Chapter 1195 : The Celestial Forge of Chaos

As the old man recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen gradually came to understand the identities of the two figures before him.

The Middle-aged Man before him, bearing the revered title Heavenly Halberd Demon-Slaying Divine Lord [a powerful deity known for vanquishing demons with his celestial halberd], was a Great Power [a cultivator of immense strength and profound attainment] hailing from the Primordial Immortal Domain [the primordial and most ancient realm of the immortals].

The elder, whose Daoist appellation was Old Man Canglan, was a Celestial Immortal Great Power [an immortal of celestial rank possessing vast power] from the Central Immortal Domain, and also the former Palace Master of the Western Abyss Celestial Palace.

Old Man Canglan had presided over the Western Abyss Celestial Palace for over ten million years. Now, he was to be recalled to serve at the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of the immortals] within the Primordial Immortal Domain, and the one coming to succeed him was this very Heavenly Halberd Demon-Slaying Divine Lord.

Once Eldrin grasped their identities, the Heavenly Halberd Demon-Slaying Divine Lord spoke, "I journeyed here aboard a World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [an ancient vessel capable of traversing the void between realms], but unfortunately, within the Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse between ordered worlds], we were assaulted by a Chaos Ancient Beast [a primordial monster born from the chaos]."

"Though I managed to repel it, the World-Ferrying Ancient Ark sustained grievous damage."

At this point, Old Man Canglan interjected with a gentle smile, "Now that the World-Ferrying Ancient Ark is severely damaged, it must be repaired before it can cross the Chaos once more for the return voyage."

"That is why we have summoned you artifact-smiths, to assist this old man in repairing that Ninth Rank World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [a World-Ferrying Ancient Ark of the ninth and highest grade]."

"A Ninth Rank World-Ferrying Ancient Ark."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a profound tremor shake the very core of his being. Continue reading this story at audio~novel.com.

A Ninth Rank Immortal Treasure [a supreme treasure of the highest order] is a peerless treasure of the Celestial Immortal [a powerful immortal realm] level. Even a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a master of the Celestial Immortal realm] would typically possess only one or two such artifacts.

Yet the value of a single Ninth Rank World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [an ancient vessel capable of traversing the cosmos] likely surpasses that of several dozen Ninth Rank Immortal Treasure [treasures of the highest immortal rank].

To forge such a precious World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [an ark for crossing vast cosmic distances] would consume at least millions of Immortal Artifact [artifacts imbued with immortal power] as materials. It is doubtful that even emptying the entire treasury of a Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm of profound spiritual energy] Immortal Sect [an immortal cultivation sect] would suffice to gather the required resources.

For cultivators like them, who have only recently Ascendant Immortal [ascended to the immortal realm], attempting to repair such a supreme treasure is a task far beyond their current capabilities.

Noticing the expression on Eldrin Chen's face, Old Man Canglan smiled and said, "I know what you are thinking, but you need not worry."

"That World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [cosmic-traveling ark] was forged from several pieces of Ninth Rank Immortal Artifact [immortal artifact of the highest rank] material, combined with millions of ordinary Immortal Artifact [immortal-grade artifacts]," he explained.

"Although the World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [ancient ark] was damaged this time, its core Dragon Bone [a bone from a dragon, imbued with immense power] framework and primary materials remain intact. Only many of its auxiliary components were broken and require repair."

"Artificers of your level, who have reached the Upper Grade Immortal Rank [the upper echelons of the immortal realm], are barely qualified to assist in this endeavor."

At this point, Old Man Canglan added with a smile, "Rest assured, once the task is completed, this old man will reward you handsomely."

"So that is how it is," Eldrin Chen replied, understanding dawning upon him.

Eldrin Chen felt a subtle wave of relief wash over him. He cupped his hands respectfully and said, "Since this junior can be of some assistance, I will naturally do my humble part."

"Good." Old Man Canglan nodded, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "Upon the successful completion of this task, besides a substantial reward, this old man will also impart the World-Opening Path [a profound cultivation art focused on the creation and stabilization of new worlds]. It may prove useful to you."

"Truly?"

Eldrin Chen's heart surged with wild joy. A faint intuition whispered within him that receiving instruction on the World-Opening Path from a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a cultivator of immense power who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] might well be the greatest treasure he would gain from this entire journey.

Thinking this, he hastily bowed again. "This junior would not dare miss an opportunity to hear a senior's discourse on the Dao."

Old Man Canglan gave a slight smile and waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, then."

"..."

Eldrin Chen withdrew from the courtyard. Guided by an immortal attendant, he arrived at a Great Hall and found it already filled with eight hundred Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation].

The aura emanating from these eight hundred Immortal was profoundly powerful. A mere glance from Eldrin Chen sent a jolt of surprise through him.

For the weakest among these Immortal were at the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm]. Among them were many at the Ascendant Immortal Realm 8th to 9th Tier [the pinnacle tiers of the Ascendant Immortal realm], and even Patriarch [venerable leaders of great sects or clans] who had reached the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [a transitional state on the cusp of the Earth Immortal realm].

Even Earth Immortal Patriarch [a cultivator who has ascended to the Earth Immortal realm, a master of profound power], numbered more than a dozen in attendance.

Among those Earth Immortal Patriarch, there was one whom Eldrin Chen recognized—it was the Heaven Flame Patriarch from the Violet Flame Blessed Land [a sacred land imbued with violet spiritual flames].

This Heaven Flame Patriarch was one of the two Earth Immortal Patriarch of the Violet Flame Blessed Land, his cultivation having reached the lofty Fourth Level Earth Immortal [the fourth major stage within the Earth Immortal realm]. It was said he had lived for nine hundred thousand years.

In years past, to repair the Crimson Flame Golden Scale Armor [a suit of armor forged from golden scales and crimson flame], Eldrin Chen had once accompanied Heaven Wind Immortal to the Violet Flame Blessed Land and had met this Heaven Flame Patriarch on that occasion.

Meeting again now, the Heaven Flame Patriarch also seemed somewhat surprised. He gave Eldrin Chen a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Senior Heaven Flame." Read the full novel exclusively on audio-novel . com.

"Hmm."

The Heaven Flame Patriarch nodded again, his gaze sweeping over Eldrin Chen briefly. Seemingly out of regard for Heaven Wind Immortal, he said, "The restoration of the Ninth Rank World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [an ancient vessel of the ninth rank, capable of traversing realms] is a rare opportunity, one seldom seen across the ages."

"Observe carefully from the side. If you can glean even a fragment of insight, your artifact-forging arts will surely advance by leaps and bounds."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded respectfully and replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. This junior understands."

As the two were speaking, several figures arrived within the Great Hall.

The leader was a woman of breathtaking beauty, clad in an emerald-green gown. She glided to the Central area of the Great Hall, her gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd before she spoke.

"Most have arrived. Let us not delay further."

"Repairing the World-Ferrying Ancient Ark is of paramount importance. Follow me."

With that, the woman led the assembled immortals out of the Great Hall. Eldrin Chen followed among their ranks, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

Noticing this, Heaven Flame Path Master remarked casually, "That is Immortal Maiden Verdant Flame. Her comprehension of the Azure Flame of the Firmament Fire rule has reached the Great Perfection stage."

"Her cultivation has already reached the Eighth Level Earth Immortal realm. Furthermore, she is one of the rare Eighth Rank High-Grade Artificer in the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea. She ranks among the Ten Great Immortal Maidens of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, holding the fifth position."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted slightly.

His knowledge of the Ten Great Immortal Maidens of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea was limited, but he knew that the lowest cultivation base among these ten renowned maidens was at least the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm.

Furthermore, from what he understood, Glazed Blessed Land Lord Glazed Qu was ranked third among these ten great maidens.

"A Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has reached the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm, possessing immense power and longevity]."

Eldrin Chen felt a surge of emotion within his heart. The Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and treacherous expanse of ocean within the immortal realms] was unimaginably vast. Even setting aside the two Grotto-Heaven [self-contained paradisiacal realms of immense spiritual density] of Western Essence and Divine Abyss, the three thousand sea regions alone were home to a population of Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] numbering in the millions.

Yet, among this multitude of Immortal, those who had attained the cultivation level of an Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is deeply rooted in the energies of the world] numbered merely one or two thousand at most.

Among these Earth Immortal Patriarch [venerated leaders who have reached the Earth Immortal realm], those capable of cultivating to the Late Stage Earth Immortal were exceedingly rare, likely not even reaching one or two hundred individuals.

The Celestial Immortal Great Power [beings of immense power who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm, their gaze spanning cosmic scales] had long since shifted their focus to the entirety of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a major region within the cosmos of immortal realms], and even to the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective term for the myriad realms inhabited by immortals]. They would not deign to expend their attention on a mere corner like the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

A single session of secluded cultivation for them might span a million years; a single journey of exploration could see the passage of tens of millions of years.

Under such circumstances, beings of this Late Stage Earth Immortal caliber could truly be considered the pinnacle figures, the movers and shakers of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

"If I were to attain the cultivation of a Late Stage Earth Immortal," Eldrin mused, "the Chen Immortal Clan [an immortal family founded by the Chen lineage] would instantly ascend to become a top-tier Immortal Clan [a powerful family of cultivators within the immortal realms] within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea."

With this thought taking root, Eldrin Chen felt his motivation for cultivation burn even brighter.

It was at this very moment that Immortal Maiden Verdant Flame led the group to a halt before a celestial palace. Beyond it lay the edge of a boundless and majestic Ancient Continent [a primordial landmass of immense age and spiritual significance].

Indeed, the World-Ferrying Ancient Ark before them was less a ship and more a boundless, continent-sized landmass. It stretched into the horizon, a leviathan of wood and ancient magic, its true scale obscured by the very clouds it rested upon.

Eldrin Chen gazed out, his eyes taking in the sight of an impossibly vast ancient vessel moored beyond the celestial palace. It floated amidst the cloud layers, its colossal hull half-veiled by the misty banks, extending so far that its ends vanished from sight. Find this and other novels at audio . novel . com.