Chapter 522 : Forging the Clan's Foundation

Only top-tier Infant Soul Immortal Clan like the Ji Clan and the Featherflight Pavilion possess the capability to forge such treasures. For instance, the Grotto-Heaven Spiritual Treasure 'Featherflight Tower' from the Featherflight Pavilion is a treasure of comparable, if not greater, value.

However, even with the Featherflight Pavilion's ten-thousand-year accumulation of heritage, such treasures likely number no more than two or three. They serve as the foundational heirlooms that safeguard the clan's Fortune [the metaphysical luck and destiny of an organization].

Contemplating the severe shortage of Stellar Fragment, Eldrin Chen's gaze suddenly sharpened with intensity. "Forging two Spiritual Treasure would not consume much Fifth Rank Spirit Wood or Void Gem. The greatest deficit lies in the Stellar Fragment."

"Yet, within the Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land [restricted, demonic territories] of this world, Stellar Fragment is not lacking."

"You mean..."

Exquisite Jiang's eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but glance at Eldrin Chen.

After a moment of contemplation, she nodded. "The Demonic Spring [demonic energy fountains] within those Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land were all created by Outer Realm Demon God [demonic entities from beyond this world] who scattered Stellar Fragment to refine them."

"However, over six hundred years have passed since the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm. Lower-tier Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land like the Demon Cave have mostly been cleansed. What remains are formidable strongholds like the Black Fiend Ridge."

"These Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land are deeply entrenched, guarded by Infant Soul [a high cultivation stage] old demons. Without combat power equivalent to the Infant Soul Late Stage, challenging them would be folly."

Hearing her words, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. "Then we shall wait. We will devise a plan for this matter in the future." Original English translation available at audio-novel*com.

After putting away the Star Observation Ancient Scroll, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the final ancient scroll.

This damaged scroll recorded a cultivation art named the 'Heaven-Seizing Path-Forming Art' [a forbidden technique that allows a cultivator to steal a special constitution from another], which could aid a cultivator in forging a subsequent Heavenly Path Body [a powerful, heaven-defying physical constitution].

To perform this technique, one must first locate a bearer of a Path Body [a rare and powerful innate physical constitution]. Then, one must refine the essence of their bloodline and physical form into a medicinal catalyst, forcibly seizing the Path Body and grafting it onto oneself.

Yet this alone is insufficient. A stolen Path Body has an unstable foundation. It requires the blood sacrifice of three thousand six hundred cultivators, using their vital essence to nourish the Path Body until it is finally fully cultivated and integrated.

Once this subsequent Heavenly Path Body is forged, it would possess roughly eighty percent of the original Path Body's efficacy. Furthermore, because it is not an Innate Path Body, its foundational flaws remain significant.

While this method could increase a cultivator's chances of breaking through to the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit stage] and the Infant Soul Mid Stage, it could never forge a true Earthly Path Infant Soul [a perfect, foundationally sound Primordial Spirit]. Moreover, it offered no benefit to one's Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure nurtured and grown alongside a cultivator's own cultivation].

"Such a vile and forbidden art—"

Eldrin Chen's face turned ashen with cold fury. It was now clear that his mother had been refined into that medicinal catalyst by Lonely Honor Qin, her Path Body cruelly stolen from her.

This forbidden art was utterly malevolent, and its requirement for the blood sacrifice of members of the Human Race marked it as clearly not originating from the Purple Seal Realm. It bore the hallmarks of techniques used by the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons [demonic beings from beyond this world].

No wonder the Qin Clan dared not reveal it lightly. If such a secret technique were exposed, not even the Human Race Path Lords [powerful cultivators who have comprehended a fundamental Dao Path] would be able to tolerate their existence.

Beside him, Exquisite Jiang noticed the expression on his face and grasped his hand, saying, "My husband, the Qin Clan has now been vanquished by us. This thread of Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect] is settled."

"What is lost cannot be reclaimed. You need not harbor this fury any longer."

"Mm."

Upon hearing her words, Eldrin Chen finally allowed the killing intent within him to dissipate.

He looked at the ancient scroll in his hand, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "This method is far too malevolent. Allowing it to remain in this world would only bring calamity."

"I shall destroy it, to prevent future cultivators from being led down this wicked path."

As his words fell, he summoned forth the Solar True Flame [a sacred flame of pure yang energy] to incinerate the scroll.

The Solar True Flame consumed all without distinction, and the ancient scroll was swiftly engulfed in its purifying blaze.

Yet, as the scroll burned, a dazzling golden light erupted from within. From among the ashes, a single sheet of golden foil emerged, untouched and gleaming.

"What is this…?"

The two of them were momentarily stunned, their gazes involuntarily drawn to this piece of golden foil.

The foil was but a single page, shimmering with a golden light. The characters inscribed upon it were profoundly arcane, as if torn from some celestial tome.

This discovery startled them greatly, causing expressions of shock and doubt to flicker across their faces.

In this world, cultivation arts were strictly graded. Only arts that could lead one to the Infant Soul Cultivation Art realm were worthy of being called ancient scrolls, and only those who had attained the level of a Primordial Solar Path Lord [a supreme master of the solar path] had the right to author such profound texts.

Therefore, arts for the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm were also known as 'Primordial Solar Heaven Scripture' [celestial scriptures of the primordial sun] or 'Primordial Spirit Path Tome' [tomes of the primordial spirit path].

Such 'Primordial Solar Heaven Scripture' contained profound truths within concise words, embodying a Primordial Spirit Path Lord's comprehension of the world's Path Principles [the fundamental laws governing reality]. To fully comprehend them was to peer directly into the mysteries of heaven and earth and grasp the profound secrets of the Great Path [the ultimate Dao]. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel*com.

Exquisite Jiang glanced at it, but found each character seemed to hold a thousand meanings. For a moment, she found it difficult to penetrate its hidden mysteries.

Eldrin Chen, however, became absorbed. He studied the celestial scripture in silence for a long while before finally exclaiming with awe, "Astounding!"

It turned out this golden foil was named the 'Ascendant Immortal Path-Forging Art' [a supreme art for forging one's immortal path], and it likely originated from a volume of the Primordial Solar Heaven Scripture.

Being merely a single torn page, its origins were now lost to time. Yet, the content it recorded was utterly astonishing.

This Ascendant Immortal Path-Forging Art [a supreme method for forging one's foundational constitution] details the technique for a Primordial Spirit Cultivator [a cultivator whose spiritual core has fully manifested] to forge a Path Body [a unique, innate physical constitution that enhances cultivation].

According to the fragmented pages, if a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a master who has comprehended the fundamentals of a cultivation path] cultivates this art, they can evolve a Path Body from nothingness.

Most crucially, this method can also nurture the Path Body, aiding the cultivator's constitution in its continuous advancement; it even records methods for its metamorphosis into an Immortal Body [a perfect, immortal physical form].

After reading it, Eldrin Chen could not help but say to Exquisite Jiang, "I only knew that Path Body varied in strength, but I never imagined that Immortal Body were also ranked into tiers of nine and three."

As described in this fragmented scroll, after a cultivator reaches the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the realm of an immortal who has transcended mortality], they can use the power of Path Principles [the fundamental laws governing a cultivation path] to reshape their body into an Immortal Body.

However, Immortal Body also have distinctions in power. An Immortal Body forged using Path Principles merely compensates for weaknesses and cannot be considered top-tier.

Furthermore, cultivators who practice body-refining arts, or prodigies born with a Path Body, can also choose to directly cultivate an Immortal Body.

According to the narrative within the fragments, there are three paths for a mortal to ascend to immortality: the Path Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation journey], the Path Principles, and the Immortal Body.

Those with peerless determination, willpower, and talent can condense a Path Fruit to achieve immortality.

Those with astonishing comprehension can rely on their profound insight to grasp Path Principles Power [the active power derived from understanding Path Principles], becoming an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality] who commands Path Principles.

Others take a third path: forging an Immortal Body [a physical form transcending mortality] amidst the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals], thereby enduring the Immortal Ascension Tribulation [a heavenly trial to ascend to immortality] and achieving immortality through their physical form, which then nourishes their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] for Ethereal Ascension [ascension to a higher ethereal state].

These three paths are distinct. Although all can eventually compensate for their shortcomings after achieving immortality, their inherent emphases differ.

The 'Path Fruit Immortal' [an immortal who ascends by condensing a Path Fruit] possesses astonishing perseverance and willpower, forcibly condensing a Path Fruit [the fruit of one's cultivated path, representing supreme attainment] with their peerless magical power, transforming into a True Immortal [a genuine immortal being] with Immortality [the state of being deathless]. Their Primordial One [the unified essence of spirit and energy] remains flawless and un-leaking. However, their Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of the Dao] and Immortal Body [a physical form transcending mortality] are their relative weaknesses.

The 'Path Principles Immortal' [an immortal who ascends through profound comprehension of Path Principles] possesses breathtaking, peerless comprehension. They wield the Path Principles Power [the power derived from understanding cosmic laws] of heaven and earth. Yet, their Dao heart and Immortal Body [a physical form transcending mortality] are somewhat lacking. Upon reaching profound realms, they face the danger of being assimilated by the very Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of the Dao] they command.

The 'Immortal of the Immortal Body' [an immortal who ascends via a perfected physical form] possesses heaven-defying natural talent. Their physical strength rivals that of an Innate Divine Spirit [a deity born from the cosmos itself], capable of suppressing Nine Heavens Stellar [celestial bodies of the highest heavens] with a single hand. However, their Dao heart and grasp of Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of the Dao] cannot compare to the former two. After achieving immortality, they can only walk the Path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [the cultivation path focused solely on perfecting the physical form].

This Ascendant Immortal Path-Forging Art [a supreme art for forging one's path to immortality] is the final page torn from a certain Primordial Solar Heaven Scripture [an ancient scripture from the Solar Heaven]. It records the method for forging an Immortal Body [a physical form transcending mortality] within the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals].

Unfortunately, this fragmentary page is incomplete. Furthermore, its creator never truly reached the final step; the so-called method for forging an Immortal Body [a physical form transcending mortality] remains merely theoretical speculation.

After reading it, Eldrin Chen informed Exquisite Jiang of the situation and said, "So it seems most cultivators of the Human Race follow the path of the Path Fruit Immortal [an immortal who ascends by condensing a Path Fruit] or the Path Principles Immortal [an immortal who ascends through profound comprehension of Path Principles]." Read, share, and discuss at audio - novel . com.