Chapter 424 : Armor of Three Treasures, Sword of Celestial Ruin

Sensing the wondrous effects of the Three Treasures Glazed Armor [a defensive treasure that fortifies the wearer's essence, energy, and spirit], Exquisite Jiang said with pleasant surprise, "Once I break through to Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm], the depth and purity of my spiritual power will approach seventy percent of that of a Mortal Path Infant Soul [a foundational cultivation art for the Infant Soul realm] cultivator."

"At that time, if I can receive the empowerment of this Three Treasures Glazed Armor, perhaps my spiritual power could even surpass that of a first-layer Mortal Path Infant Soul cultivator by a hair's breadth."

Eldrin Chen also revealed a trace of joy. If Exquisite Jiang's spiritual power rivaled that of a Mortal Path Infant Soul cultivator, then with the power of her Great God Ability [a supreme divine technique] and the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a top-tier treasure specifically designed to suppress demonic beings], she would be capable of confronting an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Infant Soul realm and earned the title of True Lord].

At the very least, before the Three Treasures Glazed Armor's energy was depleted, she could maintain combat power on par with an Infant Soul True Lord.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen said happily, "Having pacified Demonic Ape Mountain [a mountain range inhabited by demonic apes] in this battle, and after obtaining the Stellar Fragment [a rare ore containing condensed stellar essence], we will prioritize upgrading your Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword famed for slaying immortals]."

"With the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword in hand, your strength will increase tremendously. Dealing with Crimson Flame True Lord next time will not be difficult."

"Mm."

Exquisite Jiang also nodded. Back then, Freya Ji, with her Superior-Tier Golden Core [a high-quality foundation within the Golden Core realm] and cultivation at the Golden Core Perfection stage, had been able to briefly clash with an Infant Soul Cultivator [a general term for cultivators in the Infant Soul realm] without being at a disadvantage, thanks to the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure and the Nine Heavens Demon-Slayer Bracelet [a powerful artifact].

Her Innate Great Encompassing Golden Core [a legendary, perfect-grade Golden Core foundation] granted her spiritual power far surpassing that. Now, with the Three Treasures Glazed Armor in hand, her strength was already not inferior to Freya Ji's.

If she waited until she broke through to Golden Core Perfection, her spiritual power would increase by another thirty percent. Then, after promoting her Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword bonded to its wielder's life force], the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword, even an Infant Soul Early Stage [the initial stage of the Infant Soul realm] Mortal Path Infant Soul cultivator would likely find it hard to gain an advantage over her. Official source: audio-novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Recalling the Stellar Fragment, Exquisite Jiang suppressed her joy over the advancement of her Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure and immediately stood up, saying, "Time is of the essence. Let us first go and pacify Demonic Ape Mountain."

"Agreed."

Before news of the Three Treasures Glazed Armor's advancement could spread, the two of them directly used a Teleportation Formation to return to Spirit Isle Lake.

Upon arriving at Spirit Isle Lake, Exquisite Jiang's eyes flickered slightly before she spoke. "Judging from this season's Spiritual Peach, it seems the Spiritual Peach Tree will advance to the Fourth Rank Superior Grade within three to five decades."

"Indeed, preparations should be made."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Once the Spiritual Peach Tree reached the Fourth Rank Superior Grade, its potential would be exhausted.

To advance further would require consuming three strands of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme, primordial energy of creation]. Although he had accumulated a considerable amount over the past three centuries and still had twenty-one strands remaining, that was only enough to advance seven such treasures.

And he alone possessed five Lifebound Magical Treasure [magical treasures bound to a cultivator's life force], which would require fifteen strands for their advancement.

Furthermore, according to his calculations, using three strands of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura during his breakthrough to the Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual core formed after the Golden Core stage] would likely allow his Infant Soul's grade to surpass its limits. It could advance beyond the Heavenly Path Infant Soul [a supreme-grade Infant Soul aligned with the Heavenly Path] and become the legendary Great Encompassing Infant Soul [a mythical, perfect-grade Infant Soul encompassing all possibilities].

"This Primordial Chaos Violet Aura, it seems we may not have enough."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh. Over these years, he had been consciously controlling his use of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme, primordial energy of creation], deliberately accumulating it. He understood that in the future, advancing his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's personally bound magical artifact] and even his Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure of the primordial sun] would require vast quantities of this Primordial Chaos Violet Aura.

Fortunately, he was only at the Golden Core Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Golden Core cultivation realm]. There was still some distance before his breakthrough to the Infant Soul Realm [the Nascent Soul cultivation realm]. With time, he should be able to accumulate a bit more. If he did not squander the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura, it should be just barely sufficient.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Eldrin Chen did not linger at Spirit Isle Lake. They immediately mounted their flying swords and soared towards Demonic Ape Mountain.

Yu County was close to the Purple Abyss Sect [a major orthodox cultivation sect]. Spirit Isle Lake was also 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, arriving at the outskirts of Demonic Ape Mountain in merely three days.

"You have finally arrived."

Seeing their arrival, True Person Qian [a cultivator who has attained the True Person realm] spoke with evident relief.

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Demonic Ape Mountain. His expression turned grave as he asked, "What is the situation?"

"The Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow unorthodox, often malevolent paths] have probed twice. We repelled them both times."

Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the clan] spoke calmly. This time, the forces of Chu Nation were formidable. They already had over a dozen Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators at the Golden Core realm].

Such formidable strength was nearing the peak power of Chu Nation from over five hundred years ago, on the eve of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving a demonic abyss].

Relying solely on the power of Demonic Ape Mountain, breaking through so many formidable blockades was no easy feat.

Not far away in the void, the sect master of the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect, True Person Great Defense, was directing cultivators in setting up a Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, attack, or other mystical purposes].

Demonic Ape Mountain was actually quite distant from the Verdant Azure Mountains, yet for this battle, the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect had volunteered. This elder, over eight hundred years old, had personally brought the Azure Verdancy Formation Disk [a powerful artifact used to control and amplify formation energies] to this place.

Eldrin Chen stepped forward, his expression slightly grave. "True Person, how fares your health?"

"Ahem, ahem."

"Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Chen. This old man's body can still hold on for a few more years." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel . com.

True Person Great Defense, his hair and beard completely white, coughed as he spoke with Eldrin Chen.

This last surviving elder of the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect had wasted too much time in his youth attempting to break through to the Middle-Tier Golden Core [the sixth level of the Golden Core cultivation stage]. He had even consumed a Third-Rank Longevity Pill [a rare elixir that extends a cultivator's lifespan] to extend his life just to succeed.

Now, with less than thirty years of lifespan remaining, he still forced his weary body to continue, striving to accumulate one final bit of foundation for the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect.

Currently, True Person Great Defense's cultivation was at the Golden Core 6th Tier. Yet, he did not waste his Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to purchase Creation Return Cloud Pill [a high-grade pill that aids in cultivation breakthroughs] to advance to the Golden Core Late Stage. Instead, he had made a will, bequeathing all his wealth to the immortal sect.

In the past, when the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect [a major cultivation sect] faced a great calamity, it was he alone who held it together, creating the situation we see today. He single-handedly pulled the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect back from the brink of destruction to its current state, where it is now supported by three Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation] experts.

Such a venerable and respected elder cultivator commands high prestige throughout Chu Nation [a major nation in the cultivation world], and even the Golden Core True Person [a title for a Golden Core stage expert] present here hold him in esteem.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke: "I am truly pleased you have come this time, True Person. After this great battle concludes, I will compensate your Verdant Azure Immortal Sect with two treasures to aid in Forming the Golden Core [the process of advancing to the Golden Core realm]."

"That is unnecessary."

True Person Great Defense [a senior Golden Core expert] shook his head, speaking with calm and natural ease: "This old man understands your desire for the Stellar Fragment [a rare celestial ore]. I came here solely to grant you a favor. Therefore, our Verdant Azure Immortal Sect requires no payment for joining this battle."

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

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

Compared to Grand Granary True Person [a fallen Golden Core expert]—who turned to the Demonic Path [a corrupt and forbidden cultivation method], murdered his beloved Dao Companion of centuries, and betrayed his sect—this was the absolute opposite extreme.

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

Thoughts flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind. With True Person Great Defense's innate talent, had he not pursued a Middle-Tier Golden Core [a specific, high-quality grade of Golden Core foundation], he should have already cultivated to Golden Core Perfection [the peak of the Golden Core realm] or even the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-advanced realm] by now.

Had Grand Granary Old Demon not ascended to the position of Sect Master, and thus lost the prioritized resource allocation from the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect, it is doubtful he would have reached the Golden Core Late Stage in his time, and perhaps that fateful battle would never have taken its dramatic turn.

Alas, attempting a Golden Core breakthrough without external aids carries a heavy price: failure demands a full Sixty-Year Cycle of recuperation. True Person Great Defense suffered four consecutive failures in his attempts to break through to the Golden Core, a relentless series of setbacks that ultimately forced him to cede the Sect Master's throne, a position that should have been his, to Grand Granary Old Demon. Support the author by reading on audio-novel . com.