Chapter 26: Purple Radiance Beset by Calamity, Ling Tian Stands Above

Li Chen sat cross-legged in a secluded cavern deep within the ancient ruins, surrounded on every side by layer upon layer of restrictions he had personally laid down. The cave was dim, illuminated only by a spirit stone floating above his head and radiating a gentle glow that brought a trace of vitality to the lonely place. His eyes were tightly shut, his face pale yet resolute. The aura around him rose and fell erratically, as though he were struggling against some invisible force of heaven and earth. Sweat trickled from his firm chin, striking the ground and leaving tiny pits. The air was filled with defiance and determination. Every breath weighed as heavily as a mountain, heralding the silence before a transformation.

Bathed in the spirit stone’s soft radiance, memories churned within Li Chen’s sea of consciousness—fragments of his fierce battles against high-ranking demonic beasts. Their savage faces, razor-sharp claws and fangs, and the images of his companions fighting to the death were etched into his mind like carvings made by a blade. A blazing fury ignited within his heart, and he swore to rewrite this chapter of despair.

As his breathing grew heavier, it seemed that an ancient totem was awakening within him. His bloodline boiled, and the air around him appeared to catch fire. Runes flickered across the restrictions, resonating with heaven and earth. Wave after wave of vast power surged from his body as he launched a violent assault toward a higher realm.

With a thunderous boom, Li Chen broke through the Deity Transformation Realm and entered the Soul Refinement Realm. After three years of secluded cultivation, he had advanced through three major realms in succession—an achievement of which he could well be proud. Beyond that lay the Spirit Division Realm, the Soul Fusion Realm, the Body Integration Realm, and more...

After consolidating his breakthrough for another three months, he finally emerged from seclusion.

Li Chen hovered in the air, bewildered. After remaining in closed-door cultivation for so long, his mind was still somewhat sluggish. Then he suddenly noticed flashes of violet light in the distance and immediately flew toward them. Only when he drew near did he discover that the violet radiance was coming from a deep mountain cavern.

From within the depths of the cavern came a delicate voice.

“Since you have come, Young Master, please enter and have a chat with me.”

Li Chen replied in a clear voice, “I am honored by the young lady’s invitation. Forgive me for intruding.”

He strode inside. The cavern was filled with a hazy violet glow, yet it was as bright as broad daylight. A peerlessly beautiful woman dressed entirely in purple smiled warmly and offered him a graceful curtsy.

“Welcome, Young Master, to my humble dwelling.”

Her clear, star-like eyes never left Li Chen’s handsome, jade-like face.

Li Chen found her dignified and elegant, and took an immediate liking to her. After sitting down and drinking some tea, he smiled and said, “I have yet to ask your name, Miss. Why did you summon me here?”

“My name is Cai Ling. I am my master’s artifact spirit. During the last great calamity of heaven and earth, my master was gravely wounded and fell into a deep slumber from which she has been unable to awaken.”

Li Chen frowned. “Then, Miss Cai Ling, is there anything I can do to help you?”

Cai Ling replied, “My master is the Violet Radiance Immortal Emperor. She was once Junior Sister to the Azuremist Immortal Emperor, Li Ruocang. The two of them were extremely close. Since I have always accompanied my master, I naturally knew Li Ruocang Immortal Emperor’s supreme divine artifact, Lingtian, as well. Earlier, I sensed Lingtian’s aura, which was why I invited you here.”

Li Chen contacted Lingtian with his divine sense and asked how matters stood.

Lingtian, whose manifested form resembled an eight-year-old boy, replied, “Everything Cai Ling said is true. She wants me to infuse her master’s soul with Primordial Violet Energy. But I am extremely weak at present. I fear I may not be able to fulfill her wish.”

Li Chen explained the situation to Cai Ling.

“For countless millions of years, I have collected quite a number of Primordial Crystals, Chaos Crystals, and high-grade immortal crystals...” Cai Ling said. “Ask him whether any of them would be useful.”

Li Chen consulted Lingtian once more.

“That will do. Have her bring them out. I can absorb them into my inner space.”

Cai Ling then piled a vast quantity of crystals onto the ground. Violet energy swirled around them, and their surfaces glittered with purple light. Yet with a flash from Lingtian, they vanished without a trace.

It would take ten days to absorb and refine those crystals.