Chapter 1549 : Treasures of Enlightenment and Peril

In addition to the treasures obtained by the several individuals, Eldrin Chen held in his hands a few more supreme treasures capable of breaking through cultivation bottlenecks. These were one Taiyi Immortal Fruit [a legendary fruit said to grant profound enlightenment and aid in realm advancement] and three portions of Heavenly Pure Qi [a primordial, purified spiritual energy of the highest grade].

Thinking of the Mysterious Profound [a profound and esoteric cultivation art] related to the Taiyi Immortal Fruit and Heavenly Pure Qi, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile faintly. "You all should cultivate in peace," he said, "and also diligently investigate any news regarding Netherworld Turbid Qi [a dense, yin-aligned spiritual energy found in the deepest nether regions]."

"Once I break through to Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] and gather the Netherworld Turbid Qi, I will once again refine the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Pill [a legendary elixir that harmonizes yin and yang forces to catalyze a foundational breakthrough]. At that time, your chances of successfully cultivating the Primordial Foundation [the most perfect and stable foundational cultivation base] will be greatly increased."

Kael Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "The Netherworld Turbid Qi is located within the Netherworld Depths [the profound and dangerous abyssal layers of the underworld]. Should we not begin planning for it in advance?"

"There is no need for haste just yet," Eldrin Chen shook his head, a slight frown creasing his brow. "The Netherworld Turbid Qi is exceedingly precious and rarely appears at the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare resources]. Venturing into the Netherworld Depths to search for it would be highly likely to offend the Netherworld Great Power [the formidable beings who rule the deepest nether realms]."

Pausing briefly, Eldrin Chen then continued in a measured tone, "However, we can begin by gathering intelligence on the Netherworld Turbid Qi. This way, we will not be left desperately seeking it at a critical juncture."

"Understood."

Kael Chen nodded in agreement. "The clan needs time to digest and solidify its Deep-Seated Foundation [a metaphor for consolidating gains and strengthening the clan's core power], so there should be no major conflicts forthcoming. I shall take this opportunity to travel through the Immortal Domain [the vast realm where immortals dwell], gathering news and intelligence along the way."

Qiyuan Chen and Ethan Chen also nodded in assent. "Indeed," they said. "We have been Ascending to Immortality [achieving the state of an Earth Immortal] for several hundred thousand years, yet we have never truly taken the time to explore this magnificent Immortal Domain."

"Now is the perfect time to journey forth and behold the splendors of this great Immortal Domain." Original English translation available at audio-novel dot com.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen understood that the three had made up their minds. He sighed and said, "Since that is the case, remember to prioritize your safety above all else." "We understand," they replied.

The three nodded, each revealing a faint smile.

With matters settled thus, the meeting concluded. Afterwards, Eldrin Chen secluded himself in cultivation at Verdant Chariot Mountain for a time before quietly making his way to the Myriad Spirits Sea Territory.

Stealthily meeting with Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor, Eldrin Chen immediately cupped his hands in salute and said, "Senior, I have come to deliver treasures."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen retrieved four treasures: the Fragment of Chronos [a shard containing the essence of time], the Ancient Gold of the Firmament [a primordial metal forged from heavenly essence], the Grand Unity Heaven-Rending Hammer, and the Grand Unity Refined Gold War Halberd. "You are quite thoughtful," the ancestor remarked.

Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor examined the several treasures before smiling and speaking.

With these words, he then took the Grand Unity Heaven-Rending Hammer and the Ancient Gold of the Firmament, saying, "As for the remainder, you may take them back."

Watching Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor accept the two treasures, Eldrin Chen felt not the slightest reluctance, but rather a subtle sense of relief settled in his heart.

By willingly taking two treasures, Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor demonstrated his willingness to shoulder the karmic consequences for Eldrin Chen and to guard his secrets. Had the ancestor refused them, Eldrin Chen would have felt uneasy instead.

For that would have meant he disdained such treasures, his gaze coveting the greater prize of an Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of heaven and earth, possessing unparalleled power and potential].

Eldrin Chen had schemed with immense toil and hardship to finally obtain the Innate Treasure [a primordial treasure born of heaven and earth, possessing immense power]; naturally, he would not simply relinquish it.

Even if he were to hand over the Innate Treasure in exchange for safety, it would undoubtedly be given to someone like the Heaven's Halberd Demon-Slaying True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator renowned for slaying demons], a cultivator of the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm].

After all, the Heaven's Halberd Demon-Slaying True Lord's strength surpassed that of the Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor by a hundredfold, offering Eldrin Chen far greater protection. Moreover, such a supreme expert would hardly tarnish his reputation over a mere low-grade Innate Treasure.

Conversely, even if the Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor acquired the Innate Treasure, once word leaked out, he likely couldn't protect Eldrin Chen. They would ultimately still have to rely on the Heaven's Halberd Demon-Slaying True Lord. So why go through such unnecessary trouble?

Now that the Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor had accepted the two Taiyi Rare Treasure [extremely rare treasures of profound mystery], Eldrin Chen finally felt a slight sense of relief settle in his heart.

He stored the remaining treasures away, then looked at the Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor and asked, "I wonder if the Heavenly Immortal Paragon [powerful cultivators at the peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm] pursued the matter after I left?" The Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor did not answer directly but instead inquired, "The one who intervened to rescue you—was it the master of the Western Abyss Celestial Court [a powerful celestial court in the Western Abyss], or perhaps an Elder from one of the great Supreme [a term denoting the highest, most profound level] sects?" Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly understood.

He roughly surmised what had happened. His sudden departure, guided by the Abyssal Pearl [a mystical pearl with abyssal properties], had led the various Heavenly Immortal Paragon to believe that a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm expert, or even an Ancient Immortals [a venerable group of immortals from ancient times], stood behind him. Consequently, none dared to act recklessly.

Upon careful reflection, this was within expectations. After all, Innate Spiritual Treasure [spiritual treasures of innate origin] were exceedingly rare, and a space-attribute Innate Spiritual Treasure was a rarity among rarities.

Those mighty beings had not anticipated the existence of the Abyssal Pearl, so they assumed Eldrin Chen was backed by a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm expert or even the Ancient Immortals. From this perspective, many previously puzzling events now seemed to have a plausible explanation.

Only the methods of the Ancient Immortals could have allowed Eldrin Chen to infiltrate the Minor Universe [a smaller, self-contained realm or universe] so silently and undetected.

Only by having the backing of an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a being of immense power from the primordial ages] could Eldrin Chen have seen through the schemes of the Blackcloud Demon Monarch, rendering that demon monarch's plans spanning millions of years utterly futile. Furthermore, only such formidable backing could grant him the unshakeable confidence to face all challengers without fear, daring to claim sole possession of two Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of creation, possessing immense innate power].

As for why the Ancient Immortals [beings who have achieved immortality in the distant past] behind him do not show themselves, this is entirely to be expected.

Now, with the Hundred Calamities Rebirth Opportunity [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal that occurs once every hundred great calamities] drawing near, the major powers within the Immortal Domain have already begun their machinations.

Those capable of scheming for the Hundred Calamities Rebirth Opportunity are, at minimum, legacies of Great Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme realm of immortality]. With countless such forces moving in the shadows, it is perfectly logical for them to remain hidden from view.

Not only these Heavenly Immortal Paragon [peak experts among celestial immortals], but even Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor himself harbors suspicions, believing that Eldrin Chen likely stands upon a foundation of a lineage with a truly astonishing origin.

In a mere span of several hundred thousand years of cultivation, he has reached a level where he can contend with Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very cusp of ascending to true celestial immortality]. His talent and brilliance surpass even that of Jiang the Sovereign Emperor, making him a figure rarely seen across the eons, comparable to the direct disciples of the Supreme [peerless, paramount] great sects founded by Great Luo Immortal Lord.

If it were merely Eldrin Chen alone, one might still explain it as a Heaven's Chosen [a person of extraordinary destiny favored by heaven] rising from obscurity.

But the Chen Immortal Clan boasts nine immortals, each a Supreme prodigy who has laid a Triple Heaven-Opening Foundation [a legendary, supremely stable foundation for cultivation, opened three times by heaven's grace]. This simply cannot be explained by a sudden, humble ascent.

Aside from the Supreme lineages established by those Great Luo Golden Immortal, what other power could possibly nurture nine Great Luo [referring to the Great Luo realm] seeds all at once? This, combined with myself's own inability to divine the origins of Eldrin Chen and his kin through any method of divination, only deepens Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor's conjectures.

Therefore, at this moment, Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor became increasingly convinced that Eldrin Chen possessed an extraordinary background, suspecting they were direct disciples of a Supreme [the highest level of cultivation sect or power] Great Sect, deliberately placed to roam freely within the Immortal Domain [a vast realm of cultivation and immortal beings].

Releasing disciples to wander in foreign lands is a tradition of many Supreme Great Sects.

For a flower nurtured in a greenhouse struggles to withstand storms; disciples overly protected and coddled often fail to achieve greatness.

This point is evident from the case of True Dragon Crown Prince. Despite possessing a Dual Taiyi Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation stage] and wielding a Taiyi Immortal Weapon [a legendary immortal-grade artifact], he was ultimately slain by Aethelred, the Human Sovereign. This shows that an overly smooth path of growth is like a vessel cast from porcelain—impressive in appearance but fragile at its core.

If one compares a Heaven's Chosen [a prodigy blessed by heaven] to rare divine iron, then to forge a peerless Immortal Sword, it must endure the lash of wind and rain, be tempered by thunder and fire. Thus, true Supreme Great Sects often send their direct disciples to wander abroad, forbidding them from relying on any sect power, forcing them to venture and gain experience alone.

Having grasped this, Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor, seeing Eldrin Chen remain silent, smiled and said, "I understand. Sects like the Great Luo Immortal Sect are Supreme Great Sects whose might shakes the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad cultivation realms].

"Once their name is uttered, who within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains would not show them profound respect?"

"Relying on such sect prestige would defeat the purpose of tempering. Therefore, true direct disciples of Supreme Great Sects, when journeying through the myriad worlds, are never permitted to reveal their sect origins or master's lineage." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel`com.