Chapter 1381 : Debts of Gratitude and the Great Dao

Eldrin Chen felt a faint sigh within his heart, then spoke with emotion, "If not for you, Senior, taking on my calamity back then, I might have long since perished at the hands of the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world]. Where would I have achieved what I have today?"

"Hmm." Magnus the Virtuous offered a serene smile, nodding slightly. "It seems my choice back then was not mistaken." He spoke calmly, then continued, "In this lifetime, my ambition lies in pursuing the Great Dao [the supreme, fundamental principle and path of cultivation and existence]."

"In my view, to explore the unknown path ahead surpasses remaining here to become a Dao Ancestor [a supreme patriarch who establishes and governs a fundamental aspect of the Dao]." Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh inwardly once more.

On his cultivation journey to this day, Eldrin Chen carried two debts of gratitude he could never fully repay. These debts were owed to Thanatos the God-Slayer and Dao Lord Magnus.

Of the two, Dao Lord Magnus had used a secret art to deceive the Extraterrestrial Demon God, helping Eldrin Chen survive his most perilous Nascent Soul Grand Tribulation [the catastrophic heavenly trial to advance to the Nascent Soul realm]. For this, he himself had perished within that Great Tribulation [a world-shaking, era-defining calamity].

As for Thanatos the God-Slayer, at the cost of his own soul scattering to the winds, he had given his Pure Yang Essence [the quintessential, untainted masculine life-force of a supreme cultivator] to Eldrin Chen, pulling him back from the brink of absolute despair.

Now, Thanatos the God-Slayer had been soul-scattered for many years. Not even a Great Luo Golden Immortal [a legendary, nearly omnipotent immortal realm] might be able to restore him, leaving Eldrin Chen utterly powerless. Therefore, the present Magnus the Virtuous was the person to whom Eldrin Chen felt the deepest indebtedness.

If Magnus the Virtuous were willing to undergo the Reincarnation Tribulation [the trial of death and rebirth to shed one's mortal coil] within the Abyssal Grand Realm, then the status of Progenitor of Earthly Dao [Founder of the Earthly Path] would undoubtedly be his.

Magnus the Virtuous understood this well in his heart, yet he paid it no mind. His heart was set on pursuing the Great Dao, but he wished to forge his own path, unwilling to live under another's shadow.

He shook his head, then said with a laugh, "After the Great Tribulation, send me to face the Reincarnation Tribulation. If we meet again in some future life, I hope you and I can still be friends who transcend the years." Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel . com.

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "It falls to me to see you off, Senior. I hope that upon your return, we may share wine and converse freely."

"That day will come."

Magnus the Virtuous spoke with serene finality, his presence already withdrawing back into the Soul-Gathering Pearl [a mystical artifact capable of housing and nurturing a soul].

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the final Soul-Gathering Pearl, a soft sigh escaping him.

Though Silas Chen's Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator] had been restored, he had not emerged from the pearl. His unspoken intent was clear.

Eldrin Chen understood perfectly. The child held certain feelings for him and wished not to remain within his world, preferring to meet him again under a new identity.

"Silly child."

Eldrin Chen sighed inwardly once more, offering no further words.

He stored the two Soul-Gathering Pearl away, then cast his gaze across the newly formed realm. His eyes were as calm as still water. With matters settled thus, the grand undertaking of World Creation [the act of forging a new reality or pocket dimension] had reached its conclusion. The time to depart had arrived.

However, before departing, Eldrin Chen waved his sleeve and plucked several treasures from the newly formed cosmos.

Although the world was newly born, the process of World Creation had nurtured numerous treasures, and a select few had caught Eldrin Chen's discerning eye.

The treasures he retrieved were rare Heaven-Opening Marvel, including the Heaven-Opening Polar Light, Five-Colored Immortal Jade, Primordial Chaos Ancient Stone, and other such wonders.

Among them, the Heaven-Opening Polar Light was the first primordial radiance born from Eldrin Chen's World Creation. Yet, it uniquely contained the attributes of all Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth five elements. Its grade had ascended to the rank of a Heaven-Opening Marvel, far surpassing ordinary Heaven-Opening Polar Light.

By Eldrin Chen's estimation, this single strand of Heaven-Opening Polar Light was equivalent to five ordinary polar lights, sufficient for Lyra Jiang to cultivate her Five-Colored Divine Radiance.

Having retrieved these treasures, Eldrin Chen immediately soared out from between heaven and earth.

Lyra Jiang and the others who had observed the ceremony saw this and their faces lit up with joy. They congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations, Husband. With your opening of the Thirteen-Layered Heavens this time, you surely possess the bearing of a future Dao Ancestor [a supreme progenitor of the Dao, the ultimate goal of cultivation]."

"It is merely the Earth Immortal Realm [the foundational realm for an immortal, where one's inner world is first established]; it is not so exaggerated," Eldrin Chen demurred, shaking his head.

With a gentle smile, Eldrin Chen then handed the Heaven-Opening Polar Light to Lyra Jiang. After she accepted it, he inquired, "How do you feel?"

Lyra Jiang pondered for a moment before replying, "Although my Lunar Immortal Physique [an immortal constitution aligned with lunar essence] is extraordinary, it still cannot compare to your Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [a legendary physique of unbreakable chaos origin]. At most, I am confident I can open eleven layers of heaven."

"To open the Twelfth Heavenly Layer..."

She pondered for a moment before speaking: "Unless one possesses an Eighth Rank External Elixir [a supreme-grade pill of external origin, capable of drastically enhancing one's foundation], perhaps an attempt could still be made." "I understand."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then looked towards Verdant Consort and said: "Now that I have achieved my breakthrough, it is time to journey to the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea realm in the western reaches] to seek a Nine Calamities Dao Source [a primordial source of Dao power, born from surviving nine great tribulations] for you."

"Oh?"

Verdant Consort was slightly taken aback, frowning as she said: "Ninth Tribulation Immortal [an immortal who has survived nine heavenly tribulations] are exceedingly rare, and most possess profound backgrounds. You must not recklessly court danger."

"I am aware." Experience the full epic at audio-novel dot com.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. After a moment of contemplation, he continued: "Within the heart of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that reshapes fate itself], amidst the great battles of life and death waged across various Blessed Land [realms of concentrated spiritual energy and natural fortune], many Demonic Tribe [powerful clans and factions of demonic cultivators] Blessed Land have suffered grievous wounds.

"Among them are not a few Seven-Calamity, and even Eight-Calamity Immortal [immortals who have weathered eight heavenly tribulations]. This presents a prime opportunity for us."

Seeing that Verdant Consort remained concerned, Eldrin Chen pressed on: "Do not worry. I possess the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a supreme treasure capable of manipulating the void between Yin and Yang], and having now broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of an Earth Immortal, a foundational stage of true immortality], my strength is no longer what it once was."

"An ordinary Earth Immortal Great Perfection [an Earth Immortal who has reached the pinnacle of their realm] might be able to defeat me, but capturing or killing me would be a feat of immense difficulty." Hearing this, Verdant Consort could only nod in reluctant agreement.

After his breakthrough into the Earth Immortal [a powerful cultivator who has forged a profound connection to the world's essence] realm, the power of Eldrin Chen's World-Opening True Body [a divine physique capable of creating worlds], his comprehension of the laws, and his Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path] saw little increase. However, with an entire world now serving as his Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and unshakable foundation of a cultivator's power], the depth of his Mana [the spiritual energy used to power spells and techniques] had swelled by several fold.

Bolstered by the support of his Thirteen-Layered Heavens [a world of exceptional quality and stability, with thirteen foundational layers], the sheer volume of Eldrin Chen's Mana now rivaled that of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal who had opened a Sixfold Heavens [a world with six foundational layers]. With such a vast reservoir of Mana at his command, Eldrin Chen could now unleash the full might of his myriad techniques without restraint. He would no longer be like during the previous great battle, possessing supreme laws and Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques] yet only able to manifest the combat prowess of a Late Stage Earth Immortal for a fleeting moment.

Thus, Eldrin Chen estimated that his combat strength was now utterly transformed.

Although he still could not match those top-tier Late Stage Earth Immortal who had cultivated three types of Heaven-Opening Foundation [foundational cultivation arts of the highest order] and opened eight or even Ninefold Heavens [a world with nine foundational layers, the pinnacle], he was now on par with, if not slightly stronger than, an Eighth Level Earth Immortal who had opened a Sixfold Heavens.

With these thoughts in mind, Verdant Consort still cautioned, "On this journey, you must remember to be exceedingly cautious. Do not recklessly involve yourself in battles between Half-Step Celestial Immortal [beings who have touched the threshold of the Celestial Immortal realm]."

"I understand," he replied.

Eldrin Chen nodded. In his heart, he knew that any being capable of stepping into the half-step Heaven Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial beings] was among the most supreme of Heaven's Chosen [individuals blessed with exceptional talent and destiny] prodigies.

Such individuals were most likely top-tier geniuses who had opened seven or even eight Heavens [worlds with foundational layers]. They were figures against whom it was nearly impossible to challenge across cultivation realms. Not to mention Eldrin Chen was merely an Early Stage Earth Immortal, even if his cultivation broke through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal, he likely would still be no match for them. Although he had decided to venture into the heart of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of heavenly retribution and destiny], Eldrin Chen did not depart immediately.

He returned to the Abyssal Sea Region [a vast and profound sea realm] and distributed many rare treasures among its immortals as rewards for the successful World Creation [the act of creating an inner world]. His close friends and the many immortals of the Immortal Alliance [a coalition of powerful cultivators] also sent heavy congratulatory gifts.

Just in terms of Heaven-Opening Marvels [rare treasures that aid in the creation or enhancement of an inner world], Eldrin Chen received seven or eight. Some were sent by Ancient Ruins Yin Lord, others by Sky Abyss Daoist. The Verdant Stream Ancient Sect also gifted two, and Solara sent one. This content originates from audio-novel . com. Please respect copyright.