Chapter 130 : The Soulbound Sword's Awakening

He knew this was his Lifebound Immortal Sword [an enchanted sword bound to a cultivator's soul] nourishing him in return. Once a Lifebound Magical Treasure [an artifact bound to a cultivator's soul] reached the Third Rank [a high level of power and refinement], it would inherently generate a trace of creation substance [a primal material that fosters growth and evolution].

A Lifebound Immortal Sword of this rank was already capable of nourishing a cultivator in return, aiding them in tempering the True Essence [the refined, potent energy cultivated within a practitioner's body] and mana within their body.

With the assistance of a Third RankLifebound Immortal Sword, Eldrin Chen's internal True Essence would gradually be refined by the immortal sword. Its lethality and degree of condensation would surpass that of his peers by over thirty percent.

When this was further compounded with the inherently sharp and potent True Essence resulting from Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [a method of establishing one's cultivation foundation without external aids, yielding superior results], the condensation level of his True Essence was already nearly on par with that of a Purple Mansion Initial Stage Cultivator [a cultivator who has just broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm]. The sole distinction was that it had not yet fused with the crucial spiritual sense [a cultivator's extended perception and awareness] to transform into the more profound and mystical mana.

This True Essence alone, so far surpassing his peers, could increase Eldrin Chen's chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion [a major realm where cultivators open a mystical space within their bodies to house their nascent soul] by twenty to thirty percent.

Furthermore, considering his meridians, which had already been broadened and tempered by the Primordial Essence [the purest form of spiritual energy from the dawn of creation], and his spiritual sense, he estimated that even without relying on external aids like the Li Fire Crystal [a crystal imbued with the essence of Li Fire, used to aid cultivation breakthroughs], he should have a fifty to sixty percent chance of breaking through to the Purple Mansion in a single attempt.

"Even if I cannot succeed in one attempt," he mused, "I should at least be able to penetrate over seventy percent of the Purple Mansion Dao Meridian [the primary mystical channel that must be opened to access the Purple Mansion Realm]."

"And if I can successfully refine the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform [a lifebound magical treasure in the form of a lotus platform], my chances should increase to at least eighty or ninety percent."

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen retrieved the Flood Water Azure Lotus [a rare spiritual lotus associated with the Water element], a faint sigh escaping him.

The Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform possessed remarkable utility. Such a Life-Bound Magical Treasure could store True Essence, allowing a cultivator's reserves of True Essence and mana to surge twofold. Naturally, this would also increase one's chances by severalfold when attempting the arduous breakthrough into the Purple Mansion. Continue your cultivation journey at www . audio-novel.com.

Alas, to forge the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform [a magical lotus platform that harnesses the power of flood water], one still requires a Profound Water Crystal [a crystal of profound water essence]. Within the Chu Kingdom, there is only a single Third Rank Water Vein [a vein of spiritual energy attuned to water, of the third rank], and it is a Sunflower Water Earth Vein [an earth vein imbued with Sunflower Water energy], making it fundamentally impossible to obtain a Profound Water Crystal from it.

"Perhaps, after the Beast Tide Calamity [a catastrophic invasion by demonic beasts] concludes, I should leave the Chu Kingdom for a time."

"It is said that within the Yan Kingdom, there exists a Fourth Rank Water Vein [a vein of spiritual energy attuned to water, of the fourth rank], where Profound Water Crystal are occasionally sold."

Eldrin Chen held this thought in his heart, then suppressed it, beginning his seclusion to temper the True Essence [the refined spiritual energy within a cultivator's body] within him.

Merely three months later, he emerged from his seclusion. No sooner had he stepped out than he discovered Lior Chen had been waiting for him on Spirit Lake Isle for quite some time.

"Word has come from Celestial Ruins Mountain. The Alliance of the Celestial Ruins is about to commence."

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the Third Elder spoke: "The Clan Patriarch cannot easily extricate himself. It would be best for you to make the journey there."

"The Alliance of the Celestial Ruins..."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen poured a cup of tea for the Third Elder, a flicker of light passing through his eyes.

For the sake of this Alliance of the Celestial Ruins, he had made no small number of trips over these past few years. He had essentially met with the heads of every major family across the whole of Bianzhou, having long since discussed the details on multiple occasions.

This journey to Celestial Ruins Mountain [a major cultivation site] was solely for the purpose of formally finalizing the alliance pact, so that when the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of monstrous beasts] arrives, all forces could be united as one.

"With the Beast Tide Calamity now merely three years away, it is indeed time for the Alliance of the Celestial Ruins [a defensive pact among local powers] to be formally signed,"

Eldrin Chen declared. After sharing a cup of tea with Lior Chen, the two of them took to the skies on their flying swords, heading towards Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Their flight speed was considerable. After its recent advancement, Eldrin Chen's Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [his personal flying sword] was capable of covering thirty thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day, surpassing the speed of an average Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation stage] cultivator by a fair margin.

Having broken through to the Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation stage] over two decades prior, Lior Chen had finally, a few years ago, leveraged the power of an Origin-Breaking Pill [a pill that aids in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks] to advance further, reaching the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer. Following this breakthrough, his Bright Abyss Ethereal Spirit Sword [his personal flying sword] had also ascended to the Second Rank Middle Grade [a mid-tier classification for artifacts].

Though this paled in comparison to Eldrin Chen's daily range of ten thousand Li-length, he could still traverse five to six thousand Li-length in a day.

Although Celestial Ruins Mountain lay a full ten thousand Li-length away, the duo managed to arrive at the foot of the Celestial Ruins Mountain range in just over twenty days.

"It seems we are among the later arrivals,"

Lior Chen remarked upon reaching Celestial Ruins Mountain, a note of surprise coloring his voice as he observed the gathered crowd upon the mountain.

To the astonishment of all present, the summit of Celestial Ruins Mountain now hosted over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage], a number far exceeding anyone's expectations.

With a simple sweep of his divine sense, Eldrin Chen detected over a hundred presences, each with an aura not inferior to that of a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation where one builds their foundational core] realm or higher.

"Nearly all of the more than sixty Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage] from Celestial Ruins Mountain are gathered here."

"Of the close to twenty Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [families with a tradition of cultivation and at least one Foundation Establishment cultivator] from the Three Counties region, each has sent at least one Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

Eldrin Chen's renown had grown steadily over the years; there was scarcely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in Bianzhou who did not recognize him.

While exchanging greetings with these familiar faces, his gaze drifted toward a distant pavilion. There, two figures with profoundly restrained auras sat across from each other, engaged in a game of Go.

A subtle flicker passed through his eyes. He lowered his voice, sending a mental message to Lior Chen: "Both are Purple Mansion Ancestor [venerated elders who have ascended to the third major cultivation realm, the Purple Mansion]. The one in violet robes is Yang Yuanhe, a Purple Mansion Ancestor from the Yang Family. The figure in black robes is the ancient ancestor of the Xu Clan, Xu Darius." Visit AUDIO-NOVEL.COM to enjoy the complete series.

Upon hearing this, Lior Chen's expression shifted slightly, a tremor of awe passing through him.

Each of Bianzhou's two great Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [clans powerful enough to have multiple Purple Mansion realm cultivators as pillars] possessed two Purple Mansion Ancestor. This Yang Yuanhe was one such ancestor from the Yang Clan of Ling County.

Back at the Bianzhou Barter Convention held in Feng County, the Yang Family had been willing to offer their Sylvan Longevity Art in exchange for a Metal-Water attribute Purple Mansion Cultivation Art [an advanced technique for guiding cultivation within the Purple Mansion realm]. Their target had been this very Ancestor Yang Yuanhe.

Ancestor Yang possessed Metal-Water Dual Spiritual Roots [an affinity for both metal and water elemental spiritual energies]. Having broken through to the Purple Mansion [the realm where one opens and refines their spiritual mansion] less than thirty years prior and lacking a suitable cultivation art, he had astonishingly not yet advanced even to the first layer of the Purple Mansion realm.

With such strength, Eldrin Chen pondered that even if he could not match his opponent, by relying on the might of his Lifebound Immortal Sword and the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword, he should possess roughly seventy to eighty percent of that opponent's power.

At the very least, he could hold his own until his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner] was exhausted; his ability to preserve his life was assured.

The other, Xu Darius, was also at the Purple Palace, Early Stage. This man was merely one hundred and sixty years old, the most outstanding genius the Xu Immortal Clan had produced in two centuries.

It was said Xu Darius had broken through to the Purple Mansion at one hundred and ten years of age. His cultivation had now reached the Purple Mansion Third Layer, and he had mastered the Xu Clan's clan-guarding divine ability, the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder. Furthermore, he had refined the Xu Clan's Lifebound Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact bound to a cultivator's soul], the 'Void-Refining Earth-Fortress Cauldron'.

That 'Void-Refining Earth-Fortress Cauldron' was a dual fire-earth attribute magical treasure, inherently possessing two divine abilities. One was called the Earth Origin Fortress Canopy. When activated, it would transform into a protective barrier of divine energy, its defensive power not inferior to top-tier Defensive Magical Tool of the same rank.

The other ability was called Void-Refining Divine Flame. That Void-Refining Divine Flame possessed extraordinary destructive power, surpassing the offensive might of typical magical treasure abilities of its rank by a significant margin.

"I might barely be able to contend with that Ancestor Yang," Eldrin mused.

"But if I were to face Xu Darius as an enemy, unless I joined forces with the Old Patriarch, I would have no choice but to flee for my life."

Mentally comparing the combat prowess of these two Purple Mansion Ancestor, Eldrin Chen gained a somewhat clearer, though still approximate, understanding of his own standing in battle.

Eldrin Chen brought Lior Chen to an Inn to rest, then instructed him: "The Heaven's Ruin Alliance assembly will not begin for another half-month. I have some matters to attend to."

After bidding farewell to Lior Chen, he rode his flying sword and arrived before Lyra Jiang's Spirit Pool Cave Abode [a secluded cultivation dwelling built around a natural pool of concentrated spiritual energy].

His arrival seemed to have been anticipated by Lyra Jiang. She glanced at Eldrin Chen and spoke with a gentle smile.

"To have broken through to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the second major realm of cultivation] before the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts]... it seems I can rest assured about your safety."

"That was entirely due to the efficacy of the Verdant Origin Pill," Eldrin Chen replied.

His expression then shifted slightly, and he could not help but ask, "The Beast Tide Calamity is imminent. Celestial Ruins Mountain will face the greatest pressure and is in dire need of manpower. Why, then, have you assigned me to Yu County?" Experience the full epic at audi novel.com.