Chapter 1609 : The Primordial Phoenix's Bargain

"To have fallen for who knows how many Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years], yet still be able to awaken and return."

"This Primordial Era Ice Phoenix is truly boundlessly terrifying. One wonders just how many of the Ninefold Great Encompassing Heavenly Pass [the nine legendary barriers one must overcome to ascend to the Great Encompassing Realm] he managed to break through."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of curiosity lighting his gaze.

As he understood it, before breaking into the Great Encompassing Realm, there existed the Ninefold Heavenly Pass. Shattering even a single Heavenly Pass was enough to step into the Ancient Immortal Realm.

Yet the gulf between Ancient Immortal was vast. The difference between one who had broken a single Heavenly Pass and a peerless prodigy who had shattered Eighth Heaven barriers was surely immeasurable.

That Ancient Demon from ages past, the one that required the combined might of nearly a thousand Celestial Immortal from the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain to slay, whose fall corrupted the Heavenly Path [the supreme cultivation method] into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, was said to be an Eight-Calamity Ancient Demon who had broken through Eighth Heaven barriers, standing but half a step from the Great Encompassing Realm.

The Primordial Era Ice Phoenix before him had been personally suppressed and slain by Great God Vast Azure. Clearly, it was no ordinary Ancient Immortal.

"Have you decided?"

Just as these thoughts swirled within Eldrin Chen, the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix spoke.

Her gaze rested upon Eldrin Chen as she stated calmly, "If you agree to my terms, when the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a rare cosmic event offering a chance for rebirth and immense power] arrives, you will aid me in seizing the heart's blood essence of Great God Vast Azure."

"Then I can lend you my strength, to aid you in completing the cultivation of the Ice Vein Body Tempering."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen already had an inkling of the answer in his heart.

Nevertheless, he turned his gaze towards the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix and inquired, "This junior is merely a Half-Step Celestial Immortal. How can Senior be so certain that I can be of assistance?"

"Do not underestimate yourself."

The Primordial Era Ice Phoenix regarded Eldrin Chen with a calm expression and stated, "You possess three Innate Treasure. Your spiritual power and physical body have both reached the Path Fruit stage, seemingly achieving a state of Extraordinary perfection. Cultivating the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation should be well within your grasp."

"With your strength, breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm with a flawless foundation during your Path Tribulation should be a trivial matter."

"In the millions of years that follow, while I dare not claim you will reach the Late Celestial Immortal Realm, advancing to the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm is highly probable."

"With cultivation at the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm and your formidable Immortal Body, your combat prowess should approach that of the Late Celestial Immortal Realm. By then, you should indeed be capable of lending me your strength."

At this point, the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix added, "Even if that endeavor proves unsuccessful, you could instead seek out an Innate Primordial Essence Pill for me."

"An Innate Primordial Essence Pill?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a faint pang of bitterness in his heart.

The Innate Primordial Essence Pill [a supreme Immortal Pill capable of replenishing one's foundational essence] is a top-tier Immortal Pill that can help one restore their innate foundation. An Immortal with dual Innate Foundation [innate spiritual roots], if they refine one Innate Primordial Essence Pill, can mend their foundational roots and cultivate three types of Innate Foundation.

Furthermore, a severely wounded Ancient Immortal Great Power [a powerful being from the Ancient Immortal Realm] on the brink of death could also recover from their injuries by consuming this pill.

The refinement of such an Immortal Pill is exceedingly difficult. Legend has it it requires thirty-six strands of Innate Energy [the primordial energy of creation] and 'Immortal DomainPrimordial Essence Energy' [the foundational energy of an Immortal Domain] to be combined and refined. Its value surpasses even that of an Innate Ancient Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos].

Even for many beings at the Ancient Immortal Realm, acquiring a single Innate Primordial Essence Pill would likely cost them everything they own.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen fell into a contemplative silence.

If he refused this condition, although he was confident he could escape using the Returning Abyss Pearl, completing his cultivation of the ice vein would become an immensely arduous task.

This Primordial Era Ice Phoenix [an ancient phoenix born in the dawn of time] was still relatively reasonable. If he went to the Myriad Ghosts Frozen Cavern [a cavern haunted by countless malevolent spirits], the vicious ghosts within, capable of devouring Ancient Immortals, would not allow him to cultivate in peace.

"Ten million years... with my cultivation speed, I would at least possess combat power comparable to the Late Celestial Immortal Realm, perhaps even greater."

"If Verdant Consort and Exquisite also break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm during this Path Tribulation [a great tribulation affecting one's cultivation path], then I would have the aid of several Celestial Immortal Realm experts."

"Although it is unclear to what extent the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix [a legendary phoenix from the primordial times] has recovered its strength, the hope of seizing its heart's blood should be considerable."

"Conversely, if I do not cultivate the Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique said to be unbreakable], I fear that when the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a rare cosmic event offering a chance for rebirth through countless trials] arrives, I may not be able to seize sufficient Opportunity and Fortune [a metaphysical concept representing favorable circumstances and destiny]."

Having considered this, Eldrin Chen made his decision and spoke immediately: "I can swear a Heavenly Path Oath [a binding vow made to the Heavenly Path, with severe consequences for breaking it], pledging to assist you with all my strength in seizing the heart's blood when the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth arrives."

"Excellent."

Seeing his agreement, the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix nodded with satisfaction.

She rose to her full height and led Eldrin Chen to the edge of the icy pool. "I am currently at a critical juncture of Nirvana [a profound state of rebirth and transformation], and I cannot take action before the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] descends," she declared.

"For this Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity, the schemers include not only the various Immortal Court [the celestial bureaucracy governing immortals] and Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [an ancient and powerful cultivation sect], but also beings who have broken through multiple Heavenly Pass [profound cultivation barriers], willing to pay a steep price to enter this tribulation."

"If you encounter them in the future, remember that survival is paramount."

"Beings of the Ancient Immortal Realm [a legendary realm of cultivation], paying a great price to enter the tribulation?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into deep thought, his mind turning to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a terrifying sea of purgatory within the nether abyss].

The Primordial Era Ice Phoenix seemed to understand his thoughts and spoke with a hint of gravity, "That Ancient Demon was slain within the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a legendary sea of torment and damnation]. Yet, in its final moments, it managed to drag down an entire Heavenly Domain [a celestial realm] into corruption."

"You must understand, among all Ancient Immortal [beings who have cultivated for eons], an Eight-Calamity Ancient Demon [a demon lord who has survived eight great cosmic tribulations] is an exceedingly rare pinnacle figure, a true peerless powerhouse. Such beings are not so easily vanquished."

"A Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realms] can reflect upon the Myriad Heavens [the countless celestial planes], yet they remain bound beneath the Tribulation [the cosmic law of heavenly trials]. They must still endure and transcend their Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cycle of cosmic fate] to find true stability. Only those who have reached the realm of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a perfected golden immortal whose power encompasses all] can truly ascend beyond the River of Destiny [the metaphysical flow that dictates all fates]."

"You must realize, for an Ancient Demon of such near-transcendent stature, even its own demise can be used as a strategic move on the grand board."

Speaking to this point, the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix seemed to harbor immense wariness towards the Ancient Demon, mixed with a sigh, "If my deduction is correct, it was attempting to pass the ninth and final gate of the Ninefold Heavenly Pass [the nine ultimate trials for transcendence]—the 'Destiny [the preordained fate of all beings] Gate'."

"The final gate of the Ninefold Heavenly Pass requires one to alter their own predetermined Destiny. Had it succeeded in rewriting its Destiny, it would have transcended its bounds and stepped directly into the Great Encompassing Realm [the ultimate state of omnipotent cultivation]."

"If it failed, then it would naturally face complete annihilation, body and soul extinguished. Alas, this final Destiny Gate is precisely the most difficult barrier to breaking through into the Great Encompassing Realm."

"Sigh, to Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration [the act of defying the heavens to change one's destiny]... how profoundly difficult a feat."

The Primordial Era Ice Phoenix shook its head, a complex light flickering within its gaze.

"This..."

Eldrin Chen's heart quaked with a profound tremor, a sensation so powerful it felt deafening to his very soul.

To break free from the shackles of the River of Destiny [the metaphysical river that charts the predetermined course of all fates], even one's own demise could be used as a strategic move. Every scheme and arrangement was orchestrated solely to alter one's own Destiny [the preordained path of one's life and cultivation journey], all to achieve the ultimate state of Transcendence.

The sheer, earth-shattering scale of such an existence left Eldrin Chen feeling a shock of unprecedented magnitude.

Having cultivated for nearly a million years, this was the first time Eldrin Chen gained a sliver of genuine, visceral understanding of just how powerful such beings truly were.

Even more terrifying was the fact that beings like Great God Vast Azure, who had transcended the River of Destiny, ultimately still met their end—repeatedly annihilated by a single sword scar left behind billions of years ago.

How utterly formidable, then, must be those existences that have ascended beyond even the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm?

They were inconceivable, indescribable, ineffable!

This was a terror of cosmic proportions.

Contemplating this, the tides of emotion within Eldrin Chen's heart surged with even greater intensity.

In that moment, his resolve crystallized with renewed steel: he would tread the path of cultivation with unwavering steps, one footprint at a time, until he reached the Great Encompassing Realm.

Only by ascending to the realm of a Great Encompassing Immortal Lord [a supreme cultivator who has transcended the constraints of fate and commands their own destiny], and thus casting off the shackles of Destiny [the preordained course of events and fortune], can one truly seize mastery over their own Destiny. Only then can they stand as a true power within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad immortal worlds], and even within the vast expanse of the Boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless void from which all realms are born].