Chapter 68 Destiny Sword Ascension

Perhaps sensing this might very well be their final meeting, the Old Clan Leader spoke at length with Chen Changyan—a clansman nearly his own age. They reminisced freely about the follies and sorrows of their youth, tracing memories of bygone years.

Eldrin listened in silence, his gaze fixed calmly upon the 2 figures. Though he was in the bloom of youth, he could not help but feel the weight of countless years washing over him.

"Without attaining immortality, 1 is bound to come to this end."

Chen Changyan let out a soft sigh, yet gazed at Eldrin with a trace of solace. "Fortunately, as I approach my final days, I can still spend my remaining years in peace at this paradise-like Spirit Isle Lake, with someone to care for me and see me off in my old age."

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

Eldrin chuckled and shook his head. "You flatter me. In a couple of years, I'd like to host your 120th grand birthday celebration."

The Elder Uncle was advanced in years, his body could no longer endure strain, and he had grown somewhat drowsy. After conversing for half an hour, he retired to his chamber to rest.

At this point, the 2 finally began preparing to set up the Grand Island Protection Array.

Chen Changxuan first surveyed the Spirit Isle Lake (Location), then dismantled the 2 Polarities Sunrise Grand Formation (Formation). He chuckled wryly, "This formation was something I laid down 20-some years ago."

"Back then, I was merely a Second Tier Intermediate Formation Master, my mastery of formations still insufficient. Only upon reviewing it today did I realize the numerous flaws in the array I had set up back then."

"Oh?" Eldrin's eyebrows twitched slightly as he inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

The old clan leader shook his head, a faint smile gracing his lips. "The water elemental energy of Spirit Isle Lake (Location) is exceptionally abundant. The 2 Principles Sunrise Formation I arranged failed to utilize it to its full potential."

"From what I can see today, by relying on the spiritual vein and the Water Elemental power within the lake, I should be able to set up a Second Tier, Medium Grade Water Elemental Formation. Its power would likely suffice to contend against several mid to late Foundation Establishment cultivators."

As his words faded, he produced the Blue-Veined Steel and began forging the formation disc.

Forging an array plate relies less on 1's mastery of artifact crafting and more fundamentally on 1's attainments in array formations.

The Old Clan Chief, with his profound cultivation and mastery as a second-rank, high-grade Formation Master, forged a second-rank, mid-grade formation disk in merely 7 days.

After successfully refining the array disk, he remarked with a faint smile, "It's a pity the Blue-Veined Steel is of somewhat inferior quality. Crafting it to mid-second grade was already its limit. Had we managed to forge a high-second-grade array disk, its power would likely have transcended into an entirely different realm."

Eldrin glanced at the array disk and remarked with satisfaction, "The power of this formation far surpasses magical tools of the same rank. Were we to possess a second-tier, superior-grade formation, we could likely hold off a Purple Mansion cultivator for a brief moment by leveraging the spiritual lake's water veins and ambient qi."

"I'm more than satisfied that it reached mid-grade, second-tier."

The old clan leader nodded, then gripping the formation disk in his hand, he said.

Once this formation disk is deployed, it can harness the water elemental power of Spirit Lake Isle to erect a defensive barrier. When channeled by your cultivation level, it can withstand assaults from Foundation Establishment, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) practitioners for several days without faltering.

However, passively enduring attacks was truly unwise. To unleash the full might of the Spirit Lake Continent's water veins, a second-tier offensive array artifact of the water attribute would be essential.

"An aquatic-elemental offensive array artifact?"

Eldrin frowned, considering the significance of Spirit Lake Continent, and ultimately drew forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

Gazing at the Mingyuan Void God Sword, the old clan leader nodded approvingly. "With this blade serving as the formation anchor and you channeling its power, it would likely suffice to slay even a Foundation Establishment, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) practitioner."

After obtaining the Eldrin Void God Sword, the Old Patriarch began setting up an array formation at Spirit Lake Isle, spending a full 3 days to complete the arrangement.

Eldrin made an attempt, and as he watched the formation activate, a smile immediately spread across his face. With this formation in place, the safety of Spirit Lake Continent would be sufficiently guaranteed from now on.

After successfully setting up the formation, the Old Patriarch did not linger. He departed Spirit Lake Isle that very day, for he needed to return to preside over Pingyang City and could no longer leave his post without due cause.

In the days that followed, Eldrin would daily convert the Primordial Violet Qi at Spirit Lake Isle and refine his life-bound magic treasure.

Caleb and Silas, the 2 young ones, were growing day by day. They could already tend to the spirit fields and look after the Azure-Scale Spirit Fish and the Purple-Striped Wild Goose (Demon Beast).

This once again left Eldrin with ample leisure time. Between cultivation sessions, he would casually strum his zither and playfully tease the spirit fish Purple Swallow, living a truly carefree and comfortable life.

“…”

Time flew by in an unceasing cycle of day and night.

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

On this day, within the seclusion chamber of Spirit Isle Lake (Location), Eldrin (Person Name) slowly opened his eyes, emerging from his deep meditation.

"Progress is quite promising."

A flicker of delight stirred within Eldrin's eyes.

Over the past year, his strength had grown considerably, with his greatest achievement being the advancement of his Natal Immortal Sword to the mid-second rank.

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) truly lived up to its reputation as a superior immortal sword. Having broken through to the mid-second rank, it could now unleash a 6-zhang sword radiance, its power significantly enhanced. In terms of offensive capability, it even approached that of ordinary high-second-rank magical instruments.

Beyond that, his comprehension of the Blazing Heaven Sword Art was progressing quite well. He estimated that at this rate, it wouldn't be long before he could grasp its fundamentals and begin refining the 2 energies of Geng Metal and Li Fire, thereby commencing his cultivation of this formidable offensive divine ability.

"I shall continue my secluded cultivation and master this divine ability in 1 sustained effort."

With this thought, he resolved to fully comprehend this divine ability before emerging from seclusion. Yet just at that moment, the door of his cultivation chamber was knocked.

Chen Changyan pushed the door open and strode inside, his face etched with urgency, a web of crimson threads even visible in his pupils.

The moment he saw his expression, Eldrin knew something grave had occurred. Otherwise, the Elder Uncle would never have disturbed him during his secluded cultivation, let alone anxiously pushed the door open himself.

At this thought, Eldrin quickly rose to support him and asked, “Uncle, what happened?”

Chen Changyan glanced at Eldrin and handed over a letter. "News from Pingyang County."

"Pingling Town must have encountered demonic cultivators. Shockingly, not a single soul survived among the town's population of over 8,000."

Boom—

Eldrin's face abruptly changed color, and he immediately summoned his flying sword, soaring toward Pingyang City.

The distance between Spirit Isle Lake (Location) and Pingyang City spanned over 6 1000 li. Fortunately, Eldrin (Person Name)'s current bonded immortal sword had advanced in grade, increasing its speed by another 30 percent.

He channeled energy into his flying sword, unleashing a blade radiance spanning 60 feet, and arrived at Pingling Town in less than a single day.

Upon arriving in Pingling Town, he found the entire settlement littered with blood-soaked corpses, while squads of Black Armor Guards were cleansing the streets.

The old clan leader and Lior (Person Name) had arrived earlier than him, having already been present at this location for quite some time.

Finding the 2, Eldrin asked with red-rimmed eyes, "Who exactly did this?"

"We are not certain for now either." Lior's face was equally grim, his features darkening as he spoke. "The perpetrator is likely a Foundation Establishment, Late Stage cultivator. Otherwise, they couldn't have slaughtered everyone in Pingling Town before the clan leader even had time to react."

"Could it be the Eldrin?"

The old clan chief hesitated, his tone already carrying a degree of certainty.

Because among the Chen family's enemies, only the demonic cultivator Eldrin (Person Name) possessed such power.