Chapter 1357 : A Perilous Path to Perfection

"Very well," he replied.

The assembled immortals nodded, smiles gracing their faces.

With the Celestial Prison Clan gone, the current strength of the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance meant they likely faced no true rivals within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas.

Once the council concluded, the immortals departed one by one.

Eldrin Chen then led Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, Lila, and Violet Consort Yan into his private abode.

Gazing at them, Eldrin Chen spoke directly. "The most perilous hurdle is now behind us. I intend to journey to the Myriad Tribulations Sea of Thunder [a legendary and perilous sea of endless, world-shattering thunder tribulations] to see if I can perfect my cultivation of the Primordial One Indestructibility Body."

His words gave the women pause, a flicker of surprise crossing their hearts.

Verdant Consort voiced her concern. "To travel far during this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of profound chaos and danger] is fraught with unpredictable peril. Would it not be better if we accompanied you?"

Eldrin Chen pondered briefly before responding. "The dangers of this journey are unknown. Exquisite and I shall go alone."

"You should remain within the Returning Abyss Sea Region and oversee the Cosmic Stellar Formation."

Upon hearing this, Verdant Consort [the Verdant Consort] could not help but let out a soft sigh.

She understood the logic in Eldrin Chen's words. Whether it was the Patriarch of Verdant Stream Ancient Sect [the leader of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect] or Heaven Abyss Path Master [the Path Master of Heaven's Abyss], no matter how close they were, they were ultimately outsiders.

Within the vast expanse of the Returning Abyss Sea Region [the Sea Region of the Returning Abyss], there was always a need for one of their own to take charge of the overall situation.

Thinking of this, she still took out a map and handed it to Eldrin Chen, then said.

"This is a map of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the Divine Abyss Sea of Western Essence]. It contains information on several wind and ice attribute forbidden lands. Perhaps they can aid your cultivation."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips as he replied, "You are most thoughtful, my lady."

After storing the map, Eldrin Chen wasted no further time. That very day, he departed from the Returning Abyss Sea Region [the Sea Region of the Returning Abyss].

This time, he traveled together with Exquisite Jiang [Jiang the Exquisite]. Along the way, they activated the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure capable of traversing the void] to pierce through the fabric of space, each leap carrying them across a vast stretch of ocean.

Given the Polarity Void Mirror's current grade, it could not be activated continuously. Each time Eldrin Chen used this treasure, it required a full day of careful nurturing to restore its power.

During these periods, Eldrin Chen would nurture the Void Mirror [the Void Mirror] and replenish his spiritual energy, while Exquisite Jiang piloted the Heavenly Ark [a celestial vessel], carrying them onward toward the Myriad Tribulations Sea of Thunder [the Sea of Thunder of Myriad Tribulations].

Working in tandem like this, the two traversed the vast and boundless heavens and earth in an astonishingly short span of time.

"One more sea region ahead, and we will reach the Myriad Tribulations Sea of Thunder [a legendary and perilous sea of endless lightning tribulations]."

On this day, Eldrin Chen activated the Polarity Void Mirror [a mystical artifact capable of traversing vast distances through the void] to cross the Boundless Void [the infinite, starless expanse between realms], arriving within a vast and misty sea region.

He consulted his map, and a faint smile touched his lips.

The distance between the Returning Abyss Sea Region and the Myriad Tribulations Sea of Thunder was immeasurably vast. An ordinary Immortal [a being who has ascended beyond mortality through cultivation] would require at least a century of flight. Even for a powerhouse of Eldrin Chen's caliber, the journey would demand no less than ten years.

Yet, with the aid of the Polarity Void Mirror, he had drawn near to the Myriad Tribulations Sea of Thunder after flying for merely a single year.

Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang also let out a slight sigh of relief. Gazing at the sea before them, she said, "The Myriad Tribulations Sea of Thunder is a notorious forbidden land, fraught with untold dangers within."

"Let us rest here, recover our spiritual power, and then venture inside."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, then looked at the sea ahead with a smile. "This place is called the Celestial Glaze Sea Region [a sea region famed for its crystalline, glaze-like waters]. Within it lies the Celestial Glaze Immortal Sect [an immortal sect of renown], with whom I have had dealings in the past."

"Let us rest at the Celestial Glaze Market [a bustling market city within the Celestial Glaze Sea Region], and perhaps we might even chance upon an old acquaintance."

With those words, Eldrin Chen headed deeper into the Celestial Glaze Sea Region [a vast, luminous sea region in the immortal realms], soon arriving at the location of the Celestial Glaze Market [a major trading hub within the Celestial Glaze Sea Region].

However, the moment he reached the Celestial Glaze Market, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly.

Before him lay the Celestial Glaze Market, now utterly shattered. The cultivators and mortals within had all perished; the Immortal [a powerful being who had presided over the market] had been destroyed amidst the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly calamity].

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen sighed softly before speaking. "The Celestial Glaze Market has already met its calamity. I wonder if the Celestial Glaze Immortal Sect [the powerful sect that governed this region] still stands."

"Regardless, we should go and see for ourselves."

Though the Myriad Tribulations Sea of Thunder [a legendary and perilous realm of endless thunder tribulations] lay before him, Eldrin Chen was in no hurry to enter. He flew directly towards the Five Thunder Immortal Island [a renowned island stronghold within the sea of thunder], intending to gather information before making any plans.

He had not flown far when he discovered, at the very heart of the Celestial Glaze Sea Region, countless Treasure Ship [massive, fortress-like vessels used for warfare and transport by powerful factions] besieging the Heavenly Glaze Grand Formation [the ultimate defensive formation of the Celestial Glaze Immortal Sect].

Outside the grand formation stood five figures whose auras were vast and imposing, all of them experts at the Half-Step Earth Immortal [a realm denoting one who has nearly ascended to the rank of Earth Immortal, possessing immense power] level.

"It's the Divine Spirit Clan [a powerful clan whose members are said to possess divine bloodlines]," he murmured inwardly, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

Eldrin Chen whispered to himself, his gaze revealing a trace of astonishment.

The forces besieging Five Thunder Immortal Island belonged to the Divine Spirit Clan. Among them, the five leaders were Divine Spirits at the Half-Step Earth Immortal level.

Beyond them, there were over a hundred other Divine Spirits and countless Divine Descendants.

At this thought, Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Exquisite Jiang and spoke, "The Celestial Glaze Immortal Sect once sold me a batch of Five Elements Thunder Source [a rare spiritual material containing the condensed essence of thunder and the five elements]. We have some rapport."

"For the sake of our shared Human Race heritage, let us lend our aid."

"Agreed!"

Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod and instantly transformed into a streak of light, shooting forth.

In that instant, the two acted with perfect synchronicity, their attacks cleaving towards two of the Half-Step Earth Immortal leaders.

Their current combat prowess now brushed against the domain of the Seventh Level Earth Immortal. A surprise assault from them could fell even a full Earth Immortal Patriarch in a single blow, let alone mere Half-Step Earth Immortal cultivators.

In the blink of an eye, Eldrin Chen cleaved one Half-Step Earth Immortal in two, while Exquisite Jiang dispatched another in a flash of lightning.

"Disaster!"

In the blink of an eye, two Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have partially transcended the mortal realm but not fully ascended to Earth Immortal status] were felled. The remaining few wore expressions of sheer terror, scattering in a desperate flight to the distance. Alas, their chance had already slipped away.

For in that same instant, Eldrin Chen unleashed his Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand [a divine technique that manifests a giant hand of pure energy to seize and crush opponents], instantly suppressing one Half-Step Earth Immortal. Simultaneously, he channeled the Primal Radiance Heaven-Entombing Blade [a divine blade imbued with the power to seal away heavens], its edge cleaving through another foe.

The final adversary proved no match for Exquisite Jiang either. With a single, decisive strike from her Primal Shadow Heaven-Slaying Sword [a sword technique that harnesses primordial shadow to execute heavenly targets], she bisected him amidst the void.

From beginning to end, these five Half-Step Earth Immortal powerhouses could not withstand a single move from the duo.

"Hah—"

Having dispatched the five Half-Step Earth Immortal experts, Eldrin Chen allowed himself a slight sigh of relief. He then gathered their Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts powered by spiritual energy] and Path Source [a condensed source of spiritual energy and enlightenment related to one's cultivation path], before turning his gaze to the wider battlefield.

Seizing this pivotal moment, the Celestial Glaze Immortal Sect [an immortal sect renowned for its crystalline techniques] launched their counterattack. A powerhouse at the Half-Step Earth Immortal level surged forth, leading several dozen Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] into the fray, clashing head-on with the Divine Clan [a powerful clan claiming divine ancestry] forces.

"In for a penny, in for a pound,"

Eldrin Chen murmured. He intervened once more, a titan descending upon lesser beings. In short order, he had all but annihilated the hundred or so Divine Spirits [spiritual entities of significant power, often serving higher divine beings] within the enemy ranks.

With this batch of Divine Spirits eradicated, the Half-Step Earth Immortal from the Celestial Glaze Immortal Sect finally approached. Bowing deeply with profound gratitude, he addressed the two saviors.

"Our deepest gratitude to both Seniors for intervening and saving our lives."

"As fellow members of the Human Race, there is no need for such formality."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze towards the assembled immortals of the Celestial Glaze Immortal Sect. A faint smile touched his lips as he spoke, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well?"

Among the crowd, Yellow Robe Jiang was momentarily taken aback. As her eyes settled on Eldrin Chen, her expression first flickered with confusion before transforming into one of profound astonishment.

Witnessing this, the Heavenly Glaze Patriarch could not help but inquire, "Esteemed Senior, you are acquainted with our Grand Elder?"

"We have met on two occasions, nothing more."

Eldrin Chen replied with a calm demeanor. Yet, Yellow Robe Jiang hurriedly stepped forward and offered a respectful bow. "To think that in the mere span of twenty thousand years, Senior has already established such profound foundations," she said, her voice tinged with awe. "This humble one nearly believed she had mistaken your identity."