Chapter 1281 : The Ancestor's Mortal Wound

The Duskfall Ancient Ancestor was grievously wounded by the might of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords, his physical body pierced through on the spot by the blades, sustaining injuries that could be described as mortal.

Upon his wounds, the dual forces of Profound Nether True Water [a divine water technique of profound yin and cold] and Pure Yang Celestial Flame [a divine fire technique of pure yang and scorching heat] intertwined, ceaselessly corroding his Immortal Physique [the immortal-grade physical constitution of a high-level cultivator].

Had he cultivated an World-Opening True Body [a legendary divine body technique said to be capable of withstanding the forces of creation], he might have withstood the assault for a time.

Yet, the Duskfall Ancient Ancestor had forged his path through World Creation [the profound cultivation art of shaping and manipulating the fundamental laws of reality], making his physical form his fatal weakness. Now, after being struck a crippling blow, he was forced to divert seventy percent of his Mana [the refined spiritual energy used to power techniques and sustain the cultivator's body] and his mastery over the laws merely to suppress his wounds; otherwise, he would be utterly annihilated in an instant.

With only the remaining thirty percent of his strength, the Duskfall Ancient Ancestor could barely muster the power to activate his World-Opening Treasure [a supreme-grade magical artifact capable of manipulating spatial laws], let alone pose a credible threat to Eldrin Chen.

"Ancient Ancestor!"

Witnessing the Duskfall Ancient Ancestor's grievous injury, the Immortals of the Dusk Sun Sea [the collective name for the cultivators from the Dusk Sun Sea region] were overcome with despair.

With a furious roar, the Setting Sun Daoist pushed his Setting Sun Celestial Wheel and his other Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [the highest classification of magical artifacts, rivaling immortal tools] to their absolute limits. His Second Nascent Soul [a powerful cultivation technique that creates a second, independent spiritual avatar]—the Crimson Dragon Avatar [a divine ability manifesting as an avatar in the form of a crimson dragon]—gripped the Crimson Dragon Heaven-Piercing Halberd and cleaved downward with earth-shattering force, desperately trying to break the deadlock.

Yet, even such a desperate assault could not reverse the tide of battle.

Now freed from their previous engagements, Verdant Consort and Skywind the Daoist joined forces. Together with Lyra Jiang, they focused their assault on this foe. In little more than a dozen exchanges, they succeeded in suppressing and slaying the Crimson Dragon Avatar. Published by audio-novel-dot-com. All rights reserved.

Solara seized the opportunity, channeling the Duskfall Celestial Wheel to soar into the air, grievously wounding the Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor and utterly destroying his physical body.

In his desperate haste, the Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and Immortal Embryo [the nascent form of an immortal's true self] fled, seeking to escape with his life, but it was already far too late.

Then, Lyra Jiang seized the moment, unleashing the Colorless Divine Light to ensnare his Immortal Embryo, whereupon the Six Realms and Eight Desolations Cauldron descended with a thunderous crash, suppressing and drawing him into the great cauldron.

In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor's Primordial Spirit had been completely refined into nothingness.

With the fall of Duskfall Scion and the Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor—two Half-Step Earth Immortals [cultivators on the very cusp of attaining true Earth Immortal status]—the outcome of this battle was left without a shred of doubt.

Now unshackled, the six Half-Step Earth Immortals—Solara, Stella, Luna, the Consort, Lyra Jiang, Verdant Consort, and Skywind the Daoist—joined forces, turning their might to assist Eldrin Chen in his assault on the Duskfall Ancient Ancestor.

Such awe-inspiring combat power was more than even a peak-condition Duskfall Ancient Ancestor could hope to withstand, let alone one already grievously wounded.

Amidst the relentless onslaught, Eldrin Chen finally found his opening. He unleashed the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords, their divine light cleaving through the void to utterly annihilate the Duskfall Ancient Ancestor's Primordial Spirit.

"BOOM... RUMBLE..."

In that instant, heaven and earth shook violently, and the very Void [the fundamental emptiness from which all things manifest] trembled with profound intensity.

A single Earth Immortal Progenitor [a progenitor who has attained the Earth Immortal realm, the foundational stage of true immortality] who had mastered the World Creation [the supreme art of creating a miniature world] sat in final meditation, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] and physical form wholly dissolving into the Dao. Boundless radiance of rules and immortal light flooded forth, drowning the heavens and the earth.

All that remained was a single Dao Source [the crystallized origin and essence of a cultivator's lifelong comprehension of the Dao] and several World-Opening Treasure [supreme treasures capable of splitting chaos and establishing a foundation for a new world] and Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [the pinnacle grade of immortal artifacts, possessing world-shaking power]. "Suppress the treasures!"

As Eldrin Chen spoke, he immediately activated the Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand [a divine ability that manifests a giant hand capable of seizing and controlling primordial chaos energy], using it to suppress both the Duskfall Celestial Wheel and the Dao Source.

Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, he employed his vast Mana [the refined spiritual energy cultivated and wielded by immortals] to seize the Remnant Heaven Ancient Realm, firmly binding it within the depths of the Abyssal Sea Region.

This Remnant Heaven Ancient Realm was the Deep-Seated Foundation [the core, hidden foundation of a power's strength, often a secret realm or treasure trove] of Duskfall Ancient Ancestor. Within it, Four Extremities Heaven Pillars [four divine pillars that support the very sky of a realm] upheld the heavens, and it also housed many rare and precious treasures. It was perfectly suited to serve as a secret realm Deep-Seated Foundation for storage.

Unfortunately, during this battle where Eldrin Chen had exerted his full power, he had shattered this Ruins of Heaven Realm. It would likely collapse completely before long.

Just as Eldrin Chen seized the Duskfall Celestial Wheel and the Remnant Heaven Ancient Realm, Lyra Jiang and the others seized their moment to capture the remaining treasures.

Solara grasped the Duskfall Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda, while Lyra Jiang took possession of the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron.

The remaining individuals, including Verdant Consort, likewise firmly suppressed the several Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure. With their hands now free, they turned to slay the King of Immortals [a title for a ruler among immortals] and the Emperor of the Gods who were still trapped within the formation.

Once these final six Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have touched the threshold of the Earth Immortal realm but not fully ascended] were slain, the remaining immortals of the Setting Sun Sea were nothing more than duckweed after autumn's frost—utterly devoid of any chance to reverse the tide of battle.

With their hands now free, the assembled Immortals [beings who have ascended to immortality through cultivation] turned their focus to slaughter. Aside from a dozen or so Setting Sun Sea Immortals who had not entered the formation, all the remaining Setting Sun Blessed Land Immortals met their destined end in this battle. "Victory!"

This decisive triumph allowed all the Immortals to finally release a deep, collective sigh of relief.

To annihilate the host of Setting Sun Blessed Land Immortals in a single engagement was an unprecedented, monumental victory. Yet, the Immortals of the Abyssal Sea Region had also suffered grievous wounds.

Eldrin Chen surveyed the scene. All fifty-one Immortals who had participated in the battle now bore injuries, most of them severe. Among them, seven had become Tribulation-Bearer [those who bear the karmic burden of a great calamity].

Furthermore, Ancestor Black Tortoise, Separated Flame Phoenix, the Master of the Glazed Palace, Kunxuan the Daoist, the Star Palace Master, and others had seen their Immortal Physique [the immortal body forged through ascension] utterly destroyed. Their injuries were so critical they teetered on the brink of death.

"Black Tortoise, Separated Flame Phoenix, Master of the Glazed Palace..." Visit @udio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

After administering Cloud-Patterned Immortal Pill [a high-grade elixir for healing immortal wounds] to these individuals, Eldrin Chen also used the power of his Rule of Life [the Dao principle governing life and vitality] to aid their recovery. After a long while, he could not help but let out a soft sigh.

They had been grievously wounded by a Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [a treasure of the highest immortal rank], injuries so profound they reached the very edge of mortality. The damage had penetrated to their Immortal Embryo [the foundational core of an immortal's being] and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator].

Wounds of this nature, even with Eldrin Chen's assistance using the Life [a divine ability related to life force] Rule Power [the power derived from comprehending a fundamental rule of the Dao], would leave fatal flaws in their foundation. It was likely they would find it difficult to advance any further in the future.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen sighed and said, "Your injuries are too severe. To achieve a complete recovery, I fear you must undergo a journey into Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth]."

"This..."

Upon hearing this, the few individuals could not help but reveal bitter smiles.

Reincarnating to cultivate anew was far from an easy matter. Beings of their Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and achieved immortality] level would inevitably undergo the Mystery of the Womb [the profound and inescapable fate of being reborn, which seals away past memories] upon reincarnation.

Unless they cultivated back to their current realm, it would be impossible to recover the memories of this life.

Yet, to cultivate once more to the Ascending to Immortality [the final stage of cultivation before achieving true immortality] realm was likely no simple feat either.

Thinking of this, Separated Flame Phoenix could not resist asking, "Dare I ask, Master, are there other methods?"

"Your case is somewhat easier to manage." Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered slightly before he continued, "Your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator's being] can be anchored within the Spiritual Root [the foundational spiritual vein of a plant or place] of the Fire Phoenix Parasol Tree. You can rely on the power of the Fire Phoenix Parasol Tree to recover slowly."

"As for the rest of you..."

Eldrin Chen paused briefly, then spoke, "For your injuries, I have no good solutions."

Speaking to this point, Eldrin Chen also let out a soft sigh.

The physical bodies of these individuals were destroyed, and their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and Immortal Embryo [the nascent immortal form within a cultivator] were tainted by the lethal Rule Power [the power of a fundamental cosmic law] emanating from the Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure [a treasure of the highest immortal rank]. Expunging such corruption would be an exceedingly difficult task.

Given Eldrin Chen's current level of power, he might be capable of eradicating this level of Rule Power. However, accomplishing this feat without harming their Primordial Spirit was an impossibility.

"So be it," he sighed. "If that is the case, then we must walk the path of Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth]."

Palace Master Glaze and Star Palace Master and the others could only offer bitter, resigned smiles. However, Ancestor Black Tortoise's eyes flickered with a thoughtful light. "My form is that of the Black Tortoise [a divine beast symbolizing the north and winter]," he mused. "If one could obtain an Acquired Spiritual Root [a spiritual root acquired after birth, not innate] known as the North Sea Great Toon [a legendary ancient tree associated with the Black Tortoise], would it not aid this old man's recovery?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. After a brief moment of contemplation, he nodded. "The North Sea Great Toon," he confirmed, "also called the Black Tortoise Ancient Tree, is said to be the companion Spiritual Root [a root or plant of immense spiritual power] of the divine Black Tortoise. Naturally, it could assist your Nirvana [a state of profound rebirth or enlightenment]."

"However," he continued, "such an Immortal Root [a spiritual root of immortal grade] is exceedingly rare. Do you possess one?"

"I do not,"

Ancestor Black Tortoise shook his head, then added, "Though I lack the tree itself, we of the Black Tortoise lineage possess an innate sense, a connection to the subtle emanations of the North Sea Great Toon.

"If my senses do not deceive me, within the depths of the Celestial Demon Sea, there should exist a Black Tortoise Ancient Tree." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel .c om.