Chapter 1086 : The Gaping Chasm of Power

"Even when they were at the same cultivation realm as you and I, they were among the most elite geniuses among Immortal [powerful beings who have transcended mortality]. Now that they have cultivated to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a quasi-divine state just below true Celestial Immortality], the disparity in their strength compared to ours is as vast as heaven and earth."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded, inwardly agreeing with Verdant Sparse Immortal's assessment.

Regardless of what a Half-Step Celestial Immortal's innate talent was in their youth, the mere fact they have managed to cultivate to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm signifies they have already forged a Celestial Immortal Aptitude [a destiny or foundational potential fit for a Celestial Immortal].

Their aptitude can already be considered peerless among Immortal, utterly incomparable to ordinary Immortal.

By the same logic, Immortal of the Earth Immortal Realm [a foundational immortal realm] possess a depth of foundation and reserves that no common Immortal could hope to rival.

While Eldrin Chen could rely on his Great Encompassing Foundation [an exceptionally vast and profound cultivation base] to effortlessly contend with opponents five or six minor realms above him in the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the realm of newly ascended immortals], he likely would not be able to replicate such a feat in the Earth Immortal Realm.

Those Earth Immortal have emerged triumphant from among hundreds or even thousands of Immortal; they are figures who can establish their own sects and be revered as ancestors even among Immortal. It can be said that not a single one of them is an easy opponent.

"Enough of that, let's return to the main matter at hand."

Having finished his introduction to the Meteor Sea, Verdant Sparse Immortal spoke again, his expression turning grave. "The Polarity Immortal Sect is not located within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas. It lies within the Leaf Ruins Divine Sea."

"With two vast sea regions separating us, and an immeasurable expanse of empty ocean between them, flying directly would consume far too much time. Therefore, we should utilize the Void Gate [a portal artifact for instantaneous travel across vast distances] of the Flowing Fire Star Palace." Access the full story on audio - novel . com.

Eldrin Chen listened quietly, giving a slight nod of understanding.

The Leaf Ruins Divine Sea was one of the Thirty-Three Layers Sea Region, located in the southern part of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea. To reach it, they would have to traverse over half of that vast expanse.

Given the immense breadth of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, without the aid of a Void Gate, the journey would likely take several thousand years.

These so-called Void Gate were exceptionally precious strategic treasures.

The fabric of space within the Immortal Realm was far more stable than the mortal world. Only beings at the level of a Celestial Immortal Great Power could barely manage to tear through the void for travel.

Correspondingly, ordinary Void Gem could only be used to forge storage-type magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] and were utterly incapable of allowing an Immortal to traverse the void.

The Void Gate was precisely the treasure that enabled such void traversal. Crafted from 'Void Immortal Gold' of Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact grade as its primary material, it was personally forged by a Celestial Immortal Great Power.

Its rank reached the pinnacle of Earth Immortal-grade treasures, capable of instantly transporting an Immortal across the boundless expanse to the distant shores of another Immortal Domain.

The Void Gate belonging to the Flowing Fire Star Palace was the result of three million years spent gathering materials, which were then commissioned to a Celestial Immortal Great Power for its creation.

It could be said this artifact was among the most valuable treasures within the entire Flowing Stream Hundred Seas, coveted even by Celestial Immortal Great Power themselves.

If it weren't for the fact that within the Flowing Fire Star Palace there was a Half-Step Celestial Immortal-level Patriarch holding the fort, and that they had intricate connections to a certain Celestial Immortal Great Power, they likely wouldn't have been able to hold their ground at all.

"The Void Gate [a legendary artifact capable of creating stable spatial passages across vast cosmic distances], then?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, giving a slight nod of understanding.

The distance between the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas and the Leaf Ruins Divine Sea was simply too vast, with far too many territories of the Demon Race and Primordial Era ferocious beasts lying in between. Forcing a passage through would indeed be fraught with peril.

With the aid of the Void Gate, however, they could reach the Leaf Ruins Divine Sea in an astonishingly short time, saving themselves millennia of arduous travel.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen inquired, "When do we depart?"

"We must wait a little longer,"

Verdant Sparse Immortal replied after a moment's thought. "The Void Gate opens only once every thousand years. The next opening is but a few years away."

"Furthermore, by my reckoning, our fellow Daoists should arrive soon. We shall depart together once they are here."

"Excellent!"

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and spoke, "I shall wander the Meteor Sea for a time. Send word to me before you depart."

"…"

For an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation], a few years are but the blink of an eye.

Eldrin Chen visited the marketplace of the Meteor Sea to procure some local specialties and treasures not found around the Crimson Dragon Sea. Before he knew it, he received a message from Verdant Sparse Immortal.

Following the message's direction, he arrived outside the Flowing Fire Star Palace. There, he found Verdant Sparse Immortal standing with four other figures. Eldrin's eyes immediately brightened with recognition.

The four figures were each distinct: one was a plainly dressed Old Monk, another was an elderly man leaning on a cane with a lame leg, the third was a woman of alluring grace, and the last was a towering man with hair as white as snow. For the best reading experience, visit *audio-novel.com*.

"Brother Eldrin, you have finally arrived," said Verdant Sparse Immortal.

Seeing Eldrin Chen approach, Verdant Sparse Immortal smiled and began the introductions. "Come, come, let me make you acquainted."

"These distinguished individuals are Universal Mystery Divine Monk, Crippled Heavenly Path Master, Immortal Maiden Flower, and Prison-Suppressor Child."

As Verdant Sparse Immortal made the introductions, Eldrin Chen gradually gleaned an understanding of each person's origins.

Among these individuals, the Old Monk was naturally Universal Mystery Divine Monk. This person had not followed the paths of an Arhat, a Buddha, or a Bodhisattva to achieve immortality; instead, he had ascended as a mere monk, which greatly exceeded Eldrin Chen's expectations.

It must be understood that the ultimate goal of cultivation within the Buddhist Sect is to become a Buddha. At the very least, practitioners aspire to become Bodhisattvas or Arhats.

Path Fruits [the culmination of a cultivator's chosen dao, manifesting as a unique power or state of being] like those of a Divine Monk or a Dharma Protector are exceedingly rare.

"A devout Buddhist cultivator, unwilling to be called a Buddha or an Ancestor, to receive the worship and incense of the mortal world, content to remain simply a monk?"

"He likely possesses the strength of an Ascendant Immortal 8th Tier."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, yet his gaze flickered subtly. He had an indistinct sense that this Old Monk's spiritual power was terrifyingly profound.

Suppressing his thoughts, he turned his gaze to the others.

The remaining few all seemed to be in the Late Ascendant Immortal Realm, yet each possessed their own peculiar distinctions.

Crippled Heavenly Path Master leaned on a crutch. One must know that for an Immortal, ordinary injuries would heal in an instant, leaving no lasting ailment.

Yet this person hobbled along, reliant on his staff—clearly, he harbored secrets of his own.

Immortal Maiden Flower [a flower spirit who attained the Dao] was surrounded by an exceptionally rich floral fragrance that seemed capable of penetrating a cultivator's very soul.

The final figure, a white-haired man named 'Prison-Suppressor Child', possessed a physique of astonishingly towering and slender stature. Within his flowing white hair lurked a hidden lethality, and his physical body seemed to harbor a slumbering, terrifying power.

"A Great Completion Immortal Body [a perfected physical form cultivated to an immortal level]."

As Eldrin Chen observed Prison-Suppressor Child, his heart couldn't help but tremble faintly.

It seemed as if the physical form of this Prison-Suppressor Child concealed a Primordial Era [the mythical first age of creation] great menace, giving Eldrin Chen the distinct impression it could rend a True Dragon [a supreme dragon of immense power] apart with its bare hands.

"What formidable physical strength."

While Eldrin Chen marveled, the pupils of the others present also contracted slightly.

With his white hair cascading loosely, Prison-Suppressor Child gazed intently at Eldrin Chen, his expression utterly frosty as he spoke, "Such potent physical power. Your Immortal Body [a body cultivated to an immortal level] is not yet perfected, yet it possesses such might."

"I wonder how it compares to this venerable one's own..."

Prison-Suppressor Child's words trailed off abruptly. His cold, indifferent eyes closed with an inscrutable air, and he said no more.

Seeing this, Verdant Sparse Immortal smiled and said, "Since everyone is here, we should prepare to depart."

Upon hearing this, the others set aside their scrutinizing expressions.

After all, their primary concern lay with the ruins of the Polarity Immortal Sect.

With all six members assembled, they wasted no time. They paid the teleportation fee to the Flowing Fire Star Palace and settled in to await the scheduled opening of the Void Gate [a portal capable of traversing vast distances]. Original English translation available at audio-novel-dot-com.