Chapter 643 : The Forge of Five Elemental Treasures

Regarding Eldrin Chen's refinement of his Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a powerful artifact intrinsically linked to a cultivator's life force and cultivation base], the clan had long since completed all necessary preparations.

With the full support of the entire Chen Clan, they had now gathered a truly staggering quantity of the immensely valuable Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the primordial power of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth].

With an ample supply of Five Elements Essence, refining the Lifebound Spiritual Treasure proceeded as smoothly as water flowing downhill. Eldrin Chen dedicated five years to the task, successfully elevating all five of his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure to the Fifth Rank High Grade [a pinnacle tier of power for spiritual treasures].

The acquisition of five new Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure at once—moreover, top-tier Lifebound Spiritual Treasure of the highest caliber—instantly granted Eldrin Chen a monumental surge in power.

By Eldrin Chen's current estimation, his combat prowess now rivaled that of an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul cultivator whose power is deeply rooted in worldly laws] at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection stage. Should he unleash the combined might of his Heavenly Separated Twin Swords, his offensive capability could even be counted among the very apex of Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivators.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen said with a faint smile, "With my recent breakthrough to the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage realm, our chances of dealing with the Desolate Demon Ridge have increased substantially."

"Indeed."

Lyra Jiang also smiled before adding, "Since your Mana [the refined spiritual energy used to power spells and techniques] has now reached a level comparable to the Nascent Soul Late Stage, you should test whether you can attempt to gather the Heaven Path Aura [a supremely rare and potent spiritual energy aligned with the Heavenly Dao]."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and then transformed into a streak of sword-light, soaring into the heavens. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel dot com.

The Firmament [the vast, boundless sky] stretched infinitely, and the earth below seemed without end.

The two transformed into streaks of sword-light and soared into the heavens. Their speed could truly be described as Star-Chasing Moon-Pursuing [a movement technique of incredible swiftness], traversing millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day.

Yet, even with such velocity, compared to the endless expanse of the Firmament, he remained but a single drop in a boundless ocean.

After flying for seven consecutive days, Eldrin Chen looked back and found myself could now gaze down upon the vast expanse of the Three Veins Ancient Domain. Even the silhouette of the Eastern Wastelands now lay clearly within sight.

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—"

High in the Nine Heavens Above [the highest, most perilous layers of the sky], endless astral winds howled, accompanied by thunderclaps and lightning flashes, each strand brimming with destructive intent.

An Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul] at the Nascent Soul, Early Stage would find this altitude taxing. To ascend further would mean risking an inability to withstand the raging astral winds and divine thunder, with a single misstep carrying the danger of severe injury.

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang, however, possessed profound and vast Mana [the spiritual energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners]. Naturally unafraid of such perils, the pair continued their ascent.

After another seven or eight days of flight, at this staggering height, the astral winds and thunder had grown exceptionally powerful. Even Lyra Jiang began to feel the strain.

She furrowed her brow slightly and spoke, "To fly higher still... the Nine Heavens Astral Winds [the legendary, devastating winds of the highest heavens] would become overwhelmingly strong. My cultivation base is insufficient; I fear I cannot break through them."

"It is of no consequence," Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke with serene composure. "I shall take you to see it."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen summoned forth the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell [a powerful defensive artifact], using its power to stabilize the raging force of the Nine Heavens Astral Winds [the celestial gales that scour the highest heavens]. With Lyra Jiang in tow, he soared upward.

Before long, the two had pierced through the boundless sea of thunderclouds and the razor-sharp astral gales, emerging above the infinite layers of cloud.

"This is the place."

Gazing upon the endless ocean of clouds beneath his feet, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a faint smile.

Having breached the Nine Heavens Astral Winds and the sea of thunder, the vast expanse of the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realm] above the clouds was now far more tranquil and serene.

At the horizon's edge, a setting sun blazed with radiant glory, painting countless Li-lengths of cloudscape with the hues of twilight.

Farther across the long sky, wisps of ethereal mist drifted through the Nine Heavens, carrying an aura of utmost purity and clarity.

"It is the Heaven Path Aura [a rare and pure spiritual essence imbued with celestial energy],"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with recognition. He swiftly extended his hand, drawing a wisp of the mist into his palm. A flicker of delight passed through his gaze.

Heaven Path Aura [a supremely pure and refined spiritual essence] is a Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] of utmost clarity and purity. Only upon the Nine Heavens Firmament [the highest celestial realm] can such a precious substance be nurtured.

It is said that once a sufficient amount of Heaven Path Aura is gathered, it can be condensed into the legendary Heavenly Dao Qi [the primordial Qi of the Heavenly Dao, the ultimate cosmic principle].

This was the first time the two had seen Heaven Path Aura, and they couldn't help but collect it for a while with delight. Then, Eldrin Chen said, "It's a pity that gathering Heavenly Dao Qi is so time-consuming and laborious. Otherwise, I'd be reluctant to leave."

Lyra Jiang shook her head and said with a smile, "Once I break through to the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage in a while, my Second Primordial Embryo [a second spiritual avatar cultivated by high-level cultivators] will advance to the Fifth Rank High Grade. At that time, we can let the Second Primordial Embryo handle the collection."

"That works."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Such tasks were indeed best left to a second Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing immense power and longevity]. This chapter appears courtesy of audio~novel.com.

As they were speaking, they suddenly noticed a layer of cloud drifting towards them from the distance. It was a mass of faint azure, radiant cloud-essence.

"Ah, it's Heaven Cloud [a rare celestial cloud-essence]!"

Eldrin Chen's expression brightened with joy. Heaven Cloud was a rare Nine Heavens Exotic Treasure [a treasure of extraordinary rarity from the highest heavens]. The quality of this mass before them was extremely high, likely enough to refine a single Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure [a top-tier enchanted artifact].

Faced with such a treasure delivered to their doorstep, Eldrin Chen naturally would not let it slip away.

With a mere flick of his wrist, he sought to seize the Heaven Cloud [a rare, formless spiritual substance]. Yet, the treasure possessed a spirit of its own. Intangible and without substance, the Heaven Cloud instantly dispersed into a wisp of ethereal mist, slipping through the grasp of Eldrin Chen and escaping.

The pair acted once more. Eldrin Chen summoned forth the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a spatial treasure embodying the principles of yin and yang], while Lyra Jiang channeled the Five Elements Divine Radiance [a divine ability to gather and refine the essences of the five elements] to capture it. Alas, their efforts proved futile.

The Heaven Cloud existed beyond the tangible, unaffected by magnetic forces. It could coalesce and scatter at will, making it nearly impossible to restrain. With effortless grace, it soared away into the void.

"A truly marvelous treasure,"

Eldrin Chen exclaimed in admiration, though a pang of regret pierced his heart. If this Heaven Cloud could be forged into a Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a protective enchanted artifact], it would likely be able to defend against all manner of Spiritual Treasures and Divine Abilitys, rendering it extraordinarily difficult to counter.

It was a bitter pill to swallow. Such a priceless treasure had appeared before his very eyes, yet he lacked the means to subdue it. He could only watch helplessly as it fled.

"A pity. We had no foreknowledge of such an opportunity,"

Lyra Jiang also voiced her regret, her tone laced with sorrow. "To subdue an object like this, one almost certainly requires a specific method to counter its nature. Lacking that, there is little else to be done. That we failed to obtain it was, perhaps, to be expected."

Forcing down the ache of their loss, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang continued their journey through the boundless void.

They traveled for an immeasurable length of time. Then, suddenly, an aura of overwhelming power washed over them, emanating from the distant reaches of the emptiness.

"This aura... it belongs to the Unorthodox Path [a cultivation method that defies orthodox principles, often associated with demonic or heretical practices]."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with recognition, and he immediately soared into the air alongside Lyra Jiang.

Before long, they beheld a vast, billowing mass of cloud-essence floating in the void. Not far from it, a figure clad in blood-red robes stood upon the sky, channeling his power into a dark, obsidian vessel that was rapidly drawing in the Heaven Cloud [a rare, condensed spiritual essence formed in the heavens, prized for crafting powerful artifacts].

"It's the Blood-Robed Ancient Fiend."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly as he recognized the notorious cultivator.

The Blood-Robed Ancient Fiend was a infamous practitioner of the Demonic Path [a faction of cultivators who pursue power through destructive, often cruel means] within the Three Veins Ancient Domain. His cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul, 7th Tier [the seventh stage of the Nascent Soul realm, a high level of spiritual power], and he was known for his capricious, tyrannical nature and exceptionally ruthless methods.

"We cannot allow him to succeed."

Eldrin Chen declared urgently, his voice firm.

The Blood-Robed Ancient Fiend was already a formidable foe. If he refined this Heaven Cloud into a new Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power mastered by high-level cultivators] or a Defensive Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact designed primarily for protection], his survivability would skyrocket, rendering him nearly impossible to kill.

The thought solidified his resolve. In an instant, Eldrin Chen summoned the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords. Without hesitation, he unleashed a devastating slash across the boundless void, aimed directly at the Blood-Robed Ancient Fiend.

"Damnation! Who dares to interfere with Ancient Ancestor's plans?"

Blood-Robed Ancient Fiend's expression shifted dramatically. Seeing Eldrin Chen and his companion flying towards him, a savage, ferocious look instantly contorted his features.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent a blood-red robe soaring into the air. Crimson light erupted from the garment in countless streaks, coalescing into a spectral, wraith-like apparition that lunged directly at Eldrin Chen.

"Beware! That is the Blood Ghost Robe [a sinister magical treasure that can manifest spectral entities]!" The story continues at audio-novel . com.