Chapter 1399 : Across the Abyss of Shadows

On the opposite shore of the Divine Abyss Sea, lay a sea of profound and unyielding darkness.

Within its depths, molten rock and malevolent miasma were rampant, staining the very waters a pitch-black hue.

"One of the seven seas of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a pensive glint flashing in his eyes.

Legends spoke of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea as a realm dominated by Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who harness dark and destructive energies], where the cultivation environment was far more brutal, yet paradoxically richer in resources than the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea. Consequently, the powerful beings dwelling within the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea were also far more numerous.

As he understood it, the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea boasted a full seven Grotto-Heaven [self-contained paradisiacal realms and power bases for supreme cultivators]. Among them were Grotto-Heaven ruled by Demonic Cultivator, others by unorthodox sects, and still others by outright heretical factions.

The Prison-Suppressor Child, whom Eldrin Chen had befriended in the past, was a disciple from the Purgatory Grotto-Heaven, the second-ranked among those seven Grotto-Heaven of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea.

Noticing the shift in Eldrin Chen's expression, the Heaven Abyss Path Master beside him followed his gaze.

Seeing him look towards the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, the Path Master frowned slightly and said, "In recent years, the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea has grown increasingly chaotic, and its power has swelled accordingly."

"I've heard that the seven Grotto-Heaven of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea actually joined forces to expel the Demon Court [the ruling coalition of demonic powers], the Divine Court [the coalition of divine beings and spirits], and even the Immortal Court [the primary coalition of orthodox immortal cultivators] from their territory."

"Such lawlessness and audacity, I fear Future may become a great calamity for the Vast Azure Immortal Domain."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but frown slightly, a crease forming between his brows.

That Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a sea of purgatorial flames born from a fallen demon's power] was the place where an Ancient Demon [a primordial demon of immense power] met its end. Legend has it that the strength of that Ancient Demon was such that it had almost half a foot already within the realm of a Golden Immortal [an immortal whose body and soul have been refined to a state of golden perfection].

It is said that this Ancient Demon had weathered eight Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth, used as a measure of an immortal's trials], lacking only the final step to ascend into the realm of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a perfected Golden Immortal who has comprehended the fundamental laws of existence].

It is said that in its time, that Ancient Demon, in its quest to break through to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm, infiltrated the Vast Azure Immortal Domain with designs upon the very Immortal Domain [a realm governed by immortal laws and energies]'s foundational essence.

The result was a collective defense mounted by the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. Several Ancient Immortal Great Power [immortals who have survived for eons and weathered multiple cosmic tribulations] joined forces, supported by hundreds of Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm], all laying siege to it before it was finally slain.

Yet the price of that battle was immeasurably steep. In its aftermath, the Vast Azure Immortal Domain's accumulated strength and resources were nearly halved, with over three hundred Celestial Immortal Great Power perishing.

Even among the seven Ancient Immortal who participated in the siege, as many as four met their end.

After the Ancient Demon's death, the power of its Great Path [the fundamental laws and principles of cultivation it comprehended] corroded the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, transforming a once pristine land of immortals into a purgatorial realm for Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who draw power from demonic or corrupt sources].

The Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, once one of the Thirty-Three Heavens [a collective term for the supreme heavenly realms], broke free from the control of the Heavenly Path of the Immortal Domain [the orthodox celestial governance], becoming a haven for Demonic Cultivator and practitioners of the sinister paths.

Even the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain and its Western Region's Six Heavenly Domains were profoundly affected.

The once exceedingly prosperous Sixfold Heaven Domain had seen its cultivation environment deteriorate significantly, with its World's Origin [the foundational energy that sustains a world] power diminished by over half compared to its former state.

"Not even the power of the Heavenly Path of the Immortal Domain [the supreme governing and cosmic order of the immortal realms] could control the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea."

"Was that ancient Ancient Demon [a primordial being of immense demonic power from the earliest epochs] truly so formidable?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a shadow of solemnity flickering in his eyes.

As they conversed, the group unknowingly arrived at the outskirts of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen set aside his thoughts and spoke, "Let us first enter the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven to see what this Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare cultivation resources] has to offer."

This grand auction was not held within the depths of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, but rather within the Divine Abyss Immortal City.

Above the Divine Abyss Sea, three thousand Immortal Isles [floating islands imbued with immortal energy] hovered in the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky], adorned with countless immortal palaces and divine pavilions stretching into the distance, resembling the mythical Heavenly Court [the celestial bureaucracy and dwelling of gods] of antiquity.

The Divine Abyss Immortal City was situated at the heart of these three thousand Immortal Isles, serving as the public face of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven and standing as one of the grandest immortal cities within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

The group ascended onto Divine Abyss Immortal City, discovering that there were still three hundred years until the Barter Convention commenced. Yet, even now, Divine Abyss Immortal City had already gathered several thousand Earth Immortal Patriarch.

The number of Immortal from the Ascendant Immortal Realm was even more staggering, exceeding one hundred thousand, while cultivators below the Primordial Spirit realm were truly beyond count.

"What a magnificent immortal city," Exquisite Jiang could not help but exclaim upon seeing this spectacle. "If one owned a shop here, selling just about anything could likely sustain an entire Earth Immortal Blessed Land."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Since embarking on his cultivation path, Eldrin Chen had witnessed countless marketplaces.

In his memory, cultivators were always a rare sight; often, an entire day would pass in a marketplace without a single person appearing.

In marketplaces catering to the immortal rank and above, some shops might not make a single sale for centuries.

Eldrin Chen had also established a marketplace within the Returning Abyss Sea Region, yet Immortal were still a rare sight within it.

Although the Immortal Alliance now boasted over two hundred Immortal, these immortals would often enter seclusion for centuries or even millennia at a time. It was common for thousands of years to pass without a single one visiting the marketplace.

Consequently, within the Returning Abyss Immortal Market, an Immortal might arrive only once every few years, or even once every dozen years. On ordinary days, the figure of an immortal was simply nowhere to be seen.

Only the shops dealing in Golden Core and Infant Soul Realm business could truly be described as bustling with a constant, unending stream of people.

The sheer number of Earth Immortal and Immortal cultivators within the current Divine Abyss Immortal City was beyond counting, a reality that far exceeded Eldrin Chen's expectations.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen couldn't help but ask, "After the Great Tribulation, didn't seven or eight out of every ten Immortal in the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea perish in the calamity? How can there still be so many?"

"Most are from the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven,"

Heaven Abyss Path Master replied, a note of envy in his voice. "A single Supreme Grotto-Heaven can shelter at least one hundred thousand Immortal from the tribulation's grasp."

"It is said that within this Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven reside over a million Immortal—all of them ancient beings who have lived for millions, even tens of millions of years."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a tremor of awe deep within his heart.

A single Grotto-Heaven could shelter over a million Immortal. These ancient beings had cultivated for millions, even tens of millions of years.

Even if they had avoided the tribulations and their progress was slow, after tens of millions of years of cultivation, even a pig would have reached the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier.

"Over a million cultivators at the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier..."

Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath. By that reckoning, did it not mean that the power of a single Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven alone surpassed that of the countless Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] born across the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea?

He made a rough estimate. Setting aside the Blessed Land [realms of concentrated spiritual energy and fortune], the strength of this Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a vast, self-contained realm of profound spiritual energy] truly seemed capable of exceeding the total number of Immortal cultivated over a million years within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

"It appears these Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land [the most profound and powerful spiritual realms] are the true foundational pillars within each Immortal Domain [a region governed by immortal powers]," he mused.

"In contrast, low-level rogue cultivator Immortal face a tribulation every million years; most do not survive to see a second."

"Only by breaking through to Earth Immortal [a realm where one's spirit fuses with a personal world] and relying on the shelter of an Earth Immortal World [a personal world created by an Earth Immortal] can one secure peace for ten million years."

Eldrin Chen sighed, a wave of profound reflection washing over him.

Dismissing further contemplation, he gazed at the immortal city and said, "Since the Barter Convention [a grand gathering for trade and exchange among cultivators] is still some time away, let us first explore this Divine Abyss Immortal City."

With that, the group began their tour of the Divine Abyss Immortal City.

The Divine Abyss Immortal City was vast beyond measure, a place where one could procure the vast majority of immortal-grade treasures and rarities.

Rarely did Eldrin Chen indulge in such leisurely wandering. He had not strolled through the Divine Abyss Immortal City for long when his brow twitched subtly, and his steps came to an abrupt halt.

Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but ask with surprise, "Husband, what is the matter?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. With a flick of his sleeve, a simple, ancient-looking verdant leaf Immortal Sword flew out.

As soon as the verdant leaf Immortal Sword appeared, it emitted a faint, wondrous light and began to fly towards the distance.