Chapter 169 Varen (Person Name) Emerges

After hearing him out, Eldrin (Person Name) sighed and patted his shoulder in consolation.

"Brother Dao, do not be disheartened. There may yet be opportunities to replenish your vital energy and restore your longevity."

"Given your current state, with sufficient lifespan, you'd have an 80 to 90 percent chance of breaking through to the Violet Mansion Realm in your next attempt—even without external aids."

"There is no need for such consolation." Varen shook his head, his face etched with anguish as he spoke, "Life-extending treasures are incomparably precious. Given the Wei Clan's current circumstances, how could we possibly afford 1?"

Eldrin’s eyes flickered slightly, yet he replied earnestly, “Back when we ventured through Ink-Wash Ridge together, you once told me that you genuinely wished to befriend me. And I, too, considered you a true friend.”

"I heard there is a longevity spirit apricot in the State of Wei—a single fruit can extend 1's lifespan by 10 years. I shall go to Wei to acquire this longevity spirit apricot for you. Meanwhile, return to Yu County and await good news."

"This..."

Varen hesitated for a moment, then unexpectedly prostrated himself in reverence.

Eldrin quickly steadied him and said urgently, "Brother Dao, why go to such extremes?"

With a choked sob, Varen (Person Name) clutched Eldrin's (Person Name) hand, tears streaming down his aged face as he spoke.

"In my life, I have made several dozen friends and always considered myself well-connected, yet none have ever treated me as you do."

"If I ever succeed in breaking through to the Violet Mansion realm and manage to linger in this world for another 2 100 years, should you ever have any requests, my dear brother, this unworthy 1 would gladly spill his very marrow in gratitude for your grace in paving my path to enlightenment."

"You flatter me, Brother Dao."

Eldrin smiled faintly and helped him up, saying, "The mountains are high and the road is long ahead. With your vital essence currently depleted, fellow Daoist, I beg you to take good care of yourself."

After parting with Varen, Eldrin did not linger any longer. He departed that very day, taking the young girl with him.

He had originally intended for the 2 of them to travel together, thinking that if Varen’s cultivation were to break through to the Violet Mansion realm, they could watch each other’s backs along the way. In that case, Deng Yuanwu might not dare to make a move.

But now that Varen (Person Name) had failed in his breakthrough, the situation had taken an entirely different turn.

Although Varen's (Person Name) spiritual energy was now approaching the Zi Fu level, the severe depletion of his vital essence after burning his blood had left him critically weakened. In this state, any exertion would cause devastating damage to his true essence.

When both the essence blood and true essence suffer severe damage simultaneously, it results in a grave depletion of vital energy. At that point, Varen (Person Name) would likely have but a handful of days left to live.

Eldrin knew he had been targeted by the Deng Family cultivators and naturally wished to avoid bringing calamity upon Varen. Seizing the opportunity to purchase spirit apricots, he parted ways with Varen.

Yet no sooner had he departed from Yuyang Market than Deng Yuanwu noticed something amiss.

"Only 2 days, why depart so soon?" Elder Deng furrowed his brow, his expression grave as he spoke, "That man is an unfamiliar face. In Yan Kingdom, I doubt there's anyone who would recognize him."

"In such a short time, there's no way to trace his origins."

"Hmph."

Deng Yuanwu let out a cold snort, brimming with confidence as he declared, "What's there to fear? He's merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator—just at the 8th level of Foundation Establishment. Did you truly believe he could slip through my grasp?"

"Let's catch up to him first."

"You actually dare to give chase."

Eldrin flew over 3 1000 li with Lila, only to notice 2 streaks of light chasing after them from behind.

He furrowed his brow, a trace of icy intensity flashing in his gaze, yet ultimately suppressed the killing intent rising within his heart.

The Deng Immortal Clan was, after all, a Golden Core Immortal Clan. Given his current strength, it was best to avoid offending them if possible.

At this thought, the sapphire sword radiance at his feet flared brilliantly. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) accelerated dramatically, transforming into a dazzling blade of light that tore through the heavens as he sought to leave the 2 pursuers behind.

Third-order Immortal Sword.

A greedy glint flashed in Deng Yuanwu's eyes. A third-tier, lower-grade immortal sword was worth at least 50 to 60 1000 spirit stones—a treasure even he didn't possess.

Just as he was about to be left behind by Eldrin (Person Name), Deng Yuanwu turned to his clansman and urgently raised his voice.

"Cousin, bring out your Void-Crossing Ark. Don’t hold back now."

"Good."

The elder brother of the Deng family responded aloud, raising his hand to produce a 3-inch-long miniature boat.

The small boat was actually a Third-Rank Treasure Ship (Magic Treasure). As he activated it, the vessel transformed into a 10-foot-long craft, carrying both of them as they pursued their target.

This small treasure boat was incredibly fast, typically only deployed by cultivators during spell battles, yet it actually managed to keep pace with the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure).

Seeing the treasure vessel closing in, Chen Nianzi’s gaze sharpened slightly. Even when pushed to its limit, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) could traverse 30 1000 li in a single day—yet it still couldn’t shake them off.

The chase and flight swept past in the blink of an eye—over a month had passed in what felt like a mere moment. Though Eldrin seized multiple opportunities with Lila to shake off their pursuers, they ultimately found themselves overtaken once more.

They continued their relentless pursuit all the way until Eldrin soared into the Cerulean Peaks Range.

"Still refusing to give up?"

"Controlling a flying sword consumes vital energy, while this treasure ark is powered by spirit stones. Continuing like this, I fear my vital energy will soon be depleted."

Eldrin's gaze turned icy. Seeing the 2 still in pursuit, he resolved to kill without mercy.

After consuming the 1 Restoration Pill (Spiritual Object) to replenish his true essence, Eldrin (Person Name) glanced back at the 2 pursuers. The sword radiance beneath his feet surged violently as he soared directly into the territory of Black Eagle Ridge.

After flying over another 100,000 li, deep into the Black Eagle Ridge, his sword light arced and finally halted mid-air. He leisurely consumed the last 2 Recovery Pills (Spiritual Object).

He then picked up the spirit stones, continuously drawing from them to rapidly replenish his true essence, restoring his condition to its peak.

He hovered mid-air as Deng Yuanwu closed in, laughing maniacly from afar.

"Run! Why aren't you running?"

"Clang—"

邓元武话还没说完，湛蓝色剑罡迎风暴涨，竟然锵的一声斩了过来。

"Be careful."

That clansman of the Deng family narrowed his gaze, activating the treasure ark's defensive formation. It transformed into a shimmering barrier that intercepted the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure).

Yet the Lifebound Immortal Sword proved truly extraordinary, transforming into a 30-zhang sword radiance that struck consecutively, causing the defensive formation to tremble unceasingly.

"This treasure boat of mine has a weak defensive formation. It won't hold for long."

As soon as the words fell, the Deng clansman unleashed his divine ability—Ren Water Divine Thunder. This clansman, named Deng Yuanjie, though his background could not compare to Deng Yuanwu’s, was still the son of a Purple Mansion cultivator within the Deng family.

With his father's support, this individual had once broken through to the Violet Mansion realm, successfully opening up 40% of the Violet Mansion's Dao Veins.

At this moment, he summoned the Renshui Divine Thunder to strike down, truly extraordinary, as if a celestial river had transformed into divine lightning descending from the heavens.

"Hmph—"

Chen Nianzi’s gaze turned icy. Though water and fire countered each other, with Deng Yuanjie’s level of cultivation, the Ren Water Divine Thunder he unleashed stood no chance of overpowering the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure).

After all, true essence was not magical power. No matter how profound 1's true essence was, it still lacked the subtle mysteries of magical power and could never elevate the power of a divine ability to the third rank.

The sword aura of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) surged violently, its blazing separation fire grinding the Renwater Divine Thunder into nothingness before continuing its slash toward the treasure ark’s defensive formation.

"He's only at the Foundation Establishment 8th Layer, how can he be this powerful?"

"To possess a third-stage Natal Immortal Sword, could it be that he has some kind of Dao Body?"

Deng Yuanwu’s arrogant expression froze, then twisted with a hint of envy.

Chapter 1: Rebirth of the Immortal Monarch The sky tore open with a flash of crimson lightning, illuminating the ancient battlefield where countless corpses lay scattered. Amidst the rubble, a young man in blue robes slowly opened his eyes. "Have I... truly returned?" murmured Lin Xuan, his voice hoarse as he gazed at his blood-stained hands. "To think I, the Eternal Monarch who once shook the heavens, would return to my youth after failing the Heavenly Tribulation." Memories flooded his mind - the 9 Heavens Thunder Calamity, the betrayal by his closest disciple, and finally, the soul-shattering strike from the Heavenly Dao. Yet against all odds, he had returned to this fateful day 3 1000 years ago, when he was still an outer disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect. [System prompt: Host's spiritual root severely damaged. Cultivation base at Qi Refining Stage, Level 2. Recommended immediate treatment] A cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind, but Lin Xuan merely smiled. What need had he, who once commanded 10 1000 realms, for such trivial assistance? "Though my cultivation is weak, the Heavenly Emperor's Scripture remains etched in my soul," he whispered, closing his eyes to sense the spiritual energy around him. "This time, I shall build the perfect foundation and reclaim my throne above the heavens!" Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached from outside the dilapidated hut. "Brother Lin! The sect inspection is beginning! Elder Ming is furious that you missed the morning assembly!" Lin Xuan's eyes snapped open, glowing with an otherworldly light. The wheel of fate had begun turning anew, and he would not repeat the mistakes of his past life. The path to immortality stretched before him once more, but this time, he would walk it differently. "Coming," he replied calmly, his voice carrying the weight of millennia.