Chapter 986 : Divine Thunder's Wrath

The heavens and earth fell silent, all sound in creation was extinguished.

When a Mortal World Immortal [an immortal who has descended to the mortal realm] raged, it seemed as if all things between heaven and earth trembled in fear.

Eldrin Chen's killing intent boiled over. With a flick of his sleeve, the Grand Five Elements Pure Yang Divine Thunder [a supreme divine thunder technique fusing the five elements and pure yang energy] soared into the sky. The myriad demonic fiends sought to flee for their lives, but the chance for survival had already vanished.

Behold, the Five Elements Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing the power of the five elements] split into ten thousand manifestations, instantly inundating the mountains and heavens of Ronan.

Whether they were the various Nascent Soul Celestial Demon [demonic beings who have cultivated to the Nascent Soul realm] or a Ninth Layer Nascent Soul Heaven-Demon [a powerful celestial demon] like those from the Nine True Demon Scions [an organization of nine powerful demonic heirs], or even Demi-Immortal Heaven-Demon [celestial demons on the verge of immortality] such as the Seven Sword Slaves [an organization of seven sword-wielding servants] and the Three Demon Consorts [an organization of three demonic consorts]—all were reduced to ashes of calamity in the blink of an eye.

When all finally grew calm, Eldrin Chen gazed upon the devastated mountains spanning tens of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] within Ronan, and at the grievously wounded companions before him. In his heart, only a profound silence remained.

He channeled his Immortal Essence [the purified energy of an immortal], and a powerful Law of Life [the fundamental principle governing life and vitality] spread through the void, flowing into the bodies of his comrades.

The injuries of Sky-Watching Dao Master [a Dao Master who gazes upon the heavens] and Lin Tianqi were healed in an instant. Even Thalion Chen, whose physical body had been half-destroyed, saw his flesh visibly mend before their eyes.

"To revive the dead and regenerate flesh from bone... is this the legendary Law of Life?"

Sky-Watching Dao Master's face showed delight, yet he shook his head with regret. "A pity for the Master of the Dao Palace, Fellow Daoist Tribulation Transcender, and that young friend Sylas." Support the author by reading on audio-novel.com (official site).

Upon hearing this, the others also revealed somber expressions,

Although the Law of Life [the Dao principle governing life and death] can revive the dead and regenerate flesh from bone, it is still difficult to create something from nothing or to remake the cosmos.

Those individuals had their souls scattered and dispersed; I fear even the Law of Life would find it hard to be effective.

Eldrin Chen's expression remained impassive. With a flick of his sleeve, he retrieved an ancient plate from the depths of the void—precisely the Eight Trigrams Plate [a mystical artifact inscribed with the eight trigrams] belonging to the Master of the Dao Palace.

In that battle, the Master of the Dao Palace had faced the Calamity Demon God directly. All the various Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts imbued with spiritual power] in his possession were utterly destroyed by the hands of the Extraterrestrial Demon God. Only this Eight Trigrams Plate, a supreme treasure of the Dao Palace ranked among Quasi-Immortal [artifacts approaching immortal-grade power] artifacts, remained relatively intact.

Then, Eldrin Chen took out the Eight Trigrams Plate and drew forth from it a wisp of Primordial Spirit [the foundational spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] energy.

"The Eight Trigrams Plate is a Quasi-Immortal Treasure [a treasure of near-immortal grade]. Even after enduring a strike from the Extraterrestrial Demon God, it did not suffer critical damage."

"This treasure contains a strand of the Senior Dao Palace's soul. I can use the Law of Life to reconstruct his Primordial Spirit for him, aiding his reincarnation and rebirth."

"However, he did not undergo the Reincarnation Tribulation [a tribulation faced for conscious reincarnation] of his own volition. Even with this assisted rebirth, whether he can recover his past memories remains uncertain."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly. Then, with a surge of his Heaven Immortal [a celestial immortal realm] primordial essence, vast Law Power [the power derived from comprehending a fundamental Dao principle] poured into that soul strand. In mere moments, he had reconstructed the Primordial Spirit for the Master of the Dao Palace.

Having completed all this, he used a wisp of Primordial Essence [the most fundamental and pure form of spiritual energy] as a guide, and sent the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of the Master of the Dao Palace off to undergo the Reincarnation Tribulation [the mystical trial of rebirth into a new life].

Witnessing this step, the onlookers were struck with profound astonishment. They knew that with the Primordial Spirit of the Master of the Dao Palace extinguished, his Pure Yang Origin Qi [the foundational Yang energy of a cultivator's being] had also ceased to exist.

By all logic, this mere remnant of soul-force, even if it entered the cycle of reincarnation governed by the Lord of the Netherworld [the sovereign deity ruling over the underworld and the cycle of rebirth], would most likely be reborn as a deaf-mute with innate mental deficiencies and an incomplete soul, requiring hundreds or thousands of lifetimes to gradually recover.

Yet the method displayed by Eldrin Chen was utterly staggering. To reconstruct a Pure Yang Nascent Soul [a cultivator's nascent soul imbued with pure Yang energy] in the blink of an eye—was this truly a technique belonging to the mortal realm?

"Even the Nine Heavens Immortal Demons [legendary demonic beings from the highest heavens], I fear, could scarcely accomplish such a feat," one murmured.

Peng the Roc Demon Sage could not help but exclaim in awe. As his gaze turned towards Eldrin Chen, he involuntarily lowered his head slightly.

The prowess of the man before him transcended the mundane world, soaring to heights far beyond his capacity to even contemplate.

After aiding the Master of the Dao Palace with his Reincarnation Tribulation, Eldrin Chen sought out the supreme treasure of the Western Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple, the 'Pagoda of Enlightenment' [a pagoda that aids in achieving spiritual enlightenment]. Within it, he indeed found a fragment of the Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk's soul.

He employed the same technique once more, sending the Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk off to face his own Reincarnation Tribulation.

Unfortunately, the Seven Avians Recluse had already exhausted his allotted chances for the Reincarnation Tribulation. Even though the Seven Avians Fan [a magical fan associated with seven avian spirits], a Quasi-Immortal Treasure [a treasure of near-immortal grade], remained, the opportunity for rebirth was forever lost to him.

Eldrin Chen could only send him into the cycle of reincarnation [the endless cycle of death and rebirth in Eastern cosmology]. The Primordial Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] is boundless, and the Great Thousand World [the myriad worlds and realms of existence] are as numerous as the sands of the Ronan River. This parting likely meant there would be no chance for reunion.

Only then did Eldrin Chen consider the aftermath of this journey to be preliminarily settled.

After everything concluded, Sky-Watching Dao Master [a title for a master of celestial divination] turned his gaze to Eldrin Chen and clasped his hands in salute. "Following this tribulation," he said, "the Eight Trigrams Treasure Formation [a powerful defensive formation based on the eight trigrams] has been shattered. How shall we contend with Fellow Daoist's [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] Immortal Ascension Tribulation in the future?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked upon the assembled crowd and asked, "During this battle, why were the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation [a formation harnessing the power of the seven stars of the Big Dipper] and the Seven Treasures Gourd Formation [a formation powered by the legendary Seven Treasures Gourd] not deployed?"

The Star Palace Master's expression shifted slightly. He bowed deeply and replied, "At the outset of this conflict, our Star Palace's Merak, the Star Lord [the title for the master of the star Merak] was in secluded cultivation, attempting a breakthrough to the sixth layer of the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high stage of cultivation] realm."

Sky-Watching Dao Master also offered a bitter smile and sighed. "The Masters of the Seven Treasures Gourd are scattered across the eight directions of heaven and earth. The arrival of the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world] was too sudden; they could not gather immediately." Find this and other novels at *audio-novel.com*.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen did not blame them. He simply stated, "I understand. You may withdraw."

After the others had departed, Eldrin Chen sat in serene meditation amidst heaven and earth. His Primordial Spirit transformed into a radiant rainbow in an instant, soaring skyward until it reached the very limits of the boundless Firmament [the vault of heaven, the celestial dome].

At this zenith of the vast Firmament, a height even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has formed a Nascent Soul, a powerful spiritual infant] would struggle to attain, it had likely been nearly ten thousand years since any visitor had come.

Within this expanse of sky, all was serene and boundless. Only a single majestic halo of light drifted, within which a certain consciousness seemed to faintly stir.

This will was vast and magnificent, boundless and infinite like the Great Thousand World itself. Even a Demigod Ancestor would feel utterly insignificant before it.

Yet at this moment, the Heaven and Earth Will seemed moved. It gazed intently at Eldrin Chen, its presence conveying a sense of doting affection and a touch of pride.

"You have come."

In that fleeting instant, the Heaven and Earth Will seemed to speak, a clear and distinct intent flowing forth.

Eldrin Chen remained silent, his gaze fixed upon the luminous aura before him. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "For this tribulation, why was there no warning from the Heavenly Secrets?"

"Because of you."

The Heaven and Earth Will replied, its tone carrying a hint of helplessness, yet also a thread of joy.

"Because of me?" A slight frown creased Eldrin Chen's brow, and his expression grew solemn.

"Indeed." The Heaven and Earth Will answered softly, emanating an aura of serene tranquility. "Since childhood, you have been extraordinary, shielded by the aura of Primordial Chaos [the primeval, undifferentiated state before the creation of the cosmos]. Even the will of Heaven and Earth cannot perceive the tribulations destined for you."

"The existence of that Extraterrestrial Demon God... perhaps it is the tribulation for your own path to enlightenment."

"My tribulation..."

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and a grave expression settled upon his brow.

This revelation was utterly staggering. If the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a primordial entity of chaos and calamity from beyond the known cosmos] was the tribulation for his own path to the Dao, then did it not mean the Purple Realm had borne the brunt of this cataclysmic fate for tens of thousands of years on his behalf? This was a burden his heart found difficult to accept.

"Indeed, It is your tribulation, and also the tribulation of the Purple Realm. Perhaps you are Its tribulation as well."

The Heaven and Earth Will [the sentient consciousness and ordained destiny of the world itself] spoke with measured calm before continuing, "Within the Purple Realm, there indeed lies an artifact left behind by the Purple Immortal Lord. Though I do not know its precise nature, it is certain to possess the power to forge the seed of a Great Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of immortal attainment, a sovereign existence beyond the constraints of fate and the cycles of reincarnation]."

"If the Calamity Demon God were to obtain this legacy, it might mend its damaged foundation, transforming from a post-natal Demon God into a pre-natal Demon God [a demon god born from the primordial chaos of creation, vastly more powerful than those formed later], its potential no less than that of an Innate Divine Spirit [a divine being born with the cosmos, embodying a fundamental law of existence]."

"At that moment, it would shatter its cursed limitations. Not only would breaking through to the Earth Immortal Realm be assured, but even attaining the Heaven Immortal Realm would be within its grasp. It might even glimpse the possibility of the Golden Immortal Demon Monarch [a demonic sovereign who has achieved the supreme Golden Immortal Dao Fruit]."

"Yet the Great Dao [the supreme and ultimate Path, the fundamental truth of all existence] is profoundly difficult to attain. Your talent startles even immortals, and thus your tribulations far surpass those of ordinary Immortal. For the Calamity Demon God to achieve its own Dao, it too must face a tribulation of commensurate scale."

"Therefore, you are each other's destined calamity." Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel*com.