Chapter 1554 : A Reunion of Immortals and Hidden Wounds

Afterwards, Eldrin Chen did not proceed immediately to the Glazed Blessed Land. He first used the Innate Spiritual Water [a primordial water of exceptional purity and spiritual potency] to nurture several ancient medicinal herbs, then entered his Seclusion Chamber to refine two batches of Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir of immortality]. Only then did he set out for the Glazed Blessed Land.

Within the Glazed Blessed Land, Eldrin Chen met with the three maidens: Sun Consort, Moon Consort, and Star Consort.

Having not seen them for some years, Eldrin Chen noted that their cultivation had progressed significantly. Both Moon Consort and Star Consort had already stepped into the Seventh Level Earth Immortal realm.

These two had both opened Seventh Heaven [the seventh and highest tier of foundation for an Earth Immortal, representing immense potential], granting them the prospect of one day reaching the Celestial Immortal Realm. It was evident that Glazed Divine Lord had invested considerable resources in their cultivation.

Only Sun Consort's cultivation remained stalled at the Sixth Level Earth Immortal stage. Moreover, her complexion was exceedingly pale, and she seemed to bear a grievously severe injury.

Eldrin Chen shared a deep connection with the Glazed Blessed Land, so he naturally understood the reason behind this.

Following the expedition to the Small Universe, Glazed Divine Lord had reaped a bountiful harvest. He had obtained several Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill [a legendary pill that aids in breaking through major cultivation barriers] from Eldrin Chen and bestowed them upon the three consorts to aid their breakthrough to the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm.

Among the three, Moon Consort and Star Consort, with their profound and solid foundations, achieved their breakthrough to the Seventh Level Earth Immortal as smoothly as water flowing in its course. Sun Consort alone, whose foundation was somewhat weaker, failed to succeed in the breakthrough.

"Alas."

Seeing that Sun Consort was gravely wounded, Eldrin Chen could not help but release a soft sigh.

I still recall when the Great Tribulation erupted, Sun Consort was among the initial pillars, achieving great victories alongside Eldrin Chen in successive battles against numerous foes.

During the Great Tribulation, Sun Consort was also the first to undertake World-Opening.

Yet, precisely because it was a few moments earlier, Sun Consort only managed to open a Sixfold Heaven. While this would be considered outstanding for the vast majority of Earth Immortal cultivators...

...by the time one reaches the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm, such aptitude is considered quite ordinary.

Without unforeseen aid, Sun Consort would likely require several attempts to successfully break through to Late Stage Earth Immortal.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath, then retrieved a jade box from his sleeve and offered it, saying...

"I heard of your failed attempt to break through to Earth Immortal. This is a token of my regard. Please accept it."

Sun Consort took the jade box and, upon opening it, her expression shifted slightly.

Within the box lay a jade vial, a single Four Extremities Heavenly Pill, a single Polarity Rotation Pill, and a single Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill.

Among these four treasures, the Four Extremities Heavenly Pill, the Polarity Rotation Pill, and the Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill were all Immortal Pill capable of assisting in a breakthrough to Late Stage Earth Immortal.

With these three types of Precious Pill combined, the chance of a breakthrough to the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm is nearly eighty to ninety percent.

Within the jade vial were one hundred drops of Innate Spiritual Water [a primordial spiritual liquid with potent healing properties]. This water can heal almost any injury sustained by an Earth Immortal Realm cultivator, even the foundational Dao-wounds inflicted by a failed breakthrough attempt to the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm.

Upon recognizing the immense value of these treasures, Sun Consort's hands trembled slightly. "These gifts are far too precious," she said, her voice filled with awe. "How can I possibly accept them?"

As she spoke, Sun Consort made to push the jade case back towards him.

Eldrin Chen merely shook his head, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "They are but a few treasures," he replied softly. "To me, they are of little consequence. Their true worth lies in aiding your recovery and ensuring your successful ascension to the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm."

"I still remember, it was right here in this very place, that you once gifted me a vial of Galaxy Star Sand Pill [a precious pill refined from the essence of celestial stars and cosmic sand]. Was that not also a priceless gesture?"

Hearing his words, Sun Consort could not help but let a warm smile bloom upon her face.

She carefully stored the jade case away. "Once I make my breakthrough," she declared with renewed determination, "I will be able to nurture an Eighth Rank High-Grade Sun God Pearl [a divine pearl born from the essence of the sun]."

"When the time comes, I shall give it to you. Perhaps it can help your Stellar Glazed Boundary [a powerful defensive formation that mimics a glazed celestial dome] advance to the next level."

Eldrin Chen chuckled softly at her words. "Then you must strive with all your might," he said, his eyes twinkling. "If all three of you were to break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm and nurture three Innate [primordial, heaven-born] pearls, perhaps you could help me evolve an entire Stellar Grotto-Heaven [a self-contained pocket realm within the cosmos, powered by stellar energies]."

At this moment, not only Sun Consort, but also Moon Consort and Star Consort smiled.

Since the last Great Tribulation, the three of them had enjoyed a path of smooth sailing, advancing to the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm with almost no bottlenecks to speak of.

However, breaking through to the Celestial Immortal Realm was far from an easy feat.

Moon Consort shook her head slightly and spoke, "Unless we can achieve a string of consecutive victories in the next Path Tribulation just as we did in the last Great Tribulation, our hopes of stepping into the Celestial Immortal realm will be exceedingly slim."

Eldrin Chen nodded. He offered no further elaboration, stating calmly, "Focus on your cultivation. If you can reach the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm before the Path Tribulation, there may yet be a path forward."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, the three women couldn't help but glance at Eldrin Chen with surprise.

Eldrin Chen said nothing more. He continued walking and soon found Glazed Divine Lord.

Upon seeing him, Glazed Divine Lord gestured for the three women to withdraw. She spoke in a measured tone, "It seems you harbor a fair degree of confidence regarding this upcoming Path Tribulation."

Eldrin Chen did not answer directly. Instead, he stated with quiet resolve, "My journey to the Small Universe has finally granted me the opportunity to contend within the tribulation's crucible."

Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] gave a slight nod, but did not speak further.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke with startling gravity: "The Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a rare cosmic event of immense tribulation and rebirth] approaches. If nothing unexpected occurs, the peril of the next Path Tribulation [a grand, world-shaking calamity] will likely be the most severe in one hundred million years."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] could not help but frown slightly, a crease forming between his brows.

He pondered for a moment before inquiring, "I have heard mention of the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity on multiple occasions. Might you, Senior, know what it truly signifies?"

"The Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity?"

Glazed Divine Lord spoke slowly, not answering immediately but instead sinking into deep contemplation.

Only after a long while did Glazed Divine Lord withdraw her gaze and look at Eldrin Chen, speaking in a measured tone.

"Are you aware," she began, "that since the last fall of a World-Opening [the realm of creators who forge new worlds] Great God [a supreme deity] within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast realm of immortals], ninety-nine Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and renewal] have also passed?"

"Boom—"

Eldrin Chen felt as if a colossal bell had tolled violently within his mind upon hearing her words, his heart shuddering with profound shock.

He raised his head and could not help but look towards Glazed Divine Lord. The Glazed Divine Lord gave a slight nod and spoke with certainty.

"What is the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth?"

"As the name implies, it refers to surviving a hundred tribulations without perishing, achieving Great Encompassing Rebirth."

"For a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] merges with their Path Union [the state of becoming one with one's chosen Great Path]. As long as their Great Path [the fundamental cultivation art or principle one follows] remains undestroyed, they cannot truly fall."

"In the past, Great God Vast Azure fell in the Depths of Chaos. A supreme existence traversed the boundless Long River [the River of Time] and utterly erased his Primordial Spirit from the very root of his Great Path."

"A Primordial Spirit can be severed, a Great Path can be destroyed, but the True Spirit [the eternal, indestructible essence of a being] is forever Indestructibility."

"All Great Encompassing Golden Immortals have cultivated a singular True Spirit. Even through a thousand, ten thousand, or billions of Reincarnation cycles, their soul remains unchanged—it will not transform into another soul, nor become another self."

"Although Great God Vast Azure had fallen, his True Spirit was anchored within his Great Path. Every one hundred cycles of Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration], having accumulated sufficient power, it would attempt to Rebirth and return from the Long River of time."

The Glazed Divine Lord recounted the tale in detail, then continued, "Yet, though Great God Vast Azure was mighty, his adversary was even more unfathomable."

"That indescribable existence once slew Great God Vast Azure with a single sword stroke, leaving behind a sword scar that pierced through endless Space-Time."

"Since the Immeasurable Kalpa Tribulation [the ultimate cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth], Great God Vast Azure has undergone Rebirth [a divine ability to be reborn from the ashes of destruction] once every hundred Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration]."

"Yet, each time, he has not survived for more than a single breath's span before being annihilated by that sword scar which pierces through the endless Space-Time [the fabric of reality encompassing all dimensions and temporal flows]."

Glazed Divine Lord spoke slowly, a flicker of profound dread passing through her pupils.

She drew a deep breath and finally looked at Eldrin Chen. "Within the myriad realms of the Myriad Heavens [the infinite celestial domains and planes of existence], what Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny that shapes one's path] could possibly surpass that of a fallen Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the supreme pinnacle of immortal cultivation, a being who has transcended all limitations and attained ultimate enlightenment]?"