Chapter 1078 : The Heart's Forge and Fate

The Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart [a heart aperture that grants profound wisdom and meticulous thought] is the most thoughtful and meticulous. Those who possess this type of heart aperture often possess astonishingly great wisdom, their minds far more mature than their peers.

However, the Innocent Stubborn Heart [a heart aperture that makes one eternally childlike and mischievous] is extremely mischievous. Cultivators with this heart aperture remain forever childlike, naturally incompatible with the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Jade.

Thinking of this, Verdant Consort also spoke with some worry: "This child was born with the Innocent Stubborn Heart. Once she ventures out into the world in the future, I fear she will stir up great calamity."

"Perhaps we should keep her by our side, to better protect her safety."

"Summer Reign."

Eldrin Chen held Verdant Consort's hand, pondered for a long while, and then said: "It is no use. The Innocent Stubborn Heart is inherently mischievous. A child born with it is destined to face a Tribulation [a trial or calamity that tests a cultivator's fate and resolve]."

"A Tribulation is like a furnace fire. If one can pass through it, their stubborn heart will be refined into a Childlike Loyal Heart [a heart of pure, unshakeable loyalty]. This is their fate."

"The Childlike Loyal Heart is one of the most supreme heart apertures, each with its own merits when compared to the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart."

Eldrin Chen comforted Verdant Consort, yet in his heart, he understood all too clearly.

If a Tribulation is likened to a furnace fire, then failing to pass through it naturally means being reduced to ashes within that furnace. Original publication: https://audio-novel.com - The source of this chapter.

Regardless, hearing him say this, Verdant Consort finally let out a slight sigh of relief.

Holding the child in her arms, she could not help but say with heartfelt joy, "The Verdant Lotus Purification Body [a supreme-grade immortal constitution embodying the purifying power of the verdant lotus] has indeed undergone a transformation."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen also revealed a faint smile.

This child, having refined the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Seed [a legendary seed capable of bestowing an immortal constitution], should have originally obtained a high-grade Immortal Body [a physical form transcending mortality]—specifically, the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Constitution [an immortal constitution derived from the abyssal lotus].

Yet over these years, Eldrin Chen had spared no expense in nurturing the child with Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a primordial energy of supreme rarity and power], consuming three portions of the Acquired Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a refined form of the primordial chaos violet aura] in the process. In contrast, he had given only one portion to Exquisite Jiang.

The reason for this disparity stemmed from a deep-seated sense of guilt towards this child.

After all, compared to the Eight Trigrams Primordial Breath [a supreme spiritual treasure embodying the eight trigrams and primordial essence], the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Seed was considerably inferior. This was the only way Eldrin Chen could think to make amends.

Fortunately, those three portions of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura had ultimately succeeded in catalyzing a transformation within the Abyssal Immortal Lotus Constitution, elevating it into the Verdant Lotus Purification Body.

This Verdant Lotus Purification Body is a supreme-grade Immortal Body, possessing the profound, world-purifying mysteries of the Verdant Lotus [a mythical lotus symbolizing purity and enlightenment]. It ranks among the most supreme of peerless Immortal Body, its stature not inferior in the slightest to Worthy Pursuit Chen's Great Power Heavenly Dragon Constitution [a constitution embodying the might of a heavenly dragon].

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen smiled gently and said, "Born with an innocent heart and a natural body of purification, this child's innate gifts can truly be said to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any other."

"If he can transcend the Tribulation [a formidable trial of heavenly punishment], transforming his stubborn heart into a core of pure resolve, he may well forge the Great Encompassing Potential [a legendary physique of boundless potential]."

Scooping his daughter into his arms, Eldrin Chen cherished his only girl immensely. Following the clan tradition of using the fourth character from the Clan Genealogy [the sacred record of the Chen family lineage], he named her 'Verdant'.

Not long after the birth of Worthy Verdancy Chen, Exquisite Jiang also approached her time of delivery. Eldrin Chen waited for several moons, until finally Exquisite Jiang gave birth to a son.

This fifth child lived up to every expectation. He was born bearing the 'Innate Eight Trigrams Diagram' [a mystical symbol of cosmic order imprinted upon his soul] and possessed the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart [a constitution granting unparalleled spiritual clarity and perception]. From the moment he entered the world, he carried the bearing of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal of the highest order].

Eldrin Chen bestowed upon him the generational character 'Remembrance', naming him Worthy Remembrance Chen.

After the arrival of these two children, Eldrin Chen ceased his secluded cultivation. He devoted himself to carefully instructing his young ones while also tending to Verdant Consort and Exquisite Jiang as they recovered their strength.

Thus, time flowed onward, and another century and more slipped quietly by.

Seeing that Verdant Consort and Exquisite Jiang had nearly fully recuperated, Eldrin Chen one day gathered his wives and said, "A message recently arrived from the Empty Clarity Temple [a renowned Buddhist monastery], inquiring when we shall send Worthy Pursuit for his apprenticeship."

"I have calculated that Worthy Pursuit has already broken through to the Primordial Spirit Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Primordial Spirit realm, where one's spiritual core solidifies]. The time is ripe to send him there."

Lila nodded upon hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke, "Worthy Pursuit carries Karma [the spiritual law of cause and effect] intertwined with the Buddhist Sect. A journey to their halls is indeed fitting for him."

"However, I absolutely forbid Worthy Pursuit Chen from taking vows and joining a Buddhist Sect."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen offered a gentle smile and reassured her, "As my eldest son, Worthy Pursuit naturally cannot become a formal disciple of any Buddhist Sect."

"I have already reached an agreement with Ancient Buddha Empty Brightness. Worthy Pursuit will only study the Buddhist teachings concerning Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing rebirth] and will not take the vows of a Buddhist Sect disciple."

Exquisite Jiang nodded, yet her expression remained grave. "But Worthy Pursuit has cultivated for over two thousand years without ever showing interest in women. I fear he may choose the path of asceticism and enter the monastery of his own volition."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted dramatically. If Worthy Pursuit Chen insisted on joining a Buddhist Sect, they could not very well drag him out by force.

After all, the precedent set by the former Heavenly Dragon Buddha served as a stark warning. Moreover, Worthy Pursuit Chen had inherited a measure of his father Eldrin Chen's unyielding resolve and stubbornness; once his mind was set, it would be nigh impossible for others to sway him. This content originates from audio_novel.com. Please respect copyright.

At these words, Eldrin Chen fell into a prolonged silence.

After a long while, he shook his head and finally spoke. "Yet, not long ago, I performed a divination. Worthy Pursuit's Tribulation [a heavenly trial or calamity faced by cultivators to advance their cultivation]... is a tribulation of love."

"A tribulation of love?"

Upon hearing this, the others finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

Since it is a tribulation of passion, it must inherently conflict with the core tenets of the Buddhist Sect.

Verdant Consort nodded in agreement and said with a smile, "We can send him over a bit later."

"One Sixty-Year Cycle from now will be your ten-thousand-year birthday. Let the child celebrate your longevity first, and then send him. There is no hurry."

"That is acceptable."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this. For beings like them, the Immortal [transcendent beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation], a single session of secluded cultivation could last for centuries or even millennia. Celebrating birthdays had become a rare occurrence.

Most Immortal would only hold a grand celebration for their longevity once every ten thousand years, and even then, such festivities were typically confined within the family. Only the centennial celebration held once every hundred thousand years would be conducted on a truly magnificent scale.

However, certain milestones were considered particularly significant—such as the ten-thousand-year mark, the Hundred Millennium Grand Birthday, and the million-year anniversary. These were pivotal junctures in an immortal's existence.

After all, such milestones occur only once in a lifetime. Once that specific era of one's existence has passed, it can never be returned to; that particular age is gone forever.

"..."

One Sixty-Year Cycle later, Eldrin Chen's ten-thousand-year longevity celebration was convened upon Green Chariot Mountain.

This longevity celebration was a modest affair, with few guests invited. Aside from a handful of close-knit descendants from the family, only a few familiar Immortal [a being who has transcended mortal limits through cultivation] friends were in attendance.

They were, respectively, Void-Refining Immortal, Six Stars Immortal, the two Immortals Violet Flame Heavenly Feather, and Xander Qian from Verdant Rock Island.

Beyond these, one person arrived uninvited—it was actually Verdant Sparse Immortal from Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a land imbued with natural spiritual blessings].

This Verdant Sparse Immortal served as a Welcoming Immortal Official [an official tasked with guiding new Immortals] for the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of Immortals]. He had been the one to guide Eldrin Chen during his ascension to Immortalhood, which counted as a connection of sorts.

That in itself was not particularly significant, as it had merely been his duty. This time, however, upon hearing that Eldrin Chen was celebrating his ten-thousand-year longevity, he had, for reasons unknown, prepared gifts and come of his own accord.

Eldrin Chen had a faint suspicion that the other's unsolicited visit was likely not solely for the purpose of offering birthday congratulations.

Nevertheless, it was not his place to pry. He simply invited Verdant Sparse Immortal up the mountain to join the others for the banquet.

At the feast, Eldrin Chen exchanged toasts with the assembled Immortals, and before he knew it, three rounds of wine had passed.

When it was Heavenly Feather Immortal's turn to offer a toast, he raised his cup of Immortal brew and said to Eldrin Chen, "With the Human Race showing weakness in the Crimson Dragon Sea, we Human Race Immortals ought to support one another."

"Today is Brother Eldrin's great celebration. Why not seize this auspicious occasion to forge a marital alliance between our two families?"

Eldrin Chen paused for a moment, his gaze shifting slightly. He saw Worthy Path Chen, his second son, standing together with Wonderful Sound Lu below, and the situation became clear to him.

Over the years, Worthy Path Chen had ventured across the Human Race territories within the Crimson Dragon Sea. Relying on his own strength, he had trained Path Soldiers and conquered numerous Spirit Island.

Throughout this process, Wonderful Sound Lu had been Worthy Path Chen's greatest assistant.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen had long been aware of the nature of their relationship. He had later performed divinations concerning their Karma [the principle of cause and effect governing destiny], gaining a general understanding of the bond between them.

It turned out that the Soul-Enlightening Pearl [a mystical pearl that can awaken spiritual potential] was originally a pair. When Heavenly Feather Immortal gave the other half of the Soul-Enlightening Pearl to him as a Fetal Nourishment Treasure [a treasure used to nurture an unborn child's spiritual foundation], it essentially sealed their marital fate.

"The Dual Pupils [a rare mystical physique characterized by pupils within pupils] and the Heavenly Eye [a divine ability of profound perception]?"

"A rather fitting match indeed." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio novel.com.