Chapter 1444 : Through the Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone

"After this matter concludes, we must swiftly gather resources to break through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the fourth major stage of Earth Immortal cultivation] as soon as possible,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his expression turning grave and contemplative.

Though this thought occupied his mind, he understood well that cultivation was a gradual process. Once one reached the higher realms, achieving rapid, explosive progress became exceedingly difficult.

Dismissing these musings, he listened as Zixuan the Daoist spoke from the center of the Grand Hall: "Now that everyone is assembled, I shall outline the details of our venture."

"Our journey to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea will take us through the Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone. That place is fraught with peril. Should we inadvertently encounter a Crow Tide [a massive, destructive swarm of demonic crows], even a cultivator at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the peak of the Earth Immortal realm] would face the risk of perishing. If any wish to withdraw, now is the time."

Upon hearing this, the assembled cultivators remained silent. Not a single person chose to withdraw at this moment.

Having come here with the intent to battle Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use malevolent, often soul-consuming methods] and condense the Merit's Pure Radiance [a luminous aura formed from accumulated virtuous deeds and karma], they had long been prepared for such dangers. Those truly fearful would likely not have come in the first place.

Seeing no objections from the group, Zixuan the Daoist continued, "Since there are no dissenting voices, I shall proceed with the briefing."

"We shall traverse the Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone aboard the Heaven-Fleeing Ancient Ship [an ancient, sky-faring vessel of immense size and power]. At that time, it will be imperative for all to work in unison. Should anyone attempt to flee mid-journey or sow discord that shakes the group's resolve, do not blame me for showing no mercy."

Having said this and observing the resolute silence of the assembly, Zixuan the Daoist gave a slight, approving nod. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel*com.

With a faint smile, he stroked his long beard and declared, "The passage fare is one thousand Immortal Source per person, though those of the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of Earth Immortals, beings who have transcended mortality and attained a profound connection with the world] are exempt."

"Furthermore, to enter the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a perilous sea of the underworld, filled with purgatorial energies], one must use a secret art to suppress one's own Merit's Pure Radiance [the luminous aura generated by accumulated virtuous deeds and karma]."

"I possess a scroll of such a secret art and a light-condensing secret treasure. Should any of you desire them, you may purchase them."

As he spoke, Zixuan the Daoist flicked his sleeve, releasing two types of treasures.

Eldrin Chen glanced at them. Among the two treasures, one was a secret treasure called the Light-Condensing Jade [a jade artifact designed to gather and contain light or specific energies].

This treasure could suppress the power of Merit's Pure Radiance, though its effect lasted only ten thousand years. Its value was approximately one thousand Immortal Source.

The secret art was the 'Heaven-Deceiving Secret Art' [a clandestine technique capable of concealing one's true nature from heavenly observation]. This technique could not only suppress Merit's Pure Radiance but also restrain Karmic Malignancy Power [the corrosive power of negative karma], and could even conceal one's cultivation base and aura. It was an exceedingly rare esoteric method.

Compared to the Light-Condensing Jade, the price of this art was considerably higher, requiring ten thousand Immortal Source to purchase a single scroll.

Of course, the high price had its reason. Zixuan the Daoist had infused his own insights into the Heaven-Deceiving Secret Art into the scroll. An ordinary Earth Immortal Progenitor [a powerful Earth Immortal who has founded a lineage] could master it swiftly with but a little contemplation.

For Eldrin Chen, ten thousand Immortal Source was not an exorbitant sum. He purchased six copies in one breath and handed them to Lyra Jiang and the others.

However, ordinary Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to immortality] could not bear such an expense. They merely spent a thousand Immortal Source [a high-purity spiritual energy source used by immortals] to purchase a single Light-Condensing Jade [a jade artifact that gathers and focuses ambient light energy].

The combined cost of a passage ticket and one Light-Condensing Jade amounted to a full two thousand Immortal Source, a price sufficient to acquire two High Grade Immortal Treasure [a top-tier magical artifact forged by immortals].

This price was exorbitantly high, beyond the means of over seventy percent of Immortal. The more than one thousand Immortal present were all beings of the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm [the final stage before achieving true immortality], and most were top-tier Immortal with extraordinary abilities and formidable killing intent.

Yet even so, parting with two thousand Immortal Source in one go had left the majority of the Immortal present financially drained, their resources severely depleted.

Once the passage tickets and the secret jade Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] were all traded, Zixuan the Daoist could not help but reveal a faint smile.

This sale of the secret technique and passage tickets had netted a total profit of over two million Immortal Source, a sum whose value was enough to purchase two High Grade Heaven-Opening Treasure [a legendary treasure said to possess the power to cleave the heavens].

To obtain such resources as a mere side venture, without incurring any Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect from one's actions], was considered a rather favorable transaction for Zixuan the Daoist.

The sole concern was the peril inherent in journeying to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a legendary and dangerous sea in the netherworld]. Even Zixuan the Daoist dared not guarantee myself a safe return.

Yet, given his current strength, if he focused solely on fleeing from danger, unless a Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme immortal of the heavenly realm] intervened, even an ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [an immortal halfway to achieving celestial status] would find it exceedingly difficult to slay him.

"Yet, of these Immortal, I wonder how many will ultimately achieve their desires and return?"

Zixuan the Daoist murmured inwardly, then ultimately shook his head.

Historically, of the Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to the highest realm] who ventured into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a perilous sea of purgatory in the netherworld], fewer than half ever returned alive.

With this thought, Zixuan the Daoist said no more. He simply flicked his sleeve and declared, "Since everyone is assembled, let us depart immediately."

As his words fell, Zixuan the Daoist led the group onward, arriving upon a magnificent Ancient Vessel [an ancient, magically-powered ship].

The Heaven-Fleeing Ancient Ship [an ancient vessel capable of fleeing even the heavens] was an Eighth Rank High Grade [a treasure of the eighth rank, high grade, denoting immense power] Ancient Vessel. It was forged from the Dragon Bone [bones of a true dragon] of a supreme Heaven-Opening Ancient Beast [a primordial beast of legend]. When propelled by Zixuan the Daoist, it could even withstand attacks from a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a being half-ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm].

The group boarded the Heaven-Fleeing Ancient Ship, and without delay, Zixuan the Daoist activated the Ancient Vessel, steering it towards the Netherworld [the realm of the dead and darkness]. The story continues at audio-novel[dot]com.

Soon, the Ancient Vessel traversed boundless realms, arriving at the border between Yin-Yang [the fundamental opposing forces of darkness/passivity and light/activity].

They journeyed for a long time through this Yin-Yang borderland, soon reaching a region that demarcated the two forces. Zixuan the Daoist warned, "Ahead lies the Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone. Everyone, be exceedingly cautious."

"The Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone,"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen recalled the origins of this Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone.

Legends speak of an era long before the boundless Calamity Tribulation, when Qing Cang, the Great Deity still walked the earth. In those days, his might shook the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, and he was a deity of immense renown from the Primordial Era.

At that time, Qing Cang, the Great Deity was a Divine Lord of the Primordial Divine Court. He once clashed across the Boundless Chaos and waged war throughout its ancient annals.

He slaughtered Chaos Demon God and felled celestial deities, a peerless powerhouse rare even in those primordial times.

Alas, in the final years of the Primordial Era, a cataclysmic war erupted, sweeping through the Boundless Chaos. Among the three Divine Sovereigns of the Divine Court then, Taichu and the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign fell into slumber one after another.

Not long after, the Solar Divine Sovereign departed from the Primordial Divine Court and founded the Ancient Celestial Court, utterly ending the era where the Primordial Divine Court held dominion over heaven and earth.

The Primordial Divine Court waxed to its zenith only to wane. Qing Cang, the Great Deity seemingly perished in that great war, vanishing into the depths of the Boundless Chaos.

And before his fall, it is said Qing Cang, the Great Deity slew numerous earth-shaking, supreme powerhouses.

After these supreme beings were slain, many of their treasures, their Primordial Source [the foundational, origin energy of existence], and their remains were cast into the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain. Unrefined in time, they eventually transformed into the various forbidden zones scattered throughout the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain.

The Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone is one such place. Legend claims it formed from the fall of a peerless existence at the Ancient Immortal Realm.

Others say it is a shattered Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, possessing innate power], which fell into the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain and evolved from there.

Due to its origins being lost in the mists of antiquity, even the Heavenly Immortal Paragons of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain do not fully comprehend its true nature or provenance.

Yet, it is an undeniable truth that this place is a veritable Supreme forbidden land.

It is said this realm can sever the Heavenly Dao Will [the overarching will and laws of the cosmos], ranking it among the most inscrutable and uncalculable forbidden zones between heaven and earth.

Within its bounds dwell two mysterious avian demon species. One is known as the Fire Crow, also called the Solar Crow, which inhabits the yang [the active, masculine, solar principle] aspect of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone [a vast and perilous region dominated by crow-like demonic avians].

The other is named the Nether Crow, also known as the Yin Crow, which resides within the yin [the passive, feminine, lunar principle] aspect of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Zone, specifically in the area bordering the Netherworld Hell. Find this and other novels at @udio-novel.com.