Chapter 1535 : A Heavenly Path's Final Request

At this thought, Eldrin Chen promptly expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am deeply thankful for your assistance. Such a great kindness, I am eternally grateful."

"There is no need for thanks."

Heavenly Path spoke slowly, its tone detached, "I sought you out because I, too, have a matter to entrust to you."

"Oh?" Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, then asked immediately, "Please, enlighten me."

Heavenly Path spoke plainly, its nebulous consciousness tinged with a hint of regret, "Within this Universe, the teeming multitude of living beings are but fleeting clouds in my sight. Yet, there are a few children whom I have always regarded as my own."

"These five children are the Heavenly Emperor, and the four Heaven and Earth True Spirit: Soaring Serpent, Kui Ox, Great Roc, and Dragon Turtle."

"They were all among the very first lifeforms born from the Heaven and Earth Resonance when this Universe first opened, making them my direct descendants."

At this point, Heavenly Path paused briefly before continuing, "Now, those four Heaven and Earth True Spirit have all fallen to demonic corruption and been slain. However, their primordial souls and spirits have sunk into the Heavenly Path Origin."

"I wish to entrust these four children to you. Take them into the Immortal Domain and aid them in cultivating anew, setting them upon a path of unfettered cultivation."

"I know you hail from within the Immortal Domain. You control that Spatial Rift which leads directly to it. You can evade the notice of those beings outside and secretly bring my children into the Immortal Domain."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle tremor within his heart.

This Universe was on the brink of Oblivion, and the Heavenly Path [the cosmic law and order of the world] would soon cease to exist. Yet, in its final moments, the Heavenly Path was still exerting its last vestiges of strength to carve out a path of survival for its children.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh and spoke, "I promise you."

"Good…"

The Heavenly Path Origin [the primordial source and consciousness of the Heavenly Path] nodded, a faint smile gracing its form. "Since you have agreed, I shall use my remaining power to absolve you of the Karmic Sin Power [a metaphysical debt incurred from actions that disrupt cosmic balance] you owe me."

As its words faded, the Heavenly Path Origin instantly released four streams of its fundamental soul essence, which settled into Eldrin Chen's palm. Simultaneously, a boundless, pure radiance cascaded forth, gathering and removing the Karmic Sin Power Eldrin Chen had incurred from refining the Fire Vein.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "There are others besides myself who can enter and leave this Small Universe. Why have you chosen me?"

The light of the Heavenly Path shimmered faintly as it replied with serene detachment, "Within you flows a wisp of an aura of supreme nobility."

"Even I cannot fully perceive the nature of that aura, yet I can surmise that your status is coeval with the Dao itself, a position of unimaginable honor. I trust such a one would not go back on his word."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen understood that the Heavenly Path had likely seen through the presence of the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme, primordial energy of creation and origin] within him.

Upon careful reflection, this was indeed to be expected. After all, cultivating within this Universe was akin to practicing within another being's very body; it was only natural that some traces would be discernible.

Understanding this, Eldrin Chen shifted the topic and inquired, "You mentioned having five children, one of whom is a Heavenly Emperor [a supreme ruler who embodies the will of the heavens]."

"To my knowledge, he has been absent for several hundred thousand years. I wonder where he might be now?"

"The Heavenly Emperor…"

The light of the Heavenly Path [the supreme cosmic law and principle of the heavens] trembled faintly. After a long silence, it spoke, "He is dead."

"How is that possible?"

A seismic shock reverberated through Eldrin Chen's heart, and he could not suppress a look of utter astonishment.

The Heavenly Emperor of this Universe! Legends spoke of one who was merged with the Heavenly Path, wielded an Innate Treasure [a primordial artifact born of cosmic laws], and possessed combat prowess rivaling a Celestial Immortal Great Power [an immensely powerful being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm].

Such a peerless scion of the Heavenly Path, whom he had presumed would become this Universe's greatest adversary, had perished without a whisper.

As if sensing Eldrin Chen's bewilderment, the Heavenly Path Will [the conscious will and intent of the Heavenly Path itself] fell silent for a moment before continuing, "As early as several million years ago, when my strength began to wane ever more, the Heavenly Emperor understood that this Universe was destined for Oblivion [the state of complete annihilation and return to nothingness]."

"That unfilial son, in his desperate bid to seize a sliver of hope, did not hesitate to conspire with the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [a powerful demonic entity from beyond the known cosmos]. He laid down a Heaven-Shaking Formation [a grand and devastating array formation] across the entire Small Universe [a self-contained, smaller cosmic realm]."

"He intended to sacrifice the entire Universe [the primary cosmic realm], using the blood of that entire cosmos and its countless living beings as fuel to break through the realm above Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign ruler], which is what you refer to as the Heavenly God Realm [the realm of divine beings] or the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial immortals]."

"To stop him, I summoned the Primordial Heavenly, Earthly, and Human Sovereigns, along with several dozen Great Emperor [powerful rulers just below the Heavenly Emperor level] to wage war against him."

"But I could never have imagined that this unfilial son's methods were so earth-shattering, far more brilliant than I had anticipated. He actually managed to slay the Primordial Three Sovereigns and those several dozen Great Emperor."

The Heavenly Path [the sentient embodiment of the cosmic order, the Heavenly Dao] spoke slowly, its voice tinged with an indescribable emotion as it recounted these past events—a mixture of regret and profound complexity.

Eldrin Chen vaguely sensed that, given the Heavenly Path's evident fondness for that Heavenly Emperor, had it known from the start just how exceptional he was, it might have simply granted him his wish.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen asked curiously, "What happened next? Since the Heavenly Emperor slew the Three Sovereigns and those several dozen Great Emperor, why did he not succeed in his endeavor?"

"From the very beginning, his success was an impossibility."

The Heavenly Path let out a soft sigh and continued, "He sought to use the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon to obtain the formation patterns needed to sacrifice this Universe and ascend to the Heavenly God Realm. Little did he know, the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon was also using him for its own ends."

"After that battle, most of this Universe's Great Emperor had fallen, and my own foundational essence was grievously wounded. Yet, the Heavenly Emperor also suffered injuries that struck at the very core of his being."

"At the very moment he paid a tremendous price and achieved victory in that single battle, he was seized by an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [a powerful demonic entity originating from beyond the known cosmos] attempting to possess his body."

Heavenly Path [a profound cultivation art] spoke slowly, ending with a sigh. "Perhaps he had foreseen it and made preparations. Yet, his injuries were too grievous. Faced with that Outer Realm Heavenly Demon, he ultimately found it impossible to suppress everything."

"He fought that Outer Realm Heavenly Demon in a life-and-death struggle. I, too, lent my aid. But in the end, he could not turn the tide."

"And now, the Heavenly Emperor [the supreme sovereign ruler of the heavens]..."

"...has already been possessed!"

"*Hum—*"

Eldrin Chen felt his mind go numb. His heart sank further into a chilling dread, a coldness creeping into his limbs.

The revelation from Heavenly Path was terrifying. A peerless fiend, one who had likely stepped into the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial immortals], had possessed this Universe's Heavenly Emperor and had been scheming for at least a million years.

If this news were true, the implications were utterly horrifying.

A single misstep could see everyone in this Universe sacrificed. Not even the various Holy Scions and Saintesses from the great Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm of profound spiritual energy], nor even the Myriad Spirit Patriarch, might escape with their lives.

At this thought, Eldrin Chen felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but look towards the Heavenly Path [the supreme, sentient cultivation art that governs cosmic principles].

The Heavenly Path understood his unspoken question and spoke calmly, "This Small Universe [a self-contained pocket dimension] is now completely covered in boundless, intricate formation patterns."

"It is currently contending with me for control over the Universe Origin Treasure [the primordial artifact that is the source and foundation of this universe], attempting to utterly annihilate my consciousness."

"Should it succeed in its goal and fully refine me, the fate of this entire Universe being sacrificed will become irrevocable."

"Boom—"

Eldrin Chen felt his heart lurch, his throat suddenly dry. He forced the words out, "What can I do?"

"The best outcome is for you to flee for your life through the Spatial Rift while I still hold it at bay,"

the Heavenly Path stated plainly, its consciousness devoid of significant emotional fluctuation.

Eldrin Chen paled. While he could indeed flee, Path Ruins Jiang was still within this Universe. Abandoning him was unthinkable.

The Heavenly Path, sensing his resolve from his expression, spoke again.

"If you insist on blocking Him, there is still a chance to fight."