Chapter 632 : The Nascent Soul's Ascent

Since there were still no leads on how to awaken Verdant Consort and the deadline for her Millennium [a fateful cycle lasting one thousand years] was still some time away, Eldrin Chen temporarily set the matter aside and began to cultivate in seclusion, aiming to advance his cultivation base to the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage as soon as possible.

Time flowed swiftly by, and in what seemed like a blink, more than twenty years had passed.

Early one morning, as Eldrin Chen emerged from his cultivation chamber, he found Lila had been waiting at the entrance for quite some time.

Her expression seemed particularly joyful. Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, she spoke immediately: "Word has come from Eight Trigrams Island. They say Silas is preparing to attempt his Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into an infant-like spiritual form] breakthrough."

"Oh?"

A flicker of delight crossed Eldrin Chen's face. He rose promptly and set off for Eight Trigrams Island.

Upon arriving at Eight Trigrams Island, he noticed the Eight Trigrams Treasure Tree [a mystical tree whose growth patterns follow the principles of the Eight Trigrams] growing there had become increasingly wondrous, its aura suggesting it was on the very cusp of advancement.

Thalion Chen had arrived a step earlier. Seeing Eldrin Chen, he smiled faintly and said, "It seems the Eight Trigrams Treasure Tree will advance within thirty years. That means I can finally begin preparations for my Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner."

"I shall lend you my aid when the time comes."

Eldrin Chen replied with a serene smile. The method for forging the Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner was already known; they merely needed to make slight modifications, adapting it into the method for crafting a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its user's life force and soul]. Experience the full epic at audio-novel . com.

This task was not overly burdensome for the two of them. As seasoned True Lord cultivators, they were far removed from their former days as mere Foundation Establishment juniors. For Eldrin Chen to lend Thalion Chen a hand was merely a matter of accumulating some additional experience.

As they conversed, they arrived at Silas Chen's Cultivation Cave.

Upon seeing Silas Chen, Eldrin Chen asked with a grave expression, "What are your chances of success in this breakthrough?"

Silas Chen glanced at Eldrin Chen, pondered for a moment, and replied, "Approximately thirty to forty percent."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this. Both having laid an Earthly Path Foundation, Elara Lin and the Old Patriarch had first broken through to the False Nascent Soul Realm before finally crossing the Nascent Soul Threshold, a process that had consumed two hundred years.

However, Silas Chen had subdued the Mortal Tribulation four times to break into the Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm], tempering both his Dao-heart and will. His foundation and Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound, unshakable base of one's cultivation] were consequently more solid.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen handed Silas Chen the Nascent Soul Formation Pill and the Earthly Dao Essence [a spiritual essence embodying the profound principles of the earthly Dao]. He also gave him a Creation Green Lotus Seed and instructed, "Go to the Azure Lotus Continent. Use the Wood Vein Nascent Soul Formation Formation [a grand formation that channels wood-attribute spiritual veins to aid in forming a Nascent Soul] there to achieve your Nascent Soul breakthrough."

Silas Chen did not refuse. With the appointed time of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm drawing ever nearer, breaking through to Nascent Soul a single day sooner meant he could contribute his strength to the Chen Clan that much earlier.

The group arrived at the Azure Lotus Continent, and Silas Chen prepared for his breakthrough.

Yet, recalling Lila's past ordeal with inner demons, Eldrin Chen handed her the Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror. With a solemn expression, he said, "The Heart Demon Tribulation [a tribulation where one faces their deepest inner fears and flaws] is no trivial matter. This Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror can suppress such demons. Take it to guard your spirit."

"Thank you."

Silas Chen's eyes grew slightly reddened. For her, the difficulty of the Heart Demon Tribulation [a trial where cultivators face their inner demons and past regrets] truly surpassed that of the Nascent Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the thunder tribulation one must endure to ascend to the Nascent Soul realm].

This time, she had already borrowed a Golden Lotus Demon-Subduing Pill [a potent elixir that aids in suppressing inner demons] from the clan. She hadn't expected Eldrin Chen to still worry about her failing the trial and to send this Icy Heart Demon-Subduing Mirror [a magical treasure that calms the mind and wards off demonic influences] to assist her.

Once Silas Chen had made all her preparations, she began her secluded cultivation to attempt the breakthrough into the True Lord Realm [the realm of a True Lord, equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage].

This breakthrough proved exceptionally lengthy. In the blink of an eye, half a year passed. Just as Eldrin Chen began to feel concern, a vast Spiritual Energy Vortex [a swirling vortex that draws in ambient spiritual energy] manifested in the sky above, furiously drawing in spiritual energy and funneling it towards her Cultivation Cave [a cave or chamber specially prepared for meditation and cultivation].

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief. Since the spiritual energy had begun to converge, it signified that she had already surmounted the most critical hurdle of forming her Nascent Soul. What remained was the process of continuing to absorb Mana [the refined spiritual energy used by cultivators] to nourish and solidify her Nascent Soul [the spiritual infant formed within a cultivator's dantian upon reaching the Nascent Soul realm].

An indeterminate amount of time later, Tribulation Clouds [ominous clouds that gather before a heavenly tribulation, crackling with destructive energy] gradually coalesced in the heavens. Only then did Silas Chen emerge from her Seclusion Chamber [a sealed chamber for undisturbed cultivation].

Breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm represented an ultimate sublimation and metamorphosis. Having succeeded, she now carried an aura of transcendent grace.

With a slight nod to the gathered observers, Silas Chen then strode into the sky, ascending to face her Nascent Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

The process of enduring the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial by lightning sent by the heavens to test a cultivator's worthiness] proceeded in an orderly fashion. To survive this trial, she had borrowed the Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a powerful artifact designed for protection] known as the Golden Crow Divine Fire Shield [a shield imbued with the essence of the legendary sun-bird, offering potent defense]. With such preparation, her confidence in a successful breakthrough was greatly increased.

"It is done."

Watching her successfully block several bolts of Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a divine trial of lightning that tests a cultivator's foundation], Eldrin Chen knew her chances of overcoming this tribulation were exceedingly high.

And so it was. If a cultivator like Silas Chen, backed by a top-tier Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan with Nascent Soul realm experts], could not pass the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, then likely seventy percent of all True Lord [a title for Golden Core realm cultivators] in the world would fail the trial to ascend to Nascent Soul [the realm where one's soul condenses into an infant form, a major leap in power and longevity].

As the saying goes, the strong grow ever stronger. Among the many Dao Lord Sacred Land [sanctuaries and sects founded by Dao Lord realm powerhouses] of the Human Race, most possess more than one Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm and earned the title Dao Lord]. For with the unwavering support of a senior expert, the odds of a breakthrough increase dramatically.

And each new Primordial Spirit [another term for the Nascent Soul, the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] that emerges further deepens the Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and unshakable foundation of a clan or sect] of the Dao Lord Sacred Land, creating a virtuous cycle of strength.

Yet the beginning is always the hardest. Without the exhaustive, all-out support of a predecessor, how incredibly difficult it is to break through to the Nascent Soul Dao Lord realm. This chapter is provided by (audio-novel.com). Support the original.

But to return to our tale, Silas Chen successfully weathered the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and descended from the skies.

"Hahaha!"

Old Patriarch stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his expression one of unbridled joy. "Our Chen Clan has birthed another True Lord! This calls for a grand feast of celebration!"

The birth of another Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm from the Golden Core/True Lord stage] was no small matter. A Nascent Soul True Lord was a figure of immense prestige, a name known and respected throughout the Three Veins Ancient Domain.

The Chen Clan hosted a grand banquet upon Verdant Chariot Mountain, and many of the clan's Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for fellow cultivators] attended, offering their respects. This bustling affair continued for several months before finally concluding.

No sooner had the Nascent Soul Celebration Banquet ended than another Invitation Letter found its way into Eldrin Chen's hands.

After reading it, he set the Invitation Letter aside and remarked with a smile, "It seems Tianlu Sect Master has finally taken that crucial step forward and broken through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage."

"Oh?"

Lyra Jiang's expression also brightened with pleasure. An advancement to the Nascent Soul Late Stage was no trivial matter.

While the Three Veins Ancient Domain was home to many Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm], only about thirty possessed cultivation as profound as the Nascent Soul Late Stage. For Tianlu Sect Master to reach this tier signaled that the Tianlu Sect had truly regained its former glory.

After a moment of contemplation, she said, "He is, after all, a Fellow Daoist who fought alongside us. We should prepare congratulatory gifts and pay him a visit."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded in assent. With the Earthfire Mysterious Crystal Sword in his grasp and now having broken through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage, Tianlu Sect Master's combat prowess would likely rival that of cultivators at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

Three months later, Eldrin Chen, bearing gifts of congratulation, journeyed with Lyra Jiang to the Tianlu Sect.

As they arrived, Tianlu Sect Master personally came forward to greet them, speaking with exceptional courtesy, "Your timing is impeccable. I have a good friend I would like to introduce to you both."

The group proceeded to a mountain shrouded in immortal mist, where they discovered more than twenty True Lord gathered.

Among them were two cultivators at the Nascent Soul Late Stage. One was their acquaintance, Nine Rivers Daoist, and the other was a man clad in azure robes.

Nine Rivers Daoist was one thing, but the Azure-Robed Man was surrounded by an aura of Indestructible Sword Intent [an unyielding will focused through the sword, capable of cleaving anything], radiating a sharp, divisive intent that seemed capable of severing all things.

"A Sword Cultivator [a practitioner who focuses solely on the Dao of the sword, forging their will and power into an ultimate blade]."

Eldrin Chen felt a stir within. The Sword Intent [the concentrated will and conceptual power of a sword cultivator] emanating from the man before him was of an exceptionally pure quality, marking him unmistakably as a true Sword Cultivator. This chapter appears courtesy of site: audio-novel.com.