Chapter 1190 : The Weight of a Dao Fruit

"There have been quite a few minor matters."

Verdant Consort spoke, then smiled and said, "Three hundred years ago, Ethan ascended to the Immortal Realm. Five hundred years before that, Chen Zuxuan had already achieved Ascending to Immortality."

"Did Ethan succeed in cultivating three Dao Fruit?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes gleamed faintly as he couldn't help but inquire.

Back when Eldrin Chen descended to the mortal realm, he had left behind precious opportunities for Ethan Chen to achieve his Dao.

Ethan Chen did not disappoint expectations. Merely a Millennium later, he had already mastered the Law of Life and Death and forged the Cycle of Life and Death Immortal Physique.

Yet, for nearly ten thousand years thereafter, Ethan Chen never ascended, all for the sake of condensing a Supreme Dao Fruit.

Now that Ethan Chen had ascended, Eldrin Chen couldn't help but wonder.

Contrary to expectations, however, Verdant Consort shook her head regretfully and said with a bitter smile, "This time, Ethan's ascension was forced. He failed in his attempt to forcibly condense a Dao Fruit and could no longer suppress his own Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and stable cultivation base accumulated over time], leaving him with no choice but to ascend."

"Alas..." Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.

Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh, unable to hold back a murmur of regret. "After thirty thousand years of cultivation, Ethan ultimately fell short at the critical final step. To remedy this deficiency in the future will be a challenge of monumental difficulty."

Having said that, Eldrin Chen spoke again. "That child Zuxuan managed to break through to the Ascendant Immortal realm. This is indeed a joyous occasion for our clan."

"Have him go to the Clan Treasury and select one Immortal Treasure [a supreme-grade enchanted artifact forged by or for an Immortal]. Consider it the clan's reward for his achievement."

Verdant Consort gave a slight nod, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "That is the established custom. I understand."

Over these past eight Millennium, Eldrin Chen passed his time in secluded cultivation. Yet, significant changes had unfolded within both the Abyssal Alliance and the Chen Clan itself.

The newly ascended Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and attained a higher state of existence] were numerous, extending beyond just Ethan Chen and Chen Zuxuan.

From the lower realms alone, those who had ascended included the Frost Drake Demon Progenitor, along with several others such as Taibai Jiang and Xuan Qingyi.

Among the ten old acquaintances Eldrin Chen had brought with him in years past, three—Caspian Chen, Alistair Lu, and Lana Gu—had already succeeded in Ascending to Immortality.

Among them, Caspian Chen, having cultivated the Three Talents Dao Body [a rare constitution harmonizing the powers of Heaven, Earth, and Man] into an Immortal Physique, had also comprehended the Triad Law Power [a profound power derived from understanding a fundamental law of the cosmos]. He was now a prodigy blessed with Dual Dao Fruits [the rare achievement of cultivating two complementary Dao Fruits, representing mastery over two fundamental principles].

Alistair Lu had perfected his Four Symbols Dao Body [a constitution aligned with the four celestial beasts: Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise] and meticulously refined the Four Symbols Law Power. His strength ranked among the very pinnacle even within the realm of those possessing Dual Dao Fruits.

Lana Gu, who possesses the Tri-Yin Body [a rare constitution aligned with the three yin forces], has also mastered the Profound Yin Law [a profound divine ability harnessing the power of deep yin]. Under Lyra Jiang's meticulous guidance, she has successfully cultivated Dual Dao Fruits [a pinnacle cultivation achievement signifying mastery over two distinct Dao paths].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "And what of the others? How do their situations stand now?"

Verdant Consort's gaze flickered slightly before she spoke, "Freya Ji has fully perfected her Profound Yin Constitution [a supreme innate constitution of profound yin nature]. She wishes to borrow the power of the Heavenly Heart Jade [a legendary jade that aids in comprehending the profound truths of the heavens] to Comprehending Laws [a state of deep meditation and enlightenment to grasp the fundamental laws of existence]."

"Freya Ji?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Freya Ji was Lyra Jiang's longtime friend, and the bond between them ran deep.

Moreover, with her foundation in the Immortal Physique [a peerless physical constitution that paves the way for ascension], Freya Ji could Ascending to Immortality [transcend mortality and ascend to the immortal realm] at any time. Therefore, whether viewed from the depth of their friendship or from her own prodigious talent, she was undoubtedly worthy of investment.

Having considered this, Eldrin Chen declared, "She may borrow the Heavenly Heart Jade to contemplate the Dao for a Millennium [a period of one thousand years]. Furthermore, I shall gift her one Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] of Immortal Grade Ancient Enlightenment Tea [a legendary tea of the highest grade that greatly enhances enlightenment and spiritual insight]. Whether she succeeds will then depend entirely on her own Creation [destiny, fortune, or the favor of heaven]."

"Understood."

Verdant Consort gave a slight nod upon hearing this, though a sigh of deep emotion [a feeling of profound sentiment, often mixed with admiration and reflection] stirred within her heart.

The Heavenly Heart Jade was one matter—after all, it could be retrieved once its purpose was served. But the Enlightenment Tea [a rare spiritual tea that aids in achieving states of profound understanding] was exceedingly precious.

The Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree of the current Chen Immortal Clan yields only one Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] of Ancient Tea of Enlightenment every Millennium [a period of one thousand years]. With so many Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] in the clan needing it for Comprehending Laws [the profound act of understanding the fundamental principles of the Dao], this is the absolute limit.

Allocating one Jin-weight is already the maximum possible, and it will likely require Eldrin Chen to supplement it from his own resources.

Eldrin Chen discerned the expression on Verdant Consort's face and understood her thoughts. He spoke, "Ascending to Immortality [the critical breakthrough to the Immortal Realm] is a monumental threshold, one that will determine the ceiling of her future achievements."

"To offer our full support now is to provide charcoal in snowy weather [to give aid in a time of desperate need]. Any assistance given later would merely be adding flowers to brocade [a superficial enhancement when success is already assured]."

Only then did Verdant Consort nod, though a wry smile touched her lips. "Dorian Ji and Maris the Sea Steader are also preparing to attempt the breakthrough once more."

At the mention of the two, a slight frown creased Eldrin Chen's brow. The complete novel can be found at audio–novel.com.

While Dorian Ji and Maris the Sea Steader possessed talent considered exceptional within the Purple Realm, among the ranks of Nascent Soul Dao Lord [powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage who have comprehended a Dao], they were merely ordinary.

Given their current strength, their chances of successfully breaking through to the Ascension to Immortality Realm likely did not exceed one in ten.

Over the years, with Eldrin Chen's support, the two had attempted the Ascension to Immortality Realm three times, yet each time they had fallen just half a step short.

Each failed attempt at Ascendant Immortal [the initial stage of the Immortal Realm] requires a recovery period of three Millennium [three thousand years]. Now, their lifespans have already surpassed three such cycles.

At fifteen thousand years of age, he had only one final opportunity left to attempt a breakthrough to the Ascendant Immortal [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, a step below true divinity].

Aside from these two, the prospects for Elara Lin and Seraphina Su were even more bleak.

Between the two of them, Elara Lin possessed a Deep-Seated Foundation [the spiritual and physical groundwork of a cultivator] that was inherently shallow; she had barely managed to advance into the Half-Immortal Realm [a transitional state between mortal and immortal cultivation].

As for Seraphina Su, she had only just reached the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul [the ninth and final stage of the Nascent Soul realm]. Despite Eldrin Chen's continuous support, her path to Ascending to Immortality [the ultimate goal of transcending mortality] remained fraught with immense difficulty.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed and said, "Have them come to my Cultivation Cave [a secluded chamber for meditation and spiritual practice]. I wish to see them."

"Understood."

Verdant Consort gave a slight nod and rose to depart from the Cultivation Cave.

Not long after, Dorian Ji, Maris the Sea Steader, Elara Lin, and Seraphina Su all arrived within the Cultivation Cave.

After exchanging greetings, Eldrin Chen swept his gaze over the group before inquiring, "In recent years, each of you has attempted to assail the Ascension to Immortality Realm [the tribulation and process of becoming an immortal] on multiple occasions. What have been your impressions?"

The group was momentarily taken aback. Dorian Ji was the first to speak. "Throughout these years, I have repeatedly sought to grasp the power of Comprehending Laws [the profound art of understanding the fundamental principles of reality]. Yet, I have always found myself half a step short."

"Alas," Maris the Sea Steader sighed, his voice tinged with bitterness. "This old man's foundation is shallow and weak. I have squandered the Incense Fire Celestial Silver [a rare celestial metal that aids in cultivation breakthroughs] and the Ascension Treasure Pill [a precious elixir that increases the chance of ascending to immortality]."

Hearing their lamentations, Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh inwardly as well.

The matter of Ascending to Immortality [the final step of cultivation, transcending mortality to become an immortal] was a case of 'easy for those who know, impossible for those who don't.' For Eldrin Chen, Comprehending Laws [the profound understanding of the fundamental principles of the cosmos] was as simple as examining the lines on his own palm.

Yet not everyone possessed their level of innate talent. Both Dorian Ji and Maris the Sea Steader fell just half a step short in terms of their Deep-Seated Foundation [the fundamental quality and depth of a cultivator's spiritual base].

The Incense Fire Celestial Silver and Immortal Treasures [powerful artifacts used by cultivators, often with miraculous properties] that Eldrin Chen had gifted them were enough to increase an adequately talented cultivator's chance of becoming an Ascendant Immortal [an immortal who has successfully ascended] by thirty to forty percent. Yet for these two, the boost likely did not even reach ten percent.

Even so, Eldrin Chen remained utterly composed.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke calmly. "The potential of your Deep-Seated Foundation in this lifetime has reached its limit. To attempt Ascending to Immortality now would be fraught with near-impossible difficulty. The only path forward is to rebuild your foundation from the ground up, to transcend and surpass it before you can form your Dao Fruit [the crystallization of a cultivator's understanding of the Dao, a prerequisite for immortality]."

"Oh?"

His words gave everyone present a slight start.

Dorian Ji could not help but draw a deep breath before asking, "Please, enlighten us."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then cast forth four beams of spiritual light that fell into the hands of Dorian Ji, Maris the Sea Steader, and the other two.

The four took them and looked, their expressions momentarily freezing before transforming into ones of ecstatic joy.

The cultivation art Eldrin Chen had bestowed upon the two was named the Abyssal Nirvana Method. It was a supreme method he had created over the years by referencing the Crimson Dragon Nirvana Art.

This method surpassed its predecessor, a true Supreme Immortal Method [the highest grade of cultivation arts, capable of leading one to immortality].

To cultivate it, one must find a supreme treasure capable of nurturing a Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]. One's True Spirit [the refined essence of one's soul and consciousness] is then anchored upon it, forming a Next Life Embryo Dao Fruit [a nascent Dao Fruit that serves as the seed for a future life].

Thereafter, one's lifetime of cultivation, even one's flesh, blood, and soul essence, serve as nourishment to feed this new embryo.

Once the new embryo fully matures, one can shed the constraints of their former foundation and be reborn into a new Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path and comprehension of the Dao], potentially even surpassing their previous life's power.

Since its creation by Eldrin Chen, this method had been kept secret, for he was unwilling to reveal it.

The fundamental reason was that this method transcended the Six Paths of Reincarnation [the cosmic cycle of death and rebirth] and violated the cyclical Great Dao [the fundamental principle or natural order of the universe]. Cultivating it would inevitably attract terrifying tribulations.

Now, seeing that the others had little hope of Ascending to Immortality [transcending mortality and achieving immortality], he could no longer hold back from presenting it. Continue reading this story at audio—novel.com.