Chapter 1331 : A Forbidden Realm Revealed

At this moment, as he channeled the Heaven's Malignancy Demon Saber [a demonic blade infused with calamitous power] to cleave forward, its might had already ascended to the domain of a Middle Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has reached the intermediate level of the Earth Immortal realm]. He sought to battle Eldrin Chen to settle the grudge from years past.

"Overestimating your own strength!"

Watching Jaxian propel the Heaven's Malignancy Demon Saber towards him, a flicker of cold light passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes. With a mere snap of his fingers, a Five-Colored Divine Thunder [a divine thunderbolt manifesting the power of the five elements] roared forth with a deafening peal.

This strike was identical to the one from years ago. Effortlessly, it sent the Heaven's Malignancy Demon Saber flying backward, and along with it, Jaxian was sent tumbling through the air, coughing up blood and sustaining significant injuries.

"Impossible!"

Suddenly and grievously wounded, Jaxian spat out a mouthful of blood, his face a mask of utter shock and disbelief.

He had believed that after stepping into the Nine Calamities Realm [a formidable cultivation stage marked by surviving nine great tribulations], he would at least possess the power to contend with Eldrin Chen. Never could he have imagined that encountering Eldrin Chen once more would result in him being crippled by a single blow yet again.

Struck by such a devastating blow, Jaxian wore an expression of profound resentment. Drawing a deep breath, he asked, "You have shattered the ultimate limit... you have stepped into the Ten Calamities Forbidden Realm [a legendary and forbidden cultivation stage surpassing the Nine Calamities]?"

"*Hum*—"

In that instant, even the Void [the fundamental principle of emptiness and space] seemed to tremble faintly. For uninterrupted reading, go to @udio-novel.com.

The Half-Step Earth Immortal powerhouses from both sides of the conflict wore expressions of utter disbelief.

Since time immemorial, the number nine has represented the ultimate limit. From the Qi Refinement [the initial stage of gathering spiritual energy] realm onward, through Foundation Establishment [laying the spiritual foundation for one's cultivation], Purple Mansion [opening the spiritual sea within one's dantian], Golden Core [condensing one's spiritual essence into a core], Nascent Soul [nurturing a spiritual infant from the golden core], Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, their true essence], and even up to the Ascension to Immortality Realm [the threshold of true immortality], each cultivation realm is said to have nine sub-levels.

Within the cultivation hierarchy, the first rank is Qi Refinement, the second is Foundation Establishment, the third is Purple Mansion, the Fourth Rank Golden Core, the Fifth Rank Nascent Soul, the Sixth Rank Primordial Spirit, the seventh rank is Ascendant Immortal [an immortal who has ascended beyond the mortal coil], the eighth rank is World Creation [the ability to create and shape minor realms], and the ninth rank is the Heaven Immortal [a celestial immortal of profound power].

These nine cultivation realms themselves represent a kind of ultimate pinnacle of cultivation. To proceed further into the Great Luo Realm [the realm of the Great Dao, transcending the heavens], one must break through the very limit of the number nine.

Legend holds that for a Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme being among Heaven Immortals] to break through to the Great Luo Realm, they must not only comprehend a Great Dao Embryo [the nascent seed of a supreme cosmic principle], but also shatter the 'Tenth Limit Heavenly Gate' to step into that domain.

Therefore, the so-called nine realms already signify the ultimate limit.

Between heaven and earth, whether among the boundless masses of mortal beings or the myriads of Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality], surpassing the number nine is typically an unattainable dream. It is a true extremity, and breaking through this limit is an endeavor of immense, soul-crushing difficulty.

Even within the Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator on the very cusp of becoming an Earth Immortal] realm, the Nine Tribulations Immortal Realm [a state of having survived nine heavenly tribulations] represents a state of near-perfect completion. How arduous, then, must it be to transcend even that?

Even a peerless genius who cultivates all Three Dao Fruits [the three supreme fruits of cultivation representing essence, energy, and spirit], perfecting each realm to flawless completion, simultaneously forging three types of Heaven-Opening Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation method] to achieve the profound synergy of Trinity Unification [the perfect fusion of the three foundational energies], can at most tread upon the Nine Tribulations Immortal Realm.

To go beyond that, one must be a Supreme Heaven's Chosen [a supreme being favored by destiny itself], one who has at the very least opened a single, transcendent Great Dao [a supreme cosmic principle or path of power].

Lyra Jiang's Great Five Elements Limitless Rule [a supreme law governing the endless cycle and transformation of the five fundamental elements] is itself a path to the heavens—a Great Dao [a supreme and fundamental principle of cultivation]. By walking this single path alone, she has already stepped into the Nine Calamities Realm [a legendary cultivation realm where one must survive nine great tribulations].

If her Lunar Immortal Physique [a celestial constitution attuned to the essence of the moon] and her personal Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivated path] were to reach perfection, achieving the state of Trinity Unification [the perfect fusion of body, spirit, and dao], she would undoubtedly ascend into that exalted domain.

Eldrin Chen's Primordial Chaos Limitless Rule [the law of boundless, undifferentiated chaos from the beginning of time] and his Primordial Indestructible Body [a body forged in the fires of creation, said to be unbreakable] are both paths to the heavens—supreme Great Dao. Even though he has not yet perfected the flawless, world-creating World-Opening Dao Fruit [a dao fruit capable of birthing a new reality], the sheer weight of his two supreme Great Dao has still allowed him to tread upon this very same ground.

"To shatter the limits... the Ten Calamities Forbidden Realm [a forbidden realm of cultivation requiring one to survive ten calamities, surpassing the known limits]."

Hearing Jaxian's words, Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a brilliant, resolute light flashing deep within his eyes.

Legend spoke of Heaven Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm] needing to break through ten ultimate heavenly barriers to advance to the realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme golden immortal of the Great Luo Heaven]. By stepping into the Ten Calamities Forbidden Realm today, had he not shattered one of those very barriers?

His knowledge of the Great Luo Realm [the realm of the Great Luo Heaven] was scant, yet a profound intuition whispered that this might indeed count as breaking one such limit.

Meanwhile, high upon the Firmament [the vault of heaven], the Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison drew a sharp, icy breath. "Since the last Dao Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that reshapes fate and destiny]," he declared, his voice frigid, "only eight individuals across the entire Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [the vast domain of immortals beneath the azure sky] have ever set foot in this realm."

"Of those eight, the three who still live are, at their weakest, Half-Step Celestial Immortal [one who stands on the very threshold of becoming a true celestial immortal]. This Eldrin, the Junior possesses such terrifying aptitude. If allowed to mature, he would become a calamity we cannot afford. We cannot let him live through this day."

With those final words, the Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison cast aside all restraint. He summoned forth yet another High Grade Heaven-Opening Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade, said to possess the power to cleave open the heavens] and sent it crashing down with overwhelming, annihilating force.

Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's gaze also turned frigid, his expression icy as he declared, "Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist [a title for Eldrin Chen, denoting his mastery over the abyssal Dao], you do possess some talent, a prodigy seen but once in a million years within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain."

"However, the Immortal Domain stretches boundlessly. Since ancient times, geniuses have never been in short supply. Even a prodigy of a million years, viewed across the scale of hundreds of millions of years, is but one of over a hundred such talents born between each Calamity Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that reshapes the cosmos]."

"Most of these limit-breaking geniuses perish early on their path, never even setting foot upon the threshold of a Heaven Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm]."

"Today, you have forged the bearing of a Celestial Court Emperor Lord [a sovereign ruler within the heavenly bureaucracy]. Little do you realize, the tallest stalk is the first to be cut down. This Ten Calamities Forbidden Realm [a legendary state of cultivation where one has withstood ten great tribulations] is also the very path that leads to your demise."

As his words fell, the Yin-Yang Life and Death Precious Vase in Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's hand erupted with annihilating light, intent on utterly extinguishing Eldrin Chen.

In that moment, an unprecedented killing intent surged within Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's heart. He no longer regarded Eldrin Chen as a mere junior, but as a mortal enemy who must be slain. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel`com.

A prodigy like Eldrin Chen—while one might not dare claim he would break through to the Great Luo Realm [the realm of ultimate enlightenment and unity with the Dao]—if he did not fall prematurely, his chances of achieving Heaven Immortal status in the future would assuredly exceed fifty percent.

Those Heavenly Immortal Paragon [peerless immortals who stand at the zenith of the celestial realm] are world-shaking geniuses, rare even once in a million years across the entire Azure Firmament Immortal Domain. They might not deign to spare Eldrin Chen a second glance.

But Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake was not so dismissive. He dared not allow such a terrifyingly potent adversary to grow unchecked.

Eldrin Chen saw this and his brow furrowed slightly. With a sweep of his sleeve, he summoned the Primordial Chaos True Aura [a primal energy embodying the state before creation] to manifest across the sky, continuously defending against the assaults of the two powerful Earth Immortal [immortals whose power is anchored to the mortal world].

This Profound Grade Divine Ability [a supreme-level mystical technique] is truly extraordinary. Even when facing the full-force assault of two Seventh Level Earth Immortals [powerful cultivators who have attained the seventh stage of the Earth Immortal realm], it remained as stable as a mountain for a time, showing no signs of being breached.

Seeing this, the Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect let out a sigh of relief. He continuously deployed his Yin-Yang Immortal-Severing Formation [a formation that harnesses the power of Yin and Yang to sever immortal connections], the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos [an ancient bell imbued with the power of the starry heavens], and the Verdant Stream Ancient Sword [an ancient sword passed down through the Verdant Stream Sect], among other means, to assist, greatly alleviating the pressure on Eldrin Chen.

Simultaneously, Jaxian, Blazeforge Ancient Ancestor, the Grand Frost Ice Drake [a mighty ice dragon of ancient lineage], the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon [a golden dragon, a symbol of imperial power among dragonkind], and the two newly advanced Earth Immortals from Thousand Dragons Lake also launched their attacks, eager to swiftly breach the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand defensive formation modeled after the celestial constellations].

Fortunately, the Abyssal Sea Region was not lacking in powerful Earth Immortals. Solara, Verdant Consort, Skywind the Daoist, the Earth Spring Ancient Ancestor, and the two Grand Elders of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect all joined the fray, locking the enemy in fierce combat.

Lyra Jiang intercepted Jaxian. The most formidable foe, Blazeforge Ancient Ancestor, was held in check by the combined efforts of Solara and Verdant Consort. The remaining four Earth Immortal Progenitors [founders or ancient ancestors who attained the Earth Immortal realm] each engaged one of the Demonic Tribe [a powerful alliance or race of demonic cultivators] Earth Immortals.

With the Demonic Tribe's Earth Immortal combat power thus contained, the pressure on the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a formation designed to protect a mountain stronghold] was significantly reduced, and the situation finally stabilized.

As the immortals within the Immortal Alliance continuously worked to repair the formation, shattered Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to anchor and power formations] within the Cosmic Star Archipelago were replaced, and one by one, the Star Spirit Islands [islands that serve as nodes for the stellar formation] were reignited. The power of the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation recovered somewhat. After more than thirty years of such struggle, the World-Opening Power [a divine ability that draws upon the foundational power of one's inner world] within the Immortal Physiques [the perfected, immortal bodies of high-level cultivators] of several Demonic Tribe Earth Immortals was severely depleted. Seeing that their prolonged assault was still failing to yield results, their anxiety grew ever more acute.

Yet, the more anxious they became, the more prone they were to error. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel`com.