Chapter 1476 : A Pact for Primordial Ascension

"You flatter me."

Upon hearing this, the assembled immortals all offered faint smiles. The current Eldrin Chen, wielding the World-Opening Supreme Treasure, possessed combat prowess that ranked among the very pinnacle even within the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm.

A favor from a powerhouse of such caliber could be considered exceedingly valuable.

"This old man has been waiting for you to say those very words."

Violet Mystery Path Master gave a slight smile and then spoke, "In a few more years, this old man will have a matter requiring your assistance."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of confusion crossing his features.

The Violet Mystery Path Master nodded slightly and continued, "One hundred thousand years from now, this old man will begin the process of condensing the Primordial Unity Path Principle. At that time, I will need to ask for your protection during the crucial breakthrough."

"Breaking through to the Primordial Unity Realm?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen immediately revealed a look of profound astonishment.

For an Immortal at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm], attempting a breakthrough to the Primordial Unity Realm [the realm of primordial oneness, a major ascension] is no simple feat.

Countless Immortal at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection have failed in their attempts to charge the Primordial Unity Realm.

Yet, upon careful reflection, it seems almost inevitable that Violet Mystery Path Master would succeed in breaking through to the Primordial Unity Realm.

After all, he had cultivated three types of World-Opening Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation method] and had opened the Eighth Heaven and Earth [a profound internal world]. With such a formidable foundation and accumulated depth, his chances of successfully impacting the Primordial Unity Realm should be no less than forty percent.

Violet Mystery Path Master had broken through to the Earth Immortal Great Perfection several million years ago. Having accumulated resources and power over those eons, he had likely long since gathered all the necessary Spiritual Object [rare spiritual materials] required for the Primordial Unity Realm breakthrough.

Thus, it seemed he possessed at least a fifty to sixty percent probability of successfully cultivating the Primordial Unity Path Principle [the supreme principle of the Primordial Unity realm].

However, this was not the time of a Path Tribulation [a designated, often safer, period for attempting a major breakthrough]. Attempting the Primordial Unity Realm breakthrough now would undoubtedly draw enemies seeking to obstruct his path.

While Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings at the Celestial Immortal realm] might not intervene personally, formidable foes at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection and Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [those on the verge of becoming Celestial Immortals] would certainly not sit idly by and allow a new threat to rise.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen could not help but inquire, "Fellow Daoist, are you confident in your chances?"

"I have some measure of confidence in the breakthrough itself," he replied. "My concern lies with powerful enemies coming to obstruct my path, preventing me from achieving the breakthrough in peace."

The Violet Mystery Path Master spoke slowly, then looked at Eldrin Chen with a smile. "Fortunately, you possess two World-Opening Supreme Treasure. If you are willing to assist me with all your might in repelling external foes, then this old man can give it a try."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod.

In truth, he had already formed a rough guess. The reason the Violet Mystery Path Master chose to make his breakthrough after one hundred thousand years was also in preparation for the opening of the Small Universe [a self-contained pocket dimension or nascent cosmos].

Once he stepped into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, then in the future, when he entered the Small Universe, he would have the potential to contend for World-Opening Supreme Treasure and even Primordial Unity Rare Treasure [legendary artifacts of unparalleled power from the dawn of creation].

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen inclined his head and said, "Since you, Fellow Daoist, intend to break through, I will naturally assist with my full strength."

"Good."

The Violet Mystery Path Master laughed heartily and immediately clapped Eldrin Chen on the shoulder.

Although their acquaintance had been brief, their temperaments were remarkably compatible, creating a sense of regret that they had not met sooner.

However, that alone would not have been enough for him to take this risk and intervene for Eldrin Chen this time, given they had known each other for only one hundred thousand years.

The primary reason for his coming was Eldrin Chen's reputation. Within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, Eldrin Chen had already become a figure of some renown.

With just a little inquiry, one would learn that the name Returning Abyss Path Master [a title signifying one who masters the path of the returning abyss] was as good as gold, a reputation that was itself a priceless asset.

Not to mention that Eldrin Chen was a man of impeccable character; once he gave his word, he would undoubtedly give his all to fulfill it.

Even if he harbored other thoughts in his heart, merely to protect the reputation he had cultivated over countless years, he would not lightly break his promise.

To break one's vow was to scatter one's hard-earned name to the winds in a single day. For millennia thereafter, one would be met with suspicion and wariness, likely unable to forge a single true friendship, doomed to a life of solitary isolation.

Therefore, entrusting one's back to Eldrin Chen might be safer than entrusting it to some friends known for millions of years.

When seeking guardians for a breakthrough, the level of their cultivation was secondary; absolute trustworthiness was the paramount concern.

Otherwise, inviting even a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty cultivator who has ascended to the celestial immortal realm] would be useless. If that person harbored sinister intentions, would you not be handing your very life and soul into their hands?

With this thought, the Violet Mystery Path Master sighed with feeling, "If this matter succeeds, you and I could become the closest of friends."

Having said this, neither of them spoke further.

Eldrin Chen offered his thanks in turn to the old friends who had come to aid him—Heaven Abyss Path Master, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord, and the others—and then settled in to quietly await the emergence of the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [an ancient and immensely powerful alchemical cauldron forged in the shape of a crimson dragon].

Thus, time flowed by in haste, and in the blink of an eye, several years had passed.

Until one day, a brilliant spiritual light surged violently within the Lingering Sun Sea Region, and a startling roar, like that of a Heavenly Dragon [a powerful, celestial serpentine creature], echoed across the entire sea.

Immediately following, Exquisite Jiang soared into the sky, holding the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [an ancient alchemical vessel forged in the shape of a crimson dragon], appearing like a Nine Heavens Goddess [a divine maiden from the highest heavens] descending upon the Immortal Domain [a realm of immortals] while riding a True Dragon [the most noble and powerful breed of dragon].

"It is done."

A flicker of joy stirred within Eldrin Chen's heart. Gazing at the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron in Exquisite Jiang's hand, he could not help but reveal a smile.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen hosted a feast atop Green Chariot Mountain to honor the friends who had come to their aid.

Long after Violet Mystery Path Master had departed, he led Ancient Ruins Nether Lord and the others to a secluded chamber.

Within that chamber, the nine Earth Immortal Patriarch [patriarchs who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] of the Chen Clan, along with Heaven Abyss Path Master and Ancient Ruins Nether Lord, sat in meditation together.

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord swept his gaze over the assembly and spoke directly, "All of you have now broken through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the intermediate phase of the Earth Immortal cultivation stage]. The time for us to act has come."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen cast a thoughtful look around at everyone present.

They discovered that Ancient Ruins Nether Lord's cultivation had already stepped into the Fourth Level Earth Immortal realm, and Heaven Abyss Path Master had also broken through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal stage.

Clearly, over these years, both their cultivation progress had been exceptionally swift, though they had likely also exhausted the gains from the Great Tribulation and the Small Universe.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen spoke up: "The time is nearly upon us. However, there are still quite a few Ghost Immortal [a type of immortal bound to the underworld] within that Small Universe. This time, we must learn from our past lessons. It would be best to mobilize a group of Immortal to enter."

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord nodded, pondering for a moment before saying, "Your plan to seize the Solar Realm Small Universe [a miniature universe anchored in the realm of the living] shows that after conquering the Netherworld Small Universe, we will still need to rely on it to deploy a grand formation."

"For that, we will require a significant workforce—at least three hundred Immortal or Ghost Immortal."

Everyone present nodded in agreement. Heaven Abyss Path Master's expression turned grave as he stated, "The number of hands is not the core issue. The crucial point is that we need individuals who are absolutely trustworthy."

"That is simple enough to arrange."

Eldrin Chen, having anticipated this, spoke plainly: "After the Netherworld Small Universe is secured, all Immortal who participated in the battle must remain within to construct the formation."

"For at least the next two hundred thousand years of the Future, they will not appear within the Immortal Domain."

"Then the matter is settled."

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a powerful ruler of the ghostly realm] spoke slowly, "From my Ancient Ruins Ghost City [a major city in the underworld], I can dispatch one hundred Ghost Immortals [immortals who have transcended through the ghostly path]."

After a moment's thought, Eldrin Chen said, "My Chen Clan will contribute two hundred."

Upon hearing this, the others nodded slightly. The Chen Immortal Clan [the Chen family of cultivators who have achieved immortality] currently had three hundred and sixty Immortals [beings who have ascended to immortality through cultivation] in total. With the responsibility of overseeing more than thirty sea regions, their manpower was already stretched perilously thin.

Even if the management of the thirty-three sea regions was delegated to the Immortal Alliance [a coalition of immortal forces], with the Chen Clan's Immortals focusing only on the key Immortal Isles [islands rich in spiritual energy, often used as cultivation bases] while supervising ledgers and accounts, mobilizing two hundred of their Immortals was the absolute limit.