Chapter 1288 : Millennium of Digestion, Harvest of the Immortals

"30 1000 years, you say?"

Lyra's eyes flickered slightly as she gave an imperceptible nod.

How exceedingly rare is the Heaven-Opening Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root)! Even for a powerful Earth Immortal blessed land, cultivating a Heaven-Opening Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root) would require at least several tens of millions of years of effort.

With the aid of Primordial Violet Qi, they could cultivate a Heavenly Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root) in merely 30,000 years. Were this news to reach the Earth Immortal Patriarchs, most would likely be driven to madness.

At this thought, Lyra couldn't help but smile and say, "Breaking through to Earth Immortal is still far off. I should first refine the Dao Origin of the Setting Sun Master, comprehend the power of rules, and attempt to reach the Half-Step Earth Immortal realm."

"Hmm."

Eldrin nodded slightly, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Focus your minds on secluded cultivation and breakthrough. For the coming days, I shall personally guard the Abyssal Return Sea."

After seeing Lyra and Qing Ji into seclusion, Eldrin began his secluded cultivation at Verdant Chariot Mountain.

With Eldrin (Person Name) personally overseeing matters, the immortals of the Abyssal Return Alliance could finally enter seclusion with peace of mind. Some retreated to heal their wounds, while others had already begun refining the Source of Dao, attempting to break through their current realms.

As could be foreseen, after successively vanquishing the Suwei demon hordes and obliterating nearly 2 100 immortals in the Setting Sun Sea, the power of the Return Abyss Sea immortals would surge exponentially within an exceedingly brief span of time.

Eldrin secluded himself in cultivation upon Verdant Chariot Mountain, refining ethereal energies to amplify his spiritual power while contemplating the myriad celestial scriptures left by the Crimson Abyss Sea.

Throughout this process, he absorbed the essence of hundreds of classics, continuously refining his Primordial Unity Sutra and the Primordial Unyielding Sutra.

Thus time flowed on, and the years began to fly by in the blink of an eye.

3 100 years later, both Yan Zi Ji and Lila (Person Name) successfully refined their Dao Origins, breaking through to the 7th Heaven of Ascendant Immortal Realm in 1 fell swoop.

4 100 years later, the Void-Refining Immortal also advanced further from a position already close to perfection, breaking through to the Eighth Level of Ascension in a single stride.

6 100 years later, Kael (Person Name) refined 3 Supreme-Grade Dao Origins, breaking through to the Eighth Celestial Ascension Realm in 1 fell swoop. His 3 Dao Fruits—Buddhist, Daoist, and Demonic—all achieved perfection, each possessing combat prowess comparable to the Ninth Celestial Ascension Realm.

7 100 years later, Chen Qiyuan refined the Dao Origin of the Fire Yang Daoist, his cultivation breaking through to the Eighth Heaven of Ascendant Immortal realm. The Laws of the Sun, the Indestructible Golden Body, and the Profound Clarity Dao Fruit—all were perfected without flaw.

8 100 years later, Chen Ethan refined 2 Sources of Dao, mastering both the laws of life and death to perfection, and broke through to the 7th layer of Ascension in 1 decisive surge.

9 100 years later, the immortals began emerging from seclusion 1 after another, each having increased their cultivation by at least 10 to 20 percent. Among the earliest batch of transcendents—including the master of the Dao Palace, the Roc Demon Sage, Lin Tianqi, the Thunder Tribulation Deity, and the Misty Snow Palace Lord—all had broken through to the Seventh Celestial Ascension Realm, with the sole exception of Kunxuan Daoist, who had unfortunately succumbed to his heavenly tribulation.

Chen Fusu, Lu Wenyuan, Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name), Elara (Person Name), Freya (Person Name), and several dozen other immortals, though having made their breakthroughs relatively late, had each refined at least 2 or 3 low- to mid-grade Dao Origins. Their cultivation realms now stood firmly at the mid Ascension stage.

It could be said that in today's Return Abyss Immortal Alliance, aside from the few immortals who perished during the Great Tribulation, the remaining immortals have all broken through to at least the third level of Ascendant Immortal realm, with most having reached the fourth level or higher.

It must be known that among these immortals, figures like Lu Qingfeng (Person Name) and Jiang Taibai (Person Name) had ascended to the immortal realm for less than 10 1000 years.

Although they had already been immortals in the Violet Realm for 10 to 20 1000 years prior to this, their total cultivation time amounted to merely 20 to 30 1000 years. Breaking through to the Middle Stage of Ascendant Immortal in such a short span was truly comparable to the legendary Eldrin (Person Name) of yore.

"Though the Great Tribulation is perilous, it also holds boundless opportunities."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, a wave of profound emotion coloring his words.

In the great battle that had transpired, the Empyrean Sea of the Returning Abyss had lost several Immortals. Yet, after a millennium of assimilating the gains, the cultivation bases of the remaining Immortals had advanced by an average of 2 levels, resulting in a substantial increase in their overall power.

As the immortals emerged from seclusion 1 after another, Lyra and Qing Ji soon advanced further in their cultivation, each attaining comprehension of the power of rules.

At this stage, both of them had broken through the 9 Layers of Ascendant Immortal realm. The threshold to Half-Step Earth Immortal had been unlocked—all that remained was to continue refining their spiritual power to shatter the final bottleneck.

Lyra and Qing Ji also achieved a breakthrough.

Noticing the 2 women's breakthrough, Eldrin couldn't help but smile faintly.

Both Lyra and Qingji (Person Name) possessed extraordinary strength to begin with, and after comprehending the laws, their combat prowess had improved significantly. Coupled with the fact that they carried several top-tier immortal treasures, their strength, while not yet reaching the level of a 7 Tribulation Immortal, had already surpassed that of ordinary 6 Tribulation Immortals.

At this thought, Eldrin couldn't help but smile faintly. "Congratulations to both Madams. Your cultivation has advanced tremendously, and the Half-Step Earth Immortal realm is now within your grasp."

Qing Ji’s face also lit up with joy, and she couldn’t help but speak: "We’ve already broken through, my husband. What do you plan to do next—

"Not so fast."

Eldrin shook his head, then gazed toward the direction of the Solar Immortal Isle and remarked, "By my reckoning, the time has come. Fellow Daoist Riji should have refined the Source of the Dao by now and be preparing to breach the Earth Immortal realm."

"Hmm—"

As Eldrin's voice faded, boundless tremors surged forth from the Sunfire Immortal Isle.

Everyone looked up and saw the boundless fire element energy between heaven and earth surging toward the Solar Immortal Island.

No 1 knew how much time had passed. When the boundless fire elemental energy was devoured as if a massive whale sucking in water, heaven and earth trembled violently. Finally, a figure of unparalleled elegance emerged.

Riyi was clad in a dazzling golden gown, her eyes clear and luminous. Wherever her gaze fell, it was as if twin suns radiated brilliance across the realms. She stood against the firmament like a solar goddess, exuding an aura that seemed to hold all immortals in contempt.

Long ago, she had already comprehended the principles of the Great Sun and cultivated her Great Sun Divine Body to the Heaven-Opening Realm.

Now, having refined the supreme-grade Dao Source of the Setting Sun Patriarch, her Solar God Body and Solar Laws had become utterly flawless and seamless, reaching the absolute pinnacle of this realm.

It could be said that Lady Ri Ji's current strength had already brushed against the threshold of a Seventh-Tribulation Immortal. Next, she would either continue to plunge into the tribulation cycle and slay Immortals beyond the Seventh Tribulation.

With the Dao Origins of a 7 Calamity, or even an 8 Calamity Immortal, he could mend his own foundation, ultimately shattering his limits to cultivate the Fruit of the Open Heavens. Otherwise, his only path was to continue breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm.

Yet, every Immortal who has transcended 7 tribulations is a being of staggering talent and brilliance, having achieved at least the Twin Heavenly Dao Fruits—a peerless prodigy among prodigies. How could eliminating such a figure ever be an easy task?

Even if 1 passes this trial, to cultivate the Great Perfection Foundation of the Threefold Heavenly Dao Fruit, 1 must still slay at least 1 8-Calamity Immortal(Immortal Cultivator) to fully consolidate their foundational essence.

Yet, how rare are Tribulation Eighth Level Immortals? Beings of such stature command awe across the world. Within the Divine Abyssal Sea of Western Qi, each 1 ranks among the most distinguished figures.

Riji was a variant of the Celestial Clam lineage—the Great Sun Divine Clam. This bloodline was born from the laws of the Great Sun, capable of drawing upon the power of the 9 Heavens' solar essence to continually purify her own heritage.

It is said that such a Solar God Clam possesses a sliver of potential to break through to the Celestial Immortal realm, yet laying the foundation for 3 Dao Fruits remains far too perilous a path.

Thus, Ji knew to quit while she was ahead that day. Instead of forcing the opportunity to become a 9-Calamity Immortal, she resolved to break through to the Earth Immortal Realm with a foundation perfected through dual Dao Fruits.