Chapter 1430 : The Netherworld Conquest

"For our cultivation to advance swiftly, relying solely on the sustenance from the three Blessed Land of Lingering Sun, Stellar, and Returning Abyss is, in truth, somewhat insufficient."

"We must seize the Netherworld Small Universe [a small, self-contained realm within the Netherworld]. Otherwise, after we break through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the middle stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm], we will face the predicament of insufficient resources, and our cultivation progress will inevitably slow dramatically."

The women all nodded in agreement. Exquisite Jiang spoke up: "To capture the Netherworld Small Universe, we must make further preparations to increase our combat strength."

"I will dispatch more personnel to search for Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and chaotic form of spiritual energy], so I can complete the cultivation of the Great Five Elements Divine Thunder Fiend [a supreme divine thunder technique harnessing the power of the five elements] as soon as possible."

With that said, the group spoke no more, each returning to their secluded cultivation. Eldrin Chen, however, made his way to the heart of the Returning Abyss Blessed Land, to the banks of the Returning Abyss Immortal Pool [a celestial pool of immense spiritual power].

Within the immortal pool at this moment, a massive Great Cauldron [a large, ceremonial cauldron used for alchemy or rituals], intricately carved with dragon patterns, floated and sank with a gentle rhythm.

The Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron [a legendary cauldron said to have the power to suppress worlds] had now been restored to the rank of a High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a top-tier treasure capable of creating or stabilizing pocket dimensions], its power seemingly not far from its prime.

Yet Eldrin Chen paid it no mind on this visit. He stepped into the immortal pool, opened a concealed spatial rift, and entered the unknown space beyond.

Within this unknown space, the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword [a divine sword forged from primordial thunder and tribulation energy] floated silently, radiating a dazzling, brilliant lightning.

But its radiance, compared to the deep, profound 'treasure orb' that resided within the unknown space, was as dim as a firefly's glow.

"Returning Abyss Pearl."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly. He stood once more before the Returning Abyss Pearl, gazing at this entity that had become his Companion Supreme Treasure. A complex tide of emotions, difficult to fully suppress, surged within his heart.

He remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice low with inquiry. "Within that Netherworld Small Universe, what did you perceive?"

The Returning Abyss Pearl shimmered faintly, its light trembling. After a pause, a hazy, indistinct spiritual consciousness [a form of non-verbal communication used by sentient artifacts and high-level cultivators] reached out to him.

"At the terminus of the Myriad Heavens... after the Universe shatters and perishes."

"All things reach their final end. All existence returns to the Ruins."

In that instant, Eldrin Chen understood. His eyes snapped wide open, blazing with a light of unprecedented clarity and revelation.

What was the Returning Abyss? It was the ultimate end of the Myriad Heavens, the final destination of the Universe. The place where all things, all existence, ultimately converged and returned—that was the true nature of the Returning Abyss.

This Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure born from the essence of the cosmos itself, not crafted by mortal or immortal hands], the 'Returning Abyss Pearl', was a manifestation born from the very essence of the Great Path of Returning Abyss [the supreme cosmic principle governing finality and return].

This treasure possessed the profound ability to draw upon the faint, lingering traces of the Great Path [the fundamental laws of reality] from the moment of a Universe's Oblivion [complete and utter annihilation, beyond mere destruction], from the very process of all things returning to the Returning Abyss. By absorbing these traces, it could enhance its own might and accelerate the pace of its gestation.

Currently, this Returning Abyss Pearl [a mystical pearl with the power to return to the primordial abyss], as long as it can absorb the power of the Path Traces [the lingering imprints of cosmic laws and profound truths] during the moment of Oblivion [the final dissolution and return to nothingness of a universe] of a Small Universe [a self-contained, miniature cosmos], will be able to take its initial form.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen spoke: "So, you want me to remain alone within the Small Universe at the very last moment before the Netherworld Small Universe [a specific small universe associated with the underworld] undergoes Oblivion, to serve as the vessel for you to collect these Path Traces?"

"Chime—"

The Returning Abyss Pearl shimmered faintly, as if responding to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then continued, "But doing so would be incredibly perilous. What would I gain from it?"

"Chime—"

The Returning Abyss Pearl trembled once more, and another hazy strand of divine consciousness flowed into Eldrin Chen's sea of consciousness [the spiritual realm where a cultivator's mind and soul reside].

Though this divine thought was indistinct, as the Returning Abyss Pearl was his life-bound treasure [a magical artifact intrinsically connected to its owner's life force and destiny], Eldrin Chen could still grasp its general meaning.

According to the Returning Abyss Pearl, if he stayed until the final moment, it was confident it could use the Path of Space [a profound art for manipulating spatial laws] to pull him back to this space.

Furthermore, when the time came, the Returning Abyss Pearl would also assist him in seizing two Universe Origin Treasure [treasures born from the very essence of a universe's creation].

Having grasped this, Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered slightly as he inquired, "Since you have not yet fully formed, can you still command the Path of Space [the profound art of manipulating spatial dimensions]?"

A hazy consciousness emanated from the Returning Abyss Pearl [a primordial spiritual treasure], conveying the general meaning that without the power of a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of a Celestial Immortal] to fuel it, it could not unleash the true might of the Great Path [the supreme cultivation principles].

However, once every million years, by accumulating its latent energy, it could activate the Path of Space three times. This power could ignore all spatial blockades below the Great Encompassing [a realm of profound cosmic mastery] and pull Eldrin Chen back to this space from anywhere.

Of course, this ability had its limits. Exceeding three uses would damage the Returning Abyss Pearl's foundational essence, forcing it to fall from its grade as an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primal chaos of heaven and earth] and be born prematurely into the world.

Even so, Eldrin Chen was deeply satisfied in his heart.

After all, with this capability of the Returning Abyss Pearl, it was as if Eldrin Chen possessed three Protective Talisman [life-saving talismans of immense power] every million years.

Once he cultivated to the Late Celestial Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Celestial Immortal realm] and fully refined this Returning Abyss Pearl, wielding the might of this Innate Spiritual Treasure, he estimated he would find few rivals even while roaming the entire Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of Celestial Immortals].

From his current perspective, with the Returning Abyss Pearl as his ultimate trump card, Eldrin Chen finally possessed the genuine capability to scheme for an Universe Origin Treasure [a treasure containing the foundational power of a universe].

With the Returning Abyss Pearl as his safeguard, Eldrin Chen's heart settled with a measure of calm.

In the time that followed, he remained within the Returning Abyss Blessed Land [a land blessed with profound spiritual energy], continuing his dedicated and profound cultivation.

In the years that followed, Eldrin Chen dedicated himself to relentless cultivation while simultaneously beginning to organize his gains and deduce a cultivation art for the Earth Immortal Realm.

The Primordial One Ancient Scripture created by Eldrin Chen had actually been deduced to the Early-stage Earth Immortal level many years prior. Now, with this rare period of leisure, he finally began to continue the deduction of his personal cultivation method.

From the beginning of his cultivation journey until now, a span of roughly two hundred thousand years, Eldrin Chen had successively obtained the legacies of several forces, including the Lingering Sun Blessed Land, the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect, the Crimson Sun Blessed Land, and Thousand Dragon Lake. Among these were more than twenty volumes of World-Opening Ancient Scroll.

Using this vast accumulation as his foundation, Eldrin Chen found the deduction of his Primordial One Ancient Scripture to proceed with remarkable smoothness.

Approximately thirty thousand years later, he had successfully deduced the Primordial One Ancient Scripture to the realm of the Ninth Level Earth Immortal.

After organizing the cultivation art, Eldrin Chen took stock of his own cultivation realm. Instantly, many long-standing confusions were swept away as if a dam had burst, and the path for Future's cultivation gained a new direction.

With the art sorted, Eldrin Chen settled into a rare period of tranquil cultivation. Seizing the momentum, he proceeded to deduce the Polarity Mutual Cultivation Covenant to the World-Opening Realm.

Thereafter, he often practiced the Polarity Mutual Cultivation Covenant in dual cultivation with his several wives. As they mutually contemplated the Great Path together, their cultivation bases imperceptibly deepened by several degrees.

Then, one day, Sun Consort personally came to the Returning Abyss Blessed Land and sought out Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, saying, "The Divine Lord summons you. He requests that you and Nyssa return for a time."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen paused for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his features, and instinctively exchanged a glance with Nyssa Qu.

Seeing the evident anxiety on Sun Consort's face, Eldrin Chen wasted no time. "I shall accompany you at once," he said without further delay.

With those words, he did not linger. Together with Nyssa Qu, he immediately set off for the Glazed Blessed Land.

Upon his arrival at the Glazed Blessed Land, he was led to a secluded chamber. There, he found Glazed Divine Lord looking somewhat pale, her aura [the unique spiritual presence and energy signature of a cultivator] noticeably unsteady.

Nyssa Qu, witnessing this, asked with palpable concern, "Sister, what has happened to you?"

"It is nothing serious," she replied.

As she spoke, Glazed Divine Lord retrieved a single Inner Pill [the condensed life essence and cultivation base core of a powerful demonic beast] from her sleeve. "Not long ago, I ventured into the North Sea Glacier Domain and slew a North Sea Mysterious Tortoise for your sake."

"Unexpectedly, my actions drew the attention of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm Mysterious Tortoise Patriarch. We clashed, and I suffered a minor setback in the ensuing battle."