Chapter 1618 : The Path of Ten Thunders

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a flicker of astonishment surfacing in the depths of his gaze.

According to the inscriptions upon the ancient stele, any Immortal [a being who has ascended beyond mortality through cultivation] cultivating the Thunderclap [the Path of Heavenly Thunder] whose cultivation does not exceed the Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a realm just below that of a true Celestial Immortal] may enter to contemplate the Great Path [the supreme principles of cultivation].

Among the ten Thunderclap Divine Abilities [supreme supernatural powers or techniques], comprehending even a single one successfully would grant a reward left behind by the Annihilation Path Master. Furthermore, comprehending each Divine Ability would yield an additional reward.

Should one comprehend three, they would be granted an extra Opportunity and Fortune [a chance encounter with destiny or a stroke of great luck] bestowed by the Annihilation Path Master.

If one comprehends five or more, they may become a direct disciple of the Annihilation Path Master and receive his complete legacy.

However, each person has only one chance to contemplate these Divine Abilities, with a time limit of thirty thousand years. Exceeding this limit results in expulsion.

"Thirty thousand years... to comprehend five Divine Abilities?"

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly. Upon these ten Immortal Isles [floating islands imbued with immortal energy] rested ten distinct Divine Abilities.

Among them, the Metallic Gold [the essence of the Metal element], Blazing Third Fire [the Divine Ability of the Blazing Third Fire], Bulwark Earth [the essence of the steadfast Earth element], Positive Water [the essence of the flowing Water element], and First Wood [the essence of the vital Wood element] were all Mysterious Grade Divine Abilities [Divine Abilities of the Mysterious Grade]. The Extinction Silence [the essence of utter silence and cessation], Frost Soul [the Frost Soul Divine Ability], and Extinction Wind [the essence of the annihilating wind] were Half-Step Patriarch Level Divine Abilities [Divine Abilities approaching the level of a Patriarch]. Finally, the Supreme Lunar and Solar [the Supreme Lunar and Solar Divine Ability] was a full Patriarch Level Divine Ability [a Divine Ability of the Patriarch Grade].

For one with the cultivation of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal, comprehending a Patriarch Level Divine Ability was nothing short of a fool's dream. Even grasping a Half-Step Patriarch Level Divine Ability would be an impossibility.

Generally speaking, a Half-Step Patriarch Level Divine Ability [a divine ability whose power approaches that of a Patriarch-level cultivator] could only be cultivated by someone at least at the Late Celestial Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm].

Even comprehending a Mysterious Grade Divine Ability [a divine ability of profound and esoteric power] is an immensely arduous task; those who succeed are exceedingly rare.

Throughout his many years of cultivation, Eldrin Chen had encountered no small number of high-level Immortal [powerful beings who have ascended to immortality]. Yet, among those who had managed to cultivate a Mysterious Grade Divine Ability while still at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a transitional state between the Earth Immortal and Celestial Immortal realms] realm, he could count them on one hand: Great Ruins Jiang, Severing Heaven's Spine, the Myriad Blossoms Celestial Maiden [a title for a powerful and revered female immortal], Golden Spirit Holy Scion, and a few others.

Among the prodigies close to Eldrin Chen, only Exquisite Jiang and Nyssa Qu had succeeded in mastering such a Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique derived from profound cultivation].

Of these individuals, Great Ruins Jiang was publicly acknowledged as the foremost prodigy of the Human Race [the collective of human cultivators] within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast region within the immortal realms]. Severing Heaven's Spine, the Myriad Blossoms Celestial Maiden, and Golden Spirit Holy Scion were all direct disciples of the Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [a primordial and immensely powerful sect].

Jiang Exquisite Heaven possessed heaven-defying talent and was aided by the Enlightenment Tea [a mystical tea that greatly enhances comprehension and insight]. Nyssa Qu relied on an innate Divine Ability inherited through her bloodline.

Beyond them, even other heaven-favored prodigies like Violet Consort Yan and Verdant Consort, who also possessed the Enlightenment Tea, had not yet succeeded—though their relatively shorter cultivation time played a part. This alone illustrated the immense difficulty of cultivating a Mysterious Grade Divine Ability.

Within a span of thirty thousand years, mastering one such Mysterious Grade Divine Ability might be possible. But attempting to master two or more? That would be as difficult as a mortal trying to ascend to the heavens.

Even a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a formidable cultivator who has reached the Celestial Immortal realm and achieved a Path Fruit] who had condensed a Heavenly Immortal Path [a supreme cultivation art leading to immortality] Fruit would find it impossible to comprehend five separate Mysterious Grade Divine Ability within thirty millennia.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen responded with serene composure, "It is worth an attempt."

With a subtle shift of thought, Eldrin Chen returned briefly to the Five Elements Small Universe to retrieve a portion of Enlightenment Tea [a legendary tea that temporarily enhances one's comprehension and enlightenment].

"A single portion of Innate Enlightenment Tea can only enhance my comprehension for three thousand years. That should be sufficient, I believe."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then ascended the first of the Immortal Isles—the Metallic Gold Thunder Island.

This Metallic Gold Thunder Island held the record of a chosen Mysterious Grade Divine Ability—'Metallic Gold Divine Thunder'. Though it was an ordinary Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of the metallic element], once evolved to the Mysterious Grade Divine Ability [a profound and powerful tier of divine abilities] realm, it possessed the power to severely injure a Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm].

Eldrin Chen's Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder had already been advanced by him to the Half-Step Patriarch Level [a realm just below that of a Patriarch]. The Metallic Gold Divine Thunder contained within it had long been comprehended and evolved by him to its orthodox, perfected form.

Thus, his comprehension of the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder now proceeded with astonishing speed. In merely five hundred years, he had grasped it to the Mysterious Grade [the profound and mysterious grade].

"The Innate Enlightenment Tea is truly extraordinary and profound."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly. Without the enhancement of the Innate Enlightenment Tea, given his innate comprehension, it would likely have taken him one or two thousand years to grasp a Mysterious Grade Divine Ability.

And this was with the reference sample left behind by the Annihilation Path Master to aid his comprehension. If Eldrin Chen had to deduce and evolve it entirely on his own, it would have depended even more heavily on his foundational depth and accumulated insights.

"*Hummm—*"

At the very moment Eldrin Chen comprehended the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder, a radiant light erupted from the Ancient Island.

Eldrin Chen looked up to see a jade box flying towards him. Upon opening it, he discovered a piece of ancient jade shimmering with a dazzling golden brilliance—the Thunderclap.

"Primordial Unity Metallic Gold Thunder Jade [a legendary jade imbued with the purest essence of metallic thunder]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

This Primordial Unity Metallic Gold Thunder Jade was a thunder-attribute Primordial Unity Immortal Artifact [a treasure of the highest order, forged at the dawn of creation]. It was also the crucial catalyst required to cultivate the Mysterious Grade [a rank denoting profound and esoteric power] divine ability, 'Metallic Gold Divine Thunder'.

The reason Eldrin Chen's Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder had stalled after being elevated to the Half-Step Patriarch Level [a realm signifying one is on the cusp of becoming a Patriarch] was precisely the lack of five key catalysts of Primordial Unity Immortal Artifact grade.

And one of those five catalysts was this very Primordial Unity Metallic Gold Thunder Jade.

"Comprehend a Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power], and you are granted a precious catalyst for its cultivation. The Annihilation Path Master is truly generous, living up to his reputation as the invincible existence of the Ancient Immortal Realm [the realm of ancient, nearly mythical immortals]."

Eldrin Chen whispered to himself, a surge of excitement welling within.

He stored the Primordial Unity Metallic Gold Thunder Jade away and continued his journey, arriving next upon the First Wood Immortal Island.

This time, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] proceeded with practiced ease. In the span of five hundred years, he successfully comprehended the Mysterious Grade [a high rank denoting profound and esoteric power] First Wood Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique embodying the essence of the First Wood element].

As expected, the First Wood Immortal Island [a mystical island imbued with the power of the First Wood element] bestowed upon Eldrin Chen yet another piece of First Wood Thunder Jade [a jade that stores and refines the power of First Wood Divine Thunder].

He continued his journey. After another five hundred years, he successfully comprehended the Positive Water Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique embodying the essence of the Positive Water element] and obtained a piece of Positive Water Thunder Jade [a jade that stores and refines the power of Positive Water Divine Thunder].

Next, the Blazing Third Fire [a divine thunder technique embodying the essence of the Third Fire element] and the Bulwark Earth [a divine thunder technique embodying the essence of the Bulwark Earth element] were comprehended by Eldrin Chen in succession. Eldrin Chen thus acquired two more pieces of Primordial Unity [a profound state of cultivation representing the unity of fundamental forces] Thunder Jade.

"Five Mysterious Grade Divine Thunders, five Primordial Unity Rare Treasure [extremely rare treasures formed at the Primordial Unity level]."

After successfully comprehending these enlightenment-bestowing divine thunders, Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself, a faint smile of satisfaction gracing his features.

The gains from this endeavor were immense. He felt a profound intuition that it would not be long before he could cultivate the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a supreme divine thunder technique synthesizing the power of the Five Elements and Primordial Solar essence] to the Half-Step Patriarch Level [a realm just shy of becoming a Patriarch, a master of profound power].

"*Hummm—*"

Just as this surge of excitement coursed through Eldrin Chen, the void around him trembled faintly.

By the time Eldrin Chen regained his bearings, he found himself already transported into the heart of a vast Great Hall [a grand and imposing ceremonial chamber].

Within the Great Hall, Immortal Energy [a supreme form of spiritual energy found in immortal realms] suffused the air, faintly intertwined with threads of tribulation aura. Before Eldrin Chen, an ethereal figure of the Path Void opened its eyes.

"The Immeasurable Kalpa Tribulation [the ultimate cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth], finally, someone has comprehended the Five Elements Divine Thunder [a supreme thunder technique harmonizing the powers of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth]."

"My lineage shall have a successor."

The figure murmured softly, a faint smile gracing its features as it gazed upon Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen felt a tremor in his heart. The being before him was unfathomably profound. Though merely an Ethereal Figure [a phantom-like projection of spiritual essence], its eyes held reflections of primordial scenes—the birthing of Universe and the extinguishing of Starry River.

Its gaze was like the World-Annihilating Thunderclap [a cataclysmic thunder capable of ending worlds], a single glimmer within its pupils seeming to possess the power to create Universe anew.

"This junior, Eldrin Chen of the Returning Abyss, pays his respects to the Senior."

Eldrin Chen spoke softly, then bowed deeply in formal greeting.

The Ethereal Figure nodded and spoke, "I am but a wisp of form and soul left behind by the Annihilation Path Master. Your comprehension of the Five Elements Divine Thunder shows you possess the qualification to inherit my Great Path [the supreme cultivation method and philosophy of a master]."

"I ask you now: are you willing to cultivate under my guidance, to honor me as your master, and become the inheritor of my lineage?"

"Having received such grace from you, Senior, this junior is naturally willing."

Eldrin Chen's expression turned solemn, and he immediately prepared to perform the formal rites of a disciple.

Yet, at the very moment he was about to bow, the spectral form of the Annihilation Path Master scrutinized Eldrin Chen intently. Suddenly, his countenance shifted dramatically, and he exclaimed, "Hold!"