Chapter 878 : The Blooming of Enlightenment

"These years, Fellow Daoist has toiled diligently in guarding The Vast Sea."

Eldrin Chen offered a smile in greeting, then strode towards the location of the Enlightenment Blossom Tree.

Upon arriving before the Enlightenment Blossom Tree, the group discovered that three magnificent and peculiar flowers had already bloomed upon its branches.

"Enlightenment Blossoms."

Eldrin Chen murmured, a glint of pleasant surprise coloring his expression.

This Enlightenment Blossom Tree had long since become a Sixth Rank Pure Yang Spiritual Root [a spiritual plant of the highest purity and yang nature], a supreme treasure once held by the East Sea Azure Dragon.

However, after the East Sea Azure Dragon fell, the Ancestor Mystic Turtle's transplantation injured its roots. Further compounded by a grievous wound from the Ancestor Mystic Turtle's final, hatred-filled strike before its demise, the tree was brought to the brink of death.

Now, after being nurtured by Primordial Essence [the purest form of foundational cosmic energy] and recuperating for several centuries, this Enlightenment Blossom Tree had finally fully recovered.

The restored Enlightenment Blossom Tree could now produce three Enlightenment Blossom every Millennium. These flowers possessed miraculous efficacy in aiding cultivators to comprehend Secret Power [profound and esoteric laws of the cosmos].

If obtained by Nascent Soul Cultivators, their chances of comprehending a Secret Power would be at least fifty percent, greatly increasing their future likelihood of a successful breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm beyond the Nascent Soul] realm. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio–novel.com.

It could be said that with this treasure, Eldrin Chen was even confident he could nurture one or two more Nascent Soul Dao Lord.

However, even so, Eldrin Chen did not intend to let Nascent Soul Cultivators use it.

He took down the three Enlightenment Blossom and handed them to Lyra Jiang, saying, "The Enlightenment Blossom is profoundly mystical. If you can harness the power of these flowers, there might still be a sliver of a chance for you to comprehend a fifth Secret Power."

"A fifth Secret Power..."

Upon hearing this, Lyra Jiang also felt a surge of excitement.

Before her breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator], she had already mastered four Secret Power [profound and unique abilities derived from comprehending the fundamental laws of the world], with only the final one not yet fully grasped.

After reaching the Primordial Spirit realm, the difficulty of comprehending Secret Power had increased dramatically, making the pursuit of a fifth one an arduous path.

Fortunately, her lifespan was now vast, and with the aid of these Enlightenment Blossom [a rare spiritual herb that greatly enhances one's capacity for enlightenment and comprehension], there remained a glimmer of hope for her to grasp that fifth Secret Power in the future.

And once she comprehended that fifth Secret Power, her strength would undergo a qualitative leap. While she might not rival Eldrin Chen, who was capable of contending with those at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [the third and final stage of the Primordial Spirit realm], her power would undoubtedly become formidable.

Such a crucial treasure for one's path to the Dao [the fundamental principle or path in cultivation] was naturally not something to be declined.

Lyra Jiang gathered the three Enlightenment Blossom [a rare spiritual flower that aids in achieving enlightenment] and then looked towards the Water Vein [a subterranean current of concentrated water-element spiritual energy] within the The Vast Sea. "Judging by the signs," she said, "this Water Vein is also on the verge of advancing its rank."

"Indeed," Nyssa Qu nodded with a smile. "The Water Essence Power [the concentrated spiritual power of the water element] within the The Vast Sea has long been sufficient to support the Water Vein's advancement to the Sixth Rank."

"Now that the Enlightenment Blossom Tree [the spiritual tree that bears Enlightenment Blossoms] has recovered, the ascension should be completed within a century."

"That is good news."

A smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. "My thanks for your efforts, Immortal Maiden," he said.

Having obtained the Enlightenment Blossom, Eldrin Chen was reluctant to linger. He prepared to return to the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire to begin refining the Pure Yang Elixir [a supreme-grade pill of pure Yang energy].

Yet before he could depart, a Ghost General [a high-ranking commander among spectral beings] clad in Netherworld Armor [armor forged from the essence of the underworld] strode forth. It bowed respectfully and clasped its hands. "Honored guest, please stay your steps. My Ancient Ancestor requests your presence."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes glinted with thought. Without further word, he followed the Ghost General deep into the bowels of the earth.

After Qing the Ancient Ancestor had shifted his cultivation path to that of a Ghost Immortal [an immortal who has chosen to cultivate using ghostly or spectral energies], he had relocated his abode to the unfathomable depths beneath the earth—a realm countless tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] below the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire.

The two descended from Celestial Vault Isle for what felt like countless tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], finally arriving within a region of the Netherworld Underworld. There, they beheld Qing the Ancient Ancestor, who was cultivating in that place.

This was a space suffused with Yin energy [the passive, dark, and cold aspect of cosmic energy]. Everywhere was filled with the power of Incense Offering Power and the ultimate Yin, bone-chilling aura of ghosts. Within it lived innumerable Wandering Soul [restless spirits of the dead], Netherworld Soldier [soldiers of the underworld], and Ghost General [generals among ghosts], resembling a veritable hellscape.

At the core of this world stood Qing the Ancient Ancestor. Clad in an emperor's robe of verdant hue and crowned with the Nine Splendor Gilded Crown, his tall and slender figure stood imposingly, akin to a great emperor presiding over one of the nine layers of the Netherworld [the Chinese underworld].

"You have come."

Qing the Ancient Ancestor cast a calm glance at Eldrin Chen and gave a slight nod as he spoke.

Eldrin Chen inclined his head in acknowledgment and stepped forward through the air, yet within his heart, a flicker of surprise stirred. This novel is serialized on audio‑novel.com. Visit for updates.

In this moment, he actually sensed a thread of danger emanating from Qing the Ancient Ancestor, a realization that left him profoundly astonished.

For his current strength placed him among the titans of the world. Aside from those at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [the advanced stage of the spiritual core cultivation realm], the number of beings who could evoke a sense of danger in him could be counted on one hand.

The fact that the Verdant Daoist before him could elicit such a feeling indicated that his power had likely approached the threshold of the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "Since dedicating yourself to the Ghost Path [a cultivation path focused on spectral and underworld energies], your progress in cultivation has been nothing short of miraculous, Ancient Ancestor."

"A confluence of fate and circumstance, nothing more."

Verdant Daoist offered a faint smile and spoke, "The Purple Realm holds countless billions of souls. The Incense Offering Power [the power of faith and worship gathered from sentient beings] they accumulate is sufficient to sustain several mighty Ghost Immortal [an immortal who has ascended via the ghostly or spectral path] experts."

"Such a vast ocean of Incense Offering Power is now mine alone to command. Even if I can only utilize a fraction of it, it still constitutes a uniquely advantageous position."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

The Verdant Daoist possessed talent that astonished even immortals. In ages past, he had created the Immortal Ascension Vein-Forging Art [a profound art capable of artificially elevating spiritual veins], a method to artificially advance Pure Yang Ancestral Vein [spiritual veins of the purest Yang essence].

Such earth-shattering, heaven-startling genius was perhaps not much inferior to that of the legendary Eastern Sovereign.

Yet, the path of cultivation is not determined by genius alone. Opportunity, resources, and fortune often hold the final sway over one's destiny.

Though Qing the Ancient Ancestor's talent rivaled the divine, his fortune could not match that of his predecessor, the Ancient Ancestor. In the end, he perished beneath the wheels of calamity—a victim of ill-fated luck.

Fortunately, his fortunes have now reversed. Since turning to the path of the ghostly cultivator, his journey has been smooth and unimpeded.

When Eldrin Chen broke through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm, Qing the Ancient Ancestor was at the Nascent Soul Fourth Layer. Yet, in the mere span of two centuries, he has astonishingly cultivated his way to the fifth layer of the Primordial Spirit realm.

This cultivation speed could truly be described as utterly inconceivable, something even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord would not dare to imagine.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Ancient Ancestor, you have summoned me here. May I inquire as to the purpose?"

"It concerns a tribulation!"

Without hesitation, Verdant Daoist replied immediately.

His expression was one of extreme gravity as he continued with profound solemnity, "For a ghost cultivator to practice in the mortal realm is, by its very nature, an act of defiance against the heavens, destined to incur celestial wrath."

"A ghost cultivator of my level, having attained the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], must endure a minor tribulation every century, face a major tribulation once every millennium, and confront a mortal tribulation of utter annihilation once every three millennia."

Qing the Ancient Ancestor explained methodically, his face etched with deep concern. "The power of a minor tribulation is no weaker than a Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation [the lightning calamity faced when advancing to the Nascent Soul realm]; it is sufficient to slay a Nascent Soul Dao Lord. I still possess the capability to withstand it."

"The major tribulation arrives once every millennium. Its might is enough to obliterate even a supreme expert at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage. Although my current combat prowess is not insignificant, I have no certainty of surviving its passage."

Listening quietly until Qing the Ancient Ancestor finished, Eldrin Chen quickly grasped the cause and effect, and an expression of utmost gravity settled upon his features.

By practicing the Ghost Immortal [a path of cultivation for spectral beings] path within the world of the living, Qing the Ancient Ancestor had provoked the wrath of the Heaven and Earth Law [the fundamental cosmic order]. He was fated to endure tribulations upon tribulations; it was a path of nine deaths for a single chance at life. Official source: audio—novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.