Chapter 543 : Echoes of a Fallen Master's Soul

That figure stood with hands clasped behind its back, a silent sentinel in the gloom, emanating an aura akin to a Demon Emperor [a supreme ruler of demonic beings] reigning from the abyssal depths.

Eldrin Chen halted his steps. Gazing upon the figure before him, he felt as if standing at the precipice of a bottomless chasm or treading upon thin ice, a pressure so immense it threatened to suffocate his very soul.

Within these ruins, only one being could impose such overwhelming pressure upon him: the Verdant Seal Path Master's Earth Soul.

Suppressing his profound discomfort, Eldrin Chen clasped his hands in a respectful salute. "How did you know I would come, Senior?"

The Earth Soul [one of the three foundational souls of a cultivator, representing their connection to the mortal world and physical legacy] remained silent for a long moment. Its gaze rested upon Eldrin Chen, profound and unsettling. Within those depths swirled an undying thread of murderous intent, yet it was tangled with a haze of profound confusion and disorientation.

After an eternity, it reined in that killing aura. Only then did it speak, its voice unnervingly calm. "My Life Soul [the soul governing vitality and consciousness, the core of a being's sentient self] was extinguished a millennium ago. Since then, I have drifted in a fog, my spirit and awareness fractured and dim."

"Had I not sensed a wisp of familiar bloodline when you entered these ruins, this sliver of my soul might never have stirred from its stupor."

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, understanding dawning. The moment he had set foot within the ancient site, the Verdant Seal Path Master's Earth Soul had sensed his presence. That faint resonance had sparked a remnant of willpower, temporarily restoring a fragment of its shattered consciousness.

The Earth Soul studied Eldrin Chen intently for a long moment before speaking again. "If my guess is correct, you have come seeking the legacy treasures I left behind in my mortal life."

"That is correct," Eldrin Chen affirmed. Discover more cultivation stories at @udio-novel.com.

Eldrin Chen nodded and then said, "I have come for the Heavenly Path Energy [a supreme spiritual essence born at the edge of the Nine Heavens, representing the purest energy of the cosmos]."

Verdant Seal Earth Soul gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. With a flick of his sleeve, a storage bracelet flew before Eldrin Chen.

He spoke with detached calm, his tone measured. "The remaining treasures of my Vast Sea Chen Clan are all contained within. There is indeed one portion of Heavenly Path Energy [a supreme spiritual essence born at the edge of the Nine Heavens, representing the purest energy of the cosmos] inside, but alas, that Heavenly Path Energy [a supreme spiritual essence born at the edge of the Nine Heavens, representing the purest energy of the cosmos]…"

Noticing the slight pause in his speech, Eldrin Chen felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

He hurriedly opened the storage bracelet. Inside, he found four or five precious Exotic Treasure [rare and powerful enchanted artifacts]. Among them were two pieces of Five Veins Precious Jade [a spiritual jade containing the balanced essence of the five elemental veins] and two portions of Earth Mother Energy [the nurturing, foundational energy of the earth]. The most valuable item was a single strand of Heavenly Path Energy [a supreme spiritual essence born at the edge of the Nine Heavens, representing the purest energy of the cosmos].

However, all these Exotic Treasure [rare and powerful enchanted artifacts] had undergone a shocking transformation. They were tainted by a mass of pitch-black Demonic Fiendish Energy [a corrupting energy born of demonic malice and resentment] and lingering resentment, now imbued with a sinister and bizarre power.

"This is bad,"

Eldrin Chen's heart sank. Among these treasures, the two pieces of Five Veins Precious Jade [a spiritual jade containing the balanced essence of the five elemental veins], though also polluted by the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a corrupting energy born of demonic malice and resentment], could at least be purified using Primordial Solar Magical Power [a cultivation art harnessing the pure, purifying power of the primordial sun].

The Earth Mother Energy [the nurturing, foundational energy of the earth], while tainted, could also be cleansed if one could procure a sufficient quantity of Heart-Cleansing Spirit Liquid [a rare spiritual liquid with potent purifying properties].

But the Heavenly Path Energy [a supreme spiritual essence born at the edge of the Nine Heavens, representing the purest energy of the cosmos] demanded absolute purity and authenticity. Born at the very edge of the Nine Heavens Firmament [the highest and purest layer of the heavens], it was the clearest, most pristine energy between heaven and earth. Once contaminated by the turbid energies of the mortal world, its efficacy would be drastically diminished.

The Heavenly Path Energy [a rare and potent spiritual energy conducive to major breakthroughs] before him was now tainted by Demonic Fiendish Energy [a corrupting energy born of demonic and evil acts] and lingering resentment. If used to attempt a breakthrough into the Heavenly Path Infant Soul [a high-level spiritual cultivation stage], it would likely amplify the Inner Demon Power [the latent demonic temptations and mental weaknesses within a cultivator's heart] to a terrifying degree.

Even if one barely succeeded in the breakthrough, the cultivator would be tormented day and night by these Inner Demon [the mental demons and corrupting thoughts within] and the vengeful resentment, most likely causing a drastic change in temperament and a descent into becoming a deranged Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner who uses evil, sacrificial, or corrupt methods to gain power].

"This Heavenly Path Energy is unusable," Eldrin Chen declared, his voice heavy with finality.

Gazing at the polluted energy with a heart full of anguish, Eldrin Chen stowed the storage bracelet away with a pained sigh.

He had come here brimming with confidence, determined to find the Heavenly Path Energy for Kael Chen. To end up with nothing but a hollow victory was a bitter disappointment that settled deep within his spirit.

As he accepted the legacy treasure, the Verdant Seal Earth Soul [the earth-bound soul fragment of the ancient patriarch Verdant Seal] studied him for a long moment before speaking again. "This legacy was my contingency plan, left for the bloodline of the Chen Clan to rise again from the ashes. It does not represent the true core of my personal inheritance."

"If you can agree to one condition, I will entrust that true inheritance to you."

"Oh?" Eldrin's interest was instantly piqued.

Eldrin Chen's heart leapt at the words. He quickly asked, "The condition you wish me to agree to... is it to seek vengeance for you? To slay the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor [an ancient and immensely powerful demonic dragon]?"

The Verdant Seal Earth Soul, however, shook its head. With a tone of serene acceptance, it replied, "That Black Dragon Demon Ancestor has lived for tens of thousands of years. Unless you can ascend to the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the realm of a true, ascended immortal], even a cultivator at the peak of the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] realm would find it nigh impossible to end its life."

"Asking you to deal with it would be an unreasonable demand, and he is not the one I despise most."

"The person I want you to kill is Blood Demon Cave's Blood-Refining Old Demon..."

As Verdant Seal Earth Soul recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen quickly understood the origins of the Blood-Refining Old Demon.

That Blood Demon Cave was one of the most formidable Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land within the Star Lake Ancient Domain, and the Blood-Refining Old Demon was its master.

That Blood-Refining Old Demon was a Half-Step Demon Ancestor who had successfully summoned his Earth Soul [the earthly aspect of a cultivator's spiritual core]. Not only was his cultivation immensely powerful, but he also wielded a Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Saber.

That Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Saber was one of the Pure Lunar Demonic Treasure [demonic artifacts of supreme lunar power] that shook the heavens. It was said to have been forged by a Primordial Spirit Realm Demonic Path Patriarch who refined an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [a powerful demon from beyond this world] into it, then blood-sacrificed the countless millions of living souls from several great continents to complete its creation. Continue reading this story at audio-novel-dot-com.

The destructive power of this demonic blade was in no way inferior to a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure of pure solar energy]. Even a Primordial Spirit Path Lord would frown upon facing it. No one knew how it had fallen into the hands of the Blood-Refining Old Demon.

Mentioning the Blood-Refining Old Demon, Verdant Seal Earth Soul revealed a surge of overwhelming killing intent. "The Blood-Refining Old Demon and I have been mortal enemies for thousands of years. We have clashed numerous times."

"Back then, I had laid down multiple contingencies. By all logic, even if my breakthrough failed, it should not have led to the threat of utter annihilation."

"But the Blood-Refining Old Demon used a curse to launch a covert attack. That is why this Celestial Dome Island was destroyed, transformed into a Mortal Realm [the ordinary human world] forbidden zone."

Eldrin Chen listened for a time, finally understanding that the reason Verdant Seal Path Master had fallen to such a state was largely due to the pivotal role played by the Blood-Refining Old Demon.

The reason Celestial Dome Island was saturated with the resentful Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent spiritual force born from demonic corruption and hatred] was also deeply connected to the curse arts of the Blood-Refining Old Demon. As a descendant of the Chen Clan, Eldrin Chen could not help but feel a sliver of killing intent towards that Blood-Refining Old Demon stir within him.

However, recalling the terrifying power of the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow and said, "The might of that Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade is boundless. Even a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator whose spiritual core has ascended to a higher, more profound state of existence] could be cleaved in two with a single careless mistake."

"My current cultivation is still insufficient. I fear I lack the power to slay him."

"I am well aware of that. You may slay him in the future, once your cultivation is sufficient." The remnant thought of Verdant Seal spoke, then its gaze grew slightly solemn. "I possess three treasures. If you agree to my terms, they shall all be yours."

As it spoke, it waved its sleeve, revealing three jade slips.

Eldrin Chen took them and examined them, finding that two of the jade slips contained records of one cultivation method and one Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique derived from profound cultivation].

The cultivation method was named the 'Heaven-Seizing Vein Creation Art', a supreme method for nurturing an Earth Vein [a powerful, sentient ley line of the world's spiritual energy] and, in turn, receiving its feedback and nourishment.

The Heaven-Seizing Vein Creation Art encompassed a complete system of techniques for nurturing Spiritual Veins [ley lines of concentrated spiritual energy], including spells, Formations [magical arrays or patterns used for defense, attack, or cultivation], Divine Abilities, and more. Once an Earth Vein successfully advanced, one could cultivate by drawing upon the power of the Heaven and Earth Ancestral Vein [the primordial, foundational ley line of a region or world]. As long as the Ancestral Vein did not perish prematurely, one's cultivation would thereafter advance by leaps and bounds.

"This is a path that, if followed to its end, becomes an Immortal Ascension Path [a legendary cultivation path said to lead directly to immortality]. Perhaps one could truly ascend and become an immortal."

The remnant thought of Verdant Seal murmured softly, its gaze contemplative as it spoke, "A pity I failed."

Eldrin Chen was profoundly shaken. In the depths of his soul, he sensed that this cultivation method, if followed to its ultimate end, might yield astonishing, earth-shattering results. Perhaps it truly could lead to Ethereal Ascension [the ultimate transcendence beyond the mortal and immortal realms].

He withdrew his gaze and turned his attention to the Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power born from profound cultivation] recorded within another jade slip. This novel is serialized on audio-novel .c om. Visit for updates.