Chapter 1121 : An Invitation from Wind Mist Island

After reading the invitation, Eldrin Chen set it down with a thoughtful expression.

Noticing the shift in his demeanor, Exquisite Jiang who was beside him inquired, "Whose invitation is it?"

"It was sent from Wind Mist Island,"

Eldrin Chen replied calmly, handing the letter to Exquisite Jiang. The missive was indeed an invitation from Wind Mist Island.

After perusing it, Exquisite Jiang's eyes flickered slightly. "Back then, Heaven Wind Immortal obtained the Jade Marrow Golden Core [a supreme-grade elixir for advancing one's cultivation] and immediately went into seclusion to attempt his breakthrough to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and final stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm, just below the Earth Immortal realm]."

"Now that his Great Completion Immortal Body [a perfected physical constitution achieved through advanced cultivation] has reached perfection, this success was well within expectations."

"Indeed,"

Eldrin Chen nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "My interactions with Heaven Wind Immortal have been few, yet he has always shown genuine sincerity. He even advised me against getting involved in the Earth Immortal Tribulation [the heavenly trial one must undergo to ascend from Ascendant Immortal to Earth Immortal] at the Lingering Sun Blessed Land."

"From what I can see, his character is commendable. He seems like someone worth befriending."

"Hmm." Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod of agreement, then said with a smile, "In that case, you should prepare a suitable gift and journey to Wind Mist Island to attend his celebration banquet for this breakthrough." Experience the full epic at (audio-novel.com).

"I share that thought."

Eldrin Chen nodded calmly and then spoke, "In recent years, I have refined several vials of Immortal Pill [a supreme-grade pill that can significantly aid an immortal's cultivation]. I shall send two of them as a gift this time."

"..."

If one were to look across the vast expanse of the Boundless Immortal Domain, perhaps Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and ascended to immortality] would not be a rare sight.

Yet, within seas like the Crimson Dragon Sea or the Lingering Sun Sea, Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and ascended to immortality] are still beings of renown, their numbers finite and known.

Currently, the total number of Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and ascended to immortality] in the entire Crimson Dragon Sea does not exceed thirty. The Lingering Sun Sea Region has not experienced a major Tribulation [a catastrophic heavenly trial or calamity] for nearly a million years, so its immortal population is somewhat larger, yet still numbers fewer than two hundred.

And among these Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and ascended to immortality], those who have reached the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the pinnacle of the Ascendant Immortal realm, the final step before the next major breakthrough] are exceedingly rare.

The Crimson Dragon Sea currently has only Crimson Dragon Child at that level. The Lingering Sun Sea has a few more, but aside from the Lingering Sun Blessed Land, there are merely two others who have attained the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the pinnacle of the Ascendant Immortal realm].

Thus, Heaven Wind Path Master's recent breakthrough to the Ascendant Immortal Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the pinnacle of the Ascendant Immortal realm] has made him the third Great Perfection of the Ascendant Immortal Realm [one who has reached the absolute peak of the Ascendant Immortal realm] outside the Lingering Sun Blessed Land, placing him squarely in the limelight.

Not only did the major Immortal Clan [powerful families with immortal ancestors] from the Lingering Sun Blessed Land come to offer congratulations, but even the Lingering Sun Blessed Land itself dispatched an Elder to attend the celebration banquet.

At this moment, within Wind Mist Island, Heaven Wind Path Master greeted the assembled Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] with a beaming smile.

Times had changed. After his breakthrough to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier, the strength of his Immortal Body [a cultivator's physical form refined to an immortal state] and his spiritual power had increased by at least half.

A Great Completion Immortal Body [an Immortal Body perfected to its ultimate state] could be described as nearly Immortality [the state of being unkillable and eternal] and Indestructibility [utterly impervious to harm]. Even a Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of becoming an Earth Immortal] would find it exceedingly difficult to slay him, and two or three ordinary Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [cultivators at the final stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm] were no longer his match.

Fellow cultivators who had once treated him as an equal now unconsciously felt a step beneath him in his presence.

Yet, despite being the center of this adulation, a trace of solemnity lay hidden deep within Heaven Wind Path Master's gaze, as if he harbored some unspoken worry, or perhaps was waiting for something.

An indeterminate amount of time passed before a streak of light shot across the sky.

The arrival was a vessel wreathed in crimson flames, the Crimson Flame Feather Boat [a flying treasure shaped like a feather and imbued with fire]. It halted just before the Immortal Isles [floating islands inhabited by immortals], and from it stepped a figure clad in robes as white as snow.

"Fellow Cultivator Eldrin."

The moment he saw the newcomer, Heaven Wind Path Master's face broke into a genuine smile, and he promptly rose to greet him.

As Heaven Wind Path Master approached, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and presented a Treasure Box [a container for storing precious items]. "Several millennia have passed, Elder Brother. To see your Immortal Body [a cultivator's physical form refined to an immortal state] reach perfection is truly a cause for celebration."

"I have prepared a modest gift for this occasion, and I must insist you accept it, Fellow Daoist."

Heaven Wind Path Master accepted the Treasure Box. Without opening it, his divine sense instantly swept through the treasures within, and his expression shifted with emotion. "Your gift, Worthy Brother, is far too precious," he said.

"It is of no consequence," Eldrin Chen shook his head with a smile. "As fellow alchemists, we both know that refining one or two low-grade Immortal Pill [a pill of immense spiritual potency used by Immortals] is not overly difficult."

Heaven Wind Path Master nodded, then shook his head again. "Still, it is far too precious. I shall accept the gift, and in the future, when you have a joyous occasion, I shall not be stingy with my resources."

Eldrin Chen chuckled, teasing him. "Last time, Elder Brother said you had a large family to support and squeezed every last drop of Immortal Source [a concentrated source of immortal-grade spiritual energy] from my pockets. Today, you've become quite generous."

Heaven Wind Immortal replied, "Business is business, and favors are favors. They are separate matters." This chapter is provided by audio_novel.com. Support the original.

At this point, Heaven Wind Path Master paused. "I had just emerged from seclusion when I heard you slew the Crimson Flame Divine Eagle Emperor and seized nearly half of the Celestial Sand Archipelago."

"Your methods, Worthy Brother, truly make me see you in a new light."

Heaven Wind Path Master continued the conversation, exchanging pleasantries with Eldrin Chen for a short while before leading him into the heart of Wind Mist Island.

At this moment, Wind Mist Island was already gathered with over twenty Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation]. Most were close friends of Heaven Wind Path Master or other Immortal from the Lingering Sun Sea Region.

Eldrin Chen scanned his surroundings and soon spotted his friend Xander Qian. Seizing an opportunity, he approached and greeted him.

"How have you been lately, Brother Qian?"

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, Xander Qian gave him a deep, searching look.

He did not answer immediately. Instead, he pulled Eldrin Chen aside into a secluded corner. Only then did he speak, his expression tinged with a sigh. "I recognized long ago that you were no ordinary talent confined to a small pond."

"Yet I never imagined that in just a few thousand years, you would carve out your own domain within the Crimson Dragon Sea and even slay the Crimson Flame Divine Eagle Emperor."

At this point, Xander Qian's expression turned gravely serious. "However, heed an old friend's advice. As the saying goes, 'what is too rigid breaks easily.' There are times when you should sheath your sharp edge [metaphorical for one's talents and ambition]."

"You must be cautious!"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly. With a hint of hesitation, he asked, "To what, Fellow Daoist, are you referring?"

Xander Qian did not answer directly but instead transmitted a secret message [a method of private mental communication used by cultivators]. "This Immortal Domain is vast and boundless, home to countless extraordinary individuals. Yet, possessing talent does not guarantee great achievement."

"You must understand that the established powers ruling these seas may not tolerate the birth of a new Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a realm of profound spiritual energy, often the foundation for a powerful cultivation lineage]."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's gaze turned slightly cold.

He had a vague suspicion that what Xander Qian was referring to was the Lingering Sun Blessed Land, the overlord of the Lingering Sun Sea.

Thinking of this, his expression grew solemn, and he sent a silent voice transmission: "I would appreciate your guidance, Fellow Daoist."

"Guidance is too strong a word,"

Xander Qian shook his head, continuing the transmission. "It might be wise to temporarily sheath your edge. The longer Crimson Dragon Child can remain, the better."

"I understand,"

Eldrin Chen nodded, offering a cupped-fist salute of thanks to Xander Qian.

With that, the two said no more on the matter.

The grand immortal banquet lasted a full nine days. Host and guests alike reveled in the festivities, and it was only after those nine days that the assembly gradually began to disperse.

As Eldrin Chen prepared to take his leave, he was detained privately by Heaven Wind Path Master.

After the others had departed, the Heaven Wind Path Master finally led Eldrin Chen to a secluded cave abode.

Before Eldrin Chen could voice his confusion, the Heaven Wind Path Master asked with a smile, "I observed that you are on good terms with Xander Qian. He must have said something to you when you met earlier."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, but he offered no reply.

What Xander Qian had implied, hinting at the Lingering Sun Blessed Land, was not something to be spoken of lightly.

Seeing this, the Heaven Wind Path Master merely smiled faintly and said, "Even if you do not speak, I can guess what Xander Qian told you."

"Did he advise you to sheath your brilliance, to conceal yourself and bide your time for the right moment?" This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel-dot-com.