Chapter 1344 : The Weight of a Half-Step

The Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch was even more formidable. He had once opened the Eighth Heaven and Earth and was a supreme prodigy who had stepped into the Nine Tribulations Realm.

Such a world-shaking existence, whose combat power had reached the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, was almost impossible for others to defeat by transcending realms.

Even if ten powerful experts at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal joined forces to besiege him, they could not possibly rival a Half-Step Celestial Immortal of this caliber.

In the battle at the Western Abyss Dragon Palace, the Human and Divine Races possessed one more Half-Step Celestial Immortal than the Western Abyss Dragon Palace.

To counter this, the Western Abyss Dragon Palace assembled six Ninth Level Earth Immortal and twelve powerful Patriarch at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal to deploy a grand formation, barely managing to hold their ground.

From this, one can see how incredibly difficult it is to challenge a Half-Step Celestial Immortal.

"Those whose cultivation has reached the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm were once top-tier, peerless prodigies," he mused. "Like you and me, they were capable of fighting beyond their realm."

"To contend with them, even a Ninth Level Earth Immortal would struggle to ensure their own safety, let alone us, who possess combat power that barely qualifies as Late Stage Earth Immortal."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, finally sighing. "Although the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace is holding the front line, we dare not take such a great risk."

"Because if the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace fails to hold him back, I fear both of us would meet our doom." Support the author by reading on audio-novel.com (official site).

Upon hearing this, the assembled immortals fell into a somber silence.

The Patriarch of Verdant Stream Ancient Sect let out a sigh, then spoke with resignation, "To intervene in a conflict at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal level, sending one or two Late Stage Earth Immortal cultivators would be nothing but a death sentence."

"Unless more than ten Late Stage Earth Immortal cultivators join forces, or there are two or three combatants with the power of a Ninth Level Earth Immortal, could we offer any meaningful aid to Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace."

"Indeed."

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord also nodded, sighing as he spoke, "Those who have managed to step into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal realm were likely once warriors whose prowess was no less than yours or mine."

"Now, with such a vast gulf in cultivation, for us to step forward would be like an egg striking a stone."

"Unless Fellow Cultivator Eldrin breaks through to the Ninth Level Earth Immortal realm. Only then, with the might of one who has endured ten tribulations, might you be able to stand against such a foe, if only for a moment."

Speaking to this point, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord shook his head once more. "Yet even that may not suffice. Without an Eighth Rank Supreme Grade World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme artifact of the highest grade, capable of shaping worlds] for protection, merely advancing one's cultivation to that stage might still fall short."

Heaven Abyss Path Master also released a soft sigh, a note of helplessness in his voice. "It seems in this battle, there is little we can do to help."

"That may not be entirely true."

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered slightly before he spoke. "Within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas, the great war still rages on. Several Blessed Land are under siege by the Demon Race."

"Though we may not be a match for the Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch, we are still capable of cleansing the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas."

"If we can completely purge the Demon Race from the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas, we might gather the strength of twenty or thirty Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have transcended the mortal realm], perhaps even rally one or two Late Stage Earth Immortal [Earth Immortals nearing the peak of their cultivation]."

"At that point, even the mighty Celestial Prison Clan would likely view us with some caution. They would be forced to divert a portion of their focus, unable to assault the Flowing Fire Star Palace with their full might."

"That is indeed a viable strategy."

The assembled immortals all nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod and said, "The Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace and the Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch are the central figures destined to face this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that reshapes fate]."

"Our strength is still too meager to sway the outcome of their conflict. At best, we can offer only marginal assistance."

"The final resolution of this Great Tribulation ultimately hinges on the methods of these destined protagonists, not on us—the pieces merely swept into the storm."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen also nodded, a faint sigh stirring within his heart.

Perhaps in the eyes of these Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have transcended mortality and attained great power], everyone else drawn into the tribulation was but an insignificant speck, save for each other.

Unless Eldrin Chen was willing to sacrifice himself, leveraging the power of the Polarity Void Mirror [a mystical artifact capable of manipulating the void between polarities] to risk a desperate ambush on their top-grade World-Opening Ancient Ship [an ancient vessel of immense power, said to be capable of cleaving open new worlds], any effort he made would be fundamentally insufficient to sway the grand scheme of things.

Moreover, even if he attempted such an ambush, given the formidable defensive capabilities of a top-grade World-Opening Ancient Ship, success was nearly impossible.

The grand defensive formations upon such a top-grade World-Opening Ancient Ship would require, at minimum, an attack of Ninth Level Earth Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] potency to breach.

Within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas [a vast and treacherous region of interconnected seas and waterways], only the Glazed Blessed Land and the Flowing Fire Star Palace possessed such profound foundational strength [deep reserves of resources and power]. Continue reading this story at audio-novel.com (official site).

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed and said, "For now, the only path before us is to enter seclusion to enhance our own strength and, in doing so, cleanse the Demon Race [a race of malevolent beings born of chaos and negative energies] from the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas."

"As for the final outcome, we can only submit to fate's decree and see which of those protagonists of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic event that reshapes destinies] wields the more formidable methods [superior tactics and capabilities]."

Hearing this, the Patriarch of Verdant Stream Ancient Sect could only nod in agreement. "If that is the case, then let us enter seclusion for cultivation. We shall discuss all matters further upon our emergence."

"Very well."

Upon hearing this, Heaven Abyss Path Master [a master of the Heavenly Abyss cultivation path] spoke with calm detachment, "After a millennium of secluded cultivation, I will break through to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of Earth Immortals, beings deeply connected to the world's essence]. All of you are welcome to attend the ceremony then."

Eldrin Chen smiled faintly and replied, "We would not dream of missing it."

With those words, the gathered immortals soon dispersed, each retiring to digest the gains and insights from the recent battle.

Eldrin Chen, accompanied by Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, Violet Consort Yan, and Lila, made their way into the heart of the Returning Abyss Blessed Land [a land blessed with profound spiritual energy].

He first presented the Frost Immortal Robe [an immortal garment woven from eternal frost] to Violet Consort Yan, then handed the Great Mystery Frost Sword [a sword of profound mystery and icy power] to Lila. With a warm smile, he said, "I see you are both on the cusp of breaking through to the Half-Step Earth Immortal [a transitional state just below the full Earth Immortal realm]. These two World-Opening Treasure [treasures of immense power capable of shaping reality] are for you to refine and bond with."

"Our deepest thanks, husband," they replied.

Upon hearing this, both Lila and Violet Consort Yan accepted the two World-Opening Treasure with evident delight.

Their cultivation had already reached the peak of the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and highest tier of the Ascendant Immortal realm]. Now, with each having obtained a Supreme-Grade Path Source [a supreme-grade spiritual object containing the essence of a cultivation path], their breakthrough to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm was all but assured.

Once they refined these two World-Opening Treasure, their combat prowess would increase dramatically, likely rivaling that of a Six Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations] without difficulty.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen said no more. He turned his gaze to Verdant Consort and Exquisite Jiang, pondering for a moment before speaking. "That remaining Path Source [a spiritual object containing the condensed essence of a cultivation path]," he began, "how do you intend to allocate it?"

"It should still go to Exquisite."

Before Exquisite Jiang could speak, Verdant Consort retrieved the Path Source [the condensed essence of a cultivator's lifelong cultivation path] from Heaven's Prison Child and handed it to Exquisite Jiang.

Seeing the flicker of emotion in Exquisite Jiang's gaze, Verdant Consort smiled and said, "With my current foundation, I can step into the Nine Tribulations Realm [the ninth and penultimate stage of the Heavenly Tribulation cultivation path] even without this Nine Tribulations Path Source [the crystallized essence of a Nine Tribulations cultivator's path]."

"Refining it would merely save me some time, nothing more."

"It is far better to give it to Exquisite, to aid her in ascending to the Ten Tribulations Realm [the ultimate and most profound stage of the Heavenly Tribulation cultivation path]. That would be a truly crucial metamorphosis."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen immediately looked towards Exquisite Jiang.

Exquisite Jiang did not refuse. The two women had been bosom friends since childhood; even faced with such a rare treasure, there was no sense of contention between them.

She accepted the Path Source, then handed the Fusang Divine Tree [a mythical sun-nurturing tree from ancient lore] to Verdant Consort. With a gentle smile, she said, "Among these three types of World-Opening Foundation [the foundational cultivation required to open one's own inner world], I have already mastered the Great Five Elements Limitless Rule [the supreme law governing the boundless cycle of the five primal elements]."

"Furthermore, I possess the innate Supreme Lunar Immortal Body [a legendary physique attuned to the purest essence of the moon]. Cultivating the World-Opening True Body [a divine ability that forges a body capable of containing a nascent world] is not particularly difficult for me."

"It is only the Leakless Path Fruit [a state of cultivation where one's spiritual path is perfectly sealed, with no energy leakage] that presents a true challenge. It requires condensing one's entire lifetime of cultivation foundation, a process fraught with ten thousand hardships. I lack absolute confidence in achieving it."

"With this Nine Tribulations Path Source now in hand, I am utterly confident I can cultivate the three World-Opening Path Fruit [the foundational fruits of power representing the essence of a cultivator's being], achieving the Trinity Unity [the perfect fusion of a cultivator's Vital Essence, Energy, and Spirit] and step into that legendary Ten Tribulations Forbidden Domain [a realm of power so profound it defies the heavens and is forbidden to most cultivators]." Your portal to cultivation novels: https://audio-novel.com.