Chapter 314 : Forging the Mirror of Yin and Void

Eldrin Chen spent two months of time, fusing the Void Gem [a rare gemstone containing the essence of spatial void] into the Magnetic Treasure Mirror [a magical mirror imbued with magnetic power], greatly augmenting its might. He then integrated Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] into it, allowing the mirror to ascend to the Fourth Rank [the fourth major tier of power for magical treasures].

"From this day forth, you shall be called the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void," he declared.

Gazing upon the Treasure Mirror before him, Eldrin Chen murmured to himself.

After merging with the Void Gem, it was no longer fitting for this mirror to retain its old name of Magnetic Treasure Mirror.

The mirror now contained Yin-Yang Magnetic Power [a divine ability that manipulates the opposing forces of yin and yang through magnetism] and had absorbed the Void Gem, granting it the power to draw powerful foes within and suppress them. The name Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void was indeed most appropriate.

In the sky, Tribulation Clouds [ominous clouds that gather to unleash heavenly punishment] churned and roiled, heralding the arrival of another Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial by lightning that tests and tempers newly ascended magical treasures].

Eldrin Chen had grown accustomed to Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. Empowered by the Void Gem, the Treasure Mirror's power had surged dramatically, making it more than capable of weathering this trial.

As expected, the process of overcoming this Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation proved remarkably smooth.

The first bolt of Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [heaven-sent lightning that refines and tests] was ground to nothingness by the Yin-Yang Magnetic Divine Radiance [a radiant energy beam of opposing magnetic forces]. The second bolt was drawn into the mirror's depths and suppressed. The final, most potent strike of the Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation crashed directly upon the mirror's surface, merely dimming its radiance by seventy or eighty percent.

With the ascension of his final Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force, growing with them] complete, Eldrin Chen once again settled into his customary routine of cultivation. Continue reading this story at audio‑novel.com.

In the blink of an eye, eight or nine years had passed. On this day, Eldrin emerged from his secluded cultivation and arrived at Pingyang City by riding his flying sword.

The distance of six thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], which once required days of arduous travel, now took Eldrin Chen merely the time for an incense stick to burn [a conventional short duration, roughly fifteen to thirty minutes] as he flew at full speed, his body and sword merged as one.

Upon reaching Pingyang City, he found that the Old Patriarch had already emerged from his Seclusion Chamber.

At this moment, the Old Patriarch's aura was flawless and perfectly harmonized, his mana vast and profoundly condensed. It was clear he had reached the realm of Purple Mansion Great Perfection.

Seeing the Old Patriarch, Eldrin Chen couldn't help but express his joy, saying, "Your mana is perfectly harmonized, Old Granduncle. Your breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm must be imminent."

"It's not that simple."

The Old Patriarch's face held joy, yet he shook his head with a smile. "I know my own situation. The hope of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm in a single attempt is exceedingly slim."

"You must still try."

Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile and produced three Jade Box.

The Old Granduncle opened them to look. Inside, he found respectively a Golden Core Formation Pill [a supreme pill that aids in the formation of a cultivator's Golden Core], a Sub-Golden Core Pill [a powerful pill that simulates a partial Golden Core formation], and an Essence Blood Treasure Pill [a potent pill refined from the concentrated essence and blood of powerful beings].

The Golden Core Formation Pill [a supreme pill that aids in the formation of a cultivator's Golden Core] naturally goes without saying. The Sub-Golden Core Pill [a potent pill that mimics some effects of a true Golden Core pill] was also refined from the Inner Core [the condensed life-force core of a powerful demonic beast] of the Verdant Lion Mastiff, while the Essence Blood Treasure Pill [a treasure pill refined from the vital essence and flesh of a powerful being, used to strengthen the physical body] was concocted from the refined flesh and blood of the Black Flood Dragon Demon King.

Back then, after obtaining the flesh and blood of the Black Flood Dragon Demon King, Lyra Jiang refined it into this Essence Blood Treasure Pill. It is a treasure for the evolution of a cultivator's physical form, capable of helping a practitioner supplement the shortcomings of their mortal frame.

Upon seeing it, the Old Patriarch immediately tried to return the Essence Blood Treasure Pill to Eldrin Chen. "This pill can strengthen the physical body; it would be useful for you as well. You should keep it."

"This item is of little use to me now."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and still handed it to his Old Granduncle.

Over these years, as the Five Thunders Body Tempering Grand Art [a profound body-forging technique that harnesses the power of thunder] operated autonomously within him, Eldrin Chen's physical body had been steadily advancing.

Now, after more than a decade, the strength of his fleshly form was no weaker than that of a Golden Core Cultivator [a master who has condensed their spiritual power into a solid Golden Core]. The three treasures within him—essence, Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things], and spirit—had all reached a staggering level.

In contrast, his Old Granduncle, although he had cultivated the Ethereal Void Body Tempering Art [a body-refining art focused on achieving an ethereal and resilient form], had only practiced it for a few decades. The strength of his physical body was still somewhat lacking.

"Very well."

Hearing this, Chen Thalion accepted and stored away both the Essence Blood Treasure Pill and the Golden Core Formation Pill.

As for the Sub-Golden Core Pill [a potent pill that aids in forming a quasi-Golden Core], he did not touch it. Instead, he carefully stored it away in a Jade Box [a container made of jade, often used to preserve spiritual items], a faint smile gracing his lips as he spoke.

"Breaking through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses their spiritual power into a solid core] is an immensely difficult feat. I am not one blessed with transcendent talent, so I harbor no illusions of reaching the Golden Core realm in a single attempt."

"To avoid waste, I shall preserve this Sub-Golden Core Pill for my next attempt. By then, with the False Core Realm [a quasi-realm between Purple Mansion and Golden Core] as my foundation, aided by both the Sub-Golden Core Pill and a Golden Core Formation Pill [a supreme pill designed to assist in the formation of a true Golden Core], I might then possess a sliver of genuine hope."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. The Old Patriarch had not achieved his Foundation Establishment [the second major realm, solidifying one's cultivation base] and Purple Mansion [the third major realm, opening a spiritual palace within] through self-guided breakthroughs. Consequently, the depth of his spiritual power and the solidity of his foundation were, in the end, somewhat lacking.

Although various acquired means—such as the White Metal Star Pearl [a magical treasure that refines one's essence] and the Creation Green Essence Pill [a pill that nourishes one's foundational vitality]—had remedied some of these Deep-Seated Foundation [the intrinsic quality and stability of a cultivator's spiritual base] deficiencies, attempting to assail the Golden Core realm in one go still presented a formidable challenge. This chapter is part of a larger work available at (audio-novel.com).

A steady, measured approach was far wiser. Once he successfully condensed a False Core this time, he could utilize the Sub-Golden Core Pill during his next attempt to gain an additional ten percent chance of success. His odds of breaking through to the Golden Core realm would then be significantly greater.

"Old Granduncle, please proceed with your seclusion in peace. I shall stand guard for you."

"Good. I shall trouble you during this time."

Chen Thalion took the Pill and proceeded directly into the Spirit Pool [a pool concentrated with spiritual energy, ideal for cultivation] to enter seclusion and attempt his breakthrough.

After he began his seclusion, the first three months were spent refining the Essence Blood Treasure Pill [a potent pill that nourishes and strengthens the physical body using concentrated life essence]. Once his physical body reached a state of perfection, he consumed the Golden Core Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids cultivators in condensing their spiritual power into a Golden Core] and began his assault on the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid, golden-hued core] realm.

A total of half a year passed before the Old Patriarch emerged from his Seclusion Chamber.

He glanced at Eldrin Chen and shook his head with regret. "As I anticipated," he said, "this attempt did not result in a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm."

Seeing the Old Patriarch's despondency, Eldrin Chen offered a comforting smile. "There is no need for discouragement, Old Granduncle," he said. "Stopping at the False Core Realm [a quasi-realm between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core, where a core is formed but lacks true stability and power] was within our expectations. I still possess another Golden Core Formation Pill, and in thirty years, you will have a fifty to sixty percent chance of achieving true Core Formation [the process of forming a Golden Core]."

"Hmm."

A faint smile touched the Old Patriarch's lips as he stroked his beard. "Although I did not break through to Golden Core this time," he said, "the False Core I forged is remarkably dense and stable. My spiritual power has increased by more than seventy percent."

"Truly?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes lit up. When Xavier Xu and Qingmei Fang had broken through to the False Core Realm, their spiritual power had increased by only fifty percent.

Now, with the Old Patriarch's power surging by seventy percent, the density and refinement of his False Core placed him among the more formidable False Core Cultivators. From this perspective, his hopes for a future breakthrough to Golden Core were likely not insignificant.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen said with excitement, "It seems Magnus the Virtuous spoke truly. The effects of the Creation Green Essence Pill [a rare pill that enhances the foundational quality of a cultivator's spiritual power, often used before major breakthroughs] are indeed substantial."

"Not only the Creation Green Essence Pill [a rare pill that refines and purifies one's spiritual essence], but the Demon King [a powerful ruler among demonic beasts] Essence Blood Treasure Pill [a potent pill refined from the concentrated essence and blood of powerful beings] and the White Metal Star Pearl [a magical pearl forged from celestial star metal] have all proven to be of some use."

The Old Patriarch said with a smile, informing Eldrin Chen that the White Metal Star Pearl [a magical pearl forged from celestial star metal] was as effective as three Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured magical artifact] in tempering one's mana, its effects were truly extraordinary. Coupled with his supreme-grade Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personally bonded immortal-grade sword] Golden Radiance Blazing Fire Sword [a sword that unleashes golden flames], it had allowed him to mend part of his foundational shortcomings.

As the two were conversing, Lior Chen walked in from outside. Seeing them, he announced joyfully, "Word has come from Heaven's Ruin Lake via the World's-End Sound-Transmission Mirror [a magical mirror capable of transmitting sound across vast distances]. Elara Lin is currently breaking through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses a golden spiritual core] realm and has invited us to witness the ceremony."

"Oh."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Since they were being invited to observe, it likely meant she had already passed the most critical juncture of the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses a golden spiritual core] breakthrough and was now in the process of converting her mana.

Thinking this, he said to the Old Patriarch with a smile, "It seems she has succeeded this time."

The Old Patriarch shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "A False Core Cultivator [a cultivator at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, possessing a quasi-Golden Core] with an Anomalous Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful variant spiritual root] inherently has a fifty percent chance of breaking through to Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses a golden spiritual core]."

"Add to that the assistance of a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that aids in the formation of the Golden Core] and having taken the Creation Green Essence Pill [a rare pill that refines and purifies one's spiritual essence], if even she couldn't succeed, then this old man probably shouldn't dream of ever breaking through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses a golden spiritual core] realm in this lifetime."

After exchanging a few more words, the group took to their swords and flew to Green Sun Mountain, then used the Teleportation Formation [a mystical formation that allows instant travel across great distances] to arrive at Heaven's Ruin Lake. Original English translation available at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.