Chapter 1001 : A Final Farewell and Rebirth

Imperial Sovereign Jiang [the former ruler of the Jiang Empire] smiled as he spoke, yet his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was gradually dissolving into motes of light, as if he was nearing his final end.

Eldrin Chen exerted his full power, using a vast tide of Immortal Essence [the purified energy of an immortal] to shield the man's soul, hoping to preserve his life. Yet, he found he could not perform a true Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration [a supreme art that defies destiny to change one's fate], and could only slow the process of his dissolution into the Great Path.

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

Imperial Sovereign Jiang shook his head gently. He glanced at Exquisite Jiang and said with a warm smile, "You are the child of Demon-Slayer [a title meaning 'Slayer of Demons'], my grandson?"

"Grandfather!"

Watching as Imperial Sovereign Jiang's Primordial Spirit continued to fade, a tremor passed through Exquisite Jiang's heart.

Though she had never met this man before, he was now her last living 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 creation and destiny] toying with us. You need not grieve."

Imperial Sovereign Jiang seemed remarkably at peace, his demeanor serene as if he viewed all things with profound detachment. The story continues at audio-novel-dot-com.

He gazed upon them with profound tranquility, a faint smile gracing his lips after a moment. "Though I have attained immortality in this life, the path I have walked is not without its flaws."

"To enter the cycle of Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life] and undergo another tribulation may yet allow me to surpass this lifetime's achievements. This is not necessarily a misfortune."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle weight settle in his heart. The concept of Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life] sounded simple in theory, yet its execution was fraught with far greater difficulty.

Unlike mortals, when an Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] undergoes Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life], they are subtly constrained by the laws of heaven and earth. The mystery of the womb—the veil obscuring past memories—becomes far more potent.

Furthermore, the more powerful the Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation], the greater the challenge to reclaim the memories of their former life.

Although Imperial Sovereign Jiang had now attained immortality, once he entered the cycle of Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life], it was likely he would not recover his memories until he achieved immortality once more.

And without the memories and insights from this life's ascension, whether Imperial Sovereign Jiang could achieve immortality again in his next life remained shrouded in uncertainty.

Of course, an Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] is born with immense destiny. One who undergoes Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life] is often a child of fate itself, their talent and comprehension destined to shake the heavens. Even if they do not attain immortality in their next incarnation, they would undoubtedly be among the most dazzling and peerless Path Lord [a master who has comprehended and walks their own unique Dao, or Path].

Take, for example, the Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk from the Serene Spirit Temple, who was suspected to be the reincarnation of a Buddha from the Immortal Realm [a higher plane of existence where immortals reside]. Even in his youth, his brilliance was staggering. Before reaching the age of twenty, he had already cultivated to the Violet Sanctum [a major realm in cultivation, representing the formation of a spiritual core sanctuary]. Though not even half the age of the Lord of the Path Palace, his cultivation prowess was spoken of in the same breath.

It was only in the last ten thousand years, with the successive emergence of prodigies like Imperial Sovereign Jiang and the Eastern Sovereign, whose brilliance eclipsed all others, that his own radiant splendor was rendered slightly dimmer by comparison.

Otherwise, with his peerless talent, the Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk might have become the one most likely to achieve immortality or Buddhahood in tens of thousands of years.

Speaking of the matter of Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth], Imperial Sovereign Jiang was very calm. Beings of his level, Nine Heavens Celestial Immortals [the highest tier of celestial immortals], possessed a certain pride and confidence within their hearts, holding sufficient belief in achieving immortality once more in their next life.

At this moment, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was ethereal and faint. He harbored no fear of dissolving into the Great Dao, merely casting his gaze towards Eldrin Chen before nodding and speaking.

"I intend to tread the path of Reincarnation, yet that Netherworld Underworld Court [the governing court of the underworld] is not an easy path to walk."

"I must trouble you, after your ascension, to go to the Netherworld Underworld Court and escort my Reincarnation journey for rebirth."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding.

Having reached his level of cultivation, a single thought from Eldrin could deduce the myriad threads of Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect].

For a Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal like Imperial Sovereign Jiang, whose innate talent and foundation were too astonishing and whose soul origin was formidably powerful, it was likely that the Ghost Immortals [immortals who reside in the underworld] within the Netherworld Underworld Court would covet him.

Without the protection of an Immortal, once entering that Underworld Court, if he attracted the covetous gaze of a Ghost Immortal, he might not be able to undergo Reincarnation peacefully and safely.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen nodded and said, "Grandfather, rest assured. After I ascend to the Immortal Realm [the realm of the immortals], I will personally go to where the Netherworld Underworld Court resides."

"Mm."

Imperial Sovereign Jiang nodded. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] had ultimately completed its final transformation into the Dao, with only a wisp of its foundational soul essence merging into the Immortal Sword.

Witnessing Imperial Sovereign Jiang's complete demise, Eldrin Chen carefully sheathed the Immortal Sword. Only then did he lift his gaze to survey the surroundings, finding that the great calamity had drawn to its final moments.

Now that the Outer Realm Demon God had been utterly vanquished, the Catastrophe Demonic Abyss [a chasm of demonic energy and calamity], bereft of the Demon God's personal control, could no longer contend with the Purple Seal Realm [a major cultivation world], despite its terrifying, heaven-shaking power.

The Outer Realm Fiend Race forces within the Demonic Abyss had been completely routed, retreating deep into its recesses, utterly incapable of opposing the cultivators of the Purple Seal Realm.

Now that the three of them had their hands free, they personally intervened, slaughtering over ninety-nine percent of the Fiend Race denizens within the Demonic Abyss before finally ceasing their assault. For uninterrupted reading, go to (audio-novel.com).

"..."

Three days later.

Before the Heavenly Scar [a massive, permanent rift in the sky], at the edge of the Demonic Abyss.

A million Heavenly Ark [immense flying vessels] hovered in the sky. Billions of cultivators lifted their heads, their faces alight with immense joy as they gazed upon the three figures standing high above in the Nine Heavens Above.

Upon the Nine Heavens Above, three Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal stood resplendent: Eldrin Chen, Verdant Consort, and Exquisite Jiang, the three Immortal.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen reclined upon the Nine Heavens Above, wreathed in swirling Immortal Energy [the pure, potent energy wielded by ascended beings]. He resembled a Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal Lord gazing down upon the Mortal Dust [the mortal world], silently observing the teeming masses below.

"Since the Outer Realm Demon God [demonic entities from beyond this world] began their assault on the Purple Seal Realm, this realm has endured a cataclysm lasting eighty-six thousand three hundred and fourteen years."

"Throughout these years, heroes have risen one after another within the Purple Seal Realm. Generation upon generation of sages marched to their deaths in battle, securing for us the foundation to achieve today's final victory over the calamity."

"In this war, you have fought and slain demons. All who fell in the cataclysm, and all who vanquished the Fiend Race [the demonic horde], have performed deeds of unparalleled merit."

High in the void, Eldrin Chen spoke, his voice calm.

Though gentle, his words resonated like divine echoes of the Great Path [the fundamental Dao or Way of cultivation], reverberating across the vast expanse of heaven and earth.

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

"*Hum—*"

As his final word faded, billions of immortal rays burst forth from his form, transforming into a shimmering rain of light that cascaded through the void.

At this moment, the three Immortals acted together, scattering immortal radiance that enveloped billions of Li-lengths of void. Countless cultivators bathed in this light, feeling for a moment as if they were about to ascend, their souls beginning to grow ethereal.

No one knew how much time passed. All living beings felt their internal spiritual power grow more condensed, their souls becoming purer. Vaguely, the path of cultivation ahead seemed to have been opened.

It was at this moment that Eldrin Chen in the void above withdrew the Immortal Essence and spoke calmly once more: "Now that I have attained immortality, I can no longer step foot within the Purple Seal Realm."

"To repay the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect] of being nurtured by heaven and earth, I intend to use the Demonic Abyss as a foundation. I will gather the spiritual essences of billions of Fiend Race beings to forge a path to immortality."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then spoke after a moment: "Once this path is forged, I will erect seven Celestial Steles [divine stone monuments] within it. They will record the various cultivation methods from the Vital Essence Refinement realm all the way to the Primordial Spirit Realm realm. Furthermore, at its very end, I will inscribe three immortal ascension legacies: the Immortal Body, the Path Fruit, and the Path Principles."

"If your fortune is sufficient, when you reach the end of this immortal path, you may find the opportunity to ascend."

Eldrin Chen explained everything clearly regarding the Immortal Ascension Path [the legendary road leading to immortality], and then vanished into the void.

He left behind countless cultivators whose faces were alight with ecstatic joy. For the Immortal Path Lineages, the Immortal Ascension Path might not be of great significance, as they already possessed their own Immortal Inheritances. Although Eldrin Chen's legacy was more powerful, it was not the only path to immortality.

However, for the innumerable cultivators across the world with shallow foundations, who suffered from a lack of inherited techniques, the path to immortality was fraught with immense difficulty.

Once Eldrin Chen forged the Immortal Ascension Path and left within it all the legacies from Vital Essence Refinement to immortality, those who walked this ancient road would essentially be treading upon a genuine path to ascension. Continue your cultivation journey at audio–novel.com.