Chapter 719 : The Demon Blade's Betrayal

Facing this strike, the Blood-Refining Old Demon could only barely raise his Blood-Refining Divine Blade to block it.

Yet the force behind the blow was overwhelmingly immense, causing the Blood-Refining Old Demon 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 the Blood-Refining Old Demon's injuries had worsened and his spiritual power was severely depleted, the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber dared to seize the moment, frantically devouring the demon's vital essence and blood in a bid to restore its own formidable power.

"How dare you!"

With a furious roar, the Blood-Refining Old Demon was forced to forcibly channel his remaining spiritual power to suppress the Demonic Path [a malevolent cultivation method].

At that precise instant, the Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel] shimmered to life once more. A figure clad in pristine white robes stepped forth, immediately unleashing a sword slash aimed directly at the Blood-Refining Old Demon.

The newcomer was none other than Vast Righteousness True Lord. His Vast Righteousness Heaven Sword gleamed with lethal sharpness, and with a single stroke, it cleaved the Blood-Refining Old Demon cleanly in two.

"Aaaargh—!"

On the brink of annihilation, the Blood-Refining Old Demon instantly abandoned his physical body and his Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual form of a high-level cultivator], transferring his consciousness into one of his Blood Demon Clone [a clone formed from condensed blood essence].

The Blood-Transforming Demon Saber 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. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio–novel.com.

Vast Righteousness True Lord did not give chase. He paused and cast a glance at Old Patriarch, finding that Eternal Profound Chen now resembled withered wood, his life force so faint it was nearly extinguished.

"Old Granduncle."

With eyes reddened, Silas Chen supported Old Granduncle, continuously feeding him healing elixirs [pills that restore health and vitality].

Vast Righteousness True Lord let out a sigh and could not help but speak, "His vital essence [the fundamental life force of a cultivator] has been utterly depleted. Even if his life is forcibly extended, he will have but a few years of longevity left. It would be better to make preparations for reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life after death] sooner rather than later."

"Mm." Exquisite Jiang nodded, then said 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 Ji Continent.

Without a thought for the others aboard the Treasure Ship, he disembarked immediately with Exquisite Jiang and the rest, then used a series of Teleportation Formation [magical arrays that allow instantaneous travel over vast distances] to make his way back to Ji Continent.

Upon arriving at Green Chariot Mountain, Eldrin Chen went straight to the entrance of Old Granduncle's cultivation abode [a secluded dwelling used for meditation and cultivation].

Silas Chen was standing guard outside. 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 his reincarnation."

Eldrin Chen remained silent, his heart heavy with sorrow as he entered the cavern abode.

Within the cavern, Eternal Profound Chen was clad in a robe of white, his hair as silver as three thousand strands of starlight, possessing an ethereal and transcendent aura. Though his visage appeared aged, it was a vast improvement from his near-death state of days past.

Eldrin Chen understood all too well. The Old Granduncle's vital essence [the fundamental life force of a cultivator] was utterly depleted. What remained was merely sustained by a final wisp of magical power and precious spiritual objects, a state that could last at most three years before his body would dissolve and return to the Dao [the fundamental principle and path of cultivation].

"Do not fret. Though I have suffered grievous wounds, I still have a chance to begin anew. By utilizing the Nirvana Pool to undergo a tribulation rebirth, I shall need but three hundred years to cultivate back to the Infant Soul Realm."

Perceiving his worry, the Old Granduncle spoke with a gentle smile.

Yet, hearing these words only deepened the weight in Eldrin Chen's heart.

The Old Granduncle was merely a little over a thousand years old and had already reached the Infant Soul Mid Stage. Had he not suffered two devastating injuries, he likely would have cultivated to the Great Perfection of Infant Soul in his first lifetime.

With that level of foundation for his tribulation rebirth, coupled with Eldrin Chen's full support after his own breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest soul form of a cultivator], there might even have been a chance for him to reach the Primordial Spirit Realm.

But now, having suffered consecutive calamities and lost two thousand years of lifespan in vain, the Old Granduncle's hope of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit had been drastically diminished.

Furthermore, once a cultivator undergoes a tribulation rebirth without first passing through the Netherworld Underworld Court [the bureaucratic realm of the dead where souls are judged and processed], they lack the nurturing of a wisp of Innate Energy [the primordial life energy present at birth]. This greatly increases the difficulty of breaking through to higher realms in the future.

Take individuals like Dorian Ji and Surging Wave Sword Immortal for example. Although they broke through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm around four or five thousand years of age and consumed Life-Extending Treasure [treasures that grant additional lifespan], they never underwent a Rebirth [a process of reincarnation to shed karmic burdens and start cultivation anew] in between. Had they done so, the difficulty of their breakthroughs would likely have increased dramatically.

Precisely because of this, the majority of those who attain immortality in this world do so in a single lifetime. Those who rely on successive Rebirth cycles to arduously cultivate their way to immortality are exceedingly rare.

For Old Granduncle to undergo Rebirth now signifies that his future Path [the journey of cultivation and enlightenment] will likely be exceedingly narrow. The difficulty of breaking through to the Infant Soul Late Stage [the final stage of the Infant Soul realm] will be greatly amplified, let alone cultivating all the way to the Primordial Spirit Realm.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and said, "With Old Granduncle undergoing Rebirth, his future Path will be fraught with hardship. We must make early preparations for the arrangements of his next life's Path."

"My own Path is of little consequence,"

Eternal Profound Chen shook his head, his expression turning grave. "My original intention was that, should I break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, I would cultivate a set of Eight Trigrams Treasure Flag [a set of eight enchanted banners corresponding to the eight trigrams] for you, of Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a treasure imbued with the pure essence of the primordial sun] grade. This would have aided you in weathering several of the Immortal Ascension Tribulation [the heavenly trials one must overcome to ascend to immortality]." Published by audio-novel dot com. All rights reserved.

"I never imagined I would now have no hope of cultivating to the Primordial Spirit Realm. Therefore, you must select another person to cultivate the Eight Trigrams Treasure Flag in the future."

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 set used to refine and suppress demons] as his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul].

Had Eternal Profound Chen later cultivated to the Primordial Spirit Realm and reached the Primordial Spirit Mid Stage, the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy or objects for defensive or offensive purposes] deployed by this set of Treasure Flag would likely have been equivalent in power to a Near-Immortal Treasures [a treasure of power approaching that of immortal artifacts].

And a single Near-Immortal Treasures might have been able to withstand one or two strikes of the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly thunder tribulation faced during ascension to immortality] for Eldrin Chen, substantially increasing his chances of attaining immortality.

With this thought, a faint tremor passed through Eldrin Chen's heart, and he could not help but speak. "Old Granduncle, you need not sigh in despair. Perhaps there is still a sliver of hope for your Path [the fundamental principle or way of cultivation]."

Eternal Profound Chen was momentarily taken aback. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Indeed," Eldrin Chen nodded, then continued. "I could use the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme, primordial energy of creation] to aid you through your tribulation. It might serve as a substitute for that missing strand of Innate Energy [the fundamental life-force energy one is born with]."

"The Primordial Chaos Violet Aura?" The Old Patriarch's brow furrowed slightly in contemplation. After a long silence, he spoke. "That aura of yours is profoundly miraculous. It might indeed be worth an attempt."

Their hearts settling somewhat, Eldrin Chen then produced three ancient tomes from his robes and handed them to Eternal Profound Chen.

"These three texts contain the most precious legacies in my possession, Old Granduncle. After your tribulation, you may choose one as the foundation for your new path."

The Old Granduncle picked up the first tome. A slight tremor ran through him as he beheld its contents.

Among the three ancient texts, the first was a single sheet of golden foil. It recorded a fragmentary method for cultivating an Immortal Body [a perfected, transcendent physical form]—a remnant of the 'Ascendant Immortal Path-Forging Art' [a legendary art for forging one's body into an immortal vessel].

Long ago, this golden page had been tainted by Blood Fiend Miasma [a corrupting, demonic energy born of bloodshed and malice]. It mutated into an evil technique for seizing Mortal Path [a cultivation path focused on the mortal body] constitutions. Later, it fell into the hands of the Qin Clan, who used it to wreak havoc across the land, ultimately causing the death of Eldrin Chen's parents.

It was only after Eldrin Chen eradicated the Qin Clan that he obtained this method. He had kept it a closely guarded secret ever since, known within the family only to Exquisite Jiang and one or two others.

The second cultivation method is the 'Void-Refining Immortal Scripture'. This art is the legacy left by the 'Void-Refining Immortal' who ascended eighty thousand years ago from the Ji Clan. Cultivated to its ultimate limit, it can produce the Void-Refining Divine Flame and comprehend profound Path Principles. In ages past, the Void-Refining Immortal achieved immortality precisely through this method.

The final cultivation method is the Ascendant Immortal Vein-Forging Art obtained from Verdant Seal True Lord. This is a supreme art that leverages the power of an ascending Earth Vein [a powerful, sentient spiritual artery of the world] to achieve Ethereal Ascension [a profound state of spiritual elevation and breakthrough] in a single, decisive move.

However, this art is intrinsically and inseparably linked to the Earth Vein. Once cultivation begins, the practitioner's fate becomes bound to it. If the Earth Vein is ever damaged or destroyed, it inflicts irreversible and catastrophic harm upon the cultivator.

In the past, Verdant Seal True Lord cultivated this very art. As a result, when a moment of dire crisis arrived, he was unable to flee for his life and ultimately perished within the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial faced by cultivators seeking to ascend]. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel-dot-com.