Chapter 268 : A Steaming Cup of Dao
"..."
Eldrin Chen remained silent, a profound and wordless stillness enveloping him.
His gaze rested upon the teacup before him, watching the few tea leaves drift and settle within. A wisp of ethereal steam, imbued with the subtle essence of the Dao [the fundamental principle underlying all existence], rose in a delicate spiral.
He lifted the cup, took a small sip, then set it down gently. His voice was calm as he spoke, "I do not know what lies upon the road ahead."
"But I believe that as long as I grow stronger, I will be able to lend you a hand, to help you walk a little farther."
The gap between major cultivation realms for a cultivator often meant a difference of hundreds, even a thousand years in lifespan. Sometimes, a single helping hand was all it took to ensure their companionship for a very long time.
In the past, when he was at the Foundation Establishment stage, he had considered Solar Fire Crystal to be incomparably precious. Yet now, with his cultivation having reached its current heights, while Solar Fire Crystal remained a costly material, it was something he could obtain by paying a certain price.
As for treasures like the Golden Core Formation Pill, they might seem priceless beyond measure now. But in the future, after he breaks through to the Golden Core Realm, or even achieves the status of an Infant Soul True Lord,
such treasures might become commonplace, obtainable merely by paying a certain price.
Departing from Pingyang City, Eldrin Chen made a trip to Green Sun Mountain to spend a few days with Exquisite Jiang, then returned to Spirit Isle Lake to begin his secluded cultivation, aiming to break through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage. This chapter is provided by audio-novel dot com. Support the original.
Over a century had passed. Nurtured by the Spiritual Peach Tree [a mystical tree bearing peaches that enhance cultivation], the Spiritual Vein [a subterranean current of concentrated spiritual energy] beneath Spirit Isle Lake had advanced to the Third Rank Superior Grade [a high-tier classification for spiritual resources].
Cultivating for many years in such an environment, Eldrin Chen had never lacked for spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and the world], and his cultivation progress had been exceptionally swift.
Speaking of the Spiritual Peach Tree, one must mention the Ancient Spirit Apricot Tree [an ancient tree bearing life-extending apricots]. It had now also advanced to the third rank, middle grade.
The Spirit Apricot Tree blooms once every ten years, bears fruit over the next ten, and ripens over the final ten. Consuming its fruit can extend one's lifespan by thirty years.
However, the yield of the Spirit Apricot Tree is meager. Even a third-rank, middle-grade tree produces only six Spirit Apricot [life-extending spiritual fruit] every thirty-year cycle.
These Spirit Apricot are exorbitantly priced, each fetching one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. To avoid covetous eyes, the Chen Clan had previously dared not sell them openly.
Over the years, the Third-Rank Spirit Apricot had matured several times. Most of the resulting Spirit Apricot were consumed by the older generation who had toiled for the clan, such as Remembrance Heaven, Remembrance Eternal, and others. Starry River Meng of the Meng Clan had also received a few.
The remaining Spirit Apricot were stored in the Clan Treasury. It was only at the most recent Chu Nation Barter Convention [a grand trade fair held in the Chu Nation] that the Chen Clan brought out three as a finale, which were purchased by a Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Violet Palace, the third major stage] from the Chu Nation.
But let us return to our main tale.
After Eldrin Chen returned to Spirit Lake Isle, he spent a year in cultivation while also organizing his cultivation arts and techniques.
On this day, Eldrin Chen finally felt his magical power [the energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners of the mystical arts] become perfectly harmonious, touching the threshold of the Violet Sanctum Late Stage.
"The time has come."
His eyes flickered slightly as he proceeded directly into the Spirit Pool to begin secluded cultivation [a period of intense, isolated meditation and energy refinement] and breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage.
Given his profound foundation and reserves, aided by the Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill, breaking through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage was as natural as water flowing downhill.
It took merely a few days for him to successfully advance to the realm of the Violet Sanctum 7th Tier, after which he immediately began to temper and refine his magical power.
Refining one's power after a breakthrough is, in fact, far easier. He completed this step in the span of a single month.
"It is done."
Sensing the surging power within his body, Eldrin Chen allowed a smile to grace his features.
After breaking through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, his magical power surged by another fifty percent. Even before his breakthrough, his meridians [the energy channels within a cultivator's body] were exceptionally broad, granting him power comparable to a Violet Sanctum 9th Tier cultivator.
Now, with this latest fifty percent increase, his power had finally ascended another step, reaching a level that could rival an ordinary Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator.
With his current cultivation and spiritual power, he could now unleash seventy to eighty percent of the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace's might. From this point onward, his combat prowess would experience an explosive surge.
Most crucially, having reached this stage, Eldrin Chen's Lifebound Magical Treasure could also advance further, reaching the level of a Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure.
"A Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure,"
Eldrin Chen felt a surge of excitement. Within the vast expanse of the Chu Nation, there were currently only a little over twenty Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure.
A Fourth-Rank Immortal Sword was already potent enough to achieve the state of 'sword and body as one' [a profound swordsmanship technique where the cultivator's essence merges with their sword]. He had coveted Exquisite Jiang's Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword for years. Now, he could finally elevate his own Lifebound Immortal Sword to the Fourth-Rank Immortal Sword level.
"Let the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword advance first," The complete novel can be found at audi0-n0vel.c0m.
he murmured to himself, eagerly retrieving the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword. This sword had followed him for many years; it was only right for it to be the first to ascend to the Fourth Rank.
"*Hmm—*"
A resonant hum, the song of a sword, filled the air.
Immortal Sword possess a spirit. The azure-blue Immortal Sword circled around him, as if trembling with anticipation for its impending ascension.
Advancing a single Fourth Rank Low-GradeLifebound Immortal Sword consumed Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] valued at approximately two hundred fifty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. The cost was, without a doubt, staggeringly high.
Fortunately, in preparation for advancing the Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal grade], the clan had been preparing for several decades. Not only had the clan's reserves of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] been steadily accumulated, but a significant quantity had also been purchased from outside. This was barely sufficient to advance two such treasures.
Eldrin Chen gathered a vast amount of Solar Fire [the essence of solar flame] and Metallic Gold [the essence of metallic gold] energies. After expending a full three months, he finally succeeded in elevating the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword to the Fourth Rank Low-Grade tier.
"Success!"
"*Clang—*"
Gazing upon the radiant Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal grade] before him, Eldrin Chen's face broke into an expression of ecstatic joy.
The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword trembled slightly, then in an instant, it shot skyward, soaring to the very Nine Heavens [the highest realms of the sky] where it began to circle and wheel.
Eldrin Chen suppressed the wild elation in his heart and looked up at the circling Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal grade]. Above, the void was now capped by dark clouds, and a vast Tribulation Cloud [a cloud formation that heralds a heavenly tribulation] was rapidly coalescing.
"The Treasure's Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial by lightning that high-grade magical artifacts must undergo]," he murmured.
Watching the massive Tribulation Cloud [a cloud formation that heralds a heavenly tribulation] gather, Eldrin Chen's expression turned grave and solemn.
For a cultivator to break through to the Golden Core realm, they must successfully endure the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of divine lightning that tests a cultivator's foundation]. Similarly, when a magical treasure ascends to the Golden Core level, it too faces a Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a specialized lightning tribulation that tests the quality and destiny of a magical artifact].
The Heavenly Thunder Tribulation for a Golden Core Cultivator consists of nine bolts of lightning. In contrast, the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation for a treasure involves only three. However, each of these three bolts possesses power equivalent to a full-force strike from a Golden Core Cultivator.
When many cultivators attempt to elevate their Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force and soul], the treasures often fail, destroyed by the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation because their inherent power or material composition is insufficient to withstand the trial.
"This is somewhat reckless."
Gazing at the gathering Heavenly Thunder Tribulation in the sky, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed deeply with concern.
This was his first time attempting to elevate a Lifebound Magical Treasure, and lacking sufficient experience, a tremor of apprehension coursed through his heart.
He had believed that the formidable power of the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword would allow it to withstand a fourth-rank Heavenly Thunder Tribulation after its ascension. Yet, standing before the imminent trial, a sliver of fear crept back into his thoughts.
Although the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword was immensely powerful, ranking among the supreme Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal-grade quality] even at the third rank, its material foundation was not inherently of the fourth rank. No one could guarantee the sword would emerge from the heavenly lightning unscathed.
"It must succeed."
His heart heavy and his expression grave, Eldrin Chen whispered the words, a solemn vow to the gathering storm.
The Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a heavenly trial of thunder and lightning that bestows sentience upon high-grade magical treasures] possesses extraordinary power. It is the spirit-awakening tribulation bestowed by the Heavenly Path [the fundamental, cosmic law of cultivation and existence] upon high-grade magical treasures.
Once a treasure endures the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and is bathed in the nurturing rain of the Heavenly Path, it will give birth to a true artifact spirit [the sentient consciousness residing within a powerful magical treasure].
A Fourth Rank magical treasure possesses intelligence comparable to that of a young child. However, at this stage, the artifact spirit is merely a nascent consciousness, incapable of fully mastering the treasure's inherent power.
Upon reaching the Fifth Rank and becoming a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure of immense power, capable of subduing demons], its capabilities become truly astonishing.
A Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure, if it has accumulated sufficient energy, can engage in battle independently. At least until its energy is depleted, the combat prowess it unleashes is no less than that of an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has condensed their Primordial Spirit into an infant form, a master of profound power] exerting their full strength.
Thus, possessing a single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure is almost equivalent to having half an Infant Soul True Lord at one's command. This illustrates the immense value and revered status of such treasures. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel*com.