Chapter 1389 : A Pact of Pearls and Power

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen nodded and said, "Then let it be as Divine Lord suggests."

The two then discussed the finer details further, only concluding once every particular had been thoroughly settled.

According to their agreement, the first batch from Glazed Blessed Land would trade thirty Immortal Rank Supreme Grade Vast Sea Divine Pearl [divine pearls born from the essence of the primordial sea] and seven eighth-rank Vast Sea Divine Pearl to Eldrin Chen.

Furthermore, every ten thousand years thereafter, Glazed Blessed Land would provide Returning Abyss Blessed Land with at least one Vast Sea Divine Pearl of Immortal Rank Supreme Grade quality or higher.

After Eldrin Chen refined the Vast Sea Divine Pearl, thirty percent of the resulting External Elixir [a supreme-grade pill that can be absorbed externally to enhance cultivation] would be given to Glazed Blessed Land. Any remaining External Elixir offered for sale must first be offered to Glazed Blessed Land.

These Vast Sea Divine Pearl were of Extraordinary value, yet they were not considered difficult to obtain for the Immortal Clam Clan.

As one of the wealthiest clans among the Hundred Spirit Immortal Clan, the Immortal Clam Clan not only cultivated Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy] and Grotto-Heaven [a superior, self-contained spiritual realm], but also continuously nurtured the birth of Vast Sea Divine Pearl.

In the eyes of the Immortal Clam Clan, Vast Sea Divine Pearl were not scarce treasures. To exchange them for such External Elixir to help clansmen open another layer of their heavenly apertures [a critical breakthrough in cultivation] was considered the greatest of gains.

Once their transaction was settled, Eldrin Chen departed with Nyssa Qu.

Shortly after they left, a figure emerged from the shadows. Gazing at Glazed Divine Lord, it spoke, "With a harvest of such magnitude this time, it seems our immortal clams of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain are truly destined to rise."

The speaker was, unexpectedly, a woman at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal [the ninth and final stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm].

This woman wore a snow-white gown, a faint chill emanating from her form. She was born from the transformation of a Frost Soul Immortal Clam [a type of immortal clam with frost-aligned spiritual essence] within the Immortal Clam Clan [a clan of cultivators descended from or allied with immortal clams].

Seeing this, Glazed Divine Lord [a title meaning 'Divine Lord of Glazed Perfection'] also nodded. Looking at the Nine Tribulations Thunder Fruit [a rare spiritual fruit that has endured nine heavenly thunder tribulations] in her hand, she spoke: "With this, achieving the Primordial Unity Immortal Body [a legendary immortal physique representing perfect primordial unity] should pose no great difficulty."

"If we can advance further in the future, our Immortal Clam Clan within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast realm within the immortal worlds] need not suffer such great hardship."

Hearing these words, the woman's eyes dimmed slightly.

The strength of the Immortal Clam Clan was considered extremely weak even among the Hundred Spirit Immortal Clan [a collective name for various immortal spirit clans]. Within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, this lineage did not even possess a single Grotto-Heaven [a superior-grade blessed land, a pocket dimension of immense spiritual density].

Lacking a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme expert who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] as a backer, life had never been easy for the Immortal Clam Clan.

Throughout the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, countless immortal clams and shells were cultivated by the various major Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land [collective term for Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands, superior cultivation paradises], producing various divine pearls and Spiritual Object [objects imbued with or containing spiritual energy] to aid cultivation.

For the Hundred Spirit Immortal Clan, this was a source of profound shame.

It was precisely for this reason that Glazed Blessed Land [a specific Blessed Land named 'Glazed'] placed such great importance on the emergence of Nyssa Qu.

With the potential of Nyssa Qu in her Nine-Colored Immortal Clam form [a divine clam form of immense potential], barring any unforeseen calamities, her ascension to the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle of the Celestial Immortal stage] was as certain as iron driven into wood.

Only the rise of Nyssa Qu could rescue the Immortal Clam Clan from the raging fires and drowning waters of their current plight.

Thinking this, the Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] spoke, "Has any news arrived from the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain?"

"Not yet."

The Frost Soul Immortal Clam [a powerful clam-type demonic beast] shook her head and sighed. "The Ancestral Domain [the original homeland of their clan] is far too distant from the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, separated from us by over a dozen other Immortal Domain [vast realms governed by immortal powers]."

"For our people to reach the Ancestral Domain, they must not only traverse the Boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless void between realms] aboard a Primordial Unity Ancient Ship [an ancient vessel capable of sailing through chaos], but also pass through several Immortal Domain and transfer between multiple such ships to finally arrive."

"Setting aside the perils of the journey, even if the path were perfectly safe, a round trip would still take tens of thousands of years."

Hearing this, the Glazed Divine Lord could not help but sigh inwardly before saying, "Let us hope all proceeds smoothly and that the Ancestral Domain dispatches several Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful cultivators at the Celestial Immortal realm] to our aid."

"Otherwise, within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, none of the other races would tolerate a Nine-Colored Immortal Shell [a supreme form of immortal clam] achieving a breakthrough into the Celestial Immortal Realm."

Witnessing this, the Frost Soul Immortal Clam also felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.

She sighed softly, then, as if remembering something, inquired further, "The one from Divine Abrus Grotto-Heaven sent word. He said that if you agree to marry him as a concubine, he will present a Seven Souls Pill [a legendary pill said to nourish and strengthen all seven aspects of the soul] as a betrothal gift."

"Hah, as a concubine?"

Glazed Divine Lord let out a cold laugh, a flash of icy intent passing through her eyes. "That fellow from the Divine Abrus Grotto-Heaven looks down on our Immortal Clam Clan from the very marrow of his bones."

"Perhaps in his eyes, both I and the entire Glazed Blessed Land are merely possessions awaiting his claim?"

Having said her piece, Glazed Divine Lord glanced at the Nine Tribulations Thunder Fruit [a fruit of immense power, born from lightning that has weathered nine heavenly tribulations] in her hand and stated flatly, "Let him keep that Seven Souls Pill for his own use."

"..."

With their transaction settled, Eldrin Chen did not linger within the Glazed Blessed Land.

He departed with Nyssa and returned to the Returning Abyss Sea Region, finding that Exquisite Jiang and the others were still in secluded cultivation. Not wishing to disturb them, he held his peace.

"It is time I made the journey to the Netherworld Realm [the vast and shadowy underworld realm of spirits and the dead]," he murmured to himself.

With this thought firm in his heart, Eldrin Chen did not delay any longer.

He journeyed towards the Netherworld Realm [the underworld domain where souls reside after death] and there met Verdant Seal Nether Lord.

Meeting again after so many years, Eldrin Chen discovered that Verdant Seal Nether Lord's cultivation had advanced with astonishing speed, having already reached the realm of a Half-Step Ghost Ancestor [a cultivator halfway to becoming a true Ghost Ancestor, a powerful spectral being].

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "Your cultivation has soared, Patriarch. It seems breaking through to the Earth Immortal Ghost Ancestor [a Ghost Ancestor whose power is comparable to an Earth Immortal] realm is within a hundred thousand years."

"Much of that is thanks to the Path Source [a rare spiritual object containing the condensed essence of a cultivation path] you sent."

Verdant Seal Patriarch's eyes gleamed, and a faint smile touched his lips.

Eldrin Chen nodded. During the recent tribulation, the Chen Clan had seized a vast quantity of Path Source, and naturally, they would not neglect Verdant Seal Patriarch, who guarded the Netherworld Realm.

He had sent several Path Source here, fueling Verdant Seal Patriarch's rapid cultivation progress.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen recalled the purpose of his visit. "I have come to escort two old acquaintances into Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth for souls]," he stated.

Hearing this, Verdant Seal Patriarch sighed softly within his heart.

Without another word, he led Eldrin Chen towards the Soul-Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool that purifies souls before their reincarnation].

By the side of the Soul-Cleansing Pool [a mystical pool capable of purifying the soul], Eldrin Chen retrieved two Soul-Gathering Pearl [pearls that can gather and stabilize soul essence]. Using the power of his Immortal Mark [a profound mark left by achieving immortality], he shielded their Primordial Spirits [the spiritual core of a cultivator], allowing them to retain their memories while cleansing them of the lingering aura of the Mortal Dust [the mundane, mortal world].

After completing this step, he led them to the edge of the Reincarnation Well [a mystical well that serves as a gateway to the cycle of rebirth]. First, he looked at Vast Righteousness True Lord and asked, "Senior, as you enter Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth], is there anything you wish to impart?"

Vast Righteousness True Lord shook his head, speaking with serene detachment, "The great calamity has been quelled. To have set foot in the Immortal Domain [the realm of immortals] even as a soul, I harbor no regrets in this life."

"After this journey into Reincarnation, I wish only to single-mindedly pursue the Path [the Great Dao, the ultimate principle of cultivation], cultivating with an undistracted heart."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. "Then may your journey be smooth, Senior," he said.

"Until we meet again in another life."

Vast Righteousness True Lord nodded in return. With a carefree wave of his hand, he stepped into the depths of Reincarnation without a backward glance.

Watching his departing figure fade, Eldrin Chen felt a sudden, vivid recollection—a memory from over ninety thousand years ago, the very first time they had met.

Back then, Vast Righteousness True Lord had stood firm upon the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range, his heart wholly devoted to suppressing evil fiends for the sake of the Human Race. He had expounded upon the Path for all who would listen.

Decades of millennia had flowed by in a blink, yet those scenes from a bygone era echoed within Eldrin Chen's heart, a lingering weight he found difficult to release.

"Senior—"

Eldrin Chen suddenly spoke, expelling a wisp of Primordial Chaos Essence.

Wrapped in Primordial Chaos Violet Aura, the several hundred-word mantra from the Primordial Chaos Scripture flew into the soul of Vast Righteousness True Lord.

Unfortunately, just like Imperial Sovereign Jiang, the spiritual capacity of Vast Righteousness True Lord's soul was limited and utterly incapable of bearing the weight of several hundred words from the Primordial Chaos Scripture.

In the end, only a single ancient character was imprinted upon Vast Righteousness True Lord's soul.

That ancient character merged with the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura, then intertwined with the Innate Mother Energy within the concept of Reincarnation, ultimately giving rise to a new Ancient Scripture nearly a thousand words in length.

Eldrin Chen glimpsed only fragments, but saw that the opening seemed to be inscribed with several large characters.

They read—"The Innate Path-Seeking Scripture".