Chapter 1439 : The Gathering Storm of Immortals

Understanding this, Eldrin Chen felt his heart grow ever more solemn.

He looked towards the direction of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea and spoke, "Before the Dao Tribulation [the ultimate heavenly trial for cultivators], we must at least possess strength sufficient to contend with a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very cusp of ascending to true immortality]."

"Otherwise, the Half-Step Celestial Immortal of the various Great Dao [the supreme cultivation lineages] will likely not hesitate to eliminate us first."

Lyra Jiang also nodded slightly before speaking, "Let us first return to the clan to see. If all is well there, we shall then make our journey to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and led the group towards the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea.

After departing the Western Geng Supreme Profound Mountain Range, the group flew at their full speed without restraint. Utilizing the power of the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a mystical artifact that manipulates the boundaries between yin and yang], they returned to the Abyssal Sea Region before long.

Upon returning to the clan, Eldrin Chen went directly to find Kael Chen, Qiyuan Chen, and Ethan Chen, who were guarding the family seat, and inquired, "We have been away for many years this time. Has anything of import occurred within the clan?"

"No major events, but in recent years, a few new Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have partially transcended the mortal realm but not yet fully ascended] have emerged."

Kael Chen spoke calmly, informing him of the clan's recent circumstances. Join our community of readers at audio-novel.com.

As Kael Chen recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen swiftly grasped the changes that had befallen their clan.

Over these tens of thousands of years, the clan had welcomed more than thirty newly ascended Immortal [cultivators who have achieved immortality]. The number of Immortal within the Chen Immortal Clan alone had surpassed two hundred.

Furthermore, the earliest batch of Immortal from both the clan and the Immortal Alliance had largely digested the gains from the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial]. Most had already broken through to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [a transitional state just below the Earth Immortal realm].

As for those in the true Earth Immortal Realm [a realm of profound power and longevity], no new members had emerged within the clan, nor had any appeared within the Immortal Alliance itself.

Eldrin Chen understood the reason well. Aside from the three islands of Six Stars, Refining Void, and Violet Feather, the other Immortal within the Alliance were mostly newly ascended within the last two hundred thousand years.

Although their harvests from the last Great Tribulation rivaled those of an Immortal who had weathered four such calamities, breaking through to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm was likely their limit.

To advance further would require not only serendipitous fortune [a fortunate coincidence or opportunity] but also sufficient time for tempering and refinement.

By Eldrin Chen's estimation, unless heaven-sent fortune descended upon them, it would be exceedingly difficult for this generation of Immortal to break through to Earth Immortal before the opening of the Dao Tribulation [a tribulation related to comprehending the Dao, or fundamental truth].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "My journey to the Western Pole Celestial Domain fulfilled the deepest wish of my heart, yet in doing so, I have become entangled with a Karmic Burden [a metaphysical debt or entanglement resulting from one's actions].

"Now, I intend to travel to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea to slay Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use malevolent, often soul-devouring methods] and accumulate the power of Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds]. The defense of the clan must still rely upon you all."

"To the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea?"

Kael Chen was momentarily taken aback, then spoke: "In recent years, I have grown restless from prolonged stillness and was preparing to journey to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea. I did not expect you would also wish to go."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of surprise in his brow, mingled with a dawning understanding.

Kael Chen cultivated the Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path] of the Buddhist, Daoist, and Demonic paths simultaneously, forging a supreme cultivation physique centered on the Demonic Path [the unorthodox path of demonic cultivation]. This path naturally accrued immense Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of negative karma and sin].

Even now, Kael Chen was already shrouded in a palpable aura of karmic baleful energy [sinful, destructive energy born from negative karma].

To prevent this karmic baleful energy from growing too potent and overwhelming his own Merit's Pure Radiance [the luminous aura formed from accumulated virtuous merit], Kael Chen had a greater need than most to gather and solidify this Merit's Pure Radiance.

Grasping this point, Eldrin Chen pondered and said, "We have many enemies now. The clan must retain at least three combatants of Earth Immortal Sixth Layer [the sixth stage of the Earth Immortal realm] strength, supported by the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand defensive formation based on the celestial stars], to withstand any assault from the Demonic Tribe [a powerful faction of demonic beings]."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

Lyra Jiang contemplated briefly before speaking. "Ancestor Eastern Sovereign also primarily walks the path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation art focused on refining and sanctifying the physical body]. He, too, should gather some Merit's Pure Radiance as a precaution."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, "Very well. Let Lila and Violet Consort remain, with Ethan to guard the clan."

"The rest of you shall accompany us on a journey to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea."

Once the personnel were decided, Eldrin Chen wasted no time.

That very night, a party of six departed from the Abyssal Sea Region, venturing deep into the boundless heavens and earth.

Along the way, Eldrin Chen handed the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword to Kael Chen and inquired, "Are you confident you can refine and master this blade?"

Kael Chen's eyes flickered. He then replied, "Its demonic nature is potent, but with great resolve to suppress it, it can be subdued and refined." Read the full novel exclusively on site: audio-novel.com.

"Then it is entrusted to you."

With those words, Eldrin Chen gave the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword to Kael Chen.

Receiving a top-grade Heaven-Demon Slaying Sword, Kael Chen did not refuse. He simply stated, "Let it be exchanged for Merit Points. What I owe you, I shall repay."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen nodded, understanding that this clan brother of his was a man of unwavering Dao Heart [the resolute and focused will of a cultivator].

A top-grade World Creation Demonic Treasure [an artifact of immense power, often forged with demonic or chaotic energies] was worth Valerius Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. Even though Kael Chen had now broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm [a profound stage of cultivation where one becomes an immortal tied to the earthly plane], repaying this karmic debt would likely not be easy.

Knowing this clan brother's character, Eldrin Chen surmised that Kael Chen would soon embark on a journey across the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, perhaps even venturing beyond its borders to seek out perilous opportunities and fortunes.

This would be his way of settling the debt for this sword, as well as the earlier karma incurred from the support for his World-Opening Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root that grants the potential for world-shattering power].

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen sighed inwardly but simply nodded and said, "Items from Demonic Cultivators [cultivators who follow a path of demonic or unorthodox arts] hold little use for us who walk the righteous Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] path."

"Let its value be calculated in Merit Points [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and karma], and then halved."

Kael Chen offered no further words. Instead, he channeled his World-Opening Power [a divine ability capable of cleaving through primordial chaos], beginning the arduous process of refining and mastering this peerless Heaven-Demon [a powerful class of celestial demons] sword.

Thus, time flowed on, and several decades passed in the blink of an eye.

After traversing the vast expanse of the Boundless Sea Region, they finally arrived at the outskirts of Divine Abyss Immortal City.

"We must proceed with caution into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea. Remember, under no circumstances should our true identities be revealed."

With a glance towards Divine Abyss Immortal City [a legendary city within the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven], Eldrin Chen spoke up in a measured tone to remind the others.

Hearing his words, everyone nodded in agreement. They each employed secret arts to veil their auras and conceal their true identities.

Seeing this was done, Eldrin Chen led the group onto Divine Abyss Immortal City and then made their way into the premises of Divine Abyss Pavilion [a prominent trading establishment within the city].

After locating a shop steward, Eldrin Chen inquired, "Might I ask if your esteemed pavilion sells maps of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a vast and perilous sea within the Nether Abyss]?"

"Maps of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea?"

The steward's eyes flickered with interest, and he smiled. "Of course we do. However, we offer three distinct grades. Which one might you be seeking?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened slightly as he asked, "What are the differences?"

The steward gave a light smile and explained, "The first is merely a general topographic chart of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea. Its price is a mere one hundred Immortal Source [a high-grade energy crystal used by Immortals]."

"The second," he continued, "is a meticulously detailed map, painstakingly compiled over ten million years by my Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven. We dispatched tens of thousands of Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] to infiltrate the region for this purpose."

"This map is updated every one million years and marks the locations of all major Grotto-Heaven [self-contained pocket realms of immense spiritual density] and Blessed Land [regions of exceptional natural fortune and spiritual energy] within. The price for one copy is ten thousand Immortal Source."

"The final document builds upon the second, providing a detailed record of the strengths of the various Blessed Land [a realm of exceptional spiritual energy and natural treasures, often governed by powerful cultivators], specifying down to the exact number of Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has transcended mortality and achieved a profound connection with the world's essence, a master of earthly powers] each possesses."

"Furthermore, this chart is updated every ten thousand years. Barring a few Blessed Land [realms of exceptional spiritual energy and natural treasures, often governed by powerful cultivators] that are exceptionally well-hidden, or the emergence of Newly Advanced Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has recently transcended mortality and achieved a profound connection with the world's essence, a master of earthly powers] within that ten-thousand-year span, its information is virtually guaranteed to be accurate."

At this point, the steward smiled and added, "To maintain and update this chart, our organization expends vast resources and manpower each year, even sacrificing not a few Immortal [beings who have ascended beyond the mortal coil, possessing immense power and longevity]. Therefore, its value is exceedingly high." Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel dot com.