Chapter 818 : Forging the Celestial Sword

Now that a Sixth Rank Ancestral Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual energy source] was available, he decided to first fuse the Violet Flame Celestial Gold [a legendary metal imbued with celestial violet fire] into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword of profound power].

Refining a Sixth Rank [a level of power corresponding to the Nascent Soul stage] Treasure Metal [a rare and potent metallic spiritual material] was an immensely arduous task. He recalled that when Eldrin Chen elevated the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword [a sword containing the power of a celestial river], merely refining the Treasure Metal had consumed a full seven times seven, or forty-nine years.

Later, when assisting Lyra Jiang in elevating the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword [a sword famed for its power to slay immortals], the refinement of the Treasure Metal had also taken forty years.

Fortunately, with the aid of the Sixth RankFire Vein [a powerful fire-attribute spiritual energy vein] and Eldrin Chen's breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a stage beyond Nascent Soul], his Mana [the spiritual energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners] had grown vastly more profound. It took only nine years to fully fuse the Violet Flame Celestial Gold into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

Even the process of refining the Separated Flame [a potent, purified flame essence] and the Metallic Essence Qi [the refined spiritual essence of metal] was greatly accelerated. Eldrin Chen spent seven years infusing a vast quantity of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, completing its successful ascension.

This entire sword-forging endeavor, from start to finish, consumed sixteen years. Compared to the time spent elevating the Pure Yang Immortal Sword [a sword of pure yang energy] within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire [a legendary sea of eternal flames], the duration was shortened severalfold, saving Eldrin Chen decades of effort.

Upon its ascension to a Pure Yang Immortal Sword, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss transformed into a resplendent Immortal Sword wreathed in the Ignatius<

The sword now shone with a pure violet hue. It possessed not only the domineering ferocity of the Separated Flame, but also the profound mystery of the Profound Capital Violet Flame [a divine ability of profound violet fire]. When fueled by Eldrin Chen's Pure Yang Flame [a divine ability of pure yang fire] Mana, it erupted with a slaughtering divine might that caused all demons to flee in terror.

Even Separated Flame Daoist [a Daoist master of the Separated Flame] looked upon it with astonishment, unable to restrain his praise: "This sword is fearsomely domineering. Your Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] Pure Yang Flame is even more profound and marvelous. Together, they complement each other perfectly."

"You flatter me too much." Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel dot com.

Eldrin Chen wore a faint smile, suppressing the urge to unleash the combined power of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords.

After forging the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, Eldrin Chen's strength had already increased tremendously. He had a vague premonition that if the devastating might of the twin swords' union were to reappear in the mortal realm, it would likely be far too shocking.

To avoid arousing undue wariness and caution in others, he temporarily held back the thought of employing the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords Union.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen cupped his hands towards Separated Flame Daoist and said, "We have been away from the east for quite some time now. It is time for us to return to our clan, and we shall not linger here any longer."

"Very well," Separated Flame Daoist nodded with a smile. "The Earth Flame Island cannot be left unattended, and I am unable to see you off a great distance. I hope Brother Eldrin will forgive this discourtesy."

After bidding farewell to Separated Flame Daoist, Eldrin Chen flew back towards the Eastern Wastelands.

This time, Eldrin Chen was returning to the Eastern Wastelands alone. The process of consecrating the Immortal Sword had been lengthy, and the clan's foundation within the Eastern Wastelands could not be left without someone to guard it.

Furthermore, Lyra Jiang needed to advance her Second Nascent Soul [a profound cultivation technique allowing a cultivator to nurture a second, independent spiritual core]. Thus, the three of them had already returned to the Eastern Wastelands many years prior.

Eldrin Chen journeyed on alone, flying for several months. Only when he reached the heart of the Southern Ridge Cultivation World did he find his path blocked by a solitary figure.

The figure was clad in a long black robe, his features strikingly handsome yet bearing a trace of unsettling strangeness in the depths of his pupils.

"It's you?"

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow, recognizing the newcomer.

This person was none other than the notorious Five Venoms Young Master. Seeing Eldrin Chen arrive, the Five Venoms Young Master revealed a sinister smile and said,

"It has been many years. How have you been, Brother Eldrin?"

"Well enough."

Eldrin Chen's expression remained serene and composed, understanding that a confrontation was likely unavoidable today.

The Five Venoms Young Master nodded, then sneered coldly, "Our last battle ended without a clear victor. I have long desired a rematch."

"Upon hearing you had come to the Southern Ridge Cultivation World, I set out immediately to find you. Yet you turned and went to the Southern Sea Cultivation World to accomplish a great deed."

"I have waited here for you for ten years. Presumably, your affairs are now concluded. Let us settle this with action."

As the Five Venoms Young Master's words fell, a brilliant flash of five-colored light erupted behind Eldrin Chen, suddenly lunging towards him.

Yet in that fleeting instant between lightning and spark, a Twofold Divine Aegis [a divine protective shield embodying the duality of Yin and Yang] blossomed around Eldrin Chen's form, instantly intercepting the five-colored radiance. Then, a flash of sword light cleaved through the air, severing the luminous assault in mid-flight.

*Thud.*

A crisp sound echoed as the severed five-colored glow fell to the ground, revealing a Five-Colored Celestial Centipede [a legendary venomous creature whose body shimmers with five hues] now cleanly sliced in two by the single sword stroke.

"A Five-Colored Celestial Centipede!"

Eldrin Chen stepped forward, his gaze chillingly composed as he regarded Five Venoms Young Master with detached calm. "I never imagined that even after breaking through to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual core solidifies into a Primordial Spirit], you would still resort to such underhanded, dishonorable tricks."

It turned out the Five Venoms Young Master's casual banter had merely been a ploy to buy time for this venomous ambush. Experience the full epic at audio-novel dot com.

The Five-Colored Celestial Centipede was a poison of rare and lethal potency in all the world; even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the verge of attaining the Primordial Spirit Realm] bitten by it would likely succumb to a swift and certain death within moments.

However, Eldrin Chen had long been wary of Five Venoms Young Master. Shielded by the Twofold Divine Aegis, how could a mere Fifth Rank [a classification for demonic beasts or treasures, equivalent to the Primordial Spirit Realm for cultivators] venomous creature hope to harm him?

Witnessing Eldrin Chen dispatch his meticulously nurtured venomous beast with a single strike, Five Venoms Young Master's eyes turned icy cold, his pupils radiating a frigid malice. "Honorable or not," he hissed, "what matters is that it kills. That makes it a fine tool indeed."

*Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—*

As his words fell, Five Venoms Young Master immediately unleashed five dazzling streams of light, slashing directly toward Eldrin Chen.

"The Five Venoms Immortal-Slaying Swords!"

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened instantly. He promptly channeled his spiritual energy into the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword to engage the foe.

Though the Five Venoms Immortal-Slaying Swords had not yet ascended to the Sixth Rank realm, and their combined power was formidable, they still found themselves at a disadvantage against the sheer, overwhelming edge of the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword.

After more than twenty exchanges, seeing he was still losing ground, Five Venoms Young Master flicked his sleeve and unleashed a brilliant, sinister black radiance toward Eldrin Chen.

"The Hundred Poisons Divine Light [a malevolent divine ability cultivated from one hundred potent high-grade poisons]!"

In that instant, Eldrin Chen recognized the origin of this Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals].

The Hundred Poisons Divine Light was a vile Divine Ability passed down by the lineage of Five Venoms Ancient Ancestor. To master it required gathering one hundred types of terrifying, high-grade poisons as essential catalysts.

This Divine Ability specialized in corroding protective spiritual auras. While its direct destructive force was not overwhelming, its toxicity was lethally potent.

It was said that any cultivator touched by this Hundred Poisons Divine Light would dissolve into putrid liquid in moments if their cultivation was low; even high-level practitioners could not endure it for long.

When unleashed with the cultivation level of the Five Venoms Young Master [a notorious practitioner of venomous arts], even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator whose soul has transcended mortal form] struck by this technique would find their internal organs beginning to wither and decay.

If the venom cannot be completely expelled or suppressed by profound cultivation arts, then after seven times seven, or forty-nine, days, the internal organs of the Nascent Soul Dao Lord would rot away entirely, forcing them to abandon their physical body as a last resort.

Facing such an assault, Eldrin Chen dared not be negligent. He immediately manifested his Twofold Divine Aegis [a dual-layered protective barrier of immense power], reinforcing it with the twin Secret Power [esoteric energies derived from profound cultivation] of Pure Yang Flame [a sacred flame of pure solar essence] and Profound Nether Water [an abyssal water of deep yin essence]. The defense held, but at the cost of fully twenty percent of his Mana [the spiritual energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners].

"I cannot meet this head-on," he realized.

In the span of a lightning flash, Eldrin Chen soared skyward. Simultaneously, he summoned the Four Symbols Divine Thunder [a heavenly thunder technique embodying the four celestial beasts] to strike horizontally at the Five Venoms Young Master, aiming to force him back.

Yet, to his surprise, the Five Venoms Young Master tore through the void of space in an instant. A streak of radiant light shot forth, allowing him to deftly evade Eldrin Chen's Pure Yang Divine Thunder [a divine thunderbolt of pure yang energy].

"Now taste one of mine!" the foe retorted.

Emerging from another fold of space, the Five Venoms Young Master flicked his sleeve. From it billowed a mass of Five-Colored Misty Veil Cloud Qi [a five-hued, mist-like cloud energy, both beautiful and lethally toxic], which swiftly expanded to envelop Eldrin Chen. The story continues at @udio-novel.com.