Chapter 492 : A True Lord's Hidden Alliance

As they were speaking, a cultivator from the Zhang Clan knocked on the door and said with a smile, "Our True Lord [a title for a high-ranking cultivator] requests your presence. Please follow me, Fellow Daoists."

"Please lead the way."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and followed the Zhang Clan cultivator.

Following the Zhang Clan cultivator, they soon arrived at a Cultivation Room [a chamber specially designed for meditation and energy refinement] and met Path Mystery True Lord.

The Path Mystery True Lord smiled upon seeing them and said, "You must be Fellow Daoist Chen and Immortal Maiden Jiang?"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and he couldn't help but ask, "Your Lordship actually recognizes the two of us?"

"Naturally," Path Mystery True Lord nodded and began to explain, "The Nine Rivers True Lord [a title meaning 'Lord of Nine Rivers'] is an old and dear friend of mine. In fact, when he was besieging Boulder Island, he borrowed my Green Jade Void-Sailing Boat [a magical vessel for traversing the void]."

"I have also heard some whispers of your famed deed in slaying the Bixia Demon Emperor."

"So that's how it is."

Eldrin Chen felt a wave of relief. With this connection between them, a sense of familiarity and ease naturally settled over the meeting. Original English translation available at audio-novel . com.

Path Mystery True Lord also smiled, then spoke with renewed gravity. "This Treasure Ship of mine is laden with a million stalks of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo [a rare bamboo imbued with the power of heavenly thunder]."

"This treasure is a specialty of the Offshore Cultivation World. Not only can it be used to set up Formation [a magical array or defensive barrier], it is also a superior material for forging the Heavenly Thunder Demon-Subduing Sword [a divine sword renowned for subduing demons]. That very 'Heavenly Thunder Demon-Subduing Sword' possesses the Thunderclap [a thunderous strike technique] Arcane Power [a profound supernatural ability], making it the bane of all demons and monsters under heaven."

"This time, I intend to transport it to the Distant Sea Cultivation World for trade, aiming to bolster the means by which the low-level cultivators there can resist demonic forces."

"Therefore, once the demons learn of this, they will likely not stand idly by…"

As Path Mystery True Lord recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen's expression grew solemn.

The grade of the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo on this ship varied greatly. The lowest were merely of the first rank, while the highest reached the fourth rank, and some were even of the Fifth Rank.

The Zhang Immortal Clan had spent several centuries preparing, scouring the Offshore Cultivation World to purchase and finally accumulate this entire shipload of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo.

If this cargo of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo were successfully sold in the Distant Sea Cultivation World, the Zhang Clan would naturally reap immense profits. But should any loss occur, the entire Zhang Clan would likely be dealt a crippling blow from which it could not recover.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "Why not wait another thirty years, True Lord [a title for a high-level cultivator]? Wait for the Treasure Ship from Green Turtle Island to return, then sail to the distant seas together? That way, you could support each other."

"That was my initial thought as well."

Path Mystery True Lord gave a bitter smile and shook his head, his expression turning solemn as he spoke. "It's just that in recent years, the demonic creatures of the Distant Sea Cultivation World have grown increasingly rampant, and the situation for the Human Race has deteriorated further into chaos."

"If this shipment of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo had been delivered a year earlier, perhaps it could have saved more of our Human Race. So, even knowing there was a certain level of risk, I still had to make the journey."

Eldrin Chen felt a surge of profound respect. He rose and offered a formal salute with clasped fists, the Earthly Path. "Your heart encompasses the world, True Lord. I am filled with admiration!"

"There is no need for such formality. We are also doing this to earn some Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]."

Path Mystery True Lord smiled and shook his head again, a trace of bitterness returning to his expression. "Although this batch of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo is quite precious, for the overall situation of the Distant Sea Cultivation World, it is but a drop in the ocean."

"Those who can truly save the Eastern Sea Cultivation World are only existences at the level of a Primordial Solar Path Lord."

"If our Eastern Sea Human Race could produce a few more Primordial Solar Path Lord, the demonic creatures would certainly not dare to be so brazen."

As Path Mystery True Lord spoke, a look of gritted teeth flashed in his eyes.

He looked at Eldrin Chen, his expression grave. "I observe that the two of you possess Extraordinary talent. In the future, you are destined to become peerless figures whose names will shake the world."

"If one day you can ascend to the realm of a Path Lord, I hope you will remember to lend your protection to this Eastern Sea Cultivation World."

Eldrin Chen fell silent for a moment before replying, "Our path ahead is long and arduous. We dare not set our sights too high or chase distant dreams. Regarding the Primordial Solar Realm [the legendary realm beyond the Nascent Soul stage], our most pressing task is to first achieve a breakthrough into the Infant Soul [the Nascent Soul stage]."

"Indeed."

Path Mystery True Lord nodded, finally recalling the purpose of his invitation. "Ah, yes. With the two of you now aboard the Treasure Ship [a large, fortified vessel used for long-distance travel and trade], my confidence in crossing these vast seas has grown considerably."

"I invited you here in the hope that, should the Treasure Ship encounter any danger, you would be willing to lend your aid."

"Naturally, we can," Eldrin Chen agreed with a nod, though his words carried a measured caution. "Within the limits of our capabilities, we will not stand idly by."

"That puts my mind at ease." For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel dot com.

Path Mystery True Lord smiled, then produced a jade vial and offered it to them. "This contains Fifth Rank Restoration Pill [high-grade elixirs that rapidly restore a cultivator's expended spiritual energy]. Consider it a token of our meeting."

"This is..."

Eldrin Chen's brow twitched slightly. A single Fifth Rank Restoration Pill could restore half the spiritual energy reserves of an Infant Soul Early Stage True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul stage].

Among Fifth Rank Precious Pill [the fifth and highest rank of precious cultivation pills], its value was considered modest, yet it could prove invaluable in the heat of battle. A single pill was worth approximately five million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Within this single vial lay a full two Essence Gathering Pill [a high-grade cultivation pill that concentrates spiritual essence], a gift nearly equivalent in value to two top-grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]. It could indeed be considered a rather substantial token of greeting.

After a moment's hesitation, Eldrin Chen still accepted it. After all, the other party was seeking a favor; refusing the gift would likely leave Path Mystery True Lord uneasy. Moreover, these pills would indeed be of considerable use to them.

Once the gifts were received, the group exchanged a few more pleasantries before finally returning to their cave abode.

No sooner had Exquisite Jiang landed than she spoke up, "I observed that Path Mystery True Lord carries an aura of Vast Righteousness [a profound sense of moral integrity and honor]. It's unlikely his words were false."

Eldrin Chen also nodded, his expression turning serious. "The fact that he was willing to lend his signature Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's most prized and powerful enchanted artifact] to a friend speaks volumes about his character. It is indeed commendable."

With that said, no more needed to be spoken on the matter.

After replenishing its supplies and spiritual energy for half a month on Green Turtle Island, the Treasure Ship [a large, enchanted vessel used for long-distance travel] set its course towards the Distant Sea Cultivation World.

This Treasure Ship was powered by a Fifth Rank Water Vein [a high-grade spiritual energy source aligned with the water element] Formation [a complex array or spell formation]. It could harness the cyclical power of the ocean currents within the Vast Sea to traverse the heavens and earth, covering over a million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day—a speed rivaling that of an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Infant Soul, a high stage of spiritual development].

They flew for more than ten days before finally reaching the very edge of the Offshore Cultivation World.

"Ahead lies the Spirit-Severing Sea [a perilous sea known to sever one's connection to spiritual energy]," someone announced.

On this day, Eldrin Chen stood at the prow of the ship, his expression calm as he gazed into the distant void.

The Spirit-Severing Sea was not truly devoid of spiritual energy [the vital force used for cultivation], but its concentration was exceedingly thin. Legend held that the great Earth Vein [the spiritual arteries of the world] network beneath this region was damaged, preventing spiritual energy from gathering here.

Others whispered that an Immortal's [a being who has ascended to immortality] hidden grotto-mansion lay concealed here, its Immortal Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual energy source] having drained the area clean. Regardless of the truth, the spiritual energy here was undeniably sparse.

Across this sea spanning hundreds of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], Spiritual Veins [natural conduits of concentrated spiritual energy] were exceedingly rare. It was nearly impossible to find a Spirit Island [an island nourished by a spiritual vein] of the third rank or higher.

Only in the profound depths of the ocean could high-grade Spiritual Veins occasionally be found, but these veins were invariably occupied by aquatic Demon Race [a race of beings, often bestial, that cultivate demonic arts] and thus never fell into the hands of the Human Race.

Due to the extreme scarcity of spiritual energy, even True Lord [a high-ranking cultivator] cultivators were reluctant to cross this expanse alone. If their magical power [the refined energy wielded by cultivators] were depleted mid-journey, they would be vulnerable to attack by Demon Beasts [monstrous creatures infused with demonic energy].

"We have just entered the Spirit-Severing Sea. Everyone, stay alert and be cautious,"

Path Mystery True Lord spoke as the Treasure Ship [a vessel fortified with defensive formations and often used for long voyages] sailed into the Spirit-Severing Sea.

Demon Beasts were not numerous in the heart of the Spirit-Severing Sea. Instead, it was the border regions near the coastal waters and the Distant Sea Cultivation World where Demon King [a powerful demonic cultivator] and even Demon Emperor [a sovereign among demonic beings] lay hidden, waiting to ambush Human Race cultivators and Treasure Ships. Find this and other novels at @udio-novel.com.