Chapter 28 : Fate by the River's Edge

A century ago, Desiccated Bone Old Demon refined a demonic skull, wreaking havoc across Chu Nation with near-invincibility and plunging the land into a great calamity of Demon-Slayer chaos.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains whole. Celebrating Origin Yang also joined the great war between the Chu Nation Cultivation World and the Demonic Cultivator, ultimately meeting his demise amidst the demonic scourge.

Nearly another century passed thus, until a dozen or so years ago when this cave abode was discovered by three individuals by chance, thereafter becoming their lair.

To speak of it, those three were exceedingly cautious. Over the years, they had been luring prey by distributing fragmented maps, and they would only sell these fragments to cultivators who appeared young.

Because of this, their murderous business of fishing for victims managed to operate for over a decade without being discovered.

Alas, one who often walks by the river's edge cannot avoid getting their shoes wet. That the trio now fell into the hands of Eldrin Chen was a tribulation they were fated to encounter.

"A pity. There are no other treasures within this cave abode."

"However, this Spiritual Vein [a concentrated flow of spiritual energy within the earth] is a fine thing. It is only a shame it lies within the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland."

Eldrin Chen could not help but shake his head. A Second Rank Spiritual Vein, if located favorably, could perhaps nurture the rise of a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Foundation Establishment realm].

Unfortunately, the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland teems with rampaging demonic beasts. Every time a Beast Tide [a massive, periodic surge of demonic beasts] erupts, this area becomes a bloody buffer zone and battleground between humans and demons, making it utterly impossible for ordinary mortals to settle and thrive here. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio‑novel.com.

"We can only abandon this place for now."

"In the future, when our Chen Clan grows stronger, we can consider utilizing this place again."

In the end, Eldrin Chen made a decision. He retrieved the Formation Flag of the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation, sealed the entrance to the cave abode, and after concealing it well, continued his journey towards Yu County.

Another month passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, he opened the trio's Storage Bag [a spatial pouch used by cultivators to store items].

To his astonishment, within the three Storage Bag, there were more than twenty low to mid-grade first-tier magical artifacts [enchanted tools used by cultivators], over six hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], and over a dozen jade slips containing replicated cultivation arts.

It was clear that most of these items came from cultivators who had been lured to their doom by the three men.

Most of these cultivation arts only reached the Vital Essence Refinement Stage [the initial stage of cultivation where one refines their vital energy], with only a single one reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage [the stage where a cultivator establishes their foundational dao base], which caused Eldrin Chen to reveal a look of excitement.

This art was named the Solar Fire Path to Ruins Art, a remarkably advanced Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation method. Not only could one cultivate to the Foundation Establishment 9th Tier [the ninth and final layer of the Foundation Establishment realm], it even contained the method for forging a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them].

It must be understood, although the Chen Immortal Clan possessed three Foundation Establishment cultivation arts, only the Blazing Sun Dominating Void Art was capable of reaching the Foundation Establishment 9th Tier.

The Chen Clan's Blazing Sun Dominating Void Art was also a top-tier Foundation Establishment art, containing the divine ability [a powerful supernatural technique] known as Blazing Heaven Sword. However, it uniquely lacked the method for forging a Lifebound Magical Treasure.

The Patriarch's former Blazing Flame Spirit Saber was indeed a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure forged with a cultivator's essence and soul, growing in power alongside them], but it was merely a common, generic type. Its potency could not be considered exceptional.

Although this Solar Fire Path to Ruins Art [a profound cultivation method focusing on solar fire energy] does not record any divine abilities, the Lifebound Magical Treasure it details—the 'Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword'—is an exceptionally superior Lifebound Immortal Sword [a lifebound treasure in the form of a sword, possessing immense power].

According to the method's records, forging this Lifebound Immortal Sword requires obtaining Millennial Crimson Iron [a rare metal refined for a thousand years within an earth fire vein], then fusing it with Solar Fire Crystal [a crystal imbued with the essence of solar fire]. One must then temper it day and night with the dual energies of Solar Fire [the essence of solar flame] and Metallic Gold [the essence of the metallic element] extracted from the Five Elements Essence [refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five fundamental elements]. Only after forty-nine days of such refinement will the sword take its initial form.

The offensive Force Extreme [the pinnacle of destructive power] of this sword is astonishing. Upon its initial completion, it can unleash a sword radiance extending three Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. Its power ranks among the very top even among Lifebound Magical Treasure of the same tier, sufficient to slay demons and vanquish fiends. Wielding it, one could roam the world with few rivals among cultivators of the same realm.

"Millennial Crimson Iron."

Gazing at the saber blank, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a look of delight.

This 'Millennial Crimson Iron' is also an exceedingly rare treasure. The essence of ten thousand irons forms Mystic Iron [a refined, spiritually conductive metal].

If Mystic Iron falls into an earthly Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire energy] and is tempered day and night for a thousand years by the earth's fire, purging all impurities within the Mystic Iron and absorbing the power of the Underground Fire Vein [a deep underground channel of fire energy], it transforms into Millennial Crimson Iron.

When Zhang Old Demon obtained this Millennial Crimson Iron, he was immediately ecstatic, intending to forge it into a top-tier Demonic Treasure [a magical treasure forged and powered by demonic cultivation methods], the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a demonic saber that transforms blood into power]. Now that this material has fallen into Eldrin Chen's hands and encountered the forging method for this superior Immortal Sword [a sword of immense power used by immortal cultivators], it is truly a serendipitous coincidence.

"The only question is, where can one obtain this Solar Fire Crystal?"

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Eldrin Chen continued his journey home. Not long after, he finally arrived at Green Chariot Mountain.

Upon returning to Green Chariot Mountain, he immediately went to the Hinter Peaks and sought an audience with the Old Patriarch without delay.

As soon as Eternal Profound Chen saw him, a flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes, and he looked over with a trace of nervous tension.

"Was your journey to Heavenly Ruins Mountain successful?"

"This trip to Heavenly Ruins Mountain... I have fortunately not failed in my mission."

Eldrin Chen nodded, retrieved the Meridian Nourishing Pill [a precious elixir that repairs and revitalizes damaged spiritual pathways], and handed it over. Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.

The Old Patriarch took the Meridian Nourishing Pill in hand, opened the container for a glance, and a smile touched the corners of his eyes and brows.

A few years prior, he had broken through the bottleneck to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. He had believed his path forward was clear, even harboring a hope to glimpse the Violet Sanctum Realm [a profound cultivation stage where one forms a violet-hued spiritual sanctum within] within his lifetime.

He never expected to fall into decline so suddenly, his cultivation path nearly severed completely. Now, with this Meridian Nourishing Pill, he had finally reclaimed a sliver of hope.

"With this Meridian Nourishing Pill, I am confident I can recover ninety percent of my injuries within five years. By then, taking action again will pose no major hindrance."

He caressed the Meridian Nourishing Pill [a life-saving pill that repairs and nourishes damaged cultivation meridians] with an almost reverent touch, unable to put it down. Suddenly realizing he might be acting somewhat undignified in front of his junior, he quickly set the Meridian Nourishing Pill down and inquired with a composed smile.

"Tell me of your journey's events."

"Yes."

Eldrin Chen did not hesitate and recounted the entire journey's encounters to the Old Patriarch.

Eternal Profound Chen listened with an impassive expression at first. However, when he heard that the pill was purchased from Elara Lin for one thousand five hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], he couldn't help but frown.

"I know of Elara Lin. She is the sole direct disciple of Path Master Jiang."

"Her cultivation is unfathomably deep. It is said she reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment [the pinnacle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm] many years ago."

"A life-saving pill like the Meridian Nourishing Pill could easily fetch two thousand five hundred Spirit Stone and still find eager buyers. Why would she sell it to us for so cheap?"

"That puzzles me as well," Eldrin Chen shook his head, his expression also one of confusion. "Yet, from my observation, she did not seem to be a person of ill intent."

Eternal Profound Chen also found it difficult to comprehend and could only nod in agreement. "Although Patriarch Jiang is a woman, she has guarded the borderlands of Chu Nation for two hundred years. She is renowned for her upright character and has absolutely no tolerance for underhanded schemes. It is unlikely she would plot against an old man like me."

"Perhaps it was to show consideration for a junior. Once my injuries are fully healed, I shall pay a personal visit to express my gratitude."

With that matter settled, Eldrin Chen continued discussing the matter of the map, speaking of the cave abode left behind by Celebrating Origin Yang and the three fishing cultivators.

After listening, the Old Patriarch felt a chill run down his spine, a look of lingering fear coloring his expression.

"Thank the heavens you acted with caution. If it had been some hot-headed fool blinded by the allure of an Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode, they would likely have lost their life there."

"In the future, when you encounter such situations, you must think deeply and carefully. Do not act rashly unless you are absolutely certain."

"In my own travels during my youth, I too once faced a perilous situation of this nature…"

Eternal Profound Chen rambled on, recounting many tales from his own century-spanning travels across the Immortal Realm.

Though he was lectured for quite some time, Eldrin Chen listened with rapt attention. These were lessons forged from over a hundred years of his elder's accumulated experience, wisdom that could help him avoid countless pitfalls in the future. Official source: (audio-novel.com). Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.