Chapter 493 : Voyage Through the Spirit-Severing Sea

For the Treasure Ship [a large, enchanted vessel used for long-distance travel and trade] that appear at the boundary between the near seas and the distant seas, they are either ships that have just set sail, brimming with spiritual energy, or they are War Treasure Ship [a heavily armed and armored variant of the Treasure Ship] that have endured a long and arduous journey, their spiritual reserves greatly depleted.

In the former case, the Treasure Ship is at full combat strength, a tough nut to crack, and thus demons and monsters are usually unwilling to make a move. Their targets are always those ships that have traversed the vast Spirit-Severing Sea [a perilous ocean region known for draining spiritual energy] and are severely drained of their spiritual power.

Presently, the Treasure Ship belonging to the Zhang Clan fell into the first category, so Eldrin Chen was not particularly worried about unforeseen incidents.

And indeed, reality matched his expectations. They sailed for tens of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], encountering several Infant Soul Realm [the fifth major stage of cultivation, where the nascent soul is formed] demons and monsters along the way. Yet, each time Path Mystery True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] brandished the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword famed for slaying demons] as a deterrent, those Demon Emperor [a ruler among high-ranking demons] and Demon Monarch [a powerful demon lord] would invariably retreat.

A Fifth Rank Treasure Ship [a top-tier magical vessel] operating at its peak, combined with the presence of a Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful cultivator at the Infant Soul stage], presented a formidable deterrent indeed.

Unwilling to take such a risk, the demonic forces allowed them to finally leave the fringes of the Spirit-Severing Sea and venture deeper into the distant seas.

"..."

Thus, time flowed on like a swift river. In the blink of an eye, over a year had passed. On this day, as Eldrin Chen was in secluded cultivation, he suddenly sensed the spiritual vitality of heaven and earth becoming exuberant, washing over him like a refreshing spring breeze.

"This is..."

Eldrin Chen emerged from his Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for undisturbed meditation and cultivation] and realized that the density of spiritual energy had, without him noticing, grown significantly richer. Access the full story on audio novel.com.

Path Mystery True Lord also approached. Gazing at the seemingly endless expanse of sea ahead, he remarked, "The density of spiritual energy [the vital force that permeates the world and fuels cultivation] in the heavens and earth is gradually increasing. It seems we are nearing the Distant Sea Cultivation World."

As he spoke, Path Mystery True Lord's expression grew increasingly grave.

After a voyage lasting a full year, they were finally approaching the edge of the Spirit-Severing Sea. However, the Treasure Ship had been continuously activating its Fifth Rank Formation to harness the Water Essence Power for the entire year, and its stored spiritual energy was nearly depleted.

Now, the Treasure Ship could barely muster its full power. Should they encounter an attack from a Demon Emperor or Demon Monarch, the danger would increase dramatically.

With this thought, Path Mystery True Lord urged them on, "We have reached the fringe of the Spirit-Severing Sea. Everyone, endure a little longer. Once we reach the Distant Sea Cultivation World, we will be safe."

The Treasure Ship continued its journey deeper into the Eastern Sea. In the blink of an eye, another two days passed.

As they drew closer to the Distant Sea Cultivation World, the vigilance of everyone aboard grew even sharper.

Not long before, they had encountered a Infant Soul [a high-level cultivation stage where the nascent soul is formed] demonic entity. However, seemingly wary of Path Mystery True Lord and the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword, the demon had ultimately chosen not to engage, retreating silently into the depths.

Though the Infant Soul demon had withdrawn, Path Mystery True Lord summoned Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, his voice laced with concern. "The Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner who follows unorthodox, often malevolent, cultivation methods] who spied on us and then retreated is known as Black Bone Old Demon."

"That fiend is a True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator, often at the Nascent Soul stage or higher] of the Demonic Path [the unorthodox and often destructive school of cultivation] from the distant sea's 'Withered Bone Island'. That island harbors three Infant Soul Demon Monarch. Besides this one, the other two are White Bone Old Demon and Blood Bone Old Demon."

"I fear he may return and summon the other two Demonic Path True Lord from Withered Bone Island."

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Exquisite Jiang, his expression turning grave. He asked, "What is the strength of this Withered Bone Island?"

"You have seen the Black Bone Old Demon yourself, merely at the Infant Soul Early Stage. The Blood Bone Old Demon is not much different. Their Demonic Treasure and demonic arts, while formidable, are not considered particularly astonishing within the Infant Soul Realm."

Path Mystery True Lord paused briefly, his tone growing heavy. "However, the White Bone Old Demon is truly extraordinary. This Demonic Cultivator practices the Pale Bone Great Art and has reached the Infant Soul 4th Tier."

"Most crucially, he possesses a Skeletal Demon Skull [a demonic skull artifact] capable of unleashing the Soul-Snatching Pale Bone Demon Light [a pale demonic light specialized in seizing souls], which even a Fourth Rank Mid-Grade Defensive Spiritual Treasure cannot withstand."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply.

That Soul-Snatching Pale Bone Demon Light [a pale demonic light specialized in seizing souls] could not even be blocked by a Spiritual Treasure. It specifically targeted a cultivator's spiritual core, the Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual soul formed at the Infant Soul Realm]. Even an Infant Soul True Lord caught off guard would have their soul forcibly ripped from their body and utterly eroded by the demonic light.

Contemplating the terrifying nature of this treasure, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "Do you have a means to counter it?"

"For this journey, I borrowed a Spiritual Treasure from a friend. It can offer us a degree of protection..."

As he spoke, Path Mystery True Lord produced a small, violet-gold Ancient Bell.

As he explained, Eldrin Chen understood the origin of this Spiritual Treasure. This treasure was named the 'Purple Gold Soul-Suppressing Bell' [a bell forged from purple gold with the power to suppress spiritual souls], a rare type of special Spiritual Treasure. It possessed wondrous uses: suppressing spiritual souls [the core consciousness of a cultivator], repelling evil influences, and resisting curses and divination arts.

After his introduction, he continued, "If a cultivator possesses a powerful spiritual soul, their resistance to the Soul-Snatching Pale Bone Demon Light [a sinister demonic light that seizes souls] would also be stronger."

"Furthermore, cultivating the Primordial Solar Path Art [a cultivation method harnessing the pure, yang energy of the primordial sun], or profound thunder-based Divine Ability [supernatural techniques and powers], can also provide a certain degree of resistance against such demonic light."

"Unfortunately, you are currently only at the Golden Core Realm [the realm where a cultivator forms a solidified golden core of power]. Although you have tempered your spiritual energy with Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure bound to one's life essence], your spiritual souls likely cannot compare to us Infant Soul True Lord [True Lords who have nurtured their Primordial Spirit into an infant form]."

Path Mystery True Lord said, his expression turning gravely serious as he admonished, "If those three demons attack, you must remember to stay behind me, lest you be caught off guard by the Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow dark, demonic paths]."

"We understand." For the best reading experience, visit audio—novel.com.

Eldrin Chen nodded, yet inwardly felt a measure of reassurance. Within their consciousness seas, the Five-Colored Spirit Refining Great Art [a supreme art for refining the spirit using the five elements] continuously tempered them; the strength of their spiritual souls was probably far greater than that of Mortal Path Infant Soul True Lord.

Coupled with the protection of the Five Elements Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the power of the five fundamental elements], they would also possess a certain degree of resistance against this Demonic Path Divine Ability.

After carefully instructing the two, Path Mystery True Lord looked again at the Purple Gold Soul-Suppressing Bell in his hand and said, "It is a pity this treasure's grade is merely Inferior-Grade Spiritual Treasure [the lowest grade of spiritual treasure]. I fear it cannot completely block the Skeletal Demon Skull [a demonic treasure crafted from a powerful demon's skull]."

"Otherwise, with your assistance and my Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword [a sword renowned for slaying a thousand demons], we would certainly have no fear of the three demons from Withered Bone Island."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. That Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword was of the Fifth Rank High-Grade tier, serving as the Zhang Immortal Clan's clan-guarding Immortal Sword [a divine weapon forged by immortals].

With this Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword [a divine blade specifically potent against demonic beings] in hand, many demons and monsters along their journey had been deterred, not daring to approach.

"..."

After the three of them deliberated, the Path Mystery True Lord, fearing a demonic assault, spared no expense. He spent a vast sum of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to recharge the spiritual energy within the Treasure Ship [a vessel powered by magic and spirit energy] to nearly half its capacity.

Thus, the Treasure Ship could regain a measure of its combat power, sufficient to lend them a hand in a critical moment.

Another seven days passed in this manner. As they drew closer and closer to the edge of the Spirit-Severing Sea [a perilous sea region known to sever spiritual connections], just as everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the demonic beings finally arrived.

"They've come after all."

Eldrin Chen stood at the ship's prow, his expression grave as he gazed into the depths of the void. At the distant horizon of the sea, a mass of black clouds rolled forth, blotting out the sky and earth.

From within that black cloud emerged three figures whose auras blazed to the heavens. At their forefront was an elder clad in gray robes, his gaze piercing like twin suns as it fixed upon them.

"So it's you, the old freak Path Mystery True Lord."

"Heh heh heh, a cargo-laden Treasure Ship [a large vessel used by cultivators to transport goods and people over great distances]. It seems this old man's fortune is about to turn today."

"White Bone Old Demon!"

Path Mystery True Lord's expression shifted dramatically. For days, the Treasure Ship had been sailing at full speed, hoping to leave Withered Bone Island [a notorious island domain ruled by demonic cultivators] far behind. Yet now, they had stumbled into the very worst possible scenario. For the best reading experience, visit audi novel.com.