Chapter 1604 : The Unassailable Path

"Do not speak such words," Exquisite Jiang said, covering his mouth and holding him tightly. "That day will never come."

Eldrin Chen's throat moved slightly. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he fell into a soft silence.

After a long while, he smiled and said, "Do not worry. With it by my side, I stand in an unassailable position."

Exquisite Jiang had also guessed that Eldrin Chen possessed a supreme treasure of unparalleled wonder. She finally let out a sigh of relief and said, "Since your resolve is firm, then you must go and do it."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, solemn nod.

What Exquisite Jiang did not know was that the Returning Abyss Pearl could only summon Eldrin Chen three times every million years.

Over the past three hundred thousand years and more, Eldrin Chen had already used this power twice. Fortunately, with the passage of time, the Returning Abyss Pearl's summoning count had replenished once, leaving him with two more opportunities to call upon its aid.

Two chances, three Forbidden Lands, and the Innate Dual-Polarity Void Mirror—Eldrin Chen felt this should be sufficient.

With this thought settled, Eldrin Chen departed from the Returning Abyss Blessed Land and made his way toward the Heaven Abyss Sea.

Soon, amidst the Heaven Abyss Sea, he came face to face with Heaven Abyss Path Master.

After so many years apart, Heaven Abyss Path Master's cultivation had reached the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm], seemingly not far from Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a transitional state between Earth Immortal and Celestial Immortal].

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen smiled and offered his congratulations: "Fellow Daoist, to have broken through to Earth Immortal Great Perfection in a mere hundred thousand years or so is remarkable. It seems you have a great hope of attaining the Celestial Immortal Great Path [the supreme realm of Celestial Immortal] in one fell swoop during the upcoming Path Tribulation [the heavenly trial to advance one's cultivation path]."

"You flatter me, you flatter me."

Heaven Abyss Path Master waved his hand modestly, then shook his head. "My progress in cultivation is solely due to the gains from within the Small Universe [a pocket dimension or self-contained realm]. But now, those gains have been almost entirely digested."

"Breaking through to Half-Step Celestial Immortal is already an immense difficulty, let alone attaining the true Celestial Immortal Great Path?"

"In my view, with your innate talent, Fellow Daoist, attaining Celestial Immortal [the realm of a Heavenly Immortal] should be as easy as reaching out and taking it."

Eldrin Chen spoke with a smile. He knew this old friend quite well. Although this man could not compare to Ancient Ruins Path Master, he was still a rare genius who had opened up a Ninefold Heaven [a mythical, multi-layered heavenly realm].

One could say that if he did not meet an untimely end, Heaven Abyss Path Master had an extremely high hope of stepping into the Celestial Immortal Realm in the future. The only question was whether he could establish the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a legendary, supremely stable foundation for cultivation combining spirit, energy, and essence].

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Heaven Abyss Path Master spoke up: "Fellow Daoist, your visit this time must surely be for an important matter?"

"Indeed."

When the matter at hand was raised, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod.

Without further ado, he retrieved from his sleeve a single, brilliantly radiant Precious Pill [a supreme-grade elixir of immense value].

"This..."

"Is this the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill [a legendary pill that forges a cultivator's body into a peerless, indestructible vessel]?"

Heaven Abyss Path Master's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of astonishment crossing his features.

After a moment's hesitation, he could not help but look at Eldrin Chen and inquire, "Elder Brother, this pill... is it intended for..."

"Precisely."

Eldrin Chen nodded once more and stated plainly, "I have brought this pill today for the sole purpose of aiding you, Fellow Daoist, in your breakthrough to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [the threshold stage just below becoming a true Celestial Immortal]."

"*Hum*—"

A tremor passed through Heaven Abyss Path Master's heart, followed by a surge of wild, overwhelming joy.

He reached out to take the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill [a legendary pill that reforges the body into a primordial golden vessel], but after a moment of hesitation, withdrew his hand. With a bitter smile, he said, "In recent years, to accelerate my cultivation and strive for a breakthrough to the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm], I have expended the greater part of my reserves of Immortal Source [a condensed, high-purity form of spiritual energy used by high-level immortals]."

"The resources remaining in my possession are now few. I fear I cannot afford this Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill."

"I know."

Eldrin Chen nodded calmly, then said with a gentle smile, "Setting aside our friendship of a million years, during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event testing the fate of cultivators and realms], you risked danger to aid me, and we stood together against the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake. That Karma [the web of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences] is forever etched in my heart."

"Set your mind at ease. You may consider this Immortal Source a debt. Take the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill and refine it. Once you step into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a transitional state between Earth Immortal and Celestial Immortal], you may repay this Immortal Source."

Hearing this, Heaven Abyss Path Master was deeply moved.

He grasped Eldrin Chen's hand firmly and finally said with profound emotion, "This grace of bestowing the pill, Heaven Abyss will surely remember it in his heart."

"Should calamity befall the Chen Clan during the future Path Tribulation [a tribulation testing one's cultivation path and destiny], Heaven Abyss will lend his full strength to your aid."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a genuine smile.

He handed the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill to Heaven Abyss Path Master and said warmly, "We are sworn comrades, supporting each other shoulder to shoulder. Would it not be a tale for the ages if one day we both attain the Celestial Immortal Great Path [the profound Dao of the Celestial Immortal realm], and even ascend to the Great Encompassing Realm [the legendary realm of ultimate cosmic comprehension]?"

"..."

Departing from the Heaven Abyss Sea, Eldrin Chen continued his journey. Before long, he arrived at the Glazed Blessed Land [a realm of cultivation blessed with abundant spiritual energy].

Within the Glazed Blessed Land, he met with Glazed Divine Lord. After so many years apart, Glazed Divine Lord's spiritual power had grown even more profound and unfathomable, having actually succeeded in cultivating the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a legendary and immensely powerful foundational cultivation method].

This came as a surprise to Eldrin Chen. The Pill of Polarity Enlightenment [a rare elixir that aids in comprehending the principles of duality] he had prepared for Glazed Divine Lord now seemed superfluous.

What Eldrin Chen did not know was that, due to Nyssa Qu's influence, Glazed Divine Lord had established a connection with a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a cultivator who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] from the Immortal Clam Clan of the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain.

With the support of this Celestial Immortal Great Power, she had advanced further, successfully cultivating the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation. She had even been bestowed with the incredibly precious Primordial Unity Immortal Pill [an elixir of supreme quality that refines one's foundational essence].

While it was uncertain if she would achieve the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation in the future, her hopes of breaking through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [a major realm of cultivation above the Earth Immortal stage] had grown significantly.

This was no empty boast. The merit of discovering and, against all odds, nurturing a Nine-Colored Immortal Shell [a mythical clam demon beast of the highest potential] was immense. The treasures the Immortal Clam Clan rewarded her with were enough to make even a Celestial Immortal Great Power covetous.

Recalling that her own breakthrough into the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation was due to Eldrin Chen bringing Nyssa Qu to her, Glazed Qu felt a surge of profound satisfaction.

She glanced at Eldrin Chen and inquired, "What brings you to seek me out today?"

"I originally intended to present you with a precious treasure, but it seems you have no need for it now."

Eldrin Chen spoke, then took out the final three Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill and said, "I heard that the three Immortal Maidens, Sun Consort, Moon Consort, and Star Consort, recently broke through to the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm."

"By delivering these three Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill now, perhaps I can help them advance another step."

Sun Consort, Star Consort, and Moon Consort were within the Great Hall. Seeing the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill delivered by Eldrin Chen, their faces immediately lit up with delight.

Their hearts stirred with excitement, and they couldn't help but look towards the Glazed Divine Lord.

The Glazed Divine Lord glanced at the pills, a flicker of surprise crossing her mind as she looked at Eldrin Chen with some astonishment. "I never imagined you would be willing to part with such treasures," she said.

With that, she cast a look at the three women—Sun Consort, Star Consort, and Moon Consort—and said with a light laugh, "These gifts of yours are priceless treasures. Even if you sold all three of them, their worth likely wouldn't compare."

"I suppose if you wished to take them as concubines today, they probably wouldn't refuse."

Upon hearing this, a faint blush colored the cheeks of the three women, and they stole a glance at Eldrin Chen.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen quickly interjected, "Senior, you jest. If the three Immortal Maidens can achieve a breakthrough and condense the Innate Mysterious Pearl [a mystical pearl of profound innate power], that is something I myself require."

Upon hearing this, Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal] nodded slightly and then spoke, "Since that is the case, once they make their breakthrough, the Innate Mysterious Pearl [a mystical pearl of profound origin] shall be given to you."

As she spoke, she retrieved the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill [a legendary pill that forges a perfect, unified golden physique] and handed it over to the Three Maidens of Sun, Moon, and Stars.

After delivering the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill, Eldrin Chen departed from the Glazed Blessed Land [a sacred realm of crystalline beauty].

Watching his retreating figure, Glazed Divine Lord fell into a pensive silence. She glanced back at the three women, Sun Consort and her sisters, and a flicker of deep contemplation shone in her eyes.