Chapter 1563 : The Abyssal Beast's Challenge
Verdant Abyss Path Master pondered for a moment before speaking. "Acquiring the Netherworld Turbid Energy [a dense, impure spiritual energy unique to the deepest Netherworld] is no small feat," he said.
As Verdant Abyss Path Master began to explain, Eldrin Chen gradually understood the method for obtaining the Netherworld Turbid Energy.
Within the boundless Netherworld, there exist the Eighteen Layers of Hell. Beyond these layers lies a place known as the Bottomless Nether Abyss [the deepest, most impure chasm of the Netherworld].
This Bottomless Nether Abyss resides at the very foundation of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. Since the dawn of the Immeasurable Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration], it has been the settling ground for countless impurities and foul energies, making it the most polluted and vile place in existence.
Within this Bottomless Nether Abyss, countless malevolent spirits and turbid energies converge, giving birth to innumerable ferocious entities.
Among the most formidable of these horrors are beings known as Netherworld Nether Antiquity Beasts [ancient, primordial demonic beasts of the Nether Abyss]. Within their bodies, they can gestate the Netherworld Turbid Energy.
"These Netherworld Nether Antiquity Beasts possess power that has already reached the Ninth Rank Realm," he continued, "making them comparable to a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very threshold of becoming a true Celestial Immortal]."
"Even for a genuine Half-Step Celestial Immortal, slaying one would be an arduous task, fraught with a thousand difficulties."
Verdant Abyss Path Master spoke slowly, his expression grave. "If you wish to hunt and slay a Netherworld Nether Antiquity Beasts, it would be best to enlist the aid of two or three other experts at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal level."
"Furthermore, within the depths of the Bottomless Nether Abyss, there exist supreme Demon God [beings of immense demonic power] at the level of Innate Heavenly God Demon [a primordial class of demon born from heaven and earth]. These are entities even the Ten Great Nether Kings [the ten sovereign rulers of the Netherworld] view with caution. Should you encounter one, your chances of survival would be slim indeed."
Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression grew solemn.
He understood in his heart that if Netherworld Turbid Energy [a dense, chaotic spiritual energy found in the deepest nether realms] were easy to find, it would have been harvested long ago by Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have ascended to the celestial immortal realm]. Such a place as the Bottomless Nether Abyss [an unfathomably deep chasm leading to the underworld] undoubtedly held significant peril.
However, he possessed the Returning Abyss Pearl [a mystical pearl capable of traversing the boundaries between life and death], and was confident in his survival skills, which he believed were not inferior to those of a Celestial Immortal Great Power. This gave him a measure of assurance.
Thus, he proceeded to inquire further with Verdant Abyss Path Master about the specific conditions within the Bottomless Nether Abyss.
Once their discussion concluded, Verdant Abyss Path Master took his leave without further ado.
After his departure, Eldrin Chen did not leave immediately. Having encountered a Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare treasures and resources], he naturally had no intention of missing it.
Subsequently, Eldrin Chen and Ancient Ruins Path Master remained in Other Shore Ghost City [a spectral city existing on the border between the realms of the living and the dead], quietly awaiting the commencement of the Barter Convention.
Time flowed like a swift river, and in the blink of an eye, several years passed. Finally, the Barter Convention within Other Shore Ghost City began.
This Barter Convention was convened within Other Shore Ghost City, and when Eldrin Chen and Ancient Ruins Nether Lord arrived, they immediately drew the attention of numerous Ghost Immortal [immortals who have chosen or been forced to cultivate a ghostly path, existing in a state between life and death].
At this convention, there were a full five thousand Earth Immortal [powerful immortals anchored to the mortal world, one step below celestial immortals] in attendance. However, the vast majority were Earth Immortal Ghost Ancestor [earth immortals who follow the ghostly cultivation path]. A Mortal Realm Earth Immortal [an earth immortal who maintains a connection to the living mortal realm] like Eldrin Chen was a rare exception.
An Earth Immortal [a powerful cultivator who has attained a profound connection with the earth and its energies] from the Yang World [the realm of the living] is far mightier than a Ghost Ancestor [a spectral cultivator of equivalent rank] from the Netherworld [the realm of spirits and the dead]. This is especially true for Eldrin Chen, whose power ranks among the very pinnacle even within the ranks of Earth Immortals.
Thus, even though he displayed only the cultivation of a Seventh Level Earth Immortal, the numerous Ghost Ancestors present treated him with the utmost deference.
Even those Ghost Ancestors who had reached the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a state bordering on the Celestial Immortal realm] offered respectful nods of acknowledgment upon recognizing Eldrin Chen.
Eldrin Chen calmly returned the greetings with a slight inclination of his head, his mind already assessing the strength of these spectral lords.
He discerned that while these Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm Ghost Ancestors were indeed more powerful than an Earth Immortal Great Perfection, their auras still fell short of a true Half-Step Celestial Immortal from the Yang World.
If pressed for a precise estimate, Eldrin Chen judged that the combat power of a Primordial Unity Realm [a high-level ghost cultivation realm] Ghost Ancestor was roughly equivalent to that of three or four Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivators combined.
"Without a physical body to serve as a vessel for their Great Path [their profound cultivation and understanding of the Dao], Ghost Cultivator [a cultivator who follows the spectral path] powerhouses are ultimately weaker than their living Immortal [a general term for powerful cultivators] counterparts of the same rank," he mused silently.
"Unless they reverse-engineer a Primordial Solar Body [a constitution of pure yang energy, antithetical to their ghostly nature], or break through to the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm and forge an indestructible Faith Golden Body [a divine body solidified from immense faith power] with boundless Incense Offering Celestial Silver [a metaphysical currency of faith and worship], they can never truly match a peer from the world of the living."
"It is a lamentable truth," Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [the Nether Lord presiding over ancient spectral ruins] sighed softly, giving voice to the unspoken thought.
Beings like him, who had successfully reversed their nature to attain a Primordial Solar True Body, were exceedingly rare. In theory, possessing such a body rendered him nearly indistinguishable from a true Immortal, bridging the inherent gap between ghost and man.
The sole distinction lies in the fact that Ancient Ruins Nether Lord cultivates Netherworld Energy [the dark, yin-aligned energy of the underworld], while practitioners of the Immortal Path [the orthodox path of celestial cultivation] achieve Longevity [an extended lifespan] by absorbing Immortal Spirit Essence [the pure, yang-aligned spiritual energy of the heavens].
Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and offered his own assessment: "The path of the Ghost Immortal [an immortal who has forsaken the flesh to cultivate as a spirit] is easy to learn but difficult to master. Cultivating through Faith Power [power derived from the belief and worship of followers] may seem to grant rapid progress, yet without immense Opportunity and Fortune [heaven-sent luck and destiny], one can never truly achieve the Great Path [the ultimate Dao, the pinnacle of cultivation]."
As he spoke these words, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly within his heart.
From what he knew, to break through into the Great Encompassing Realm [a supreme cultivation realm representing the integration of all things] required shattering the Ninefold Heavenly Pass [nine profound heavenly trials or barriers].
And among these Ninefold Heavenly Pass, there was one trial known as the 'Fleshly Body Pass' [the Trial of the Mortal Flesh], a crucially important barrier. Without overcoming it, one could scarcely hope to step into the Great Encompassing Realm.
The Ghost Cultivation Path [the path of forsaking the physical body to cultivate solely the spirit] involved abandoning the flesh to specialize in cultivating the Primordial Spirit [the foundational spiritual core of a being]. Even if one used faith to forge a Faith Golden Body [a body solidified from condensed faith power], it was ultimately not a true Innate Physique [a natural, heaven-born physical constitution] and could never hope to pass the Fleshly Body Pass.
Unless one could advance a step further and obtain a vast quantity of Fortune Path Gold [a legendary, destiny-aligned precious metal], using it to forge a so-called 'Fortune Path Body' [a constitution blessed by the Dao of Fortune], only then could the Post-Heaven [acquired, worldly] flaw be remedied, allowing passage through that Fleshly Body Heavenly Pass.
Yet, how exceedingly precious was Fortune Path Gold? A single liang-weight [fifty grams] of this substance could be worth a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [a peerless immortal-grade weapon], and ten liang-weight could rival an Innate Rare Treasure [a treasure born from the primal chaos of heaven and earth].
If one possessed one hundred liang-weight, not even an Upper Grade Innate Treasure [a top-tier treasure of innate origin] could be exchanged for it.
And to cultivate a single Fortune Path Body required at least one thousand liang-weight of Fortune Path Gold—its value was truly beyond measure.
Eldrin Chen has dominated the vast Hundred Seas of Returning Abyss for ages, with Innate Spiritual Treasure and Innate Rare Treasure anchoring his Fortune [the metaphysical luck and destiny of a person or organization]. Yet, over hundreds of thousands of years, the accumulated Fortune Path Gold [a solidified, tangible form of Fortune, extremely rare and precious] amounts to a mere three Liang-weight [one Liang-weight equals fifty grams].
This is only possible because Eldrin Chen possesses Innate Rare Treasure that can suppress Fortune, gathering Fortune Power [the active force of Fortune] and preventing its dissipation.
For ordinary sects and traditions, their Fortune constantly leaks away. They can retain less than one in a hundred parts of their Fortune Path Gold, drastically slowing the rate at which it condenses.
Consider the former Flowing Fire Star Palace, which lorded over the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas for thirty million years. In the end, the Fortune Path Gold it managed to condense was a paltry single Liang-weight.
Returning to the matter at hand, Eldrin Chen conversed with Ancient Ruins Nether Lord while awaiting the commencement of the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare treasures].
Not long after, a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal Realm] from Other Shore Ghost City stepped forward and announced with a smile, "The Barter Convention begins. Our Other Shore Ghost City offers three treasures to start the proceedings, hoping to draw out greater jade with our humble brick."
As the Ghost Ancestor [a venerable and powerful ghost cultivator] from Other Shore Ghost City spoke, he presented the three promised treasures.
Eldrin Chen glanced up and saw they were: a vial of Eighth Rank Supreme Grade Precious Pill [a top-tier pill of the eighth rank], an Eighth Rank Supreme Grade Netherworld Ghost Treasure [a powerful artifact forged in the Netherworld, suitable for ghost cultivators], and a cultivation manual for Ghost Cultivator [cultivators who follow the ghostly path] that could lead one to the Celestial Immortal Realm.
All three items were suited for Ghost Cultivator, holding little use for Eldrin Chen, so he naturally had no interest in bidding for them.
Thus, the Barter Convention continued. Several more Ghost Cultivator took their turns, yet none presented any treasures that Eldrin Chen found useful.
It was only after a long while that a Ghost Ancestor [a powerful spectral being at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal level] took the stage, presenting a treasure that immediately captured the attention of Eldrin Chen.
It was a piece of ancient metal of dazzling brilliance, possessing a translucent quality yet brimming with a supremely Yin and frigid power. A profound sense of familiarity washed over Eldrin Chen as he beheld it.
"Profound Nether Antiquity Gold [an ancient, semi-translucent metal imbued with the profound power of ultimate Yin and cold]," he murmured.
Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, a flicker of interest stirring within his heart.
The value of this Profound Nether Antiquity Gold was extraordinary. It was saturated with the power of Profound Darkness True Water [a supreme water-based divine law] Dao patterns, sharing the same fundamental nature as the profound True Water [the primordial essence of water] principles within Eldrin himself. It was, without a doubt, the perfect material to facilitate the advancement of his Heavenly River Positive Water Sword [a divine sword technique channeling the power of the celestial river].