Chapter 280 Freya

Eldrin emerged from the seclusion chamber.

He watched calmly, his heart swelling with a myriad of emotions.

In the path of cultivation, innate talent, comprehension, and resources determine 1's foundation, yet what truly defines the pinnacle 1 may reach often hinges on obsession, perseverance, courage, and brilliance.

Kael had forged extraordinary perseverance through his journey to this day, tempered with a measure of courage and decisive judgment.

Such an individual, had they not met their demise on the path of cultivation, might have journeyed far indeed.

The Sky Python Treasure Ship had journeyed for over a dozen days, traversing hundreds of thousands of miles of untamed wilderness before finally arriving at the Green Sun Mountain.

Eldrin did not depart immediately, instead utilizing the underground fire veins of Mount Qingyang to refine the Black Abyss Ancient Gold.

This Black Abyss Ancient Gold was a fourth-grade Heaven and Earth Treasure, yet it contained a vast amount of Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root). For Eldrin (Person Name) to refine the 1000-Demon Slaying Sword (Magic Treasure), it would still require considerable effort.

Indeed, that was precisely the case. Even with the assistance of the underground fire vein, Eldrin found the forging process of this sword exceedingly arduous.

He first harnessed the power of earthfire, spending 7 times 7—40-9—days to thoroughly refine and purify all traces of Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) within the sword.

It was then refined for a full 1 100 and 8 days with a fourth-grade earth fire, finally melting the 1000-Demon Slaying Sword (Magic Treasure) into a liquid substance.

At this stage, the difficulty was no longer significant. Eldrin began reshaping the sword’s form, spending 7 full days engraving the array patterns of the 1000-Demon Slaying Sword into it. In the end, he successfully forged the sword embryo of the 1000-Demon Slaying Sword.

Once forged, this sword had already reached the Quasi-Fourth Grade. All it needed was to slay a single Golden Core realm demonic beast and refine its soul into the blade to ascend to the Fourth Grade.

"What a fine immortal sword."

Gazing at the dark sword fetus before him, Eldrin felt a surge of exhilaration. This blade was a natural bane to demons and monsters. With the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss in his grasp, his arsenal of techniques would surely expand in the days to come.

With a touch of delight, he emerged from the seclusion chamber and made ready to seek out Lyra (Person Name).

No sooner had he stepped out of the seclusion chamber than he witnessed a streak of sword light soaring across the sky toward Mount Qingyang. As the radiance descended upon the summit, it materialized into an ethereally beautiful woman with a slender and graceful figure.

"Who goes there?"

Eldrin's eyes narrowed slightly. The woman's aura was restrained yet vast, even more powerful than a Golden Core Perfection cultivator.

Just then, Lyra (Person Name) stepped out, greeted the woman, and called Eldrin (Person Name) over as well.

In the main hall of the Qingyang Sect, 3 figures sat facing 1 another.

Lyra gazed at the woman and introduced her to Eldrin with a gentle smile, "This is Freya, also my closest confidante."

"She came this time for the matter of the Demonic Abyss Cave."

Eldrin's eyes trembled slightly as he recalled the origin of this name.

Freya (Person Name) was a peerless fairy renowned throughout Jizhou. As the legitimate daughter of the Ji Clan's patriarch, though her age differed little from Lyra (Person Name), she had already cultivated to the peak of the Golden Core realm.

Although she possessed a Triple Spirit Root, she was born with the Xuan Yin Body (Dao Body) and had successfully formed a superior-grade Golden Core.

Relying on her divine abilities, magical treasures, and the formidable power of her superior Golden Core, Freya (Person Name) once confronted a Nascent Soul, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) demon emperor without being at a disadvantage.

Freya gave Eldrin a thorough once-over before nodding faintly.

After the group became acquainted, Lyra (Person Name) cut straight to the chase: "How shall we handle the matter of the Devil's Abyss Cave this time?"

"This matter was a joint scheme by the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) and the Black Fiend Demon Lord. They had long prepared contingency plans."

Freya shook her head and said. As her words fell, both of their hearts sank slightly.

Sure enough, Freya continued, "The Ridge of the Black Fiend has been restless lately, tying up several of our True Lords."

Several Demon Emperors under the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) have already made their moves, restraining our few True Lords.

"And so this time, they only sent me."

Eldrin furrowed his brow and asked, "Is it truly impossible to eradicate the Demonic Abyss Cavern?"

"It's not entirely out of the question."

Freya shook her head, yet continued, "But if a great war erupts here, regardless of the outcome, the Chu Kingdom will be left in ruins, with hundreds of millions of mortals displaced and homeless. Are you willing to accept that?"

"Moreover, both my father and the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) already have 1 foot through the gate of the Nascent Soul realm."

"At this very moment, my father is at a critical juncture of his secluded cultivation. If we act rashly now, I fear all his previous efforts will be wasted."

Eldrin's expression grew pensive for a moment before sudden clarity dawned within his heart.

The Patriarch of the Ji Clan and the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast)—1 possessed immortal bloodline flowing through his veins, while the other was a descendant of the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor, his bloodline having evolved to the brink of ascending into a true dragon.

2 such beings were both extraordinary; whichever 1 first stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm would reshape the landscape of Eastern Wastelands (Location).

Once the Patriarch of the Ji Clan breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm, he will undoubtedly consolidate the power of the 100 or so provinces surrounding Ji Province. The entirety of Ji Province will then become a sacred land for Dao Lords.

How could the Ji Clan, an immortal lineage, ever allow a being on the verge of transforming into a dragon to nestle right beside their own sanctum?

The demon emperors of Emerald Wave Lake devised their plot against the Chu Kingdom primarily to force the Ji Clan Patriarch out of seclusion and delay his breakthrough to become a Nascent Soul Dao Lord.

"In that case," Eldrin's expression turned grave, a sense of foreboding rising within him. "Doesn't that mean the Chu Kingdom is in grave danger?"

"Hmm."

Freya nodded calmly and said, "Originally, my father signed a 3-1000-year contract with the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor. Now, 2 1000 5 100 years have already passed."

"In the next few 100 years, as the time for my father's breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage draws nearer, they will grow increasingly impatient."

"Even if they dare not violate the contract to take direct action, they will ceaselessly devise ways to interfere."

She sighed, her voice tinged with sorrow as she said, "For the Chu Kingdom, the impending beast tide will grow even more perilous."

Eldrin remained silent, a faint tremor stirring within his heart.

He understood all too well that to a Nascent Soul Dao Lord, a mere minor kingdom was truly nothing of consequence.

Not to mention a small nation plunged into war, even if 10 Chu Kingdoms (Location) were to perish, the birth of a single Nascent Soul Dao Lord (Cultivation Realm) would be considered a bloody bargain.

The Eastern Wastelands (Location) stretched across hundreds of millions of miles, encompassing over 8 100 vast continents like the Ji Province, yet only 3 sacred Dao Lord sanctuaries stood among them.

Combined, the 3 sacred lands only had 8 or 9 Dao Lords in total, with the majority of them stationed along the eastern coast.

With 1 more Primordial Spirit Dao Lord, the peace of the 100 provinces could be safeguarded, allowing hundreds of millions of humans between heaven and earth to thrive and multiply. Their very existence was the greatest merit.

At this moment, the Chen family was situated at the edge of the Chu Kingdom (Location), yet found themselves facing the most perilous moment in this situation.

Even if Bibo Lake feared the Ji Clan's Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang (Magic Treasure) 'Refining Immortal Crucible' and dared not wage open war against them, minor maneuvers like those from the Demon Cave's lair were enough to inflict severe damage upon the cultivation world of Chu Kingdom (Location).

"There's no need for you all to worry too much."

Freya shook her head and said calmly, "The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor swore a blood oath when establishing the contract back then. If he tears up the agreement and acts directly, it will hinder his future breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage."

"And it is not far from transforming into a dragon, so I'm afraid it doesn't have much energy to spare for these matters."

"So he only resorts to petty maneuvers, indirectly supporting the beasts under his command, and would never truly engage us in an all-out confrontation."

"If they truly overstep their bounds, we shall summon the immortal clans from all nations of Jizhou to join the battle."

Hearing her words, Eldrin felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

However, he was well aware that the Nascent Soul Immortal Clans would not lightly summon cultivators to war.

Because once such forces clash, it's feared that a massive number of Golden Cores, and even Demon Emperors and True Lords, would fall. Thus, both sides exercise extreme restraint.

Chapter 1: The Reborn Eldrin The biting cold pierced deep into the bone marrow. Eldrin (Person Name) struggled to open his eyes, his consciousness emerging from endless darkness. The dilapidated thatched roof and damp, moldy scent assaulted his senses, causing him to frown instinctively. This wasn't the 9 Heavens Immortal Realm. Memories flooded his mind like fragments—the betrayal of his most trusted disciple, the ambush by the 3 great Immortal Emperors at the Soul Severing Cliff, and that final strike that shattered his primordial spirit... He, the revered Flawless Immortal Venerable who had dominated the cultivation world for 30 1000 years, had actually been reborn in the body of a youth with the same name in a lower realm. "Hah..." A cold laugh escaped Eldrin's lips, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Since heaven has granted me a second chance, I shall reclaim everything that belongs to me." He attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his limbs. This body was not only weak but also severely injured. According to the memories he inherited, the original owner had been framed by his cousin during the clan competition and beaten within an inch of his life. Just as Eldrin was assessing his condition, the wooden door creaked open. A girl of 13 or 14 entered, her face pale and thin. When she saw Eldrin awake, her eyes instantly reddened. "Brother... you're finally awake! I was so worried..." This was his younger sister in this life, Ling'er (Person Name). Their parents had died young, and the siblings depended on each other for survival, often bullied by their clansmen. Seeing the tears in the girl's eyes, an unfamiliar warmth stirred in Eldrin's heart. In his previous life, he had walked the path of cultivation alone, never knowing familial affection. Now that he had gained a sister, he would naturally protect her. "Don't worry, I'm fine." Eldrin's voice was hoarse but firm. Ling'er wiped her tears and took out a small, exquisitely crafted pouch from her pocket. "Brother, this is the 30-2 1000 spirit stones father left us. Let's use them to buy some healing medicine..." Eldrin's gaze fell upon the pouch. In this lower realm where spiritual energy was thin, 30-2 1000 spirit stones was indeed a considerable sum. But what he needed now wasn't medicine. "Keep it safe for now." Eldrin shook his head. "Help me sit up." Supported by Ling'er, Eldrin sat cross-legged on the bed. He closed his eyes and began to operate the "Flawless Immortal Art" (Cultivation Method) he had cultivated in his previous life. Although his meridians were damaged and his dantian was shattered, the soul of an Immortal Venerable possessed power beyond imagination. A faint golden light flickered at his fingertips as the surrounding spiritual energy began to stir, slowly converging toward him. The first layer of Qi Refining... second layer... third layer... In just 1 incense stick's worth of time, Eldrin had broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining. Such speed would shock anyone in the cultivation world, but he remained expressionless. After all, he was merely retreading a path he had already walked. Suddenly, a burst of arrogant laughter came from outside the door. "Eldrin! You worthless trash, come out here! Young Master wants to see you!" Ling'er's face turned deathly pale. "Brother, it's Cousin An Lerui (Person Name)... He's here to cause trouble again. What should we do?" A cold gleam flashed in Eldrin's eyes. How interesting. He hadn't even gone to find them, yet they came to his doorstep instead. "Stay here. I'll handle this." He stood up, his movements smooth and natural, as if his severe injuries had never existed. When he pushed open the door, the sunlight fell upon his face, outlining a sharp, determined profile. In the courtyard stood a young man in brocade robes, surrounded by several lackeys. It was An Lerui, the cousin who had framed the original owner. "What? Not dead yet?" An Lerui sneered, looking Eldrin up and down. "Since you're still alive, hand over the spirit stones your father left behind. Consider it compensation for injuring my hand during the competition." Eldrin's lips curved into a faint smile. "Oh? Which hand was it?" An Lerui instinctively raised his right hand. "This 1! What about it?" Before the words had fully left his mouth, a blur flashed before his eyes. Crack! A crisp sound echoed as An Lerui's right wrist bent at an unnatural angle. White bone pierced through the skin, and blood sprayed everywhere. "Ah—!" An Lerui let out a blood-curdling scream, his face contorted in agony. Eldrin stood calmly in place, as if he had merely swatted a fly. "Since it's this hand, there's no need to keep it." "You... you..." An Lerui stared in horror at Eldrin, unable to believe this was the same coward who used to tremble at the sight of him. The surrounding lackeys were also stunned, none daring to step forward. Eldrin's gaze swept over them, his voice cold. "Get lost. If you disturb my peace again, don't blame me for being ruthless." An Lerui clutched his broken wrist, his face pale. "You just wait! My father won't let you off!" After saying this, he fled in panic with his lackeys, too afraid to stay a moment longer. Ling'er, who had been watching from behind the door, rushed out, her face full of worry. "Brother, you've offended the clan elders... They'll definitely come looking for trouble." Eldrin gently patted her head. "Don't be afraid. From now on, no 1 can bully us." His eyes were deep and resolute. He knew this was just the beginning. In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, he needed to regain his strength as soon as possible. Returning to the room, Eldrin took out a yellowed jade slip from under the bed—the "Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss" (Magic Treasure) left by his father in this life. Although it was only a low-grade magical treasure, it was enough for now. He closed his eyes, his spiritual sense entering the jade slip. A vast sword technique appeared before his eyes, every move and every style containing profound mysteries. But in Eldrin's eyes, these were full of flaws. "Too crude." He shook his head, his fingers swiftly moving over the jade slip. Golden light flowed, and the contents of the jade slip were rapidly revised and perfected. In just a few breaths, this originally ordinary sword technique had been elevated to an immortal-grade technique. This was the ability of an Immortal Venerable—to transform decay into mystery. As night fell, Eldrin sat cross-legged under the moonlight, operating the Flawless Immortal Art. Spiritual energy from all directions converged, forming a nearly tangible vortex above him. He was going to attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage tonight. For ordinary cultivators, advancing from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment required at least several years of accumulation. But for Eldrin, it was as simple as eating or drinking. As spiritual energy continuously poured into his body, a golden dantian gradually took shape within him. Foundation Establishment stage—accomplished! Eldrin opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them. He could feel that the spiritual energy between heaven and earth here was far denser than during the day. It seemed this place held some secret. His gaze turned toward the distant back mountain, a thoughtful expression on his face. Perhaps he should go there and see what mysteries it held. But just as he was about to set out, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his head. Fragmented memories surged forth—it was a memory belonging to the original owner. In that memory, he saw a mysterious black iron piece, covered in strange patterns that exuded an ancient aura. Eldrin's heart stirred. That thing... seemed somewhat unusual.