Chapter 186 : Forging the Heavenly River Sword

Eldrin Chen shook his head, temporarily setting aside the cultivation of this divine ability. After all, gathering the Solar Qi [the pure yang energy of the sun] was far too slow a process. If he were to make it a mandatory daily practice, it would inevitably hinder his overall cultivation progress.

Beyond the cultivation art, the two Lifebound Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's soul and life force] derived from his enlightenment were also exceptionally extraordinary.

The refinement method for the Magnetic Treasure Bracer had been pondered and discussed numerous times by him and Lyra Jiang. This sudden enlightenment merely served to perfect their existing plans.

As for the immortal sword, it was conceptualized based on the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. This sword and the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss formed a complementary pair, one embodying Yin [the passive, dark, feminine principle] and the other Yang [the active, bright, masculine principle].

The idea for this immortal sword's creation was actually a notion Eldrin Chen had entertained many years prior.

"The Water-Flood Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the power of vast waters] draws upon the essence of rivers, lakes, and seas. Using Profound Water Crystal [a crystal imbued with profound water energy] as the primary material, it forges the sword's body by melting down Third Rank [referring to the Purple Mansion Realm] Flood Water Treasure Gold [a rare metal infused with the essence of flood waters]."

"Once forged, its power might resemble the descent of a heavenly river, vast, mighty, and utterly unstoppable, potentially not inferior to the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss."

"Primarily water-attributed and symbolizing the waters of rivers, lakes, and seas like the Water-Flood Divine Thunder, this sword shall be named the 'Heavenly River Flood Water Sword'."

As Eldrin Chen reviewed the recorded refinement method, a faint, satisfied smile unconsciously touched the corners of his lips.

The Lifebound Formation Runes [soul-bound mystical patterns etched into a treasure] for the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword were created in correspondence with those of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. By their innate design, they were a matched pair with the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, and in theory, these two immortal swords could merge their powers into one. Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel.com (official site).

The inherent power of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a formidable magical sword imbued with the essence of the Separated Flame] is already immense. If paired with a 'Heavenly River Flood Water Sword' [a magical sword channeling the power of the Heavenly River's floodwaters], the combined force of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a legendary pair of complementary swords, one of fire and one of water] would likely reach a truly staggering level of might.

"The Heavenly Separated Twin Swords," he murmured, the name itself carrying the weight of a legend.

"Within the depths of Celestial Python Lake [a vast and treacherous lake domain], there must surely be a Profound Water Crystal [a crystal of immense purity, born from the concentrated essence of profound water energies]," Eldrin Chen contemplated.

Having stored away the crafting method for the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword, a flicker of determination passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes.

From the Metallic Essence Earth Vein [an earth vein rich in Metallic Essence energy], he had already obtained one piece of Flood Water Treasure Gold [a rare metal alloyed with the essence of floodwaters]. Now, all he lacked was a single Profound Water Crystal to complete the forging of the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword.

In six years' time, Lyra Jiang would lead the assault on Celestial Python Lake. That lake domain was known to harbor a Fourth Rank Flood Water Earth Vein [a powerful earth vein of the fourth rank, suffused with Flood Water energy], which should undoubtedly provide the resources needed to forge his Heavenly River Flood Water Sword.

Once this sword was forged and the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords were successfully united, his offensive capabilities alone would likely allow him to contend with cultivators at the Purple Mansion, Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm].

This thought alone intensified his sense of urgency regarding the campaign against Celestial Python Lake.

After his moment of enlightenment concluded, Eldrin Chen spent several days in quiet repose, clearing his mind and spirit.

Only after three days had passed did he finally gather his focus and begin the crafting of his third Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul, growing in power with them].

This time, the magical treasure he intended to forge was named the 'Yin-Yang Magnetic Treasure Gold Bracelet'. According to Eldrin Chen's calculations, this Magnetic Treasure Bracer required Magnetic Treasure Gold as its primary material, with Geng Metal Crystal and Refined Gold Crystal fused into its essence.

As per Eldrin Chen's deductions, once completed, this treasure would be imbued with Yin-Yang Magnetic Power [a fundamental force of attraction and repulsion], capable of unleashing Yin-Yang Magnetic Divine Radiance [a radiant energy that disrupts and counters metal-based powers]. It would supremely counter all divine abilities and magical treasures of the metal attribute, ranking as a first-rate auxiliary treasure.

"I hope it does not disappoint," he murmured.

Before the Artificer's Cauldron [a specialized vessel for forging magical artifacts], Eldrin Chen gazed at the piece of Magnetic Treasure Gold before him, a flicker of anticipation in his heart.

This was his third attempt at forging a Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact spiritually bonded to its creator, growing in power with them]. His skill was now honed by practice, and his current cultivation level was incomparable to the past. Thus, he held absolute confidence in successfully creating this Life-Bound Magical Treasure.

He placed the Magnetic Treasure Gold into the Artificer's Hall's central forge and began channeling his True Flame [a cultivator's purified inner flame, used for refining materials] to commence the smelting process.

The Magnetic Treasure Gold lived up to its reputation as a Third Rank Treasure Metal. It was incredibly resilient and stubborn to refine. Even with Eldrin Chen's current cultivation base fueling the True Flame, it took a full half-month of continuous effort to finally reduce it into a molten, liquid state.

After completing this crucial step, he retrieved two more objects: a pair of crystalline stones, each glowing with an inner light.

One of these stones was a Geng Metal Crystal [a crystalized essence of pure metallic energy], while the other was the legendary Refined Gold Crystal [an ultra-pure ore embodying the pinnacle of metal element refinement].

The Geng Metal Crystal had been obtained from a Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation] level Earth Vein [a subterranean conduit of concentrated elemental energy]. The Refined Gold Crystal was a spoil of war from the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion by hordes of demonic beasts]; Lyra Jiang had seized it during her assault on the Earth Lion Ridge. After the Beast Tide Calamity concluded, Lyra Jiang had gifted it to Eldrin Chen.

Currently, Eldrin Chen had invested heavily to forge the Magnetic Treasure Bracer, taking out a precious piece of Magnetic Treasure Gold and two invaluable Five Elements Crystals in one go. It could be said he had paid a steep price.

If these three treasures were handed to a highly skilled Artificer, they might be forged into a superior-grade Third Rank High Grade magical treasure.

The reason Eldrin Chen was willing to invest such a heavy cost was his desire to use the power of the two Five Elements Crystals to amplify the properties of the Magnetic Treasure Gold to its utmost limit, even enabling it to counter metal-attribute divine abilities.

Gritting his teeth, he placed the two Five Elements Crystals into the treasure cauldron. Eldrin Chen then began to channel his mana, continuously refining and tempering them.

This process was exceedingly lengthy, taking a full half-month before the two Five Elements Crystals finally melted into two pools of liquid substance.

"By integrating these two treasures into the Magnetic Treasure Gold, its power will surely surge dramatically, transforming it into a top-tier auxiliary magical treasure."

Gazing at the three pools of liquid before him, Eldrin Chen whispered to himself.

As his words faded, he willed the three liquid masses to merge. Instantly, brilliant light erupted within the furnace, and a wondrous phenomenon manifested.

The liquid formed from the Magnetic Treasure Gold attracted the other two liquid masses, coalescing into the form of a Yin-Yang Taiji Fish [a symbol of complementary opposites, like the Taiji diagram].

It was akin to a magnet drawing two pools of molten metal together, merging them into a singular, wondrous mass of gold and azure liquid that began to morph and evolve its form of its own accord.

"This is..."

"Treasure Vessel Natural Formation [a rare phenomenon where a nascent magical treasure spontaneously forms its own optimal shape and innate abilities during its creation]."

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply. He realized that before he could even begin to shape the Lifebound Magical Treasure, the liquid mass had already coalesced and evolved into a Treasure Mirror.

Even more astonishing was that the power of the Magnetic Treasure Gold and the Yin-Yang Treasure Crystals [a rare crystalline substance containing perfectly balanced Yin and Yang energies] had fused. As their innate formation runes intertwined, they spontaneously gave birth to a divine ability.

This compelled him to abandon his original plan for the treasure's form. He had intended to forge it into the 'Yin-Yang Magnetic Treasure Gold Bracelet', but for the sake of this innate divine ability, he relinquished the idea of reshaping it.

Fortunately, the formation runes of a Lifebound Magical Treasure are not overly restrictive regarding its final shape. Eldrin Chen made only minor adjustments. Once the treasure solidified, he inscribed the newly formed divine ability's pattern directly onto the Treasure Mirror.

He then began the process of refining and integrating Metallic Essence Qi [the spiritual energy of the Metal element] and Refined Gold Qi [a highly purified and potent form of Metal-element spiritual energy]. This arduous task consumed over another month before the magical treasure was finally elevated to the Second Rank High Grade level.

Eldrin Chen had hoped to push forward in one breath and refine it all the way to Third Rank Low Grade, but he discovered the clan's accumulated reserves of Five Elements Qi [the spiritual energy of the five fundamental elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth] had been utterly depleted by his efforts. He could only abandon this ambition with a sigh of resignation.

"The Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform is also only at Third Rank Low Grade. Advancing its grade would also require a substantial amount of Five Elements Qi."

"It seems I must hasten to acquire more Five Elements Qi [the fundamental energies of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth]."

The thought flashed through his mind. He then exhaled a wisp of Primordial Essence [the purest, most foundational energy of creation] and fused it into the Treasure Mirror, elevating the treasure's innate foundation and potential.

Eldrin Chen was born with a single innate wisp of Primordial Essence. Thereafter, he accumulated one additional wisp every ten years. Now, sixty-three years later, he had amassed a total of seven wisps of this precious energy.

Over the years, his cultivation journey had consumed a not insignificant portion of this Primordial Essence.

The first wisp was used to refine and elevate his own spiritual foundation. The second was bestowed upon the Spirit Peach Tree [a mystical tree bearing fruit imbued with spiritual energy]. The third was absorbed and integrated by the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword forged from the essence of Separated Flame, capable of returning things to the primordial abyss]. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel . com.