Chapter 1418 : Ancestral Realms and Imperial Lords

Within the Returning Abyss Great World, the Celestial Ancestor was naturally Eternal Profound Chen, while the Earthly Ancestor was Seventh Granduncle Eternal Verdancy Chen.

Among the Six Heavens, three old acquaintances held positions of authority: Long River Path Lord, Ancestor Mystery Chen, and the Master of Stellar Palace.

Among them, Long River Path Lord held the station of the 'Six Heavens Cavernous Abyss Imperial Lord'.

The Master of Stellar Palace governed Stellar Heaven and bore the title 'Six Heavens Stellar Imperial Lord', a position of immense prestige and honor.

As a member of the Chen Clan, Ancestor Mystery Chen held the Imperial Lord Rank authority over Longevity Heaven, titled the 'Six Heavens Longevity Imperial Lord'.

Of the Seven Realms, five were governed by old acquaintances: the Thunder Abyss Realm, the Southern Blaze Realm, the Northern Dark Realm, the Frost Soul Realm, and the Eastern Splendor Realm.

The Thunder Abyss Realm was under the rule of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Divine Spirit, the Southern Blaze Realm was lorded over by the Master of the Glazed Palace, and the authority of the Northern Dark Realm rested in the hands of the Kunpeng Demon Sage.

The Frost Soul Realm was governed by the Mistress of Drifting Snow Palace, while the named disciple Exquisite Fragrance Su took lordship over the Eastern Splendor Realm.

The remaining realms—Aurora Heaven, Primordial Solar Heaven, Void Cosmos Heaven, Western Pole Realm, and Gale Wind Realm—all remained masterless, with only five Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual beings who wield authority on behalf of Heaven] temporarily wielding their respective foundational treasures.

Of these three heavens and two realms, Eldrin Chen had reserved the Gale Wind Realm for Heaven Wind Path Master. In his heart, he understood clearly that given the foundation of Heaven Wind Path Master, further advancement in this lifetime would ultimately be an insurmountable challenge.

Among the remaining four realms, Eldrin Chen intended to leave the position of Imperial Lord [a high-ranking celestial official] vacant, reserving it for future clan elders who might return, like Eternal Verdancy Chen, or for old friends by his side.

Furthermore, within the Five Poles True Spirits [the five primordial elemental spirits representing the cardinal directions and center], three positions had already been filled.

Among them, Mysterious Verdant Robe had transformed into the Azure Dragon True Spirit [the primordial spirit of the east, representing wood and spring], the Blazing Phoenix had become the Fire Phoenix True Spirit [the primordial spirit of the south, representing fire and summer], and the Black Tortoise Patriarch had assumed the form of the Black Tortoise True Spirit [the primordial spirit of the north, representing water and winter].

The only thing that surprised Eldrin Chen was that the Earth Mystery Path Master had failed to secure an Imperial Lord Rank [a destiny tied to the authority and fortune of a celestial lord].

As one of the oldest Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] within the Immortal Alliance, Eldrin Chen had actually shown this individual considerable favor. At the moment of its spiritual genesis, this being's foundational essence was exceptionally profound, ranking among the very top even among the many Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual entities born from the world's essence].

Unexpectedly, during the final struggle for the Imperial Lord Rank, this individual suffered three consecutive defeats, ultimately missing the Opportunity and Fortune [the chance and destiny] to become an Imperial Lord.

"The Six Heavens and Seven Realms [the cosmological structure of this universe] is now missing the Central Bulwark Earth Ancient Realm [the ancient realm representing the stable, central earth element]," he mused.

"This Earth Mystery Path Master's destiny is wholly tied to the earth element. Perhaps this failure was to be expected."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then finally shook his head.

He had a feeling in his heart: if he had opened fourteen layers of heaven and earth, transforming the cosmos into Six Heavens and Eight Realms, then the Earth Mystery Path Master would certainly have secured one of the Imperial Lord Rank positions.

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen shook his head and said, "There is no great urgency. After I break through to the Celestial Immortal [a powerful immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm] realm and solidify my foundation before opening my World-Opening [the foundational world within an Earth Immortal] world, there will still be a chance to deal with the Earth Mystery Path Venerable."

Having settled his mind on this, Eldrin Chen ceased his pondering.

He channeled his magical power and discovered that, bolstered by the various Imperial Lord [a sovereign ruler in the immortal realms] grade treasures, the thirteen foundational treasures had begun to continuously draw upon the power of the Dimensional Void [the chaotic, formless space between dimensions]. The World's Origin [the primordial source energy that forms the basis of a world] within him was gradually growing more robust.

In this process, the Primordial Energy [the fundamental, life-giving energy of a cultivator's inner world] within his body had also increased noticeably without him realizing it.

"After refining the Path Source [the condensed essence of a Great Dao path], my reserves of Primordial Energy were already substantial," he mused.

"My Earth Immortal World [the personal miniature world cultivated within an Earth Immortal] is already more than half full of Primordial Energy. At this cultivation speed, a breakthrough should be possible in about fifty thousand years."

Eldrin Chen whispered this to himself, then slowly opened his eyes.

Without further delay, he transformed into a streak of Escape Radiance [a high-speed flight technique resembling a beam of light] and soared towards the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

For this journey, Eldrin Chen did not head directly to the Violet Flame Blessed Land. Instead, he first visited the Wei Sea Dragon Palace and the Great Wasteland Celestial Crocodile Clan Blessed Land.

Upon arrival, he found, as expected, that both Blessed Land [a realm of exceptional spiritual richness, superior to a Grotto-Heaven] were completely empty. Clearly, the entire Blessed Lands had been taken away by the Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to a personal inner world] left behind by the two clans and hidden somewhere within the boundless void.

This outcome was, in truth, within expectations. For any Blessed Land [a realm of concentrated spiritual energy and profound natural laws, often serving as a sect or clan's foundation], upon discovering the fall of its own Earth Immortal Patriarch [a patriarch who has attained the Earth Immortal realm, a powerful existence] and other formidable experts, the immediate reaction is predictable.

The first action is invariably to withdraw the Blessed Land into its corresponding Earth Immortal World [the personal miniature world of an Earth Immortal cultivator], then conceal it within the void. Only after gathering sufficient intelligence would they consider their next move.

"With these two Blessed Land now hidden away, it is likely they will not emerge again until the Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly tribulation that tests the foundations of a cultivator's path] descends," Eldrin Chen mused.

"For now, let us proceed to the Violet Flame Blessed Land and assimilate the gains from this journey."

With that, Eldrin Chen arrived within the confines of the Violet Flame Blessed Land.

Given Eldrin Chen's current stature, his arrival at the Violet Flame Blessed Land was met with an immediate and enthusiastic reception.

The Heaven Flame Patriarch [Patriarch of the Heaven Flame lineage], accompanied by a woman of breathtaking beauty, came forth to greet him. With utmost courtesy, they escorted him to the Great Hall [the main ceremonial and reception hall]. The Patriarch then made introductions: "This esteemed lady is the Blessed Land Lord [the sovereign ruler of a Blessed Land] of our Violet Flame Blessed Land, the Violet Flame Divine Lord [Divine Lord of the Violet Flame]."

"And this is Fellow Cultivator Eldrin [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator, here referring to Eldrin Chen], from the Returning Abyss Blessed Land."

Through the Heaven Flame Patriarch's introductions, Eldrin Chen gradually ascertained the identities of the two individuals before him.

This Violet Flame Blessed Land lineage possessed only two Earth Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to the Earth Immortal realm, masters of their own miniature worlds]. Yet, it remained one of the most renowned Blessed Land within the vast expanse of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, a region of the immortal realms].

Among these two Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have ascended beyond the mortal realm], one was Violet Flame Divine Lord and the other was Heaven Flame Patriarch.

Violet Flame Divine Lord possessed cultivation at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal [the eighth major stage of the Earth Immortal realm], making her one of the renowned female immortals within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea region in the immortal world]. Furthermore, she was an Eighth Rank High-Grade [a master of the highest tier within the eighth rank] alchemist.

The Heaven Flame Patriarch's previous incarnation had been the younger brother of Violet Flame Divine Lord. After Heaven Flame Patriarch achieved immortality once more in this life, it was only with the support of Violet Flame Divine Lord that he managed to cultivate all the way to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of Earth Immortals].

Now, between the two of them, one was an Eighth Rank Mid-Grade [a master of the middle tier within the eighth rank] artifact forger, while the other was an Eighth Rank High-Grade alchemist. Their combined prowess made them figures of considerable renown throughout the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

It was said they possessed unique, proprietary techniques for pill refinement and artifact forging. Furthermore, they occupied the Violet Flame Blessed Land [a land suffused with potent spiritual energies], an Upper Grade Blessed Land [a land of the highest spiritual grade]. Their accumulated wealth was rumored to be even more substantial than that of the Thousand Dragon Lake Blessed Land [another powerful spiritual land].

Having briefly recalled the circumstances surrounding the Violet Flame Blessed Land, Eldrin Chen spoke forth. "To speak plainly, the purpose of my visit today is to seek your assistance."

"Oh?"

Violet Flame Divine Lord's eyes flickered with a subtle light. "I have heard that Fellow Daoist is not only formidable in cultivation but also highly skilled in the arts of alchemy and artifact forging. I presume your visit is not to request elixirs [spiritual pills for cultivation]."

"Could it be you have come to lease a Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire-attribute spiritual energy]?"

"Your insight is keen, Immortal Maiden."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and then spoke, "In recent times, I have slain several Demon Race Earth Immortal [cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm, a high level of power]. I intend to refine their remains into a few treasures."

Violet Flame Divine Lord nodded in return, then said with a smile, "With your cultivation level, Fellow Daoist, you likely wouldn't need to rent a Earth Vein [a concentrated ley line of terrestrial spiritual energy] to refine an ordinary World-Opening Marvel [a treasure of immense power, capable of shaping worlds]. It seems the Demon Race Earth Immortal you killed were of Extraordinary lineage."

Eldrin Chen nodded again and replied, "This matter cannot remain hidden for long, so there is no harm in telling you. Together with several other fellow cultivators, I hunted down and slew the Patriarch of Celestial Crocodile Clan and Dragon Lord of Wei Sea."

"This—"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the two listeners shifted slightly, a flicker of shock passing through their eyes.

They exchanged a glance. Finally, Violet Flame Immortal Maiden took a deep breath and said, "In the past, the father of the Dragon Lord of Wei Sea fell in battle, sacrificing himself for the breakthrough of the Western Abyss Dragon King."

"If that is so," she continued, "then the Western Abyss Dragon Palace owes that individual a debt of Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect, where actions create spiritual consequences]."

"Given the current exalted status of the Western Abyss Dragon King as a Celestial Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm], he would certainly not deign to act against you personally. However, the other powerful figures of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace would likely not pass up an opportunity to strike if it presented itself."

Eldrin Chen acknowledged this with a nod. "The Western Abyss Dragon Palace has only recently established its Grotto-Heaven [a blessed, self-contained pocket dimension for cultivation]. Their foundation is not yet secure, so I doubt they would dare to act recklessly."

"Furthermore," he added, his tone calm yet resolute, "as long as the Western Abyss Dragon King himself does not intervene, the forces of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace are unlikely to be capable of subduing me."

"Indeed."

Violet Flame Immortal Maiden gave a slight nod, yet a subtle flicker stirred within her gaze.