Chapter 719 : The Bloodweaver's Last Stand

Confronting this strike, Hemlock the Bloodweaver could only barely raise his Bloodweaver Divine Blade to block it.

Yet the force behind this blow was overwhelmingly vast, causing Hemlock the Bloodweaver to feel as if the meridians within his body were being torn asunder.

Even more dire was the sentience of the demonic blade. Sensing that Hemlock the Bloodweaver's injuries had worsened and his Mana [the spiritual energy used to fuel techniques] was severely depleted, the Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade [a malevolent enchanted weapon] dared to seize the moment, frantically devouring Hemlock the Bloodweaver's vital essence and blood in a bid to restore its own formidable power.

"How dare you!"

Hemlock the Bloodweaver roared in fury, forced to desperately channel his Mana to suppress the rebellious Demonic Path [the malevolent cultivation path] artifact.

In that precise instant, the Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel] flared to life once more. A figure clad in White Robe [immaculate white robes] stepped forth, meeting the demonic cultivator with a sword slash aimed directly at Hemlock the Bloodweaver.

The newcomer was none other than Magnus the Virtuous. The edge of his Virtuous Heaven Sword gleamed with lethal intent, and with a single stroke, he cleaved Hemlock the Bloodweaver in two.

"Aaaargh—!"

On the brink of annihilation, Hemlock the Bloodweaver instantly abandoned his physical body and Nascent Soul [the spiritual infant formed within a high-level cultivator's dantian], transferring his consciousness into one of his Blood Demon Clone [a clone formed from condensed blood essence].

The Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade seemed to recognize the peril of the moment. In this critical juncture, it ceased draining his essence, instead wrapping around that single Blood Demon Clone and fleeing with it into the depths of the void. This content originates from AUDIO-NOVEL.COM. Please respect copyright.

Magnus the Virtuous did not give chase. He halted and cast a glance at Old Patriarch, finding that Thalion Chen now resembled withered wood, his aura so faint it was nearly imperceptible.

"Old Granduncle."

Silas Chen, his eyes red-rimmed, supported Old Granduncle and continuously fed him Healing Pill [a pill that accelerates the healing of wounds and replenishes vitality].

Magnus the Virtuous sighed heavily and could not help but speak. "His vital essence [the fundamental life force of a cultivator] is utterly depleted. Even if his life is forcibly extended, he would have but a few years of longevity left. It would be better to make preparations for his reincarnation cycle [the process of a cultivator's soul passing into a new life to continue their cultivation journey] sooner rather than later."

"Indeed," Lyra Jiang nodded, then added with a sigh, "My true self and my husband are still in the Eastern Sea. Let us first send word to inform them."

Eldrin Chen received the letter after he had already returned to the Lu Clan on the Ji Continent.

Without a thought for the others aboard the Treasure Ship, he disembarked immediately with Lyra Jiang and the others. They then utilized a series of Teleportation Formation [a magical array that instantaneously transports cultivators across vast distances] to make their way back to the Ji Continent.

Upon arriving at Verdant Chariot Mountain, Eldrin Chen went straight to the entrance of Old Granduncle's Cultivation Cave [a secluded chamber where a cultivator meditates and refines their power].

Silas Chen was keeping vigil outside the Cultivation Cave. Seeing Eldrin Chen, he choked back a sob and said, "Old Granduncle is still inside. He said he wishes to see you one last time before entering the reincarnation cycle."

Wordlessly, a heavy sorrow weighing upon his heart, Eldrin Chen stepped into the Cultivation Cave.

Within the Cultivation Cave [a secluded chamber used for meditation and energy refinement], Thalion Chen stood clad in robes of white, his hair a cascade of silver like three thousand strands of starlight, exuding an aura of transcendent grace. Though his visage bore the marks of age, it was a vast improvement from his near-death state of days past.

Eldrin Chen understood all too well that Old Granduncle's vital essence had been utterly exhausted. What remained was sustained merely by a final wisp of Mana [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by immortals] and precious Spiritual Object [an artifact imbued with spiritual power], a state that could last at most three years before his spirit would dissipate into the Dao.

"Worry not. Though I have suffered grievous wounds, the chance for renewal remains. By undergoing a tribulation rebirth within the Nirvana Pool [a mystical pool that facilitates rebirth and healing], I shall need but three centuries to cultivate my way back to the Nascent Soul Realm [the stage where a cultivator forms a nascent, immortal soul]."

Perceiving his concern, Old Granduncle offered a gentle, reassuring smile.

Yet these words only served to deepen the weight in Eldrin Chen's heart.

Old Granduncle was merely a little over a thousand years old and had already attained the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage. Had he not been twice crippled by catastrophe, his first lifetime would likely have seen him reach Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage].

To undergo tribulation rebirth from that pinnacle, with a Deep-Seated Foundation [an exceptionally solid and profound cultivation base], and with the full support of Eldrin Chen after his own breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a higher stage of existence], would have granted a sliver of hope to ascend to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of the Primordial Spirit].

But now, having endured successive calamities and squandered two Millennium [a period of one thousand years] of his lifespan, Old Granduncle's hope of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit had been drastically diminished.

Furthermore, once a cultivator undergoes tribulation rebirth without first passing through the Netherworld Underworld [the realm of the dead in Chinese mythology], they lack the nurturing influence of that innate breath of primordial Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things]. This greatly increases the difficulty of breaking through to higher realms in the future.

Take Dorian Ji and the Wavestrider Sword Immortal for example. Though they both broke through to the Primordial Spirit around four or five thousand years of age and had consumed Longevity Treasure [a rare treasure that extends one's lifespan], they had never undergone tribulation rebirth midway. Had they done so, the difficulty of their breakthroughs would likely have been significantly greater.

It is precisely for this reason that most who achieve immortality in this world do so in a single lifetime. Those who rely on successive rebirths and relentless cultivation to ascend are, in truth, exceedingly rare.

This reincarnation for Old Granduncle signifies that his future path of cultivation will likely be exceedingly narrow. The difficulty of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage will be greatly increased, let alone cultivating to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the spiritual core realm beyond the Nascent Soul].

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and said, "With this reincarnation, Old Granduncle's path ahead will be fraught with hardship. We must likely make early arrangements for his cultivation path in the next life."

"My own path matters little."

Thalion Chen shook his head, his expression turning grave. "I had hoped that if I could break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, I could cultivate a set of Treasure Banner of the Eight Trigrams [a powerful banner formation based on the eight trigrams] of Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a treasure imbued with pure Yang energy] grade for you, to aid you in weathering the Immortal Ascension Tribulation [the heavenly tribulation one must face to ascend to immortality]."

"I never imagined I would now have no hope of cultivating to the Nascent Soul Realm. Therefore, you must select another in the future to cultivate the Treasure Banner of the Eight Trigrams." Continue reading this story at audio~novel.com.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's heart trembled with sudden understanding. He now realized why Old Patriarch had not refused to use the Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner [a banner formation for refining demons] as his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure bound to one's life and cultivation].

If Thalion Chen had later cultivated to the Primordial Spirit Realm and reached the Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage, the Formation [a structured arrangement of power] laid down by this set of treasure banners would likely have rivaled a Quasi-Immortal Treasure [a treasure approaching immortal-grade power].

And a single Quasi-Immortal Treasure might have withstood one or two of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the celestial thunder strikes of the ascension tribulation] for Eldrin Chen, substantially increasing his chances of successful ascension.

With this realization, a tremor passed through Eldrin Chen's heart. He could not help but speak, "Do not despair, Old Granduncle. Perhaps there is still a turn of fate for your cultivation path."

Thalion Chen paused for a moment, unable to hold back his question. "What do you mean?"

"Indeed." Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod before continuing. "I could use my Primordial Essence [the most fundamental and purest form of spiritual energy] to aid you in your reincarnation tribulation. Perhaps it could serve as a substitute for that single wisp of innate Qi [the primordial vital energy one is born with]."

"Primordial Essence?" Old Patriarch's brow furrowed slightly in thought. After a long moment of contemplation, he spoke. "Your Primordial Essence possesses extraordinary properties. It might indeed be worth attempting."

Their hearts somewhat settled, Eldrin Chen then reached into his robes and produced three ancient tomes, which he handed to Thalion Chen.

"These three ancient texts contain the three most precious legacies of cultivation arts in my possession. Old Granduncle, you may choose one as the path for your cultivation after your reincarnation."

Old Granduncle picked up the first tome, and a slight tremor passed through him as he beheld its contents.

Among these three ancient texts, the first was a single sheet of golden foil. This foil recorded a fragmentary method for cultivating an Immortal Physique [a legendary body constitution that is the foundation for achieving immortality], a remnant of the 'Immortal Ascension Dao-Forging Art'.

In ages past, this golden page had been tainted by a malevolent blood-malignancy energy, warping it into an evil technique for seizing another's Dao Body [a rare and powerful innate cultivation physique]. Later, it was obtained by the Qin Clan, who used it to bring calamity upon the world, ultimately leading to the deaths of Eldrin Chen's parents.

It was only after Eldrin Chen eradicated the Qin Clan that he acquired this method. He had kept it closely guarded ever since, with only one or two individuals within the entire clan, such as Lyra Jiang, aware of its existence.

The second method was the 'Void-Refining Immortal Scripture'. This art was the legacy left by the 'Void-Refining Immortal', an immortal from the Ji Clan who ascended eighty thousand years ago. Cultivated to its ultimate limit, it could manifest the Void-Refining Divine Flame [a divine flame capable of refining even the void itself], a supreme law. It was with this very art that the Void-Refining Immortal achieved his immortal ascension.

The final method was the Immortal Ascension Vein-Forging Art obtained from Qing the True Lord. This was a supreme technique that harnessed the power of an advancing Earth Vein [a powerful, sentient spiritual ley line] to achieve Ascend to Immortal Eternity [a state of immortal transcendence] in a single, decisive breakthrough.

However, this method was inextricably linked to the Earth Vein. Once cultivated, the practitioner's fate became bound to it. If the Earth Vein were ever damaged or destroyed, the cultivator would suffer irreversible and catastrophic injury.

In ages past, Qing the True Lord had cultivated this very art. When calamity struck, he found himself unable to flee, his fate shackled to the ley line's ruin, and thus met his end within the tribulation. Support the author by reading on audio‑novel.com.