Chapter 480 : Azure Dragon's Fall

He looked up and saw only a True Dragon [a supreme mythical beast, the pinnacle of draconic power] of azure hue, stretching a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] across the sky. Its body was entirely covered in scales of azure-gold, and it soared with a divine might capable of rending heaven and cleaving earth. As it bared its fangs and brandished its claws, an aura of boundless, primordial antiquity emanated from it.

"A True Dragon!"

Eldrin Chen's mind was shaken with terror. Before he could even react, he saw a sword radiance of unparalleled brilliance slash forth from the horizon's edge.

The light of this single sword stroke was blindingly radiant. It held no fancy sword techniques or imposing stances; it was the most extreme, the purest, and the simplest of cuts.

Whether you rend heaven and earth, whether you roar and shake the mountains and Ronan [a person's name], whether your aura shrouds the celestial vault.

I shall simply deliver this one stroke. Demonic Monsters [malevolent creatures born of corruption and evil] or True Dragon [a supreme mythical beast, the pinnacle of draconic power], all shall be severed alike!

Then, as the sword light descended, the Primordial Azure Dragon [an ancient and immensely powerful variant of the True Dragon] spilled its blood across the Firmament [the vault of heaven, the sky], crashing onto the great earth below with a gaze filled with disbelief.

Only then did Eldrin Chen see, upon the distant Firmament [the vault of heaven, the sky], a figure sheathing the immortal sword in its hand.

The figure was clad in violet robes, its tall and slender form wreathed in mist and clouds, obscuring its peerless Hugo [a person's name]. Yet, Eldrin Chen felt as if he were gazing upon a true immortal, finding himself utterly unable to move even a fraction.

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Suddenly, Eldrin Chen heard a sharp exclamation and realized Lyra Jiang was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Only then did he glance around, discovering that Dragon-Slaying Mountain bore no unusual phenomena. The True Dragon and that violet-robed exiled immortal had vanished like a dream or a bubble's shimmer.

Seeing his strange demeanor, Lyra Jiang asked with concern, "Your spirit soul was nearly on the verge of departing your body just now. What truly happened?"

"You did not sense it?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly as he recounted the vision he had witnessed to Lyra Jiang.

After listening, Lyra Jiang's face paled slightly, and she exclaimed, "Heaven and Man Resonance [a profound state where a cultivator's spirit temporarily merges with the surrounding heaven and earth, allowing them to perceive echoes of significant past events]."

"What is Heaven and Man Resonance?" Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed intently.

As she explained, Eldrin Chen quickly grasped the concept of Heaven and Man Resonance.

It turned out this Heaven and Man Resonance was an exceedingly profound and mysterious state. It was said that once a cultivator entered this resonance, their consciousness could temporarily fuse with the surrounding heaven and earth.

In such a state, one might even perceive echoes of momentous events that had transpired within that stretch of the world during a certain period of time.

What you, Eldrin Chen, sensed was the scene from six Millennium ago, when Jiang the Sovereign Emperor slew the Primordial Azure Dragon.

Legend holds that a Nascent Soul Dao Lord who has successfully integrated their Heaven and Earth Souls can remain in a perpetual state of Heaven and Man Resonance [a profound state of unity between the cultivator's spirit and the natural order]. In this state, a cultivator's consciousness expands boundlessly, and their speed of comprehending cultivation arts and Divine Ability [supernatural powers derived from profound cultivation] increases more than tenfold.

It is precisely for this reason that True Lord [a title for high-level cultivators, often at the Nascent Soul realm] of the Nascent Soul realm can contemplate the laws of the immortal path, ultimately gaining a sliver of hope for Ascend to Immortal Eternity.

Aside from Nascent Soul Dao Lord, those capable of achieving Heaven and Man Resonance are generally beings like the Ji Clan Patriarch, who stand at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a transitional state approaching the Primordial Spirit realm]. Moreover, even they require special environments to successfully enter Heaven and Man Resonance.

That Eldrin Chen could achieve Heaven and Man Resonance at his current realm, even if only for a fleeting moment, demonstrates that his spiritual soul strength and comprehension far surpass ordinary imagination.

After understanding the situation, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and said, "While Heaven and Man Resonance offers many benefits, it also carries the danger of the spirit separating from the body."

"I have not yet broken through to the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator forms a nascent, independent spiritual entity] realm. If my spirit were to leave my body, it would likely cause significant damage. Fortunately, you pulled me back."

"It is of no consequence," Lyra Jiang smiled. "With this experience, you will be able to take precautions the next time you enter Heaven and Man Resonance."

"Mmm."

Eldrin Chen nodded. The wonders of Heaven and Man Resonance were manifold. Although he had only entered that state for an instant, the image of Jiang the Sovereign Emperor's sword strike was now indelibly etched into his spiritual soul.

From this point on, as he gradually comprehends it, his understanding of the Sword Dao [the profound path and principles of the sword] will advance by leaps and bounds. In time, he might even be able to create a Great Divine Ability [a supreme and powerful supernatural technique] of the Sword Dao.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen couldn't help but say, "Stand guard for me. I wish to try if I can enter the state of Heaven and Man Resonance [a profound state of enlightenment where one's spirit harmonizes with the natural order of heaven and earth] once more."

As he spoke, he immediately cleared his mind, striving to enter that state of Heaven and Man Resonance.

This time, however, he found he could no longer enter it. He persisted until his spirit grew weary from the effort, yet he made no further progress.

After contemplating for half a month, Eldrin Chen shook his head with a bitter smile. "It seems I was overly optimistic. My spiritual soul is not yet strong enough. To enter the state of Heaven and Man Resonance again will require a specific opportunity."

"Do not be impatient," Lyra Jiang consoled him, pouring him a cup of spirit tea to restore his mental energy. "You are only at the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified core of spiritual power] realm now. Once you forge your Nascent Soul [the fourth major stage, where the cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into an infant soul form], entering Heaven and Man Resonance will likely become much easier." Join our community of readers at audio–novel.com.

Lyra Jiang comforted him, brewing a pot of spirit tea to help him recover his mental focus.

Since they could not achieve Heaven and Man Resonance, the pair did not linger. They rested for several days within the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range before continuing their flight towards the Eastern Sea.

They traveled over a million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] past the Eastern Sea Coast and deep into the Eastern Sea. Finally, they located the first Fifth Rank [a grade denoting power or quality equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm] Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] within the Eastern Sea Cultivation World.

"This Spirit Island is named Nine Rivers Island. It is one of the Spirit Island under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Sea Immortal Alliance [a coalition of powerful forces in the Eastern Sea region]," Lyra Jiang explained.

After entering Spirit Island [a landmass imbued with concentrated spiritual energy, often used for cultivation], Lyra Jiang began to explain the structure of the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the vast and perilous realm of cultivation encompassing the Eastern Sea and its myriad islands] to Eldrin Chen.

The Eastern Sea Cultivation World is an immeasurably vast domain, a boundless expanse dotted with countless islands, great and small.

Among these islands, the smallest span mere Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] and can scarcely sustain a Human Race population, while the largest stretch for tens of millions of Li-lengths, surpassing even dozens of great continents combined in sheer scale.

Within this star-scattered sea of hundreds of millions of islands and waters, the three races—Human Race, Demonic Monsters [powerful beasts that have cultivated intelligence and demonic power], and Demonic Cultivator [humans or other beings who practice forbidden, power-hungry arts]—stand in opposition, their histories steeped in mutual animosity.

Within the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, the Human Race forces were once the most powerful. However, with the relentless incursions from the Demonic Abyss [a fissure in reality from which demonic energy and entities perpetually seep], their strength has waned in recent years. Nevertheless, they still hold two Dao Lord Sacred Land [sanctuaries founded and protected by supreme cultivators known as Dao Lords], guarded by a total of three Pure Yang Dao Lord [Dao Lords who have mastered the ultimate, purifying Yang energy].

The Demonic Cultivator faction boasts three formidable Nascent Soul Elder Demon [ancient, supremely powerful demons who have reached the Nascent Soul realm]. Of these three elder fiends, one is a Heavenly Demon [a powerful entity from beyond this world] left behind from beyond the stars, while the other two are native Purple Realm [the name of their home cultivation world] Demonic Cultivator who ascended to the Nascent Soul realm.

Currently, the Demonic Tribe [organized societies of intelligent demonic beasts] hold the greatest power, with a full five Nascent Soul Demon Progenitor [ancient demon beasts of immense power who have reached the Nascent Soul realm and founded powerful lineages]. In terms of raw strength, their dominance is nearly absolute.

Yet, despite their might, the five Nascent Soul Demon Progenitor are not united. Furthermore, with the Demonic Abyss lying deep within the Eastern Sea, these progenitors are naturally reluctant to risk an all-out war with the Human Race and shatter the fragile peace.

This intricate web of rival factions caused Eldrin's brow to furrow slightly. He could not help but voice his concern, "With only three Nascent Soul Dao Lord [cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm and are addressed as Dao Lords, masters of the Dao] in the entire Eastern Sea, how can they possibly hold back the tide from the Demonic Abyss?"

"There is no need to worry on that account," Lyra Jiang shook her head, yet continued to explain. "Several of the Nascent Soul Dao Lord from the Eastern Sea Coast are stationed directly at the very brink of the Demonic Abyss, forming the first and most crucial line of defense."

"The Central Ancestral Domain [the central heartland of the human cultivation world], the Western Pole Sands Realm [a vast desert realm in the far west], the Southern Wilderness Cultivation World [the untamed southern wilds], and even the Extreme Northern Ice Plains [the frozen wastes of the far north]—all have Nascent Soul Dao Lord [powerful cultivators who have formed their Nascent Soul and comprehended profound Dao principles] stationed year-round at the very edge of the Demonic Abyss [a bottomless chasm from which demonic energy and fiends perpetually emerge]."

Eldrin Chen gave a slow nod. Though the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the cultivation societies scattered across the islands and coasts of the Eastern Sea] had faced destruction multiple times, weakening the Human Race forces here, humanity held the upper hand in most other territories. As the civilization with the most ancient lineage within the Purple Realm [this world, named for the violet-hued divine tree said to support its heavens], their dominance was deeply rooted.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen gazed at the bustling market before them and said, "Let us first find lodgings and gather news on how the Eastern Sea Cultivation World has changed these past years. We shall make our plans thereafter." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.