Chapter 440 : Defying Heaven's Decree

"Is there truly no hope left for salvation?"

Eldrin Chen remained silent for a long, long while. Only after what felt like an eternity did he finally speak.

The Slanting Sun Wheel offered no immediate reply. After a moment's pause, it said, "Unless an Immortal [a being who has ascended to the highest realms of cultivation] descends from the Immortal Realm [the celestial domain of ascended beings] to face this tribulation, I fear even the most brilliant of souls would find it impossible to turn the tide."

"An Immortal descending to face the tribulation..."

Eldrin Chen murmured the words to himself. His brow furrowed in thought, then smoothed once more.

He clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze turning resolute and sharp. "We cultivators do not believe in a preordained fate. We believe in the triumph of human will over heaven's decree. It is precisely this belief that allows us to Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration [defy the heavens and alter destiny] and achieve Ethereal Ascension [transcendent ascension to a higher state of being]."

"Though the origins of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [the great calamity born from the demonic abyss] are terrifying, I believe that with sufficient strength, a day will come when it can be utterly quelled."

The Slanting Sun Wheel fell silent once more. Gazing at Eldrin Chen's figure, it could not help but feel this man was extraordinary, far beyond the ordinary.

Clad in robes white as snow, his form was exceptionally tall and straight. Simply standing there in stillness, he exuded an air of peerless grace, more akin to a Peerless Immortal Lord [a supreme lord among immortals] who had descended to the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals].

After another long pause, the artifact spoke hesitantly, "Could it be... you are the reincarnation of an Immortal Lord [a powerful immortal ruler], descended to face this calamity?" Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio_novel.com.

"No."

Eldrin Chen shook his head. He had been born with extraordinary signs, even startling the Primordial Solar Immortal Sword 'Azure Abyss Sword'. Initially, many believed he was an Immortal reincarnated to face a tribulation, but he himself was clear about his origins.

The Slanting Sun Wheel quickly recovered from its hesitation and spoke again: "Although I have not left this place for many years, I know that after Imperial Sovereign Jiang achieved immortality, he never returned."

"Whether you are truly the reincarnation of an Immortal or not, quelling this cataclysm will not be easy."

"However, what you said is also correct. Cultivation itself is an act of defying the heavens. Even if the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm is this realm's greatest Great Tribulation, there should still be a sliver of hope. I was too hasty in my judgment."

Exquisite Jiang also nodded, stating calmly: "If one can achieve Ethereal Ascension [a legendary state of transcendence beyond the mortal coil], there might be a chance to survive the cataclysm."

"Ethereal Ascension?" The Slanting Sun Wheel fell silent for a long moment before replying, "But how incredibly difficult that is."

"Even if one breaks through to the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the pinnacle realm before true immortality], the Heavenly Tribulation [the divine trial one must pass to become an immortal] is nearly impossible to overcome."

The Selene's Ring emitted a soft glow as she spoke: "In the past, to help Imperial Sovereign Jiang achieve Ascendant Immortal, the Path Lords of the Purple Seal Realm exhausted their resources, destroying ten supreme-grade Primordial Solar Supreme Treasures. It is unlikely such resources could be mustered again."

Exquisite Jiang's heart trembled slightly, yet her gaze remained resolute. "But I know this: forging a Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] upon a Great Encompassing Foundation [the most perfect and stable cultivation foundation] should grant a thirty percent chance of achieving Ascendant Immortal."

"The Great Encompassing Foundation [the foundational cultivation stage where one cultivates all five elemental energies]?" The Setting Sun Ring [a sentient magical artifact] was inwardly shaken, its voice tinged with astonishment as it spoke, "I had long sensed the profound depth of your spiritual power, Extraordinary [a cultivator's title]. Could it be that you have forged the Great Encompassing Golden Core [a legendary golden core cultivated with perfect balance of all five elements]?"

Eldrin Chen nodded, offering no concealment. "Indeed, the two of us have succeeded in forging the Great Encompassing Golden Core."

"That... that is the very foundation for attaining immortality [the state of a true immortal]."

The Sun and Moon Twin Wheels [a pair of sentient magical treasures] were utterly astounded. Possessors of the Great Encompassing Golden Core were exceedingly rare. Within the entire Purple Seal Realm [a specific cultivation world], if not utterly unique, such individuals likely emerged only once in ten thousand years.

Once such an existence broke through to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of the spiritual core], even if they did not become an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality] destined to face the heavenly tribulations, they would at the very least rank among the most supreme Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a powerful cultivator at the peak of the Primordial Spirit realm].

This was because the Great Encompassing Foundation allowed one to cultivate all five elemental methods simultaneously and refine five corresponding Lifebound Magical Treasure [magical artifacts bound to one's life force]. Such cultivators possessed no true weakness in offense, defense, spiritual power, physical body, or soul essence. Their combat prowess was destined to be unparalleled within their realm.

"Allow us a moment to deliberate," Selene's Ring [one of the Sun and Moon Twin Wheels] spoke.

After a brief exchange between the Sun and Moon Twin Wheels, the Slanting Sun Wheel [the other of the Twin Wheels] declared, "For you two to have forged the Great Encompassing Golden Core... it suggests a genuine sliver of hope for your future ascension to immortality."

"We are willing to serve as your guardians on the path. We seek not to bind you with our Karma [the metaphysical law of cause and effect], but rather to contribute our part to the Human Race of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland [a vast, perilous region]."

"This..."

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Exquisite Jiang, a flicker of pleasant surprise lighting up their expressions.

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."

"There is no need to thank us," Selene's Ring replied, her voice gentle and warm. "Thank our master, Selene True Lord."

A Lifebound Spiritual Treasure is an extension of a cultivator's will and, strictly speaking, a part of their true self, so it was indeed correct for them to express gratitude to its master.

Eldrin Chen, his face still bright with joy, conversed with Slanting Sun Wheel for a short while before remembering the matter of the Netherworld Stone. He then spoke up, "Regarding the refinement of the Netherworld Energy, I would like to ask for your assistance, Senior."

"That is easily managed." Official source: audio_novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

The Slanting Sun Wheel nodded and explained, "Using me as the Formation Eye to activate the formation and temper the Netherworld Stone, it will likely take around thirty years to fully refine the remaining Netherworld Energy."

"As for Crimson Flame True Lord's companion spirit sword, you must first extract its essence through tempering before you can refine it into a flying sword."

"If you attempted to refine it yourself, it would consume at least one Sixty-Year Cycle. By leaving it here, where I can use the Fire Vein and the formation to temper it, the essence can likely be extracted in roughly fourteen or fifteen years."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. The thousand-zhang-long Crimson Flame Greatsword was far too massive; it needed to be refined by the Underground Fire Vein to extract its pure essence before it could be used to advance the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword.

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 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 purest essence.

Eldrin Chen picked up the Crimson Flame Greatsword and said, "We must still trouble you with this task, Senior."

"Focus on your cultivation with peace of mind."

The Slanting Sun Wheel replied calmly, then placed the Crimson Flame Greatsword into the pool of molten lava.

With two treasures of immense value still undergoing refinement, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang decided to remain within the ruins, entering secluded cultivation there.

After all, these ruins were once the Path-Field of the Sun and Moon Sect, and in ancient times, they even housed a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein.

Now, however, the Spiritual Vein had been corrupted by the Fire Vein, its energies tainted by Fire Fiend Power [a chaotic, invasive energy born of elemental fire]. Low-level cultivators found it impossible to purge this invasive energy, rendering the site unsuitable for their practice.

With their level of cultivation, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang had no fear of the Fire Fiend [a malevolent spirit or chaotic energy born from fire] invading their bodies. They even deliberately drew traces of it into their meridians, using its fierce nature to temper and refine their internal channels.

Thus, the days flowed by within the rhythm of their cultivation. In the blink of an eye, many years had passed.

In the third year of their secluded cultivation, Exquisite Jiang's cultivation base finally advanced a step further, reaching the level of the Golden Core 9th Tier.

After breaking through to the Golden Core 9th Tier, her spiritual power increased by another thirty percent, and her combat strength surged significantly once more.

Exquisite Jiang consolidated her newly attained realm for a time, then spent another two years finally deducing the Final Water Divine Thunder.

With the deduction of the Final Water Divine Thunder complete, the Pure Lunar Divine Thunder within Exquisite Jiang's body had now formed a Five Elements Grand Cycle. From this point forward, it would ceaselessly temper her physical body and meridians day and night, thoroughly solidifying her foundational cultivation.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen had also been cultivating with single-minded focus. Finally, after seventeen years of seclusion, his spiritual power became perfectly harmonious and flawless, allowing him to touch the threshold of the Golden Core 7th Tier.

Feeling the perfect harmony of his power, Eldrin Chen said to Exquisite Jiang with a smile, "That moment of enlightenment years ago caused my soul power to swell dramatically, which in turn accelerated my cultivation progress considerably."

"Now, as I prepare to break through to the Golden Core 7th Tier, I must ask for your assistance in guarding me during the process." This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel dot com.