Chapter 1387 : The Inevitable Price of Ascension

Thinking of this, Lila voiced her concern, "Husband, might we be incurring too much Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect that binds all actions]?"

Upon hearing her words, the others also felt a stir of worry in their hearts.

A force capable of nurturing an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] was most likely a top-tier Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a realm of profound spiritual energy, often the foundation of a powerful immortal lineage].

Provoking such formidable enemies would undoubtedly weave a significant web of Karma. One or two such foes might be manageable, but if they incurred the wrath of several powerful forces, it could become a troublesome entanglement in the future.

Eldrin Chen was well aware of this. Adversaries like the Dark Great Roc Demon King and the Great Wasteland Celestial Crocodile were not to be trifled with; each was a formidable entity in their own right.

If they ever discovered his involvement, it would indeed become a serious problem.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen shook his head. "If we wish to advance further, contention is inevitable. In this world, there is no path to ascension that does not involve weaving Karma," he stated.

"Moreover, this Path Source [the primordial source of a cultivator's chosen Dao or cultivation path] concerns your very Path [the fundamental principle or way a cultivator follows]. Even if it means making several powerful enemies, it is a price we must be willing to pay."

His words stirred a deep sense of gratitude within them all.

Verdant Consort let out a soft sigh. "I will enter seclusion immediately to condense my Path Fruit [the crystallized essence and achievement of one's cultivation path]," she declared. "Once that is done, even if great enemies come knocking, I will be able to lend you my strength."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod, yet still advised, "In all things, excess is as harmful as deficiency; one must not be overly hasty in cultivation either."

"This is especially true for Violet Consort and Lila. Whether you can successfully complete your three foundational paths relying solely on the Eight Tribulation Path Source remains uncertain."

"You may first consume the Heaven-Mending Pill [a legendary pill said to mend foundational flaws in one's cultivation] to partially repair your foundations. Then, seclude yourselves for tens of thousands of years to temper and refine your base before making another attempt."

Lila and Violet Consort Yan exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement. "We will follow your counsel."

Having said his piece, Eldrin Chen offered no further words on the matter.

He sought out the three Sun Consort and departed that very day for the Glazed Blessed Land.

With their current level of cultivation, their journey to the Glazed Blessed Land was swifter than before. It was not long before they arrived at the Glazed Blessed Land.

By this time, the Glazed Blessed Land had already been restored to an Immortal Domain [a realm of higher spiritual energy and order, suitable for immortal beings]. Glazed Divine Lord stood silently within the Great Hall, seemingly having waited for some time.

"Three myriad years have passed, and I see you have all attained the World-Opening [the profound realm of an Ancient Immortal who has opened their own inner world]."

"It seems your harvest from this Great Tribulation surpasses even my expectations," she remarked.

Gazing at the figures before her, Glazed Divine Lord revealed a flicker of surprise in her expression.

Initially, she had anticipated that Sun Consort would achieve a breakthrough into the Earth Immortal Realm [the foundational realm of terrestrial immortality], while the remaining two would step into the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [a transitional state just before full Earth Immortality]. To her astonishment, all of them had now ascended to become true Earth Immortal [terrestrial immortals].

This outcome brought her both pleasant surprise and a sense of the unexpected.

Particularly the current Eldrin Chen, who now emanated an aura that carried a faint, palpable sense of threat.

With this thought, Glazed Divine Lord smiled and said, "Tell me the full tale of your tribulation, from beginning to end."

Upon hearing this, Sun Consort proceeded to narrate the entire sequence of events from their ordeal to Glazed Divine Lord.

After listening, Glazed Divine Lord's brow furrowed slightly. "It appears the objectives of the two Grotto-Heaven [self-contained paradisiacal realms], Western Essence and Divine Abyss, have already been accomplished," she stated.

"This..."

The group was taken aback by her words. Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "What do you mean by that, Senior?"

Glazed Divine Lord shook his head and sighed, "Within the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain, those who have cultivated the Primordial Unity Path Fruit and stepped into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm number over one thousand."

"Among them, the Western Abyss Dragon King ranks thirty-fifth, and the Divine Lord of Ye Ruins ranks thirty-seventh. Do you know what this signifies?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was momentarily taken aback.

Seeing their reaction, Glazed Divine Lord continued, "Whether it is the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace or the Divine Lord of Ye Ruins, both actually possess the potential to forge three types of Primordial Unity Path Fruit."

"And those who succeed in cultivating three types of Primordial Unity Path Fruit, once they enter the Celestial Immortal Realm, become the elite among Celestial Immortal Great Power. They have the potential to achieve the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm and may even glimpse the Great Encompassing Realm."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a slight shock in his heart, beginning to understand the schemes of the two Grotto-Heaven.

After explaining the reason in detail, Glazed Divine Lord sighed and said, "The two Grotto-Heaven of Western Essence and Divine Abyss have been maneuvering behind the scenes."

"Both the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace and the Divine Lord of Ye Ruins actually have a significant chance of breaking through to the Celestial Immortal Realm."

"The reason they haven't broken through to the Celestial Immortal Realm all these years is not merely because they haven't attempted it. The key lies in their desire to cultivate three types of Primordial Unity Foundation."

"Once they succeed, both will become elite figures among Celestial Immortal, capable of establishing powerful Grotto-Heaven in the future, rivaling those of Western Essence and Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven."

"But now, the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace has stepped into the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial beings] with only a Dual Path Fruits [foundation of two Path Fruits] foundation. In this life, he can at most cultivate to the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm. And the Divine Lord of Ye Ruins was forced into Reincarnation [the cycle of rebirth] through a desperate act. Isn't this precisely what they desired?"

As the Glazed Divine Lord continued his tale, Eldrin Chen felt a cold sweat trickling down his spine.

He never imagined that such immense Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect] lay behind this tribulation. The Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace may have seemingly entered the Celestial Immortal Realm.

Yet, under the machinations of the two Grotto-Heaven [self-contained paradisiacal realms], he only managed to forge a foundation of two Primordial Unity Path Fruit [the foundational fruits of one's cultivation path]. With such a base, reaching the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm is his absolute limit.

For the two Grotto-Heaven of Western Essence and Divine Abyss, the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace no longer poses a genuine threat.

The Divine Lord of Ye Ruins, aiming to forge a foundation of three Primordial Unity Path Fruit, missed the optimal moment for his breakthrough to Celestial Immortal Great Power [a Celestial Immortal of significant power]. Beaten into Reincarnation, his defeat is utterly complete.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen wiped his brow, took a deep breath, and asked, "Both the Divine Lord of Ye Ruins and the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace were peerless prodigies. Why would they willingly submit to such manipulation and schemes?"

"They had no choice."

The Glazed Divine Lord spoke, then continued with a sigh. "Within the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic conflict ordained by fate], slaying their rival to seize their Path Source [the condensed essence of a cultivator's path] and forge a foundation of three Primordial Unity Path Fruit—that was their only chance for a perfect breakthrough to Celestial Immortal."

"I understand now."

Eldrin Chen sighed inwardly, a flicker of helplessness stirring within his heart.

Whether it was the Divine Lord of Ye Ruins or the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace, they had both lived and moved within the machinations of the two Grotto-Heaven [a higher-dimensional realm, a paradise for immortals].

Even if they managed to break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm, the potential of a Celestial Immortal with Dual Path Fruits [having achieved enlightenment in two major cultivation paths] was inherently limited. Advancing to the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm in the future would be an arduous trial of ten thousand difficulties; they could never pose a significant threat to those two Grotto-Heaven.

When the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] eventually erupted, such Grotto-Heaven lacking a powerhouse of the Late Celestial Immortal Realm to guard them would become the first targets to shatter and fall.

In contrast, supreme Grotto-Heaven like Western Essence and Divine Abyss, each presided over by a Late Celestial Immortal Realm Great Power, could stand proudly within the Immortal Domain [the collective realms of the immortals]. They held the hope of weathering the Kalpa Tribulation and enduring in Immortality [the state of eternal life, transcending mortality].

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen recalled that the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace was, after all, a Celestial Immortal Great Power. He could not help but draw a deep breath and say, "My gains from this Great Tribulation [a major, fate-altering calamity] are simply too vast. It is inevitable that they will attract covetous eyes."

"I do not fear ordinary Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to the mortal world]. What concerns me is whether that Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace might move against me."

Hearing Eldrin Chen's worries, the Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] let out a soft, amused laugh before shaking her head. "You overthink this. He would not stoop to acting against you."

"Oh?" Eldrin Chen was slightly taken aback and asked, "I possess Celestial Immortal Aptitude [the innate potential to ascend to the Celestial Immortal Realm]. Would he not feel threatened by that?"