Chapter 179 : Sword Aura Shatters the Earth Vein

"Clang-clang—" [the sharp, metallic sound of weapons clashing]

In that instant, several clear sword chimes rang out. The Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword and the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a powerful enchanted sword] swept in for another strike.

The Metallic Essence Spirit [a spirit born from concentrated metallic energy] knew its physical form could not withstand a direct blow from the two immortal swords. It had no choice but to endure the other attacks raining down upon it in order to evade those two deadly blades.

Even so, one of its arms was severed by the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. The searing pain, compounded by the relentless assault, left the spirit utterly disoriented and reeling.

"Now!"

Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Eldrin Chen unleashed his trump card.

A sword cry that shook the heavens and earth echoed between sky and land. The Great Metallic Immortal Sword erupted with a blindingly brilliant golden sword aura [a condensed manifestation of sword energy].

That sword aura measured over eighty Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. In a flash, it descended with peerless sharpness, cleaving through the firmament to arrive directly before the Metallic Essence Spirit.

The sword light was swift as lightning. The Metallic Essence Spirit, now at the end of its road, had no time to even attempt escape before the Great Metallic Immortal Sword swept down, severing its head from its shoulders.

"Arooo—" [a guttural, dying cry] Find this and other novels at audio‑novel.com.

A final, agonized shriek echoed through heaven and earth as a powerful Purple Mansion Spirit [a spirit entity of formidable power, equivalent to a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator] of the Purple Mansion, Mid Stage realm finally met its end, slain by Eldrin Chen within the depths of this Earth Vein [a concentrated channel of terrestrial spiritual energy].

"It is done."

After the spirit's demise, elation washed over the faces of all present.

Exchanging a glance with the Old Patriarch, Eldrin Chen sheathed the two immortal swords of exceptional material, then collected the remains of the two Purple Mansion Spirit.

Once the spoils were secured, the Old Patriarch instructed Lior Chen and the others: "Go and arrange for an inventory of the resources within this vein. Compile a detailed record and present it with haste."

Lior Chen nodded, a smile gracing his features. "I shall see to it immediately."

Joy suffused the group as they set about surveying the vein's bounty, while the Old Patriarch and Eldrin Chen ascended the Spirit Mountain [a mountain suffused with potent spiritual energy] before them.

This Spirit Mountain formed the heart of the Metallic Essence [a rare, spiritually-charged metal] vein. Upon reaching its summit, they discovered not only an abundance of Metallic Essence Qi [the spiritual energy specific to metallic essence] but also an exceptionally rich and potent ambient spiritual energy.

"It appears this Metallic Essence Earth Vein [an earth vein rich in Metallic Essence] is indeed of Third Rank Middle Grade quality," the Old Patriarch observed.

Standing atop the peak and gazing upon a tranquil Spirit Pool [a pool of concentrated liquid spiritual energy], the Old Patriarch could no longer contain a surge of triumphant joy.

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he reached out to touch the liquid within the pool. A sharp, piercing sensation immediately pricked at his five fingers, causing them to throb with pain.

Ever since his breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [a profound stage of cultivation where one's spiritual foundation is solidified into a mystical mansion], his physical body had been tempered day and night by his surging mana. Its resilience was now formidable. For this liquid within the Spirit Pool [a natural reservoir of concentrated spiritual energy] to cause him such discomfort spoke volumes of its potent and aggressive nature.

Though his fingers ached, Eldrin Chen felt not the slightest hint of dismay. Instead, a wave of pure delight washed over him, brightening his gaze.

"Could this be the legendary Sword-Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool formed from Metallic Essence Quintessence, used to purify and enhance metal-based magical weapons]?" he murmured.

"Crystal clear throughout, with faint sword energies shimmering within its depths... Yes, this is undoubtedly a Sword-Cleansing Pool," Old Patriarch confirmed, his face breaking into an irrepressible, beaming smile.

A Sword-Cleansing Pool! Such a treasure only had the slimmest chance of forming within a Metallic Essence Earth Vein [an underground spiritual vein rich in the essence of metal] of Third Rank Middle Grade [a specific grade denoting the quality and potency of a spiritual resource] or higher. It was only within Metallic Essence Earth Vein veins of the fourth rank or above that the likelihood of finding one increased significantly.

The spiritual liquid filling this pool was of extraordinary origin—it was the fabled 'Metallic Essence Quintessence' [the most refined and potent essence of metallic spiritual energy, a rare liquid treasure]. This Metallic Essence Quintessence was an exceptionally unique concentration of heaven and earth's essence, a supremely potent metal-attribute spiritual fluid.

The applications of this liquid were wondrous. It could be used to elevate the quality of metal-based materials. Legend held that just a small amount of Metallic Essence Quintessence could boost the power of a Third Rank Immortal Sword [a powerful enchanted sword of the third rank] by an additional thirty percent.

Furthermore, when this spiritual fluid gathered to form a Spirit Pool, it gained the property of 'sword-cleansing.' By immersing an immortal sword within this Sword-Cleansing Pool for three years, allowing the pool's energies to temper it day and night, all impurities within the blade would ultimately be scoured away, leaving it flawless.

Once the sword-cleansing process is complete, the Immortal Sword [a cultivator's supreme weapon, bound to their soul and growing with them] will see its might increase by half, its material composition will become exceptionally pure and superior, and its overall durability will be enhanced by a significant margin.

"Truly unimaginable," he murmured, "that within this Metallic Essence Earth Vein [an underground spiritual vein rich in the essence of Metal], a Sword-Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool whose waters can purify and refine the material of magical swords] could be nurtured."

"It seems this old man's Crimson Flame Spirit Blade can also gain a measure of increased potency."

Stroking his beard, the Old Patriarch spoke with barely contained excitement.

His Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was not considered a superior weapon; both its base materials and the method of its forging were rather ordinary.

During his Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one builds a solid spiritual foundation] days, he could still rely on it to display some prowess, but upon reaching the Purple Mansion [the third major realm, where one opens a spiritual palace within the dantian], it would likely fall into mediocrity.

Furthermore, the inferior material of the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade meant that even if it advanced to the Third Rank [corresponding to the Purple Mansion realm], it would face great difficulty surviving the tribulation lightning should it ever attempt to break through to the fourth rank in the future. Original English translation available at audio-novel .c om.

After all, a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact forged with a cultivator's essence blood, growing in power alongside them] forged from second-rank materials had a fundamentally weaker foundation. A single misstep could lead to its complete destruction under the heavenly tribulation.

The lightning tribulation for a fourth-rank magical treasure was no trivial matter. It was far better to seek out rare and precious treasures, melt them into the Lifebound Magical Treasure, and enhance its inherent power. Only then would there be a reasonable chance for it to withstand the tribulation's fury.

Now, this Sword-Cleansing Pool had arrived at the perfect moment. With it, as long as the Old Patriarch also fused materials like White Metal Metallic Essence [a rare, high-grade metallic spiritual ore]—a Third Rank Treasure [an object of significant power, suitable for cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm]—into the blade, its prospects would be transformed.

After placing it within the Sword-Cleansing Pool [a special pool used to purify and temper spiritual weapons] for another three years of tempering, it will undoubtedly greatly enhance the power of the Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force and soul], elevating it to a superior-grade Third Rank Magical Treasure.

Once it becomes a superior-grade Third Rank Magical Treasure, the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade's chances of successfully weathering the Golden Core [a major cultivation stage where one forms a solidified core of spiritual energy] tribulation would increase significantly.

Furthermore, with the aid of a superior-grade life-bound magical blade, the Old Patriarch's odds of surviving the Golden Core tribulation could also rise by twenty to thirty percent.

Eldrin Chen also wore a smile. This treasure was not only useful for the Old Patriarch, but for him, it was also a rare and precious find.

If the Great Metallic Immortal Sword in his possession were tempered with this material, its power would likely surge by fifty percent, leaping into the ranks of top-tier immortal swords.

And the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, too, could take this opportunity to have its power enhanced once more.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen took out the spoils from this battle and handed the immortal sword forged from Western Pole Metallic Essence [a rare and potent metallic essence from the western pole, prized for weapon forging] to the Old Patriarch.

"After you achieve Purple Mansion [a high-level cultivation stage where one opens a spiritual mansion within], infusing this into the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade will surely cause your Life-Bound Magical Treasure's might to increase dramatically."

"There is no need."

The Old Patriarch did not accept it. Shaking his head with a gentle smile, he said, "This item is of superior quality. It is most suitable for your Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss."

"After all, your Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss possesses the rare ability to transcend its inherent grade limitations."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement and retrieved the White Metal Metallic Essence Sword Embryo [a nascent sword form forged from the purest white metal essence], handing it over to him.

This time, Chen Thalion did not refuse. Grasping the Sword Embryo, he smiled and said, "With this White Metal Metallic Essence [a supremely pure metallic spiritual essence] and the Sword-Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool that refines and empowers blades] to enhance the potency of my Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, I should no longer be at a disadvantage in terms of lifebound magical treasures, even when facing opponents of the same Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within] realm."

Eldrin Chen also wore a pleased expression, then turned his gaze into the distance. "Let us first go and see the Earth Vein Spring [the spiritual spring that is the heart and source of an earth vein]."

Having divided the treasures for now, the two men temporarily set aside the precious Sword-Cleansing Pool and strode towards the very core of the Metallic Essence Earth Vein [an earth vein rich in metallic spiritual essence].

The so-called Earth Vein Spring is, in essence, the source spring within a Five Elements Earth Vein [a spiritual land vein attuned to the five fundamental elements]. This spring eye continuously draws upon the Five Elements Qi [the spiritual energy of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth] from heaven and earth, perpetually surging forth to maintain the balance within the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy].

This Earth Vein Spring is also the place within an Earth Vein where high-grade treasures are nurtured. Whether it be Geng Metal Crystal [a crystalline form of pure metallic essence] or White Metal Metallic Essence, almost all such Third Rank Treasure [treasures of the third cultivation rank, suitable for Purple Mansion realm cultivators] are born from the Earth Vein Spring.

They had not walked far before they found the location of the Metallic Essence Earth Vein's spring. The spring eye was shrouded in a dense, heavy mass of Metallic Essence Qi [spiritual energy imbued with the sharp, unyielding properties of metal], from which streams of Metallic Essence Qi continuously erupted.

Eldrin Chen looked up and saw that within the spring eye lay three crystalline, translucent Geng Metal Crystal, alongside several scattered pieces of Third Rank Treasure Metal [metals of the third rank, prized for crafting high-grade treasures].

"Geng Metal Crystal, Violet-Infused Azure Gold [a rare azure gold ore infused with violet spiritual essence], White Metal Metallic Essence..." Find thousands of chapters at site: audio-novel.com.