Chapter 1561 : The Ghost Immortal's Ascension

As early as the Infant Soul Realm, Verdant Seal had already pioneered the Ascendant Immortal Vein Creation Art. This method offered a direct path to glimpse the Ascendant Immortal Realm. Had it not been for the Black Dragon obstructing his path to immortality, Verdant Seal would very likely have become the second person to ascend to immortality after Imperial Sovereign Jiang.

After Verdant Seal fell, he gathered the spiritual power of countless souls within the Mortal Realm to create the path of the Ghost Immortal. He established a Netherworld Underworld Court, a testament to a talent that could truly be called peerless across the ages.

Judging by such extraordinary talent, Verdant Seal was likely not inferior to Eastern Sovereign or Imperial Sovereign Jiang. His downfall was merely a matter of ill fortune.

After his spirit ascended to the Immortal Domain and received the worship and offerings of the Chen Clan, it was only to be expected that he would consolidate his foundation and become a Nine Tribulations Immortal.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen inquired, "Your cultivation cycle is now complete, Patriarch. When do you plan to attempt your breakthrough?"

Verdant Seal Patriarch spoke calmly, "I still lack a few stalks of World-Opening Spiritual Root."

"I see,"

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. "The clan still has some reserves of World-Opening Spiritual Root. You may take what you need. After your breakthrough, you will simply need to repay the World-Opening Energy consumed."

Verdant Seal Patriarch gave a slow nod. "My thanks..."

After bidding farewell to the Verdant Seal Patriarch, Eldrin Chen made his way to the Ancient Ruins Ghost City. Before long, he found Ancient Ruins Nether Lord.

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a powerful ruler of a domain in the underworld] appeared to have been waiting for some time. He personally poured a cup of tea for Eldrin Chen and said, "You have come at the perfect moment. Please, taste this new brew of mine."

Eldrin Chen was in no mood for tea. He took a mere sip before asking, "Regarding the matter you spoke of, I must ask—is it true?"

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord did not answer immediately. His expression turned grave as he said, "Your old friend... his current status is somewhat... complicated."

"I advise you to first hear his circumstances before making any decision."

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord set down the teapot and began to speak, his tone heavy with solemnity.

As the tale unfolded, Eldrin Chen gradually learned of the state of Verdant Abyss Path Master's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], and a faint frown creased his brow.

It turned out that after Verdant Abyss Path Master's fall, his Primordial Spirit was devoured by a Heavenly Demon [a powerful demon from the higher realms]. Only a wisp of his True Spirit [the most fundamental, indestructible essence of a being's soul], carrying mere fragments of his soul, managed to reach the Depths of the Netherworld.

With his soul nearly extinguished, that sliver of remnant soul, upon arriving in the Depths of the Netherworld, could not proceed to the Netherworld Underworld Court [the central governing court of the underworld]. It went unnoticed even by the various Nether Lords [rulers of underworld cities] of the great ghostly cities.

At that time, Verdant Abyss Path Master possessed almost no consciousness and lacked even the capacity for movement.

It had attached itself to a Underworld Blossom [a ghostly flower that grows in the netherworld, nourished by underworld energies]. There, it relied on the flower's power to draw in Netherworld Energy [the unique, yin-aligned spiritual energy of the underworld] day and night, slowly mending its shattered soul.

In this manner, over a span of more than one hundred thousand years, Verdant Abyss Path Master's soul finally recovered.

However, because he had not undergone Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life], his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] remained severely damaged and incomplete. Consequently, Verdant Abyss Path Master possessed no memories of his past life.

Relying on the instinctual knowledge of a Primordial Spirit Cultivator, Verdant Abyss Path Master once again embarked upon the path of cultivation, becoming a Ghost Cultivator [a cultivator who practices ghostly or spectral cultivation arts].

Had that been the extent of it, with Eldrin Chen's current abilities, he could have simply escorted him to the Soul-Cleansing Pool to purify the impurities within his soul, which would have been sufficient to restore his memories.

Yet, Verdant Abyss Path Master now held a status within the Depths of the Netherworld that was far from ordinary.

For Verdant Abyss Path Master had caught the eye of the sole disciple of the 'Other Shore Nether King' and had become the son-in-law of the Other Shore Nether King himself.

"The Other Shore Nether King,"

Eldrin Chen uttered slowly, his expression turning profoundly grave.

Within the Depths of the Netherworld, there existed ten supreme Nether Kings, each a peerless existence at the level of a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a cultivator of immense power at the Celestial Immortal realm], and each having progressed far along that very path.

This Other Shore Nether King was one of those ten Nether Kings, undoubtedly an existence of at least the Late Celestial Immortal Realm.

"How could the direct disciple of the Other Shore Nether King [the ruler of the underworld's far shore] take a liking to him?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a trace of surprise coloring his tone.

A moment later, as if a thought had struck him, he inquired, "Could it be that..."

"Indeed."

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a powerful lord of the ancient underworld ruins] gave a slight nod and explained, "When he first arrived within the Immortal Domain [a realm of higher cultivation and immortal beings], the Underworld Blossom [a rare spiritual flower native to the underworld] he attached himself to was, in fact, the original form of the Other Shore Nether King's disciple."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen finally understood the chain of events, his brow furrowing slightly in contemplation.

Now that the Verdant Abyss Path Master [a master of the Verdant Abyss cultivation path] had become the husband of the Other Shore Nether King's direct disciple, his status and position were extraordinary. Fulfilling the promise made all those years ago would be no simple task for Eldrin Chen.

Yet, after a moment of silent reflection, Eldrin Chen spoke with resolve. "Regardless, he showed me kindness. I must go and see him."

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord inclined his head in agreement. "Since that is your wish, I shall guide you on this journey."

"..."

Having made their decision, the two immediately set off for the Netherworld Ghost Domain [a vast and desolate realm inhabited by ghosts and spirits].

They traversed the Boundless Void [the endless, starless expanse between realms] for a long while before finally halting before a ghostly city.

"This is the Other Shore Ghost City [the Ghost City of the Other Shore],"

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord said slowly, gazing at the spectral metropolis before them.

Eldrin Chen looked up. He beheld a city of staggering grandeur and majesty, seated upon the desolate plains of the Netherworld [the underworld, the land of the dead]. All around it bloomed vast fields of Other Shore Flowers, their fiery crimson petals creating a breathtakingly brilliant spectacle.

"Legend says the Other Shore Nether King attained the Dao [achieved enlightenment and immortality] from being a single Underworld Blossom [a mystical flower that blooms only in the underworld]. Who knows if that tale holds any truth."

Observing the sea of Underworld Blossom stretching to the horizon, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord remarked with a hint of curiosity.

Eldrin Chen offered no reply, though privately, he too began to form his own conjectures.

Since time immemorial, beings born from Spiritual Root [the spiritual foundation of a plant or object, granting it potential for cultivation] have found it exceedingly difficult to develop sentience, let alone achieve the Dao.

However, the Dao companion of the Verdant Abyss Path Master was a Underworld Blossom that had taken human form. The fact that she could become a direct disciple of the Other Shore Nether King suggested the Nether King held beings transformed from Underworld Blossom in particularly high regard.

From this perspective, it perhaps indirectly confirms the identity of Other Shore Nether King [the ruler of the Netherworld's distant shore].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen finally spoke, "Fellow Daoist, are you confident you can arrange a meeting with Verdant Abyss Path Master?"

After a moment of thought, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord replied, "I have some acquaintance with an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [a cultivator at the peak of the Earth Immortal realm] within Other Shore Ghost City [a city of spirits in the Netherworld]. I shall attempt to have him relay a message on our behalf."

"Regardless, we must at least try."

With that, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord stepped into Other Shore Ghost City.

Following behind him, Eldrin Chen entered a pavilion where they met a Ghost Immortal [an immortal who cultivates as a spectral being] who had reached the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm.

This Ghost Immortal was named Path Master Yu. In life, he had been a close friend of Ancient Ruins Nether Lord. After his demise, instead of choosing Reincarnation [the cycle of rebirth], he had embarked upon the path of a Ghost Immortal.

Now a member of Other Shore Ghost City, he was not among the highest echelons of power but held a respectable position within its middle ranks.

Upon understanding their request, Path Master Yu's expression shifted slightly. "Azure Abyss Nether Lord is now the Dao Companion [cultivation partner] of the Nether Maiden. If she learns of this, she will likely not permit him to depart for reincarnation."

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord was well aware of this. Nevertheless, he produced a jade case. "We understand. However, we do not seek to take him away—we merely wish to see an old friend one last time."

That Path Master Yu glanced at the treasures within the box and fell into a moment of silent contemplation. After a brief pause, he sighed and said, "Very well. For the sake of our long-standing friendship, I shall help you this once."

"However, if he refuses to see you, then you cannot blame me."

"Then we are most grateful."

Eldrin Chen clasped his hands in a respectful salute. Watching Path Master Yu depart, he settled in to wait quietly.