Chapter 1377 : Pillars of the Seventh Heaven

"Not at all, not at all. The only reason we were able to open a Seventh Heaven [a supreme-tier Earth Immortal world] was entirely due to your support," they replied.

Moon Consort spoke with a smile, and all of them revealed expressions of joy.

It is worth mentioning that the reason they were able to sustain their Seventh Heaven was not only because of the External Elixir [a supreme-grade cultivation aid] but also because they emulated the method pioneered by Eldrin Chen and established five supreme-grade Four Extremities Celestial Pillars [world-pillars representing the four cardinal directions and the center] within their Earth Immortal World [a world created and sustained by an Earth Immortal cultivator].

While using five Four Extremities Celestial Pillars to prop up the heavens is a good method, it can only barely sustain a Seventh Heaven. Its potential for growth is still far inferior to that of a true World-Opening Spiritual Root [a primordial spiritual root capable of birthing and stabilizing a world].

Nevertheless, as it was a Seventh Heaven, with this foundation now laid, the potential of the two women had already surpassed that of Sun Consort.

Thinking of this, Star Consort also spoke up, "Since we have already made our breakthrough, there is no time like the present. Let us proceed today to elevate the Stellar Glazed Boundary [a grand defensive formation]."

As she spoke, Star Consort immediately retrieved an eighth-rank Stellar Pearl [a celestial pearl of immense stellar power].

This pearl was a World-Opening Marvel [a miraculous treasure born from the act of world creation] that she had conceived upon her breakthrough to the Earth Immortal realm. Were it not for the immense debt she owed Eldrin Chen for aiding her in opening her Seventh Heaven, she would never have taken it out.

Seeing this, Sun Consort and Moon Consort also promptly retrieved their own eighth-rank Sun God Pearl [a divine pearl containing solar essence] and Stellar Pearl.

The three women did not delay. That very day, they joined forces and infused the three World-Opening divine pearls into the Stellar Glazed Boundary.

As their fusion deepened, the Cosmic Stellar energy [the primordial power of stars and cosmos] gathered by the Stellar Glazed Boundary grew ever more potent. By the time the process was complete, it had already transformed into a Cosmic Stellar Blessed Land [a sacred realm nourished by cosmic stellar energies].

Once the Sun and MoonStellar Blessed Land [the Blessed Land of Sun, Moon, and Stars] was fully formed, the Cosmic Stellar energy it concentrated had increased by dozens of times, if not more.

Eldrin Chen roughly sensed the area and discovered that the Stellar energy [the essence of celestial bodies] from the vast, empty seas surrounding the entire Returning Abyss Sea was being drawn here. The scope of this attraction even approached that of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land.

After its ascension, the Cosmic Stellar Blessed Land could likely sustain the cultivation of nine Earth Immortal [immortals anchored to the earthly realm]. Supplying the Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality] currently within the Returning Abyss Sea Region was more than sufficient.

"Such dense Stellar energy," Eldrin Chen murmured, a smile unconsciously gracing his lips.

He looked at Moon Consort and Star Consort, then said with a smile, "Congratulations on your successful World-Opening [the realm of creating one's own inner world] breakthroughs. Do you have any surplus World-Opening Energy [the primordial energy released upon opening a new world]?"

Star Consort and Moon Consort exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison. "We do have some extra. We can sell you one strand."

At the cost of two World-Opening Marvel [rare treasures born from world-creation], Eldrin Chen purchased one strand of World-Opening Energy from each of them, Moon Consort and Star Consort.

He gave one strand of the World-Opening Energy to Exquisite Jiang, keeping the other for the advancement of the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell. With this settled, Eldrin Chen once again immersed himself in his cultivation.

After several hundred years, Eldrin Chen's Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell advanced to become a World-Opening Treasure [a supreme treasure capable of creating and stabilizing pocket dimensions], becoming his fifth Innate World-Opening Treasure [a World-Opening Treasure born from innate principles, possessing unparalleled power].

In the following days, Eldrin Chen continuously gathered numerous treasures and delved into various Divine Ability [supernatural powers derived from profound cultivation], living a relatively tranquil life of secluded cultivation.

During this process, his Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial faced by supreme cultivators] also steadily progressed.

A thousand years later, the Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch parted ways with the Western Abyss Dragon Palace, fighting his way out of their encirclement at the cost of severe injuries before tearing through the void to escape with a void-type World-Opening Treasure.

After this battle, the elite forces of the Celestial Prison Clan were mostly slain, and even the Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch suffered grievous wounds.

Regarding this outcome, Eldrin Chen had long anticipated it.

The alliance between the Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch and the Western Abyss Dragon Palace had always been one of convenience, held together solely by shared interests. Now, with the tide turning against them and the Tribulation Crossing Flower [a legendary herb said to aid in surviving heavenly tribulations] stolen, the Patriarch naturally had no desire to remain and fight to the death for the Dragon Palace.

However, not long after, another piece of news arrived, capturing Eldrin Chen's attention.

Within the Divine Spirit Clan, the Extinction Thunder God refined the Path Source [the condensed essence of a cultivator's lifetime of cultivation and insights] of the Spirit Abyss Patriarch. After secluding himself for several thousand years, he finally mastered the Path Principle of Extinction Thunderclap [a divine ability embodying the annihilating power of thunder] and forged an exceedingly rare Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation state of perfect harmony and unparalleled potential].

Once this news spread, it shook the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

It is said that after Extinction Thunder God [a powerful deity of thunder and destruction] achieved his breakthrough, he immediately joined the siege against the Western Abyss Dragon Palace [the palace of the Dragon King ruling the Western Abyss]. The tide of the great war now seems to have turned decisively, with all suspense utterly gone.

"I never imagined... yet he truly did break through."

Eldrin Chen felt a surge of astonishment, mingled with a sigh of profound reflection.

The breakthrough of the Extinction Thunder God was, in truth, something that had been anticipated.

For the origins of that Extinction Thunder God were indeed Extraordinary. He had cultivated three types of World-Opening Path Fruit [the foundational fruits of power formed upon opening one's inner world] and had opened the Eighth Heaven and Earth [the eighth layer of one's internal cosmos, a sign of profound talent]. His innate aptitude was already among the very pinnacle of Earth Immortal [immortals anchored to the earthly realm].

With such a formidable foundation, his attempt to charge into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm halfway to becoming a true celestial immortal] naturally held significant odds of success. This was all the more certain since he had obtained the Path Source [the primordial source essence of a cultivation path] from the Spirit Abyss Path Master.

Furthermore, within the depths of the Nine-Layered Thunder Abyss [a legendary abyss of nine thunderous layers], there had originally been three Thunder Pools. The Central Thunder Pool held the Primordial Unity Immortal Sword [a divine sword embodying primordial unity], while the left pool contained a supreme-grade World-Opening Immortal Herb [a miraculous herb that aids in opening one's inner world].

Only the right-hand pool had been found empty, its treasure clearly having fallen into the hands of the Extinction Thunder God.

The value of that treasure certainly would not be inferior to the Nine Tribulations Thunder Fruit [a fruit forged through nine heavenly thunder tribulations]. Thus, it was fully within expectations that the Extinction Thunder God, upon obtaining it, could break through to the Primordial Unity Realm [the realm of primordial oneness].

"The Primordial Unity Immortal Sword, the Nine Tribulations Thunder Fruit, and an artifact of at least Supreme Grade World-Opening Marvel [a treasure of the highest grade used for world-opening] caliber... It seems this Extinction Thunder God likely possesses an Extraordinary identity. His origins are absolutely not simple."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a certain intuition taking root. This Extinction Thunder God was either a being born of destiny or a pawn moved by the hand of a supreme Celestial Immortal Great Power [a cultivator who has ascended to the celestial realm, possessing immense power and longevity]. He might even be the reincarnation of such a being himself.

Only a figure of such extraordinary origin could be accompanied by three supreme treasures from birth.

Judging by the Extinction Thunder God's recent mastery of the Path Principle of Extinction Thunderclap, had Eldrin Chen not taken the Nine Tribulations Thunder Fruit [a legendary fruit that can grant immense power through surviving nine heavenly tribulations], the Extinction Thunder God would likely have already forged his Primordial Unity Immortal Body [a perfect, foundational physique essential for the highest levels of cultivation].

Had that come to pass, with the Extinction Thunder God cultivating two types of Primordial Unity Path Fruit [the ultimate fruits of one's cultivation path, representing mastery over fundamental laws] simultaneously, his chances of breaking through to Celestial Immortal Great Power would have soared to at least fifty percent.

"Such a formidable foe," Eldrin Chen thought, his resolve hardening. "He must never learn that the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword is in my possession."

A grave expression settled deeper on Eldrin Chen's face as he contemplated the danger.

Fortunately, he had already concealed the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword within the dimensional space anchored by the Returning Abyss Pearl. Shielded by the Returning Abyss Pearl, an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born of heaven and earth, possessing its own innate spiritual nature], its presence was veiled from all Celestial Mechanism [the art of divination and calculating heavenly secrets]. Not even an Ancient Immortal Great Power [an immortal from ancient times who has attained immense power] could divine its location.

With this reassurance, Eldrin Chen's tension eased. His thoughts then turned to the Western Abyss Dragon Palace, and he could not help but shake his head. "Surrounded by a full five Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the very cusp of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm]," he mused aloud, "without some earth-shattering stratagem, the Western Abyss Dragon Palace has little hope of reversing its current predicament."

Having voiced this assessment, Eldrin Chen let the matter rest in his mind, choosing instead to focus on the continuous refinement of his own foundational cultivation.

He settled into deep meditation, channeling his spiritual energy to polish and consolidate the very bedrock of his power.

Thus, time flowed swiftly by. In the midst of his continuous secluded cultivation, Eldrin Chen gradually perfected his various techniques and methods.

More than a thousand years later, he advanced the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path to the World-Opening Realm. Though it could not compare to the Primordial One Energy, it had become a genuine, orthodox-level Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals].

Another two millennia passed. Through continuous purchases at exorbitant prices, Eldrin Chen finally gathered five supreme-grade Thunderclap Origin [the primordial essence of a thunderclap, a rare spiritual material]. With them, he cultivated the True Essence of the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder to the World-Opening Realm.

Upon its advancement, the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder had entered the profound domain of a Mysterious-grade Divine Ability. While still not a match for the Primordial One Energy, it became a lethal trump card in Eldrin Chen's arsenal.

In terms of sheer destructive power, it could even rival a High-Grade World-Opening Treasure.

As Eldrin Chen immersed himself in cultivation, the years slipped away like sand through an hourglass. Unbeknownst to him, the three-thousand-year mark approached—the time when the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict ordained by fate] was nearing its end.

On this day, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang sat within their cave abode, gazing at the two Immortal Treasure [a treasure of immense power used by true immortals] in their hands. A pensive, contemplative look settled upon their faces.