Chapter 1635 : A Proposal of Alliance and Tribulation

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with a subtle light, grasping the general intent behind Unfettered Great Center's words.

Seeing this, Unfettered Great Center continued, "A mere Path Tribulation [a major trial or calamity faced by cultivators on their path to ascension] is nothing more than a trifle to beings like us, something that can be settled in the snap of a finger. There is no need for concern."

"However, the jealousy of mediocrities is a different matter. Fellow Daoist, though you possess heaven-defying talent, you are also more susceptible to the covetous gazes of others. This Path Tribulation will undoubtedly be fraught with extreme peril."

"Why not cooperate with me? I can assist you in perfectly navigating this tribulation, allowing you to step into the Celestial Immortal Realm [a high level of immortal cultivation] with a Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supremely stable and powerful foundational cultivation state]."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted slightly once more.

He pondered briefly before speaking, "And what, Fellow Daoist, would be your condition?"

"A clever man."

Unfettered Great Center offered a faint smile and said, "The Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a legendary chance for rebirth and immense power gained by surviving one hundred great tribulations] is both a heaven-sent Opportunity and Fortune and a moment of profound danger."

"My Taiyang Clan [the Great Sun Clan] is a Primordial Era Immortal Clan whose might shakes the Three Thousand Immortal Domains. You are a prodigy of rare, ancient caliber. If we join forces, I believe even the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity would be nothing more than a prize within our grasp."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, grasping the general intent behind Unfettered Great Center's words.

While Unfettered Great Center's proposal sounded appealing, he was merely an ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm]. What qualifications did he possess to be mentioned in the same breath as the Taiyang Clan?

Perhaps the Taiyang Clan would assist him in breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm, but by then, Eldrin Chen would be bound by their Karma [the metaphysical law of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences]. When the time for the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth [a legendary divine ability involving rebirth after enduring a hundred heavenly tribulations] truly arrived, he would inevitably become nothing more than a pawn for the Taiyang Clan.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen shook his head and said, "The Taiyang Clan is a Primordial Era Immortal Clan [an ancient and supremely powerful clan dating back to the dawn of creation]. Across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the vast cosmos comprising three thousand immortal realms], it stands as a peerless sacred land of the Human Race.

"I am but a mere Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power and domain are rooted to the earthly realm]. How can I compare? I am but the faint glow of a firefly. How could I possibly aid you in seizing the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity?"

"You should seek someone more capable."

Unfettered Great Center's eyes flickered, yet he showed no anger at the refusal.

With a flick of his sleeve, he sent a jade case flying forth, landing before Eldrin Chen.

"If you agree to my proposal, Fellow Daoist, then these treasures shall be yours."

Eldrin Chen's divine sense swept over the case, and his pupils constricted sharply.

Within the jade box lay three extraordinary treasures: three Innate Primordial Unity Pill [a legendary pill that can help a cultivator achieve a perfect foundation in the Primordial Unity Realm], a vial containing ten Pill of Polarity Enlightenment [a pill that aids in comprehending the profound mysteries of Yin and Yang], and ten dazzling pieces of Fortune Path Gold [a rare metal imbued with the power of destiny and good fortune].

"Innate Primordial Unity Pill, Pill of Polarity Enlightenment, and ten portions of Fortune Path Gold,"

Eldrin Chen spoke softly, a flicker of desire appearing in the depths of his pupils.

To be perfectly honest, the price offered by Unfettered Great Center was astonishingly generous, unprecedented in its scale. Such resources were something even an existence at the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal realm] might be reluctant to part with.

One could say that these resources, if given to someone who had opened a Ninefold Heaven [a supreme foundational realm within a cultivator's body], would almost certainly enable them to achieve the Celestial Immortal [a major immortal realm] with a perfect foundation of three Primordial Unity [a foundational cultivation realm].

Yet, he wished to exchange them for Eldrin Chen's assistance. The weight of this offer was undeniable.

Had he not currently lacked for cultivation resources, Eldrin Chen might well have been swayed to accept.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen asked, "What virtue or ability do I possess to warrant such regard from you?"

"Do not underestimate yourself,"

Unfettered Great Center replied calmly, a faint smile touching his lips. "With your innate talent, had you been born within the Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [a legendary and immensely powerful ancient cultivation sect], your future prospects would have been truly boundless."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, thoughtful nod.

Yet in his heart, he understood perfectly well that there is no such thing as a free lunch. The higher the price offered, the more astonishing the request would be. Should he agree, the obligations he would have to shoulder in the future would be correspondingly more perilous.

Eldrin Chen was not lacking in resources, so naturally, he saw no need to take such risks for them.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen shook his head once more and said, "I am honored by your generous offer. However, the Chen Clan is but a small boat; I fear it cannot withstand such great storms."

"Alas."

Seeing this, Unfettered Great Center could not help but let out a soft sigh.

"BOOM—"

At that very instant, a violent, thunderous roar erupted across the heavens.

Everyone looked up to see the war chariot, pulled by nine dragons, hurtling backward through the sky. It smashed through ten layers of Immortal Isles before crashing onto a desolate floating island, shattering into several pieces upon impact.

"That is Heaven Sun's Nine Dragon War Chariot!"

Witnessing this scene, Unfettered Great Center's pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of astonishment coloring his gaze.

The nine dragons were drenched in blood, their divine metal-forged chariot shattered beyond recognition, utterly bereft of the arrogant majesty with which they had departed to challenge Sunder Heaven.

Before Unfettered Great Center could utter another word, boundless streams of light surged forth from the horizon's edge.

As far as the eye could see, a legion of one hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals, clad in silver-white battle armor and wielding Heavenly Halberds, tore through the void. Their numbers blotted out the vast expanse above the endless Heavenly Vault.

At their forefront strode a figure adorned in a suit of Mithril immortal armor, gripping a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear. With each step upon the empty air, the Heavenly Eye [a mystical third eye capable of profound perception] blazing upon his brow cast a piercing, frigid light that seemed to penetrate the very depths of the Nine Nether Abysses.

This man possessed a towering, majestic stature. He dragged behind him a figure clad in tattered Five-Colored battle armor, hauling it along like a dead dog as he advanced.

"*Thud—*"

With a resounding crash, he flung the figure in his grasp to the ground.

Only then did the onlookers see clearly—it was none other than the once supremely arrogant Heaven Sun.

The present Heaven Sun was a blood-soaked wreck. His once-powerful frame, stripped of all its former bluster, lay prostrate on the earth like a defeated cur. Not a trace remained of the transcendent bearing befitting a scion of the Longevity Ancient Clan.

"The Longevity Ancient Clan [a prestigious and ancient family known for their mastery of longevity arts], a true disciple of the School of Military Strategy [a renowned sect specializing in warfare and tactics]?"

"Hah—"

The silver-armored figure strode forward, his expression calm and indifferent, showing not the slightest regard for this Longevity Ancient Clan.

He then looked towards Eldrin Chen and immediately prostrated himself upon the Earthly Path [the path of cultivation connected to the earth and its energies]: "Your son, Worthy Path Chen, pays his respects to Father and Mother. I congratulate Father on his boundless Immortal Path [the journey of cultivation towards immortality] and his Longevity Immortality [the state of eternal life and unending existence]."

"Second Son."

Eldrin Chen revealed a faint smile, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.

Worthy Path Chen, the Second Son, served within the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of immortals] and was now a high-ranking general of the Vast Azure Human Race Immortal Court [the specific Immortal Court governing the vast human territories], commanding a host of one million Celestial Soldiers and Generals [the divine army of the Immortal Court]. In recent years, he had found little time to return to the clan for visits.

His last return to Green Chariot Mountain [the ancestral mountain of the Chen Clan] was one hundred thousand years ago. At that time, he had already achieved the Single Primordial Unity Foundation [a profound foundational cultivation stage representing the unity of one's primordial essence]. Now, his cultivation had advanced further, attaining the Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [an even more profound foundational stage representing the unity of dual primordial essences], making his current power incomparable to what it was before.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen glanced at the nearby Heaven Sun and asked, "This Fellow Daoist Sun is a direct descendant of the Longevity Ancient Clan. Why have you injured him so severely?"

"Oh."

Worthy Path Chen cast a sidelong glance, then turned his gaze toward Heaven Sun before replying indifferently, "I had heard that the members of the Longevity Ancient Clan were all prodigies of ancient renown, so I sought to test their mettle. To think they would prove so utterly feeble."

"For this, I wasted thirty moves. I beg your forgiveness, Father."

"Insolent!"

Heaven Sun flew into a complete and utter frenzy, intent on launching a final, desperate strike against Worthy Path Chen. Yet, in an instant, Worthy Path Chen planted his foot squarely upon his face, pinning him down with such immense force that he could not move a muscle.

Having subdued Heaven Sun, Worthy Path Chen lowered his eyes and spoke, his voice calm yet carrying immense weight. "I know your heart seethes with resentment, but this is merely the impotent rage of the defeated."

"You are no longer worthy to be my opponent. If this humiliation still burns within you, you may return to your Longevity Ancient Clan and summon more challengers. I shall receive them all."

With those words, Worthy Path Chen lifted his foot and, with a single kick, sent the man hurtling out of the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

Once again, the figure crashed through seven floating isles and tore a path through the Ninefold Heavenly Palaces, but this time, there was no trace of his former arrogant bearing.