Chapter 280 : Forging the Demon-Slaying Sword

Eldrin Chen emerged from the Seclusion Chamber.

He gazed out with a tranquil heart, yet a tide of complex emotions swelled within him.

In the journey of cultivation, talent, comprehension, and resources determine one's starting point, but what truly defines the heights one can reach are often factors like obsession, perseverance, courage, and innate brilliance.

Kael Chen had forged an extraordinary will through his trials to reach this day, tempered with a measure of daring and decisive judgment.

Such a man, if he did not fall upon the Path [the arduous journey of spiritual and physical refinement], could perhaps travel very far indeed.

"..."

After a journey of over ten days, traversing several hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland, the Heavenly Python Treasure Ship finally arrived at Green Sun Mountain.

Eldrin Chen did not depart immediately. Instead, he utilized the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of potent fire energy] beneath Green Sun Mountain to begin refining the Obsidian Abyss Ancient Gold.

This Obsidian Abyss Ancient Gold was a fourth-rank Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [a classification for rare and potent natural resources], but it was heavily infused with Demonic Fiendish Energy [a corrupting, malevolent spiritual force]. To forge it into the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword, Eldrin Chen knew he would need to expend considerable effort.

Indeed, this proved true. Even with the aid of the Underground Fire Vein, the process of refining this sword was exceedingly troublesome for Eldrin Chen. Find thousands of chapters at audio novel.com.

First, he harnessed the power of the Earth Fire [a potent spiritual flame drawn from the earth's core, often used for forging and alchemy]. For forty-nine days, he meticulously refined the sword, completely purging it of the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy associated with demons and fiends].

Then, he spent one hundred and eight days melting it down within the Fourth-Rank Earth Fire, finally reducing the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword forged to vanquish a thousand demons] into a molten, liquid substance.

At this stage, the difficulty lessened. Eldrin Chen began to reshape the sword's body. Over seven days, he meticulously inscribed the original formation patterns of the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword into the new material, ultimately forging the sword's nascent form, or Sword Embryo [the foundational, unawakened state of a spiritual sword before its final empowerment].

Once forged, this sword's grade reached the peak of Quasi-Fourth Rank. To elevate it to a true Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], it required only the slaying of a Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one condenses their spiritual power into a solid Golden Core] demonic beast and the refinement of its soul essence into the blade.

"A fine Immortal Sword [a sword of legendary quality, often wielded by powerful immortals]," he murmured with satisfaction.

Gazing at the dark Sword Embryo before him, a flicker of joy passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes. This sword was a natural bane to demons and monsters. With it in hand, his combat prowess would undoubtedly increase.

Carrying this sense of accomplishment, he emerged from his Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for undisturbed meditation and cultivation] and made to seek out Exquisite Jiang.

He had just stepped out when he saw a streak of sword light pierce the sky above Green Sun Mountain. The radiance descended upon the mountain peak, coalescing into the form of a woman of breathtaking beauty, her figure slender and graceful.

"Who approaches?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. The woman's aura, though restrained, felt vast and profound, even more formidable than a cultivator at the Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core Realm].

At that very moment, Exquisite Jiang emerged and greeted the woman, then called Eldrin Chen over as well.

"..."

Within the main hall of Green Sun Mountain, the three of them sat facing one another.

Exquisite Jiang looked at the woman and, with a smile, introduced her to Eldrin Chen: "This is Freya Ji, a dear and intimate friend of mine from my youth."

"She has come regarding the matter of the Demon Cave."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with a subtle tremor as he recalled the origin of this name.

Freya Ji was a renowned, peerless immortal maiden famed across the Ji Continent. She was the legitimate daughter of the Ji Clan Patriarch. Though her age was not far from Exquisite Jiang's, she had already cultivated to the realm of Golden Core Perfection.

Although she possessed only Three Spiritual Roots, she was born with the Path Body known as the 'Primal Shadow Constitution' [a rare constitution granting profound affinity with shadow and mystery], and had successfully forged a Superior-Tier Golden Core.

Relying on her formidable arsenal of Divine Ability [supernatural powers cultivated to a divine level] and magical treasures, coupled with the potent spiritual power of her Superior-Tier Golden Core, Freya Ji had once crossed blades with a Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonkind] at the Infant Soul Early Stage and held her ground without yielding.

That Freya Ji carefully scrutinized Eldrin Chen for a moment, then gave a slight, approving nod.

After the introductions were made, Exquisite Jiang cut straight to the heart of the matter. "How shall we handle the situation with the Demon Cave [a cavernous lair infested with demonic entities] this time?" she inquired.

"This scheme was jointly orchestrated by the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor and the Black Fiend Demon Monarch," Freya Ji stated, her voice carrying a weight of certainty. "They have long since prepared their contingencies."

As her words settled, a subtle heaviness descended upon the hearts of the other two.

Indeed, Freya Ji continued, confirming their unspoken fears. "The Black Fiend Demon Ridge [a mountain range teeming with dark fiends] is restless, tying down several of our True Lord [powerful cultivators who have attained the True Lord realm]."

"Furthermore, several Demon Emperor [rulers of demonic hordes] under the command of the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor have already made their moves, effectively pinning down our other True Lord," she added, painting a picture of a coordinated encirclement.

"Therefore, once again, I am the only one who has been dispatched." Read the full novel exclusively on audio—novel.com.

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow, a question forming on his lips. "Is it truly impossible to eradicate the Demon Cave root and branch?"

"It is not entirely impossible," Freya Ji replied, though her tone held little optimism.

She shook her head, her expression grave. "But a full-scale battle erupting here would leave the Chu Nation scarred and broken regardless of the outcome. Hundreds of millions of mortal souls would be displaced and rendered homeless. Is that a price you are willing to pay?"

"Moreover," she concluded, her voice dropping slightly, "both my father and the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor have already placed one foot within the threshold of the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of the spiritual core, a profound stage of cultivation]."

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

Eldrin Chen's expression grew solemn, and the confusion in his heart suddenly cleared.

The Ji Clan Patriarch and the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor—one possesses the bloodline of an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation], the other is a descendant of the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor and is on the verge of transforming into a true dragon. Both are extraordinary existences.

Whichever of these two beings first steps into the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual core fully manifests] will alter the balance of power across the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

Once the Ji Clan Patriarch breaks through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, he will undoubtedly consolidate the forces of the hundred continents surrounding Ji Continent, and the entire Ji Continent will become a state under the dominion of a Path Lord Sacred Land [a holy land ruled by a master of a cultivation path].

How could the Ji Immortal Clan then tolerate the presence of a being on the verge of dragon-transformation lurking right at their doorstep?

The primary reason the Demon Emperors of Azure Wave Lake are scheming against the Chu Nation is to force the Ji Clan Patriarch out of seclusion, thereby delaying his breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a master cultivator of the Primordial Spirit realm].

"If that's the case..." Eldrin Chen's face darkened, a sense of foreboding rising within him. "Then the Chu Nation is in grave danger?"

"Mhm."

Freya Ji nodded, her voice calm as she explained, "My father and the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor once signed a pact for three thousand years. Two thousand five hundred of those years have already passed."

"Within the next few centuries, as the time for my father's breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm draws ever nearer, they will grow increasingly impatient."

"Even if they dare not violate the pact to act directly, they will ceaselessly seek ways to interfere."

She sighed, her voice tinged with sorrow. "For the Chu Nation, the impending Beast Tide [a massive, periodic invasion of demonic beasts] will become far more perilous."

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

He understood all too well that compared to a single Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a master cultivator who has attained the Primordial Spirit realm and comprehended a Path], a mere minor nation was truly insignificant.

It would be considered a bargain, a bloody bargain, to trade the Oblivion [complete annihilation] of ten Chu Nation for the birth of one Primordial Spirit Path Lord.

The Eastern Region Great Wasteland stretched for countless millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Within its vast expanse, there were over eight hundred continents as vast as the Ji Continent, yet it was home to a mere three Path Lord Sacred Land [sanctified lands founded and ruled by Path Lords].

Even combined, the number of Human Race Path Lord [masters who have comprehended a fundamental Path or Dao] within these three sacred lands numbered only eight or nine. The majority of these Path Lords were stationed along the Eastern Sea Coast.

A single additional Primordial Spirit Path Lord could safeguard the peace of a hundred continents, allowing countless millions of the Human Race to thrive and multiply. Their very existence was the greatest Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds].

Now, situated on the borderlands of the Chu Nation, the Chen Clan found itself in the most precarious position amidst this gathering storm.

Even if Azure Wave Lake [a vast inland sea inhabited by powerful aquatic demon beasts] harbored apprehension towards the Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure [a legendary artifact of immense solar power] known as the 'Immortal Refining Furnace' [a furnace capable of refining even immortals] belonging to the Ji Clan [a prominent cultivation clan] and dared not wage open war against them, minor maneuvers from a place like the Demon Cave [a den of demonic creatures] would be more than enough to inflict serious damage upon the Chu Nation Cultivation World [the cultivation society of the Chu Nation].

"You need not worry overly much,"

Freya Ji shook her head, speaking with calm assurance. "The covenant established back then was sealed by the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor [a powerful draconic demon ruler] with a blood oath. Should he tear up the agreement and take direct action, his future path to breaking through the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm of a high-level cultivator] would be severely hampered."

"Moreover, his transformation into a true dragon is not far off; he likely has little energy to spare for such matters."

"Thus, he will only resort to covert actions, indirectly supporting the demon beasts under his command. He will not truly engage us in a full-scale conflict."

"Should their movements become too overt, we will summon the Immortal Clan [powerful clans with immortal heritage] from the other nations of the Ji Continent [a vast continent] to join the fray."

Hearing her words, Eldrin Chen felt a slight easing of the tension in his heart.

Yet he understood clearly that an Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a clan led by cultivators who have reached the Infant Soul realm] would not lightly call for cultivators to join a war.

For once such forces clashed, it was likely that a great many Golden Core [the Golden Core cultivation realm] experts, and even Demon Emperor [a title for a powerful demon ruler] True Lord [the True Lord cultivation realm] cultivators would fall. Therefore, both sides exercised extreme restraint. Original publication: audio–novel.com - The source of this chapter.