Chapter 1379 : Forging the Inner Cosmos

If his magical power [the energy cultivated and wielded by immortals] were as profound and vast as that of a Late Stage Earth Immortal, then Eldrin Chen was confident he could open up a Nine Heavens and Ten Earths [a legendary, immensely vast and stable inner world] without issue.

However, he had not yet truly reached the World-Opening realm. Even accounting for all the power within his body, it ultimately remained at the level of a Fourth Level Earth Immortal. How many full-powered strikes could that truly sustain?

Furthermore, after reaching the Ten-Layered Heaven [a specific, advanced stage of inner world development], more than half of his physical body's strength would be dedicated to supporting the heavens and earth within him. The remaining power might not be enough to open many more layers of reality.

More crucially, the power of the five World-Opening Spiritual Root [rare spiritual plants whose essence aids in creating and stabilizing an inner world] might not be sufficient to support the creation of numerous heavenly layers.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen drew a deep, steadying breath.

He gathered the ten streams of World-Opening Energy [the primordial force used to forge new realities] into his grasp. Three of them he fused directly into his physical body, his comprehension of the cosmic rules, and his Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's chosen Dao, representing their ultimate achievement].

Four more streams were channeled into his Five-Colored Divine Light [a supreme defensive and offensive technique based on the five elements], his Primordial One Energy [the undifferentiated, foundational energy from which all things are derived], his Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a devastating thunder technique combining solar and elemental fury], and his Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path [a profound cultivation method for divination and manipulating cosmic forces].

Then, he employed his treasures to share the immense burden. The Polarity Void Mirror was summoned to stabilize the Heavenly Vault [the conceptual "sky" or upper realm of his inner world], while the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell resonated to steady the Netherworld [the conceptual "earth" or foundational realm]. The twin blades of the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords were positioned to anchor the polar extremes, alleviating the strain on his physical form.

The remaining three streams of energy were carefully stored away for future use.

With these preparations complete, Eldrin Chen gathered his resolve and began the monumental task once more.

This time, Eldrin Chen finally mobilized his magical power. As he activated the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder, billions of divine thunderbolts instantly surged between heaven and earth, shaking the Six Harmonies formation and cleaving through the endless Chaos of the primordial world. Another layer of the cosmos was rent asunder.

Immediately following, the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand swept across the Eight Desolations. Under Eldrin Chen's command, it struck out repeatedly, shattering the Twelve-Layered Heaven.

"The Twelve-Layered Heaven and Earth."

Having consecutively opened the Twelve-Layered Heaven and Earth, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath.

Within an extremely brief span, he had activated his Innate Divine Ability over a dozen times in succession. His magical power was already depleted by more than half.

Moreover, at this stage, over sixty percent of the strength of his Primordial One Indestructibility Body was being used to support the newly formed heavens and earth. The remaining power he could muster was not much.

"If I exert myself to the utmost, expending the greater part of my remaining power, opening the thirteenth heaven should not be difficult."

"But can the five World-Opening Spiritual Root sustain it?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a flicker of uncertainty in his heart.

According to his calculations, five World-Opening Spiritual Root could, at most, only support a Ten-Layered Heaven.

However, by utilizing his five Spiritual Roots [the innate spiritual foundations that determine a cultivator's elemental affinity and cultivation potential] of the Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth attributes, he laid down the 'Primordial One Five Elements Heaven-Supporting Formation' [a supreme formation that uses the five elements to support the heavens and earth]. This greatly amplified the power of each World-Opening Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of supreme quality capable of supporting the foundation of a nascent world]. Theoretically, this setup should at least be sufficient to support a Twelve-Layered Heaven and Earth [a foundational world structure of twelve layers, representing a high level of cultivation foundation].

Whether it could support thirteen Heavenly Layers [a foundational world structure of thirteen layers] remained uncertain.

Contemplating this, he fell into brief thought before his eyes flickered with insight. "If I were to channel the power of five Primordial One Limitless Rule [the fundamental, boundless laws of the Primordial Chaos] into the five World-Opening Spiritual Roots, it should significantly increase their potency."

"Viewed this way, it should indeed be sufficient."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, finally settling on his decision.

He then employed five Innate World-Opening Treasures [treasures born from chaos, inherently suited for world-creation] to fully stabilize the heavens and earth. Following this, he unleashed a torrent of divine abilities: the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand [a divine hand technique capable of grasping the fundamental energies of creation], the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a supreme thunder of the five elements and the primordial sun], the Five-Colored Divine Light [a radiant light embodying the five elemental forces], alongside the Primal Radiance Heaven-Entombing Blade [a blade of primal light that can entomb the heavens] and the Infernal Prison War Halberd [a war halberd imbued with the power of a blazing prison].

With a deafening, earth-shattering roar, the thirteenth Heavenly Layer was finally cleaved open.

Even at this point, Eldrin Chen still possessed a measure of reserve strength. Yet, he ultimately chose not to press further.

In the current situation, even if he attempted to open a fourteenth layer of heaven and earth, the World-Opening Spiritual Roots would be unable to bear the strain. Instead, it risked causing the nascent world to face Oblivion [the state of complete annihilation or dissipation].

Moreover, opening additional layers was primarily to increase the certainty of his breakthrough to the Celestial Immortal [the realm of a true celestial immortal].

For those who use a World-Opening Spiritual Root [a primordial spiritual root capable of supporting a nascent world] to uphold their heaven and earth, as the World-Opening Spiritual Root grows, it can partially mend their foundational deficiencies even upon reaching the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of a celestial immortal].

Many Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful celestial immortal] who initially opened an Eighth Heaven [a world with eight foundational layers] ultimately manage to refine their heaven and earth to surpass the Ten-Layered Heaven [a world with ten foundational layers].

Those whose cultivation has reached the realm of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme golden immortal] invariably open Universe [a self-contained cosmos] with at least three such Ten-Layered Heaven or more.

As far as Eldrin Chen knew, within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [the vast immortal domain ruled by Immortal Lord Vast Azure] there existed Thirty-Sixfold Heaven [a world with thirty-six foundational layers] domains, and the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the Western Essence and Divine Abyss Sea] they were familiar with was one such Thirty-Sixfold Heaven.

The Celestial Immortal Great Power from the Western Essence Grotto-Heaven [the Western Essence Grotto-Heaven] and the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven] each held partial authority over this Heavenly Domain [a domain governed by heavenly laws].

Unfortunately, the Heavenly Path Authority [the authority to command a fragment of the Heavenly Dao's power] of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea was dispersed among several Celestial Immortal.

If one day, all authority over this Heavenly Path [the Heavenly Dao, the supreme natural law] were consolidated into the hands of a single individual, the empowerment from that complete Heavenly Path Authority alone would grant them strength rivaling the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the celestial immortal realm].

Returning to the main point, Eldrin Chen understood in his heart that by using a World-Opening Spiritual Root as his Four Extremities Celestial Pillars [the four celestial pillars that stabilize the extremities of a world], he could mend his foundations after breaking through to Celestial Immortal and open more layers of heaven and earth.

Therefore, knowing when to stop, he planted the five World-Opening Spiritual Root within his heaven and earth.

After completing this step, Eldrin Chen channeled his five types of Rule Power [the power derived from comprehending a fundamental rule of existence], each flowing into one of the Four Extremities Celestial Pillars.

With the protection of five distinct Rule Power [a form of divine empowerment derived from fundamental cosmic laws] and the support of five World-Opening Spiritual Root [primordial spiritual plants that anchor and nourish nascent worlds], the nascent realm indeed withstood the immense pressure, successfully holding aloft the heavens and earth.

"It is done."

As the heavens and earth gradually stabilized, Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, allowing himself a slight sigh of relief.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he guided the souls of the immortals who had perished in the tribulation into the newly formed world.

After merging with the world's essence, those Immortal souls scattered across the various layers of the ten Threefold Heaven [a cosmological structure comprising ten distinct, layered heavenly realms].

They would coalesce from the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy [the primeval, foundational energy of creation] and be born anew, destined to become part of the first generation of Divine Spirits [innate spiritual beings born from the world itself] to emerge in this newly opened world.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, within his ten Threefold Heaven, the first generation of Divine Spirits would number only one hundred and eight.

As Eldrin Chen's cultivation base gradually advanced, reaching the stage of Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm], a final total of over three thousand Divine Spirits would ultimately be nurtured into existence.

The cultivation realm of these Divine Spirits would be at least at the Ascendant Immortal Realm [a foundational immortal realm], with the most exceptional among them contending for the Imperial Lord Rank [a high-ranking destiny and position of authority].

Eldrin Chen divided the ten Threefold Heaven into six celestial heavens and seven mortal realms, naming each according to the cosmic principles derived from the World-Opening [the primordial act of creation] itself.

The Seven Realms are divided into the Thunder Abyss Realm, the Frost Soul Realm, the Gale Wind Realm, the Southern Blaze Realm, the Northern Dark Realm, the Western Pole Realm, and the Eastern Splendor Realm.

The Six Heavens are the Grotto Abyss Heaven, the Primordial Solar Heaven, the Stellar Heaven, the Void Cosmos Heaven, the Aurora Heaven, and the Longevity Heaven.

Whoever can grasp the authority of an Imperial Lord within the Seven Realms will possess combat power equivalent to that of a Six Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal.

Whoever becomes one of the Six Heavens Imperial Lords will wield the authority of the Six Celestial Authority, their combat power also rivaling that of a Six Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal.

Above the Seven Realms and the Six Heavens, there are two beings who govern all the Emperors. They respectively act on behalf of Eldrin Chen to rule Heaven and Earth. Their combat power will be comparable to a Seven Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal, and they may be called the Ancestor of Heaven and the Ancestor of Earth.

This is still due to Eldrin Chen's current cultivation base not being sufficiently powerful. As Eldrin Chen's cultivation gradually advances in the future, the laws within his World-Opening [the foundational realm created by a supreme cultivator] domain will grow increasingly potent, and the power of these Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler within a specific domain] will become even more astonishing.

Furthermore, within Eldrin Chen's five World-Opening Spiritual Root [the primordial spiritual roots that form the foundation of a world], boundless authority over Heaven and Earth has been obtained, which will give birth to five World-Opening True Spirit [primordial spirits born from the world's foundational laws].

These five World-Opening True Spirit are the Fire Phoenix, the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Black Tortoise, and the Qilin.

These five World-Opening True Spirit, born embodying five distinct cosmic laws, will possess combat power surpassing that of the thirteen Imperial Lord, rivaling the two Path Ancestors who separately govern Heaven and Earth.

"I have bestowed upon you the status of the first generation of Divine Spirits [innate spiritual beings born from the world's laws] within this Heaven and Earth. Yet, whether you ultimately succeed in seizing the authority of an Imperial Lord will depend on your own Creation [the act of creation and innovation, a profound concept in cultivation]."

Observing the Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual beings born from the world's essence] gestating within the world's core, Eldrin Chen spoke with a calm, measured tone.

He had once promised the assembled Immortal [transcendent beings who have ascended beyond mortality] six Imperial Lord [a high-ranking title and authority over a portion of the cosmos] authorities. Yet, dozens of Immortal had since stepped onto this stage of heaven and earth. Clearly, the Imperial Lord authorities would not be sufficient for all.

Regarding this, Eldrin Chen had no intention of intervening. Who would grasp the Mandate of Heaven and claim these authorities would depend entirely on their own methods and strength.