Chapter 656 : The Mountains' Rebirth

Nearly two centuries had passed since the Battle of The Vast Sea, and the strength of the Vast Sea Cultivation World had now recovered to its zenith. The number of low-level cultivators numbered in the tens of millions, so the Chen Clan naturally faced no shortage of manpower.

After conferring, the two decided to mobilize two million cultivators from The Vast Sea and another million from the Ji Continent, dispatching them in batches to the Heaven's Spine Mountains.

With this massive influx of cultivators, the work of regulating and restoring the Heaven's Spine Mountains proceeded in an orderly and methodical fashion.

The Nascent Soul True Lord of the Chen Clan, including Eldrin Chen, were not idle either. They proceeded directly to the Heaven's Spine Mountains to assist in regulating the Earth Vein [the spiritual energy channels that flow through the land].

For a time, millions of cultivators moved mountains and filled seas, while hundreds of Golden Core experts split earth and shattered rock. Millions more attended to the minute details of restoring the Heaven's Spine Mountains.

Others continuously laid down Formation [magical arrays] based on the Earth Vein to repair the fractured network of major Earth Vein channels. After seven full years of relentless effort, the regulation of the Heaven's Spine Mountains was finally completed.

"One final step remains,"

Eldrin Chen murmured, a glimmer of joy lighting his eyes as he gazed upon the Heaven's Spine Mountains before him.

The regulation of the Heaven's Spine Mountains was finished. All that remained was to unify the myriad formations and then use the Soul-Awakening Nectar [a miraculous elixir capable of healing the spirit of the land] to mend the soul of the Earth Vein. This would allow the Heaven's Spine Mountains to gradually revive.

At this moment, Magnus the Virtuous stood poised in the void, raising his hand to summon forth a dazzlingly brilliant treasure banner. Read the full novel exclusively on audio_novel.com.

As he channeled his power, the entire Heaven's Spine Mountains underwent a tremendous transformation.

Viewed from a height of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] above, one could see countless arrays and spiritual veins across the Heaven's Edge Mountain Range begin to glow. Dazzling streams of light converged, mending one formidable fissure after another.

"BOOM…"

With a series of earth-shattering roars, the great rents torn through the Heaven's Spine Mountains finally sealed completely. The converging radiance coalesced, taking the form of a shimmering, ethereal Dragon Vein [a supreme terrestrial spiritual artery, often likened to a sleeping dragon].

"It is done."

Magnus the Virtuous wore a grave expression as he raised his hand, summoning forth a precious vessel.

Under his continuous guidance, beams of resplendent spiritual light descended from the Nine Heavens Above [the highest celestial realms], pouring into the dragon's soul and awakening the slumbering will of the Earth Vein [the sentient consciousness of a powerful terrestrial spiritual artery].

"ROAR—"

The revived power of the Earth Vein roared across heaven and earth like a True Dragon [a supreme draconic being of immense power], its force capable of rending the skies and splitting the land, churning the mountains and Ronan.

It lifted its gaze to regard Magnus the Virtuous, and then, astonishingly, opened its maw to exhale a vast, misty breath of primordial energy, which flowed directly into Magnus the Virtuous's body.

As this immensely potent and majestic energy surged into his body, Magnus the Virtuous's Mana [the spiritual power cultivated by immortals] began to climb tier by tier. In the span of mere moments, he shattered the barrier of the Nascent Soul, 9th Tier once more, breaking through to the realm of Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm].

"This!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted to one of profound shock, his face revealing clear astonishment.

He had never imagined that the immense Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds] gained from mending the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy that nourishes the land] could cause one's cultivation to ascend so dramatically, all the way to the very peak of the Nascent Soul realm.

Yet, upon deeper reflection, it seemed a logical outcome. The Heaven's Spine Mountains housed a supreme Earth Vein of Quasi-Sixth Rank [approaching the power of a Sixth Rank spiritual source]. Had it not been for the Black Dragon Demon Progenitor devouring its draconic soul-essence, this vein might well have become one of the ancestral spiritual arteries of the entire Eastern Wastelands.

Now that Magnus the Virtuous had restored it, attaining this path-advancing opportunity was well within expectation.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen promptly offered his congratulations: "Senior, having received the opportunity bestowed by the Earth Vein's reciprocal nourishment, the path to Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a realm beyond Nascent Soul] lies clearly before you."

"Having laid plans for millennia, my own cultivation was delayed considerably. This breakthrough is hardly astonishing," Magnus the Virtuous replied with a wave of his hand. He then led Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang deep into the heart of the Earth Vein.

The Earth Vein of the Heaven's Spine Mountains was a Quasi-Sixth Rank, metal-attributed spiritual artery. The group delved into the depths of the Heaven's Spine vein, arriving finally before the Earth Vein Source [the primordial, concentrated wellspring of a terrestrial spiritual vein].

Within the Earth Vein Source, a piece of pale golden Treasure Metal with a lustrous, crystalline sheen hovered silently, emanating a glow akin to divine jade.

"Supreme Immortal Gold!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted dramatically, the words escaping his lips before he could stop them.

At this moment, even Eldrin Chen could not remain seated. For Refined Supreme Gold, also known as Supreme Immortal Gold, was a legendary supreme immortal metal, a treasure of the Nine Heavens used exclusively by Immortal beings to forge Immortal Treasure.

Such a thing was nearly impossible to find even within the Purple Realm. How could it appear here, within the Heaven's Spine Mountains?

"It is not Supreme Immortal Gold, merely Refined Supreme Gold."

Magnus the Virtuous shook his head and explained, "This is but a half-formed product, an immortal metal whose gestation was interrupted. Its grade has only reached the Sixth Rank level." This chapter appears courtesy of audio—novel.com.

As Harlan recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen soon understood the origins of this Refined Supreme Gold.

Theoretically, it was exceedingly difficult for the mortal realm to give birth to the legendary divine materials of the immortals, yet it was not an absolute impossibility.

Just as, in theory, it was nearly impossible for a Fifth Rank Earth Vein to nurture Sixth Rank Pure Yang Treasure Gold, yet within some Quasi-Sixth Rank Earth Vein [a vein of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth], there remained a sliver of a chance to conceive such a precious, supreme treasure.

Of the Great Dao's fifty facets, Heaven derives forty-nine, leaving one to slip away—this is the sliver known as Heavenly Secrets [the inscrutable workings of fate and cosmic law].

However, for the mortal realm to gestate immortal-grade metals and divine materials often requires hundreds of thousands, even millions of years. Moreover, across the vast expanse of a world, there are typically only one or two treasures of such a supreme tier.

In ages past, the reason Jiang the Sovereign Emperor was able to elevate a treasure to the Immortal Treasure [a weapon or artifact of immortal rank] grade was precisely because he consumed a portion of the Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound, accumulated spiritual essence of a realm] that the Purple Realm had amassed over several hundred thousand years.

Beyond this, the legendary boundary-guarding treasure of the Purple Realm, the 'Violet Divine Tree', is an Acquired Spiritual Root [a spiritual plant of heaven-defying origin]. A single severed branch from it could also be forged into an Immortal Treasure.

Yet, the branches of the Violet Divine Tree are far too precious. Severing one would inflict a grievous, irreparable loss upon the Purple Realm itself.

The Violet Divine Fruit can increase one's chances of breaking through to the Immortal [the realm of true immortality] by twenty percent. Thus, no one would dare commit such an act except in the most desperate of circumstances.

Returning to the matter at hand, this piece of Refined Supreme Gold before us is a failed gestation of Supreme Immortal Gold. Nevertheless, after nurturing for millions of years, it has astonishingly advanced to the Sixth Rank [a rank corresponding to the power of an Earth Immortal], making it a peerless treasure indeed.

Magnus the Virtuous gazed at the Refined Supreme Gold and said with a smile, "With this in hand, my Virtuous Heaven Sword can ascend into a Pure Yang Immortal Sword [a sword of pure yang energy, the pinnacle for an immortal]. This will grant me greater confidence in weathering the tribulations of the coming Demonic Abyss Cataclysm."

"My congratulations, Senior."

Eldrin Chen also smiled and cupped his hands in salute. With this Refined Supreme Gold, once Magnus the Virtuous refined it into his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure nurtured and grown with one's own life force and cultivation], he would become a second Maris the Sea Steader, a peerless powerhouse whose name would resonate across the world.

At this thought, Eldrin Chen could not help but feel a surge of joy. This senior had watched over myself for so long. Now, with this Refined Supreme Gold in hand, the certainty of his future breakthrough into the Primordial Spirit Realm [the spiritual core realm of a high-level cultivator] had greatly increased, filling his heart with genuine delight.

Magnus the Virtuous offered a faint smile and spoke, "I intend to advance my Virtuous Heaven Sword, and I must trouble you to stand guard for me."

"Senior, please rest assured. I will handle this matter," Eldrin Chen replied.

Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod and immediately began his vigil, standing guard as Magnus the Virtuous commenced his work.

Magnus the Virtuous descended into the Earth Vein [a concentrated channel of terrestrial spiritual energy] and began the process of elevating the Virtuous Heaven Sword. Advancing a weapon to the rank of a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact imbued with pure solar essence] required a staggering quantity of Five Elements Essence [refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements]. If measured solely in Heavenly Crystal [a high-purity form of spiritual energy crystal], the cost would likely amount to several thousand such crystals.

Yet, Magnus the Virtuous had clearly prepared thoroughly. Remarkably, a decade later, he succeeded in elevating the sword. Original English translation available at http://www . audio-novel.com.