Chapter 1495 : Prodigies of the Void and Flame

That Great Void Path Palace possesses an extraordinary origin. It is said to be a branch of the 'Void Grotto-Heaven' located within the Void Heavenly Domain of the Eastern Regions.

The palace master of this lineage, 'Charging Void Path Master', is a Half-Step Celestial Immortal who established a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation. In his youth, he opened the Eighth Heaven and was once hailed alongside Divine Lord of Ye Ruins as one of the Twin Prodigies of the Human Race within the Western Abyss Sea.

The Earthly Heavenly Path Master before them had also opened the Eighth Heaven and was reputed to be the likely successor to become the next palace master of the Great Void Path Palace.

Upon understanding their identities, Eldrin Chen responded with utmost courtesy, "So it is the two of you. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

The Earthly Heavenly Path Master glanced at Eldrin Chen and, not wishing to appear dismissive, cupped his hands in return. "Fellow Daoist, you once single-handedly suppressed and slew the Master of Flowing Fire in battle. Such combat prowess would likely leave even this old man in the dust."

"Meeting you today is truly an honor for me."

"You flatter me too much,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head repeatedly before continuing, "The credit for slaying the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace belongs entirely to the assistance from the Myriad Crow Forbidden Land. I dare not claim any merit for myself."

The Earthly Heavenly Path Master offered an enigmatic smile and said, "In one hundred thousand years, a distinguished guest from our ancestral land, the Void Grotto-Heaven, will arrive in the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea."

"By my reckoning, he is of an age similar to yours, Fellow Daoist, and his strength may well rival your own. I believe the two of you could become fast friends."

"Oh?"

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

Having cultivated for several hundred thousand years, this was the first time he had ever heard of someone of the same age being spoken of in the same breath as himself.

Seeing his reaction, Breaker the True Lord immediately sent a voice transmission to Eldrin Chen: "The one he speaks of is the Void Holy Son of the Void Grotto-Heaven."

"The Void Holy Son?"

Eldrin Chen raised an eyebrow, his expression one of renewed astonishment.

Breaker the True Lord gave a slight nod and, after a moment of contemplation, continued: "It is said the Void Holy Son was born with a sword at his side, a natural-born seed of a Sword Immortal [a supreme master of the sword path]."

"Upon first entering the Immortal Domain, he was immediately beset by a Great Tribulation [a catastrophic heavenly trial]. Wielding a single Immortal Sword [a divine blade of immortal grade], he carved out a fearsome reputation, hailed as the most outstanding talent the Void Heavenly Domain has seen in a million years."

"They say this man is the inheritor of the Void Grotto-Heaven's mortal world legacy. His talent was so dazzling that the Master of Void Grotto-Heaven [the supreme ruler of the Void Grotto-Heaven] exceptionally took him as a personal disciple and established him as the Holy Scion of the Void Grotto-Heaven."

"To think, he has only been an immortal for three hundred thousand years, younger in years than you are, yet he has already stepped into the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm. Truly, he is of your generation."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, thoughtful nod.

Even with the support of a Grotto-Heaven [a superior cultivation realm and power base], to reach the Late Stage Earth Immortal [a high level of cultivation mastery] in a mere three hundred thousand years, that Void Holy Son could indeed be called a peerless prodigy.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen could not help but inquire, "Fellow Daoist, that Void Holy Son, how many layers of heaven did he open within himself?"

"That, I do not know."

Breaker the True Lord shook his head, yet his voice was filled with immense envy. "It is said that not long ago, the Void Holy Son, with cultivation at the Seventh Level Earth Immortal [a specific stage of Earth Immortal mastery], single-handedly slew three beings at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of Earth Immortal cultivation] in one battle."

"With such earth-shattering combat prowess, rumors say he must have opened at least eleven layers of heaven."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, and a look of solemnity finally appeared on his face.

To slay three Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivators in a single engagement—even with Eldrin Chen's current combat strength, accomplishing such a feat would be exceedingly difficult.

"A Grotto-Heaven Holy Scion, a direct disciple of a Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm]... truly Extraordinary."

Eldrin Chen was also somewhat awed. He recalled the Saintess of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven.

It is said that Immortal Maiden Jade Stream also once opened a Ninefold Heaven [a legendary, multi-layered heavenly realm]. Now, having lived for just over two million years, she has already stepped into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a quasi-immortal state just below the true Celestial Immortal realm].

These peerless prodigies with profound backgrounds possess heaven-defying talent by nature. Coupled with the unreserved cultivation and resources poured into them by a Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land [a supreme cultivation paradise and power base], what they receive is easily a hundredfold what Eldrin Chen obtained.

The World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a legendary artifact of immense power used in the creation of worlds] that Eldrin Chen acquired through life-and-death battles and immense Opportunity and Fortune [a confluence of chance and destiny], these Holy Sons and Saintesses might not even consider particularly rare.

To be perfectly honest, if Eldrin Chen claimed he felt no envy, it would certainly be a lie.

But Eldrin Chen quickly set such thoughts aside. Although the path for these Grotto-Heaven [a supreme cultivation paradise] Holy Sons was smoother, there was nothing worth comparing or competing over.

The resources available to the Holy Sons of those great sects with Golden Immortal [a high-level immortal realm] patriarchs, or the Path Scions inheriting from Path Ancestor [the ultimate masters of a cultivation path] lineages, would surely be a hundred or a thousand times greater. In comparison, these Grotto-Heaven Holy Sons were nothing extraordinary.

He had risen from humble origins and did not dwell on his starting point.

He firmly believed that by cleaving his own path through thorns and brambles, continuously surpassing his former self, the day would come when he could open his own Grotto-Heaven, and even establish an entire Immortal Domain [a vast territory ruled by an immortal power].

At that time, he himself would be the master of a Grotto-Heaven, the sovereign of an Immortal Domain. Would that not be a far greater and more satisfying achievement?

With his mind settled, Eldrin Chen quickly suppressed these fleeting thoughts. He sought out Immortal Maiden Ethereal Firmament and inquired, "What is the current situation?"

"My husband is currently within the Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared chamber for deep meditation and cultivation breakthroughs]. He awaits only the opportune moment of spiritual alignment to attempt his breakthrough into the Primordial Unity Path Principle [the foundational principle of unifying one's primordial essence]."

Immortal Maiden Ethereal Firmament spoke slowly, her expression grave. "I must personally guard my husband during his cultivation. The enemies who come to attack must be held at bay outside the Violet Firmament Path Palace [the main palace complex of the Violet Firmament Path]. I must ask you, Fellow Daoist, to keep them there."

Eldrin Chen nodded, his face etched with solemnity. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. I will not permit anyone to enter the core Blessed Land [a land suffused with potent spiritual energy, ideal for cultivation]."

With those words, Eldrin Chen began to activate the Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array that shields an entire mountain], standing vigilant day and night to protect the entire Violet Firmament Path Palace.

Thus time flowed onward. In the blink of an eye, millennia passed. After three thousand years, the vast Violet Firmament Path Palace trembled faintly. A torrential surge of spiritual energy began converging towards the heart of the grand formation.

"It has begun."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then channeled the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and nodes for defense or cultivation] to its utmost limit.

At that very moment, from the boundless void, certain figures could no longer remain idle. In an instant, several dozen silhouettes stepped forth one after another.

"Thirty-seven Earth Immortal [immortals who have attained a profound connection with the earth's spiritual veins] have come to obstruct the Path."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. At this moment, Violet Mystery Path Master was in the midst of his assault on the Primordial Unity Realm [a high-level cultivation realm focused on unifying one's fundamental essence]. It was crucial to minimize the Formation's consumption of spiritual energy, lest Violet Mystery Path Master ultimately fail his breakthrough due to insufficient Immortal Spirit Essence [the refined, immortal-grade spiritual energy required for the highest cultivation breakthroughs].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "I must trouble you all to take action and restrain these individuals."

"Leave it to us."

The dozen or so Late Stage Earth Immortal cultivators who had come to aid, along with Kael Chen and the others, immediately moved, intercepting the majority of the Earth Immortal foes.

Yet, in that very instant, five more powerful enemies arrived, all of them experts at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection level.

Eldrin Chen recognized three of them: Dark Great Roc King, the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit, and that Azure Dragon Lord.

The remaining two were Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivators from the Demon Race, their combat prowess considered relatively ordinary among their peers at that realm.

Glancing at these opponents, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and said, "Fellow Daoists, I must ask for your assistance once more."

"It is only right."

In a flash, Breaker the True Lord and Mystery Departure True Lord each made their move, each engaging one of the Earth Immortal Great Perfection experts.

Seeing this, Earthly Heavenly Path Master brandished an ancient whisk, a treasure of World-Opening Supreme Treasure grade, sweeping it across the Six Harmonies formation to block the path of the Central Bulwark Earth Divine Spirit.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen instructed Exquisite Jiang to take command of the grand formation. He then stepped forth from the formation's protective light, positioning himself to intercept Azure Dragon Lord and Dark Great Roc Demon King.

Facing the two adversaries, Eldrin Chen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression serene and unreadable. "The two of you," he declared, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight, "may come at me together."