Chapter 1523 : The Stellar Alchemy Ascension

Returning to the main topic, having successfully refined three batches of the Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill, Eldrin Chen's alchemical arts had advanced by leaps and bounds.

He stored away the Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill and then distributed them to Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and the other eight Earth Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the terrestrial realm of cultivation] of the Chen Immortal Clan. "Go and focus on your breakthroughs first," he instructed. "We can discuss everything else once you emerge from seclusion."

"Understood."

Exquisite Jiang and the others accepted the Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill and immediately entered closed-door cultivation.

With everyone now in seclusion, Eldrin Chen finally retrieved a dazzlingly radiant vial of Nine Heavens Stellar [a refined essence of stellar energy].

Contained within this treasure vial were star after star—countless stellar bodies collected by the Chen Immortal Clan from within the Solar Realm Small Universe.

Their number reached a staggering one hundred million. In theory, this was enough to refine thirty vials of Galaxy Star Sand Pill, with a value exceeding three million units of Immortal Source [the foundational energy source for immortal cultivation].

However, Eldrin Chen had not procured this material to refine Galaxy Star Sand Pill. His goal was to concoct an Eighth Rank Supreme Grade Immortal Pill known as the Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill.

This pill used boundless Stellar [stellar energy] as its primary ingredient, brimming with vast and majestic power. It was said that a half-step Celestial Immortal Great Power [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the celestial immortal realm] who consumed it could restore half of their expended spiritual energy.

While its value placed it among the lowest tier of Eighth Rank Supreme Grade Immortal Pill, its refinement difficulty was also considered the simplest within that same exalted rank.

At present, Eldrin Chen was refining this pill not primarily to obtain an Eighth Rank Supreme Grade Immortal Pill, but rather to elevate his own alchemical arts to a higher level.

Given the current state of Eldrin Chen's alchemical skill, using the Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill to break through his bottleneck was arguably the optimal choice.

Harnessing the power of the Underground Fire Vein, he swiftly refined the Myriad Stellar essence. After roughly three hundred years, he finally succeeded in forging a furnace of Precious Pill that shimmered with the brilliance of a starry sky.

"Success."

Gazing upon the completed Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill, Eldrin Chen felt a wave of quiet assurance settle within him.

The Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill contained no overly profound Dao patterns [the fundamental principles and laws of the universe] nor was its purpose to enhance cultivation base. Its sole function was to condense the boundless Stellar [celestial star] essence into a single pill, serving as a potent reservoir of energy to restore expended spiritual power. Consequently, its refinement was not considered particularly difficult.

Generally speaking, a seasoned Eighth Rank High-Grade alchemist attempting to refine this pill to break into the Eighth Rank Supreme Grade realm would have at least a twenty to thirty percent chance of success.

Eldrin Chen's alchemical prowess already ranked among the very pinnacle of Eighth Rank High-Grade alchemists, even hinting at a level that transcended that tier.

This time, in refining a single batch of the Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill, he successfully produced a full two pills.

While this outcome was partly due to the relatively lower difficulty of refining the Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill, it undeniably showcased that Eldrin Chen's alchemical skill was truly Extraordinary.

Most crucially, after refining the Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill, Eldrin Chen sensed a deeper comprehension of his alchemical arts, feeling he was now capable of crafting a true Eighth Rank Supreme Grade elixir [a pill of the highest purity and potency].

The Pill of Polarity Enlightenment [a supreme pill that aids in comprehending the fundamental principles of Yin and Yang, leading to a state of profound enlightenment].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen retrieved from his sleeve the Heaven Trigram Pure Energy and the Netherworld Turbid Energy.

Gazing upon these two immensely precious Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact [artifacts of the highest grade used by immortal cultivators], a slight frown creased Eldrin Chen's brow.

The Pill of Polarity Enlightenment is a supreme treasure pill for comprehending the Primordial Unity Path Principle. It is said that upon consuming this pill, an Earth Immortal Patriarch can enter a state of Celestial-Mortal Symbiosis [a profound meditative state where the cultivator's spirit harmonizes with the fundamental laws of heaven and earth].

At that moment, the Earth Immortal's comprehension of the Rule Great Path [the Great Dao of Rules, governing the fundamental laws of reality] would undergo an unprecedented qualitative transformation.

Although Eldrin Chen's cultivation had now broken through to the Seventh Level Earth Immortal, his grasp of the rules had not yet reached the Great Perfection Realm. Thus, he wished to attempt refining this pill, hoping to use it to perfect his own Rule Great Path in one fell swoop.

However, the difficulty of refining the Pill of Polarity Enlightenment was far beyond what could be compared to the Star Sea Essence Restoration Pill.

Even though Eldrin Chen's alchemical skill had recently advanced, he still lacked absolute confidence in his success.

Were it not for the opportunity presented by the Small Universe, Eldrin Chen would certainly be reluctant to attempt the pill's refinement now. After all, waiting until he broke through to Earth Immortal Great Perfection would undoubtedly grant a significant increase in his success rate for this elixir.

At present, his success rate in refining this pill is extremely low, and there is a significant possibility of failure.

However, the Opportunity and Fortune [a confluence of favorable circumstances and potential for great advancement] within the Small Universe [a self-contained pocket dimension or miniature cosmos] is right before him. Eldrin Chen has keenly sensed his own insufficient strength. If he can advance further, refining his Path Principles Power [the foundational power derived from comprehending the fundamental laws of cultivation] to the Great Perfection Realm [the pinnacle stage of mastery within a given cultivation realm], he might be able to seize a greater share of the Opportunity and Fortune.

"A Solar Realm Small Universe [a small universe imbued with the profound essence and power of the sun] is worth the gamble."

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Eldrin Chen finally steeled his resolve.

After regulating his breath for a moment, he placed the Heaven Trigram Pure Energy [a refined, ethereal energy aligned with the celestial trigrams, representing purity and order] and the Netherworld Turbid Energy [a dense, heavy energy drawn from the underworld, representing chaos and substance] separately into the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron [an ancient alchemical cauldron forged in the shape of a crimson dragon].

Both the Heaven Trigram Pure Energy and the Netherworld Turbid Energy are among the lightest and heaviest substances in existence, respectively. They are not Immortal Gold [a rare and precious metal used in high-level cultivation and artifact forging] or other exotic materials, and their refinement method differs from ordinary Immortal Pill [a pill of transcendent quality that can greatly enhance a cultivator's power or lifespan]. They do not require excessively potent flames for refinement, and the step of melting and fusing materials is omitted.

Then, Eldrin Chen simultaneously activated the Profound Darkness True Water [a divine ability manifesting water of ultimate darkness and profound cold] and the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [a divine ability manifesting the primordial flame of the sun, embodying pure Yang energy], transforming them into the power of the Polarity Rule [the cosmic law governing the interplay, balance, and transformation of opposing forces] to propel the two treasures, causing them to rotate ceaselessly.

Thus, after over nine hundred years, the Heaven Trigram Pure Energy finally began to slowly merge with the Netherworld Turbid Energy, ultimately forming a single Precious Pill [a high-grade, valuable pill] that resembled the Polarity Supreme Polarity [a symbolic representation of the supreme balance of Yin and Yang forces].

"Hah—"

Watching the Immortal Pill complete its formation, Eldrin Chen slowly let out a sigh of relief.

Although only a single Precious Pill was refined this time, it was a priceless enlightenment Immortal Pill [a supreme pill that grants profound insights into the Dao], enough to make countless Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] covet it with burning desire.

Eldrin Chen snatched it into his hand. As he contemplated the immense value of this Precious Pill, a wave of exhilaration surged within him.

Without the slightest hesitation, he then swallowed the Pill of Polarity Enlightenment [a legendary pill that harmonizes opposing forces to grant supreme understanding] in one gulp.

In all honesty, consuming a Precious Pill that increased one's chances of comprehending the Primordial Unity Path Principle [the foundational law of unified origin], merely to perfect one's personal rule power, was an extreme waste of resources. Even Eldrin Chen felt a pang of regret at the thought.

However, the moment Eldrin Chen ingested the Pill of Polarity Enlightenment, he instantly abandoned that notion.

"Heaven and Earth Resonance."

For in that instant, Eldrin Chen felt the heavens and earth spin. His very soul seemed to soar into the boundless Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome, the highest firmament], entering into a profound communion with the Heavenly Path [the fundamental laws of the cosmos] rules of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

In that fleeting moment, the myriad Great Path [the supreme principles of cultivation and existence] and the countless billions of cosmic laws were laid bare before his eyes, holding nothing back.

Immediately, Eldrin Chen plunged into a state of profound enlightenment.

Seizing the rare opportunity of the Heaven and Earth Resonance [a mystical state of perfect harmony between cultivator and cosmos], he began to contemplate and comprehend the Primordial One Limitless Rule Power [the supreme, boundless power of the foundational unity rule].

In but a single instant, the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Rule [the cosmic principle governing the purest celestial fire] advanced by leaps and bounds, becoming the first to reach a state of flawless perfection.

Following closely behind, the Source Earth of All Things [the foundational earth essence from which all things are born], the Primordial One Ancient Metal [the primordial metal of singular origin], the Profound Darkness True Water [the true water essence of profound darkness], the Seed of Life [the primordial essence of vitality and creation], and other cosmic principles likewise achieved perfection.

And under the influence of the Five Elements Cycle [the perpetual cycle of generation and restraint among the five elements], Eldrin Chen seized the opportunity to comprehend the Primordial Unity Path Patterns [the fundamental patterns of the unified primordial path] inscribed upon the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword. He swiftly gained complete mastery over all three of these profound patterns.

Regrettably, that final step—the crucial act of fusing the three distinct Primordial Unity Path Patterns into a singular whole—seemed to bar his way like an impassable chasm, preventing him from completing the ultimate leap.

"My cultivation base is insufficient, and my accumulation of insights is likewise lacking,"

he mused inwardly. "Without a complete Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Primordial Unity Path Principle [the complete scripture detailing the unified path of the primordial solar flame] to serve as a reference, attempting to cross that threshold is simply too difficult."

Eldrin Chen silently reflected, sensing the state of Heaven and Earth Resonance [a rare state of profound harmony between one's spirit and the cosmos] gradually fading away.

The Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Great Path [the supreme cosmic path of the primordial solar flame] was far too potent and ancient; even within the vast expanse of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, no such Great Path [a supreme cosmic principle or law] of this nature existed.

One must understand that the mysteries of a Great Path are profound and inscrutable. Countless individuals have sought to comprehend them. Even with existing Path Principle [the fundamental runes and principles that constitute a Great Path] runes to copy and study, few can grasp their true essence, let alone comprehend and deduce an entire Great Path from nothingness.

Eldrin Chen had only recently stepped into the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm. Asking him to undertake the task of deducing and perfecting the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Path Principle was, in the end, a demand that slightly exceeded his current accumulation of wisdom and power.