Chapter 179 : The Geng Sword's Divine Judgment

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

In that instant, several clear sword chimes rang out. The Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword and the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword swept forward once more to strike.

The Metallic Gold Earth Spirit [a powerful earth elemental creature with a body of metallic gold] knew its physical form could not withstand a direct blow from two Immortal Sword [divine weapons of immense power]. It had no choice but to endure the other incoming attacks as the price for evading these two deadly blades.

Even so, one of its arms was severed by the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword. The searing pain, compounded by the relentless barrage of assaults, left the creature utterly disoriented and reeling.

"Now!"

Seizing the perfect moment, Eldrin Chen unleashed his ultimate trump card.

A sword cry that seemed to shake the very heavens and earth echoed across the realm. The Great Geng Immortal Sword erupted with a blindingly brilliant corona of golden sword energy [a solidified, razor-sharp projection of spiritual power].

This blade of energy stretched over eighty Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. In the space of a single breath, it descended with peerless, world-cleaving sharpness, slicing through the firmament to appear directly before the Metallic Gold Earth Spirit.

The sword light was swift as lightning. The Metallic Gold Earth Spirit, now at the end of its road, had no time left for escape. Before it could even react, the Great Geng Immortal Sword swept down and severed its head from its shoulders.

"Arooo—" [a final, agonized roar] For more chapters, visit audio-novel .c om for the complete novel.

A piercing shriek echoed through heaven and earth as a powerful Demon Spirit [a malevolent entity born from corrupted spiritual energy] of the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage [the fourth major stage of cultivation, representing a profound mastery of spiritual energy] finally met its end, slain by Eldrin Chen within the depths of this Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy].

"It is done."

After the Demon Spirit was vanquished, expressions of wild joy spread across everyone's faces.

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with the Old Patriarch, sheathed the two Immortal Sword [enchanted blades of peerless sharpness and power] forged from Extraordinary materials, and then collected the remains of the two Violet Sanctum Demon Spirit.

Once the spoils were secured, the Old Patriarch instructed Lior Chen and the others, "Go and arrange for someone to inventory the resources within the ore vein. Compile a detailed register and present it with haste."

Lior Chen nodded with a smile. "I shall see to it immediately."

Filled with elation, the group began inspecting the vein's resources, while the Old Patriarch and Eldrin Chen ascended the Spirit Mountain [a mountain suffused with potent spiritual energy] before them.

This Spirit Mountain was the heart of the Metallic Gold Ore Vein [a rich deposit of Metallic Gold, a spiritual metal]. Upon reaching its summit, they found not only a vigorous flow of Essence of Metallic Gold [the refined spiritual quintessence of Metallic Gold ore] but also an exceptionally dense and potent concentration of spiritual energy [the vital force that permeates the world and fuels cultivation].

"It appears this Metallic Gold Earth Vein is indeed of the third rank, middle grade," the Old Patriarch observed.

Upon reaching the mountain's peak and gazing upon a serene Spirit Pool [a pool of liquid spiritual energy], the Old Patriarch could no longer contain a look of rapturous delight.

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

Ever since his breakthrough into the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core], his physical body had been tempered day and night by his spiritual power, becoming remarkably robust. For this liquid to cause him pain spoke volumes about its formidable, aggressive nature.

Despite the stinging in his fingers, Eldrin Chen felt not dismay, but a surge of elation that lit up his eyes.

"Could this be the legendary Sword Cleansing Pool [a rare pool formed from metallic spiritual essence, used to purify and enhance swords]?" he murmured.

"Transparent and crystalline, with faint sword energies shimmering within... Yes, this is indeed the Sword Cleansing Pool," the Old Patriarch confirmed, his face breaking into an unreserved, joyous smile.

The Old Patriarch nodded, his expression one of profound happiness.

The Sword Cleansing Pool was a treasure of immense rarity. It could only form within a Metallic Gold Earth Vein [a spiritual earth vein rich in metallic energy] of at least mid-grade third-tier, and even then, the chance was minuscule. Only within fourth-tier or higher Metallic Gold Earth Vein did the likelihood of such a pool forming increase significantly.

The spiritual liquid within the pool was extraordinary, known as 'Metallic Gold Essence' [a potent spiritual essence of pure metallic energy, a rare heaven-and-earth treasure]. This Metallic Gold Essence was an exceptionally unique concentration of natural spiritual essence, a peerless metallic spiritual fluid.

Its uses were manifold and miraculous. It could elevate the quality of metallic materials. Rumor had it that just a small amount of Metallic Gold Essence could boost the power of a third-tier Immortal Sword [a flying sword used by cultivators] by an additional thirty percent.

Furthermore, once this spiritual liquid gathered into a Spirit Pool [a natural pool of concentrated spiritual energy], it gained the power to cleanse swords. 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 sword would ultimately be washed away, leaving it perfectly pure.

Once the sword cleansing is complete, the might of the Immortal Sword will increase by fifty percent. Its material will also become exceptionally pure and superior, its strength leaping forward by a great margin.

"Truly unimaginable," he mused, "that within this Metallic Gold Earth Vein, a Sword Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool with the power to purify and refine bladed weapons] could be nurtured."

"It seems my Crimson Flame Spirit Blade can also gain a measure of enhanced power."

Old Patriarch stroked his beard, speaking with barely contained excitement.

His Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was not considered top-tier; both its material and the method of its forging were rather ordinary.

During his Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one builds a solid spiritual foundation] days, he could still rely on it to display some prowess. But once he reached the Violet Sanctum [the third major stage, where one opens a mystical palace within the body to house the nascent soul], it would likely fall into mediocrity. Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.

Furthermore, the inferior material of the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade meant that even if it advanced to the third rank, it would face great difficulty surviving the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic lightning trial that magical treasures must endure to ascend to higher ranks] when attempting to break through to the fourth rank in the future.

After all, a Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured enchanted artifact, growing in power with them] forged from Second Rank materials inherently possessed a weaker foundation. A single misstep could lead to its complete destruction under the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

The Heavenly Thunder Tribulation for a Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure was no trivial matter. It was far better to seek out rare and precious treasures, melt and fuse them into the Lifebound Magical Treasure to enhance its power. Only then would there be a reasonable chance for it to survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

Now, this Sword Cleansing Pool had arrived at the perfect moment. With it, as long as Old Patriarch also fused third-rank treasures like Venus Metallic Gold [a rare metallic ore imbued with celestial metal properties] into the blade, its prospects would be greatly improved.

If it is then placed into the Sword Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool used to purify and temper weapons] for three years of tempering, it will undoubtedly greatly enhance the power of the Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force], elevating it to a superior-grade Third-Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of the third tier].

Once it becomes a superior-grade Third-Rank Magical Treasure, the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a spirit blade imbued with crimson flames] will have a significantly increased chance of successfully enduring the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of heavenly lightning that tests a cultivator or artifact].

Furthermore, with the aid of a superior-grade lifebound magical blade, Old Patriarch [the venerable elder of the clan] would see his chances of surviving the Golden Core Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly lightning trial associated with forming a Golden Core] increase 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 Geng Immortal Sword [the Immortal Sword of Great Geng] in his hand were tempered with this material, its power would likely surge by fifty percent, propelling it into the ranks of top-tier Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal grade].

And the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [the Sword of Solar Fire and Returning Abyss] could also take this opportunity to have its power further enhanced.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen took out the spoils from this battle and handed the Immortal Sword forged from Western Pole Metallic Gold [a rare metallic gold from the Western Pole] to the Old Patriarch.

"After you reach the Violet Sanctum [the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm], infusing this into the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade will surely cause the power of your Lifebound Magical Treasure to increase dramatically."

"There is no need."

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

"After all, your Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword possesses the potential to transcend its inherent grade limitations."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement and retrieved the Venus Metallic Gold Sword Embryo [an unformed sword core of Venus Metallic Gold], handing it over to him.

This time, Eternal Profound Chen did not refuse. Gripping the sword embryo, he smiled and said, "With this Venus Metallic Gold [a rare third-rank metal with sharp, penetrating properties] and the Sword Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool that purifies and empowers sword-type treasures] to enhance the potency of my Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, I should no longer be at a disadvantage in terms of my life-bound magical treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured artifact] when facing peers of the same Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation]."

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 at the heart of an earth vein]."

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

The so-called Earth Vein Spring is essentially the source spring within a Five Elements Earth Vein [an earth vein aligned with the spiritual energies of the five elements]. This spring eye continuously draws upon the Five Elements Energy [the fundamental spiritual energy comprising metal, wood, water, fire, and earth] from heaven and earth, gushing it forth to maintain the balance within the Earth Vein [a subterranean conduit of concentrated spiritual energy].

This Earth Vein Spring is also the birthplace within the Earth Vein where high-grade treasures are nurtured. Whether it be Metallic Gold Essence Crystal [a crystallized essence of pure metallic gold energy] or materials like Venus Metallic Gold, almost all third-rank treasures originate from this spring.

They had not walked far before they found the location of the Metallic Gold Earth Vein Spring. The spring eye was shrouded in a thick mass of Essence of Metallic Gold [a dense, liquid-like concentration of metallic gold spiritual energy], from which streams of the essence continuously erupted.

Eldrin Chen looked up and saw that within the spring eye there were actually three crystal-clear and translucent Metallic Gold Essence Crystal, along with several scattered pieces of Third-Rank Precious Metal [ore suitable for crafting third-rank artifacts].