Chapter 1485 : A Dragon's Astonishment

"Not dead?"

Seeing that Eldrin Chen had not perished, the Primordial Era Nether Dragon revealed a trace of astonishment in its expression.

This Small Universe's inheritance differed from that of the Great Universe and the Immortal Domain. No great power had left their lineage here, so its cultivation methods were all developed through the internal inhabitants' own exploration.

They referred to the Seventh Rank as the Divine Spirit Realm [the realm of divine spirits], the eighth rank as the Saint Realm [the realm of saints], and those at the peak of the eighth rank were called Great Sage [great sages].

Those who reached the Ninth Rank, the Primordial Unity Realm [the realm of primordial unity], were revered by them as Great Emperor [great emperors], and their World-Opening Supreme Treasure [supreme treasures capable of cleaving worlds] were honored as Imperial Weapon [imperial weapons].

And the Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [immortal weapons of the primordial unity realm] were even more powerful, termed by them as Supreme Immortal Weapon [supreme immortal weapons].

An existence like the Primordial Era Nether Dragon was one of the four former Great Emperor of the Netherworld Small Universe.

Throughout its life, it had dominated the Small Universe, nearly unmatched across the boundless Universe. This was the first time a being of the Saint Realm had survived a direct strike from it.

Witnessing this, the Primordial Era Nether Dragon spoke, its gaze turning icy. "For tens of millions of years, no Great Sage within this Great Universe has ever survived a single blow from me."

"Your cultivation method differs from those of this Great Universe. You are an outsider?"

Speaking to this point, the Primordial Era Nether Dragon [a primordial dragon born from the essence of the Nether Abyss] said with a faint light gleaming in its eyes, "The Path Ancestor [a supreme being who has comprehended and mastered a fundamental cosmic principle] once stated that beyond this Great Universe [the vast, all-encompassing cosmos], there must certainly be other Great Universe."

"Could it be that you all arrived by following the spatial rifts of Universe Oblivion [the final, irreversible end of a cosmos, where all matter, energy, and concepts dissolve into nothingness]?"

Having its origins guessed by the Primordial Era Nether Dragon, Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of killing intent surfacing within them.

Seeing this, the Primordial Era Nether Dragon let out a cold laugh. "Heaven truly does not wish for my demise. It seems that by capturing you all, this venerable one can escape this Great Universe on the brink of Oblivion."

"Perish now."

As the words fell, the Primordial Era Nether Dragon unleashed its full power, striking forth with boundless might, intent on crushing Eldrin Chen where he stood.

Exquisite Jiang immediately surged forward, activating the Black Dragon Ancient Cauldron [an ancient cauldron forged from the essence of a primordial black dragon] to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Eldrin Chen in battle.

Verdant Consort and Nyssa Qu also joined the fray, lending their strength to the two in their struggle against the Primordial Era Nether Dragon.

A great battle erupted in an instant. The four of them clashed with the primordial beast in the void in a breathtaking confrontation. The Primordial Era Nether Dragon, seeking to sweep aside all foes, found to its astonishment that it could not overpower the quartet.

"Four Great Sage [a supreme cultivation realm, one step below the legendary Path Ancestor]."

"No, these are four Quasi-Emperor realm powerhouses."

Nether Dragon Great Emperor murmured inwardly, a flicker of astonishment coloring his expression.

Within this Small Universe, eighth-rank powerhouses do not cultivate the World-Opening method; their strength pales in comparison to Earth Immortal cultivators of the same realm.

The combat prowess of both Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang was comparable to that of an Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator, surpassing the Great Sage of this world by several times.

Even the battle strength of Verdant Consort and Nyssa Qu was sufficient for them to hold their own against three Great Sage of this realm simultaneously.

At his peak, Nether Dragon Great Emperor would not have feared even ten Quasi-Emperors of this level attacking him together.

But now, his injuries were grievous, his combat power reduced to a mere thirty percent. Faced with these four assailants wielding two Imperial Weapon, he found himself momentarily forced onto the defensive.

Seeing this, he swept his sleeve, summoning the Nether Sea Pearl. With this Imperial Weapon shielding him, he finally managed to stabilize his position.

"Attack!"

As the battle erupted high in the heavens between the four and Nether Dragon Great Emperor, those on the ground below also sprang into action.

Kael Chen, Ethan Chen, Energy Abyss Chen, and five other combatants with the power of Late Stage Earth Immortal [the third major stage of Earth Immortal cultivation] immediately joined the fray, clashing with the Netherworld Ghost Ancestors [powerful spectral beings who have attained the Ghost Ancestor realm]. From the very outset, they seized an overwhelming advantage.

Within the current Netherworld Small Universe [a minor cosmos ruled by the forces of the underworld], only four Ghost Ancestors [spectral cultivators equivalent to Earth Immortals] at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the peak of the Earth Immortal realm] remained, and the number of Ghost Ancestors in the Earth Immortal Realm [the foundational realm for true immortality] had dwindled to a mere thirty or so.

With this diminished force, they were utterly outmatched by Ancient Ruins Nether Lord and his allies.

The eight combatants from the Purple Seal Realm [a major cultivation world] who possessed Late Stage Earth Immortal power were, within the confines of this Netherworld Small Universe, akin to top-tier experts at the Great Sage [a realm surpassing Earth Immortal] level.

After a fierce battle, Eastern Sovereign Energy Abyss Chen was the first to claim a victory. He channeled the Solar True Flame [a divine flame of pure solar essence] and incinerated a Netherworld Ghost Ancestor of the Saint Realm [a realm equivalent to Great Sage].

Almost simultaneously, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord activated the Four Divine Spirits Grand Formation [a mighty formation harnessing the power of four divine beasts] and slew a Netherworld [the underworld] Great Sage.

The remaining two Netherworld Great Sages, sensing the dire turn of events, sought to disengage and flee, but it was already far too late.

With the allied forces pressing their assault, the two Ghost Ancestors were swiftly vanquished.

"Argh! Outsiders from beyond this realm, you have provoked my wrath!"

Witnessing the collapse of his Ghost Ancestor forces, the Nether Dragon Great Emperor [a sovereign title for a powerful Nether Dragon cultivator] felt a chill of fury and dread settle deeper within his heart.

With a flick of his sleeve, he summoned a dark and sinister Dragon Pearl [a condensed orb of draconic power] to strike across the cosmos, sending the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron [a massive cauldron artifact capable of suppressing worlds] flying backward. Its remaining momentum, undiminished, surged forth to suppress Eldrin Chen.

Fortunately, at that very moment, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord and the others freed their hands. A total of eight combatants with the power of Late Stage Earth Immortal [the third major stage of Earth Immortal cultivation] joined forces, finally managing to block the assault from Nether Dragon Great Emperor.

"Eight Great Sage [a powerful cultivation realm just below the Emperor level]!"

Witnessing the reinforcements arrive, the heart of Nether Dragon Great Emperor grew increasingly somber.

At the peak of his power, he could have suppressed not just eight Great Sage-level experts, but eighty of them combined.

But now, with four Quasi-Emperor level opponents each wielding an Imperial Weapon [a weapon forged for and by an Emperor] to hold him back, these eight had become a decisive force tipping the scales.

"A pity," he thought, "during the Netherworld [the realm of the dead] Heavenly Path [the supreme cultivation method] Oblivion [a state of complete annihilation], I was forced to sacrifice my life-bound Imperial Weapon as a substitute. Today, I lack that crucial Slaughter [a divine ability focused on mass destruction] Imperial Weapon."

"Otherwise, with the might of the Nether Dragon Imperial Halberd, I would have surely annihilated every last one of you."

With this thought, a flicker of retreat crossed the mind of Nether Dragon Great Emperor.

He cast a cold glance over the assembled foes and spoke with icy detachment, "A swarm of insects. Once this Emperor recovers from his wounds, I shall ensure your complete and utter eradication."

"Not good, it's trying to flee!"

Seeing the Primordial Era Nether Dragon [an ancient dragon born from the primordial chaos of the Netherworld] about to escape, Eldrin Chen's heart sank.

Such a Primordial Era Nether Dragon, once it recovered most of its power, would become their greatest threat.

By then, they would have no choice but to abandon the Netherworld Small Universe [a miniature cosmos born from the essence of the Netherworld], or else face the peril of utter annihilation.

Yet if they failed to secure the Netherworld Small Universe, all their efforts in this battle would be for naught, and their grand designs for the Solar Realm Small Universe [a miniature cosmos born from the essence of the Solar Realm] would crumble to dust.

"We have no choice but to take a desperate gamble."

With this resolve, Eldrin Chen immediately shouted, "Everyone, this is our final chance! We cannot let it escape!"

Exquisite Jiang understood his intent. She immediately summoned the Black Dragon Ancient Cauldron [an ancient cauldron forged from the essence of a black dragon] with all her might and, with a sweep of her sleeve, unleashed a barrage of Immortal Treasures [powerful artifacts used by immortals] and Divine Abilitys [supernatural powers mastered through cultivation] in a furious assault.

The other nine cultivators, witnessing this, also poured their full power into the fray. They unleashed their own treasures and Divine Abilitys, and even the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Grand Formation [a grand formation channeling the primordial flames of the sun], all striking against the Nether Sea Pearl [a supreme treasure formed from the condensed essence of the Nether Sea].

Yet, the Nether Sea Pearl proved worthy of its reputation as a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a treasure of such power it could aid in creating or stabilizing a world], renowned for its defense. Even under such a concentrated onslaught, it steadfastly shielded the Primordial Era Nether Dragon, though its radiant glow dimmed considerably.

"Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword."

In that very instant, Eldrin Chen made his decision. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a blade of dazzling, peerless brilliance—the Thunderclap Immortal Sword.

It was a supremely radiant Supreme Immortal Sword, its blade saturated with world-ending light of Thunderclap. At Eldrin Chen's command, its radiance pierced the endless expanse of the Netherworld Universe.

In a flash, boundless Thunderclap sword energy tore through the void. To the utter astonishment of the Nether Dragon Great Emperor, it pierced through the Nether Sea Pearl and struck true at the vital point seven inches below its head—the serpent's most vulnerable spot.

"A supreme immortal artifact [a weapon of divine power forged by immortals]!"

"Aaaaargh—!"

Instantly, a roar of pure terror erupted from the Nether Dragon Great Emperor.