Chapter 971 : The Primordial Flame's Ascendance

"It is done!"

Eldrin Chen finally spoke, his tone filled with unshakable resolve.

The Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Power blazes with a majestic and peerless brilliance, its domineering nature unrivaled under the heavens.

Among the one hundred and eight Flame Path Principles within the Myriad Heavens, this particular Path Principles ranks among the very strongest, placing within the top three.

Compared to ordinary Flame Path Principles, this flame is far more tyrannical. Cultivated to its ultimate limit, it can even evolve into a Great Path [a supreme and all-encompassing Dao], allowing one to break through to the realm of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal whose power encompasses all creation].

For over four thousand years, Eldrin Chen had immersed himself in arduous cultivation—studying Divine Ability [supernatural powers], comprehending Arcane Power [mystical forces], drawing insights from the myriad methods of countless schools, and glimpsing the power of the Solar Fire Vermilion Bird [a mythical fire-attribute divine beast]. He had long since grasped the essence of the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Path Principles, lacking only the final, crucial step to complete it.

Finally, on this day, he found a spark of inspiration within the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a divine sword imbued with solar fire and abyssal power], mending the last flaw in the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Path Principles and fully cultivating the Path Principles Embryo [the nascent form of a Dao principle] of the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame.

"Four millennia of accumulated foundation and achievement, transforming in a single moment like a silkworm emerging from its cocoon as a butterfly... I have finally comprehended the Path Principles Power [the fundamental power derived from a Dao principle]."

Eternal Profound Chen murmured to himself, his heart overflowing with immense joy.

How arduous is the path for a cultivator to achieve immortality! Throughout the ages, within the Purple Seal Realm, those capable of comprehending Path Principles Power have been peerless prodigies, appearing perhaps once in ten thousand years. Official source: @udio-novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Not only had Eldrin Chen cultivated an Immortal Body [a physical form refined to the level of an immortal], but he had also comprehended the power of Path Principles Power [the fundamental laws governing reality and cultivation]. With such profound foundational strength, even if he were to ascend to immortality on the spot, he would possess the potential of a Celestial Immortal Aptitude [the inherent capacity to become a celestial immortal] in the future, destined to become a figure of at least the stature of an Earth Immortal Patriarch [a patriarch who has attained the Earth Immortal realm].

Thinking of this, Eternal Profound Chen could not help but feel a deep, comforting warmth in his aged heart. "Seeing you achieve the Path brings this old man immense solace," he said.

"If one day I could witness your ascension, I could close my eyes in peace, even in death."

"What kind of talk is that, Old Granduncle?"

Eldrin Chen chuckled, shaking his head, and grasped Eternal Profound Chen's hand. "You, Old Granduncle, have now also attained a cultivation level that touches upon Creation [the profound mysteries of creation and existence]. You have at least thirty to forty thousand years of life ahead of you."

"If I can ascend in the future, I will surely return to guide you across. Who knows, within the boundless Immortal Domain [the vast realms inhabited by immortals], there might even be an opportunity for your own immortal ascension."

"There is no need to comfort me."

Eternal Profound Chen smiled and shook his head. "Ascending to immortality is no trivial matter. My foundation is insufficient, and the Path Fruit [the culmination of one's cultivation path] of my lifetime's cultivation is all anchored to this Flaming Prison Sea of Fire [a legendary sea of eternal, imprisoning flames]. In this lifetime, I certainly lack the strength to become an immortal."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell silent within his heart, ultimately choosing not to say anything more.

He then stored the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [a supreme flame born from the essence of the primordial sun] and rose to his feet. "Now that I have cultivated the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame, I plan to soon journey to the Spirit-Severing Sea [a perilous sea known to sever spiritual connections] to seek the ruins of the Void-Refining Immortal [an immortal renowned for mastering the art of refining void essence]," he announced.

"There is no urgency in this matter."

Eternal Profound Chen shook his head, then produced a letter and said, "The Purple Seal Divine Fruit [a legendary fruit of immense spiritual power] is nearing ripeness. Heavenly Gaze Path Master has sent this letter, wishing to invite you to preside over the proceedings."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. He took the letter and, after a brief glance, understood the entire situation.

The Purple Seal Divine Fruit Tree was the foremost divine tree of the Purple Seal Realm. This tree bloomed once every thousand years, bore fruit once every thousand years, and required another thousand years for the fruit to mature.

Upon maturity, it would yield a single Purple Seal Divine Fruit. This fruit was profoundly mystical, said to increase a Primordial Spirit Path Lord's [a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit stage and comprehended a Path] chances of achieving a Path Fruit Attainment [the state of solidifying one's cultivation path into a tangible 'fruit,' a major breakthrough] by thirty percent.

Most of the Demigod Patriarch [powerful cultivators one step below true immortality] in the Purple Seal Realm possessed limited innate talent and lacked the confidence to survive the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial required to ascend to immortality]. Therefore, they had never contested for the Purple Seal Divine Fruit.

Thus, the candidate to consume the Purple Seal Divine Fruit was always chosen from among the Primordial Spirit Late Stage cultivators within the Purple Seal Realm, typically selecting one from those at the Primordial Spirit 9th Tier.

Now that another Purple Seal Divine Fruit was about to ripen, the various Primordial Spirit Path Lord of the Purple Seal Realm dared not allocate it privately, bypassing Eldrin Chen. Hence, they wished to invite Eldrin Chen to oversee the matter.

"I recall that three thousand years ago, when the last Purple Seal Divine Fruit matured, I was merely a junior at the Infant Soul Stage."

"I never imagined that this time, the responsibility of presiding over such a grand affair would fall to me."

After reading the letter, Eldrin Chen could not help but shake his head with a wry smile.

Seeing this, Eternal Profound Chen beside him also nodded and smiled. "The last Purple Seal Divine Fruit [a divine fruit said to aid in the breakthrough to the Demigod realm] was ultimately obtained by Earth Mystery Path Venerable [a title for a powerful Demigod cultivator], who used it to successfully cultivate his Demigod Path Fruit [the crystallization of a cultivator's understanding of their chosen Dao, marking the peak of the Demigod realm]."

"Judging by seniority and strength, within the Purple Seal Realm now, aside from our Chen Clan, only Heaven Abandoned Lin has the qualifications to claim it."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Setting aside the Chen Immortal Clan, Heaven Abandoned Lin possessed the deepest foundation and heritage within the Purple Seal Realm, and his combat prowess at the Primordial Spirit 9th Tier was nearly unmatched.

However, the Chen Clan was now the strongest Immortal Clan [a clan with at least one Immortal-level cultivator] in the Purple Seal Realm. Both Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang were more powerful than him. Find this and other novels at audio—novel.com.

Although Nyssa Qu and Verdant Consort had only recently broken through to the Primordial Spirit 8th Tier, and their combat power might be slightly inferior to his, if they were at the same cultivation level, they likely would not be weaker than Heaven Abandoned Lin.

Thus, how to handle this Purple Seal Divine Fruit also gave Eldrin Chen a bit of a headache.

Although neither he nor Exquisite Jiang needed this Purple Seal Divine Fruit for their own foundations, this treasure was of crucial importance to Verdant Consort and Nyssa Qu.

After pondering left and right for a moment, Eldrin Chen summoned Verdant Consort and Nyssa Qu. "Heaven Abandoned Lin has fought for the Human Race for many years. Over the past ten thousand years, he has slain more than twenty Primordial Spirit Heavenly Demon [powerful demons at the Primordial Spirit realm], rendering immense service to the Purple Seal Realm."

"The reason you and I have survived to this day is inextricably linked to his unwavering defense of the Eastern Barrens and the Eastern Sea."

"Viewed in that light, we owe him a significant debt of gratitude as well."

Eldrin Chen recounted the tale, then stated, "Therefore, for this upcoming Purple Seal Divine Fruit, I intend to allocate it to Heaven Abandoned Lin."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the two women flickered. Verdant Consort immediately smiled and said, "Husband, do not underestimate me. Even without the aid of that Purple Seal Divine Fruit, your wife can still attain the Dao and ascend to immortality."

Nyssa Qu also nodded in agreement, adding, "Since my husband has spoken, I naturally defer to his decision."

Hearing their words, Eldrin Chen glanced at them both, a wave of warmth and gratitude washing over his heart.

Between the two, Verdant Consort was in a better position. He had long since prepared the Supreme Lunar Immortal Jade for her, and in the future, she would also have the Verdant Lotus Seed to aid her breakthrough. Her chances of achieving immortality were already exceedingly high.

Giving her the Purple Seal Divine Fruit would merely be adding flowers to brocade, not delivering charcoal in snowy weather [providing timely and critical aid].

But Nyssa Qu was different. Although she was born from a Seven-Colored Immortal Clam, and in principle, should be able to reach the Immortal Ascension Realm by following a steady cultivation path...

...the environment of the Mortal Realm was fundamentally different from the Immortal Realm. It lacked the crucial Immortal Energy [the pure, high-level energy of the Immortal Realm] and various other resources. Consequently, the difficulty of her breakthrough was naturally immense.

It is precisely for this reason that even those with peerless talent, such as the Black Tortoise Patriarch [a powerful ancient demon ancestor], the Kunpeng Demon Sage [a legendary demonic sage], and the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor [an ancient progenitor of black dragons], who are all considered Mythical Immortal Seed [individuals with the potential to ascend to immortality], have not a single one among them managed to achieve immortality to this day.

Now, lacking the aid of this Purple Seal Divine Fruit [a divine fruit that seals and purifies one's spiritual foundation], Nyssa Qu's chances of attaining immortality within the Mortal Realm [the plane of mortal existence] are greatly diminished.

Today, Nyssa Qu's decision not to contend for the Purple Seal Divine Fruit was made entirely for his sake.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen drew both women into his embrace and said gently, "Do not worry. Even if you cannot achieve immortality within the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals] in the future, I will not abandon you."

"Even if I must shoulder a heaven-defying burden of karmic debt, I will take you with me and ascend together into the Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal Domain [the celestial realm of the Nine Heavens]."

Nyssa Qu looked up, her bright eyes reflecting that figure of peerless immortal grace, and a warmth blossomed in her heart.

She said nothing more, simply holding him quietly and resting her head against his chest. This chapter is part of a larger work available at @udio-novel.com.