Chapter 1326 : The Master's Final Decree

He, who considered himself the Child of Tribulation [a title signifying one who has weathered great calamities to ascend], had carved his path through thorns and tribulations to achieve immortality, standing as the most dazzling mythical figure in the history of the Verdant Spirit Ancient Star. Never did he imagine that his two senior brothers would each surpass him by a hair's breadth.

"Of course," he thought, "they received the Master's personal guidance. Such achievements are to be expected."

Fate Birth murmured inwardly, then offered a deeply respectful bow to his senior brothers and sisters.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Beyond your three senior siblings, you have a third senior brother, born from the Spiritual Root known as the Serene Bamboo [a spiritual plant of profound purity]. However, he has not yet taken human form and cannot meet you here for now."

"Your martial mother also has several senior sisters under her tutelage. As I am about to enter secluded cultivation, I shall not introduce them to you one by one."

"In the coming days, follow your senior brothers and sisters. Familiarize yourself with the immortals of the Returning Abyss Sea Region, and pay your respects to your senior sisters and elders."

Fate Birth nodded immediately and said, "This disciple obeys your command."

"You may withdraw."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen gave a faint nod and waved his hand, signaling for the group to take their leave.

After everyone had departed, Eldrin Chen summoned Sun Consort, Verdant Consort, Heaven Wind Path Master, and the three Earth Immortal [immortals anchored to the mortal world, a realm above Celestial Immortal] from the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect, and issued his instructions. Read, share, and discuss at http://www . audio-novel.com.

"This journey has yielded me significant gains. I now intend to enter seclusion to forge the World-Opening True Body [a supreme physical form capable of withstanding the forces of world creation], in preparation for the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of immense scale and danger] brought forth by Thousand Dragon Lake and the Celestial Prison Clan."

"During this period, I hope all of you can unite your efforts to withstand the assaults from Thousand Dragon Lake."

Upon hearing this, the assembled immortals all revealed expressions of solemn gravity.

Sun Consort hesitated slightly, her tone heavy with concern as she asked, "For this seclusion, how long do you estimate it will take before you emerge?"

"A thousand years should suffice."

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking.

Back when he first refined the Metallic Gold Earth Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual land vein rich in metallic and earth energies], Eldrin Chen had spent a full millennium to succeed.

However, now that Eldrin Chen had cultivated the Primordial One Limitless Rule [a supreme law of boundless origin], the purity of his spiritual power rivaled that of a powerhouse at the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm. Refining this Supreme-Grade Earth Vein would naturally be far easier.

In earlier years, when the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure that manipulates the polarity of void] advanced to become a World-Opening Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade, capable of assisting in world creation], Eldrin Chen had expended nearly a thousand years.

Yet, just a few years prior, when Eldrin Chen assisted the Positive Water Verdant Lotus Throne [a spiritual throne embodying the harmonious essence of positive water and verdant lotus] in its advancement, it had taken him less than three hundred years.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen estimated that, barring unforeseen circumstances, he could refine the three Supreme-Grade Earth Vein within a thousand years.

After all, the path of Fleshly Body Sanctification did not rely on enlightenment as heavily as comprehending the Rule Great Path did. This path depended more on resources and innate talent.

"A millennium, then?"

The Patriarch of Verdant Stream Ancient Sect pondered briefly before speaking. "The Cosmic Stellar Formation of the Returning Abyss Sea Region has been reinforced multiple times. Although it still cannot match the Verdant River Formation of the Verdant River Sea Region, it is now quite Extraordinary."

"Moreover, with me presiding over the formation's core, it should be sufficient to hold back Thousand Dragon Lake for a thousand years."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement.

Now, with the Great Tribulation unceasing and great wars raging continuously, Eldrin Chen could not spare much time for secluded cultivation.

Yet, if they did not continue to strengthen their power, they would likely fail to overcome the trial posed by Thousand Dragon Lake. Therefore, he had to seize every possible moment to increase his own strength.

It was undeniable that the might of Thousand Dragon Lake was truly formidable.

Even though the Cosmic Stellar Formation of the Returning Abyss Sea Region had been repeatedly reinforced, its defensive power now rivaled the Mountain Protection Formation of a Blessed Land, if Thousand Dragon Lake attacked at its full strength, the Returning Abyss Sea Region would still be unable to withstand the onslaught.

After all, Thousand Dragon Lake was a formidable Blessed Land [a region of concentrated spiritual energy and profound natural laws] possessing a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has reached the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm, one step below becoming a true Celestial Immortal]. Its strength was not merely ten times greater than that of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land; their foundational power and combat prowess were on entirely different levels.

Fortunately, Thousand Dragon Lake had been locked in a bitter war with the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect for nearly ten thousand years. Furthermore, having been tricked and ambushed by Eldrin Chen, losing several hundred Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and ascended to a higher state of existence], their forces had already been reduced by more than half.

Moreover, their World-Opening Ancient Ship [an ancient, colossal vessel capable of traversing and influencing the fabric of reality] had been severely damaged by Eldrin Chen, and three of their World-Ending Cannon [cataclysmic siege weapons of immense destructive power] had been seized by him. Stripped of this strategic asset for breaching defensive formations, their ability to assault fortified positions was greatly diminished.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Eldrin Chen concluded that he likely had one thousand years to cultivate his Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution forged from the primordial energies of creation].

"This is the final millennium," he murmured to himself. "If I can emerge from seclusion within a thousand years, there may still be a chance to turn the tide."

"But if I fail to do so... I fear the Returning Abyss Sea Region will be shattered, its mountains and rivers laid to waste." Find this and other novels at www . audio-novel.com.

Eldrin Chen whispered these thoughts in his heart, his understanding of the situation crystal clear.

The Returning Abyss Sea Region was not the Verdant River Sea Region. No matter how diligently he managed it, its foundational strength and roots could never compare to the Verdant River Sea Region, which had been nurtured by an Earth Immortal Blessed Land for tens of millions of years.

In terms of defensive power, the protective formations of the Returning Abyss Sea Region were, at best, only half as strong as those of the Verdant River Sea Region. Its reserves of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], Immortal Source [a concentrated wellspring of immortal-grade spiritual energy], and other foundational resources amounted to less than thirty percent of the Verdant River Sea Region's stockpile.

Even the seemingly impregnable Verdant River Sea Region had held out against Thousand Dragon Lake's assault for less than ten thousand years. There was no possibility that the Returning Abyss Blessed Land could withstand the onslaught of Thousand Dragon Lake for two thousand.

Even though Thousand Dragon Lake's strength is now greatly diminished, and it has lost both the World-Opening Ancient Ship and the World-Ending Cannon, it is estimated that the Returning Abyss Sea Region can only hold out for one thousand five hundred years at most.

If Thousand Dragon Lake still possesses any hidden trump cards, then one thousand years would likely be the absolute limit.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen's expression turned gravely solemn as he retrieved a storage Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact for storing items] and handed it to Verdant Consort, saying, "This contains one hundred ten thousand Immortal Source [a highly concentrated form of spiritual energy used by immortals], along with a considerable amount of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]."

"It is the accumulation of my many years and the spoils from the previous great battle. I now entrust it all to you."

"If the situation truly reaches a critical juncture, do not be sparing with the Spirit Stone or the Immortal Source. Even if they are completely exhausted, you must hold out until I emerge from seclusion."

"Remember, as long as our people survive, these Immortal Source and Spirit Stone can always be regained in time."

Upon hearing his words, the hearts of all the Immortals trembled slightly.

Leaving aside the Spirit Stone, the Immortal Source alone is of immense value. Typically, a single Low-Grade Immortal Treasure [a basic-level enchanted artifact for immortals] costs around one hundred units of Immortal Fate [a measure of an immortal's destiny and cultivation foundation]. A High-Grade Immortal Treasure [a mid-level enchanted artifact for immortals] is worth roughly one thousand Immortal Source, and even a Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a top-tier enchanted artifact for immortals] is only valued at around ten thousand Immortal Source.

The amount of Immortal Source Eldrin Chen produced in one breath was enough to purchase eleven Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure. It could truly be said that this was a major depletion of his resources.

Seeing that Eldrin Chen held nothing back, Sun Consort and the others also generously opened their private coffers. One contributed several thousand, another tens of thousands, and before they knew it, they had pooled several hundred thousand Immortal Source and a vast sea of Spirit Stone.

The three Earth Immortal [a powerful cultivator who has ascended to the earthly immortal realm] cultivators from the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect [an ancient and venerable cultivation sect] exchanged weary glances. "The battle for the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect," one of them said with a bitter smile, "has completely exhausted our personal reserves of Immortal Source Spirit Stones [a rare and potent type of spirit stone that contains the pure essence of immortal energy]."

"We shall contribute a pair of treasures from our vaults to reinforce the Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array that shields a mountain or sect territory]."

With those words, the Patriarch of Verdant Stream Ancient Sect produced two lower-grade World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade magical artifact of immense power, capable of influencing the fabric of reality]. One was named the Supreme Lunar Wheel [a wheel-shaped treasure imbued with the profound power of the moon], and the other the Solar Pearl [a radiant pearl containing the essence of the sun]. They were to be integrated into the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, attack, or cultivation], serving as the core Formation Flag [a pivotal artifact that anchors and powers a large-scale formation] for the Polarity Immortal-Severing Formation [a formidable formation designed to sever the connection of immortal beings].

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment. "The contributions made by all of you today will be meticulously recorded," he stated firmly.

"Once the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic, world-altering event of immense danger and opportunity] concludes, your efforts will be tallied as Merits [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and contributions, often exchangeable for rewards], redeemable for a share of the spoils."

Upon hearing this, the assembled immortals allowed smiles to touch their lips. Given Eldrin Chen's renowned integrity, they trusted his word completely.

The Heaven Wind Path Master [a Daoist master who has attained profound mastery over the heavenly winds] gave a slight nod, a gentle smile on his face. "The Great Tribulation is unpredictable and perilous," he said. "This is not a burden for any single clan or sect to bear alone."

"It is only right and proper that we each do our part."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen inclined his head in agreement and said no more. Official source: audi0-n0vel.c0m. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.