Chapter 1016 : A Letter from Fire Mulberry

"From the direction of Fire Mulberry Island, a letter has arrived."

Outside the cultivation abode, a youth bowed his head slightly, his expression grave as he spoke.

"Oh?"

Six Stars Immortal paused for a moment, then immediately stepped out from his abode.

He took the letter from the youth's hand and began to examine its contents carefully.

A short while later, he shook his head and said with a faint smile, "Over the past one hundred thousand years, Fire Mulberry Island has changed hands seven times."

"Now that it has fallen into the hands of our Human Race comrades once more, one wonders if Fellow Cultivator Eldrin can hold it."

The youth, however, remained composed and asked thoughtfully, "According to the Patriarch's judgment, should we lend them our aid?"

"Since they are Human Race comrades, we naturally cannot stand idly by."

Six Stars Immortal was utterly calm, stroking his long beard with a smile. "Go to Void-Refining and Purple Feather Immortal Island. Inform the several Immortal there of this matter. They will understand my intent." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel dot com.

"This disciple understands."

The youth nodded, his expression immediately clearing with comprehension.

"..."

Within the Lingering Sun Sea Region, on the Verdant Rock Immortal Island, inside a cave abode where Immortal Energy [the purified, high-grade energy of immortals] drifted like mist, two figures sat facing each other.

The two figures were one old and one young. The elder was naturally Xander Qian, while the youth was the Qian Clan Patriarch Calligraphy Qian.

Xander Qian picked up a cup of fragrant tea, took a sip, and then spoke: "A letter has arrived from the Crimson Dragon Sea. That one has succeeded."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, the youth looked somewhat astonished. "In just over a month's time, he has taken an Immortal Isles? To possess such capability..."

Xander Qian smiled faintly. "It was within expectations."

Calligraphy Qian nodded, yet a trace of doubt surfaced. "This disciple has a question. You, Patriarch, have been in secluded cultivation within these mountains for many years, having paid no heed to affairs beyond them for hundreds of thousands of years."

"Why did you agree to help Fellow Cultivator Eldrin this time, involving yourself in matters tainted with Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect that binds all actions]?"

Xander Qian smiled and shook his head, then replied calmly, "Those three may appear to have newly arrived in the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where immortals reside], but I observed their bearing; each possesses an Extraordinary aura. I suspect they have profoundly deep origins."

"In my view, these three likely have boundless futures ahead. It is not impossible they may attain the Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to and draws from the mortal world] Path Fruit [the culmination and proof of one's mastery over a specific Dao or cultivation path]."

"So that is the reason."

Calligraphy Qian nodded, yet still seemed troubled, for Xander Qian had not involved himself in Mortal Dust [the affairs and concerns of the mortal world] for many years and had not left Verdant Rock Island for an age.

Noticing his expression, Xander Qian understood his unspoken thoughts and sighed. "I know your doubts. Let me explain fully."

"You have only recently ascended. You know we Immortal [beings who have transcended mortal limits through cultivation] enjoy carefree existence, but you do not yet know that we Immortal also face Tribulation [heaven-sent trials and calamities that test a cultivator's strength and resolve]."

"Tribulation?"

Calligraphy Qian was taken aback, his face registering clear astonishment.

Xander Qian gave a slight nod and began to explain. "We Immortal absorb the essence of the Sun and Moon [the celestial bodies whose energies are vital for cultivation]. We may recline upon the Nine Heavens [the highest layers of the cosmos] and possess Longevity [endless life, freedom from mortal death]."

"Yet if one merely draws upon the Immortal Spirit Essence [the foundational spiritual energy of the immortal realm] without ever giving back to this vast Immortal Domain, even the boundless expanse of the Immortal Realm will, over time, see its spiritual vitality gradually consumed and exhausted."

Xander Qian spoke with measured gravity, unveiling the profound mysteries of the boundless Immortal Realm.

His expression turned deeply solemn as he continued, "The Way of Heaven and Earth is a cycle. To ceaselessly plunder the Creation [the generative power of the cosmos] is to invite a terrible and inevitable backlash."

"Thus, within the Immortal Realm, we speak of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial], the Path Tribulation [a tribulation testing one's cultivation path], and the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle-ending calamity]."

"Great Tribulation, Path Tribulation, Kalpa Tribulation?"

Calligraphy Qian was taken aback, his face a mask of stunned disbelief. Read the full novel exclusively on www . audio-novel.com.

Xander Qian gave a slow nod and pressed on. "In the Immortal Realm, a Great Tribulation descends roughly once every million years. A Path Tribulation unfolds only once across ten million years of time."

"As for the legendary Kalpa Tribulation, it erupts but once across hundreds of millions of ancient epochs."

Xander Qian spoke with profound gravity, his voice heavy. "I have cultivated for over a million years and have personally endured one such terrifying Great Tribulation."

"Under that Tribulation [a heavenly calamity or trial], the Celestial Mechanism [the natural order and workings of the heavens] is obscured. Even the host of immortals must struggle to cross the churning waters of that dreadful calamity. Without cultivation at the Earth Immortal Realm [a high immortal realm], one stands little chance of successfully navigating its passage."

Upon hearing this, Calligraphy Qian [Qian Shuwen] could not help but show a look of astonishment on his face.

His heart brimming with immense curiosity, he could not resist asking, "This Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of heavenly punishment] is truly so terrifying? Even a Patriarch [a venerable clan leader or sect master] must be so cautious?"

"Far more dreadful than you can imagine."

The old immortal shook his head, sinking into recollection. A flicker of fear passed through his pupils.

After a long while, he shook his head again, seemingly unwilling to elaborate. He merely offered a bitter smile and said, "This old man can only tell you that such a Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of heavenly punishment] is utterly terrifying."

"Hence the saying: 'Great Tribulation [a major cosmic calamity] for Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to the mortal world], Path Tribulation [a tribulation related to one's cultivation path] for Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realms], and Kalpa Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived a cosmic kalpa cycle]'."

"It means only an Earth Immortal Patriarch [a patriarch who has attained the Earth Immortal realm] has the confidence to protect those around them and weather a Great Tribulation [a major cosmic calamity]. Only an existence at the level of a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme power among ascended immortals] can suppress the Great Path Tribulation [a tribulation of immense scale that occurs once in tens of millions of years]."

"As for an Ancient Immortal [an immortal from a bygone era] who has survived a Kalpa Tribulation [a tribulation marking the end of a cosmic cycle]... such an existence..."

Xander Qian [Qian Xuande] shook his head, holding up five fingers. "Within the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast realm of immortal cultivation], legend says there are no more than the fingers on one hand—a mere five—such Ancient Immortal [immortals from a bygone era]."

"This old man once barely survived a Great Tribulation [a major cosmic calamity] by sheer luck. I relied on a favor owed to my ancestors and the protection of an Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to the mortal world] senior to scrape through."

Calligraphy Qian could not help but feel a chill run down his spine, his voice filled with utter horror as he said, "This calamity is so terrifying, yet we Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and attained immortality] cannot live in carefree freedom?"

"Yet, it is not entirely so." The old immortal nodded slightly, stroking his long beard as he continued, "Under the great calamity, the multitude of immortals return to the heavens, their forms dissolving. This is the natural cycle ordained by heaven and earth."

"However, within the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial or disaster], opportunities to attain the Great Path also manifest."

"Do you know that within this world, there is also the concept of a Tribulation Immortal [an immortal who has survived a Great Tribulation]?"

"A Tribulation Immortal?"

Calligraphy Qian was momentarily stunned, a look of astonishment crossing his face.

That Xander Qian smiled faintly, stroking his beard with a hint of pride as he said, "A Great Tribulation [a world-shaking heavenly calamity] occurs once every million years. If measured by Tribulation, this old man can barely be considered a One-Tribulation Immortal."

"Do not underestimate a One-Tribulation Immortal. An immortal who has survived a single Immortal Domain [a realm or world inhabited by immortals] Great Tribulation must possess a cultivation base of at least the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm]."

"Such an existence has cultivated for a million years, further empowered by the opportunities granted by the Great Tribulation. Their strength far surpasses that of other immortals at the same realm."

Calligraphy Qian was utterly astounded. He could not help but take a deep breath and ask, "Beyond the One-Tribulation Immortal, could there be even more ancient beings?"

"That is as it should be."

Xander Qian gave a slight nod, his gaze turning distant and profound as he looked towards the direction of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land. "Within that Lingering Sun Blessed Land, legend speaks of an ancient immortal who has lived for five million years."

"Such a Five Tribulations Immortal, having weathered five Great Tribulation [cosmic trials that reshape fate and grant profound opportunities] and received their corresponding boons, is likely not far from the Earth Immortal Realm [a realm of profound power and longevity, a major milestone for cultivators]."

"Although such an existence has not yet fully ascended to become an Earth Immortal, they have in truth already transcended the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the standard realm for ascended immortals]. It is pointless to elaborate further to you."

Having said this, Xander Qian spoke no more on the matter.

He cast a glance towards the Crimson Dragon Sea and then spoke. "By my reckoning, the next Great Tribulation is not far off."

"I observed that the Returning Abyss Path Master [a title for a master of a specific cultivation path] is wreathed in an aura of Light of Merit [a visible manifestation of accumulated good karma and virtuous deeds], suggesting a person of pure character. Furthermore, his innate talent and latent potential are truly Extraordinary."

"Forging good relations with him would provide mutual support during the coming Great Tribulation."

"If, one day, he can break through to the Earth Immortal Realm, he might even be capable of sheltering us through the Great Tribulation. Then, we too could partake in the tribulation's boon and perhaps grasp a sliver of hope to achieve the Earth Immortal realm ourselves." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at (audio-novel.com).