Chapter 1442 : The Gathering of Immortal Might

As for Verdant Consort and Nyssa Qu, if they were to achieve a breakthrough, their combat prowess would likely reach the level of an Eighth Level Earth Immortal. Working together, they might barely be able to hold their own against a single Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator.

Calculating it this way, that amounts to roughly the combat strength of three Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivators. With the additional aid of five others—Kael Chen, Ethan Chen, Energy Abyss Chen, Lila, and Violet Consort Yan—they would at least have the power to engage the severely wounded Master of Flowing Fire in battle.

Although the depth of their spiritual energy reserves might still fall short of a true Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator, the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace was gravely injured and likely incapable of sustaining a prolonged fight.

Therefore, all factors considered, once they broke through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm, they should possess the strength to confront the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen shook his head with a sigh. "It has been over fifty thousand years since I broke through to the Second Level Earth Immortal Realm, yet the accumulation of my Primordial Energy [the foundational life-force energy of a cultivator] has only reached forty percent."

"To advance to the Third Level Earth Immortal would require another seventy thousand years or so. The remaining eighty thousand years would be utterly insufficient to reach the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm."

Upon hearing his words, a faint sigh echoed in the hearts of all present.

Among their group, aside from Glazed Qu, whose cultivation progressed the fastest thanks to the backing of the Glazed Blessed Land, the others had all broken through to the Second Level Earth Immortal Realm not long ago.

By their reckoning, it would take them at least two to three hundred thousand years to advance to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm. Eldrin Chen estimated he himself would need another two hundred thousand years to achieve that breakthrough.

From the perspective of time, their goal of reaching the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm within a mere one hundred fifty thousand years remained a formidable challenge.

"Our cultivation resources are still insufficient,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then spoke thoughtfully: "With the Immortal Source [a primordial source of immortal energy] materials our clan has accumulated, I wonder how many Galaxy Star Sand Pill [a legendary pill refined from the essence of stars and cosmic dust] we can purchase?"

Exquisite Jiang pondered for a moment before replying, "The Galaxy Star Sand Pill is far too precious and costly. Without selling our High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact capable of cleaving open miniature worlds], the remaining resources within the Clan Treasury would only suffice for three or four portions."

"Moreover, this pill is exceedingly rare and precious; it is not something one can simply purchase at will."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh. The Galaxy Star Sand Pill contained boundless energy; an ordinary Early-stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the foundational stage of terrestrial immortality] could advance one minor realm by refining just one vial.

Yet for a cultivator like Eldrin Chen, who had opened a Thirteenfold Heaven [a legendary and supremely vast foundational inner world], at least five vials were required to achieve the same advancement.

The consumption would be a staggering figure for Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, and the others to elevate their cultivation using this pill.

"For the nine Earth Immortal Patriarch [patriarchs who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] of our clan to each advance by one minor realm, we would likely need over thirty portions of the Galaxy Star Sand Pill."

"Given the clan's current reserves, it is simply not enough."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, a palpable weight of pressure settling upon him.

Currently, the Chen Immortal Clan possesses nine Earth Immortal Patriarchs [powerful cultivators who have ascended to the Earth Immortal realm], making its strength and foundation formidable even among the Earth Immortal Blessed Lands [regions of immense spiritual power and natural resources].

Yet, the mightier a force becomes, the greater its consumption of resources.

Although the spiritual energy within the Returning Abyss Sea Region grew richer and birthed vast resources after the fall of Thousand Dragon Lake, it is still insufficient to sustain nine top-tier Earth Immortals [cultivators who have achieved mastery over earthly energies].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed, "The Flowing Stream Hundred Seas are resource-poor. Relying solely on the three sea regions of Returning Abyss, Lingering Sun, and Suwei falls far short of meeting our cultivation needs."

"In truth, from a long-term perspective, even without the catalyst of the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a legendary artifact of immense power], we would inevitably have to confront the Flowing Fire Star Palace sooner or later."

Hearing this, everyone present nodded slightly in agreement.

Compared to the vast Immortal Domain [the overarching realm of immortals], the resources of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea are exceedingly sparse, with the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas ranking dead last among the Thirty-Three Layers Sea Region.

As the saying goes, shallow waters cannot nurture a True Dragon [a mythical beast symbolizing supreme power and nobility]. Such a barren sea region can scarcely sustain a truly powerful force.

Currently, the two most supreme Blessed Lands [regions of exceptional spiritual fortune] within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas are the Flowing Fire Star Palace and the Glazed Blessed Land.

Among them, the Glazed Blessed Land can cultivate its own heavenly and earthly resources, having little need for external supplies. It is the Flowing Fire Star Palace that monopolizes the majority of the resources within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas.

According to Eldrin Chen's knowledge, across the entire Flowing Stream Hundred Seas, among the hundreds of sea regions, the core Earth Vein [the spiritual arteries of the land] of thirty-eight of them were occupied by the Flowing Fire Star Palace. This included three Blessed Land [regions of exceptionally concentrated spiritual energy and natural fortune].

In truth, there were originally eleven Blessed Land within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas. The reason only eight remained now was fundamentally because the Flowing Fire Star Palace lineage monopolized four of them for themselves.

Under such circumstances, if the Chen Immortal Clan wished to rise and become a top-tier Earth Immortal Blessed Land, or even glimpse the realm of a Supreme Grotto-Heaven [a transcendent realm of cultivation], then the Flowing Fire Star Palace was their stumbling block. Sooner or later, the two sides would have to settle the score.

There was no other way. The meager resources of the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas simply could not sustain two supreme Blessed Land.

"Resources... resources."

Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh before finally speaking. "Regardless, before the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a mighty enchanted artifact] successfully advances, Exquisite and I must break through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [a mid-level realm for terrestrial immortals]. Otherwise, this hurdle will be difficult to overcome."

"After this journey, no matter the harvest, we must purchase Precious Pill [elixirs that enhance cultivation] at the next grand auction."

"Mm."

Everyone present nodded slightly in understanding.

They grasped Eldrin's meaning. The High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a supreme artifact capable of shaping worlds] served as the clan's ultimate foundation and one of their means to contend with the Flowing Fire Star Palace. It would not be sold off lightly unless as a final resort.

Under such circumstances, to purchase sufficient Immortal Artifact [a supreme class of enchanted artifact] wonders, the entire clan would have to tighten its belt and make sacrifices to pave the way for their breakthroughs.

In this situation, not only would low-level cultivators be affected, but even these Earth Immortal Patriarch would have to temporarily suspend their own cultivation, freeing up resources to prioritize nurturing two combatants of Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] strength.

With the clan's survival at stake, none of them voiced any objections.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen said no more. He retrieved a map of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a perilous demon-infested sea region] from his sleeve, and after a moment, a slight frown creased his brow as he spoke.

"It seems we must still make a trip to the Demon-Slaying Hall [a hall that organizes expeditions against demonic cultivators] and join the expedition led by that Violet Mystery Path Master."

The others were momentarily taken aback. They glanced at the map and soon understood the underlying Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences].

When an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] slays a Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who uses malevolent, often soul-devouring methods] or one burdened by immense negative karma, they can receive vast Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds], coalescing a Pure Light of Merit [a protective aura formed from accumulated merit] to shield their body. This is no small temptation.

Given this, it is natural that many venture into the demonic territories to hunt Demonic Cultivator.

Yet, Demonic Cultivator are invariably Extraordinary in strength, and those shrouded in boundless negative karma are often formidable combatants. Slaying them to accumulate Merit is far from an easy task.

Within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, countless Immortal journey to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea each year, seeking to amass Merit by hunting Demonic Cultivator. Yet, of these Immortal, those who return often number less than four in ten.

The fundamental reason lies not only in the formidable strength of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who harness demonic or malevolent energies] within the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a vast, corrupted sea realm], but more critically, because the World's Origin [the primordial essence that forms the foundation of a world] of that realm has fallen into corruption. That World's Origin treasure has transformed into a dark Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with demonic power].

Within the entire expanse of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, all is chaos and disorder. Demonic Path [cultivation arts that harness demonic or malevolent energies], heretical paths, and unorthodox sects rise and contend like warlords.

The very Heavenly Path [the natural, righteous order and energy of the cosmos] forces within have become tainted, birthing a demonic nature. An ordinary Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] stepping into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea is like a candle flame in utter darkness, extremely prone to attracting the encirclement and assault of Demonic Cultivator and heretical practitioners.

Even a Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to a higher celestial realm] entering its depths would face rejection from the corrupted dark Heavenly Path, along with encirclement and assault from multiple Demonic Path, evil sects, and unorthodox Grotto-Heaven [a blessed, self-contained realm for cultivation]. Venturing too deep, the chances of survival are less than one in ten.

According to the records on the map, thirty million years ago, an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a supremely powerful cultivator from ancient times] led countless Immortal in an assault on the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, aiming to completely purge the Demonic Path in one fell swoop and coalesce the legendary Merit Golden Light [a radiant aura formed from immense virtuous deeds].

Yet, after that great battle, over ten Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings at the Celestial Immortal realm] fell in combat. Even the Ancient Immortal Great Power suffered a crushing defeat and retreated, eventually passing away in seclusion within his own Grotto-Heaven not long after.

Therefore, entering the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea to slay demons, achieve the Dao, and condense the Pure Light of Merit [a pure radiance formed from virtuous deeds] is an exceedingly perilous endeavor.