Chapter 988 : The Earth's Whisper of Ascension

"Never forget the original aspiration…"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, recalling the initial resolve of his youth.

Back then, having been reborn into this world, the very moment he first learned of the grand and magnificent Immortal Path [the supreme path of cultivation leading to immortality], he had already resolved with unwavering determination to one day achieve Ascension and Attainment of the Path [the ultimate state of transcending mortality and merging with the cosmic Dao].

Now, several thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye. His journey had been fraught with hardship and struggle, yet this lifetime could truly be called magnificent and eventful.

Unconsciously, the goal he had set for himself in those distant days now seemed to be within reach.

"Ascendant Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality], attainment of the Dao!"

Eldrin Chen whispered, slowly closing his eyes.

He walked on foot across the land, strolling through the vastness of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, quietly perceiving and comprehending the power of the earth itself.

The two of them journeyed on foot across endless mountains and rivers. After an immeasurable passage of time, Eldrin Chen felt a spark of enlightenment ignite within him. The Source Earth of All Things Path Principles [the foundational Dao principles of Earth that give rise to all things] within his body suddenly began to transform, gradually shifting from an ethereal state to one of tangible reality.

Having cultivated for several thousand years, Eldrin Chen's comprehension of the Myriad Things Earth Path Principles [the Dao principles governing the myriad phenomena born from Earth] had long since approached a state of flawless perfection. This journey across the land with Exquisite Jiang was precisely to immerse himself in the earth's power and perceive that final, elusive spark of breakthrough. The story continues at audio novel.com.

As this sliver of opportunity manifested, the Myriad Things Earth Path Principles within his body transformed from intangible to tangible with astonishing speed, taking form in the blink of an eye.

"BOOM—"

In that instant, a Path Principles Power of immense, earth-shattering weight, as if capable of bearing the entire Universe, materialized.

This was the Source Earth of All Things Path Principles [the foundational earth principle from which all things originate]. From its initial manifestation, it already possessed world-shaking power.

It is said the Source Earth of All Things [the primordial earth that is the origin of all things] was born within the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation]. It is the soil of all creation, the origin of the myriad things. The Creation [the act of bringing something into existence] mysteries contained within this divine soil are such that it can even give birth to Innate Heavenly God Being [beings of divine nature born directly from the cosmos], surpassing even the legendary divine soil known as Self-Growing Soil [soil that can regenerate and expand on its own] by half a measure.

Upon mastering this Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of cultivation], Eldrin Chen immediately sensed its miraculous nature. He felt this Path Principles was of the purest and truest essence, not only immeasurably profound but also brimming with vibrant vitality.

"Now is the time!"

The moment he cultivated the Source Earth of All Things, Eldrin Chen instantly felt a reaction from the other four Path Principles within his body.

In that fleeting moment, the Path Principles Power [the tangible energy derived from comprehending a Path Principle] of four other Path Principles surged forth: the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [the celestial fire of the primordial sun], the Profound Darkness True Water [the essential water of profound darkness], the Primordial One Gold [the first and most fundamental metal], and the Seed of Life [the spiritual essence containing the spark of life].

The five supreme powers intertwined ceaselessly, and without conscious effort, began to merge into one.

Until a certain moment, a terrifying power, unified and singular as the Primordial One [the primordial, undifferentiated state of existence], manifested and finally coalesced into its ultimate form.

"Primordial One Limitless Path Principles!"

Witnessing this scene, Exquisite Jiang could not help but exclaim in astonishment.

Eldrin Chen remained remarkably calm, his expression unchanged as he focused on sensing this Primordial One Limitless [a supreme cultivation state representing boundless power derived from primordial unity] force, attempting to channel it.

Yet, as he gently stirred the Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of a cultivator's chosen Dao], he discovered cracks fissuring the very fabric of heaven and earth. A sensation akin to breaking through the world's confines and ascending washed over him.

This realization struck him with profound awe. He understood that the Purple Seal Realm [a specific cultivation world or plane of existence] was nearing its limit, almost unable to contain his presence.

"Heaven and Earth can scarcely hold me any longer," he murmured.

In that fleeting instant, Eldrin Chen comprehended the cause and effect. He then reined in his immense, world-shaking power.

For the Purple Seal Realm, all beings on the cusp of immortality are like fetuses nurtured within its womb.

If an ordinary ascendant-to-be is akin to a ten-month pregnancy, then Eldrin Chen's current cultivation base made him comparable to Ne Zha [a legendary divine child from Chinese mythology known for his extraordinary power and prolonged gestation]—a child carried for three years and six months.

His power was far too astonishing. If he unleashed it fully within the Purple Seal Realm [the world where the story primarily takes place], he could cause the very mountains and rivers across tens of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to crumble and sink. This posed an immense threat to the Purple Seal Realm itself.

At such a moment, to preserve itself, the Purple Seal Realm had only one choice: to expel him from its bounds.

If Eldrin Chen wished to remain within the Purple Seal Realm, he had no choice but to restrain his power. Failure to do so would inflict grievous wounds upon the realm and force it to expel him prematurely.

"The Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the final, cataclysmic heavenly trial a cultivator must pass to ascend to immortality]... it draws near."

Sensing the very will of heaven and earth growing tense, Eldrin Chen murmured these words to himself.

Having reached his current level of cultivation, both his Primordial One Indestructibility Golden Body [a supreme body refinement technique granting near-invulnerability] and his comprehension of the Primordial One Limitless Path Principles [the fundamental laws of the cosmos] had surpassed the limits of the Mortal Realm [the plane of existence for mortal beings]. Published by audio-novel-dot-com. All rights reserved.

Such vast and profound power was simply too overwhelming; even Eldrin Chen could not completely suppress its radiance.

In that moment, Eldrin Chen sensed it clearly: at most, he had a mere century before his Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation would descend upon him.

And in that same moment, he finally understood why Imperial Sovereign Jiang had not waited longer, why he had been so urgent in his own pursuit of ascension.

For Imperial Sovereign Jiang's talent was too dazzling, his power having long ago reached the very pinnacle of what the mortal world could contain. He, too, had become a profound threat to the Purple Seal Realm.

Were it not for the Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful entity from beyond this world], he might have been able to suppress his own power to delay the arrival of the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial required to ascend to immortality].

However, the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity where demonic forces surge forth], which occurs once every thousand years, forced Imperial Sovereign Jiang to unleash his full strength each time, ultimately drawing down the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

Furthermore, each time he exerted his full power, it inflicted significant damage upon the Purple Seal Realm. These two factors combined compelled Imperial Sovereign Jiang to undergo his tribulation and ascend to immortality shortly after attaining his Path Fruit Attainment [the culmination of one's cultivation path] and comprehending his Path Principles [the fundamental laws governing one's chosen cultivation path].

In the end, after becoming an immortal, Imperial Sovereign Jiang remained in the Purple Seal Realm for a mere nine hundred years before he was forced to depart, facing the Outer Realm Demon God alone.

This was because, after his ascension, Imperial Sovereign Jiang was like a fetus carried well past its term. Every single day he stayed within the Purple Seal Realm placed an immense drain upon the realm, weakening it significantly.

Had he not left the Purple Seal Realm at that time, the will of heaven and earth within the realm would have grown even more feeble. It would have lacked the strength to resist the Demonic Abyss [the source of demonic calamities], risking an invasion by the Outer Realm Demon God.

The situation Eldrin Chen now faces bears a striking resemblance to the circumstances Imperial Sovereign Jiang confronted in his time.

His several full-power exertions, combined with the fact that his power has far surpassed the limits of the Mortal Realm since comprehending the Primordial One Limitless Path Principles [the supreme, boundless laws of the primordial beginning], have made the impending Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation nearly impossible to suppress any longer.

It is likely that within a thousand years, he will have no choice but to leave the Purple Seal Realm.

With this realization settling upon him, Eldrin Chen spoke with calm finality, "Of the three paths to immortality—the physical body, Path Principles, and the Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation journey]—I have already traversed two."

"To attain a Path Fruit Attainment [the ultimate crystallization of a cultivator's path], one must fuse their cultivation base, foundation, and accumulated essence into a single, unified whole."

Now, as the thousand-year cycle draws to a close and the Demonic Abyss Heavenly Scar [a massive, unstable rift connecting to a demonic realm] is about to tear open once more, I shall station myself before the Heavenly Scar [the great rift], cultivate my Primordial One Limitless Path Fruit [the supreme Path Fruit of the Primordial One lineage], and in doing so, block the path of those two Demon God [supreme beings of the demonic race].

Upon hearing this, Exquisite Jiang [Jiang the Exquisite] wore a slightly solemn expression. "I shall immediately notify the various Path Lord [masters who have attained their own Path Fruits] of the Purple Seal Realm [the Purple Seal World] to arrange the Big Dipper Seven Stars Grand Formation [a grand defensive formation aligned with the seven stars of the Big Dipper] and the Seven Treasures Gourd Grand Formation [a grand formation based on the legendary Seven Treasures Gourd] to shield you during the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly trial of thunder that tests ascendants to immortality]," she said.

"There is no need."

Eldrin Chen [Eldrin Chen] shook his head, his tone calm and assured. "Now that my Primordial One Indestructibility Body [the Indestructible Body of the Primordial One lineage] is complete, and I possess the Primordial One [the foundational, origin principle] and Indestructibility [the principle of unbreakable durability] Path Principles [the fundamental laws that define a cultivator's chosen path], the road to immortality lies clear and unobstructed before me."

"Even if I were to bathe in the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the supreme heavenly thunder tribulation faced during ascension to immortality], I would fear nothing. They cannot harm me, much less obstruct my path to the Dao."

"Husband..."

Exquisite Jiang [Jiang the Exquisite] gripped his hand tightly, a trace of worry still evident in her voice. "My Immortal Body [a body constitution fit for an immortal] is already perfected. Perhaps I should ascend first? I could then protect your path to the Dao."

"Unnecessary."

Eldrin Chen [Eldrin Chen] shook his head once more. If Exquisite Jiang [Jiang the Exquisite] were to attain her Dao using her Immortal Body [a body constitution fit for an immortal], her combat power would indeed surge dramatically in the short term. However, doing so would squander her profound foundational potential, inevitably leading to a difficult and constrained path after her ascension to immortality.

He naturally would not allow her future to be wasted so pointlessly. He merely shook his head, took her hand, and said, "Do not worry. No one can hinder my path to the Dao [the supreme principle and ultimate truth of the universe]."

"Stand by and watch my flank."

Exquisite Jiang gritted her teeth upon hearing this, then nodded firmly. "Very well. I shall guard your path." Read the full novel exclusively on audi novel.com.