Chapter 943 : Whispers of the Ancient Gravetender

Eldrin Chen's heart was gripped by shock, mingled with a profound sense of disbelief.

In ages past, what manner of beings were the Eastern Sovereign and Jiang the Sovereign Emperor? For existences of their caliber to have lacked the confidence to quell the tribulation here spoke volumes of the terrifying nature of these seven Demon God Heaven Pillars.

Even more astonishing was the implication in the Gravetender's words—that both Jiang the Sovereign Emperor and the Eastern Sovereign seemed to have been his juniors.

This defied Eldrin Chen's expectations on a grand scale. In his prior conjectures, he had assumed the Gravetender might merely have been a disciple or follower of the Eastern Sovereign.

Yet, upon deeper reflection, it made a certain, unsettling sense.

The Eastern Sovereign and Jiang the Sovereign Emperor had lived only six or seven Millennium ago. Were they still alive today, their lifespans would not exceed thirteen or fourteen thousand years.

If the Gravetender had been the Eastern Sovereign's disciple, he should now be in the prime of his life. He would not appear so utterly ancient and stooped, his body permeated with an aura of decay.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen could not help but turn his gaze to the elder before him. He promptly clasped his hands in a respectful salute. "Dare I ask, honored senior, from whence do you hail? What is your esteemed name?"

"This old man…"

The Gravetender began to speak, then shook his head, the words trailing into silence. This chapter is provided by audio . novel . com. Support the original.

He let out a sigh, then spoke, "In my youth, I too was filled with passionate vigor and enjoyed my share of glory. I was once a Human Tribulation [a cultivator whose destiny is marked by great trials and tribulations], just like you."

"But after that cataclysmic battle over twenty thousand years ago, the Purple Realm [the vast and mystical world where cultivators reside] nearly saw its lineage of Dao Lord [a title for a supreme master of the Dao, the fundamental principle of cultivation] severed. I am one of the few who survived from that era and was also one of the architects who helped establish this current Dao Calendar [the system for recording the passage of cosmic eras and significant cultivation events]."

"I can be considered half a master to Xander Jiang, having guided him in Comprehending Laws [the profound art of understanding the fundamental laws of reality] and achieving his Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path, representing supreme attainment] in his younger days. I also count as half a teacher to Chen Qiyuan, having passed down to him half of a supreme body-refining technique."

The old man murmured to himself, his eyes holding a distant look of reminiscence, tinged with a profound sorrow.

After a long silence, he sighed again, his voice laced with resignation. "Alas, time flows ever onward. In the blink of an eye, seas have turned to mulberry fields and mulberry fields back to seas. The human realm of the Purple Realm has seen generation after generation come and go. My old comrades... they are no more."

Eldrin Chen stood rooted to the spot, momentarily at a loss for words.

The revelations contained within the old man's brief speech sent a shiver down his spine, a feeling that bordered on disbelief.

The origins of the figure before him were too terrifying, too ancient—an antiquity so vast it defied comprehension.

Since the world-ending calamity that occurred over twenty-two Millennium [a grand cycle of one thousand years] ago, nearly ninety percent of the lineages and inheritances within the Purple Realm had been severed, lost to time. Even the current Dao Calendar was a reconstruction pieced together by later generations.

Yet, the man before him had genuinely participated in the establishment of that very Dao Calendar. This meant that over twenty thousand years ago, he was likely already one of the paramount, peak powerhouses of the entire Purple Realm.

Among the current Demigod Ancestor [the highest mortal cultivation stage before ascending to immortality] within the Purple Realm [the central continent of this cultivation world], the eldest, the Master of the Dao Palace, has only been established on his path for a little over twenty thousand years. In that ancient era, he would likely have been a junior figure, perhaps not even having witnessed the terrifying cataclysm that ended the world.

Undoubtedly, an existence capable of surviving such an apocalyptic tribulation must rank among the most supremely powerful figures the Purple Realm has ever known.

Furthermore, the astonishing nature of this Gravetender is revealed by the implications of his later words.

Consider the stature of Jiang the Sovereign Emperor. He was the sole, peerless existence in tens of thousands of years to achieve true immortality, one possessing the bearing of a Heaven Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realms]. Yet, even he once followed behind this figure to learn of the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality and cultivation] and the Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit of enlightenment and cultivation achievement].

And what of Eastern Sovereign Chen Qiyuan, that awe-inspiring genius who shook the very heavens? He was the unparalleled hero who created the Purple Realm's second method of Fleshly Body Ascension [a path of cultivation focusing on refining the physical body to god-like levels]. Who would have thought he, too, once received a half-step version of the body refinement method passed down by this very guardian?

From this, it is evident that the Gravetender must be a transcendent master, a figure who was once one of the Purple Realm's own Pillar of the Heavens [a metaphorical title for a foundational, supporting pillar of the world].

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Eldrin Chen clasped his hands respectfully towards the Gravetender and spoke, "To think that within the Purple Realm, a senior of your profound stature still walks this world. This is truly a blessing for our realm."

"Spare me the flattery,"

the Gravetender waved a dismissive hand. His gaze then turned to the seven celestial pillars. "Perhaps Galewind the Ancient Fiend informed you that Jiang the Sovereign Emperor held back out of fear of the Galewind's Eye [a legendary artifact of immense and unpredictable power], wishing to avoid plunging the Purple Realm into utter ruin."

"But his knowledge is incomplete. The truth of the matter is not entirely so."

"Xander Jiang possesses a character of unyielding sharpness, while Thalion Chen's temperament is one of unparalleled dominance. When the very survival of the Purple Realm hangs in the balance, how could men of their caliber possibly be indecisive?"

The Gravetender [the ancient guardian of the tombs] spoke in a measured tone, and after a moment continued, "These seven Demon God Heaven Pillars [the Celestial Pillars of the Demon God] are interconnected, forming a single entity. In truth, they constitute a trap laid by the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a malevolent deity from beyond this realm]."

"Even a figure of the Eastern Sovereign's stature, a true Immortal Ascension Seed [one destined for immortal ascension], would likely face a nine-in-ten chance of death should they venture within."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted dramatically. After a long, contemplative silence, he could not help but ask, "The Galewind's Eye [the Eye of the Ancient Gale] is pivotal to my path toward an Immortal Physique [a body refined to immortal perfection]. Is there truly no other way?"

"It is not that there is absolutely no path forward,"

the Gravetender replied, shaking his head before turning his gaze fully upon Eldrin Chen. "You met with Galewind the Ancient Ancestor. Did you, by chance, obtain the Wind-Calming Pearl [a mystical pearl capable of pacifying gales]?" For more chapters, visit audio–novel.com for the complete novel.

"I have it."

Eldrin Chen produced the Wind-Calming Pearl, followed by the Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to anchor formations] for the Gale Wind Abyss-Sinking Grand Formation [a grand formation to subdue gales and sink abysses].

Upon seeing these, the Gravetender stroked his beard and nodded in approval. "With the Wind-Calming Pearl and these Formation Flags, the Galewind's Eye should no longer pose an insurmountable threat."

"It is those seven Demon God Heaven Pillars, however, that remain the true challenge…"

Gravetender paused in his speech, then spoke: "If you are truly determined to enter, this old man can lend you his aid. As for whether you ultimately succeed or fail, that will depend on your Creation [one's destined fortune or fate]."

"Is that truly so?" Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he asked with a hint of pleasant surprise, "May I ask, Senior, what are the odds of success?"

"Three chances in ten."

Gravetender shook his head and continued, "If you can suppress the Galewind's Eye [a legendary artifact of immense power] and seize the opportunity to cultivate the Immortal Physique [a legendary body of perfect cultivation], then with you attacking from within and me from without, we would have a significant chance of quelling this calamity."

"If you fail to cultivate the Immortal Physique, then with our combined strength, we might still be able to slightly shake the Demon God Heaven Pillars [the primordial pillars sealing the demon god], creating a sliver of an opportunity for your escape."

"As for whether you can successfully break free, that will depend on your Creation."

"Three in ten, is it?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then declared with firm resolve, "It is enough."

Having spoken, he immediately bowed deeply to the Gravetender. "For your assistance in this endeavor, Senior, this junior's gratitude shall be etched upon his soul for eternity."

The old Gravetender smiled faintly, offering no further words. He merely gazed toward the mountain peak and said, "No need for more words. You may go now."

"My gratitude!"

Eldrin Chen bid farewell to the Gravetender and began his ascent up the Xun Wind Divine Ridge.

He traversed the endless mountains of Ronan, crossed layer upon layer of peaks, and finally entered the upper reaches of the Xun Wind Divine Ridge.

The seven Demon God Heaven Pillars offered no resistance, standing silent and immovable as they allowed him to reach the deepest heart of the Xun Wind Divine Ridge.

"So that is the Galewind's Eye?"

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze to the colossal vortex of storms churning in the void above, a look of profound gravity settling upon his features.

The power of the Wind [a lethal, soul-scouring gale] could grind a cultivator's flesh to pulp, their bones to dust, and utterly annihilate even their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator].

The Galewind's Eye here was the most formidable Eldrin Chen had ever witnessed, its fury so immense it could erode vast mountains into nothingness—a truly terrifying spectacle.

"Such Wind power," he murmured. "Even a Demigod Ancestor [a cultivator at the peak of mortal power, half-step to immortality] would likely be reduced to pulp within moments of entering."

Eldrin Chen whispered to himself, the sheer, dreadful potency of the Galewind's Eye now fully apparent to him.

However, Eldrin Chen was brimming with confidence, for his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body was but A Step Away from achieving minor perfection.

This physique was nearly the most supreme pinnacle attainable in the mortal realm. Even the Galewind's Eye [a legendary artifact of devastating wind power] would find it difficult to inflict fatal wounds upon him.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen wasted no further time. He immediately activated his Formation Flags to deploy the Sevenfold Galewind Abyss-Sinking Formation [a trapping formation that harnesses and contains gale-force winds], ensnaring the Galewind's Eye. Then, he strode resolutely into its domain.

The moment he stepped into the Galewind's Eye, Eldrin Chen was assaulted by a cataclysmic surge of Wind power.

This corrosive gale-force energy could erode bone and dissolve soul. Yet, Eldrin Chen's physique was peerless under heaven. Furthermore, his Primordial Chaos Mana [a supreme energy capable of neutralizing all foreign energies] could resist such heterodox power, allowing him to withstand the onslaught.

But in that very instant, Eldrin Chen noticed the seven Demon God Heaven Pillars [ancient pillars imbued with demonic power] begin to glow. Ebon Law Divine Chains [chains forged from the essence of divine laws] shot skyward, snaking their way ominously toward the Galewind's Eye. Access the full story on @udio-novel.com.