Chapter 1626 : Gathering of the Celestial Threshold

"However, compared to these Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have transcended the mortal realm and established their own immortal foundations], the ones we must truly pay attention to are those people."

Just as Eldrin Chen's thoughts were swirling, Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] slowly began to speak.

Her gaze turned towards the distant void, and a look of solemn gravity involuntarily appeared between her brows.

Eldrin Chen followed her line of sight and saw that above the Apex of Myriad Stars, there were over two thousand figures of unfathomable depth.

"Over two thousand Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who stand at the very threshold of ascending to true celestial immortality]."

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise and a shade of gravity appeared in the eyes of the onlookers.

Within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, there were ostensibly only around thirty-some Half-Step Celestial Immortal. Yet here, over two thousand had gathered, a sight that truly exceeded everyone's expectations.

"It seems at least the majority of the Half-Step Celestial Immortal from the Vast Azure Immortal Domain have come this time."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, his gaze remarkably composed.

Violet Mystery Path Master nodded, taking a deep breath before saying, "The Path Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests a cultivator's path and foundation] draws near. All those with hope of breaking through to Celestial Immortal [the realm of true celestial beings] will make their preparations for the Path Tribulation well in advance."

Glazed Qu also gave a slight nod, then spoke: "These Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have reached the threshold of the Celestial Immortal realm but have not yet fully ascended] all hail from the Thirty-Threefold Heavenly Domain. While the majority have cultivated a Single Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation method focusing on a single, unified source of primordial energy], a significant number have also achieved the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a more advanced foundation that harmonizes two distinct primordial energies]."

"Those who have opened the Eighth Heaven [the eighth of the nine foundational heavens within a cultivator's dantian] or higher number more than five hundred."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly.

If an ordinary cultivator with a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation had only a ten to twenty percent chance of breaking through to Celestial Immortal [the realm of true celestial beings], then one who had opened the Eighth Heaven possessed at least a thirty percent certainty of future ascension.

And if such an individual were to triumph over formidable foes during the Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial that determines a cultivator's destiny and path forward], their odds of success would likely soar beyond fifty percent.

In other words, of the two thousand Half-Step Celestial Immortal gathered here, it was highly probable that over two hundred would ascend to become Celestial Immortal Great Power [a Celestial Immortal of significant influence and strength] once this Path Tribulation had passed.

"Perhaps even more,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his gaze turning grave. With the Kalpa Tribulation [a world-ending cosmic catastrophe] merely ten million years away, this was likely the final opportunity for these Half-Step Celestial Immortal.

If they could not attain Celestial Immortal status swiftly, they would be little more than insignificant pawns when the Kalpa Tribulation finally erupted.

Thus, many Half-Step Celestial Immortal had prepared for tens of millions of years, waiting only for the Path Tribulation to erupt so they could harness its chaotic energies to charge headlong into the Celestial Immortal Realm.

Those Great Encompassing Ancient Sect would also invest in these Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have reached the peak of the Earth Immortal realm and are on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm], nurturing more Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] to contend for the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a legendary chance for rebirth and ascension after enduring one hundred heavenly tribulations].

"The Immortal Court [the supreme governing body of the immortal world] sets the board, the great sects move the pieces, and the Grotto-Heaven [a blessed, self-contained paradise realm] places the stones."

"This coming Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial that tests the foundations of a cultivator's chosen Dao Path] is destined to be the most brutal since the Kalpa Tribulation [a world-ending cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth]."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, lifting his gaze to the more than two thousand Half-Step Celestial Immortal gathered above the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens].

His brow furrowed slightly, a pensive light flickering in his eyes. With so many Half-Step Celestial Immortal entering the fray, including direct disciples from Great Encompassing Ancient Sect, could he truly sweep aside all opposition and become the Kalpa Tribulation Protagonist [the central figure destined to emerge victorious from the cosmic tribulation]?

"It is enough."

After a moment's contemplation, a ripple of resolve stirred within Eldrin Chen's gaze.

In that instant, he became certain. Even among these two thousand Half-Step Celestial Immortal, those who had forged the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a legendary, supremely stable cultivation foundation formed by unifying the three primordial energies] were destined to be peerless figures towering above the rest.

Under such circumstances, Eldrin Chen, who had cultivated the Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a mythical physical constitution said to be unbreakable and eternal], was confident he feared no one.

At that very moment, Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] looked towards the few figures standing at the very pinnacle of Void Heaven [a realm of pure void and potentiality] and spoke, his voice tinged with solemn gravity.

"With our current strength, if we encounter an ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm], even if we cannot defeat them, we should possess the means to ensure our escape if we focus solely on fleeing."

"However, you must be extremely cautious when dealing with those few individuals upon the Heavenly Vault [the highest platform reserved for the most distinguished guests]."

The Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] spoke slowly, her gaze solemn as she began to recount the origins of those individuals.

As her explanation unfolded, Eldrin Chen gradually understood that among the attendees of this Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare cultivation resources], nine were likely candidates to be Path Tribulation Protagonist [individuals destined to play a pivotal role in the coming cosmic upheaval].

Of these nine, four hailed from Ancient Immortal [extremely ancient and powerful immortal] lineages: the Golden Crow Holy Scion from the Demon Race, and from the Human Race's Primordial Solar Grotto-Heaven [a sacred realm of immense power], the First Holy Scion; also from the Divine Clan, the Verdant Sun Divine Scion and the Frost Soul Divine Maiden.

Furthermore, the Human Race's Void Holy Son, the Primordial Era Thunder Dragon [a legendary dragon from the dawn of time] from the True Dragon Grotto-Heaven, the White Tiger Imperial Scion and the Bifang Imperial Scion from the White Tiger Grotto-Heaven, and the Myriad Spirit Patriarch from the Spirit Race, were also potential Path Tribulation Protagonist.

"Among them, the Holy Scions from the four Ancient Immortal Grotto-Heaven [realms established by ancient immortals] keep their prowess hidden, their true strength a mystery to all."

"The Void Holy Son has opened a Twelve-Layered Heaven [a foundation of supreme perfection with twelve layers], hailed as the foremost prodigy of the Human Race since the last Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cycle that reshapes the cosmos]. The Primordial Era Thunder Dragon, with its Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a legendary threefold foundation of primordial power], holds the top rank on the World-Opening Ranking [a prestigious list of the most powerful beings in the era] for the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain."

"The others are equally unfathomable; no one truly knows the limits of their power."

The Glazed Divine Lord concluded her account, offering a final assessment: "The strength of these individuals is immeasurably profound. Most crucially, each possesses formidable backing. When the Path Tribulation [the great cosmic calamity] arrives, they will undoubtedly wield Innate Treasure [treasures born of the cosmos itself, possessing unparalleled power] as their ultimate trump cards."

"Once we engage them in battle, even with our cultivation of the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation art], we would likely be slain in an instant."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow slightly.

Though confident his combat prowess could rival a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful being at the Celestial Immortal realm] and that he was unmatched beneath the Celestial Immortal [the realm of celestial immortality] realm, these top-tier Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the verge of becoming Celestial Immortals] backed by Grotto-Heaven [a superior realm or paradise for cultivation] forces, if wielding Innate Treasure [a treasure born of natural law, possessing immense power], could indeed pose a genuine threat to him.

Seeing his silence, Glazed Divine Lord continued, "With our current combined strength, we may not dare claim the role of Path Tribulation Protagonist [the central figure destined to navigate the great cosmic tribulation], but within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, we would at least be a force of considerable significance."

"I believe that even if the two Grotto-Heaven of Western Essence and Divine Abyss make their moves, we would possess the capability to contend with them."

"However, looking across the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, if the major top-tier Grotto-Heaven enter the fray and place their pieces, the number of Half-Step Celestial Immortal drawn into the Path Tribulation [the great cosmic calamity that tests cultivators' paths] would likely be several dozen at least. During this tribulation, we must maintain a low profile, focusing on breaking through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial immortality] as swiftly as possible."

Glazed Divine Lord spoke gravely. After achieving her breakthrough in the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation, she had initially believed she would become a top-tier existence within the Path Tribulation.

But upon arriving here and witnessing so many Half-Step Celestial Immortal, she understood she could not stir the winds and clouds of the tribulation single-handedly.

Her current desire was simply to ally with Eldrin Chen and the others, to seek Opportunity and Fortune [chance encounters and destiny-altering luck] within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, and strive for her own breakthrough to the Celestial Immortal Realm.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen also gave a slight, thoughtful nod.

He understood that Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord] had only revealed half the truth. Beyond these nine individuals, there were many other top-tier Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the very cusp of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] who had not come to this Path Tribulation [a grand, cyclical cosmic calamity that tests the fate and destiny of all beings].

As far as Eldrin Chen knew, the forces laying schemes within this Path Tribulation also included the Three Immortal Courts [the three supreme governing bodies of the immortal world] and the Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [one of the most ancient and powerful immortal sects]. This showed that the figures present were merely the visible power on the surface.

Within the current Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast and ancient realm within the immortal world], even more terrifying forces lay dormant in wait. Only when the Path Tribulation fully erupted would it become clear just how many players were maneuvering in the shadows.

"It seems," he mused, "that even with my current strength, I must still accumulate power and proceed with caution."

"Only after I break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial beings, a major milestone in cultivation], or after Exquisite Jiang and the others grow stronger, will we be able to sweep across the world."

These thoughts flashed briefly through Eldrin Chen's mind before his gaze turned upwards towards the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens].

There, upon the Void Heaven [a specific, elevated plane within the celestial realms], a phantom image descended. An elder clad in verdant robes materialized at the very Central heart of the Path-Field [the central arena or proving ground for this tribulation]. He cast a sweeping glance over the assembled crowd and then began to speak.