Chapter 1570 : The Ancestral Blessed Land Revealed

As the current Clan Patriarch of the Great Wasteland Path Palace recounted its history, Eldrin Chen gradually came to understand the profound heritage of this lineage.

This Great Wasteland Path Palace was the sole power within this starfield guarded by an Earth Immortal Patriarch [a cultivator who has ascended to the terrestrial immortal realm]. Throughout its ancient lineage, the number of Immortals [cultivators who have ascended to the higher immortal realms] who had ascended exceeded several thousand.

With so many founding ancestors in the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where true immortals reside], the influence of the Great Wasteland Path Palace within that realm was naturally immense.

According to the Earth Immortal's account, this Great Wasteland Path Palace itself was also an exceptionally powerful Blessed Land [a realm of concentrated spiritual energy and natural laws, superior to a Grotto-Heaven], and one of the most elite at that.

This lineage occupied a Supreme Grade Blessed Land within an Immortal Domain [a vast celestial territory in the higher realms]. It boasted over ten Earth Immortal Patriarchs and even possessed a founding master who had reached the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm.

Within the Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain [one of the major celestial domains in the higher realms], it was considered a notably powerful Blessed Land, reportedly ranking one hundred and ninety-eighth among the three thousand Blessed Lands in that domain—a testament to its formidable strength.

"A Ninth Level Earth Immortal," Eldrin murmured to himself.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of contemplation passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes.

The presence of a Ninth Level Earth Immortal within the Great Wasteland Path Palace was within his expectations. What surprised him was the sect's ranking.

That the Great Wasteland Path Palace of the Immortal Realm, with over ten Earth Immortals and even an existence at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm, could only rank one hundred and ninety-eighth in the Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain was far beyond Eldrin Chen's expectations.

It must be understood that within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea region in the immortal realm], among all the clans combined, there are no more than eighty Blessed Lands [lands imbued with potent spiritual energy, suitable for establishing sects or clans] possessing a Great Perfection Earth Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm].

In other words, being able to set foot in the Great Perfection Earth Immortal realm is enough to place one's Blessed Land among the top eighty in the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

That Great Wasteland Path Palace [a major sect or palace] from the Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain [one of the Northern Pole's six major heavenly domains] possesses over ten Earth Immortals [powerful cultivators who have ascended beyond the mortal coil]. Its strength is certainly not weak among the top-tier Blessed Lands that have Ninth Level Earth Immortals [Earth Immortals at the ninth and penultimate stage]. Yet, it is ranked only one hundred and ninety-eighth. This clearly shows the vast disparity in prosperity between these two Heavenly Domains [major regions of the immortal realm].

Eldrin Chen had heard of the Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain. It was said to be located north of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a central region of the immortal realm] and was one of the Northern Pole Six Heavenly Domains.

The Sovereign [a title for a ruler of a Grotto-Heaven] of that place, the 'Pure Tenuity Grotto-Heaven' [a supreme pocket dimension], is also a top-tier Supreme Grotto-Heaven [the highest class of immortal pocket dimensions]. It is the strongest force of the Human Race within the Northern Pole Six Heavenly Domains and one of the six premier Grotto-Heavens [self-contained pocket dimensions of immense spiritual power] possessed by the Human Race that have a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal realm, a step above Earth Immortal].

He had initially thought the Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain merely possessed a powerful Grotto-Heaven. Now it seemed this Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain was undoubtedly far more prosperous than the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

"It appears that within this Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain, there must be at least two to three hundred top-tier Blessed Lands possessing Ninth Level Earth Immortals," Eldrin Chen mused inwardly.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "So it is the Great Wasteland Path Palace from the Pure Tenuity Heavenly Domain. My apologies for the earlier lack of recognition."

"Not at all, not at all,"

Faced with an existence like Eldrin Chen, who could suppress and slay an Earth Immortal with a mere flick of his finger, that Earth Immortal dared not show the slightest neglect.

He clasped his hands in a respectful salute and inquired with utmost courtesy, "I perceive that your cultivation, Fellow Daoist, has likely surpassed the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm]. You are surely no Nameless [unknown or insignificant] figure within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. May I ask in which Heavenly Domain [a major celestial region] you have been cultivating in seclusion?"

"Merely a humble abode within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea," Eldrin Chen replied lightly.

He then smiled faintly and continued.

The Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the Earth Immortal realm] from the Great Wasteland Path Palace nodded upon hearing this, then clasped his hands again. "All of you, Fellow Daoists, possess peerless bearing. You must hail from a transcendent sect whose might shakes the very foundations of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea."

The group offered only faint acknowledgments in response, offering no further elaboration.

After these brief pleasantries, the party remained within the Great Wasteland Realm for the time being.

As their arrival was still early, Eldrin Chen and his companions settled into a period of quiet anticipation in the following years.

With the passage of time, an increasing number of Immortals [beings who have ascended to immortality] descended from the higher realms. Most were Immortals of the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the first major stage of true immortality], though several Earth Immortal Patriarchs [venerable masters of the Earth Immortal realm] also made their appearance.

In the short span of less than a thousand years, Eldrin Chen observed well over two thousand Immortals descend, among them twenty-one Earth Immortals.

These twenty-one individuals were all senior Immortals who had ascended from this star domain over the past tens of millions of years.

It was not until a full millennium later that the upper realm Patriarchs of the Great Wasteland Path Palace finally descended, albeit belatedly. In total, seven Earth Immortal Patriarch [powerful cultivators who have ascended to the Earth Immortal realm] descended to the lower world.

The Patriarch who descended for the Great Wasteland Path Palace was none other than the Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace, an existence at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm].

Clad in a simple Daoist robe, the Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace sought out Eldrin Chen and the others immediately upon his descent. He spoke with exceptional courtesy, "Fellow Daoist, might you be the Lord of the Hundred Seas of Returning Abyss from the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea?"

"Indeed, that is I."

Eldrin Chen understood that the lower realm Earth Immortal [cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] had likely sent word ahead, informing the Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace of his Daoist title, allowing for some prior investigation.

Upon his confirmation, the Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace immediately clasped his hands in a respectful salute. "With the esteemed members of the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance having descended, it seems this impending Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of cosmic scale and destiny] holds little cause for fear."

Following the Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace's lead, the other Earth Immortal Patriarch began inquiring amongst themselves.

Among the more than two thousand Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] gathered, some had ascended to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. A few recognized Eldrin Chen's origins, and their expressions betrayed a flicker of astonishment.

To have achieved immortality in less than a million years, yet already possess a record of slaying an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [a cultivator at the absolute peak of the Earth Immortal realm] and even orchestrating the demise of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a being halfway to the Celestial Immortal realm]—this staggering, heaven-defying talent left every Earth Immortal Patriarch present utterly awestruck.

They stepped forward one after another, eager to seize the moment and establish a connection.

In response to this, Eldrin Chen met them all with a faint smile, never once being discourteous, yet he did not pay them excessive attention either.

Combined, the Great Wasteland Path Palace and the lower realm Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have ascended to a higher state of being] amounted to a mere twenty-eight Earth Immortal.

Among these twenty-eight Earth Immortal, only Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace was a Ninth Level Earth Immortal [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm], and there were only three Late Stage Earth Immortal.

The rest were all Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] in the early or middle stages of the Earth Immortal realm.

Their combined strength, at best, could only rival that of two or three Ninth Level Earth Immortal.

To deal with them, Eldrin Chen would not even need to lift a finger; either Verdant Consort or Nyssa Qu alone would be sufficient to suppress them all.

Even Lila and Violet Consort Yan, by unleashing their World-Opening Supreme Treasure [legendary artifacts of immense power capable of shaping reality], could contend with or even defeat the entire assembly.

The assembled Earth Immortal Patriarch [venerable leaders of the Earth Immortal realm] present were not fully aware of the group's true combat prowess, but they could roughly discern that among Eldrin Chen's eleven Earth Immortal, five were Late Stage Earth Immortal.

With such strength, coupled with Eldrin Chen himself, a top-tier Earth Immortal, it seemed sufficient in their eyes to withstand the impending Starry Sky Cataclysm [a prophesied calamity of cosmic scale].

Understanding this, Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace stroked his beard thoughtfully and said with a smile, "According to my divinations, the armies of the Starry Sky Fiend Race [a malevolent race from the depths of the cosmos] will soon arrive in this stellar region."

"Originally, this old man intended to fortify within the Great Wasteland Realm and await a more opportune moment to launch a counterattack."

"Now, it appears we can take the initiative and annihilate this Starry Sky Fiend Race fleet in one decisive strike."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and spoke, "Since our forces are nearly assembled, we should act immediately."

"We shall intercept and destroy them en route, to spare the Three Thousand Great Realms any devastation."

"Agreed."

The assembled Immortals all nodded in assent.

With the addition of Eldrin Chen, a supreme Earth Immortal [a powerful cultivator who has attained a profound connection with the earthly forces], the confidence of the gathered Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] soared. They unanimously decided to take the offensive.

Soon, the host of Immortals strode forth, departing swiftly beyond the bounds of the Frontier Star System.

They traversed the void, and deep within the starry expanse beyond the Frontier Star Domain, they finally located the vast and imposing fleet.