Chapter 993 : The Immortal's Marked Blessing

As expected, Eldrin Chen surveyed the assembly with a glance, then nodded solemnly. "This venerable one has cultivated for over five thousand years. That I have reached this Purple Realm today is due in no small part to your efforts."

"Now that I have attained the Dao, it is only fitting that you all receive a reward."

With those words, Eldrin Chen raised a single finger and pointed.

As he did so, the silver Immortal Mark [the unique sigil of an Immortal, representing their authority and power] upon his brow glowed faintly. A hundred strands of silvery light manifested and soared into the air before descending, merging into the Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of each person present.

Only after completing this act did Eldrin Chen speak again, his voice calm. "This is my Immortal Mark Imprint [a protective seal bestowed by an Immortal, carrying a fragment of their power and will]. In the days to come, when you step into the Netherworld [the realm of the dead and the cycle of reincarnation], this imprint shall safeguard your Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator], allowing you to enter the cycle of reincarnation with your memories intact."

"However, while this imprint is born from my Immortal Mark [the unique sigil of an Immortal, representing their authority and power], its power is not without limit."

"As the saying goes, the affinity of three lives ends. This imprint can protect you through three cycles of the Reincarnation Tribulation [the trial of being reborn, where one's memories and cultivation are at risk]. Whether you attain immortality within those three lives or not, the imprint will dissipate completely thereafter."

"An Immortal Mark Imprint..."

Hearing this and sensing the imprint within their souls, the assembly could not contain their ecstatic joy.

An Immortal's Immortal Mark Imprint [a protective seal bestowed by an Immortal, carrying a fragment of their power and will] was a treasure beyond measure. Blessed with this imprint, they would not only retain their memories for three reincarnations but also carry a mark of profound significance. Your portal to cultivation novels: audi novel.com.

The presence of this Immortal Mark Seal signifies that behind them stands an Immortal [a being who has ascended to the highest realm of cultivation], which represents an utterly extraordinary Deep-Seated Foundation [a profound and unshakable foundation for one's cultivation path].

With this seal upon them, they are considered to have entered the Netherworld Underworld [the realm of the dead and departed souls], and even common Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Demons [low-ranking underworld guardians] would not dare treat them lightly.

Furthermore, out of respect for the Immortal, most lords of the Netherworld [the underworld] would handle their cases with great care, opening the gates of reincarnation wide for their convenience.

However, the Immortal Mark Seal [a protective mark imbued with an Immortal's power] consumes an immense amount of an Immortal's strength. After achieving immortality, a typical Immortal can usually leave behind no more than ten such seals.

Yet, Eldrin Chen left behind over one hundred Immortal Mark Seal in a single act, and seemed to possess significant power to spare. Such a monumental feat was utterly astonishing, proving his strength far surpassed that of ordinary newly-ascended Immortals.

With this realization, their hearts swelled with boundless excitement.

With the protection of this seal, reaching the Primordial Spirit Realm [the Nascent Soul stage] within their next three lifetimes would be effortless. Perhaps there truly was a chance they could achieve immortality themselves.

Overwhelmed, they all prostrated themselves and declared, "We thank the Immortal for this generous gift. We, your juniors, are eternally grateful."

"There is no need for such formalities,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head gently. He cast a final glance over the assembly and said, "You have received this seal. Our worldly karma in this mortal realm is now concluded. I hope you cultivate diligently. If fate allows us to meet again in the Immortal Realm [the celestial realm where Immortals reside], we may yet renew our ties."

"We shall heed your teachings with utmost reverence."

Upon hearing this, the assembly nodded in unison, then prostrated themselves three times before Eldrin Chen with a thousand words of gratitude.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of approval and then spoke, "Maris, Nine Rivers, Tianqi... you few Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for fellow cultivators] shall remain. The rest may withdraw."

Eldrin Chen named over a dozen individuals in succession, all old friends from his past, before gesturing for the others to leave.

After the crowd had departed, Eldrin Chen gazed upon the eight or nine who remained and could not help but let out a soft sigh.

He had cultivated for several Millennium [a period of one thousand years]. Even if he made but one new Fellow Daoist acquaintance every ten years, he would have hundreds of friends. Over the years, his circle had grown wide, yet those who could be called true, intimate friends were still few.

Over the many Millennium, countless companions had failed to walk the path to this day. These eight or nine before him now represented the last of his kindred spirits.

With a simple glance, he saw Separated Flame Daoist, Maris the Sea Steader, Nine Rivers Daoist, Lin Tianqi, Mingyuan the Daoist, Freya Ji, Dorian Ji, and others.

"We pay our respects to the Ancient Ancestor [a title of profound reverence for a venerable senior cultivator]!"

At that moment, they all bowed deeply, their faces alight with joy as they spoke.

Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke with calm composure, "We have been friends for several Millennium [a period of one thousand years]. There is no need for such formality between us. Let us interact as peers."

"How could that be permissible?"

Maris the Sea Steader immediately shook his head, his tone resolute. "A chasm now separates us—you are an immortal, we are mortals. To interact as peers would be to disregard the proper order of seniority."

The others all nodded in agreement, none daring to presume equality with Eldrin Chen.

"Alas, so be it!"

His thoughts turned to the many old companions who had already passed from this world. With a sigh, he said, "You are my friends of many years. Yet now, separated by the divide of immortality, if I one day ascend beyond this realm, it is likely we shall never meet again."

"It is a pity that I have only just entered the Initial Entry Immortal Realm [the first and foundational stage of true immortality]. I possess no means to elevate you all to immortality alongside me."

Having said this, Eldrin Chen waved his sleeve. "After you return, gather Pure Yang Spiritual Object [spiritual materials imbued with the pure, unadulterated essence of Yang energy] and deliver them to Spirit Lake Isle. I shall then personally forge for each of you a single Forbidden Artifact [an artifact of immense power, often restricted due to the potency required for its creation]."

"This Forbidden Artifact will be sealed with a portion of my power. Its might will be no less than that of an Immortal Treasure [a treasure forged by or for an immortal being], sufficient to shield you from one strike of the Immortal Ascension Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial one must endure to ascend to immortality]. Its sole flaw is that it can be activated only once."

"Whether you can achieve immortality and attain the Dao, I have no power to guarantee. This is the last thing I can do for you."

Upon hearing these words, everyone present wore expressions of profound shock.

To forge an Immortal RankForbidden Artifact from a Pure Yang Spiritual Object—such a method could truly be called turning the base into the sublime, transforming decay into wonder. Even the legendary Jiang the Sovereign Emperor of old would have been utterly incapable of such a feat.

This display of power by Eldrin Chen was too terrifying, something they had never heard of before. It likely surpassed the achievements of all the Ancient Immortals who had walked the Purple Realm throughout its long history.

Thinking of this, they were overcome with ecstatic joy and exclaimed, "We thank the Ancient Ancestor for this generous gift!"

"Very well. You may withdraw."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and waved his hand, signaling for the crowd to depart.

After the others had left, Lila, Lyra Jiang, the Old Patriarch, and the others approached.

Lila glanced at the retreating figures and sighed softly. "Those elders were once our close companions in days past. Who could have imagined they would now feel too distant to approach my Husband?"

"Alas, one cannot blame them."

Thalion Chen shook his head, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards Eldrin Chen.

He saw Eldrin Chen clad in a White Robe, his form enveloped by a shimmering haze of Immortal Qi [the ethereal energy of an immortal]. Strands of his hair seemed threaded with constellations, and the mere wisp of Dao [the fundamental principle or path] essence that cascaded from him felt heavy enough to press down upon the starry vault of eternity itself.

Such a peerless Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and ascended to immortality], reclining so loftily upon the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms], stirred even in him an impulse to prostrate himself in reverence. How much more overwhelming must it be for those who were once his peers?

To stand as equals with him now would be like an ant standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a True Dragon [a supreme, primordial dragon of immense power]. The pressure of such a disparity was simply beyond what an ordinary soul could bear.

Since the gulf between them was as vast as that between cloud and mud, it was far more comfortable to simply assume the role of a junior.

"Immortal, Immortal..."

Eldrin Chen murmured the word to himself, then shook his head with a sigh.

The world knows that Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and ascended to immortality] dwell aloft in the Nine Heavens Above, yet they do not know that for an Immortal, the heights are unbearably lonely and cold.

The chasm between immortal and mortal is too vast. For him to converse with a mortal was like a True Dragon [a supreme, primordial dragon of immense power] lowering its head to speak with an ant. No matter how gentle his expression, no matter how approachable his demeanor, it would still impose an incomparable, crushing pressure upon them.

Only among fellow Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and ascended to immortality] would there be no such discomfort.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen shook his head and said, "Enough. Since I have already attained immortality and severed my worldly karmic ties with them, let the affections of old remain within my heart."

"If one day they can ascend to the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence for immortals], it will not be too late to renew our former bonds."

Speaking to this point, Eldrin Chen then looked at the figures beside him—Verdant Consort and Lyra Jiang among them—and declared, "Now that I have become an immortal, I can linger within the mortal dust for a Millennium at most."

"Within this time, I must aid you all in achieving immortality." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio–novel.com.