Chapter 329 : A Golden Core's Silent Departure

He selected a Fourth Rank Low Grade Defensive Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact designed to protect its wielder from harm] and handed it to Qingci the Recluse, casually asking, "By the way, have you had any contact with Miss Yu [Yu Qingyan] over these years?"

"She left Ji Continent many years ago and has not returned since," replied Qingci the Recluse, shaking his head and casting a subtle glance at Eldrin Chen.

As early as a century ago, Yu Qingyan had already reached the False Core Realm [a quasi-Golden Core state, a powerful but not yet fully formed core]. Later, she gained significant rewards from the Vast Sea Ruins and secured a share of the spoils for herself.

After that battle, Yu Qingyan purchased a Core Formation treasure [a precious resource that aids in forming a Golden Core]. Relying on her talent as an Anomalous Spiritual Root [a rare and superior type of spiritual affinity], she successfully broke through to the Golden Core realm [the stage where a cultivator forms a solidified core of spiritual power].

Following her breakthrough, Eldrin Chen had invited her to join the Chen Clan, but Yu Qingyan ultimately declined.

While others might not know the precise reason, Qingci the Recluse understood well enough: Yu Qingyan likely did not wish to face Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang together.

To encounter such a peerlessly distinguished man, only to find he already had a Dao Companion [a cultivation partner bound by deep spiritual and emotional ties], would surely stir unsettled emotions within her. Sometimes, it is better not to meet than to meet and be troubled.

After attaining the Golden Core realm, Yu Qingyan departed from Ji Continent and never returned to the lands of the Chu Kingdom.

"May her journey across the world be smooth and fortunate," Eldrin Chen sighed softly, then let the matter rest, turning his thoughts elsewhere.

After Qingci the Recluse departed with his daughter, Eldrin Chen once again turned his focus to the refinement of the spiritual treasure. For more chapters, visit audio–novel.com for the complete novel.

Thus, time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, over a year had passed. Suddenly, the sky grew overcast with dark clouds, and rolling waves of Tribulation Clouds [ominous clouds heralding a heavenly trial] swept across the heavens.

"It's the Demon-Subduing Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a formidable heavenly trial faced by powerful magical treasures during their awakening]!"

Eldrin Chen was jolted from his cultivation. Gazing at the Tribulation Clouds in the sky, he couldn't help but reveal a look of pleasant surprise.

At the same moment, from within the Seclusion Chamber, a dazzlingly brilliant white sword radiance shot into the heavens, soaring towards the layers of clouds above.

Then, Lyra Jiang emerged from the Seclusion Chamber close behind, her expression grave as she watched the crisscrossing sword auras dancing wildly across the sky.

"It should be fine," she murmured, though her tone held a trace of uncertainty.

Lyra Jiang's face was tense, etched with a look of deep concern.

Unlike the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures, which, despite being a spiritual treasure, was not a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure bound to a cultivator's very soul and life force, growing with them], its potential was finite, and it could not attract the Spirit-Awakening Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a heavenly trial that awakens the innate spirit of a lifebound treasure] from the will of heaven and earth.

The Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword, however, was a true Lifebound Spiritual Treasure. This Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword faced a truly astonishing Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of heavenly thunder and lightning], its power so immense it could potentially shatter a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure crafted from slightly weaker materials.

It was precisely for this reason that Lyra Jiang sought to fuse the Star Fragment into the blade, to enhance the material foundation of the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword.

Seeing Lyra Jiang's concern, Eldrin Chen took her hand and reassured her, "Do not worry. Since this sword has been fused with the Star Fragment, its material constitution is already sufficient to withstand the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic lightning ordeal that tests high-level treasures and cultivators]."

"Mm."

Lyra Jiang nodded. While she possessed ample confidence in her preparations, facing the moment itself inevitably stirred a thread of tension within her.

After all, should the sword shatter, centuries of her painstaking refinement would be lost to the void, and along with it, the immeasurably valuable Star Fragment would be destroyed.

"BOOM—"

In that very instant, the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic lightning ordeal that tests high-level treasures and cultivators] detonated across the heavens. It descended with peerless, annihilating force, as if intent on cleaving the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword [a sword forged to subdue demonic entities] in two.

Yet the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword showed not a shred of fear. With a resonant *shing*, it erupted in a corona of dazzling sword aura, meeting the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation head-on. Its radiant edge sliced through the tribulation lightning, dispersing it into nothingness.

Not content with mere defense, the peerless radiance of the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword cleaved a scar nearly a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] across the void. It sundered the vast, roiling Tribulation Clouds [the dense, lightning-charged clouds that manifest during a heavenly tribulation] cleanly in half.

Having accomplished this, the sword ascended, bathing itself within the sea of lightning at the heart of the Tribulation Clouds. There, it willingly endured the endless baptism of heavenly thunder, tempering its spirit within the crucible of the storm.

This spectacle was so utterly astonishing that every cultivator within Yu County witnessed the resplendent immortal sword blazing high in the heavens.

"Magnificent!"

Lyra Jiang exclaimed in admiration. To cleave a thousand Li-lengths of void and sunder the vast earth of Mount Ronan with a single stroke—this was the true essence of a Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword.

The Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of lightning and thunder sent by the heavens to test cultivators] raged for a full three days. Finally, from within the boundless sea of lightning, a single, dazzling sword radiance descended, transforming into a three Chi-length immortal sword that landed before Lyra Jiang.

"Master!"

The sword, now imbued with spirit, communicated with a voice as clear and cold as mountain spring water.

Eldrin Chen watched in silence, his pupils reflecting a profound sense of awe. For more chapters, visit audio-novel[dot]com for the complete novel.

Though the sword before him measured a mere three Chi-lengths, the power it contained was sufficient to split a thousand Li-length high, primordial mountain with a single blow.

Such a peerless weapon of slaughter, awakening of its own accord, possessed a world-ending might capable of threatening even a Nascent Soul True Lord whose aura could blanket Mount Ronan.

Most crucially, as the sword's Sword Lord, Lyra Jiang could channel the weapon's full, devastating power using only her Golden Core [the solidified core of spiritual energy formed in a cultivator's dantian] cultivation.

Moreover, even if this sword's power were to be depleted, Lyra Jiang could restore its full might by nurturing it with her own mana [the cultivated spiritual energy used to perform arts and techniques].

Compared to supreme treasures like the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures, which can barely be used once every sixty years, or the Mirror of the Vast Heaven, which requires a century to recover its combat strength, its deterrent power is simply not on the same level.

After all, while the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures and the Mirror of the Vast Heaven are immensely powerful, without a Nascent Soul cultivator to nurture them with Nascent Soul Qi, the cost of each battle is far too great. Once their power is overly consumed, they fall into a deep slumber.

"Now that you have advanced the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword, you will surely be unstoppable in vanquishing demons and eradicating evil from this day forward."

Lyra Jiang took the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword and stroked its blade with delight, saying, "With you guarding my path, my future cultivation journey will be smoother."

The immortal sword remained silent, offering no words.

Although such a Treasure Spirit possesses intelligence no different from a human's, its nature is ultimately more aloof and reserved.

After putting away the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword, Lyra Jiang quietly focused her senses for a moment. She then opened her eyes and said, "This Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword has a remarkably potent effect on tempering one's mana."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a look of inquiry.

Lyra Jiang [the female protagonist, a powerful cultivator] nodded and then spoke, "With the feedback from the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword [a legendary sword that purifies and refines its wielder's power], my mana can be further refined. It should allow my mana to become significantly more pure."

Hearing her words, Eldrin Chen [the male protagonist, a cultivator from the Chen Clan] revealed a look of pleasant surprise.

Lyra Jiang had forged an Innate Great Luo Golden Core [a supreme-grade Golden Core, representing the pinnacle of foundation for a cultivator], and the purity of her mana was already close to sixty or seventy percent of that of a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has ascended to the Nascent Soul realm].

Now, having received this additional tempering from the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword, wouldn't the purity of her mana become comparable to that of an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul cultivator whose foundation is aligned with the Dao of the Earth]?

Lyra Jiang shook her head and spoke again, "A True Lord [an honorific title for a Nascent Soul realm cultivator] also has their Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure bound to a cultivator's soul, growing with them] for tempering. Furthermore, an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul likely possesses more than one such treasure. My mana probably still cannot compare to theirs."

"However, even if it falls short of an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul, once the tempering is complete, it should be no weaker than that of a Mortal Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul cultivator whose foundation is aligned with the Dao of Mortals]."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with understanding; even this was already astonishing.

The reason a Nascent Soul True Lord could wield one unit of mana with the potency of two was precisely because their mana was more pure and profound.

For instance, when fully activating the same Great Divine Ability [a supreme-level supernatural power], 'Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations' [a powerful divine ability], a Nascent Soul [the realm above Golden Core] cultivator would expend only twenty percent of their mana, while Lyra Jiang would require a full fifty percent.

Yet, after the feedback and tempering from the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword, the purity and profundity of Lyra Jiang's mana would become no weaker than a Nascent Soul True Lord's. From then on, when she activated the Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations, she would need to expend only twenty percent of her mana.

Such pure and profound mana would undoubtedly greatly enhance Lyra Jiang's strength, elevating her power to a level no weaker than that of a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul, the spiritual infant that is the core of their being].

At that point, the distinction between her combat prowess and that of a Nascent Soul True Lord would lie solely in the Nascent Soul True Lord's integration of their Lifebound Grand Divine Ability [a supreme, innate technique bound to a cultivator's very soul] and the profound mysteries of Nascent Soul Qi [the unique, potent spiritual energy cultivated by a Nascent Soul cultivator].

However, with the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform [a mystical platform that channels the power of flood waters] and the compensation provided by two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasures [artifacts of the highest order, specifically designed to vanquish demonic entities], it is conceivable that upon breaking through to the Golden Core Ninth Layer [the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage, just before forming the Nascent Soul], Lyra Jiang would be fully capable of rivaling a Mortal Dao Nascent Soul True Lord [a Nascent Soul cultivator whose foundation is rooted in the mortal realm's principles], and might even possess the potential to emerge victorious in battle. For more chapters, visit audio-novel[dot]com for the complete novel.