Chapter 1078 : The Forge of the Childlike Heart

The Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart [a constitution granting profound wisdom and meticulous thought] fosters the most intricate and meticulous minds. Those blessed with this spiritual aperture often possess astonishing wisdom, their intellect and maturity far surpassing their peers.

Yet, the Mischievous Heart [a constitution marked by an eternally playful and childlike nature] is one of extreme impishness. Cultivators bearing this heart are forever akin to children, a nature that is fundamentally at odds with and naturally repels the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Jade [a spiritual jade that harmonizes and refines the mind and spirit].

At this thought, Verdant Consort spoke with evident worry, "This child is born under the fate of the Innocent Stubborn Heart [a destined path marked by naive yet unyielding willfulness]. Once she ventures into the world in the future, I fear she will inevitably stir up great calamity."

"Perhaps we should keep her by our side, to better safeguard her well-being."

"Seraphina."

Eldrin Chen held Verdant Consort's hand, pondering for a long moment before speaking. "It would be of no use. The Mischievous Heart is inherently wayward. A child born with the Innocent Stubborn Heart is destined by fate to face a tribulation."

"A tribulation is like a furnace's fire. If one can pass through it, their Mischievous Heart will be tempered and refined into a heart of pure resolve [a 'Danxin' or 'Cinnabar Heart,' symbolizing unwavering loyalty and integrity]. This is her ordained path."

"The Childlike Crimson Heart [a constitution representing a pure, unblemished, and passionate heart akin to a child's] is among the most supreme of spiritual apertures, each with its own unique excellence when compared to the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart."

Eldrin Chen offered these words of comfort to Verdant Consort, yet deep within his own heart, he understood all too clearly.

If one likens a tribulation to the fire within a furnace, then failure to pass through it inevitably results in being reduced to ashes within that same crucible. Your portal to cultivation novels: (audio-novel.com).

Regardless, hearing his words, Verdant Consort finally allowed herself to relax slightly, a breath of relief escaping her lips.

Cradling the child in her arms, she could not help but speak with heartfelt joy, "The Green Lotus Purification Body [a supreme-grade Immortal Physique embodying the world-cleansing mysteries of the Verdant Lotus], it has indeed undergone a transformation."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen also revealed a faint smile.

Having refined the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Seed, this child should have originally obtained a high-grade Immortal Physique—the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Constitution.

Yet over these years, Eldrin Chen had spared no cost in nurturing it with Primordial Essence [the purest foundational energy of creation], consuming three portions of Acquired Primordial Violet Qi in succession, while Lyra Jiang had received only one.

The reason for this disparity stemmed from a sense of guilt towards this child.

After all, compared to the Eight Trigrams Primordial Breath, the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Seed was still inferior in many ways; this was Eldrin Chen's only means of making amends.

Fortunately, those three portions of Primordial Essence had ultimately catalyzed a metamorphosis within the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Constitution, transforming it into the Green Lotus Purification Body.

This Green Lotus Purification Body is a supreme-grade Immortal Physique, possessing the profound, world-purifying mysteries of the Verdant Lotus. It ranks among the most pinnacle of peerless Immortal Physique, its majesty not inferior in the slightest to Xander Chen's Great Power Heavenly Dragon Constitution.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen smiled warmly and said, "Born with a heart of pure innocence and a body destined to cleanse the world, this child's innate gifts can truly be said to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any other."

"If he can transcend this tribulation and refine the Mischievous Heart into a Golden Core Heart, he may well forge a foundation worthy of the Great Luo [the highest and most profound realm of cultivation]."

Scooping his daughter into his arms, Eldrin Chen doted upon his only girl. Following clan tradition, he selected the fourth character from the Clan Genealogy and named her 'Qing' [Verdant].

Not long after the birth of Chen Qing, Lyra Jiang also reached her time of labor. After waiting for several months, Eldrin Chen finally welcomed the child Lyra Jiang brought into the world—a son.

This fifth son did not disappoint. He was born bearing the 'Innate Eight Trigrams Diagram' [a cosmic pattern symbolizing the fundamental forces of reality] upon his back, possessed the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart [a legendary physique of supreme spiritual sensitivity], and from the moment of his birth, carried the destiny of a Paragon of the Great Luo Golden Immortal [one fated to reach the pinnacle of the immortal path].

Eldrin Chen gave him the generational name 'Nian' and formally named him Caelus Chen.

After the birth of these two children, Eldrin Chen ceased his secluded cultivation. He devoted himself to carefully instructing his young son and daughter, while also tending to Verdant Consort and Lyra Jiang as they recovered their strength.

Thus, time flowed on, and another century and more slipped quietly by.

Seeing that Verdant Consort and Lyra Jiang had nearly fully recuperated, Eldrin Chen one day gathered his wives and said, "Some time ago, a message arrived from the Empty Enlightenment Temple [a major Buddhist sect], inquiring when we might send Xander for his apprenticeship."

"I have calculated that Xander has already broken through to the Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage [the middle stage of cultivating one's spiritual core]. The time is right to send him."

Lila nodded upon hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Xander carries karmic ties to the Buddhist path. It is fitting for him to walk that road for a time."

"However, I absolutely forbid Xander Chen from taking vows and entering the Buddhist order."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen offered a gentle smile and reassured her, "As my firstborn son, Xander naturally cannot become a disciple of the Buddha."

"I have already reached an agreement with Ancient Buddha Kongming. Xander will only study the Buddhist Dharma to resolve his karmic ties [the chain of cause and effect that binds one to the cycle of rebirth]; he will not formally join the monastic order."

Lyra Jiang nodded, yet her expression remained grave. "But Xander has cultivated for over two thousand years without ever indulging in worldly desires or the company of women. I fear he may choose to renounce the world and enter the monastic life of his own accord."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present shifted dramatically. If Xander Chen insisted on entering the Buddhist order, they could not very well drag him out by force.

After all, the precedent set by the former Heavenly Dragon Buddha served as a stark warning. Moreover, Xander Chen had inherited a measure of his father Eldrin Chen's sharp decisiveness and stubborn resolve. Once myself made up his mind, it was unlikely anyone could sway him. Support the author by reading on audio-novel-dot-com.

Hearing her words, Eldrin Chen fell into a prolonged silence.

After a long while, he shook his head and spoke. "Yet, not long ago, I performed a divination. Xander's destined tribulation is one of the heart—a trial of love and attachment."

"A trial of love?"

Hearing this, the others finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

Since it is a tribulation of passion, it must inherently conflict with the Buddhist doctrines.

Verdant Consort [a powerful female cultivator] nodded in agreement and said with a smile, "We can send him over a bit later."

"One Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years] from now will be your ten-thousand-year longevity celebration. Let the child offer his congratulations for your grand birthday before sending him away. There is no hurry."

"That is acceptable."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this. For beings like them, who had attained the Immortal [a transcendent state of being] realm, a single session of secluded cultivation could last for hundreds or even a full Millennium [a thousand years]. Celebrating birthdays had become a rare occurrence.

Most Immortal [transcendent beings] would only hold a grand longevity celebration once every ten thousand years, and such events were typically observed quietly within the family. Only the decamillennial celebration, held once every hundred thousand years, would be conducted with great fanfare.

Nevertheless, certain pivotal milestones—such as the ten-thousand-year, hundred-thousand-year, and million-year marks—were considered profoundly significant.

After all, such ages are experienced only once in a lifetime. Once that temporal threshold is crossed, one can never return to that specific point in their immortal existence.

One Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years] later, Eldrin Chen's ten-thousand-year longevity celebration was convened upon Verdant Chariot Mountain.

The guest list for this grand birthday was not extensive. Aside from a few close descendants of his bloodline within the clan, only several familiar immortal friends were invited.

The guests included Void-Refining Immortal, Six Stars Immortal, the two immortals known as Violet Flame and Sky Feather, Two Immortals, and also Xander Qian from Verdant Rock Island.

Beyond these, one person arrived uninvited—it was actually Sylas Ye, the Immortal from the Setting Sun Blessed Land.

This Sylas Ye, the Immortal served as the Welcoming Immortal Official [an official responsible for greeting newly ascended immortals] for the Celestial Court [the heavenly bureaucracy]. In the past, he had been the one to receive and guide Eldrin Chen upon his Ascending to Immortality [the final transcendence to become a true immortal], so they could be considered acquaintances.

That in itself was not particularly significant, merely part of his official duties. This time, however, upon hearing that Eldrin Chen was celebrating his ten-thousand-year great birthday [a momentous milestone representing immense longevity and power], he had, for reasons unknown, prepared congratulatory gifts and come.

Eldrin Chen had a faint suspicion that the other's uninvited arrival was likely not solely for the purpose of offering birthday felicitations.

Yet, it was not his place to inquire further. He simply invited Sylas Ye, the Immortal up the mountain to join the others at the banquet.

At the banquet, Eldrin Chen exchanged toasts with the assembled immortals, and before he knew it, the wine had circulated many rounds.

When it was Sky Feather Immortal's turn to offer a toast to Eldrin Chen, he picked up a jug of immortal wine [a divine liquor brewed for immortals] and said, "With the Human Race showing weakness in the Crimson Dragon Sea, we Human Race Immortals should support and aid one another."

"Today is Brother Eldrin's great birthday. Why not seize this auspicious occasion to establish a marriage alliance between our two clans?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback. His gaze shifted subtly downwards, landing upon his Second Son, Xander Dao Chen, who was standing together with Melody Lu. In that instant, he grasped the situation.

Over these years, Xander Dao Chen has ventured across the Human Race territories within the Crimson Dragon Sea, single-handedly training Dao soldiers [elite cultivator troops] and conquering numerous Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy].

Throughout this process, his greatest aide has been Melody Lu.

Thus, Eldrin Chen had long been aware of the nature of their relationship. Later, through divination of karmic threads, he came to understand the bond between them more clearly.

It turned out the Soul-Enlightening Pearl [a mystical pearl that aids in spiritual enlightenment] was originally a pair. When Sky Feather Immortal gave the other half to myself as a nurturing treasure during pregnancy, it essentially sealed the fate of their union.

"Dual Pupils [a rare and powerful innate physique] paired with the Heavenly Eye [a profound clairvoyant power]?"

"A fitting match indeed." Dive deeper into the Dao at audio~novel.com.