Chapter 269 : The Forged Sword's Heavenly Trial

The Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a specific, powerful heavenly tribulation that targets only certain artifacts] targets only Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul, growing in power with them]. Ordinary magical treasures, even Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a top-tier treasure renowned for subduing demons], will not attract a Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial by lightning from the heavens, testing the worth of a cultivator or artifact].

This is because Lifebound Magical Treasure possess immense potential for growth, while ordinary magical treasures ultimately have limited potential.

Furthermore, the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation is not only devastatingly powerful, but the Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal grade] must face it alone. Its master cannot intervene with any means, lest it provoke an even more dreadful Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. Eldrin Chen could only watch with a grave expression, awaiting the tribulation's arrival.

In the sky, Tribulation Cloud [ominous clouds that herald a heavenly tribulation] churned and roiled, while the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a sword imbued with solar fire and abyssal power] circled and danced, silently awaiting the arrival of the mighty Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

"BOOM—"

After roughly half a Ke-time [fifteen minutes], a sudden peal of thunder shattered the silence.

Eldrin Chen looked up to see a dazzling bolt of lightning descending from the heavens, striking directly at the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword.

Freshly forged and at the peak of its nascent power, the Lifebound Immortal Sword [an immortal-grade sword bound to its master's life] showed no fear. In an instant, it erupted with a radiant sword aura and met the bolt head-on.

The power of this sword strike was astonishing, comparable to the full might of a Golden Core 1st Tier [the first tier of the Golden Core cultivation realm] cultivator. It forcefully annihilated that first bolt of Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

However, the clash had taken its toll. The glow of the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword visibly dimmed, its power significantly depleted. Read the full novel exclusively on http://www . audio-novel.com.

"This is somewhat troublesome."

Eldrin Chen felt a pang of worry. The Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a specific, powerful form of heavenly punishment for forging magical treasures] consisted of three strikes, each comparable to a full-force attack from a Golden Core Early Stage [the initial phase of the Golden Core cultivation realm] cultivator.

At this moment, he could no longer channel his spiritual energy into the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword to assist it. He feared the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword itself might be in peril.

"BOOM—"

Even as he spoke, another Thunderclap [a concentrated bolt of tribulation lightning] descended from the sky.

This particular Thunderclap was exceptionally potent. It struck the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword with such force that its radiance was nearly extinguished, its power grievously diminished.

"This is bad."

Eldrin Chen's expression turned grave. With the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword's power almost exhausted, withstanding the remaining Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the general term for heavenly lightning punishment] would now depend solely on the sword's physical body.

Although this Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword forged with a cultivator's life essence, sharing a profound bond] was forged from resilient materials and had been tempered with a vast quantity of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], it was ultimately not made from fourth-rank materials. He feared that even if it blocked this final Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, it would suffer severe damage.

In the very moment of his thought, the last strike of the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation fell from the heavens.

The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword met the blow head-on with its blade, suffering grievous damage in an instant. Across its translucent Glazed form, a web of hairline fractures became faintly visible.

"Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword."

Seeing his treasured weapon wounded, Eldrin Chen felt a pang of distress in his heart.

Yet at that very moment, a shower of sweet, restorative dew descended from the heavens, sprinkling upon the Lifebound Immortal Sword.

As the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword absorbed this celestial nectar, its myriad fine cracks began to seal with astonishing speed, its radiance flaring even brighter by a third.

"*Huummm*—"

The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword emitted a resonant hum, thrumming with excitement as it flew back to hover before Eldrin Chen.

Gazing at the Lifebound Immortal Sword before him, Eldrin Chen was flooded with both relief and a chilling sense of hindsight.

This sword had previously been fused with Solar Fire Crystal and superior-grade Western Pole Metallic Gold, then tempered within the Sword Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool used to purify and strengthen blades], granting it extraordinary resilience and durability.

Yet even so, it had nearly been shattered by the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests magical treasures]. It was clear he had once again underestimated the sheer, annihilating power of the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

If it were an ordinary Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded enchanted artifact], it would likely have been shattered into fragments by the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of heavenly lightning that tests and refines magical treasures].

"It seems that to have sufficient confidence in weathering the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, it would be best to integrate a fourth-rank Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [rare spiritual materials of exceptional quality]," Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, temporarily setting aside thoughts of advancing his Heavenly River Positive Water Sword, Magnetic Treasure Mirror, and Positive Water Verdant Lotus Throne.

The primary concern was the excessive peril. The foundational materials of these treasures were ultimately not of the fourth rank, and the time spent nurturing them could not compare to the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword. A reckless attempt at advancement risked their utter destruction.

This was especially true for the Positive Water Verdant Lotus Throne. This artifact was particularly vulnerable to heavenly thunder. To enhance its potency and resilience, it would be best to first obtain a fourth-rank Water Essence Treasure Pearl [a precious pearl containing the concentrated essence of water].

"A single fourth-rank Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures requires at least five hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]," he calculated silently.

"As for a treasure as rare as a Water Essence Treasure Pearl, its value starts at two million Spirit Stone, and such opportunities are fleeting, not to be taken for granted." Experience the full epic at audio—novel.com.

"It appears the advancement of my other treasures must be contemplated with great deliberation."

With a slightly heavy heart, Eldrin Chen set aside his plans for advancing the other artifacts.

He journeyed to Green Chariot Mountain and issued a clan decree to seek and purchase fourth-rank Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. His focus then shifted to forging his fifth Lifebound Magical Treasure.

Several years prior, when he deduced the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Scripture, he had also naturally deduced the method for forging the earth-attribute magical treasure, the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell.

Now, having broken through to the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, Eldrin Chen decided that since a swift breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm was unlikely, he would instead forge his fifth Lifebound Magical Treasure to temper and refine his spiritual energy [the cultivated power within a cultivator's body].

Although forging a fifth Lifebound Magical Treasure from scratch would delay his dedicated cultivation by a decade and slightly slow his future progress...

...the gains in combat prowess and the profound effect of refining his spiritual energy made the sacrifice entirely acceptable.

The purer a cultivator's spiritual energy, the greater their certainty in forming a Golden Core and the higher its potential quality.

This foundation was crucial for future breakthroughs to the Infant Soul and even the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]. Many cultivators who advanced with dazzling speed ultimately found their paths blocked because their energy lacked sufficient purity and refinement.

It affected not only their combat strength after a breakthrough but also the very likelihood of achieving it.

Countless cultivators remained stuck at the thresholds of Golden Core and Infant Soul, failing breakthrough after breakthrough, all because their spiritual energy was not pure enough, leaving them perpetually half a step short.

But to return to the matter at hand.

After searching the Clan Treasury for a short while, Eldrin Chen found a superior-grade Bulwark Earth Primordial One Stone, and a flicker of delight crossed his features.

This Bulwark Earth Primordial One Stone [a rare ore embodying the essence of earth] is an earth-attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [rare and potent spiritual resources]. This material can be used to forge a Third Rank Superior Grade defensive magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], its value exceeding one hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

The clan has no source for such a treasure. Upon inquiring, he learned it was acquired over a decade ago at a Barter Convention [a gathering for cultivators to trade rare items], where the Old Patriarch exchanged a single third-rank Longevity Spirit Apricot [a spiritual fruit that extends lifespan] for it.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Eldrin Chen understood in his heart that the Old Granduncle had prepared this specifically for him.

He searched through the Clan Treasury, and sure enough, found a piece of Metallic Gold Essence Crystal [a crystalline ore containing the essence of metallic gold]. Moreover, he was the only one with the authority to claim it.

"This Old Granduncle..."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, chuckling softly as he took the Metallic Gold Essence Crystal.

In truth, the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell [a powerful defensive bell] could also be refined using Bulwark Earth Crystal [a crystalized form of fortified earth essence] as a key material. However, after some thought, Eldrin Chen decided to use the Metallic Gold Essence Crystal instead.

Integrating the Metallic Gold Essence Crystal into this bell would undoubtedly significantly enhance its rigidity. Combined with the resilience provided by the Bulwark Earth Primordial One Stone, the defensive power of this treasure would likely become truly formidable, while also gaining a measure of offensive capability.

With all materials now assembled, Eldrin Chen naturally set about forging the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell.

To save time, he flew directly to Green Sun Mountain to utilize the power of the Fourth-Rank Underground Fire Vein [a potent subterranean spiritual fire source] for the refinement of the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell.

With his current cultivation base and the power of the Fourth-Rank Underground Fire Vein [a vein of subterranean fire energy, ranked by its intensity and purity], forging this Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell [a defensive magical treasure embodying the unyielding nature of earth] presented little difficulty.

In merely a month's time, the artifact was successfully forged, its grade elevated to Third Rank Superior Grade [the highest quality tier within the third rank of magical treasures].

After consuming another wisp of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a primordial, world-shaping energy of violet hue], the bell's potential grade ceiling was raised yet another level.

"It is done." Experience the full epic at audi0-n0vel.c0m.