Chapter 129 : A Pact Forged in Peril

Hearing her words, Eldrin Chen allowed a faint smile to grace his features.

Unlike those Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [powerful clans whose patriarchs have reached the Purple Mansion cultivation realm], clans like theirs, mere Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [clans whose strongest members are at the Foundation Establishment realm], possessed very limited ability to protect themselves. They truly needed to support one another to increase their chances of surviving the impending Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion of demonic beasts from the wilderness].

"In that case, I shall state my purpose directly," Eldrin Chen said, his expression turning solemn. "We in Yu County have already discussed it and wish to join with Feng and Ling Counties in signing a Mutual Defense and Assistance Pact [a binding magical contract for mutual protection and aid]."

"The disciples of the Green Sun Sect seized the Li Fire Crystal [a rare crystal imbued with fire-attribute spiritual energy] from the Zhang Clan of Yangzhou. The affair has now caused quite an uproar, making them difficult to trust."

"Therefore, we also intend to move beyond relying on the Green Sun Sect and go to Celestial Ruins Mountain to forge a new Blood Oath [a powerful, soul-binding pact sealed with blood]."

After listening, Liu Junran also nodded, speaking earnestly, "The Green Sun Sect can no longer be relied upon. If we wish to survive, our only recourse truly is to turn to Celestial Ruins Mountain."

"In fact, even our own Xu Clan, Purple Mansion Immortal Clan of Feng County has already been active in this matter, preparing to go to Celestial Ruins Mountain to sign the covenant."

The two conversed in the guest pavilion for an entire afternoon, broadly settling the matter of the covenant for the Three Counties, before Eldrin Chen finally took his leave.

Regarding Feng County, the Liu Immortal Clan would naturally convey the intentions of Yu County. Once the inclinations of the various great clans were confirmed, a formal contract for mutual defense and assistance would be signed.

For the matter of establishing this alliance, the several dozen immortal clans of Bianzhou negotiated back and forth seven or eight times, busying themselves for one or two years, before finally settling on and signing a covenant. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel . com.

According to this covenant, during the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by monstrous beasts], the major Immortal Clans of Bianzhou should unite as one, setting aside past grievances and enmities to jointly exert their strength against the Beast Tide Calamity.

Furthermore, to prevent Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use malevolent, often blood-based or soul-devouring methods] from taking advantage of the chaos to launch attacks, the covenant also established a rule: during the Beast Tide Calamity, if any clan is attacked by Demonic Beast [monstrous beasts infused with demonic energy] or Demonic Cultivator, the neighboring Immortal Clans must provide support at the first possible moment.

Thus, time flowed swiftly by, and in the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

"Hah—"

On this day, Eldrin Chen finished refining the last Spirit Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy, beneficial for cultivation] in his hand and slowly opened his eyes.

He drew a soft breath. Years of arduous cultivation had finally allowed him to advance another step, bringing the True Essence [the refined spiritual energy circulating within a cultivator's body] within him to perfection and touching the very limits of the Foundation Establishment, 6th Layer.

"At last, I can attempt the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage."

A flicker of joy passed through Eldrin Chen's heart as he retrieved a Verdant Origin Pill [an elixir that aids in consolidating and advancing one's cultivation foundation] from his Storage Bag [a spatial pouch capable of holding items far larger than its external size].

Five years prior, under the guidance of Lyra Jiang, he had successfully refined two Verdant Origin Pill in a single batch. With these two precious pills in hand, his confidence in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage was virtually assured.

The Old Patriarch had managed to break through to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage early in his own time precisely because a Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a rare spiritual fungus] matured within the clan, which was used to refine a furnace of Verdant Origin Pill, allowing him to leverage that opportunity for his advancement.

Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and swallowed a Verdant Origin Pill. Instantly, a torrential surge of True Qi [the refined energy cultivated within a practitioner's body] flooded his meridians, detonating the vast reservoir of True Essence [the purified, foundational energy core of a cultivator] within him.

Although he was at the Foundation Establishment, 6th Layer, his meridians had been tempered for years by Primordial Essence [the purest, most ancient form of spiritual energy], rendering them far more resilient and expansive than those of his peers.

Coupled with the razor-sharp True Essence born from Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [the process of establishing one's cultivation foundation without external aid, resulting in purer energy], his combat prowess and physical refinement far surpassed cultivators of the same level.

Thus, by now, the profundity of Eldrin Chen's True Essence was no weaker than that of a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer. With such a foundation, the eruption from the Verdant Origin Pill immediately transformed into a mighty deluge, scouring his meridians and shattering the bottleneck to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage with unstoppable force.

"Success."

Feeling the True Essence within him swell by fifty percent, Eldrin Chen allowed a smile to grace his lips.

Having broken through to the Foundation Establishment seventh layer, the subsequent process of refining and consolidating his True Essence would be far simpler. In just a few months, he could complete the tempering of his energy.

"First, I shall consecrate the Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured sword, growing in power with its master]."

He did not immediately begin tempering his True Essence, instead directly summoning forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

He then retrieved Metallic Essence [a potent spiritual material embodying the essence of metal] and Blazing Fire Dual Qi [a refined spiritual energy containing the dual aspects of blazing fire] to begin the arduous process of infusion and refinement. A Third Rank Low Grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] often started at a value of thirty thousand Spirit Stone [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Yet, a Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personally forged and soul-bound sword] requires only Five Elements Qi [the spiritual energy of the five fundamental elements] to ascend in grade. For Eldrin Chen's Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame] to advance to the Third Rank Low Grade [the initial stage of the third rank of power], it required forty-nine thousand strands of Metallic Essence and Separated Flame Qi [a refined spiritual essence combining the properties of metal and separated flame].

Although procuring this Five Elements Qi [the spiritual energy of the five fundamental elements] cost Eldrin Chen over ten thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], compared to the value of a Third Rank Magical Tool [a magical artifact of the third rank of power], the cost was remarkably low.

Refining a Flying Sword [a sword capable of flight and controlled by spiritual will] to a higher grade is a painstaking labor. Eldrin Chen meticulously infused the Dual Metallic Essence and Separated Flame Qi [a refined spiritual essence combining the properties of metal and separated flame] strand by strand into the immortal sword, tempering it over three months before achieving success.

"*Clang—*"

Finally, after three months, a clear sword cry rang out.

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame] erupted with a sword aura over thirty Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] long. Its dazzling azure radiance illuminated the entire Spirit Isle Lake, and a startling phenomenon shook the surrounding ten Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. The story continues at https://audio-novel.com.

In the night's embrace, a column of azure sword aura shot into the heavens, piercing the vast cloud layers. A faint blue light shone through the sea of clouds, illuminating the hazy darkness.

"What is happening?"

Silas Chen was startled by the astonishing phenomenon. Looking up at the majestic, beautiful azure sword light dancing within the cloud sea, he could not help but exclaim.

At that moment, Eldrin Chen stepped forward. He gazed up at the azure sword light crisscrossing the Nine Heavens Above [a poetic term for the highest heavens], a faint smile gracing his lips.

"Return to me!"

A Lifebound Immortal Sword [an immortal's personal sword, bound to their soul and growing in power with them] possesses its own spirit. Legend has it that the sixth-rank Lifebound Immortal Sword of a Sword Saint Dao Lord could even single-handedly contend against a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul, reaching a realm of immense power and longevity].

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss truly lived up to its reputation as a superior immortal sword. Although it was still far from reaching that legendary stage, its spiritual intelligence, having advanced to the Third Rank [a significant tier of power for magical treasures], was now extraordinary.

A sapphire-blue sword radiance descended from the highest heavens. It circled Eldrin Chen with palpable affection before transforming into a streak of light that flew into the space between his brows.

"Uncle Eldrin."

Silas Chen looked at Eldrin Chen, unable to suppress a flash of pleasant surprise in his eyes. "Your Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss... could it be..."

"Mmm."

"I never imagined that advancing a Lifebound Immortal Sword would create such a stunning phenomenon."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips. "It is fortunate that Spirit Isle Lake is situated in such a remote location. Had this advancement occurred at Verdant Chariot Mountain, the news would likely have spread far and wide."

"Keep today's events locked within your heart. Speak of them to no one."

"I understand," Silas Chen replied, his face alight with unrestrained joy. "Congratulations, Uncle Eldrin! With a Third Rank Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword forged with a cultivator's soul essence, growing in power with them] now in your grasp, you can likely be counted among the upper echelons of power across the entire Chu Kingdom."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. Having broken through to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage, once he consumed the Mysterious Origin Pill [a potent pill that refines and expands a cultivator's spiritual energy], the density of his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within a practitioner's body] would rival that of a cultivator halfway into the Purple Mansion [a major realm of cultivation where one's spiritual foundation is solidified into a mystical mansion within the dantian].

By then, wielding both his Lifebound Immortal Sword and the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword, he would be able to hold his own against an early-stage Purple Mansion Cultivator. Even if he could not secure victory, the Lifebound Immortal Sword would surely grant him the means to escape with his life.

Across the Three Provinces Region governed by the Green Sun Sect, the sect itself combined with seven or eight Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [powerful families whose patriarchs have reached the Purple Mansion realm] numbered barely more than thirty individuals who had attained the Purple Mansion realm.

"I shall enter seclusion now. Guard this place in my stead and ensure I am not disturbed," Eldrin Chen instructed.

With that final command, Eldrin Chen turned and retreated into his secluded cultivation chamber.

Returning to the Spirit Spring [a spring imbued with concentrated spiritual energy], he first swallowed the Mysterious Origin Pill. Feeling the surge within him as his True Essence swelled by a full thirty percent, a genuine smile finally graced his features.

Closing his eyes, he focused inward, sensing the Lifebound Immortal Sword nestled within his dantian. He observed threads of his True Essence being drawn into the sword, only to be refined and returned to him in a purer, more potent form. Your portal to cultivation novels: https://audio-novel.com.