Chapter 1614 : The Heavenly God's Bargain

"To speak truthfully, I left the Ancient Gale Gourd and the Gale Ancient Sword here precisely to lure someone to pull me out of this place."

The Gale Heavenly God's gaze grew distant, his voice rasping as he said, "I had hoped to attract a fellow Daoist of the Celestial Immortal Realm to aid my escape. I never imagined it would draw a mere fledgling."

"To have survived within the Eight Winds [a divine ability manifesting the eight primordial winds], you must possess some genuine skill."

At this point, the Gale Heavenly God fixed his eyes on Eldrin Chen and declared, "Young man, if you possess the means to help this old one escape, I shall reward you handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen immediately shook his head. "The power of this Wind's Eye [the epicenter of the chaotic winds] is utterly terrifying. Without strength at the Late Celestial Immortal Realm, breaking free is simply impossible."

In truth, Eldrin Chen was not lying. Given the intensity of the Eight Winds power saturating this space, even a Late Celestial Immortal Realm cultivator might struggle to break its bonds. He himself could not hope to force his way out by brute strength alone.

Of course, Eldrin Chen held the Returning Abyss Pearl as his final trump card, a means of escape should all else fail.

However, the Returning Abyss Pearl was an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born of heaven and earth, possessing profound innate power]. This Gale Heavenly God's intentions, whether friend or foe, remained unknown. Eldrin Chen could not risk exposing such a secret to rescue him.

"So, even you have no method, young man?"

The Gale Heavenly God spoke softly, a flicker of icy coldness gleaming in his eyes.

Yet a smile spread across his face, tinged with a flicker of excitement. "But it matters not," he declared. "I see that your cultivation has reached this stage, and your physical form is profoundly Extraordinary. I surmise you must possess a supreme Primordial Unity Immortal Body [a legendary physique representing the perfect, undivided origin of all things]."

"Refining your physical body would not only restore my damaged Divine Body [a body tempered to a divine level of power and resilience] and foundational essence to their peak, but likely surpass it. Perhaps it could even provide the means for my escape from this prison."

"Senior," Eldrin Chen countered, his voice strained, "you hold the esteemed rank of a Heavenly God [a powerful divine being, a high rank among celestial cultivators]. Would you truly commit such a vile act?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted dramatically, yet a sliver of icy light gleamed deep within his pupils.

Gale Heavenly God threw his head back in a booming laugh. With a cold glint in his eyes, he struck out with a palm strike meant to suppress. "Foolish boy," he sneered. "To merge your essence with a Heavenly God is an honor beyond measure."

"Set your heart at ease. Today, you offer your flesh and vital essence to this old man. Once I break free from these chains, I shall personally ensure your Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth of the soul] into your next life."

"BOOM—"

As the final word echoed, Gale Heavenly God unleashed his full power in a devastating assault, intent on crushing Eldrin Chen where he stood.

Yet, instead of retreating, Eldrin Chen advanced. With a flick of his sleeve, his own palm shot forward in a cleaving strike. The impact was staggering—it was the Heavenly God who was sent reeling backward.

"ARRGH—!"

Suddenly suffering a hidden blow, Gale Heavenly God let out a muffled grunt.

He scrutinized Eldrin Chen with a piercing gaze, his eyes gleaming as he declared, "What formidable physical form! If this constitution were refined into an Innate Physique [a supreme, heaven-defying physical foundation], could you not contend with the power of a Mid Celestial Immortal Realm [the middle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm]?"

Gale Heavenly God was utterly astonished, speaking with a tone of regret, "A pity. A body seized through possession can never truly be one's own. The Vital Essence, Energy, and Spirit [the three foundational pillars of a cultivator's being: body, energy, and soul] remain imperfect, barring any path to further advancement. Were it not so, even I would be tempted to seize your Immortal Body [a body tempered to the level of an immortal]."

"You decrepit fossil, trapped for eighty million years! What fraction of your former battle prowess remains?"

Eldrin Chen snorted coldly and unleashed a palm strike to suppress his foe.

A shocking battle erupted between them. Had this clash occurred in the outside world, the residual shockwaves alone would have been enough to shatter the Great Ancient Domain and pulverize an entire Starry River [a vast, star-studded celestial river].

Yet, within this octagonal vortex, all destructive force was dissipated by the Eight Winds [a divine ability that harnesses the power of the eight cardinal winds], unable to cause any significant impact on the surroundings.

"Impudent whelp! To defy a Heavenly God [a powerful divine being] is a sin not even your soul's utter annihilation could cleanse!"

Gale Heavenly God flew into a frenzy. From within his withered frame, a wisp of Innate Primordial Essence [the pure, foundational energy from the dawn of creation] surged forth, empowering the Gale Ancient Sword [an ancient sword imbued with the power of gales]. A torrent of Slaughter Intent [a palpable, murderous will capable of chilling the soul] erupted, aimed at utterly annihilating Eldrin Chen.

Yet, Eldrin Chen stood firm, utterly fearless. He stepped forward, closing the distance, and met the sword strike head-on with his Primordial One Energy True Aura [a divine protective aura formed from unified primordial energy]. Then, with a single, devastating palm strike, he sent Gale Heavenly God hurtling backwards through the air.

In terms of pure physical strength alone, Eldrin Chen already surpassed many Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful cultivator who has ascended to the celestial realm]. Although Gale Heavenly God possessed an Innate Physique [a rare, heaven-bestowed physical constitution], his body had long been nearly depleted. In a fierce clash with Eldrin Chen, he no longer held the upper hand.

"So what if you are a Heavenly God [a deity of immense power]? Today, I shall defy the heavens and slay a god!"

With a palm strike that sent Gale Heavenly God reeling, Eldrin Chen's battle intent surged and roiled like a tempest.

The Gale Heavenly God was sent flying backward, but before he could travel far, the currents of the Wind's Eye [the central vortex of a primordial storm] swept him back in.

He sought to unleash his fury and exact revenge, but found himself buffeted and unable to steady his form. A fist from Eldrin Chen crashed into his face, sending several teeth flying and leaving his visage bruised and swollen.

"Aaaargh! You wretched whelp, you deserve death!"

Having suffered these humiliating blows in succession, a boundless Slaughter Intent [a murderous, overwhelming desire to kill] surged within Gale Heavenly God's heart.

Within this place, scoured by the Eight Winds [a divine ability manifesting eight primordial winds], both Divine Ability [supernatural powers granted by divinity] and Dharmic Power [the energy cultivated through spiritual laws] were eroded, unable to manifest their full might. Only raw physical strength could be displayed without hindrance.

But now, consumed by towering hatred, Gale Heavenly God cared not for preserving his own Innate Dharmic Power [the primordial spiritual energy one is born with]. He continuously stirred his Innate Primordial Essence [the foundational life-force essence inherent at birth] to empower his Divine Body [a body tempered by divine power], engaging Eldrin Chen in a desperate, life-or-death struggle.

"Hmph—"

Enraged and unleashing his full power, Gale Heavenly God [a powerful wind deity] forced Eldrin Chen to grunt in response, a flicker of solemn gravity settling upon his features.

The force unleashed by a Heavenly God [a deity of immense power] fighting with all its might was truly staggering. This was not a battle against a swarm of [primordial serpents born from the world's impurities] but a direct, one-on-one confrontation.

Eldrin Chen knew well that were it not for his Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique granting near-absolute resilience], which offered strong resistance to wind-based attacks, and the fact that this environment suppressed the Divine Ability [supernatural power] and spiritual energy of Gale Heavenly God, he would stand no chance against his foe.

"Truly worthy of a Heavenly God Great Power," Eldrin Chen conceded inwardly.

All traces of carelessness vanished from Eldrin Chen's mind. He could afford no further lapses in focus and threw himself fully into the desperate battle against Gale Heavenly God.

It was a clash of rare intensity, both combatants possessing staggering, earth-shaking power.

Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Indestructibility Body was now nearing perfection. His physical strength alone rivaled that of three cultivators who had achieved the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a profound cultivation foundation merging two primordial essences] working in unison.

Augmented further by his spiritual energy, his Primordial Unity Immortal Body [an immortal physique forged from unified primordial essence] meant his current combat prowess, while perhaps not yet matching a master of the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [the ultimate foundation merging three primordial essences], was drawing close. In raw, close-quarters combat, he far surpassed such a master.

As for Gale Heavenly God, he was a mighty Divine Spirits [beings of divine origin and power] whose name had shaken the Vast Azure Immortal Domain for countless eons. At his peak, his cultivation had reached the third level of the Heavenly God realm, placing him far beyond the likes of the Western Abyss Dragon King.

Had Eldrin Chen encountered Gale Heavenly God in his prime, his first and only thought would have been immediate flight.

Fortunately, the Gale Heavenly God had been trapped for eighty million years, his strength diminished to merely fifty or sixty percent of its peak. Further constrained by the Eight Winds of the Soaring Grotto-Heaven, he found it difficult to unleash his full arsenal. This allowed Eldrin Chen to stand a chance in battle against him.

Yet even so, facing such a formidable foe, Eldrin Chen was still not his match.

Though the Gale Heavenly God was weakened and his Vitality and physical body were withered, his Heavenly God physique remained nigh indestructible. His bones were as Immortality and Indestructibility as Primordial Unity Immortal Gold, further bolstered by his Innate Primordial Essence [the foundational, innate spiritual energy of a primordial being]. He fought with such ferocity that he sent Eldrin Chen reeling, blood spraying from his mouth.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Eldrin Chen immediately activated the Polarity Path Union Gourd. Drawing upon this treasure to amplify his own Divine Ability [supernatural power or technique] and spiritual energy, he finally managed to reverse his declining momentum, seizing a tentative upper hand.

"Perish now!"

After another thirty-plus exchanges in their fierce clash, Eldrin Chen pressed his advantage relentlessly, driving the Heavenly God back step by step. He then spoke, his voice cutting through the din of battle, "Old fool Gale, trapped for eighty million years, just how much of your Innate Primordial Essence do you have left to burn?"