Chapter 72 : The Blade of Legacy

Old Patriarch said nothing more, simply handing the Venus Severing Dust Blade to Eldrin Chen. "Your Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword has already become a Formation Artifact [a powerful magical treasure that serves as the core of a formation]. With this blade, you will have a suitable replacement."

Eldrin Chen offered no refusal, accepting the Venus Severing Dust Blade directly.

He understood perfectly well. This blade's power ranked among the upper echelons even within Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure [a classification for powerful enchanted artifacts]. However, the Old Patriarch already wielded the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation [a formation that harnesses solar fire to burn the souls of enemies] and lacked the spare capacity to command another treasure of this caliber.

Although the Third Elder was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their foundation for the path ahead] with a Metal Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the Metal element, enhancing related cultivation arts], his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment 1st Tier [the first level of the Foundation Establishment realm] meant he could likely unleash less than half of this treasure's true potential.

In contrast, Eldrin Chen himself possessed not only a True Essence [the refined, potent energy cultivated within a practitioner's body] as profound and robust as a Foundation Establishment Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm] cultivator, but his energy carried an even sharper, more penetrating edge. He could likely harness seventy to eighty percent of the blade's formidable power.

Therefore, this treasure would unleash its greatest might in his hands, making him the most fitting choice to wield it.

After giving the Venus Severing Dust Blade to Eldrin Chen, the Old Patriarch produced two other magical artifacts. He handed the Treasure Seal [a seal-shaped artifact used for both attack and defense] to Lior Chen.

"This item balances offense and defense. It suits you well."

"As for this Glazed Crystal Shortsword, take it to the Sunward Market [a market town or trading hub] and deliver it to Verdant Grace."

"Understood. I will deliver it later." For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel`com.

The Third Elder wore a broad smile, his hands caressing the Treasure Seal with an almost possessive delight as he nodded in profound satisfaction.

For over a year since his Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation], he had yearned to purchase a Second Rank Magical Artifact [a powerful enchanted tool]. However, constrained by his limited resources, he had been forced to suppress the desire.

He had resigned himself to waiting perhaps another decade before having the means to afford such an artifact. Never did he imagine that in just over a year, he would obtain one—and a Second Rank Mid-Grade [a specific quality tier for magical artifacts] artifact at that.

"Look at you, so easily pleased,"

chided the Old Patriarch with an amused laugh, watching his reaction. He then picked up the piece of Millennium Cold Iron [a rare, spiritually conductive metal forged over millennia in extreme cold]. "This treasure is no less valuable than Millennial Crimson Iron [another rare, fire-aspected metal]. It is perfect material for forging a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a personal artifact that grows in power with its wielder, bound to their life force]."

"I shall first refine it into a sword embryo for you. In a few years, when the Border Province Barter Convention [a major trade gathering for cultivators] commences, we shall see if we can acquire some Essence of Final Water [a rare spiritual essence embodying the properties of profound, still water] to complete the forging of the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword [a specific type of lifebound spirit sword]."

Currently, the Chen Clan possessed knowledge for forging three types of Lifebound Magical Treasure: the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword, the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, and the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword.

The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword was a supreme-grade Immortal Sword [a legendary sword of immense power], but its required materials were far too precious and rare to even consider.

The clan's hereditary Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was a Lifebound Magical Treasure aligned with the Metal and Fire elements. In theory, since Lior Chen possessed a Metal Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the Metal element, determining cultivation aptitude], he could forge this type of treasure.

Unfortunately, the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was primarily Fire-aspected. The Third Elder, however, had Metal-Water Dual Spiritual Roots [innate affinities for both Metal and Water elements]. This made the blade fundamentally incompatible with him; even if successfully forged, cultivating with it would yield half the result for twice the effort.

As for the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword, it possesses dual attributes of Metal and Water [two of the five fundamental elements in cultivation], making it exceptionally compatible with Third Elder and suitable to be forged as his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them].

In fact, ever since Lior Chen achieved Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, solidifying one's foundation], he has been cultivating the Bright Abyss Path of Grace Art. This cultivation art [a method or technique for absorbing and refining spiritual energy] resonates perfectly with him, allowing his progress to be twice as effective with half the effort.

Forging the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword requires two precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures [rare natural resources imbued with spiritual energy]. One is Millennium Cold Iron, and the other is Essence of Final Water.

Millennium Cold Iron is essentially a variant of Mystic Iron. Legend says that if Mystic Iron falls into an ancient ice cavern and is tempered day and night by Profound Ice Energy [a potent, glacial spiritual force], absorbing the frigid essence of glaciers, it will transform into Millennium Cold Iron after a full millennium.

Within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, Millennium Cold Iron is exceedingly rare. Most pieces are retrieved by cultivators from the eternal, unmelted glaciers of the Northern Pole snow realms and brought here to be sold.

The Essence of Final Water is also an incredibly valuable treasure. It is born within Water Vein [concentrated underground currents of water-attributed spiritual energy], a heavenly material and earthly treasure formed by condensing the vital essence of mountain and river water veins. It can be used in alchemy or for crafting magical instruments, its value nearly matching that of the Millennium Cold Iron.

Now that they had obtained the Millennium Cold Iron, half the materials for forging the Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword were gathered. This sparked in the Old Patriarch a desire to craft a Lifebound Immortal Sword [a supreme grade of lifebound magical treasure, often a sword] 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 information, often containing techniques] remained. The jade slip contained the famed Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a powerful thunder-based supernatural ability] technique known as 'Metallic Gold Divine Thunder'.

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

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

This Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the power of metallic gold] possesses formidable Force Extreme [the pinnacle of power and force], and remarkably, it only requires the practitioner to possess a Metal Spiritual Root [an innate spiritual affinity for the Metal element] to attempt its cultivation.

Among the three present, Eldrin Chen with his Five Spiritual Roots [possession of all five elemental spiritual roots] naturally qualified. The Old Patriarch possessed dual Spiritual Roots [innate spiritual affinities] for Metal and Fire, and Lior Chen had Metal-Water Dual Spiritual Roots [dual innate spiritual affinities for the Metal and Water elements]. Astonishingly, they all met the cultivation requirements.

Among the family's Foundation Establishment Cultivators [cultivators who have established their foundational cultivation base], only Verdant Grace Chen was unfortunate in her spiritual endowment. She possessed dual Spiritual Roots [innate spiritual affinities] for Fire and Wood. Not only could she not practice the clan's heirloom Blazing Heaven Sword [a sword technique that blazes with heavenly fire], but she was also unable to cultivate this Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the power of metallic gold].

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

After distributing the treasures, Eternal Profound Chen pondered for a moment before adding, "The Venus Severing Dust Blade [a blade capable of severing worldly dust, named after the planet Venus] and this Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the power of metallic gold] carry significant implications. Therefore, we must temporarily suppress this matter and not report it to the Verdant Sun Sect."

The Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the power of metallic gold] was a closely guarded secret of the Verdant Sun Sect, and the Venus Severing Dust Blade [a blade capable of severing worldly dust, named after the planet Venus] was of the same type as Patriarch Xu's Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force]. Both were far too precious and critical. The Verdant Sun Sect would certainly not allow them to circulate freely. Find this and other novels at *audio-novel.com*.

At this thought, Lior Chen furrowed his brow and could not help but voice his concern.

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

"It is of no consequence," Eternal Profound Chen shook his head and continued, "I have already preserved evidence. The actions of Remaining Years Zuo were no different from those of a Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who uses malevolent, often soul-devouring methods]. The Verdant Sun Sect is in the wrong from the start. Even if they discover this later, at most they would only demand the return of the Venus Severing Dust Blade [a blade capable of severing worldly dust, named after the planet Venus] and the Divine Ability Jade Slip [a jade slip containing the knowledge of a divine ability]."

"That puts our minds at ease."

After bidding farewell to Third Elder, Eldrin Chen and the others, who all had important duties and could not delay for long, went their separate ways.

With this matter concluded, Eldrin Chen's subsequent cultivation returned to its former state of tranquil routine.

Each day, he absorbed and refined the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme-grade spiritual energy born from the primal chaos], contemplated his two divine abilities, and diligently worked to elevate his cultivation base.

Day after day, year after year, the only constant was this unceasing regimen of cultivation.

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

On this day, Eldrin Chen continuously refined the dual energies of Solar Fire [a divine ability harnessing the essence of the sun's flames] and Metallic Gold [the pure essence of the metal element] before him, drawing them bit by bit into his body and fusing them into a single, illusory golden sword gleam that was the manifestation of his Path Void technique.

An unknowable amount of time passed. As the sword gleam grew increasingly condensed and refined, it finally emitted a soft hum, then blossomed with a radiance akin to that of the sun itself.

*Ting—*

"It is done!"

Eldrin Chen opened his eyes, a look of profound joy spreading across his face.

Over these past four years, to cultivate his family's inherited divine ability, the Solar Heavenly Flame Sword [a sword technique that channels the power of the celestial sun], he had expended over one thousand Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy] to gather the necessary Metallic Gold and Solar Fire Dual Energy [a refined spiritual essence containing the dual powers of metallic sharpness and solar flame]. Now, he had finally succeeded in mastering this technique.

Although it was only at its initial stage, Eldrin Chen could still feel the astonishing Slaughter [a concept representing overwhelming destructive power] force contained within this divine ability. Even for him, it had already become a trump card.

Having cultivated a powerful divine ability, Eldrin Chen emerged from seclusion with a measure of joy coloring his features.

As soon as he stepped out of the Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for undisturbed meditation and cultivation], he found Silas standing outside, having waited for quite some time.

The young woman was now eighteen years old. Not only had she blossomed into a graceful beauty, but her cultivation had also reached the seventh layer of Vital Essence Refinement [the foundational stage of cultivation where one refines the body's vital energy].

Seeing her waiting for him, Eldrin Chen frowned slightly and asked, "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 continued, "He asked me to relay a message: return to Green Chariot Mountain [the ancestral mountain of the Chen Clan] by the year's end. There are some matters he wishes to discuss."

Eldrin Chen calculated silently and realized that only two or three days remained until the Lunar New Year.

"I hadn't realized this seclusion session lasted for three whole months."

"I must return to Green Chariot Mountain. After I depart, remember to activate the protective formation. Do not venture out of Lake Heart Island without good reason."

After giving these instructions to the two siblings, Eldrin Chen summoned his sword-light and soared across the heavens. In less than a single day, he arrived at Green Chariot Mountain. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel.com (official site).