Chapter 406 : Alliance of the Vast Sea

"So you are a senior from another continent."

A look of delight appeared on the face of Green Cloud Xu, who then began introducing the situation to Eldrin Chen.

Through Green Cloud Xu's explanation, Eldrin Chen gained some understanding of the situation within the Vast Sea. The most powerful force of the Human Race in this sea was the Spirit Island Alliance.

Similar to the Heavenly Ruins Alliance, the Spirit Island Alliance was a mutual defense and assistance alliance, formed by the united rogue cultivators and families of the Human Race across the entire Vast Sea.

Eldrin Chen had gleaned a rough idea of its strength from his time on Yellowwood Island, but it was only from Green Cloud Xu's own words that he learned the true extent of the Spirit Island Alliance's power.

The Spirit Island Alliance boasted a total of seventy-one Golden Core Cultivator. Among them, there were as many as nine powerful True Persons who had reached the Golden Core Late Stage.

The alliance leader was named Frigid Stream True Person. This individual possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root [the highest grade of spiritual root talent], and it was said he had also forged a Superior-Tier Golden Core [the pinnacle grade of Golden Core foundation]. With his strength at the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-realm between Golden Core and Infant Soul], he was considered exceptionally powerful even among the many experts of the Spirit Island Alliance.

Mentioning Frigid Stream True Person, Green Cloud Xu's face filled with admiration as he said, "Our Glacier Alliance Leader was born a seed of the Dao, his innate talent is rare even across the world."

"He achieved Foundation Establishment at twenty, reached the Violet Sanctum at fifty, and broke through to the Golden Core Realm on his own before reaching two hundred years of age. Now, having broken through to the False Infant Soul Realm, he is merely five hundred years old."

Eldrin Chen's brow twitched slightly. Such talent was indeed rare; the potential of this Frigid Stream True Person likely did not fall short of Violet Consort Yan's. Original publication: audio‑novel.com - The source of this chapter.

After gaining a preliminary understanding of the Spirit Island Alliance, Eldrin Chen inquired about the ruins of the Vast Sea Chen Clan: "Even beyond the Vast Sea, I had heard tales of Infant Soul [the stage of cultivation where the nascent soul is formed] ruins within the Vast Sea."

"I came hoping to witness them for myself. Might you know where these ruins are located?"

Green Cloud Xu exchanged a glance with Green Brightness Xu beside him. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, "There is indeed a legend of the Chen Clan's 'Celestial Dome Island' ruins. However, that Celestial Dome Island sank into the depths of the Vast Sea long ago."

"We know its approximate location, but despite searching for years, we have never found it. We cannot be certain if the marked location is genuine."

Seeing that they had no concrete information, Eldrin Chen nodded and asked, "Might I have a copy of the map?"

"Of course, we would be honored to provide it."

Green Cloud Xu promptly produced a map, marked the suspected location of Celestial Dome Island, and handed it to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen glanced at the map and gave a calm nod. Such a map could not easily be falsified; a few inquiries among other Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators at the Violet Sanctum stage] would quickly reveal any discrepancies.

Storing the map away, Eldrin Chen then asked, "Within the Vast Sea, are there any suitable places for a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core] to reside temporarily?"

"Does Senior wish to lease a fourth-rank cave abode?" inquired Green Cloud Xu. Seeing Eldrin Chen's nod, he smiled and said, "Three million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to the east lies Ethereal Void Island, a Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] specifically designated for rogue cultivators to lease residences."

"Most of the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solid golden spiritual core] rogue cultivators in our Vast Sea region who lack access to a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a location where the earth's spiritual energy converges and is dense enough to support Golden Core cultivators] end up settling there."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen glanced at the map and casually tossed a jade vial of pills to him. "We appreciate you guiding the way."

The cultivator, Green Cloud Xu, clutched the vial, his face lighting up with delight. He quickly rose to his feet and said,

"Esteemed Seniors, please follow me."

The group boarded the Green Sun Treasure Ark [a flying vessel enchanted for travel]. With the two men leading the way, they reached Ethereal Void Island in just over a dozen days.

Upon arriving at Ethereal Void Island, Eldrin Chen immediately rented a fourth-rank cultivation abode and entered closed-door cultivation.

It had been some years since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Mid Stage. Although his recent years were spent traveling, he had never neglected his cultivation. His spiritual power was now perfectly harmonized, and he naturally wished to seize this opportunity to advance directly to the Golden Core 5th Tier.

This period of seclusion lasted for three months before Eldrin Chen finally emerged from the Seclusion Chamber.

Seeing him step out, Exquisite Jiang immediately asked, "How do you feel?"

"It went rather smoothly."

Eldrin Chen replied with a faint smile. Breaking through to the Golden Core 5th Tier had presented no bottleneck for him; this advancement had felt as natural as water flowing into a channel.

Hearing his confirmation, Exquisite Jiang smiled and said, "It seems that after we return to Chu Nation, we should start planning for your Returning Cloud Creation Pill."

At her words, Eldrin Chen gave an inscrutable smile. "While I was in seclusion, did anything of note occur?"

"There was one matter," Exquisite Jiang began, pausing briefly. "Rumors say that not long ago, a female cultivator inadvertently obtained a portion of the legacy of the Vast Sea Chen Clan. Now, both the demonic and monstrous races are hunting her across the lands."

"Oh?" Immerse yourself in the complete world at (audio-novel.com).

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with interest. He immediately rose to his feet. "Let us go and investigate this as well."

"Agreed."

Exquisite Jiang nodded. A fragment of an Infant Soul Immortal Clan's legacy would surely tempt even Golden Core Cultivators, let alone the possibility that it might contain clues regarding Celestial Dome Island.

Having made their decision, the pair did not linger on Ethereal Void Island. That very day, they set off, flying towards the seas near Celestial Dome Island.

"..."

Meanwhile, upon a stretch of ocean millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away.

Four streaks of light pursued a single figure, flying across the sky, and finally encircled that figure within the void.

"Little girl, where else can you run to now?"

"Hand over the Infant Soul legacy treasure, and this old man will leave your corpse intact today."

A black-robed old man let out a sinister laugh and made his move, raising his hand to unleash a set of pitch-black Formation Flag that enveloped the surrounding void.

The woman encircled in the center had a graceful figure and a cultivation base that had already reached the Pseudo-Core Realm. Yet, at this moment, her brow was furrowed, revealing a look of deep gravity.

"That black-robed old man is a Demonic Cultivator at the Golden Core Early Stage. The remaining three old Demonic Cultivator are also at least at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage or above."

"Is it really time to use that move?"

Seeing the woman lost in thought, the black-robed old man sneered and unleashed a massive hand formed of demonic energy to seize her.

The woman's gaze sharpened. From between her brows, a golden pearl radiating brilliant light shot forth, unleashing a torrent of blazing flames that blocked the black-robed elder.

"The Blazing Flame Golden Pearl [a powerful magical artifact that channels fire], what a fine treasure."

The Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified core of spiritual power] old demon's eyes gleamed with avarice. He hastily called to several Violet Sanctum [the second major stage of cultivation, where one opens a mystical energy center] demonic cultivators, "Attack now!"

As the attackers closed in, the woman gritted her silver teeth, a look of grim resolve flashing across her face.

With a swift motion, she summoned a spiritual talisman. It erupted with a dazzling burst of Primordial Solar Flame [a divine flame of pure yang energy, anathema to darkness], instantly igniting the Formation Flag [a flag used to anchor and power a defensive or offensive array]. The flags were consumed, turning to ash in the blink of an eye.

"Solar True Flame [another name for the Primordial Solar Flame]!" The Golden Core old demon let out a piercing shriek. "Ah! My Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with demonic energy]!"

The remaining three Violet Sanctum demons, though their cultivation was not weak, were caught in the conflagration. Each became a human torch; their demonic energy itself served as fuel for the Solar True Flame, impossible to extinguish.

Witnessing the devastating power of the Solar True Flame, the Golden Core old demon cried out in alarm, "A Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [a treasure of the fourth rank, indicating immense power], and the Solar True Flame... Just who are you?"

"Go ask the Netherworld Underworld Court [the court of judgment in the underworld]."

The woman's eyes turned icy. With lethal intent, she unleashed another brilliant spiritual talisman.

The moment he laid eyes on that spiritual talisman, the Golden Core Old Demon's face twisted into a mask of utter despair. He scrambled to flee in a panic, crying out, "The Great God Ability! The Two Polarities Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique that merges opposing forces of fire and water]!"

"No—!"

In a single Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time], a divine thunderbolt, a fusion of crimson and azure energies, descended. Its speed rivaled the chase of stars across the moonlit sky, leaving no room for evasion. With a single, devastating strike, it reduced the Golden Core Old Demon's physical body to nothing but drifting ashes.

Having slain the four old demons, the woman drew a deep, ragged breath, her complexion pale as moonlight.

She swiftly collected their Storage Bag [a spatial pouch for storing items]. Without a moment to spare for looting the battlefield, she immediately turned and fled into the distance. Original publication: audio~novel.com - The source of this chapter.