Chapter 1500 : A Pact of Flames and Fate

Even so, Eldrin Chen still did not agree.

He was seen shaking his head before speaking, "I have an idea. Would the Divine Lord [a title for a powerful deity or immortal] care to hear it?"

"Oh?"

The Blazeflame Divine Spirit raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Eldrin Chen to continue.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, "Let us cooperate to seize the Flowing Fire Star Palace. Upon success, the Divine Lord may cultivate within the Flowing Fire Blessed Land [a land of profound spiritual abundance]."

"When the time comes to attempt a breakthrough into the Primordial Unity Realm [a legendary stage of cultivation representing the union of heaven and man], this Blessed Land can provide Immortal Spirit Essence [the purest form of spiritual energy] to aid the Divine Lord."

At this point, Eldrin Chen paused briefly before continuing, "However, the ownership of this Blessed Land, along with all resources within it, shall belong to my Chen Immortal Clan."

"Leased to me for cultivation?"

Upon hearing this, the Blazeflame Divine Spirit could not help but stir slightly, a thoughtful glint in her eyes.

Her primary purpose in coming to the Returning Abyss Blessed Land was, of course, to obtain a Supreme Grade Blessed Land [a Blessed Land of the highest quality] to aid her breakthrough into the Primordial Unity Realm.

However, to be fair, after slaying Master of Flowing Fire, Eldrin Chen had already claimed nearly half the credit for the destruction of the Flowing Fire Star Palace.

Furthermore, relying solely on her own strength, her confidence in completely conquering the Flowing Fire Star Palace was not particularly high.

Under these circumstances, wanting to enlist Eldrin Chen's aid yet demanding the most valuable prize, the Supreme Grade Blessed Land [a land imbued with supreme natural spiritual power], was something Eldrin Chen would certainly not agree to. Therefore, she had promised him protection.

Now, with Eldrin Chen still disagreeing and presenting his own terms, she could not help but fall into deep contemplation.

Her purpose in coveting the Supreme Grade Blessed Land was fundamentally to achieve a breakthrough into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a transitional state just below the true Celestial Immortal realm].

Thus, if she could secure the right to use the Blessed Land [a land blessed with potent spiritual energy] to achieve that breakthrough, it would meet the very core of her objective.

With this thought, the Blazeflame Divine Spirit [an innate divine being of blazing flame] pondered briefly, then fixed her gaze upon Eldrin Chen. "If you wish to claim the entire Flowing Fire Star Palace, you must first demonstrate the capability to warrant such a claim," she stated.

"Very well,"

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, understanding that the Blazeflame Divine Spirit wished to gauge his true strength.

If his power proved insufficient, then he would lack the necessary leverage to seize the whole of the Flowing Fire Star Palace. In that case, the Blazeflame Divine Spirit would undoubtedly demand a share of the palace's resources for herself.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, "I have long heard of the formidable reputation of Blazeflame Divine Lord [a powerful deity associated with celestial flames]. Today, I shall have the honor of witnessing it firsthand."

"This place is not suitable for a clash. Let us ascend to the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realm] and do battle there."

As his words fell, he stepped forth from the Returning Abyss Sea Region and soared towards the Nine Heavens Above.

After flying for what seemed an age, he turned and stood firm between heaven and earth, looking back to find the vast expanse of the Returning Abyss Sea Region had shrunk to an insignificant speck.

At the same moment, the Blazeflame Divine Spirit [the spiritual manifestation of the Blazeflame Divine Lord] also took her place in the Nine Heavens Above, appearing not far from them.

The various Earth Immortal [cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm, a high level of power] and Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality] from the Returning Abyss Sea Region all flew up to observe the duel from a distance, their expressions uniformly grave.

This was a clash between the mightiest Immortal of two distinct eras, separated by a span of a million years. One had once reigned supreme in her time, her cultivation reaching the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm, rendering her nearly invincible beneath the Primordial Unity [the legendary realm of ultimate oneness with the Dao].

The other had risen to prominence in a mere four hundred thousand years, yet boasted a string of astonishing victories, never once tasting defeat against a peer.

Such a confrontation between these two captured the attention of all from the very outset.

The Blazeflame Divine Spirit stood there, clad in a gown of fiery crimson, a serene and solitary figure upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens]. With hands clasped behind her back, she regarded Eldrin Chen and spoke with detached calm.

"You make the first move."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and in that instant, he struck out with a palm. His Primordial One Indestructibility Body erupted with Primordial One Gold radiance as he cleaved directly towards the Blazeflame Divine Spirit.

"The path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [the art of refining the physical body to a divine state]."

The Blazeflame Divine Spirit's brow furrowed slightly, yet she showed not a moment's hesitation. Raising her hand, she gathered a crimson light into her palm and met the blow head-on.

Confident in her peerless strength within the same realm, she intended to match Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Indestructibility Body with her own physical might.

"BOOM—"

In that moment of fist and palm meeting, the void trembled violently. A blinding shockwave followed, sweeping across the vast expanse and shaking the heavens and earth for countless millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

The Blazeflame Divine Spirit was forced back three steps, a sharp pain shooting through her wrist. A flicker of astonishment appeared in her bright eyes.

She couldn't help but look up at Eldrin Chen, who stood poised upon the Heavenly Vault, his expression serene as he gazed back at her.

"Such formidable physical might," she remarked, her voice laced with a newfound respect.

Within the heart of the Blazeflame Divine Spirit [the divine embodiment of the Southern Pole's primordial flame], a profound gravity settled. From that single exchange of blows, she had already gauged the true measure of Eldrin Chen's strength.

The Eldrin Chen before her was no foe to be taken lightly. She understood clearly that even if she unleashed her full power, victory might be possible, but it would come at the cost of grievous wounds upon her own divine form.

With this realization, she did not press the attack further. Instead, she gave a slight nod and said, "Your innate talent surpasses my own. Your physical vessel is mightier as well."

"However, for a World-Opening True Body [a physique of legendary power, said to be capable of cleaving open worlds] such as yours, to continue surpassing its limits, to cultivate it to the flawless perfection of the Primordial Unity Immortal Body [the legendary physique of perfect primordial unity], and ultimately to tread the path of the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial immortals]... I fear that would be a feat more arduous than scaling the heavens themselves."

Eldrin Chen inclined his head in agreement, fully comprehending the truth in the Blazeflame Divine Spirit's words.

His Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a physique of supreme resilience, embodying the unyielding nature of the primordial singularity] was simply too potent, too profound. Its very strength made each subsequent advancement an exponentially more daunting challenge.

Over the years, Eldrin Chen had deduced the method for his constitution's further evolution. For this physique to undergo its final metamorphosis into the Primordial Unity True Body [the true form of primordial unity, the ultimate state of this legendary physique], the resources required were staggering, enough to daunt even the heavens.

By Eldrin Chen's estimation, he would need to refine and absorb the spiritual essence of at least five entire Supreme Grade Blessed Land [lands of supreme spiritual fortune and power] merely to initiate the fundamental transformation of the source energy within his Five Divine Deities [the five divine deities, powerful spiritual entities residing within his body, each governing a fundamental aspect of his power].

Only after the source of the Five Divine Deities had undergone this initial metamorphosis could he then endure the trials of Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering [a body-tempering art using heavenly thunder], the Frost Soul Meridian Quenching [a divine ability that quenches and refines the soul's meridians with frost essence], and the Gale Bone Erosion [a divine ability that etches and strengthens the bones with gale force], finally allowing the Five Divine Deities to reach their state of flawless, consummate perfection.

At that time, the power of each of the Five Divine Deities was comparable to a single Primordial Unity Realm deity. When the power of these five divine forms merged, it could sweep through the Primordial Unity Realm with virtually no equal.

Even more formidable was the fact that after Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Indestructibility Body was cultivated to the Primordial Unity Realm, advancing it to the Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique required a full five strands of Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation].

Only by fusing the Five Divine Deities with Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation], transforming them into five foundations of Innate Divine Spirit [a being born from the world's fundamental energies], could the Primordial One Indestructibility Body truly step into the Innate Realm.

Yet, Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation] is exceedingly rare. Many Immortals who reach the Early Celestial Immortal Realm might only obtain two or three strands of it in their entire lifetimes.

Take the Western Abyss Dragon King, for example. Although he stepped into the Innate Realm, he obtained merely two strands of Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation]. Unless he encounters immense Opportunity and Fortune, hoping to acquire more Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation] hereafter is nearly a fool's dream.

"The Path of Fleshly Body Sanctification consumes far too many resources,"

"Throughout history, among all prodigies, unless one possesses heaven-defying talent, monumental Opportunity and Fortune, or the backing of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, attempting to walk this path is no different from chasing a mirage."

Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh inwardly, a trace of solemn contemplation coloring his expression.

The Primordial One Indestructibility Body was truly formidable, yet walking this path to its end was no simple feat.

A full five strands of Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation]! It was likely that not even an existence at the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm could produce them all at once. And even if one could, a Celestial Immortal would hardly be willing to bestow them upon another.

After all, the cultivation of a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme being who has transcended mortality and ascended to the celestial realms] also requires vast quantities of Innate Energy [the primordial, untainted essence that existed at the dawn of creation].