Chapter 1734 : Heavenly Dao Source Artifact

This Daoist was none other than the former Sect Master of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, the renowned Divine Abyss Daoist who had dominated the Vast Azure Immortal Domain for 180,000,000 years.

The Daoist of the Abyssal Depths had cultivated for 2 100 million years to reach his current state. In his youth, he was merely a wandering cultivator, hailing from a nameless minor realm deep within the dimensional void.

Daoist Shenyuan was the first immortal in that minor realm's history to achieve ascension. After his ascension, a great calamity swept through the celestial realm, and he found himself unwittingly drawn into the cataclysm.

It must be said that Daoist Shenyuan could truly be called a prodigy of unprecedented talent. Though he rose from humble origins, he forged an astonishing legacy amid the great tribulations.

The Great Tribulation lasted 30 1000 years, and by its end, he had become a top-tier immortal at the Great Perfection of Ascension.

In the brief span of just 20 million years that followed, he weathered several great tribulations and heavenly calamities. Though never a central figure of these cosmic trials, his legacy was indelibly etched into the annals of history.

20 million years later, he attained the flawless Celestial Immortal realm and established the Divine Abyss Paradise.

After accumulating for another 80 million years, he ultimately achieved a breakthrough, nurturing the Divine Abyss Cave Heaven into a superior-grade cave heaven. Having weathered a 90-million-year kalpic tribulation, he emerged as 1 of the sovereigns dominating the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea.

Faced with such a legendary figure, even Daoist Yuanzhi was being exceptionally cautious.

At that moment, Daoist Yuanzhi presented the letter and spoke, "Ancestral Master, this is a missive from the Return to Void Immortal Alliance."

The Daoist of the Abyss glanced briefly, his brow furrowing slightly after a moment.

After reading the letter, Daoist Shenyuan pondered briefly before saying, "While Daoist Guixu appears to be seeking authority over the Heavenly Dao Source Artifact, his true objective lies in the distribution of the immortal spiritual energy and immortal sources from the Chaos Abyss."

Hearing this, Daoist Yuanzhi’s expression shifted slightly. "Since ancient times, the immortal spiritual energy converted by the Heaven’s Path Source Artifact has been exclusively claimed by us and the Xī Qì Grotto-Heaven. If we share it with them, wouldn’t our portion diminish?"

"It is of no consequence."

Divine Abyss Daoist shook his head and spoke, "To convert immortal spirit qi, 1 requires a Celestial Immortal powerhouse to activate the Heavenly Dao Source Artifact."

The more Celestial Immortals activated the Heavenly Dao Source Artifact, the more Immortal Spirit Qi could be converted. The Chaotic Abyss of the Western Aether Divine Abyss Sea could theoretically transform enough Immortal Spirit Qi to sustain the cultivation of 1 100 Celestial Immortals at its absolute limit.

"Currently, the converted immortal qi only amounts to the equivalent of 50 Celestial Immortals, yet to be fully optimized to its ultimate potential."

"They have close to 30 Celestial Immortals. If they can spare even a third of their forces, the celestial spiritual energy converted by the Heavenly Dao Source Artifact would double, without significantly affecting our share."

Hearing this, Daoist Yuanzhi could not help but remark, "While that may be true, the converted Immortal Spirit Qi ultimately has its limits. They possess no small number of Flawless Celestial Immortals—once they cultivate to the late Celestial Immortal stage, I fear it will no longer suffice."

"And they are not merely after the immortal essence, but likely covet the authority over the Heavenly Dao itself."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Shenyuan’s brow furrowed slightly.

He found Elder Eldrin’s reasoning sound—a cultivator at the late Celestial Immortal stage consumed several times more resources than 1 at the early stage.

The resources of the Western Aether Divine Abyss Sea were limited. Even if exploited to their absolute limit, they could sustain no more than 30 Celestial Immortals at the mid to late stages at most.

With the Immortal Alliance's profound foundations, once they reached a developmental bottleneck, they would inevitably have to settle the score with the 2 great blessed realms sooner or later.

Most crucially, the complete Heavenly Dao authority over the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea—this was what the Divine Abyss Taoist had coveted for countless years.

It is known that any Celestial Immortal, upon fully refining a Primordial Dao Artifact and completely mastering the authority over a Heavenly Domain’s Dao, would possess the combat prowess of an Ancient Immortal capable of shattering the First Heavenly Barrier.

Those ancient immortals who had already shattered the Heavenly Barrier could gain at least 1 additional tribulation of combat prowess if empowered by the authority of the Heavenly Dao.

Like the few ancient immortals of the Qingcang Immortal Domain, although they were merely 2 or 3 tribulation ancient immortals, with the empowerment of a domain’s authority, their combat prowess might not be inferior to those 4 tribulation ancient immortals who had arduously cultivated for billions of years.

Moreover, several supreme beings such as the Sword Sovereign of the Grand Emptiness from the Empyrean Void Domain and the Dao Lord of the Purple Tenuity from the Astral Sanctum, each wielding authority over an entire realm, had in truth attained combat prowess that touched upon the realm of the Ancient Immortals.

As for such authority, Divine Abyss Daoist had long coveted it. Now, the threat posed by the Return to Ruins Immortal Alliance left him deeply troubled.

After all, the nearly 30 Celestial Immortals of the Void-Return Immortal Alliance were not to be trifled with.

After much deliberation, he finally turned his gaze to Daoist Yuanzhi and said, "Send someone to the Western Qi Grotto-Heaven. Inform them that the authority over the Abyssal Sea of Western Qi should no longer be encroached upon by outsiders."

"Send another envoy to the Abyssal Immortal Alliance. Inform the Abyssal Daoist that if he assists me in mastering the authority of the Heavenly Dao Source Artifact, I shall let bygones be bygones regarding past grievances."

"Moreover, after the matter is concluded, I will give half of the converted Immortal Spirit Qi to their Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance."

Chapter 1 The 3 major factions had exchanged communications several times over when, on this particular day, Eldrin (Person Name) received 2 letters while cultivating in his secluded chamber.

After reading the letter, he couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.

"Husband, what troubles you?"

Beside Eldrin, Lyra could not help but ask.

Eldrin handed 2 letters to Lyra, then said with a light laugh, "Both the Divine Abyss Cave Heaven and the Western Qi Cave Heaven have sent letters, proposing to join forces with us to eliminate the other."

"The resources of the Immortal Spirit Qi and the Chaos Abyss were all promised without reservation, yet not a shred of authority over the Heavenly Dao would be relinquished."

As Lyra (Person Name) listened to him, her eyes scanned the letter. When she finished reading, she couldn't help but shake her head and said, "Celestial aura and resources are but illusions—only the authority of the Heavenly Dao holds true."

"If either side were to monopolize the authority of the Heavenly Dao, they could sever our Immortal Spirit Qi from us at any moment during battle."

Qing Ji and Seraphina Qu (Person Name), along with the others, cast a glance at the letter and grasped the gist of the situation.

Seraphina Qu (Person Name) shook her head faintly, her expression serene as she stated, "Whoever it may be, once they hold the authority of the Heavenly Dao alone, they shall possess combat prowess rivaling that of an Ancient Immortal."

"If either side were to gain sole control, they would dominate the entire Qingcang Immortal Realm, and our Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance would be forced out."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zi Ji could not help but inquire, "According to your judgment, my husband, what should we do now?"

Eldrin burned the letter and spoke calmly, "We do not yet possess the strength to sweep across the entire Western Mist Divine Abyss Sea, nor can we directly seize all authority."

"However, allowing either of the 2 cave heavens to monopolize authority would be disadvantageous for us."

"Moreover, to preserve our interests, we must secure partial control over the authority of this Heavenly Dao Source Artifact."

Hearing this, Lila fell into contemplation and remarked, "The 2 great grotto-heavens control the authority over the Heavenly Dao Source Artifacts. I fear they would be unwilling to share even a fraction with us."

"That is not for them to decide."

Eldrin shook his head, knowing full well that none of the surrounding major grotto-heavens would be pleased to see any single faction monopolize authority.

The Void Sanctuary Alliance now holds a portion of authority, transforming the rivalry between 2 powers into a 3-sided struggle—a development likely welcomed by the various hidden realms.

(End of Chapter)