Chapter 1670 : Ambush of the Heavenly Star

Struck by another devastating blow, Wei River Heavenly God showed not a trace of agony, but instead revealed a faint, chilling smile.

In that very instant, Eldrin Chen sensed a surge of ominous foreboding.

With a swift flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a palm strike cleaving towards his left, meeting a black-robed figure head-on in a thunderous clash.

After the exchange, Eldrin Chen was forced back three paces. Before he could steady himself, the assailant pressed the attack once more, while Wei River Heavenly God also disregarded his grievous wounds to launch a relentless assault.

Caught off guard by the sudden ambush, Eldrin Chen found himself at a disadvantage, forced to parry and counter as best he could.

Fortunately, his Primordial One Indestructibility Body was extraordinary. After trading over a dozen blows, he channeled his Primordial Unity Void Cosmos Sword Energy, seized an opening, and struck Wei River Heavenly God another crippling blow that nearly cleaved him in two, finally creating an opportunity to disengage.

Only then did Eldrin Chen turn his gaze upon the newcomer, his eyes turning frosty as he spoke.

"The fourth Supreme Elder of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven?"

"Indeed. This old man is Heaven Star Li. You may address me as Heaven Star Path Master."

The Fourth Supreme Elder spoke, but then his expression abruptly shifted. He clearly felt his Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds] being severed. A look of utter terror dawned on his face as he stared upwards towards the Heavenly Vault.

After a moment of stunned disbelief, he turned a gaze filled with shock and fury toward Wei River Heavenly God and roared, "You treacherous cur! You set me up!"

"Hahahaha!"

Wei River Heavenly God let out a hearty laugh, his eyes turning cold and sharp. "My path is already at its end," he stated flatly. "Did you truly believe the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven would allow you to walk away unscathed?"

Without waiting for Heaven Star Path Master's furious response, he continued in a calm, detached tone. "Arguing over life and death now is pointless. I know you entered this Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of fate and power], and you surely brought the Cycle of Reincarnation Edict [a powerful artifact capable of manipulating the cycle of rebirth] with you."

"Why don't we join forces today? Let us slay this upstart together, or at the very least, inflict grievous wounds upon him. That is far better than perishing for nothing."

Upon hearing this, Heaven Star Path Master's expression shifted through a spectrum of emotions.

The moment he had stepped into this Path Tribulation [a climactic, often fatal, trial faced by those seeking to transcend their current cultivation path], he had known death was a likely outcome.

Yet, he had never imagined he would encounter the Path Tribulation Protagonist [the central figure of a Path Tribulation, whose fate is intertwined with the trial itself] so swiftly.

At this thought, he drew a deep, steadying breath. His gaze, now profound and shadowed, settled upon Eldrin Chen. "For over six million years, I have cultivated in solitude," he murmured, his voice low. "Never have I slain a Path Tribulation Protagonist."

"Since there is no path of survival left for me today... let us perish together."

As his words fell, Heaven Star Path Master slowly unfurled an ancient-looking bamboo scroll in his hand.

This set of scrolls was a dark golden color, seemingly forged from Primordial Unity Immortal bamboo [a legendary, supremely resilient type of spiritual bamboo]. It contained boundless Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation], and its surface was densely inscribed with thousands of ancient seal characters.

As the ancient characters unfurled, one dazzlingly brilliant ancient script after another flew out, transforming into supreme order Chains that shot forth, firmly sealing Eldrin Chen in place.

"The Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror [a legendary mirror capable of sealing even the heavens themselves]."

"I never imagined the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a powerful immortal sect] would be willing to entrust such a treasure to you."

Witnessing this scene, Wei River Heavenly God could not help but exclaim in astonishment.

The Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven had dominated the Vast Azure Immortal Domain for one hundred and seventy million years; its foundations were naturally unfathomably deep.

It possessed two Sect-Suppressing Supreme Treasure [ultimate artifacts used to protect and empower a major sect] and seven Innate Rare Treasure [naturally formed treasures of immense power], collectively known as the Nine Heavens Treasure of Divine Abyss [the nine supreme treasures of the Divine Abyss]. Each was an object capable of suppressing a sect's Fortune [its destiny, luck, and spiritual foundation].

Those two Sect-Suppressing Supreme Treasure were the 'Myriad Abyss Ancient Cauldron' and the 'Divine Abyss Ancient Sword', both of which were Upper Grade Innate Treasure [the highest grade of naturally formed magical treasures].

The seven Innate Rare Treasure were Middle-Grade Innate Treasure [the middle grade of such treasures]. The Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror before them now was one of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven's seven Innate Rare Treasure.

The Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror [a legendary artifact capable of sealing the heavens themselves] is the most unique among the Seven Treasures. It possesses the wondrous ability to seal away the magical power and cultivation base of a powerful being surrounding them.

Once sealed by this treasure, even a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a supreme cultivator who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] would find it exceedingly difficult to break free, becoming as helpless as fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.

The reason the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a powerful immortal sect residing in a mystical grotto-heaven] brought out this treasure was originally to capture a supporting character within the Path Tribulation [a grand, fate-altering calamity that tests the destiny of cultivators] and then hand them over to the First Holy Scion to be slain.

In this way, they could allow the Heaven Star Path Master to avoid most of the karmic backlash, thereby giving him a chance to survive.

Yet he could never have imagined that when this ancient treasure was finally unleashed, it would be used against Eldrin Chen, the very Path Tribulation Protagonist [the central figure destined to face the greatest trials and tribulations of the era].

However, having already made his move, the Heaven Star Path Master could no longer afford to hesitate. With an expression of utmost gravity, he looked at Wei River Heavenly God and said, "The Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror lacks direct Slaughter [the power to kill or destroy] capabilities. If you have any trump cards, now is the time to use them!"

"Understood!"

Wei River Heavenly God's expression shifted slightly, and he gave a solemn, grave nod.

With a flick of his sleeve, he summoned a dazzling, pitch-black killing sword of terrifying aura and sent it cleaving through the air towards Eldrin Chen.

"Innate Celestial Slaughter Sword [a sword born of primordial slaughterous intent, a weapon of absolute annihilation]!"

The moment he laid eyes on this sword, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly.

An overwhelming tide of Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and corrupting form of spiritual power] emanated from the blade, as if it were a weapon of ultimate malice forged by the heavens and earth. Its power was, without a doubt, the most formidable Eldrin Chen had ever witnessed in his life.

At that very instant, the Myriad Spirit Patriarch charged over from a distance, his voice grave as he warned, "Beware! That is the Innate Brute Beast Sword [a sword of innate, primordial savagery]!"

The sword's baleful aura was so immense that even without the Myriad Spirit Patriarch's warning, Eldrin Chen would have been on high alert.

Now, hearing the patriarch's urgent caution, Eldrin Chen's expression grew even more solemn and severe.

This Innate [a state of being born from the primordial chaos of creation] The Brute Beast [a legendary beast of pure, untamed ferocity] Sword was forged from the skeletal remains of the 'Brute Beast' itself—one of the four great Innate Fierce Beasts of myth.

It was a sword of innate, ultimate slaughter, inherently inauspicious. Merely wielding it risked contamination by its curse-laden power.

Wei River Heavenly God understood the peril of activating the blade, knowing he would likely be tainted by its baleful influence. Yet, facing Eldrin Chen, he felt he had no choice but to unleash its full might.

As he poured his power into it, the sword transformed into a boundless storm of vicious sword energy, cleaving through the air with the intent to split Eldrin Chen in two.

"Hmph—"

Facing such a strike, Eldrin Chen felt a chill pierce his very soul.

Yet, with a flick of his sleeve, he pushed his Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique [a legendary constitution granting near-absolute resilience] to its absolute limit, forcibly resisting the sealing power of the Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror.

Then, raising the Chaos Heaven Halberd in a defensive stance, he parried the Innate Celestial Slaughter Sword, a blade radiating with overwhelming Slaughter Intent [a palpable aura of pure, annihilating killing will].

The Innate Brute Beast Sword truly lived up to its fearsome reputation. Even blocked by the Chaos Heaven Halberd, a sinister Fiendish Energy [a corruptive, malevolent form of spiritual power] seeped through, attempting to invade Eldrin Chen's body.

In that instant, waves of baleful power sought to corrupt his Innate Indestructibility physique [his Innate Indestructibility Body], aiming to defile and degrade the very essence of his flesh.

Fortunately, the Primordial One Indestructibility Body proved its supreme worth. It countered nearly all foreign energies; even this ominous power, upon touching Eldrin Chen, was instantly refined and neutralized.

In stark contrast, Wei River Heavenly God suffered a backlash from the baleful force. Patches of crimson fur sprouted across his body, his face visibly withering and aging into a visage of dire misfortune in his twilight years.

"What is happening?"

"Why can we not seal his spiritual power and physical form?"

Witnessing this, Heaven Star Path Master's expression shifted dramatically, his countenance paling.

He could never have imagined that the Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror [a divine artifact capable of sealing the heavens], potent enough to confine a Mid Celestial Immortal Realm [the middle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm] expert, would prove utterly incapable of restraining Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of absolute resilience and unbreakable nature].

"I shall aid you!"

At that very moment, Exquisite Jiang and her allies, having finally routed their formidable foes, arrived to reinforce Eldrin Chen.

Behold, Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and Nyssa Qu launched a concerted assault against Heaven Star Path Master, forcing him to divert his remaining strength to defend himself.

Meanwhile, Ethan Chen and Ancient Ruins Nether Lord advanced together, wreathed in the boundless, annihilating aura of Slaughter [a divine ability embodying pure, overwhelming destruction], and jointly attacked Wei River Heavenly God.

Already grievously wounded and suffering from the backlash of the baleful power, Wei River Heavenly God found himself completely overwhelmed by their ferocious onslaught.