Chapter 1409 : Unlocking the Roots of Immortality

For the remaining eleven spiritual roots, Eldrin Chen expended eleven strands of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the supreme primordial energy of creation] and World-Opening Energy [the foundational energy used to shape new worlds], unlocking the shackles on each of them one by one.

Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and Nyssa Qu also each selected their full quota of Spiritual Root [a foundational spiritual plant that anchors and nourishes a cultivator's inner world] and planted them within their respective Earth Immortal World [the nascent inner world cultivated within an Earth Immortal].

Subsequently, Eldrin Chen consumed thirty-one more strands of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura and World-Opening Energy to unlock the shackles on the spiritual roots they had planted.

With this step completed, Eldrin Chen smiled and declared, "This matter is concluded for now. From here, we need only cultivate in peace. Within three or four hundred thousand years, we should all be able to advance to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the intermediate level of the Earth Immortal cultivation stage]."

Hearing his words, the women also settled their minds, their resolve firming.

With the aid of the World-Opening Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root that significantly accelerates cultivation within an Earth Immortal's inner world], their cultivation speed would increase dramatically, bringing them a measure of reassurance.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen divided his time between secluded cultivation and refining his various Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts bound to a cultivator's soul].

Thus, ten thousand years slipped by in the blink of an eye. One by one, his five Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [spiritual treasures intimately connected to a cultivator's life force and cultivation base] ascended to the realm of mid-grade World-Opening Spiritual Treasure.

Time flowed onward once more, and another thirty thousand years passed.

Then, on this day, Eldrin Chen sensed a change within his Earth Immortal World. His eyes, which had been closed in deep meditation, opened with a focused and solemn gleam.

"Thirteen Worldly Spiritual Root [a spiritual root that can evolve into a world-opening grade treasure], they have finally advanced."

After forty thousand years of continuous nurturing within the world Eldrin Chen had created, all thirteen World-Opening Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root capable of producing world-opening treasures] had fully ascended to the World-Opening Spiritual Root [the highest grade of spiritual root] realm.

At this thought, a faint smile finally touched Eldrin Chen's lips.

"Now, let me see if these Spiritual Root [a plant that produces spiritual treasures] truly possess the profound wonders they are said to hold."

With a slight stir of his mind, Eldrin Chen stepped into the Earth Immortal World [a pocket dimension created and sustained by an Earth Immortal cultivator].

Upon entering the Earth Immortal World, his divine sense swept over the various Spiritual Root. He observed the Primordial Solar Ancient Sword Tree [an ancient tree whose branches are like swords, imbued with solar essence] emitting a resonant sword hum, a powerful sword energy faintly radiating from it.

The Stellar Fruit Tree [a tree that bears fruits resembling stars] bore three thousand great stars; the Gale Wind Ancient Gourd [an ancient gourd that contains and controls gale-force winds] bloomed with dazzling Immortal Radiance [a luminous aura characteristic of immortal-grade objects]; the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo [a bamboo that channels heavenly thunder] shed a section of Purple Lightning Thunder Bamboo [a rare bamboo segment imbued with purple lightning and thunder essence]; the Northern Dark Cold Mist Tree [a tree from the northern dark regions that emanates a cold mist] was laden with frosty veils of cold air.

These were all World-Opening Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade, capable of aiding in world creation] materials and World-Opening [the realm of cultivators who can create their own worlds] immortal ingredients. Eldrin Chen only collected the Purple Lightning Thunder Bamboo, leaving the rest untouched.

For these treasures were still in the process of nurturing and gestation. To harvest them now would be premature and diminish their potential. It was better to wait until they had fully matured and naturally detached before claiming them.

Beyond these treasures, the Frost Soul Immortal Pear Tree [an immortal pear tree bearing fruits that contain frost soul essence], the Fire Jade Immortal Marrow Tree [a tree whose marrow is like fiery jade, an immortal-grade material], the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree [an ancient tea tree whose leaves can induce states of enlightenment], the Immortal Peach Ancient Tree [an ancient tree bearing immortal peaches that grant longevity], the Thalion Ancient Tree, the Two Polarities Celestial Light Tree [a tree that emanates light embodying the duality of yin and yang], and the Void Heaven Wood [a rare wood that seems to exist between void and heaven] had also borne fruit.

Eldrin Chen did not immediately pluck the fruit. Instead, he retrieved a single Void Heaven Mystic Fruit [a legendary fruit born from the highest grade of spiritual root, said to grant profound insights into the mysteries of space], his eyes gleaming with a flicker of desire.

As a fruit born from the most supreme grade of Spiritual Root [the foundational spiritual vein that determines a cultivator's innate talent and affinity], the wondrous effects of the Void Heaven Mystic Fruit were second only to those of the Ancient Reincarnation Tree [a mythical tree whose fruit is said to contain the secrets of past lives and profound enlightenment].

Eldrin Chen was deeply curious about its mystical properties and felt a strong urge to comprehend its secrets.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen wasted no time. He handed the Fire Jade Immortal Marrow [a fiery, jade-like essence of immense spiritual potency] and the Frost Soul Immortal Pear [a pear imbued with frost-attribute spiritual energy, beneficial for soul cultivation] to Violet Consort Yan and Lila, then returned to his cultivation cave. There, he took out the Void Heaven Mystic Fruit and began refining it.

This Void Heaven Mystic Fruit contained boundless power of the Void Space Rule [the fundamental law governing the fabric of space and void]. An ordinary Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] might find its mysteries abstruse and difficult to grasp.

However, Eldrin Chen had spent millennia contemplating the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure capable of manipulating the polarity of void and space], gaining a significant understanding of the Path Principles [the fundamental truths and laws that underpin all cultivation arts and the universe itself] related to the void. Therefore, his comprehension proceeded with relative smoothness.

After merely three thousand years, Eldrin Chen successfully comprehended the power of the Void Space Rule.

Eldrin Chen tested his newfound power. He discovered that by channeling the Void Space Rule to empower the Polarity Void Mirror, the mirror's efficacy instantly doubled.

"With the Void Space Rule empowering this Polarity Void Mirror," he mused, "even an ordinary Void Spiritual Treasure [a high-grade magical treasure specializing in spatial manipulation] of the Eighth Rank High-Grade [a classification denoting the peak power level for such treasures] would find it exceedingly difficult to trap me completely."

"Moreover, my current perception and sensitivity to spatial fluctuations are now on an entirely different level."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a flicker of amusement dancing in his gaze.

After comprehending the Spatial Law [the fundamental principles governing space and dimension], Eldrin Chen's perception of spatial forces was no longer what it once was.

He had a distinct sense that even if someone attempted to conceal themselves within the void by activating a Spatial Supreme Treasure [a peerless artifact capable of manipulating space], they would likely fail to escape his detection.

With this capability, the likelihood of Eldrin Chen being ambushed or ensnared by hidden schemes in the future would be greatly diminished.

"Now, to refine the other World-Opening [a realm signifying the power to create or shape worlds] Immortal Fruits."

Contemplating the wondrous effects of this fruit, a surge of quiet excitement stirred within Eldrin Chen's heart.

Yet, just as Eldrin Chen was about to begin the refinement process, he noticed Exquisite Jiang pushing open the door to his Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for undisturbed meditation and cultivation] and stepping out, her expression markedly grave.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen's own expression tightened slightly.

It was well understood that during his closed-door cultivation, Exquisite Jiang would not normally disturb him directly.

For her to personally enter his Seclusion Chamber now, while partly because she had sensed his emergence from deep cultivation, suggested a far greater reason: a major event must have occurred within the clan.

Thinking of this, a shadow of concern crossed Eldrin Chen's face as he asked, "What is the matter?"

Exquisite Jiang's expression was grim, her tone heavy with gravity. "If you had not emerged from seclusion soon," she said, "the Immortal Alliance would likely have fallen into complete disarray."

As Exquisite Jiang recounted the events in detail, Eldrin Chen gradually understood the cause of her distress.

It turned out that not long ago, three Earth Immortal Patriarch [powerful cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] from the Great Wasteland Celestial Crocodile Clan had infiltrated the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas region.

They concealed themselves within the Lingering Sun Sea Region and the Returning Abyss Sea Region, launching ambushes against Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] and other cultivators belonging to both the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance and the forces of the Lingering Sun Sea Region.

The shameless, surprise attacks by three Earth Immortal Patriarch proved devastatingly effective. In a frighteningly short span of time, more than a dozen Immortal had already fallen to their blades.

The successive deaths of so many Immortal cast a pall of fear over the Returning Abyss Sea Region, to the point where its Immortal dared not even venture beyond their own gates.

During this period, Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, and others had joined forces with several other Earth Immortal Patriarch, intending to march out and confront the Celestial Crocodile [a powerful, ancient species of demonic beast] clan in open battle.

However, the Celestial Crocodile Clan had, from some unknown source, acquired a Low-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a powerful artifact capable of manipulating space] imbued with Spatial Attribute [the property of governing space and dimensions] powers.

Wielding this artifact, they fought when they had the advantage and vanished into the void when they did not. This tactic had thrown the entire Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance into utter chaos, leaving them frustrated and helpless.

"That Patriarch of Celestial Crocodile Clan is, after all, a top-tier Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to the mortal world] at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal realm. How could he be so utterly shameless?"

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, but after a moment, it relaxed once more.

Back then, when he was at the Earth Immortal realm and ambushed that Eight Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] from the Celestial Crocodile Clan, he was essentially the stronger party bullying the weaker.

Now, the Celestial Crocodile Clan was repaying him in kind; he could hardly blame them for that. Thinking this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Since the Celestial Crocodile Clan has broken the rules, then in the end, we must still settle this with a contest of strength."

"Instruct the cultivators within the Immortal Alliance to refrain from venturing out for now. After we have faced the Celestial Crocodile Clan, we will reassess the situation."

Exquisite Jiang nodded and then asked, "What do you plan to do?"

"There is no need for haste."

Eldrin Chen shook his head. "For now, our enemy lurks in the shadows while we stand in the light. Acting rashly would likely play right into their schemes."

"It is better to wait. Let us advance our own strength further before making a move."

Exquisite Jiang inclined her head in agreement. "In recent years, Lila and Violet Consort refined the Eighth Rank Path Source [a source of profound, eighth-rank cultivation energy], and also absorbed the Fire Jade Immortal Marrow [a marrow-like essence of fire and jade that enhances a cultivator's foundation] and the Frost Soul Immortal Pear [a pear imbued with frost-attribute soul energy]. Their foundational cultivation has been greatly enhanced."

"Now, they have completely mended their foundations and have cultivated three types of World-Opening Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path, signifying the completion of a foundational stage]."

"Next, it is time for them to break through to the World-Opening Realm [the foundational realm where a cultivator begins to forge their own unique path]."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and then spoke, "I still have a few Spirit Fruit [fruits imbued with potent spiritual energy, used to enhance cultivation] in my possession. Consuming one or two could further augment our capabilities."