Chapter 1165 : The Price of Pure Light

To slay one who possesses the Pure Light of Merit [a visible manifestation of immense accumulated virtue and good karma] is to invite a grievous reduction of one's own Merit [the metaphysical currency of good fortune and destiny] and a surge of karmic retribution. Such an act ensures that any future attempt to cross the Great Tribulation [the ultimate heavenly trial for ascension] would be a desperate gamble with nine chances of death against one of survival.

This is because beings capable of condensing the Pure Light of Merit are exceedingly rare.

Within the Immortal Realm, many Earth Immortal Patriarch [powerful immortals anchored to the mortal world] may practice virtue for millions of years without necessarily cultivating even a few strands of the Pure Light of Merit.

That Eldrin Chen manifested three such strands after aiding the successful ascension of the Purple Seal Realm would surely be the envy of countless Earth Immortal Patriarch.

However, the Purple Seal Realm's ascension this time consumed a Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact [a peak-tier enchanted artifact of immortal grade] and a Stellar Primordial Essence [the primordial core essence of a star], a price even an ordinary Earth Immortal Patriarch might hesitate to pay.

Returning to the matter at hand, after obtaining the Pure Light of Merit, Eldrin Chen settled into seclusion upon the void.

This Heaven and Earth Ascension [a grand event where a world evolves to a higher state] had bestowed upon him the blessing of Merit and the feedback of the Purple Seal Realm's will. A profound Opportunity and Fortune [a moment of destined chance and breakthrough] was now silently descending.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen fell into a state of sudden enlightenment. Realizing his moment for a breakthrough had arrived, he immediately produced a colossal heart and a vial of golden true blood.

The heart was naturally that of the million-*Li*-length [one *Li*-length equals five hundred meters] ancient beast, and the golden true blood was its life-essence blood.

Both the heart and the true blood contained the concentrated essence of the Chaos Ancient Beast [a primordial monster born from chaos]. Even an Immortal of the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and highest tier of the Ascendant Immortal realm] would be overjoyed to obtain such treasures. Find thousands of chapters at *audio-novel.com*.

Receiving the world's reciprocal nourishment, Eldrin Chen knew this was the optimal moment to refine the ancient beast's heart and true blood, and immediately began the process of consuming them.

As Eldrin Chen continued his relentless refinement, the ancient beast's heart and true blood were unknowingly devoured completely.

"BOOM—"

An unknowable span of time later, a thunderous heartbeat, like the rumble of a divine drum, erupted from Eldrin Chen's chest.

He opened his eyes from deep cultivation, rose to his feet with deliberate slowness, and released a single, measured breath.

Instantly, a boundless wind howled across the heavens and earth, tearing countless fissures in the very fabric of space itself.

"The Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of supreme resilience and power] has reached its Great Perfection!"

Sensing the titanic power now coursing within him, Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his gaze blazing with a light capable of sundering the heavens and splitting the earth.

The cultivation of an Immortal Body [a transcendent physical form] is the most resource-intensive path. Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Indestructibility Body was even more formidable, consuming resources many times greater than a typical Immortal Body.

Yet, in return for this immense cost, the cultivation of an Immortal Body is, in principle, the most straightforward—provided one possesses sufficient resources.

The true blood and heart of the Starry Void Ancient Beasts contained energy far more vast than that of a Half-Step Earth Immortal. After Eldrin Chen absorbed and refined it, his Primordial One Indestructibility Body finally reached the Great Completion stage.

When cultivated to the Immortal rank, this Primordial One Indestructibility Body was already comparable to an ordinary Great Completion Immortal Body. Now that Eldrin Chen had advanced it to Great Completion, its power had grown even more formidable.

"With my current physical strength alone, I could tear apart a Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier cultivator with my bare hands and contend with a Nine Heavens True Dragon at the peak of the Ascendant Immortal realm," he mused.

"I fear I am now on par with a Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier expert who has mastered the Fleshly Body Sanctification technique."

Sensing the power coursing within him, Eldrin Chen could not help but murmur to himself, a faint smile gracing his features.

This time, not only had his Immortal Body reached Great Completion, but his cultivation base had also advanced, smoothly rising to the Ascendant Immortal 5th Tier realm.

After breaking through to Ascendant Immortal 5th Tier, the Immortal Essence within him increased by another thirty percent, reaching a level comparable to a Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier cultivator.

With his Immortal Body perfected and his magic power augmented, Eldrin Chen's strength had grown significantly. It was likely that even two or three ordinary Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier experts would struggle to defeat him.

"Upon returning to the Immortal Domain, I need not be overly wary of that Crimson Dragon Clan anymore."

With this thought flashing through his mind, Eldrin Chen ceased his contemplation.

He returned to Green Chariot Mountain, bid farewell to the Old Patriarch, and then arrived at the terminus of the Immortal Ascension Path.

"..."

After the passage of many years, the end of the Immortal Ascension Path had once again gathered countless cultivators.

In the boundless void at the path's end, a group of figures of peerless grace and talent stood upon the Heavenly Vault.

These figures were the nine peerless Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and ascended to a higher state of existence].

These nine Immortal were: the Eastern Sovereign, Kael Chen, the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm, the Lord of the Path Palace, Heaven Abandoned Lin, the Kunpeng Demon Sage, the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Divine Spirit, the Master of Stellar Palace, and the Earth Mystery Path Venerable. Read, share, and discuss at audio . novel . com.

Today, these nine Immortal had gathered here for two purposes: first, to see Eldrin Chen off on his return to the Immortal Realm [the higher realm where immortals reside], and second, to witness the ascension of the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm.

Eldrin Chen would return to the Immortal Realm first; they would follow a step later, as they had previously agreed.

Having only recently attained immortality, they wished to remain in the Mortal Dust [the mortal world] for another thousand years. This time would be used to further solidify the foundations of their respective legacies and sever their remaining Karma [the spiritual cause-and-effect bonds formed by one's actions].

Only the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm, unburdened by worldly ties, was prepared to ascend today.

At this moment, the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm transformed into a woman of peerless grace and beauty. She spoke calmly, "Esteemed ones, this humble one shall take her leave first. If fate allows in the future, you may come to meet me in the Frigid Immortal Domain [a legendary realm of eternal ice and profound cold]."

"The Frigid Immortal Domain."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. The master of this Primordial Era Ice Silkworm, the Heavenly Mountain Goddess [a divine sovereign of the celestial peaks], was an existence at the Earth Immortal Pinnacle [the very apex of the Earth Immortal realm] and, moreover, the reincarnation of a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being from the Celestial Immortal realm].

With such a powerful patron to seek refuge with, it was only natural she would choose the Frigid Immortal Domain over the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [the primary immortal domain of their current world]. This outcome was well within expectations.

Seeing the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm begin to channel the Ascension Guiding Immortal Light [a radiant pathway that guides cultivators to the higher realms], Eldrin Chen clasped his hands and said, "Very well. If fate wills it, we shall meet again someday."

"Farewell!"

The Primordial Era Ice Silkworm gave a final wave of her hand before vanishing, carried away by the luminous currents of the Ascension Guiding Immortal Light.

Having bid farewell to the Primordial Era Ice Silkworm, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the remaining assembly. A gentle smile touched his lips as he clasped his hands once more. "My friends, let our parting be here. I shall await you all within the Immortal Realm [the collective term for the higher planes of existence]."

"That is best."

The Lord of the Path Palace stroked his long beard, nodding with a wise smile. "Once this old Daoist has settled his Mortal Dust [the affairs and attachments of the mortal world] Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect that binds all beings], I shall seek you out in that Immortal Domain [a specific realm within the broader Immortal Realm]."

"Indeed, we shall join you shortly."

The assembled immortals all smiled and nodded in agreement.

With those words, Eldrin Chen said no more.

He turned his gaze to a spot not far away, where he saw Support Revive Chen, Elara Lin, and others bidding farewell to their old friends from the Mortal Path.

Farther off in the void, Sage Lord Dorian was also embracing Immortal Maiden Ice Chi Dragon, while Sea-Calmer Path Master was saying his goodbyes to the Mistress of Ivy Palace.

For this ascension, Eldrin Chen planned to take ten individuals with him: Support Revive Chen, Ancestor Mystery Chen, Literature Abyss Lu, Withering Liana Gu, Elara Lin, Exquisite Fragrance Su, Freya Ji, Dorian Ji, Verdant Seal Patriarch, and Sea-Calmer Path Master.

Now, as these ten prepared to part from their families, a profound sense of finality, akin to a farewell before death, settled upon them all.

They understood all too well that after this parting, they would likely never meet again in this lifetime.

Among them, only Immortal Maiden Ice Chi Dragon, being a Pure-Blooded True Dragon [a dragon of the purest lineage], possessed a significant chance of achieving immortality. The others held not a shred of such certainty.

Take, for instance, the Mistress of Ivy Palace, the dao companion of Sea-Calmer Path Master. Although she had broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of the spiritual core] with his support, her own potential was utterly exhausted.

Without the support of a cultivator at the Earth Immortal [a powerful immortal whose power is anchored to the mortal world] realm or higher, it would have been utterly impossible for her to achieve immortality in this lifetime.

"Let us depart. If you can ascend to immortality, we may yet meet again in the future."

No matter how deep the reluctance, farewells must ultimately be spoken.

Eldrin Chen led his companions aboard the Crimson Plume Immortal Boat [a magical vessel adorned with fiery red feathers], bidding farewell to each old friend in turn before vanishing into the distant reaches of the Boundless Starry Sky.

Unlike the ascension of a typical Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality], his return to the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where immortals dwell] could not summon the Ascension Guiding Immortal Light [a celestial radiance that guides ascending souls]. To re-enter the Immortal Domain [the vast territories governed by immortal powers], he would need to utilize the Teleportation Formation [a complex magical array for instantaneous travel] maintained by the Immortal Court [the celestial bureaucracy governing immortal affairs]. This journey would require a not insignificant amount of time. Original English translation available at audio-novel . com.