Chapter 1146 : Ancestral Reunion in the Netherworld

He descended along the The Vast Sea and soon arrived within the Netherworld Underworld [the realm of the dead and departed spirits], where he beheld Qing the Ancient Ancestor, whom he had not seen for many years.

After the passage of so many years, Qing the Ancient Ancestor appeared vastly different from his former self.

Clad now in robes of imperial azure and crowned with the Netherworld [the underworld] diadem, he was wreathed in an aura of Netherworld Qi [the cold, yin-aligned spiritual energy of the underworld], his presence as majestic and imposing as a true Netherworld Imperial Lord [a sovereign ruler of the underworld].

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, Qing the Ancient Ancestor smiled and said, "A mere ten thousand years have passed, yet I find you more inscrutable than ever."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then spoke with earnest gravity, "Shrouded in Netherworld Qi, you, Ancient Ancestor, already possess the bearing of a Yin Lord [a lord governing the forces of yin and the underworld]."

"You flatter me," the Ancient Ancestor demurred.

Qing the Ancient Ancestor let out a sigh, a wry smile touching his lips. "Sheltered by the fortune of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial], this old man has barely weathered several mortal perils."

"Yet the next death-trial... I fear I may not withstand it."

Hearing this, a faint crease appeared between Eldrin Chen's brows.

In years past, Qing the Ancient Ancestor had chosen the path of the Ghost Immortal [an immortal who cultivates through the ghost or spirit path]. Within the Purple Realm, he had forged an incomplete Netherworld Underworld, receiving the worship and spiritual sustenance of the entire realm. His cultivation had thus advanced by leaps and bounds. Join our community of readers at audio-novel . com.

Though his power had not yet reached the realm of Ascending to Immortality [the final ascension to become a true immortal], he had already attained the Quasi-Immortal Domain [a state bordering on true immortality]. He stood but a single step away from breaking through to Ghost Immortal [an immortal state achieved by a ghost cultivator]. In a certain sense, Qing the Ancient Ancestor could even be considered the foremost figure in the Purple Realm at present.

However, a Ghost Cultivator [a cultivator who follows the path of spectral energy] practicing in the world of the living faces a minor tribulation every three hundred years, a Great Tribulation [a major, life-threatening heavenly trial] every Millennium [one thousand years], and a death tribulation every three Millennium.

Each death tribulation grows more terrifying than the last. Qing the Ancient Ancestor had managed to survive several of them, relying on the karmic fortune gained from participating in quelling great calamities, and, after the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, on the vast quantity of Pure Yin Demonic Treasure [demonic artifacts imbued with pure Yin energy] that Eldrin Chen had entrusted to him.

To survive these successive death tribulations, nearly eight or nine out of ten of his Demonic Treasure [powerful artifacts used by demonic cultivators] had been destroyed.

Now, as the tribulations grew ever more dreadful, he no longer had the confidence to survive the next one.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Why not accompany me to the Immortal Realm? I shall escort you into the depths of the Netherworld Underworld [the underworld within the Netherworld, a realm of the dead]. Seize the opportunity to establish your own Netherworld Underworld there. What say you?"

"This..."

Qing the Ancient Ancestor was momentarily taken aback. After a pause, he nodded. "Your words hold wisdom. Rather than awaiting death in the world of the living, it is better to venture into the Immortal Realm and gamble for a chance in the Netherworld [the vast realm of spirits and the dead]."

Establishing a family-specific Netherworld Underworld within the Netherworld had always been part of Eldrin Chen's long-term plans.

Once such a Netherworld domain was established, future clansmen of the Chen Immortal Clan who met their end could undergo the Reincarnation Tribulation [the trial to be reborn into a new life] directly from their own family's Yin Lord Underworld [an underworld domain ruled by a Yin Lord, a master of deathly energies].

After all, if there were people within the Netherworld [the underworld realm of the dead], sending a departed friend from the Netherworld into Reincarnation [the cycle of rebirth] without passing through another's hands would ultimately be more reassuring.

Seeing Qing the Ancient Ancestor agree, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and said, "Then the seventh slot for ascension to immortality shall be reserved for you, Ancient Ancestor."

Emerging from the depths beneath the earth, Eldrin Chen did not linger. He journeyed directly into the heart of the Eastern Wastes Blood Sea.

Arriving within the Blood Sea after many years, Eldrin Chen found the subterranean Blood Spring had grown much clearer.

He flew to the very core of the Blood Sea. There, he beheld a hazy golden radiance, and at its heart, a strand of Pure Yang Radiance [a divine light of utmost purity and yang energy] was slowly taking form.

It was a light of supreme purity and yang essence, seemingly engaged in an unceasing, day-and-night purification of the subterranean Blood Sea.

"Oh, foolish child!"

Gazing upon this radiance, Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh.

Long ago, when Eldrin Chen laid down the grand formation within the Blood Sea, his purpose was to reconstruct the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] for Sylas Ye.

Yet, even as it gestated, this wisp of Sylas Ye's Primordial Spirit continued ceaselessly to emanate Pure Yang Radiance, refining and purifying the Blood Sea.

Such consumption of Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] power significantly slowed the speed of Sylas Ye's recovery. It remained unknown how many more years would be required for him to fully awaken.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed softly. From his sleeve, he retrieved a radiant, crystalline stone and refined it, merging it into that flickering Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] light.

This crystal was known as Pure Yang Immortal Metal [a divine metal imbued with the pure essence of the sun]. It was an Immortal Treasures [a treasure of the highest grade, used by immortal beings] that Eldrin Chen had procured from Verdant Spirit Ancient Star, and it was the most suitable treasure for one with a Pure Yang Constitution [a rare physique perfectly aligned with the pure, untainted energy of the sun].

By bestowing it upon Sylas Ye, Eldrin Chen intended to aid him in swiftly refining the Blood Sea [a vast, malevolent ocean of corrupted blood and demonic energy].

As the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] radiance absorbed the Pure Yang Immortal Metal [a divine metal imbued with the pure essence of the sun], its brilliance indeed intensified severalfold. The rate at which it purified the Blood Sea [a vast, malevolent ocean of corrupted blood and demonic energy] increased dramatically.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen gave a satisfied nod. With the assistance of the Pure Yang Immortal Metal [a divine metal imbued with the pure essence of the sun], Sylas Ye would be able to completely dissolve the Blood Sea [a vast, malevolent ocean of corrupted blood and demonic energy] within thirty thousand years, achieving Merit Perfection [the state of having accumulated supreme virtue and flawless karma] and Ascending to Immortality [transcending mortality to become an immortal being]. Original publication: audio—novel.com - The source of this chapter.

This was the path of an unparalleled Great Merit Immortal [an immortal whose ascension is founded upon the accumulation of immense virtue and world-saving deeds]. Once successful, he would be blessed with immense karmic merit. Combined with Sylas Ye's innate talent, his future prospects would be truly boundless.

Having completed this task, Eldrin Chen departed from the Netherworld Blood Spring [a sinister spring of blood connected to the underworld] and journeyed deeper into the heart of the Extreme Northern Ice Plains.

Not long after, deep within the Extreme Northern Ice Plains, he found his way into the heart of the Eternal Glacier [an ancient, unmelting river of ice].

A myriad of years had passed since his last visit. Standing once more upon the shores of the Supreme Profound Ice Pool [a pool of ice containing profound and ancient mysteries], Eldrin Chen sought out and found the Primordial Ice Silkworm [an ancient, mythical creature born of primordial ice and cold].

Having slumbered for many years, the Primordial Ice Silkworm [a primordial creature of ice and silk] seemed to have recovered. Sensing Eldrin Chen's arrival, she stirred from her icy seal.

Though she had not yet broken free from the ice, she was already capable of communication, and a gentle voice resonated forth.

"Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator], you are truly a peerless talent rarely seen across the ages. To think that in merely ten thousand years, you have already cultivated to the Mid Ascendant Immortal Realm [the middle stage of the Ascendant Immortal cultivation realm]."

"It was merely a matter of encountering some fortuitous opportunities," Eldrin Chen replied with a calm tone, though a flicker of surprise shone in his eyes. "Yet, I perceive that you, Fellow Daoist, possess an extraordinary origin."

By now, Eldrin Chen's vision and experience far surpassed what they had been in the past.

When he first met the Primordial Ice Silkworm, he had merely sensed she was a Mythical Immortal Seed [a being with the innate potential to become an immortal]. But now, gazing upon her, Eldrin Chen discerned something far more profound.

Within the Primordial Ice Silkworm's body flowed a faint, almost imperceptible strand of power from the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality]. Yet, it seemed to have suffered a grievous wound, now shattered nearly to oblivion.

Perceiving Eldrin Chen's astonishment, the Primordial Ice Silkworm knew she could not conceal the truth from his discerning gaze and thus began to speak.

"I was originally an Immortal Silkworm from the Frigid Immortal Domain [a realm of eternal frost within the Immortal World]. Once, I too cultivated to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [a realm just shy of becoming a true Earth Immortal], serving as an immortal insect raised by my master."

Her voice, though gentle, carried the weight of forgotten eons and a glory now dimmed.

"Approximately several hundred thousand years ago, my master was pursued by a formidable enemy. I was grievously wounded and on the brink of death. To ensure my safety, my master brought me into the Purple Realm [a mystical plane of existence] to hide from the foes of that era."

"I thought that after descending to this lower realm, safety would be assured. I never imagined we would encounter the Purple Realm's Fall Tribulation [a cataclysmic event marking the decline of the Purple Realm]."

As it spoke of this, the Primordial Ice Silkworm [an ancient, glacial insect of immense power] revealed a bitter smile.

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered with surprise, and he couldn't help but ask, "Who was your master?"

"The Heavenly Mountain Goddess [a divine being of immense power and grace],"

replied the Primordial Ice Silkworm, its voice tinged with reverence.

Eldrin Chen was taken aback. "You, a being at the Half-Step Earth Immortal [a realm just shy of becoming an Earth Immortal], were merely the pet of the Heavenly Mountain Goddess?"

"Indeed, it is so."

The Primordial Ice Silkworm nodded, its tone filled with profound admiration. "My master is an Ancient Immortal [an immortal from the earliest epochs] who underwent Nirvana [a profound rebirth or enlightenment]. She was the very first Snow Lotus [a mystical, spiritually potent flower] to bloom at the dawn of the Purple Realm's creation, a contemporary of figures like the Purple Ancient Ancestor."

"In her previous life, she had already cultivated to the Heaven Immortal Realm [a lofty immortal realm]. After her Nirvana, her talent naturally became peerless and transcendent."

"Ever since her ascension to the Frigid Immortal Domain [a realm of immortals characterized by eternal cold and profound mysteries] six hundred thousand years ago, she broke through to the Earth Immortal [an immortal realm signifying a profound connection to the world's foundational energies] in a mere one hundred thousand years. Even within the vastness of the Frigid Immortal Domain, she is considered a peerless genius of the first order."

"Although she may not yet rival the legendary Purple Immortal Lord [a title of immense prestige and power among the celestial ranks], her prospects for advancing to Heaven Immortal [a higher immortal realm closer to the heavenly dao] and reclaiming her former pinnacle of power in the future remain substantial." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel . com.