Chapter 1549 : Treasures of Enlightenment and Perilous Plans

In addition to the treasures obtained by the several individuals, Eldrin Chen held in his hands several supreme treasures capable of breaking through cultivation bottlenecks. These were one Primordial Unity Immortal Fruit [a legendary fruit said to grant profound enlightenment and aid in realm advancement] and three portions of Heaven Trigram Pure Energy [a rare, purified spiritual energy aligned with the cosmic trigrams, used for breakthroughs].

Contemplating the profound mysteries of the Primordial Unity Immortal Fruit and the Heaven Trigram Pure Energy, Eldrin Chen allowed a faint smile to grace his lips. "You all should cultivate in peace," he advised, "and also diligently seek news regarding Netherworld Turbid Energy [a dense, yin-aligned spiritual energy found in the deepest nether regions]."

"Once I break through to the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] and gather the required Netherworld Turbid Energy, I will once again refine the Pill of Polarity Enlightenment [an elixir that harmonizes opposing forces to achieve enlightenment]. At that time, your chances of successfully cultivating the Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation art seeking primordial unity] will be greatly enhanced."

Kael Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "The Netherworld Turbid Energy resides within the Depths of the Netherworld [the profound and perilous abyssal layers of the underworld]. Should we not begin planning for an expedition in advance?"

"There is no need for haste just yet."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a slight frown creasing his brow. "The Netherworld Turbid Energy is exceedingly precious and rarely appears at Barter Convention [large-scale trading gatherings for cultivators]. Venturing into the Depths of the Netherworld to seek it out would be highly perilous and could easily offend the Netherworld Great Power [formidable beings who rule the nether realms]."

Pausing briefly, Eldrin Chen continued in a measured tone, "However, we can certainly begin gathering intelligence on the Netherworld Turbid Energy. It would not do to be caught unprepared, desperately seeking it at a critical juncture."

"Understood."

Kael Chen gave a firm nod. "The clan needs time to digest and consolidate our recent gains, so major conflicts are unlikely for now. I shall journey through the Immortal Domain [the vast realm where immortals dwell], traveling and gathering information along the way."

Energy Abyss Chen and Ethan Chen also nodded in agreement. "Indeed," they said, "though we have been immortals for several hundred thousand years, we have never truly taken the time to properly explore this vast Immortal Domain."

"Now is the perfect time to journey forth and explore the vast and wondrous Immortal Domain," they declared.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen understood their resolve was firm. He sighed softly and said, "Since your minds are set, remember above all else to prioritize your safety."

"We understand," they replied.

The three nodded, smiles gracing their faces.

With matters settled, the council concluded. Eldrin Chen subsequently entered a period of secluded cultivation at Green Chariot Mountain. After some time, he departed quietly for the Myriad Spirit Sea Region.

Stealthily meeting with Myriad Spirit Patriarch, Eldrin Chen immediately clasped his hands in salute. "Esteemed Senior, I have come to deliver treasures," he announced.

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen produced four precious artifacts: the Fragment of Chronos, the Ancient Firmament Gold, the Primordial Unity Sunder Heaven Hammer, and the Primordial Unity Adamantine War Halberd.

"You are most thoughtful," Myriad Spirit Patriarch remarked.

After examining the treasures, Myriad Spirit Patriarch smiled and spoke.

With these words, he accepted the Primordial Unity Sunder Heaven Hammer and the Ancient Firmament Gold, then continued.

"As for the remainder, you may take them back."

Watching Myriad Spirit Patriarch take the two treasures, Eldrin Chen felt not a shred of reluctance, but rather a subtle sense of relief settling in his heart.

The fact that Myriad Spirit Patriarch was willing to accept two treasures proved his willingness to shoulder the Karma [the metaphysical cause-and-effect web of actions and consequences] for Eldrin Chen and to keep his secrets.

Had Myriad Spirit Patriarch refused to take anything, Eldrin Chen would have felt uneasy instead.

For that would have meant he disdained such treasures, his greed fixated on the Innate Treasure [a primordial artifact born from the cosmos itself, of immense power].

Eldrin Chen had schemed and toiled with immense difficulty to obtain the Innate Treasure, and he would naturally never willingly relinquish it.

Even if he had to surrender the Innate Treasure to secure his safety, he would certainly have handed it over to someone like Heavenly Halberd Demon-Slaying True Lord, a cultivator at the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation path].

After all, Heavenly Halberd Demon-Slaying True Lord's power surpassed Myriad Spirit Patriarch's by a hundredfold, offering Eldrin Chen far greater protection. Moreover, such a figure would hardly tarnish his reputation for a mere Low-Grade Innate Treasure [the lowest tier of primordial cosmic artifacts].

Conversely, even if Myriad Spirit Patriarch obtained the Innate Treasure, should the news leak, he likely couldn't protect Eldrin Chen anyway. They would ultimately still have to rely on Heavenly Halberd Demon-Slaying True Lord. So why go through such unnecessary trouble?

Now that Myriad Spirit Patriarch had accepted the two Primordial Unity Rare Treasure [extremely rare treasures forged at the dawn of creation], Eldrin Chen finally felt a true, if subtle, sense of reassurance in his heart.

He stored the remaining treasures away, then turned his gaze to Myriad Spirit Patriarch and inquired, "I wonder if the Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful Celestial Immortals] pursued the matter after my departure?"

Myriad Spirit Patriarch did not answer directly, instead posing a question in return: "The one who intervened to rescue you—was it the master of the Western Abyss Immortal Court [the governing court of the Western Abyss], or perhaps an Elder from some other supreme sect?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, but comprehension dawned swiftly.

He surmised the likely scenario: his sudden retrieval by the Returning Abyss Pearl [a spatial innate spiritual treasure] had led the various Celestial Immortal Great Power to believe he was backed by a figure of at least Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle of the Celestial Immortal stage], or even an Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived countless tribulations]. Consequently, none dared to act rashly.

Upon reflection, this was to be expected. After all, an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born of heaven and earth, possessing innate laws] is exceedingly rare, and a Spatial Attribute Innate Spiritual Treasure is rarer still.

The great powers had not anticipated the existence of the Returning Abyss Pearl, leading them to conclude that Eldrin Chen must be supported by a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm or an Ancient Immortal.

From this perspective, many puzzling events suddenly seemed to fall into place.

Only the methods of an Ancient Immortal could have allowed Eldrin Chen to infiltrate the Small Universe [a miniature, self-contained cosmos] so undetected.

Only with the backing of an Ancient Immortal Great Power could Eldrin Chen have seen through the schemes of the Black Cloud Demon Monarch [a powerful demon lord], unraveling plots laid over millions of years.

And indeed, only such formidable support could grant him the sheer audacity to face all challengers without fear, daring to claim two Innate Treasure [treasures of innate origin] for himself alone.

As for why the Ancient Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and attained a higher state of existence] behind them does not show their face, this is entirely normal.

Now that the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a rare cosmic event where one can be reborn after enduring a hundred great tribulations] draws near, the major powers within the Immortal Domain [the realm where immortals reside] have already begun their machinations.

Those capable of scheming for the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity are, at the very least, legacies of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme realm of cultivation representing the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal stage]. No one knows how many forces are secretly laying their plans; remaining hidden and not revealing oneself is simply a matter of course.

Not to mention these Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful cultivator who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm], even the Myriad Spirit Patriarch could not help but suspect that behind Eldrin Chen likely stood a lineage of astonishing origins.

For the rise of Eldrin Chen was simply too astounding.

He had cultivated for merely several hundred thousand years, yet could already contend with a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm]. His innate talent and brilliance surpassed even that of Imperial Sovereign Jiang. Such a figure was truly rare across the ages, comparable to the direct disciples of an Great Encompassing Immortal Lord [a supreme immortal lord of the Great Encompassing realm] from an unparalleled great sect.

If it were only Eldrin Chen alone, one might still explain it as a prodigy rising from obscurity.

But the Chen Immortal Clan boasted nine immortals, each one a peerless genius with a Triple World-Opening Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage of opening three inner worlds, representing immense potential]. This simply could not be explained by a sudden rise from humble beginnings.

Aside from those supreme lineages founded by Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, what other power could cultivate nine Great Encompassing [the foundational stage for supreme cultivation] seeds all at once?

Coupled with his own inability to deduce the origins of Eldrin Chen and the others no matter how he calculated, this only deepened the suspicions of the Myriad Spirit Patriarch.

Thus, at this moment, Myriad Spirit Patriarch became increasingly convinced that Eldrin Chen possessed an extraordinary background, suspecting they were direct disciples of a supreme sect, deliberately placed to roam and temper themselves within the Immortal Domain.

Releasing disciples to wander and cultivate in foreign domains is a tradition among many supreme sects.

For a flower nurtured in a greenhouse struggles to withstand storms; disciples overly protected and coddled often fail to achieve greatness.

This principle is evident from the fate of the True Dragon Crown Prince. Despite possessing a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation and wielding a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon, he was ultimately slain by the Heaven Sorrow Human Sovereign.

It shows that a path of excessive ease forges a vessel like porcelain—beautiful in appearance but fragile at its core.

If a prodigy is likened to rare, divine ore, then to forge a Peerless Immortal Sword, it must endure the lash of wind and rain, be tempered by lightning's strike and fire's crucible.

Therefore, the true supreme sects often send their direct disciples out into the world, forbidding them from relying on their sect's power, forcing them to wander and experience trials alone.

Having grasped this, and seeing Eldrin Chen remain silent, the Myriad Spirit Patriarch chuckled and said, "I understand. Sects like the Great Encompassing Immortal Sect are supreme powers whose might shakes the very foundations of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains."

"Merely uttering such a name would command reverence from nearly anyone across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains."

"To rely on such prestige would defeat the purpose of tempering. Hence, the true direct disciples of supreme sects, while journeying through myriad realms, are strictly forbidden from revealing their sect's lineage or origins."