Chapter 281 : Guardian at the Corrupted Cavern

The three conversed for a while longer, until the discussion concluded as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Freya Ji did not depart immediately. She remained at Green Sun Mountain to accompany Lyra Jiang for several days before finally soaring towards Demon Cave Cavern.

Her journey was undertaken to suppress Demon Cave Cavern, yet even she could not pacify the cavern in a single campaign. Her only recourse was to stand guard before its entrance.

The Demonic Spring [a corrupted font of spiritual energy] within that Demon Cave Cavern was of a grade not inferior to a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein. Coupled with the cavern itself, which had been polluted for millennia, assaulting Demon Cave Cavern presented a challenge no less formidable than storming a fifth-rank Spirit Mountain held by the Human Race.

Within the environment of Demon Cave Cavern, the power of Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who harness corrupt and malevolent energies] would surge by thirty percent, while Human Race cultivators would be forced to expend their own spiritual energy [the vital power cultivated by practitioners] to resist the pervasive malignant aura.

In a short skirmish, the disparity might only be thirty percent. However, in a prolonged battle within its depths, cultivators would find their reserves depleting far faster than those of the Demonic Cultivator, creating a total gap of sixty percent.

Even with Freya Ji's formidable strength, she alone could not breach the entire Demon Cave Cavern.

The most critical factor was that Demonic Spring. As long as that font of corruption remained, any number of breaches into Demon Cave Cavern would ultimately prove futile.

In the past, Mordecai Lin had used a precious Heavenly Tribulation Pearl [a treasure containing condensed heavenly thunder] to destroy a Third Rank High Grade Underground Fire Vein. The primary reason he succeeded was the inherently volatile and explosive nature of Fire Vein energy.

If it had been any other type of Earth Vein [a subterranean conduit of elemental earth energy]—be it metal, wood, water, or earth—it would have been impossible to destroy unless one employed a fifth-rank Heavenly Tribulation Pearl. Official source: audio–novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

This type of Earth Vein [a major energy channel within the earth] constitutes a grand Earth Vein network. Once its grade reaches Fourth Rank or higher, it often converges the power of a landmass spanning one hundred thousand or even one million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], becoming something no mortal force can easily disturb.

High-grade Spirit Vein [a natural channel that concentrates and emits spiritual energy] are quite similar. A Fifth Rank Spirit Vein is itself connected to the earth's core. Even if one were to shatter it using a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme artifact capable of suppressing demonic forces], the spiritual lake it feeds would eventually reform over time.

In truth, even Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent, often sacrificial, methods to gain power] wishing to destroy a Spirit Vein of Fourth Rank or higher must expend tremendous effort and employ extreme measures. For instance, when Yan Morgrim destroyed the Third Rank Spirit Vein of the Yang Family, he slaughtered countless mortals, using their blood to corrupt it into a Blood Spring [a spring tainted by blood sacrifice and demonic energy].

A Demonic Spring [a spring or source of concentrated demonic energy] is exceedingly difficult to eradicate. Even a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure can only temporarily suppress it; true purification requires refinement through Pure Yang Dao Method [cultivation arts harnessing the purifying power of pure Yang energy].

In the past, the final sect master of the Purple Sun Sect, whose cultivation had reached the Golden Core Great Perfection realm, attempted to refine the Demonic Spring at Demonic Ape Mountain. The Purple Sun Sect employed their Pure Yang Dao Method to slowly temper and purify it, a process they estimated would take a full century.

Alas, he had only refined it for a single Jiazi-time [one Jiazi-time equals sixty years] before interference from the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for demonic beast factions] caused his efforts to come to naught. This is why the current Demonic Ape Demon King was able to revive it once more.

The reason for this, apart from the Demonic Spring being as deeply entrenched as a malignant tumor, was ultimately the insufficient cultivation of the Purple Sun Sect sect master. Had a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator at the Nascent Soul realm] undertaken the refinement using Pure Yang Dao Method, the process would not have required such an immense span of time.

Returning to the main thread, after Freya Ji departed, Eldrin Chen did not linger long at Green Sun Mountain either. The following day, he returned to Spirit Isle Lake [a spiritual lake containing islands].

With the next Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of demonic beasts] merely a decade and a half away, he harbored the ambition to advance one or two more of his Fourth Rank Magical Treasure [magical treasures of the fourth rank] before the second wave arrived.

Upon returning to Spirit Lake Isle [the main island within Spirit Isle Lake], his life settled back into its familiar, steady rhythm.

In the blink of an eye, several years passed in a rush.

On this day, dark clouds blanketed the sky over Spirit Isle Lake, and the Azure Spirit Fish in the lake had all sunk to the depths, trembling with fear.

Farther away, flocks of Purple-Striped Wild Goose hid within the Reed Marsh, not a single one daring to emerge.

In the sky, an ancient golden bell hovered silently, exuding an aura of supreme dominance, like a primordial chaos bell suppressing heaven and earth.

The Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell was undergoing its tribulation. This Life-Bound Magical Treasure possessed extraordinary defensive power. After years of nurturing and refinement by Eldrin Chen, and having absorbed a great quantity of Dual Metallic Essence and Earth-Fortress Qi, it had finally reached the Fourth Rank Low Grade and was sufficiently prepared to face the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

"BOOM—"

Thunder roared, and a brilliant bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking directly at the ancient golden bell.

The bell was indestructible; it simply allowed the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation to crash against its body, leaving only a faint scorch mark from the lightning.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen felt a slight sense of relief in his heart, understanding that the treasure's chances of surviving the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation were virtually assured.

Sure enough, after three peals of the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation had fallen, the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell emerged bearing only minor, non-critical damage, having successfully weathered its promotion Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

"Truly worthy of being a superior Defensive Magical Treasure [a protective enchanted artifact of exceptional quality]," he remarked with a nod of approval.

Eldrin Chen gave a calm nod. The efficacy of different Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] varies, and so too does one's certainty of surviving the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic thunder ordeal that tests a cultivator's breakthrough].

Although the material of the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell was only Third Rank High Grade, it was inherently a Defensive Magical Treasure. Upon its advancement, the certainty of it weathering the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation would naturally be quite high.

As for offensive treasures like the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, they too hold some chance of surviving the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, yet not without considerable peril. To have ample assurance, it is best to refine and fuse Fourth Rank Treasure Metal [a rare metal imbued with potent spiritual properties] into them.

However, auxiliary treasures like the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform face a far greater challenge in enduring the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. To grant it a chance, one would need at least one exceedingly precious Water Element Treasure Pearl [a pearl containing the concentrated essence of water element spiritual power].

Having stored the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell, Eldrin Chen descended onto Lake Heart Island. His gaze swept over the Spirit Pool [a pool concentrated with spiritual energy for cultivation] at the island's center, and a subtle flicker passed through his brow. For uninterrupted reading, go to audi novel.com.

A vortex of spiritual energy manifested above Lake Heart Island, voraciously drawing in the ambient Qi and funneling it violently into the Spirit Pool Seclusion Chamber.

"Three attempts at secluded cultivation, and finally, success."

A spark of joy flashed within Eldrin Chen's eyes.

Not long before, Silas Chen had embarked on his third attempt to break through into the Purple Mansion [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual foundation condenses into a radiant purple core within the dantian]. Now, he had finally taken that crucial step, solidifying his footing within the Purple Mansion realm.

At present, Silas Chen was merely one hundred and thirty-seven years old. Achieving a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual foundation expands into a vast internal mansion] at this age, while not exceptionally outstanding, was still considered quite commendable.

After all, she had attained the Purple Mansion through her own efforts, without external aids. Such a Purple Mansion Cultivator would see their chances of a future breakthrough to the Golden Core [the fourth major realm, where one condenses their spiritual essence into a radiant, enduring core] increase by ten to twenty percent, placing her potential close to that of a typical prodigy with an Anomalous Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful spiritual affinity that grants exceptional cultivation speed and talent].

"She has successfully pierced through the Purple Mansion Heavenly Meridian [the crucial spiritual channel required to access the Purple Mansion realm]. It seems she will need another month to fully convert her spiritual energy into the purer Purple Mansion-grade mana," Eldrin Chen observed.

Witnessing the family welcome another Purple Mansion expert, a wave of quiet satisfaction washed over Eldrin Chen.

He summoned Lila and said with a gentle smile, "I must make a trip to Pingyang City. Please stand guard here and assist your sister Silas with her stabilization process."

"Understood."

Lila nodded. After a moment's hesitation, she added, "While you were in seclusion recently, a... sister came looking for you."

"Oh?" Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with mild interest. "Who was it?"

"She gave her name as Yu Qingyan. She said she had urgent business to discuss with you."

"I see."

Eldrin Chen soared out of Spirit Isle Lake on his flying sword, his first destination being Pingyang City.

Within the city walls, he sought out the Old Patriarch. Their paths had not crossed for some time, as both had been secluded, focusing on the advancement of their respective Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally forged and soul-bound enchanted artifact].

Yet, today, Chen Thalion's countenance was unusual. A complex mix of emotions played upon his features—a deep-seated worry warring with a thread of unmistakable joy, leaving his expression grave and contemplative.

The two men sat facing each other. Rather than press for answers immediately, Eldrin turned his attention to the art of tea.

Clad in robes of pristine white, Eldrin Chen moved with a tranquil grace. He selected leaves of the Enlightenment Tea [a rare spiritual tea said to clarify the mind and aid meditation], then began the ritual: warming the pot, placing the leaves, heating the cups, and finally, pouring the infusion. His movements flowed like water, elegant and serene, a performance pleasing to the eye and calming to the spirit.

Once the tea was ready, he offered a cup to the Old Patriarch with a gentle smile. "Every time I visit," he said, "I cannot resist sampling the freshest harvest of your Enlightenment Tea."

His gaze, however, remained fixed on the elder's troubled visage. Setting down his own cup, he asked softly, "What matter weighs so heavily upon you, Uncle?" This content originates from @udio-novel.com. Please respect copyright.