Chapter 1284 : The Vault of Lingering Sun

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as understanding dawned upon him at this moment.

When the Lingering Sun Patriarch attacked the Returning Abyss Blessed Land, he should have stationed at least one Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] within this Lingering Sun Blessed Land to hold the fort.

That Immortal, upon detecting the extinguishing of the Lingering Sun Patriarch's Soul Lamp [a magical lamp whose flame is linked to the life force of its owner], must have immediately gathered all the treasures of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land and fled long ago.

"A wasted journey,"

Eldrin Chen muttered inwardly, his expression turning cold as he pressed onward into the depths of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land.

Before long, at the heart of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land, he discovered five ancient trees of the Heaven-Propping Ancient Tree [a legendary type of spiritual tree said to have supported the heavens in ancient myths] lineage.

"A Heaven-Piercing Tree, a Great Mystery Pine, an Evergreen Cypress, a Netherworld Nether Antiquity Locust Tree, and a Lingering Sun Fire Mulberry Tree."

The sight of these four ancient trees sent waves of elation through the gathered Immortals and Deities.

Eldrin Chen's brow creased once more as he discerned that these ancient trees were all Acquired Spiritual Root [a spiritual root formed through cultivation and nurture, rather than being innate]. The first four were High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root, while the Lingering Sun Fire Mulberry Tree was a Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root.

It was clear these venerable Spiritual Root [the foundational spiritual essence of a plant or place, crucial for cultivation] had been procured by the Lingering Sun Patriarch specifically as World-Opening Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of immense power used to stabilize and empower a newly created minor world] for the Setting Sun Path Master. Original publication: audio novel.com - The source of this chapter.

Among them, the Lingering Sun Fire Mulberry Tree was the most unique, appearing to be a Supreme-Grade Immortal Root [a spiritual root of the highest quality, capable of nurturing immortal-grade resources] naturally born from the rules within the Lingering Sun Blessed Land.

As key objects for World-Opening [the act of creating a new minor world or realm], the Lingering Sun Patriarch had preserved these few Worldly Spiritual Root [spiritual roots of immense power, foundational to the stability of a world] very well.

He had deliberately set up a Formation [a mystical array or barrier created through arcane arts] to guard them. Only the Lingering Sun Patriarch and the Setting Sun Patriarch could open it, which was why they had not been taken by the Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] left behind to guard the place.

For the Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have nearly completed the Earth Immortal tribulation] present, the importance of a Fourth-Level Celestial Pillar [a foundational pillar of a world, crucial for its stability and growth] was self-evident.

They joined forces one after another, intending to break this Formation and seize the four or five Acquired Spiritual Root [spiritual roots acquired later in life, as opposed to innate ones]. Under their combined assault, it did not take long for them to shatter this Formation.

"Now!"

The moment the Formation was broken, the four Half-Step Earth Immortal instantly made their move. With perfect tacit understanding [unspoken coordination], they launched their attacks towards Eldrin Chen.

The four of them understood clearly that the greatest threat here was Eldrin Chen, and thus they immediately joined forces to assail him.

"Overestimating your own strength."

Facing their assault, Eldrin Chen had long anticipated it in his heart.

With a mere flick of his sleeve, the Polarity Dual Poles Pearl [a defensive treasure embodying the opposing forces of yin and yang] deflected the assaults of several Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [the pinnacle class of immortal artifacts]. Then, the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of divine swords representing heaven and the abyss] crisscrossed and danced, parrying every technique unleashed by his foes.

At this juncture, Eldrin Chen's power was a far cry from what it once was. Even when besieged by four Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have partially transcended mortality but not fully ascended to the Earth Immortal realm], he did not yield an inch of ground.

"How can he be this formidable?"

Witnessing Eldrin Chen hold his own against four opponents, the quartet felt a tremor of shock in their hearts.

Exchanging glances, they realized victory in this battle was likely beyond their grasp, leaving them trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes glinted subtly. He turned to Heaven Dawn Path Master and declared, "If you stand aside, in recognition of our shared Human Race heritage, I will permit you to take one High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root [a top-tier spiritual plant that can enhance one's cultivation foundation] and depart."

"This is bad!"

Upon hearing these words, the Heavenly Demon King and the Winged Human Race [a humanoid race distinguished by possessing wings] Half-Step Earth Immortal felt their hearts sink, a sense of foreboding washing over them.

As they feared, the Heaven Dawn Path Master's expression shifted, revealing clear signs of temptation.

He understood perfectly well that Eldrin Chen's current strength allowed him to fight four to a standstill. To continue this struggle would only lead to a protracted and exhausting deadlock.

Moreover, even if he were to emerge victorious from the battle, he would have to share the treasures with the Heavenly Demon King and the two Immortals of the Winged Human Race. In the end, his share would likely not exceed a single High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root [a rare plant that has absorbed immense spiritual energy after its birth, forming a powerful spiritual foundation].

Yet, should he be defeated, he risked not only gaining nothing but also facing the peril of utter annihilation.

Rather than fighting a life-and-death struggle, it was far wiser to simply divide the treasures first.

As this thought solidified in his mind, Heaven Dawn Path Master felt an overwhelming surge of temptation, his resolve crystallizing into a firm decision.

Seeing the shift in Heaven Dawn Path Master's expression, the Heavenly Demon King immediately spoke up with urgency, "Do not be swayed by Returning Abyss Path Master's attempts to divide us!"

"If the four of us do not unite, we stand no chance against this Returning Abyss Path Master. Do you not fear being picked off one by one?" Experience the full epic at audio‑novel.com.

Upon hearing this, Heaven Dawn Path Master let out a cold laugh. "Though I have never met Fellow Cultivator Eldrin face-to-face, I am well acquainted with his reputation."

"Who in these surrounding seas does not know that Returning Abyss Path Master is renowned for his fairness and is a man of his word?"

"It is you, Heavenly Demon King, whom I would have to guard against, even as we fought side by side, lest you stab me in the back."

With those final words, Heaven Dawn Path Master cupped his hands respectfully towards Eldrin Chen, then took the 'Evergreen Cypress' [a legendary spiritual tree symbolizing eternal vitality] from among the Spiritual Roots and departed.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then channeled his Immortal Treasure [a supreme-grade enchanted artifact] and unleashed his Divine Ability [a supernatural power cultivated to a divine level] to continue his assault against the trio.

Maintaining a good reputation is no easy feat, yet its paramount importance was now laid bare for all to see.

This time, with just a few words, he had managed to divide the four Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators on the verge of attaining the Earth Immortal realm], a feat greatly aided by the weight of Eldrin Chen's renowned name.

Over the years, he had consistently offered favorable terms to his partners and handled the distribution of resources with scrupulous fairness.

Even when faced with supreme treasures like the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell and the Lingering Sun Heavenly Wheel, he had restrained his greed. Unbeknownst to him, this had won him the trust of many, and his reputation for integrity had spread far and wide.

This very credibility meant that not only were old allies willing to cooperate with him unconditionally, but even a first-time acquaintance like Heaven Dawn Path Master trusted Eldrin Chen's promises.

With Heaven Dawn Path Master no longer joining the encirclement, Eldrin Chen immediately felt the pressure lessen significantly. Freed to focus on the battle once more, he now pressed his three remaining opponents relentlessly, gaining the upper hand.

After merely a hundred exchanges, the Heavenly Demon King's expression grew increasingly grim. He realized, to his dismay, that the three of them had unwittingly fallen completely into a defensive position. A flicker of thought to retreat crossed his mind.

After a moment's hesitation, the Heavenly Demon King cast a pained glance at the five Spiritual Root [rare plants that gather and refine heaven and earth spiritual energy], then used the momentum of a clash to propel himself backward, shooting off towards the distant sea.

"Damn it,"

Suddenly, the Heavenly Demon King and the two Half-Step Earth Immortal Patriarch of the Winged Human Race felt a chill run down their spines.

A sense of profound danger prickled their skin, compelling them to flee instantly towards the distant void.

"*Screech—*"

In that very instant, a resonant sword cry, clear and sharp, split the heavens and earth.

They saw Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful sword cultivator] snap his eyes open, seizing the fleeting opportunity. He channeled his power, causing the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of legendary, soul-bound swords] to merge into a single, devastating strike aimed directly at the male member of the Winged Human Race.

As the Sky-Severance Sword Union [a supreme sword technique capable of cleaving the sky] descended upon him, the winged man desperately activated his Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a top-tier enchanted artifact] to block. Yet, how could it possibly withstand the might of the Sky-Severance Sword Union?

In the blink of an eye, his protective treasure was shattered. The sword light passed through, annihilating his physical body on the spot.

"*Aaaagh—!*"

A wretched scream echoed as the winged man's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a high-level cultivator] fled his ruined form, darting frantically into the distance to save itself.

But Eldrin Chen had been prepared for this. The Five-Colored Divine Light [a mystical light capable of sealing and capturing almost anything] swept across the sky in an instant, ensnaring the fleeing Primordial Spirit before it could escape.

"Save me!"

At this moment of life and death, the male Winged Human cried out in terror.

Yet the female Winged Human Race did not hesitate in the slightest. Without even a backward glance, she fled deeper into the void, vanishing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"*Clang!*"

In that very instant, the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords extinguished the male Winged Human's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator].

Immediately, the light of the world's laws cascaded down, and the Winged Human's Primordial Spirit and physical body began to dissolve into the Dao [to return to the fundamental cosmic principles].

As everything faded, only a Supreme-Grade Path Source [the highest grade of condensed cultivation essence] and a single Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a supreme-grade enchanted artifact]—the 'Azure Feather Immortal Wings'—remained.

"A pity."

Eldrin Chen retrieved the Supreme-Grade Path Source, and after a glance, he could not help but shake his head slightly. For uninterrupted reading, go to site: audio-novel.com.