Chapter 47 : A Blade Forged in Victory

After dealing with all this, the two of them quickly took out Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to absorb and restore their spiritual power. It wasn't until the next morning, when their power had recovered to about seventy or eighty percent, that they finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to tally their gains.

"Although Hong Old Demon managed to escape in this battle,"

"being able to slay Zhang Old Demon, the two Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] cultivators from the Zuo Clan, and Peaceful Harmony Lin, thus avenging the great grievance of years past, can still be considered a most satisfying and heartening outcome."

Old Patriarch looked at the several magical artifacts before him, the pent-up frustration of many years dispelled in a single stroke, and a look of pure, unadulterated joy spread across his face.

Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile and handed over the captured Crimson Flame Spirit Blade.

"With this treasure, Granduncle, you will be like a tiger that has grown wings."

"Hahaha!"

Old Patriarch let out three great laughs and snatched up the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade.

This Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing with them] was but a single step away from becoming a Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure. With a sufficient amount of the Metallic Gold [the essence of the Metal element] and Solar Fire [the essence of the Fire element] energies from the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], it wouldn't be long before it advanced to Second Rank High-Grade.

Most crucially, a Lifebound Magical Treasure was thirty percent more powerful than a magical treasure of the same rank, yet consumed only thirty percent of the spiritual energy. This novel is serialized on audio-novel . com. Visit for updates.

This one addition and one subtraction meant the Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them] would exert an effect far surpassing that of ordinary magical instruments, enough to increase the Old Patriarch's combat power by another thirty to forty percent.

"Once it is refined to the Second Rank High-Grade [a specific high tier within the Second Rank of magical treasure quality], then with the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation Flags [a set of formation flags that harness solar fire to burn enemy souls] in hand, combined with the divine ability Blazing Heaven Sword [a sword technique that summons blazing heavenly flames] and the Lifebound Magical Treasure, I'm afraid I will be capable of contending with two or three ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the final phase of the Foundation Establishment realm] cultivators."

Eternal Profound Chen caressed the Lifebound Magical Treasure with great fondness, unable to contain his joy as he spoke.

As he spoke, it seemed he thought of something else, his gaze turning slightly cold. "It's just this Lin Clan!"

Eldrin Chen gave a meaningful look, then handed over the ancient bronze pagoda and the Purple Treasure Mirror [a mirror artifact with defensive and supportive properties], saying with a smile.

"With these two additional treasures for defense and support, Granduncle's strength will likely be nearly peerless within the same realm."

"Beyond every person lies another greater; beyond every heaven lies a higher one. Do not overestimate me."

The Old Patriarch realized this was not the place, with many eyes and ears about, to discuss matters concerning the Lin Clan.

He took the ancient bronze pagoda and said with a smile, "With this defensive magical treasure, I can directly activate my formation and charge into the midst of a host of enemies, fearless for my own safety."

"However, this treasure mirror, you should keep it."

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow and asked, "Why?"

"Although the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation Flags are powerful, maintaining the formation constantly consumes far too much mental focus and spiritual power [the energy cultivated and used by practitioners of the mystical arts]," the Old Patriarch said helplessly. "Under such conditions, simultaneously activating two Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasures [enchanted artifacts of significant power] is already my limit."

"However, your True Essence [the refined, potent energy core of a cultivator] is profound and sharp, and your strength is not inferior to a Foundation Establishment Mid Stage [a specific level of advancement in the cultivation path] cultivator. You should be able to barely unleash seventy percent of this treasure's power."

"Therefore, it would be better to entrust this item to you, as that would yield the greatest effect."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen finally accepted the Purple Treasure Mirror, caressing it with an almost reverent touch, unable to put it down.

Next, the two of them distributed the remaining magical artifacts. The Mingxu Sword possessed extraordinary power, and since the Patriarch was not lacking in artifacts, it fell into Eldrin Chen's hands.

Daylight Wonder Zuo's defensive treasure was a small golden shield. Its defensive capability was slightly inferior to the Ninefold Resonance Bell, but it was still quite extraordinary. The two decided to keep it to bring back for the Grand Elder.

Peaceful Harmony Lin had also left behind three Second Rank Magical Artifacts: a defensive artifact forged from Mystic Iron [a rare, spiritually conductive metal], an earth-attribute flying sword, and a net-like artifact.

These three artifacts were all Second Rank Low-Grade, and their power was rather ordinary. However, the material of the defensive artifact was quite extraordinary.

The Old Patriarch decided that once they reached Heavenly Ruins Mountain, he would melt down that defensive artifact, extract the Mystic Iron, and fuse it into the Ninefold Resonance Bell to enhance its power.

As for Zhang Old Demon, his possessions were rather meager. Eight years ago, the Old Patriarch's wrathful strike of the Blazing Heaven Sword had destroyed three or four of his Second Rank Demonic Treasure [enchanted artifacts infused with demonic energy].

Now, his only Second Rank Magical Artifact was that Second Rank Low-Grade Demonic Banner [a banner imbued with demonic power]. This Demonic Banner was clearly a Demonic Treasure forged in recent years, not only of mediocre materials but also crudely inscribed with formation patterns.

Such a mediocre and unimpressive demonic artifact held no value for collection. The Old Patriarch directly destroyed it, smelting it down to extract a small amount of materials intended for future use in crafting the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation Flags [a set of formation flags that channel solar fire].

"..."

After dividing the treasures, the merchant caravan continued its journey across the vast expanse of the Great Wasteland.

Time flowed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed, and the group finally arrived at Heavenly Ruins Mountain. Find this and other novels at audio-novel . com.

"Ahead lies the Heavenly Ruins Mountain Market," someone announced.

Gazing at the Heavenly Ruins Mountain ahead, the Old Patriarch stroked his long beard, a smile gracing his features.

Eldrin Chen looked up, a similar smile touching his lips. After more than four months of arduous travel, they could finally rest.

Over the past month, the Old Patriarch had directly utilized the acquired Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements]. He had successively infused the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade with one thousand strands of Metallic Gold essence and one thousand two hundred strands of Solar Fire essence. Through continuous tempering, he had finally managed to refine this Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its user's life force] to the Second Rank High-Grade level.

In addition, the two of them opened the several captured Storage Bag [a spatial artifact used by cultivators to store items] and obtained a considerable amount of wealth.

Among the four captured Storage Bag, the one belonging to Zhang Old Demon contained mostly items used by Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow unorthodox, often malevolent paths]. Only around three hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] were useful to the two of them.

This amount of Spirit Stones was pitifully small for a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm]. However, as Demonic Cultivator mostly used Blood Crystal [crystals condensed from blood essence for cultivation] for their practice, the scarcity of Spirit Stones was within their expectations.

Within Peaceful Harmony Lin's Storage Bag, they found over nine hundred Spirit Stones. Beyond that, a single wood-attribute cultivation manual, the Verdant Clarity Longevity Harmony Art [a cultivation art focusing on wood energy, clarity, and longevity], brought them a surge of joy.

The Chen Clan lacked a wood-attribute cultivation art that could reach the Foundation Establishment Stage [the realm where a cultivator establishes their foundational dao core]. Obtaining this manual, which could guide a cultivator to the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, meant their clan's wood-attribute cultivators would no longer be without a proper path to follow after achieving Foundation Establishment.

The Storage Bag belonging to Daylight Wonder Zuo and Bright Void Zuo, as members of an Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan with a Foundation Establishment cultivator as its pillar], held wealth far surpassing the others. After counting, they discovered the two bags contained over four thousand Spirit Stones.

In addition, there were several bottles of pills for restoring spiritual energy and healing injuries. The energy-restoring pills were called Restoration Pill [a pill that replenishes a cultivator's spiritual energy]. These were Second Rank Mid-Grade [a mid-tier quality for second-rank items] pills, potent enough to restore half of a Foundation Establishment Mid Stage cultivator's True Essence [the refined spiritual energy within a Foundation Establishment cultivator's core]. Only three pills remained in the bottle.

It seemed the two had prepared for potential injury before coming. Unfortunately, their strength was lacking; they were suppressed from the very beginning and never had the chance to consume the pills to recover their energy or treat their wounds.

Aside from the pills, within Bright Void Zuo's Storage Bag, they also found a cultivation manual titled Bright Abyss Path of Grace Art [a cultivation art that blends concepts of radiant light and profound abyss].

This was a rather superior cultivation art, capable of guiding a practitioner to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the late phase of the Foundation Establishment realm]. Although it could not compare to the Chen Clan's Blazing Sun Dominating Void Art [a powerful fire-attribute cultivation art], nor did it possess a divine ability rivaling the Blazing Heaven Sword [a formidable sword technique], it still held considerable merit and unique insights.

It records the method for refining a Life-Bound Magical Artifact [a magical treasure that forms a deep bond with its wielder and can grow in power alongside their cultivation] known as the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword [a sword of ethereal spirit energy, named for its bright, abyssal nature], also called the 'Mingxu Sword' [the Ethereal Void Sword]. While it falls far short of the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a legendary sword imbued with the power of solar flames and the abyss], it is comparable to the Patriarch's Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a spirit blade wreathed in crimson flames].

Do not underestimate the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a spirit blade wreathed in crimson flames]; though not considered top-tier, its refinement method was acquired by the Chen Clan at the peak of its power eight decades ago, at a cost of over twenty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] in an auction.

After all, a Life-Bound Magical Artifact [a magical treasure that forms a deep bond with its wielder and can grow in power alongside their cultivation] is a treasure that, once forged, can ascend in grade as the cultivator's own realm advances. Even if one were to become an Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator who has formed their Primordial Spirit core], such an artifact would never lose its value. The complete novel can be found at audio–novel.com.