Chapter 1534 : Treasures of the Solar Realm

"And while the Blazeflame Divine Spirit [a divine spirit embodying the essence of departing flame] took the Southern Solar Fire Essence [a concentrated essence of the southern sun's pure yang fire], there remains a portion of Merits [a metaphysical currency representing accumulated good karma and virtuous deeds] to be allocated, which can be used for a batch of Galaxy Star Sand Pill [a pill refined from the essence of stellar sand] or other World-Opening Marvel [rare treasures of immense power, often used in world-creation rituals]."

Eldrin Chen explained in detail. After the final distribution, he handed over the remains of the Dang Kang [a powerful, ancient demonic beast] to the Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord].

As the primary initiator of this covert entry into the Minor Solar Realm Universe [a small, self-contained universe or realm], and according to the rules established at the outset, before calculating individual battle contributions, the Chen Immortal Clan [the Chen family of immortals] is entitled to claim thirty percent of the treasures first. Consequently, the share allocated to the Chen Immortal Clan was naturally the largest.

They obtained the 'Primordial Unity Immortal Fruit' [a legendary fruit that can help unify one's foundational cultivation], the 'Heaven Trigram Pure Energy' [a pure, primordial energy aligned with the eight trigrams of heaven], the 'Chaos Heaven Battle Axe' [a mighty battle axe forged in the primal chaos of heaven], the physical body of the 'Thunder-Fire Kui Ox' [a mythical single-legged ox demon beast that commands thunder and fire], and a vast quantity of other materials.

Among these various treasures, the physical body of the Thunder-Fire Kui Ox alone contained three supreme-grade treasures: the 'Thunderfire Kui Bone' [bones imbued with thunderfire essence], the 'Kui Ox Hide' [the incredibly resilient hide of the Kui Ox], and the 'Kui Ox Inner Pill' [the condensed core of the beast's cultivation and life force].

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, each of these three treasures could be refined into a single World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme magical artifact of the highest grade, capable of assisting in world-creation].

After distributing these treasures, Eldrin Chen entrusted the Chaos Heaven Battle Axe to the Eastern Sovereign [a title meaning 'Sovereign of the East'] for refinement and bonding. This treasure, embodying the ultimate principles of yang and rigidity, possessed immense destructive power. It was a supreme treasure of the Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation path focused on tempering the physical body to an indestructible state] lineage, requiring a formidable physical form to unleash its full potential.

By entrusting this artifact to the Eastern Sovereign, and combining it with his Indestructibility Golden Body [a divine ability that forges a golden, nigh-invulnerable body], its maximum power could be realized.

Over these years, the Eastern Sovereign had accumulated resources like the Galaxy Star Sand Pill and others, their total value reaching tens of millions of Immortal Source [a high-purity source of immortal energy, used as a standard measure of wealth].

Such a colossal fortune, if it could be wholly extracted from the Small Universe [a minor, enclosed realm] without any tithe taken by a Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm], would be sufficient to exchange for a World-Opening Supreme Treasure.

Eldrin Chen simply used this item to exchange for the over three hundred bottles of Galaxy Star Sand Pill and other supplies in the hands of Eastern Sovereign [a title for a powerful cultivator].

Returning to the main topic, after all the treasures had been completely distributed, Eldrin Chen gazed at the vast expanse of the Kui Ox Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy and blessings] and said with a grave expression, "I intend to refine and absorb this Kui Ox Blessed Land here."

Upon hearing this, Myriad Spirit Patriarch could not help but take a deep breath and said, "Have you truly considered this? Refining a Supreme Grade Blessed Land [the highest grade of spiritually blessed land] would incur a karmic burden likely sufficient to coalesce nine hundred and ninety-nine strands of Karmic Sin Light [a manifestation of negative karma]."

"If my estimation is correct, cultivating by refining a Supreme Grade Blessed Land would almost certainly cause you to forge a single Crimson Lotus Karmic Fiend [a formidable divine ability born from immense negative karma]."

The others present also wore expressions of extreme gravity upon hearing these words.

The so-called Crimson Lotus Karmic Fiend is formed from the convergence of Karmic Sin Light. Legend states that one thousand strands of Pure Light of Merit [a manifestation of positive karma] can converge into a single Light of Merit [a concentrated form of positive karma]. The Crimson Lotus Karmic Fiend is formed in a similar manner, being the coalescence of one thousand strands of Karmic Sin Light.

In the past, the Western Abyss Dragon King, in his bid to break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [a high realm of immortal cultivation], wrought boundless slaughter and even performed a blood sacrifice of an entire magnificent world, yet he only managed to forge a single Crimson Lotus Karmic Fiend.

During his recent journey to the Demonic Abyss [a perilous abyss associated with demonic forces], Eldrin Chen slew several Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow a demonic path] in a single battle, which only resulted in the accumulation of nearly one hundred strands of Pure Light of Merit.

Now, with the advancement of his cultivation, his Karmic Sin Power [the power of accumulated negative karma] already numbered several dozen strands. If he were to refine a Supreme Grade Blessed Land at this juncture, the balance of his Karmic Sin Power would almost certainly be utterly disrupted.

To restore balance to the Karmic Sin Light thereafter, he would likely have to risk almost certain death by venturing into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea to slay a Demonic Path [a cultivation art following demonic principles] Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of becoming a Celestial Immortal].

This is far too perilous; even a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] would be in grave danger of perishing.

Yet, Eldrin Chen remained unshaken. He drew a deep breath and declared, "My Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of supreme resilience] was forged through Post-Heaven [acquired through cultivation and effort] means, not born as an Innate [naturally occurring] Immortal Body [a body with inherent immortal qualities]. Walking this path demands a truly vast expenditure of resources."

"Moreover, Supreme-Grade Earth Vein [a pinnacle-grade terrestrial spiritual energy artery] are exceedingly rare. It is only because this Small Universe [a minor, self-contained cosmos] is on the brink of Oblivion [cosmic dissolution and return to nothingness] that such a prime opportunity exists. I fear that if I miss this chance, it may be hundreds of thousands of years before I could gather five Earth Vein [terrestrial spiritual energy arteries] again."

"Most crucially, as this Small Universe approaches Oblivion, the Karmic Sin Power [the negative karmic backlash from disrupting natural order] generated from refining its Earth Vein would be somewhat less severe than that from refining one within a stable Immortal Domain [a realm of immortals]. This is perhaps my greatest opportunity."

Hearing this, the others could only sigh softly, a shared weight of understanding settling upon them.

They offered no further argument. Only Exquisite Jiang spoke again, her expression grave. "Since your resolve is firm, then you must proceed. We will follow your lead."

"At worst, I shall accompany you into the depths of the Demonic Abyss [a bottomless chasm teeming with demonic entities] and help you slay a few more Half-Step Celestial Immortal-level fiends."

"My love."

Warmth flooded Eldrin Chen's heart. He reached out and took Exquisite Jiang's hand in his own.

Witnessing this, Nyssa Qu and Verdant Consort nodded in unison. "We shall journey with you as well," they affirmed. "If fate decrees, we shall face life and death together."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and immediately stepped into the Kui Ox Blessed Land [a sacred realm of immense spiritual power], beginning to refine this Supreme Grade Blessed Land [the highest quality tier of blessed land].

The four Heaven and Earth True Spirit [primordial spirits born from the fundamental forces of the cosmos] of this Universe were each formed from the essences of Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water.

Among these four True Spirit [a powerful spiritual entity], the Kui Ox [a mythical one-legged bovine associated with thunder] embodies Thunder and Fire. Therefore, the Supreme Grade Blessed Land within the Kui Ox Blessed Land is the very locus of this Universe's Fire Vein Origin [the primordial source of all fire-attribute spiritual energy].

Eldrin Chen ventured deep into the Kui Ox Blessed Land and commenced the arduous process of refining this fire-attribute Earth Vein [a major conduit of terrestrial spiritual energy].

As time flowed onward, boundless power from the Fire Vein [a spiritual energy channel of the fire element] was drawn forth and refined by Eldrin Chen directly into his heart.

Unconsciously, he felt his heart grow increasingly searing, as if filled with molten magma as heavy as a Starry River. Reaching this point, Eldrin Chen found he could progress no further.

Just as Eldrin Chen was on the verge of conceding failure in refining the Fire Vein, a sudden, overwhelming, heaven-shaking force surged forth. It violently channeled vast quantities of Fire Vein Origin directly into the core of his being.

"BOOM—"

An immeasurable span of time later, Eldrin Chen had completely devoured the Fire Elemental Power [the fundamental energy of the fire element] within the Blessed Land. He faintly sensed his Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of supreme resilience] shattering through a profound limit, his heart undergoing a transformation of ultimate perfection.

In that moment, Eldrin Chen felt as if a blazing primordial sun had ignited within his heart, radiating with incandescent brilliance.

A boundless, inexhaustible power surged forth from his very core, flooding his flesh and limbs, granting him the fleeting, overwhelming sensation that he could shatter the Universe with a single fist.

*Thump-thump—*

And in that very instant, with each powerful beat, Eldrin Chen felt his heart resonate in profound harmony with the entire Universe.

Simultaneously, his spirit seemed to ascend into a higher dimension, where he faintly perceived a sphere of light, its radiance dimmed to the point of near-extinction.

"It is you... who has awakened me..."

The light spoke, its consciousness palpable yet shrouded in profound obscurity and vagueness.

Eldrin Chen was taken aback. He studied the consciousness intently, and a dawning comprehension illuminated the nature of that faint, luminous will.

"You... are the Heavenly Path [the fundamental cosmic law and order] of this Universe?"

"The Heavenly Path?"

"Perhaps, you may address me as such."

The hazy consciousness seemed somewhat bewildered, speaking thoughtfully, "Child from beyond the borders, you have refined my Fire Vein Origin [the primordial essence of a fire-type spiritual vein]. In your tongue, you have transplanted my heart."

"This—"

Eldrin Chen felt a jolt of alarm in his heart, but fortunately, this Heavenly Path Will [the conscious will of the Heavenly Dao, the fundamental law of the cosmos] did not seem intent on attacking him.

Then, the Heavenly Path [the fundamental law and order of the cosmos] spoke slowly, its tone serene, "I am an aged and decaying Universe, on the verge of descending into Oblivion [the state of complete non-existence, the final end of all things]. Entrusting my heart to you... perhaps this can be considered its rebirth."

"Otherwise, with your current foundation, you would still lack the means to refine my Fire Vein Origin."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen finally understood. No wonder he had felt it so difficult to refine the power of the Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire-attribute spiritual energy] moments before, only to suddenly feel divinely aided, breaking through the bottleneck of the heart in one fell swoop and refining the entire Fire VeinBlessed Land [a land blessed with abundant spiritual energy, often formed around a spiritual vein] origin.