Chapter 1122 : Whispers of a Timeless Tribulation

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, yet he remained silent.

Seeing this, Skywind the Daoist could not help but shake his head and said, "This Xander Qian lacks sufficient ambition and acts with timidity. Even though he has now Ascended to Immortality [achieved the foundational state of an immortal being], I fear he will find it difficult to achieve great success."

"You should listen to, at most, only half of what he says."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly once more, yet his expression remained utterly impassive.

Witnessing this, Skywind the Daoist could only offer a bitter smile and said, "Do you know why Xander Qian, despite having survived a single Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests a cultivator's destiny], still possesses cultivation only at the Seventh Level of Immortal Ascension Realm?"

"This..."

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, a pensive expression settling upon his features.

Generally speaking, the vast majority of Human Race Immortals [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation], with a million years of arduous cultivation, would have sufficient time to reach the Seventh Level of Immortal Ascension Realm.

If one survives a Great Tribulation, blessed by the profound opportunities it bestows, advancing to the Eighth Level of Immortal Ascension Realm or even the ninth level should be well within reach. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel[dot]com.

Have you not seen that Six Stars Immortal has cultivated to the Eighth Level of Immortal Ascension Realm [the eighth major stage within the Immortal Ascension cultivation realm] in merely several hundred thousand years? This shows that for the Human Race, cultivation within the Ascension Immortal Realm [the realm of cultivation for ascended immortals] does not possess overly difficult bottlenecks.

Xander Qian has clearly weathered one Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests a cultivator's destiny and grants profound opportunities upon survival] and received its bestowed opportunities, yet his cultivation remains only at the Seventh Level of Immortal Ascension Realm. This outcome is somewhat unexpected to Eldrin Chen.

Noting Eldrin Chen's puzzled expression, Skywind the Daoist then explained, "This Xander Qian attained the Dao one million three hundred thousand years ago, and for one million two hundred ninety thousand of those years, he has been in secluded cultivation upon Verdant Rock Island."

"He pays no heed to matters beyond his window, focusing solely on his own serene cultivation. He never contends for opportunities; even if an Immortal Source [a source of pure, primordial energy vital for immortal cultivation] were unearthed at the foot of his mountain, he likely would not retrieve it."

"Over the span of one million three hundred thousand years, the cultivation resources he has obtained are fewer than what an ordinary Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] might gather in one hundred thousand years. His lifetime of cultivation progress has been achieved almost entirely through his own arduous and solitary practice."

Speaking to this point, Skywind the Daoist shook his head and offered his assessment: "He seeks stability far too much, yet on the path of immortality, there is no retreat from contention."

"When the Great Tribulation descends, how can he possibly remain 'stable'?"

Upon hearing this, a solemn expression settled upon Eldrin Chen's face.

Although he had never personally witnessed a Great Tribulation, he had heard tales of its terror. That Xander Qian survived his first Great Tribulation was likely only due to a favor owed to his ancestors, which secured him the protection of an Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is deeply connected to the earth and its energies]. Otherwise, he might not have passed through it.

Nevertheless, Eldrin Chen pondered and said, "Yet, the words of Fellow Daoist Qian are not entirely without merit. For my current self, perhaps there is use in sheathing one's edge [metaphor for concealing one's true strength and abilities to avoid unnecessary conflict] and avoiding formidable foes."

Skywind the Daoist [a powerful immortal cultivator] shook his head upon hearing this. He did not refute the point, but instead inquired, "Do you know why the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor [a legendary dragon progenitor] fell one hundred thousand years ago?"

"The Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor?"

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of astonishment crossing his features.

It was common knowledge throughout the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas [a vast region of interconnected seas and waterways] that one hundred thousand years prior, the Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor had perished while attempting a failed breakthrough into the Earth Immortal Realm [a profound realm of immortality tied to the earth]. The implication in Skywind the Daoist's words suggested there was more to the story—a hidden truth.

Seeing his reaction, Skywind the Daoist did not wait for Eldrin Chen to answer. His expression turned grave as he spoke with solemn weight:

"The Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor possessed the Celestial Immortal Aptitude [a supreme innate talent for the immortal path]. He cultivated for less than one million years, reaching the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage just before becoming a full Earth Immortal]. His power was such that he rivaled even a Five-Tribulation Immortal [an immortal who has survived five heavenly tribulations]."

"With a foundation like his, had he weathered one more Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial], his chances of successfully breaking through to become an Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is rooted in the essence of the world] would have been ninety-nine out of one hundred."

"So why would he take such a desperate risk, attempting his breakthrough a mere one hundred thousand years later?"

As Skywind the Daoist's narrative unfolded, Eldrin Chen's expression grew increasingly somber.

He pondered deeply for a long moment. A chilling possibility dawned on him, causing his pupils to contract sharply. "Was it... to avoid the Earth Immortal Great Tribulation of the 'Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor' [the Ancient Ancestor of the Setting Sun, a formidable figure]?"

"Exactly so!"

Skywind the Daoist nodded, then began to recount the tale in a measured tone: "Both possessed the strength of a five-tribulation Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has transcended mortality and attained a profound connection with the earth's spiritual veins]. Furthermore, the Crimson Dragon Sea borders the Setting Sun Sea."

"When the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that reshapes fate and tests the limits of cultivators] opens in fifty thousand years, if both were to attempt their Earth Immortal Great Tribulation simultaneously..."

"...they would inevitably become each other's destined calamity. That Crimson Dragon Scion lacked the backing of an Earth Immortal Progenitor [an Earth Immortal of immense age and power who has founded a lineage], so he had no choice but to settle for the lesser path and attempt his breakthrough into the Earth Immortal Realm ahead of time."

"So that was the reason."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a sudden clarity, as if a veil had been lifted. He now understood why the Crimson Dragon Scion had been so desperate to advance back then. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio‑novel.com.

If the Crimson Dragon Scion had not broken through prematurely, he would have stood little chance against the Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor, who was backed by the resources of the Setting Sun Blessed Land.

After all, his rival enjoyed the patronage of an Earth Immortal Progenitor. From the very beginning, their contest was never a fair one.

Thus, he chose to advance into the Earth Immortal Realm early, hoping to sidestep the Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor from the Setting Sun Blessed Land and carve out a path for myself to achieve the Earth Immortal realm.

"Yet in the end, he failed!"

Skywind the Daoist paused briefly, his gaze turning distant and profound as he spoke, "You must understand a principle: sometimes, it is not by holding back that your adversaries will cease to seek you out."

"Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor had planned for a full million years, envisioning Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor as his imagined great rival on the path to enlightenment, and was already seventy to eighty percent confident in his heart."

"By taking that step back, Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor lost a vital surge of his fighting spirit. Not only did his chances of a breakthrough diminish by thirty percent, but the calamities he faced did not lessen in the slightest."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding, grasping the reason behind Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor's decisive action.

After all, a Crimson Dragon at the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm was a treasure trove from head to tail. Its scales, Dragon Bone, horns, and Dragon Pearl were all prime materials for forging Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure.

Not to mention, this particular Crimson Dragon was on the cusp of breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm, caught in the most vulnerable moment of its entire existence—a time when it could be slain at the smallest cost.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke with dawning insight, "If it had waited until the Great Tribulation descended, a time when even an Earth Immortal Progenitor would not dare act lightly..."

"...and *then* Crimson Dragon Ancient Ancestor attempted its breakthrough, it might have truly grasped a sliver of life, a chance to transcend the tribulation and achieve the Dao."

"Precisely so."

Skywind the Daoist nodded, stroking his beard with a smile. "Cultivation is like sailing a boat against the current. We who aspire to become Immortal and contend for the Great Dao must be prepared to cut through thorns and brambles."

"In this old man's view, perpetual retreat and concession is a path that courts death."

"Only by continuously strengthening oneself and possessing power that compels others to take notice can one secure the longevity to gaze upon the ages."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement upon hearing this, yet his gaze held a knowing glint as he said, "You have shared so much with me, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator]. Surely it is not merely to unburden yourself of past events?"

"Hahaha."

Skywind the Daoist laughed heartily and spoke openly, "I knew I could not hide it from you."

Having been seen through by Eldrin Chen, Skywind the Daoist made no attempt at further concealment.

He laid down another layer of Restrictive Formation [a formation designed to block spiritual senses and sound], then spoke, "You obtained the method for refining the Jade Marrow Golden Pill [a high-grade cultivation elixir] from me, Fellow Daoist. Do you recall where I said I acquired that Pill Formula [the recipe for an alchemical pill]?"

"The Pill Formula for the Jade Marrow Golden Pill?"

Eldrin Chen paused for a brief moment, then could not help but ask, "You once said that Pill Formula was a fortuitous discovery from your early travels among the stars!"

"Could it be…"

"Exactly so!"

Skywind the Daoist confirmed with a nod, his expression turning gravely solemn as he spoke: "Six hundred thousand years ago, when I broke through to the Seventh Level of Immortal Ascension Realm, I once journeyed deep into the starry void."

"Back then, in the depths of the Boundless Starry Sky, I discovered a shattered Immortal Rank star. The Pill Formula for the Jade Marrow Golden Pill was obtained from within its ruins."

Speaking to this point, Skywind the Daoist's face grew even more severe. "That Immortal Rank star was fraught with immense peril; it seemed to be one of the ancient Zhou Heaven Stars [the primordial celestial bodies that form the cosmic matrix]. With my cultivation level at the time, I nearly lost my life there."

"Now that I have broken through to the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality, and feel my Immortal Physique [a cultivator's body refined to near-immortal perfection] has been cultivated to a state of nigh-indestructibility, I wish to make that journey once more." Find thousands of chapters at audi0-n0vel.c0m.