Chapter 1102 : The Unruly Heart's Ambition

It was precisely because of this that Xander Qing Chen was like a child who had received a beloved toy, unable to put down the three Immortal Treasure [a supreme-grade enchanted artifact of immense power], handling them with endless delight.

He could not resist practicing a few sets of techniques with the Supreme Profound Halberd [a halberd of profound and supreme power], exclaiming with gleeful shouts, "Watch closely, Father! After descending the mountain this time, your son is determined to capture several True Dragon [a supreme and ancient race of dragon-kind], strip their sinews and skin, and respectfully offer them to you for making congee."

"Do not be so reckless!"

Upon hearing her words, before Eldrin Chen could even speak, Verdant Consort could no longer remain seated.

Her expression shifted slightly, and she immediately reprimanded, "Within the Crimson Dragon Sea, the True Dragon are overlords of their domain. Even your father and I dare not lightly slay a True Dragon. You must absolutely not act so mischievously."

"Mother..."

Seeing the stern look on Verdant Consort's face, Qing'er instinctively glanced toward Eldrin Chen. Yet, she found his gaze as deep and inscrutable as a starry abyss, revealing no emotion. Only then did she lower her head slightly.

"This child understands."

Xander Qing Chen murmured softly. As for whether she had truly taken the words to heart, that remained unknown.

Upon the Grand Hall, Eldrin Chen remained silent. Only after Xander Qing Chen had withdrawn did he take a deep breath and sigh, saying, "Over these years, you and I have disciplined this child perhaps too much." Continue reading this story at audio-novel`com.

"Yet the Innocent Stubborn Heart [a fated name signifying a pure but obstinate nature] is far too unruly. The more one disciplines her, the more it kindles the flames of her curiosity,"

"Only by weathering tribulations can she gain profound lessons. It is only with the furnace-fire of calamity that the Mischievous Heart [a constitutional name denoting a playful, impish nature] can be refined into a heart of true resolve."

Verdant Consort understood Eldrin Chen's reasoning, yet her heart remained gripped by profound worry. "But tribulations are perilous to cross. I fear..."

"There is no need for fear."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, drawing her into his embrace. "Within the three treasures, I have left a fourth Restrictive Formation [a defensive magical formation]. It will activate at the moment of mortal peril and should be sufficient to ensure her safety."

Hearing this, Verdant Consort finally allowed herself a slight sigh of relief, though a shadow of concern still lingered upon her features.

After Qing'er's departure, Verdant Chariot Mountain [a sacred mountain named for its verdant peaks and chariot-like ridges] settled once more into its usual rhythm, though a quietude now lingered where youthful energy had been.

Varen Wei had grown to adulthood in these years and had ventured down the mountain to temper himself some time ago. Thus, Eldrin Chen began preparations for his own seclusion.

Unbeknownst to him, nearly four Millennium [a grand cycle of one thousand years] had flowed by since Eldrin Chen's Ascending to Immortality [the act of transcending mortality to become an immortal being].

Throughout these Millennium, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Precisely because of this rapid progress, the potential for his power to grow further remained vast and untapped.

At this stage, what could rapidly enhance the power of Eldrin Chen were his five Lifebound Immortal Treasures [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's soul and life force] and the Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl [a supreme treasure embodying the opposing yet complementary forces of Yin and Yang].

The Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl was a Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [the highest classification of immortal artifacts]; to successfully refine it required Mana [the refined spiritual energy used by cultivators] at least at the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm [the final stage before achieving true immortality].

Although the sheer volume of Eldrin Chen's current Immortal Essence [the purified energy of an immortal] was not inferior to that of a cultivator at the Ascendant Immortal Eighth or Ninth Layer [the eighth or ninth tier of the Ascendant Immortal realm], its quality remained at the Mid Ascendant Immortal Realm level, still insufficient to refine the Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen planned to advance all five of his Lifebound Immortal Treasures to the Immortal Rank High Grade [a high-tier classification for immortal artifacts].

Once he possessed five High Grade Immortal Treasures to temper his Mana, he estimated it would take merely two or three Millennium [a period of one thousand years] for Eldrin Chen to refine his Mana to the level of the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm.

Thus, for the past several centuries, Eldrin Chen had been entrusting friends like Six Stars Immortal and Xander Qian to procure vast quantities of Five Elements Immortal Qi [immortal-grade spiritual energy embodying the five elemental forces] for him.

By now, these resources of Five Elements Immortal Qi had been fully gathered. Hence, this period of seclusion was dedicated to elevating several of his Immortal Treasures.

Compared to the time he advanced the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of legendary swords], Eldrin Chen's current foundation and Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and stable base of a cultivator's power] far surpassed his past self. Handling the advancement of his Lifebound Immortal Treasures now felt increasingly effortless and precise.

As time flowed onward, the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell [a defensive bell imbued with earth-element power], the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a spatial treasure that manipulates Yin and Yang], and the Primordial Green Lotus Platform [a platform for cultivation and enlightenment] successively ascended to become High Grade Immortal Treasures.

Following this advancement, Eldrin Chen faintly sensed a tremendous surge in his own power.

Especially the Primordial Green Lotus Platform [a mystical artifact shaped like a primordial lotus], after its successful advancement, was actually capable of storing three times the amount of Immortal Essence Power [the refined spiritual energy wielded by Immortals].

Relying on this Primordial Green Lotus Platform, Eldrin Chen's Mana [the foundational spiritual energy for casting arts and techniques] became more than four times vaster than that of an Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to immortality] at the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm. In future battles, this would grant him unparalleled advantage.

It must be understood that the reason he had been able to slay the Yin-Yang Ancient Ancestor previously was not because his own power was greater, but because his Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform [his previous lotus platform treasure] had secretly harbored a significant reserve of Immortal Essence [the pure, potent energy core of an Immortal].

"With such profound reserves of Immortal Essence, even wielding a treasure like the Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl [a pearl embodying the opposing forces of Yin and Yang], a Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [a treasure of the highest rank among Immortal artifacts], I could sustain combat for a considerable duration," he mused.

"Add to that the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell [a bell treasure renowned for its supreme defensive capabilities], and the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a spatial treasure that manipulates the concepts of Yin and Yang]."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, sensing vaguely that his current strength had likely increased by at least thirty percent compared to before. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel.com (official site).

Against ordinary Immortals at the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality, he estimated he could handle two of them single-handedly without issue.

After all, with five High Grade Natal Immortal Treasures [personally cultivated treasures of high quality that grow with their master] guarding him, few Immortals at the Ninth Level likely possessed such opulent resources.

Thinking this, a sense of calm steadiness settled within Eldrin Chen, bringing with it an air of composed assurance.

"I wonder, facing that Crimson Dragon Scion now, could I achieve victory?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his gaze sinking into deep contemplation.

After a moment's silence, he spoke thoughtfully, "In a fair duel, I hold the advantage. But to launch a direct assault on Immortal Source Island or Crimson Dragon Island, I would be at a loss."

Eldrin Chen whispered to himself, roughly estimating the strength of both sides.

That Crimson Dragon Scion possessed prodigious talent; his power was formidable even among those at the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality. Yet, Eldrin Chen was confident he could suppress him in a one-on-one confrontation.

However, the Crimson Dragon Scion was, after all, the direct descendant of the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor. His father, the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor, was once a peerless Heaven's Chosen who had reached the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm.

Although that Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor had now passed away, seated in meditation until his spirit departed [a term for the peaceful death of a high-level cultivator], he had left behind an exceptionally profound Deep-Seated Foundation [the accumulated spiritual resources and legacy that form the bedrock of a cultivator's power] for the Crimson Dragon Scion.

Among these legacies were two Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [the highest grade of enchanted artifacts used by immortal cultivators]. One was the Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure 'Crimson Dragon Heaven-Scorching Sword'. It was said this treasure was forged by the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor using his own Counter-Scale [the unique, reverse-growing scale from a dragon's throat, considered a precious material] as the core material, refined into a Lifebound Immortal Treasure [a magical artifact intimately connected to its owner's life force and soul].

That Crimson Dragon Heaven-Scorching Sword possessed peerless sharpness. Legends said it had been stained with the blood of supreme immortals and demons, making it a peerlessly lethal Immortal Treasure.

Before his end, the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor used the 'Crimson Dragon Heaven-Scorching Sword' as the Formation Eye [the core and control point of a magical array] to set up a grand protective formation. This was what allowed the Crimson Dragon Scion to barely hold onto his inherited domain.

The other supreme treasure was named 'Crimson Flame Golden Scale Armor', a Bodyguard Supreme Treasure [a top-tier defensive magical artifact that protects the wearer's body] of astonishing defensive power.

Alas, this treasure was damaged when the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor broke through to the Earth Immortal [a realm of cultivation where one becomes an immortal tied to the earth] realm, causing it to fall to the grade of a High Grade Immortal Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of the highest mortal grade].

Even so, the might of the Crimson Flame Golden Scale Armor far surpasses that of ordinary High Grade Immortal Treasure, and it was placed by the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor upon an Immortal Source Vein [a supreme spiritual energy ley line capable of nurturing immortal treasures].

With these two supreme treasures at his disposal, that Crimson Dragon Scion was virtually invincible among his peers upon Crimson Dragon Island and Immortal Source Island, so much so that even an Ancient Ancestor at the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [a transitional state just below the Earth Immortal realm] would find it difficult to slay him.

Although Eldrin Chen's strength far exceeded that of ordinary cultivators at the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality [the pinnacle stage before achieving true immortality], he privately acknowledged that upon those two Immortal Island, he himself would be no match for the Crimson Dragon Scion.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen reined in his fighting spirit. "There is no need for haste," he murmured. "The Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly calamity that reshapes the world] is still over fifty thousand years away."

"By then, a mere Crimson Dragon Scion should not be difficult to deal with."

Eldrin Chen whispered this to himself, then set the thought aside.

He surveyed his surroundings. Seeing that a considerable amount of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] remained, he retrieved three radiant, luminous pearls.

"The Sun, Moon, and Stars Three Pearls [three supreme treasures representing the celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars] are three rare supreme treasures of the Spirit Clam Tribe [a powerful tribe of spiritual clam beings], capable of enhancing the cultivation of us practitioners."

"Now that my artifact-forging arts have reached great completion, I wonder what kind of supreme treasure set I could forge using these three Immortal Treasures [artifacts of immense power, often surpassing mortal-grade treasures] as the core materials." Original English translation available at audio-novel*com.