Chapter 642 Breaking Through to Nascent Soul, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm)

At this thought, Eldrin sighed and said, "If Uncle Lior fails to break through again this time, he’ll need to consume life-extending spiritual treasures for his next attempt."

He thought of Chen Ethan (Person Name) again and asked, "How is Ethan (Person Name)'s cultivation progress lately?"

He was progressing swiftly in his cultivation, having already reached the Nascent Soul, 8th Tier (Cultivation Realm).

Speaking of Chen Ethan, Chen Changxuan couldn't help but stroke his beard.

Although Chen Ethan (Person Name) had only formed his Golden Core after 3 100 and 80-some years of age, he ultimately possessed superior Golden Core aptitude. Having comprehended the mysteries of life and death, his cultivation progressed with astonishing speed. It appeared he could break through to the Nascent Soul stage within 1 cycle of 60 years.

At this thought, Eldrin shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "Ethan possesses extraordinary talent. Having comprehended the mysteries of life and death, he has now become a formidable force. It is a pity our clan no longer holds the Heavenly Dao Qi."

Yet his remaining lifespan was not particularly abundant.

The old clan leader sighed inwardly. Ethan Chen’s fortune was truly lacking. With the next communion between heaven and earth still over 700 years away, he would never live to see it.

After pondering for a long while, Eldrin (Person Name) said, "I shall go meet him."

Departing from Immortal Apricot Isle, Eldrin found Chen Ethan at Heavenly Sword Island.

Heavenly Sword Isle was 1 of the largest spiritual islands in The Vast Sea (Location). Beneath this spiritual isle lay a Grade 4, Superior-Gold spiritual vein, which had nurtured a Sword Cleansing Pool.

In recent years, Chen Ethan had been stationed at the Heavenly Sword Island, spending his days seated by the Sword Cleansing Pond in perpetual contemplation of sword intent.

Within the Sword Washing Pond at this moment, Ethan Chen (Person Name) stood clad in a black robe, a pair of Heavenly Separation Swords (Magic Treasure) radiating brilliant light around him, their glow resonating with the sword intent permeating the pond.

Chen Ethan had been renowned for many years. Though his pair of Heavenly Separation Swords could not compare to Eldrin's Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword, among all fourth-tier magic treasures, they could still be considered the absolute finest of masterpieces.

However, the pair of supreme-grade immortal swords today were vastly different from Eldrin’s Celestial Li Swords, with significant distinctions in the intricate array patterns within.

More crucially, at this moment, the sword pattern between Ethan's brows flickered, enveloping his entire being in an overwhelming sword intent. He stood like a blade driven into the earth.

Eldrin stood in the distance for a long while before Ethan finally lowered his gaze and opened his eyes, casting a serene glance at Eldrin. "Greetings, Uncle," he said calmly.

"Excellent."

A faint, gratified smile graced Eldrin's lips before he spoke, "You have finally stepped out of my shadow and forged your own path."

"However..." His voice trailed off slightly as he sighed. "The path of a pure sword cultivator places too much emphasis on being unyielding rather than bending. This makes it far more perilous than conventional paths of cultivation."

"I understand."

Chen Ethan (Person Name) nodded. With a sharp metallic ring, a dual-colored sword core of yin and yang shot forth from his body, radiating boundless sword intent.

That day, the twin swords underwent astonishing transformations. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) emanated a domineering aura of annihilation, while the Heavenly River Ren Water Sword brimmed with vibrant vitality.

Sword Dao Golden Core, the Twin Swords of Creation and Annihilation.

"Henceforth, my pair of life-bound immortal swords shall be named the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and the Ren Water Sword of Rebirth."

"A fine sword."

Eldrin (Person Name) marveled, "In this world, power itself knows no hierarchy—it is the wielder that defines its essence."

Chen Ethan saw through the cycle of life and death, integrating this realization into his sword intent. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss embodied domineering destruction, while the Ren Water Sword of Rebirth nurtured all living beings, overflowing with boundless vitality.

The power of this pair of immortal swords signified that Ethan Chen had forged his own path, no longer merely a shadow of Eldrin.

At this thought, Eldrin let out a sigh and said, "I shall give you 2 paths. Choose for yourself."

"First, I have prepared for you a strand of Earth Mother Qi (Spiritual Root), with which you may forge an Earth-Attributed Nascent Soul."

"Second, journey across the realm. When the Cataclysm of the Demonic Abyss descends, slay a Nascent Soul demon. When that time comes, I shall swallow my pride and borrow a Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root) from the Ji Clan for you."

Chen Ethan did not reply, but simply rose to his full height. "Using a True Monarch's blood to consecrate my sword does indeed present an intriguing challenge."

Returning to Spirit Isle Lake (Location), Eldrin (Person Name) began his secluded cultivation with unwavering focus.

Thus time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, 60 years had passed. On this day, as Eldrin was cultivating the Yin-Yang Mutual Ascension Covenant with Lyra, he suddenly felt his spiritual power become perfectly harmonious and flawless, reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul, 3rd Tier.

Seeing this, he remarked, "My lady, I have touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm)."

"Oh?"

A flicker of delight crossed Lyra's (Person Name) face. Over the years, their frequent dual cultivation had allowed their energies to complement 1 another, accelerating her progress significantly. Yet, she estimated it would still take a dozen or so more years of dedicated practice to reach the stage of consummate perfection.

But Eldrin was 1 step faster, finally touching the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage.

Thinking of Eldrin (Person Name) about to break through to Nascent Soul, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm), she said joyfully, "Then let's begin alchemy refining."

In truth, with Eldrin's innate talent, he could have broken through to Nascent Soul, Mid Stage even without the aid of the Di Earth Elixir. However, doing so would have required him to temper his spiritual power for 5 100 years.

Eldrin naturally had no time to waste, so he immediately prepared to fire up the cauldron and refine the Earthly Path Pills.

Forging the Earth Vein Pill not only requires the incomparably precious Earth Mother Qi (Spiritual Root), but also demands vast quantities of high-grade spirit herbs as supplementary ingredients. Even some Nascent Soul immortal clans must accumulate resources for many years to refine a single cauldron.

If a rogue cultivator wished to refine a single cauldron of pills, merely gathering the several 1000 auxiliary herbs would likely require hundreds of years. Otherwise, they would have to pay a substantial premium.

Fortunately, the Chen family had long been prepared, having gathered all the required supplementary herbs through various channels. There was no need for Eldrin (Person Name) to trouble himself with such matters.

That Earth Dao Pill was a mid-grade Tier 5 elixir. Even a mid-grade Tier 5 alchemist could only refine 1 or 2 pills per batch. Fortunately, Eldrin's alchemy skills had reached the upper-grade Tier 5 level, so crafting it posed no significant difficulty.

The 2 used the Crimson Phoenix Crucible (Magic Treasure) as their alchemical furnace, spending over a year before finally succeeding in refining the Earth Path Pill.

"4 pills refined. Not bad at all."

Looking at the 4 Earth Vein Pills before him, Eldrin revealed a faint smile.

A single cauldron yielded 4 True Path Pills, marking his alchemy skills as quite respectable even among the upper-fifth-tier practitioners.

Lyra's eyes curved into a gentle smile as she remarked, "Since Eldrin has also reached the Nascent Soul, 3rd Tier (Cultivation Realm), we should reserve a pill for her as well."

"Very well, it shall be as you say."

Eldrin shook his head and produced a single Earthway Pill. "Madam, please guard me during my cultivation."

After obtaining the Earth Passage Pill, Eldrin began his secluded cultivation to break through to the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage. With his foundation as a Great Luo Golden Core cultivator, achieving this breakthrough was as natural as water flowing downhill.

In just over a year's time, Eldrin shattered the threshold of Nascent Soul, Mid Stage and broke through to the realm of Nascent Soul, 4th Tier.

After advancing to Nascent Soul, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm), his magic power surged by another 50 percent. Given his profound foundation, though his magic power couldn't compare to a Late Stage Nascent Soul with Heavenly Dao foundation, it roughly reached levels comparable to an Earthly Path Nascent Soul, 7th Tier (Cultivation Realm).

However, having relied on external forces for his breakthrough, he would still need 3 100 years to refine his magical power before it could become as pure as that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, this posed no difficulty for Eldrin. He merely needed to advance his Lifebound Magical Treasure, and he could harness the power of a top-grade, fifth-tier Lifebound Magical Treasure to refine his magic power.