Chapter 1685 : The Weight of a Primordial Title
Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of concern passing through his eyes.
Throughout the vast expanse of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, beings bearing the prefix 'Tai' [Great/Primordial] were among the most ancient and primordial of Innate Being [beings born directly from the essence of creation]. Only the very first batch of lifeforms to emerge at the dawn of the cosmos were deemed worthy of such an august title.
Among the Innate Humans [humans born of primordial essence], Eldrin Chen knew of only three such 'Tai'-prefixed existences. One was the Ancient Progenitor of the Taiyang Clan [Great Sun Clan]. The other two were the Primordial Genesis Path Ancestor and the Great Abyss Immortal Sage.
In the same vein, supreme existences like the Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign and the Solar Heavenly Emperor were also figures of this 'Tai' generation.
These firstborn Innate Divine Spirit [divine spirits born from the world's foundational energies] of creation were all beings of such unfathomable power. Therefore, the Tai Cang Divine Emperor from this Divine Clan must undoubtedly be a figure of profound and immeasurable depth.
Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen pondered aloud, his voice measured, "If, during this coming Path Tribulation [a cosmic trial faced by those walking the path of cultivation], I were to slay this Tai Cang Imperial Scion, would it invite future complications?"
Song Luo shook his head. "Within the Tai Cang Imperial Clan, new Imperial Scions are born every ten million years. For a Quasi-Sage [a cultivator one step below the Sage realm] of great power, a single session of secluded cultivation can span who knows how many Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth]."
"To the Tai Cang Divine Emperor himself, a mere Tai Cang Imperial Scion at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm is a matter he might not even be aware of. He would certainly not lower himself to act against you personally for such a reason."
At this point, Song Luo paused thoughtfully before continuing, "However, should you kill the Tai Cang Imperial Scion, it would undoubtedly draw the attention of the upper echelons of the Tai Cang Divine Clan."
"Under ordinary circumstances, it might be overlooked. But when the time comes for you to attempt your breakthrough into the Great Encompassing Realm [the Da Luo realm, a supreme state of cultivation], they would surely obstruct your path to enlightenment, adding an unnecessary tribulation to your journey."
Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile and shake his head, his heart immediately settling with relief.
The breakthrough to the Great Encompassing realm was still a distant prospect. The most pressing task at hand was to first overcome the Path Tribulation [a profound trial of fate and cultivation] and achieve the Leakless Path Fruit [a state of cultivation where one's spiritual foundation is flawless and complete]—that was the true path to power.
Having made his decision, Eldrin Chen spoke, "The Hundred Spirits Ancestral Domain is still watching from the sidelines, and the Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of heavenly punishment] within the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain has yet to subside. Now is the perfect moment for us to step into the Western Pole Heavenly Domain."
"Let us move, everyone."
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
They understood that with Eldrin Chen's entry into the Western Pole Heavenly Domain, this battle would undoubtedly become the pinnacle conflict of the Six Heavenly Domains of the Western Pole.
Two Path Tribulation Protagonist [individuals destined to be central figures in a great tribulation] were about to clash for supremacy. One was a disciple of the Primordial Era Imperial Clan, while the other was a peerless prodigy who had risen from humble origins to topple the Ancient Sect's Direct Lineage. Between these two, who would prove stronger?
In this battle, one of them was destined to fall.
"..."
Once their resolve was firm, Eldrin Chen led the group that very day, charging towards the Six Heavenly Domains of the Western Pole.
To ensure the element of surprise, Eldrin Chen did not bring ordinary Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] cultivators. He left behind all Immortal below the Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] realm, allowing them to scatter across the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea to gather treasures and resources.
As for Green Chariot Mountain, only five cultivators who had mastered the Single Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundational cultivation art focusing on unifying one's primordial essence] were left behind to guard it.
Relying on these individuals and the power of the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for defense, attack, or cultivation], they were already capable of withstanding sneak attacks from those at the Early Celestial Immortal Realm [the initial stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm].
Now, the high-grade treasures within the Returning Abyss Sea had been taken by Eldrin Chen, and all key personnel and supplies had been relocated to the Small Universe [a pocket dimension or artificially created realm]. There was little need to worry about attracting overly powerful enemies for a surprise attack.
Returning to the main point, after settling his clan's affairs, Eldrin Chen utilized the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure capable of traversing vast distances through void space] and soon arrived within the Western Pole Heavenly Domain.
The Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance, combined with the Celestial Net Ancient Sect, formed a group of over seventy Half-Step Celestial Immortal cultivators. They all flew to the outskirts of the Venus Mountain Range and found the battlefield there to be in a state of extreme, grinding stalemate.
Above the Heavenly Vault [the sky or firmament], under the command of the Tai Cang Imperial Scion, countless members of the Divine Clan and the Demon Race had joined the fray. Dozens of ancient ships hovered in the air, relentlessly assaulting the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive formation array protecting a mountain range] of the Venus Mountain Range.
Within the Venus Mountain Range, a sky-obscuring Mountain Protection Formation enveloped the entire mountain chain. Furthermore, a boundless Sword Formation [a formation that manifests and controls countless sword energies] swept across heaven and earth, transforming into a rain of swords that annihilated countless Demon Immortal [immortals of demonic origin] and Divine Spirits [spiritual beings of divine nature] into dust.
Hidden within the void, Eldrin Chen observed for a long while before stating, "This grand formation likely cannot hold for much longer."
Hearing this, the Myriad Spirit Patriarch also sighed softly. "This formation was originally a super-composite grand array laid down by the Venus Grotto-Heaven over nearly a million years. It was composed of dozens of Primordial Unity Immortal Treasure [supreme-grade immortal treasures of unified primordial essence] and countless other Immortal Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by immortals]."
"After the Path Tribulation erupted, and with the continuous reinforcement from the Wind Cloud Path Palace, the Long Geng Sword Sect, and the Primordial Solar Grotto-Heaven, logically, even a Late Celestial Immortal Realm expert should find it difficult to breach."
"However, with the six major forces of the Demonic and Divine Clans now allied, and under the assault of the Ninth Rank Ancient Ship and the World-Ending Cannon, this formation ultimately cannot hold for long."
At this point, Myriad Spirit Patriarch shook his head and concluded, "Within three thousand years, this formation will surely be broken."
Eldrin Chen nodded, then spoke, "The Venus Mountain Range is already surrounded, sealed tighter than a drum. Does anyone have a way to contact the major forces within the Formation [a defensive or offensive energy structure created through mystical arts] and coordinate a pincer attack against the Demonic and Divine Clans?"
"Leave that to me."
Song Luo spoke calmly. As a Great Encompassing cultivator and a direct descendant of an Ancient Sect's Direct Lineage, he naturally possessed means to communicate with those inside.
Soon, Song Luo received a reply. He informed the group, "I have made arrangements with the Venus Grotto-Heaven, the Wind Cloud Path Palace, the Long Geng Sword Sect, and the Primordial Solar Grotto-Heaven. We will launch a coordinated pincer attack a thousand years from now, at the moment the grand formation is about to fall."
"Good."
Eldrin Chen nodded, his expression grave. "In that case, we shall prepare and adjust our strength for a millennium, awaiting the opportune moment to strike."
"..."
Within the Western Pole Heavenly Domain [a celestial realm in the western heavens], beyond the brutally fierce battlefield, a hidden scheme for murder was quietly brewing.
At almost the same moment, within the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain [a vast domain of celestial sands], inside an Ancient Temple, two figures, one old and one young, sat side by side.
The elder was a kindly old Bodhisattva [an enlightened being in Buddhism]. The youth had disheveled hair, a towering and wild posture, and wore a crimson kasaya [Buddhist monastic robe]. He seemed part Buddha, part demon, exuding the fierce majesty of a wrathful Vajra [a divine warrior in Buddhism].
The youth was none other than Worthy Pursuit Chen. His expression was somber. After sitting in silence for a long while, he finally asked, "May I ask, Venerable Bodhisattva, why have you summoned me?"
"Oh, deluded child."
Bodhisattva Literary Heart shook his head and sighed. "In these past years, the killing you have wrought is excessive. It has already invited calamity."
"Excessive killing?"
Worthy Pursuit Chen's brow furrowed slightly. "My father once said, 'To kill is to protect life; to slay is not to slay a person.'"
"In my travels across the world these years, those I have slain were all individuals burdened by heavy karmic sin [negative spiritual consequences of actions]. How can it be said my killing is excessive?"
Upon hearing this, Bodhisattva Literary Heart let out a soft sigh. "You killed the Blood Dragon Buddhist Scion and beheaded the direct-line disciple of the Celestial Rotating Jade Ancient Sect."
Worthy Pursuit Chen remained utterly unperturbed, his voice calm as he stated, "The Blood Dragon Buddhist Scion achieved his path through the bloody sacrifice of multitudes, and the Celestial Rotating Jade Ancient Sect's Direct Lineage refined stars using Human Souls. Both are individuals whose sins drown the heavens in blood."
"I have attained the Path Fruit of the Great Thunderous Voice Tathagata Buddha. Delivering these two from their suffering is itself an act of universal salvation for all living beings."
Upon hearing this, Bodhisattva Literary Heart could only offer a bitter smile. "Over these years, you have already made enemies of far too many."
"Now, within the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain, three major Buddhist Sect Grotto-Heavens have joined forces, intent on suppressing you. Even I, your master, cannot shield you any longer."
At that very moment, from beyond the Ancient Temple, one streak of tribulation light after another shot across the sky, converging upon them.
Worthy Pursuit Chen cast his gaze outward. He saw Buddhas whose radiance illuminated the great cosmos, wrathful Vajra Saints [Buddhist guardian deities of immense power] from the Buddhist Sect, and Bodhisattvas with serene, smiling countenances.
There were several dozen in total. The weakest among them possessed cultivation at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, and there were even a few whose auras marked them as beings of the Early Celestial Immortal Realm.
At their forefront stood three Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who had achieved the flawless Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation art], accompanied by a single Vajra Saint.
The Vajra Saint was the first to roar, "Wicked spawn! Will you not swiftly accept your death?"
"Enter our Prana Temple and submit to the Dharma Protector Vajra Seal [a powerful sealing technique used to subdue and control], and your life may yet be spared."
The female Bodhisattva [an enlightened being who compassionately delays their own Buddhahood to aid others] wore a gentle smile and spoke with serene tranquility.
The Buddha [the Enlightened One] also responded with a subtle, knowing smile, a halo of sacred light radiating behind him, illuminating the Myriad Heavens: "Lay down your blade of slaughter, and you may attain Buddhahood in this very instant."
Worthy Pursuit Chen gazed upon the figures before him, steadying his mind and spirit.
In that moment, as he looked upon these Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with their benevolent and compassionate countenances, he seemed to perceive a host of demons clad in monastic robes.
In an instant, Worthy Pursuit Chen's hair and beard whipped about as if caught in a furious gale, and his majestic form rose to its full height.
He hefted the Immortal Iron Staff in his grasp, swinging it like a pillar holding up the heavens to sweep across the Starry River, bringing it down with the force to shatter the Soaring Sky.
"BOOM—"
Heaven and earth roared, all creation seemed to shatter, and a mighty cry tore through the tumult.
"I AM THE TRUE BUDDHA!"