Chapter 440 : Defying Heaven's Decree

"Is there truly no hope left for salvation?"

Eldrin Chen remained silent for a long while, only speaking after a considerable passage of time.

The Setting Sun Treasure Wheel was silent for a moment before replying, "Unless an Immortal from the Immortal Realm descends to face this tribulation, I fear even the most dazzling genius would find it impossible to turn the tide."

"An Immortal facing tribulation..."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, his brow furrowing briefly before smoothing out once more.

He clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze turning resolute and sharp. "We cultivators do not believe in fate decreed by heaven. We believe in the triumph of human will. It is precisely this belief that allows us to defy destiny and Ascend to Immortal Eternity."

"Though the origins of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm are terrifying, I believe that with sufficient strength, a day will come when it can be utterly pacified."

The Setting Sun Treasure Wheel fell silent again, observing Eldrin Chen's figure. It perceived in this man an aura of extraordinary transcendence.

Clad in robes white as snow, his form was exceptionally tall and straight. Simply standing there in stillness, he exuded a distinguished and peerless grace, more akin to a supreme Immortal Lord who had descended into the mortal dust.

After another long pause, it ventured hesitantly, "Could it be... you are the reincarnation of an Immortal Lord, descended to face this calamity?" This chapter is provided by audio-novel .c om. Support the original.

"No."

Eldrin Chen shook his head. He had been born with extraordinary signs, even startling the Pure Yang Immortal Sword 'Green Abyss Sword'. Initially, many believed he was an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and achieved eternal life] returning to face a tribulation, but he himself knew the truth of his origins.

The Setting Sun Treasure Wheel quickly recovered from its hesitation and spoke again, "Though I have not left this place for many years, I know that after Jiang the Sovereign Emperor achieved immortality, he departed and never returned."

"Whether you are truly an Immortal reincarnated or not, quelling this cataclysm will be no easy feat."

"Yet what you say holds truth. Cultivation itself is an act of defying the heavens. Even if the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [the greatest calamity to befall this realm] is the ultimate tribulation for this world, there should still be a sliver of hope. I was too hasty in my judgment."

Lyra Jiang also nodded, her voice calm and steady. "If one can Ascend to Immortal Eternity [transcend mortality and achieve immortal status], perhaps there would be a chance to survive the cataclysm."

"Ascend to Immortal Eternity?" The Setting Sun Treasure Wheel fell silent for a long moment before replying, "But how incredibly difficult that path is."

"Even if one breaks through to the realm of Ascend to Immortal Eternity, the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Tribulation [the final, devastating heavenly trial one must pass to become a true Immortal] is itself nearly impossible to survive."

The Moonlight Treasure Wheel glowed with a soft light as it spoke, "In the past, to aid Jiang the Sovereign Emperor in his ascension, the Dao Lords [masters of the Dao, cultivators of immense power and wisdom] of the Purple Realm exhausted their resources. They destroyed ten supreme-grade Supreme Treasure of Pure Yangs. It is unlikely such a sacrifice could be made again."

Lyra Jiang's heart trembled slightly, yet her gaze remained resolute. "But I know this: forging one's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] upon a Great Luo Foundation [the most perfect and stable foundation for advancement] should offer a thirty percent chance of successful ascension."

"Great Luo Foundation [the supreme foundation for cultivation, said to be the basis for achieving immortality]?" The Setting Sun Wheel [a sentient magical treasure in the form of a wheel, embodying the power of the setting sun] was inwardly shaken, its voice tinged with astonishment as it spoke, "I had long sensed the extraordinary depth of your mana. Could it be that you have forged the Great Luo Golden Core [the pinnacle form of the Golden Core, a foundation of unparalleled perfection]?"

Eldrin Chen nodded, offering no concealment. "Indeed, the two of us have forged the Great Luo Golden Core."

"That... that is the very foundation for ascension to immortality."

The Sun and Moon Twin Wheels [a pair of sentient magical treasures, one representing the sun and the other the moon] were utterly astounded. Possessors of the Great Luo Golden Core were exceedingly rare. Throughout the vast expanse of the Purple Realm [a major realm within the cultivation world], such talents were not necessarily unique, but they were likely to appear only once in ten thousand years.

Such individuals, upon breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm [the realm of spiritual manifestation beyond the Golden Core], would inevitably become the most formidable of Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a title for a powerful master within the Nascent Soul Realm], even if they did not directly face the tribulations of an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and achieved eternal life].

For the Great Luo Foundation allowed one to cultivate the arts of all five elements simultaneously, forging five Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure intimately connected to a cultivator's life force and cultivation path]. Such cultivators possessed no weakness—their offensive power, defense, mana reserves, physical body, and spiritual soul were all honed to perfection, destined to be the most powerful combatants within their realm.

"Allow us a moment to deliberate," the Moonlight Wheel [the sentient magical treasure embodying the power of the moon, counterpart to the Setting Sun Wheel] spoke.

After a brief exchange between the Sun and Moon Twin Wheels, the Setting Sun Wheel declared, "For the two of you to have forged the Great Luo Golden Core... it suggests a genuine sliver of hope for achieving immortality in the future."

"We are willing to guard your path. We do not seek to bind you with our karma, but consider this our contribution to the Human Race [the collective of humanity within the cultivation world] of the Eastern Wastelands [a vast and perilous region in the eastern part of the continent]."

"This..."

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Lyra Jiang, their faces lighting up with pleasant surprise.

He promptly clasped his hands in a respectful salute, his expression turning earnest as he spoke. "We are profoundly grateful that you two Seniors are willing to safeguard our path to ascension."

"There is no need to thank us," the voice of the Moonlight Wheel was gentle and warm. "Thank our master, Moonlight True Lord."

A Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure forged with one's own soul and will, becoming an extension of the cultivator's being] is an extension of a cultivator's will, strictly speaking a part of their true self. Thus, it was indeed correct for them to express gratitude to its master.

After a moment of joyful conversation with the Setting Sun Treasure Wheel, Eldrin Chen finally remembered the matter of the Nether Stone. He then spoke, "Regarding the refinement of the Netherworld Qi [the yin and deathly energy of the underworld], I would humbly request your assistance, Senior."

"That matter is easily handled," Read the full novel exclusively on www . audio-novel.com.

the Setting Sun Treasure Wheel nodded and continued, "Using me as the Formation Eye [the core and control point of a magical formation] to power the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and artifacts to produce specific magical effects] and temper the Nether Stone, it would likely take thirty years to fully refine the remaining Netherworld Qi."

"And then there is Ignatius the Blazing Lord's Companion Spirit Sword [a sword born alongside or deeply bonded to a cultivator's spirit]. You must first extract its essence through tempering before you can begin the ritual to refine it into a Flying Sword [a sword enchanted for flight and remote control, a hallmark of sword cultivators]."

"If you attempted to refine it yourself, it would consume at least one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle]. If left here, where I can use the Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire-aspected spiritual energy] and the Formation to temper it, the essence could likely be extracted in about fourteen or fifteen years."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. The thousand-Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] Crimson Flame Greatsword was far too massive. It needed to be refined by the Underground Fire Vein to extract its pure essence, which could then be used to advance the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

However, this colossal sword was of an exceedingly high grade and immense size, making the task of smelting it down a truly daunting challenge.

Fortunately, within these ruins, there existed a high-grade Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of potent fire energy] that could assist in the smelting process. Yet, even with its aid, it would still require a full dozen years to extract the sword's quintessential essence.

Eldrin Chen lifted the Crimson Flame Greatsword and said, "I must still trouble you with this task, Senior."

"Focus on your cultivation with peace of mind,"

replied the Setting Sun Wheel calmly, as it placed the Crimson Flame Greatsword into the pool of molten rock.

Considering that two supremely precious treasures were still being refined, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang decided to remain within the ruins, entering seclusion there to cultivate.

After all, these ruins were once the Dao field of the Sun and Moon Sect. In ages past, it even possessed a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein [a vein of spiritual energy of the fifth rank, suitable for high-level cultivation].

Now, however, the Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy] had been corrupted by the Fire Vein, making it difficult for lower-level cultivators to purge the invasive Fire Malignancy Power [a corrosive and volatile energy born from fire].

With the cultivation levels of Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang, there was no need to fear the Fire Fiend Qi [a malevolent fire-aspected energy] invading their bodies. They could even draw upon this energy, guiding it into the earth and using it to temper their own meridians in the process.

Thus, the days flowed by in a steady rhythm of cultivation. In the blink of an eye, many years had passed.

In the third year of their seclusion, Lyra Jiang's cultivation finally advanced a step further, reaching the threshold of the Golden Core Ninth Layer.

After breaking through to the Golden Core Ninth Layer, her mana increased by another thirty percent, and her strength surged forward by a significant margin once more.

Lyra Jiang consolidated her newfound cultivation base and then spent another two years, finally deducing the Sunflower Water Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique embodying the essence of the Water element].

With the deduction of the Sunflower Water Divine Thunder, the Pure Yin Divine Thunder within Lyra Jiang's body had now formed a complete Five Elements Grand Cycle [a perfect, self-sustaining cycle of the five elemental divine thunders]. From this point onward, it would ceaselessly temper her physical body and meridians day and night, thoroughly solidifying her foundation.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen had also been cultivating with single-minded focus. After seventeen years of secluded cultivation, his mana finally became perfectly harmonious and flawless, allowing him to touch the threshold of the Golden Core Seventh Layer.

Feeling the perfect harmony of his mana, Eldrin Chen said to Lyra Jiang with a smile, "That moment of enlightenment years ago caused my spirit soul to swell dramatically, and my cultivation progress increased considerably as a result."

"Now, as I prepare to break through to the Golden Core Seventh Layer, I must ask for your assistance in guarding me during this critical juncture." This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel-dot-com.