Chapter 1001 : A Sovereign's Final Ascension

Eternal Pursuit of the Dao Jiang the Sovereign Emperor spoke with a gentle smile, yet his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was gradually dissolving into light, as if he was nearing his journey's end.

Eldrin Chen exerted his full power, shielding his Divine Soul [the immortal soul essence of a high-level cultivator] with a torrent of Heaven Immortal [a supreme immortal realm] essence, striving to preserve his life. Yet, he found he could not defy the heavens to alter his fate; he could only slow the inexorable process of his spirit's dissipation.

"Foolish child, do not waste your efforts on this futile endeavor."

Jiang the Sovereign Emperor shook his head, his gaze falling upon Lyra Jiang as he spoke with a warm smile, "You are the child of Demon-Slayer, my grandchild?"

"Grandfather!"

Witnessing Jiang the Sovereign Emperor's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] slowly fade into the Dao, a tremor passed through Lyra Jiang's heart.

Though she had never met this man before, he was now her last remaining blood relative in this world.

She had believed herself utterly alone in life, only to have this kinship returned to her now—a reunion that was also their final farewell.

"It is merely the whims of Creation [the cosmic force of destiny and fate] toying with mortals. You need not grieve."

Jiang the Sovereign Emperor seemed profoundly at peace, his demeanor serene as if he viewed all things with detached clarity. For the best reading experience, visit https://audio-novel.com.

He gazed upon them with profound calm, and after a moment, a smile touched his lips. "Though I have Ascending to Immortality in this life, the path I walked was not one of perfect completion."

"To enter the cycle of reincarnation and face another tribulation may yet allow me to surpass this present existence. This is not necessarily a misfortune."

Eldrin Chen felt a subtle weight settle in his heart upon hearing this. While the concept of a Reincarnation Tribulation sounded straightforward, its execution was fraught with immense difficulty.

Unlike mortals, an Immortal who reincarnates is bound by the subtle restrictions of the world's natural laws. The Mystery of the Womb [the profound obscuration of past memories and identity upon rebirth] they must endure becomes far more potent.

Furthermore, the more powerful the Immortal, the greater the struggle to reclaim the memories of their former life.

Though Jiang the Sovereign Emperor had now achieved Ascending to Immortality, once he entered the cycle of reincarnation, it was likely he would not regain his memories until he once again attained Ascending to Immortality.

Stripped of the memories from his current immortal ascent, whether Jiang the Sovereign Emperor could achieve Ascending to Immortality a second time remained shrouded in uncertainty.

Of course, an Immortal is born with immense destiny. One who undergoes a Reincarnation Tribulation is often a child of fate itself, possessing talent and comprehension that shakes heaven and earth. Even if such a soul does not achieve Ascending to Immortality in their next life, they would undoubtedly be among the most dazzling and peerless Dao Lord.

Take, for example, the Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk from Tranquil Spirit Temple, who was suspected to be the reincarnation of a Buddha from the Immortal Realm. From a young age, his brilliance was staggering. He cultivated to the Purple Mansion realm before reaching the age of twenty, and while less than half the age of the Master of the Dao Palace, his cultivation prowess was spoken of in the same breath.

It was only in the last ten thousand years, with the emergence of peerless figures like Jiang the Sovereign Emperor and Eastern Sovereign, that his radiant brilliance was somewhat overshadowed, casting a comparative dimness upon his legendary stature.

Otherwise, with his peerless talent, the Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk [a monk who has transcended heavenly tribulations] might have become the one most likely to Ascending to Immortality [achieve Buddhahood and ascend to the immortal realm] in tens of thousands of years.

Speaking of the matter of reincarnation, Jiang the Sovereign Emperor was very calm. Beings of his level, Nine Heavens Immortal [an immortal who has reached the pinnacle of the nine heavenly realms], possess a measure of pride and confidence within their hearts, holding sufficient belief in their ability to Ascending to Immortality once more in their next life.

At this moment, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] was ethereal and indistinct. He felt no fear towards dissolving into the Dao. His gaze merely turned towards Eldrin Chen, and he nodded before speaking.

"I intend to tread the path of reincarnation. However, that Netherworld Underworld [the underworld realm of spirits and the dead] is not an easy road to walk."

"I must trouble you, after your own ascension, to journey into the depths of the Netherworld Underworld and see me safely through my cycle of rebirth."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but nod in agreement.

Having reached his current realm of understanding, a single Eldrin [a moment of contemplation] was enough for him to deduce the myriad threads of cause and effect.

For a being like Jiang the Sovereign Emperor, a Nine Heavens Immortal, his innate talent and foundational roots were far too astonishing, and the origin of his Divine Soul [the soul essence of a divine being] was overwhelmingly powerful. It was likely that even the Ghost Immortal [immortals who reside in the spirit realm] within the Netherworld Underworld would covet it.

Without the protection of an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality], once he entered that Netherworld [the realm of the dead], should he attract the covetous gaze of a Ghost Immortal, he might not pass through the cycle of reincarnation peacefully and safely.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen nodded and said, "Grandfather, set your mind at ease. After I ascend to the Immortal Realm [the realm of the immortals], I will personally journey to the place where the Netherworld Underworld resides."

"Hmm."

Jiang the Sovereign Emperor gave a solemn nod. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] had ultimately completed its final transformation into the Dao, leaving only a wisp of its foundational Divine Soul [the purest essence of a being's spirit] to merge into the Immortal Sword.

Witnessing Jiang the Sovereign Emperor's final fall, Eldrin Chen carefully sheathed the Immortal Sword. Only then did he lift his gaze to survey the surroundings, finding that the great cataclysm was drawing to its final close.

Now that the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a supreme demonic entity from beyond this realm] had been utterly annihilated, the Calamity Demonic Abyss [a chasm of demonic energy and calamity], bereft of the Demon God's personal will to drive it, could not contend with the Purple Realm [a major realm of cultivation] despite its terrifying might.

The Outer Realm Demon Race [demonic beings from dimensions beyond] within the Demonic Abyss [a deep chasm of demonic energy] had been routed completely, forced to retreat into the abyss's deepest recesses, utterly outmatched by the cultivators of the Purple Realm.

Now that the three of them had their hands free, they personally intervened. They purged the Demon Race [demonic beings] within the Demonic Abyss, eradicating ninety-nine out of every hundred, before finally ceasing their assault. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel dot com.

Three days later.

Before the Heavenly Scar [a great rent in the sky], at the edge of the Demonic Abyss.

A million celestial skyships hovered in the air. Billions of cultivators lifted their heads, their faces alight with boundless joy as they gazed upon the three figures standing Nine Heavens Above [high in the heavens].

There, in the Nine Heavens Above, stood three Nine Heavens Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the highest heavens]—Eldrin Chen, Verdant Consort, and Lyra Jiang—three supreme Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality].

At this moment, Eldrin Chen reclined upon the Nine Heavens Above, his form encircled by swirling Immortal Qi [the purified, transcendent energy of an immortal]. Like a celestial sovereign of the Nine Heavens gazing down upon the mortal dust, he watched the teeming multitudes below in profound silence.

"Since the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a malevolent entity from beyond this realm] began its assault on the Purple Realm, this land has endured a cataclysm spanning eighty-six thousand three hundred and fourteen years."

"Throughout these long years, heroes have risen one after another across the Purple Realm. Generation upon generation of sages marched forth to their deaths in battle, their sacrifices paving the way for our ultimate victory over this calamity today."

"In this final war, you have faced death to slay demons. Whether you fell amidst the cataclysm or struck down the Demon Race, all have performed deeds of unparalleled merit."

High in the void, Eldrin Chen spoke, his tone measured.

His voice, though calm, resonated like a divine echo of the Great Dao [the fundamental truth and principle underlying all existence], reverberating across the vast expanse of heaven and earth.

His gaze swept over the assembled multitude, and he gave a slight nod. "For such merit, you all deserve reward."

"*Hum*—"

As his words faded, billions of strands of immortal light erupted from his form, transforming into a radiant shower of Ascending to Immortality [the final breakthrough to the immortal realm] that cascaded through the void.

Now, the three Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality] acted in unison. They unleashed their immortal radiance, bathing millions upon millions of Li-lengths of voidspace. Countless cultivators were immersed in this celestial light. In that instant, they felt as if they were on the verge of ascension, their very Divine Soul [the immortal spiritual core, also known as Primordial Spirit] beginning to grow ethereal and weightless.

An unknowable span of time passed. All living beings felt their Mana [the energy cultivated by practitioners] grow increasingly refined and condensed, their Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator] becoming purer and more luminous. Vaguely, the path of cultivation that lay ahead seemed to have been opened before them.

It was at this moment that Eldrin Chen, high in the void, withdrew his Immortal Essence [the supreme energy of an immortal] and spoke once more, his voice calm yet resonant. "Now that This Venerable One [a formal and powerful self-reference used by supreme cultivators] has achieved Ascending to Immortality [the final breakthrough to become an immortal], I can no longer set foot within the bounds of the Purple Realm."

"To repay the karmic debt owed to this world that nurtured me, I intend to use the Demonic Abyss as a foundation. I shall gather the spiritual essence of countless Demon Race [a race of malevolent beings that cultivate through chaos and slaughter] and forge a single, grand Path to Immortal Ascension [a legendary road or trial leading to immortality]."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then after a moment declared, "Once this path is forged, I shall erect seven Celestial Stelae along its course. They will record the myriad methods and arts of the Dao, from the Qi Refinement [the initial stage of drawing in and refining spiritual energy] realm all the way to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of cultivating one's spiritual core]. And at its very end, I shall inscribe three supreme Immortal Ascension Legacy [ultimate legacies left by immortals for their successors]: the secrets of the Immortal Physique [a body tempered to immortal perfection], the Dao Fruit [the culmination of one's cultivation path, a fruit of understanding], and the profound Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles that govern reality]."

"If your fortune is sufficient, and you tread this path to its conclusion, you may yet find the opportunity for Ascending to Immortality."

Having thus explained the nature of the Path to Immortal Ascension, Eldrin Chen faded from the void, leaving only his words echoing in the air.

He left behind a multitude of cultivators, their faces alight with wild joy. To those with Immortal's Dao Heritage [a direct lineage or inheritance from an immortal], this Path to Immortal Ascension might not seem extraordinary. They possessed their own Immortal Inheritance [legacies, artifacts, or knowledge passed down from immortals]. Although Eldrin Chen's legacy promised to be mightier, it was not the sole path to immortality.

Yet for the countless cultivators across the world with shallow foundations, those who suffered for lack of proper guidance and heritage, the journey to Ascending to Immortality was fraught with unimaginable hardship.

Once Eldrin Chen forged this Path to Immortal Ascension, embedding within it a complete inheritance spanning from Qi Refinement to Ascending to Immortality, those who walked its ancient stones would be treading upon a veritable road to divinity itself. Continue your cultivation journey at audio~novel.com.