Chapter 1676 : A Celestial Ascension Forged

Witnessing this scene, Eldrin Chen finally allowed a genuine smile to grace his features.

Only after Myriad Spirit Patriarch had separately fused the three strands of Innate Energy [the primordial, uncreated energy of the cosmos] into his Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's enlightenment], his Path Principles [the fundamental laws one comprehends], and his physical body did Eldrin Chen step forward.

He cupped his hands in salute and said, "My sincerest congratulations, Senior. By attaining the Celestial Immortal Great Path [the profound realm of a Celestial Immortal] and, moreover, opening fourteen layers of heaven within the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], your future prospects are truly boundless."

Hearing this, Myriad Spirit Patriarch could not help but reveal a pleased smile.

To open Fivefold Heaven [five successive heavenly layers] within the Chaos during the breakthrough to Celestial Immortal was a rare feat, even within the Celestial Immortal Realm [the broader realm encompassing all Celestial Immortals], signifying a foundation of exceptional depth and potential.

Within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, one could not claim it was utterly unique, yet such an individual might not appear even once in a span of countless eons.

Even the direct disciples of major Grotto-Heaven [a blessed, self-contained realm for cultivation] sects could not achieve this. Only the direct heirs of those ancient Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [legendary sects of immense antiquity and power], armed with their sect's most treasured heirlooms, possessed a chance of accomplishing such a monumental feat.

With this thought, Myriad Spirit Patriarch returned the Polarity Path Union Gourd [a mystical gourd capable of harmonizing opposing forces] and took out the three strands of Innate Energy to hand to Eldrin Chen, saying, "Had it not been for your Polarity Path Union Gourd, opening eleven layers of heaven would have been my absolute limit this time."

"The ability to open an additional Threefold Heaven [three more heavenly layers] is owed entirely to the profound mysteries contained within this treasure."

Eldrin Chen listened and gave a slight, understanding nod.

The Polarity Path Union Gourd [a gourd that can temporarily merge and enhance different cultivation paths] is profoundly mystical. It can temporarily elevate each component of the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a cultivation art that unifies the physical body, dharmic power, and path fruit]—the Acquired Dharmic Power [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner], the physical body, and the Path Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path]—by one minor realm. This temporary ascension transforms them into Innate Dharmic Power [the pure, primordial spiritual energy present at the dawn of creation], an Innate Path Fruit [a path fruit born of innate, primordial essence], and an Innate True Body [a physical constitution of primordial purity and power].

It can be said that with the Polarity Path Union Gourd, the combat prowess of one cultivating the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation would surge nearly twofold for a short time.

It is not only a supreme treasure for desperate, life-or-death struggles but also an unparalleled treasure for advancing to the Universe [the foundational inner world of a Celestial Immortal]. For a being on the verge of breaking through to Celestial Immortal [the realm of an immortal who has forged their own inner universe], one would likely not trade it even for an Upper Grade Innate Treasure [a treasure of the highest innate grade].

However, this object is exceedingly rare. It is a special type of Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of creation] that is conceived only during the Genesis [the primordial beginning of a universe] under a unique confluence of Opportunity and Fortune [chance and destiny].

Such a special Innate Treasure can be considered a unique specimen, a peerless treasure that might be the only one of its kind within the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

Most crucially, this treasure's grade is precisely that of a Low-Grade Innate Treasure, which is the highest grade of Innate Treasure that a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator who has partially ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] can activate.

Perhaps only within the Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [one of the most ancient and powerful sects] would similar treasures exist, and even then, they would likely be counted among that sect's unique, foundational reserves.

Eldrin Chen accepted the Innate Energy and the Polarity Path Union Gourd, then said with a smile, "Regardless, with a Celestial Immortal Universe [the inner world of a Celestial Immortal] encompassing fourteen layers of heaven and earth, Patriarch, you are already a rarity among those in the Early Celestial Immortal Realm [the initial stage of the Celestial Immortal realm]."

Having obtained these three strands of Innate Energy, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle sense of reassurance settle within him.

With these three strands of Innate Energy, the plans he had been contemplating could now begin to be implemented, step by step.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen did not linger. He bid farewell to Myriad Spirit Patriarch and hurriedly traversed the boundless void, returning all the way to the Five Elements Small Universe.

This breakthrough of the Myriad Spirit Patriarch had taken several hundred years.

When Eldrin Chen returned to the Small Universe, he discovered that among the members of the Immortal Alliance, some familiar faces had already achieved new breakthroughs in their cultivation.

Among Eldrin Chen's Dao companions, Violet Consort Yan and Lila were the first to break through. Both specialized in a single Path Principle, allowing their cultivation progress to advance swiftly. They had now both successfully cultivated the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation.

Furthermore, Verdant Consort, Kael Chen, and Heaven Abyss Path Master were still in secluded meditation, preparing to take turns using the Path Hearing Meditation Mat for their own breakthroughs.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen strode into the Five Elements Primordial Solar Grotto-Heaven.

Gazing at the five strands of Innate Energy [the primordial, uncreated energy that existed before the formation of the cosmos] in his hand, he did not hesitate. He took one strand and fused it into the Primordial Unity Flat Peach Ancient Tree.

Guided by the Innate Energy, Eldrin Chen then irrigated the tree with copious amounts of Innate Spiritual Water [spiritual water imbued with primordial essence]. Finally, the Flat Peach Ancient Tree underwent a metamorphosis, transforming into an Innate Flat Peach Tree [a primordial peach tree of heaven-defying potency].

After the ancient tree's ascension, its appearance underwent another transformation.

The towering ancient tree, originally ten Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] tall, gradually shrank and condensed, eventually becoming a small tree merely seven Chi-lengths [one Chi-length equals one third of a meter] in height.

The small tree was enveloped in a mist of immortal energy, as if wreathed in Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation]. Upon its branches hung nine enormous Flat Peach [a legendary fruit of immortality].

"It has reversed its nature to the Innate [the primordial, foundational state of existence] and reconstituted its origin," Eldrin Chen murmured.

He gazed at the ancient Innate Flat Peach Tree before him, performing a brief divination with his fingers. He grasped the profound mysteries of this treasure.

This Innate Flat Peach Tree truly lived up to its reputation as an Innate Spiritual Root [a primordial plant that enhances cultivation]. Its wondrous effects since advancing to the Innate state had grown increasingly astonishing.

According to Eldrin Chen's calculations, henceforth, the Innate Flat Peach Tree would bear fruit once every ten million years. Each time, nine clusters of Innate Flat Peach [primordial peaches of immortality] would grow upon its boughs.

These Flat Peach contained within them Innate Primordial Essence [the purest form of primordial energy], making them supreme treasures for Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful being at the Celestial Immortal realm] to increase their cultivation base.

Eldrin Chen estimated that a great power at the Early Celestial Immortal Realm could likely break through one minor realm by refining around ten of these peaches.

Those with a Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation unifying three primordial forces] could also, with difficulty, refine the Innate Flat Peach. However, they could not fully unlock the fruit's miraculous effects, only using them to increase their cultivation. Refining one peach would roughly augment their spiritual energy and foundational essence by thirty percent.

Yet, despite their profound mysteries, Innate Rare Treasure [primordial treasures of rare quality] came with inherent limitations; one could not refine too many in succession.

The limitation was thus: a being at the Early Celestial Immortal Realm could refine only ten peaches every ten million years. For one with a Triple Primordial Unity Foundation, the limit was ten peaches in their entire lifetime.

Exceeding this number could lead to a Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] having an unstable foundation, increasing the risk of failure during future realm breakthroughs, and might even cause one to be stuck at a single cultivation realm for tens of millions of years without any progress.

Of course, the specific number one can refine varies from person to person.

Given Eldrin Chen's profound foundation, once he breaks through to the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation art], refining several dozen Innate Flat Peach [a legendary spiritual fruit of immense power] should pose no problem.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen immediately summoned Energy Abyss Chen. He took out one Innate Flat Peach and handed it to Energy Abyss Chen, then inquired, "Patriarch, please try this."

Energy Abyss Chen's eyes lit up, and he promptly took the peach to refine it.

A moment later, Energy Abyss Chen opened his eyes and said, "Refining one Innate Flat Peach grants me a significant increase in spiritual power."

"If my calculations are correct, refining nine should allow my foundational essence and spiritual power to reach their peak."

"However, the energy contained within is far too potent and dense. It would take me three thousand years to fully refine a single one."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. By that reckoning, it would take Energy Abyss Chen roughly twenty-seven thousand years to achieve his breakthrough.

Now, less than twelve thousand years remained until the Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of tribulation and upheaval] began. By that time, it would be approximately forty thousand years into the Path Tribulation.

"To break through to the Celestial Immortal [a powerful immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm] realm in forty thousand years within this Path Tribulation [a grand cosmic era of trials and tribulations for cultivators], that should be about right."

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, then gave a slight nod of agreement.

According to the patterns of previous cycles, around ten thousand years into a Path Tribulation, cultivators with a Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation that unifies the three primordial energies of essence, qi, and spirit] would begin to emerge one after another.

Then, by roughly twenty thousand years into the Path Tribulation, the truly peerless prodigies would typically achieve a breakthrough to the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation, ushering in an era of fierce competition among those who had mastered the three Primordial Unity [the foundational state of unifying one's primordial energies].

Thereafter, from that point until about fifty thousand years into the Path Tribulation, only a select few from among these Triple Primordial Unity Foundation cultivators would gradually distinguish themselves and ascend to the realm of the Immaculate Celestial Immortal [a perfected and flawless state of celestial immortality].

Achieving Celestial Immortal status in forty thousand years was, by this measure, an exceptionally swift pace.

With this in mind, Eldrin Chen harvested all the Innate Flat Peach [a legendary spiritual fruit of immense power that grants longevity and enhances cultivation] and continued to accelerate their growth using the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth [a mystical vase capable of gathering and condensing the primordial energies of the world].