Chapter 1496 : A Primordial Clash of Titans

"Such arrogance!"

As Eldrin Chen prepared to face both opponents alone, Azure Dragon Lord summoned forth the Azure Dragon Ancient Cauldron [a primordial vessel of immense power, said to have been forged in the heart of a dragon star] to suppress him.

The Dark Great Roc King's eyes turned icy cold, and he sneered, "You seek death!"

With those words, he unleashed his wings, which descended like Heavenly Blades [divine weapons capable of cleaving the heavens themselves]. Their overwhelming, razor-sharp edge seemed poised to sunder the very fabric of heaven and earth.

Faced with this sudden, coordinated assault, Eldrin Chen's expression remained utterly unperturbed.

With a mere flick of his sleeve, he struck out with a single palm, aiming directly for the Azure Dragon Ancient Cauldron. The impact sent the colossal treasure hurtling backwards through the air.

"Impossible!"

Witnessing this, Azure Dragon Lord was struck with profound disbelief.

To clash with a World-Opening Supreme Treasure [an artifact of such power it is said to have helped shape the cosmos at the dawn of creation] using only one's physical body bordered on myth. Since time immemorial, only those who had cultivated the legendary Primordial Unity True Body [a perfected physical form said to embody the fundamental unity of all creation, granting strength rivaling the primordial cosmos itself] were said to be capable of such a feat.

That Eldrin Chen had achieved this left both Azure Dragon Lord and the Dark Great Roc King struggling to comprehend what they had just seen.

Seizing this moment, Eldrin Chen suppressed the internal backlash and fiercely summoned the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [an ancient cauldron artifact imbued with the power of a crimson dragon], directing its crushing force towards the Dark Great Roc King.

At the critical juncture, the Dark Great Roc King attempted to flee for its life. Yet, Eldrin Chen was swifter. He activated the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand [a divine technique that manifests a giant hand of pure energy to seize and restrain], ensnaring the great roc and forcefully suppressing it within the Crimson Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron.

"Save me!"

Suddenly imprisoned within the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron, the Dark Great Roc King let out a cry of utter despair.

The Azure Dragon Lord sought to intervene, but it was already too late. Eldrin Chen channeled his power into the ancient cauldron to refine the Dark Great Roc King while simultaneously engaging the Azure Dragon Lord in direct combat, relying on his formidable Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique renowned for its near-impenetrable defense].

After merely a few dozen exchanges, the Dark Great Roc King could no longer withstand the cauldron's overwhelming power and was utterly annihilated within the void.

Witnessing the death of the Dark Great Roc King, a flicker of retreat finally surfaced in the heart of the Azure Dragon Lord.

He cast a glance at Eldrin Chen, realizing he was no match for his opponent, and prepared to disengage and flee.

"*Clang!*—"

But at that very instant, from the boundless void, a blindingly brilliant sword ray of extinction energy shot forth. It pierced through the Azure Dragon Lord's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator], utterly extinguishing him between heaven and earth.

Then, a figure clad in the imperial robes of the Thunderclap [a movement technique named for its thunderous speed] stepped through the air. With a single raised palm, he suppressed the Azure Dragon Ancient Cauldron [an ancient magical cauldron forged with the essence of an azure dragon], then strode forward, paying no heed to the fallen corpse of the Azure Dragon Lord.

He walked to the Central heart of the battlefield and, looking at Eldrin Chen, declared, "If I were you, I would step aside now."

"Extinction Thunder God."

The moment he saw the newcomer, Eldrin Chen's heart sank. He immediately summoned the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [a powerful defensive treasure forged from the essence of an ancient crimson dragon] to shield himself.

This person was indeed the Extinction Thunder God, a peerless existence who had stepped into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm just one step below that of a true Celestial Immortal]. Although he had only cultivated a single Primordial Unity Path Fruit [the foundational fruit of one's cultivation path, representing the unity of one's Dao], his mastery of Slaughter [a divine ability focused on pure destructive power] placed him among the very top within the Primordial Unity Realm [the foundational realm for high-level cultivators].

With a single sword strike, he had extinguished the Azure Dragon Lord's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a high-level cultivator], a testament to the terrifying might of the Extinction Thunder God.

One must remember, the Azure Dragon Lord—though caught off guard and unable to recall the Azure Dragon Ancient Cauldron for defense—was, after all, an existence at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm].

For such combat prowess to be annihilated in one blow was a feat even an ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal would find difficult to achieve.

Considering this, a chill ran through Eldrin Chen's heart. He glanced at the Extinction Thunder God and asked, "If you have come, Senior, to obstruct my path, why did you slay the Azure Dragon Lord?"

"Four hundred thousand years ago, the Western Abyss Dragon King pierced my chest with a single strike. Tell me, should I not have killed him?"

The Extinction Thunder God [a deity of thunder and ultimate destruction] spoke slowly, his gaze fixed upon the place where Violet Mystery Path Master was in seclusion. "For millions of years," he said, "Violet Mystery Path Master has been spoken of in the same breath as myself."

"Today, he wishes to step into the Primordial Unity Realm [the legendary realm of primordial oneness, the pinnacle of cultivation]. It is only fitting that he must pass through my tribulation."

Eldrin Chen nodded, his expression one of profound gravity. "If I were you," he stated, "I would be fleeing for my life at this very moment."

"With the Azure Dragon Lord fallen in battle, there is no telling if that one might seize this chance to cast aside all decorum and intervene personally."

The Extinction Thunder God gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. "It matters not," he replied. "For the Western Abyss Dragon King to reach this place would require at least three shichen-time [a shichen is a period of two hours]."

"If you would but step aside, one shichen-time would be more than sufficient to end Violet Mystery Path Master."

Eldrin Chen's countenance remained placid. He waved a dismissive hand.

While signaling for his companions to retreat back within the formation, he spoke with calm finality. "One who accepts a trust must be faithful to its charge."

"If I were to step aside now, my honor would be lost for all time."

"Oh?"

"Do you understand that by refusing to withdraw today, you make an enemy of me?"

The Extinction Thunder God [a deity of thunder and ultimate destruction] advanced, his sword held aloft as he strode through the sea of clouds. A wisp of killing intent began to coalesce around him.

Eldrin Chen knew the Extinction Thunder God was gathering sword energy, that a world-shattering strike from the Thunderclap [a sword technique of thunderous, cleaving power] was imminent and would soon descend with devastating force.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen pushed the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell [a defensive treasure embodying the unyielding essence of earth], the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [a cauldron artifact forged with the essence of an ancient crimson dragon], and his Primordial One Energy True Aura [a supreme defensive technique born from the primordial unity of energies] to their absolute limits. Only then did he speak.

"I find your command impossible to obey!"

"*Screech—*"

In that fleeting moment, the roar of the Thunderclap intertwined with the keen cry of the sword. A blade of incandescent, peerless sword energy cleaved through billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of void, as if intent on splitting the entire sea region in two.

In but an instant, the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron was sent flying backward, struck aside.

Immediately after, the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell was cloven open, a deep sword scar etched into its bell body.

The Primordial One Energy True Aura, said to be impervious to ten thousand calamities, was extinguished in that same instant under the force of this single, devastating sword strike.

Having cleaved through three layers of protective measures in succession, the remaining force of the strike was still razor-sharp and lethally potent. It slammed directly into the Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physical constitution renowned for its near-unbreakable defense].

Alas, the power of such a sword strike had ultimately reached its limit. It failed to pierce through the protective mist-shroud of the Primordial One Indestructibility Body.

"*Cough*—"

Struck by this blow, Eldrin Chen coughed up blood and was sent flying backward. Yet, he used the momentum to his advantage, hurtling back into the confines of the Violet Firmament Path Palace [the grand palace of the Violet Firmament Path].

"Hmm."

Seeing that his all-out sword strike had not even managed to wound Eldrin Chen's physical body, the Extinction Thunder God [a deity embodying the power of annihilating thunder] could not help but let out a sound of surprise.

He glanced at Eldrin Chen, his pupils contracting slightly. Then, he shook his head and offered an evaluation. "A pity. Your physical body is indeed formidable. However, the path to cultivating the Primordial Unity Immortal Body [the ultimate immortal physique born from primordial unity] is a hundred times more difficult for you than for an ordinary person."

"Unless a top-tier Grotto-Heaven [a blessed, self-contained realm of immense spiritual density] is willing to support you at any cost, you have no hope of achieving the Primordial Unity Immortal Body in this lifetime."

Without uttering a word, Eldrin Chen immediately channeled his full power into the grand formation. He activated the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron [a mighty cauldron artifact capable of suppressing realms] to shield the Violet Firmament Blessed Land [the blessed land of the Violet Firmament Path], and only then did he allow himself a slight sigh of relief.

The Extinction Thunder God before him was, as expected, an existence who had truly stepped into the Primordial Unity Realm [a profound realm representing the unity of primordial forces]. The power of the Extinction Divine Thunder Path Principle [a divine principle governing annihilating thunder] he commanded was terrifying. His Slaughter techniques were likely comparable to those of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very cusp of becoming a true celestial immortal] who possessed a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation built upon dual aspects of primordial unity].

If, back in those days, Eldrin Chen had not seized the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword and the Myriad Tribulations Thunder Fruit [a legendary fruit said to contain the condensed essence of countless heavenly tribulations], the likelihood of that individual achieving the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation state] would have been at least over ninety percent.

In that case, the present-day Extinction Thunder God would have at least attained the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation. Coupled with the might of the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword, his combat power would likely be enough to awe the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, elevating him to a status comparable to the Divine Lord of Ye Ruins.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen pushed the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron to its absolute limit. He then spoke, "With me operating the Black Dragon Ancient Cauldron to form the defensive array, Your Excellency, I fear you will find it impossible to breach the defenses of this Violet Firmament Path Palace."

"I would advise you, instead of wasting your strength here, to flee for your life before the Western Abyss Dragon King makes his move."

"Is that so?"

The Extinction Thunder God's eyes turned icy. The Immortal Sword in his hand gathered the mists of the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realm], and a world-shaking Sword Intent [the concentrated will and killing intent focused through a sword] began to coalesce.

"First, withstand three of my strikes."