Chapter 1365 : Allies and Ancient Foes

When Exquisite Jiang inquired about the gains from this journey, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a smile.

He recounted the tale in detail, narrating the entire sequence of events from beginning to end to Exquisite Jiang.

After listening, Exquisite Jiang gazed at the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword and the Nine Tribulations Thunder Fruit [a legendary fruit that can help a cultivator transcend nine heavenly tribulations], then spoke up, "How do you plan to handle these two treasures?"

Eldrin Chen replied, "I intend to offer the Nine Tribulations Thunder Fruit to Glazed Divine Lord."

"That is wise."

Exquisite Jiang nodded, approving of Eldrin Chen's decision.

Nyssa Qu, having metamorphosed into a Nine-Colored Immortal Clam [a mythical clam of supreme spiritual purity], now possessed talent comparable to that of an Innate Heavenly God Being [a being born with divine potential]. Such prodigious aptitude made her the hope for the Immortal Clam Clan's Future.

At the very least, within the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain, whether the Immortal Clam Clan could rise again largely depended on Nyssa Qu.

Under these circumstances, the Immortal Clam Clan was a completely trustworthy ally to them.

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang mused, "Glazed Divine Lord is of gentle and noble character. Having received this gift, she is unlikely to treat us unfairly."

"Moreover, once she refines the Primordial Unity Immortal Body [a supreme constitution representing the unity of all things], we will have the backing of a powerhouse at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm just below that of a true Celestial Immortal]. That should allow us to cultivate in peace and stability for a considerable time."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then added with a faint smile, "During this tribulation, our gains have been immense, but we have also made a formidable enemy in the Celestial Prison Clan."

"Without the protection of a great power at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal level, I fear that after the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event ordained by fate], we would face a reckoning, and both of us would be in grave danger of perishing."

With that matter settled, Exquisite Jiang turned her gaze to the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword. "And what of this sword? How shall we deal with it?"

Eldrin Chen hesitated for a moment before replying, "Neither of us can refine this sword in the short term. Therefore, I am considering how best to handle it."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement.

With their current level of spiritual power, they could unleash the full might of a High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a treasure forged by a World-Opening Realm expert]. However, not having yet reached the World-Opening realm themselves, their reserves of spiritual power paled in comparison to a true Late Stage Earth Immortal.

With such limited power, they could not even activate an Eighth Rank Supreme Grade World-Opening Supreme Treasure, let alone attempt to refine and command this Primordial Unity Immortal Sword [a sword forged for an Immortal of the Primordial Unity Realm].

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, only a cultivator who had reached Earth Immortal Great Perfection might barely possess the strength required to refine a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon.

However, even an existence at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection level could likely muster the power to activate a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon for, at most, a single strike.

To fully unleash the power of a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon, one would need to reach at least the level of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal.

This is because only a powerhouse in the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, having cultivated either a Path Principle or an Immortal Body of the Primordial Unity Realm, possesses the capacity to draw forth the complete might of a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon.

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang spoke after a moment of deliberation, "A Primordial Unity Immortal Sword is a matter of immense significance. Even with the wealth of someone like the Glazed Divine Lord, it is uncertain whether she possesses such a supreme treasure."

"If we were to temporarily hand this item over to her for refinement, we cannot guarantee she would not be tempted. We should not put human nature to the test."

Continuing, she added, "It is better to conceal it. Let us hide this sword within the Returning Abyss Blessed Land. We can refine it ourselves when our cultivation is sufficient in the future."

"With your foundational potential, if you achieve the Primordial One Leakless Path Fruit, your spiritual power at the Sixth Level Earth Immortal realm might rival that of an Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator."

"At that time, refining this sword, even if it grants only a single decisive strike, could serve as a final trump card, powerful enough to completely reverse the tide of a critical battle."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this and made his decision. "As my lady advises."

Having reached this conclusion, neither of them spoke further on the matter.

Eldrin Chen continuously circulated the Rule of Life Power [a profound art for healing and vitality], sensing that his injuries were seventy to eighty percent recovered. Only then did he speak, "My wounds are no longer a serious hindrance. Next, let us seek out an ice-attributed Blessed Land [a region of concentrated spiritual energy and natural blessings]."

"Very well."

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement and immediately took out a map to examine it.

Within the vast expanse of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, there were over ten thousand Earth Immortal Patriarch [powerful cultivators who have ascended to the Earth Immortal realm] and more than two thousand Blessed Land of varying sizes.

In this current Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict ordained by fate], roughly one thousand of those Earth Immortal Patriarch and about one hundred and sixty Blessed Land had been drawn into the calamity.

Among these one hundred and sixty Blessed Land, the majority were aligned with the fundamental Five Elements [the foundational energies of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth]. Blessed Land of the Wind Ice Thunder [the three derived elemental attributes of Wind, Ice, and Lightning] were far rarer, numbering only nineteen in total.

Of these, seven were lightning-attributed, nine were wind-attributed, while ice-attributed Blessed Land were exceedingly scarce, with a mere three in existence.

After studying the map together, Exquisite Jiang spoke, "Ice-attributed Blessed Land are too few. I wonder if they will meet your requirements."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, his voice calm as he explained, "The Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea is a western domain. Here, the Earth Vein [dragon lines of terrestrial spiritual energy] of Metal and Water flourish. Those of Fire, Earth, and Wood are also plentiful. However, Earth Vein of Wind and Thunder are relatively scarce."

"Ice-attributed Earth Vein are even more exceptionally rare. While we may find ice-attributed Blessed Land now, the resources of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea will be insufficient when we eventually step into the Celestial Immortal [a higher realm of immortal cultivation]."

"When the time comes, I will certainly have to leave the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, either to journey to the lands of the Northern Pole or to venture into another Immortal Domain."

Speaking to this point, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze back to the map and continued, "The nearest ice-attributed Blessed Land is only six sea regions away from us. Let us first go and take a look."

With those words, the two transformed into streaks of light and flew off, arriving over a vast expanse of sea after a journey of more than ten days.

This sea region was named the Frigid Soul Sea Region, and within it lay an Earth Immortal Blessed Land belonging to the Demon Race.

At this moment, the Demon Race denizens of the Frigid Soul Blessed Land had all departed, having been conscripted by the Western Abyss Dragon Palace to participate in the war. Consequently, very few cultivators remained to guard it.

Eldrin Chen employed his previous tactic once more, stealthily infiltrating this Earth Immortal Blessed Land with the intention of cultivating within.

However, not long after, he emerged with a sigh of regret. "My current Primordial One Indestructibility Body is now far too potent. Ordinary ice-attributed Earth Vein [a subterranean spiritual energy current] hold little benefit for my cultivation anymore."

"Only the ice-attributed Earth Vein of an Upper Grade Blessed Land can aid me in achieving perfection in my cultivation."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but frown slightly.

She consulted the map once more before speaking. "Of the remaining two ice-attributed Earth Vein, one is merely a lower-grade Earth Vein."

"The only place we can go is here."

As she spoke, Exquisite Jiang drew a small circle on the map.

Whether it is Five Elements Energy or the vital essence of the Wind Ice ThunderThree Anomalies, they are all among the most fundamental primordial energies [the foundational energies that constitute the cosmos] of heaven and earth.

As long as energies of these attributes exist within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, they are bound to form corresponding Earth Vein [a subterranean channel that concentrates and flows with spiritual energy].

The level and quantity of the Earth Vein formed simply depend on the concentration of this primordial energy.

While not abundant, there are still some high-grade ice-attribute Blessed Land [a place of exceptional spiritual concentration and harmony] within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

Among the three ice-attribute Blessed Land entering this tribulation cycle, there is one superior-grade Icy Jade Blessed Land.

"This Icy Jade Blessed Land is the territory of the Human Race Immortal Sect known as the 'Icy Jade Immortal Palace'. It is said this lineage boasts seven Earth Immortal [immortals who have attained enlightenment and longevity tied to the earthly realm] and one powerful expert at the Late Stage Earth Immortal level."

"Perhaps we can negotiate a trade, to see if we can lease a cultivation site within the Icy Jade Immortal Palace for a period of time."

Exquisite Jiang murmured, a hint of a smile flickering across her features.