Chapter 1638 : Veiled Strength in the Abyss

Lyra Jiang [the Immortal Maiden Lyra Jiang] nodded in agreement upon hearing this, understanding Eldrin Chen's [Eldrin Chen's] line of thought.

The current situation is such that no one knows precisely how many powerful figures have entered this Dao Tribulation [the grand, cyclical conflict for supremacy over the Heavenly Dao].

These major powers are not lacking in disciples from Grotto-Heaven [self-contained paradises of profound spiritual energy] or even direct successors of Great Luo Ancient Sect [the primordial and supremely powerful Great Luo Sect]. With the current strength of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance, they fear nothing in a one-on-one confrontation, even against the direct heirs of a Great Luo Ancient Sect or a horde of Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the very cusp of ascending to true Immortality] from a Grotto-Heaven.

However, if they reveal their true strength prematurely and are perceived by the various powers as the greatest threat, they would very likely face a coordinated hunt from multiple Grotto-Heaven and even the Great Luo Ancient Sect itself.

One must remember, within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea [the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea region], there exist two superior-grade Grotto-Heaven. The strength of such a Grotto-Heaven is at least ten times that of the Zephyr Grotto-Heaven. In the past, the Zephyr Grotto-Heaven alone boasted five Half-Step Celestial Immortal; a superior-grade Grotto-Heaven likely counts its Half-Step Celestial Immortal in the dozens. "This is the final Dao Tribulation before the Calamity Tribulation [the ultimate, world-ending cataclysm] erupts."

"When the Calamity Tribulation descends, all beneath the Heaven Immortal [the realm of true Celestial Immortals] will be as ants. For those Half-Step Celestial Immortal within the Grotto-Heaven, this is perhaps their last chance for a breakthrough."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his gaze growing profound and still.

Those capable of breaking through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal are all talents of heaven-defying caliber, true seeds of future Heaven Immortal. Within a Grotto-Heaven, they are almost invariably Holy Sons [designated heirs of supreme potential] or figures of equivalent standing, candidates for the title of Holy Sons.

For such proud and ambitious individuals, abandoning this final opportunity is simply unthinkable.

Thus, Eldrin Chen had a premonition: in this Dao Tribulation, the terrifying moves made by the Grotto-Heaven might not be any weaker than those of the Great Luo Ancient Sect. This novel is serialized on (audio-novel.com). Visit for updates.

After all, those Great Luo Ancient Sect had come from afar, making it difficult for them to bring a large number of Half-Step Celestial Immortals [cultivators who have ascended halfway to the Celestial Immortal realm]. They could only follow the example of Wuji Taiyang and pay a tremendous price to win over local Half-Step Celestial Immortals who were Rogue Cultivators [cultivators not affiliated with any major sect or clan].

In contrast, within the Grotto-Heavens [self-contained paradises and cultivation realms], the accumulation of Half-Step Celestial Immortals over ninety million years must be astonishingly considerable.

Once these high-grade and Peerless Grotto-Heavens dispatch a large number of Half-Step Celestial Immortals in one fell swoop, the threat they pose might not even be weaker than that of the direct disciples from these Great Luo Ancient Sects.

Lyra Jiang also understood this point. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "It seems you and I must still lie low and accumulate our own strength." "Once we have a clear understanding of the major powers entering the fray in the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea, we can then seek the perfect opportunity to deliver a decisive blow."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then summoned his four children to his Cultivation Cave [a secluded chamber used for meditation and cultivation].

After many years, Eldrin Chen's four children were once again gathered together at Verdant Chariot Mountain, and Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a faint smile.

Over these years, Eldrin Chen had largely let his children roam free, allowing them to venture into the world and find their own paths, with little direct intervention.

They had not disappointed him. Though they had journeyed alone, they had, without realizing it, each carved out their own distinct way.

Although the cultivation levels of the four children were now uneven, Eldrin Chen understood that their foundations were all solid, and their future prospects were limitless. Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to Xander Chen and said with a slight smile, "I hear that during your travels, you have managed to offend quite a few people?"

Upon hearing this, Xander Chen's eyes flickered with a subtle light.

He rubbed his head, then pressed his palms together solemnly and said, "This child has slain some Demonic Monsters [malevolent beings born of demonic energy] that plagued the world. Yet these creatures were utterly dishonorable; after defeating the young ones, their elders would come seeking vengeance."

"With no other choice, I could only send their entire families to the next life [a euphemism for killing them]. But even after that, their friends and relatives kept coming—truly most vexing." Hearing this, Caelan Chen standing nearby couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

He had long heard tales of this Elder Brother of his, knowing his character was inherently domineering and intolerant of any injustice. Whenever he encountered an unfair situation, he would take up his Immortal Iron Staff [a powerful, enchanted metal staff] to intervene, offending not a few Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm or paradise for high-level cultivators] in the process.

Were it not for Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme immortal cultivator] being too proud to bully someone of a lower generation, Xander Chen's temperament would likely have already gotten him beaten into the Cycle of Reincarnation [the endless wheel of death and rebirth]. Hearing this, Lila also adopted a grave expression.

She sighed softly, her voice filled with deep concern. "My child, you must understand that what is too rigid breaks easily. You must remember not to provoke powerful enemies again."

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen secretly transmitted his voice [a method of private communication using spiritual energy]. "The path of cultivation values a Dao-heart [the cultivator's core spiritual conviction and moral compass] free of regret. As long as your actions do not betray your Dao-heart, follow your heart's desire."

Upon hearing these words, Xander Chen's eyes began to shine with a new light.

He glanced at Eldrin Chen and gave a slight, understanding nod.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a faint smile. As Xander Chen was his eldest son, Eldrin Chen naturally held the highest hopes for him.

Among his four children, Second Son possessed exceptional natural talent, showing a profound affinity for the Fleshly Body Sanctification [a method of refining the physical body to an indestructible state] and was further blessed with the Heavenly Eye [a divine ability granting profound insight and perception]. He was highly regarded by the Heaven Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm], and his future prospects were boundless.

The third son, born with thirty-three Vast Sea Divine Pearl [divine pearls containing the boundless essence of the vast sea], possessed a potential rivaling that of a supreme Great Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of the immortal path, representing ultimate enlightenment and power]. His latent capacity was, without a doubt, extraordinary.

His daughter, Xander Qing, was endowed with the Childlike Crimson Heart [a constitution of pure, untainted heart-mind, free from worldly corruption] and the Supreme Purity Lotus Body [a body as pure and flawless as a lotus, ideal for cultivation]. Her cultivation was not only unhindered by Inner Demons [malevolent thoughts and spiritual entities born from within a cultivator's own heart] or distracting thoughts, but she also frequently entered states of sudden enlightenment. In terms of innate brilliance, she could be considered the foremost among them.

Only the eldest son seemed lacking. His brilliance did not match his sister's, his natural gifts fell short of Second Son's, and his background and fortune could not compare to Second Son's.

On the surface, he appeared the most ordinary of the four. Yet, if asked who among them was most likely to break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of the immortal path, representing ultimate enlightenment and power], Eldrin Chen would undoubtedly name Xander Chen.

For Xander Chen possessed an iron will, and his Dao-heart [the core of a cultivator's spiritual resolve and purpose] was tempered to be Myriad Tribulations Uneroded [a divine ability representing an indomitable will that remains unshaken through countless trials]. He would not be crushed by defeat but would instead dare to challenge opponents stronger than himself. Original English translation available at *audio-novel.com*.

Such a man, surviving a hundred battles, would transcend his former self with each survival, even shattering his limits to grow stronger. He was the one most likely to achieve the ultimate Dao. In contrast, the background of Second Son, the aptitude of the third son, and the brilliance of the daughter, in Eldrin Chen's view, were not necessarily so astonishing.

After all, looking across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms and worlds where immortals dwell], those with backgrounds surpassing Second Son were legion. Those with talent exceeding the third son's were numerous. And those whose brilliance was no less than the daughter's were also not few.

Yet among these multitudes, those who ultimately broke through to become Great Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of the immortal path, representing ultimate enlightenment and power] were exceedingly rare.

For Great Luo Potential [the innate potential to reach the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm] was merely potential. Who among those who cultivated to the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the perfected state of the Celestial Immortal realm] did not possess Great Luo Potential? And which of those who set foot in the Ancient Immortal Realm [a venerable and powerful realm beyond the Celestial Immortal] was not a peerless genius of their age?

Yet among these prodigies of ancient times, those who ultimately managed to set foot upon the Great Luo Realm [the supreme cultivation realm, representing the pinnacle of the immortal path] remained exceedingly rare. Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze once more towards Second Son, Xian Chang, and Qing'er, giving a slight, approving nod. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he spoke, "For this impending Dao Tribulation [a profound, heaven-sent trial that tests a cultivator's comprehension of the Dao and their very foundation], how do you plan to navigate its perils?"

Caelan Chen pondered briefly, his grip tightening on the Immortal Iron Staff [a mighty staff forged from immortal-grade iron, unyielding and heavy]. "This child intends to challenge the world," he declared. "I shall test myself against the Holy Sons [elite, chosen successors of major powers] from various Grotto-Heavens [self-contained pocket realms of immense spiritual density, often the domains of powerful sects or ancient lineages], and cross blades with the direct heirs of the ancient orthodox sects."

Second Son was silent for a moment before speaking. "Master has instructed me to depart the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the vast, star-scattered realms where immortals dwell] and venture into the Immortal Ruins Ancient Domain [a legendary, perilous region filled with the remnants of fallen immortal civilizations] to undertake the inheritance trial for the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a supreme body-refining technique of celestial grade]. It is likely I will not return for a considerable time."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. He knew the Celestial Court [the paramount heavenly authority governing order and destiny across the immortal domains] possessed unique legacies. One could temper oneself without necessarily undergoing the standard Dao Tribulation, yet the dangers and trials involved were often even greater. Such an ordeal, however, could significantly increase one's chances of achieving a breakthrough into the Triple Taiyi Foundation [an exceptionally rare and potent foundational stage, representing a threefold perfection of one's spiritual base].

Should Second Son return successfully, the Nine Revolutions Indestructible Body [a physique forged through the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art, said to be nearly impervious to harm] cultivated through the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art alone would likely rival the power of a Triple Taiyi Foundation. Seeing this, Qing'er and Caelan Chen spoke up, "The Dao Tribulation is fraught with peril. We wish to remain and lend our strength to aid you, Father." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel*com.