Chapter 1587 : Heaven's Trial and Unlikely Alliance

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a note of surprise in his voice as he spoke.

Within the First Wood Blessed Land before him, someone was currently attempting a breakthrough to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm. Unbeknownst to him, he had inadvertently become that person's Path-Obstructing Tribulation [a karmic obstacle or trial that appears to block one's cultivation path].

"Is this the will of Heaven?"

Eldrin Chen whispered quietly to himself, his gaze shifting towards the depths of the void beside him.

From the boundless void, three figures emerged in succession. One was a woman of peerless grace and beauty, another a valiant youth clad in azure-gold battle armor, and the last a man enveloped in a radiant golden aura.

All three possessed cultivation at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection level, yet the aura emanating from them was terrifyingly powerful, strong enough to make Eldrin Chen feel a faint sense of threat.

The trio also noticed Eldrin Chen, and expressions of astonishment flickered across their faces.

Seemingly sensing Eldrin Chen's Extraordinary [remarkable and distinguished] bearing, the armored youth spoke, "Your presence is extraordinary, friend. You do not seem to be from the Great Wasteland Heavenly Domain?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, but he offered no reply.

Seeing this, the valiant youth said calmly, "Fellow Daoist, there is no need for concern. I am Severing Heaven's Spine of the Azure Firmament Ancient Sect, hailing from beyond the Vast Azure Immortal Domain."

"I observe your bearing is truly exceptional, Fellow Daoist. You are undoubtedly one of our kind, likely drawn here for the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a legendary method to transcend mortality through enduring countless tribulations]. Thus, I wished to make your acquaintance."

Eldrin Chen heard this and his gaze shifted to the other two figures. A slight frown creased his brow.

He had a feeling—all three of these individuals were likely top-tier prodigies who had stepped into the Forbidden Domain [a legendary state beyond normal cultivation limits, granting immense power].

Such prodigies were rare across the ages. Those who could cultivate to the Ninth Level Earth Immortal [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm] were rarer still, appearing perhaps only once in a million or even ten million years.

For three to appear simultaneously now was utterly unexpected. Yet, if they hailed from beyond the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, it all began to make sense.

The woman of peerless elegance also glanced at Eldrin Chen, a flicker of gravity in her eyes. She spoke with detached calm, "We arrived in the Vast Azure Immortal Domain intending to break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial beings] within this world, thereby laying plans for the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity."

"Our first step is to seize a Supreme Grade Blessed Land [a land of supreme spiritual fortune and power]. This is to facilitate our breakthrough to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a transitional state just below true Celestial Immortality], better positioning us to grasp the Celestial Immortal Opportunity and Fortune [the chance and destiny to ascend] during the Path Tribulation [the heavenly trial that tests a cultivator's path]."

"The time for the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity is still distant. We have no conflict yet. Let us join forces to secure this Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy and fortune], and discuss its division afterward."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen understood—they had all come for this Supreme Grade Blessed Land.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly once more. A breakthrough to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm would severely drain the vital essence [the foundational life-force energy] of a Blessed Land.

If only a single individual were to achieve a breakthrough, the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth-element spiritual energy] could gradually recover. However, should three or four Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the cusp of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] consecutively ascend here, even a Supreme Grade Blessed Land [a land of supreme natural fortune and spiritual abundance] would be unable to withstand the strain.

In such a case, this Blessed Land [a land naturally endowed with potent spiritual energy] would inevitably degrade in rank, rendering it useless for cultivating the Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of unbreakable unity and durability].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered with resolve. In that instant, he decided to claim this Earth Vein for himself alone.

However, these Earth Immortal Great Perfection [cultivators at the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal stage] hailed from a Great Encompassing [a supreme cultivation realm representing the zenith of power] sect. Their strength and hidden reserves were undoubtedly profound and immeasurable. Thus, Eldrin Chen did not act rashly.

Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back and spoke, "Let us join forces to shatter this Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense, attack, or other mystical purposes]. As for how the spoils shall be divided, we can discuss that once the fortress has fallen."

"Agreed—"

No sooner had the word been uttered than the figure wreathed in golden radiance made his move.

With a mere flick of his sleeve, a blinding golden light, sharp enough to sever metal and jade, shot forth. It carried a power capable of grinding all things to dust, cleaving through the air to strike the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive energy barrier protecting a mountain]. The impact shook the First Wood Blessed Land [a blessed land aligned with the primordial wood element] to its very foundations, leaving it teetering on the brink of collapse.

"The Golden Radiance Heaven-Splitting Art [a supreme technique that manifests golden light capable of sundering the heavens]."

"You are from the Golden Spirit Ancient Clan [an ancient and powerful clan renowned for their mastery over golden-element spiritual arts]?"

Severing Heaven's Spine narrowed his eyes, recognizing the origin of this individual.

Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a trace of astonishment. The Golden Spirit Ancient Clan was one of the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races. This lineage was born from the spiritual essence of the world's Adamantine [the hardest, most unyielding metal].

It was said the progenitor of this lineage was a being transformed from the very first piece of Innate Golden Stone [the primordial source of golden spiritual essence] in existence. His seniority was astonishingly ancient, allowing him to converse as a peer with Path Ancestor Immortal Sage.

Such a Great Encompassing Ancient Clan had an exceedingly small number of clansmen, yet every single member of the Golden Spirit Ancient Clan possessed peerless physical and divine prowess, making them a top-tier race.

The clan's Golden Radiance Heaven-Splitting Art was a simplified version of a Patriarch Level Divine Ability. Its power was considered formidable even among Mysterious Grade Divine Ability.

This particular member of the Golden Spirit Ancient Clan before them had a cultivation base merely at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal realm, yet he could unleash the Golden Radiance Heaven-Splitting Art. This indicated his talent and bloodline were rare even within the Golden Spirit Ancient Clan, granting him the potential to glimpse the Great Encompassing Realm in the future.

"What a powerful ancient clan," he murmured.

Eldrin Chen also sensed the formidable strength of this individual. The bloodline of the Golden Spirit Ancient Clan was extraordinary. Although his cultivation was only at Earth Immortal Great Perfection, the combat prowess he displayed brushed against the domain of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal.

By Eldrin Chen's estimation, even the offensive power of Nyssa Qu might not surpass this person by half a measure.

Within the current Chen Immortal Clan, aside from Eldrin Chen himself, only Exquisite Jiang, who had created a Mysterious Grade Divine Ability, could firmly suppress this individual by a full measure.

"Boom—"

In the time it took for Eldrin Chen to have that thought, the other two figures also sprang into action.

Gripping a Severing Heaven's Spine in his hand, and the peerless woman summoning a dazzling Immortal Sword, they both unleashed slaughtering power [the destructive force of a divine ability focused on killing] comparable to a Half-Step Celestial Immortal, their attacks crashing against the ancient formation.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen wasted no time and immediately moved to break the formation himself.

To avoid revealing his identity, Eldrin Chen did not summon his life-bound treasures. Instead, he gripped the Primordial Unity Adamantine War Halberd and relied on the sheer power of his physical body to assault the barrier.

"What formidable physical strength, to be able to wield a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon," one of them remarked inwardly.

Witnessing Eldrin Chen's extraordinary method, the gazes of all three figures sharpened slightly.

The man known as Severing Heaven's Spine pondered silently, then sent a mental message to the woman beside him. "Such physical power ranks among the pinnacle even within the Primordial Unity Immortal Body. I wonder which Great Encompassing Ancient Sect he is the heir of."

The woman contemplated for a moment before replying via the same method. "I cannot see through him. This person possesses a Heaven-Deceiving Secret Art [a profound technique that obscures one's fate and origins from divination], and also has an Innate Object [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, containing immense natural power] suppressing his Fortune [the metaphysical luck and destiny of a being]. We cannot deduce his Karma [the web of cause and effect, actions and consequences, that binds all beings]."

Hearing this, Severing Heaven's Spine's eyes turned frosty. "This Earth Vein [a powerful, concentrated ley line of terrestrial spiritual energy] can, in a short time, support the advancement of at most three individuals to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal realm. One among us will ultimately be forced to withdraw."

"Boom—"

As the thoughts of the crowd churned, the void suddenly trembled violently, and then the entire Mountain Protection Formation shattered.

The few Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has attained a profound connection with the earth's spiritual veins] from the Divine Clan who were guarding the place saw this and immediately fled in utter terror. Only Eastern First Wood Divine Spirit remained within the Seclusion Chamber, attempting a final breakthrough.

Seeing this, Severing Heaven's Spine sneered coldly, "A mere Ninth Level Earth Immortal, yet daring to occupy a Supreme Grade Blessed Land [a land of supreme spiritual fortune and power]. Truly, you seek your own demise."

"Die now!"

As the words fell, Severing Heaven's Spine summoned a Heavenly Halberd that pierced through the void, forcibly shattering the final layer of the grotto's grand formation and lunging towards the Eastern First Wood Divine Spirit who was in deep seclusion.

"Guh—"

Forced to interrupt his breakthrough midway, Eastern First Wood Divine Spirit immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.

A look of despair flashed across his face. He glared fiercely at the crowd, then sought to tear open the void and escape using a Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact]. But how could the others allow him to leave?

Eldrin Chen did not make a move, but the others each unleashed their own techniques.

Then, they saw the peerless beauty activate her supreme treasure to seal the surrounding void. Immediately after, the other two unleashed their Mysterious Grade Divine Ability [a supreme-level mystical technique] in a devastating horizontal assault.

Yet, within the span of a mere few exchanges, this peerless Divine Spirits [a powerful spiritual being], who had once shaken the region and founded the Ninefold Heaven [a legendary celestial realm], met his bitter end, vanquished by their combined might.