Chapter 1471 : Ascendant Clan's Hidden Might

As for Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang, their combat prowess could even directly step into the domain of Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm].

Among them, Eldrin Chen was comparable to an Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator of the Sixfold Heavens [a measure of profound foundational strength]. Lyra Jiang's foundation was slightly weaker by half a step, only comparable to an Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator of the Fivefold Heaven, which could be considered the threshold of Earth Immortal Great Perfection.

One clan, nine combatants with the strength of Late Stage Earth Immortal [the advanced phase of the Earth Immortal realm]. Among them, two possessed the power of an Eighth Level Earth Immortal [the eighth tier within the Earth Immortal realm], and two had the combat prowess of Earth Immortal Great Perfection.

Such a Deep-Seated Foundation [profound and unshakable cultivation base] placed within the over one thousand Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy] of the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea would be sufficient to rank within the top fifty, qualifying it as a top-tier Blessed Land.

Aside from those thirty-some supreme Blessed Land that possessed a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm], the Chen Immortal Clan could be said to stand within the top echelon.

Even Zixuan the Daoist's Zixuan Abode of Bliss [a paradisiacal realm of cultivation], which possessed twelve Earth Immortal powerhouses, when compared to the Abyssal Abode of Bliss with its nine Late Stage Earth Immortal combatants—it remained uncertain which of the two was stronger or weaker.

Thinking of this, smiles appeared on everyone's faces.

After a long while, Thalion Chen suppressed the excitement in his heart and inquired, "Now that you have broken through to Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the intermediate phase of the Earth Immortal realm], should we move against the Flowing Fire Star Palace?"

"Not yet."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a slight frown creasing his brow as he said, "The Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand defensive array aligned with the celestial stars] was, after all, laid down by the Lord of the Flowing Fire Palace. With our current strength, attempting to take it would be far too risky." Original English translation available at audio-novel`com.

"Our most pressing task now is the restoration of the two ancient cauldrons, the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron and the Black Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

Changqing Chen stroked his long beard thoughtfully before speaking. "The Black Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron resides within the Abyssal Abode of Bliss, and the location of that sanctuary is known to only a select few at present."

"Furthermore, the Abyssal Sea Region is protected by the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation, so its security should not be a major concern."

"However, the defensive capabilities within the Setting Sun Sea are far inferior to those of our homeland. This matter requires careful consideration."

His words were met with nods of understanding from the assembly, who recognized the wisdom in Changqing Chen's assessment.

The restoration of a Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure [a legendary artifact of immense power capable of reshaping reality] would undoubtedly attract more covetous eyes than just those of the Lord of the Flowing Fire Star Palace.

Among the three Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have reached the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm, half a step into the Celestial Immortal stage] with whom Eldrin Chen has enmity, the Silent Annihilation Thunder God remains unaware of their conflict, the Lord of the Flowing Fire Star Palace has already been vanquished, and the Heaven's Malignancy Clan Patriarch is currently lying low.

Other Half-Step Celestial Immortal who bear no grudge against Eldrin Chen would likely not risk offending the master of the Western Abyss Celestial Court for the sake of a single Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure. However, several beings at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the peak stage of the Earth Immortal realm] do hold grievances against him.

The most likely to take action among them is the Dark Roc King. It is said that based on the circumstances of the Young Master of the Great Wilderness Alligator's death, he deduced that it was most likely Eldrin Chen who slew the Dark Young Roc King.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen pondered briefly before speaking: "Among the nine of us, one or two can remain to guard the Abyssal Sea Region."

"The rest shall accompany me to the Setting Sun Blessed Land."

Seeing this, Verdant Consort could not help but ask, "Then who shall stay behind?"

Eldrin Chen deliberated for a moment, then declared, "Let Violet Consort preside over the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation, and Lila shall guard the Abyssal Abode of Bliss."

"That is unnecessary." Lyra Jiang shook her head and spoke, "My Second Nascent Soul [a second, independently cultivatable spiritual core] will soon advance to the late World Creation [a high stage of cultivation involving the creation of an inner world] stage. The Abyssal Abode of Bliss can be entrusted to its guardianship."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

During the years when Eldrin Chen was away, Lyra Jiang's Second Nascent Soul had spent most of its time stationed within the Abyssal Abode of Bliss.

Now that her cultivation had broken through, once the Second Nascent Soul was refined to the late World Creation stage, it would be more than sufficient to guard the Abyssal Abode of Bliss.

Seeing this was settled, Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod and added, "For the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a powerful magical cauldron artifact] to fully recover, it will likely require another forty to fifty thousand years."

"However, to prevent any mishap with the ancient cauldron, I shall depart immediately to stand guard at the Setting Sun Blessed Land. The rest of you may continue your cultivation in peace; a slight delay on your part is acceptable."

"Very well."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, and the matter was thus settled.

With that, the meeting concluded. That very afternoon, Eldrin Chen arrived within the Setting Sun Blessed Land [a sacred realm of cultivation]. He took up residence there, serving as its guardian while also resuming his life of secluded cultivation.

Within the Setting Sun Blessed Land, Eldrin Chen first spent over ten thousand years and consumed a significant portion of the Abyssal Grand Realm's resources to elevate all five of his Lifebound Supreme Treasure [supreme magical artifacts bound to a cultivator's life force] to the level of High Grade Heaven-Opening Treasure [a top-tier grade of world-shaking magical treasure].

After their advancement, the power of these five Lifebound Immortal Treasure [immortal-grade lifebound treasures] had increased dramatically.

The sudden addition of five High Grade Heaven-Opening Treasure significantly enhanced Eldrin Chen's arsenal and combat prowess. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel.com (official site).

The only regret was that, at the Eighth Rank High Grade level, the power of the Heaven-Severing Twin Swords Union [a dual-sword fusion technique] was no longer capable of achieving a qualitative leap.

Although the path of Twin Swords Union was formidable, it was, after all, a technique one could begin cultivating as early as the Purple Mansion [a mid-level cultivation stage] realm. At higher realms, it had gradually become somewhat of a diminishing return.

The same was true for Eldrin Chen's Heavenly Separated Twin Swords. He discovered that when myself activated the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords Union, while the power of the twin swords increased considerably, it seemed to hit an invisible barrier.

Once their power reached the absolute limit of the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm], it appeared to be constrained by some ultimate boundary, making it exceedingly difficult to advance any further.

"It is constrained by the material, and also by a lack of Dao Patterns [the fundamental principles and structures that govern reality and power]."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then could not help but shake his head slightly.

Upon reaching Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm], to undergo the ultimate transformation for further advancement, one must begin to touch upon the power of the Taiyi [the 'Primordial Unity' or 'Supreme One' realm, a transcendent state beyond Earth Immortal] realm.

The reason an Taiyi Immortal Weapon [an immortal weapon imbued with the power of the Taiyi realm] is called such is not only due to its peerless material, but most crucially because it contains within it a complete 'Taiyi Dao Principle' [a fundamental law or axiom of the Taiyi realm].

And a 'Taiyi Dao Principle' is condensed from 'Taiyi Dao Patterns' [the foundational patterns or runes that manifest Taiyi power], which themselves are formed from a minuscule strand of Taiyi Power [the primordial, foundational power of the Taiyi realm].

It is said that each complete 'Taiyi Dao Principle' is condensed from three 'Taiyi Dao Patterns'.

The fundamental reason an Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure capable of 'opening the heavens', a weapon of immense power for demi-immortals] can become such is that it has evolved Taiyi Dao Patterns within it.

And the vast majority of Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure wielded by Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have taken half a step into the Celestial Immortal realm] can be roughly subdivided into three grades: One-Pattern, Two-Pattern, and Three-Pattern, containing one, two, and three Taiyi Dao Patterns respectively.

Among these three supreme treasures, the One-Pattern Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure is what most Half-Step Celestial Immortal with a single Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivated Dao, a prerequisite for higher realms] manage to forge.

The power of a Two-Pattern Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure does not represent a qualitative leap over the former, but its might is still greater by twenty percent.

A Three-Pattern Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme magical weapon of immense power] is considered the pinnacle among Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasures, bordering on a pseudo-Taiyi Immortal Weapon [an immortal weapon of the highest order]. Its might surpasses that of a One-Pattern Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure by fifty percent.

The sole distinction between such a supreme treasure and a true Taiyi Immortal Weapon lies in the fact that its three Dao Patterns [profound inscriptions representing fundamental cosmic principles] have not merged into a single Taiyi Dao Principle [the unified, supreme principle of the cosmos]. Consequently, it has not undergone the ultimate metamorphosis, and its power is only about half that of a genuine Taiyi Immortal Weapon.

Returning to the main point, the reason the might of Eldrin Chen's Heaven-Severing Twin Swords Union [a combined attack technique using twin swords] does not reach the level of a Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure is fundamentally due to insufficient power within the Formation Patterns [mystical energy arrays] inscribed upon this pair of Immortal Swords [swords forged for immortal use].

Even when these two Immortal Swords are combined, they fail to briefly manifest a single Taiyi Dao Pattern [a supreme pattern of cosmic law]. Therefore, they can never truly rival a Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Unless I can continuously refine and perfect both Immortal Swords, making them flawlessly compatible with each other, achieving a state where their union is itself perfect and seamless."

"Otherwise, this ultimate trump card, the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords Union, will likely never again manifest its glory in this world." Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel.com.