Chapter 1543 : Allies Amidst Discord

As his words fell, True Dragon Crown Prince prepared to strike at the Netherworld Small Universe Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array protecting a pocket dimension].

Yet, at that very moment, Myriad Spirit Patriarch intercepted him and spoke, "If not for this fellow Daoist's Formation [a structured arrangement of power for defense or attack], this Small Universe [a self-contained pocket dimension] might already have been sacrificed by the Black Cloud Demon Monarch."

"This is a debt of life-saving grace. Do you still wish to act with such ingratitude?"

Upon hearing this, the assembled crowd was momentarily taken aback.

Seeing this, Path Ruins Jiang also stepped forward, stating, "The words of the Myriad Spirit Patriarch hold merit."

Simultaneously, Blazeflame Divine Spirit, Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign, and the three Great Emperor [the pinnacle sovereigns of the human race] of this realm's Human Race all stepped forth. Though they remained silent, their stance was clear.

Seeing this, more than a dozen rogue cultivators at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a realm just shy of true celestial immortality] level sighed in resignation, shook their heads, and flew off into the starry void of the Universe.

Those who remained, like the True Dragon Crown Prince and the Western Metal Patriarch [a title referring to a powerful patriarch associated with the Metal element], still harbored desires to contend, but they understood that unity of purpose had been lost.

The Western Metal Patriarch let out a cold laugh, his gaze turning to Eldrin Chen. "What a silver tongue you possess," he said. "To sow discord among our ranks with just a few words."

"Was it truly sowing discord?"

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile before speaking. "While Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primal chaos of heaven and earth] are indeed precious, an ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to true celestial immortality] without powerful backing would merely be fighting a doomed battle for someone else's gain, even if they managed to seize one."

"After all, such Innate Rare Treasure [an exceedingly rare treasure of innate origin] would inevitably end up in the hands of the Celestial Immortal [a true immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm] standing behind you all."

"It's good that you understand,"

Western Metal Patriarch [a title for a powerful patriarch associated with the Metal element of the West] sneered coldly and immediately withdrew from the scene.

By this point, the fervor had cooled within the gathered Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the verge of true celestial immortality].

They understood that while an Innate Treasure [a treasure born from primal chaos] was precious, seizing it would be a futile endeavor without the support of a powerful patron.

Thus, many rogue cultivators at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal [verge of celestial immortality] level departed from the Small Universe [a miniature, self-contained cosmos] and returned to the wider Immortal Domain [the realm of the immortals].

Only a select few with the backing of a Grotto-Heaven [a blessed paradise realm, often a sect's headquarters]—such as Venus Celestial Maiden, Primordial Solar Holy Son, and True Dragon Crown Prince—remained within this Universe [cosmos], awaiting the final maturation of the Universe's Oblivion [the cosmic process of entropy and dissolution] treasure.

After the crowd dispersed, Eldrin Chen realized the Netherworld Small Universe [a miniature cosmos of the underworld] was also succumbing to Oblivion [cosmic dissolution].

He stored away the Polarity Void Mirror [a mystical mirror that manipulates the void between polarities], the Nether Sea Pearl [a pearl containing the essence of the Nether Sea], and the Primordial Unity Thunder Abyss Myriad Tribulations Sword [a divine sword forged from primordial thunder and the essence of countless tribulations]. Then, he said to Violet Mystery Path Master and Glazed Divine Lord, "This Small Universe [miniature cosmos] is on the brink of Oblivion [cosmic dissolution]. If you do not leave now, it will be too late."

"Safety is paramount. You must depart immediately with the treasures."

Upon hearing this, Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] frowned slightly and asked, "And what of you?"

"I have my own means to return safely."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, then turned his gaze to Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign [a title for a legendary human emperor] and the three Great Emperor [a supreme cultivation realm]—Antiquity-Tracing, Future, and Eastern Pole—saying, "You should all depart as well."

"There is no need for me to leave."

Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign shook his head, then looked at Eldrin Chen and inquired, "How are the descendants of our Human Race [the collective of humankind] faring in this era?"

"Of the Human Race in this Universe [the cosmos or realm of existence], three-tenths reside within our Earth Immortal World [a paradisiacal realm for immortal cultivators], while seven-tenths have been guided to the Hundred Seas of Returning Abyss [a legendary, vast oceanic realm]," Eldrin Chen replied steadily, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Rest assured, as long as I endure, the flame of our Human Race in this Universe will never be extinguished. Our bloodline shall flow unbroken through the generations."

"Then my heart is at peace."

Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign gave a slow nod, then released a soft, wistful sigh.

He gazed upon the vast Universe [the boundless cosmos], then turned his eyes to the three Mortal Path [the path of cultivation within the mortal realm] cultivators, Antiquity-Tracing, Future, and Eastern Pole: "This time, you have forsaken the guidance of the Venus Grotto-Heaven [a celestial paradise realm] and the Primordial Solar Grotto-Heaven [a paradise realm of the primordial sun], choosing to venture forth into the Immortal Domain [the higher realm of immortals] on your own."

"But the Immortal Domain is vast and perilous, unlike this Small Universe [a smaller, self-contained cosmos]. Remember to tread carefully."

The Antiquity-Tracing Great Emperor nodded slightly, his expression calm as he spoke: "If one day I can set foot upon the Great Encompassing Realm [the ultimate realm of cultivation], I shall use the Time Great Path [the supreme art of manipulating time] to restore this Universe to life."

With those words, they bid each other farewell.

The three Great Emperor [supreme sovereigns of immense power], Antiquity-Tracing, Future, and Eastern Pole, followed Glazed Divine Lord and Violet Mystery Path Master. Together, they slipped into the Immortal Domain by covertly traversing a Spatial Rift [a tear in the fabric of space].

Watching the three depart, Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign let out a sigh. "They have all left. It is for the best."

"They all have a bright Future ahead. My heart is finally at ease."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a tremor in his heart. It was undeniable that compared to the two Great Emperor, Antiquity-Tracing and Future, this Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign, the third Human Sovereign [the sovereign protector of humanity] of this Universe, was not endowed with particularly dazzling talent.

Yet, to protect the Human Race, he had made a great vow to break through to the Primordial Unity Realm [a profound state of primordial oneness]. That immense resolve and courage were second to none.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "What do you plan to do next?"

"My homeland is on the brink of Oblivion [a state of utter and final annihilation], yet I am powerless to stop it. What more can I possibly do?"

Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign shook his head. He gazed at the Human Sovereign's Sword [the legendary blade symbolizing the authority of the Human Sovereign] in his hand, then tossed it to Eldrin Chen. "From this day forth, you shall be the next Human Sovereign [the supreme ruler and protector of humanity] for the Human Race of this Universe. I trust you will not tarnish the glorious reputation of this sword."

"This..."

Eldrin Chen felt a tremor in his heart. He had not expected Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign to bestow the sword upon him instead of the two Great Emperor [a supreme title for cultivators of immense power], Antiquity-Tracing and Future.

Without another word, Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign drew a golden war halberd from his sleeve. His expression was serene as he spoke.

"My Heaven Sorrow's War Halberd has not tasted blood for many long years."

"Today, as I face my final dissolution, it shall accompany me in one last battle."

With those words, Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign gripped the halberd and strode forward, advancing with determined steps into the depths of the Universe.

Stars shattered and dissolved. The very Universe itself began to collapse inward.

Within the vast expanse of the Universe, all things were marching inexorably toward Oblivion.

Eldrin Chen walked side by side with Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign, traversing the ruins of a bygone era, witnessing the Oblivion [the state of complete and final annihilation] of a Universe.

Wailing, agony, despair, Oblivion, and silence…

Eldrin Chen gazed silently at the surrounding Universe, a sudden, profound understanding stirring within his heart.

"The end of time, the origin of space, the terminus of all things—the Universe Returning Abyss."

"Entropy's increase is irreversible. From the perspective of ten thousand years, a hundred million years, a trillion years, or a hundred million trillion trillion years, all things will inevitably fall to Oblivion under its relentless march."

"Even Immortal Gold [a legendary, supposedly eternal and indestructible metal], blessed with Immortality [the state of being deathless] and Indestructibility [the quality of being unbreakable], will one day corrode and decay."

"Is this the reason why all worlds, all Universes, are destined for Oblivion?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, falling into a contemplative silence.

A premonition settled upon him: even the Immortal Domain [the realm of the immortals] would one day face Oblivion. That day was simply too distant, so immeasurably long that Immortals, Earth Immortals [immortals bound to the earthly realm], and even Celestial Immortals [heavenly immortals] would never deign to consider it.

For, long before their own fall, the Immortal Domain would almost certainly remain untouched by Oblivion.

"Will everything truly return to Oblivion?"

Eldrin Chen pondered silently as he traversed the vast expanse of heaven and earth. He watched as, under the relentless collapse of the Universe, endless streams of Oblivion Essence [the fundamental energy of cosmic dissolution and return to nothingness] surged towards the Central region of the Universe.

Countless Stellar bodies, rare treasures, and precious artifacts disintegrated completely, reverting to their most primal rules and Dao patterns [the fundamental laws and principles that govern reality]. Intertwining, they seemed to give birth to a flicker of Primordial Chaos Energy.

"BOOM!"

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from within the Universe.

Eldrin Chen looked up to see the Universe tear asunder. A fissure stretching across untold light-years ripped open, connecting to the boundless Depths of Chaos.

An immeasurable torrent of Chaos Torrent [a violent, primordial flood of chaotic energy] surged inward, cascading towards the Central heart of the Universe.

Countless Chaos Torrent intertwined with the fundamental essence of the Universe, causing the calamitous energy [the destructive force that heralds the end of an era] to grow ever more violent and rampant.

Eldrin Chen exerted his full power to manifest the Primordial One Energy True Aura [a supreme defensive technique that harnesses the unified energy of creation], striving to evade the raging Chaos Torrent. His gaze pierced towards the depths of the Universe's Central core.

There, at the very heart, a hazy Innate light [the primordial radiance that existed before heaven and earth] began to slowly unfurl.