Chapter 663 : The Final Ascent to Nascent Soul

After the successful trial voyage of the Golden Rhino Treasure Ship, only a little over a dozen years remained until the outbreak of the Demonic Abyssal Cataclysm.

With time running short, Eldrin Chen personally sought out Lior Chen and asked with a grave expression, "How is Clan Uncle's recovery progressing? Is he ready to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm once more?"

"It has been over ninety years since his last attempt to form his Nascent Soul [the embryonic spiritual form of a high-level cultivator]. His recovery is nearly complete; he can make another attempt."

Lior Chen stated. The Demonic Abyssal Cataclysm was no trivial matter; every additional ounce of strength could tip the scales in their favor.

He understood Eldrin Chen's intent: to see if he could advance to the Nascent Soul Realm before the cataclysm descended.

"Ninety-odd years..." Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Though not yet at his absolute peak, he has recovered ninety-nine percent of his former power."

"We can wait no longer. It is time to attempt the ascent to True Lord [a title for a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator]."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen took out three treasures and handed them to Lior Chen.

These three treasures were: a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a supreme elixir that aids in forming the Nascent Soul], a Profound Water Immortal Pear [a mystical fruit that stabilizes the spirit], and the final, precious Creation Green Lotus Seed [a seed of legendary vitality and creation].

"I cannot accept these." The complete novel can be found at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Lior Chen hastily declined, unwilling to accept these treasures.

Among the treasures before him, the Nascent Soul Formation Pill could still be considered relatively common, but the remaining Creation Green Lotus Seed and Profound Water Immortal Pear were borne from rare Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a spiritual plant of exceptional rarity and power], making them treasures seldom seen in the world.

The Profound Water Immortal Pear alone could increase one's chances of a Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator forms an independent spiritual infant] breakthrough by twenty percent. Its value was at least equivalent to five Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], a testament to its preciousness.

Understanding the immense value of these Spiritual Object [rare items imbued with spiritual power], Lior Chen shook his head. "Over the years, I have owed the clan far too much. These spiritual objects should be kept to strengthen the clan's Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and enduring foundation of a cultivation force]."

"Do not refuse."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, offering further reassurance. "If you, Clan Uncle, achieve a Nascent Soul breakthrough, even if your combat prowess is somewhat limited, you could still power a War Treasure Boat [a massive enchanted vessel used for warfare] to aid us."

"With the great calamity imminent, every additional measure of strength increases our chances of survival. You must not refuse, Clan Uncle."

Hearing this, Lior Chen finally nodded with solemn gravity and accepted the three Spiritual Object.

Seeing that Lior Chen was persuaded, Eldrin Chen smiled faintly. "Go into seclusion now, Clan Uncle. I will stand guard for you."

Lior Chen possessed an Inferior Golden Core [a flawed or low-quality Golden Core, limiting future potential], making his hopes of breaking through to Nascent Soul exceedingly slim from the outset.

Fortunately, his two successive attempts to break through to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spirit forms an independent, immortal entity] had failed, yet they had allowed him to accumulate a remarkably solid foundation.

Now, with the aid of the Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that greatly increases the chance of forming a Nascent Soul], the Profound Water Immortal Pear [a mystical fruit that nourishes the spirit and refines the soul], and the Creation Green Lotus Seed [a seed of primordial life essence that stabilizes the breakthrough process], combined with the power of the Five Veins Nascent Soul Formation [a grand formation that channels spiritual energy from five ley lines to assist in ascension], one could say his current breakthrough attempt enjoyed the perfect convergence of favorable circumstances, advantageous location, and harmonious support.

As expected, roughly half a year later, a vast Spiritual Energy Vortex [a visible whirlwind of condensed spiritual energy that forms during a major cultivation breakthrough] took shape, and Lior Chen finally succeeded in advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Only after Lior Chen successfully weathered his Nascent Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly lightning trial that tests a newly formed Nascent Soul] did Eldrin Chen finally allow himself to breathe a sigh of relief.

With Lior Chen's breakthrough to Nascent Soul, and counting Lyra Jiang and her disciple, the Chen Clan lineage now boasted a full eight Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul stage].

In terms of sheer numbers of Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a clan or family with multiple Nascent Soul stage cultivators], the Chen Clan could now rank within the top twenty among the Nascent Soul Immortal Clan of the Three Veins Ancient Domain. If one considered overall combat strength, the Chen Clan's power should barely manage to squeeze into the top ten.

After all, there were only about ten cultivators at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm] in the entire Three Veins Ancient Domain, and among them, two or three were unaffiliated Rogue Cultivator [cultivators not bound to any clan or major sect].

Contemplating this, a swell of pride and ambition rose within Eldrin Chen's heart.

In the brief span of eight hundred years, they had grown from a mere Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [a clan whose strongest members are at the Foundation Establishment stage] into one of the most elite Nascent Soul Immortal Clan. Such an achievement was likely unparalleled anywhere under the heavens.

Not long after Lior Chen's Nascent Soul breakthrough, Old Patriarch and the others concluded their secluded cultivation one after another. Thus, the group naturally gathered together once more.

"Hahaha, Lior you have finally broken through to the True Lord realm. The lineage of the Qing Generation can finally rest easy, no longer fearing complete extinction."

Watching Lior Chen ascend to Nascent Soul, Thalion Chen spoke with tears of emotion welling in his aged eyes.

Eldrin Chen also felt a wave of profound sentiment. He recalled the days when the Chen Clan was at its lowest ebb. The Old Patriarch was wounded and hiding within the Spirit Spring to heal. The Granduncles of the Chang Generation had been whittled down until only a pitiful few remained, like a couple of stray cats.

Back then, the clan was destitute and drowning in debt, teetering on the brink of dissolution. It was only through the unwavering efforts of the few elders from the Qing Generation that it was held together.

In those dark times, Lior Chen, serving as the clan's Third Elder, shouldered the immense burden of managing all clan affairs. He tirelessly mediated disputes and oversaw every family enterprise, holding the fragile structure together through sheer will.

Now, in what felt like the blink of an eye, nearly eight hundred years had passed. To the Chen Clan, the past seemed like a world transformed, a sea changed into mulberry fields. One by one, the clansmen of the Qing Generation had faded away, leaving Lior Chen as the sole remaining pillar of that era. Read the full novel exclusively on audio novel.com.

Yet, with Lior Chen's lifespan nearing its end, this had always been a knot of worry in the heart of the Old Granduncle.

Now that Lior Chen had broken through to Nascent Soul, it finally resolved Thalion Chen's long-held concern, filling his heart with immense joy and relief.

The addition of a new True Lord brought joy to all present. Lyra Jiang also smiled and said, "Since Uncle Lior has ascended to True Lord, it is time for us to finalize our plans and mobilize our forces."

"Indeed," Thalion Chen nodded, then continued, "Thirteen years have passed since the opening of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm. If we begin mobilization now, dispatching our troops Three Years Later would allow us to arrive at the battlefield a few years ahead of schedule."

"Then let the Conscription Decree be issued."

Eldrin Chen spoke, thus settling the matter with finality.

With the issuance of a single Conscription Decree from the Chen Clan, the Various Great Immortal Clans within The Vast Sea and Chen Nation immediately began to mobilize.

For this Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, the Chen Clan had prepared for a full century, and the various Golden Core Purple Mansion Immortal Clan had long been ready. Upon receiving the Conscription Decree, they immediately gathered with vast numbers of cultivators, converging upon Immortal Apricot Island and Azure Lotus Continent.

Time rushed by, and in the blink of an eye, three full years had passed.

On this day, above Azure Lotus Continent, a colossal Treasure Ship ten thousand Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] in size lay anchored before a Spirit Mountain.

Before it, an uncountable multitude of cultivators had gathered into a veritable sea of humanity, queuing one by one to board the Azure Lotus Continent.

The cultivators before them numbered in the millions. Some wept as they bid farewell to loved ones, while others, filled with ambition and resolve, stepped resolutely onto the Treasure Ship.

"I wonder how many will return alive from this expedition."

Upon the distant Spirit Mountain, two figures stood together, side by side, gazing down upon the human sea below.

These two individuals were none other than Ethan Chen and Soren the Heart-Seer. Soren the Heart-Seer, his temples streaked with silver, wore an expression of profound compassion as he spoke: "The Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, catastrophic invasion from the demonic realms] is far too cruel a fate for them."

Ethan Chen remained silent, his gaze fixed and contemplative.

A battle of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm was no trivial matter. The fall of a single territory often meant the demise of hundreds of thousands, even millions, of cultivators.

Not even a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their nascent soul, a powerful spiritual avatar] could guarantee their survival, let alone these cultivators whose cultivation was merely at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage [the final stage of refining one's foundational life energy].

Furthermore, even surviving until the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm's end would be a harrowing ordeal for them.

Each time the Demonic Abyss [a fissure between the mortal world and the demonic realms] was torn open by the Extraterrestrial Demon God [powerful demonic entities from beyond this world], the breach would persist for at least ten years. If the Extraterrestrial Demon God were to expend immense power to hold the rift against the world's natural resistance, that duration could stretch to thirty or even forty years. Join our community of readers at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.