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire, and the Water Element Ancestral Vein by the Vast Sea.

The Wood Element Ancestral Vein would naturally manifest once the Worldly Spiritual Root ascended to Immortal rank. That left only the Metal and Earth Element Ancestral Vein still to be secured.

Xavier Chen possessed a constitution aligned with the Metal Element [one of the five fundamental elements] and was a cultivator with a Metal Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for absorbing and wielding metal-attribute spiritual energy]. Selecting him as the candidate to ascend the Golden Origin Ancestral Vein [a legendary spiritual vein of immense power] was, without a doubt, the most fitting choice within the clan.

"My deepest gratitude, Patriarch! My deepest gratitude!"

Taking the Ancient Scripture [a profound cultivation manual from antiquity], Xavier Chen could not contain his ecstatic joy and immediately offered profuse thanks.

As the premier Path Lord Sacred Land [a holy land capable of nurturing cultivators to the Path Lord realm] within the Purple Seal Realm [a vast cultivation world], the Chen Clan now produced prodigious talents with astonishing frequency.

Although Xavier Chen himself was considered a heaven-favored prodigy, his inherently weaker spiritual power due to his Heavenly Spiritual Root [a high-grade spiritual root, but not the pinnacle] and the critical flaw of possessing only a single Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure grown and nurtured alongside a cultivator's own life force] remained his fatal weaknesses.

With his foundational strength, breaking through to the Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a realm where one's spiritual core ascends to a higher state of being] would likely prove no easy feat without the clan investing substantial, even bleeding-edge resources in his cultivation. Continue your cultivation journey at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Now, merely by cultivating this Ascendant Immortal Vein-Forging Art [a supreme art for refining and strengthening one's spiritual meridians and foundation], his breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm] was virtually assured. Advancing even to the Primordial Spirit Late Stage would not be unexpected. How could he not be overwhelmed with ecstatic joy?

Clutching the Ancient Scripture firmly in his hands, Xavier Chen bowed deeply three times in succession. "This disciple offers his utmost gratitude for the Patriarch's nurturing. I swear I will not fail the trust you have placed in me."

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen offered a gentle smile before continuing, "Given the foundational strength of the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range [a majestic mountain range imbued with spiritual energy], advancing it to the sixth-rank, upper-grade tier may prove somewhat insufficient."

"I have already issued orders to purchase metal-attribute Earth Vein [a vein of concentrated earth-element spiritual energy within the earth] from the surrounding major domains."

"I will also pass on a scroll of formation diagrams to you. Once the Earth Vein [a vein of concentrated earth-element spiritual energy within the earth] is acquired, you can mobilize the clan's resources to sequentially set up the grand formations. Using the method of moving mountains and filling seas to fuse the various veins, you can nurture the most supreme Golden Origin Ancestral Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual vein of pure metal origin] within the Purple Seal Realm."

Eldrin Chen explained in detail. After finishing the instructions regarding the advancement of the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range, he then dismissed Xavier Chen.

After Xavier Chen departed, Eldrin Chen looked at Alistair Ye and said, "I heard you have been in secluded cultivation recently, comprehending Arcane Power [a profound and esoteric power derived from comprehending the fundamental laws of reality]?"

"That is correct."

Alistair Ye nodded. As the eldest disciple under Eldrin Chen, Alistair Ye had always regarded Eldrin Chen as his role model. He too wished to comprehend five types of Arcane Power [a profound and esoteric power derived from comprehending the fundamental laws of reality], thereby demonstrating the potential to ascend to immortality.

For many years, he had been in seclusion, rarely venturing outside.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and said, "Cultivation emphasizes fate and opportunity. Secluding oneself indefinitely does not guarantee significant progress."

"Your master is preparing to enter seclusion for Path Principles Comprehension [the profound meditation and understanding of the fundamental principles of the Great Dao]. Coincidentally, there is a matter you can handle on my behalf."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen handed a thin sheet of paper he had written to Alistair Ye, then said calmly, "That Blood Demon Old Freak has plagued the Purple Seal Realm for over ten thousand years, claiming the lives of countless fellow cultivators."

"In the past, Imperial Sovereign Jiang struck him down, yet he still managed to leave behind a wisp of remnant soul to Reincarnation [be reborn]."

"Now, within the Purple Seal Realm, the Tribulation [cosmic calamities] have nearly all been pacified. Only this one lingering scourge remains."

"Take this character and journey deep into the Eastern Barrens Blood Spring. Slay the Blood Demon Patriarch before you return."

Alistair Ye's expression turned grave as he carefully received the thin sheet of paper. Upon it was inscribed but a single ancient character—Slay!

A mere character, yet within it was concealed a surge of overwhelming Sword Intent [the conceptual will and power imbued within a master swordsman's technique]. With but a glance, Alistair Ye felt his hairs stand on end, a sensation as if his very soul was on the verge of being severed.

"This character..."

Alistair Ye hastily withdrew his gaze, drew a deep breath, and a look of profound shock dawned upon his face.

Within the strokes of this character was contained a single strand of Sword Intent from the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword, possessing the power of Immortal-Slaying God-Slaying [a legendary technique capable of slaying even deities and immortals].

A mere glance at the character, and its overwhelming Sword Intent was nearly enough to slay a weaker Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm of a high-level cultivator]. If unleashed in its full fury, even a Demigod Patriarch would likely be unable to withstand it. Find this and other novels at audio-novel.com (official site).