Chapter 1474 : The Yellow Dragon's Challenge
After these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, Eldrin Chen immediately looked at the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit and said, "The Dark Great Roc King has a grudge against me, and the Azure Dragon Lord is a powerful figure of the Dragon Clan. I can understand why they would attack me."
"However, it seems you and I have neither enmity nor grievance. Why then do you strike against me?"
"Indeed, there is neither enmity nor grievance,"
the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit nodded, yet with a flick of his sleeve, he extended a single hand.
Eldrin Chen looked up and saw, resting in his palm, a dazzlingly radiant ancient cauldron slowly rotating.
The cauldron had three legs and two handles, its entire body forged from Path Tribulation gold. Coiling and dancing upon its surface was a yellow True Dragon.
"The Yellow Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron,"
Eldrin Chen uttered softly, a trace of resignation coloring his tone.
Long ago, after the Innate Treasure known as the 'Nine Dragon Ancient Cauldron' shattered, it split into nine World-Opening Supreme Treasure.
It is now clearly known that the Azure Dragon Ancient Cauldron is in the possession of the Azure Dragon Lord, while the two ancient cauldrons of the Crimson Dragon and the Black Dragon are held by Eldrin Chen.
At present, the earth-attribute Yellow Dragon Ancient Cauldron is in the hands of the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit. To reassemble the Nine Dragon Ancient Cauldron, it was to be expected that the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit would make a move against him.
The Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit nodded slightly, then spoke with detached calm. "In ancient times, the Nine Dragon Ancient Cauldron was a single Middle-Grade Innate Treasure [a treasure born of heaven and earth, possessing immense natural power]."
"After it split into nine ancient cauldrons, the Yang Dragon, Wind Dragon, Thunder Dragon, Ice Dragon, and Golden Dragon cauldrons are no longer within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea."
"The remaining four are all gathered here today."
The Azure Dragon Lord also gave a slight nod, his voice equally composed. "If my Western Abyss Dragon Palace can gather these four cauldrons, we may have the means to seize the Golden Dragon Ancient Cauldron."
"Thus, with the Five Elements [the fundamental forces of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth] cauldrons united, we could forge the legendary Five Dragon Ancient Cauldron, which would itself be a lower-grade Primordial Unity [the foundational stage of the Primordial Unity realm] ancient cauldron."
"If you are wise, you will willingly offer up your two cauldrons. I give you my word I will not act against you today."
Hearing this, Eldrin Chen finally understood. There would be no peaceful resolution to this confrontation.
The Azure Dragon Lord was a Grotto-Heaven [a self-contained minor world or paradise] expert of the Demon Race, and held no small enmity towards the Human Race. Furthermore, Eldrin Chen had slain both the Dragon Lord of Wei Sea and the master of the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake. Reconciliation between them was impossible.
As for the Divine Clan, while there was no immediate conflict now, the Future was impossible to predict.
Not to mention the two ancient cauldrons, the Crimson Dragon and the Black Dragon, which are currently Eldrin Chen's most powerful trump cards. He would absolutely never relinquish them.
With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen still attempted to sow discord: "It would be most ideal for all the ancient cauldrons to fall into the hands of a single individual. Even if you obtained them, how would you ultimately distribute them among yourselves?"
"Azure Dragon Lord, do you truly believe you can contend with the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit?"
As these words fell, the Azure Dragon Lord's eyes chilled slightly, and he couldn't help but glance at the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit.
The Azure Dragon Lord was a peak-level Earth Immortal Great Perfection who had opened the Seventh Heaven, yet he was still far inferior to the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit.
The advantage of possessing three types of World-Opening Foundation was simply too great. Even though the Azure Dragon Lord considered himself Extraordinary, if he were to face an opponent who also wielded a World-Opening Supreme Treasure, he knew he would be no match for the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit in a real fight.
Furthermore, during the Great Tribulation, the upper echelon powerhouses of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace had suffered heavy casualties. With Celestial Immortals unable to intervene, these ancient cauldrons might ultimately all fall into the hands of the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit.
Noticing the Azure Dragon Lord's gaze, the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit remained utterly unperturbed, showing not the slightest intention of yielding the two cauldrons.
With hands clasped behind his back and a cold expression, he stated flatly, "There is no need for your attempts to sow discord. Treasures belong to those with the capability to claim them."
"Although you managed to entrap the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace, it was not through your own true strength."
"If you lack sufficient strength today, holding onto those two ancient cauldrons will only lead to your demise. It would be wiser to hand them over to me and earn a favor in return."
"If you possess enough power to withstand my assault today, then holding them temporarily is of no consequence."
"*Hummmmm—*"
As the words fell, the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit [a divine spirit embodying the stable, foundational power of the earth] flicked his sleeve. Instantly, the Yellow Dragon Ancient Cauldron [an ancient, immensely powerful ritual cauldron] swelled with the wind, transforming in a Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time] into a colossal cauldron spanning millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], blotting out the sky as it descended to suppress the Mountain Protection Formation.
In that instant, the entire Myriad Miles Lingering Sun Grand Formation trembled violently.
The Lingering Sun Blessed Land was not of the highest grade, and the power of its Mountain Protection Formation had its limits. Even with seven Late Stage Earth Immortal [cultivators at the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] fueling it, its defensive capacity was finite.
Now, under the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit's command and the crushing weight of the Yellow Dragon Ancient Cauldron, the Myriad Miles Lingering Sun Grand Formation showed faint signs of fracturing.
"Alas."
Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh. "It seems," he said, "I must incur a few more debts of gratitude today."
"Hahahaha!"
"Today, you owe this old man a favor as well."
Beside him, Violet Mystery Path Master laughed heartily, stroking his long beard.
With a flick of his sleeve, he summoned a dazzling bolt of thunder to suppress the oncoming attack, blocking the Yellow Dragon Ancient Cauldron.
"Violet Mystery."
The moment he saw who had intervened, the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit furrowed his brow slightly. Then, with another sweep of his sleeve, he urged the ancient cauldron to press down with renewed force.
"Old Path Master Violet Mystery, times have changed," he declared.
"Now that I possess the Yellow Dragon Ancient Cauldron, do you still dare to challenge me?"
"You rely merely on the power of your treasure. If you have the nerve, let us set aside our artifacts and face each other bare-handed!"
The Old Path Master Violet Mystery responded with a cold sneer. Transforming into a streak of lightning, he evaded the crushing blow. In the next instant, he unleashed the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Sword Energy, sending a devastating arc of energy slashing towards the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit.
The Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit remained unperturbed. With a wave of his hand, a colossal, sky-obscuring palm descended, its overwhelming momentum blocking the thunderous sword energy. Undeterred, he once again commanded the Yellow Dragon Ancient Cauldron to continue its relentless suppression.
"How childish!"
Witnessing this scene, Eldrin Chen could no longer restrain himself.
With a flick of his sleeve, a Black Dragon Ancient Cauldron [an ancient, supreme-grade cauldron artifact forged in the shape of a black dragon] soared into the heavens, blotting out the sky as it intercepted the overwhelming strike.
Seeing this, Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit exclaimed in great astonishment, "At merely the Fourth Level Earth Immortal [the fourth major stage of cultivation for an Earth Immortal], you can already wield a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a primordial-grade artifact of immense power, capable of shaping worlds]. No wonder the world proclaims you the foremost genius the Western Abyss Sea region has seen in a million years."
Having said this, Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit cast a glance at Azure Dragon Lord and Dark Great Roc King.
The two understood his intent and immediately took action. In that instant, the Azure Dragon Ancient Cauldron [an ancient, supreme-grade cauldron artifact forged in the shape of an azure dragon] descended with boundless might, its pressure so immense it seemed to stifle the very Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array that shields a mountain or sect].
"Fear not, Fellow Daoist! We are here to aid you!"
At that very moment, several figures flew forth from the void.
They were none other than Ancient Ruins Nether Lord, Heaven Abyss Path Master, Seven Mystery Path Master, and others.
More crucially, Seven Mystery Path Master had brought with him the World-Opening Supreme Treasure known as the 'Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram' [a supreme treasure depicting eight celestial dragons in a cosmic formation], which he deployed to intercept that formidable Azure Dragon Ancient Cauldron.
Simultaneously, several figures stood facing each other upon the Heavenly Vault.
Had Eldrin Chen been present, he would have recognized two of them as Glazed Divine Lord and Myriad Spirit Patriarch.
Among the others, one was clad in imperial robes, while another wore the purple robes of a Daoist; both seemed to be existences at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm.
The figure in imperial robes was named Great Roc Demon Emperor, said to be the paramount powerhouse of the Demon Race within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.
The Daoist in purple robes was named Earth Void Path Master, also the ruler of a major sea region surrounding the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas.