Chapter 1267 : The Path of Tribulation and Fortune

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded slightly in agreement.

Within the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of cosmic scale that reshapes fate and destiny], the path is not solely one of passive defense. Those confident in their own strength may also actively enter the tribulation to slay their great enemies and seek the Great Tribulation Opportunity and Fortune [the profound opportunities and fortune hidden within the Great Tribulation's chaos].

The Patriarch Suwei and the several Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have ascended halfway to the Earth Immortal realm] from the Demon Race were precisely of this aggressive, offensive type.

By comparison, passive defense allows one to bolster their strength by borrowing the power of Formation [powerful arrays or formations that channel and amplify energy]. However, if one merely defends passively, enemies of comparable strength are unlikely to foolishly throw themselves at your defenses. Those who come to attack will mostly be those whose strength surpasses your own.

In contrast, for the side taking the initiative to attack, as long as they do not blindly rush into enemy formations like the Patriarch Suwei and Thousand Dragon Lake did, their chances of perishing are actually significantly lower.

Thus, all things considered, whichever method one chooses to enter the tribulation has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen also gave a slight nod. After a moment of thoughtful silence, however, he spoke, "There is no need for haste. Let us first digest the gains from this great battle before making any further plans."

Hearing this, the immortals felt a flicker of joy in their hearts. Moon Consort immediately smiled and said, "Indeed. Our harvest this time is immense. If we can fully assimilate it, our strength is certain to increase dramatically."

"Then let us take stock of what we have gained from this battle."

With a faint smile, Eldrin Chen led the immortals back to the summit of Green Chariot Mountain and began to inventory the spoils of war. Continue reading this story at audio-novel.com.

As the first major battle since entering the tribulation, the spoils from this complete victory were astonishingly bountiful.

The gathered immortals tallied the captured treasures, finding an uncountable number of various rare items. Among them were over one hundred and eighty Immortal Artifact [powerful enchanted artifacts used by immortals] and Spirit Herb [plants imbued with potent spiritual energy]. The Spiritual Object [objects infused with spiritual power] below the immortal grade were truly beyond counting.

There were also quite a few Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact [the pinnacle tier of immortal artifacts], obtained from the three True Dragon [a race of supreme draconic beings] Patriarch, Bright Ao, and Patriarch Suwei.

As a newly advanced Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator on the cusp of becoming an Earth Immortal], Bright Ao possessed the fewest treasures, having only a single borrowed Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact of immense power]—the Ancient Seal of the Desolate Ruins.

The three True Dragon Patriarch were ancient Half-Step Earth Immortal who had lived for millions of years, and their accumulated wealth was extraordinary by any measure.

The fallen Blue Jade Heavenly Dragon left behind two Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure. These treasures were specialized for offense and defense respectively. The offensive Immortal Treasure [an immortal-grade artifact] was named the Blue Jade Heaven Soul Sword, while the defensive one was called the Heavenly Dragon Shield.

Golden Dragon Patriarch was a Four Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal [a Half-Step Earth Immortal who has survived four heavenly tribulations], making him relatively weaker among his peers. He possessed only one Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure, named the Golden Light Soul-Piercing Thorn—a supreme-grade treasure specifically designed to attack the soul.

The most powerful was the Supple Wood Azure Dragon Patriarch, who wielded three Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure: the Qianqing Mountain and River Fan, the Eastern Supple Wood Azure Dragon Banner, and the Azure Wave Immortal-Refining Sword.

In addition, there were the Triad Wonder Pearls. This set of Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure was a matched trio, and its power ranked supreme among all the captured Immortal Treasure.

White Tiger Patriarch also possessed three Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure: the Heavenly Might Token, the Heavenly Wheel Mirror, and the Suwei Heavenly Halberd. The Suwei Heavenly Halberd was destroyed during the great battle, while the Heavenly Might Token and Heavenly Wheel Mirror both fell into the hands of Eldrin Chen.

Unlike the four Half-Step Earth Immortals from the True Dragon Clan, this White Tiger Patriarch had marched to war prepared to either succeed or perish in seclusion.

To prevent his treasures from being stolen by others, he had not left his most important possessions in the Suwei Sea. Instead, he carried them on his person, which included a storage-type Immortal Treasure [a supreme-grade enchanted artifact].

Within this storage Immortal Treasure, Eldrin Chen took inventory and found it contained a vast quantity of Immortal Source [the condensed essence of immortal energy] and rare treasures. The most precious among them was a Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root [a top-tier spiritual plant born after the creation of the world]—the 'Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple'.

Setting aside these Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasures, the fall of these five Half-Step Earth Immortals had also given birth to five Supreme-Grade Path Sources [supreme condensed essences of a cultivator's Dao path].

In addition, there were fifty-one portions of Path Source [condensed essence of a cultivator's Dao path] and several hundred Immortal Artifacts [immortal-grade magical weapons and tools], all left behind by the fallen Demon Immortals [immortals who follow a demonic path].

For an existence like Eldrin Chen, ordinary High-Grade Immortal Treasures and Immortal Artifacts, or even Path Sources, were of limited use.

Only these Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifacts and the few Supreme-Grade Path Sources counted as true treasures to them.

"These common Immortal Artifacts and Path Sources shall be placed in the Treasure Vault of the Immortal Alliance. Fellow immortals may exchange for them using Merits [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and karma]," Eldrin Chen stated calmly to the assembled immortals before turning his gaze to the several Supreme-Grade Path Sources and Immortal Artifacts.

In this battle, they had captured a total of eighteen Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifacts. The most precious among them were the Path Sources, the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple, and the Triad Wonder Pearls.

Among the Triad Wonder Pearls, the Path Source, and the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple, the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple and the Triad Wonder Pearls were the most precious.

This Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple, also known as the 'Western Metallic Gold White Tiger Divine Tree', was, like the 'Fire Phoenix Parasol Tree', one of the Worldly Spiritual Root [a spiritual plant of immense power, often used as a foundation for creating worlds] most suited for World-Opening [the act of creating a new, independent world or realm] in all of creation.

Not only was this tree of boundless height, but it could also nurture the World-Opening True Spirit [a primordial spirit born from a Worldly Spiritual Root, destined to become a guardian of a new world] known as the 'Western Pole White Tiger', making it the optimal choice for serving as a Western Pole Celestial Pillar [one of the foundational pillars supporting the structure of a newly opened world].

The Patriarch Suwei had attained the Dao as a 'Western White Tiger' [a divine beast of the west, symbolizing metallic power and martial prowess]. From his Innate [the state of being born with a divine nature or true spirit form] state, he could naturally gather Western Pole Metallic Gold Essence [the purest spiritual essence of metallic energy from the Western Pole]. This Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple could be considered its companion Spiritual Root [a plant that grows and thrives alongside a powerful spiritual entity].

And besides this Patriarch Suwei, there were two other Upper Grade Spiritual Root [a high-quality spiritual plant], clearly long-held candidates he had collected for potential Fourth-Level Celestial Pillar [a specific grade of foundational pillar for world creation].

"This Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple resonates with the Fire Phoenix Parasol Tree. Its value is beyond words. Combined with the Eastern Longevity Ancient Tree within that Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy and natural blessings], my World-Opening Celestial Immortal Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root required for the highest level of world creation] collection lacks only its final piece," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly. He would absolutely not relinquish this item. He spoke decisively, "This Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple is of great use to me. I wish to keep it."

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Sun Consort's eyes flickered slightly. After a moment's contemplation, she gave a slight nod. Although the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple was precious, as the Grand Elder of the Glazed Blessed Land, the Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] had long ago prepared four Supreme-Grade Immortal Root [the highest grade of spiritual root, surpassing even Upper Grade] for her.

Furthermore, those four Supreme-Grade Immortal Root had already been refined by her into Four Extremities Celestial Pillars [celestial pillars representing the four cardinal directions, a complete set for world creation]. She was only one step away from World-Opening. While the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple was valuable, it was not something she urgently needed.

With this thought, Sun Consort turned her gaze to the Triad Wonder Pearls and said, "We shall yield this treasure to you. However, these pearls resonate deeply with the essence of our three sisters, so they should be ours."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, a sense of relief settling within him.

Among the many Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact, only the Triad Wonder Pearls could be considered on par with the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple.

This treasure was among the most precious of Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact. Each individual pearl was a Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure, and when combined, the power they unleashed surpassed even that of a Low-Grade World-Opening Treasure.

Watching the three sisters, Sun Consort, claim the Triad Wonder Pearls, Exquisite Jiang did not hesitate for a moment. She immediately took the Path Source [the condensed origin of a cultivator's cultivation path] left behind by the Supple Wood Azure Dragon Patriarch.

Verdant Consort also did not stand on ceremony, directly claiming the Path Source [the condensed origin of a cultivator's cultivation path] left by the White Tiger Patriarch.

These two Path Source [the condensed origin of a cultivator's cultivation path] were remnants of a six-tribulation Demon Immortal [a demonic being who has ascended to immortality], their quality far exceeding that of ordinary Supreme-Grade Path Source. Naturally, they were the most prioritized choices.

The remaining treasures continued to be distributed according to each person's accumulated Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds].

Eldrin Chen had accrued the greatest Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds]. Without delay, he took the Path Source [the condensed origin of a cultivator's cultivation path] of the Blue Jade Heavenly Dragon. This vile dragon's cultivation had reached the five-tribulation Earth Immortal realm, making the Path Source it left behind exceptionally precious.

Sun Consort [one of the three celestial consorts] observed the situation, then glanced at the Path Source [a primordial source of power tied to one's cultivation path] held by Bright Ao and Golden Dragon Patriarch. She took the Path Source from Bright Ao and handed it to Moon Consort [another of the three celestial consorts], saying:

"This Path Source from the Golden Dragon Patriarch follows the rules of golden radiance. None of us three are suited to refine it, so it shall be yours." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio–novel.com.