Chapter 268 Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), Immortal Sword Ascension

Eldrin remained silent, wordlessly immersed in his stillness.

He gazed at the tea cup before him, watching the tea leaves drift and settle in the water. A wisp of Dao Charm rose from the cup, its ethereal green mist spiraling upward like ascending enlightenment.

He picked it up and took a sip, then set it down calmly. "I know not what lies ahead," he said.

"But I believe that as long as I grow stronger, I can lend you a hand and help you journey further."

A single major realm difference between cultivators meant a gap of hundreds to thousands of years in lifespan. Sometimes, just lending a helping hand could grant them centuries more by your side.

Back in his Foundation Establishment days, he had considered the Li Fire Crystal (Spiritual Object) an incomparably precious treasure. Yet now that his cultivation had reached its current heights, although the Li Fire Crystal (Spiritual Object) remained quite valuable, obtaining it required only a certain price to be paid.

As for treasures like the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object), they may appear incomparably precious now. Yet when he breaks through to the Golden Core Realm in the future, or even attains the rank of Nascent Soul True Monarch—

These treasures might be nothing more than ordinary, obtainable at a certain price.

After leaving Pingyang City, Eldrin made a trip to Qingyang Mountain to apologize to Lyra. Once that was done, he returned to Spirit Isle Lake and immediately began secluded cultivation to break through to Purple Palace, Late Stage.

1 100 years had passed, and nourished by the spirit peach tree, the spiritual veins of Spirit Isle Lake (Location) had reached the upper tier of the third rank.

Having cultivated in such an environment for many years, Eldrin had never lacked spiritual energy, and his cultivation progress had always been exceptionally rapid.

Speaking of the spirit peach tree, 1 must also mention the ancient spirit apricot tree, which has now advanced to the middle-grade of the third rank.

The Spirit Apricot Tree blooms once every 3 years, bears fruit over another 3 years, and ripens after a further 3 years. Consuming its fruit can extend 1's lifespan by 30 years.

However, the Spirit Apricot Tree yielded very little fruit; even a mid-grade Third-Order Spirit Apricot Tree produced merely 6 spirit apricots every 9 years.

These spirit apricots were exorbitantly priced, with each 1 capable of fetching 100,000 spirit stones. To avoid attracting covetous eyes, the Chen family had previously refrained from putting them up for sale.

Over the years, the third-level spirit apricots had ripened 3 or 4 times. Most of the harvested fruits were consumed by elders like Nian Qian and Nian Yong—cultivators who had dedicated their lives to the family. Meng Jia's Meng Xinghe (Person Name) had also received a few of these spirit apricots.

The remaining spirit apricots were stored in the clan treasury. It wasn't until the recent Chu Kingdom (Location) Exchange Assembly that the Chen Family brought out 3 as finale items, which were purchased by a Purple Mansion (Cultivation Realm) cultivator from Chu Kingdom (Location).

Getting back to the main story.

Back at Spirit Lake Isle, Eldrin devoted himself to cultivation while systematically organizing his cultivation techniques. In the blink of an eye, 1 year had passed.

On this day, Eldrin finally felt his magical power flowing in perfect harmony, brushing against the threshold of Purple Palace, Late Stage.

"It is time."

His eyes flickered slightly as he went straight into the spirit pool, beginning his secluded cultivation to break through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm).

With his profound foundation and accumulated reserves, aided by the Violet Qi Cloud Vein Pill, breaking through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) was merely a matter of course.

In just a few days, he broke through to the seventh level of the Violet Mansion realm and began refining his spiritual power.

After breaking through to a new realm, refining his spiritual power became effortless. He completed this step in just 1 month.

It is done.

Sensing the surging magic power within his body, Eldrin revealed a smile.

After breaking through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage, his magical power surged by another 50 percent. Even before his breakthrough, his meridians had been exceptionally broad, with spiritual energy comparable to the ninth level of the Purple Palace.

Now, having surged by another 50 percent, his magical power had finally advanced further, reaching a level comparable to that of an ordinary False Core cultivator.

With his current cultivation and magic power, he could now unleash 70 to 80 percent of the Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible's (Magic Treasure) might, heralding an explosive surge in his combat prowess.

Most crucially, having reached this stage, Eldrin's Lifebound Magical Treasure could also advance further, reaching the level of Tier 4.

4-Stage Magic Treasure.

Eldrin felt a surge of excitement in his heart. In the vast expanse of the Chu Kingdom today, there were merely 20-some fourth-tier magic treasures in existence.

A fourth-tier immortal sword was already sufficient to achieve the unity of body and blade. He had coveted Lyra’s Heaven-Sundering Immortal-Slaying Sword for years, and now, at last, he could elevate his own life-bound immortal sword to the fourth tier.

"Let's first advance the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure)."

He murmured inwardly, his hands trembling with excitement as he drew forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). This blade had accompanied him for countless seasons; by right, it must be the first to ascend to the fourth rank.

"Hymn—"

A sword cry rang out.

The spirit sword possessed a soul. The azure blade circled around him, as if anticipating this upcoming breakthrough.

Advancing a single fourth-tier lower-grade lifebound flying sword consumed roughly 250,000 spirit stones' worth of 5 Elements essence alone—a truly staggering price.

Fortunately, in preparation for advancing the Immortal Swords, the clan had accumulated resources for decades. Not only had the 5 Elements essence within the clan been steadily stored, but they had also purchased massive quantities of it. This was barely sufficient to advance 2 swords.

Eldrin had prepared a vast quantity of Dual Qi of Li Fire and Geng Metal, spending a full 3 months to finally advance the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss to the lower-grade of the fourth tier.

"It's done!"

"Clang—"

Eldrin gazed upon the radiant immortal sword before him, his face alight with ecstatic delight.

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) trembled faintly, then soared into the heavens in an instant, circling high above the 9 firmaments.

Eldrin suppressed the wild joy in his heart and looked up at the immortal sword circling in the sky. Above the void, dark clouds blotted out the heavens as a tribulation cloud began to gather.

Divine Thunder Tribulation.

Gazing at the vast expanse of tribulation clouds, Eldrin’s expression turned grave.

To break through to the Golden Core realm, a cultivator must endure the Heavenly Tribulation of Thunder. Similarly, when a magical treasure ascends to the Golden Core grade, it too must face the Treasure Refinement Thunder Tribulation.

For a Golden Core cultivator, the heavenly tribulation consists of 9 lightning strikes, whereas a magic treasure only faces 3 strikes during its Treasure Tribulation. However, each of these 3 strikes carries power equivalent to a full-force blow from a Golden Core cultivator.

When many cultivators' Lifebound Magical Treasures underwent ascension, they ultimately shattered under the Heavenly Tribulation due to insufficient power and material quality.

"That was a bit reckless."

Gazing at the heavenly tribulation raging across the skies, a deep furrow formed between Eldrin's brows.

This was his first time advancing his Life-Bound Magical Treasure, and lacking sufficient experience, he couldn't help but feel a tremor of apprehension in his heart.

He had initially believed that the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) possessed immense power and, after his breakthrough, should be capable of withstanding a fourth-level heavenly tribulation. Yet even now, a lingering fear gripped his heart.

Although the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) possessed formidable power and ranked among the finest immortal swords even at the third tier, its material composition ultimately fell short of fourth-tier standards. None could guarantee it would withstand the heavenly tribulation lightning without shattering.

"You must succeed in transcending this tribulation."

Eldrin's heart grew heavy, his expression grave as he murmured in a low voice.

The Treasure Lightning Tribulation possessed extraordinary power—it was the Heaven’s Dao’s trial of awakening for high-tier magical treasures.

Once the Treasure Lightning Tribulation is overcome and the artifact is bathed in the Heavenly Dao's sweet dew, a true artifact spirit will be born within it.

A fourth-tier magic treasure possesses spiritual intelligence comparable to that of a young child. However, at this stage, the artifact spirit remains merely a spirit, incapable of fully controlling the power inherent to the treasure itself.

Upon reaching the fifth tier and becoming a Demon-Refining Supreme Treasure, its power became truly astonishing.

When a demon-refining treasure accumulates sufficient energy, it can operate independently. At least until its energy is depleted, the combat prowess it unleashes is no less than that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch exerting their full power.

Thus, a single demon-refining treasure is almost equivalent to half a Nascent Soul True Monarch, demonstrating the immense value of such artifacts.