Chapter 943 : The Ancient Tomb Guardian's Secret

Eldrin Chen's heart was filled with shock and a touch of disbelief.

In ages past, what manner of figures were the Eastern Sovereign and Imperial Sovereign Jiang? Beings of such stature lacked the confidence to pacify the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial or calamity] here, revealing the sheer terror of the Seven Demon God Celestial Pillars.

Even more astonishing was, according to the Tomb Guardian's words, both Imperial Sovereign Jiang and the Eastern Sovereign seemed to be his juniors.

This greatly exceeded Eldrin Chen's expectations, for in his original conjecture, the Tomb Guardian might merely have been a disciple or follower of the Eastern Sovereign.

Yet, upon deeper reflection, this also fell within the realm of possibility.

The Eastern Sovereign and Imperial Sovereign Jiang existed a mere six or seven thousand years ago. Were they still alive today, their lifespans would not exceed thirteen or fourteen thousand years.

If the Tomb Guardian were a disciple of the Eastern Sovereign, he should now be in the prime of his life. How then could he appear so utterly ancient and stooped, his body permeated with an aura of decay?

With this thought, Eldrin Chen could not help but turn his gaze to the old man before him. He quickly cupped his hands in a respectful salute and asked, "Might I inquire, venerable senior, to which exalted lineage do you belong?"

"This old man..."

The Tomb Guardian began to speak, then shook his head. Visit audio . novel . com to enjoy the complete series.

He let out a sigh before speaking, "In my youth, I too was filled with passionate vigor and brilliance, once a prodigy of my generation, much like you are now."

"But that great battle over twenty thousand years ago nearly caused a generational break in the Purple Seal Realm [a specific cultivation world], and among the Path Lord [a high-level cultivator who has comprehended a fundamental Path or Dao]. I was one of the few who survived, and I also had a hand in helping to establish the current Path Calendar [the system for reckoning cosmic eras and fate cycles]."

"You could say I was a half-mentor to Ruins Path Jiang, offering him guidance on Path Principles Comprehension [the profound art of comprehending the fundamental principles of a Path] and Path Fruit [the conceptual fruit or culmination of one's cultivation Path] in his younger days. I also count as a half-teacher to Energy Abyss Chen, having passed down to him half of a body-refining technique."

The old man murmured to himself, his eyes holding a mixture of reminiscence and profound sorrow.

After a long silence, he sighed again, his voice tinged with resignation. "Yet time flows on relentlessly. In the blink of an eye, seas have turned to mulberry fields. The mortal world of the Purple Seal Realm has seen generation after generation come and go. My old companions... they are no more."

Eldrin Chen stood frozen in place, momentarily at a loss for words.

The revelations contained in the old man's brief speech sent a shiver down his spine, the implications staggering.

The origins of the figure before him were too terrifying, too ancient, stretching back to an era so distant it defied belief.

Since the world-ending calamity over twenty-two thousand years ago, nearly ninety percent of the legacies within the Purple Seal Realm had been severed. Even the Path Calendar had to be re-established by later generations.

Yet this man before him had indeed participated in that very re-establishment. This meant that over twenty millennia ago, he was likely one of the pinnacle powerhouses of the entire Purple Seal Realm.

Among the current Demigod Patriarchs of the Purple Seal Realm, the eldest, the Lord of the Path Palace, has only trodden his Path for a little over twenty thousand years. In those ancient times, he would likely have been a junior figure, one who may not have personally endured that terrifying world-ending cataclysm.

It is beyond doubt that an existence capable of surviving such an apocalyptic calamity must rank among the most supremely powerful figures within the Purple Seal Realm.

The astonishing nature of this Tomb Guardian can also be glimpsed from his subsequent words.

Consider the stature of Imperial Sovereign Jiang Path Ruins Jiang. He was the sole peerless existence to achieve Immortal Ascension in tens of thousands of years, possessing Celestial Immortal Aptitude. Yet, even he once followed behind this figure to study Path Principles and Path Fruit.

And what of Eastern Sovereign Energy Abyss Chen? He was a talent so dazzling it startled the heavens, the unparalleled genius who created the second Immortal Ascension Art for the physical body within the Purple Seal Realm. Who would have thought that he, too, once received a half-step physical cultivation method passed down by this very guardian.

From this, it is evident that the Tomb Guardian must be a transcendent master, a figure who was once one of the Heaven-Propping Pillars supporting the very sky of the Purple Seal Realm.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen cupped his hands respectfully towards the Tomb Guardian and said, "To think that within the Purple Seal Realm, a senior of your caliber still walks this world. This is truly a blessing for our realm."

"Spare me the flattery," the Tomb Guardian waved his hand dismissively. His gaze then turned to the seven Celestial Pillars. "Perhaps Gale Old Freak told you that Imperial Sovereign Jiang held back out of fear of the Gale's Eye, to avoid plunging the Purple Seal Realm into a sea of blood and suffering."

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

"Path Ruins Jiang possesses a character of unparalleled sharpness and decisiveness, while Energy Abyss Chen is endowed with a domineering nature without equal. When the matter concerns the very survival or extinction of the Purple Seal Realm, how could they possibly be individuals prone to indecision?"

The Old Tomb Guardian spoke in a measured, unhurried tone, and after a moment continued, "These seven Celestial Pillars, interconnected as one, are in truth a trap laid by the Outer Realm Demon God."

"Even a figure of the Eastern Sovereign's caliber, one who bears an Immortal Seed [a rare and profound destiny marking one for immortality], would likely face a nine-in-ten chance of death should they venture within."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted dramatically. After a long period of silent contemplation, he could not help but ask, "The Gale's Eye [a legendary tempestuous vortex of primordial wind energy] is pivotal to my path of cultivating an Immortal Body [a perfected physical form transcending mortality]. Is there truly no other way?"

"It is not that there is absolutely no method."

The Old Tomb Guardian shook his head, then looked at Eldrin Chen and said, "You met with Gale Patriarch. Did you, by chance, obtain the Wind-Calming Pearl [a mystical orb capable of pacifying gales]?"

"I have." Access the full story on audio—novel.com.

Eldrin Chen produced the Wind-Calming Pearl, and then brought out the Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to anchor and power formations] for the Gale Subduing Abyss Formation [a grand formation designed to suppress and control tempestuous energies].

Upon seeing these, the Tomb Guardian stroked his beard and nodded with approval. "With the Wind-Calming Pearl and these Formation Flags, the Gale's Eye should no longer pose an insurmountable challenge."

"It is those Seven Demon God Celestial Pillars that remain the true concern…"

Tomb Guardian paused, then spoke, "If you are truly determined to enter, this old man can lend you his strength. As for whether you ultimately succeed or fail, that will depend on your own Creation [the unique path of cultivation and enlightenment forged by an individual]."

"Truly?" Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of hope in his voice as he asked, "May I ask, Senior, what are the odds of success?"

"Thirty percent."

Tomb Guardian shook his head and continued, "If you can suppress the Gale's Eye [a chaotic spatial anomaly] and seize the opportunity to cultivate the Immortal Body [a legendary physique of perfect harmony and resilience], then with our combined assault from within and without, we would have a significant chance of quelling this calamity."

"If you fail to cultivate the Immortal Body, our combined efforts might still slightly shake the Demon God Celestial Pillars [the primordial pillars sealing this ancient prison], creating a sliver of an opportunity for your escape."

"Whether you can successfully break free will, once again, depend on your own Creation."

"Thirty percent..."

Eldrin Chen murmured, then declared with unwavering resolve, "That is enough."

Having spoken, he immediately bowed deeply to the Tomb Guardian. "For your aid in this endeavor, Senior, this junior's gratitude shall be etched in his heart for eternity."

The Old Tomb Guardian offered a faint smile, saying nothing more. He merely gazed toward the mountain peak and said, "No need for further words. You may go."

"My gratitude!"

Eldrin Chen bid farewell to the Old Tomb Guardian and began his ascent up the Gale Divine Ridge.

He traversed endless rivers and mountains, crossing layer upon layer of peaks until he finally entered the upper reaches of the Gale Divine Ridge.

The Seven Demon God Celestial Pillars offered no resistance, standing silent and imposing, allowing him to reach the deepest heart of the Gale Divine Ridge.

"Is that the Gale's Eye?"

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze. Above the void, a colossal vortex where storms converged—the Wind's Eye—drew his eyes, and a look of profound gravity settled upon his face.

The Gale Power [a primordial, annihilating wind force] could erode bone and dissolve spirit, grinding a cultivator's flesh to pulp, their skeleton to dust, and utterly extinguishing even their soul.

The Gale's Eye here was the most formidable Eldrin had ever witnessed, terrifying in its power to reduce vast mountains to nothingness.

"Such Gale Power... I fear even a Demigod Patriarch would not last long within it before being torn asunder,"

Eldrin Chen murmured, a deep understanding of the Gale's Eye's terror dawning upon him.

However, Eldrin Chen was brimming with confidence, for his Primordial One Indestructibility Body was but a single step away from achieving minor perfection.

This physique was nearly the ultimate pinnacle attainable within the Mortal Realm, so formidable that even the Gale's Eye [a vortex of primordial wind energies] would find it difficult to inflict a mortal wound upon him.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen wasted no time in hesitation. He immediately activated his Formation Flag to deploy the Sevenfold Gale Subduing Abyss Formation, ensnaring the Gale's Eye. Then, he strode resolutely into its heart.

The moment he stepped into the Gale's Eye, Eldrin Chen was assaulted by a cataclysmic surge of Gale Power [the raw, destructive energy of primordial winds].

This Warm Wind [a paradoxical wind that erodes both bone and soul] power was soul-scouring and bone-melting. Yet, Eldrin Chen's physique was peerless under heaven. Furthermore, his Primordial One Magical Power [the foundational, purest form of cultivation energy] could resist and neutralize all manner of foreign energies, allowing him to withstand the onslaught.

Yet, in that very instant, Eldrin Chen noticed the Seven Demon God Celestial Pillars begin to glow. Chains of profound, obsidian-black Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths that govern cultivation and reality] shot forth into the heavens, snaking their way towards the Gale's Eye. Support the author by reading on *audio-novel.com*.