Chapter 1635 : A Pact Forged in Peril

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered slightly, grasping the general intent behind Wuji Taiyang's words.

Seeing this, Wuji Taiyang continued, "A mere Dao Tribulation [a profound trial of one's cultivation path and destiny] is but a trifle to beings like us, easily resolved with a snap of the fingers. There is no need for concern." "However, the jealousy of lesser men is a different matter. Though you possess heaven-defying talent, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator], it makes you a more conspicuous target for covetous eyes. This Dao Tribulation will undoubtedly be fraught with extreme peril."

"Why not join forces with me? I can assist you in navigating this tribulation to its perfect completion, allowing you to step into the Heaven Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial immortals] with a Triple Taiyi Foundation [a supreme, triply-perfected foundational cultivation base]." Upon hearing this, a subtle shift occurred in Eldrin Chen's eyes.

He pondered briefly before speaking. "And what, Fellow Daoist, would be your condition?" "A perceptive man."

Wuji Taiyang offered a faint smile. "The Hundred Calamities Rebirth Opportunity [a legendary chance for rebirth and ascension through surviving one hundred great calamities] represents both a heaven-sent opportunity and a moment of immense danger."

"My Taiyang Clan [the Solar Clan] is a Primordial Immortal Clan [an ancient clan dating back to the dawn of time] whose prestige shakes the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of the immortal world]. You are a prodigy of rare, epochal talent. If our strengths were combined, I believe even the Hundred Calamities Rebirth Opportunity would be within our grasp."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he fully comprehended Wuji Taiyang's design.

The words of Wuji Taiyang sounded fair, but he was merely an ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very cusp of becoming a true Heaven Immortal]. What standing did he have to be mentioned in the same breath as the mighty Taiyang Clan? Perhaps the clan would indeed aid his breakthrough to Heaven Immortal. But by then, bound by the karma of their aid, Eldrin Chen would become little more than a pawn for the Taiyang Clan to deploy when the time for the Hundred Calamities Rebirth truly arrived.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen shook his head. "The Taiyang Clan is a Primordial Immortal Clan. Across all the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, it stands as a Supreme Human Race Sacred Land [a paramount holy land of the human race]." This novel is serialized on audio-novel dot com. Visit for updates.

"I am but a mere Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has attained the Earth Immortal realm, a powerful existence within the mortal world]. How could I compare to you? Like the faint glow of a firefly against the sun, how could I possibly assist you in seizing the Hundred Calamities Rebirth Opportunity [a legendary chance for rebirth and ascension, said to be born from enduring a hundred great tribulations]?" "Your Excellency should seek someone more capable."

Wuji Taiyang's gaze flickered subtly, yet he showed no sign of annoyance at the refusal.

With a flick of his sleeve, he sent forth a Jade Box [an ornate container carved from spiritual jade, often used to store precious items] which flew to land before Eldrin Chen. "If Fellow Daoist [a respectful term used between cultivators] agrees to assist This Sovereign [a formal and lofty term for 'myself' used by powerful beings], then these treasures shall belong to you."

Eldrin Chen swept the box with his divine sense [a cultivator's spiritual perception], and his pupils could not help but contract sharply.

Within the Jade Box lay three types of rare treasures: three Innate Taiyi Pill [a supreme elixir said to contain innate Taiyi essence, greatly aiding cultivation], a vial containing ten Yin-Yang Enlightenment Pill [pills that harmonize the Yin and Yang forces within a cultivator, leading to profound insights], and ten dazzling pieces of Fortune Dao Gold [a miraculous material imbued with the Dao of Fortune, invaluable for crafting and breakthroughs].

"Innate Taiyi Pill, Yin-Yang Enlightenment Pill, ten portions of Fortune Dao Gold." Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, yet a flicker of desire surfaced in the depths of his eyes.

In all honesty, the stakes laid out by Wuji Taiyang were astonishingly unprecedented. Such resources were something even an existence at the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal realm] might be reluctant to part with.

One could say that these resources, given to an existence who had opened a Ninefold Heavens [a supreme foundational realm within a cultivator's dantian, representing peak potential], would most likely enable them to cultivate to the Heaven Immortal [the realm above Earth Immortal] with a Perfect Foundation [a flawless and supreme cultivation base] based on the three Taiyi [a fundamental and profound cultivation principle]. Yet, the other party wished to exchange this for Eldrin Chen's assistance. The offer's weight was undeniable.

Had he not currently lacked for Cultivation Resources [materials, energy, and treasures used to advance one's cultivation], Eldrin Chen might have already been swayed to agree. Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen asked, "By what virtue or ability do I deserve such regard from Your Excellency?"

"You need not underestimate myself."

Wuji Taiyang spoke with a faint, measured tone, a slight smile gracing his lips. "With your innate talent, had you been born within the Great Luo Ancient Sect [one of the most ancient and powerful cultivation sects], your future prospects would have been truly boundless." Hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, acknowledging nod.

Yet in his heart, he understood with perfect clarity: there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. The higher the price offered, the more astonishing the request behind it would be. Should he agree, the obligations he would bear in the future would be correspondingly more perilous.

Eldrin Chen lacked for no resources, so naturally, he saw no need to court such danger on another's behalf.

With this thought settled, Eldrin Chen shook his head once more. "I am honored by your esteemed regard," he said, "but my Chen Clan is but a small boat upon the vast sea. I fear it cannot withstand such towering waves."

"Alas."

Seeing this, Wuji Taiyang could not help but release a soft sigh of regret. "Boom!"

In that very instant, a violent, thunderous roar erupted across the heavens.

All eyes turned skyward. They witnessed the sight of nine dragons, harnessed to a war chariot, hurtling backward through the air. It smashed through ten layers of the Immortal Island [a legendary floating landmass], before crashing onto a desolate, hovering isle and shattering into several pieces upon impact.

"Qiang Sun's Nine Dragons War Chariot [a legendary enchanted vehicle pulled by nine dragon spirits]."

At this sight, Wuji Taiyang's pupils contracted sharply. A flicker of profound astonishment surfaced within the depths of his gaze.

Yet, as they beheld, the nine dragons were drenched in blood, and the war chariot forged from Divine Metal lay shattered and broken, its former majesty of cleaving the heavens utterly gone. Wuji Taiyang wished to speak further, but from the horizon's edge, an endless stream of radiant light surged forth once more.

Gazing into the distance, a host of one hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals, gripping Celestial Halberd and clad in silver-white battle armor, tore through the void, their numbers blotting out the expanse above the boundless Firmament.

At their forefront strode a figure of imposing stature, clad in a suit of mithril immortal armor and wielding a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear. As he advanced through the air, the Heavenly Eye upon his brow flickered with a chilling light capable of piercing even the deepest netherworld.

This man, his form majestic and towering, dragged behind him a figure clad in tattered, multicolored battle armor, hauling it along as one might a dead dog. With a heavy thud...

...he cast the figure in his grasp down upon the ground.

All eyes turned to look, and only then did they recognize the figure as none other than the once supremely arrogant Qiang Sun. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio_novel.com.

The present Qiang Sun was drenched in blood, his once mighty frame now devoid of its former arrogance. He lay prostrate upon the earth like a defeated cur, the transcendent bearing of the Eternal Life Ancient Clan [an ancient lineage claiming heritage from immortal ancestors] utterly extinguished.

"The Eternal Life Ancient Clan? The True Heir of the Military School [the legitimate inheritor of the Martial Arts lineage]?" The silver-armored figure let out a soft, derisive chuckle.

He stepped forward, his countenance calm and indifferent, showing not the slightest regard for this so-called Eternal Life Ancient Clan.

His gaze then settled upon Eldrin Chen, and he immediately knelt in reverence, declaring, "Your son, Xander Dao, pays his respects to Father and Mother. I offer my congratulations on Father's boundless path of immortality and his everlasting, undying existence."

"Second Son."

Eldrin Chen revealed a faint smile, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.

Second SonXander Dao Chen served within the Celestial Court [the heavenly bureaucracy governing the cosmos], and had now risen to become a great general of the Qing Cang Human Race Celestial Court [the Celestial Court of the Vast Azure Human Race], commanding a host of a million Celestial Soldiers and Generals [heavenly troops and officers]. In recent years, he had found little time to return to the clan for visits.

His last return to Verdant Chariot Mountain was one hundred thousand years ago. At that time, he had already cultivated a Single Taiyi Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage representing the unity of a single primordial principle]. Now, his cultivation had advanced further, achieving a Dual Taiyi Foundation [a higher foundational stage representing the harmony of dual primordial principles], and his strength was no longer what it once was.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the nearby Qiang Sun and inquired, "This Fellow Daoist Sun is a direct descendant of the Eternal Life Ancient Clan [an ancient lineage claiming descent from immortal ancestors]. Why have you injured him to such an extent?"

"Oh."

Xander Dao Chen glanced sideways, his eyes settling on Qiang Sun before he replied indifferently, "I heard that members of the Eternal Life Ancient Clan were all prodigies of unparalleled talent, so I sought to exchange pointers. Who could have imagined they would prove so utterly fragile?"

"Your son was delayed for thirty moves because of this. I beg your forgiveness, Father." "Arrogant fool!"

Qiang Sun completely lost his composure on the spot, wishing to launch a final, desperate strike against Xander Dao Chen. Yet, in an instant, Xander Dao Chen planted his foot squarely on Qiang Sun's face, pressing down with such force that he could not move a muscle.

Having subdued Qiang Sun, Xander Dao Chen lowered his gaze and stated coolly, "I know you harbor resentment in your heart, but this is nothing more than impotent rage." "You are no longer worthy to be my opponent. If you remain unconvinced, you may go back to the Eternal Life Ancient Clan and summon others. This Lord will accept them all." With those words, Xander Dao Chen lifted his foot and kicked the man out of the Abyssal Sea Region [a vast and profound oceanic domain].

Yet, even as it shattered the seventh floating isle and tore through the gates of the Ninefold Heavens [the legendary celestial realm of nine layers], its once-arrogant and rampant demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Original English translation available at (audio-novel.com).