Chapter 552 : The Transcendent's Return

The newcomer possessed the visage of a youth, yet his bearing was transcendent beyond measure, akin to a banished immortal wandering the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals].

He seemed the very axis of this world. Merely seated there in meditation, he drew all brilliance from heaven and earth unto himself, converging into a halo of spiritual light that enveloped him, as if he were on the verge of ascension into immortality.

An Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] remains unstained by the aura of the Mortal Dust, their sleeves billowing with winds that sweep across ten thousand Li-lengths.

The onlookers sighed inwardly, feeling as if they were beholding a Divine Spirits [a powerful spiritual entity] or gazing upon a Celestial Being [a heavenly being], their vision filled entirely by that snow-white-robed figure.

Swiftly, they regained their composure and hurriedly rose to offer their salutations.

"We pay our respects to the True Lord [a title for a high-ranking cultivator]."

Seated upon the Creation Verdant Lotus Throne [a mystical lotus-shaped throne], Eldrin Chen regarded the assembly with serene grace, a wave of quiet reflection washing over him.

Time flowed like a song, the Mortal Dust churning ceaselessly. In the blink of an eye, five hundred years had passed.

He recalled five centuries prior, when he was but a mere Vital Essence Refinement Minor Cultivator [the lowest stage of cultivation, focused on refining one's vital energy], spending his days tending Spirit Fish [fish imbued with spiritual energy] and cultivating Spiritual Field [fields enriched with spiritual energy for growing special plants], desperately striving for a single Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation].

Now, those years had slipped away like sand through an hourglass. Here he sat upon this lofty dais, surveying the multitude of over ten thousand cultivators below, yet scarcely a familiar face from those bygone days remained. This novel is serialized on audio-novel`com. Visit for updates.

Among the figures from that bygone era still visible today, aside from the few from the Chen Clan, there are only a handful of others, such as Star Grace Meng and Xavier Xu, who can be counted on one's fingers.

Eldrin Chen raised his gaze. Upon the Lotus Throne, he saw Path Abyss Xu, he saw Xavier Xu whose lifespan was nearly exhausted, and he also saw the couple, Recluse of Verdant Verse and his wife.

After exchanging a glance with them, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then composed his spirit and spoke.

"Before the discourse begins, you must understand my rules."

"Since you have come to listen to my teachings on the Path, you naturally incur a debt of Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences] to me. I do not demand you repay this favor in the future."

"However, should you achieve any measure of success in your cultivation in days to come, you must in turn lend aid to the younger generations of our Human Race. If you encounter any deranged or maniacal demons or fiends, you must act to vanquish them, protecting the hundreds of millions of living beings of our Human Race."

Hearing this, the assembly was filled with solemn respect. With grave expressions, they responded, "We shall heed the teachings of the True Lord [a title for a cultivator who has attained the Nascent Soul stage]."

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly before stating calmly, "Then let this Path Discussion Assembly [a formal gathering where cultivators discuss insights into the Dao] commence."

For this discourse, Eldrin Chen proceeded from the fundamental to the profound, yet remained thoroughly pragmatic. He focused on the critical junctures and hidden intricacies of cultivation at each major realm.

The cultivators present had attained a cultivation level no higher than the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where spiritual energy condenses into a solid golden core]. They were far from the stage requiring deep comprehension of the Dao's mysteries. For them, having the secrets and bottlenecks of each cultivation realm elucidated was the most tangible form of Dao and principle they could receive.

Eldrin Chen began with the Fire Spiritual Root and proceeded to meticulously explain, one by one, the cultivation methods and crucial insights for the Foundation Establishment Realm of the Five Elements Spiritual Root to the assembled crowd.

Among these were many treasures to aid in breakthroughs, as well as methods and secret arts for tempering one's foundation, all of which greatly broadened the horizons of those present, significantly enhancing their knowledge and accumulated wisdom.

After finishing the discourse on cultivation methods for the Foundation Establishment realm, Eldrin Chen continued, "For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator seeking to break through to the Violet Sanctum, the greatest hurdle is the Mortal Shell Tribulation [the tribulation where one sheds their mortal physical shell to forge a more spiritual body]."

"I possess twenty-seven distinct methods, each capable of increasing a cultivator's chances of successfully breaking through to the Violet Sanctum."

Such pivotal techniques captivated not only the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present but also caused many Violet Sanctum Cultivators to prick up their ears and listen intently.

As he expounded upon them, Literature Abyss Lu and the others were overcome with rapturous joy, feeling the path ahead suddenly open wide before them, their hearts swelling with boundless excitement.

Among these twenty-seven methods, besides the mainstream use of Five Elements Treasure Crystals, some were imparted by Vast Righteousness True Lord, while others were insights Eldrin Chen had gleaned during his leisure moments over the years.

Many of these methods were rather unorthodox and difficult to combine or layer upon one another, yet they still substantially increased the likelihood of a breakthrough to the Violet Sanctum.

After fully explaining these methods, Eldrin Chen cast a glance at Literature Abyss Lu and the others at the forefront of the Foundation Establishment ranks and offered a word of caution: "However, while these methods are beneficial, most of them primarily work by reducing the difficulty of piercing through the Violet Sanctum Heavenly Vein [the spiritual meridian that must be opened to access the Violet Sanctum realm]."

"A breakthrough achieved through such means will inevitably diminish a cultivator's latent potential, making their future Path [the journey of cultivation and enlightenment] likely more arduous."

"If you wish to tread a longer path, it is best to cultivate arts such as the Fire Fiend Tempering Body Art or the Returning Abyss Forging Body Art."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly. The Fire Fiend Tempering Body Art was a method created by Kael Chen after tempering his body with a Fire Fiend [a malevolent spirit born of fire and chaos].

The Returning Abyss Forging Body Art, on the other hand, was created by Eldrin Chen himself. This technique was far more gentle. It was a body-forging cultivation art; a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who mastered it to its peak could greatly enhance their meridians and physical body.

Mastering this art to the Greater Accomplishment stage was enough to increase one's chance of a Violet Sanctum breakthrough by ten percent. Achieving the Grand Perfection stage could increase that chance by a full thirty percent.

However, the Returning Abyss Forging Body Art was notoriously difficult to cultivate. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to reach the Greater Accomplishment stage required the span of one Sixty-Year Cycle. Reaching Grand Perfection demanded vast resources and exceptional talent.

Even so, its effects were astonishing. Merely reaching Greater Accomplishment granted a ten percent increase in breakthrough odds, making it far safer than the Fire Fiend tempering method. It was the unrivaled choice for widespread adoption. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel dot com.

Upon learning of this method, Literature Abyss Lu felt as if he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure. He murmured to himself with immense joy, "My constitution is extraordinary; I have always progressed with remarkable speed in body-forging arts."

"If I can request this art from the Chen Clan, I am certain to achieve Grand Perfection. My chances of breaking through to the Violet Sanctum will be vastly increased."

His heart swelled with excitement, but he noticed Eldrin Chen on the platform had begun lecturing on the bottlenecks of Violet Sanctum Realm cultivation. He immediately focused and listened with rapt attention.

The more he listened, the more he felt layers of confusion being peeled away. After a long while, he could not help but whisper in awe, "So, within the Golden Core realm, there are also distinctions of Upper, Middle, and Lower Grade Golden Core."

"It is fortunate that I had the honor to hear the True Lord expound the Dao today. Had I attempted to break through to the Violet Sanctum realm on my own using the Five Elements Treasure Crystal, I would have surely carried lifelong regret."

Literature Abyss Lu felt a wave of fearful hindsight. He recalled his recent breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm.

At that time, the Lu Clan had sought to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill for him. Unfortunately, due to insufficient Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], they were ultimately outbid by others. The Lu Clan had been filled with regret back then, but now, thinking it over carefully, he could only sigh with profound feeling.

Had he used a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through back then, he likely would not have the qualification to sit in this foremost row today.

Literature Abyss Lu felt cold sweat beading on his forehead, yet also an overwhelming sense of fortune. Being born into a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan was originally his greatest weakness, yet now, having the fortune to hear a True Lord expound the Dao, he had avoided countless fate-altering crossroads.

"The discourse on the Violet Sanctum realm concludes here. Let us now speak of the Golden Core Chapter."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, then waved his hand to cast a barrier, isolating the Golden Core Cultivator in the front rows from the rest of the assembly.

The contents of the Golden Core Chapter were exceedingly profound, even touching upon the keys to breaking through to the Infant Soul realm. If such knowledge were to fall into the hands of demons and monsters, it could bring harm to the Human Race. Naturally, he had to explain it separately.

There were over one hundred Golden Core Cultivator present. Among them, more than thirty were cultivators from the Chen Clan. The remainder, though hailing from various great Immortal Clan, were almost all Stewards and Elder of the Heavenly Ruins Alliance.

These Golden Core Cultivator who had come to listen to the Dao had either paid a substantial fee for the privilege or had already honored Eldrin Chen as their teacher, becoming half-registered disciples under his tutelage. Find this and other novels at audio—novel.com.