Chapter 993 Severing Mundane Ties

Sure enough, Eldrin swept his gaze over the assembly and nodded. "I have cultivated for over 5,000 years. Your contributions have been instrumental in my attainment of the Violet Realm."

"Now that I have attained the Dao, I shall naturally bestow rewards upon all of you."

Eldrin's voice fell, and a single finger shot forth.

With that single finger tap, the silver immortal mark between Eldrin’s brows glowed faintly, materializing into a 100 silver streaks that soared into the air before descending into the souls of the assembled cultivators.

After completing this step, Eldrin spoke calmly, "This is my Immortal Mark. When you step into the Netherworld in the future, this imprint will protect your souls, allowing you to enter the cycle of reincarnation with your memories intact."

"However, although this imprint is my Immortal Trace Mark, its power is not without limits."

"As the saying goes, when 3 lifetimes of karma are exhausted, this seal shall safeguard your reincarnation through 3 kalpas. Should you fail to attain immortality after these cycles, the seal shall dissipate completely."

Immortal Mark Imprint…

Hearing this, everyone sensed the immortal mark within their bodies and could not help but reveal ecstatic expressions.

The immortal's Celestial Mark is an exceedingly precious imprint. Blessed by this mark, they are not only able to undergo 3 reincarnations with their memories intact, but it also holds profound significance.

For this Immortal Mark represented that they had the backing of an immortal—an utterly extraordinary foundation.

With this seal upon them, even if they were to descend into the Netherworld, no ordinary ox-headed demons or serpent-shaped fiends would dare treat them with disrespect.

And for the Immortal’s sake, most Lords of the Underworld would handle the matter with caution, opening the gates of reincarnation wide for them.

However, the Immortal Mark requires an immense expenditure of an immortal’s power. After attaining immortality, most ordinary immortals could leave behind no more than 10 or so Immortal Marks.

Eldrin left over a 100 Immortal Mark imprints in 1 go, and he still seemed to possess considerable energy to spare. Such a grand display was utterly astonishing, proving his strength far surpassed that of ordinary immortals.

At this thought, everyone’s hearts surged with incomparable excitement.

With this seal's protection, attaining the Soul Formation Realm would come as naturally as breathing to them over their next 3 lifetimes. Perhaps they truly held a sliver of possibility to ascend as immortals.

At this thought, the crowd immediately dropped to their knees and declared, "We are eternally grateful for your generous gift, Esteemed Immortal."

"There is no need for formalities."

Eldrin shook his head, then glanced at the assembly and declared, "Having received this seal, your mortal ties with me are severed. Devote yourselves to cultivation. Should fate allow us to meet again in the immortal realms, we shall resume our connection in due time."

"We shall abide by your teachings."

Hearing this, the crowd immediately nodded in unison and bowed 3 times to Eldrin with endless words of gratitude.

Seeing this, Eldrin gave a slight nod and said, "Dinghai, Jiuhe, Tianqi... Fellow Daoists, please stay. The rest of you may leave."

Eldrin called out a dozen or so names in succession, all of them his old friends, before gesturing for the group to withdraw.

After the crowd had dispersed, Eldrin gazed at the 8 or 9 individuals who remained and let out a faint sigh.

Having cultivated for thousands of years, even if he made 1 Dao-companion acquaintance per decade, he would have accumulated over a 100 friends. Though he could be considered widely connected through these years, those who truly counted as old and dear friends were remarkably few.

Over thousands of years, many dear friends had failed to reach this day. The 8 or 9 companions before him now were all that remained of his kindred spirits.

With a simple glance, he could see Li Huo Daoren, Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name), Jiu He Daoren, Lin Tianqi, Ming Yuan Daoren, Freya (Person Name), Dorian (Person Name), and others.

"I pay my respects to the Ancestral Elder!"

At that very moment, everyone bowed in unison, their faces beaming with joy as they spoke.

Eldrin shook his head and said calmly, "We have known each other for thousands of years. There's no need for such formality between us—let us interact as peers."

"How can this be?"

Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name) immediately shook his head and declared resolutely, "We are now separated by the chasm between immortality and mortality. To interact as equals would disrupt the natural order of seniority."

Everyone nodded in agreement, not daring to claim equal standing with Eldrin (Person Name).

"Alas, never mind!"

Seeing that everyone dared not treat him as an equal, Eldrin felt a faint sense of detachment from the mortal world.

Thinking of how most of his old friends had long passed away, Eldrin let out a sigh and said, "You have been my dear friends for many years. Though we are now separated by the realms of immortality and mortality, should I ascend and depart this world 1 day, I fear we may never meet again."

"Alas, I have only just stepped into the Immortal Realm and possess no means to elevate you all to immortality."

At this point, Eldrin flicked his sleeve dismissively and declared, "Upon your return, gather Pure Yang spiritual treasures and deliver them to Linghu Isle. When the time comes, I shall personally forge a forbidden artifact for each of you."

"This forbidden artifact seals my power, its might no less than that of an immortal treasure. It is sufficient to withstand a single Immortal Ascension Heavenly Tribulation for you all. The only flaw is that it can be activated but once."

"Whether you can attain immortality and enlightenment is beyond my power to influence. This shall be the final boon I can bestow upon you."

Everyone present showed expressions of shock upon hearing this.

To forge an immortal-grade forbidden artifact with pure Yang spiritual materials—such a method could truly be described as transforming the mundane into the divine. Even the legendary Jiang Emperor of antiquity fell far short of such prowess.

Such methods employed by Eldrin were utterly terrifying, something they had never heard of before—likely far surpassing the prowess of all ancient immortals throughout the history of the Violet Realm.

At this thought, they all exclaimed with ecstatic delight, "We thank the Ancestor for this generous gift."

"Hmm, you may take your leave now."

Eldrin nodded slightly and waved his hand, gesturing for the crowd to withdraw.

After the crowd had dispersed, Lila (Person Name), Lyra (Person Name), and the old clan leader all approached.

Lila (Person Name) glanced at the retreating figures of the crowd and sighed, "These elders were once old acquaintances from bygone days. Who would have thought they'd now dare not approach my husband."

"Alas, 1 cannot blame them."

Chen Changxuan shook his head and couldn't help but glance at Eldrin.

Eldrin stood clad in pristine white robes, enveloped in ethereal immortal mists that swirled around him. Strands of his hair seemed threaded with a river of stars, each falling wisp of Dao Charm nearly enough to crush the endless firmament across eternity.

Such a peerless immortal reclining high above the 9 heavens stirred even him with an impulse to kneel in worship, let alone those former friends of his.

To interact with him as an equal was like an ant standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a true dragon—such pressure was simply unbearable for ordinary people.

Since the 2 sides were as far apart as clouds and mud, it was better to simply act the junior and be at ease.

"Immortal, Immortal..."

Eldrin murmured to himself, shaking his head with a faint sigh.

All know that immortals dwell aloft in the 9 Heavens Above, yet few understand how cold and lonely such heights can be.

The chasm between an immortal and a mortal was far too vast. For him to converse with ordinary humans was akin to a true dragon lowering its head to speak with ants. No matter how serene his expression or how amiable his demeanor, it would inevitably bring them incomparable pressure.

Only those who are also immortals would not feel discomfort.

At this thought, Eldrin shook his head and sighed, "Enough, enough. Since I have already attained immortality and severed all mortal ties with them, let the bonds of bygone days remain cherished in my heart."

"If 1 day they could ascend to the immortal realm, it would not be too late to rekindle their past bonds."

At this point, Eldrin finally turned to Qing Ji (Person Name) and Lyra beside him, saying, "Now that I have attained immortality, I can remain in the mortal world for no more than 1 1000 years at most."

"Within this allotted time, I shall aid you in attaining immortality."