Chapter 429 : A Golden Core's Farewell

He selected a Fourth Rank Low-Grade defensive magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] and handed it to Recluse of Elegant Verse, casually asking, "By the way, have you been in contact with Miss Yu these years?"

"She left Ji Continent many years ago and has not returned since," replied Recluse of Elegant Verse.

Recluse of Elegant Verse shook her head, then cast a subtle glance at Eldrin Chen.

As early as a century ago, Verdant Mist Yu had already reached the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional stage just below the Golden Core Realm]. Later, she gained significant rewards from the ruins within the Vast Sea and received a share of the spoils.

After that battle, Verdant Mist Yu purchased a Golden Core Formation Treasure [a rare spiritual item that aids in forming a Golden Core]. Relying on her Variant Spiritual Root [a rare and superior innate talent for cultivation] aptitude, she successfully broke through to the Golden Core Realm [a major realm where a cultivator condenses their spiritual energy into a solid, golden core].

Following her breakthrough, Eldrin Chen had invited her to join the Chen Clan, but Verdant Mist Yu ultimately declined.

While others did not know the specific reason, Recluse of Elegant Verse understood that Verdant Mist Yu likely did not wish to face Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang together.

To encounter such a peerlessly distinguished man, yet know he already had a Dao Companion [a cultivation partner, often a spouse], would only stir unsettled thoughts within her. Better to remain apart than to meet and be troubled.

After forming her Golden Core, Verdant Mist Yu departed from Ji Continent and never again returned to the lands of Chu Nation.

"I hope her journey across the world proceeds smoothly," Eldrin Chen sighed softly, then let the matter drift from his mind. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel.com (official site).

After the Recluse of Elegant Verse departed with her daughter, Eldrin Chen once again turned his focus to deducing the secrets of the Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of significant power used by cultivators].

Time flowed swiftly in this manner, and in the blink of an eye, over a year had passed. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered densely in the sky, and rolling waves of Tribulation Cloud [ominous clouds heralding a heavenly trial] swept across the heavens.

"It's the Demon-Slaying Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a heavenly trial specifically for demon-slaying magical treasures]!"

Eldrin Chen was jolted from his cultivation. Gazing at the Tribulation Cloud in the sky, he couldn't help but reveal a look of pleasant surprise.

At the same moment, from within the Seclusion Chamber [a chamber for secluded cultivation], a dazzlingly brilliant white sword radiance shot straight into the heavens, soaring towards the layers of clouds above.

Then, Exquisite Jiang emerged from the Seclusion Chamber close behind, her expression grave as she watched the sword energy dancing and crisscrossing through the sky.

"It should be fine," she murmured.

Exquisite Jiang's face was tense, etched with a deep sense of gravity.

Unlike the Three Treasures Glazed Armor, which, despite being a Spiritual Treasure, was not a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul, growing with them]. Its potential was limited, and it could not receive the enlightenment and tempering of a Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial by heavenly lightning].

The Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword, however, was a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure. A Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal grade forged for slaying demons] of this caliber faced an exceptionally formidable Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. Its power was so immense that it could potentially shatter a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure crafted from slightly weaker materials.

It was precisely for this reason that Exquisite Jiang needed to fuse the Stellar Fragment [a rare ore containing the essence of fallen stars] into the sword, to enhance the material foundation of the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword forged to slay immortals].

Seeing Exquisite Jiang's concern, Eldrin Chen took her hand and reassured her, "Do not worry. Since this sword has been fused with the Stellar Fragment, its material is now more than sufficient to withstand the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the divine trial of heavenly lightning]."

"Mm."

Exquisite Jiang nodded. She did indeed have ample confidence, yet facing the moment inevitably stirred some tension within her.

After all, should the sword shatter, centuries of her painstaking refinement would be for naught, and the priceless Stellar Fragment would be destroyed along with it.

"BOOM—"

At that very instant, the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation cracked the sky with a deafening roar, descending with unparalleled force as if to cleave the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword [a sword renowned for vanquishing demons] in two.

Yet the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword showed not a shred of fear. With a resonant *clang*, it erupted in a dazzling corona of sword energy, meeting the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation head-on and slicing the divine lightning into nothingness.

Not stopping there, the peerless radiance of the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword carved a scar through the void nearly a thousand Li-lengths long, cleaving the vast Tribulation Cloud [the ominous cloud formation that heralds a heavenly tribulation] cleanly in half.

Having accomplished this, it ascended, bathing in the Sea of Thunder [a roiling tempest of celestial lightning], and flew directly into the heart of the Tribulation Cloud's Sea of Thunder, there to endure the baptism of infinite heavenly bolts.

This spectacle was so utterly astonishing that every cultivator within Yu County witnessed the resplendent Immortal Sword blazing high in the heavens.

"Magnificent!"

Exquisite Jiang exclaimed in admiration. To cleave a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of void and sunder vast mountains and rivers with a single stroke—this was the true essence of a Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword.

The Heavenly Thunder Tribulation raged for a full three days. Finally, from within the boundless Sea of Thunder, a dazzling sword radiance descended, transforming into a three-foot Immortal Sword that landed before Exquisite Jiang.

"Master!"

The Immortal Sword possessed a spirit, and a clear, cool voice emanated from it. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel*com.

Eldrin Chen watched silently, his pupils reflecting a profound sense of awe.

The Immortal Sword before him was merely three feet long, yet the power it contained was sufficient to split a primordial mountain towering a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] high with a single blow.

Such a peerless SlaughterImmortal Sword, awakening of its own accord, possessed a world-shaking Slaughter aura capable of threatening even an Infant Soul True Lord whose presence could dominate mountains and rivers.

Most crucially, as the sword's master, Exquisite Jiang could unleash the weapon's full might using only her Golden Core cultivation base's spiritual energy.

Moreover, even if this sword's power were to be depleted, Exquisite Jiang could restore its full might by nourishing it with her own magical power [the energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners of the mystical arts].

Compared to treasures like the Three Treasures Glazed Armor, which can only be used once every sixty years with great difficulty, or the Heaven's Vault Mirror, which requires a full century to recover its combat strength, its deterrent power is simply not on the same level.

After all, although the Three Treasures Glazed Armor and the Heaven's Vault Mirror are immensely powerful, without an Infant Soul Cultivator [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual essence into a nascent soul] nourishing them with Infant Soul Essence [the refined spiritual energy of the nascent soul], the cost of each battle is far too great. Once their power is overly depleted, they fall into a deep slumber.

"With your recent advancement to the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword, henceforth, in vanquishing demons and eradicating fiends, you shall know no hindrance."

Exquisite Jiang took the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword, her fingers tracing its form with delight as she said, "With you guarding my path, my future cultivation journey will be somewhat smoother."

The Immortal Sword [a sentient sword of immense power] remained silent, offering no further words.

Although such weapon spirits possess intelligence no different from a human's, their nature ultimately tends to be more aloof and reserved.

Stowing the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword, Exquisite Jiang quietly focused her senses for a moment. Opening her eyes, she remarked, "The effect this Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword has on tempering magical power is truly Extraordinary."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, a look of inquiry appearing within them.

Exquisite Jiang nodded, then spoke, "With the feedback from the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword, my spiritual energy [the vital force cultivated by practitioners] can be further refined. It should allow my mana to become significantly more pure."

Hearing her words, Eldrin Chen revealed a look of pleasant surprise.

Exquisite Jiang had forged an Innate Great Encompassing Golden Core, and the purity of her mana was already close to sixty or seventy percent of that of an Infant Soul True Lord.

Now, having received this tempering from the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword, wouldn't the purity of her mana become comparable to that of a cultivator following the Earthly Path Infant Soul [a specific, profound method for advancing the Infant Soul cultivation stage]?

Exquisite Jiang shook her head and spoke again, "A True Lord also has their Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing with them] for tempering. Moreover, a practitioner of the Earthly Path Infant Soul likely possesses more than one Lifebound Spiritual Treasure. My mana probably still cannot compare to theirs."

"However, even if it doesn't match the Earthly Path Infant Soul, once the tempering is complete, it should be no weaker than that of a Mortal Path Infant Soul [a more common method for advancing the Infant Soul stage]."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered. Even so, this was already astonishing.

The reason an Infant Soul True Lord could use one unit of mana as if it were two was precisely because their mana was more pure and profound.

When fully channeling the Great God Ability 'Void Five Tribulations Divine Light', an Infant Soul Cultivator would only consume twenty percent of their mana, while Exquisite Jiang would require a full fifty percent.

But after the feedback and tempering from the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword, the purity and profundity of Exquisite Jiang's mana would be no weaker than that of an Infant Soul True Lord. At that point, when she channeled the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light, she would only need to expend twenty percent of her mana.

Such pure and profound spiritual power [the refined energy cultivated by practitioners of the mystical arts] would undoubtedly greatly enhance Exquisite Jiang's strength, elevating her combat prowess to a level on par with that of an Infant Soul True Lord [a master cultivator whose nascent soul has matured into its true form].

At that point, the only distinctions between her and a true Infant Soul True Lord would lie in the latter's integration of an Innate Great God Ability [a supreme divine power inherent to one's spiritual lineage] and the profound mysteries unique to the Infant Soul Essence [the core spiritual essence of the Infant Soul realm].

However, with the support of the Positive Water Verdant Lotus Throne [a sacred lotus throne imbued with harmonizing water energy] and the compensatory power of two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [peerless enchanted artifacts specifically forged to vanquish demonic forces], it is conceivable that once she breaks through to the Golden Core 9th Tier [the ninth and pinnacle tier of the Golden Core cultivation stage], Exquisite Jiang would be fully capable of rivaling, and perhaps even defeating, an Infant Soul True Lord who follows the Mortal Path [a foundational cultivation methodology focused on worldly refinement]. Discover more cultivation stories at audio‑novel.com.