Chapter 484 : A Mortal's Divine Intervention

"Just a little brat. Why waste words with him?"

The burly man sneered, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he prepared to strike the young child.

At that very moment, the air itself seemed to congeal. The three men were suddenly gripped by an overwhelming sense of dread, finding themselves utterly unable to move a single muscle.

A figure clad in robes as white as snow stepped forward. He descended into the courtyard like an exiled immortal alighting upon the mortal world, his presence ineffably transcendent.

Eldrin Chen landed in the courtyard. His gaze first fell upon the old man's corpse, then shifted to the young child whose bone age indicated he was no more than five years old. Finally, his eyes settled upon the three men.

In an instant, he understood the sequence of events. The old man was the elderly cultivator who had guided him that day.

Despite his lifespan nearing its end, the old man had still been toiling, all to accumulate a few resources to lay a Deep-Seated Foundation [a solid and profound cultivation base crucial for future advancement] for his grandson. He had been fortunate enough to receive a reward from Eldrin Chen.

Yet, the moment they obtained the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], they had been marked. These three men, their neighbors, coveted the Spirit Stone in their possession. Taking advantage of the old man's frailty and the child's helplessness, they had bullied them, ultimately causing the old cultivator's death.

"Preying on the helpless survivors?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy, a flicker of cold fury passing through his heart. The story continues at http://www . audio-novel.com.

The old man's disciples and children had all perished in battle, a family of heroes through and through. It was unthinkable that his end would be so wretched.

Had he not sensed something amiss by chance, this young child would likely have fallen victim to the trio's underhanded schemes, and they would have been utterly annihilated right here.

"They deserved death."

With that thought, Eldrin Chen flicked his sleeve, reducing the three to ashes.

After executing the three, he gazed at the old man's remains and murmured to himself, "Did I do wrong by giving him that sum of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]?"

"The fault is not yours."

Lyra Jiang stepped forward, offering comfort. "The world itself is cruel by nature. Among cultivators, it is often a matter of the strong preying upon the weak."

"Those with the backing of a clan or a Sect may find peace in their twilight years, cared for by others. But how many Rogue Cultivator [cultivators without affiliation to a major clan or sect] ever live to see a peaceful end?"

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, understanding all too well that this was the harsh reality.

Even a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm, a master of profound power], if unable to nurture disciples to inherit their legacy, would find that the Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] and treasures they leave behind become a source of calamity for those who come after them once they pass away.

If a cultivator wishes to ensure the safety of their descendants, they must settle their affairs before their end, entrusting the majority of their treasures to trusted friends and old companions, thereby securing protection for their lineage from others.

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin Chen then turned his gaze to the young child, and his eyes indeed widened slightly in surprise.

"Such exceptional talent!"

"Are you an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and attained a higher state of existence]?"

The child's mind was reeling. He had witnessed the white-robed, exiled immortal descend from the sky and, with a mere flick of his sleeve, utterly annihilate his three mortal enemies. To him, this was nothing short of divine power.

As the exiled immortal approached, the child finally regained his senses and hurriedly knelt upon the ground, kowtowing as he said, "Thank you, Immortal, for avenging me! This humble one offers his deepest gratitude!"

"There is no need for such formalities."

Eldrin Chen's expression remained serene as he carefully studied the boy for a few more moments before asking, "What is your name?"

The child was momentarily taken aback, somewhat flustered as he replied, "My name is Sylas Ye. My grandfather said he hoped I would be like a Three-Foot Verdant Sword [a metaphor for an unyielding, honorable spirit], possessing an unbreakable pride that would rather snap than bend."

"Sylas Ye, a fine name indeed."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and continued to ask, "Do you still have any family?"

Upon hearing this, Sylas Ye lifted his small face and said, "I still have a father and mother. Grandfather said they went to a very faraway place. They are great heroes who slay demons and vanquish evil."

"He said that when the Human Race finally fights its way back to the distant seas, my parents will return to see me."

"The distant seas..."

A tremor passed through Eldrin Chen's heart. He stood up and declared, "Then you shall follow me from now on, until the day your parents come to find you."

"Follow an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation]..." Find thousands of chapters at audi novel.com.

The young boy was momentarily stunned. Remembering his grandfather's past instructions, a sudden clarity dawned upon him. He prostrated himself on the ground and said, "Your disciple, Sylas Ye, pays his respects to his master."

Contrary to expectations, Eldrin Chen did not refuse.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down at Sylas Ye. His expression was calm as he spoke, "If you wish to become my disciple, to be my student, you must first understand one principle."

"In one's lifetime, one need not kneel to heaven or earth, need not bow to immortals or demons, need not revere brute power. But one must always understand gratitude."

"I guide you onto the Dao [the fundamental path of cultivation and enlightenment], a grace akin to bestowing the Way itself. For this, you must perform the threefold kowtow of reverence!"

"This disciple understands!"

Sylas Ye prostrated himself upon the ground, performing the threefold kowtow with solemn gravity, completing the formal rites of apprenticeship before speaking: "My grandfather taught me that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a flowing spring, and a grace that grants the Dao must be honored even if it costs one's heart's blood."

"Your disciple offers his bows today and shall forever remember the teachings of my Master."

Only then did a smile touch Eldrin Chen's lips. Though Sylas Ye was young, he carried the dignified bearing passed down from Old Man Ye; his upbringing was evidently sound.

With this thought, a fondness stirred within him. "With your threefold kowtow today, you have forged the bond of master and disciple with me," he declared warmly. "Henceforth, you shall be the founding disciple under my tutelage."

"It is well you should know. Your master is named Eldrin Chen, bearing the honored title Abyssal Daoist. I am the sovereign lord of Chen Nation, within the Ji Continent of the Eastern Wastelands."

"This disciple understands." Sylas Ye bowed once more in acknowledgment.

Eldrin Chen helped the boy to his feet before continuing. "I have journeyed here from the Eastern Wastelands. You shall accompany me as we wander this world. In time, we shall return together to Chen Nation."

For those who walk the path of cultivation, simplicity reigns. The two of them assisted Sylas Ye in laying his grandfather's remains to rest. Afterwards, they brought the youth back to the Cultivation Cave [a secluded abode for meditation and spiritual practice].

After settling Sylas Ye, Lyra Jiang smiled and said, "This child possesses the Pure Yang Dao Body [one of the supreme physical constitutions aligned with the purest Yang energy], which is among the highest-grade Dao Body [a special physical constitution granting unique cultivation advantages]. Coupled with his aptitude of Five Spiritual Roots [the rare potential to resonate with all five elemental energies], he is indeed perfectly suited to inherit your legacy."

Eldrin Chen nodded. He wasn't sure if it was Sylas Ye's astonishing fortune or his own serendipity that had led him to encounter such an ideal successor for his lineage.

Sylas Ye was merely five years old. His Pure Yang Dao Body [one of the supreme physical constitutions aligned with the purest Yang energy] had not yet manifested, making it impossible for ordinary cultivators to detect his Dao Body [a special physical constitution granting unique cultivation advantages].

Only someone like Eldrin Chen, whose spiritual sense was not inferior to that of a True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm], could perceive the deeply concealed Pure Yang Dao Body [one of the supreme physical constitutions aligned with the purest Yang energy] within the boy.

Had they been a few years later—and had Sylas Ye survived—the gradual emergence of his Pure Yang Dao Body [one of the supreme physical constitutions aligned with the purest Yang energy] would likely have stirred even Nine Rivers True Lord, prompting him to take the boy as his final disciple.

This was because Dao Body [a special physical constitution granting unique cultivation advantages] were also ranked in tiers. A common Dao Body could at most elevate one Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul]. A mid-grade Dao Body could nurture two or three such treasures even within the Golden Core Realm [the cultivation stage following Foundation Establishment].

However, a supreme Dao Body like the Pure Yang Dao Body [one of the supreme physical constitutions aligned with the purest Yang energy] could, through the constitution's natural nourishment, allow a cultivator to advance a treasure to the legendary Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang [a pinnacle-grade magical treasure imbued with pure Yang essence] even at the Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Nascent Soul realm].

This point was of paramount importance. For a Nascent Soul Cultivators [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul], possessing a single lifebound Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang [a pinnacle-grade magical treasure imbued with pure Yang essence] would dramatically increase their chances of a successful breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit realm.

With his Pure Yang Dao Body [one of the supreme physical constitutions aligned with the purest Yang energy] and the innate talent of Five Spiritual Roots [the rare potential to resonate with all five elemental energies], Sylas Ye, if properly nurtured, held immense hope of breaking through to become a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a Nascent Soul realm master who has comprehended profound Dao principles]. In the future, he might even harbor a sliver of hope for Immortal Ascension.

Over the years, the primary reason Eldrin Chen had refrained from accepting disciples was precisely his inability to find a truly suitable heir.

For a cultivator who invests too much emotion and effort into nurturing a disciple, only to see that disciple pass away early from the limitations of their lifespan, the resulting heartache can be profound.

For a cultivator like him, whose ambition is to ascend to immortality, whether or not to take on a disciple is of little consequence. In fact, accepting a Personal Disciple would consume a significant amount of resources for their training.

The path to immortality is arduous beyond measure. The resources required to nurture a Personal Disciple are immense, and such an undertaking might very well diminish a cultivator's own hopes of achieving that ultimate ascension.

Yet, despite this reasoning, after meeting Sylas Ye, he resolved to take him on as his first and foremost disciple, the inheritor of his own Dao lineage and legacy. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio~novel.com.