Chapter 927 : Fate's Final Tribulation

This was a life-and-death Tribulation ordained by the unseen threads of fate, a pivotal Great Tribulation upon which their respective paths to the Dao hinged. It seemed destined that only the fall of one would bring it to an end.

Having understood the nature of their intertwined Tribulation, the Catastrophe Demon God drew a deep breath. Before departing, he spoke with chilling finality, "Farewell for now, That upstart Eldrin. We shall meet again."

The Catastrophe Demon God murmured, the iron resolve in his tone sending a shiver down the spine.

Eldrin Chen offered no reply. He merely watched in silence as the Catastrophe Demon God departed, a cold, unyielding glint perpetually flickering in the depths of his eyes.

In that moment, he understood with perfect clarity. After this defeat, the Catastrophe Demon God had likely steeled his heart completely, resolving to regard Eldrin Chen as the greatest adversary of his entire existence.

To that end, he would spare no cost, holding nothing back, no matter the price.

"Husband."

As the Heavenly Scar gradually began to mend and close, everyone present finally allowed themselves to exhale a breath of profound relief.

Exquisite Jiang and the others flew over. Seeing that Eldrin Chen's injuries had mostly healed, they too felt a wave of relief wash over them.

She glanced towards the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm, a slight tremor crossing her features as she asked, "How fares the senior's condition? What of his injuries?" Access the full story on @udio-novel.com.

"That Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the final and most terrifying heavenly trial to ascend to immortality] was far too terrifying. Although the senior managed to cling to life, the injuries he sustained were grievously severe."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke, "Fortunately, this Polarity Immortal Water [a legendary water of extreme yin and yang properties, famed for its miraculous healing] truly lives up to its reputation as the foremost healing treasure in the Purple Seal Realm. It has stabilized his condition; the danger of his soul dispersing should have passed."

"However, the senior has entered a state of Nirvana [a profound metamorphosis or rebirth, often involving a cocoon or egg form], seemingly seizing this chance to undergo Nirvana anew. It appears he intends to both recover from his wounds and attempt his seventh Nirvana within this transformative state."

"That is indeed the case."

Lila nodded. As a cultivator who also walked the Path of ice and snow [a specific philosophical and practical discipline of cultivation], she possessed a deeper understanding of the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm's condition.

With a sigh, she could not help but voice her regret, "Alas, the senior's foundational life essence [the core vitality and potential of a being] has been severely depleted. Even if he successfully completes his Nirvana one day, it will likely be difficult to fully restore the lost foundation of his origin."

"In the long term, I fear his Path [his journey of cultivation and pursuit of the Dao] has been cut short."

"Sigh. The senior was gravely wounded because of me. I will take him to the depths of the Eternal Glacier to seek a method to mend his foundational roots."

Eldrin Chen said with a sigh, then turned to address the assembled Mortal Path cultivators [cultivators who follow the path of mortality, often contrasted with celestial paths], "I must trouble you, fellow Daoists, to oversee the cleanup of the battlefield and manage the affairs of the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago. I wish to journey to the Far North Icy Plains."

"Young friend, wait a moment."

At that very moment, Eldrin Chen suddenly heard a voice, ancient and weathered.

Instinctively, Eldrin Chen raised his head, his gaze drawn to the Eight Trigrams Treasure Formation suspended high above the Boundless Void.

From that lofty void, the voice of the Lord of the Path Palace drifted down, speaking with measured grace: "I invite the young friend from Returning Abyss, the young friend from Solar Fire Hall, and the young friend Heaven Abandoned to enter the formation for a discussion."

After exchanging a glance with his companions, Eldrin Chen took a step forward and ascended into the heavens.

The Eight Trigrams Treasure Formation, the most formidable Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and artifacts designed for defense, attack, or other mystical purposes] within the Purple Seal Realm, was a supreme treasure formation. Its foundation was the near-Immortal Treasure [a treasure of immense power, approaching the level of artifacts used by true Immortals] known as the Eight Trigrams Treasure Plate, supported by eight Formation Flag [enchanted banners used to anchor and direct a formation's power] serving as its Formation Eye [the core focal points that stabilize and empower a formation].

Its power was sufficient to imprison Immortals and Demons alike. With the nine paramount powerhouses of the Purple Seal Realm presiding over the Formation, its might was in no way inferior to the Eight Demons Immortal Refining Formation.

For a thousand years, these nine powerhouses and the Eight Trigrams Treasure Formation had borne a grave responsibility: continuously suppressing the Second Primordial Spirit [a secondary, independently acting spiritual consciousness split from a cultivator's core soul] of the Outer Realm Demon God.

Had they not held the Eastern Sovereign's Physical Body [the corporeal remains of a mighty ancient sovereign] in check, the Purple Seal Realm would likely have been breached by the Outer Realm Demon God long ago.

The sheer power of this Eastern Sovereign's Physical Body required little elaboration.

Consider this: Eldrin Chen, acknowledged as the strongest cultivator in the Purple Seal Realm, had faced the might of the Eight Demons Immortal Refining Formation. He had managed to hold out for mere months before his energy was nearly exhausted, teetering on the brink of being utterly refined and slain within that very Formation.

This Eight Trigrams Treasure Formation [a powerful formation based on the eight trigrams] has firmly imprisoned the Eastern Sovereign's Physical Body [the corporeal form of the Eastern Sovereign], subjecting it to unceasing suppression for a thousand years. Yet, it has remained impossible to completely refine and dissolve it, a testament to the terrifying nature of this Second Primordial Spirit [a secondary, independent spiritual core] belonging to an Outer Realm Demon God [a demonic deity from beyond this world].

The group cautiously stepped into the Eight Trigrams Treasure Formation. They discovered the nine supreme powerhouses of the Purple Seal Realm [a major cultivation realm] seated cross-legged in the void, each wearing a different expression.

Among them, six Demigod [cultivators at the peak below true divinity]—Lord of the Path Palace, Heavenly Gaze Path Master [a Daoist title meaning 'Heavenly Gaze'], Earth Mystery Path Venerable [a Daoist title meaning 'Earth Mystery'], Seven Avians Recluse, Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk, and even the Kunpeng Demon Sage from the Demon Race—seemed to be faring relatively well, still possessing some reserve strength.

However, the Mistress of Drifting Snow Palace and that Five Poisons Patriarch appeared exceedingly weak, their auras carrying the scent of a lamp about to burn out.

Seeing the newcomers arrive, the Lord of the Path Palace sighed. "Sustaining this Eight Trigrams Treasure Formation consumes our spiritual power at a truly terrifying rate," he said.

"After a millennium of continuously suppressing this fiend, we Demigod can still hold on for a little while longer. But our younger friends like the mistress of Drifting Snow Palace, who are at the Primordial Spirit 9th Tier [the ninth and highest tier of the Primordial Spirit realm], have insufficient power. I fear they cannot endure much longer." For uninterrupted reading, go to audi novel.com.

The Black Tortoise Patriarch also nodded, sighing as he spoke. "This old one has cultivated arduously for one hundred and seventy thousand years. My spiritual power's depth is unparalleled within the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of the Primordial Spirit], so I can sustain this a while longer."

"However, it seems Fellow Daoist Drifting Snow and the Five Poisons Patriarch are likely at their limit."

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but speak. "According to your esteemed opinions, Seniors, what should we do?"

"Find suitable candidates to replace Fellow Daoists Drifting Snow and Five Poisons."

The Lord of the Path Palace spoke directly, then turned his gaze to the Master of Solar Fire Hall and said, "The Master of Solar Fire Hall possesses Extraordinary spiritual power [the cultivated energy that fuels a cultivator's abilities]. Perhaps he could take the place of the young master from Drifting Snow Palace in presiding over the Water Trigram Banner."

"However, the young master of the Five Poisons' Thunder Trigram Banner..."

The Lord of the Path Palace paused, then shook his head. "The Eight Trigrams Treasure Flag requires an orthodox cultivator to command it. After Heaven Abandoned Lin switched to cultivating the Sword Path, his spiritual power became far too sharp and piercing. He can only wield an Immortal Sword and cannot channel power into a magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]."

"As for the young master from Returning Abyss, he possesses the innate talent to ascend to immortality. We absolutely cannot let him confine himself within this Formation [a structured arrangement of power, often for defense or attack]."

"What, then, are we to do?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present could not help but reveal looks of anxiety.

They understood clearly that if they failed to trap the Eastern Sovereign's Physical Body, allowing it to break free, there would likely still be no one within the Purple Seal Realm capable of restraining it.

It was Eldrin Chen who took a deep breath and then spoke up. "I know of one person who might be able to enter the formation and take command."

"Who?"

The Seven Avians Recluse could not help but speak, asking with evident surprise and hope.

It was the Heavenly Gaze Path Master who deduced it, unable to hold back from speaking: "You mean that Netherworld Patriarch [a powerful demonic cultivator who rules over the realm of ghosts and spirits]."

"Precisely." Eldrin Chen nodded, a flicker of thought in his eyes. "The one from the Netherworld Sea [a vast, dark ocean bordering the realm of the dead] recently broke through to the Primordial Spirit 9th Tier [the ninth and final stage of the Primordial Spirit realm, a pinnacle of spiritual cultivation]."

"I shall go there myself."

"That would be best." The Lord of the Path Palace [the supreme leader of the Great Wasteland Path Palace] nodded, then added with a sigh of relief, "With you going personally, my mind can be at ease."

"However, there is no need for you to depart in haste."

As he spoke, the Lord of the Path Palace glanced at the Frost Soul Immortal Silkworm [a legendary silkworm whose cocoon produces silk of unparalleled spiritual purity] in Eldrin Chen's hand and could not suppress another heavy sigh.

"This Primordial Era Ice Silkworm [an ancient, primordial creature of ice and silk, surviving from the dawn of time]... alas!"

Seeing his sigh, Eldrin Chen quickly clasped his hands in respect. "Senior, you have lived for tens of thousands of years. Surely you possess a deep understanding of this Primordial Era Ice Silkworm."

"I beg you, Senior, to tell me if there is any method to restore the foundation of the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm?"

The Lord of the Path Palace shook his head, his expression one of helplessness. "Although the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm spends most of its time in deep slumber, a state of Nirvana [a profound, death-like hibernation that allows for healing and longevity], it has lived for hundreds of thousands of years. Strictly speaking, it is *our* senior."

"To speak of its origins, one must recount an ancient legend."

Lord of the Path Palace began to narrate, recounting all that he knew. Continue reading this story at audio-novel .c om.