Chapter 1396 : Veil of Moonlight and Divine Pearls

Unbound by the constraints of an Immortal Clan, he wandered the Great Tribulation [the cataclysmic conflict marking the end of a cosmic cycle] with Moonlight Veil. He drifted from battlefield to battlefield, choosing where to intervene based on the situation. If the fight turned against them, he would simply flee with Moonlight Veil in tow.

Entering the Great Tribulation with such freedom, Worthy Longevity Chen reaped astonishing rewards. From the start of the war until now, he had slain over ten Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators on the cusp of the Earth Immortal realm], including one true Early-stage Earth Immortal.

By this point, Worthy Longevity Chen's cultivation had reached the peak of Half-Step Earth Immortal. Both his physical body and his comprehension of Path Principles [the fundamental laws governing reality and cultivation] had also ascended to the World-Opening Realm [the foundational realm for creating one's own inner world].

His foundational power was roughly at the level of an Eight Tribulations Immortal, yet he had successfully refined eighteen Vast Sea Divine Pearl [divine treasures containing the boundless essence of the ocean].

Empowered by these eighteen Vast Sea Divine Pearl, Worthy Longevity Chen's combat prowess even surpassed that of some Nine Tribulations Immortal. This was the very reason he had been able to secure such gains amidst the chaos of the Great Tribulation.

According to Eldrin Chen, Worthy Longevity Chen had also obtained five World-Opening Spiritual Root [heavenly treasures essential for stabilizing a newly opened inner world]. Thus, the greatest obstacle to his future breakthrough into the Earth Immortal Realm was effectively resolved.

In contrast, his eldest son, Worthy Pursuit Chen, had fought and struggled across countless battlefields yet secured only a single World-Opening Spiritual Root. His Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny that favors cultivators] paled in comparison.

Beyond his three sons, his fourth child, Worthy Verdancy Chen, had also proven herself Extraordinary. Born to Eldrin Chen and Verdant Consort, she inherited the prodigious talents of two parents with Great Encompassing Foundation [a peerlessly profound and stable cultivation foundation], making her innate gifts truly exceptional.

Ever since awakening her Childlike Loyal Heart [a rare innate constitution characterized by unwavering purity and steadfast loyalty], Worthy Verdancy Chen had ventured deep into the Boundless Sea Region to partake in the tribulation.

Through the long war, Worthy Verdancy Chen's cultivation had also advanced into the realm of the Eight Tribulations Immortal, standing just one final step away from the Nine Tribulations Immortal realm.

"The eldest's Great Path [the supreme cultivation method] heart is resolute, the second has the backing of the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body], the third is peerless in combat within his realm, and Worthy Verdancy's talent and intellect are second to none. After cultivating the Childlike Loyal Heart [a constitution representing pure, unwavering loyalty], his temperament and comprehension have both reached a state of flawless perfection."

"It seems I can rest easy about these children from now on."

Eldrin Chen sighed softly in his heart. As a father, he had been prepared to offer his full support to his children at the critical junctures of their paths.

Just as parents in a past life might prepare for their child's marriage, Eldrin Chen had intended to lend his full strength in aiding his children with their World-Opening Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root essential for opening one's inner world].

But now, the second son had a powerful patron's support, the third had gathered his own World-Opening Spiritual Root, the eldest already possessed one, and the fourth, Worthy Verdancy Chen, had seized two during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of heavenly retribution].

It seemed he only needed to prepare another five or six. That pressure had been greatly reduced.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen looked at the present Worthy Path Chen and said, "This time you and your wife have returned, stay with the clan for a few more days."

"Spend more time reconnecting with your siblings. In the future, tens of thousands of years may pass between gatherings."

Worthy Path Chen nodded slightly upon hearing this. "As you wish, Father."

Eldrin Chen nodded in return. His children were all grown now, often journeying to distant corners of the Immortal Domain [the vast realm where immortals dwell], each following their own star.

Though they would often return to visit him, gatherings as complete as this one had become increasingly rare.

Eldrin Chen understood clearly in his heart that this was an inevitable development.

As a father, Eldrin Chen could not bear to see his children grow weak and dependent under his shelter. Thus, he had sent them out from beneath his protective wings, granting them the vast skies of the Immortal Domain so they might forge their own paths and grow through their own trials.

Looking upon them now, it was clear the decision Eldrin Chen had made was not a mistake.

Yet the Immortal Domain was boundless and without end. Even for an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation], returning across the vast distances of the Boundless Sea Region required an exceedingly long span of time.

It was foreseeable that unless these children advanced their cultivation to the Celestial Immortal Realm [a high realm where one can tear through the void], gaining the power to rend the void and traverse the Boundless Sea Region in an instant, their meetings would inevitably remain few and far between.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to Wonderful Sound Lu, who stood beside Worthy Path Chen. After so many years apart, her cultivation had also reached the domain of a Seven Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived seven heavenly tribulations].

Her pair of Dual Pupils [a rare and powerful innate ocular constitution] had grown even more formidable, likely potent enough to suppress and slay even an Early-stage Earth Immortal [a powerful immortal anchored to the earthly realm].

Contemplating this, he gave a slight, approving nod. "Over these years, you have taken good care of Second Son."

"Caring for my husband is my duty and my joy," she replied.

Wonderful Sound Lu offered a slight, respectful bow and spoke with neither subservience nor arrogance.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, saying nothing more.

Seeing this, Worthy Path Chen spoke up, "By the way, Father, my return today is not only to celebrate your longevity but also to fulfill a duty for the Immortal Court. I have been tasked with delivering something to you."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted slightly as a celestial general approached, holding aloft a white jade tray.

Worthy Path Chen took the tray and presented it to Eldrin Chen, saying, "This is a Divine Lord Decree [a formal edict from the Immortal Court appointing a divine lord] from the Immortal Court."

Eldrin Chen lowered his eyes to look. Upon the white jade tray rested three items.

On the left was an ancient-looking golden edict. On the right sat a white jade seal. In the center lay a set of robes of exceptionally noble and regal violet.

Upon the white jade seal among the three treasures, a line of large characters was inscribed.

"Eldrin the Dragon-Slaying Deity."

"Divine Lord Edict, Returning Abyss Seal, Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe."

Eldrin Chen murmured, his gaze sharpening slightly.

He understood that these three treasures constituted the official decree of appointment from the Western Abyss Immortal Court for him.

Generally, within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, Human Race cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal Realm, along with certain Hundred Spirit Immortal Clan factions friendly to humanity, would be conferred the title of Divine Lord by the Western Abyss Immortal Court.

However, as the saying goes, "Purple is the noblest color on the Immortal Path [the highest pursuit of cultivation and enlightenment]." Within the Immortal Court, purple also represents the most prestigious rank of conferment.

Only the most exceptional Earth Immortal Patriarch might be granted the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe. That Eldrin Chen received such an honor clearly indicated he was highly regarded by the Western Abyss Immortal Court.

Among the remaining two items, the Divine Lord Edict could command the Celestial Soldiers and Generals of the Immortal Court, theoretically up to a thousand troops.

The Returning Abyss Seal was also extraordinary. This artifact contained the training methods for Celestial Soldiers and Generals.

With this seal in his possession, Eldrin Chen could train up to ten thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals at most.

Of course, the seal only provided the training methodology and the authority to train Celestial Soldiers and Generals; it did not cover the required resources and various costs.

Ultimately, how many Celestial Soldiers and Generals [elite immortal troops] Eldrin Chen could train, and the true extent of their power, would depend entirely on his willingness to invest resources and expend both effort and manpower.

From what Eldrin Chen knew, within the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous immortal sea region], there were almost none who had managed to train their Celestial Soldiers and Generals to full capacity.

Even a top-tier Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energies] like the Leaf Ruins Divine Sea was said to have trained only three thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals before halting further recruitment.

The reason was simple: Celestial Soldiers and Generals consumed a staggering amount of resources. The cultivation materials they required, along with the Immortal Gold [a divine metal used for crafting immortal artifacts] and other divine materials needed to forge their weapons and armor, represented a fortune.

Many felt that such wealth would be better spent acquiring treasures to advance one's own cultivation, rather than squandering it on training troops.

Only those Earth Immortal [immortals anchored to the earthly realm] and Celestial Immortal [heavenly ascendant immortals] who had lived for tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of years with their cultivation hopelessly stalled would invest in raising large armies of Celestial Soldiers and Generals, using them to bolster the military strength and foundational power of their Blessed Land.

Regardless, receiving the official decree from the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body] signified that Eldrin Chen had taken his first step into the middle-to-upper echelons of power within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

Moving forward, leveraging the influence of the Immortal Court, Eldrin Chen would also be able to procure resources that were scarce within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [his home immortal domain], a most welcome development.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen instructed his attendants to store the three treasures, then nodded and said, "This grand banquet also celebrates your mother's one hundred thousandth year milestone. You should go and see her."