Chapter 1463 : A Web of Schemes and Immortal Pursuit

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a chill run down his spine.

The Void Gate of Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven had existed for who knows how many hundreds of millions of years. How could it have conveniently broken down at this precise moment?

Furthermore, the repair time was peculiarly specific. At its slowest, it would take one hundred thousand years—precisely the time needed for the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron to complete its ascension.

Eldrin Chen was certain that Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace was likely deeply involved behind the scenes.

"I used the Crimson Dragon Cauldron as an overt scheme to buy three hundred thousand years of time," he reflected.

"I never imagined that today, I would be countered by Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace's own machinations."

Eldrin Chen sighed inwardly, then said to Seven Mystery Path Master, "Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist."

"There is no need for thanks," replied Seven Mystery Path Master.

"The cause of yesterday is the fruit of today."

Seven Mystery Path Master shook his head and continued, "If not for the life-saving grace you showed me in the past, I would not have spoken up to advise you today. If you wish to thank someone, thank your former self."

Speaking of this, Seven Mystery Path Master said, "Within Divine Abyss Immortal City [a major fortified city in the immortal realms], one cannot activate a Spatial Supreme Treasure [an artifact of the highest grade capable of manipulating space]. That Master of Flowing Fire has found three cultivators at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] and stationed them outside the Divine Abyss Immortal City."

"They should be able to lock onto your position. I fear that even if you activate your Spatial Supreme Treasure the moment you leave Divine Abyss Immortal City, you may not necessarily escape their pursuit."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression grew increasingly grave.

He took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Exquisite Jiang, and then spoke, "I understand."

Seven Mystery Path Master nodded and then withdrew, taking his leave.

Back when he was surrounded, Eldrin Chen had hidden in the shadows to help break the encirclement, but after a single strike, regardless of the outcome, he had immediately fled; it was not a full-fledged, life-risking battle of assistance.

Now, in repaying that favor, he too had risked offering a warning, but he would not truly fight to the death for him.

After Seven Mystery Path Master departed, Exquisite Jiang's expression turned profoundly solemn. "Husband," she asked, "given the current situation, what should we do?"

Eldrin Chen remained silent, his face etched with deep concern.

He pondered for a long while before finally speaking. "We proceed with the original plan. Let us first acquire the treasures we need."

Exquisite Jiang still harbored some concern and could not help but inquire, "With the Void Gate [a portal connecting different spaces] of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a celestial realm and cultivation sanctuary] now closed, I fear they might join forces with the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace against us."

"There is no need for worry," Eldrin Chen shook his head, offering reassurance. "Given the power of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, if they truly intended to move against us, they would have no need for such underhanded tactics."

"If my estimation is correct, this is likely nothing more than a private transaction between the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace and a certain individual in a position of authority within the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang let out a soft sigh of relief.

The Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven stood as the paramount power, the Clan Patriarch [the supreme leader of a major clan or faction], within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea region]. If they were to truly unleash their might upon them, resistance would be utterly futile.

Fortunately, within the Immortal Domain [the higher realms where immortals dwell], it was an unspoken rule, a tacit understanding among all major powers, that Celestial Immortal Great Power [a cultivator who has ascended to a celestial state of immense power] did not directly intervene in the conflicts of the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of cultivators who have attained earthly immortality]. Thus, it was highly improbable that the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven would take direct action against them.

With this thought in mind, Exquisite Jiang proposed, "If the worst comes to pass, we could simply remain within the Divine Abyss Immortal City [the central city of the Divine Abyss realm] for a hundred thousand years and concede the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a supreme artifact forged from a crimson dragon, capable of stabilizing worlds] to him."

"Concede it to him?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave a faint, almost imperceptible shake of his head.

He understood perfectly well. The Flowing Fire Star Palace [a celestial palace or sect] could not possibly afford the price of the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron, and even if they could, Eldrin Chen would never hand over such a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [an artifact of the highest order, powerful enough to help shape or stabilize nascent worlds] to them.

Within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas [a vast and resource-scarce sea region], resources are limited. If the Chen Immortal Clan [the immortal clan of the Chen family] wishes to rise, conflict with the Flowing Fire Star Palace [a powerful celestial sect] is inevitable.

Once the nine Earth Immortal Patriarchs [patriarchs who have attained the Earth Immortal cultivation realm] of the Chen Clan break through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the intermediate phase of the Earth Immortal realm], their cultivation resources will begin to run short. The difficulty of advancing to the Late Stage Earth Immortal [the late phase of the Earth Immortal realm] before the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] will increase dramatically.

After all, the lowest cultivation foundation among the Chen Clan's nine Earth Immortal Patriarchs is the Ninefold Heaven [a supreme-grade foundation within a cultivator's dantian]. Once such existences cultivate to the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm, their combat power rivals that of an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm].

Nine combatants with the power of Earth Immortal Great Perfection would constitute a formidable force within the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the Western Sea of Primordial Essence and Divine Abyss].

It must be understood that across the vast expanse of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, excluding the three supreme Grotto-Heavens [self-contained paradisiacal realms], the various Blessed Lands [lesser paradisiacal realms] have, over millions of years of accumulation, produced only a little over two hundred Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivators in total.

Relying solely on the resources of the three sea regions—Returning Abyss, Lingering Sun, and Suwei—to nurture nine such supreme combatants within a mere eight hundred thousand years would be impossible. Even draining their Immortal Spirit Essence [the concentrated spiritual energy of an immortal realm] dry would fall far short.

"To achieve this, we must at least control the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas," Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

With the Path Tribulation [a tribulation related to one's cultivation path] looming ahead, time was running out for the Chen Immortal Clan. Eldrin Chen knew that to survive this tribulation, a confrontation with the Flowing Fire Star Palace was inevitable. He would not foolishly strengthen a future enemy.

Eldrin Chen understood clearly: should the Flowing Fire Star Palace obtain the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a mighty cauldron artifact], and once the Master of Flowing Fire [the lord of the Flowing Fire Star Palace] recovered from his injuries, their next move would undoubtedly be to covet the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron [its counterpart artifact].

Therefore, Eldrin Chen had already made up his mind. He would not allow the Flowing Fire Star Palace to grow stronger. The time for decisive action was approaching.

By that time, Eldrin Chen would also be unable to protect the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron. It would either be seized by the Flowing Fire Star Palace or have to be handed over to the Glazed Blessed Land. In essence, he would lose two World-Opening Supreme Treasure.

Furthermore, the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron was the most crucial treasure for breaching the Netherworld Small Universe. Without this fire-attribute World-Opening Supreme Treasure, Eldrin Chen had no absolute certainty of conquering the Netherworld Small Universe.

Calculating it all carefully, no matter the choice, Eldrin Chen would certainly never agree to surrender the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron.

After much deliberation, Eldrin Chen's gaze grew profound as he declared, "Do not worry. An idea has already taken root in my mind. We shall make our plans after the Barter Convention concludes."

"Oh?"

Exquisite Jiang's eyes flickered. Seeing the deep meaning in his gaze, she set her concerns aside for the moment and continued toward Divine Abyss Immortal City.

Their arrival at Divine Abyss Immortal City was rather late this time. They did not have to wait long before the day of the Barter Convention arrived.

At the Barter Convention, Eldrin Chen methodically purchased Galaxy Star Sand Pill, acquiring a full forty vials in total.

Thereafter, Eldrin Chen ceased his acquisitions.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, with his foundation at the Thirteenfold Heaven level, he would need to refine approximately five and a half vials of Galaxy Star Sand Pill to reach the peak of the Third Level Earth Immortal realm.

Exquisite Jiang was in a similar situation; she would likely need to refine approximately five vials of the Galaxy Star Sand Pill [a potent cultivation elixir refined from the essence of celestial sand] before she could even approach the bottleneck for a breakthrough to the Fourth Level Earth Immortal [the fourth major stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm].

As for Nyssa Qu, Lila, Violet Consort Yan, Kael Chen, Ethan Chen, and Energy Abyss Chen, each of these six would require roughly four vials of the Galaxy Star Sand Pill to have enough.

Verdant Consort, having opened a Ten-Layered Heaven [a foundation of supreme quality with ten spiritual layers], possessed an even more profound foundation than the others. She would likely need four and a half vials of the Galaxy Star Sand Pill to succeed.

Calculated thus, the total came to a staggering thirty-nine vials of the Galaxy Star Sand Pill. Eldrin Chen purchased forty vials to guard against any potential shortfall.

The price for each vial of Galaxy Star Sand Pill hovered around one hundred thousand Immortal Source [a highly concentrated and pure form of spiritual energy crystal]. Had it not been for the windfall from the expedition to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a perilous and demonic sea realm], which netted resources worth over three million Immortal Source, Eldrin Chen would never have been able to afford such an exorbitant sum.

After purchasing this batch of Galaxy Star Veil Pills, the majority of Eldrin Chen's Immortal Source had been spent.