Chapter 465 : Forging the Golden Rhino Sword

"How is the situation?"

Seeing that Exquisite Jiang was still in the midst of refining, Eldrin Chen inquired.

She shook her head, her gaze sharpening as she said, "The will of this Golden Rhino Immortal Sword is Extraordinary; its resistance is incredibly tenacious."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen frowned. Forcibly refining a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its creator's soul and possessing its own sentience] with its own sentience was an exceedingly difficult task.

To gain control over it, one had to erase the sentience of the Lifebound Spiritual Treasure, turning it into a Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact] like the Three Treasures Glazed Armor, only then could its ultimate power be unleashed.

However, once the sentience of a Spiritual Treasure was erased, it lost the ability to self-revive; only the level of magical power possessed by a True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Primordial Spirit] could activate its might.

They possessed Great Encompassing Golden Core [the highest grade of Golden Core foundation] and had their magical power tempered by their Lifebound Spiritual Treasure, so the density and purity of their power was not inferior to that of an Infant Soul True Lord [a True Lord who has nurtured their nascent Primordial Spirit]. Thus, they could indeed activate the power of a Spiritual Treasure.

Yet, erasing the will of a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure was no easy feat. Such an entity was almost equivalent to an avatar of an Infant Soul True Lord, protected by an indestructible Spiritual Treasure body. Grinding away its consciousness was an arduous endeavor.

Most crucially, to avoid damaging the Spiritual Treasure's power, they could not employ overly forceful methods. They could only gradually wear down the sentience within the Spiritual Treasure by channeling their magical power and spiritual sense bit by bit.

To accomplish this, even a powerhouse at the Infant Soul [the cultivation stage of nurturing the nascent Primordial Spirit] level would likely require a full decade of dedicated effort. This chapter appears courtesy of @udio-novel.com.

"Allow me to lend you my strength."

Eldrin Chen spoke, his spiritual power [the cultivated energy that fuels a cultivator's techniques and life force] was not inferior to that of an Infant Soul True Lord, and his divine sense [a cultivator's spiritual perception, extending their awareness beyond their physical body] had been tempered for years by the 'Five-Colored Spirit Refining Great Art' [a profound art for refining and strengthening one's spiritual essence]. Now, it was in no way weaker than that of a Mortal Path Infant Soul [a cultivator who has reached the Infant Soul realm through the path of mortal cultivation].

Exquisite Jiang's cultivation base was higher, and her divine sense and spiritual power surpassed his by a margin. With their combined efforts, the refining process was exceptionally effective.

Thus, expending merely three years, they succeeded in erasing the nascent spiritual intelligence of this Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword, and the Golden Rhino Immortal Sword degenerated into a mere Spiritual Treasure Immortal Sword [an immortal sword whose power has been sealed or diminished, now comparable to a high-grade spiritual treasure].

After refining the Immortal Sword, Eldrin Chen let out a slight sigh of relief. A Lifebound Immortal Sword [an immortal sword bound to its wielder's life force, sharing their fate] of Spiritual Treasure grade belonging to a sworn enemy—if left unrefined, they would have had to expend immense effort to suppress it. Now, not only had they removed a troublesome burden, but they had also gained an additional Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword for their arsenal.

Gazing at the Immortal Sword before her, Exquisite Jiang could not help but reveal a hint of a smile. "The material of this sword is Extraordinary, and its offensive capabilities are exceedingly potent. Whether used against foes in the future or employed as a Tribulation Transcendence Treasure [a treasure specifically used to withstand the devastating trials of heavenly tribulation], it will be supremely suitable."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement with a smile. The Sun and Moon Twin Wheels needed to serve as Formation Artifact [a core artifact used to anchor and power a defensive or offensive formation] guarding the Verdant Lotus Isle. Henceforth, unless absolutely necessary, they could not be lightly deployed from the mountain.

Furthermore, the Heaven's Vault Mirror had departed along with the Melancholy Inscription Lord. Consequently, the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade, capable of subduing powerful demons] that Eldrin Chen could readily wield were now limited to the Polarity Void Mirror and the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword.

Exquisite Jiang likewise had only the Three Treasures Glazed Armor and the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword remaining to her. Now, having refined this Golden Rhino Immortal Sword, their offensive capabilities would be strengthened by another measure.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen looked at the Golden Rhino Immortal Sword and said, "Your cultivation is higher, and your spiritual power is more profound. It is more fitting for you to wield this sword."

"Very well."

Exquisite Jiang did not decline. Her cultivation had reached the Golden Core 9th Tier, and her spiritual power was at least fifty percent more profound than Eldrin Chen's at the Golden Core 7th Tier. She was indeed more suited to wield a Spiritual Treasure Immortal Sword.

After the two of them stored the Immortal Sword, they had just emerged from the Seclusion Chamber when the Old Patriarch received word and hurried over.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, Eternal Profound Chen spoke immediately, "While you were in seclusion, Ethereal Mistress Ling and Immortal Maiden Violet Consort sent word. They wish to discuss a matter of great importance with you."

"A matter of great importance?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he couldn't help but glance at Exquisite Jiang.

After the recent Beast Tide had subsided, the Demon Race forces near the Ji Continent had been completely routed.

Ethereal Mistress Ling had taken over the Spiritual Vein at Golden Rhino Ridge, renaming it Ethereal Void Mountain. Meanwhile, Violet Consort Yan had firmly established herself at Python-Crocodile Lake, naming her new domain the Violet Abyss Lake Path-Field.

These two Path-Field were neighbors to the Verdant Lotus Isle. All three domains were in a state of rebuilding from the ground up, necessitating mutual support and cooperation.

Since they had extended the invitation, it must be for a matter of great importance. Eldrin Chen had no intention of delaying. He directly used a Communication Talisman [a magical slip used for long-distance communication] to notify Ethereal Mistress Ling and Violet Consort Yan.

One month later, the four of them arranged to meet at Verdant Lotus Isle.

By the shore of the spiritual islet on Verdant Lotus Isle, Eldrin Chen, Exquisite Jiang, Violet Consort Yan, and Ethereal Mistress Ling sat facing one another.

Upon the islet, lotus blossoms emerged pristine from the mud, washed clean by the ripples yet untouched by worldly taint, displaying the full, transcendent beauty of the Lotus.

Gazing upon the scene, Ethereal Mistress Ling could not help but sigh in admiration. "The peerless scenery of the Verdant Lotus on your Verdant Lotus Isle is truly a sight rarely seen in this world, far more beautiful than my Ethereal Void Mountain."

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Eldrin Chen replied with a serene smile. Lila stepped forward and personally brewed a pot of Lotus Tea [a fragrant tea infused with the essence of spiritual lotuses] for them.

Ethereal Mistress Ling's eyes narrowed slightly, her pupils contracting in sudden realization. "This girl's innate talent is extraordinary. Could it be she has formed a Superior-Tier Golden Core [the highest grade of the Golden Core cultivation stage, representing immense potential]?"

"Your discernment is keen, True Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul stage]."

A smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips, carrying a hint of justifiable pride.

The Ethereal Mistress Ling nodded, but after a long moment, she shook her head with a sigh. "A Superior-Tier Golden Core aptitude is indeed rare. Yet, it is a pity she possesses a Variant Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of a single, pure elemental affinity]. Unless she encounters a heaven-defying stroke of fortune in the future, I fear it will be exceedingly difficult for her to forge a Heavenly Path Infant Soul [the highest grade of Infant Soul, achieved through a tribulation of unparalleled difficulty]."

"How can that be?"

The expressions of everyone present shifted slightly. Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "Why does the True Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm] say such a thing?"

Ethereal Mistress Ling was a True Lord who had undergone a reincarnation tribulation. In her previous life, she had cultivated for over two thousand years, her cultivation reaching the Infant Soul 4th Tier [the fourth stage of the Nascent Soul realm].

Such profound experience granted Ethereal Mistress Ling insight far surpassing that of ordinary people, even exceeding that of Exquisite Jiang, who was a descendant of a Path Lord [a cultivator who has comprehended a fundamental Dao Path and reached the Deity Transformation realm].

With a sigh, she offered her guidance. "It is because the power of the Heavenly Path Infant Soul tribulation far exceeds that of a common Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. Generally speaking, one requires the aid of three Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a powerful type of enchanted artifact, one grade above a Spiritual Treasure] to successfully pass through it."

"As a cultivator with an Ice Spiritual Root, she can only unleash the full power of ice-attribute Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts used by high-level cultivators]. Therefore, she must obtain three ice-attribute Spiritual Treasure to have any hope of surviving the Infant Soul Realm tribulation."

"If she were to use Spiritual Treasure of other attributes, she would need at least five. However, with the spiritual energy reserves of a single Spiritual Root cultivator, channeling three ice-attribute Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure is already her absolute limit."

"Let alone the fact that activating Spiritual Treasure of mismatched attributes would consume even more of her spiritual energy."

"This..."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, his gaze turning towards Violet Consort Yan as he inquired, "How did you manage to transcend the tribulation for the Heavenly Path Infant Soul [the highest-grade foundation for the Infant Soul realm, representing a perfect connection to the Heavenly Dao]?"

"My path diverges from the ordinary."

Violet Consort Yan stated calmly. She had inherited the legacy of the Violet Cosmos Path Lord, and the Violet Cosmos Heaven-Slaying Sword [a supreme sword art capable of cleaving the heavens] she cultivated was an exceedingly rare Great God Ability [a divine ability of the highest order, often innate to deities].

After her breakthrough into the Infant Soul Realm, she had fused the Violet Cosmos Heaven-Slaying Sword into her Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual core formed upon reaching the Infant Soul realm], transforming it into an Innate Great God Ability [a divine ability that becomes an inherent, inseparable part of one's being].

Once integrated with the Infant Soul, the Violet Cosmos Heaven-Slaying Sword not only surged in grade by a significant margin but also advanced to the Great Completion stage. Its power now rivaled a full-force strike from a cultivator at the Infant Soul Mid Stage.

It was only with the full support of the Ji Clan that she had been able to achieve her breakthrough into the Infant Soul Realm.

Violet Consort Yan shook her head, then added with composed certainty, "A Variant Spiritual Root [a spiritual root affinity for a specific, non-standard element] possesses only a single Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to one's life force and cultivation base], and the purity of its spiritual energy is a fatal weakness. For you to forge a Heavenly Path Infant Soul, I fear the path will be exceptionally arduous."

"Then how does one refine and purify spiritual energy?"

Lila furrowed her brow, her eyes grave as she spoke. Find this and other novels at audio-novel.com.