Chapter 1376 : A Flower of Tribulation and Escape

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a trace of astonishment coloring his voice.

It was undeniable that if Eldrin Chen had not made this unexpected discovery, allowing the Celestial Prison Clan's plan to succeed, it was highly likely that a Heaven's Prison Grotto-Heaven [a self-contained pocket realm of immense power] would have truly emerged within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

Given the deep-seated enmity between their factions, the Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch would have undoubtedly sought their utter destruction.

At this thought, a wave of belated fear washed over them. Sun Consort immediately asked, "What should we do?"

Eldrin Chen pondered briefly before replying, "This Tribulation Crossing Flower [a miraculous herb that requires the energy of a heavenly tribulation to mature] still needs to absorb sufficient tribulation energy [the destructive power of a heavenly trial] to fully ripen."

"However, with the Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison fallen, the Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch will likely rush here at any cost. We do not have the luxury to wait for its maturation."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly, and without further hesitation, he promptly stored the Tribulation Crossing Flower away.

He glanced at the group and declared, "We shall take it with us and nurture it until the next Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that reshapes the world]."

"Agreed."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in solemn assent.

The next Great Tribulation is a Path Tribulation that occurs only once in ten million years. The aura of Great Tribulation will likely be a hundred times more potent than this one. At that time, the Tribulation Crossing Flower [a legendary herb that blooms only during cosmic tribulations] will surely mature rapidly.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen wasted no time and immediately led the group away.

They soon found the other immortals and then escorted everyone towards the Immortal Domain.

Not long after their departure, a majestic figure wreathed in boundless tribulation aura strode forth.

He gazed silently at the battlefield for a long while, the air thick with an oppressive, boundless pressure.

After what seemed an eternity, an infinite, murderous intent swept through the Polarity Two Realms, causing all living things to tremble in fear, before finally subsiding into silence.

"The schemes of the Great Tribulation... have come to naught."

With a sigh, that boundless killing intent was completely withdrawn, though the murderous glint in his eyes remained as sharp as a blade.

"..."

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen brought the group safely into the Immortal Domain.

He did not depart. Instead, he had his people gather intelligence to understand the Karma [the web of cause and effect shaped by actions] surrounding this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event ordained by fate].

After comprehending the situation, Eldrin Chen spoke, "The Demon Race [a race of beings often in conflict with humanity] is cornered. Barring some heaven-defying trump card, it seems impossible for them to turn the tide."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

During the years of Eldrin Chen's secluded cultivation, the Demon Race forces within the Hundred Demons Archipelago [a vast and perilous island chain] had suffered defeat after defeat.

Of the hundreds of Demon Race sea territories, only two besides the Western Abyss Dragon Palace [a powerful dragon clan stronghold] still held out, and it appeared they would not last much longer.

Seeing the irreversible trend, many Demon Race Blessed Land [a land rich in spiritual energy, often a cultivation base] began withdrawing their troops. Only the Western Abyss Dragon Palace and its direct Dragon Clan [a noble and powerful race of draconic beings] lineage forces continued their desperate struggle.

Under such circumstances, once the final two territories fell and the combined armies of the Human Race and the Divine Clan [a race of beings with divine heritage] from various Blessed Land converged outside the Western Abyss Dragon Palace, even its formidable Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array] would be unlikely to withstand the onslaught.

By then, even if the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace possessed hidden cards, it would likely be too late to reverse the heavens' decree.

After all, while the Western Abyss Dragon Palace had the backing of the Demon Race Heavenly Court [the celestial court of the demon race], the forces of the Leaf Ruins Divine Sea [a divine sea region] and the Divine Clan also held trump cards bestowed upon them by two powerful Grotto-Heaven [a superior realm of existence, a higher-level cultivation paradise].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke again, "Though the overall outcome seems settled, the desperate, final struggle of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace is a force we must not underestimate."

"We should not interfere in this matter, lest we unwittingly become pawns in the calamity and are sacrificed."

Upon hearing this, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a powerful entity ruling over the ancient ruins of the netherworld] nodded slightly and said, "Since that is the case, I shall not detain you further."

"Indeed." Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, yet still clasped his hands respectfully. "This journey was greatly aided by your assistance, Fellow Daoist."

"We consider each other friends, why stand on such ceremony?"

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord shook his head, then bid farewell to Eldrin Chen with a final respectful salute.

After seeing off Ancient Ruins Nether Lord, Eldrin Chen did not linger. He immediately led his companions back to the Returning Abyss Sea Region [a vast and perilous sea region shrouded in primordial mists].

Upon returning to the Returning Abyss Sea Region, Eldrin Chen's first act was to inspect the World-Opening Spiritual Root [a legendary spiritual root possessing the power to help open and stabilize a nascent world] he required.

Over the years, Eldrin Chen had prepared five such World-Opening Spiritual Root for himself.

They were: the Longevity Ancient Tree [an ancient tree imbued with the essence of longevity], the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple [a maple tree born from the energies of the primordial chaos], the Fire Phoenix Parasol Tree [a parasol tree said to have been nurtured by a fire phoenix's essence], the North Sea Great Toon [a mighty toon tree from the frigid North Sea], and finally, the Primordial Earth Source Tree [a tree representing the foundational source energy of the earth].

Among these World-Opening Spiritual Root, the Longevity Ancient Tree had been nurtured and born within the Returning Abyss Blessed Land [a blessed land of profound spiritual energy], and had long since matured into a true World-Opening Spiritual Root. The Primordial Earth Source Tree was a gift from the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect [an ancient and venerable cultivation sect], and was also a fully-formed World-Opening Spiritual Root.

Beyond these, the Fire Phoenix Parasol Tree [a legendary tree said to be favored by phoenixes], nurtured over many years, has also advanced to become a World-Opening Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of the highest grade, capable of supporting the creation of a world].

Only the Primordial Chaos Ancient Maple [an ancient maple tree imbued with the essence of primordial chaos] and the North Sea Great Toon [a colossal toon tree from the northern seas] lag slightly behind by half a step; they will likely require another eight thousand years to complete their advancement.

"The Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and upheaval ordained by fate] still has ten thousand years to run. It seems I will be able to complete my advancement before its conclusion," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a faint sigh of relief escaping him.

At present, the Demon Race and the Celestial Prison Clan [a powerful clan associated with celestial prisons] are struggling for their own survival, creating an overwhelmingly favorable overall situation. It was clear that he would face no further danger before the Great Tribulation ended.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen decided to utilize these eight thousand years to further strengthen his methods, preparing for the World-Opening [the monumental act of creating one's own inner world or realm].

He summoned Exquisite Jiang and the others and stated directly, "Before the World-Opening, we must gather a multitude of rare treasures to prepare for cultivating World-Opening Heavenly God Ability [a supreme divine ability used in the world-opening process] and for the World-Opening itself."

Upon hearing this, they all nodded. Exquisite Jiang said, "Now that the Great Tribulation has entered its latter half, the conflicts in many sea regions have already been decided."

"It is likely that quite a few Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] have already completed their World-Opening. I have already dispatched people to collect World-Opening Aurora [a luminous celestial phenomenon or material essential for world-opening] from all quarters."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and then continued, "Apart from that, the treasures required for your cultivation of the Primordial One Energy [the unified, primordial source energy from which all things derive] and the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a supreme thunder technique harnessing the five elements and primordial solar power], specifically the Five Elements Thunder Source [a spiritual object containing the source power of thunder aligned with the five elements], must also be gathered with haste."

"I understand."

Exquisite Jiang nodded, indicating that arrangements were already being made to gather the required materials from various sources.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen said no more.

In the time that followed, he secluded himself within the Stellar Glazed Boundary to cultivate in earnest. He focused on tempering his foundational cultivation, deducing and practicing his various Divine Ability [supernatural powers derived from profound cultivation arts], all while keeping a watchful eye on the shifting power dynamics within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

With the recent increase in Earth Immortal [immortals who have opened their own minor world] undertaking World-Opening [the act of creating a personal minor world], the rate at which World-Opening Aurora [primordial light released during the creation of a world, a rare and precious material] could be collected had greatly accelerated.

In just a few hundred years, he had gathered all five types of World-Opening Aurora, subsequently cultivating his Five-Colored Divine Light to the World-Opening Realm.

Having advanced to the World-Opening Realm, the Five-Colored Divine Light was now a Mysterious Grade World-Opening Heavenly God Ability [a divine ability of profound power, suitable for those who have opened their own world]. When channeled with Eldrin Chen's current level of spiritual power, it could effortlessly seize even a High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a powerful magical artifact forged by a World-Opening Earth Immortal].

A millennium later, Star Consort and Moon Consort achieved a breakthrough, successfully cultivating their second World-Opening Foundation [the foundational power source for a World-Opening Earth Immortal]. With two such foundations, both women's combat prowess entered the domain of Seven Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal.

As they wished, Eldrin Chen used the Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact Vast Sea Divine Pearl to refine two External Elixir [a miraculous pill that can temporarily grant immense power or aid in a critical breakthrough] for them.

Upon receiving the External Elixir, the two women immediately began their assault on the World-Opening Realm. They borrowed a Mid-Grade World-Opening Treasure and, as anticipated, successfully opened a Seventh Heaven [a world of the seventh tier, a high-level achievement].

"Congratulations to you both."

Witnessing the two women's breakthroughs, Eldrin Chen felt a profound sense of satisfaction in his heart.

Both had opened their Seventh Heaven [the seventh and highest foundational realm within a cultivator's dantian], greatly enhancing their foundational potential and reserves. From this point onward, they were destined to reach at least the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] in their cultivation journey.