Chapter 1081 : A Father's Journey to Enlightenment

"Mm-hmm."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then suppressed that line of thought.

He withdrew his gaze and looked towards Verdant Chariot Mountain, saying, "The longevity banquet has concluded. It is time to send Xander to Empty Enlightenment Temple."

"Tomorrow, I shall take him there myself. I must trouble you all to watch over the clan in my stead."

Lyra Jiang nodded upon hearing this, yet still offered a word of caution: "Go swiftly and return swiftly. Be careful on your journey."

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen nodded once more, then descended the mountain.

Early the next morning, he departed with Xander Chen for the Celestial Demon Sea.

As the two of them soared through the void, Eldrin Chen's gaze lingered on his son beside him. Only then did he realize, with a pang of time's swift passage, that his firstborn had grown into a man, bearing more than a passing resemblance to his own younger self.

Though Xander Chen was merely over one thousand five hundred years of age, his cultivation had already reached the Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage [the middle stage of forming one's spiritual core]. In terms of cultivation speed, he far surpassed even Eldrin Chen in his youth. Read, share, and discuss at audio—novel.com.

It must be understood that when Eldrin Chen broke through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm, his lifespan was already approaching two thousand years.

The reason Xander Chen was able to break through to the Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage at such a young age was threefold. First, the Immortal Realm was saturated with Immortal Spirit Qi [a higher-order spiritual energy found in immortal realms], making cultivation resources far superior to the mortal world.

Second, as an Immortal Descendants, his innate talent and Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and stable base of one's cultivation] were astonishing, allowing him to advance without bottlenecks all the way to the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul.

Third, Xander Chen had spent these years venturing through the Crimson Dragon Sea, enduring trials and tribulations that honed his spirit and fueled his rapid progress.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of emotion. He looked at Xander Chen and said, "I have heard that in your travels across the Crimson Dragon Sea, your hands have been stained with much blood."

"Subduing demons and vanquishing evil is the lifelong aspiration of this child,"

Xander Chen replied calmly, his expression carrying a devout sincerity, yet his eyes held a sharp, unyielding glint.

Over this past Millennium [a period of one thousand years], the three brothers had walked their own paths, each following a different myself [one's own] destiny.

The Third Son, Caelan Chen, possessed a carefree spirit. He had found a secluded Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] with several of his dao-companions. While he occasionally descended the mountain to gain experience, he spent most of his time cultivating in its serene beauty.

The Second Son, Xander Dao Chen, was resolute, steady, and harbored grand ambitions. Upon leaving the mountain, he had immediately conquered a vast Immortal Island [an island domain within an immortal realm].

In the short span of a mere Millennium thereafter, he was training Dao soldiers and launching assaults upon Demonic Tribe-held Spirit Islands. Unbeknownst to him, he had already conquered one hundred and eight such Spirit Islands.

These Spirit Islands varied in size. Relying on their internal resource veins and mineral deposits, Xander Dao Chen established a not-insignificant Immortal Alliance.

The alliance boasted three thousand six hundred Nascent Soul cultivators and twenty-seven Nascent Soul Dao Lords. Although this paled in comparison to the Immortal Rank powerhouses of the Human, Demonic Monsters, and Divine races, it was enough to earn a modest reputation within the Crimson Dragon Sea.

One must understand that the Crimson Dragon Sea was vast beyond measure. A Nascent Soul Dao Lord could spend a century in flight and still not traverse its entirety. Within its expanse lay hundreds of thousands of major Spirit Mountains and colossal islands.

Among these Spirit Islands thrived thousands of large and small Immortal Clans and Demonic Tribes. That Xander Dao Chen could establish a foothold here and rank among the foremost powers was a true testament to his formidable capabilities.

Strictly speaking, the only forces surpassing Xander Dao Chen's alliance were the few Immortal Islands occupied by the Human, Demonic Monsters, and Divine races.

Yet these Immortal Islands held a status far too transcendent. Whether the four Immortal Islands held by the Human Race, or the twelve Immortal Mountains occupied by the Divine beings and Demonic Tribes, each was akin to a Sea Steading Pillar [a foundational, stabilizing force] within the Crimson Dragon Sea.

Do not be misled by the seemingly obscure name of Eldrin Chen's Green Chariot Island within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas. In the Crimson Dragon Sea, its existence was one of supreme transcendence.

The vast sea region surrounding Green Chariot Island was home to dozens of Nascent Soul Immortal Clans and nearly a thousand Nascent Soul Immortal Clans. Nominally, all of them existed under its patronage and protection.

To return to our main thread, compared to the carefree ease of Caelan Chen and the militant preparations of Xander Dao Chen...

The eldest son, Xander Chen, walked the world alone. He journeyed solitary through the Crimson Dragon Sea, dedicating these years to vanquishing demons and slaying monsters, his hands stained with far too much blood.

He had ventured deep into the heartlands of the Demonic Tribe [a powerful alliance of demonic beings], beheading a pure-blooded Crimson Flame Roc. He had also tread the seas of the divine, tearing apart the bloodline descendants of gods with his bare hands.

On the path that led him to this day, Xander Chen had fought hundreds of battles, many of them desperate, life-or-death struggles of extreme peril.

Yet Xander Chen walked alone. Apart from his innate Great Power Heavenly Dragon Constitution [a supreme physical endowment granting immense strength], he had only a single Immortal Iron Staff for company.

Wherever his path led, he fought, carving out a formidable and thunderous reputation through sheer, unyielding force.

In comparison, the name of Xander Chen among the two races of Demon God [powerful demonic beings] resonated with far greater dread and renown than even that of Xander Dao Chen. This was a fame forged in blood and born from slaughter. Join our community of readers at www . audio-novel.com.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke with calm finality, "These years, you have battled your way across the Crimson Dragon Sea, making many enemies."

"Now, the killing has saturated you. It is indeed time for you to go to the Empty Enlightenment Temple [a sacred Buddhist monastery], to let Buddhist teachings cleanse the killing intent [the aura of slaughter that clings to one's spirit] from your being."

Xander Chen's expression tightened slightly, a frown of dissent forming. "Father," he countered, "you once said that subduing demons and vanquishing evil requires thunderous methods [decisive and overwhelming action]. Why now do you bid your son to wash away his killing intent?"

"Foolish child."

Eldrin Chen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze profound as he spoke: "To subdue demons, one naturally requires thunderous methods. Yet, I have also told you that what is too rigid is easily broken."

"Your journey to the Empty Enlightenment Temple should focus primarily on comprehending the Buddhist Dharma [the teachings and laws of Buddhism]. If you can cleanse the karmic stains of your own killings, your future will undoubtedly be boundless."

Upon hearing this, Xander Chen still frowned and said: "If those whose bodies are full of sin can cleanse their transgressions simply by cultivating the Buddhist Dharma, then what purpose do the Eighteen Hells [the eighteen realms of punishment in Buddhist cosmology] serve?"

"In this child's view, a demon is a demon, a fiend is a fiend, and an evil person is an evil person. Even if they were to become a Buddha, they would still be a Demonic Monsters, utterly incapable of washing away their sins."

Hearing him speak thus, Eldrin Chen was so exasperated he could only laugh.

In his heart, he understood that this child's nature was rigidly upright and stubborn. He held his own ideas and understanding of all things under heaven and would not be easily swayed by others.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt both anger and amusement, and could only laugh and scold: "You foolish boy, do you think I am unaware of this principle? But look at the things you have done!"

"In recent years, you have fought your way through every branch of the Demonic Tribe. If not for your old man shielding you from behind, you would have been torn limb from limb long ago."

"Not long ago, you slew another descendant of a deity, which has already alarmed a deity of the Ascension Immortal Realm [the realm of cultivation just below true immortality]. If you dare remain in the Crimson Dragon Sea, I fear even your father may not be able to guarantee your safety."

"Go and cultivate in seclusion at the Empty Enlightenment Temple. Do not return until you have Ascended to Immortality [broken through to the Immortal Realm]."

Upon hearing this, Xander Chen wore an expression of stunned realization, finally grasping the profound intent behind Eldrin Chen's actions.

He had thought this journey was Eldrin Chen forcing him to enter the Buddhist order. It turned out Eldrin Chen's true purpose was for his complete safety and well-being.

Upon careful reflection, this was to be expected. According to the original intention of Empty Enlightenment Temple, Xander Chen should have entered the Buddhist order long ago.

Yet, Eldrin Chen had kept him in the Crimson Dragon Sea for one thousand five hundred years under the pretext of worldly experience, only sending him over after repeated urging from Empty Enlightenment Temple.

Had it not been for the fear that remaining longer in the Crimson Dragon Sea might expose him to schemes from the Demon Immortal [a powerful demonic being who has attained immortality] deities, Eldrin Chen would likely have kept him for several more years.

Thinking of this, Xander Chen could not help but scratch his head and chuckle, "That divine descendant was far too arrogant and willful, annihilating an entire clan in a fit of rage. Such conduct, how is it any different from that of the Demonic Monsters?"

"Since your son learned of it, naturally, I had to vanquish the demons and purge the evil."

Speaking to this point, Xander Chen offered a somewhat sheepish, brilliant smile. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio_novel.com.