Chapter 424 : The Glazed Armor's Ascendant Power

Sensing the profound utility of the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures, Lyra Jiang spoke with a note of pleasant surprise, "Once I break through to the Golden Core Great Perfection, the depth and purity of my mana will approach seventy percent of that possessed by a Mortal Dao Nascent Soul."

"At that time, if I can receive the empowerment of this Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures, perhaps my mana could even surpass, by a slim margin, that of a first-layer Mortal Dao Nascent Soul."

Eldrin Chen also revealed a flicker of joy. If Lyra Jiang's mana rivaled that of a Mortal Dao Nascent Soul, then with the power of her Great Divine Ability and her Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure, she would be capable of contending against a Nascent Soul True Lord.

At the very least, before the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures's power was exhausted, she could maintain combat strength on par with a Nascent Soul True Lord.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen said happily, "Having pacified Demonic Ape Mountain in this battle and obtained the Star Fragment, our priority will be to advance your Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword."

"With the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword in hand, your strength will increase tremendously. Dealing with Ignatius the Blazing Lord next time will no longer be so difficult."

"Mm."

Lyra Jiang nodded as well. In the past, Freya Ji, wielding her Superior Golden Core cultivation at the Golden Core Great Perfection stage along with the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure Nine Firmaments Demon-Subduing Bracelet, had been able to briefly clash with Nascent Soul Cultivators without being at a disadvantage.

Her mana from the Innate Great Luo Golden Core was far more potent. Now, with the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures in her possession, her strength was already not inferior to Freya Ji's.

If she were to break through to Golden Core Great Perfection, her mana would increase by another thirty percent. Then, after advancing her Lifebound Immortal Sword, the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword, even an early-stage Mortal Dao Nascent Soul would likely find it difficult to subdue her. Experience the full epic at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

Recalling the Star Fragment [a fragment of celestial origin containing immense spiritual power], Lyra Jiang suppressed the joy of her Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact specifically designed to suppress and vanquish demonic entities] advancing in rank. She immediately rose to her feet and declared, "Time is of the essence. Let us first pacify Demonic Ape Mountain [a mountain range infested with powerful, intelligent ape demons]."

"Agreed."

Capitalizing on the fact that news of the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures's advancement had not yet spread, the two of them directly utilized the Teleportation Formation [a magical array that allows for instantaneous travel across vast distances] to return to Spirit Isle Lake.

Upon arriving at Spirit Isle Lake, Lyra Jiang's eyes flickered with a thoughtful light. She then spoke, "Judging from this season's harvest of Spirit Peach [a mystical fruit that enhances cultivation and extends lifespan], it appears the Spirit Peach Tree [the mother tree that bears the Spirit Peaches] will advance to the Fourth Rank High Grade [a high-tier classification for spiritual plants and artifacts] within three to five decades."

"Indeed. Preparations should be made."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Once the Spirit Peach Tree ascended to Fourth Rank High Grade, its latent potential would be nearly exhausted.

To push it further would require consuming three mouthfuls of Primordial Essence [the purest, most foundational energy of creation, essential for elevating the grade of spiritual beings and treasures]. Although he had accumulated a considerable amount over the past three centuries, with twenty-one mouthfuls remaining, it would only suffice to elevate seven such entities.

And he possessed five Life-Bound Magical Treasure [magical treasures intrinsically linked to a cultivator's life force and soul] alone. Advancing these Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [another term for Life-Bound Magical Treasures] would require fifteen mouthfuls.

Furthermore, according to his calculations, utilizing three mouthfuls of Primordial Essence during his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator forms a spiritual infant, a manifestation of their refined soul and power] would likely allow his Nascent Soul's grade to shatter its inherent limits. It could advance beyond the state of a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul perfectly aligned with the Heavenly Dao, representing supreme harmony] and become the legendary Great Luo Nascent Soul [a mythical, transcendent grade of Nascent Soul representing ultimate perfection and boundless potential].

"This Primordial Essence... is also somewhat insufficient," he murmured.

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh. Over the years, he had been consciously controlling his use of Primordial Essence [the purest form of spiritual energy, foundational to creation], deliberately accumulating it. He understood that advancing his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's personally bound and nurtured spiritual artifact], and eventually forging a Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang [a pinnacle-level magical treasure imbued with pure yang energy], would require vast quantities of Primordial Essence.

Fortunately, he was only at the Golden Core, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Golden Core cultivation realm] now. There was still some distance before he attempted to break through to the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator forms a nascent spiritual avatar] realm. Given time, he should be able to accumulate a bit more. If he refrained from squandering Primordial Essence, it should be just barely sufficient.

Suppressing these thoughts, Eldrin Chen did not linger at Spirit Isle Lake. They immediately mounted their Flying Sword [swords enchanted for flight and combat] and soared towards Demonic Ape Mountain.

Yu County was situated near the Violet Abyss Sect. Spirit Isle Lake was only seven hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Demonic Ape Mountain. The two of them flew with immense speed, covering the distance in a mere three days, arriving at the outskirts of Demonic Ape Mountain.

"You have finally arrived," a voice greeted them.

Seeing their arrival, Qian the True Person spoke with evident relief and joy.

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and stepped forward. His gaze swept over Demonic Ape Mountain, his expression turning grave. "What is the situation?" he inquired.

"The Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent, often blood-based or soul-consuming arts] have probed twice. We repelled them both times," came the reply.

Old Patriarch stated calmly. This time, the forces of the Chu Kingdom were formidable. They already numbered over a dozen Golden Core Cultivator [practitioners who have formed a solidified golden core of spiritual energy].

Such strength was nearly on par with the peak of the Chu Kingdom's power over five hundred years ago, on the eve of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving an incursion from a demonic realm].

By the strength of Demonic Ape Mountain alone, breaking through so many formidable blockades was, in truth, no easy feat.

Not far away in the void, Taiwu the True Person, the sect master of the Verdant Immortal Sect, was directing cultivators in the deployment of a Formation.

Demonic Ape Mountain was actually quite distant from the Cerulean Peaks Range, yet for this battle, the Verdant Immortal Sect had volunteered. This elder, now over eight hundred years of age, had personally brought the Verdant Formation Plate to this place.

Eldrin Chen stepped forward, his expression somber, and said, "How fares your health, True Person?"

"Ahem, ahem."

"I am grateful for your concern, Fellow Daoist Chen. This old man's body can still hold on for a few more years." Read the full novel exclusively on audio-novel . com.

Taiwu the True Person, his beard and hair completely white, spoke to Eldrin Chen between fits of coughing.

This sole surviving elder of the Verdant Immortal Sect had squandered too much of his time in his youth attempting to break through to the Middle Golden Core realm. He had even consumed a Third Rank Longevity Pill [a pill that extends one's lifespan] to prolong his life just to succeed.

Now, with less than thirty years of his lifespan remaining, he still forced his weary body to labor, striving to accumulate one final measure of Deep-Seated Foundation [a profound and stable foundation for future cultivation] for the Verdant Immortal Sect.

Although Taiwu the True Person's cultivation had reached the Golden Core Sixth Layer, he did not waste his Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] on purchasing Creation Cloud-Returning Pill [a high-grade pill that aids in cultivation breakthroughs] to advance to the Golden Core, Late Stage. Instead, he had drawn up a will, bequeathing all his wealth to his immortal sect.

In the past, when the Verdant Immortal Sect faced a great calamity, it was he alone who held it together, creating the situation we see today. It could be said he single-handedly pulled the Verdant Immortal Sect back from the brink of destruction to its current state, where three Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid core] cultivators now stand guard.

Such a venerable and respected elder cultivator commands high prestige even within the Chu Kingdom, and even the Golden Core True Person [a formal title for a Golden Core realm cultivator] present here hold him in esteem.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke: "I am truly pleased that you, True Person, have come this time. After the great battle concludes, I will grant your Verdant Immortal Sect two Core Formation Treasure [a rare treasure that aids in the formation of a Golden Core] as compensation."

"That is unnecessary."

Taiwu the True Person shook his head, speaking with calm and natural ease: "This old man understands you desire the Star Fragment [a fragment of celestial material containing immense power]. My coming here is merely to offer you a favor. Therefore, our Verdant Immortal Sect's participation in this battle requires no payment."

He paused briefly before continuing: "My only hope is that after this old man passes on, should any future disciples of the Verdant Immortal Sect prove unworthy, you would deign to watch over them."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen sighed inwardly. Even with his lifespan nearing its end, Taiwu the True Person still clung to concerns for the Verdant Immortal Sect's legacy and orthodoxy.

Compared to Taicang the Venerable, who turned to the Demonic Path [a cultivation path that often involves malevolent or destructive methods], murdered his beloved Dao Companion of centuries, and betrayed his Sect, they were polar opposites.

'If only Taiwu the True Person had broken through to Golden Core earlier and become the Sect Master of the Verdant Immortal Sect, how different might the present situation be?'

Thoughts flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind. With Taiwu the True Person's innate talent, had he not pursued the Middle Golden Core [a higher-quality, more stable form of the Golden Core], he should have cultivated to the Golden Core Great Perfection [the peak of the Golden Core realm] or even the False Nascent Soul Realm [a quasi-realm between Golden Core and Nascent Soul] by now.

Had Taicang the Elder Demon not ascended to the position of Sect Master, and thus been deprived of the prioritized resource allocation from the Verdant Immortal Sect, it is doubtful he would have cultivated to the Golden Core, Late Stage in his time. Indeed, the pivotal changes wrought by that great battle might never have come to pass.

Alas, attempting a Golden Core breakthrough without external aids carries a heavy price: failure demands a full Nurture for a Sixty-Year Cycle of recovery. Taiwu the True Person suffered four consecutive failures in his attempts to break through to Golden Core, a relentless series of setbacks that ultimately forced him to cede the Sect Master's throne—a position that was rightfully his—to Taicang the Elder Demon. For uninterrupted reading, go to audi novel.com.