Chapter 1545 : The Price of Oblivion's Power

As Western Essence Divine Scion and the others departed, only Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign, Eldrin Chen, Myriad Spirit Patriarch, and Path Ruins Jiang remained within the Small Universe [a self-contained pocket dimension].

Before parting, Myriad Spirit Patriarch and Path Ruins Jiang exchanged a meaningful glance with Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen looked back at the Netherworld Small Universe [a pocket dimension connected to the underworld]. He saw that the entire realm had already succumbed to complete Oblivion [the state of utter annihilation and non-existence], and the spatial passageway leading back to the Immortal Domain [the higher realm of immortals] had already faded into nothingness.

He understood their unspoken offer. If he asked, they could pay a certain price to secure his safe return. However, this would require surrendering at least one Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, possessing immense power] to appease the Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being of the Celestial Immortal realm] backing them.

Even so, Eldrin Chen shook his head. He understood full well the preciousness of an Innate Treasure, and he was even more aware of the immense trouble his true identity being exposed would bring.

Furthermore, for the Returning Abyss Pearl [a mystical pearl embodying the power of the returning abyss] to advance further, he needed to remain until the final moment of the Universe's Oblivion, to absorb the Path Traces [the residual imprints of cosmic laws and principles] from the Universe Returning Abyss [the cosmic abyss where universes return to nothingness].

Thus, he shook his head once more and spoke, "You may go. I have my own means to return."

"Since that is your decision, take care of yourself."

At the final moment, Myriad Spirit Patriarch and Path Ruins Jiang could only shake their heads in resignation.

They said no more. Transforming into streaks of light, they managed to exit this Small Universe just before the spatial passageway shattered completely. Join our community of readers at audio~novel.com.

Watching the two depart, Eldrin Chen offered no further words.

He stepped forward, arriving before Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign. He discovered that the Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign's physical body was now nearly disintegrated, and even his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was riddled with cracks.

"Alas—"

Eldrin Chen understood. Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign, having not opened a single Heavenly Layer and possessing only a Single Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage of singular, unified primordial essence], had slain the True Dragon Crown Prince, who possessed a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a superior foundational stage of dual, unified primordial essence].

If news of this battle's outcome were to spread beyond, it would be enough to shake the world and be inscribed into the annals of Vast Azure Immortal Domain's history.

And as the victor, Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign had paid an unimaginable price.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh and spoke, "Do you have any final words?"

"The greater part of this Universe's Human Race departed with you. The ember of our kind has been preserved."

"And today, with a body of Single Primordial Unity Foundation, I rebelled against and felled a supreme True Dragon wielding a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [a weapon forged from unified primordial essence, of immortal grade]. I harbor no regrets for this lifetime."

Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign spoke slowly. Noticing the expression on Eldrin Chen's face, he shook his head with a faint smile. "There is no need for sorrow on my account."

"My Heaven-bestowed Dao title is Heaven Sorrow [a title signifying one who carries the world's grief], and this life of mine is destined to walk this path."

"As the final Human Sovereign [the supreme ruler of humanity] of this Universe, to have earned Heaven's sorrow, my life can be considered without shame before my people."

Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign spoke softly. With a flick of his sleeve, he retrieved a radiant Dragon Pearl [a condensed essence of draconic power] and a resplendent ancient artifact—the Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [a weapon forged at the dawn of creation] known as the 'Primordial Unity Sunder Heaven Hammer [a hammer capable of cleaving the heavens themselves].'

He handed both the Dragon Pearl and the Primordial Unity Sunder Heaven Hammer to Eldrin Chen, then continued, "After the True Dragon Crown Prince [the heir to the dragon throne] fell, he left behind many treasures."

"Alas, the vast majority were swept away by the Chaos Torrent [a cataclysmic flow of primordial disorder]. I only managed to secure these two."

"Now, as my end approaches, I bequeath them to you."

Eldrin Chen accepted the treasures and said, "If you were to entrust a wisp of your soul to me, once I ascend to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial beings], I might be able to help you sever your Karma [the web of cause and effect binding one's fate] and achieve Nirvana [a state of perfect peace and liberation] and Rebirth [a transcendental rebirth] within the Immortal Realm."

"There is no need."

Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign offered a faint smile. "The Oblivion [the final end, utter annihilation] of a dynasty never lacks those willing to be its funerary sacrifice. Is the Oblivion of a great Universe any different?"

"I, as the Emperor of the Human Race in this Universe, as one of the Three Sovereigns of Heaven, Earth, and Man—what is wrong with becoming a funerary sacrifice for this cosmos?"

Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign spoke slowly, his physical form gradually disintegrating, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] slowly dissolving into a shower of light.

This was a Human Sovereign [a legendary ruler of humanity], offering his final sacrifice for this Universe, his expression held no sorrow or bitterness, only a serene and tranquil calm.

"In this life, I was born here and shall die here. I can say I have lived without shame before heaven and earth, and without failing my fellow man."

"If there is a next life, I could become a blade of grass, or a single tree, enduring wind and rain, enduring sun and storm, so long as I grow honestly and openly between heaven and earth."

"If I am fortunate enough to be reborn into the Human Race once more, I wish only to immerse myself in cultivation, to turn away from Mortal Dust Affairs [the mundane affairs of the mortal world], and to walk the Great Path [the supreme Dao of cultivation] alone…"

The greatest sound is heard in silence; the greatest form is seen in formlessness. This chapter is provided by audio-novel*com. Support the original.

The voice of Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign gradually faded, becoming indistinct, until finally it vanished into the vast silence.

Eldrin Chen returned to himself from the echoes of those words, only to realize that Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign had already completely dissolved into the Great Path.

He stood up, a faint sigh escaping his heart. Though his acquaintance with Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign had been brief, he held a profound respect for the man's character.

Such a peerless hero, had he set foot in the Immortal Domain, might truly have walked a path reaching far beyond.

"Perhaps one day, we shall meet again."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, finally withdrawing his thoughts.

He raised his head and saw that this Universe had already undergone Oblivion [the final, irreversible end of a cosmos] to ninety-nine percent. Countless spatial storms and Chaos Turbulence [the violent, primordial currents that exist between worlds] inundated heaven and earth, turning all things in their path to ruins.

Peering through the rifts in the void, Eldrin Chen saw that beyond the Universe, aside from the Chaos Turbulence, there were also one after another majestic figures whose radiance illuminated the Myriad Heavens.

And Eldrin Chen stood amidst the boundless expanse of heaven and earth, watching this scene with a calm expression.

He used the Heaven-Deceiving Secret Art to conceal his aura, then continuously drew upon the Path Traces [residual imprints of cosmic laws and principles] generated by the Universe's Oblivion.

As time flowed on, not long after, the Small Universe was on the verge of complete Oblivion, collapsing into a minuscule Chaos Origin Point [a singular point of condensed primordial chaos from which universes can be born].

Eldrin Chen used Chaos Mist [a protective mist refined from primordial chaos] to shield his body, stabilizing his form with all his might. Yet he discovered that under the erosion of the Chaos Energy Flow [the raw, untamed currents of primordial chaos], the Chaos Mist was being rapidly consumed.

"My reserves of Chaos Mist are still somewhat insufficient."

Sensing the rapid depletion of the Chaos Mist, a slight frown creased Eldrin Chen's brow.

Fortunately, it was sufficient to hold for a brief moment. As the Universe rapidly Oblivion [the state of complete annihilation and return to nothingness], endless Chaos Torrent [a violent, primordial flow of chaotic energy] and spatial fragments swept up Eldrin Chen, seeking to drag him into the collapsing void's point of origin.

The power of this Chaos Turbulence [the turbulent, destructive currents within primordial chaos] was too immense. Eldrin Chen could only drift along with the flow. Just as he was about to be pulled into the depths of the Chaos Vortex [a maelstrom of pure chaos], the Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] watching from beyond the turbulence finally could restrain themselves no longer.

"*Hummm—*"

In that instant, several Celestial Immortal Great Power acted. They expended vast amounts of their spiritual power without hesitation, striving to forcibly stabilize the Chaos Torrent and pluck Eldrin Chen from its grasp.

But at that very moment, Eldrin Chen's eyes snapped open, and he spoke decisively.

"*Go!*"

Instantly, an intangible ripple of spatial energy unfurled, and then Eldrin Chen vanished from within the Chaos Turbulence.

Simultaneously, boundless Chaos Torrent inundated everything. The several Celestial Immortal Great Power who had been suppressing the Chaos Turbulence now wore expressions of deep displeasure.

Witnessing Eldrin Chen's escape, one of the Heavenly God [a deity of immense power residing in the heavenly realms] spoke, "Did anyone see clearly who it was?"

"The Chaos Torrent obscured him. We could not discern his true visage."

A great power from the Immortal Phoenix Clan spoke, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

A great power from the White Tiger Clan shook his head, his expression grave as he said, "To depart from within the Chaos Turbulence [a maelstrom of primordial chaos], one would require at least an Innate Treasure [a treasure born of the world's natural laws] possessing Spatial Attribute [spatial-aligned properties], and it would have to be an Upper Grade Innate Treasure [a treasure of the highest innate grade] at that." Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel . com.