Chapter 1099 : Through the Void Gate

Since the Void Gate [a mystical portal connecting distant realms] of the Leaf Ruins Divine Sea was about to open, Eldrin Chen naturally prepared to take advantage of the opportunity for passage.

While there was still time, he went to the market district within the Leaf Ruins Divine Sea and purchased several sheets of Taiyi Golden Foil Paper [a special paper imbued with spiritual properties for recording profound arts], upon which he inscribed the Heaven-Seizing Earth-Nurturing Art.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, the day for the Void Gate's activation arrived.

On that day, Eldrin Chen stood before the Void Gate and, cupping his hands in farewell to Zenyu the Prison-Keeper, said with a smile, "After this parting, who knows in what year we shall meet again. Take care, Brother."

Zenyu the Prison-Keeper gave a faint smile, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. "We Immortals [beings who have achieved immortality and eternal life] possess endless years. The days ahead are long, and our paths will surely cross again."

"Should you ever come to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, I shall certainly host a feast in your honor and fulfill my duties as your host."

"Agreed. If I journey to the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, I will most assuredly inform you, Brother."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen cupped his hands once more, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

With those words, the two stepped into the Void Gate together. Once the Void Gate activated, mountains and rivers seemed to invert, and they were separated by an immeasurable expanse of space-time spanning billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

Eldrin Chen took a single step and realized the Heavenly Layers [the stratified planes of existence in the cosmos] had shifted; he had already returned to the Meteor Sea. Published by audio novel.com. All rights reserved.

Gazing upon the Meteor Sea before him, Eldrin Chen performed a brief calculation with his fingers. After a moment, he murmured to himself, "The Old Monk once said he placed the Child at the Longbeard Island Market."

"That child has lived alone for several years now. I wonder if he remains safe and well."

With this thought flashing through his mind, Eldrin Chen immediately transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards the Longbeard Island Immortal Market.

The Longbeard Island Immortal Market was one of the two largest trading hubs within the Meteor Sea. Situated on the periphery of the sea, it lacked many of the rare Immortal Treasures [precious artifacts imbued with immortal power] found elsewhere.

Yet, among all the markets of the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas [the collective name for the hundred seas region where the Flowing Stream Sect holds influence], this one still ranked within the top ten. Every year, numerous Immortal [practitioners who have ascended to a high level of cultivation] would come here to procure treasures.

Years ago, to settle the Child, the Old Monk had rented a Cultivation Cave [a cave dwelling specially prepared for cultivation and seclusion] within this market. Unnoticed, several years had already passed.

Eldrin Chen set foot upon Longbeard Island and made his way to the Cultivation Cave. Inside, he discovered a child of eight or nine years old engrossed in reading.

Performing another quick calculation, Eldrin let out a sigh of relief. "As expected of an establishment run by a major sect. They have taken reasonably good care of the child within this Cultivation Cave."

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen stepped into the Cultivation Cave and turned his gaze upon the youth.

Yet, the very first glimpse of the Child caused Eldrin Chen to momentarily freeze, a flicker of profound astonishment crossing his features.

"Is it me?"

"This junior is..."

Seeing Eldrin Chen after many years, the old man rose and performed a respectful bow.

Lucian Yan did not answer. Instead, he reached out and seized a wisp of the old man's Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator].

"I shall use the supreme power of the Immortal Dao to refine this wisp of Divine Soul and trace the echoes of its past incarnations."

As the Divine Soul was refined, it began to transform, unexpectedly manifesting scenes from past Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth] cycles, revealing the old man's previous lives.

In a fleeting vision, the Divine Soul took the form of a scholar who journeyed to the capital for the imperial examinations, failed repeatedly, and died of melancholy.

In another fleeting vision, it manifested a life where he entered an immortal sect as a child, trained diligently his entire life, yet ultimately fell at the death barrier of Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation].

In yet another life, he was a prodigious sword immortal, born with Limitless [boundless, infinite potential] talent, cultivating all the way to the peak of the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation] realm. Yet, lacking proper guidance, he ultimately fell before the heavenly tribulation of Nascent Soul [the fourth major realm of cultivation].

Using the supreme power of an immortal, Lucian Yan relentlessly traced the old man's past incarnations. He traced back for a full nine lives, until finally, he saw a familiar figure.

This is the tale of a woman clad in azure robes, who through arduous cultivation step by step in the desolate wilds, nurtured a Foundation Establishment Family [a clan whose strongest members have reached the Foundation Establishment realm] into a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [an exalted clan whose patriarchs have attained the Purple Mansion realm, capable of shaking an entire nation].

In her final years, this aged woman, frail and nearing her end, resisted the temptation to accept aid from a Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner who cultivates using malevolent, often soul-devouring methods] to achieve a Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one condenses their spiritual power into a golden, seed-like core] breakthrough. She chose to perish naturally, ultimately passing away seated in meditation behind a figure shrouded in Hazy mist.

"So it is you after all."

"Eldrin Chen."

Eldrin Chen gazed at the person before him with a touch of nostalgia, a faint smile gracing his lips as he said, "Ten thousand years have flowed by like a dream, a single lifetime of Reincarnation [the cyclical process of death and rebirth of the soul]."

"Old friend, we have finally gathered once more." Immerse yourself in the complete world at *audio-novel.com*.

"Senior…"

The Child looked somewhat bewildered, not fully comprehending what Lucian Yan was saying.

Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a bitter smile. This Child had not yet set foot upon the path of cultivation; his Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, also known as Primordial Spirit or Yuanshen] was as weak and flickering as a firefly's glow, utterly incapable of bearing the weight of past memories.

Furthermore, matters of piercing through the Mystery of the Womb [the profound veil of oblivion that shrouds the soul between death and rebirth, obscuring past lives] are best left for one to comprehend through their own enlightenment. If Lucian Yan were to forcibly restore those memories, it would likely injure the child's fragile Divine Soul.

With that thought, Lucian Yan smiled faintly and asked, "What is your name?"

The Child pondered for a long moment before finally shaking his head. "This junior was raised by an Old Monk since infancy and has never had a name of my own."

"Then you shall be called Eldrin Chen."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He then retrieved from his sleeve the golden foil and the Sariras [sacred crystalline relics left behind by enlightened Buddhist masters after cremation] left by the Old Monk, handing them to the boy. "The great master who cared for you has journeyed to a place very far away," he said.

"He entrusted me with your care. From now on, you shall follow me in cultivation."

The Child accepted the two treasures, his mind somewhat muddled and confused. Yet, in the depths of his being, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and comfort in the presence of the man before him.

And so, he nodded and spoke a single word: "Alright."

Having taken Eldrin Chen under his wing, Eldrin Chen carried the boy with him as he flew towards the Crimson Dragon Sea.

Along the way, he examined the boy's spiritual bone structure and was mildly surprised. Only then did he understand why the Old Monk had said this child was born with innate wisdom.

This Eldrin Chen was extraordinary by nature, possessing the rare Ren Water Immortal Physique [a constitution of exceptional purity and affinity with the Water element, considered a supreme foundation for cultivation].

The Ren Water Immortal Physique [a rare and potent innate constitution aligned with the Water element] is a rather uncommon Immortal Physique [an innate physical constitution with the potential for Immortality]. Within the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where Immortals reside], as long as an Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality] is willing to provide guidance, the chances of Ascension to Immortality [transcending mortality to become an Immortal] in this lifetime should be great.

Upon returning to Verdant Chariot Mountain, Eldrin Chen found Lyra Jiang and the others had already been waiting for a short while.

Lyra Jiang glanced at the person Eldrin Chen had brought back, her expression carrying a hint of uncertainty as she asked, "Is it him?"

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, instructing an attendant to take the young man away to be settled. Then, with a gentle smile, he said, "After ten thousand years, to see an old friend's reincarnation... it settles a lingering regret within my heart."

Yvonne the Violet Consort also nodded, a flicker of light in her eyes as she remarked, "His innate talent in this life is not bad. With proper nurturing, he might truly have the potential for Ascension to Immortality."

"Mm."

Lucian Yan nodded, then, recalling the gains from this journey, his expression turned excited as he declared, "This time, we can truly be said to have reaped a bountiful harvest."

"Is that so?"

Upon hearing this, Verdant Consort could not help but ask with a note of pleasant surprise.

Without a word, Lucian Yan brought forth all the treasures harvested from this journey.

Seeing the multitude of treasures laid out before them, even though the seven women's cultivation had already reached the profound realm of Creation [the stage of creating one's own inner world and laws], they could not help but take a deep breath.

The sheer scale of this harvest was staggering. Just the number of Immortal Treasures [objects of immense power and rarity, often used by high-level immortals] had reached eight.

They were: the Ancient Frost Essence, the Fire Element Immortal Marrow, the Eternal Fire Silkworm Silk, a portion of Primordial Chaos Refined Gold, a portion of Supreme Profound Divine Iron, and the 'Ink Marrow Immortal Soil'.

There were two Immortal Treasure [supreme-grade enchanted artifacts]: the 'Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl' and the 'Fourfold Spring Scenery'.

There were two Immortal Root [the foundational spiritual plants from which immortal herbs grow]: the 'Profound Yin Moon Cassia' and the 'Solar Fire Orange'.

There were eight Immortal Herbs [plants of immense spiritual potency used in high-level alchemy]: the 'Solar Blossom', the 'Lunar Herb', and the 'Ascension Fruit'.

As for Immortal Rank Supreme Grade cultivation arts and Laws of the Dao [supreme techniques that embody fundamental cosmic principles], they had obtained three methods: the 'Supreme Yin Soul Refining Art', the 'Solar Body Forging Scripture', and the 'Yin-Yang Supreme Void Scripture'. Continue your cultivation journey at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.