Chapter 736 : Faith's Ascent and Nascent Dreams

Meanwhile, on the other side, Eldrin Chen returned to Spirit Isle Lake and immediately turned his focus to cultivation.

As one of the principal figures in the establishment of the continent, Eldrin Chen's gains were immense.

Having received the boundless power of faith [the collective spiritual energy generated by the hopes and prayers of countless beings] from the Human Race of Myriad Ruins Continent, and having saved hundreds of millions of its inhabitants from the great flood, he naturally received the continent's profound gratitude in return.

In the subtle workings of fate, Eldrin Chen felt his Mana [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by immortals] increase by nearly half a tier, and his cultivation speed accelerated by a significant margin.

At this rate, Eldrin Chen estimated myself could reach the Nascent Soul, 6th Tier within one Jiazi-time [one Jiazi-time equals sixty years], and thereafter advance one level in cultivation approximately every two hundred years.

Furthermore, after the spiritual energy within the Water Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated spiritual energy] of The Vast Sea surged greatly, the nurturing speed of the Heavenly River Treasure Gold had already increased dramatically. He estimated it would be fully matured within two hundred years.

Therefore, he wished to seize the time and strive to quickly reach the Nascent Soul Late Stage realm. By then, he would be able to refine the Pure Yang Immortal Sword, leading to an explosive growth in his power.

Thus, time flowed on, and in the blink of an eye, more than twenty years passed.

On this day, after Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang completed their practice of the Yin-Yang Mutual Cultivation Covenant, he was embracing the beauty, refining the newly increased Mana, when he heard Lyra Jiang speak:

"Yesterday, while examining Lana's [referring to Lana Gu] progress, I discovered her Mana has become perfectly harmonious and rounded. It seems it is time for her to attempt her breakthrough to Nascent Soul." Join our community of readers at audio~novel.com.

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Lana Gu possessed a Dao Body [a physique innately attuned to the fundamental principles of the cosmos] and had laid the foundation of a Superior Golden Core [the highest grade of Golden Core cultivation]. When she attempted her Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spiritual essence condenses into an infantile soul form] breakthrough, aiming for a superior-grade Nascent Soul would be the optimal path.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke: "By my reckoning, Sylas and Alistair Lu should also be preparing to attempt their Nascent Soul breakthroughs around this time."

"And then there's Caspian," Lyra Jiang added, seeing his train of thought. "Though he is now the Sect Master of the Ethereal Void Sect, he is still, at heart, one of our Chen Clan own."

Lyra Jiang then continued, adding another point.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a bitter smile. Nurturing a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul formed with the blessing and power of the Heavenly Dao, representing the pinnacle of this realm] consumed Heavenly Dao Qi [the primordial, purest form of cosmic energy, a fragment of the Heavenly Dao's own power]. To cultivate four such Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul would exact a heavy toll, bleeding their reserves dry.

Thinking it over, Eldrin Chen said, "During the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, I exchanged for three strands of Heavenly Dao Qi. Senior Vast Sea Dao Lord and Elder Brother Dorian shared two more with us, making five strands in total."

"Later, one was used by Nianxuan, leaving us with four. If we allocate one strand to each of them, it should suffice."

"We cannot calculate it so simply," Lyra Jiang shook her head. "By my estimation, Seraphina Xia will likely break through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage within the next century. You, I, and the others will also require Heavenly Dao Pill [a supreme elixir refined with Heavenly Dao Qi, capable of greatly enhancing a cultivator's foundation]."

"Refining the Heavenly Dao Pill is an arduous task. We must reserve at least two strands of Heavenly Dao Qi specifically for that purpose."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but feel a headache coming on.

Heavenly Dao Qi [the primordial Qi of the Heavenly Dao, a supreme spiritual essence] was quite precious, and exchanging for it would require a not insignificant sum of Heavenly Crystal [a high-grade spiritual crystal, more refined than a Spirit Stone].

Over the years, the Chen Clan had amassed a stockpile of materials worth three billion Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], but these materials were primarily Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth]. This Five Elements Essence was intended for Eldrin Chen to use in advancing his Pure Yang Immortal Sword [a sword of the Pure Yang grade, a supreme tier of immortal weapon].

The value of a single Pure Yang Immortal Sword, if measured in Heavenly Crystal, would start at approximately thirty thousand Heavenly Crystal.

Yet, to advance a single Pure Yang Immortal Sword, one would need Five Elements Essence worth about three thousand Heavenly Crystal, which altogether amounted to three billion Spirit Stone.

To accumulate this stockpile of Five Elements Essence, the Chen Clan had exhausted a large portion of its Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and accumulated foundational resources of a clan or sect], spending several centuries of arduous effort to gather it all.

This was only possible because Eldrin Chen's formidable reputation now carried great weight. The Various Great Immortal Clans of the Three Veins Ancient Domain [an ancient and vast cultivation region] would grant the Chen Clan some face, allowing them to operate shops in major marketplaces where they could purchase the essence at low prices from minor cultivators.

Were it a weaker Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a clan led by a Nascent Soul realm cultivator], they would likely spend a Millennium [a period of one thousand years] and still not gather such a quantity, let alone afford it.

If they were to sell this batch of Five Elements Essence, collecting it again would take another three hundred years of work. Naturally, Eldrin Chen was not foolish enough to sell it off just to exchange for Heavenly Dao Qi.

Returning to the main point, Eldrin Chen held Lyra Jiang in his arms, pondered for a moment, and then said thoughtfully, "Now that Purple Jade Lake [a major demonic territory] has merged with Azure Wave Lake [another major demonic territory], we have an opportunity to seize the territory once held by the Purple Jade Demon Emperor [a powerful demon ruler]."

"If we can slay the Purple Jade Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic ruler of the jade element], it would certainly resolve the deficit in our Heavenly Dao Qi [the purest form of cosmic energy, essential for high-level cultivation]."

"That is an excellent plan," Lyra Jiang said, her eyes lighting up as she nodded in agreement. "That Purple Jade Demon Emperor is our sworn enemy to begin with. Killing him would also serve to diminish some of the tribulations awaiting us in our future Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high stage of cultivation] ascension."

"However, the Purple Jade Demon Emperor has the backing of the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor [a mighty draconic demon sovereign]. If the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor intervenes, we may not succeed in ending him."

Mentioning the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor prompted a curious thought from Eldrin Chen. "Speaking of which, it is rather strange. Some time ago, I performed a divination and discovered that the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor had already departed from Azure Wave Lake [a vast and spiritually rich lake] many years prior."

"Unfortunately, his whereabouts seem to be shrouded by some form of Heavenly Secrets [a profound art of concealment that obscures fate from divination], making it impossible for me to pinpoint his location."

"Oh?" Lyra Jiang's gaze grew slightly more solemn. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Regardless, this presents a prime opportunity for us." Join our community of readers at audio—novel.com.

With that settled, the two spoke no more on the matter and sank back into their shared cultivation, harmonizing their Yin and Yang energies.

Early the next morning, Eldrin Chen personally summoned Lana Gu and bestowed upon her a portion of Heavenly Dao Qi. He then ordered the clan to prepare a Nascent Soul Formation Banquet [a grand celebration held when a cultivator attempts to form their Nascent Soul], publicly and ostentatiously announcing that he would personally guard her during her breakthrough attempt.

Once these preparations were complete, Eldrin Chen, Lyra Jiang, Elara Lin, Kael Chen, and six or seven other True Lord [a title for cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm] quietly departed from The Vast Sea [a great oceanic expanse] and set a course to strike at Violet Jade Isle [an island domain of the Purple Jade Demon Emperor].

To ensure the complete eradication of the Purple Jade Demon Emperor and this lingering threat, Eldrin Chen did not make a grand, public declaration of war. The True Lord he brought were all warriors possessing combat power at the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage level. He had even invited close allies such as Yvonne the Violet Consort to join this covert operation.

Throughout their journey, they did not even assault Serpent-Scorpion Isle, that Fifth Rank Spirit Vein [a location with a high-grade spiritual energy source], choosing instead to traverse the vast expanse of Demonic Tribe Territory [lands controlled by demonic tribes] directly until they arrived at Purple Jade Lake.

Upon appearing before Violet Jade Isle, Eldrin Chen immediately took action. From the very first moment, he summoned forth the Green Abyss Sword [a legendary enchanted blade] and unleashed a slash aimed at the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array] protecting Purple Jade Lake.

Although he did not fully awaken the Green Abyss Sword's dormant power, the sheer Mana [cultivational energy] Eldrin Chen now commanded was enough. With a single strike from the blade, the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation shielding Violet Jade Isle was battered, its radiant glow dimming drastically.

The others joined the assault simultaneously. In less than ten breaths, they had completely shattered the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation.

"Eldrin, the Abyss, how dare you!"

The sudden, overwhelming attack caught Purple Jade Demon Emperor completely off guard.

Witnessing Eldrin Chen's abrupt assault, Purple Jade Demon Emperor's heart sank. As the thought of fleeing took hold, he saw Yvonne the Violet Consort already activating the Violet Cosmos Void-Traversing Mirror [a mystical mirror capable of sealing spatial pathways], locking down the Teleportation Formation [a formation for instantaneous travel] on Violet Jade Isle.

In that critical moment of life and death, Purple Jade Demon Emperor acted decisively. He severed a section of his own serpent tail, paying a grievous price to unleash a costly Great Divine Ability [a supreme mystical technique] Escape Art [a mystical technique for rapid evasion or flight], and shot directly towards the depths of Purple Jade Lake.

After all, this demon possessed cultivation at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm]. The forbidden art he employed granted him such speed that the others could not keep pace.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen possessed the Heaven's Golden Wing Slash [a supreme movement art]. He immediately activated the Heavenly Radiance Golden Light Evasion [a divine movement technique] and gave chase. Yet, the Purple Jade Demon Emperor fought a retreating battle, and relying on Eldrin Chen's strength alone, it proved difficult to deliver the final, decisive blow.

For days, the pursuit raged on. Eldrin Chen chased his quarry for nearly ten thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], time and again unleashing the Green Abyss Sword to grievously wound the Purple Jade Demon Emperor. Yet, despite his relentless efforts, he could not deliver the final, decisive blow to the beast.

This ordeal laid bare a stark truth: a powerhouse at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection realm, once they abandon all thought of combat and focus solely on flight, becomes a fiendishly difficult quarry to run down. It is likely that even a being at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit realm would find it a formidable challenge to capture or slay such a one. For more chapters, visit www . audio-novel.com for the complete novel.