Chapter 404 : The Armor's Metamorphosis

"With this Dao Pattern Gem [a gemstone containing condensed patterns of the Great Dao], things will be much more convenient,"

Eldrin Chen said with a smile, then fused the Dao Pattern Gem into the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures [a powerful defensive armor forged from three types of precious materials].

As the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures absorbed the Dao Pattern Gem, a vast amount of Dao pattern energy merged with its formation runes, continuously catalyzing a profound metamorphosis within the treasure.

"The evolution of Spiritual Treasure Formation Runes [the foundational magical patterns that grant a treasure its power] is not the work of a single day. This process will likely span two or three decades."

Lyra Jiang stored the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures away and said with a light laugh, "Let it undergo its transformation naturally. Once we return, we can have it draw upon the power of a Spirit Vein [a subterranean conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] to give it the final push it needs."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen also smiled. The might of a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a pinnacle-grade treasure specifically designed to suppress demonic forces] could shake heaven and earth; advancing such a treasure was no simple feat.

This Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures possessed formidable defensive capabilities. Once it successfully ascended, its combat power would be immense, undoubtedly becoming a decisive trump card in their arsenal.

Compared to that, the loss of a single Fifth-Rank Thunder Pearl [a pearl containing the condensed power of fifth-rank heavenly thunder] seemed a small price to pay.

After taking stock of their gains with satisfaction, the two continued their journey, flying with renewed purpose towards the Crimson River Continent. For more chapters, visit audio-novel*com for the complete novel.

Time flows swiftly, like a shuttle through the loom of years.

In the blink of an eye, two A Period of Ten Years [a conventional unit of time equal to ten years] had passed.

On this day, within the Eastern Wastelands [a vast and desolate region in the eastern part of the world], upon the lands of the Desolate Continent [a major continent known for its harsh and sparsely populated terrain].

A Treasure Boat [a vessel enchanted for flight and travel, often used by powerful cultivators] sailed through the void. Upon its deck, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang sat facing one another.

Gazing at the seemingly endless expanse of the inland sea ahead, Eldrin Chen spoke with a touch of emotion in his heart, "Ahead lies The Vast Sea [a legendary and immense body of water]. This journey has truly been a long one."

"Time has passed with such a heavy slowness."

Lyra Jiang also nodded in agreement. When one traverses the vastness between heaven and earth, time always seems to stretch and crawl.

Over these years, they had successively traversed the Celestial Star Continent, the Heavenly Lake Continent, the Dawn Continent, and the Crimson Ronan Province, among seven or eight other great continents. Their path had wound its way around more than half of the Heaven's Spine Mountains [a formidable and extensive mountain range].

Now, this Desolate Continent was the ninth great continent they had reached. The reason their journey exceeded the planned Seven Great Continents was primarily because, after leaving the Dawn Continent, the treasures and Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] in their possession far exceeded their initial expectations.

In order to exchange for more Heavenly Crystal [a purified and high-density form of Spirit Stone, extremely valuable], they had detoured through two additional continents.

Advancing further into The Vast Sea [a vast and treacherous ocean region], one would be less than ten million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Ji Continent [the continent where the Ji Clan holds sway]. By traversing it, one could conveniently return to Ji Continent.

The thought of returning to Chu Kingdom filled Eldrin Chen with joy. He counted the Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-density form of Spirit Stone used by high-level cultivators] in his hand and said, "We have now exchanged most of our Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] for these Heavenly Crystal. It is time to turn our steps toward home."

"Indeed, this journey has largely fulfilled our wishes,"

Lyra Jiang replied with a smile. Back in Heavenly Lake Continent, they already possessed twenty Heavenly Crystal. By the time they left Dawn Continent, that number had swelled to thirty-seven.

Later, visiting Golden Core Immortal Clan [powerful clans led by Golden Core cultivators] across several great continents like Crimson River Continent and Desolate Continent, they had traded away four hundred thousand Spirit Stone and various useless treasures, acquiring over thirty more Heavenly Crystal.

Now, the Heavenly Crystal in their possession numbered a staggering seventy-one. Such a fortune, they reckoned, was even enough to purchase two Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming a Nascent Soul] or at least one Fifth Rank [a grade corresponding to the Nascent Soul realm] low-grade Heaven and Earth Treasures [rare natural treasures born from heaven and earth, containing immense spiritual power].

At this thought, both felt a surge of elation. With this wealth of Heavenly Crystal in hand, they now had some confidence, whether to purchase a Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [a Fifth Rank natural treasure] or to gather more funds for acquiring Earth Mother Qi [the primordial essence of the earth element].

The Treasure Boat [a flying vessel imbued with magical properties] sailed onward, soon crossing the boundary between Desolate Continent and The Vast Sea.

Upon entering The Vast Sea, both Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang adopted expressions of grave seriousness.

Lyra Jiang's gaze sharpened as she cautioned, "The power dynamics within The Vast Sea are intricate and tangled. We must proceed with utmost caution."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, his gaze growing solemn and contemplative.

The Vast Sea [a vast inland sea spanning millions of Li-lengths] was a majestic expanse stretching for millions of Li-lengths, dotted with thousands upon thousands of islands like scattered stars across a chessboard. It was once an extraordinarily prosperous Cultivation World [a world where beings practice cultivation to ascend towards immortality].

As one of the seven great freshwater lakes within the Eastern Wastelands [the Eastern Wilderness, a vast and untamed domain], it nurtured countless living beings and boasted an exceptionally rich and vibrant ecosystem.

Innumerable species thrived and multiplied here, and the source springs of dozens of Cultivation World's Water Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated water-element spiritual energy] also originated from this place.

It is said that one thousand years ago, The Vast Sea was under the control of the Human Race Nascent Soul Immortal Clan Chen Clan. At that time, the The Vast Sea Chen Clan was a top-tier Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [an immortal clan possessing cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm], rumored to have over a dozen Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul], and even possessed a supreme existence who had reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spirit forms an independent, immortal entity]. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio~novel.com.

In that era, the The Vast Sea Cultivation World was a place of unparalleled splendor; even among the eight hundred continents of the Eastern Wastelands, it could rank within the top fifty.

Later, for reasons unknown, they incurred the wrath of the Black Dragon Demon Progenitor [a primordial and immensely powerful demonic dragon]. Overnight, the Chen Immortal Clan of The Vast Sea was annihilated. It is said that even their Fifth Rank [a grade denoting power equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage] High-Grade Spirit Vein [a geological formation that concentrates and emits spiritual energy] was shattered and sank into the depths of the sea, its former glory never to be seen again.

Now, after a millennium has passed, the landscape of The Vast Sea has undergone a tremendous transformation.

Within this The Vast Sea, humans, Demonic Monsters [monstrous beings that cultivate demonic energy], and other forces stand in a precarious tripartite balance, locked in a state of near-constant warfare and chaos.

Recalling his knowledge of The Vast Sea [the immense and perilous ocean region], Eldrin Chen mused thoughtfully, "There are no Nascent Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage] within The Vast Sea. With our strength, we should be able to ensure our safety here."

"Mm," Lyra Jiang nodded, yet she added cautiously, "But this place is far too chaotic. We must still proceed with great care."

As they conversed, the two continued flying forward.

They had not flown for long when they sensed a powerful surge of demonic aura erupting in the distance.

Sensing the demonic aura's eruption, Eldrin Chen's eyes turned cold. In an instant, he merged with his sword and shot forth from the Treasure Boat [a vessel enchanted for travel and combat].

Lyra Jiang stowed the Green Sun Treasure Boat and followed closely behind him.

Their two sword-lights moved with the speed of Star-Chasing Moon-Pursuing [a movement technique of incredible swiftness]. A distance of several hundred Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] was traversed in the blink of an eye, and they soon arrived at the site of the demonic outburst.

It was a Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] no more than a few hundred Li-lengths in size. Upon it lived several hundred thousand of the Human Race, and several hundred cultivators were currently relying on the power of a Formation [a structured array of magical energy] to defend against an immense and colossal Demonic Crocodile.

"Do not fear! Channel all your power into sustaining the Formation!"

Upon the Spirit Island, a man at the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage bellowed encouragement as he poured his energy into the Formation. "We have already sent word to the Spirit Island Alliance! If we can hold for half a day, we will receive aid from the Ancient Ancestors!"

"Half a day..."

A cultivator, suffering from a backlash, spat out a mouthful of blood before forcing himself to maintain the Formation.

His face twisted with anguish and terror as he cried out, "With the Formation of our Yellow Wood Island, we might hold for half a day against a Purple Mansion Initial Stage Demonic Beast."

"But this Purple Mansion Demonic Crocodile has reached the Purple Palace, Mid Stage. At best, we can hold for another One Shichen."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators channeling the Formation were filled with despair.

For a millennium, the environment within the Cultivation World of the The Vast Sea has been exceedingly harsh. In this shattered realm, Demonic Monsters stand like forests, and the Human Race struggles for every step of survival.

Although the high-ranking cultivators of the The Vast Sea Cultivation World spearheaded the formation of the Spirit Island Alliance, islands with weak second-rank spirit defenses often find it difficult to receive timely aid from the Alliance's cultivators when high-level Demonic Monsters attack.

For them, if the Formation is breached, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator might have a slim chance to flee. But the hundreds of thousands of mortals and low-level cultivators on the island would face certain doom. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel dot com.