Chapter 261 : The Solar Fire's Ascendant Path

This Golden Radiance Blazing Fire Art [a cultivation technique that harnesses the power of golden light and blazing fire], among the dozen or so Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation where spiritual energy condenses into a solid core] level techniques, was undoubtedly ranked within the top three.

The Old Patriarch hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and saying, "Although this technique is dual-attribute, in my view, the potential of your Solar Solar Fire Scripture [a scripture focused on cultivating the pure essence of solar fire] is far greater."

"I believe that one day, you will be able to advance it to the Fifth Rank [a high grade for magical items and techniques], and even to the level of the Sixth Rank [a legendary and immensely powerful cultivation realm]."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen simply smiled.

Many factors influence the strength of a cultivation art. Multi-attribute techniques follow the path of mutual fusion, ultimately creating a more potent spiritual power.

Single-attribute techniques, however, pursue specialization and sublimation. For instance, fire itself has countless variations, evolving from mundane flame to the Primordial Solar True Flame [the primordial and purest essence of solar fire], and further to the legendary Solar Great Path [the ultimate Dao or principle governing the sun and solar power]. This progression is, in essence, a process of sublimation and metamorphosis.

The Solar Solar Fire Scripture held profound ambition. As Eldrin Chen continued to refine and evolve it in the future, it theoretically possessed the potential to reach the realm of an Immortal Lord [a powerful immortal being who commands a domain], forging a Solar Immortal Lord [an Immortal Lord whose power is intrinsically linked to the sun].

Specializing in a single attribute emphasizes purity and authenticity. The three thousand Great Path [the myriad fundamental principles or ways of cultivation] all lead to immortality. Any path, if pursued to its ultimate extreme through continuous transcendence, can yield astonishing results.

Yet Eldrin Chen harbored grand aspirations. He chose to simultaneously cultivate and refine techniques of five different attributes, embarking on an extraordinary and unconventional path.

His ambition was to first advance each of the five elemental techniques step by step, then extract their quintessence and fuse them into one, thereby creating the embryonic form of a Five Elements [the five fundamental elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, often representing spiritual affinities] cultivation method. Access the full story on www . audio-novel.com.

Throughout the ages, countless prodigies have emerged, and indeed, many cultivators have attempted this path.

It can be said that the entire cultivation system of the Immortal Realm [the world of immortal cultivation] today was built upon the continuous exploration and innovation of generations of sages and pioneers.

However, one who simultaneously refines five different paths, as he does, remains exceedingly rare. Over these years, he has ceaselessly contemplated the cultivation arts of his predecessors, standing upon their shoulders to advance step by step, striving to forge a path uniquely his own.

It is precisely because figures like Eldrin Chen emerge time and again that the cultivation world of the Immortal Realm today flourishes with such a hundred flowers blooming.

A thousand methods, ten thousand Divine Ability [supernatural powers], profound arts and wondrous techniques, Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts] and Immortal Treasure [divine artifacts of immortals]—the vast cultivation world of the Immortal Realm has been perfected in just this manner.

The Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen family] could not compare to Eldrin Chen, yet he held absolute confidence in him.

In his view, these cultivation arts that Eldrin Chen had drafted might one day become supreme Immortal Scripture [scriptures of immortal law] that would awe the world, scriptures even Primordial Spirit Path Lord [cultivators at the Primordial Spirit realm who have comprehended their own Path] would desperately seek.

Eldrin Chen smiled and still handed over the Golden Radiance Blazing Fire Art [a cultivation art harnessing golden light and blazing fire], saying, "While you may not need to learn the entire art, this Golden Light Blazing Fire Escape [a divine movement technique of golden light and blazing fire] is truly Extraordinary. It requires one to possess both metal and fire Spiritual Root [innate spiritual affinities] to cultivate."

"The Golden Light Blazing Fire Sword [a sword of golden light and blazing fire] is also a first-rate demon-subduing Immortal Sword [immortal-grade sword], far more powerful than your Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a spirit blade of crimson flame]."

"I suggest you melt down the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade and reforge its essence into the sword embryo for the Golden Light Blazing Fire Sword. You can also cultivate this Golden Light Blazing Fire Escape."

"That is an excellent idea."

Old Patriarch gave a slight smile and took the Golden Radiance Blazing Fire Art.

The profound utility of the Golden Light Blazing Fire Escape [a movement technique that allows the user to transform into a streak of golden fire] went without saying, and the Golden Light Blazing Fire Sword was particularly Extraordinary.

From Eldrin Chen's perspective, the sword's underlying concept was exceptional, possessing immense potential for refinement. Should Eldrin Chen's cultivation reach greater heights in the future, advancing it to the level of a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure that grows and evolves with its master's cultivation] would not be an issue.

As for its power after being refined into a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure, that would depend on Eldrin Chen's mastery in the dual arts of Formation Artifact [a type of magical treasure that can deploy or control formations].

For the present, a third-rank Golden Light Blazing Fire Sword was still quite formidable. Until the fourth rank, the material of the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade could serve as a substitute for Blazing Fire Gold Crystal.

Old Patriarch accepted the cultivation art but did not immediately begin to comprehend it, for Eldrin Chen had informed him that Exquisite Jiang was about to move against the Azure-Maned Lion King.

The two hurriedly summoned Lila, Lior, and Kael.

Once the family's five Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators who have opened their Violet Sanctum, the third major cultivation stage] had gathered at Pingyang City, Eldrin Chen informed everyone of the impending battle and then spoke.

"Whether we can slay the Azure-Maned Lion King in this battle will determine the outcome of the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive invasion by demonic beasts] thirty years from now."

"If we cannot slay it, I fear the casualties during the Beast Tide thirty years from now will be grievous indeed."

"Therefore, we must commit ourselves fully to this endeavor."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. With the Verdant Sun Sect no longer sharing the burden, the pressure thirty years hence would fall heavily on Exquisite Jiang alone.

The Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor would never stand idly by as the Human Race grew stronger. Within thirty years, new Demon King would surely emerge from Heavenly Python Lake, leading their own Beast Tide to assail the Human Race.

Of course, the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor was unlikely to dispatch its own Demon King forces directly, for if it did, the Ji Clan would be compelled to intervene.

Should two Infant Soul-level powers clash, the conflict would inevitably turn brutal and bloody. Regardless of the victor, the losses would be staggering, with Golden Core experts falling like autumn leaves. The story continues at audio‑novel.com.

Yet even without the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor's direct involvement, the forces of at least three Demon King from two Demon King Territory would pose a formidable challenge for Exquisite Jiang.

This was precisely why Exquisite Jiang was determined to reclaim Scorching Sun Mountain. If they failed to retake the mountain and slay the Azure-Maned Lion King now, even Heavenly Ruins Mountain might not hold thirty years hence.

Grasping the gravity of the situation, Kael Chen pondered for a moment before asking:

"Since we are resolved to fight, how many of our clansmen must we muster for this battle?"

"We will not mobilize the lower-ranked cultivators. We must concentrate our high-ranking cultivators to achieve total victory in a single decisive battle."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a sharp glint flashing within his calm eyes.

Since this was to be a swift and decisive battle, the Chen Clan naturally prepared to commit its full strength. For this engagement, besides deploying all five of its Violet Sanctum Patriarchs, the clan also mobilized thirty of its Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

After mobilizing these thirty, only around ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators remained to guard the clan's lands.

Fortunately, those who stayed behind, such as Silas Chen, Caleb Chen, and Verdant Grace Chen, were each half a step into the Violet Sanctum Realm and were fully capable of unleashing the power of the Third Rank Formation.

Once the decision was made, it took them seven days to assemble the clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivators. They then boarded the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Ship and set sail for the Verdant Sun Sect.

In merely seven or eight days, they arrived at the Verdant Sun Sect.

After waiting another half a month at the Verdant Sun Sect, all participants for the battle had gathered.

For this campaign, over a dozen Violet Sanctum families under the banner of the Heavenly Ruins Alliance joined forces, deploying thirty Violet Sanctum Cultivators and two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Seeing the forces assembled, Exquisite Jiang wasted no words. That very day, she led the host towards Scorching Sun Mountain.

To prevent any news from leaking, for this battle, Exquisite Jiang did not mobilize the Celestial Python Treasure Ark. Instead, she deployed the Green Sun Treasure Ark.

The Green Sun Treasure Ark was one of the six Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure artifacts belonging to the Verdant Sun Sect. This vessel was graded at Fourth Rank Low-Grade, and within its core was fused a precious Void Gem [a rare spatial gemstone that can expand internal dimensions].

The treasure ark was only one Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] in size externally. However, because it was fused with the Void Gem, its internal space was vast, capable of accommodating three hundred cultivators.

Exquisite Jiang propelled the Green Sun Treasure Ark forward, covering two hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day. In merely two days, they arrived just beyond Scorching Sun Mountain.

Such blistering speed left the Demon Race utterly unable to react, and they were caught completely off guard as the assault reached their very gates.

"*Whoosh—*"

A streak of azure light sliced across the heavens, soaring directly above Scorching Sun Mountain.

The Azure-Maned Lion King, recognizing Exquisite Jiang, swiftly grasped the situation. With a thunderous roar, he commanded the demonic beasts of Scorching Sun Mountain to swarm and besiege her.

The strength of Earth Lion Ridge had always surpassed that of Heavenly Python Lake. Furthermore, after overrunning Scorching Sun County seventy years prior and feasting on copious amounts of Human Race flesh and blood, the forces under the Azure-Maned Lion King's command were now exceptionally formidable.

At his furious command, over twenty Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [demonic beasts equivalent to the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm] and several hundred Foundation Establishment demonic beasts surged forward to encircle her.

Exquisite Jiang cast a glance at Scorching Sun Mountain and released everyone from her spatial treasure. Her eyes sharpened with lethal intent as she commanded.

"Make this swift and decisive." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel.com.