Chapter 1041 : The Crimson Dragon's Challenge

Eldrin Chen remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable, giving no hint of his inner thoughts.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he finally spoke, "Regardless, we owe him a debt of gratitude. If we can assist him in the future, we should."

"However, do not entrust him with any matter of critical importance."

Having said his piece, Eldrin Chen spoke no more.

His gaze turned towards the depths of the boundless void, where Crimson Dragon Child strode forth, an aura of overwhelming tyranny etched upon his brow.

Crimson Dragon Child possessed a majestic and imposing stature, further accentuated by the crimson-gold armor he wore, radiating an air of domineering power.

He advanced through the air like a sovereign of the nine heavens, his face etched with an implacable killing intent as he declared.

"Boom—"

In that instant, heaven and earth trembled with a deafening roar.

Gripping a crimson-gold war halberd, Crimson Dragon Child let out a metallic *shing* as he thrust the weapon directly towards Eldrin Chen. The story continues at audio-novel . com.

This treasure is named the 'Crimson Dragon World-Startling Halberd' [a mighty halberd imbued with the power of a crimson dragon]. It is the Lifebound Immortal Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its owner's life force and soul] of Crimson Dragon Child, and its power ranks among the finest even amongst High-Grade Immortal Treasure [a high-tier category of immortal-grade magical artifacts].

The might of such an Immortal Treasure [a powerful artifact used by immortal cultivators] is naturally astonishing. Eldrin Chen chose not to meet it head-on and immediately activated the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array designed to shield a mountain].

Above Green Chariot Mountain, a massive Great Cauldron [a large cauldron used for alchemy or as a defensive treasure] adorned with dragon patterns soared into the sky. As the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and nodes for specific effects] was activated, it released a radiant curtain of light, blocking Crimson Dragon Child's seemingly unstoppable strike.

"It's that Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [the pinnacle grade of immortal treasures]!"

The moment he saw the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron [a cauldron forged from rare black gold and inscribed with dragon patterns], Crimson Dragon Child's eyes blazed crimson with fury.

This Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron was an object he had been determined to obtain. To see it now deployed by Eldrin Chen within a Formation to obstruct him—how could it not drive him to madness?

"That upstart Eldrin, stealing my precious treasure—he deserves death!"

With a roar of rage, Crimson Dragon Child brandished the Crimson Dragon World-Startling Halberd in his hand, its power stirring heaven and earth.

In his grasp, the halberd seemed to coil and dance like a Nine Heavens True Dragon [a legendary dragon of immense power from the highest heavens]. Its terrifying force churned the skies and shook the vast, boundless sea.

This was an immensely powerful Immortal Rank Divine Abilities [a supreme-level supernatural technique used by immortals]. When unleashed in concert with this Lifebound Immortal Treasure, it immediately displayed a world-shaking, awe-inspiring might.

They witnessed a vast and turbulent tide of seawater being drawn up, surging forth to suppress Green Chariot Island.

The seawater seemed endless, momentarily blotting out the entire Green Chariot Island and threatening to completely submerge this colossal island stretching for countless Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

Fortunately, the Mountain Protection Formation proved truly formidable. The Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron [a powerful defensive and offensive magical treasure] unleashed a sky-shielding curtain of light, enveloping and protecting the whole of Green Chariot Island and holding back the boundless, raging sea.

"This won't do. Relying on the power of a Formation [a structured array that channels energy for specific effects] to withstand the might of heaven and earth is ultimately unsustainable," Eldrin Chen remarked.

Even after successfully blocking the tidal onslaught, Eldrin Chen's expression remained grave.

The issue was not that the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron itself was insufficient, but rather that the island lacked the necessary Immortal Spirit Essence [the purified spiritual energy required to power high-level immortal artifacts]. The Lower Grade Immortal Rank Immortal Vein [a subterranean spiritual energy artery] simply could not sustain the cauldron's full power indefinitely.

Thankfully, the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron was capable of both defense and offense, meaning they were not without means to counter the Crimson Dragon Child.

Without a moment's hesitation, Eldrin Chen expended a portion of his Immortal Essence [the foundational life-force energy of an immortal] to activate the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron once more. Channeling the Formation's power, he unleashed the offensive might of the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron.

A mighty draconic roar echoed through the heavens.

From within the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron, a Black Dragon soared into the sky, its aura radiating world-sundering divine might as it charged directly at the Crimson Dragon Child.

The Black Dragon was so lifelike, each scale seemingly forged from obsidian gold. The power unleashed as it bared its fangs and brandished its claws actually surpassed the limits of the Ascendant Immortal Realm.

Such a formidable strike repelled Crimson Dragon Child in a single clash, shattering the predicament of the flood threatening to drown Green Chariot Island.

"Incredible power!"

Crimson Dragon Child's expression shifted to one of shock. He immediately channeled his Crimson Dragon World-Startling Halberd to parry, only to realize the combat prowess of this Black Dragon seemed to faintly surpass his own.

After merely a dozen or so exchanges, he was completely forced onto the defensive, retreating step by step under the relentless assault.

In less than twenty exchanges, Crimson Dragon Child was already outmatched. He was sent flying sideways, sustaining significant injuries. Continue reading this story at audio–novel.com.

"Damnation!"

Seeing he was no match for the Mountain Protection Formation, Crimson Dragon Child could only retreat in fury and frustration, fleeing beyond the shores of Green Chariot Island.

Before departing, he remained silent, his gaze icy and unyielding as it fixed upon Eldrin Chen for a long moment. In the end, he turned and vanished into the distance.

Watching him leave, Void-Refining Immortal finally let out a sigh of relief, though worry still tinged his voice. "It seems Crimson Dragon Child will not let this matter rest easily."

"This was within our expectations all along."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and withdrew the power of the Mountain Protection Formation.

He understood clearly in his heart that as a supreme Demon Immortal of the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier, that Crimson Dragon Child possessed immense pride and arrogance. Although this battle had repelled him by relying on the Formation, it would be difficult to make him submit completely.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen said thoughtfully, "In the coming days, unless it is absolutely necessary, we should not venture out from the mountain easily, lest we fall into some scheme of the Crimson Dragon Child."

"Understood."

Void-Refining Immortal nodded and then spoke, "This journey's gains were not insignificant. I plan to return to Void-Refining Island first. If you encounter any situation, you can send word to me immediately."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded and escorted Void-Refining Immortal beyond the borders of Green Chariot Island.

After Void-Refining Immortal departed, Eldrin Chen did not waste any time and immediately proceeded to the Spirit Herb fields.

Since occupying Green Chariot Island, Eldrin Chen had successively opened up thousands of Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of supreme-grade Spiritual Field with incredibly dense spiritual energy, as well as one Mu-area of Immortal Field.

Within the thousands of Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of supreme-grade Spiritual Field [fields imbued with rich spiritual energy for cultivation], most were already planted with Spirit Herb [plants that absorb and store spiritual energy, used in alchemy and cultivation]. The Immortal Field [fields of even higher grade, suitable for nurturing immortal-grade plants] were also occupied, though only by Spirit Herb of the fifth and Sixth Rank [a classification level for spiritual herbs and other cultivation resources].

The reason for this was simple: Eldrin Chen possessed no seeds of true Immortal Herb [plants of immortal grade, containing profound energies], and could only make do with the rare medicinal treasures he had managed to acquire.

Now, with a considerable harvest of both Immortal Herb and Spirit Herb, Eldrin Chen found it impossible to utilize them all immediately. He thus decided to transplant these Spirit Herb into the dedicated Spirit Herb Garden [a garden specifically designed and maintained for cultivating spiritual herbs].

Transplanting Spirit Herb was no easy task, yet it posed little difficulty for Eldrin Chen and his companions. They were either Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal [a lofty realm of immortal cultivation] or peak cultivators at the Primordial Spirit Late Stage [the advanced stage of nurturing one's spiritual core], making such labor trivial for them.

They spent several months transplanting the majority of the harvested Spirit Herb into the Spirit Herb Garden, before finally arriving before the gates of the Immortal Herb Garden [a garden of the highest order, reserved for immortal-grade flora].

There, Eldrin Chen carefully planted the Longevity Vine [a vine famed for extending lifespan], the Heaven-Mending Herb [a legendary herb said to mend foundational flaws], and the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a precious shoot containing condensed spiritual marrow] into the Immortal Herb fields. Then, he brought out thirty-eight ancient medicinal plants on the cusp of immortality.

These ancient herbs had grown for hundreds of thousands of years. Within their cores, a faint trace of Immortal Energy [the pure, potent energy characteristic of the immortal realm] flickered, a sign they were not far from their final, transcendent metamorphosis.

Yet this final hurdle was akin to the Dragon-Leaping Pool [a metaphorical or literal trial representing a great leap in power or status] for an Ascendant Immortal [an immortal undergoing a critical ascension]—overcoming it was a trial of immense difficulty.

Generally speaking, even if nurtured with utmost care by an Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] over hundreds of millennia, it was far from guaranteed that even one among these ancient herbs would successfully ascend to immortal grade.

Furthermore, even if one finally succeeded, the vast quantities of spiritual energy and Immortal Spirit Essence [a refined essence crucial for high-level immortal cultivation] consumed by these herbs during their long gestation would be enough to cultivate thousands upon thousands of Primordial Solar Spirit Herb [a high-grade spiritual herb nourished by primordial solar energy].

Therefore, this is not a cost-effective transaction. Typically, after an Immortal plants a Spirit Herb, they will cultivate it for at most a few thousand or ten thousand years, harvesting it once it reaches maturity.

Only a true immortal-grade medicinal seed, one capable of advancing to the immortal realm without encountering any bottlenecks, would be nurtured for hundreds of thousands or even millions of years, patiently awaiting its ascension to the immortal-grade realm. This chapter is provided by @udio-novel.com. Support the original.