Chapter 1542 : Sword Radiance Shatters the Heavens

Bolstered by the Formation [a structured arrangement of power to amplify effects], the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword unleashed a might far surpassing what a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] could muster, its power nearly equivalent to a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme cultivator who has ascended to immortality] personally wielding the blade in battle.

"*Clang—*"

After a moment of absolute stillness, the Obsidian Fiend Mist and Cloud Barrier [a defensive technique conjuring a barrier of dark mist and clouds] trembled violently, a crack ruthlessly cleaved into its form.

"Disastrous."

The Heavenly Emperor's Avatar [a powerful projection or manifestation of a Heavenly Emperor] felt its heart lurch. It immediately sought to channel more spiritual power into the Obsidian Fiend Mist and Cloud Barrier, only to find its internal reserves more than half-depleted, a wave of debilitating weakness washing over it.

At that precise moment, Path Ruins Jiang's eyes snapped open. With a flick of his sleeve, he manifested a searing sword radiance that shot into the heavens.

It was a light of blinding brilliance, akin to the very first radiance born Innate [existing from the beginning, prior to the creation of the cosmos], before the Primordial Chaos Opening [the cataclysmic event that cleaved order from the formless void].

This light shot straight toward the Heavenly Emperor's Avatar, capable of sundering all things between heaven and earth. Upon closer inspection, it revealed itself to be a Peerless Immortal Sword [a sword of unmatched quality, forged for immortal use].

"Trouble! It's the Innate Celestial Slaughter Sword [a legendary sword born from primordial chaos, embodying the concept of heavenly execution]!"

A jolt of alarm shot through the Heavenly Emperor's Avatar. It tried to evade the strike but found itself irrevocably locked on by the Innate Ruins Path Sword [a supreme sword embodying the primordial Dao of destruction and endings].

He had no time to react before the Innate Ruins Path Sword [a primordial sword embodying the power of the Ruins Path] cleaved through the Obsidian Fiend Mist and Cloud Barrier [a defensive technique conjuring a barrier of dark mist and clouds] and bisected him, cleaving half his body apart on the spot.

"Aaaargh—"

Struck by this devastating blow, the Heavenly Emperor's Avatar [a powerful projection or incarnation of a Heavenly Emperor] let out a piercing shriek of agony.

The might of the Innate Celestial Slaughter Sword [a primordial sword of heaven-mandated execution] was simply too terrifying. Even a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] struck by it might perish instantly, let alone a mere Heavenly Emperor's Avatar.

The Heavenly Emperor's Avatar tried desperately to suppress its wounds, but boundless Innate Path Principle [the fundamental law of an innate cultivation path] upon the gashes was Oblivion [erasing, annihilating] everything. Not even the avatar's Indestructibility Imperial Physique [an emperor-grade body constitution famed for its near-unbreakable resilience] could withstand it.

In the span of a few breaths, the Heavenly Emperor's Avatar began to dissolve into motes of light, scattering into nothingness.

"The Innate Celestial Slaughter Sword."

"To witness the might of the Innate Celestial Slaughter Sword... this defeat is not unjust," the avatar spoke, its voice carrying a strange calm.

In its final moments, the Heavenly Emperor's Avatar gazed at the Innate Celestial Slaughter Sword in Path Ruins Jiang's hand, its expression eerily serene.

There was no expected fury, only a placid stare directed at Path Ruins Jiang. "The day will come," it stated with finality, "when we meet again."

"Boom—"

In a single Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time], the Heavenly Emperor's Avatar erupted into a blaze of dissipating cosmic principles, causing the Universe [the self-contained dimensional realm] to tremble violently.

This Universe was already teetering on the brink of Oblivion [complete annihilation and dissolution]. Having endured a cataclysmic battle of near-Celestial Immortal [a high-level immortal realm] magnitude, it could no longer hold, beginning its gradual disintegration into Oblivion.

"The Small Universe [a self-contained, smaller dimensional realm] is about to face Oblivion,"

declared the Western Essence Divine Scion suddenly, before charging headlong toward the Innate Polarity Path Union Gourd [a legendary gourd born from the union of primal Yin and Yang energies, said to contain profound Daoist principles].

The Primordial Solar Holy Son [a holy scion embodying the essence of the primordial sun] surged forward simultaneously, aiming for the Innate Polarity Path Union Gourd. With a sweep of his sleeve, he blocked the Western Essence Divine Scion and sneered, "Since the Small Universe is on the verge of Oblivion, why don't you make haste and leave?"

"This treasure has a karmic connection with my Buddha."

The Buddhist Scion from the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain spoke, manifesting a Buddha Golden Body [a divine, golden manifestation of a Buddha's power] that towered for millions of Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. He repelled a group of Earth Immortal [immortals anchored to the earthly realm] and lunged for the Innate Polarity Path Union Gourd.

In that instant, chaos erupted once more as a frenzied melee broke out.

The various Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have nearly ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] all unleashed their power, fighting with desperate madness to seize the Innate Polarity Path Union Gourd.

Thus did the great battle rage on for several more Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours]. Several more Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have partially transcended mortality but not yet fully ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] fell, and one by one, the combatants recovered from their wounds.

It was at this moment that Myriad Spirit Patriarch finally made his move. With a single palm strike, he sent the Scorching Moon Phoenix Maiden [a mythical phoenix maiden associated with the moon's scorching essence] flying and seized the Polarity Path Union Gourd [a legendary gourd that unifies the opposing forces of creation].

Alas, the Polarity Path Union Gourd possessed extraordinary sentience [a profound spiritual awareness and will of its own] and was a treasure of immense power. Without first refining it [the process of attuning one's spirit to a magical artifact to gain control over it], it could not be stored within any spatial treasure or Earth Immortal World [the personal inner world cultivated by an Earth Immortal].

Seizing this very opportunity, dozens of Half-Step Celestial Immortal struck simultaneously. A storm of Divine Ability [supernatural powers granted by profound cultivation] and magical treasures erupted forth, their combined force blasting the Polarity Path Union Gourd from his grasp.

"A perfect chance!"

Seeing the Polarity Path Union Gourd flung free from the crowd, Eldrin Chen seized the moment. He summoned forth the Polarity Void Mirror [a mystical mirror that manipulates the fundamental forces of duality and void].

In that instant, a beam of Polarity [the fundamental cosmic principle of opposing yet complementary forces, such as yin and yang] light shot across the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky]. Spatial power enveloped the void, firmly grasping the Polarity Path Union Gourd.

"No!"

The others, witnessing this, immediately sought to intervene.

Yet in that fleeting moment, Myriad Spirit Patriarch and Path Ruins Jiang acted with perfect, unspoken coordination, stalling the crowd for a crucial heartbeat.

In that fleeting instant, the Polarity Path Union Gourd was drawn into the grasp of Eldrin Chen.

"Who dares?!"

Witnessing the Polarity Path Union Gourd being seized, countless individuals were driven to the brink of madness on the spot.

In a Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time], they surged toward the Netherworld Small Universe.

Alas, the Netherworld Small Universe and the Solar Realm Universe were separated by the two opposing faces of Polarity [the fundamental duality of existence, such as Yin and Yang], requiring no small amount of time to traverse the void between them.

As the throng was still navigating the void, Eldrin Chen had already secured a firm hold on the Polarity Path Union Gourd.

Gazing at the Polarity Path Union Gourd in his hand, Eldrin Chen immediately addressed Violet Mystery Path Master and Nyssa Qu, "I must refine this treasure. I must trouble you both to hold them off for a short while."

With those words, he entered a state of secluded cultivation to refine the Polarity Path Union Gourd.

Generally, refining an Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of heaven and earth] is an immensely difficult task. Even an existence at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm would likely require tens of thousands of years to refine a single Innate Treasure.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen possessed his own method. He channeled a wisp of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme energy of creation and origin], using it to envelop a strand of his soul force and guide it into the Polarity Path Union Gourd.

As expected, the Polarity Path Union Gourd [a legendary gourd capable of merging opposing cosmic forces] sensed the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the primordial, chaotic energy that predates creation, tinged with a violet hue] and, as if discovering a priceless treasure, immediately devoured it, swallowing the accompanying soul power in the process.

With the aid of this soul power, Eldrin Chen worked from both inside and out, making the refinement process astonishingly swift.

By the time the group arrived at the Netherworld Small Universe [a pocket dimension suffused with the essence of the underworld], Eldrin Chen had already achieved a preliminary refinement of the Polarity Path Union Gourd.

"Hand over the Polarity Path Union Gourd!"

The moment they reached the Netherworld Small Universe, the group immediately began assaulting its protective Formation [a defensive array or magical barrier].

Yet, Eldrin Chen showed not a trace of fear. He simply activated the Small Universe's Formation to block their attacks, his expression serene as he declared, "The Polarity Path Union Gourd is already mine, refined by this venerable one. Your attempts to seize it now are far too late."

"This Universe is on the brink of Oblivion [the state of utter annihilation and return to nothingness], and the Universe Oblivion Supreme Treasure [a legendary artifact born from the cataclysmic end of a cosmos] is about to manifest. If you delay any longer, you will miss your chance."

His words struck the group like a thunderclap.

They saw it then: the Boundless Universe was indeed unraveling into Oblivion. Infinite rifts of void space tore through reality, severing all things. Billions upon billions of Stellar [celestial bodies and stars] were being unmade, dissolving into streams of Oblivion energy that shrouded everything.

These energies were converging, collapsing inward toward the Central heart of the Universe. At this terrifying pace, the treasure born of the universe's Oblivion would soon take form.

Seeing this, the crowd's resolve began to waver, and thoughts of retreat flickered in their minds.

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] observed their hesitation and pressed on, "Even if you, so many in number, managed to seize the Polarity Path Union Gourd [a legendary artifact capable of merging opposing forces], how would you ever divide it amongst yourselves?"

"Even if you fought to the death and claimed the Polarity Path Union Gourd, you would merely be spilling your blood for another's gain. In the end, such a treasure would never truly be yours to hold."

"If I were in your place, I would follow the example of those Earth Immortal [cultivators who have attained a profound level of power, becoming one with the earthly realm]. I would take what spoils I have now and depart this place."

His words struck a chord. The cultivators glanced back and saw, to their confirmation, that a great number of Earth Immortal Patriarch [venerable leaders who have reached the Earth Immortal realm] had already retreated through the spatial rifts back into the Immortal Domain [a higher plane of existence]. Among them were even several Half-Step Celestial Immortal [powerful beings on the very cusp of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm].

Yet, the True Dragon Crown Prince [the heir to a mighty dragon lineage] wore a face of glacial fury, his gaze sharp and cold. "Silver-tongued and cunning," he hissed. "Do you believe your glib words alone can make us withdraw empty-handed?"