Chapter 1682 : A Clan Ascendant in the Abyss

The breakthrough of Exquisite Jiang was a momentous event of profound significance for the Chen Immortal Clan.

It signified that the Chen Immortal Clan had gained another true Celestial Immortal-level combatant, further bolstering their confidence in weathering the impending Great Tribulation.

After Exquisite Jiang's breakthrough was complete, Eldrin Chen temporarily stored away several key Formation Artifact and returned to the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

Upon his return to the Returning Abyss Sea Region, Eldrin Chen discovered that five more individuals within the Immortal Alliance had achieved the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation art that harmonizes the three primordial energies of essence, energy, and spirit].

Among them, his son and daughter, Worthy Longevity Chen and Worthy Verdancy Chen, had successively mastered the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation.

Furthermore, Glazed Divine Lord, Violet Mystery Path Master, and Verdant Seal Patriarch had also taken this crucial step, reaching the level of mastery in the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation.

Additionally, three more members of the Chen Immortal Clan had newly advanced to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal realm: Alistair Ye, Literature Abyss Lu, and Fate Birth.

Among these five, Alistair Ye, Literature Abyss Lu, and Fate Birth were all prodigies of heaven-defying talent, their Future achievements holding boundless potential.

Eldrin Chen naturally felt immense joy in his heart regarding these breakthroughs.

He summoned Lior Chen and inquired, "Within our clan and the Immortal Alliance, who else remains at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal realm?"

"Not many remain, only eight individuals now."

Lior Chen pondered briefly before presenting Eldrin Chen with a list of names.

Eldrin Chen took the list and saw the eight names inscribed upon it: the Wind-Fire-Thunder Divine Ape, the Obsidian Qilin, Heaven Abandoned Lin, the Lord of the Path Palace, Freya Ji, Dorian Ji, the Demon-Subduing Divine Monk, and the Void-Refining Immortal.

This gave Eldrin Chen pause for thought. Each of these eight figures was a founding elder within the Immortal Alliance.

The Wind-Fire-Thunder Divine Ape and the Obsidian Qilin were both Mountain-Guarding Divine Beasts of the clan. However, their foundational potential was limited. Unless Eldrin Chen bestowed them with Innate Energy [the primordial, untainted energy of creation] in the future, it would be exceedingly difficult for them to break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial beings].

Among the remaining individuals, the Void-Refining Immortal, Dorian Ji, Freya Ji, and the Demon-Subduing Divine Monk had all, with Eldrin Chen's support, established foundations within the Sixfold Heaven [a high-tier foundation for Earth Immortals]. They held the potential to attempt a breakthrough to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a transitional state between Earth and Celestial Immortal], though their chances of success were uncertain.

Heaven Abandoned Lin had established a foundation in the Eighth Heaven [an even higher-tier foundation], while the Lord of the Path Palace had founded his in the Seventh Heaven. Both possessed not only Celestial Immortal Aptitude [the innate potential to ascend to the Celestial Immortal Realm] but also harbored the hope of one day glimpsing the realm of a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful being within the Celestial Immortal Realm].

Thinking of this, a faint sigh escaped Eldrin Chen's heart.

These individuals before him all retained at least a sliver of hope to ascend to the Celestial Immortal Realm. Yet, several of Eldrin Chen's other old comrades could no longer keep pace with his strides.

For instance, the Six Stars Immortal, the Heaven Wind Immortal, the Earth Spring Patriarch, and the Heavenly Feather Immortal, among others. Although they had broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of terrestrial immortals] earlier, their foundations were built upon a mere single World-Opening Foundation [the most basic foundation for an Earth Immortal]. Consequently, they had been trapped at the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the intermediate level of the Earth Immortal Realm] for many years, unable to advance a single step further.

Even though they had achieved successive great victories in this recent Path Tribulation [a trial of fate and destiny that cultivators must undergo], and the group had obtained a considerable amount of Path Source [a rare and potent spiritual essence used for profound cultivation], their strength was still progressing at a glacial pace. To advance even a single step further would require expending a thousandfold greater price to make up the deficit, and even that was merely a possibility.

"Alas."

Eldrin Chen understood that unless they took the immense risk of reincarnating to start their cultivation anew, gambling on the ethereal and uncertain Opportunity and Fortune [the chance encounters and luck that shape a cultivator's destiny] of a future life, there was absolutely no possibility for them to break through to the Celestial Immortal [a high and profound realm of immortal cultivation] realm.

After much deliberation, Eldrin Chen spoke again after a long moment of contemplation: "Trouble our clan uncle to deliver two Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill [a legendary pill that forges an indestructible golden physique] and some Path Source to the Wind-Fire-Thunder Divine Ape [a mighty simian demon beast commanding the powers of wind, fire, and thunder] and the Obsidian Qilin [a noble, black-scaled mythical beast of great power]. Then, please invite the other six to come here."

"In a moment."

Lior Chen nodded and soon brought the Lord of the Path Palace [the master of the palace dedicated to the study and practice of cultivation paths] and the other seven individuals to the Great Hall.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, everyone nodded in greeting.

"Please, be seated."

After all, they shared bonds forged over many years. Seeing them, Eldrin Chen could not help but nod in acknowledgment.

It had been merely a million years since his ascension to immortality, yet Eldrin Chen had already soared to the heavens, becoming a figure of great renown within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast and renowned realm within the immortal worlds].

Yet those who once followed him in ascending to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [the primary immortal realm where the story takes place] have gradually fallen behind, unable to keep pace with his strides.

Aside from a select few like Violet Consort Yan and Lila, whom Eldrin Chen has supported with all his might, the potential of the others has slowly reached its limit.

The individuals before him now are close to that point, yet they still retain a sliver of potential to touch the threshold of the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial immortals, a major milestone in cultivation].

Among this group, Void-Refining Immortal [an immortal title signifying mastery over void/space], Demon-Subduing Divine Monk, Lord of the Path Palace, and Heaven Abandoned Lin are all venerable seniors from the bygone era of the Purple Seal Realm [a lower realm from the protagonist's past]. Freya Ji is a close confidante of Exquisite Jiang, and Dorian Ji is none other than Exquisite Jiang's own cousin.

Throughout their cultivation journeys, each had, to varying degrees, offered aid to Eldrin Chen. For this reason, Eldrin Chen still intended to look after them.

Once everyone was seated, Eldrin Chen spoke with a gentle smile, "I sense your spiritual power is harmonious and complete. It seems the breakthrough to Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a transitional state just below the full Celestial Immortal realm] is not far off."

His words caused a subtle shift in the gazes of those present.

Heaven Abandoned Lin and Lord of the Path Palace remained composed, but Void-Refining Immortal shook his head with a wry laugh. "Attempting to charge into the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm from the Sixfold Heaven [a specific high-level stage within the Earth Immortal realm] carries a success rate of less than one in ten."

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment. Then, from his sleeve, he retrieved several Path Source [a rare spiritual treasure that aids in comprehending the Dao and breaking through cultivation bottlenecks] and distributed them, handing two to each person.

The moment they laid eyes on the objects, the group was momentarily stunned, their expressions flickering with astonishment.

This time, Eldrin Chen had bestowed Supreme-Grade Path Source [the foundational spiritual essence of a cultivation path] of the eighth rank, leaving them utterly astounded.

Demon-Subduing Divine Monk shook his head, sighing deeply, "This treasure is far too precious. This humble monk feels unworthy to receive it. Please, Benefactor, take it back."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and spoke calmly, "Given your foundational roots, the hope of breaking through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a quasi-immortal state just below true celestial immortality] is far too slim."

"Only by refining these portions of Path Source to mend the flaws in your foundations, and then relying on the Primordial Unity Golden Body Pill [a legendary pill for forging a perfect, unified golden body constitution], can you successfully cultivate the Primordial Unity Foundation [the foundational art of primordial unity]."

Having said this, Eldrin Chen continued, "I know you feel uneasy accepting this, but there is no need for concern."

"Consider it a debt. An Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality] possesses endless lifespan. Once you break through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, you can repay it slowly over time."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen retrieved six more immortal fruits and handed them to the group.

"What are these?"

Gazing at the six fruits, everyone was momentarily taken aback.

Eldrin Chen smiled slightly and explained, "These are Reincarnation Fruit [a mystical fruit that grants the experience of a lifetime within a dream] borne from the Ancient Reincarnation Tree [an ancient, mystical tree connected to the cycle of rebirth]. Consuming one allows you to cultivate for an entire lifetime within a dream, and you can condense the cultivation attained in that dream-life into a Path Fruit [a crystallization of one's cultivation path and insights]."

"After refining this treasure, you will have a certain hope of cultivating the Primordial Unity Path Fruit [a profound cultivation art that unifies one's spiritual essence into a single, perfect fruit of the Path]."

"However, although this object is profoundly wondrous, an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] can only refine one in their entire lifetime. Whether to use it or not is a decision you must weigh for yourselves."

Eldrin Chen explained in detail, speaking of the wondrous uses of the Reincarnation Fruit [a miraculous fruit that grants a simulated experience of reincarnation and cultivation].

This Reincarnation Fruit is a special type of Exotic Treasure [a rare and unique magical treasure with extraordinary properties]. Consuming it allows a person to separate a portion of their soul and divine consciousness, carrying their memories to cultivate anew for a lifetime in a certain world among the infinite dimensions.

During this dreamlike cultivation, all cultivation achievements and experiences are utterly real. In theory, one could even cultivate to a realm more powerful than their current life.

Of course, due to immense uncertainty, the cultivation body within the dream also has a great probability of perishing prematurely along the path.

Whether one perishes midway or cultivates to surpass this current life, upon awakening from the dream, all cultivation from the dream will return to one's true self. If the foundational essence and potential realized in the dream far exceed those of this life, it can even bestow the miraculous effect of Foundation Reforging [a divine ability that allows one to completely rebuild and enhance their cultivation foundation].

Naturally, although the Reincarnation Fruit possesses such wondrous utility, it also carries significant limitations.