Chapter 279 : Forging the Thousand-Demon Slaying Sword

The material of this Black Abyss Ancient Gold Sword [a demonic sword forged from ancient, abyssal gold] is extraordinary; among these treasures, its value is undoubtedly the greatest.

The Firmament Sword Sect's Qian the Elder then took another Fourth Rank Magical Treasure. The Firmament Sword Sect's Fourth Rank Sword-Cleansing Pool [a sacred pool capable of purifying demonic taint from artifacts] can cleanse its demonic nature and transform it back into a proper Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators].

Yet, none of the others voiced any objection, for in this battle, Lyra Jiang and Zhang the True Person had contributed the most effort; it was only fitting they receive the greatest share of the spoils.

After the assembly dispersed, Lyra Jiang and Eldrin Chen boarded the Heaven-Devouring Serpent Treasure Boat [a magically enchanted vessel].

The treasure boat soared through the void, its course set for the Green Sun Sect.

Within the treasure boat's Cultivation Chamber [a chamber designed for meditation and cultivation], Lyra Jiang presented the Black Abyss Ancient Gold Sword to Eldrin Chen.

"The material of this sword is imbued with demonic essence," she said. "I believe it would be exceptionally suitable for forging a Thousand-Demon Slaying Sword [a specialized sword designed to vanquish demonic entities]."

Her primary purpose in claiming this item was precisely to provide Eldrin Chen with the material to craft such a Thousand-Demon Slaying Sword.

Eldrin Chen accepted the demonic sword, storing it away carefully. Given Lyra Jiang's current cultivation realm and combat prowess, possessing an additional Thousand-Demon Slaying Sword would not significantly augment her strength for the time being. For him, however, it promised a substantial increase in power.

Ever since he first laid eyes on this sword wielded by Yan Morgrim, a spark of desire had ignited within him. Now that it was in his hands, he felt a powerful urge to immediately begin refining it into a Sword Embryo [the nascent, unformed core of a future spiritual sword]. Find thousands of chapters at audio - novel . com.

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin Chen said to Lyra Jiang, "Let us first refine some Demon-Cleansing Spirit Liquid [a potent elixir used to purge demonic energy from the body]."

The two of them worked diligently, having others gather the ingredients for several batches of Spirit Medicine [plants infused with spiritual energy, used in alchemy], and successfully refined a few furnaces of the Demon-Cleansing Spirit Liquid.

Once the spiritual liquid was complete, he immediately stood up, ready to seek out the Old Patriarch, but Lyra Jiang grasped his arm, stopping him, and handed him a vial of Pill.

"Take this Purple Jade Origin-Returning Pill [a high-grade pill that restores one's foundational essence and heals internal injuries] to the Old Patriarch for his recovery."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen gave her hand a firm squeeze before striding off to find the Old Patriarch.

In that battle, the Old Patriarch had not only been invaded by Demonic Qi [the corrupt, malevolent energy cultivated by demonic practitioners] but had also sustained severe internal injuries. This Purple Jade Origin-Returning Pill was a Third Rank High Grade Healing Pill, capable of saving the Old Patriarch years of arduous recovery.

Chen Thalion spent five days using over a dozen portions of Demon-Cleansing Spirit Liquid to cleanse the majority of the Demonic Qi from his body. He then consumed two of the Purple Jade Origin-Returning Pill to mend his wounds.

With this dual-pronged approach, the Old Patriarch's vital essence was largely replenished, and his complexion had improved significantly.

He smiled warmly at Eldrin Chen and said, "With these Pill and the Demon-Cleansing Spirit Liquid, my injuries are no longer a grave concern. All I need now is five years of restful cultivation to fully recover."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. Similar to his previous life, the cultivation Pill [a pill consumed to aid in cultivation and increase spiritual power] in this world did not possess the legendary property of building tolerance. On the contrary, Healing Pill [a pill specifically formulated to heal physical injuries and restore vitality] exhibited a certain degree of such resistance.

Within a short span, the Old Patriarch had already consumed two Purple Jade Origin-Returning Pill [a high-grade pill that restores vitality and heals severe injuries]. Consequently, for at least the next twenty years, the efficacy of this type of Healing Pill would be significantly diminished if taken again.

Initially, he had been puzzled by this. Upon deeper reflection, however, the reason became clear. Cultivation Pill and Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] were akin to sustenance in his former life; one could not become immune to hunger simply by eating more. The principle behind Healing Pill, however, closely resembled that of medicinal drugs from his past.

"Although the injuries are healed, it was still a rather costly endeavor."

Gazing at the Purple Jade Origin-Returning Pill, the Old Patriarch could not help but reveal a flicker of pained expression.

This Purple Jade Origin-Returning Pill was a Third Rank High Grade Healing Pill. A single pill was worth over fifty thousand Spirit Stone. Having consumed two to mend his wounds, he had spent a full one hundred thousand Spirit Stone.

"In my view, ensuring your swift recovery makes this expense insignificant."

Eldrin Chen said with a gentle smile. After meeting Taiwu the True Person, he had come to understand the paramount importance of lifespan with ever greater clarity.

That Taiwu the True Person possessed a Thunder Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the element of thunder/lightning], which marked him as a Generation's Pinnacle Talent. In his youth, he had cultivated to the Purple Mansion Great Perfection [the peak stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] while still in his third century of life.

Yet, in his pursuit to forge a Middle Golden Core [a Golden Core of middling quality and potential], he had attempted the breakthrough four successive times before finally succeeding in ascending to the Golden Core [a solidified core of immense spiritual power, marking a major advancement] realm.

Without the aid of external treasures for Core Formation [the process of condensing one's cultivation base into a Golden Core], each failed breakthrough attempt requires a full Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] to recover before another attempt can be made, unless one uses an extremely costly Fourth Rank Treasure Pill [a high-grade medicinal pill of the fourth rank] for healing.

That Taiwu the True Person attempted Core Formation four times, ultimately only breaking through to the Golden Core [the solidified core of a cultivator's power] realm at the advanced age of nearly five hundred years.

Precisely because of this, Taiwu the True Person is now over seven hundred years old, yet his cultivation remains merely at the Golden Core, 3rd Tier [the third layer of the Golden Core realm].

Although he forged a Middle Golden Core [a Golden Core of middling quality, offering a chance at Nascent Soul], granting him some potential for Nascent Soul [the realm where one's spirit forms an independent infant-like entity] and combat power rivaling the Golden Core, 4th Tier [the fourth layer of the Golden Core realm], the lifespan he lost can never be recovered. Henceforth, barring a heaven-defying opportunity, it will be exceedingly difficult for him to break through to Nascent Soul.

Although the Old Patriarch is still relatively young in terms of lifespan, no one knows for certain if he can successfully break through to Golden Core, and even if he does, no one knows how many attempts it might take him.

It was precisely for this reason that Eldrin Chen was unwilling to let the Old Patriarch waste even a single moment. Find thousands of chapters at audio - novel . com.

Emerging from the Old Patriarch's Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for undisturbed cultivation], he found Kael Chen in one of the side chambers.

At this moment, Kael Chen's brow was seething with malignant energy, a clear sign that Demonic Qi [a corrupting energy associated with demonic cultivation arts] had invaded his body, causing severe erosion.

"How could you be so careless?"

Eldrin Chen frowned, retrieving a vial of Demon-Cleansing Spirit Liquid [a spiritual liquid used to purge demonic energy and malignant influences] to cleanse the malignant energy from him.

Yet Kael Chen shook his head, his expression calm as he stopped him, speaking with serene detachment.

"This time, the Demonic Fiend Qi [a malevolent and corrupting energy] entering my body was no accident."

"No accident..."

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, a furrow appearing between his brows.

This clan-brother nodded, his tone utterly composed. "I deliberately drew the Demonic Fiend Qi into myself."

Eldrin was momentarily stunned. Had this clan-brother truly become addicted to the corrosive embrace of malignant energy?

Then, he heard Kael Chen give a light, almost indifferent laugh. His jet-black hair cascaded over his shoulders, his handsome features now carrying a faint, unsettling hint of demonic allure.

"I am different from you. My natural talent cannot compare to Ethan's either."

"I have always understood one truth: aside from a tenacious, unyielding will, I fall short of you in every other aspect."

"I have long pondered a single question: with my level of aptitude, forging a Superior Golden Core [the highest grade of Golden Core foundation, representing immense potential] would be an ordeal of unimaginable difficulty. The odds of success likely would not exceed one in ten."

"When I subdued the Fire Fiend Qi [a chaotic and malignant energy born from fire] earlier, I discovered that during the struggle against it, both my spiritual sense and my True Essence [the refined energy cultivated by a practitioner] grew increasingly pure—far more so than I had anticipated."

"It was precisely because of this that Ethan required two attempts to break through to the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core], whereas I succeeded on my very first try."

Kael Chen spoke calmly, methodically tempering the Demonic Fiend Qi [a malevolent energy that corrupts the mind and spirit] within his body with his own mana.

He was not expelling the Demonic Fiend Qi; instead, he was refining it bit by bit, seeking to subdue and conquer it completely.

The Demonic Fiend Qi differed from Fire Fiend Qi. Once this malign energy entered the body, it amplified one's base desires, ceaselessly eroding a cultivator's spirit and soul, warping their personality until they ultimately fell into depravity and became a Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner who uses malevolent and forbidden arts].

Yet Kael Chen possessed extraordinary willpower. At this moment, he was advancing step by deliberate step, striving to subdue this Demonic Fiend Qi and shatter the demonic obstacles within his heart.

He looked calmly at Lyra Jiang and said with a faint smile, "Refining the Demonic Fiend Qi with my mana and spiritual sense serves to temper them both immensely."

"If I can conquer the desires stirred by the Demonic Fiend Qi, I will be able to see through the inner demons of my heart. This will also increase my chances of overcoming the heart demon tribulation when I attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul [the fifth major realm, where one forms an independent spiritual entity] in the future."

"There is no need to dissuade me."

Clad in black robes, with his dark hair cascading down his shoulders, Kael Chen stood tall and straight, his figure seeming to merge with the shadows. An aura of potent, unsettling darkness grew ever stronger around him.

As if comprehending the concern within Eldrin Chen's heart, he smiled with the serene grace of a Buddha holding a flower. Yet, another youthful Demon Monarch [a powerful ruler among demonic cultivators] fixed his gaze upon him.

"Promise me this."

"If a day should ever come when I succumb to the demonic path,"

"...kill me!" Official source: audio~novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.