Chapter 1412 : A Calculated Hunt in the Void

As long as they remained hidden within the void and launched ambushes, avoiding a decisive confrontation that would inflict heavy losses, even Eldrin Chen would find it exceedingly difficult to capture or eliminate them.

Even if Eldrin Chen were to adopt a strategy of mutual harassment—striking at their stronghold, the Great Wasteland Celestial Crocodile Blessed Land—it would be an utterly unfavorable trade.

For a young Earth Immortal like Eldrin Chen, time is the most precious resource. The paramount concern is whether he can achieve a breakthrough to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm before the impending Path Tribulation arrives.

In contrast, the Clan Patriarch of the Great Wasteland Celestial Crocodile Clan has been stagnant at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal for several million years. His path forward now depends on Opportunity and Fortune, not mere diligent cultivation.

Given several million years, Eldrin Chen's cultivation would be sufficient to reach Earth Immortal Great Perfection or even the threshold of the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm. Thus, a simple exchange of time between them would be a poor bargain for Eldrin.

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang spoke, "Do you have a method to locate them?"

"With my Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path and my mastery of the Spatial Law, I am confident I can make an attempt," he replied.

"However, we should not act rashly until I ascertain whether they have prepared any hidden countermeasures."

At this, Eldrin Chen turned to Lila and Violet Consort Yan. "Remain within the Blessed Land," he instructed. "Let no one discover that you have already achieved World-Opening."

"I will first gather intelligence. We can decide our next move once I return." Support the author by reading on audio-novel-dot-com.

With those words, Eldrin Chen emerged from his Seclusion Chamber. He then enveloped the Polarity Void Mirror with the power of Spatial Law and, taking it with him, departed from the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

Once beyond the Returning Abyss Sea Region, Eldrin Chen simultaneously activated the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path to divine the trail of the Celestial Crocodile Clan while cautiously probing the Rule Power [the fundamental laws governing reality] permeating the void.

Not long after, Eldrin Chen had roughly calculated their location.

"So they are here."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of solemnity coloring his expression.

Wrapping himself within the Void Space Rule [a profound law governing spatial manipulation], he transformed into a streak of auroral light and sped towards the Lingering Sun Sea Region, arriving at its borders shortly thereafter.

Deep within the Lingering Sun Sea Region, outside a desolate Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy], Eldrin Chen detected a faint, concealed aura.

Shrouded continuously by the Void Space Rule, he finally discovered a hidden Formation [a mystical array or defensive barrier] within a cavern.

Passing through the Formation, Eldrin Chen found a concealed Immortal Vein [a subterranean conduit of immense, purified spiritual energy]. At the heart of that Immortal Vein, several figures were in the process of restoring their spiritual power.

"It is indeed them."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his pupils involuntarily contracting to a fine point.

Within this Immortal Vein [a vein of earth that gathers and radiates immense spiritual energy, the foundation for immortal sects and clans], a total of seven figures were present. Three of them belonged to the Celestial Crocodile Clan.

Among the Celestial Crocodile Clan, the strongest individual, an Eighth Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the eighth stage of the Earth Immortal realm, possessing immense power and longevity], was clearly the Patriarch of Celestial Crocodile Clan. The other two had more ordinary cultivation levels; one was a Third Level Earth Immortal, and the other was at the Fourth Level Earth Immortal realm.

The remaining four were from the Dragon Clan. Among them was one Seventh Level Earth Immortal, one Middle Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator in the middle stages of the Earth Immortal realm, typically encompassing the fourth to sixth levels], and two Early-stage Earth Immortal Patriarch.

"With such strength, they truly are baiting me to leave my mountain," Eldrin Chen thought, a chill running down his spine.

The moment he sensed their presence, Eldrin Chen's heart grew cold.

If his guess was correct, those four from the Dragon Clan were powerhouses from another formidable Blessed Land [a region of exceptional spiritual fortune and natural power] of the Dragon Clan within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea—the 'Wei Sea Dragon Palace'.

The lineage of the Wei Sea Dragon Palace was indeed a Force Extreme [a pinnacle-level power, a term denoting a supremely powerful faction]. It was said that at its peak, it boasted eight Earth Immortal Patriarch, surpassing even the former Thousand Dragon Lake by a significant margin.

Fortunately, during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and upheaval that reshapes the world], the Wei Sea Dragon Palace suffered heavy losses and now retained only five Earth Immortal Patriarch.

Now, with four of their Earth Immortal [cultivators who have transcended mortality and attained a profound connection with the earth's spiritual veins] present, lying in ambush here, it was clear. The harassment of the Returning Abyss Blessed Land by the Great Wasteland Celestial Crocodile clan was merely a pretense. Their true aim was to ambush Eldrin Chen.

Their true objective was not to blockade the Returning Abyss Sea Region, but to lure out and assassinate Eldrin Chen using a fishing tactic.

"The blockade of the Returning Abyss Sea Region is a feint. Their real aim is to draw me out from my mountain retreat and slay me."

Having discerned the Celestial Crocodile Clan's scheme, Eldrin Chen felt a weight settle in his heart, his expression turning grave.

Yet, a moment later, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief, realizing that both the Celestial Crocodile Clan and the Wei Sea Dragon Palace had gravely misjudged his true strength.

Within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, the pinnacle of power Eldrin Chen had displayed was his role in the coordinated assault that slew the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake.

In that battle, the combat prowess Eldrin Chen exhibited approached the level of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio–novel.com.

However, the credit for slaying the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake was split: four-tenths belonged to the grand formation, three-tenths to the combined efforts of the other immortals, leaving Eldrin Chen with at most three-tenths of the contribution. Thus, his true combat strength still fell short of a genuine Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

Beyond that, there was the surprise attack that killed the Celestial Crocodile Clan's Eight Tribulations Immortal, a single strike of terrifying power.

But that Young Master of Celestial Crocodile Clan was, after all, merely an Eight Tribulations Immortal, caught completely off-guard and defenseless in the midst of secluded cultivation. Being instantly slain by a surprise attack was, in hindsight, understandable.

As for Eldrin Chen later single-handedly slaying the Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison during the great battle, that feat was known only to the Immortal Alliance and a few close allies, hidden from the wider world.

In their eyes, even if Eldrin Chen had broken through to the Earth Immortal realm [the foundational stage of terrestrial immortality], thereby largely remedying his previous deficiency in spiritual power, he was still merely a First Layer Earth Immortal. His strength was likely only at the threshold of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

Against such power, they had two Late Stage Earth Immortal cultivators, and even one Eighth Level Earth Immortal, to besiege him. It should be more than enough to slay Eldrin Chen.

As for the other two Earth Immortal cultivators within the Chen Immortal Clan—Exquisite Jiang and Verdant Consort—their publicly displayed combat prowess was estimated to be only at the Middle Stage Earth Immortal level.

The two from the Immortal Alliance, Six Stars and Heaven Wind, possessed strength that ranked at the very bottom among Earth Immortal cultivators. Entrusting them to five Earth Immortal Patriarchs in the early or middle stages would be sufficient to handle them.

In their estimation, if they could lure Eldrin Chen and his companions out and launch a sudden, devastating ambush, Eldrin Chen's group would likely suffer severe injuries immediately. Even if they weren't routed in a single blow, their losses would be catastrophic.

What they could never have imagined was that the current strength of the Chen Immortal Clan far exceeded their wildest calculations.

Eldrin Chen's combat power alone was already comparable to an Eighth Level Earth Immortal, while Exquisite Jiang's strength had reached the threshold of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

Furthermore, when Verdant Consort and Glazed Qu joined forces, their combined might was equivalent to that of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal.

As for Lila and Violet Consort Yan, although they had only recently broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm, both possessed a World-Opening Foundation [a supreme foundation for cultivation established upon opening one's inner world]. Their spiritual power and foundational strength were comparable to a Sixth Level Earth Immortal.

Even though they had just made their breakthrough, and their treasures and mastery of Divine Abilitys [supernatural powers granted by profound cultivation] were still slightly lacking, dealing with two Immortals at the fourth or fifth layer of the Earth Immortal realm would be well within their capabilities.

With such combat prowess, they could gain a significant upper hand even in a direct confrontation, let alone with Eldrin Chen who had comprehended the Spatial Law present. It was far from certain who would be ambushing whom.

After ascertaining the enemy's strength, Eldrin Chen did not linger at the location to avoid detection.

He flew all the way back to the Returning Abyss Sea Region and found Exquisite Jiang and the others. He then detailed the opponent's capabilities.

Upon hearing this, a slight tremor passed through the brows of the listeners. Exquisite Jiang could not help but remark, "The relationships between the major powers within the Immortal Domain are intricate and complex."

"I've heard that the Dragon Lord of Wei Sea is the son-in-law of the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake. It is within expectations that he would intervene for the sake of Thousand Dragon Lake."

"It is fortunate we did not act rashly back then. Otherwise, we would likely have been plunged into a bitter and protracted struggle." This novel is serialized on https://audio-novel.com. Visit for updates.