Chapter 579 : Foes Flee, Treasures Claimed

"Hundred Spirits Immortal-Slaying Sword."

The moment they saw the Hundred Spirits Immortal-Slaying Sword, the other two figures gasped in shock. The Maiden of Black Malice instantly transformed into a streak of Void Escape [a supreme escape technique that allows one to vanish into the void] and fled. In the blink of an eye, she was gone without a trace.

To save her life, she had actually burned her Infant Soul Essence [the core spiritual energy of an Infant Soul cultivator], allowing her to escape so swiftly that even Eldrin Chen could not catch up.

The white-robed scholar fled even faster. He summoned a scroll of the Seven Stars Void Escape Diagram [a mystical diagram that enables instantaneous travel across vast distances] and vanished into the void a million Li-lengths away in an instant, leaving Eldrin Chen with no hope of pursuit.

"There is no need to give chase."

Watching the two escape, Eldrin Chen spoke calmly. With a flick of his sleeve, he collected the treasures left behind by the Hulking Warrior.

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement. Although the Hulking Warrior possessed three Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] and boasted formidable defensive prowess as a body cultivator, his escape techniques were lacking.

The other two, however, were standard Earthly Path Infant Soul [cultivators who have reached the Infant Soul realm via the Earthly Path]. Such beings, possessing two Innate Great God Ability [innate supreme divine abilities], would invariably integrate one escape-focused Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique] as their Innate Divine Ability [their primary innate power].

When such an existence is determined to flee, even a Infant Soul Late Stage [a cultivator at the late stage of the Infant Soul realm] cultivator would find it difficult to slay them without specific countermeasures.

Abandoning the pursuit of the formidable foes, Eldrin Chen steered the treasure vessel towards the Drifting Snow Pavilion. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio - novel . com.

As they traveled, he assessed his own combat prowess and couldn't help but smile. "After this battle, I understand my strength clearly. I am now a full step stronger than most cultivators at the Infant Soul Mid Stage."

"While I still cannot match those at the Infant Soul Late Stage, I can roughly contend with about half the power of a Infant Soul 7th Tier cultivator. I could hold my own against two ordinary Infant Soul Mid Stage cultivators working in tandem."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang also smiled slightly and nodded. "If we join forces, we should be able to barely withstand a single Infant Soul Late Stage cultivator."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of agreement, finding Exquisite Jiang's estimation reasonable.

Of course, such estimations were based on ordinary standards. Among Infant Soul Cultivator, powerful individuals emerged endlessly. Even within the same Infant Soul Late Stage, the gaps in strength could be vast.

For cultivators of exceptional talent or those wielding formidable Spiritual Treasure, defeating two opponents of the same realm was not difficult. The White-robed Scholar among the three they had faced could likely have easily defeated the Hulking Warrior.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Eldrin Chen began to tally the spoils from the recent battle.

Soon after, the group opened the Hulking Warrior's Storage Bag and gathered the captured Spiritual Treasure artifacts together for inventory.

After a careful count, they found the loot was not particularly abundant. Aside from three Spiritual Treasure artifacts, there was only one piece of Fifth Rank Spiritual Objects material.

Among the three Spiritual Treasure artifacts, both the Coiling Dragon Staff and the Golden Bracelet Spiritual Treasure were of Inferior-Grade Spiritual Treasure quality. The Azure-Gold Ancient Zun was a Medium-Grade Spiritual Treasure.

The first two were merely ordinary Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a type of powerful enchanted artifact designed to suppress demonic beings], possessing no special qualities. However, the final Azure-Gold Ancient Zun [an ancient, revered vessel forged from azure and gold metals] held a wondrous function.

Strictly speaking, this Azure-Gold Ancient Zun was a unique type of Spiritual Treasure [an artifact imbued with and powered by spiritual energy]. Its combat prowess was secondary; its true purpose was to refine Marrow-Cleansing Nectar [a rare spiritual elixir that purifies and strengthens the bone marrow].

That Azure-Gold Ancient Zun absorbed Profound Origin Heavy Water [a divine-grade water of immense density and spiritual potency], vast quantities of spiritual energy, and copious amounts of Spirit Herb [plants infused with spiritual energy, used in alchemy and cultivation]. From these, it ultimately produced an exceptionally rare Marrow-Cleansing Nectar.

This Marrow-Cleansing Nectar was a superior treasure for body cultivation [the practice of physically strengthening one's flesh and bones]. Consuming it could enhance a cultivator's physical fortitude. The primary reason the Hulking Warrior had cultivated such a powerful physique was precisely due to this Marrow-Cleansing Nectar.

Contemplating the marvelous utility of the Azure-Gold Ancient Zun, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "The effects of this Marrow-Cleansing Nectar are indeed Extraordinary. While it holds little significant use for you or me, for the other Infant Soul [the cultivation realm where one's nascent soul is formed and nurtured] cultivators of our clan, it is an exceedingly precious treasure."

"Indeed," Exquisite Jiang nodded, her eyes glinting thoughtfully. "With this substance, Elara and the Old Patriarch can also attempt to cultivate their physical bodies."

Although the mainstream cultivators of this world did not specialize in body cultivation, relying instead on the natural strengthening of their flesh through the elevation of their magical power, it was undeniable that possessing a powerful physique offered numerous advantages.

Cultivators with robust physiques typically suffered a lower risk of internal injuries and cultivation backlash. Even when wounded, their injuries tended to be less severe than those of cultivators who neglected their bodies, and their recovery was often swifter.

After storing away the several Spiritual Treasure, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the final Fifth Rank Spiritual Objects [objects of spiritual significance, categorized by rank, with Fifth Rank being very high-grade]. A smile touched his lips as he remarked, "I never imagined he would possess such an item."

This last item was a Fifth Rank Void Escape Talisman [a high-grade talisman that allows instantaneous teleportation by tearing through the void]. This precious talisman could instantly transport a cultivator through the void for a distance of several hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], making it a first-rate treasure for escaping peril.

Unfortunately, that Hulking Warrior had no chance to unleash it. He was instantly ensnared by the Hundred Spirits Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword capable of capturing the souls of its victims], his spirit frozen in place, and was dispatched with a single sword stroke before he could even react.

Retrieving the Fifth Rank Void Escape Talisman [a high-grade talisman that allows instantaneous teleportation to escape danger], Eldrin Chen handed it to Lila and said, "You've just made your breakthrough. Ordinary Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] wouldn't suit your attributes well, and I don't have anything particularly fitting as a gift. Consider this my present."

"This..." Lila hesitated slightly, glancing at Exquisite Jiang. "This is a life-saving treasure. Shouldn't it go to Sister instead?"

"No need."

Exquisite Jiang secretly pinched Eldrin Chen but maintained a gentle smile. "Truly, it's unnecessary. There are few cultivators in this world who can corner me. And against those formidable enough to make even escape uncertain, a single Fifth Rank Void Escape Talisman would likely be of little use."

"Moreover," she continued, "since Eldrin and I are together day and night, and I carry the Polarity Void Mirror [a mystical mirror that manipulates the polarity of space for defense and travel], I have little need for such an item." Access the full story on audio-novel.com (official site).

Hearing this, Lila finally accepted with a bright, grateful smile. "Then I thank you, Sister."

Eldrin Chen: "..."

That Hulking Warrior was remarkably impoverished for a cultivator at the Infant Soul Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Infant Soul realm, where one's nascent soul gains greater stability and power]. Aside from those four Fifth Rank Spiritual Objects [objects imbued with potent spiritual energy, ranked by their power and rarity], he possessed only a little over twenty Heavenly Crystal [a highly refined and potent form of spiritual crystal] and miscellaneous items worth a total of just over twenty million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Such meager assets wouldn't just be considered poor for an Infant Soul Mid Stage cultivator; even many well-established practitioners at the Infant Soul Early Stage [the initial phase of the Infant Soul realm] likely possessed greater wealth and deeper reserves than he did.

After thoroughly sorting the treasures, Eldrin Chen continued his journey towards the Drifting Snow Palace. Before long, the group arrived at their destination.

As their party was not yet complete, they waited at the Drifting Snow Palace for seven years before the day finally arrived for the Sixth Rank Teleportation Formation to activate.

By the time they returned to the Eastern Region Great Wasteland and made their way back to Ji Continent, they discovered a full twenty years had passed since their departure from the continent.

Upon teleporting into the Ji Continent Market, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief. A faint smile touched his lips as he remarked, "Another twenty-some years have slipped by in a blink. I wonder how our clan fares now?"

"Then let us return home first,"

Lila said, a touch of homesickness in her voice after being away for nearly three Sixty-Year Cycle.

Their hearts yearning for home, the group did not linger at the Ji Continent Market. They teleported directly to Green Chariot Mountain, where Eldrin finally allowed himself a deep, steadying breath.

The moment he stepped out from the Teleportation Formation, Eldrin's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing his features.

"Patriarch?"

The Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Violet Palace, the third major realm] stationed to guard the formation was momentarily stunned. He quickly bowed deeply and said, "I pay my respects to the Patriarchs."

"There is no need for such formalities."

Eldrin Chen waved his sleeve, lifting the man to his feet, then frowned and asked, "Why are there so few people here today? Thalion Chen and the others were supposed to be at Green Chariot Mountain overseeing the compilation of the Four Canons and Eight Scriptures [the foundational texts of cultivation, encompassing philosophy, alchemy, formations, and martial arts]. Where have they all gone?"

Upon hearing this, the cultivator's eyes reddened, and he spoke with a choked voice, "Patriarch, you have finally returned. Thalion Chen, Eternal Profound Chen... he fell in battle."

"Hmm?"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply. He rose to his feet and said, "Tell me slowly, what exactly has happened in these years?"

"It was trouble from the direction of the Vast Sea..."