Chapter 1731 : The Debt That Shields the Heavens

The Green Sun Ancient Deity's gaze was profound and distant. Only now did he realize with a start that the Eldrin Chen before him was already a Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme being among Heavenly Immortals] whose might shook the heavens, not someone to be easily intimidated.

Faced with such a situation, even the Golden Crow Ancient Immortal had no choice but to swallow his anger.

It was not that he lacked the power to suppress Eldrin Chen, but rather that Eldrin Chen owed a debt of Merit Golden Light [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and good karma] to the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain. As the saying goes, the debtor holds the upper hand. Whoever dared to kill Eldrin Chen within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain would likely be struck down by the Immortal Domain Heavenly Dao [the supreme natural law and will of the Immortal Domain] the moment they made a move.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen was using his own Life [his very existence and destiny] to shield the Nine Great Grotto-Heavens [nine supreme paradises within the Immortal Domain]. Even two Ancient Immortals and Ancient Deities [beings who have transcended for eons, surpassing ordinary Heavenly Immortals] dared not truly take action.

"You are all masters of this Immortal Domain. Why trouble yourselves with anger over a newly ascended Heaven Immortal?"

Just then, a faint, pure light emanated from the edge of the Firmament, a vast and vibrant life force illuminating the myriad heavens.

From the depths of the Void Heaven, a peerless beauty shrouded in immortal mist approached with graceful steps, arriving beside the group in the blink of an eye.

The woman looked at the assembled figures, her expression serene as she spoke. "With the protection of the Heavenly Dao [the supreme Way of Heaven], you cannot kill him. If you truly destroy the Nine Great Grotto-Heavens, Fellow Daoist Eldrin [a respectful title for a fellow cultivator] could just as easily go to your Daoist Assembly Ground [the sacred gathering places of your sects] and slaughter your disciples and followers."

"In This Sovereign's [a majestic self-referential title used by powerful beings] opinion, rather than forcing a mutually destructive conflict, it would be better for you to set aside your grievances for now. Settle accounts when the Calamity Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] erupts."

"Evergreen Ancient Immortal." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel dot com.

The moment he saw the newcomer, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle tremor in his heart, instantly recognizing the figure's origins.

Among the Five Great Ancient Immortals of the Purple Realm, it is difficult to definitively rank their strength, yet Evergreen Ancient Immortal has undoubtedly lived the longest.

Furthermore, Evergreen Ancient Immortal was originally a Primordial Ancient Trees that achieved enlightenment and passed into nirvana. He possesses a unique Tribulation-Avoidance Method [a mystical technique to evade cosmic calamities], allowing him to remain outside the cycles of Calamity Tribulation [the great cosmic trials that test cultivators and reshape eras]. This is precisely why he is the most enduring among the Five Great Ancient Immortals.

According to legend, Evergreen Ancient Immortal has cultivated for a span exceeding One Billion Years, making him the most profound and unfathomable existence among the Five Great Ancient Immortals.

Now, with Evergreen Ancient Immortal urging reconciliation, both Green Sun Ancient Deity and Golden Crow Ancient Immortal frowned slightly, a crease forming between their brows.

They already found Eldrin Chen difficult to deal with. Seeing Evergreen Ancient Immortal step in to mediate, they promptly seized the opportunity to back down gracefully.

Green Sun Ancient Deity turned his gaze towards Eldrin Chen, his eyes profound and distant, and spoke in a measured tone, "Since Evergreen Ancient Progenitor has spoken, This Sovereign [a title used by powerful cultivators to refer to themselves] shall grant you a sliver of life today."

"When the time of Calamity Tribulation arrives, and the protection of the Heavenly Dao [the supreme natural order and cosmic principle] can no longer shield you, I shall return to settle today's karmic debt."

As the words of Green Sun Ancient Deity faded, the Primordial Azure Simurgh [a mythical avian beast of immense power] pulling his war chariot took to the skies, vanishing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Simultaneously, the Eternal Sun at the edge of the Firmament trembled slightly before soaring away with a deafening roar, heading in the direction of the Southern Pole Six Heavens Domain.

Watching the two depart, Eldrin Chen let out a slight sigh of relief.

It was undeniable. While these two Ancient Immortals [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] could not kill him, a true fight to mutual destruction would have forced Eldrin Chen to pay a grievous price.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen relaxed further. He rose and, cupping his hands in salute towards Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor and Evergreen Ancient Immortal, said, "My gratitude for your timely assistance, Seniors."

Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor and Evergreen Ancient Immortal accepted this gesture with calm dignity.

The Ancient Immortals of the Demon and God Races had not intervened this time, not merely out of fear of Eldrin Chen's willingness to fight to the death. A greater reason was that even if they had, Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor and Evergreen Ancient Immortal would not have stood idly by.

After all, among this realm's Five Great Ancient Immortals [the five supreme immortal beings of this world], two belonged to the Divine Race and one to the Demonic Tribe. If the Demon and God Races truly joined forces, neither the Human Race nor the Spirit Race alone would likely be able to withstand them.

Under such circumstances, it was only natural that Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor and Evergreen Ancient Immortal had formed an unspoken alliance to jointly counterbalance the Demon and God Races.

As these thoughts drifted through Eldrin Chen's mind, Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor spoke with a gentle smile, "You have done exceedingly well in forcefully overcoming this Dao Tribulation [a heavenly trial testing one's cultivation path and destiny]."

"Setting aside the debt my disciple owes you, even simply as a senior of the Human Race, lending you aid was the right thing to do."

Evergreen Ancient Immortal gave a slight nod and spoke with serene calm, "Your talent is Valerius [peerless; without equal]. Given time, you will undoubtedly stand among our ranks. Continue your cultivation with diligence."

Evergreen Ancient Immortal [an immortal being from ancient times] and Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor [a progenitor of the pure yang cultivation path], both of esteemed status, did not linger long within the Abyssal Sea Region [a vast and perilous oceanic domain]. After exchanging brief greetings, they departed in haste.

Watching the assembly disperse, Eldrin Chen fell into deep contemplation. "The Frost Soul Ancient Deity [an ancient god of ice and frost] did not raise any objection," he mused inwardly. "It seems the Divine Race [the collective of celestial gods and deities] is not a monolithic bloc."

Meanwhile, deep within the Northern Pole [the frigid northernmost reaches of the world], inside the Frost Soul Heavenly Domain [the celestial realm ruled by the Frost Soul deity], a shimmering, illusory screen materialized. Upon it played out the very scene that had just transpired in the Abyssal Sea Region.

Before this ethereal screen stood two figures of peerless elegance and formidable presence.

Of these two, the first was the very Frost Soul Ancient Deity whose might shook the heavens. The other was the Grotto-Heaven Master [the ruler of a grotto-heaven, a blessed realm] of the Frost Soul Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm of ice], the Frost Shard Celestial God [a celestial deity of piercing frost], whose cultivation had reached the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm].

At this moment, the Frost Shard Celestial God gazed at the illusory screen. Witnessing the departure of the Golden Crow Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal associated with the golden crow, a solar symbol] and the Green Sun Ancient Deity [an ancient deity of the verdant sun], she could not help but voice her query: "Master, why did you not journey to the Abyssal Sea Region yourself?" Access the full story on audio-novel-dot-com.

"What purpose would it serve?"

The Frost Soul Ancient Deity shook her head, her tone calm and measured. "Even if the Demon and God Races [the collective forces of demons and gods] were to join hands, shatter the Nine Great Grotto-Heavens [the nine paramount blessed realms], and annihilate every last Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme expert at the Heavenly Immortal stage] of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance [an alliance of immortals], they still could not slay that Abyssal Daoist [the Daoist master of the abyss, referring to Eldrin Chen]."

"The sole outcome of such an endeavor would be to provoke his utter and complete wrath."

"An Abyssal Daoist unbound by worldly attachments... that might prove far more terrifying than the man he is now."

"Moreover, with the interference of those two from the Human Race and the Spirit Race, unless we are willing to expend the Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound foundational resources accumulated for transcending major tribulations] needed to survive a Calamity Tribulation, this battle simply cannot succeed."

Hearing this, Frost Shard Celestial God fell into a heavy silence.

The opportunity of the Hundred Calamities Rebirth [a legendary event where immense fortune is born from surviving one hundred great calamities] is imminent—a chance so profound it could drive even high-level Ancient Immortals to madness.

The few Ancient Immortals within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain have cultivations that, at their peak, do not exceed three tribulations. Obtaining such treasures could propel them directly to a realm beyond that of a Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal.

A Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal is incomparably powerful, a figure who stands out as one in a hundred even among Ancient Immortals, with only the final few steps remaining before reaching the Great Luo Realm.

In comparison, wasting such precious Deep-Seated Foundation on a mere Abyssal Daoist seems a grievous pity.

After all, a Heavenly Immortal Paragon typically requires ten million years to advance a single layer in cultivation. Abyssal Daoist has only just broken through to the Heaven Immortal Realm; even with vast resources poured upon him, by the time the Dao Tribulation [the grand tribulation marking the end of a cosmic cycle] begins, he would at most reach the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm.

With the combat power of a Mid Celestial Immortal Realm, he poses no threat to the Ancient Immortals assembled here.

Even if Eldrin Chen were blessed with heaven-defying fortune and broke through to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm after ten million years, he would still be beneath the notice of these venerable Ancient Immortals.

In their eyes, the true threat does not emanate from within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, but from the vast expanse beyond its borders.

Since its inception, the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain has existed for countless billions of years, giving rise to an untold number of Heavenly Immortal Paragon. Although Ancient Immortals—those who have cultivated to the very peak of the immortal path—may emerge only once or twice in a hundred million years, across such an immeasurable span of time, hundreds upon thousands of them have been born.

The vast majority of these venerable predecessors who reached the Ancient Immortal Realm have ultimately perished within the crucible of Calamity Tribulation [the cataclysmic trials of heavenly fate that cultivators must face].

However, a small number of these Ancient Immortals, these Ancient Ancestor [progenitors of immense age and power], upon finding the path forward blocked and lacking confidence to survive their Calamity Tribulation, choose to pledge allegiance to the Three Great Celestial Courts [the supreme governing bodies of the immortal realms] or to the various Great Luo Ancient Sect [primordial sects of profound heritage]. Experience the full epic at audio-novel . com.