Chapter 1412 : Veiled Threats and Celestial Calculations

As long as they remained hidden within the Void [a state of non-existence or concealment] to launch ambushes and avoided a decisive confrontation with Eldrin Chen, even he would find it exceedingly difficult to capture or subdue them.

Even if Eldrin Chen were to adopt a strategy of mutual harassment—raiding the Great Wilderness Alligator Abode of Bliss in retaliation—it would be an utterly unfavorable trade.

For a young Earth Immortal [a powerful immortal being anchored to the mortal world] like Eldrin Chen, time was the most precious resource. The paramount concern was whether he could break through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm before the Dao Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial testing one's cultivation path] descended.

The Clan Lord of the Great Wilderness Alligator Clan, on the other hand, had been stuck at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal realm for several million years. His further advancement depended not on arduous cultivation, but on a stroke of fate or profound opportunity.

In contrast, given several million years, Eldrin Chen's cultivation base would be sufficient to reach Earth Immortal Great Perfection or even the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm. Viewed from this perspective, a direct exchange of time between the two was decidedly disadvantageous for Eldrin.

Contemplating this, Lyra Jiang spoke, "Do you have a method to locate them?"

"With my Great Derivation Yin-Yang Stellar Dao [a supreme divination art that calculates fate through celestial patterns] and my mastery of the Spatial Law [the fundamental principle governing space], I am indeed confident enough to attempt it,"

"...though we should not act rashly."

"However, until I ascertain whether they have any hidden contingencies, it is best to remain cautious." Having said this, Eldrin Chen turned to Lila and Yvonne the Violet Consort. "Remain within the Blessed Land [a pocket dimension rich in spiritual energy]. Do not let anyone know you have completed World Creation [the act of forging an inner world within one's dantian]. I shall first gather intelligence. We can decide our next move thereafter."

With those words, Eldrin Chen emerged from his Seclusion Chamber. He then enveloped the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a spatial treasure containing a miniature world] with spatial Rule Power [the authority to manipulate fundamental laws] and departed from the Abyssal Sea Region. Official source: *audio-novel.com*. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Beyond the Abyssal Sea Region, Eldrin Chen simultaneously activated the Great Derivation Yin-Yang Stellar Dao to divine the traces of the Alligator Clan while cautiously probing the Rule Power within the Void [the fundamental principle of emptiness and spatial manipulation].

Not long after, Eldrin Chen had roughly calculated their location. "So they are here."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of solemnity crossing his features. Wrapping himself within the Void Law, he transformed into a streak of auroral light and sped towards the Setting Sun Sea. Soon, he arrived at its borders. In the profound depths of the Setting Sun Sea, beyond a desolate Spirit Island, Eldrin Chen detected a faint, concealed aura.

Shrouded by the Void Law, he advanced until, within a cavern, he discovered a hidden Formation [a mystical array or defensive barrier].

Passing through the Formation, Eldrin Chen found a concealed Immortal Vein [a ley line of concentrated immortal-grade spiritual energy]. At the core of that Immortal Vein, several figures were recuperating their Mana [spiritual power or cultivation energy].

"It is indeed them."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his pupils contracting with focus.

Within this Immortal Vein, there were seven figures in total. Three of them belonged to the Alligator Clan.

The strongest among the Alligator Clan was an Eighth Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the eighth tier of the Earth Immortal realm], clearly the leader. The other two had more ordinary cultivation bases: one was a Third Level Earth Immortal, and the other had reached the Fourth Heaven Earth Immortal realm.

The remaining four were of the Dragon Race. Among them was one Seventh Level Earth Immortal, one Middle Stage Earth Immortal, and two Early Stage Earth Immortal Ancient Ancestor.

"Such power indeed serves as bait to lure me from my mountain sanctuary."

The instant he sensed the presence of those figures, Eldrin Chen felt a chill in his heart.

If he was not mistaken, those four were powerhouses from another formidable Dragon Race [a race of powerful, often shape-shifting, draconic beings] Blessed Land [a place of immense spiritual energy and fortune] within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea: the Wei Sea Dragon Palace.

The lineage of this Wei Sea Dragon Palace was exceedingly powerful; it was said that at its peak, it boasted eight Earth Immortal Progenitor [powerful cultivators who have transcended mortality and attained a profound connection with the earth], surpassing even the former Thousand Dragons Lake by a significant margin.

Fortunately, during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of immense strife and heavenly punishment], this Wei Sea Dragon Palace suffered grievous losses and now retained only five Earth Immortal Progenitor.

Now, with four Earth Immortal [cultivators who have attained immortality and profound power] from the Wei Sea Dragon Palace arriving in secret, their feigned harassment of the Abyssal Abode of Bliss by the Great Wilderness Celestial Alligator clan was merely a ruse; their true aim was to ambush Eldrin Chen.

Their genuine objective was not to blockade the Abyssal Sea Region, but to use it as bait in a fishing tactic to lure out and slay Eldrin Chen.

"The blockade of the Abyssal Sea Region is a false front. The true purpose is to use it to draw me from my sanctuary and eliminate me."

Having discerned the Alligator Clan's scheme, Eldrin Chen felt his heart grow heavy, and a trace of solemnity inevitably surfaced on his features.

Yet, a moment later, Eldrin Chen breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that both the Alligator Clan and the Wei Sea Dragon Palace had gravely misjudged his own true strength.

Currently, within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea, the most formidable combat prowess Eldrin Chen has displayed was the joint effort to besiege and slay the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake.

In that battle, the combat strength Eldrin Chen exhibited even approached the level of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

However, the credit for slaying the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake was forty percent due to the grand formation, thirty percent to the combined assault of the many Immortals, leaving Eldrin Chen to claim at most thirty percent of the credit. Thus, his true combat power still falls short of a genuine Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

Beyond that, there was the astonishing single-strike power he demonstrated when ambushing and killing the Eight-Calamity Immortal of the Alligator Clan.

Yet, that Young Master of the Alligator Clan was, after all, merely an Eight-Calamity Immortal, caught completely off-guard and defenseless during secluded cultivation. Being instantly slain by a surprise attack is, in truth, understandable.

Furthermore, Eldrin Chen's later feat of single-handedly slaying the Blaze Lord during the great war remains unknown to all except the Immortal Alliance and a few close allies. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

In the eyes of others, even if Eldrin Chen has broken through to Earth Immortal [a powerful cultivator who has transcended mortality and gained profound power over the earth and elements], resolving much of his previous deficiency in Mana [the spiritual energy used to power magical arts and techniques], he is still only a First Layer Earth Immortal. His strength is estimated to have merely reached the threshold of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

Against such power, they possess two Late Stage Earth Immortal and even one Eighth Level Earth Immortal to join the encirclement—more than sufficient to eliminate Eldrin Chen.

As for the two Earth Immortal within the Chen Immortal Clan—Lyra Jiang and the Verdant Consort—their publicly displayed combat power is estimated to be only at the Middle Stage Earth Immortal level.

Within the Immortal Alliance, Six Stars and Skywind possess strength that ranks among the lowest of Earth Immortal. Assigning five Earth Immortal in the early or middle stages—Ancient Ancestor [a venerable title for a powerful, long-lived cultivator]—would be enough to handle them. In their view, if they can lure Eldrin Chen and his allies out and launch a sudden, devastating ambush, Eldrin Chen's group would likely suffer severe injuries from the outset. Even if not completely routed in a single blow, their losses would be grievous.

Yet, they could never have imagined that the current strength of the Chen Immortal Clan far surpassed their wildest estimations.

Just the combat prowess of Eldrin Chen alone was already comparable to an Eighth Level Earth Immortal, and Lyra Jiang's power had also touched the threshold of the Seventh Level Earth Immortal realm.

Furthermore, when Verdant Consort and Glaze Qu joined forces, they were equivalent to a Seventh Level Earth Immortal in battle strength.

Although Lila and Yvonne the Violet Consort had only recently broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm,

they both possessed a Heaven-Opening Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation method], granting them Mana [the refined spiritual energy used by cultivators] and a foundational strength rivaling that of the Earth Immortal Sixth Layer.

Even though they were newly advanced and their treasures and mastery of Divine Ability [supernatural powers granted by profound cultivation] were slightly lacking, they were more than capable of handling two Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] at the fourth or fifth layer of the Earth Immortal realm.

With such formidable power, they could hold a significant advantage even in a direct confrontation. Moreover, with Eldrin Chen, who had comprehended the Spatial Law [the fundamental principles governing space], it was uncertain who would be ambushing whom.

After scouting the enemy's strength, Eldrin Chen did not linger long to avoid detection.

He flew back to the Abyssal Sea Region, found Lyra Jiang and the others, and relayed the intelligence on the opposing force's capabilities.

Upon hearing this, their brows furrowed slightly. Lyra Jiang could not help but remark, "The relationships between the major powers within the Immortal Domain are intricate and tangled." "I have heard that the Dragon Lord of Wei Sea is the son-in-law of the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake. It is within expectation that he would act for the sake of Thousand Dragons Lake."

"It is fortunate we did not act rashly back then, or we might have been plunged into a bitter and protracted struggle." Original publication: audio~novel.com - The source of this chapter.