Chapter 68 : The Weight of Passing Years

Perhaps sensing this might be their final meeting, Old Patriarch conversed at length with his clansman, Chen Dorian, a brother of nearly the same age. They spoke freely of their youthful exploits, reminiscing about the passions and follies of bygone years.

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, watching the pair. Though he himself was in the full bloom of youth, he felt the profound weight of passing years wash over him.

"Without achieving immortality, this is the inevitable end for all," he mused inwardly.

Chen Dorian sighed, yet looked upon Eldrin Chen with a measure of contentment. "Yet, as my end draws near, it is a comfort to spend my final years in this paradise-like Spirit Isle Lake [a serene island at the heart of a spiritual lake], and to have someone like you to show filial piety and see me off on my final journey."

"Even if I were to pass now, I would have no regrets left in this life."

Eldrin Chen shook his head with a gentle smile. "What are you saying? In two years, I intend to celebrate your grand one-hundred-and-twentieth birthday."

Old Granduncle, advanced in years and weary, had grown prone to drowsiness. After conversing for half a Shichen-time [a conventional time unit equal to two hours], he retired to his chamber to rest.

Only then did the two finally begin preparations for setting up the Island Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array designed to protect an entire island].

Chen Thalion first surveyed Spirit Isle Lake, then dismantled the old Twofold Solar Dawn Grand Formation [a defensive formation harnessing solar energy]. He chuckled ruefully, "I was the one who laid this formation down over twenty years ago."

"Back then, I was merely a Second Rank Middle Grade Formation Master [a practitioner specializing in creating and manipulating magical arrays]. My mastery was insufficient. Looking at it now, I can see the glaring flaws in my earlier work." Find this and other novels at (audio-novel.com).

"Oh?" Eldrin Chen's brow twitched slightly, a note of inquiry in his voice. "What do you mean by that?"

Old Patriarch shook his head, a faint smile appearing. "The water elemental power within this Spirit Isle Lake [a lake imbued with spiritual energy] is abundant. The Twofold Solar Dawn Grand Formation [a powerful defensive formation] I previously laid down did not utilize it effectively at all."

"Now I see," he continued, "if I leverage the spirit vein and the lake's water essence, I could establish a Water Element Formation [a defensive or offensive formation that channels water-based spiritual energy] of Second Rank Middle Grade [a mid-tier classification for artifacts, formations, or resources]. Its power would likely be sufficient to withstand several Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] cultivators of the mid to late stages."

With those words, he produced some Azure-Veined Steel [a rare, blue-streaked metal prized for crafting spiritual tools] and began forging a Formation Plate [the core control disk used to anchor and operate a formation].

When crafting a Formation Plate, skill in artifice is secondary; mastery of formation arts is paramount.

Old Patriarch, with his profound cultivation and status as a Second Rank High Grade [a high-tier classification for artifacts, formations, or resources] Formation Master [a cultivator specialized in creating and deploying magical formations], required only seven days to forge a Second Rank Middle Grade Formation Plate.

Once the plate was complete, he smiled wryly. "A pity the quality of this Azure-Veined Steel was somewhat lacking. Forging it to Second Rank Middle Grade was the limit. Otherwise, had I crafted a Second Rank High Grade Formation Plate, its potential power would have been on an entirely different level."

Eldrin Chen examined the plate with satisfaction. "The might of a formation far surpasses that of a magical tool of equivalent rank. If we had a Second Rank High Grade formation, and leveraged the water veins and spiritual energy of this Spirit Lake Isle [an isle within a spirit-infused lake], we might even hold off a Purple Mansion Cultivator [the third major stage of cultivation, where one opens a spiritual mansion within their dantian] for a brief moment."

"Achieving Second Rank Middle Grade is more than satisfactory for me."

Old Patriarch nodded in agreement, then, gripping the Formation Plate in his hand, he spoke.

"Once this Formation Plate is deployed, it can gather the water elemental power of Spirit Lake Isle [the spiritual island at the heart of the lake], sufficient to erect a defensive light barrier. With your cultivation level fueling it, it could withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators for several days without breaking."

"However, passively enduring attacks is unwise. To unleash the full might of Spirit Lake Isle's water veins, it would be best to have a water-attributed second-rank offensive formation tool as well."

"A water-attributed offensive formation tool?"

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow. Considering the importance of Spirit Lake Isle, he still brought out the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword.

Looking at the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword, the Old Patriarch nodded. "With this sword as the formation's core and you channeling its power, it would likely be potent enough to slay Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators."

After receiving the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword, the Old Patriarch began setting up the formation on Spirit Lake Isle, a task that consumed a full three days to complete.

Eldrin Chen tested it briefly. Seeing the formation activate, a smile finally graced his features. With this array in place, the security of Spirit Lake Isle for the foreseeable future was now assured.

Once the formation was successfully established, the Old Patriarch did not linger. He departed Spirit Lake Isle that very day, for he still needed to oversee Pingyang City and could not afford to be absent from his post lightly in the future.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen spent his time on Spirit Lake Isle refining Primordial Essence [the pure, foundational energy of creation] and tempering his Life-Bound Magical Treasure.

The two youngsters, Caleb and Silas, grew day by day. They were now capable of tending the Spirit Farmland, as well as looking after the Azure Spirit Fish and the Purple-Striped Wild Goose.

This once again granted Eldrin Chen a period of leisure. Between his cultivation sessions, he would idly play the zither and playfully tease the Spirit Fish and the Violet-Striped Geese, leading a rather carefree and contented existence.

"..."

Time flowed swiftly, with days and nights succeeding each other without cease.

In the blink of an eye, another year had passed.

On this day, within the secluded cultivation chamber on Spirit Isle Lake, Eldrin Chen slowly opened his eyes, emerging from his deep meditation.

"Progress is good." For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel .c om.

A flicker of delight passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes.

Over the past year, his strength had increased considerably. His greatest achievement was advancing his Lifebound Immortal Sword to the Second Rank Middle Grade level.

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss proved worthy of its reputation as a superior immortal sword. After its breakthrough to Second Rank Middle Grade, it could now unleash a sword radiance spanning six zhang-lengths [approximately twenty meters], its power greatly enhanced. In terms of offensive capability, it now approached that of an ordinary Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool.

Furthermore, his comprehension of the Blazing Heaven Sword had also progressed well. He estimated that at this rate, it wouldn't be long before he could grasp its fundamentals and begin refining the dual energies of Metallic Essence [a sharp, metallic spiritual energy] and Separated Flame [a potent, purified flame essence], thereby commencing his cultivation of this formidable offensive divine ability.

"I shall continue my seclusion and master this divine ability in one sustained effort."

With this thought, he resolved to fully comprehend this divine ability before emerging. Yet, at that very moment, the door to his secluded chamber was knocked upon.

Chen Dorian actually pushed the door open and entered, his face etched with urgent anxiety, a faint trace of bloodshot even visible in his pupils.

One look at his expression told Eldrin Chen that something grave must have occurred. Otherwise, Old Granduncle would not have disturbed him during his seclusion, let alone barged in with such palpable distress.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen quickly rose to support him, asking, "Granduncle, what has happened?"

Chen Dorian glanced at Eldrin Chen and handed over a letter. "News from the Pingyang County region."

"Pingling Town appears to have been attacked by Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent, often sacrificial, methods to gain power]. The entire town... over eight thousand souls... not a single survivor."

"Boom—"

Eldrin Chen's countenance changed drastically. He immediately summoned his flying sword and soared towards Pingyang City.

The distance between Spirit Isle Lake and Pingyang City exceeded six thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Fortunately, the grade of Eldrin Chen's current Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's primary weapon, bound to their soul and growing with them] had improved, increasing its speed by another thirty percent.

He channeled his flying sword, causing it to erupt with a six-zhang-length [approximately twenty meters] sword radiance. In less than a day's time, he arrived at Pingling Town.

Upon arriving at Pingling Town, he found the entire town strewn with bloody corpses. Squads of Black Armored Guards were sweeping through the settlement.

Meanwhile, the Old Patriarch and Lior Chen had arrived before him, having been stationed there for some time already.

Finding the two men, Eldrin Chen asked with reddened eyes, "Who did this?"

"We are not yet certain," Lior Chen replied, his expression grim and his face ashen. "The perpetrator was likely a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators. Otherwise, they could not have slaughtered everyone in Pingling Town before the Clan Patriarch could even react."

"Could it be Hong Morgrim?"

The Old Patriarch spoke hesitantly, his tone already carrying a note of conviction.

Among the Chen Clan's enemies, only the Demonic Cultivator Hong Morgrim possessed the capability for such a deed. Visit @udio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.