Chapter 72 : The Blade of Legacy

The Old Patriarch said nothing more, simply handing the White Metal Dust-Severing Blade directly to Eldrin Chen. "Your Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword has already been integrated into the formation. With this blade in hand, it will serve as a perfect replacement."

Eldrin Chen offered no refusal, accepting the White Metal Dust-Severing Blade without hesitation.

He understood perfectly well. Among Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool [enchanted artifacts of the second rank, high grade], this blade's power was considered superior. However, with the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful array that consumes souls with separated flames] in his grasp, the Old Patriarch had no remaining capacity to wield it effectively.

Although the Third Elder was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a practitioner who has solidified their cultivation foundation] with a Metal Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the metal element], his cultivation at the first layer of Foundation Establishment meant he could likely muster less than half of this treasure's true potential.

In contrast, Eldrin Chen himself possessed a True Essence [the refined spiritual energy of a cultivator] so profound and potent it rivaled that of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet carried an edge three times sharper. He could unleash seventy to eighty percent of the blade's formidable power.

Thus, only in his hands could this treasure achieve its maximum might, making him the most fitting wielder.

After bestowing the White Metal Dust-Severing Blade upon Eldrin Chen, the Old Patriarch produced two other magical implements. He presented the treasure seal to Lior Chen.

"This artifact balances offense and defense," he said. "It suits you well."

"As for this Glazed Crystal Small Sword, take it to the Yuyang Market and give it to Qingwan."

"Understood. I will deliver it promptly." This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel*com.

Third Elder beamed with joy, his hands caressing the treasure seal as if he could not bear to part with it, and he nodded with profound satisfaction.

For over a year since his Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation], he had yearned to purchase a Second Rank Magical Tool [an enchanted artifact of the second rank, suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators]. However, constrained by tight finances, he had been forced to suppress the desire.

He had assumed it might take another decade before he had surplus funds for such a treasure. Never did he imagine that in little more than a year, he would obtain one—and a Second Rank Middle Grade [a mid-tier quality within the second rank] artifact at that.

"Look at you, so easily pleased,"

Old Patriarch chuckled, chiding him affectionately. Then, holding the Millennium Cold Iron [a rare metal forged over a thousand years in extreme cold, prized for its durability and affinity for certain energies], he continued, "This is no less precious than Millennium Crimson Iron [a rare metal forged over a thousand years in intense heat, prized for its sharpness and fire affinity]. It can be used to forge a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bonded to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them]."

"I shall first refine it into a sword embryo for you. In a few years, when the Bianzhou Barter Convention [a major trade gathering for cultivators in the Bianzhou region] commences, we shall see if we can acquire Sunflower Water Essence [a pure, fluid essence with water and wood properties, used in refining certain treasures] to complete the forging of the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword [a specific type of life-bound magical sword known for its clarity and spiritual power]."

Currently, the Chen Clan possessed three methods for forging Life-Bound Magical Treasure [magical artifacts bonded to a cultivator's life force]: the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, and the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword.

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss was a supreme-grade immortal sword, but the materials required for its forging were far too rare and precious, placing it beyond practical consideration.

The clan's hereditary Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bonded to a cultivator's life force] aligned with the metal and fire elements. In theory, since Lior Chen possessed a Metal Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the metal element, affecting cultivation speed and compatibility], he could forge such a treasure.

Unfortunately, the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was primarily fire-aligned. Third Elder, with his Metal-Water Dual Spiritual Roots [innate dual affinity for the metal and water elements], was not truly compatible with this treasure. Even if he succeeded in forging it, his cultivation progress would be halved for double the effort.

As for the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword [a flying sword imbued with the dual attributes of Metal and Water], it is an exceptionally suitable match for the Third Elder and ideal to serve as his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's primary enchanted artifact, bound to their soul and grown in power alongside them].

In truth, after Lior Chen achieved Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation], he switched to cultivating the Bright Abyss Dao Marsh Art. This cultivation art resonated perfectly with his innate constitution, allowing his cultivation to progress with twice the result for half the effort.

Forging the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword requires two precious natural treasures of heaven and earth. One is Millennium Cold Iron [a rare metallic ore tempered for a thousand years within ancient glaciers], and the other is Sunflower Water Essence [a spiritual essence born from the convergence of water vein energies within mountains and rivers, possessing potent watery properties].

Millennium Cold Iron is fundamentally a variant of Mysterious Iron [a foundational spiritual metal]. Legend holds that if Mysterious Iron falls into a ten-thousand-year ice cavern and is tempered day and night by profound icy energies, absorbing the glacial cold into its very essence, it will transform into Millennium Cold Iron after a full millennium.

Within the Eastern Wastelands, Millennium Cold Iron is exceedingly rare. Most pieces are retrieved by cultivators from the eternal, unmelted glaciers of the Northern Polar Snow Region and brought here to be sold.

The Sunflower Water Essence is also an immensely valuable treasure. Born within water veins, it is a natural treasure formed by the convergence of the vital essence of mountain and river watercourses. It can be used in alchemy or for forging magical tools, its value scarcely less than that of Millennium Cold Iron.

Now, having obtained the Millennium Cold Iron, half the materials needed to forge the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword were gathered. This ignited within the Old Patriarch a desire to craft a Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword-type magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them] for Lior Chen.

After allocating the Millennium Cold Iron, among the precious items, only the Divine Ability Jade Slip [a jade slip used to record and transmit profound techniques or knowledge] remained. The slip contained the famed Pure Yang Divine Thunder [a category of powerful, pure-energy lightning techniques] divine ability known as 'Metallic Essence Divine Thunder'.

After examining the divine ability, Eldrin Chen said with evident delight, "The power of this Metallic Essence Divine Thunder likely approaches that of our Chen Clan's own Blazing Heaven Sword."

The Old Patriarch and the Third Elder also revealed looks of excitement. Although the Chen Clan's Blazing Heaven Sword was immensely powerful, its cultivation requirements were exceedingly stringent—one needed to possess both Metal and Fire Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the Fire element, determining one's cultivation aptitude] simultaneously to practice it.

This Metallic Essence Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the essence of metal] possesses extraordinary power, and its cultivation can be attempted by anyone who possesses a Metal Spiritual Root [an affinity for the metal element].

Among the three present, Eldrin Chen with his Five Spiritual Roots [affinity for all five elements] was naturally suited. The Old Patriarch possessed Fire-Metal Dual Spiritual Roots [affinity for fire and metal], and Lior Chen had Metal-Water Dual Spiritual Roots [affinity for metal and water]; remarkably, all of them met the conditions for learning this technique.

Among the clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have established their foundational cultivation base], only Chen Elara was less fortunate. With her Fire-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots [affinity for fire and wood], she could not practice not only the clan's hereditary Blazing Heaven Sword [a sword technique of blazing celestial power], but also this Metallic Essence Divine Thunder.

Having acquired a divine ability, greatly bolstering the clan's foundation, the three suppressed their excitement and promptly stored this precious Divine Ability Jade Slip [a jade slip containing the knowledge of a divine technique] away for safekeeping.

After dividing the treasures, Chen Thalion pondered for a moment before adding, "The White Metal Dust-Severing Blade [a blade of white metal that severs worldly dust] and this Metallic Essence Divine Thunder are matters of significant consequence. Therefore, we must temporarily suppress knowledge of this affair and not report it to the Green Sun Sect."

The Metallic Essence Divine Thunder was a closely guarded secret of the Green Sun Sect, never to be transmitted outside. The White Metal Dust-Severing Blade was of the same type as Xu the Ancient Ancestor's own Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to one's life essence]. Both were far too precious and critical; the Green Sun Sect would certainly not allow them to circulate freely. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel[dot]com.

Thinking of this, Lior Chen furrowed his brow and could not help but voice his concern.

"In that case, if the Green Sun Sect learns of this in the future, could it bring us trouble?"

"It is of no consequence," Chen Thalion shook his head, then continued, "I have already secured evidence. Zuo Yuannian's actions were no different from those of a Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who uses malevolent, often sacrificial methods]. The Green Sun Sect is in the wrong from the start. Even if they discover the truth later, at most they would only demand the return of the White Metal Dust-Severing Blade and the Divine Ability Jade Slip."

"That sets our minds at ease."

After bidding farewell to Third Elder, Eldrin Chen watched them depart. Each bore heavy responsibilities and could not afford to tarry for long.

With that matter concluded, Eldrin Chen's cultivation routine settled back into its former tranquility.

Day after day, he inhaled and exhaled the Primordial Essence [the purest form of spiritual energy from the dawn of creation], contemplated his two divine abilities, and diligently honed his cultivation base.

Seasons turned, years flowed by, yet the core of his daily practice remained an unshakable constant.

In the blink of an eye, more than four years had passed.

On this day, Eldrin Chen continuously refined the Separated Flame [a potent spiritual flame of the highest purity] and Dual Metallic Essence Qi [a dual-faceted essence of supreme metallic sharpness] before him, drawing them thread by thread into his body and fusing them into a shimmering, ethereal sword radiance of golden light.

Time lost its meaning. As the sword radiance grew denser and more substantial, it finally emitted a soft, crystalline hum, then blossomed with a brilliance rivaling the sun itself.

*Ting—*

"It is done!"

Eldrin Chen opened his eyes, a look of profound joy illuminating his features.

Over these past four years, in order to cultivate his clan's inherited divine ability, the Blazing Solar Skyfire Sword [a formidable sword technique that channels the power of the blazing sun and celestial fire], he had expended over one thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to gather the dual essences of Metallic Essence [a pure, sharp spiritual energy associated with metal] and Separated Flame [a potent spiritual flame energy]. Now, he had finally succeeded in mastering this divine ability.

Although it was only at its initial stage of completion, Eldrin Chen could still feel the astonishing, lethal power contained within this divine ability. For him, it had already become a formidable trump card.

Having successfully cultivated a powerful divine ability, Eldrin Chen emerged from seclusion with a sense of profound satisfaction coloring his features.

Stepping out of his secluded cultivation chamber, he immediately noticed Silas standing outside, having waited for a considerable time.

The young woman was now eighteen years of age, having blossomed into a graceful and elegant figure. Her cultivation had even reached the seventh layer of the Qi Refinement stage.

Seeing her waiting for him, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow slightly and inquired, "What is it? Has something happened?"

"A while ago, the Third Elder came looking for you. However, seeing you were in seclusion, he did not wish to disturb you,"

Silas Chen explained, then added, "He asked me to relay a message: please return to Verdant Chariot Mountain by Year's End [the conclusion of the lunar year, a time for reflection and family gatherings], as there are matters he wishes to discuss."

Eldrin Chen calculated silently and realized that Year's End was merely two or three days away.

"I hadn't realized this seclusion lasted for three whole months," he murmured to himself.

"I must return to Verdant Chariot Mountain. After I depart, remember to activate the formation. Do not venture beyond Lake Heart Island without good cause."

After giving these instructions to the two siblings, Eldrin Chen summoned his sword radiance and soared across the heavens. In less than a single day's time, he arrived at Verdant Chariot Mountain For uninterrupted reading, go to audio~novel.com.