Chapter 1255 : Heaven and Earth's Great Tribulation

"If this continues indefinitely, even with the vastness of the Immortal Domain [the realm of immortals], the World's Primordial Qi [the foundational spiritual energy of the world] will gradually deplete, ultimately descending into an Age of Dharma Decline. The entire Immortal Domain could even be destroyed within the torrents of Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation] due to the exhaustion of its vital energy."

"Therefore, the Heaven and Earth Great Tribulation [the grand cosmic calamity ordained by heaven and earth] is born. This is the cyclical Great Dao [the supreme, fundamental principle of the cosmos] of heaven and earth, and it is also the opportunity for the renewal of the myriad immortals across the boundless Immortal Domain."

"It seems you are also a person of understanding."

Divine Lord Glaze nodded with satisfaction and then spoke: "The Heaven and Earth Great Tribulation is the great momentum of the Heavenly Dao [the Way of Heaven, the natural order]. It cannot be altered, nor can it be obstructed."

"Whether it is the Lord of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace or the Heaven's Malignancy Clan Patriarch, by instigating this Great Tribulation, they have become the Calamity's Chosen [those chosen by fate to embody and enact the calamity] of this Great Tribulation in the Western Tranquility Divine Abyss Sea. They are thus one of the principal actors of this tribulation."

"For this reason, the great powers from the two Grotto-Heaven [a superior type of blessed land, a paradise for cultivation] of Xiran and Divine Abyss, and even the Heaven Immortal [a high-level immortal] True Lord [a title for powerful cultivators] of the Celestial Court [the heavenly bureaucracy], cannot personally take action against them. To do so would be to defy the Heavenly Dao. Do you understand this?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's heart shuddered violently.

Only now did he understand why the Lord of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace and the Heaven's Malignancy Clan Patriarch dared to instigate the Great Tribulation.

Whether it was the covert support of the Myriad Demons Ancestral Domain or the backing from the Hundred Races Celestial Domain, these were merely secondary factors for them.

So, their status as protagonists of the Great Tribulation was their true talisman of protection. As principal actors of this calamity, by unleashing the boundless Great Tribulation, they were acting as agents of heaven, executing the cyclical Great Dao. Official source: audi0-n0vel.c0m. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Aside from the Tribulation-Bearer [the individual destined to bear the weight of a great cosmic calamity], the Heavenly Immortal Paragon [the supreme beings who have ascended to the pinnacle of the Heavenly Immortal realm] of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain are forbidden from acting against them. Should they dare to intervene, the wrath of the boundless Immortal Domain's Heavenly Dao [the fundamental law and order of the cosmos] would be provoked, and even a Heavenly Immortal Paragon would likely face utter annihilation, their Dao extinguished and their form perished.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen nodded and said, "Thank you for the guidance, Senior. This junior understands."

"Understanding is good."

Divine Lord Glaze nodded in return, then sighed meaningfully. "Throughout the ages, how many peerless talents have ascended to the Great Luo Golden Immortal [the realm of the Golden Immortal, a state of profound and eternal power] precisely by leveraging their status as protagonists of a Calamity Tribulation [a cataclysmic event ordained by fate]. Not even the Celestial Court Emperor Lord [the sovereign ruler of the Celestial Court] or the Great Emperor of the Demon Race would dare to interfere or obstruct their path."

"With your innate talent..."

At this point, Divine Lord Glaze's words trailed off.

She did not continue that line of thought. Instead, she glanced at Eldrin Chen once more and added, "As for the opportunities within a Great Tribulation, they are intrinsically linked to the Tribulation-Bearer."

"Do you know what happens once an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and achieved immortality] enters the tribulation and ultimately falls victim to it?"

"Falls victim to the tribulation?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with momentary contemplation. After a brief but profound silence, his gaze solidified with certainty as he spoke the answer. "They return their Dao to the heavens!"

"Indeed, returning the Dao to the Heavens!"

Divine Lord Glaze nodded, her expression tinged with melancholy as she said, "During the Great Tribulation, when an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and ascended to immortality] meets their fate and is slain, their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] undergoes dissolution and enters the cycle of Reincarnation. Meanwhile, the Dao Fruit [the culmination of a cultivator's lifelong cultivation and enlightenment] and all their cultivated power dissipate, returning to the Dao."

"Furthermore, their lifetime of comprehension regarding the Heaven and Earth Law [the fundamental laws governing heaven and earth] merges with a wisp of Source Qi [the primordial, foundational energy of creation] bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. This fusion ultimately transforms into a single portion of Dao Source."

Speaking to this point, Divine Lord Glaze stated with utmost gravity, "This Dao Source is the opportunity within the Great Tribulation, and it is also the reward bestowed by the Heavenly Dao upon those who execute the cyclical Great Dao [the supreme, all-encompassing Way]."

"Dao Source."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a trace of confusion appearing between his brows.

Seeming to understand that Eldrin Chen was unfamiliar with this object, Divine Lord Glaze immediately explained, "Heavenly Dao Source Qi is a supreme form of energy that only a Heaven Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm] is capable of cultivating."

"It is analogous to the Immortal Essence [the refined energy core of an immortal] within your body, or akin to the World-Opening Power [the primordial force used to shape worlds] within my own form. Yet, its profundity surpasses these by a thousandfold, if not more."

"Generally speaking, if a Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme master among Heaven Immortals] can cultivate one thousand strands of Heavenly Dao Source Qi, they are considered to have firmly established their footing within the Heaven Immortal Realm."

"If one can cultivate three thousand strands, they are powerful enough to dominate within the Heaven Immortal Realm. Those who cultivate over ten thousand strands are, for the most part, peerless existences at the ninth level of the Heaven Immortal realm or beyond."

"Although the Heavenly Dao Source Qi [a strand of the most primal energy bestowed by the Heavenly Dao itself] granted by the Heavenly Dao is but a single wisp—requiring three thousand such wisps to coalesce into a complete strand—it remains a supremely profound and wondrous substance, an unparalleled treasure for one such as you."

Divine Lord Glaze spoke with a measured cadence, a trace of solemn awe coloring her expression.

The Heavenly Dao Source Qi [a strand of the most primal energy bestowed by the Heavenly Dao itself] was boundlessly profound. Even she possessed only a scant few strands, typically reserved for contemplation and enlightenment, too precious to be consumed merely to augment one's cultivation base.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen began to grasp the immense value of this 'Dao Source [a condensed essence containing the insights and source energy of a vanquished cultivator].'

That Dao Source [a condensed essence containing the insights and source energy of a vanquished cultivator] contained not only a wisp of Heavenly Dao Source Qi [a strand of the most primal energy bestowed by the Heavenly Dao itself], but also the deceased Tribulation-Bearer's [one who is fated to undergo a Great Tribulation] lifetime of comprehension regarding the Great Dao [the fundamental laws and principles of the cosmos].

If an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and achieved immortality] were to refine and absorb it, even comprehending but a fraction of its contents would undoubtedly greatly fortify their own Deep-Seated Foundation [the fundamental and unshakable basis of a cultivator's power and potential]. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel . com.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen could not help but remark, "No wonder those who enter the tribulation and manage to slay their opponents to transcend the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of fate and power] experience such a dramatic surge in strength."

"Indeed."

Divine Lord Glaze nodded, continuing her explanation, "This Dao Source [a condensed essence containing the insights and source energy of a vanquished cultivator] is profoundly wondrous, yet it too is divided into grades of varying quality."

"Based on the cultivation realm of the slain—from the Early Stage Ascendant Immortal Realm to the Half-Step Earth Immortal—the condensed Dao Source [a condensed essence containing the insights and source energy of a vanquished cultivator] is classified as Low-Grade, Mid-Grade, High-Grade, and Peerless."

"Dao Source [a condensed essence of a cultivator's Dao path and cultivation] below the Peerless grade can only increase an Immortal's cultivation base and their comprehension of Great Dao Laws. However, a 'Dao Source' above the Peerless grade possesses supreme and profound mysteries. Once refined, it can supplement part of an Immortal's Dao Fruit [the core fruit of one's cultivation path] foundation."

"The more tribulations an Immortal has overcome and the greater their innate talent and strength, the more profound the 'Dao Source' they condense will be."

"Even an Immortal with a single Dao Fruit, if they successively overcome nine Great Tribulations and refine multiple Peerless Dao Source, can still mend their own foundation and Dao Fruit, forging a Great Luo Foundation to break through to the Earth Immortal Realm."

"So that's how it is."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask, "If that's the case, would an Earth Immortal Progenitor [a progenitor-level Earth Immortal] not hesitate to hunt down a Half-Step Earth Immortal?"

Divine Lord Glaze shook her head and calmly stated, "For someone like you, Dao Source below the Peerless grade would already have little effect."

"For an Earth Immortal Progenitor, even Peerless Dao Source are useless."

"That's good then."

Eldrin Chen nodded again, yet pensively added, "But what if an Earth Immortal Progenitor were to strike, slay a Half-Step Earth Immortal, and plunder their 'Dao Source' to mend the foundation of their own descendants?"

Unexpectedly, this time Divine Lord Glaze fell silent.

She remained silent for a long while before finally speaking. "Whether one is an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and attained a higher state of existence] or an Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power and domain are anchored to the mortal world], once they enter the tribulation, they must struggle and strive within the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic cycle of fate that reshapes the world and tests all cultivators]."

"Thus, within the Immortal Domain [the higher realm where immortals reside], an unwritten rule has long been established: when the Great Tribulation descends, the Grotto-Heaven and Abode of Bliss [sanctuaries and paradises of powerful cultivators, often pocket dimensions] seal their gates and do not venture forth."

"If an Earth Immortal truly intervenes, they have entered the tribulation. While hunting others, they must also be prepared for their own fall, even the utter destruction of their lineage and teachings."

"Throughout the successive Great Tribulation cycles of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [a specific region within the higher immortal realms], it is not uncommon for Earth Immortal or Heaven Immortal [an immortal whose power and domain are aligned with the heavenly principles] to enter the fray for the sake of their disciples, ultimately unleashing True Flame [a primordial and purifying flame of immense destructive power], leading to the obliteration of an entire Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy and fortune]."

"Alas."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen finally grasped the true nature of the Great Tribulation.

He sighed softly, then bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Divine Lord Glaze gave a slight nod. "There is no need for thanks. In this coming Great Tribulation, Solara, Luna, and Stella will all enter the fray."

"I must enter seclusion and cannot emerge. Therefore, I must rely on you to lend them your aid." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel`com.