Chapter 65 : Clash of Magical Treasures

"Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike [a specialized magical projectile designed to pierce defensive barriers and target the heart]."

In that fleeting instant, the thought flashed through Eldrin Chen's mind.

This Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike was Lin Lysander's signature magical treasure. Though only of Second Rank Middle Grade [a specific tier of power for magical artifacts], it was a rare and exceptionally refined piece.

Not only was this treasure incredibly swift, but it was also specialized in piercing through protective auras and the luminous shields of defensive magical tools. An ordinary Second Rank Middle Grade defensive artifact might not withstand its assault.

Eldrin Chen naturally dared not be careless. He activated the Bell of Nine Echoes [a defensive bell that resonates with protective energy] to shield his entire body, then soared into the sky astride the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a flying sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame]. The three-zhang-length [approximately ten meters] sword radiance he unleashed forced the spike back.

"A Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personal sword, forged with their essence and soul, growing in power with them]?"

Seeing this sword light, a flicker of envy appeared in Lin Lysander's expression.

The method and materials required to forge a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personal artifact, bound to their life force and soul] were exceedingly precious. Although he was at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm], he could not compare to individuals like Eldrin Chen and Zuo Mingxu, having never succeeded in refining his own Lifebound Magical Treasure.

"Boom!"

Yet, in that very moment, Eldrin Chen launched his counterattack. Join our community of readers at audio-novel.com (official site).

With a flick of his wrist, he sent the Green Ape Pearl soaring. It swelled to a size of over one Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] and hurtled towards Lin Lysander.

Rather than meet the blow head-on, Lin Lysander pivoted, his escape light carrying him back a hundred Zhang-lengths. His pupils contracted slightly as he watched the earth where he had stood shatter under the pearl's impact, fissures crisscrossing the ground for over ten Zhang-lengths in every direction.

"That treasure carries the weight of ten thousand Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms]. Even a Second Rank Demonic Beast famed for its physical resilience would likely be crushed by a direct hit," he thought, drawing a sharp breath.

He then produced a small, exquisitely crafted Violet-Striped Treasure Furnace and hurled it towards Eldrin Chen.

The treasure furnace ascended into the sky, its lid flying open. A torrent of violet flame cascaded forth like a waterfall, engulfing the space before Eldrin Chen in an all-consuming inferno.

"The Purple Sun True Flame [a potent, sun-purple spiritual fire]," Eldrin Chen murmured, recognition dawning.

"It's the Lin Clan's Purple Sun Furnace!"

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened, a flicker of solemnity crossing his features.

The Purple Sun Furnace was one of the Lin Clan's foundational treasures, a Second Rank High Grade magical artifact. The Purple Sun True Flame it unleashed was extraordinarily potent; even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment, Peak Stage would be reduced to ashes if caught within its violet embrace.

However, while the treasure itself was formidable, in the hands of Lin Lysander, it could only manifest about seventy percent of its true power. Eldrin Chen already had a countermeasure in mind.

With a swift motion, he raised his hand and summoned the Violet Radiance Mirror [a magical mirror that emits a purifying violet light]. A beam of amethyst radiance erupted, washing over his foe. Though its raw power paled before the Purple Sun Furnace [a formidable cauldron-like treasure that channels solar fire], this mirror possessed a unique, insidious property: it specialized in suppressing the True Essence [the refined spiritual energy that empowers a cultivator's artifacts] within magical treasures, causing them to fall from grace. It was the perfect counter to the Purple Sun Furnace.

Bathed in the violet light, the Purple Sun Furnace instantly dimmed, its spiritual energy grievously wounded. It plummeted from the sky like a fallen star.

"The Violet Radiance Mirror!"

"Now!"

Seizing that precise moment, a flicker of lethal intent flashed in the eyes of Lin Lysander. Abandoning the Purple Sun Furnace, he raised his hand and unleashed a torrent of starlight.

Countless points of cold, piercing radiance filled the sky, each beam carrying a chilling, deadly gleam that made one's scalp prickle with dread.

"Trouble! It's the Azure Descent Thousand-Star Needles [a sinister weapon composed of a thousand fine silver needles that rain down like a meteor shower]!"

At this sight, even the Old Patriarch, who had been watching with detached calm, could no longer remain seated.

The Azure Descent Thousand-Star Needles was an exceptionally vicious Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool [a high-quality enchanted artifact], a hidden trump card the Lin Clan had kept in reserve.

This treasure consisted of over a thousand minute silver needles. Once activated, they shot forth like a thousand falling stars, specifically designed to pierce through protective auras and shatter defensive magical tools.

Even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the second major realm of cultivation], if caught off guard, would be pierced by countless silver needles, their flesh riddled with a thousand terrifying, gaping wounds.

Such injuries would puncture the cultivator's meridians and dantian [the energy center in the lower abdomen], damaging their very foundation. Repairing this would likely take several decades, and might even leave behind a dreadful, lingering affliction.

It could be said this treasure was truly a magical tool of astonishing lethality. Its sole flaw was that no one could simultaneously control over a thousand of these stellar radiance needles, limiting its use in any single battle to just one volley.

The moment the myriad stellar radiances appeared, Eldrin Chen sensed an instinctual, lethal danger.

Acting on that instinct, Eldrin Chen summoned the Green Ape Pearl [a defensive magical treasure] before him. Its protective radiance held for a mere heartbeat—but that heartbeat granted him the crucial moment to breathe.

As the light curtain shattered, the sword aura radiating from the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a flying sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame] blazed brilliantly. It carried him sideways for over a hundred zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], evading ninety percent of the stellar needles. This novel is serialized on audio–novel.com. Visit for updates.

The remaining needles, though still numerous, were all intercepted by the sword aura of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and the Bell of Nine Echoes [a defensive bell treasure], failing to deliver a fatal blow.

"Impossible."

Witnessing the failure of his Thousand-Star Needles, Lin Lysander wore an expression of utter disbelief.

He had never imagined Eldrin Chen's reflexes would be so swift, evading his sure-kill strike purely by instinct.

"Clang—"

At that moment, a streak of sword light slashed forth, aiming directly for Lin Lysander's face.

A flicker of killing intent surfaced in Eldrin Chen's gaze. Although he had anticipated that the Lin Clan would have a hidden card, the appearance of the magical treasure Azure Descent Thousand-Star Needles [a sinister magical weapon that unleashes a dense, unguided storm of needle-like projectiles] still took him by surprise.

While such specialized magical treasures possessed formidable power, they were excessively vicious and, once unleashed, impossible to control.

In duels of this nature, where swords were crossed, the prevailing custom was to seek harmony and avoid such lethal measures.

Thinking of this, a surge of killing intent rose within Eldrin Chen, mingling with his lingering apprehension.

At this critical juncture, he could no longer afford to worry about the severe depletion of his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner]. He once again channeled his power into the Violet Radiance Mirror, causing it to project another beam of mirror-light. A violet radiance swept across the sky, and Lin Lysander's signature weapon, the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike, was struck down, plummeting to the earth.

With the most troublesome weapon, the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike, now neutralized, Eldrin Chen was finally free to engage in full combat. Shielding himself with the Bell of Nine Echoes, he summoned forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and launched a fierce assault against Lin Lysander.

Having stripped his opponent of two key magical treasures in succession, Eldrin Chen found his True Essence severely drained. Yet, Lin Lysander was now in the awkward position of having lost his primary offensive implements.

With no other choice, he could only rely on a single defensive magical treasure while desperately maneuvering two lesser flying swords to parry Eldrin Chen's attacks, hoping to find an opening to turn the tide through sheer combat experience.

Yet Eldrin Chen's combat talent far exceeded his expectations. With an uncanny instinct, Eldrin consistently found the gaps in his defenses, effortlessly driving him into a corner with each casual strike, leaving him with barely the strength to parry.

After they had exchanged over a hundred blows, a glint flashed in Eldrin Chen's eyes. He channeled his power into the Mingxu Sword, deftly knocking aside his opponent's magical tool, then summoned forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and sent it slashing forward.

Though the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss was merely of Second Rank Low Grade quality, its might far surpassed that of ordinary artifacts. With a single, decisive stroke, it cleaved through the opponent's defensive magical tool and shot straight towards the man himself.

"We concede! Do not harm him!"

The situation unfolded too swiftly. Lin Mordred had no time to physically intervene and could only shout out a desperate plea to halt the attack.

Alas, it was already too late. The azure sword radiance manifested by the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss descended with a resonant *clang*, severing one of Lin Lysander's arms clean from his body.

"Aaaagh—!"

Lin Lysander let out a wretched scream, watching helplessly as his arm was severed by the sword light. Worse yet, a surge of violent Separated Flame [a potent and corrosive spiritual fire] immediately began seeping through his meridians [the energy channels within a cultivator's body] and invading his flesh.

Acting swiftly, Lin Mordred rushed forward. He used his own True Essence [the refined spiritual energy of a Foundation Establishment cultivator] to suppress the Separated Flame raging within Lysander's meridians, then fed him several medicinal pills. Only then did the man's condition stabilize somewhat.

In those brief moments, the severed arm of Lin Lysander had already been completely consumed by the Separated Flame, reduced to nothing more than a charred, blackened stump.

For a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm [the second major stage of cultivation where one builds a solid foundation for their future path], a maimed and incomplete physical form signifies crippled meridians [the channels through which spiritual energy flows in the body]. This condition represents a permanent bar, forever closing the door to any possibility of a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm, where one opens a spiritual mansion within their dantian]. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel . com.