Chapter 233 : The Grudge Soul-Tracking Art

"I possess a technique for tracking foes, but it requires a specific medium to function," he stated.

Percival Pan hesitated for a moment before speaking.

A flicker of hope appeared in Eldrin Chen's eyes. "What medium is required?" he asked directly.

"I fear it may be somewhat difficult to obtain."

Percival Pan shook his head and explained plainly, "The art is called the Grudge Soul-Tracking Art [a mystical technique that uses the power of deep-seated hatred to locate a target]. It requires finding a cultivator who harbors an immense, profound grudge against the target."

"The greater the enmity between them, and the higher the cultivation realm of the practitioner, the stronger and more precise the tracking sensation will be."

"The Grudge Soul-Tracking Art?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened with realization. His hatred for Wei Chongyang was born of a son slain, while Wei Chongyang was responsible for the deaths of over half the Chen Clan's cultivators in years past.

Such enmity was as vast as the heavens, scarcely less than the murder of one's own parents. Furthermore, his own cultivation had reached the lofty Purple Mansion Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual foundation is solidified into a 'Purple Mansion'], making him the perfect vessel for this art.

Having reached this conclusion, he looked at Percival Pan and declared, "Perform the art on me." The story continues at audio novel.com.

The several individuals revealed a flicker of surprise, finally understanding that Eldrin Chen harbored a profound and bitter enmity towards Wei Chongyang.

Seizing the moment, as Wei Chongyang had fled merely three Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] prior and the distance was not yet too great, Percival Pan hastily performed the Grudge Soul-Tracking Art [a sinister art that uses lingering resentment to locate a target] upon Eldrin Chen.

As this art took effect, Eldrin Chen sensed, through an obscure and intangible connection, a surge of malevolent intent emanating from the northeast, approximately thirteen thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away.

Guided by this spectral thread of resentment, he swiftly pinpointed Wei Chongyang's location.

Seeing the technique succeed, Percival Pan cautioned, "My spiritual power is insufficient. This art can only be maintained for three days and can only sense a distance of thirty thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. If you sense his presence, you must act with utmost haste."

"*Clang!*"

Before the words fully left his mouth, Eldrin Chen had already mounted his sword radiance and soared into the heavens, vanishing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

With a cultivation base rivaling the Purple Mansion, Late Stage and propelled by his Third Rank High Grade Lifebound Immortal Sword, Eldrin Chen could traverse one hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day. Catching up to Wei Chongyang would pose little difficulty.

Eldrin Chen pursued for the better part of a day, chasing across tens of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], until the obscure sense of malice grew steadily stronger and closer.

"Within one thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] now," he murmured to himself.

His eyes chilled slightly as the sword radiance beneath his feet, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, surged violently, carrying him forward like a Star-Chasing Moon-Pursuing [a swift, relentless pursuit].

With his current speed, a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] was traversed in little more than the Time for an incense stick to burn [a conventional short duration, roughly fifteen to thirty minutes]. Before long, he spotted the figure of Wei Chongyang fleeing desperately on his Flying Sword ahead.

"This is bad."

Wei Chongyang, who was urging his Flying Sword to its limits, suddenly saw a streak of deep azure light cutting across the sky from behind.

Recognizing the pursuer as Eldrin Chen, his heart sank. He immediately forced out a mouthful of Lifebound Essence Blood [a cultivator's vital essence tied to their life force] and unleashed an Escape Art Divine Ability to flee.

Empowered by the Lifebound Essence Blood, this Escape Art Divine Ability instantly multiplied Wei Chongyang's speed severalfold, allowing him to temporarily pull away from Eldrin Chen.

However, the speed of a Third Rank High Grade Lifebound Immortal Sword far surpassed Wei Chongyang's own. Though he had momentarily shaken Eldrin Chen, he could not escape the tracking of the Grudge Soul-Tracking Art. Mere moments later, Eldrin Chen closed the distance once more.

With no other choice, he was forced to burn another mouthful of Lifebound Essence Blood to fuel his escape art. This chase continued, with him expending several more mouthfuls of his precious Lifebound Essence Blood, yet Eldrin Chen remained an inescapable shadow on his heels.

"This cannot continue."

As Eldrin Chen drew near yet again, a flicker of madness passed through Wei Chongyang's eyes.

Having expended several mouthfuls of his Lifebound Essence Blood [the vital blood essence intrinsically linked to a cultivator's life force and cultivation base] yet still unable to shake off Eldrin Chen, Wei Chongyang realized that if this continued, his combat strength would be utterly depleted before the battle even truly began.

With a surge of ruthless determination, Wei Chongyang halted his flying sword mid-air. He summoned his Lifebound Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact bound to a cultivator's soul and life force], the Azure Descent Heavenly Heart Sword, and unleashed a devastating slash towards Eldrin Chen.

This Azure Descent Heavenly Heart Sword was a renowned immortal sword of the Green Sun Sect, its might only slightly inferior to the famed White Metal Dust-Severing Blade and on par with the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword.

The sword expanded with the wind, transforming in an instant into a verdant sword aura dozens of Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] tall, cleaving directly down upon Eldrin Chen.

As the blade descended, Eldrin Chen casually channeled a bolt of Yang Fire Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of pure, scorching yang fire energy]. A deafening explosion echoed, striking the Azure Descent Heavenly Heart Sword and sending it plummeting, its radiance dimmed and flickering.

"Incredible power," Wei Chongyang muttered, a chill running down his spine. Join our community of readers at audio—novel.com.

Witnessing his Lifebound Magical Treasure grievously wounded by a single strike, Wei Chongyang drew a sharp, cold breath.

Not giving him a moment to recover, Eldrin Chen, unwilling to prolong the engagement, summoned the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword. It transformed into a dazzling arc of sword aura and shot forth with lethal intent.

Panic seized Wei Chongyang. He hurriedly unveiled his trump card, summoning his Third Rank High Grade Magical Treasure [a high-quality enchanted artifact of the third rank], the 'Heavenly Dragon Slash'.

The Heavenly Dragon Slash erupted with a brilliant golden light, slashing towards Eldrin Chen. Yet, Eldrin Chen merely willed the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss forward. With a resonant *clang!* of metal, it effortlessly intercepted the Heavenly Dragon Slash, halting its advance completely.

The clash lasted less than ten exchanges. Eldrin Chen channeled the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords in a Sword Competition against his foe, his movements flowing like clouds and water, crisp and decisive.

A Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened the third major energy center, the Purple Mansion] can traverse dozens of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single breath. As they fought and fled across the sky, covering barely over a hundred Li-lengths, Eldrin Chen cleaved through Wei Chongyang's protective divine ability with a single sword stroke, bisecting the wretch.

Wei Chongyang plummeted to the earth. The vitality of a Purple Mansion Cultivator is formidable; even with half his body severed by the sword, a faint breath of life stubbornly clung to him.

Knowing survival was impossible, Wei Chongyang abandoned all restraint.

He glared at Eldrin Chen, a manic grin spreading across his face. "Don't revel in your victory too soon. Slaying me today won't bring back the dead of your Chen Clan."

"Do you know how your father, Chen Qingming, and your mother truly died?"

"Hahaha! I will take that secret to my grave!"

Eldrin Chen descended to the ground, his expression serene as he regarded Wei Chongyang. His gaze was as calm and unruffled as a still pond.

He did not display the desperate urgency Wei Chongyang had anticipated. His voice was measured, utterly composed. "I know."

"Impossible!" Wei Chongyang gasped, disbelief contorting his features. "You were but three years old. How could you possibly remember?"

Eldrin Chen remained expressionless, his voice calm as he stated, "It was I who slew Wei Mingyuan."

"You—"

Upon hearing his words, Wei Chongyang finally understood that the slayer of his son stood before him. The revelation was so devastating that a mouthful of blood sprayed forth from him on the spot.

With his final breath, Wei Chongyang uttered a curse, his gaze holding a trace of madness.

"Your killing nature is too profound… Heaven's retribution will surely find you!"

"I curse you… to die a wretched death…"

Wei Chongyang perished nonetheless. Eldrin Chen gazed upon the corpse, a flicker of icy coldness passing through his eyes.

Unlike ordinary men, he had been born with memories of a past life, recalling many events from his earliest youth.

In his memories, both his parents had been disciples of the Green Sun Sect. His father, Chen Qingming, possessed the Water-Fire Two Spiritual Roots [a rare and potent dual-element spiritual foundation], while his mother's natural talent was the more common Three Spiritual Roots [a standard three-element spiritual foundation].

While his mother carried him, she was nourished by a wisp of Innate Primordial Violet Qi [a supreme primordial energy of creation]. Unbeknownst to anyone, this somehow awakened within her a certain Dao Body [a rare and powerful innate physique aligned with the fundamental Dao].

This matter was known to exceedingly few. It was not until a certain day when a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a solidified golden core of spiritual energy] of the Qin Surname arrived at the Heavenly Abode Continent. He sought to extract the entirety of my mother's bloodline essence to refine a furnace of precious pills.

At that time, that man also wished to eliminate the root of the problem—to kill me. However, the act of extracting a person's bloodline essence for alchemy bordered on the practices of the Demonic Path [a heretical cultivation path that often employs cruel and forbidden methods] and was utterly condemned by the righteous path of the world.

In the end, the commotion attracted the attention of a certain lofty master. Reflecting on it now, it was likely that person drew the gaze of the Ji Immortal Clan [a powerful and ancient clan of immortal cultivators]. Ultimately, he could only extract my mother's bloodline essence before hastily departing. Find this and other novels at www . audio-novel.com.