Chapter 404 : The Armor's Metamorphosis

"With this Path Pattern Gemstone [a rare stone inscribed with the fundamental patterns of the Great Dao], things will be much more convenient."

Eldrin Chen said with a smile, then fused the Path Pattern Gemstone into the Three Treasures Glazed Armor [a legendary defensive armor forged from three supreme treasures].

As the Three Treasures Glazed Armor absorbed the Path Pattern Gemstone, a vast amount of Dao Pattern power [the fundamental energy of cosmic laws] flowed into its formation patterns, causing the armor to undergo a continuous and profound metamorphosis.

"The evolution of Spiritual Treasure Formation Patterns [the intricate energy circuits within a spiritual treasure] is not the work of a single day. This process will likely take twenty to thirty years."

Exquisite Jiang stored the Three Treasures Glazed Armor away and said with a light laugh, "Let it transform on its own. Once we return, we can have it draw upon the power of a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a high-grade source of concentrated spiritual energy] to give it the final push it needs."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen also smiled. The power of a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order, capable of suppressing demonic beings] shakes heaven and earth; advancing one to that level was no simple feat.

This Three Treasures Glazed Armor possessed formidable defensive capabilities against Force Extreme [the pinnacle of physical force attacks]. Once it ascended, its combat power would be immense, undoubtedly becoming a trump card in their hands.

Compared to that, the loss of a single Fifth Rank Thunder Pearl [a pearl containing the condensed power of fifth-rank heavenly thunder] was truly insignificant.

After taking stock of their gains with satisfaction, the two continued their flight towards the Crimson River Continent. Experience the full epic at audio—novel.com.

"..."

Time flowed swiftly, and the years passed like a shuttle through a loom.

In the blink of an eye, two decades had slipped away.

On this day, high above the Celestial Barrens Province, within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

A treasure-laden skyship sailed through the void. Aboard it, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang sat facing each other.

Gazing at the boundless expanse of an inland sea stretching before them, Eldrin Chen spoke with a touch of emotion in his heart, "Ahead lies the Vast Sea. This journey has truly been a long one."

"Time has passed so slowly,"

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement. When one is constantly traversing the vastness between heaven and earth, time always seems to crawl.

Over these years, they had successively traversed seven or eight great continents, including the Heavenly Star Continent, the Celestial Lake Continent, and the Celestial Dawn Province, skirting around more than half of the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range.

Now, this Celestial Barrens Province was the ninth great continent. The reason they had passed through more than the planned seven continents was primarily because, after leaving the Celestial Dawn Province, the treasures and Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] in their possession had exceeded their initial expectations.

To exchange for more Heavenly Crystal [a highly refined and potent form of spiritual energy crystal], they journeyed across two additional continents.

Proceeding further into the Vast Sea, they would be less than ten million Li-lengths from Ji Continent, allowing them to return to Ji Continent directly after crossing it.

Thinking of returning to the Chu Nation, Eldrin Chen joyfully counted the Heavenly Crystal in his hand and said, "We have now converted most of our Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] into Heavenly Crystal. It is time to head home."

"Indeed. This journey has largely fulfilled our wishes."

Exquisite Jiang smiled. Back on Celestial Lake Continent, they already possessed twenty Heavenly Crystal. By the time they left Celestial Dawn Province, that number had grown to thirty-seven.

Later, visiting Golden Core Immortal Clan [powerful clans with Golden Core Patriarchs] across continents like Crimson River Continent and Celestial Barrens Province, they exchanged all forty million of their remaining Spirit Stone and useless treasures, acquiring over thirty more Heavenly Crystal.

Now, their total had reached seventy-one Heavenly Crystal. They estimated this sum was even enough to purchase two Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a rare elixir that aids in forming the Nascent Soul] or one Fifth Rank Low-Grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [a supreme-grade spiritual treasure of immense power].

At this thought, both felt a surge of joy. With this wealth of Heavenly Crystal in hand, they now had the confidence to either purchase a Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [a supreme-grade spiritual treasure] or save a bit more to acquire Earth Mother Energy [a primordial energy of nurturing earth].

"..."

The treasure vessel sailed onward, soon crossing the boundary between Celestial Barrens Province and the Vast Sea.

Upon entering the Vast Sea, both Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang wore expressions of solemn gravity.

Exquisite Jiang's gaze sharpened slightly as she offered a reminder, "The power dynamics within the Vast Sea are intricate and complex. We must proceed with caution."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod, his eyes growing deep and contemplative.

The Vast Sea was a vast inland sea spanning millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Across its expanse, thousands upon thousands of islands were scattered like stars across a chessboard. Once, it had been a supremely prosperous Immortal Realm [a world or region where cultivators dwell and pursue the Dao].

As one of the seven great freshwater lakes within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, it nurtured countless living beings, supporting an exceptionally rich and vibrant ecosystem. Original English translation available at audio‑novel.com.

Innumerable species thrived and multiplied here, and the Water Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated water-element spiritual energy] that served as the lifeblood for the cultivation worlds of several dozen great continents also originated from this place.

It was said that a thousand years prior, the Vast Sea was under the control of the Human Race Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan whose patriarch has reached the Infant Soul cultivation realm], the Chen Clan. In that era, the Vast Sea Chen Clan was a top-tier Infant Soul Immortal Clan, rumored to possess over a dozen Infant Soul True Lord [cultivators who have formed their Infant Soul, a nascent spiritual form] and even a supreme existence at the Great Perfection of Infant Soul [the pinnacle stage of the Infant Soul realm].

At its peak, the Vast Sea Cultivation World was a place of unparalleled splendor. Among the eight hundred continents of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, it could rank within the top fifty.

Later, for reasons unknown, they incurred the wrath of the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor. Overnight, the Chen Immortal Clan of the Vast Sea was utterly annihilated. It was said that even their Fifth Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein [a geological formation that naturally gathers and emits dense spiritual energy] was shattered and sank into the seabed, its former glory lost forever.

Now, after a thousand years had passed, the landscape of the Vast Sea had undergone a tremendous transformation.

Within this Vast Sea, humans, demons, and monsters stood in a precarious tripartite balance, locked in a state of near-constant, chaotic warfare.

Recalling his understanding of the Vast Sea, Eldrin Chen weighed his words carefully. "There are no Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator whose nascent soul has matured into a true spiritual lord] present within the Vast Sea. With our strength, ensuring our own safety here should be manageable."

"Hmm." Exquisite Jiang nodded, yet added a note of caution. "True. But this place is far too turbulent. We must still proceed with utmost care."

As they conversed, the two continued their flight forward.

They had not flown for long before sensing a powerful surge of demonic aura erupt in the distance.

Detecting the flare of demonic energy, Eldrin Chen's pupils turned icy. In an instant, he merged with his sword and shot forth from the treasure ark.

Exquisite Jiang stored the Green Sun Treasure Ark and followed close behind.

Two streaks of sword light, swift as shooting stars chasing the moon, traversed hundreds of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in the blink of an eye. They soon arrived at the source of the demonic disturbance.

It was a Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] no more than a few hundred Li-lengths across. Tens of thousands of the Human Race lived upon it, and several hundred cultivators were currently relying on the power of a defensive Formation [a structured array that channels energy for protection or attack] to hold back an immense and monstrous Demon Crocodile.

"Do not fear! Hold the Formation with all your might!"

Upon Spirit Island, a man at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage was channeling the Formation while shouting encouragement. "We have already sent word to the Spirit Island Alliance! If we can hold for half a day, reinforcements from the Patriarchs will arrive!"

"Half a day..."

A cultivator, suffering from a backlash, spat out a mouthful of blood but forced himself to continue sustaining the Formation.

His face was etched with misery and terror. "With the Formation of our Yellowwood Island, we might hold for half a day against a Violet Sanctum Early Stage demon beast," he said, voice trembling.

"But that Violet Sanctum Demon Crocodile has reached the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage! At best, we can hold for another hour!"

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

For a millennium, the environment of the Vast Sea Cultivation World had been brutally harsh. Within this shattered remnant of an Immortal Realm [a higher plane of existence where immortals dwell], demons and monsters stood tall on every side, making survival for the Human Race an arduous struggle at every step.

Although the high-ranking cultivators of the Vast Sea Cultivation World had formed the Spirit Island Alliance, a Second Rank Spirit Island like this one had insufficient defenses. Once a high-level demonic beast attacked, it was exceedingly difficult to await timely aid from the Alliance's cultivators.

For them, if the Formation were breached, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators might have a slim chance to flee. But the hundreds of thousands of mortals and low-level cultivators on the island would be left with only one path: death. Visit audio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.