Chapter 1544 : The Primordial Vase's Awakening
Gazing at that ray of Innate light, a subtle stirring arose within Eldrin Chen's heart.
He understood this was a treasure born at the moment of Universe Oblivion [the final dissipation of a cosmos], where primal essence and the Chaos Torrent interwove, giving birth to an Innate Rare Treasure [a treasure of supreme quality born from the fundamental forces of creation].
"So, the end of Oblivion is life itself..."
Eldrin Chen murmured softly, sensing the vast Rule of Life [the fundamental principle governing vitality and growth] contained within, faintly grasping a profound insight.
Simultaneously, far within the Nameless Space, the Returning Abyss Pearl rotated slowly, gradually absorbing the traces of Oblivion and the lingering Path Traces [residual imprints of profound cultivation insights] from the Returning Abyss.
An immeasurable time passed. As the Small Universe continued its process of Oblivion, at its very Central core, within the swirling Chaos Torrent, the Innate light gradually condensed inward, coalescing into an ancient-looking, small vase.
The vase was of a pale violet hue. Its material was neither metal, stone, nor jade, yet it was crystalline and translucent throughout. Within it swirled the Energy of Heaven and Earth [the primordial energies of sky and land], two gaseous essences intertwining. They emitted a hazy Innate radiance, manifesting a color reminiscent of the Primordial Chaos Opening [the legendary event of creation when order first emerged from chaos].
"The Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth."
In an instant, the gathered figures recognized the treasure's origin. Immediately, they surged forward in a frenzy towards the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth.
In that fleeting moment, several Imperial Scions and Holy Scions charged forth, desperate to seize the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth. A chaotic battle erupted once more.
Eldrin Chen looked up and saw that from the Demon Race, the Moon-Cleaving Phoenix Maiden [a powerful female cultivator with the bloodline of a moon-cleaving phoenix], the True Dragon Crown Prince, and the Western Metal Patriarch were present.
From the Human Race, the Venus Celestial Maiden, the Primordial Solar Holy Son, and the Desert Buddhist Scion were there. From the Divine Clan, Kunji Divine Son and the Western Essence Divine Scion were also present. They seemed to have formed a loose alliance, simultaneously vying for the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth while jointly besieging Myriad Spirit Patriarch.
Clearly, in the eyes of these individuals, Myriad Spirit Patriarch posed the greatest threat.
Facing the assault of eight top-tier Half-Step Celestial Immortal cultivators wielding Primordial Unity Immortal Weapons [weapons forged from the fundamental energies of creation], even the awe-inspiring prowess of Myriad Spirit Patriarch was gradually being pushed onto the defensive.
Seeing this, Eldrin Chen exchanged a slight nod with the Void Holy Son.
In a flash, Eldrin Chen and Path Ruins Jiang acted simultaneously. Instead of rushing to aid Myriad Spirit Patriarch, they charged directly towards the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth.
"Damn it!"
Seeing the two attempting to snatch the prize, the True Dragon Crown Prince, Kunji Divine Son, and the Western Essence Divine Scion broke away from the main fray to intercept them. A fierce battle erupted once more.
Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign did not hesitate either. Gripping the Heaven Sorrow's War Halberd, he strode through the air and confronted the True Dragon Crown Prince.
The True Dragon Crown Prince, seeing Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign approach, sneered coldly. "A Human Sovereign who established his foundation on a Single Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation method focusing on a singular, pure primordial energy]—you were always the weakest of the Three Sovereigns."
"This Universe [the cosmos or world] has already fallen into Oblivion [a state of utter annihilation and non-existence]. Without the empowerment of the Human Sovereign [the supreme ruler of humanity, a title of immense authority and power] mantle, how much of your combat prowess remains?"
Yet, Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign [the Human Sovereign bearing the title 'Heaven's Sorrow'] remained utterly calm. The Heaven Sorrow's War Halberd [a legendary polearm weapon] in his hand gleamed with a faint, chilling light. "You are welcome to try," he said.
"You seek death!"
True Dragon Crown Prince [the heir apparent of the True Dragon lineage] sneered coldly. Mounting his Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [a supreme weapon forged at the pinnacle of cultivation], he surged forward, clashing in a bloody melee with Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign.
It was a battle of unparalleled ferocity, a chaotic final struggle between the two sides amidst the ruins of the shattered Universe.
It was also a tragic elegy. The last Human Sovereign of this Universe fought with everything he had, spilling his blood against the invaders from beyond the stars.
By the battle's end, the Heavenly Halberd [a divine polearm] was shattered, his body a canvas of grievous wounds. Yet, the Human Sovereign, his broken form drenched in blood, still gripped the remnants of the Heavenly Halberd and struck out in all directions.
"BOOM—"
Finally, the Human Sovereign, fighting with the desperation of one already embracing death, traded injury for injury in a lethal gambit. His sacrifice succeeded in grievously wounding the True Dragon Crown Prince.
The broken half of the Heavenly Halberd pierced through the True Dragon Crown Prince, pinning his physical form against the void. Dragon Blood [the potent, life-force rich blood of a dragon] stained the fractured expanse of the Universe.
"Agh—"
True Dragon Crown Prince let out a wretched scream, his eyes filled with terror.
He could scarcely believe it, finding it utterly inconceivable. With his body forged from the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation and wielding a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [a weapon of immense power forged at the Primordial Unity stage], he had been defeated by the mere Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign.
"Die—!"
Spitting blood, the Human Sovereign [the supreme ruler of humankind] disregarded his own near-crippling injuries. He took the True Dragon Crown Prince's full-force blow head-on, trading wound for wound as the price. With a mighty roar, he forced his hands apart in a tearing motion.
A heart-rending shriek pierced the air as the True Dragon Crown Prince was ripped in two by the Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign.
His Primordial Unity True Dragon Physique [a supreme body constitution akin to a primordial true dragon] shattered, the True Dragon Crown Prince's Primordial Spirit Immortal Embryo [the nascent immortal form of one's primordial spirit] attempted to flee. But the Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign was prepared. Gripping a broken blade fragment, he thrust forward, piercing and shattering the crown prince's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator] on the spot.
In that fleeting moment, the True Dragon Crown Prince fell, his Primordial Spirit dissolving into motes of fading light.
"A vessel of porcelain, impressive in appearance yet hollow within. All show, no substance."
Having slain the True Dragon Crown Prince with a single move, the Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign spoke coldly, his voice dripping with disdain as he delivered his final judgment.
In that moment, everyone was stunned. Even Yue Zhuo Phoenix Maiden and Western Essence Divine Scion and the others revealed looks of utter shock.
To suppress and slay a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage where one has unified two primordial energies] cultivator wielding a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [a weapon forged at the Primordial Unity Immortal realm] with a mere Single Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage where one has unified a single primordial energy]—such a world-shaking, earth-shattering battle achievement truly struck terror into the hearts of all present.
They gazed at Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign, shaken by the sheer, ruthless determination he had displayed.
A fighting style like Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign's, even if victorious, would leave the user crippled, likely to pass away not long after. The True Dragon Crown Prince, cherishing his own life and power, was unwilling to trade injury for injury. Little did he expect this very reluctance would cost him his life.
"From the very beginning, you never intended to return alive,"
the Primordial Solar Holy Son said, looking at Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign with a sigh he could not suppress.
Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign offered no reply. He merely gripped his war halberd and strode towards the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth.
In that instant, as the others moved to intercept him, they found Eldrin Chen, Path Ruins Jiang, and Myriad Spirit Patriarch unleashing their full power to block their path.
With great difficulty, Yue Zhuo Phoenix Maiden and the Primordial Solar Holy Son managed to disengage, seeking to seize the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth from Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign's grasp.
Yet, in that very moment, Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign suddenly sent the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth flying with a mighty palm strike. And the direction in which the Heaven Trigram [a powerful formation based on the eight trigrams of the I Ching] Primordial Energy Vase soared was precisely towards where Eldrin Chen stood.
"Now is the moment."
In that instant, Eldrin Chen grasped the Heaven Trigram One Qi Vase [a magical vessel that can contain and manipulate primordial energy] in his hand and immediately shot towards the distant void.
The group gave chase once more, yet Eldrin Chen continuously weaved through the void, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
"What a formidable Spatial Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact capable of manipulating space], to be able to traverse this shattered Universe."
Sensing the extraordinary nature of Eldrin Chen's Polarity Void Mirror, the group was filled with immense frustration. They still wished to pursue and intercept him.
But at that very moment, a thunderous roar echoed from the endless void. On the other side of the Universe, another spatial rift tore open, unleashing a boundless torrent of Chaos Torrent [a devastating tide of primal, formless energy].
And this was merely the beginning. As they looked up, they saw infinite spatial storms and endless Chaos Torrent surging forth, churning the Universe until it was nearly torn asunder.
Even the entrance to the Small Universe [a pocket dimension or lesser realm], which the several Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] were stabilizing with their full might, now began to tremble precariously, on the verge of complete Oblivion [utter annihilation, erasure from existence].
"We can linger no longer."
Western Metal Patriarch [a title for a powerful patriarch associated with the Metal element] paled slightly. Casting aside all thought of the Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primal forces of the cosmos, possessing immense innate power], he immediately fled towards the entrance of the Small Universe.
Witnessing this scene, the crowd understood that the Innate Treasure [a treasure born of heaven and earth, containing innate laws] was beyond their grasp. Without further ado, they all began to disperse and depart.
Before parting, the Western Essence Divine Scion [a chosen scion from the Western Essence Grotto-Heaven] cast a cold glance at Eldrin Chen and sneered, "Though I know not who you are, since you conceal your form, you are surely no direct disciple of a Grotto-Heaven [a supreme cultivation sanctuary and power base]."
"Without the backing of a Grotto-Heaven, all your efforts will ultimately become another's harvest."