Chapter 1749 : The Dao Foundation's Limit

Of course, those who have established their foundation through the Martial Dao Foundation Establishment must refine their vital Qi and Blood and flesh into True Essence day and night, a process demanding immense and unyielding willpower. It stands to reason that such individuals would likely not fear these Baleful Qi [malevolent spiritual energies that can corrupt the mind and body].

Regardless, Eldrin Chen's method of using a Dao Foundation [a constructed spiritual foundation] to replace a Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual organ that allows one to cultivate], thereby enabling mortals without one to embark on the path of cultivation, was undoubtedly a stroke of astonishing genius.

Even many Great Luo Golden Immortal [the highest echelons of immortal beings] within the Immortal Domain would have to marvel at his transcendent brilliance.

"After the third realm of the Dao Foundation, what path lies beyond for the fourth realm?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a slight furrow appearing between his brows as he sank into deep contemplation.

In truth, after successfully forging a Dao Foundation, a cultivator could reopen their Purple Mansion [the spiritual sea within a cultivator's dantian] and tread the orthodox path of immortal cultivation anew.

However, this path was ultimately not a true Spiritual Root. Without one, relying solely on the Primordial Spirit's [the spiritual core of a cultivator] comprehension of the Dao's principles to master the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental rules governing reality] was nigh impossible.

Furthermore, the Dao Foundation was forged from external materials, not the cultivator's own Spiritual Root. It was analogous to the External Elixir [an artificially condensed core] method used by Golden Core Cultivator.

To achieve the Dao through this method meant the foundation itself was inherently flawed. At most, one could cultivate to the Nascent Soul Realm before reaching a dead end, with no possibility of advancing further.

This was the greatest obstacle encountered by almost all creators of such methods throughout countless ages. Read the full novel exclusively on www . audio-novel.com.

Since the Immeasurable Kalpa [an immense cosmic cycle of time], many Great Luo Golden Immortals [supreme beings at the pinnacle of cultivation] have taken action. Not a few have attempted to extrapolate cultivation methods for mortals all the way to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of the spiritual core], yet they discovered they still could not shatter the curse that mortals cannot achieve Ascending to Immortality [the ultimate transcendence to become an immortal].

Without a Spiritual Root [the innate foundation required for cultivation], one's foundation is ultimately flawed. Unless one abandons their Physical Body [the mortal flesh] to reincarnate and cultivate anew, it is ultimately impossible to ascend the Great Dao [the supreme path of cultivation].

Yet, with the power of an Immortal [a transcendent being], even if those around them lack a Spiritual Root, they can directly employ Supreme [peerless and ultimate] means to defy fate, reshape another's foundation, and artificially forge a Spiritual Root for them.

On one side lies a dead-end path where one cannot achieve Ascending to Immortality; on the other, the effortless ability to simply raise a hand and create a Heavenly Spiritual Root [the highest grade of spiritual foundation]. As time passed, no one bothered to extrapolate cultivation methods for mortals anymore.

Eldrin Chen's resolve was unshakable at this moment, not a shred of thought to abandon his path due to its difficulty.

In that instant, a profound realization dawned upon him. If myself could forge another Path to Immortality [a method to achieve immortality], granting countless mortals the hope of Ascending to Immortality, then he would become a Dao Ancestor [the progenitor of a cultivation path] whose brilliance would illuminate the Boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse of existence].

Should the day come when multitudes of mortals tread the path of cultivation he forged, he, as the progenitor of that path, would become a true Chaos Dao Ancestor [a Dao Ancestor whose influence spans the primordial chaos].

At that time, he would become a source of the Great Dao itself. Only thus could he hope to become an existence akin to the Taishi Dao Ancestor [the Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor, a legendary foundational figure].

"This path is arduous," he murmured.

"For a mortal frame to walk the immortal's road... in the end, it may prove but a moon reflected in water, a flower glimpsed in a mirror—an illusion destined to vanish into emptiness."

"It seems I must forge a new path, and create a unique method for Ascending to Immortality [the ultimate goal of cultivation, transcending mortality to become an immortal]."

Eldrin Chen spoke with serene calm, a glimmer of enlightenment already blooming within his heart.

The path of the Martial Path [a cultivation art focused on physical refinement and combat prowess] must traverse a road utterly distinct from the Immortal Dao [the primary path of cultivation focusing on spiritual enlightenment and longevity] to achieve Ascending to Immortality.

"Very well. If I can pioneer a new method for Ascending to Immortality, it can serve as mutual verification with the Immortal Dao, allowing me to forge myself own Heaven-Reaching Great Path [a supreme cultivation art that leads to the heavens]."

His resolve crystallized, Eldrin Chen immediately began deducing the myriad possibilities for the fourth realm of Martial Path cultivation.

Thus, a full Millennium [a period of one thousand years] flowed by like a river. One day, Eldrin Chen opened his eyes, a trace of a smile gracing his features.

"The fourth realm of the Martial Path—the Divine Treasury [Divine Treasury]!"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, ripples of profound insight shimmering within the depths of his gaze.

Over that Millennium, he had deduced one hundred and eight thousand possible methods for the Martial Path's fourth realm. In the end, he chose this Divine Treasury method.

This Divine Treasury method was not the most powerful among all possibilities—its combat prowess ranked ninth—but it possessed the greatest latent potential of them all.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment, Perfection Stage, one can then open the Divine Treasury within their body.

Within the Divine Treasury realm, a cultivator can open a maximum of ten Great Deity repositories. These are: the Primordial Source [the foundational origin of one's being], the Qi and Blood [the repository of vital energy and lifeblood], the Force Extreme [the repository of physical strength and power], the Primordial Qi [the repository of the primordial breath of creation], the Soul [the repository of the spiritual essence], the Dao Heart [the repository of the cultivator's unwavering will and connection to the Dao], the Longevity [the repository governing lifespan and vitality], the Heavenly Secrets [the repository for comprehending celestial mysteries], the Laws of the Dao [the repository for understanding the fundamental laws of existence], and finally, the ultimate Divine Treasury Great Luo [the supreme repository representing the pinnacle of this cultivation path].

For each Divine Treasury opened, the cultivator must integrate and nurture a strand of their own Divine Sense [spiritual awareness] within it.

The cultivation within the Divine Treasury realm involves drawing upon the various Creation Substances [primordial substances of creation that exist between the heavenly layers] from the spaces between the Heavenly Layers. These substances are used to nourish the Divine Sense within the Divine Treasury, causing it to transform into an Origin Divine Soul [a divine soul of primordial origin].

Once the cultivation of the ten Great Deity repositories reaches a state of flawless perfection, one can utilize the Creation Qi [the breath of creation] and the Divine Soul [the divine spiritual essence] within the Divine Treasury to directly bypass the step of condensing a Golden Core and instead cultivate a Dao Embryo [an embryonic form of the Dao] within the body.

The Dao Embryo represents the fifth major realm for a cultivator, equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm in Immortal [the standard immortal cultivation] paths. However, it is fundamentally different from a Nascent Soul. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audi novel.com.

A Nascent Soul is formed from the Divine Soul, a manifestation of pure and pristine spiritual power. In contrast, the Dao Embryo contains immense and potent Creation Substances, making it an aggregate entity that exists between the illusory and the real.

Strictly speaking, the Dao Embryo possesses both flesh and blood, resembling more a nascent embryo, marking a qualitative distinction from the purely spiritual Nascent Soul.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, achieving the cultivation of ten Divine Treasury repositories is exceedingly difficult, likely attainable only by a once-in-a-million-years prodigious genius. For ordinary individuals, successfully cultivating eight or nine repositories would already be a feat rarely seen across millennia.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen has calculated that opening just three Divine Treasury repositories grants a one-in-ten chance of breaking through to the Dao Embryo realm. If one manages to cultivate five or six repositories, the likelihood of achieving the Dao Embryo breakthrough becomes almost assured.

Therefore, this path is not a dead end. As long as one opens more than five Divine Treasury [a cultivation realm focused on developing internal spiritual repositories], it is actually easier than advancing from Golden Core [the third major realm where spiritual energy condenses into a solid core] to Nascent Soul [the fourth major realm where the cultivator's spirit forms an independent infant soul].

If one can open seven Divine Treasury, their foundational power and combat strength would be comparable to that of a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul cultivator who ascended using the rarest and most powerful method], and it wouldn't even require external aids like Heavenly Dao Qi [the supreme, primordial spiritual energy of the Heavenly Dao].

The fifth realm, Dao Embryo [the realm of nurturing a 'Dao Embryo' or spiritual seed of one's path], is essentially about nurturing the Dao Embryo and continuously strengthening the Primordial Source [the foundational, origin-point spiritual energy] within the Divine Treasury. Eldrin Chen quickly deduced and completed the framework for this stage.

After successfully theorizing the fifth realm, Eldrin Chen proceeded to deduce the sixth—Indestructible [the 'Indestructible' realm, representing physical perfection].

The so-called sixth realm, Indestructible, involves, during the cultivation of the Dao Embryo, using a Supreme [a grade denoting the highest class of cultivation arts] technique to forge a single Martial Path Indestructible Body [an ultimate, nigh-unbreakable physical form achieved through martial cultivation].

Cultivation at this level requires utilizing the Primordial Source from the Divine Treasury and the nourishing power of the Dao Embryo to feedback into and refine the Physical Body [the corporeal form]. One must then ingest the essence of Heavenly Layers [a high-level realm often associated with celestial mountains] mountains and Ronan [a name, likely referring to a place or entity], along with vast quantities of rare treasures from the Heavenly Layers, to ultimately cultivate a peerless treasure body.

The Martial Path Treasure Body [a physique refined to the level of a priceless spiritual treasure] becomes immortal and Indestructible, reaching the absolute pinnacle of the Mortal Realm [the world of mortals, as opposed to the immortal realms]. It can even achieve a state where Drop of Blood Rebirth [the divine ability to regenerate one's entire body from a single drop of blood] is possible.

"Body Forging, Qi Refining, Dao Foundation, Divine Treasury, Dao Embryo, Indestructible."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, reviewing once more the six realms of the Martial Path [the path of cultivation focused on martial prowess and physical refinement] he had created, and could not help but draw in a slow, deep breath.

From a mere mortal practicing body refinement to this point, one could reach the very limits of the mortal world.

Such an existence would possess the supreme Dao Embryo [the embryonic form of one's Dao, the foundation for future ascension], a Divine Treasury [the spiritual dantian where a cultivator stores their power] capable of holding Mana [the refined spiritual energy used to cast spells and techniques] equivalent to ten ordinary dantians, and an unparalleled treasure-body forged with the Indestructible [an art that grants a body of incredible resilience, nearly impossible to destroy] technique. Their combat prowess would truly have reached a pinnacle where no further advancement seemed possible.

Eldrin Chen estimated that if one could cultivate the ten Great Deity [a powerful divine cultivation stage] repositories and forge the ultimate Martial Path Divine Body [a supreme physique born from the Martial Path, granting god-like strength and endurance], they might possess the ability to challenge and slay an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality, transcending mortal limits] while still being mortal themselves.

To slay an Immortal without having undergone Ascending to Immortality [the tribulation and process of becoming an immortal] represents an almost ineffable, extreme feat of capability. In the past, even Eldrin Chen, before cultivating his Ascending to Immortality Dao foundation, had only barely managed such a thing.

Yet, even for such a dazzlingly brilliant existence, reaching this point meant it was impossible to advance any further.

Because the Innate Foundation [the innate, fundamental spiritual constitution one is born with] was inherently flawed, it was impossible to break through to the realm of Ascending to Immortality. This was an insurmountable chasm, a barrier no mortal could cross.

"But... is it truly insurmountable?"

Eldrin Chen murmured calmly, and finally wrote a line of large characters on the paper before him.

"The Seventh Realm of the Martial Path [a cultivation path focused on physical perfection and combat prowess]—Sacrificial Self [the Realm of Self-Sacrifice, implying a profound transformation or offering of one's very being]." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel dot com.