Chapter 1671 : Divine Abyss Shatters the Heavens

In that very instant, a brilliant crimson radiance shot forth, piercing straight through the chest of Wei River Heavenly God [a powerful deity associated with the Wei River] and violently exploding his physical body, leaving only his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] to flee.

Energy Abyss Chen had fought until now, having already suppressed and slain eleven Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm]. Yet, he still possessed the strength to draw his bow and loose an arrow, delivering a single, crippling blow to Wei River Heavenly God.

"Now is our chance!"

Witnessing this scene, Eldrin Chen finally seized the opportunity.

With a flick of his sleeve, he summoned forth the Gale Wind God-Slaying Gourd [a legendary gourd that unleashes wind blades capable of slaying deities]. In the blink of an eye, a flying dagger soared across the heavens, completely annihilating the Primordial Spirit of Wei River Heavenly God, suppressing and slaying him within the void.

"Alas—"

At the same time, Heaven Star Path Master [a master of the celestial star cultivation path], seeing this, could not help but reveal a look of utter despair.

He glanced around and realized that above Void Heaven [a realm of empty, boundless space], the Polarity Void Mirror [a mystical mirror that seals and manipulates the void] had already locked down the surrounding space.

Energy Abyss Chen, Exquisite Jiang, Nyssa Qu, Ethan Chen, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a powerful lord of the ancient netherworld ruins], Myriad Spirit Patriarch [the patriarch of myriad spirits], and others had already blocked his path of retreat.

Gazing at Heaven Star Path Master, Myriad Spirit Patriarch spoke with detached calm, "I warned you long ago. By daring to intervene in this tribulation, you have already stepped into the Tribulation [a cosmic calamity or trial]. It is only fitting that the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a celestial paradise realm of profound abysses] should face a calamity of its own."

"Indeed."

Heaven Star Path Master gave a bitter smile. He swept his gaze around, his face pale as he said, "So many practitioners of the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation... The Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance is truly worthy of being counted among the Path Tribulation Protagonist [those destined to contend for supremacy during the great cosmic tribulations]."

"For my Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven to meet this calamity... we have lost to no ordinary foe."

Heaven Star Path Master spoke slowly, drawing an ancient sword inlaid with Stellar [celestial] patterns. Pointing it at Eldrin Chen, he declared, "I am a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a mighty being who has ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm]. I do not wish to die a pitiful death. Will you grant me a fair and honorable duel?"

"Granted."

Eldrin Chen replied with calm finality. This Heaven Star Path Master, as a Celestial Immortal Great Power, was a figure of peerless brilliance in his own right. Eldrin Chen was willing to grant him this final chance for a glorious battle.

Upon hearing Eldrin Chen's assent, Heaven Star Path Master let out a great laugh. Gripping the Caelan Ancient Sword, he cleaved through the air with overwhelming force. A tide of Slaughter [an aura of absolute annihilation] filled the heavens, its killing intent aimed directly at the space between Eldrin Chen's brows.

Another world-shaking battle erupted. The two fought one-on-one in a fair duel, with none of the others intervening.

Yet, the moment Eldrin Chen activated his Innate Dharmic Power [the primordial, innate power of his very being], any semblance of suspense vanished from the contest.

The clash lasted over three hundred exchanges. Finally, Eldrin Chen summoned the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand, capturing his opponent firmly within its ethereal palm. In the end, he refined the vanquished foe completely into nothing but ashes of the tribulation.

"It is finished."

After slaying Heaven Star Path Master, Eldrin Chen let out a slow, measured breath, having largely gauged the extent of his own power.

By his estimation, relying solely on the might of his Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique, his combat prowess already surpassed that of Heaven Star Path Master.

This was because the Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique possessed extraordinarily high resistance. It offered formidable defense against Divine Ability [supernatural powers derived from profound cultivation] and Immortal Treasure [enchanted artifacts of immense power wielded by immortals] aligned with the Five Elements [the fundamental forces of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth] and Three Anomalies [the rare and potent forces of Wind, Ice, and Lightning]. The Divine Ability and Immortal Treasure of an Early Celestial Immortal Realm [the first major stage of celestial immortal cultivation] cultivator could scarcely harm Eldrin Chen.

Even the Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror [a legendary mirror capable of sealing away heavens] failed to fully suppress the Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique, a testament to the astonishing resilience of the Primordial One Indestructibility Body against all manner of mystical arts, Divine Ability, and exotic energies.

Although Heaven Star Path Master's combat strength was exceptional, he was fundamentally incapable of inflicting fatal wounds upon Eldrin Chen. Thus, the outcome of this battle had been a foregone conclusion from the very beginning.

And this was merely the power of the Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique alone. If he were to channel his Innate Dharmic Power [the pure, fundamental energy inherent to his being] and unleash the Primordial One Limitless Path Principle [his supreme cultivation art], Eldrin Chen's combat power would undergo a qualitative leap.

By Eldrin Chen's own reckoning, if he pushed his capabilities to their absolute limit, his strength would likely brush against the threshold of the Fourth Heaven Celestial Immortal Realm [the fourth major stage of celestial immortal cultivation].

Even when measured against an Immaculate Celestial Immortal [a celestial immortal who has achieved a flawless foundation], his power should be comparable to one at the Third Heaven Celestial Immortal Realm [the third major stage of celestial immortal cultivation].

"The Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] has yet to draw in those at the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm [the middle stage of celestial immortal cultivation]. With my current strength, within the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain, in a one-on-one confrontation, I believe I am now virtually invincible."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, finally storing away the Path Source [the foundational spiritual energy source of a cultivator's path] of Heaven Star Path Master.

After their resounding victory, the group swiftly cleared the battlefield before turning their forces towards Divine Abyss Sea, capturing that sea region in short order.

With the sea secured, Eldrin Chen invited the various Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have ascended beyond the Earth Immortal realm but have not yet fully solidified their Celestial Immortal foundation] to the Great Hall.

Within the Great Hall, Eldrin Chen looked at Myriad Spirit Patriarch and said with a grateful smile, "We owe you our thanks for this, Senior, for holding back Heaven Star Path Master for those three crucial hours."

"Think nothing of it,"

Myriad Spirit Patriarch replied with a gentle smile. "Given your strength, victory was assured even if Heaven Star Path Master had been free to intervene."

"We cannot be so certain,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, his expression turning grave. "While I was confident we could still prevail against Heaven Star Path Master himself,"

"had he been able to spare even one of his lieutenants to target our other Half-Step Celestial Immortal, our losses would have been severe."

Hearing this, everyone present nodded solemnly in agreement.

The Heavenly God of Wei River and Heaven Star Path Master are both beings of the Third Heaven Celestial Immortal Realm [the third and highest tier of the Celestial Immortal cultivation stage]. To withstand either one of them would require the combined efforts of at least three or four cultivators who have mastered the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme cultivation art that unifies the three primordial energies].

Even the current Exquisite Jiang would likely be unable to hold her ground against a single Third Heaven Celestial Immortal Realm opponent. She would need the assistance of at least one or two other masters of the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation to have a chance.

If that were to happen, with those few Triple Primordial Unity Foundation masters unable to intervene, the rest of our forces would face the combined assault of over seventy Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have half-stepped into the Celestial Immortal realm] from the two great Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm of profound spiritual energy, often a sect's headquarters]. The casualties would undoubtedly be severe.

Considering this, everyone present offered a slight bow of gratitude towards Myriad Spirit Patriarch.

After the Mortal Path [the foundational path of cultivation for mortals] cultivators had expressed their thanks, Eldrin Chen waved his sleeve, revealing a dazzling array of treasures. He then spoke, "From the beginning of this battle until now, we have defeated the allied forces of two great Grotto-Heaven. Our spoils are beyond count."

"The tally for the lower-tier treasures is still ongoing. However, the supreme treasures of Eighth Rank Supreme Grade [the pinnacle grade of the eighth rank] and above have all been gathered here before you."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but gaze upon the rare treasures before them with keen anticipation.

In this battle, a total of seventy-six Half-Step Celestial Immortal from the two Grotto-Heaven took part. Only nine, who seized the chance to flee early, managed to escape with their lives.

The remaining sixty-seven Half-Step Celestial Immortal were all slain by our forces, including two Celestial Immortal Great Power [a title for a particularly formidable Celestial Immortal]. Naturally, the treasures seized were of an unprecedented and staggering scale.

Among these treasures were nearly one hundred World-Opening Supreme Treasure [legendary artifacts of immense power, said to be capable of shaping worlds] and Eighth Rank Supreme Grade Rare Treasure items. There were also thirty-six Primordial Unity Immortal Artifact [immortal artifacts forged with primordial unified energy] and immortal weapons.

There were a full four Innate Treasures [primordial artifacts born from the essence of heaven and earth], comprising two Low-Grade Innate Treasures [a basic level of primordial artifact] and two Middle-Grade Innate Treasures [an intermediate level of primordial artifact].

The Low-Grade Innate Treasures were the 'Caelan Pure Starry River Sword' and the 'Wei Sea Divine Spear'.

The Middle-Grade Innate Treasures were the 'Innate Brute Beast Ancient Sword' and that Supreme Sovereign Heaven-Sealing Mirror.

Eldrin Chen examined the treasures carefully, then looked at Myriad Spirit Patriarch and said, "Your contribution in this battle was significant, Patriarch. You may choose one of these Innate Treasures."

Upon hearing this, Myriad Spirit Patriarch immediately shook his head. "The Merits [the metaphysical credit for virtuous deeds] from this battle are eighty percent the Chen Clan's. I would feel unworthy accepting such a treasure."

Eldrin Chen remained calm, a faint smile on his lips. "If you had not gifted me the Ancient Firmament Gold [a legendary metal from the primordial heavens] all those years ago, Patriarch, I might never have reached this point."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen glanced up at the Polarity Void Mirror hovering above. He understood clearly in his heart that had the Polarity Void Mirror not successfully achieved its grade advancement, victory in those successive great battles might have eluded them.

Myriad Spirit Patriarch understood his meaning. After a moment of contemplation, he took the Wei Sea Divine Spear. "I shall accept this treasure for the time being," he said. "When the time comes for my breakthrough and advancement to the Small Universe [a realm where one's internal world becomes a miniature cosmos] realm, it may help me accumulate a deeper foundation."