Chapter 1443 : A Forbidden Path Through Shadows

Of course, the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea is a place of extreme peril, yet it also holds immense opportunity.

Ordinary Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the celestial realm] and Earth Immortal [a powerful terrestrial immortal] are not true Heaven Immortal [a celestial being of the highest order]. As long as they use a special method to conceal their Merit's Pure Radiance [the luminous aura of accumulated virtuous deeds] and sneak in through a particular passage, they can avoid attracting the attention of the fallen Heavenly Dao Will [the corrupted will of the Heavenly Way].

That path lies between the realms of Yin-Yang [the opposing forces of dark and light, passive and active], a supremely unique and forbidden land that exists within a blind spot of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea's perception.

However, this forbidden land is fraught with extreme danger; even an Earth Immortal Progenitor [a founding-level Earth Immortal of immense power] who steps within often faces the peril of utter annihilation.

Therefore, most Immortal and Earth Immortal who venture there typically form teams to travel together, thus greatly increasing their chances of successfully traversing the forbidden zone.

If Eldrin Chen and his five companions were to attempt that perilous place alone, the risk would simply be too great.

More importantly, the Demon-Slaying Hall possesses a unique esoteric method for concealing one's Merit's Pure Radiance, which is the key to their safe entry into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea.

Understanding this, Eldrin Chen resolved to make the journey to the Demon-Slaying Hall.

Once the decision to go to the Demon-Slaying Hall was made, the group secluded themselves on the desolate island for three months of cultivation. When the appointed date arrived, they made their way to the Demon-Slaying Hall.

This Demon-Slaying Hall was situated on an Immortal Island [an island suffused with immortal energy] just outside the Divine Abyss Immortal City. When Eldrin Chen arrived, he found that the Grand Hall was already filled with a considerable number of Immortal. Published by (audio-novel.com). All rights reserved.

Among them, there were roughly over eight hundred Immortals [powerful beings who have transcended mortality and ascended to a higher state of existence], along with more than twenty Earth Immortal Progenitors [ancient cultivators who have attained the profound Earth Immortal realm, becoming progenitors of their lineages].

These Immortals were all beings at the Late Stage Ascendant Immortal Realm [the final stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm, just before the Earth Immortal breakthrough]. The cultivation of the Earth Immortals [cultivators who have merged their being with the earth's spiritual veins, achieving immense power and longevity] was mostly at the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the intermediate phase of the Earth Immortal realm]. Conversely, those at the Early Stage Earth Immortal [the initial phase of the Earth Immortal realm] were not many.

After observing for a brief moment, Lyra Jiang, who stood beside him, transmitted her voice [a method of private communication using spiritual energy]. "The majority are those who primarily follow the path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation art focused on refining the physical body to an indestructible, divine state], or individuals of a fierce and combative nature."

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly, having anticipated this outcome long ago.

Within the world, there are numerous methods to obtain the Merit's Pure Radiance [a luminous aura of pure virtue and good karma accumulated through righteous deeds]. For instance, suppressing volcanic Earth Veins [the spiritual energy channels that flow through the earth, akin to ley lines], balancing the World's Primordial Qi [the fundamental, primordial energy that constitutes and sustains the world], or sheltering and protecting countless living beings—all can grant the power of merit [good karma].

These methods yield merit slowly, but their advantage lies in their long-term stability and relative lack of great danger.

Ordinary Immortals who primarily cultivate the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles and rules that govern reality and cultivation] and the Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path, representing profound enlightenment and power] do not have such immense demands for the resources of heaven and earth. As long as they refrain from slaying those who possess great merit, they rarely find themselves needing to reach the point of condensing the Merit's Pure Radiance.

It is only those of an overbearing temperament, who disregard face and slay individuals of great merit, or practitioners of Fleshly Body Sanctification who require the refinement of Heaven and Earth Spirit Veins [the most potent spiritual energy channels that connect the heavens and the earth], who find it necessary to venture into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a vast, hellish sea realm infested with demons] to slay Demonic Cultivators [cultivators who follow a dark, demonic path, often sacrificing others for power].

Among the several thousand individuals present now, most bore a significant amount of Karmic Malignancy Power [a dark, corrosive power born from committing evil deeds and accumulating negative karma]. For many, this Karmic Malignancy Power even faintly surpassed their Merit's Pure Radiance, which was precisely why they had decided to make this journey into the demonic realm.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen spoke up, "This place is a den of mixed company, many here are those of great killing intent. We must remain cautious."

"Remember to conceal your auras, do not reveal your identities."

Hearing his words, everyone nodded slightly, quietly awaiting the arrival of the one in charge.

As time flowed on, the number of Immortal [powerful cultivators who have transcended mortality] within the Demon-Slaying Hall grew ever larger. Unnoticed, their count had surpassed one thousand, with nearly thirty additional Earth Immortal Progenitor [progenitors who have attained the Earth Immortal realm, a higher state of being] having arrived.

Including Eldrin Chen and his five companions, the number of Earth Immortal [cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] even exceeded forty.

Ordinary Immortal did not catch Eldrin Chen's eye, but the strength of these Earth Immortal was not to be underestimated.

Their cultivation bases were essentially all at the Middle Stage Earth Immortal level or above, with even nine existences at the Late Stage Earth Immortal level. Among them, four individuals drew Eldrin Chen's particular attention.

They were: a Black-Robed Elder, a valiant man clad in five-colored Glazed Armor [armor forged from mystical, multi-hued glaze], a woman of peerless beauty dressed in light gauze, and a Daoist priest draped in Purple Ribbon Immortal Robes.

Among these few, the aura of the Black-Robed Elder was unfathomably deep, yet his identity was concealed. Even Eldrin Chen found it somewhat difficult to discern his origins.

However, this person gave Eldrin Chen an immense sense of threat. Therefore, Eldrin Chen estimated this person's cultivation level to be extremely high, at the very least an existence at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] level.

The valiant man, Eldrin Chen, had heard some whispers. This man was known as the 'Broken Cauldron True Lord'. It was said he was an Earth Immortal Nine Layers who had opened the Seventh Heaven [the seventh of the nine foundational heavens within a cultivator's dantian]. His strength was considered formidable even among those at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm].

The beautiful woman was also unknown to Eldrin Chen. She appeared delicate and frail, yet she exuded an immensely powerful Baleful Qi [a malevolent and destructive form of spiritual energy]. Clearly, the aura of Karmic Malignancy [the negative karma accrued from evil deeds] had already overshadowed the power of her virtuous merit, marking her as someone not to be trifled with.

The man clad in the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robes was none other than the legendary Zixuan the Daoist.

Within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea, those who could hope to possess the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robes were the most supreme Earth Immortal Progenitor [an Earth Immortal who has founded a lineage or sect]. This was the most esteemed of celestial garments, a symbol of an exceptionally noble status.

Eldrin Chen himself possessed one, a garment the Celestial Court [the heavenly bureaucracy governing the immortal realms] had exceptionally bestowed upon him, recognizing his Great Luo Potential [the potential to ascend to the highest immortal realm].

Zixuan the Daoist was equally extraordinary. Not only had his cultivation reached the Earth Immortal Nine Layers, but he had also opened the Eighth Heaven [the eighth foundational heaven], granting him great hope of one day breaking through to the Heaven Immortal Realm. Discover more cultivation stories at audio–novel.com.

"Zixuan the Daoist,"

Gazing at Zixuan the Daoist, Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his expression turning profoundly grave.

The higher one ascended among Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality], the smaller the gap in their Deep-Seated Foundation [the fundamental quality and depth of one's cultivation base] tended to become. Consequently, the disparity between minor realms grew ever more vast. By the time one reached the Late Stage Earth Immortal, the ability to challenge and defeat an opponent from a higher minor realm became exceedingly rare.

Generally speaking, an ordinary Eighth Level Earth Immortal possessed combat power roughly equivalent to one and a half Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

Even the weakest cultivator at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] could single-handedly contend against two Eighth Level Earth Immortal [Earth Immortals at the eighth level of cultivation] or withstand the combined assault of four Seventh Level Earth Immortal [Earth Immortals at the seventh level of cultivation].

Furthermore, an Earth Immortal Great Perfection who has opened the Eighth Heaven [the eighth foundational heaven within their dantian] stands on a plane far beyond that of any ordinary practitioner at the same pinnacle stage.

Such an existence has cultivated three types of Heaven-Opening Foundation [foundational cultivation arts that open the heavens within the dantian], their power undergoing a qualitative transformation compared to an Earth Immortal Great Perfection who has only mastered two.

Generally speaking, even if two or three ordinary Earth Immortal Great Perfection joined forces, they might still fail to overcome a single Earth Immortal Great Perfection who has opened the Eighth Heaven.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, Zixuan the Daoist alone would be sufficient to withstand the siege of over a dozen Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

Although there are currently a full forty Ancient Ancestor [venerable, long-lived cultivators] within the Demon-Slaying Hall whose cultivation is at the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the middle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] or higher.

Eldrin Chen estimates that if the three Earth Immortal Great Perfection—namely the Black-Robed Elder, the Broken Cauldron True Lord, and the woman in the black dress—do not take action.

Then the remaining thirty-plus cultivators launching a joint assault would likely still be unable to defeat Zixuan the Daoist.

"The disparity is far too great," he mused. "No wonder the steward from the Divine Abyss Pavilion mentioned this matter and stated outright that Zixuan the Daoist would be leading the team."

"The fact that so many Immortal [true Immortals] and Earth Immortal have gathered here today shows that Zixuan the Daoist's reputation is the true key."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his gaze meeting that of Lyra Jiang and the others.

Though the six of them were all prodigies of heaven-defying talent, their cultivation was ultimately still too low. Even combined, their strength was only comparable to a single Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm].

Moreover, their defensive capabilities were insufficient. Without an equivalent force to withstand the main pressure, they risked being picked off one by one by an Earth Immortal Great Perfection.

Under such circumstances, facing an opponent like Zixuan the Daoist would leave them utterly powerless to resist. Fleeing would be their only option; a direct confrontation would be impossible.

"If I cannot even contend with Zixuan the Daoist, then the far stronger Lord of the Flowing Fire Star Palace [the ruler of the celestial palace associated with flowing fire and stars] is completely beyond my reach." This chapter is provided by audio—novel.com. Support the original.