Chapter 1342 : The Divine Tree's Ascendant Path

"I shall choose this item."

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord spoke calmly. He was not lacking in World-Opening Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of immense power capable of aiding in the creation of a new world or grotto-heaven]. To obtain a single, extraordinarily valuable High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact used to stabilize and empower the process of opening a new world or grotto-heaven] was already a tremendous gain for him.

With a faint smile, he continued, "Previously, my confidence in successfully opening a Ninefold Heaven [a legendary, supremely stable and potent type of grotto-heaven or inner world, said to have nine layers of foundation] was merely fifty percent. Now, with this treasure in hand, my confidence has risen to ninety percent."

"Then I wish you immediate success, Fellow Daoist, and the forging of a Great Encompassing Potential [a foundational constitution of unparalleled quality, signifying a cultivator's supreme talent and limitless future prospects]."

"My congratulations to you, Fellow Daoist."

Eldrin Chen smiled slightly, then turned his gaze towards Exquisite Jiang.

Without the slightest hesitation, Exquisite Jiang immediately claimed the World-Opening Spiritual Root known as the Fusang Divine Tree [a mythical divine tree from ancient lore, said to be the perch of suns and a source of immense solar and life energy].

By this point, Exquisite Jiang had already gathered five Spiritual Root [a sentient, ancient plant of immense spiritual power, often the foundation of a sect or grotto-heaven]: the Vast Cold Immortal Osmanthus, the Heavenly Heart Divine Willow, the Lingering Sun Fire Mulberry, the Postnatal Heaven-Linking Tree, and the Netherworld Nether Antiquity Locust.

Among these Spiritual Root, the Heaven-Linking Tree was a World-Opening Spiritual Root gifted by the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect. The others required only a little over twenty thousand years more to advance to the World-Opening Spiritual Root grade. Therefore, she was not truly lacking in them.

This Fusang Divine Tree was being prepared for Verdant Consort. This novel is serialized on audio-novel dot com. Visit for updates.

After distributing the most precious Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the remaining treasures.

The spoils from this great battle were abundant on an unprecedented scale.

Beyond the seven most valuable World-Opening Celestial Immortal Artifact [a supreme-grade artifact forged from the foundational essence of a newly created world], there were also numerous World-Opening Marvel [rare treasures born from the primal chaos of world creation].

Among them were nine World-Opening Treasures [magical treasures of immense power, forged from the foundational laws of a newly opened world]. Two were Mid-Grade World-Opening Treasures: the Eternal Flame Dragon Armor and the Primordial Era True Sun Furnace.

There were seven Low-Grade World-Opening Treasures: the Frost Immortal Skirt, the Great Mystery Frost Sword, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Pearl, the Golden Dragon Immortal-Slaying Blade, the Ancient Counter-Scale Sword, the Frost Condensation Pearl, and the Soul-Seizing Ancient Mirror.

There were also five World-Opening Path Sources [a condensed source of power containing the foundational laws of a newly opened world], obtained from Blazing Austerity Patriarch, the Frigid Ice Chi Dragon [a mythical hornless dragon of ice], the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon [a supreme dragon with five claws, symbolizing imperial power], and two newly ascended True Dragon Patriarchs.

Furthermore, there were seven supreme-grade Four Extremities Celestial Pillars [spiritual pillars representing the four cardinal directions of a world, used to stabilize its foundation], taken from Blazing Austerity Patriarch and the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake. These pillars had been refined by the two Earth Immortal Patriarchs [patriarchs who have attained the Earth Immortal realm], making their power far surpass the ordinary.

Unfortunately, without the empowerment of the two Earth Immortal Patriarchs, these seven Celestial Pillars had now degraded back to the level of ordinary supreme-grade Four Extremities Celestial Pillars, yet they remained rare and precious treasures.

In addition to these treasures, they had also captured five World-Opening Grade [a grade of treasure associated with the power to create or open a new world] rare treasures, over a dozen eighth-rank ancient medicinal herbs, and eleven Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Roots [top-tier spiritual roots acquired after birth, not innate].

"Nine World-Opening Treasures, five World-Opening Path Sources, seven supreme-grade Four Extremities Celestial Pillars, eleven Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Roots, and five Eighth Rank Rare Treasures [rare treasures of the eighth rank, possessing immense power]."

Gazing upon these treasures, Eldrin Chen spoke slowly.

He glanced at the remaining members of the group and said with a faint smile, "For these treasures, let us exchange them based on their Merits value."

Seeing this, Verdant Consort immediately exchanged for Heaven's Prison Child's Nine Tribulations Path Source [a condensed source of power that can aid in reaching the Nine Tribulations Realm]. If she refined it herself, she could certainly nurture a Nine Tribulations Immortal.

If given to Exquisite Jiang, the Immortal Alliance would likely gain another Ten Tribulations Immortal.

Heaven Abyss Path Master and Ancient Ruins Path Lord witnessed this but said nothing more. Ascending to the Ten Tribulations Realm was an immensely difficult feat; relying solely on a Nine Tribulations Path Source was of limited use.

To truly step into the Ten Tribulations Realm, one's own foundational strength and Path Fruit [the culmination of one's cultivation path] were paramount.

If they possessed foundations as formidable as Eldrin Chen's—with his powerful Primordial One Limitless Rule and Primordial One Indestructibility Body—they could reach the Ten Tribulations Realm even without a Path Source.

If, like Exquisite Jiang, one had cultivated the Great Five Elements Limitless Rule, refining this Path Source could shave off hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation, allowing an earlier entry into the Forbidden Domain.

But they lacked such profound foundations. For them, refining this Path Source would likely be a waste.

"For Immortals beyond the Nine Tribulations," he concluded, "the utility of a Path Source has greatly diminished."

"They have already reached the ultimate limit. To advance further ultimately depends on themselves; they must shatter the Limit-Breaker [the conceptual barrier that separates cultivation realms] through their own efforts."

"Even a treasure as precious as the Nine Tribulations Path Source [a legendary substance containing the condensed essence of nine heavenly tribulations] can only serve as a finishing touch for Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and attained immortality] who have surpassed the Nine Tribulations [the ninth and penultimate stage of heavenly tribulation trials]."

"Those capable of breaking through to the Ten Tribulations Realm [the legendary tenth and final stage of tribulation trials] do not need to refine a Nine Tribulations Path Source to succeed. Conversely, those who cannot break through will remain stuck even if they refine such an object."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a trace of serene understanding flashing in his eyes.

Having set foot in the Ten Tribulations Realm, he understood clearly that no Path Source [a source of condensed spiritual energy and enlightenment related to a specific cultivation path] in heaven or earth could aid him any longer.

Only by relying on his own power to fully cultivate the Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique said to be unbreakable and eternal], and even to form the Path Fruit [the ultimate crystallization of one's cultivation path and enlightenment] of Primordial One Leakless [a state of perfect, flawless cultivation with no energy leakage], could he truly shatter the limits and transcend the perfect, flawless Forbidden Domain [a theoretical cultivation realm beyond conventional limits, forbidden to most]. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel*com.

In truth, the same applied to Verdant Consort. For her, completely mastering the Polarity Verdant Lotus Path [a profound cultivation method centered on the duality of the verdant lotus], and cultivating both the World-Opening True Body [a divine physique capable of creating or sustaining worlds] and the World-Opening Path Fruit [the path fruit associated with world-creation], would naturally allow her to step into the Nine Tribulations Realm.

Whether it was an Eight Tribulation Path Source [a source containing the essence of eight tribulations] or a Nine Tribulations Path Source, for her, they merely accelerated this process. Even an ordinary Supreme-Grade Path Source [a path source of the highest quality] would be sufficient to help her complete this step.

Strictly speaking, the most crucial function of such a Nine Tribulations Path Source was its ability to replenish the foundation [the core spiritual and physical basis of a cultivator's power] of an Immortal, allowing an Immortal with Dual Path Fruits [the state of having cultivated two distinct path fruits] to solidify their foundation and cultivate a third World-Opening Foundation [the foundational cultivation base required for world-creation techniques].

This was also the reason why any Immortal who could successively survive nine Great Tribulation [cataclysmic trials imposed by heaven to test cultivators] was destined to cultivate the Great Encompassing Foundation [a supreme, all-encompassing cultivation foundation].

This is because those who survive nine Great Tribulation [cosmic trials of immense scale and danger] are certain to refine vast amounts of Supreme-Grade Path Source [the purest essence of cosmic laws and spiritual power] during those tribulations, thereby solidifying the foundation of their Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's comprehension and power, representing their cultivation achievement].

Furthermore, tempered by the Great Tribulation, an Immortal's innate talent, foundational reserves, and wisdom will continuously improve, ultimately allowing them to naturally cultivate three types of World-Opening Path Fruit [the highest grade of Path Fruit, representing the power to shape and influence reality itself].

"It seems the Immortal Alliance [a grand coalition of powerful immortal factions] will soon gain at least one more Nine Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived the ultimate nine cosmic trials]," someone remarked.

Watching Verdant Consort head towards the Nine Tribulations Path Source [a legendary source of power left behind after a Nine Tribulations event], Sun Consort could not hide her envy as she spoke.

Without the slightest hesitation, she promptly took the Path Source that belonged to the Blazing Austerity Patriarch.

With this incredibly precious Path Source in hand, her cultivation base was certain to advance by leaps and bounds. At least until she broke through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [a mid-level realm for immortal beings anchored to the earthly plane], she would face no significant bottlenecks.

Seeing this, the remaining figures—Heaven Wind Path Master, Earth Spring Patriarch, and the Two Supreme Elders of Verdant Stream Ancient Sect—promptly exchanged for the remaining four Path Source.

Each of them obtained one Path Source. After refining it, their cultivation levels would undoubtedly see substantial growth, and none could suppress the joy that appeared on their faces.

As the most formidable combatant in this battle, Eldrin Chen still possessed a considerable amount of Merits [metaphysical credit representing virtuous deeds and cosmic contribution]. Seeing the others select their treasures, he immediately exchanged for the Eternal Flame Dragon Armor [a legendary suit of armor imbued with everlasting draconic fire] and the Primordial Era True Sun Furnace [an ancient furnace said to contain the essence of the first sun].

Both of these treasures were Mid-Grade World-Opening Treasure [powerful artifacts capable of influencing the fabric of reality, of middling grade]. While they were of limited direct use to Eldrin Chen himself, he intended to give them to Verdant Consort and Exquisite Jiang for them to refine and make their own.

There remained a considerable number of World-Opening Celestial Immortal Artifact [a supreme-grade artifact capable of cleaving open a new world or realm]. After further exchanges among the group, the four Early-stage Earth Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to the foundational stage of the Earth Immortal realm] Patriarch [a venerable leader of a clan or sect]—Heaven Wind, Earth Spring, and the others—each obtained a World-Opening Treasure [a powerful treasure used in the creation or stabilization of new worlds]. These were the Golden Dragon Immortal-Slaying Blade [a blade imbued with the power of a golden dragon, potent against immortals], the Ancient Counter-Scale Sword [an ancient sword said to pierce the protective scales of dragons], the Frost Condensation Pearl [a pearl that condenses and commands the power of frost], and the Soul-Seizing Ancient Mirror [an ancient mirror with the power to capture souls].

Sun Consort pooled her remaining Merits [a metaphysical currency representing accumulated good karma and virtuous deeds] with Moon Consort and Star Consort, and together they exchanged for seven supreme-grade Four Extremities Celestial Pillars [spiritual roots of immense power, used to stabilize the four cardinal directions of a world].

The eleven Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root [spiritual roots of the highest quality, acquired through cultivation or fortune rather than innate at birth] were acquired by Exquisite Jiang and Verdant Consort.

While these Supreme-Grade Acquired Spiritual Root could not be immediately used to refine Four Extremities Celestial Pillars, for the Chen Immortal Clan [the Chen family of immortal cultivators], which possessed Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the supreme, foundational energy of creation from the dawn of the cosmos], they served as valuable reserves for future World-Opening Spiritual Root [a spiritual root used as a core component in the process of creating a new world or realm]. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel[dot]com.