Chapter 1704 : Forging the Indestructible Dao

Ordinary Heavenly Immortal Paragon [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation] would avoid it at all costs, for once tainted by Chaos Qi [the primordial, formless energy that predates creation], their Physical Body [the corporeal form of a cultivator] would risk grievous injury.

Yet Eldrin Chen showed not a shred of fear. He continuously refined the surging Primordial Chaos [the primordial state of undifferentiated existence before the cosmos] essence, using the boundless Chaos Miasma [the corrosive and corrupting aura born from Chaos Qi] to temper his body.

This Chaos Miasma, potent enough to corrode even an Innate Physique [a supreme, heaven-bestowed bodily constitution], failed utterly to harm Eldrin Chen. Not a single scar, not the faintest mark, was left upon him.

"It is not enough."

Eldrin Chen murmured, a slight frown creasing his brow.

His aim was to harness the power of Chaos Qi to polish his indestructible Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [the legendary, unbreakable primordial body], to fuse it with his Mana [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by immortals], his Dao Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of the cosmos comprehended by a cultivator], and indeed his entire cultivated foundation. From this fusion, he sought to gestate a flawless, leakless Great Unity Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit of cultivation, symbolizing the unity of all principles].

Yet the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique proved too unyielding. It was like a Primordial Chaos Stone [a mythical stone born from the Primordial Chaos, famed for its absolute durability] forged by Myriad Tribulations Uneroded [a divine ability implying imperviousness to all calamities]. Despite the endless erosion of Primordial Chaos Aura [the ambient energy and presence of the Primordial Chaos], it showed not the slightest sign of softening or melting.

"As expected, it will not yield?"

Eldrin Chen whispered, his expression growing solemn.

Though he had long anticipated this outcome, facing it directly now still filled his heart with a profound sense of difficulty. The story continues at audio-novel-dot-com.

For an ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to true immortality], achieving a Dao Fruit [the ultimate condensation of one's cultivation path into a metaphysical fruit] after prematurely forging an Innate Physique [a supreme, heaven-defying physical constitution] is already immensely more difficult. This is especially true for a physique as supremely potent as Eldrin Chen's Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [a legendary body tempered by and embodying the primordial chaos of creation].

If Eldrin Chen could not completely refine his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body, merging it with his cultivation foundation to coalesce into a Dao Fruit, he would be forever barred from attaining the Triple Taiyi Foundation [the pinnacle foundation representing the trinity of Heaven, Earth, and Man].

"Is a breakthrough truly impossible?"

"I refuse to believe it."

Seeing that the breakthrough remained stubbornly out of reach, Eldrin Chen gritted his teeth and, with a surge of resolve, fully activated the power of the Formation [a mystical array or formation that channels and manipulates energy].

In that instant, the Five Domains Formation [a grand formation harnessing the power of the five elemental domains] was pushed to its absolute limit. An endless tide of Chaos Miasma [the primordial, formless energy of chaos] drowned everything, coalescing into a Chaos Crucible [a conceptual furnace for refining chaos] that began to smelt Eldrin Chen himself.

Eldrin Chen's plan was to borrow the might of the Five-Layered Heavenly Domain [a celestial realm structured in five layers], using its vital essence as the furnace's fire to refine his own Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body.

Yet even this was insufficient to refine it. The Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [the innate, unyielding form of the Primordial Chaos Body] remained utterly unyielding, the paramount and most indestructible of all Primordial Chaos Body variations.

After a full century of relentless refinement within the crucible, the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique showed not the slightest sign of change. With another clench of his jaw, Eldrin Chen mobilized every last drop of his Mana [the refined spiritual energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners].

In that decisive moment, Eldrin Chen channeled his Innate Magical Power [the profound, inherent mystical energy of a supreme cultivator], empowering the Taiyi Primordial Infinity Dao Rule [the supreme law of his cultivation path, embodying primordial infinity]. He began to assist the Five Domains Formation in its monumental task of refining the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique.

Within, it was tempered by the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles that govern reality and cultivation], while externally, it was quenched by the Chaos Miasma [the primordial, formless energy of chaos]. The combined force of these two created an unparalleled pressure.

Under such conditions, the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, unbreakable body forged at the dawn of creation] finally began to show a trace of change. As time flowed, his foundational Primordial Source [the original, foundational energy of a cultivator's being] and the Laws of the Dao intertwined, giving birth to a hazy, embryonic Dao Fruit [the ultimate crystallization of a cultivator's path and power].

Thus, time passed in a blur, and three Millennium [a cycle of one thousand years] slipped by.

It was not until this day that Eldrin Chen suddenly opened his eyes, discovering an ethereal Three Flowers Dao Fruit [the supreme manifestation of a cultivator's achievements in body, law, and fruit] floating above his head.

The Three Flowers were the Physique Flower [the flower representing the perfection of the physical form], the Great Dao Flower [the flower representing mastery over cosmic laws], and the Dao Fruit Flower [the flower representing the ultimate fruit of cultivation]. Among them, the Dao Fruit Flower occupied the center, with the Great Dao Flower to its left and the Physique Flower to its right.

At this moment, the Physique Flower was dazzlingly resplendent, radiating a blinding Innate Chaos Radiance [the primordial light born from chaos itself]. It shone as brilliantly as the Divine Spirits [beings of immense power born from primal forces] of the Primordial Chaos [the formless state before creation] at the Primordial Chaos's Beginning [the very inception of the cosmos].

The Great Dao Flower was next in brilliance. It was shrouded in the profundity of the Taiyi Chaos Infinity Dao Principle [a supreme cultivation art embodying infinite chaos], as if a Great Dao [a supreme cosmic principle] spanned the heavens, piercing through all of time, past and present. Its sole distinction from the Physique Flower was the absence of that Trace-Back to Primordial Origins [the act of tracing one's power and essence back to the very beginning of all things] Innate Light [a light born from the fundamental essence of existence] that enveloped the physique blossom.

Upon the Dao Fruit Flower, a hazy Dao Fruit had taken form. Within it, a faint Innate Chaos Radiance flickered, and an illusory Great Dao seemed to stretch across its expanse. Yet, its light was dim and feeble, like a dream bubble or a shadow on water, seeming as if it would pop at the slightest touch.

"Success... yet also failure."

"A single Flawed Illusory Dao Fruit [an imperfect, ephemeral crystallization of the Dao path]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a profound clarity blossoming within his heart at this very moment.

In this instant, he understood the path he must walk and knew the choice he must make next.

For the path to cultivate the Triple Taiyi Foundation, three methods lay before him: superior, middling, and inferior.

The inferior method was to follow his original plan: to sweep through the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain in a single, decisive campaign.

Thereafter, he would harness the power of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain to deploy a Super Formation, burning boundless fortune and Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds]. Using the domain's primordial vitality as a furnace's fire, he would refine his own cultivation foundation to condense a single Supreme Dao Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path, representing the pinnacle of attainment].

Breaking through via this method, Eldrin Chen would possess at least the combat power of a fourth-level Flawless Celestial Immortal [a Celestial Immortal whose foundation is perfect and without flaw] upon his ascension—a strength surpassing that of a fourth-level Flawed Celestial Immortal [a Celestial Immortal with imperfections in their foundation] by more than twofold. Support the author by reading on audio—novel.com.

Yet, this path harbored a grave flaw: the imbalance between the power of his Physical Body, his comprehension of the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality], and the Dao Fruit itself. Should a major crisis arise in the future for Eldrin Chen, it could very well cause the Dao Fruit to shatter, his unified cultivation foundation fracturing back into its three separate components.

The middling method required no external aids, relying solely on a direct, self-guided breakthrough.

This path involved refining five strands of Innate Qi [primordial energy inherent to the universe at its birth] to cultivate the Innate Primordial Limitless Dao Principle [a supreme cultivation art embodying the boundless, primordial Dao] before ascending to Heaven Immortal.

At that point, the Innate Primordial Limitless Dao Principle and the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a constitution of unparalleled resilience born from primordial chaos] would be perfectly matched in power. Both, being supremely attuned to the attribute of Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state from which all existence emerged], would make the breakthrough to the Triple Taiyi Foundation a natural and inevitable culmination, flowing as smoothly as water finding its course.

If the Lower Path Method is akin to forcing an unripe melon, then the Middle Path Method is more like sailing with the current.

Upon a breakthrough via the Middle Path Method, the Dao Fruit [the ultimate spiritual fruit of one's cultivation path] that is nurtured is exceptionally potent. Eldrin Chen himself would suffer no inherent weaknesses, and upon his breakthrough, he would directly possess the combat power of a Flawless Celestial Immortal [a Celestial Immortal whose foundation is perfect and flawless] at the sixth level of the Heaven Immortal [the realm of Celestial Immortals] realm.

The Upper Path Method is even more profound and wondrous.

This method shares similarities with the Middle Path, but when condensing the Great Unity Dao Fruit [the supreme Dao Fruit representing the unity of all principles], the Upper Path requires drawing upon boundless fortune and Merit Power [power derived from virtuous deeds and accumulated karma].

Forging a single Dao Fruit from Eldrin Chen's lifetime of cultivation and his vast, majestic reserves of Fortune and Merit [the combined metaphysical forces of destiny and virtue] would grant his ultimate combat prowess a tremendous amplification.

This amplification would be sufficient to help Eldrin Chen shatter a fundamental limit—the barrier of the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Celestial Immortal realm].

If Eldrin Chen were to break through using the Upper Path Method, then upon ascending to Heaven Immortal, he would possess a cultivation foundation comparable to that of the Late Heaven Immortal Realm.

And those of the Late Heaven Immortal Realm are hegemon-level figures within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [the vast celestial realm known as the Vast Azure Immortal Domain].

Throughout the entire Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, the number of beings at the Late Heaven Immortal Realm does not exceed one hundred. Each one is a sovereign ruler of a celestial domain.

Only by breaking through to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm does one gain the qualification to become one of the high-ranking decision-makers within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain.

Such beings, as long as they do not court death by provoking those few Ancient Immortals [transcendent beings who have ascended to immortality], or do not leave the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [the vast celestial realm where the story primarily takes place], are virtually impossible to perish.

"The Lower Grade Method, the Middle Grade Method, and the Upper Grade Method."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, unable to suppress a faint sigh.

The breakthrough method he had prepared previously was the most reckless and carried the greatest hidden dangers.

In comparison, the Middle Grade and Upper Grade Methods were the optimal choices.

The Middle Grade Method required five strands of Innate Qi [the primordial, untainted energy present at the birth of the universe, essential for high-level cultivation]. However, Eldrin Chen believed that as those around him advanced to the Heaven Immortal [a high rank of celestial immortal], obtaining such treasures would not be overly difficult for him.

Yet, the Upper Grade Method demanded a vast sea of Merit Power [a metaphysical force representing accumulated good deeds and virtuous karma] and destiny fortune. While fortune could be seized by conquering the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, acquiring Merit Power was far more challenging.

To obtain, in a short time, merit great enough to stir the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain's Heavenly Dao [the fundamental cosmic law and order governing the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain], the only feasible path seemed to be the eradication of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a realm of eternal torment and demonic corruption].

But the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea was a contingency left by the Eight Calamity Ancient Demon [a primordial demon of immense power who brought eight great calamities]. Even the Ancient Immortal Great Power [ancient immortals of immense strength and authority] of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain had been unable to erase it, making it an impossible task for Eldrin Chen.

"It seems further planning is still required."

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Eldrin Chen gradually drew his focus inward and settled his spirit.

He slowly raised his head, sensing the dim and faded Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path, manifesting as a metaphysical fruit] hovering above him. A flicker of contemplation passed through his eyes.

"As I am now," he murmured to himself, "can I be considered a pseudo-Triple Taiyi Realm [a transcendent state representing the unity of Heaven, Earth, and Man, just below the apex of cultivation]?" For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel-dot-com.