Chapter 1241 : A Trap for the Path Master

Simultaneously, the three individuals who had just escaped from outside the Blessed Land [a realm of exceptional spiritual richness and fortune] all paled visibly.

Exquisite Jiang glanced back at the Crimson Sun Blessed Land [a blessed land named for its crimson sun] sealed by the Azure Dragon Suppresses the World Cauldron [a mighty cauldron artifact empowered by an azure dragon's spirit], her voice trembling with awe. "It seems the heavens are about to change over the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas [a vast archipelago region known as the Hundred Seas of Flowing Streams]."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression also shifted.

The assault by two supreme Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has forged their own inner world, a major realm above the Primordial Spirit stage] experts at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal [the eighth minor stage within the Earth Immortal realm] was clearly a trap laid within the Crimson Sun Blessed Land, specifically designed to annihilate the Thousand Streams Path Master [a Dao title meaning 'Master of a Thousand Streams'].

This Thousand Streams Path Master possessed cultivation at the Late Stage Earth Immortal [the final minor stage of the Earth Immortal realm]. He was not only one of the top three powerhouses within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas, but a figure of great renown throughout the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, a major oceanic region].

Most crucially, he was also a Supreme Elder [a title for a paramount elder within a major sect] of the Flowing Fire Star Palace [the Flowing Fire Star Palace, a major immortal sect], a position of immense prestige and authority.

It must be understood that the Flowing Fire Star Palace held sway over the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, reigning as the foremost Immortal Sect [an organization of cultivators seeking immortality] within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas. Its gates housed a legion of over three thousand Immortal [a general term for cultivators who have ascended to immortality, encompassing Earth Immortals and beyond], including a staggering seventeen World-Opening Patriarch [a Patriarch capable of opening and stabilizing minor worlds] of Earth Immortal rank.

One could say this lineage's strength accounted for three or four tenths of the entire Flowing Stream Hundred Seas's power.

Even more astonishing was that the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace [the reigning leader of the Flowing Fire Star Palace] was a peerless expert at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator who has transcended the Earth Immortal realm but not fully ascended to the Celestial Immortal stage] level.

The Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace possessed heaven-defying talent. Having cultivated for merely over six million years, he had already surpassed the limits of Earth Immortal and comprehended the power of a Stellar [pertaining to the stars and celestial bodies] Path Principle [a fundamental law or principle of the Great Dao, a profound power]. He was a supreme existence with the potential to prove his Dao and attain the title of Nine Heavens Star Lord [a lofty Dao title meaning 'Lord of the Stars across the Nine Heavens']. Support the author by reading on audio-novel . com.

A supreme expert of such caliber, even within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea region in the immortal realms], would be considered a Heaven-Propping Pillar [a foundational treasure of immense power and stability]. Even a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty immortal who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] would treat them with utmost respect. One can well imagine the sheer magnitude of their power.

Should the Thousand Streams Path Master [a Daoist title for a master of myriad techniques] fall, the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace [the sovereign ruler of the Flowing Fire Star Palace] would undoubtedly be incensed with boundless fury.

Furthermore, the Demon Race [the collective race of demonic beings] and the Heavenly Fiend Race [a powerful and malevolent race of celestial fiends] also seek to rise amidst the coming Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and upheaval ordained by fate]. Once these two forces collide, I fear boundless calamity from the Great Tribulation will erupt, sweeping across and engulfing the trillions upon trillions of living beings throughout the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas [a region of interconnected seas].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed and said, "When the Great Tribulation descends, not even we Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal Spirit [a spirit of immense purity and power, akin to a Celestial Immortal] can remain aloof and untouched."

"Perhaps an Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a sacred land governed by an Earth Immortal] can seal its gates and abstain from the Great Tribulation. But since the Demon Race and the Heavenly Fiend Race are stirring this Great Tribulation, great chaos is destined to engulf this Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea."

Verdant Consort nodded, then sighed and said, "When the heavens collapse, the tall ones will hold them up. You and I possess only the strength of the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [the later stages of the Ascendant Immortal cultivation realm]. Merely preserving ourselves will require our utmost effort. I fear we lack the power to intervene in such matters."

"Indeed," Exquisite Jiang also inclined her head, then stated calmly, "Within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, there exist the two Grotto-Heaven [a superior tier of immortal realm, a paradise within a cave or mountain] of Western Essence and Divine Abyss, and furthermore, the Western Abyss Celestial Palace [the Celestial Palace of the Western Abyss] stands guard, suppressing the Cosmos [the fundamental order and laws of the universe]."

"If a Great Tribulation truly sweeps across heaven and earth, they will be the ones standing at the forefront. We need only focus on ensuring our own survival."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, yet still seemed pensive as he remarked, "But with the Great Tribulation on the horizon, I worry that to avoid being entangled by its baleful aura, Grotto-Heaven like Western Essence and Divine Abyss might seal their mountains, close their gates, and withdraw from all Mortal Dust Affairs [the affairs and conflicts of the mortal and lower immortal worlds]."

Hearing his words, both women fell into silence.

Within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea region], the Western Essence and Divine Abyss Grotto-Heavens [self-contained paradisiacal realms] stand as twin pillars suppressing the heavens and earth. Consequently, the Demon Race and the Hundred Races Immortal Spirits [a coalition of myriad non-human races] have historically been in a relatively weaker position.

The only reason they have not been completely driven out by the Human Race and the divine Spirit Race is the covert support from the Myriad Demons Ancestral Domain beyond the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea and from the Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have ascended to immortality] within the Hundred Races' Heavenly Domain.

Given their current strength, for the Western Abyss Dragon Palace and the Heavenly Fiend Race to reverse their fortunes is nearly an impossibility.

Their audacity to stir the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and upheaval] at this moment suggests they possess some measure of confidence. The reason behind this is not difficult to surmise.

It is most likely because the two Grotto-Heaven of Western Essence and Divine Abyss, in order to shelter their disciples from the Great Tribulation, will seal their realms upon its arrival, isolating themselves from the Tribulation [the karmic strife and calamity].

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang sighed and said, "We need not dwell on it further. Let us first return to the Returning Abyss Sea."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded in assent and continued his journey out of the Crimson Sun Sea Region.

Not long after, he located Kael Chen and the others who were concealed nearby and led them on the flight back to the Returning Abyss Sea.

"..."

Not long after Eldrin Chen emerged, two more figures fled far beyond the borders of the Crimson Sun Blessed Land. They were none other than the Lingering Sun Patriarch and the Setting Sun Patriarch who had come from the Lingering Sun Blessed Land.

The Setting Sun Patriarch glanced back at the Crimson Sun Blessed Land, his face etched with profound fear. "That venture was perilous beyond measure," he said. "Had you, Master, not possessed the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a legendary cauldron artifact capable of suppressing worlds], both of us would surely have perished within."

"Indeed," nodded the Lingering Sun Patriarch, his expression grave. "Who could have foreseen that the Western Abyss Dragon Palace and the Heavenly Fiend Race would join forces to ambush and slay the Thousand Streams Path Master?"

"After this battle, I fear the very heavens of the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas will be overturned."

The Lingering Sun Patriarch murmured to himself, then drew from his sleeve a treasure cauldron adorned with intricate dragon patterns. A faint smile touched his lips. "Fortunately, the Crimson Dragon True Soul [the primordial spiritual essence of a Crimson Dragon] of this Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron has been recovered. Our long-cherished wish is finally fulfilled."

"Without this artifact today, our escape would have been far from certain." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio–novel.com.

As he spoke these words, a smile also appeared on the face of the Setting Sun Patriarch.

Their Lingering Sun Blessed Land shared deep, intricate connections with the ancient Lingering Sun Heavenly God, granting them knowledge of certain closely guarded secrets.

It is said that tens of millions of years ago, the Crimson Sun Blessed Land was once a Primordial Solar Immortal Vein [a supreme ley line of solar energy]. At the heart of this Immortal Vein [a ley line of concentrated spiritual energy] lay a Crimson Sun Stone Womb [a mystical stone matrix that gestates life]. Nurtured over several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles of creation and destruction], it eventually gave birth to an Innate Divine Spirit [a deity born from the primordial forces of heaven and earth].

This Divine Spirits was named the Crimson Sun Heavenly God. Its origins were considered top-tier even among Innate Divine Spirit, and it possessed a companion Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born alongside a divine being]—the peerless Innate Treasure [a treasure formed by natural laws] known as the Crimson Sun Halberd.

Yet the Crimson Sun Heavenly God [a powerful innate divine being] was fated for misfortune. Just before its emergence, its origins were divined by a Celestial Immortal Great Power [an immensely powerful immortal cultivator].

An Innate Treasure [a supreme treasure born of nature itself] of the highest grade is a rarity beyond measure. Naturally, the assembled Celestial Immortal Great Power [immortal cultivators of immense power] coveted it intensely. When the Crimson Sun Halberd [a legendary halberd of solar power] finally took form, it was contested by several dozen of these mighty beings.

In the end, the Crimson Sun Halberd was seized by a Kalpa Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived cosmic tribulations]. Deprived of its Lifebound Supreme Treasure [a treasure intrinsically linked to its life and cultivation], the Crimson Sun Heavenly God found its Crimson Solar Path Principle [a fundamental law of its cultivation path] incomplete, causing it to degenerate into the Lingering Sun [a diminished solar principle] Path Principle.

This Crimson Sun Heavenly God proved itself a true pinnacle Innate Divine Spirit [a spirit born of heaven and earth]. Even with its foundation severely damaged, it managed to stabilize its status as an Innate Divine Spirit, transforming into the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial immortals] Lingering Sun Heavenly God [the diminished solar deity].

However, after this calamity, the Lingering Sun Heavenly God's foundation was no longer perfect. It failed to survive the Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of its cultivation path] of that era and perished within the tribulation's fury.

After the fall of the Lingering Sun Heavenly God, the Crimson Sun Blessed Land [a land of power blessed by the Crimson Sun] was occupied by the Crimson Flame Immortal Sect [an immortal sect of crimson flames]. Its physical form transformed into the Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a land blessed by the Lingering Sun], which was later claimed by the Lingering Sun Patriarch [the patriarch of the Lingering Sun].

Thus, it can be said that both the Crimson Flame Immortal Sect and the Lingering Sun Immortal Sect [an immortal sect of the Lingering Sun] are intricately connected to the legacy of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land.

The Crimson Flame Immortal Sect was destroyed thirty million years ago, its Crimson Sun Blessed Land hidden away within an Earth Immortal World [a world governed by Earth Immortals]. Yet, the Lingering Sun Blessed Land endured.

This Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy] was successively occupied by three ancient sects of Earth Immortal [powerful immortal cultivators]. By the time it came into the hands of the Lingering Sun Heavenly God, it was already the fourth Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a Blessed Land ruled by Earth Immortals].

Contemplating this, the Setting Sun Patriarch [the patriarch of the Setting Sun] could not help but ask with curiosity, "Master, what profound mystery lies within the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a cauldron of immense power capable of suppressing worlds] that you value it so highly, going to such lengths to retrieve its Crimson Dragon True Soul [the true spiritual essence of a crimson dragon]?"

"The origin of this object..."

Lingering Sun Patriarch hesitated slightly, then after a moment sighed and said, "Enough. My foundation is limited, and in this lifetime, I fear it will be difficult for me to advance any further. There is no harm in telling you of this matter." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audi novel.com.