Chapter 1368 : Tempered by the Divine Gale

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and immediately took a step, heading towards the summit of Gale Wind Valley.

Yet, the moment he reached the peak, Eldrin Chen was nearly thrown off balance by a colossal Gale Wind [a tempestuous wind imbued with spiritual and metallic properties].

As he steadied himself, he felt the onslaught of countless, overwhelmingly powerful gusts of Gale Wind. This wind was the very essence of the Western Pole Wind [a divine wind technique originating from the Western Pole], and within it swirled strands of the Metallic Gold Radiance [a sharp, cutting light with the properties of metal].

Now, each wisp of Gale Wind was like a fine-edged Immortal Sword slashing towards him. As it scoured Eldrin Chen's physical body, it immediately carved out one bloody gash after another.

"Such formidable power within this Gale Wind."

Eldrin Chen was inwardly astonished. He promptly used the Primordial One Limitless Rule [a supreme law of cultivation representing unity and boundlessness] to protect his Primordial Spirit Immortal Embryo [the nascent spiritual core of an immortal], then sat cross-legged upon the mountain peak, allowing the endless force of the Gale Wind to wash over his flesh.

The Gale Wind atop this peak never ceased, perpetually howling against Eldrin Chen's body. It not only tore at his flesh until it flew in tatters but also penetrated deep into his physical form, reaching even his Five Viscera and Six Bowels [the internal organs, a core concept in traditional cultivation and medicine].

Each gust of Gale Wind felt like billions of microscopic Immortal Sword passing through his being, incessantly eroding his foundational life force and honing the Five Viscera and Six Bowels within.

Facing this relentless assault from the Gale Wind, Eldrin Chen's Five Viscera and Six Bowels instinctively rallied in defense. The Five Divine Deities [spiritual deities said to reside within and govern the five major organs] housed within his Five Viscera [the five major organs: heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys] burst forth with the World-Illuminating Immortal Light [a radiant, healing light of profound purity], continuously nourishing and fortifying the power of his physical form.

And within this process, the Five Viscera [the five vital organs in traditional Chinese medicine and cultivation] began to gradually intermingle and fuse with one another.

Within the mountains, time holds no sway; yet in the mortal world, a thousand years have passed.

Eldrin Chen sat in meditation atop the peak of Gale Wind Valley, facing alone the ceaseless, year-round assault of the Gale Wind [a powerful, spiritually-charged wind]. Day and night, he endured the lashing of wind and rain, the scorching sun, and the excruciating pain of the Gale Wind piercing through his very body, all to forcibly merge the Five Source Powers [the fundamental energies derived from the five viscera].

In such torment and suffering, time stretched on with agonizing slowness, yet three thousand years rushed by in a blur.

Finally, after those three millennia, on a night of raging wind and torrential rain, a searing flash of Thunderclap [a thunderous, explosive technique] illuminated the darkened sky.

A figure of immense grandeur and blinding radiance was revealed, seated in profound meditation.

Surrounding that figure, five dazzling divine halos unfurled, shimmering in the hues of crimson, gold, azure, black, and yellow.

These five-colored halos slowly rotated, gradually converging and merging into one, transforming into a single, hazy Chaos Light [a primordial, undifferentiated light representing the state before creation].

"Hmmmm—"

In that instant, the heavens and earth fell silent, and all things were hushed.

Even the perpetually howling Gale Wind [a fierce, spiritual wind] and the Nine Heavens Thunderclap [the thunderous phenomena of the highest heavens] fell into silence. Everything seemed to freeze in that moment.

Upon the peak of Gale Wind Valley, the figure who had sat in meditation for three thousand years finally, slowly, rose to his feet.

There upon the mountain summit stood Eldrin Chen, his robes white as snow, his countenance serene. The endless Gale Wind [a fierce, spiritual wind] whipped around him, yet not a single mark was left upon his person.

Around him coiled streams of Chaos Energy Flow [the primordial, formless energy from which all things are born], forming a barrier as unyielding as a Chaos Barrier [a defensive technique forged from primordial chaos], isolating him from the assault of all external forces.

"Has it succeeded?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly. With a flick of his sleeve, he raised a single finger.

Upon his fingertip, a wisp of Chaos Mist [mist condensed from primordial chaos] gathered, coalescing into a blindingly brilliant Energy Aura [a concentrated blade of pure energy] that he unleashed with a slash.

In that instant, heaven and earth were cleaved asunder, and the vast sea was parted.

A sword scar stretched to the horizon where sky met sea. In its wake, the boundless expanse of ocean for millions upon millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] was split in two, as if sundered by a divine blade of peerless, ancient majesty.

"Incredible power."

Simultaneously, Exquisite Jiang at the mountain's base could not help but draw a sharp breath upon witnessing this scene.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen stood atop the mountain peak, his white robes pristine as snow, his long dark hair flowing freely.

He simply stood there, veiled by wisps of Primordial Chaos Energy [the primordial, formless energy from which all creation is derived], his true form obscured, appearing like a peerless Immortal King [a sovereign ruler among immortals] descending upon the mortal realm.

With a single, seemingly casual point of his finger, he had cleaved the Endless Sea, as if a Sword Immortal [a master swordsman who has attained immortality] from the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms] had delivered a world-sundering slash.

"My Lady."

Eldrin Chen withdrew the Primordial Chaos Energy, stepping through the air with ease. Gazing at Exquisite Jiang before him, a gentle smile touched his lips as he spoke.

Exquisite Jiang studied Eldrin Chen intently, then drew a deep breath and sighed, "I had only just managed to close half a step of the distance between us. To think you would surpass me again in a mere few millennia."

"Your talent is peerless, my Lady, not the least bit inferior to mine."

Eldrin Chen spoke softly, his smile deepening.

With the perfection of his Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of unparalleled resilience and unity with the primordial source], the Five Vein Source [a divine ability channeling power from five foundational spiritual meridians] within him had fused into one, transforming into Chaos Origin Power [the pure, foundational power of primordial chaos].

Although this was merely a wisp of the most minute Chaos Origin Power [the primordial creative force from which all things originate], its potency was nonetheless utterly astonishing.

Eldrin Chen did not yet fully comprehend the true magnitude of power contained within this strand of Chaos Origin [the primordial source essence of chaos], yet he sensed intuitively that his combat prowess had now surpassed even that of Exquisite Jiang.

He could vaguely perceive that with this Chaos Origin shielding his body, a single activation would summon a shroud of Chaos Mist [a primordial fog born from chaos essence] to envelop his entire form.

The defensive power of that Chaos Mist was incomparably formidable. Should an ordinary Earth Immortal Patriarch unleash a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme artifact capable of cleaving worlds] against him, it likely would not even pierce that layer of mist, let alone injure Eldrin Chen's physical body.

Moreover, this Chaos Origin simultaneously embodied the sharpness and solidity of the Gold Vein [metallic spiritual vein], the resilience and profundity of the earth vein, the enduring vitality of the Wood Vein, the vast gentleness of the Water Vein, and the domineering ferocity of the Fire Vein.

More crucially, while encompassing these five elemental forces, the Chaos Origin far transcended them, achieving an unprecedented qualitative transformation.

As long as this strand of Chaos Origin remained within him, Eldrin Chen's physical form would be Immortality [eternal and unchanging] and Indestructibility [utterly unbreakable]. A casual release of Chaos Mist from his body could shatter an entire Great Thousand World [a major world within the cosmic hierarchy].

For instance, with but a casual flick of his finger earlier, Eldrin Chen had merely channeled a wisp of Chaos Mist, yet it had already cleaved through millions of Li-lengths of the Endless Sea. Its destructive power was comparable to a full-force strike from a peerless Sword Immortal [a supreme master of the sword path].

Such might was sufficient to World-Opening [cleave a new world into being], or even split a Great Thousand World cleanly in two.

What Eldrin Chen did not know was that Chaos Origin of this caliber represented a supreme tier of energy. Many Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] might spend their entire lifetimes without ever glimpsing, let alone touching, this profound level of power.

The Chaos Origin [the primordial source energy from which all things are born] he had cultivated held no fundamental difference from the Primordial Chaos Energy [the raw, unformed energy of creation] within the Chaos [the primordial void before creation]; its sole distinction lay in being far too diluted.

The Chaos Origin forged by his Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique said to be unbreakable and connected to the source of creation] was, compared to any single strand of Primordial Chaos Energy within the Chaos, merely an insignificant wisp of power.

Yet, as his cultivation base continued to ascend, the day would inevitably come when the Chaos Origin of Eldrin Chen would grow incomparably mighty.

If he were to cultivate to the Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm of immortality where one becomes a celestial being], perhaps even the Chaos Energy Flow [the violent currents of primordial energy] within the Chaos would struggle to harm him.

For ordinary Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have attained the Celestial Immortal realm], each venture into the Chaos was a gamble with nine deaths for one life.

By that time, Eldrin Chen might be able to roam freely within this expanse of Chaos that cradled the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [a collective term for the myriad immortal worlds].

Within this stretch of Chaos where the Three Thousand Immortal Domains resided, the Chaos Energy Flow was suppressed by an invisible field, making it far less perilous than the Depths of Chaos [the innermost, most turbulent regions of the primordial void], yet it remained exceedingly dangerous.

Ordinary Celestial Immortal Great Power dared not lightly step into the Chaos without a Primordial Unity Ancient Ship [an ancient vessel capable of navigating the primordial chaos], for without the protection of a Ninth Rank Ancient Ship [a top-tier ancient vessel], even a Celestial Immortal would find survival difficult upon entering the Chaos.

Yet, hand in hand with the peril came immense reward.

Within the unformed Endless Chaos [the boundless, primordial void], materials of staggering value were scattered everywhere.

Within the Immortal Domain, rare and precious divine metals and materials are scarce, yet within the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], they are found everywhere with ease. A random piece of stone unearthed there might well be a World-Opening Marvel [a treasure of immense power used in world-creation] or even a Primordial Unity Rare Treasure [an artifact of supreme rarity from the dawn of existence].