Chapter 530 : A Vow to Mend the Earth's Vein

He was rather familiar with Magnus the Virtuous, but he had not expected that Magnus the Virtuous could be mentioned in the same breath as the other two individuals.

Noticing his expression, Freya Ji smiled and explained, "Although Magnus the Virtuous is an Earthly Dao True Lord [a True Lord whose path and power are deeply rooted in the principles of the Earthly Dao], his talent and insight are truly extraordinary."

"His comprehension is peerless. It is said that even during his Nascent Soul, Early Stage [the initial phase of the Nascent Soul realm], he had already cultivated a Great Divine Ability [a supreme and powerful supernatural art] to the Great Vehicle [Great Perfection] realm. Whether he has since advanced it further remains unknown."

"Moreover, he once made a grand vow to reconnect the severed Earth Vein [a powerful ley line of terrestrial spiritual energy] of the Heaven's Spine Mountains, aiding it to break its shackles, transform into a dragon, and ascend to the heavens. He seeks to prove his Dao and attain the Pure Yang Realm [a state of ultimate yang purity and power] through this feat."

Eldrin Chen listened quietly, a faint glimmer of intensity appearing in his eyes.

He himself had cultivated the Dual Polarity Divine Thunder to the Great Vehicle realm during his Nascent Soul, Early Stage, believing such an achievement to be unparalleled in the world. He had not imagined there existed another soul of such dazzling brilliance.

"Indeed, one must never underestimate the heroes of this world,"

Eldrin Chen murmured with a wry shake of his head. Upon reflection, it made sense. Every cultivator who reached the True Lord Realm [the realm of a True Lord, a master of profound power] was an Heaven's Chosen [a prodigy favored by heaven] in their own right. The emergence of a figure like Magnus the Virtuous was, therefore, within the realm of expectation.

Of course, he did not belittle his own accomplishments. Having only recently broken through to the True Lord realm, if he were to remain at the early stage for a Millennium [a span of one thousand years], the enhancement provided by his Heaven and Man Resonance [a state of profound harmony between the cultivator and the natural order] would undoubtedly allow him to achieve feats unheard of since ancient times.

The group waited within the Grand Hall for a short while before the Grand Elder of the Ji Clan, accompanied by several Ji Clan True Lord, emerged to greet them. For more chapters, visit audio-novel dot com for the complete novel.

He cast a glance over the assembled guests, then instructed his attendants to present each with a gift. With a warm smile, he said, "For your invaluable assistance during my breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm [the realm of the Primordial Spirit, a major milestone in a cultivator's journey], I, Ji Clan Patriarch, am profoundly grateful."

"A mere token of my esteem, hardly worthy of your presence."

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang also received their gifts. With a subtle sweep of his spiritual sense, Eldrin discovered they were two Fifth Rank Nirvana Pill [a supreme-grade elixir capable of completely reconstructing a cultivator's physical form].

"A truly generous gesture," he murmured inwardly.

His heart stirred with awe. A single Fifth Rank Nirvana Pill was potent enough to allow a Nascent Soul Cultivator [a master who has condensed their spiritual essence into a Nascent Soul] to rebuild their fleshly body from nothing.

The value of such a treasure was likely equivalent to thirty Heavenly Crystals [a highly purified and potent form of spiritual energy crystal]. For the Ji Clan to bestow over a dozen Nirvana Pills at once was a display of staggering magnanimity.

Once the gifts were distributed, the Ji Clan Grand Elder spoke again, his smile unwavering. "The matter of guarding the Dao [protecting the cultivator during their critical breakthrough] shall now rest in your capable hands."

Lilith, Mistress of Desire, having accepted her Nirvana Pill, replied with a smile that danced in her eyes. "Set your heart at ease, True Lord [an honorific title for a Nascent Soul realm master]. Given our long-standing friendship, this humble one shall naturally lend her full strength to the endeavor."

The Ji Clan Grand Elder gave a satisfied nod. After briefing everyone on the specific arrangements, he directed attendants to escort the guests to their quarters for rest.

However, Eldrin Chen and his companion were not led to the general guest quarters. Instead, they were guided to the very heart, the most sanctified core, of the Ji Clan Dao Field [the primary cultivation sanctuary and ancestral lands of the Ji Clan].

Before a sealed Cultivation Cave [a secluded chamber where cultivators meditate and undergo breakthroughs], Freya Ji halted and stated, "To be perfectly honest, my father has been in seclusion attempting his breakthrough for three months now. He is currently on the very cusp of drawing in his Heavenly Soul [one of the three primary souls, representing the celestial aspect of a cultivator's spirit]."

"The breakthrough is imminent. Let us stand guard here before the Cultivation Cave and act as his protectors."

"This..."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly. By all reasoning, the optimal moment for Ji Clan Patriarch to draw in his Heavenly Soul should have been three months from now.

He had not anticipated that Ji Clan Patriarch would act so unexpectedly, commencing his breakthrough a full three months earlier than everyone had calculated.

Noticing their expressions, Freya Ji explained, "Although advancing by three months is not the ideal moment for drawing in the Heavenly Soul, it merely increases the difficulty by about ten percent. The difference is not overwhelmingly vast."

"Given the solidity of my father's foundation, even with this early start, he possesses considerable confidence of success."

"By breaking through ahead of schedule, he accepts a slightly greater challenge, but in return, he catches his enemies completely off guard. It is a calculated trade-off."

Upon hearing this, both of them were somewhat taken aback. Lyra Jiang chuckled, "First, he spent several Millennium [a period of one thousand years] scheming to cripple the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor, and now he disrupts the Demonic Monsters's [malevolent creatures that cultivate demonic arts] plans by advancing his breakthrough early. My cousin is truly a master strategist, always full of unexpected maneuvers."

Freya Ji also smiled. Her father, Dorian Ji, might not possess the most dazzling innate talent in the world, but when it came to intricate planning and long-term schemes, he was undoubtedly among the very best of his generation.

This breakthrough had been meticulously planned for several Millennium [a grand cosmological Era, often spanning tens of thousands of years]; it was not something so easily disrupted.

The three of them spoke no more, taking up positions outside the Seclusion Chamber [a dedicated room for closed-door cultivation] to sit in meditation, forming the final line of defense for the Ji Clan Patriarch.

Behind them, within the Seclusion Chamber, an atmosphere of profound tranquility and harmony prevailed. Yet, imperceptibly, an immense and majestic presence began to emanate from within.

At first, those outside noticed nothing amiss. It was only after the passage of several Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] that they finally sensed something was wrong.

An unimaginable pressure, a weight that defied comprehension, began to spread from the depths of the Ji Clan's Back Mountain [a secluded area often used for cultivation or ancestral grounds]. It pressed down, draining color from the world and casting heaven and earth into gloom. Even Golden Core True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core Realm and is addressed with the honorific 'True Lord'] found it difficult to rise to their feet under this oppressive force.

Within a radius of one hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], every cultivator felt as if the light had been snuffed from the world. An unparalleled sense of despair settled upon their hearts and minds. Original publication: audio~novel.com - The source of this chapter.

Then, a brilliant, dazzling, and resplendent radiance pierced through the darkness, illuminating it once more.

In that profound moment, it seemed to all as if they glimpsed a solitary, peerless figure seated upon the Firmament [the vault of heaven], shining with the blinding brilliance of the sun.

"This is..."

From atop Dao Void Mountain, one Human Race True Lord [a powerful human cultivator who has attained the True Lord realm] after another soared into the Firmament, their expressions etched with awe and astonishment.

The crowd was struck speechless. Lilith, Mistress of Desire exclaimed in astonishment, "The Great Sun Traversing the Heavens... that is a celestial phenomenon that only manifests when one breaks through to the Pure Yang Realm [the realm of ultimate yang energy and spiritual purity]."

"How could he act so swiftly? This is not the most auspicious moment."

One by one, the True Lords [powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage] wore expressions of utter bewilderment. The Demonic Monsters lurking in the shadows widened their eyes in disbelief.

"Impossible!"

A Demonic Path True Lord smashed the stone table before him, roaring in fury, "I spent forty-nine years constructing that sacrificial altar! The curse was not meant to be unleashed for another three months!"

"If he ascends to the Nascent Soul realm now, all my efforts will have been for nothing!"

A peerless Demon Emperor was equally shocked, his face a mask of bitter regret. "I cultivated the 'Demon God Star-Plucking Grand Divine Ability' for this! Three centuries ago, I plucked nine Primordial Ancient Stars from the Nine Heavens Above [the highest celestial realm], waiting for the perfect moment to unleash them three months from now."

"Now he advances prematurely... have all my bitter toils been in vain?"

The hidden Demonic Monsters were all astounded, realizing the elaborate schemes they had prepared for years had now been rendered useless.

Some among the Demonic Monsters were filled with rancor, one letting out a shrill, indignant cry, "He advances three months early, forsaking the optimal moment! Does he not fear courting failure in his breakthrough?"

Many were perplexed, for the breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm [the realm where a cultivator's spirit forms a separate, powerful entity] hinges on the perfect alignment of timing, location, and personal readiness. A discrepancy as slight as a hair's breadth could lead to failure.

Ji Clan Patriarch was not attempting his breakthrough at the optimal moment; instead, he had chosen a slightly inferior time. This choice significantly increased the likelihood of failure.

Regardless of how the Demonic Monsters [powerful, malevolent creatures born of demonic energy] debated the matter, the breakthrough process had now irrevocably begun.

One after another, the Demon Monarch [a powerful demonic cultivator equivalent to a human Nascent Soul cultivator] and Demon Emperor [a sovereign ruler among demonic beasts] could no longer restrain themselves. They surged forward in a frenzy, charging toward the summit of Dao Void Mountain.

Though equally startled, the guardians upon the mountain peak had no time for hesitation. Xuantian the True Lord, Lilith, Mistress of Desire, and even Inscription of Sorrow Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] and others swiftly took action, intercepting the oncoming horde of Demon Emperor True Lord [a demon emperor who has also attained the power of a True Lord].

War erupted in an instant. Eldrin Chen looked up to see dozens of cultivators from the human, Demonic Monsters, and demonic tribes locked in fierce combat across the sky. The story continues at audio-novel .c om.