Chapter 965 : Forging a Peerless Path

After gathering the hundred scriptures, Eldrin Chen began his secluded cultivation within Spirit Isle Lake.

Having amassed a hundred volumes of Immortal Scripture, Eldrin Chen's accumulated foundation was now astonishingly profound. He did not immediately begin comprehending the Path Principles Power [the fundamental laws governing reality and cultivation], but first set about organizing his own accumulated insights.

He began by studying the hundred Immortal Scripture. After one full Sixty-Year Cycle of secluded cultivation, he had absorbed the essence of all hundred scriptures, transforming them into the bedrock of his own path.

Thereafter, he commenced the monumental task of systematizing his own cultivation arts. This process consumed an entire Sixty-Year Cycle. He fused the distilled wisdom of the hundred scriptures into his personal techniques, elevating his foundational cultivation art to the level of the Demigod Realm.

The newly refined art was profoundly more mystical than its predecessor, capable of guiding a cultivator directly to the threshold of comprehending Path Principles [the fundamental laws of the cosmos]. In terms of the depth and solidity of its foundation, it could be considered peerless under heaven.

Eldrin Chen immediately entered deep meditation to cultivate this new art. Unnoticed by him, time flowed swiftly by.

By the time Eldrin Chen had successfully completed his cultivation of the new art, he realized that, almost unconsciously, he had already completed the initial organization and synthesis of the hundred Immortal Scripture, seamlessly integrating their wisdom into his own cultivation system.

"My Path has taken its initial form!"

With a serene countenance, Eldrin Chen stood by the shore of Spirit Isle Lake, sensing the formidable power within his body. From the palm of his right hand, five strands of Illusory Path Principles [manifestations of fundamental cosmic laws, not yet fully solidified] unfurled.

Those five strands of Illusory Path Principles were nearly flawless and perfectly harmonious. Each wisp seemed like an embodiment of a specific cosmic rule, faintly radiating a power reminiscent of World-Opening [the primordial act of creation that shaped the universe]. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel dot com.

"Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [the purest essence of the sun's fire], Profound Darkness True Water [the fundamental essence of shadow and water], Primordial One Gold [the first and most fundamental essence of metal], Seed of Life [the nascent spark of all living things], Source Earth of All Things [the foundational soil from which all matter springs]."

"The five types of Path Principles Power [the fundamental forces that define a cultivator's path] are now nearly flawless and perfectly integrated, lacking only the final step of transforming from the ethereal to the substantial."

Gazing upon the five Path Principles Power before him, Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a trace of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

Although he has mastered five Ethereal Path Principles [the conceptual, non-physical forms of a cultivator's foundational powers], seemingly needing only this final step of materialization, this last step is paradoxically the most difficult to breach.

Take Lord of the Path Palace, for instance. He has comprehended his Path Principles Power for over eight thousand years, yet he has always been unable to solidify his Path Principles [the core concepts that form a cultivator's Dao] from the ethereal to the real, to cross that final threshold.

"This seclusion has lasted three hundred years."

"It is time to emerge!"

Withdrawing his wandering thoughts, Eldrin Chen calculated briefly with his fingers before speaking with a flicker of intent.

His Dao is complete and harmonious. To materialize his Path Principles requires only that elusive, ineffable spark of opportunity [a pivotal moment or catalyst for breakthrough]—a breakthrough not to be found through mere solitary meditation.

Not long after Eldrin Chen entered seclusion, Exquisite Jiang and the others heard the news and came.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, Exquisite Jiang could not help but ask, "How were the gains from this endeavor?"

"The cultivation art is perfected, lacking only the final step,"

Eldrin Chen murmured, handing his Ancient Scripture to Exquisite Jiang before adding with a smile, "My technique aligns with your own path; it should offer you significant aid."

Exquisite Jiang accepted the Ancient Scripture, her expression blooming with delighted surprise.

By synthesizing the strengths of a hundred schools, Eldrin Chen had forged the 'Returning Abyss Ancient Scripture'—a tome that distilled the essence of a hundred volumes of Immortal Scripture. It stood as the premier Immortal Scripture within the Purple Seal Realm, a masterpiece that truly surpassed its sources.

For Exquisite Jiang, obtaining this Returning Abyss Ancient Scripture was akin to receiving the concentrated wisdom of the majority of those hundred Immortal Scripture volumes.

Furthermore, as their cultivation paths were so closely aligned, this ancient scroll would undoubtedly provide immense assistance to Exquisite Jiang in her comprehension of the Path Principles Power [the fundamental laws and truths that govern cultivation and reality].

"With this Ancient Scripture, my path to immortality may now lie directly before me,"

Exquisite Jiang said as she took the scripture, a look of profound joy gracing her features.

Eldrin Chen shook his head slightly, offering no further comment on the matter, and instead inquired, "I have been in secluded cultivation for three centuries. Has anything of import occurred within the Eastern Barrens during my absence?"

"It is indeed remarkably tranquil."

Exquisite Jiang shook her head, then suddenly remarked, "However, in recent years, several of the Worldly Spiritual Root [spiritual plants of profound worldly power] have reached perfection."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled, saying, "Our path to immortality may lie right before us."

It turned out that among the clan's several Worldly Spiritual Root, a few had received Eldrin Chen's focused cultivation. He had not hesitated to expend Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the supreme primordial energy of creation] to accelerate their growth.

These particular Worldly Spiritual Root were the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Peach Tree, the Eight Trigrams Treasure Tree, the Creation Green Jade Lotus, and that Enlightenment Tea Tree. Support the author by reading on audio-novel dot com.

Now, after four thousand years, these precious trees had finally achieved flawless perfection, reaching the grade of Sixth Rank Superior Grade.

A Worldly Spiritual Root of Sixth Rank Superior Grade had reached the absolute pinnacle possible for its kind.

To advance further, it would need to shatter the barrier between mortal and immortal, reversing its acquired nature to become the legendary Immortality Immortal Root [an innate spiritual root of immortal grade, born of heaven and earth].

The Immortality Immortal Root, also known as Acquired Spiritual Root [a spiritual root acquired through heavenly fortune or supreme cultivation], are treasures that endure as long as the heavens and earth, often possessing world-shaking, miraculous properties.

Take, for instance, the foremost treasure of the Purple Seal Realm, the 'Purple Seal Divine Tree'. It is an Acquired Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of exceptional quality, born from the convergence of heaven and earth's essence], which reveals the profound and wondrous nature of such supreme treasures.

One could say the value of such treasures is beyond measure. Even an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and ascended to immortality], fortunate enough to obtain one, would be overjoyed. They would carefully transplant it within their Path-Field [a cultivator's personal spiritual realm or domain] to nurture it with utmost care, rarely revealing it to others.

With the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the primordial creative energy from the dawn of the cosmos] in his possession, Eldrin Chen possessed the means to bridge the chasm between Celestial Being [a high-level immortal cultivation stage] and what lies beyond. He was confident he could nurture the legendary Immortal Root [a spiritual root of divine quality, capable of bearing immortal fruit]. Upon learning that several Spiritual Root [living plants or trees that are natural conduits and reservoirs of spiritual energy] were nearing a state of perfect harmony, his heart naturally swelled with delight.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen did not delay. He spoke immediately, "Let us first go into the depths of the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland."

"..."

The Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland, mere millennia ago, was a land of utter Desolation [a state of barren emptiness and lifelessness].

Now, after thousands of years of cultivation and stewardship, this ancient Great Wasteland has long since transformed into a paradise of the Mortal Realm [the world inhabited by ordinary, non-cultivating humans]. Countless hundreds of millions of living beings now thrive and multiply upon its soil.

Deep within the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland, within a majestic immortal city, an ancient tea tree stood.

The tea tree appeared no more than three Chi-lengths [one Chi-length equals one third of a meter] in height, yet its surface was inscribed with profoundly mysterious Dao patterns [intricate symbols representing the fundamental laws of the universe]. It was shrouded in wisps of immortal mist, and its branches, robust and powerful, resembled a gathering of coiling dragons.

"The Dao patterns are flawless and perfectly harmonious, almost on the verge of transforming and giving birth to a wisp of Path Principles Power [the fundamental, governing power inherent in the laws of the Dao, the cosmic way]."

"It seems it has truly reached the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm [the world of ordinary mortals, distinct from the realms of cultivation and immortals], achieving a state of utter perfection."

Gazing upon the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree before him, Eldrin Chen could not suppress a surge of joy, his eyes alight with profound excitement.

Legend held that upon its advancement, the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree would transform into the Acquired Spiritual Root [a spiritual root formed through cultivation or external forces, as opposed to being innate] known as the 'Immortal Enlightenment Tea Tree'.

That Immortal Enlightenment Tea Tree was a true treasure of the immortal clans, capable of aiding Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and ascended to a higher state of existence] in comprehending the Path Principles Power [the fundamental laws and truths that govern reality and cultivation]. Even the supreme Immortal of the Ninefold Heaven [the highest and most profound of the heavenly realms] would cherish such a treasure beyond measure.

For with the aid of the Immortal Enlightenment Tea Tree, an Immortal might attain a more profound understanding of the Path Principles, thereby accomplishing the legendary feat of World-Opening [the act of creating or manifesting one's own inner world or domain] and achieving a breakthrough into the fabled Earth Immortal Realm [a realm of cultivation where one becomes an immortal tied to the earth, possessing immense power and longevity].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen wasted no time. He exhaled a wisp of Acquired Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme, acquired energy of creation and transformation, tinged with violet light] and guided it to merge with the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree.

"*Hummm—*"

Upon absorbing the strand of Acquired Primordial Chaos Violet Aura, the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree emitted a soft, resonant chime.

Eldrin Chen immediately sensed it—an invisible shackle upon the tree had been shattered. Within its heartwood, the nascent patterns of Path Principles began to coalesce and take form.

"Success!"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his fingers tracing invisible patterns in the air as he performed a divination. "In one thousand years," he concluded, "the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree [a legendary plant whose leaves can grant profound insights] will reach its zenith and ascend to become an Immortal Enlightenment Tea Tree [a transcendent version of the tree, its leaves possessing immortal-grade enlightening properties]."

"Is this truly so?"

Heart stirred with excitement, Exquisite Jiang could not help but reach out and grasp Eldrin Chen's hand. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel.com (official site).