Chapter 29 : The Forge of Destiny's Flame

After the elder finished speaking, he perused the Separated Flame Dao Ruins Art [a profound cultivation technique focused on the Separated Flame] that Eldrin Chen had handed over, and a glimmer of delight surfaced on his face.

"Although this cultivation art overlaps somewhat with the clan's Blazing Sun Void-Treading Art [a technique for treading the void with solar power], the Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bound and nurtured enchanted artifact] it details is exceptionally superior."

"In my view, this Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [the Abyssal Returning Li Fire Sword] is likely extraordinarily formidable. Within the entire Chu Kingdom, perhaps only Jiang the Ancient Ancestor's Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword capable of slaying immortals] could be mentioned in the same breath. The only pity is its considerable difficulty to forge."

"You possess the Millennium Crimson Iron [a rare metal refined over a thousand years]. Once you break through to the Foundation Establishment [the realm where a cultivator establishes their foundational core] realm, you could attempt to forge this sword."

After hearing him out, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, then handed over the Millennium Crimson Iron blade embryo.

"My cultivation is insufficient. Who knows when I will be able to use this material."

"Granduncle sold his own Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a personally bound magical artifact] a few years back. Would it not be better to take this Millennium Crimson Iron and forge the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss?"

"If you could successfully refine a Second Rank High Grade [a high-quality item of the second rank] lifebound immortal sword, the current crisis would likely be resolved with ease."

The old Clan Patriarch [the leader of the clan] heard this and shook his head repeatedly with a wry laugh. "Refining a Life-Bound Magical Treasure is nowhere near that simple."

"Given my current condition, even if I succeeded in forging the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, elevating it to Second Rank High Grade would likely consume many more years of effort. Furthermore, it would hinder my future cultivation progress from that point onward." Original English translation available at *audio-novel.com*.

"It would be better to abandon the Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them]. This would save the effort of nurturing the treasure, speeding up cultivation by a third. Perhaps then, a sliver of hope for a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body] might be glimpsed."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this, stowed the blade embryo, and then inquired.

"I wonder, what exactly is this Li Fire Crystal [a rare crystal born from profound earth-fire veins, containing concentrated fire-essence], and where might one obtain it?"

At the mention of the Li Fire Crystal, the old Clan Patriarch's expression shifted, revealing a trace of a sigh.

"The Li Fire Crystal is a rare treasure of heaven and earth, born within Underground Fire Vein [subterranean channels of concentrated fire-aspected spiritual energy].

"Its uses are extraordinary. It can aid in alchemy and artifice, and it can also assist cultivators with a Fire Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the fire element] in breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm."

"It is far too precious and sought-after. Furthermore, it only spawns in small quantities within fire veins of the third rank or higher, so it is essentially monopolized by immortal clans at the Purple Mansion level and above."

"It is said that within the Underground Fire Vein controlled by the Green Sun Sect, a single Li Fire Crystal is nurtured every ten years."

"There is also a top-grade third-rank fire vein within Celestial Ruins Mountain [a mountain range known for its ancient, ruined formations and powerful spiritual currents]. Rumor has it one crystal is born there every thirty years, but they are virtually never offered for sale."

After the old Clan Patriarch finished speaking, a look of disappointment settled upon Eldrin Chen's face.

No wonder that in the past, Yang Alistair [a cultivator], who possessed such an exquisite method for forging a Lifebound Immortal Sword, still met his end beneath the Demonic Tribulation [a catastrophic trial faced by cultivators].

Without a doubt, that Yang Alistair certainly failed to forge the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a legendary sword]. Both the Millennium Crimson Iron [a rare metal refined over a thousand years] and the Li Fire Crystal [a crystal imbued with the essence of Separated Flame] are treasures of immense rarity and value.

The Millennium Crimson Iron is somewhat more attainable. Although precious, the great sects with millennia of heritage can cultivate it artificially. Therefore, an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a practitioner who has solidified their spiritual foundation], with sufficient wealth and a stroke of fortune, might still have a chance to acquire it.

But the Li Fire Crystal is far too precious. This treasure, which aids in breaking through to the Purple Mansion [the realm where one's spiritual consciousness forms a palace], is utterly beyond reach without formidable backing or extraordinary luck.

"Do not be disheartened," the old Clan Patriarch [the leader of the Chen Clan] consoled, seeing Eldrin Chen's [the protagonist] flicker of disappointment. "A Lifebound Immortal Sword of such boundless power would naturally have exacting requirements for its forging."

"But rest assured, should a path to purchase a Li Fire Crystal ever appear, our Chen Clan [the Chen family] would spare no effort, even exhausting the clan's entire resources, to secure it for you."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a wave of profound gratitude stir within him.

He had to admit, even in this world teeming with immortal clans, few possessed the warmth and kinship found within the Chen Clan.

Sixty Years Ago, the Chen Immortal Clan had poured out centuries of accumulated wealth to purchase the priceless Purple Sun Jade [a mystical jade that aids cultivation] for the Clan Patriarch of that era.

A few years prior, the clan had sold everything of value and journeyed a hundred thousand Li-lengths [a vast distance] to buy a single Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in reaching the Foundation Establishment realm], all to nurture another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the family's future.

Though the outcomes of these two events were deeply unfavorable, and had they befallen another clan, such successive blows might have shattered morale long ago, the Chen Immortal Clan remained unyielding and resilient.

Gazing at the elderly Clan Patriarch before him, a surge of warmth filled Eldrin Chen's heart, and he felt a profound sense of belonging to the clan once more.

Some sentiments need not be spoken aloud; it is enough to hold them within. Without further words, Eldrin Chen simply produced the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation Flags.

"This set of Formation Flags possesses formidable power. I wish to entrust it to the clan."

"When the time comes, we can take it to the Lin Clan to see if we can redeem your Life-Bound Magical Treasure, Clan Patriarch."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly. Three years prior, in order to gather Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to repay debts, the Chen Clan had sold the Clan Patriarch's Lifebound Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, to the Lin Clan of Yu County. Published by audio-novel dot com. All rights reserved.

It had been a severely disadvantageous transaction. With the Clan Patriarch's current cultivation at the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage, given sufficient Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], it would not have taken long to elevate the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade to Second Rank High Grade.

The value of a single Second Rank High Grade magical treasure often exceeds four thousand Spirit Stone. To have sold it for a mere two thousand was, by any measure, a significant loss.

The Clan Patriarch's most formidable skills, aside from the clan's hereditary divine ability 'Blazing Heaven Sword', were centered on this very Crimson Flame Spirit Blade.

Now, without the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, Chen Thalion's offensive capabilities were nearly halved, his strength greatly diminished. Thus, Eldrin Chen also harbored the desire to reclaim the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade.

"Ever since the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a powerful enchanted blade imbued with fiery spiritual energy] was sold, I have understood that they would likely never allow me to buy it back."

Hearing this, Chen Thalion shook his head.

If the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade could be retrieved, it would not be long before it became a Second Rank High Grade Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a powerful artifact spiritually bonded to its wielder, growing with them]. At that point, Chen Thalion would be truly like a tiger with wings added, potentially even threatening the position of the foremost expert in Yu County.

The Lin Clan, as the strongest immortal clan in Yu County and something of a rival to the Chen Clan, naturally would not fail to see this. It was unthinkable that they would allow him to redeem it as he wished.

As he spoke, Chen Thalion glanced at the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Flags, a flicker of pleasant surprise coloring his expression.

"My Crimson Flame Spirit Blade is probably a lost cause, but this set of Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to deploy magical formations] is a true and unexpected boon."

"Once I refine and reforge them, they can be crafted anew into a set of Formation Tool Magical Treasure [a complete, integrated magical artifact designed specifically for deploying powerful formations]."

"A Formation Tool Magical Treasure?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen was visibly taken aback, his expression shifting to one of inquiry.

Seeing his reaction, the old Clan Patriarch stroked his beard with pride and explained with a smile:

"The so-called Formation Tool Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact that integrates the functions of a formation array into a portable magical treasure] refers to refining a complete set of formation tools into a unified set of magical treasures."

"Although this old man knows nothing of alchemy or talisman crafting, I am the sole Second Rank High Grade Formation Master [a master of the art of creating and manipulating magical formations] within Yu County, and I dare say my mastery of formation arts surpasses that of the late senior Yang Alistair from a century ago."

"In Senior Yang's hands, this set of Formation Flags [the physical flags or banners used to anchor and power a magical formation] could only function as a stationary formation. Yet, in my hands, they can be transformed into a true set of magical treasures."

"This set of Formation Flags possesses formidable power, capable of entrapping and incinerating foes. Once transmuted into magical treasures, they would likely become a top-tier set of artifacts, excelling in both offense and defense."

The old Clan Patriarch was in high spirits. In his hands, this set of Formation Flags would likely prove far more useful than even the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a spirit blade imbued with the power of crimson flames].

Eldrin Chen felt a pang of envy. This set of Formation Flags was excellent, but its one flaw was that only a Second Rank High Grade Formation Master could activate it.

If it fell into the hands of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their foundation in the path of cultivation], they would be utterly unable to wield it, making it far less useful than even a Second Rank Low Grade magical tool. Original English translation available at @udio-novel.com.