Chapter 1347 : Tempered in Tribulation's Fire

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but shake his head inwardly.

Ascending to the realm of Dual Path Fruits [a state where a cultivator has successfully condensed two distinct Path Fruits, representing mastery over two fundamental cultivation paths] and Three Path Fruits [the pinnacle achievement of condensing three Path Fruits, signifying profound comprehension and power across three major cultivation paths] is no simple feat.

It demands not only prodigious talent but also sufficient tempering through hardship. Otherwise, one remains a flower nurtured in a greenhouse, unlikely to ever take that crucial step.

Figures like Heaven Abandoned Lin and the Lord of the Path Palace were not merely Extraordinary in talent; they had been tempered by the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of immense suffering and conflict] of the Purple Seal Realm before they could reach such heights.

Fate Birth was the same. Had he not been born to answer a cosmic calamity, single-handedly quelling the boundless demonic tribulation of the Verdant Spirit Ancient Star, he likely would never have achieved Three Path Fruits.

While Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Ancient Scripture [an ancient and profound cultivation manual] played a pivotal guiding role in Fate Birth's cultivation journey, the trials and tribulations he endured throughout his life were the most precious treasures on his path to ascension.

Human potential often erupts only in moments of life-and-death crisis. The most arduous environments breed the most dazzling geniuses.

The many prodigies of the Purple Seal Realm were precisely those who, under the relentless pressure of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prolonged era of invasion and conflict from the demonic abyss], were forced to squeeze every drop of their latent potential, constantly surpassing their own limits to finally emerge triumphant.

Fate Birth's own life was a saga of rising from near-despair. The boundless demonic chaos pressed down on him, leaving him gasping for breath. In his lifetime, he fought every battle as if it were his last.

Thus, among the many prodigies from the Purple Seal Realm who achieved immortality, those who survive to this day are almost without exception peerless heroes of the highest caliber. Discover more cultivation stories at www . audio-novel.com.

Conversely, the former Void-Refining Immortal [a title for a powerful immortal], after comprehending Path Principles [the fundamental laws of the cosmos], remained in the Purple Seal Realm [a specific immortal realm] for twenty thousand years yet could never advance further to cultivate an Immortal Body [a body refined to an immortal state] and Path Fruit [the culmination of a cultivator's understanding of a cosmic law]. The root cause was simply insufficient tempering.

At that time, the Void-Refining Immortal was already the supreme Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] within the Purple Seal Realm, looking back upon the Mortal Dust [the mortal world] where not a single worthy opponent could be found.

Without sufficient external pressure, the entire environment remained far too peaceful for him, offering neither the necessary insights nor the crucible for true refinement.

Under such circumstances, even after suppressing his cultivation for tens of thousands of years to contemplate the Path Fruit and repeatedly attempting to forge an Immortal Body, the Void-Refining Immortal found himself perpetually stalled, unable to take that final step.

Had the Void-Refining Immortal chosen to face the demonic tribulation head-on instead of ascending to avoid it when the Purple Seal Realm was cast adrift, the outcome might have been entirely different.

He would have either, under the immense pressure of the Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm], succeeded in cultivating three types of Immortal Ascension Path Fruit [the ultimate fruits of cultivation leading to ascension] to shatter the tribulation, or he would have perished within it.

By choosing to flee the Outer Realm Demon God and ascend, he ultimately forfeited the Opportunity and Fortune [the chance and destiny] to cultivate three Path Fruit, a regret that would haunt him for the rest of his eternal life.

Like the Void-Refining Immortal, the Six Stars Immortal [an immortal associated with six stars] also achieved the Dao during an era of peace, never enduring such severe trials in his lifetime. Being no peerless prodigy himself, it was naturally difficult for him to cultivate Dual Path Fruits [two Path Fruits].

Remember, steel is forged through a thousand hammer blows; true talent emerges only after withstanding countless setbacks.

Even the most dazzling, peerless genius across the ages is merely a piece of fine, uncut jade. It must still endure sufficient tempering within the forge of adversity before it can be honed into a Peerless Immortal Sword [a sword of unmatched, immortal sharpness] whose edge illuminates eternity.

In the eyes of Eldrin Chen, the Six Stars Immortal possessed sufficient innate talent, yet before achieving his Great Path [the ultimate cultivation goal], he ultimately lacked a certain degree of tempering through hardship.

He did not possess the same sharp, unyielding edge as Eldrin Chen, and he even lacked the courage to attempt opening the Threefold Heaven [a legendary and perilous higher cultivation realm]. At every critical juncture on his Great Path, he chose to settle for what was safe and secure, revealing a deficiency in the spirit of unwavering, no-retreat determination.

This characteristic could also be discerned from the Six Stars Immortal's approach to mentoring his descendants.

In the several hundred thousand years since the Six Stars Immortal ascended to immortality, he had fathered dozens of offspring. Yet, only Moonlight Veil, with the support of the Chen Clan, had managed to achieve her own Great Path. This clearly indicated an excess of protective affection towards his children.

One must understand that before Moonlight Veil, the vast Six Stars Immortal Island had produced only a single Immortal—the Six Stars Path Master himself.

In contrast, Eldrin Chen had sent his own children out into the world early on, and they, in turn, had carved out their own domains through struggle.

"On the cultivation journey, one can afford to be cautious in ordinary times,"

"But when facing a pivotal choice concerning one's Great Path, how can one not strive with everything they have?"

"To retreat half a step today, to yield three feet tomorrow—such actions may seem to preserve one's life for the moment. Yet, over the vast expanse of time, the resulting divergence in one's Path [the unique cultivation journey and principles one follows] becomes as profound as the chasm between Heaven Abyss [a metaphorical name representing the highest heavens and the deepest abyss]."

These thoughts echoed silently within Eldrin Chen's mind, but in the end, he chose not to voice his differing perspective aloud.

He offered a faint smile, then cupped his hands and said, "My dear in-law, please go and consolidate your cultivation. Once our clan's senior breaks through, I shall seek you out to discuss the Immortal Alliance's subsequent moves."

"Very well."

Six Stars Immortal nodded, then promptly and excitedly entered the Great Hall to consolidate his cultivation base.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen continued his secluded cultivation within the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

Following Six Stars Immortal's emergence from seclusion, the many Immortals within the Immortal Alliance began to emerge from their own secluded cultivation one after another.

Several decades later, Demon-Slayer Path Master and Jiang Venus emerged. Their cultivation had already stepped into the realm of the Ascendant Immortal 8th Tier. Support the author by reading on audio . novel . com.

Both were top-tier prodigies who had achieved the Dual Path Fruits [a rare and powerful dual-core foundation], their combat prowess surpassing even that of ordinary Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier cultivators by a significant margin.

Another two centuries passed, and figures like Withering Liana Gu, Elara Lin, Freya Ji, Dorian Ji, Immortal Maiden Ice Chi Dragon, and Sea-Calmer Path Master emerged in succession. Their cultivation had also reached the Ascendant Immortal 8th Tier, not far from the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier.

Subsequently, Extraordinary Chen, the Melancholy Inscription Lord, and Chen Caleb also emerged one after another, each having ascended to the Ascendant Immortal 7th Tier realm.

The Melancholy Inscription Lord had established a Great Encompassing Foundation [an exceptionally stable and vast foundational cultivation base]. Though he had just entered the Ascendant Immortal 7th Tier, his combat power had already brushed against the level of a Half-Step Earth Immortal.

Caleb and Extraordinary Chen were slightly less formidable, but their combat prowess still rivaled that of a Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has partially transcended the mortal realm but not fully ascended to the Earth Immortal stage].

After another five hundred years had passed, Ethan Chen emerged from his secluded cultivation, having successfully advanced into the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm. More crucially, he had managed to mend part of his foundational flaws and, in a single breakthrough, reforge his Ascendant Immortal Path Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path, representing their attained enlightenment and power].

Such a momentous event immediately drew the attention of Eldrin Chen. He sought out Ethan Chen and, after a careful examination, declared with evident joy, "Excellent, truly excellent."

"You have now mastered the Life and Death Rule [a profound law governing the cycles of existence and cessation], and your Ascendant Immortal Path Fruit has advanced a step further. It seems the World-Opening Foundation [the foundational stage required to create one's own inner world or cosmos] is within your grasp."

It turned out that during that fierce battle, Ethan Chen had faced a desperate struggle. Though he did not perish, his injuries were grievous. At the brink of life and death, he glimpsed a sliver of the profound mystery within the Rule of Life [the fundamental principle governing vitality and creation], which allowed him to survive.

Thereafter, while refining the Path Source [a primordial source of energy related to one's cultivation path], he took a contrary approach. Braving the risk of utter annihilation, he personally sought to comprehend the Power of Oblivion [the annihilating force that erases existence], ultimately mastering the Oblivion Rule.

Following this, he merged the principles of Oblivion [the state of non-existence or utter erasure] and Life, comprehending the power of the Cycle of Life and Death Rule.

This Cycle of Life and Death Rule is among the most supreme of Rule Power [the tangible manifestation of a comprehended cosmic law], possessing astonishing and profound mysteries. Ethan Chen used it to complete his Cycle of Life and Death Path Fruit, finally allowing that Path Fruit to advance further, reaching the Great Perfection Realm [the pinnacle stage of a particular cultivation realm].

It must be understood that Ethan Chen achieved immortality through the Fleshly Body Path Principles [cultivation focused on perfecting the physical form] and Dual Path Fruits [simultaneously cultivating two distinct Path Fruits]. This Cycle of Life and Death Path Fruit was a Post-Heaven [acquired later in one's cultivation journey, as opposed to innate] completion. In principle, it should have been impossible for it to advance further.

Now, Ethan Chen had used Rule Power to mend his foundation. His Cycle of Life and Death Path Fruit had already entered the domain of the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Ascendant Immortal cultivation level].

He merely needed to advance one more step, to have his Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's understanding of their chosen Dao] step into the World-Opening Realm [the foundational realm for creating one's own inner world], and then fuse it with World-Opening Energy [a primordial energy used to stabilize and expand a newly formed inner world] to completely mend his foundational flaws.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt a wave of profound satisfaction in his heart and spoke with contentment.

"Steel is forged through a thousand hammer blows; true talent emerges from unyielding resilience."

"Though you previously failed to achieve Path Fruit Attainment [the crucial breakthrough of solidifying one's Dao into a tangible core], you have now mended it through the power of the Cycle of Life and Death Rule [a profound law governing the endless cycle of creation and dissolution]. You have truly not disappointed me." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audi0-n0vel.c0m.