Chapter 1591 : The Price of Cosmic Ascension

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen understood in his heart.

A newly opened Minor Universe is different from one on the verge of destruction.

A Minor Universe about to be destroyed is already nearing its end; therefore, refining its countless stars and Earth Vein [the spiritual arteries of the world] does not incur a significant Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect from one's actions].

However, a nascent Minor Universe, where living beings have not yet fully formed, is different. Breaking through within it would be akin to seizing the resources meant for the first generation of Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual entities born from the cosmos itself] among the Heavenly Layers [the stratified realms of heaven].

And the first beings born from an opening Cosmos are personally nurtured by the Cosmos itself; they are almost like its children.

Although these children have not yet fully formed, or may not even exist, if Eldrin Chen were to enter and achieve his breakthrough, he would undoubtedly incur a massive karmic debt to that Minor Universe.

Yet, in Eldrin Chen's view, if it allowed the members of the Chen Clan to achieve their breakthroughs, incurring such karma would be worth the price.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

"Among the Abyss of the Abyssal End [the primordial void connecting all realms] I am linked to, there happens to be a newly opened Cosmos. I shall send you there now."

Without further words, the Abyssal Pearl [a mystical orb of profound power] opened a Void Rift [a tear in the fabric of space]. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel dot com.

Without hesitation, Eldrin Chen stepped into it, immediately feeling an immense and overwhelming pressure assail him.

He raised his head and surveyed his surroundings, discovering myself was in the midst of a deep sea, surrounded on all sides by the immensely heavy Primordial Heavy Water [a legendary water of immense density and power].

And deep within this Abyss of the Abyssal End, a magnificent Water Vein Abode of Bliss [a blessed land formed from a supreme water spiritual vein] was continuously taking shape.

Eldrin Chen could clearly sense that within this Water Vein Abode of Bliss, a Hazy [indistinct, embryonic] vitality was quietly gestating.

And beside this Life [the nascent life form], a Hazy [indistinct, embryonic] precious pearl was also being nurtured.

"Cangyuan Water Deity, Ren Water Marvel Pearl."

In but an instant, Eldrin Chen deduced the origins of this Life form.

Within this Supreme Grade Earth Vein [a vein of the highest grade spiritual earth], a Divine Spirits [a being of divine spirit cultivation realm] born at the dawn of this Cosmos was being nurtured. This deity was the first Water God of this realm, and its Companion Spirit Treasure [a treasure born alongside a divine being], the Ren Water Marvel Pearl, once fully formed, would be a Taiyi Immortal Weapon [a supreme-grade immortal weapon].

"Let me observe this Cosmos."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then strode forth from the Abyss of the Abyssal End and lifted his gaze towards the boundless Heavenly Layers [the stratified heavens of the cultivation world].

This was a vast and boundless Heavenly Layers [the layered heavens in the cosmology of cultivation], a Cosmos [the universe or world] stretching across countless tens of thousands of light-years, with endless stars scattered across the firmament of the four directions.

And at the heart of this Cosmos, where the Central Realm [the central continent or primary landmass] lay, was an immense and ancient continent of unfathomable scale.

Eldrin Chen surveyed his surroundings, realizing this Cosmos was in its nascent stage of opening. Within the Heavenly Layers, the primordial forces of clarity and turbidity were still in the process of separating and differentiating.

Between the Heavenly Layers in the four directions, eight magnificent Supreme Grade Abode of Bliss [a paradise of the highest spiritual grade] manifested. They were divided into the Five Elements Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth [the five fundamental elements of creation], along with those belonging to the Wind, Ice, Thunder Three Anomalies [the three extraordinary powers].

At the location of the continental Central Realm, a Pure Yang Abode of Bliss [a paradise of pure Yang energy] also materialized. Its spiritual essence was several times richer than that of an ordinary Supreme Grade Earth Vein [a supreme-grade terrestrial spiritual energy conduit].

Above the boundless Firmament [the sky or heavens], a vast and mighty Heaven's Purity Qi [the purest celestial energy] surged upwards, already coalescing into billions upon billions of Heavenly Circuit Stars [stars that form celestial patterns and circuits].

These Heavenly Circuit Stars further evolved into three Progenitor Star [primordial stars]: Purple Tenuity, Supreme Subtlety, and Pure Subtlety; and four Imperial Star [stars of imperial authority]: Longevity, Soul-Hooking, Bright Valor, and Yearly Heaven. All were existences on the level of a Supreme Grade Abode of Bliss.

"Sixteen Supreme Grade Abode of Bliss,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then shook his head in the next instant. He sensed that within this Cosmos, particularly in the depths of the Nether Realm [the underworld or realm of the dead], there were likely at least several more Supreme Grade Abode of Bliss.

Not only that, this Cosmos had opened less than thirty thousand years ago. The World's Primordial Qi [the primordial energy of the world] had not yet fully differentiated. As the nascent energies between the Heavenly Layers gradually gathered and coalesced, more Supreme Grade Abode of Bliss should be born in the times to come.

However, those Supreme Grade Abode of Bliss [a realm of ultimate spiritual purity and power] that will be born later will emerge at a later time, and the beings they nurture will not be among the first generation of life.

The nine Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual entities born from the essence of heaven and earth] still gestating upon the continent, along with the seven Star Deity [deities born from and governing celestial bodies] in the Firmament [the highest celestial realm], shall be the primordial sovereigns of this newly opened Cosmos [a complete, self-contained universe].

After roughly calculating, Eldrin Chen deduced that, barring unforeseen events, the Star Lords born from Purple Tenuity [the realm of the North Star, symbolizing imperial authority], Supreme Subtlety [the realm of supreme mystery and profundity], and Pure Subtlety [the realm of pristine purity] within the Firmament would possess combat prowess comparable to those with a Dual Taiyi Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation stage representing dual primordial unity].

The beings nurtured by the Pure Yang Earth Veins [earthly spiritual arteries of pure Yang energy] upon the great earth would also be entities of at least Dual Taiyi Foundation caliber, and likely even a step beyond.

"Had I not arrived, the ultimate sovereign of this Cosmos would most likely have emerged from among these four," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly.

His gaze swept slowly across the vast expanse, taking in the primordial landscape. Read, share, and discuss at audio‑novel.com.

He observed that within the layers of the Heavenly Layers [the stratified celestial planes of existence], World-Initiating Qi [the primordial energy that gave birth to the world] was scattered everywhere, its quantity numbering not in the mere thousands or tens of thousands.

Eldrin Chen understood that portions of this World-Initiating Qi would merge with the vital essence of the Heavenly Layers, giving birth to the second and third generations of Divine Spirits for this Cosmos.

The remainder would sink deep into the Heavenly Layers and the starry void. In ages to come, destined individuals who discovered and refined it could also ascend to the Earth Immortal Realm [a high immortal realm connected to the earthly plane].

"Should I take some for myself?" he pondered.

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, summoning several strands of World-Initiating Qi [the primordial energy from which a world is born].

Yet, in that very instant, he sensed a wisp of Heavenly Dao Qi [the energy of the Heavenly Dao, the cosmic law and order] slowly descending from the unseen depths, accompanied by a Hazy and indistinct will that conveyed a message.

"Who art thou?"

Eldrin Chen perceived the will of this nascent Cosmos [a complete universe or world], understanding it to be the newly formed Heavenly Dao [the supreme law and governing principle of a cosmos] of this place.

Thus, with a slight movement of his brow, he spoke calmly, "I hail from beyond the bounds of this Cosmos. I seek to break through my cultivation realm within thy domain."

"Beyond this Cosmos?"

"Could there truly be Heavenly Layers [higher planes of existence or cultivation] beyond the confines of this world?"

The Heavenly Dao, innocent and naive in its youth, grasped the essence of his words.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and continued, "I wish to borrow the power of a Spirit Vein [a subterranean conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] to achieve my breakthrough and glimpse the Taiyi Realm [the Primordial Unity Realm, a profound stage of cultivation]."

"I understand."

The Heavenly Dao [the supreme, impersonal cosmic order and will] responded with a faint, ethereal resonance, then spoke, "Now that the World's Primordial Qi [the foundational spiritual energy of the world] is abundant, I can lend you the power to break through. However, you must repay the karmic debt."

Eldrin Chen nodded. He swept his gaze around the surroundings before finally speaking, "If you can assist my Chen Clan in achieving a breakthrough, we will naturally repay the karmic debt."

"I believe there is one thing you will certainly not refuse."

As his words fell, he retrieved an ancient tree.

The Heavenly Dao cast a glance and spoke, "The Heaven-Opening Ancient Tree [a legendary tree said to have existed since the dawn of creation]."

Eldrin Chen inclined his head in acknowledgment and replied matter-of-factly, "A High Grade Spiritual Root [a plant of exceptional spiritual quality]. I can elevate it to the realm of a Grand Unity Immortal Root [a supreme spiritual root embodying the principle of primordial unity]."

"I observe that within this Cosmos, the Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the cosmos itself, not crafted] has yet to fully form and mature. It can be used to catalyze the Grand Unity Immortal Root's transformation into a Primordial Ancient Trees [trees of immense age and power, dating back to the dawn of existence]."

"The Primordial Ancient Trees grow within a Minor Universe [a self-contained realm or pocket dimension]. They can extend their roots into the fringes of Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation], drawing upon Chaos Qi [the raw, unformed energy of chaos] and converting it into Void energy [a profound and potent form of spiritual energy associated with emptiness and potential]."

"With such an entity present, this Cosmos will never face exhaustion or decline of its vital energies—unless it is destroyed by an External Tribulation [a catastrophic calamity originating from outside the cosmos itself]."

As Eldrin Chen spoke these words with measured clarity, the radiant light of the Heavenly Dao Will [the conscious manifestation of the Heavenly Dao's intent] trembled ever so slightly.

Now, as this nascent Cosmos [the universe or world] first opens, that supreme Universe Creation Supreme Treasure [a primordial treasure of ultimate power used in the creation of a universe] has not yet fully gestated and taken form. If that strand of Innate Qi [the primordial, foundational energy present at the dawn of creation] were to be fused into the Grand Unity Immortal Root [the supreme spiritual root representing the unity of all things], transforming it into a Primordial Ancient Trees [a mythical tree of immense age and power, often the heart of a world], then this Cosmos would be spared the calamity of waning spiritual energy and inevitable decline.

It could be said that the terms offered by Eldrin Chen were impossible for him to refuse.

Thus, after a mere moment, the Heavenly Dao Will [the conscious will or intent of the Heavenly Dao, the fundamental order of the universe] spoke with a tone of profound calm, "Such an opportunity is exceedingly precious even to me. What are your conditions?"

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile before replying, "We shall forge a Covenant of Equals [a binding magical pact sworn between parties of equal standing]. This Cosmos shall be open for the members of my Chen Clan to cultivate and achieve breakthroughs without hindrance, serving as the Deep-Seated Foundation [a profound and unshakable foundation for future growth and power] for my Chen Immortal Clan." Official source: audio–novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.