Chapter 575 : Ascension Through Inner Demons

Refining one's magical power is no easy feat. Many cultivators, despite having forged a Superior-Tier Golden Core and possessing the aid of several Lifebound Magical Treasure, struggle immensely to elevate their power to the standard required for refining Heavenly Path Energy [a primordial and potent form of spiritual energy]. This challenge is even more daunting for those with a Variant Spiritual Root [a spiritual root with an affinity for a specific element or variant energy].

Even with the assistance of the Ice Vein Heaven-Molding Pill, it still took Lila a full eight years to complete the transformation of her magical power, finally reaching the standard necessary to refine Heavenly Path Energy.

When Lila emerged from seclusion, Eldrin Chen handed her a wisp of Earth Mother Energy [a nurturing, foundational energy of the earth] and inquired with concern, "How confident do you feel?"

"With the Inner Demon [the personal demons and mental obstacles of a cultivator] now vanquished, my confidence is absolute—ten out of ten."

Lila spoke with profound assurance. This was her second attempt to breach the Infant Soul [the nascent soul stage of cultivation]. With her cultivation at the False Infant Soul Realm and a foundation built upon a Superior-Tier Golden Core, ascending to the true Infant Soul Realm was as natural as water flowing downhill.

Seeing her brimming with such certainty, Eldrin Chen gave a satisfied nod. "If that is the case, my mind is at ease."

"Go and enter closed-door cultivation. I shall stand guard for you."

"Very well."

Lila stepped into the Seclusion Chamber and began her secluded meditation to break through to the True Lord Realm.

Approximately five months later, violent vortices of spiritual energy began to converge madly, and ominous Tribulation Cloud [clouds heralding a heavenly tribulation] started to churn and gather in the sky above. Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel`com.

"It is done."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of joy coloring his expression.

They saw Lila step gracefully through the air, her long gown flowing. After a brief exchange of glances, she looked up at the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation gathering over the Heavenly Vault with a confident smile, stating with absolute certainty:

"The tribulation for Heavenly Path Infant Soul is indeed formidable, yet I doubt it can hinder me."

As her words faded, she strode forward, summoning her Spiritual Treasure, the Frost Soul Jade-Condensing Pagoda.

This Frost Soul Jade-Condensing Pagoda was a Superior Spiritual Treasure, the Sect-Suppressing Supreme Treasure of the Frost Snow Pavilion, renowned for its powers of suppression and defense.

Once activated, this treasure could repel all malevolent forces and deflect myriad magical arts with formidable might.

With this treasure in hand and her foundation as a Heavenly Path Infant Soul cultivator, Lila only needed to consolidate her cultivation slightly to rank among the elite within the Infant Soul realm. Her strength would likely surpass even some at the Infant Soul Mid Stage.

Of course, if an opponent possessed powerful Spiritual Treasure or profound Divine Ability, their combat prowess could far exceed the ordinary, defying conventional measure.

Regardless, armed with the Frost Soul Jade-Condensing Pagoda, Lila passed through the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation with remarkable ease, a feat that seemed even simpler than when Kael Chen had faced his own.

"Excellent, truly excellent."

Although he had long anticipated this outcome, witnessing her breakthrough into the Heavenly Path Infant Soul realm, Eldrin Chen finally allowed himself to release a sigh of relief.

Without attaining the Infant Soul realm, one remains but an ant in the grand scheme. Upon her breakthrough to True Lord, Lila's lifespan would extend to three thousand years. Augmented by various Life-Extending Treasure [artifacts that prolong life], she could potentially live for over nine thousand years.

With such a vast expanse of time before her, regardless of whether she could eventually break through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm, it would be sufficient for her to accompany him for a long, long age, granting him ample time to make thorough preparations.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen handed a Frost Soul Profound Crystal to Lila and said, "This Frost Soul Profound Crystal is a crucial Spiritual Object [a refined spiritual material] for forging ice-attributed Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts]. Take it to advance your Frost Soul Coldlight Sword."

"With this treasure in hand, the only thing missing for upgrading the Frost Soul Coldlight Sword is the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements]."

Lila accepted the Frost Soul Profound Crystal with delight. Many years prior, she had begun using the power of the Ancient Primordial Inscription to deduce the Spiritual Treasure Chapter [the specific method for forging a Spiritual Treasure] for the Frost Soul Coldlight Sword. After centuries of continuous refinement and perfection, she had finally completed the Spiritual Treasure Chapter for this sword.

However, advancing an ice-attributed Spiritual Treasure required an exceptionally rare type of energy known as Profound Ice Energy [a potent, frigid spiritual essence]. This energy was a variant spiritual essence distinct from the standard Five Elements Essence. Typically, it was synthesized by refining and combining two other essences: Positive Water [the pure, active essence of water] and Supple Wood [the essence of flexible, growing wood].

The process of synthesizing Profound Ice Energy incurred significant losses. Forging a single Inferior-Grade Spiritual Treasure required Five Elements Essence worth twenty million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], more than double the cost of a typical Five Elements Spiritual Treasure.

Nevertheless, within the Far North Icy Plains, some subterranean ice veins naturally gave birth to Profound Ice Energy. The cost of acquiring this naturally occurring Profound Ice Energy was considerably lower.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly. In truth, the underground ice veins beneath the Frost Snow Pavilion also contained Profound Ice Energy [a potent, condensed spiritual energy of extreme cold].

However, collecting that Profound Ice Energy was far too time-consuming and laborious, a task typically left to low-level cultivators. Naturally, they had previously abandoned the effort.

Contemplating this, he paused for a moment before speaking. "Within the Far North Icy Plains, ice-attribute cultivation resources are the most abundant and the cheapest."

"Since we've come all this way, we should purchase a significant amount of ice-attribute resources, especially Profound Ice Energy, and stockpile as much as we can."

The two women nodded in agreement. Exquisite Jiang spoke up, "From now on, Lila will be cultivating three Innate Divine Ability [powers born from one's spiritual constitution]. Her consumption of Profound Ice Energy will undoubtedly be substantial. It is wise to stockpile a great deal."

"Indeed," Eldrin Chen replied with a faint smile, then turned his gaze to the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy]. "But before that, we must decide what to do with this Soaring Cloud Mountain." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel . com.

Lila's expression shifted. Their foundation lay in the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, making it impossible to disperse their strength to this distant Far North Icy Plains. Naturally, all assets here would have to be relinquished.

This Soaring Cloud Mountain was, after all, a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [a land vein of the fifth rank, radiating potent spiritual energy]. To simply abandon it would be a terrible waste. Perhaps they could try to sell it.

Yet she quickly shook her head, a note of resignation in her voice. "The other parties know we are leaving the Far North Icy Plains. They likely won't be willing to spend a fortune to acquire this mountain."

"We must still try," Eldrin Chen stated firmly. Then he continued, "Tell me about the nearest Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a clan led by cultivators at the Infant Soul stage] and sects, and their current situations."

Lila had resided within the Heavenly Mountain for over a century and was intimately familiar with the several Infant Soul Immortal Clan in the vicinity. She swiftly briefed Eldrin Chen on the circumstances of the two nearest Infant Soul powers.

Of these two closest Infant Soul powers, one was the Infant Soul Great Sect known as the Lingering Snow Sect, and the other was the Infant Soul Immortal Clan known as the Hsu Clan.

The Lingering Snow Sect was a formidable Infant Soul immortal sect. Within its gates, it boasted a full four Infant Soul True Lord, and its sect master's cultivation had reached the lofty Infant Soul 6th Tier.

This lineage had been passed down for over ten thousand years. The sect possessed three Fifth Rank Spirit Mountain and, even more impressively, four Superior Spiritual Treasure-grade Spiritual Treasure artifacts that served as its foundational pillars. Its strength and heritage [accumulated power and legacy] far surpassed even that of the Heavenly Reed Sect from the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

The Hsu Immortal Clan was considerably weaker. This clan had only ascended to Infant Soul Immortal Clan status within the last thousand years. Although it housed two Infant Soul True Lord, their cultivation was merely at the Infant Soul Early Stage.

Furthermore, the clan controlled only a single Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein. Its heritage [accumulated power and legacy] was vastly inferior to that of the Lingering Snow Sect.

After listening, Eldrin Chen decided to seek out the Hsu Immortal Clan. He smiled faintly and said, "Let us first see if they have any interest in this Spiritual Vein."

That very afternoon, he mounted his Immortal Sword and set off for the Hsu Immortal Clan. In just two days, he arrived before the main gate of the Hsu Clan.

After presenting his Visiting Card, the two True Lord of the Hsu Clan emerged promptly, their demeanor warm and welcoming.

The Patriarch of Hsu Clan took one look at Eldrin Chen and sensed an aura of profound, unfathomable depth. He immediately offered a respectful smile and spoke.

"I had heard that a few years ago, Fellow Daoist ventured deep into the Demon Race Territory and that even a Demon Emperor at the Infant Soul Late Stage could do nothing to stop you. Seeing your bearing today, I understand those rumors were indeed true."

"You flatter me, brother."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and then spoke directly. "To be frank, I have come on a matter of business."

As he spoke, he explained the situation at Soaring Cloud Mountain to the two True Lord of the Hsu Clan. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel.com.