Chapter 68 : Echoes of Time and Formation

Perhaps sensing this might be their final meeting, the Old Patriarch conversed at length with his clan brother Eternal Spread Chen, whose age was nearly his own. They spoke freely of their youthful exploits, reminiscing about the passions and follies of bygone years.

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, watching the two men quietly. Though he himself was in the full bloom of youth, he could not help but feel the profound weight of time emanating from them.

"Without achieving immortality, one inevitably reaches this point."

Eternal Spread Chen sighed, yet looked upon Eldrin Chen with a measure of contentment. "Yet, as I approach my journey's end, I find solace. I can spend my remaining years in this paradise-like Spirit Isle Lake, and there is still someone to show filial piety and see me off on my final path."

"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 a couple of years, I still intend to celebrate your grand Sixty-Year Cycle birthday."

Advanced in years, Old Granduncle's body could no longer endure much strain and he had become prone to drowsiness. After chatting for half a Shichen-time [a period of two hours], he retired to his chamber to rest.

Only then did the two finally begin preparations for deploying the Island Protection Grand Formation.

Eternal Profound Chen first surveyed the Spirit Isle Lake, dismantling the Two Polarities Rising Sun Grand Formation. He then chuckled ruefully, "I was the one who laid down this formation over twenty years ago."

"Back then, I was merely a Second Rank Mid-Grade Formation Master [a Formation Master of the second rank, mid-grade]. My mastery of formation arts was insufficient. Looking at it now, I realize the array I constructed back then was riddled with significant flaws." Original publication: audio-novel[dot]com - The source of this chapter.

"Oh?" Eldrin Chen's brows twitched slightly, a questioning look in his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

Old Patriarch shook his head, a faint smile gracing his lips. "The Water Essence Power [the concentrated spiritual power of the water element] within this Spirit Isle Lake is abundant. The Two Polarities Rising Sun Grand Formation I previously laid down did not utilize it effectively at all."

"Looking at it today, if I rely on the Spiritual Vein [a vein of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] and the Water Essence Power within the lake, I could establish a Second Rank Mid-Grade Water Element Formation. Its power would likely be sufficient to contend with several Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their foundation] cultivators in the mid to late stages."

As his words fell, he took out some Blue Vein Steel and began refining a formation disk.

When crafting a formation disk, one's skill in artifact forging is secondary; the primary requirement is profound mastery of formation arts.

Old Patriarch, with his deep cultivation and status as a Second Rank High-Grade formation master, required only seven days to refine a Second Rank Mid-Grade formation disk.

Once the disk was complete, he said with a smile, "It's a pity the quality of this Blue Vein Steel is slightly lacking. Refining it to Second Rank Mid-Grade is already its limit. Otherwise, if I could have crafted a Second Rank High-Grade formation disk, its power would have entered a completely different realm."

Eldrin Chen glanced at the formation disk, a look of satisfaction on his face. "The power of a formation far surpasses that of magical treasures of the same rank. If we had a Second Rank High-Grade formation here, relying on the Water Vein [a concentrated underground flow of water essence] and spiritual energy of this Spirit Lake Isle, we could likely hold off a Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator at the third major stage, where one opens their Violet Palace] for a short time."

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

Old Patriarch nodded in agreement, then spoke while holding the formation disk in his hand.

"Once this formation disk is deployed, it can gather the Spirit Lake Isle's Water Essence Power [the concentrated power of water element spiritual energy], sufficient to erect a defensive barrier. With your cultivation level activating it, it can withstand attacks from a Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the third and final stage of the Foundation Establishment realm] cultivator for several days, making it Impenetrable [an ability or state of being utterly unbreachable]."

"However, passively enduring attacks is unwise. To unleash the full power of the Spirit Lake Isle's Water Vein [a subterranean current of concentrated water-element spiritual energy], it would be best to have a water-attributed Second Rank [equivalent to the Foundation Establishment realm] offensive Formation Artifact [a magical treasure specifically designed to serve as the core or weapon of a formation]."

"A water-attributed offensive Formation Artifact?"

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow. Considering the importance of Spirit Lake Isle, he still took 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 Artifact, and you channeling its power, it would likely be sufficient to slay a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator."

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 before completion.

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

Once the formation was successfully deployed, the Old Patriarch did not linger. He departed Spirit Lake Isle that very day, for he still needed to garrison Pingyang City and could not easily leave his post from then on.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen spent his time daily on Spirit Lake Isle, converting Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a primal, violet-hued energy of chaos and creation] and tempering his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul, growing with them].

The two youngsters, Caleb and Silas, grew day by day. They were now capable of tending the Spiritual Field [a field nourished by spiritual energy for growing spirit plants] and looking after the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish [a type of spirit fish with azure and verdant scales] and the Violet-Striped Goose [a spirit goose distinguished by violet stripes on its feathers].

This once again granted Eldrin Chen a period of leisure. Between his cultivation sessions, he would idly strum his zither or play with the Spirit Fish Purple Swallow, his days passing in carefree contentment.

"..."

Time flowed swiftly, the sun and moon trading places without cease.

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

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

"Progress is good." The story continues at http://www . audio-novel.com.

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 Mid-Grade.

The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword truly lived up to its reputation as a superior Immortal Sword. After breaking through to Second Rank Mid-Grade, it could now unleash a sword radiance spanning six Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. Its power had increased dramatically, and its offensive capability now approached that of an ordinary Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure.

Furthermore, his comprehension of the Blazing Heaven Sword had progressed well. He estimated that at this pace, it wouldn't be long before he could grasp its fundamentals and begin refining the dual energies of Metallic Gold and Solar Fire, 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 the Seclusion Chamber was knocked upon.

Eternal Spread Chen actually pushed the door open and entered, his face etched with deep anxiety, even a hint of bloodshot 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 urgency.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen quickly rose and steadied him, asking, "Granduncle, what has happened?"

Eternal Spread Chen glanced at Eldrin Chen and handed him a letter. "News from the Pingyang County region."

"Pingling Town appears to have been attacked by a Demonic Cultivator. Not a single soul survived from the entire town's population of over eight thousand."

"Boom—"

Eldrin Chen's expression 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 had improved, increasing its speed by another thirty percent.

He channeled his spiritual energy into his flying sword, causing it to erupt with a six Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] blade of light. In less than a single day's time, he arrived at Pingling Town.

Upon reaching Pingling Town, he found the entire town littered with bloodied corpses. Squads of Black Armor Guard were methodically clearing the streets.

Both Old Patriarch and Lior Chen had arrived before him and had already been present for some time.

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

"We do not know yet," Lior Chen replied, his expression grim and his face ashen. "The perpetrator was likely a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Otherwise, they could not have slaughtered everyone in Pingling Town before the Clan Leader could react."

"Could it be Hong Old Demon?"

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

Among the enemies of the Chen Clan, only the Demonic CultivatorHong Old Demon possessed the strength to commit such an act. For more chapters, visit audio~novel.com for the complete novel.