Chapter 1156 : A Taste of Immortal Delicacies

Even for an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation], these superior Immortal Artifacts [objects of immense power and rarity, often used by Immortals] hold an immense allure.

In his youth, the naive Worthy Verdancy Chen once declared he would capture a True Dragon [a legendary, supremely powerful dragon species] for Eldrin Chen, to be skinned, its tendons extracted, and made into dragon stew as a filial offering. This illustrates how such delicacies are the stuff of dreams for countless Immortals.

However, True Dragons and Immortal Phoenixes [the True Dragon and the Immortal Phoenix, two of the most revered and powerful mythical beasts] are treasures beyond measure. Furthermore, they are backed by the formidable Dragon Clan and the Immortal Phoenix Clan, making them a meal most ordinary Immortals would not dare to partake of.

Aside from those Celestial Immortal Great Powers [powerful beings who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm], even Earth Immortal Patriarchs [Patriarchs who have reached the Earth Immortal realm] might go their entire lives without tasting such fare more than once or twice. And to avoid reprisal from the Dragon Clan, they would only consume it in secret.

In comparison, the Azure Dragon Fish [a rare fish said to possess a trace of dragon lineage] serves as the finest substitute for True Dragon flesh.

"This Azure Dragon Fish... it seems to have evolved from the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish [a spiritually infused fish species]," murmured Eldrin Chen, a wave of unexpected sentiment washing over him.

Eldrin Chen whispered to himself, a profound and unexpected sense of nostalgia stirring within his heart.

Both the Violet-Striped Goose [a spiritually significant goose with violet markings] and the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish were truly Extraordinary [remarkable and unique], having served the clan for over ten thousand years. Who could have imagined they would give rise to not one, but two Immortal Artifacts through their metamorphosis?

This left Eldrin Chen feeling a sense of disbelief, for such immortal seeds were exceedingly rare.

The Azure Dragon Fish is an extreme rarity even within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast realm inhabited by Immortals]; not even the depths of the Crimson Dragon Sea [a sea domain associated with crimson dragons] harbor such an Immortal Artifact. Continue reading this story at *audio-novel.com*.

He had only heard that in the past, the Crimson Dragon Patriarch had raised a Crimson Dragon fish, rumored also to be a pure-blooded dragon fish, but whether it was true remained unknown.

The Violet Lightning Azure Thunder was even rarer; perhaps within the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, there might not even be a wild one in existence.

"Perhaps this is simply Fortune,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then with a flick of his sleeve, he drew the Crimson Dragon fish and the Violet Lightning Azure Thunder into his palm.

Suddenly seized, the two Immortal Artifact were immediately thrown into a panic. The Azure Dragon Fish somersaulted a distance of one hundred eight thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], attempting to escape from Eldrin Chen's grasp.

But when it looked back, it found it had crashed headlong into Eldrin Chen's five fingers.

The Violet Lightning Azure Thunder transformed into a flash of lightning and fled, traversing several hundred thousand Li-lengths of mountains and rivers in an instant. Yet, even after flying until it was gasping for breath, it still could not see the edge of that palm.

Its spiritual intelligence was not high; it could not fathom the true depth of Eldrin Chen's cultivation. Yet, an instinctive understanding stirred within its soul.

"The vastness of heaven and earth is no match for the span of his hand."

Unable to escape, the two Immortal Artifact obeyed that primal instinct and immediately submitted within Eldrin Chen's palm.

Having obtained two rare Immortal Artifact [a supreme class of enchanted artifact], Eldrin Chen felt a surge of joy, yet he could not help but frown slightly.

Elevating mortals to the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence for ascended cultivators] was no simple feat; it demanded a significant price.

Not only did he need to purchase passage through the Void Gate [a mystical portal for interdimensional travel] and the Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instant transportation] for each individual, but he also had to personally ensure their safety throughout the perilous journey.

After all, a cultivator at the Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a master who has cultivated their spiritual core to a high level] attempting to use the Void Gate without the protection of an Immortal [an ascended being] would likely face soul-shattering annihilation.

This time, Eldrin Chen had brought the Crimson Plume Immortal Boat [a flying vessel adorned with phoenix feathers], and combined with his own Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and penultimate stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm] cultivation base, he could at most safeguard ten people on their ascent to the Immortal Realm.

Any more, and he could not guarantee everyone's safety.

"It seems the Violet Lightning Azure Thunder [a mythical beast embodying storm and thunder] and the Azure Dragon Fish [a celestial carp with the lineage of a dragon] will have to be entrusted to others for their ascension,"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then fell into deep contemplation.

When Eldrin Chen had ascended, he had brought his three dao-companions with him. It stood to reason that others from the Purple Seal Realm [his former home realm] might also possess the capability to bring mortals or mortal possessions along on their celestial journey.

However, facilitating such an ascent was no easy task. For an Immortal who had only attained a single Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's understanding of a particular Dao or law], the difficulty was immense. Only those of higher attainment, such as a Lord of the Path Palace [a master of a major cultivation institution] or a Kunpeng Demon Sage [a great sage of the mythical Kunpeng lineage], who possessed Dual Path Fruits [mastery over two fundamental laws] or more, would have the surplus power to safely shepherd mortal beings through the ascension.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen mused and said, "Then let us entrust this to Kael."

Kael Chen had cultivated three Path Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path] encompassing the Buddhist, Daoist, and Demonic paths, granting him a foundation comparable to that of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm].

Given his strength, it would certainly be sufficient for him to ascend to the Immortal Realm [the higher realm of immortals] while bringing along the Azure Dragon Fish and the Violet Lightning Azure Thunder [a mythical beast of violet lightning and azure thunder]. If he pushed his limits, he might even have enough power left to bring his Dao companion, Immortal Maiden Six Desires, along for the ascension.

"It would be too risky for him to bring three."

Eldrin Chen shook his head once more. When he had ascended, he had brought three Dao companions and even a few items from the Mortal Dust [the mortal world], and still possessed significant reserves of power.

However, Kael Chen's strength was ultimately inferior to his own back then. Bringing three beings from the Mortal Dust [the mortal world] would be far too perilous. This content originates from audio-novel.com. Please respect copyright.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen deliberated and said, "As for the remaining one, let us wait. If Eastern Sovereign Patriarch succeeds in his metamorphosis, we shall entrust it to him."

Holding this thought, Eldrin Chen stored away the Azure Dragon Fish and the Violet Lightning Azure Thunder [a mythical beast of violet lightning and azure thunder].

He did not linger within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire [a sea of eternal, imprisoning flames] for long. Instead, he journeyed westward, and before he knew it, he had traversed the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland [a desolate expanse spanning one hundred thousand Li-lengths].

After the passage of ten thousand years, the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland [a desolate expanse spanning one hundred thousand Li-lengths] had undergone a profound transformation.

Within, the once desolate wilderness had long since been fully cultivated into boundless fertile fields. Tens of billions of Chen Clan mortals thrived and prospered within them, their lives lived in contentment and ease.

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] suppressed his aura and entered a small town. He found countless children gathered in a square before their parents, their faces tense as if awaiting something momentous.

"What is this?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered with curiosity as he asked, "Why are so many young children gathered here?"

A nearby Middle-aged Man saw this and couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Young man, how long has it been since you last stepped outside? Have you forgotten that today is the annual day for testing Spiritual Root [the innate talent that determines one's potential for cultivation]?"

"Ah, is that so?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, then let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle.

He had been cultivating for over seventeen thousand years, and for more than sixteen thousand of those years, he had not involved himself in mortal affairs.

Matters like testing the clan's children for their Spiritual Root—he had only overseen such things a few times in his early years, after which he had handed the responsibility entirely to the clan Elders.

Later, as his cultivation base steadily advanced, his focus became wholly devoted to his own path of cultivation. Such mundane matters drifted further and further from his world.

Now, encountering such a situation again, he found himself momentarily unable to react.

Hearing him mention this matter now, Eldrin Chen felt long-buried memories stir, recalling the events of those bygone years.

He remembered how, during his first time testing the clan's Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual potential of a cultivator], he had slain the disciple of Zhang Old Demon and even seized the opportunity to completely eradicate the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use dark, often sacrificial, methods to gain power] presence in Pingyang City, eliminating a great threat for his family.

Back then, the siblings Caleb and Silas Chen were also personally rescued by Eldrin Chen.

Now, ten thousand years later, Caleb had long since fallen in battle at Desolate Demon Ridge, and even Silas Chen was left with only a wisp of a remnant soul.

"Time flows swift as an arrow, relentless and unforgiving," he murmured, a sigh escaping his lips.

Stirred by these memories, Eldrin Chen felt a profound wave of melancholy wash over him.

His thoughts turned to the Grand Elder Verdant Void Chen, then to the Second Elder Clear River Chen, the Third Elder Lior Chen, and finally the Fourth Elder Verdant Destiny Chen.

In those days, the Chen Clan was but a handful of members, facing the most desperate of hardships. Yet, they were bound together as one, every soul striving with all their might to help the family weather the storm.

Now, most of those old comrades had passed into memory. The Chen Clan had risen to become the foremost Immortal Clan [a clan whose members cultivate the path to immortality] in the Purple Seal Realm, yet it seemed to have lost a measure of its former warmth and kinship.

The later-generation Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivators mostly regarded Eldrin Chen with awe and reverence, their familial bonds with him not particularly deep.

As for the Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their nascent soul] cultivators, the distance between them and Eldrin Chen was immeasurably vast, making it impossible to regain the closeness of bygone years.

"Great clans inevitably reach this point," he mused.

This realization filled Eldrin Chen with a profound sense of melancholy, making him cherish the memories of his old companions from the past all the more. This chapter is provided by audio~novel.com. Support the original.