Chapter 19 : Purifying Flames of the Sun

However, stalling for those few breaths of time was already sufficient.

In the sky, Grand Elder channeled the Solar Trueflame Grand Formation [a powerful defensive formation that harnesses the purifying essence of the sun]. His snow-white hair and beard whipped about in fury, and his eyes blazed with lethal intent.

"Audacious fiends, how dare you still run rampant!"

"Behold my Solar Trueflame [a divine flame of ultimate purity and yang energy]!"

As his words fell, the Solar Trueflame Pearl [the core artifact powering the formation] atop the Heavenly Vault erupted with incomparably brilliant radiance.

A stream of pure Solar Trueflame descended from the heavens, illuminating the pitch-black night and enveloping the several Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent and corrupt methods to gain power].

"Aaaah—!"

The agonized screams of the Demonic Cultivator filled the air. Before this flame specifically designed to counter their kind, even Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] mid-to-late stage Demonic Cultivator would not dare make contact, let alone a mere handful of Vital Essence Refinement [the first major stage of cultivation] practitioners.

In the span of a single breath, the several Demonic Cultivator were incinerated into ashes of calamity. Even the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a malevolent blade that feeds on blood and transforms its victims], a Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged and empowered by demonic arts], was refined and purified.

Its demonic energy was utterly burned away, and its baleful blood-qi melted like ice and snow before the Solar Trueflame. Only the pure, untainted material of the Millennial Crimson Iron [a rare, high-quality metal refined over a thousand years] remained. Find this and other novels at audio-novel.com (official site).

"Huff…"

Eldrin Chen gasped for breath, his expression grave as he stared at the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a sinister blade that feeds on and transforms blood into demonic power], unable to suppress a look of deep concern.

"A mere Second Rank Low-Grade Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with malevolent energies and techniques], yet it possesses such formidable power."

Though the battle had erupted suddenly and ended just as swiftly, the peril it contained was undeniable.

None had anticipated that these Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who harness dark, corrupting energies for power] would wield a Second Rank Demonic Treasure, nearly catching them completely off guard.

"They are Zhang Old Demon's men."

After the fight concluded, Eternal Spread Chen stepped forward, picking up the unfinished saber blade as he spoke.

"Within the entire Eastern Region Great Wasteland, the knowledge to forge the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber resides solely with the Demon Cave [a notorious stronghold of demonic practitioners]."

"Zhang Old Demon acquired fragments of the Demon Cave's legacy. In all of Yu County, he is the only one who knows the crafting method for this Demonic Treasure."

Hearing this, the Grand Elder said with a heavy tone, "Three years ago, when we were escorting the Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids in solidifying a cultivator's foundation], several Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their spiritual foundation] jointly ambushed the Clan Leader."

"Zhang Old Demon was also involved in that affair. In that battle, the Clan Leader destroyed his Demonic Treasure [a powerful artifact forged and bound to a demonic cultivator's life force]. It seems he is now preparing to forge a new one."

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly upon hearing this. After all, the Clan Leader was one of only three cultivators in the entire Yu County who had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Foundation Establishment realm, where one solidifies their cultivation base]. Among the more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have established their foundational cultivation base] in Yu County, he ranked within the top three.

With his level of cultivation, even when ambushed by multiple Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he still managed to slay one of them. Zhang Old Demon had tried to exploit the chaos to attack him, and naturally did not escape unscathed.

In truth, during that battle, Zhang Old Demon's Demonic Treasure was destroyed, and he nearly met his end at the hands of Eternal Profound Chen. He only managed to save his life by desperately employing the Blood Evasion Great Art [a forbidden technique that consumes one's vital blood essence to achieve a burst of extreme speed for escape].

It was precisely because of this that Zhang Old Demon, thoroughly terrified after the battle, dared not personally confront the Chen Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators, also known as an Immortal Clan], even though he knew Clan Leader Eternal Profound Chen had been severely wounded.

"That seems to be the most likely explanation."

Eternal Spread Chen stroked his long beard, his gaze filled with delight as he looked at the saber blank.

"To forge a Demonic Treasure like the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a demonic saber forged and empowered through the sacrifice of living beings and their blood essence], one is destined to bear immense karmic retribution."

"This time, the old demon's scheme has failed, and he has lost this precious saber blank. It is a fitting calamity for him."

Hearing this, the others also revealed faint smiles.

The material of this Blood-Transforming Demon Saber is utterly Extraordinary. The Millennial Crimson Iron [a rare spiritual iron forged over a thousand years] used to cast its blade core is also a precious treasure of heaven and earth.

Now, the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber has had its blood-fiend aura completely scoured away by the Solar Trueflame Grand Formation, transforming it into a pure magical weapon [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]. While its power has diminished significantly, it can still be considered a quasi-Second Rank Magical Artifact.

"It is a pity the Patriarch is gravely wounded. To prevent his injuries from worsening, he cannot act for the time being."

"Otherwise..."

Eternal Spread Chen spoke, then sighed once more.

This kind of Second Rank precious iron, if placed in the hands of a skilled artificer who inscribes it with Second Rank artifact-forging formation patterns, could at the very least be refined into a Second Rank Magical Artifact. Published by audio-novel . com. All rights reserved.

As his words fell, he looked toward Eldrin Chen once more. "In the recent battle, your flying sword clashed directly with a Demonic Treasure [a powerful artifact infused with demonic energy], severely damaging its spiritual essence. It will likely require many days of careful nurturing to recover."

"In my view, this item should be given to young Eldrin."

"This..." Eldrin Chen hurriedly declined. "This object is far too precious. It would be better reserved for the Patriarch."

Eternal Spread Chen shook his head. "For the Patriarch, a quasi-Second Rank Magical Artifact is of almost no use. For you, however, it would greatly amplify your combat prowess."

"Moreover, should you have the fortune to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm in the future, you could melt this item down and extract the Millennial Crimson Iron to forge your own Lifebound Magical Treasure [a powerful artifact bound to a cultivator's life force and soul]."

As the eldest cultivator in the clan besides the patriarch, Eternal Spread Chen commanded immense respect within the Chen Clan.

Once he spoke, no one else raised an objection. The Grand Elder was the first to voice his support.

"Within our family, your talent is the greatest. The clan's future will depend on you."

"Take it. With this blade in hand, you will have another means to deal with any Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use dark, forbidden arts] you might encounter in the future."

"Besides, doesn't the clan still owe you over two hundred Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]? Consider this as settling that debt."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen ceased his polite refusals. He accepted the blade embryo, his eyes alight with joy as he looked it over.

He caressed it for a moment, unable to put it down, before finally storing it away with a smile.

"Let this item be valued at one thousand five hundred clan Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds]," he said.

"It works out perfectly. My Spiritual Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy] trees are now bearing fruit for the clan stores, and I have plenty of Merits with nowhere else to spend them."

The Second Rank Mid-Grade Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force] of the clan leader was sold for only two thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] at the time. An ordinary Second Rank Low-Grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] would only cost around one thousand Spirit Stones.

However, this particular embryo was extraordinary. Millennial Crimson Iron [a rare, high-quality iron ore refined over a millennium] is a top-tier Second Rank material for artifact forging. Valuing it at one thousand five hundred was considered quite reasonable.

The Spiritual Peach [a peach imbued with spiritual energy that enhances cultivation] he would produce each year thereafter, thirty of which would enter the Clan Treasury, would amount to one hundred fifty Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing contributions and good karma within the clan] annually. In roughly ten years, he could settle this debt.

With a few words exchanged, the group allocated this precious treasure among themselves, then turned their gazes toward the others present.

Although the Chen Clan had slain several Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use unorthodox, often malevolent methods to gain power] in this battle, they had not emerged unscathed, having suffered greatly from the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a malevolent saber that transforms the blood of its victims into power for its wielder].

In this engagement, Silent Han had caught them off guard. That single demonic saber unleashed its terrible might, cutting down three Chen Clan cultivators in an alarmingly short time. Four or five others were left with serious injuries.

The subsequent expenses for compensating the families of the fallen and healing the wounded would be a significant burden.

After some discussion, it was decided that injured cultivators would receive a reward equivalent to one to ten years of their stipend, depending on the severity of their wounds.

As for the three cultivators who had perished, their descendants would be granted three hundred to five hundred clan Merits, based on the deceased's cultivation level. If a descendant lacked a Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation that determines one's potential for cultivation], the Merit would be recorded in the clan ledger. Should a descendant with spiritual aptitude emerge in the future, the Merit would then be transferred to their account.

Eldrin Chen understood that these measures were absolutely necessary. If even those who died fighting for the clan received no compensation, who would be willing to fight for it in the future?

If a cultivation clan fails to uphold this principle, its people's hearts will inevitably scatter over time, becoming like loose sand, destined to vanish like fleeting smoke before one's eyes.

The Chen Immortal Clan has existed for several centuries, and its internal cohesion has never been weak; naturally, they are well aware of this truth.

Furthermore, considering the clan's Clan Treasury was now empty and Merits could not be exchanged for Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] or supplies, Eldrin Chen and several other Elder pooled together over one hundred Spirit Stones to provide them with a portion of the compensation funds in advance. Continue your cultivation journey at (audio-novel.com).