Chapter 1347 : Tempered in the Crucible of Chaos

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but shake his head inwardly.

Ascending to the realms of Dual Dao Fruits and Three Dao Fruits was no simple feat.

It demanded not only prodigious talent but also sufficient tempering through trials; otherwise, one would remain a hothouse flower, unlikely to ever take that crucial step.

Figures like Lin Tianqi and the Master of the Dao Palace possessed extraordinary innate gifts, but it was only after being tempered within the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of profound suffering and conflict] of the Purple Realm that they managed to breach that threshold.

The same was true for Ysander. Had he not been born to face a calamity, single-handedly quelling the boundless Demonic Tribulation [a catastrophic invasion or uprising of demonic forces] upon the Verdant Spirit Ancient Star, he likely would never have achieved the Three Dao Fruits.

While the Primordial Chaos Ancient Scripture [an ancient and profound cultivation manual] provided crucial guidance on Ysander's path, the true treasures of his journey were the countless hardships and adversities he endured.

Human potential often erupts only in moments of Life and Death crisis [a state of extreme peril between survival and demise]; the most arduous environments tend to forge the most dazzling geniuses.

The many Heaven's Chosen [individuals blessed with exceptional destiny and talent] of the Purple Realm were precisely those who, under the relentless pressure of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity originating from a demonic abyss], were forced to wring every last drop of potential from myself and constantly surpass their own limits, ultimately rising above the rest.

Ysander's own life was a saga of rising from near-despair. The endless demonic turmoil weighed upon him like a mountain, suffocating his spirit. In his lifetime, he fought every battle as if it were his last.

Thus, among the numerous Heaven's Chosen from the Purple Realm who achieved Ascending to Immortality [the act of transcending mortality to become an immortal being], those who survived to this day were, without exception, paragons of their generation. Immerse yourself in the complete world at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

Conversely, the former Void-Refining Immortal [a title for an immortal who refines the void], after comprehending the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality], remained in the Purple Realm for twenty thousand years yet could never advance further to cultivate an Immortal Physique [a body forged to immortal perfection] or achieve the Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path]. The fundamental reason was simply insufficient tempering.

At that time, the Void-Refining Immortal was already the supreme Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality] of the Purple Realm, a Supreme [peerless] existence. Looking back across the Mortal Dust [the mortal world], he could not find a single worthy opponent.

Without sufficient external pressure, the entire environment was far too peaceful for him, offering neither the necessary insights nor the crucible for true refinement.

Under such circumstances, even after suppressing his cultivation for tens of thousands of years to contemplate the Dao Fruit and repeatedly attempting to forge an Immortal Physique, the Void-Refining Immortal found himself perpetually stuck, unable to take that final step.

If, at the moment the Purple Realm was cast adrift, the Void-Refining Immortal had not chosen to ascend to avoid the Demonic Tribulation [a cataclysmic calamity brought by demonic forces] but had instead chosen to face it head-on, the outcome might have been entirely different.

He would have either, under the pressure of the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a demonic deity from beyond this realm], succeeded in cultivating three types of Immortal Ascension Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit enabling ascension to immortality] to shatter the Demonic Tribulation, or he would have perished within it.

By choosing to flee the Extraterrestrial Demon God and ascend, he ultimately missed the opportunity [a pivotal chance or favorable juncture] to cultivate three Dao Fruit, a regret that would haunt him for the rest of his eternal life.

Like the Void-Refining Immortal, the Six Stars Immortal also attained the Dao during an era of peace. Having never endured such profound trials in his lifetime, and not being a truly peerless genius himself, it was naturally difficult for him to cultivate Dual Dao Fruits [two ultimate fruits of the Dao].

Remember this: steel is forged through a thousand hammer blows; true talent emerges only after withstanding countless setbacks.

Even the most dazzlingly brilliant Supreme genius across the ages is merely a piece of fine, unworked jade. It must still endure sufficient tempering within the forge of experience to become a Peerless Immortal Sword [a sword of immortality without equal], its edge gleaming with a light that illuminates eternity.

In the eyes of Eldrin Chen, Six Stars Immortal possessed sufficient talent, yet before achieving his Great Dao [the ultimate path of cultivation], he ultimately lacked a certain degree of tempering through hardship.

He did not possess the same sharp, unyielding edge as Eldrin Chen, and even lacked the courage to attempt opening the Threefold Heavens [a legendary and perilous cultivation realm]. At every critical juncture on his Great Dao path, he chose to settle for what was safe and sufficient, revealing a deficiency in the spirit of unwavering, no-retreat determination.

This aspect could also be discerned from Six Stars Immortal's approach to educating his descendants.

Since his Ascending to Immortality [achieving the Immortal Realm] several hundred thousand years ago, Six Stars Immortal had fathered enough offspring to number in the dozens. Yet, only Luna Yue had managed to attain the Great Dao under the support of the Chen Clan, a clear indication that he had been overly protective of his children.

It must be noted that before Luna Yue, the vast Six Stars Immortal Island had only produced a single Immortal: Six Stars Daoist himself. In contrast, Eldrin Chen had sent his own children out into the world early on, and they had, in turn, carved out their own domains through struggle.

"On the path of cultivation, compromise may be acceptable in ordinary times,"

"But when faced with a pivotal choice concerning one's Great Dao, how can one not strive with every fiber of their being?"

"For if you retreat half a step today and yield three feet tomorrow, you may preserve your life for the moment. Yet, as days stretch into eons, such concessions will forge a chasm as vast as the heavens between your destined path and the pinnacle."

Eldrin Chen mused silently within his heart, but in the end, he chose not to voice his dissenting opinion.

Instead, a faint smile touched his lips as he cupped his hands and said, "Father-in-law, please go and consolidate your cultivation. Once our clan has achieved its breakthrough, I shall seek you out to discuss the subsequent movements of the Immortal Alliance."

"Very well."

Six Stars Immortal nodded, then immediately stepped into the Grand Hall with excitement to consolidate his cultivation. Seeing this, Eldrin Chen continued his secluded cultivation within the Abyssal Sea Region.

After Six Stars Immortal emerged from seclusion, many Immortal [powerful beings who have transcended mortality] within the Immortal Alliance began to emerge one after another. Several decades later, Demon-Slaying Daoist and Taibai Jiang emerged, their cultivation realms having already stepped into the Eighth Level of Immortal Ascension Realm. Both were top-tier talents with Dual Dao Fruits [having attained two distinct Dao Fruits, representing mastery over two fundamental principles], their combat prowess surpassing even ordinary cultivators at the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality. After another two hundred years, Lana Gu, Elara Lin, Freya Ji, Dorian Ji, Frost Drake Immortal Maiden, Maris the Sea Steader, and others emerged in succession, their cultivation also having reached the Eighth Level of Immortal Ascension Realm, not far from the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality.

Subsequently, Valerius Chen, Inscription of Sorrow Lord, Caleb Chen, and others also emerged from seclusion, each having reached the Seventh Level of Immortal Ascension Realm.

That Inscription of Sorrow Lord, having established a Great Luo Foundation [an exceptionally stable and profound foundation for cultivation], had just stepped into the Seventh Level of Immortal Ascension Realm. Yet, his combat power had already brushed against the level of a Half-Step Earth Immortal.

Caleb Chen and Valerius Chen were slightly inferior by half a step, but their combat prowess was still comparable to that of a Half-Step Earth Immortal. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at (audio-novel.com).

After another five hundred plus years, Ethan Chen broke through his seclusion barrier, advancing directly into the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm. More crucially, he had mended part of his foundational flaws and, in a single stroke, successfully reforged his Ascendant Immortal Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's comprehension of the Dao, representing their ultimate achievement].

Such a momentous event immediately stirred Eldrin Chen. He sought out Ethan Chen, examined him carefully for a moment, and then said with delight, "Excellent, truly excellent."

"You have now mastered the Life and Death Rule, and your Ascendant Immortal Dao Fruit has advanced a step further. It seems the Heaven-Opening Foundation [a legendary, supremely powerful cultivation foundation] is within reach."

It turned out that during that great battle, Ethan Chen had endured a desperate fight. Though he did not perish, his injuries were extremely severe. At the critical juncture between Life and Death, he glimpsed a trace of the Mysterious Profound [profound and ineffable mysteries] within the Rule of Life, which allowed him to survive.

Afterwards, he refined the Dao Source [the primordial source of the Dao, the fundamental essence of all laws and principles]. Defying conventional wisdom, he courted the peril of utter annihilation by personally seeking to comprehend the power of destruction, ultimately mastering the Rule of Annihilation.

Following this, he merged the Rules of Destruction and Life [the fundamental principle governing vitality, growth, and creation], attaining enlightenment on the Life-Death Annihilation Rule [a supreme Rule Power governing the cyclical interplay of creation and destruction].

This Life-Death Annihilation Rule stands among the most supreme of Rule Power [the manifested authority and power of a fundamental cosmic law], possessing astonishing Mysterious Profound [profound and ineffable mysteries]. Ethan Chen used it to complete his Life-Death Annihilation Dao Fruit [a Dao Fruit formed from the fusion of Life and Death/Annihilation principles], finally allowing it to advance a step further, reaching the Great Perfection Realm [the pinnacle stage of a cultivation realm].

It must be understood that Ethan Chen had originally Ascended to Immortality [achieved the Immortal Ascension Realm] by relying on the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental cosmic principles] of his physical body to form Dual Dao Fruits [two distinct Dao Fruits simultaneously]. This Life-Death Annihilation Dao Fruit was a later, supplementary achievement; by all logic, it should have been impossible for it to advance any further.

Now, with Ethan Chen using Rule Power to mend his foundation, his Life-Death Annihilation Dao Fruit has already entered the domain of the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm [the advanced phase of the Immortal Ascension cultivation stage]. He needs only to take one more step, to have this Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's comprehension of the Dao, forming their core power] tread into the Heaven-Opening Realm [a legendary realm signifying the power to initiate creation], and then fuse it with World-Initiating Qi [the primordial breath that gave birth to the world, containing the power of creation], to completely solidify his foundation.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt profound satisfaction in his heart and spoke with approval. "Steel is forged through a thousand hammer blows; true talent is honed through unyielding perseverance."

"You initially failed in Cultivating Dao Fruit [the process of forming a Dao Fruit through cultivation], yet now you have mended it with the Life-Death Annihilation Rule Power. Truly, you have not disappointed me." The complete novel can be found at audio-novel*com.