Chapter 1138 : The Bell of Shattered Stars

Gazing at the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell, Eldrin Chen's expression remained utterly placid. That the Heaven Wind Path Master would desire this object was well within his expectations.

After all, the Starry Void Bell was a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a legendary artifact of immense power used to shape or stabilize nascent worlds]. Though now grievously damaged and incomplete, it remained a treasure of the highest value.

If the Heaven Wind Path Master could one day repair this treasure, then with its protection, his chances of successfully enduring the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial cultivators must face to advance to higher realms] and breaking through to the Earth Immortal [a profound realm of cultivation where one becomes an immortal tied to the earth] would likely increase by more than thirty percent.

However, for Eldrin Chen, this treasure was not an absolute necessity.

This was because Eldrin Chen possessed the Polarity Dual Poles Pearl for his defense, whose power was not necessarily inferior to that of the Starry Void Bell.

Though the value of the Starry Void Bell was staggering, the resources required to restore it were also oceanic in scale.

The Heaven Wind Path Master had established his clan for over a million years, and Wind Mist Island had accumulated an incomparably deep foundation. Perhaps he had some chance of repairing it.

But given the current foundation of the Chen Clan, they would likely need to wait for another two or three hundred thousand years of accumulation before having any possibility of its restoration—a span of time far too protracted.

Therefore, from the very beginning, Eldrin Chen had not intended to choose this item.

"You have taken this item; the remaining treasures should rightfully belong to me."

Heaven Wind Path Master [a title for a powerful cultivator who has mastered the path of heavenly winds] furrowed his brow and began to bargain, "The Stellar Fruit [a rare fruit that contains condensed stellar energy] and the Three Thousand Stellar [a spiritual object containing the essence of three thousand stars] are of limited use to this old man. However, leave one portion of the Source of the Stellar [the primordial source essence of a star] for me."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. He knew Heaven Wind Path Master wanted a share of the Source of the Stellar to increase his chances of successfully repairing the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell [an ancient magical bell forged from the essence of the starry firmament].

After storing away the Stellar Fruit and the Three Thousand Stellar, and taking two portions of the Source of the Stellar, Eldrin Chen finally handed over the remaining portion of the Stellar Primordial Essence [the most fundamental and potent essence derived from a star's core] to Heaven Wind Path Master.

Seeing the delight on Heaven Wind Path Master's face, Eldrin Chen felt compelled to offer a word of caution. "This Ancient Starry Firmament Bell has been damaged for what is likely a million years."

"Given the profound heritage of the Star Spirit Clan [a clan whose members cultivate using stellar energies], if even they have not managed to restore it to this day, Fellow Daoist, you should not place too much hope in its repair."

Heaven Wind Path Master merely smiled, stroking his beard with confident assurance. "To be perfectly frank, the Heaven Flame Patriarch [the founding patriarch of a lineage specializing in heavenly flames] from the Violet Flame Blessed Land [a blessed land suffused with violet spiritual flames] is a senior who ascended from the same lower realm as this old man."

"Upon my return, I shall visit the Blessed Land [a realm of concentrated spiritual energy and natural wonders] of Heavenly Flames to see if I can persuade the Heaven Flame Patriarch to personally undertake the restoration of this treasure."

"So that is the way of it."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, thoughtful nod.

An Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] born from a mortal world is akin to a child of that world's very heaven and earth.

For Immortal who ascend from the same mortal world, their relationship can be described as fellow cultivators, but from the perspective of their world's heaven and earth, they are more like brothers born of the same mother.

To an Immortal, even their own blood descendants and sect disciples are but fleeting clouds and mist if they fail to achieve immortality, destined to eventually turn to dust and enter the Reincarnation [the cyclical process of death and rebirth].

However, those who ascend from the same world are like one's own siblings; they can endure alongside the cosmos and become fellow travelers for a far longer journey.

If one were to meet with calamity in the future, it would likely be upon these fellow Immortal from the same homeland to guide one's return.

Thus, this bond of shared origin, while not unbreakable, is considered a profoundly close and trustworthy connection.

Most Immortal are also willing to extend a helping hand to their fellow ascendants from the same world.

Returning to the matter at hand, after dividing the few Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact [the pinnacle tier of immortal-grade enchanted artifacts], the two began to allocate the more common Immortal Artifact.

While Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact were rare, ordinary Immortal Artifact were plentiful. With just a cursory inventory, they had already gathered over one hundred such artifacts.

More than half of these were Immortal Herb [rare plants imbued with spiritual energy], ancient texts, or low-grade Immortal Artifact [enchanted objects of minor power], none of which were considered particularly precious.

The two of them evenly divided the Immortal Herb and the low-grade Immortal Artifact, made copies of the ancient texts, and swiftly distributed the low-grade Immortal Artifact among themselves.

There remained over a dozen High-Grade Immortal Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] and Demonic Treasure [artifacts tainted by demonic energy]. After setting aside the few Demonic Path [cultivation methods aligned with demonic forces] items belonging to Blood Fiend Old Demon, eight treasures were left.

Eldrin Chen did not hesitate. He directly took the Frostbane Gourd [a gourd artifact that emits freezing energy], the Frostbane Heart-Locking Spike [a spike that freezes and immobilizes the target's core], and the Frostbane Cold Light Barrier [a defensive barrier of frigid light], these three treasures. He also retrieved an Upper Grade Immortal Artifact [a top-tier enchanted artifact] named 'Stellar Immortal Gold' [a legendary metal that resonates with celestial energy]. Then he said:

"These four treasures will be of significant use to me. I wonder if I could claim them."

Seeing this, Heaven Wind Path Master naturally understood it was wise to grant Eldrin Chen this favor. He said, "I have heard your immortal companion has cultivated the Frost Soul Immortal Body [a physique attuned to the essence of ice and frost]. These three ice-attribute Immortal Treasure are indeed suitable for her to refine." Read the full novel exclusively on audio-novel-dot-com.

"However, these three treasures are, after all, Demonic Treasure. The baleful energy [malignant spiritual force] within them is not easily purified. I possess a method for dissolving such energies; I shall gift it to you, Fellow Daoist."

As his words fell, he handed a jade slip to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen took it and examined it, finding it was indeed a specialized technique for purging various forms of baleful energy. He clasped his hands in gratitude, saying, "This is precisely what I urgently need. My sincere thanks, Fellow Daoist."

"It is but a minor technique, hardly worth mentioning."

Heaven Wind Path Master [a title for a master of the wind arts] let out a hearty laugh, then rose to his feet and said, "Since our shares have been divided, it is time for us to depart."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of agreement and then turned to leave the confines of Verdant Spirit Ancient Star [an ancient celestial body imbued with verdant spiritual energy].

Once outside Verdant Spirit Ancient Star, the two did not depart immediately. Instead, they took action to destroy the core of the Blood Spring Demon Domain [a demonic realm centered around a spring of blood], and only then prepared to set off.

Before parting ways, they glanced back one last time at Verdant Spirit Ancient Star.

The sight that met their eyes was one of utter devastation. The Stellar [pertaining to the power of stars] energy within the ancient star had already dissipated by seventy to eighty percent and was continuing to wane relentlessly.

Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh, a wave of melancholy washing over him. "With the Stellar Primordial Essence [the primordial core essence of a star] destroyed," he remarked with feeling, "the grade of this Verdant Spirit Ancient Star has already fallen from the level of a Blessed Land [a land exceptionally rich in spiritual energy]."

"It seems that within ten thousand years, the spiritual energy within will likely decline to the level of a Low-Grade Immortal Vein [a spiritual energy leyline of the lowest immortal grade]."

Heaven Wind Path Master nodded in acknowledgment, then spoke. "Billions of years ago, this Verdant Spirit Ancient Star was already grievously wounded by a mere residual wisp of power from Great Abyss Immortal Sage's [a sage of the great abyss] strike."

"Now, having suffered this calamity as well, it is fortunate indeed that it can still retain a Low-Grade Immortal Vein."

Eldrin Chen nodded slowly and began to recount, "After this calamity, the Star Spirit Clan has been utterly laid low."

"Even if a few Star Spirit still live, without their place of origin [the sacred ground where they are born and nurtured], they will eventually fade into the currents of the Long River of time."

"This may be the moment for the Human Race to rise upon Verdant Spirit Ancient Star."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen flicked his sleeve, releasing a beam of Primordial One Light that carried a scroll of scriptures down into the world of Verdant Spirit Ancient Star.

Witnessing this, the Heaven Wind Path Master smiled faintly and said, "Fellow Daoist, your heart is truly benevolent, to bestow the path of cultivation upon the Human Race of this star."

Eldrin Chen merely offered a slight smile, shook his head calmly, and without a word, flew off into the depths of the void.

Meanwhile, upon Verdant Spirit Ancient Star, in a remote village, the bodies of Human Race villagers lay strewn across the fields, a clear sign of a massacre by Demonic Cultivator hands.

From within an ancient well filled with blood, a child, drenched in gore, clawed his way out. He stared blankly at his surroundings, his eyes filled only with confusion and terror.

"Father... Mother..."

The child choked back a sob, whispering the words as he gathered the bones of the dead with all his remaining strength, not daring to let a single cry escape his lips.

Just as he was on the verge of utter exhaustion, he saw a brilliant immortal radiance descend from the Heavenly Vault and manifest directly before him.

As if guided by a profound, instinctive understanding, he took a step forward and grasped the Ancient Scripture in his hand. This chapter appears courtesy of (audio-novel.com).