Chapter 1204 : The Path to Flawless Perfection

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen finally understood; the Six Stars Immortal was truly waiting for him here.

Within the Ascendant Immortal Realm, cultivation presents two significant hurdles. The first is breaking through to the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm, and the second is advancing to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier.

Of these two major obstacles, achieving a breakthrough into the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm requires forging a foundation that touches the heavens.

Yet, whether it is attaining a perfected Immortal Body, comprehending Path Principles to a celestial level, or achieving the sublimation of one's Path Fruit, none of these are easy feats.

Generally, those who can cultivate to this realm, aside from a few top-tier geniuses and Immortal from major sects, are mostly ancient cultivators who have lived for several hundred thousand years.

Even so, most Immortal can eventually break through to the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm through sheer perseverance and the slow, grinding work of cultivation over nearly a million years.

In comparison, the second barrier presents a far greater challenge.

To advance to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier requires not only an exceptionally profound foundation but also cultivating one's Path Fruit to a state of flawless perfection.

This state of perfection refers to the ultimate refinement of Path Principles, the complete fulfillment of the Immortal Body, and the attainment of a flawless, unblemished Path Fruit.

Such a flawless and supremely perfected Path Fruit represents the absolute pinnacle, the very limit of what is possible within the Ascendant Immortal Realm. Visit audio-novel.com (official site) to enjoy the complete series.

Just as the Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of cultivation] reach their ultimate limit, taking one step further allows a glimpse into the legendary realm of rules. A perfected Immortal Body [a cultivator's body refined to an immortal state], if it can break through once more, becomes the World-Opening True Body [a legendary physique capable of creating worlds]. And surpassing the flawless Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's understanding of their chosen path] ascends beyond even Ascendant Immortal Perfection [the pinnacle state of an Ascendant Immortal].

Therefore, while many Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] break through to the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm], those who can cultivate to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and highest tier within the Ascendant Immortal realm] are exceedingly rare.

To breach such a profound boundary requires either astonishing Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny that guides a cultivator's path] and innate talent, or the aid of precious external treasures.

In the past, the primary reason Heaven Wind Immortal was able to break through to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier was that he obtained the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a legendary spiritual herb with golden bamboo-like shoots containing jade marrow essence] from Eldrin Chen and refined it into the body-tempering Immortal Pill [a pill of immortal grade] known as the Jade Marrow Golden Core [a golden core pill infused with jade marrow essence].

The current situation with Six Stars Immortal is similar. He has diligently cultivated the Six Heavens Stellar Art [a stellar cultivation art connected to the six heavens], and the best method to bring it to complete mastery is to harness the power of the Path Principles Celestial Stele [a celestial monument inscribed with profound cultivation principles].

"The Path Principles Celestial Stele,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, not immediately replying.

He sighed softly before speaking. "Regarding the opportunity to contend for the Path Principles Celestial Stele, in what ways can I be of assistance?"

Hearing this, Six Stars Immortal responded with a grave expression. "Within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, a vast and profound oceanic region], there are a total of seven Path Principles Celestial Stele."

"Six of them are occupied by the Western Essence Grotto-Heaven [the Western Essence Grotto-Heaven, a major cultivation paradise] and the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, another major cultivation paradise]. The remaining one is shared by the three races—Human, Divine, and Demon—and it is this one we can strive to contest."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen frowned slightly and said, "I've heard that a single Path Principles Celestial Stele grants a full three thousand slots for enlightenment. Yet the two Grotto-Heaven of Western Essence Divine Abyss possess a full seven Celestial Stele. Could they possibly use them all?"

"They absolutely can,"

Six Stars Immortal replied with a bitter smile, then sighed. "Do you know how many Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to immortality] reside within this Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea?"

"Perhaps close to a million?" Eldrin Chen ventured, somewhat uncertain.

"Not even close," Six Stars Immortal shook his head, his expression turning grave. "If we count only those from Earth Immortal Blessed Land [realms blessed by Earth Immortals] and immortal-ranked clans and sects, that number might hold true."

"But if we include the populations of the two Grotto-Heaven [self-contained paradisiacal realms] of Western Essence Divine Abyss, the number of Immortal likely exceeds three million."

"How is that possible?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted dramatically, a look of utter astonishment crossing his features.

Six Stars Immortal nodded firmly. "Both Western Essence and Divine Abyss are Grotto-Heaven anchored by Celestial Immortal [immortals of the celestial realm] Great Powers. These powers can suppress their realm's Fortune [karmic luck and destiny] and shield their disciples from the touch of Tribulation [heavenly calamities]."

"Whenever a Great Tribulation [cosmic cataclysm] or Path Tribulation [calamity of the Dao] erupts, these two Grotto-Heaven need only seal their mountain gates to remain untouched by the Mortal Dust [dust of the mortal realm] Tribulation."

"With Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and achieved immortality] being deathless, accumulating over tens of millions of years, they naturally amass a foundation beyond our imagination."

"To suppress the Fortune [the collective fate or destiny of a lineage or domain]."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, his heart growing increasingly astonished.

A single Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme cultivator who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] suppressing the Fortune could shelter an entire Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm or paradise for cultivation] major sect—what unparalleled, supreme power this represented.

This also left him somewhat incredulous, and he couldn't help but ask, "The so-called Heaven and Earth Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that purges the world] is the Great Path [the fundamental law or principle of cultivation] of the Immortal Domain's [a realm of immortals] energy circulation. For a Celestial Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] and their Grotto-Heaven to shelter so many Immortal, wouldn't that violate the Heavenly Path's [the Way of Heaven, the natural order] principle of Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth]?"

"That is indeed true," Six Stars Immortal [an immortal associated with six stars] nodded, yet shook his head again. "But a Celestial Immortal also possesses the ability to reflect upon the Myriad Heavens [the countless realms of existence]. What does it matter if boundless karmic burdens press upon them? They can naturally suppress the Fortune through their own power alone." Your portal to cultivation novels: audio . novel . com.

"Moreover, even for a Grotto-Heaven major sect, it is only sheltering Immortal for a time."

"When the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic-scale calamity recurring every hundred million years] erupts once every hundred million years, even a Celestial Immortal Great Power will be swept into a fatal calamity. How then could the Immortal under their sect possibly evade the Tribulation [heavenly punishment or trial]?"

Speaking to this point, Six Stars Immortal added with some uncertainty, "From what I know, those powerhouses at the Celestial Immortal level are all individuals who have rendered great service to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a specific, vast immortal realm], and thus bear the Heavenly Path's Merit [positive karma or virtue accrued from good deeds] upon them."

"With such a foundation, sheltering a major sect for the duration of one Kalpa Tribulation is, one might say, within expectations."

"I am beginning to understand," he said.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen had a rough grasp of the situation.

He withdrew his thoughts and sighed once more. "There are only three thousand slots for comprehending the Path Principles Celestial Stele [a legendary monument inscribed with the fundamental laws of cultivation], yet the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea is home to a million Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation]. It seems securing a slot will be exceedingly difficult."

"It's not even three thousand."

Six Stars Immortal gave a bitter smile before explaining, "The Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea has over three hundred Blessed Land [a region of exceptionally dense spiritual energy and natural fortune]. The larger ones claim dozens of slots, the smaller ones are guaranteed one or two. They have already divided two thousand slots among themselves."

"Only the remaining one thousand slots are left for minor Immortal Clan [a family or lineage of cultivators who have achieved immortality] and rogue Immortal to fight over."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. By that calculation, the chance of successfully seizing a slot to comprehend the Path Principles Celestial Stele was a mere one in a thousand.

Seeing his expression, Six Stars Immortal continued, "Fortunately, the Path Principles Celestial Stele opens only once every one hundred thousand years, and each Immortal is limited to three attempts at comprehension. Many who have already had their chance will not participate in the struggle."

"Thus, for us Immortal of the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [a specific stage of power within the immortal cultivation hierarchy], there remains a sliver of hope to claim a slot."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded and asked, "How, then, is this struggle for slots conducted?"

"We Immortal [transcendent beings who cultivate the path to immortality] ultimately must let our strength do the talking." A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the Six Stars Immortal [an immortal associated with the six stars of the Southern Dipper] before he spoke calmly, "To vie for a spot, one must still cross swords in contest."

"Therefore, each time the Path Principles Celestial Stele [a divine monument inscribed with the fundamental principles of the Great Dao] opens, the assembled immortals will duel with swords in the Celestial Stele Sea Region [the oceanic region where the Celestial Stele resides]. The thousand Immortal who emerge victorious will earn the right to contemplate the Celestial Stele [the divine monument itself]."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then inquired, "What is your meaning?"

The Six Stars Immortal's expression turned grave as he looked at Eldrin Chen. "The Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea region in the western reaches] holds no shortage of formidable talents. With my current strength, my chances of securing a spot are likely less than one in ten."

"Thus, my purpose in coming is to borrow a treasure from you."

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen nodded, grasping the Six Stars Immortal's intent.

An Immortal's strength rests upon four pillars: cultivation base, foundational depth, Immortal Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts wielded by immortals], and Divine Ability [profound supernatural arts and techniques]. Among these, cultivation base and foundational depth are difficult to advance swiftly, and mastering a Divine Ability is a formidable task. Only Immortal Treasure offer a path to rapidly augmenting one's power. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel*com.