Chapter 321 : A Vow Forged in Cosmic Debt

"Senior, please speak," Eldrin Chen replied.

Eldrin Chen's expression turned grave as he spoke. The Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences] of a Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure [a supreme artifact of the primordial sun, of the highest possible grade] was likely not something to be repaid easily.

However, without the life-saving grace from back then, the person he was today would likely not exist. Therefore, he would not seek to evade this Karma.

The Broken Sword seemed satisfied with his attitude. Its strands of sword light split the void around them, as if it were pondering deeply.

After a long moment, it finally spoke. "First, help me reclaim my missing tip and assist in reforging my body."

"Second, avenge my master. Slay the Garuda Heavenly Demon [a powerful race of celestial demons resembling mythical bird-men]."

"Third, my master's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] was devoured by a Heavenly Demon. If you can ascend to immortality in the future, you must seek out the Netherworld Underworld Court [the celestial bureaucracy governing the cycle of death and rebirth] to find a wisp of my master's remnant soul. Help him recover his memories and achieve Rebirth [a divine ability allowing for reincarnation with retained memories]."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, a tremor of awe passing through him. Each of these three conditions seemed as difficult as scaling the heavens themselves.

Any entity capable of possessing a fragment of a Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure would likely be, at the very least, an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their nascent soul, a major milestone]. And that Garuda Heavenly Demon was undoubtedly a being of terrifying, monstrous power.

Heavenly Demons were malevolent entities from the Primordial Spirit Realm [the cultivation realm focused on nurturing the primordial spirit]. In this world, Primordial Spirit Heavenly Demon [Heavenly Demons at the Primordial Spirit cultivation level] could be counted on one hand. Aside from the handful of native Demonic Cultivator Patriarch [the leaders of demonic cultivation sects], most Heavenly Demons were Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [demons that originate from beyond this world] that had descended from the End of the Demonic Abyss [a legendary, fathomless pit said to be the source of demonic energy]. For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel . com.

This Garuda Heavenly Demon [a powerful demonic entity resembling a mythical bird of prey] clearly belongs to the latter category. Its strength is so immense that it would likely cause even a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has mastered the Primordial Spirit realm and established their own unique cultivation path] to tremble.

If the first two tasks were matters where the Primordial Spirit Path Lord of this realm still held some measure of confidence, then the difficulty of the final one was on an entirely different scale. That Netherworld Underworld Court [the supreme governing court of the underworld and the afterlife] lies at the very end of the Nine Nether Abysses [the deepest, most profound layers of the underworld]. Unless he were to become an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and achieved eternal life] who gazes upon the world with Longevity [eternal life and enduring existence], it was a venture not even worth contemplating.

Exquisite Jiang's expression shifted slightly, and she made to open her mouth, likely to begin bargaining.

Eldrin Chen stopped her with a gesture, then asked calmly, "Senior, I beseech you to instruct me."

"Very well, it is only right that I inform you," the sword conceded.

The broken sword hovered silently, its voice gentle yet clear as it transmitted, "The missing tip of my blade lies within the Desolate Demon Ridge [a treacherous mountain range infested with ancient demons] on the Nine Rivers Continent. Should you break through to the Infant Soul Realm [the realm where a cultivator's nascent soul is fully formed and stabilized], then you may begin to make plans."

"If you retrieve the sword tip and aid me in reforging my body, then I pledge to you this: in the future, I shall assist you in overcoming the tribulation to ascend to the Primordial Spirit [the realm where one's spiritual essence condenses into an indestructible primordial spirit]."

"As far back as nine thousand years ago, that Garuda Heavenly Demon was already a formidable fiend at the Primordial Spirit Early Stage. By now, it has likely progressed to the middle or even late stages of that realm. To confront it, you yourself must first reach the Primordial Spirit. It would be wisest to join forces with fellow cultivators of similar strength before making a move."

"As for that Netherworld Underworld Court..."

The broken sword spoke with finality, then fell silent once more.

It remained silent for a long while before finally speaking. "Legend has it that within the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where true Immortals reside], even an Immortal [a being who has ascended to the highest state of cultivation and immortality] is a colossus born one in a hundred million, a figure of immense and revered status."

"If you can attain the Dao and ascend to immortality, then, barring an excessively unreasonable request, even the Nine Nether Abyssal Underworld [the deepest, most profound realm of the afterlife and the dead] would likely grant you some face."

"Though you would undoubtedly have to pay some price in exchange."

With these words, Eldrin Chen understood that to repay this life-saving debt, he must first cultivate his own strength and power to a formidable level.

At that moment, Exquisite Jiang beside him hesitated slightly before asking, "Senior, you mentioned earlier that Eldrin seemed to be born in response to a tribulation. What did you mean by that?"

"Yes, please enlighten us, Senior."

Eldrin Chen was also curious and could not help but inquire.

The broken sword fell silent once more. After a long pause, it finally said, "That was my initial belief. However, after observing him these past years, he does not appear to be an Immortal [a being who has ascended to the highest state of cultivation and immortality] descended to face a tribulation."

"What do you mean?" Both of them wore expressions of confusion.

"That... is a long story to tell."

The Broken Sword did not conceal anything, instead countering with a question: "Do you know why this realm is named the Purple Seal Realm [a specific world within the cosmology of this story]?"

Without waiting for their answer, it began to narrate in detail.

"The name of the Purple Seal Realm is, in fact, the name of an Immortal [a being who has ascended to a higher state of existence through cultivation]."

"Legend speaks of ranks among Immortals, divided into the Ninth Level Earth Immortal [the ninth and highest tier of the Earth Immortal stage], the nine realms of the Celestial Immortal [a higher tier of immortal above Earth Immortal], and beyond that, the fabled state of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the Golden Immortal who has attained a state of encompassing all phenomena]."

"The Great Encompassing Golden Immortal is also known as the Great Encompassing Immortal Lord [a title for a Golden Immortal of great power and status]. Such figures are numbered even within the vastness of the Immortal Realm [the collective realms where immortals reside], and are considered great powers among Immortals."

"Several million years ago, the Purple Seal Immortal [the immortal who gave his name to the realm] emerged from this very world, advancing all the way to the realm of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, and was revered as the Purple Seal Immortal Lord [the Dao title of the Purple Seal Immortal]." Support the author by reading on audio-novel dot com.

"In that era, the Purple Seal Realm was a powerful cultivation world with profound backing within the Immortal Realm, blessed by the fortune of the Purple Seal Immortal Lord. It was a time when prodigies ascended to immortality almost every ten thousand years."

"Among the countless worlds of the Myriad Heavens [the infinite multiverse of heavens and realms], this world was considered an exceptionally powerful one for cultivation."

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang could not help but draw a sharp breath, astonished to learn of such a background for the Purple Seal Realm.

The Broken Sword hovered silently, as if recounting pages from an ancient chronicle, and spoke with calm finality.

"The Purple Seal Realm [a specific cultivation world] has the backing of a Great Encompassing Immortal Lord [a supreme being who has transcended the Immortal realm], and several Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] have ascended from there. Therefore, I initially believed you were an Immortal reincarnated, arriving to face the tribulation and save the common people of the Purple Seal Realm."

"However, after observing you for so many years, I have discovered you are most likely not an Immortal reborn to face a tribulation."

"Oh."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he waited quietly for the Crippled Sword Senior's next words.

The Crippled Sword glanced at Eldrin Chen and, after a long pause, said, "Because an ordinary Immortal likely would not be able to obtain a technique like yours."

"Forgotten upon sight, unheard by the ear, unrecordable on metal or stone—even my own existence cannot be remembered in the slightest."

"The origin of your Primordial Chaos Scripture [a legendary cultivation manual] is profoundly astonishing. It likely points directly to the Great Path Origin [the fundamental source of the Dao, the ultimate truth]. If one is not a destined individual, even a peerless Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has attained a celestial rank] might not be qualified to learn it."

Eldrin Chen's heart trembled violently. The Primordial Chaos Scripture was his greatest secret, and he had never imagined it had been exposed to the Crippled Sword's gaze for so many years.

Upon careful reflection, this was only natural. He had cultivated for years at Spirit Isle Lake [a spiritual lake], practically right under the Crippled Sword's watchful eye. How could he possibly have hidden it?

As if understanding his concern, the Crippled Sword continued calmly, "Do you know why the Purple Seal Realm has fallen to such a state?"

The two exchanged a glance, suppressing the thoughts in their hearts. "Senior, please speak," they said.

"Because the Purple Seal Immortal Lord [a title for a supremely powerful immortal] perished. To prevent his enemies from settling scores, he cast the Purple Seal Realm [a specific world or dimension] adrift in the boundless void before his end."

"Those Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [powerful demons from beyond this world] at the End of the Demonic Abyss [a specific, perilous location] are merely instruments of the Demon God's [a supreme demonic entity] erosion into this realm. They stumbled upon the Purple Seal Realm by chance, drawn here by the legacy treasures of the Great Encompassing Immortal Lord [a legendary immortal of immense power]."

Eldrin Chen felt a violent throb between his brows, finally understanding the full story of how this world had fallen to such a state.

The broken sword fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "My master, Verdant Abyss Path Master, was considered the final true inheritor of the lineage descended from the Purple Seal Immortal Lord. That is why I know some of these hidden secrets."

"The reason the Purple Seal Immortal Lord fell, legend says, was because he lacked the most crucial supreme treasure. This lack caused his attempt to break through to the realm of a Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [a being who has merged their path with the fundamental laws, attaining both ancestral and sagehood status] to fail, resulting in his death."

"The realm of a Path Ancestor Immortal Sage?"

Eldrin Chen felt as if the Great Path [the fundamental laws of cultivation and existence] itself was thundering in his heart. Merely mentioning that realm was like having the Primordial Chaos Great Path [the primordial, chaotic origin of all laws] descend from the heavens, a pressure vast enough to crush eons of Space-Time [the fabric of reality encompassing both dimensions and the flow of time].

The broken sword also seemed to be wary of something, remaining silent for a long while before finally speaking aloud.

"Path Ancestor Immortal Sage... their number in heaven and earth is fixed. Across the entire Immortal Realm [the collective realms where immortals dwell], there are only five or six such beings."

"Legend has it that to break through to that realm, one requires a certain supreme treasure, something far beyond my knowledge."

Eldrin Chen's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] trembled violently; the mention of that supreme treasure sparked a faint connection in his mind.

It was clear that the Broken Sword [a sentient, damaged magical sword] could not have anticipated that the Primordial Chaos Scripture might be connected to something even more terrifying. This novel is serialized on https://audio-novel.com. Visit for updates.