Chapter 28 : The Demon's Legacy and the Hidden Vein

A century ago, Withered Bone Elder Demon refined the Demonic Skull and roamed the Chu Kingdom nearly invincible, unleashing a vast and calamitous demonic upheaval.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. Yang Alistair also participated in the great war between the cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom and the Demonic Cultivator. In the end, he met his demise amidst the Demonic Calamity.

Nearly another hundred years passed thusly, until a little over a decade ago when this Cultivation Cave was discovered by chance by three individuals. It has since become their lair.

It must be said that those three were exceedingly cautious. Over the years, they had been luring their prey by distributing fragments of a map, and they would only sell these fragments to cultivators who appeared young.

Because of this, their murderous scheme of entrapment had persisted for over a decade without being discovered.

Alas, one who often walks by the river's edge cannot avoid getting their shoes wet. That the trio has now fallen into the hands of Eldrin Chen is simply the fate they deserved.

"A pity. There are no other treasures within this Cultivation Cave."

"However, this Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] is a fine thing. It is only a shame it is located here in the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness."

Eldrin Chen could not help but shake his head. A Second Rank Spirit Vein [a medium-grade source of spiritual energy], if situated favorably, could perhaps nurture the rise of a new Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose power is anchored by cultivators who have established their spiritual foundation].

Unfortunately, the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness is overrun with Demonic Beast [monstrous creatures that absorb spiritual energy, often hostile to humans]. Every time a Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, massive surge of demonic beasts] erupts, this region becomes a bloody buffer zone and battleground between the human and demonic tribes, making it utterly impossible for ordinary mortals to settle and thrive here. Dive deeper into the Dao at www . audio-novel.com.

"We can only abandon this place for now."

"In the future, when our Chen Clan grows stronger, we can consider utilizing this place."

In the end, Eldrin Chen made a decision. He collected the Formation Flags of the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, sealed the entrance to the Cultivation Cave [a secluded dwelling place for cultivation], and after concealing it well, continued his journey towards Yu County.

Another month passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, he opened the trio's Storage Bag [a spatial pouch used by cultivators to store items].

What astonished him was the contents within the three Storage Bag. There were over twenty Magical Tool [enchanted tools used by cultivators] of First Rank Low to Middle Grade, more than six hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], and over a dozen jade slips containing copied cultivation arts.

It was clear that most of these items originated from cultivators who had been deceived and slain by the three of them.

Most of these cultivation arts only covered the Qi Refinement Stage [the initial stage of cultivation where one refines their vital energy], with only a single one being a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivation Art [a method for cultivating one's foundation, the stage after Qi Refinement]. This discovery brought a surge of excitement to Eldrin Chen.

This art was named the Separated Flame Dao Ruins Art. It was a remarkably profound Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivation Art, capable of guiding cultivation all the way to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer. Furthermore, it even contained the method for forging a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them].

It must be understood that although the Chen Immortal Clan possessed three Foundation Establishment cultivation arts, only the Blazing Sun Void-Treading Art was capable of reaching the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer.

The Chen Clan's Blazing Sun Void-Treading Art was also an exceptional Foundation Establishment art, containing the divine ability known as the Blazing Heaven Sword. However, it uniquely lacked the method for crafting a Lifebound Magical Treasure.

The Clan Patriarch's former Blazing Flame Spirit Blade [an enchanted blade imbued with fiery spiritual power], though also a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its wielder's life force and soul], was merely a common, generic type. Its potency could not be considered exceptional.

While the Separated Flame Dao Ruins Art [a profound cultivation technique centered on the Separated Flame] contained no recorded divine abilities, it did document a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its wielder's life force and soul] known as the 'Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss' [the Abyssal Return Separated Flame Sword]. This was an exceptionally superior type of Lifebound Immortal Sword [an immortal-grade sword bound to its master's very essence].

According to the art's records, forging this Lifebound Immortal Sword [an immortal-grade sword bound to its master's very essence] required obtaining Millennium Crimson Iron [iron refined for a thousand years within an earthfire vein], then fusing it with Li Fire Crystal [Separated Flame Crystal]. One must then temper it day and night with the Separated Flame [the essence of the Separated Flame] and Dual Metallic Essence Qi [the dual essence of Metallic Gold] extracted from the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements]. Only after Forty-Nine Days [a complete cycle of seven times seven days] would its initial form be complete.

The offensive power of this sword was utterly astonishing. Upon its initial completion, it could unleash a Three-Zhang Sword Radiance [a sword radiance extending three zhang-lengths, approximately ten meters]. Its might ranked among the very pinnacle of Life-Bound Magical Treasure [magical artifacts bound to their wielder's life force and soul] of its rank, fully capable of slaying demons and vanquishing monsters. Wielding it, one could roam the world with few rivals among cultivators of the same realm.

"Millennium Crimson Iron [iron refined for a thousand years within an earthfire vein]."

Gazing at the blade embryo, Eldrin Chen could not suppress a surge of delight.

This 'Millennium Crimson Iron [iron refined for a thousand years within an earthfire vein]' was also an exceedingly rare treasure. The essence of ten thousand irons formed Mysterious Iron [a rare, spiritually conductive metal].

If Mysterious Iron [a rare, spiritually conductive metal] were to fall into a terrestrial Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fiery energy] and be tempered day and night by earthfire for a millennium, purging all impurities and absorbing the power of the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fiery energy], it would transform into Millennium Crimson Iron [iron refined for a thousand years within an earthfire vein].

When Zhang Vorgath obtained this Millennium Crimson Iron [iron refined for a thousand years within an earthfire vein], he was ecstatic, intending to forge it into a supreme Lifebound Demonic Treasure [a demonic artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], the Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade [the Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade]. Now that this material had fallen into Eldrin Chen's hands and coincided with this superior immortal sword's forging method, it was truly a serendipitous turn of fate.

"The only question is, where can one obtain this Li Fire Crystal [Separated Flame Crystal]?"

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Eldrin Chen continued his journey homeward, arriving at last at Verdant Chariot Mountain.

Upon returning to Verdant Chariot Mountain, he went straight to the Back Mountain and sought an audience with the Old Patriarch without delay.

The moment Chen Thalion saw him, a flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes, and he looked over with palpable tension.

"Was your journey to Celestial Ruins Mountain successful?"

"My venture to Celestial Ruins Mountain was, by fortune's grace, not in vain."

Eldrin Chen nodded and retrieved the Meridian Nourishing Pill [a pill that repairs and nourishes damaged cultivation meridians], offering it forth. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel[dot]com.

The Old Patriarch took the Meridian Nourishing Pill in hand, opened the container for a glance, and a smile touched the corners of his eyes and brows.

Years ago, after breaking through the bottleneck to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage, he had believed his path forward was clear, even daring to hope he might glimpse the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core] in his lifetime.

He never imagined he would fall into such decline, his Dao path nearly severed. Now, with this Meridian Nourishing Pill, he had finally reclaimed a sliver of hope.

"With this Meridian Nourishing Pill, I am confident I can recover ninety percent of my injuries within five years. Once that is done, taking action will pose no great hindrance."

He caressed the Meridian Nourishing Pill [a precious pill that nourishes and repairs damaged meridians] with an almost reverent touch, unable to put it down. Suddenly realizing he might be losing his composure in front of a junior, he quickly set the pill down and inquired with a gentle smile.

"Tell me of the journey's events."

"Yes."

Eldrin Chen did not hesitate and recounted the entire journey's encounters to the Old Patriarch.

Chen Thalion listened with an impassive expression at first. However, when he heard that the pills were purchased from Elara Lin for one thousand five hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], he could not help but frown.

"I know of Elara Lin. She is the sole Personal Disciple [a disciple personally taught and guided by a master] of Jiang the Daoist."

"Her cultivation is profound and unfathomable. It is said she reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm] many years ago."

"A life-saving pill like the Meridian Nourishing Pill could easily fetch two thousand five hundred Spirit Stone and still find eager buyers. Why would she sell it to us for so cheap?"

"I cannot fathom it either," Eldrin Chen shook his head, equally puzzled. "Yet, from my observation, she did not seem to be a person of ill intent."

Chen Thalion also found it perplexing and could only nod in agreement. "Though Jiang the Ancient Ancestor is a woman, she has guarded the Chu Kingdom Borderlands for two hundred years. She is renowned for her righteous character and has the sharpest eye for deceit. It is unlikely she would scheme against an old man like me."

"Perhaps it was to show consideration for a junior. Once my injuries are fully healed, I shall pay a personal visit to express my gratitude."

With that matter concluded, Eldrin Chen continued his account of the map, speaking of the Cultivation Cave [a secluded dwelling place for cultivation] left behind by Yang Alistair and the three fishing cultivators.

After listening, the Old Patriarch felt a shiver run down his spine, a look of lingering fear coloring his expression.

"Thank the heavens you acted with caution. Had it been some hot-headed fool, blinded by the allure of an Ancient Cultivator's Cave, he would likely have paid for it with his life."

"In the future, when you encounter such situations, you must think deeply and plan thoroughly. Never act rashly unless you are absolutely certain of the outcome."

"In my own travels during my youth, I too once faced a perilous situation of this nature…"

Chen Thalion rambled on, recounting many tales and close calls from his century of wandering the cultivation world.

Though the lecture went on for some time, Eldrin Chen listened with rapt attention. These were lessons hard-won through a senior's hundred years of experience, wisdom that could help him avoid countless pitfalls in the future. For more chapters, visit audio-novel`com for the complete novel.