Chapter 56 : The Sword's Ascendant Awakening

At that very instant, Eldrin Chen was struck by a sudden, profound inspiration. Without a second thought for the Old Patriarch standing beside him, he expelled a mouthful of his Primordial Essence [the purest, most fundamental energy cultivated within a being's core].

The moment the Primordial Essence appeared, the sword embryo trembled violently. Then, they watched as that wisp of violet Qi transformed into a cloud of auspicious light and merged seamlessly into the embryonic blade.

"*Clang—*"

In that same breath, a clear, resonant sword cry rang out.

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss shot forth from the Eight Desolations Cauldron as a streak of deep azure sword light, transforming into a stream of radiance that vanished into the space between Eldrin Chen's brows.

Eldrin Chen closed his eyes to sense its presence. He discovered the Lifebound Immortal Sword had taken residence within his dantian [the core energy center in a cultivator's lower abdomen], hovering and slowly pulsing at its very center.

Through his connection with the Lifebound Immortal Sword, he realized that after absorbing that mouthful of Primordial Essence, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss had shattered the inherent limitations of a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a treasure forged with a cultivator's essence, growing in power alongside them]. Its potential grade had been elevated by one full rank.

For an ordinary Life-Bound Magical Treasure, its grade could never exceed that of its cultivator master. A Life-Bound Magical Treasure forged by a cultivator in the early Foundation Establishment Cultivator Realm was forever bound to the Second Rank Low Grade; reaching the Second Rank Middle Grade was nearly impossible.

Yet, having absorbed the Primordial Essence, this Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss had broken those chains. Now, provided with sufficient quantities of both Separated Flame [a pure, potent essence of fire] and Metallic Essence [a pure, potent essence of metal], Eldrin Chen could refine and elevate it all the way to the Second Rank Middle Grade.

"So this means," he murmured to himself, "once I break through to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage, this Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss could be refined to the Third Rank, Low Grade?" Official source: audio . novel . com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

A flicker of thought passed through Eldrin Chen's mind, and a trace of wild elation colored his expression.

That Lyra Jiang, relying on her Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword of the fourth rank, had roamed the Chu Kingdom virtually unmatched among her peers; even Golden Core Ancestor [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, the third major stage] had to give her some deference. Now, his own Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword cultivated with one's very essence, growing in power alongside its wielder] possessed the same latent potential.

Setting aside all other considerations, this Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss was already an exceptionally superior, top-tier Lifebound Immortal Sword. Now, with its grade potential elevated by another tier...

...once he refined this sword to the Second Rank Middle Grade [the middle grade of the second major cultivation rank], his strength would likely be sufficient to easily suppress the vast majority of Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the second major cultivation stage] cultivators. He might even be able to trade blows with an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators.

Pulling his thoughts back, he hurriedly glanced at the Old Patriarch.

"There is no need to overthink it, nor to explain," the Old Patriarch said with a faint smile, shaking his head. "I have watched you grow up. If not for my covering for you all these years, this secret would not have remained hidden for so long."

Eldrin Chen's face flushed slightly. He had believed his concealment flawless, never imagining that his years of cultivating the Primordial Scripture [a legendary cultivation manual of profound origin] had long been detected by the Old Patriarch.

Yet, upon reflection, it made sense. Before the age of sixteen, he had daily, right under the Old Patriarch's very eyes, inhaled the essence of the sun and moon, refining Primordial Essence [the pure, foundational energy of creation]. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their foundation, the second major stage] of the Old Patriarch's caliber was no fool; how could he fail to notice over time?

Thinking this, he decided not to hide it from the Old Patriarch any longer and resolved to impart the Primordial Scripture to him.

Yet, strangely, even when Eldrin recited it word for word, the Old Patriarch found himself utterly unable to retain any of it.

Within mere moments after listening, Chen Thalion found the memorized contents slipping from his mind entirely, utterly unable to retain the method of the Primordial Scripture.

Not only that, he discovered that attempting to transcribe the scripture was impossible; characters written upon paper would vanish in the blink of an eye, melting away like snow and scattering into dust upon the wind.

After half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], the two men could not help but draw a sharp breath. Old Patriarch widened his eyes, his expression turning deeply solemn.

"Only one destined can remember it; no mundane object in this world can bear its weight."

"This art's origins are likely beyond comprehension, bordering on the Dao [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy] itself. Perhaps this is the very manifestation of the Great Dao within the mortal dust."

"Now I am beginning to believe you truly might be an exiled immortal descended to earth, a great being reborn."

Old Patriarch sighed, a mix of awe and melancholy swirling within him—awe at the heaven-defying nature of this method, melancholy that he could not retain even a single word or phrase of such a transcendent art.

Eldrin Chen was also left speechless. All these years, every character and sentence of the Primordial Scripture had been etched clearly in his mind.

He knew this method was extraordinary, but he never imagined it would be so astonishing—like the lofty Dao itself, refusing to taint itself with worldly dust, vanishing instantly even when inscribed upon metal or stone, as if nothing in heaven or earth was worthy of bearing it.

"Enough. It seems no one in this world, save for you, could ever hope to learn this art."

Old Patriarch shook his head and said helplessly, "From now on, you must not let anyone know of this method, save for your closest kin."

"I understand," Eldrin Chen replied, taking a deep breath and speaking with solemn gravity.

The forging of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss had taken nearly a month just to melt the materials, followed by a full forty-nine days of tempering the blade. By the time the two emerged from seclusion, they discovered over two months had passed.

After leaving seclusion, Eldrin Chen sought a secluded spot to test the Lifebound Immortal Sword.

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss swelled with the wind, transforming into a Three-Zhang Sword Radiance [a three-zhang-length beam of sword light] that cleaved across the heavens. Its sharp, crisscrossing sword light carried a hint of peerless, unstoppable sharpness.

"A magnificent sword!" Experience the full epic at audio-novel dot com.

As Eldrin Chen descended, the Old Patriarch could not contain his excitement, his eyes gleaming. "Truly magnificent!" he exclaimed.

Though it was merely a Second Rank Low Grade Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], Eldrin Chen could clearly sense its power far surpassed the ordinary. Any common Second Rank Low Grade defensive magical tool would likely be shattered by this sword in a single clash.

"Once this sword is refined to the Second Rank High Grade level, it will unleash a ten-zhang-length [approximately thirty-three meters] sword radiance. One can only imagine the sheer might it will possess then."

The Old Patriarch's eyes shone with fervent light as he sighed in admiration. "I fear even my own Ancient Bronze Pagoda [a defensive magical treasure shaped like a small bronze pagoda] would struggle to withstand such a peerless immortal sword."

Eldrin Chen shook his head slightly, speaking with humility, "With Old Granduncle's Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful defensive formation that uses separated flame energy] combined with the Ancient Bronze Pagoda [an ancient defensive treasure], it could even hold off several dozen Foundation Establishment Demonic Beasts for two Ke-time [one Ke-time equals fifteen minutes]. I fear even this grandson's Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a lifebound sword treasure forged with abyssal and fire energies] would fail to breach it."

Though his words were modest, his heart surged with excitement. Now, if he could just gather a bit more of the two energies—Separated Flame [the purified essence of separated flame] and Metallic Essence [the refined essence of metal]—his Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss would be sufficient to advance to the Second Rank Middle Grade [a mid-tier rank for magical treasures].

By then, it would be capable of unleashing a sword radiance spanning six Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. His offensive power would likely rival that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators [a cultivator in the later phases of the Foundation Establishment realm].

Unfortunately, the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] from Celestial Ruins Mountain had all been purchased by Lyra Jiang. The Five Elements Essence he used this time to forge his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force] was actually bought from Jiang the Ancient Ancestor.

Lyra Jiang herself was in great need of this material. She was refining her own treasures and, according to legend, cultivating a major divine ability, both of which consumed vast amounts of Five Elements Essence. That she sold him three thousand strands was already a significant favor; he could not bring himself to ask for more.

Stowing away the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, Eldrin Chen decided that upon returning to Verdant Chariot Peak, he would have his clan procure large quantities of Metallic Essence Qi [the vital energy of metallic essence] and Separated Flame Qi [the vital energy of separated flame].

This was not only for refining his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's primary sword, bound to their soul], but also because he intended to cultivate the Chen Clan's divine ability, the Blazing Heaven Sword [a formidable sword technique that channels blazing celestial power].

The higher one's cultivation, the greater the might this technique could unleash. Once mastered, it would become another lethal trump card in his arsenal.

In truth, even the Old Patriarch had only brought the Blazing Heaven Sword to a minor achievement level, yet it was already potent enough to threaten Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators.

The previous Clan Patriarch, with his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of Foundation Establishment], once personally executed this technique. Its power was such that even a Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [a demonic beast equivalent to the Purple Mansion realm] dared not receive it head-on, a testament to its extraordinary nature.

"... The path of cultivation is long and arduous, a solitary journey against the heavens. Yet, for the Chen Clan, it is also a shared legacy, a flame passed from generation to generation. We do not cultivate merely for personal immortality, but to ensure the Eternal Pursuit of the Dao—that our lineage may endure through the ages, weathering all storms. Remember, Eldrin Chen, true strength lies not only in the sharpness of one's sword, but in the roots that anchor the family tree. Protect your kin, nurture the young saplings, and our Verdant Spirit Sword shall never lose its edge." Find this and other novels at audio-novel.com (official site).