Chapter 1480 : Echoes of the Primordial Dragon

"Could there truly be a Primordial Era Nether Dragon [a legendary dragon from the primordial times of creation] still residing within this Netherworld Small Universe?"

Having blocked the Primordial Era Nether Dragon Talisman, Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly.

To craft such a Primordial Era Nether Dragon Talisman, one must use the Vital Essence Blood [the concentrated lifeblood containing profound spiritual power] of a Primordial Era Nether Dragon as its core material. The fact that a mere talisman forged from this Vital Essence Blood could possess combat power rivaling a Late Stage Earth Immortal indicated that the original creature itself must have been far more formidable.

If that Primordial Era Nether Dragon were still alive, its combat prowess would likely at least be comparable to the most supreme Earth Immortal Great Perfection, or perhaps even surpass that realm, having reached the Primordial Unity Realm [the legendary state of primordial oneness].

"Since it did not come to join the battle, it most likely perished during the Oblivion [the cataclysmic event that ended the previous cosmic era] within the Netherworld Small Universe."

These thoughts flashed through Eldrin Chen's mind, but he swiftly suppressed them.

With a flick of his sleeve, the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron erupted, unleashing a torrent of Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [the supreme celestial fire of the primordial sun]. In mere moments, the Ancient Soaring Serpent [an ancient winged serpent of immense power] was utterly annihilated.

"Break the formation!"

The instant the ancient beast was slain, Eldrin Chen seized the opportunity. With another sweep of his sleeve, he unleashed the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a supreme divine thunder technique harmonizing the five elements and the primordial sun] to assault the Soaring Serpent Ancient Star.

With the fall of the Soaring Serpent, the defensive power of the Soaring Serpent Ancient Star's Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense or attack] was critically wounded.

Having already endured the full-force strike from Eldrin Chen, the Soaring Serpent Ancient Star Formation [a structured arrangement of energy and power] could not withstand the assault of this Mysterious Grade Divine Ability [a profound and esoteric supernatural power] and was instantly shattered.

In that very instant, with the destruction of this Soaring Serpent Ancient Star Formation, over a quarter of the Stellar [pertaining to stars and celestial bodies] Formation arrays across the starry expanse instantly disintegrated. The power of the Netherworld Grand Formation [a grand formation harnessing the power of the underworld] was immediately diminished by nearly one-tenth.

The Nether Sea Pearl [a mystical pearl imbued with the essence of the nether sea] was inherently adept at defense, not offense. Its own offensive power was merely comparable to a High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a high-tier treasure capable of splitting worlds]. It was only through the amplification of the Formation that its attack power reached the threshold of a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure of world-sundering power].

Now, with its power further reduced by another tenth of its amplification, the pressure on Exquisite Jiang lessened considerably.

"The grand formation is broken! Follow me and shatter the enemy!"

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen immediately spoke.

No sooner had his words fallen than Eldrin Chen, disregarding the drain on his spiritual energy, once again activated the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [an ancient cauldron forged with the essence of a crimson dragon]. With its might, he firmly suppressed the Kui Ox [a mythical single-legged ox beast of immense strength] within the ancient vessel.

The Dragon Turtle [a mythical beast combining dragon and turtle traits] possessed peerless defense, and the Great Roc [a legendary bird of colossal size] commanded Extreme Speed [a supernatural ability of unparalleled swiftness]; neither would be easy to slay.

Only this Kui Ox, though possessing boundless strength, ultimately could not rival a World-Opening Supreme Treasure. As Eldrin Chen continued his assault, the Kui Ox's overwhelming power was finally subdued by the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron.

"A mere phantom of the Late Stage Earth Immortal [the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] realm, yet its strength rivals that of an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm]."

"If its true form is likely at the Primordial Unity Realm level, a being of the Ancient True Spirit Beasts [primordial beasts of immense power and ancient lineage], then wouldn't it possess strength to rival a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme cultivator who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm]?"

After completely refining the phantom of the Kui Ox [a mythical one-legged ox beast], Eldrin Chen could not help but feel a growing sense of astonishment.

This Small Universe [a self-contained cosmos smaller than a major universe] was vast and boundless, spanning a staggering thirty million light-years. While the power within the Netherworld Small Universe [the cosmic realm of the dead and the underworld] paled in comparison to the Yang World [the realm of the living], within this Netherworld cosmos, there had likely been four beings who once stood at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Great Power threshold.

"The three Imperial Lord [a sovereign ruler of a vast domain]—Forgetful River, Nether River, and Nether Sea—plus one suspected Primordial Unity Realm [a realm of primordial oneness and immense power] Primordial Era Nether Dragon [an ancient dragon born from the nether forces of the primordial chaos]."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his gaze turning slightly cold as he spoke: "Within the Solar Realm Small Universe [a cosmic realm aligned with solar and yang energies], we know of four Ancient True Spirit Beasts, each at least at the Primordial Unity Realm level."

"And the Ancient True Spirit Beasts present during the Primordial Chaos Unfolding [the epochal event when order first emerged from the formless primordial chaos] likely represented only a portion of this Small Universe's true strength. Calculating thus, the actual number of Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the very cusp of the Celestial Immortal realm] within this cosmos must be several times greater."

"Not to mention that within the Solar Realm Small Universe, there is also the master of that Universe [a complete, major cosmic realm], one who has merged with the Heavenly Path [the supreme, overarching Dao of Heaven itself]."

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen grew increasingly aware of the terrifying profundity contained within a single Small Universe.

Such Small Universes, born naturally within the Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation], are each immeasurably vast and profound. Unless an Universe approaches its epoch of Oblivion [the final dissolution and return to nothingness], even a Celestial Immortal Great Power would find it difficult to peer into its depths.

For every Small Universe is at least equivalent in stature to a Celestial Immortal Great Power. In fact, the Celestial Immortal Great Cosmos [a vast cosmic domain created by a Celestial Immortal] forged by many powerful beings at the Early Celestial Immortal Realm [the initial stage of the Celestial Immortal realm] typically does not exceed ten million light-years in span.

This Small Universe spanning thirty million light-years was already comparable to a Universe opened by a Mid Celestial Immortal Realm powerhouse.

Such a Great Universe, if all its treasures were plundered, would leave even a Celestial Immortal Great Power immensely enriched.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen grew increasingly curious about the Universe Origin Supreme Treasure nurtured within this Small Universe.

He swiftly suppressed his thoughts and, with a flick of his sleeve, engaged the Dragon Turtle and the Great Roc in battle.

These two possessed only the combat power of the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm. Though one boasted Extreme Speed rivaling an Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator, and the other possessed defensive might on par with that same level.

As long as the Four Divine Spirits did not unite, they posed no significant threat to Eldrin Chen.

Thus, Eldrin Chen pressed his assault relentlessly. He pursued the Great Roc with the Five-Colored Aurora Evasion, whose speed ultimately surpassed the beast's vaunted Extreme Speed, and finally slew it upon the Void Heaven.

The sole remaining Dragon Turtle, while peerless in defense, could not withstand the might of the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron. It held out within the cauldron's confines for a considerable time before being utterly refined into a wisp of tribulation ash.

"Withdraw!"

Seeing the tide of battle had irrevocably turned, the various Ghost Immortal finally ceased their resistance.

Under the leadership of the Ghost Ancestor [a powerful spectral entity], they withdrew into the distance.

Eldrin Chen led a relentless pursuit, slaying over two thousand Ghost Immortal [spectral cultivators] before watching the remaining Ghost Immortal and Ghost Ancestor retreat into the Three Thousand Ghost Cities Grand Formation [a vast defensive array of spectral cities].

"Hah—"

Seeing the Netherworld Ghost Ancestor withdraw into the grand formation, Eldrin Chen let out a slight sigh of relief.

Successively activating the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [a legendary cauldron artifact] had demonstrated immense power, but the toll on his spiritual energy reserves was equally staggering.

Beside him, Exquisite Jiang had also expended a great deal. While the Nether Sea Pearl [a pearl imbued with nether sea energies] lacked overwhelming offensive force, its resilience under the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy] was Extraordinary, and its energy seemed nearly inexhaustible.

She had borne the brunt of defending against the Nether Sea Pearl, and after repeated activations, her energy was already more than half depleted.

Had Eldrin Chen not first shattered the Four Divine Spirits [four powerful spirit guardians], and had Exquisite Jiang been forced into a disadvantage, their only recourse would have been a hasty retreat.

Beyond the two of them, the other immortals had also suffered significant losses. A cursory assessment by Eldrin Chen revealed that several dozen Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual beings] had fallen in battle.

As Eldrin Chen gathered the spiritual remnants of the fallen Divine Spirits from the Returning Abyss Great World, Ethan Chen had already tallied the preliminary results of the engagement.

He handed a list to Eldrin Chen and then spoke, "In this battle, forty-seven Divine Spirits [powerful beings who have ascended to a divine state] and Immortal [cultivators who have achieved immortality] fell, including three Imperial Lord [rulers who have mastered fundamental cosmic laws] who commanded the laws."

"However, we slew twenty-one Earth Immortal [immortals who have forged their own inner world] and over two thousand Netherworld Ghost Immortal [immortals who cultivate through the power of the underworld]."

Eldrin Chen glanced at the list and understood. The three fallen Imperial Lord belonged to Lila, Violet Consort Yan, and Heaven Abyss Path Master respectively. A faint sigh escaped his heart.

Even among Earth Immortal who had opened a Ninefold Heaven [a nine-layered celestial realm within one's inner world], there existed a clear hierarchy of strength.

The Divine Spirits within an Earth Immortal World [the personal cosmos of an Earth Immortal] were no different. Although Lila and Violet Consort Yan had broken through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal, the nine Imperial Lord within their Earth Immortal World only possessed combat power equivalent to a Six Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations].

Such strength, while not inferior to an Early Eighth Rank [the initial stage of the eighth cultivation rank] Netherworld Ghost Ancestor [a progenitor-level ghost cultivator], also made them the most vulnerable to fall.

In contrast, each of the Six Heavens and Seven Realms Imperial Lord [the Imperial Lords governing the six heavens and seven realms within Eldrin's world] within Eldrin Chen's domain possessed combat power rivaling that of an Early Eighth Rank Earth Immortal Patriarch [a patriarch-level Earth Immortal].