Chapter 1669 : Primordial Treasures Clash

Exquisite Jiang further unleashed the Innate Primordial One Energy Pearl [a supreme treasure containing the primordial energy of creation], instantly suppressing and slaying three Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] on the spot.

Countless Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual beings] and Earth Immortal [immortals anchored to the mortal world] of the Divine Clan attempted a desperate counterattack, converging their power into the Myriad Gods Grand Formation. However, their assault was blocked by the trio of Frost Soul Immortal Clam [an ancient clam demon of immense frost and soul power] who activated the Three Marvels Ancient Pearl [a pearl containing three ancient and marvelous powers], and was subsequently shattered by the bombardment of the Ninth Rank World-Ending Cannon [a cannon of the ninth rank, capable of unleashing world-ending devastation].

When Exquisite Jiang then activated the Innate Gale Gourd [a gourd born of heaven and earth, capable of unleashing primordial gales], a tempest erupted instantly, reducing innumerable Divine Spirits to ashes.

Simultaneously, high above in the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens], the battle between Eldrin Chen and Wei River Heavenly God had escalated to a fever pitch of extreme intensity.

Gripping the Chaos Heaven Halberd [a halberd embodying the chaotic power of the primordial heavens], Eldrin Chen unleashed overwhelming Heavenly God [a deity residing in the heavenly realms] might, cleaving through the fabric of heaven and earth. The blow shattered half of Wei River Heavenly God's body, sending him hurtling through the void, blood spraying from his wounds.

"Argh! I refuse to accept this!"

Once again grievously wounded, an expression of bitter resentment contorted the features of Wei River Heavenly God.

His eyes, filled with boundless hatred, fixed deathly upon Eldrin Chen. "Impossible!" he roared. "I am a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm]! How could I be defeated by you!"

"Heh—"

Eldrin Chen offered a faint, cold smile. His gaze was icy as he declared, "Though you are a Heavenly God, the moment you entered this tribulation, you became nothing more than a pawn on the board."

"A pawn."

Upon hearing this, Wei River Heavenly God [a powerful deity associated with the Wei River] could not help but turn slightly pale, a bitter smile twisting his features.

"Indeed, a pawn."

In his heart, he understood all too well that a pawn, by its very nature, is also a piece meant to be sacrificed.

One must understand that whether it is a Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event that reshapes the cosmos] or a Path Tribulation [a tribulation centered on the conflict between major cultivation paths], their essence stems from the Immortal Domain [the higher realm of immortals] enacting the Great Path of Heavenly and Earthly Cycles [the supreme principle governing the cyclical renewal of heaven and earth] to restore its vitality.

Within these Path Tribulation, the figure who unleashes the Tribulation [the calamitous force of the tribulation itself] to sweep across the world becomes the protagonist of that tribulation.

Whether it is the protagonist of a Great Tribulation or a Path Tribulation Protagonist, they are all blessed by the Mandate of Heaven [cosmic destiny or fate]. It is impossible for them to be slain by an existence of a higher cultivation realm.

Even the crucial supporting characters within a Tribulation often carry a portion of this heavenly mandate. They possess the potential to transform into a Tribulation protagonist themselves, and attempting to kill them would incur an unimaginably terrible price.

Even a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] would meet certain death if they dared to directly move against the protagonists of either a Great Tribulation or a Path Tribulation.

To act against a crucial supporting character would likely entangle one in a fatal calamity of their own.

The former Western Abyss Dragon King achieved his Dao precisely by leveraging his identity as a Great Tribulation protagonist [a figure destined to be at the center of a major cosmic upheaval].

However, compared to Great Tribulation protagonists, Path Tribulation Protagonist [a figure destined to undergo a tribulation that tests and refines their very Path or Dao] are even rarer. Within the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain, such individuals number no more than ten.

To oppose a Path Tribulation Protagonist is to obstruct the Great Path of Heavenly and Earthly Cycles [the grand, cyclical Dao governing the transformations of Heaven and Earth]. It is, in essence, a defiance of the Great Path [the fundamental cosmic principle or Dao] of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain itself. Even an existence at the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal realm] could not possibly slay a Path Tribulation Protagonist.

To directly confront a Path Tribulation Protagonist is to invite boundless karmic retribution. At critical moments, the Heavenly Path [the Dao or Will of Heaven itself] may even intervene personally to erase any existence that hinders a Path Tribulation Protagonist.

It is precisely for this reason that the Immaculate Celestial Immortal [a Celestial Immortal who has achieved a flawless, foundationally perfect breakthrough] of the major powers do not interfere in the Path Tribulation [the tribulation centered on a Path Tribulation Protagonist].

For even if they intervened and successfully nurtured an Immaculate Celestial Immortal, their own chances of survival would be exceedingly slim. It is simply not a worthwhile transaction.

The Early Celestial Immortal Realm [the initial stage of the Celestial Immortal realm] cultivators who do enter the fray are typically Flawed Celestial Immortal [Celestial Immortals with imperfect foundations and limited future potential]. The reason is that these Flawed Celestial Immortal have limited prospects. Having them risk contamination by the Tribulation [the calamitous power and karma of a great tribulation] to shelter someone with the potential to break through to Immaculate Celestial Immortal...

...is considered a worthwhile trade for a Grotto-Heaven [a semi-independent pocket realm, often a major power base]. If successful, exchanging a Flawed Celestial Immortal for an Immaculate Celestial Immortal is a profitable deal.

However, this renders the Early Celestial Immortal Realm cultivators who enter the conflict as sacrificial pawns. Hence, the Celestial Immortal who become entangled in the tribulation are also spoken of as mere pieces on the board.

Of course, as Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful figure within the Celestial Immortal realm], as long as they do not strike directly at the Path Tribulation Protagonist or crucial supporting characters, they retain at least some possibility of surviving the ordeal.

Wei River Heavenly God had initially believed that Eldrin Chen was merely a supporting character within this Path Tribulation [a grand, fate-driven conflict ordained by the Heavenly Path]. However, after battling to this point, he realized that Eldrin Chen was very likely one of the fated protagonists of this tribulation.

Even figures like Energy Abyss Chen, who possessed the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a legendary and supremely stable foundation for cultivation], were destined to be crucial supporting characters blessed by fate.

"I cannot afford to kill a single one of these people," he murmured to himself.

Observing the fierce battle unfolding before him, Wei River Heavenly God wore a bitter smile.

If he were dealing with ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the cusp of the Celestial Immortal realm] within the Tribulation [the calamitous events of the Path Tribulation], slaying them would indeed attract the tribulation's wrath. Yet, if he suppressed the ensuing calamitous energy with all his might, there might still be a sliver of hope for survival.

But the protagonists and key supporting characters within a Path Tribulation? To strike at them was to court certain death.

At this very moment, Wei River Heavenly God could feel with stark clarity the boundless calamitous energy settling upon him. From the Heavenly Vault [the highest, most profound layer of the heavens], an inscrutable, watchful gaze had fallen upon him.

It was evident that the Heavenly Path [the supreme, impersonal law governing the cosmos and fate] had already taken notice of him from the shadows of destiny.

Even if he turned and fled now, he could never escape the karmic burden imposed by the Heavenly Path of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

The Heavenly Path itself would not need to lift a finger. Celestial Immortal Great Power [mighty beings who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] would emerge, willing to pay any price to hunt him down.

For after he had struck at Eldrin Chen, the Merit Violet Light [a divine radiance signifying immense virtuous karma] he had accumulated over many years had been completely stripped away by the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast realm of immortals] and the Heavenly Path [the supreme law of the heavens]. Left with nothing but boundless karmic burden, he had become a man forsaken by Heaven itself.

Whoever slew him would receive at least three strands of Merit Violet Light and, even more precious, a portion of the invaluable Path Source [the primordial source essence of a Great Path, a foundational treasure for cultivation].

"Hahaha... Forsaken by Heaven..."

Understanding his own dire predicament, Wei River Heavenly God unleashed a boundless Slaughter Intent [a murderous will so potent it can solidify the very air].

His gaze fixed lethally upon Eldrin Chen, his eyes glacial, he declared, "Fortunately, this old man still possesses one Cycle of Reincarnation Edict."

"Today, even if it costs my life, I will see you slain."

At this moment, Wei River Heavenly God cast all other concerns aside.

That Cycle of Reincarnation Edict was an Innate Rare Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of creation] treasured by the Western Essence Grotto-Heaven. It was a wondrous object of Innate [pertaining to the primordial, pre-cosmic state] origin, forged by one of the six great Netherworld Nether Emperor Imperial Lord [supreme rulers of the underworld] from the Depths of the Netherworld within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains.

With this artifact upon one's person, even if one perished within a Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial], a portion of one's memories could be preserved to undergo Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth], increasing the chance of cultivating back to the Celestial Immortal [a powerful immortal realm] in the next life by thirty percent.

It must be understood that when a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being of the Celestial Immortal realm] reincarnates, they must cultivate anew back to the Celestial Immortal Realm before their past memories can be restored.

To cultivate anew and reach the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial beings who have transcended mortality] is a task of monumental, almost unimaginable difficulty.

Given its profound utility, the value of the Cycle of Reincarnation Edict [a mystical decree that can preserve one's memories and essence for the next life] is beyond question. Even Ancient Immortal Great Power [an immensely powerful being from the ancient era of immortals] would spare no expense to acquire one.

To ensure Wei River Heavenly God [a divine being associated with the Wei River] would enter this tribulation, the Western Essence Grotto-Heaven [a mystical paradise realm of the Western Essence] did not hesitate to expend three strands of Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation] to purchase this Low-Grade Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, of the lowest grade] -grade Cycle of Reincarnation Edict.

Of course, even with the Cycle of Reincarnation Edict, it can only preserve a portion of one's memories. Whether one can cultivate back to the Heavenly God Realm [the divine realm of heavenly deities] in the next life remains far from certain.

Take the Extinction Thunder God [the God of Thunder who brings about annihilation], for instance. He is suspected to be the reincarnation of a Celestial Immortal Great Power. Despite laying plans across eons and possessing fragments of his past life's foundation, he ultimately met his end within the Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests cultivators].

Now, understanding he was on a path of certain death, Wei River Heavenly God resolved to make a final, desperate gamble. He aimed to take Eldrin Chen down with him in a blaze of glory.

With a roar, he marshaled all his remaining power, healing his wounds as he thrust his Innate Heavenly God Spear [a spear of divine origin, born from heavenly principles] skyward. The weapon tore through the firmament as he brought its crushing might down upon Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen remained utterly unperturbed. His Chaos Heaven Halberd [a halberd embodying the power of primordial chaos and heaven] swept down in a devastating arc. The impact sent violent tremors through the Innate Heavenly God Spear, its divine light flickering wildly. Three more earth-shattering blows followed in rapid succession, the final strike so powerful it wrenched the spear from the Heavenly God's grasp, sending it spinning away.

"Perish!"

With the Innate Heavenly God Spear disarmed, Eldrin Chen lunged forward, his Chaos Heaven Halberd a blur of lethal intent. The halberd's tip pierced through divine defenses and found its mark, plunging deep into the chest of Wei River Heavenly God.