Chapter 1694 : A World's End and a Silent Vigil

In the span of a mortal's hundred years, without attaining immortality, one must ultimately face the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Watching the one he loved grow old and die in his arms, Worthy Pursuit Chen experienced for the first time in his life that profound sense of utter powerlessness.

He interred Plain Essence within the Frigid Soul Ice Coffin [a coffin of mystical ice that preserves the body from decay], safeguarding her physical form from corruption. Thereafter, he remained at Willow Catkin Manor, his temperament turning taciturn and withdrawn, no longer concerning himself with the affairs of the Mortal Dust [the mundane, mortal world].

Thus passed three hundred years, until this corner of heaven and earth could no longer sustain itself and began its final, Extinction Silence [a state of absolute, world-ending stillness and entropy] collapse.

And as that world-ending Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic, universe-rending calamity] erupted, Worthy Pursuit Chen sat atop the mountain peak, his heart a wasteland of silent desolation.

The earth shattered; molten rock flowed like rivers across the land.

Vast as it once was, this world had already become a realm of death a century prior. Even the once-mighty Divine Ability Venerable [a supreme master of divine arts and profound cultivation] could not survive in such an environment.

Worthy Pursuit Chen kept his vigil on the snowy peak, holding the ice coffin, his gaze fixed upon the infernal landscape of the Mortal Realm. His eyes held only a deep, wordless silence.

"Boom! Rumble!"

Until, after what seemed an eternity, heaven and earth fractured. One after another, Path Void [a state of profound emptiness or a rift in reality] fissures tore through the sky, and an immeasurable torrent of void energy came pouring forth. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel-dot-com.

The world crumbled and shattered amidst a ceaseless, thunderous roar. Within the heavens and earth, faint traces of primordial power [the foundational energy that constitutes reality] slowly manifested.

For Worthy Pursuit Chen, this should have been a joyous occasion. By absorbing these traces of primordial power, he could have recovered a measure of his strength and retrieved the Innate Spiritual Water.

Yet, in this moment, his heart remained as still and lifeless as stagnant water.

For the Oblivion energy that had annihilated the world now surged forth—a tide of void energy [a destructive force from the emptiness between worlds that erodes all matter] capable of grinding all creation to dust. It rushed toward him.

Even with his full power devoted to defense, he could only watch helplessly as the figure within the ice coffin turned to ash, scattered into nothingness.

"NO—!"

Rage, despair, bitter refusal.

Yet, in the end, he was utterly powerless.

An immeasurable span of time passed. Worthy Pursuit Chen stood expressionless upon the Void Heaven, silently gathering the lingering wisps of primordial power.

"…"

The Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast and ancient realm of immortals and cultivation].

Ever since the Fivefold Heaven [a powerful celestial domain] submitted, the conflicts within the Six Heavenly Domains of the Western Pole [six major celestial regions in the western part of the immortal world] had largely subsided.

In the millennia that followed, the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance [a powerful coalition of immortal forces] mustered a million Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] to deploy five grand formations across the five major Heavenly Domain [celestial regions].

They drew upon the water of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast sea imbued with profound western essence], the fire of the Primordial Solar Heavenly Domain [a domain of ancient, pure solar energy], the metal of the Western Pole Heavenly Domain [the westernmost celestial region], the wood of the Myriad Spirit Ancestral Domain [the ancestral land of countless spirits], and the earth of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain [a domain of celestial desert sands], thereby creating a single, monumental Super Five Elements Grand Formation [a supreme formation harnessing the complete cycle of the five fundamental elements].

This Formation [a complex array or magical construct] was of such immense scale that it required no fewer than five Innate Treasure [treasures born of heaven and earth, possessing innate power] merely to anchor its core positions. The total expenditure of Primordial Unity Immortal Treasure [treasures of primordial, unified essence], World-Opening Treasure [artifacts of power capable of shaping worlds], and other Immortal Treasure [powerful artifacts used by immortals] was beyond reckoning.

Time flowed on, and by the thirtieth millennium of the Path Tribulation [a great cosmic calamity affecting the very laws of cultivation], this grand formation was finally completed. News spread that Returning Abyss Path Master [a master of the profound Returning Abyss cultivation path] intended to enter seclusion here. He planned to utilize the power of the Five Domains Five Elements Field Grand Formation [the grand formation harnessing the five elements from five domains] to condense his Flawless Primordial Unity Path Fruit [the perfect, foundational fruit of one's cultivation path, representing unity with primordial essence].

Simultaneously, key figures scattered across the far reaches of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain each received this intelligence.

"He defeated the Twin Imperial Scions of Tai Cang [the twin heirs of the mighty Tai Cang lineage]... before even condensing his Path Fruit [the crystallized essence and achievement of a cultivator's chosen path]?"

Southern Ridge Heavenly Domain, Golden Crow Heavenly Domain.

Within a majestic Great Hall, upon the highest step at the end of a long dais, a figure the color of Dao Gold [a radiant, spiritual gold representing the pinnacle of the Dao] stood motionless. He resembled a golden Solar Sun [the essence of the supreme sun], radiating a light that illuminated heaven and earth, a brilliance too intense for mortal eyes to behold directly.

Beneath the Great Hall, a figure clad in crimson robes stood, his expression grave.

These two were the most formidable prodigies of the current generation of the Golden Crow Clan, namely the Golden Crow Holy Scion and the Crimson Crow Holy Scion.

That Crimson Crow Holy Scion had cultivated the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation method], his combat prowess even stepping into the Forbidden Domain [a realm of power beyond conventional limits], making him a match for either of the Twin Imperial Scions of Tai Cang.

The Golden Crow Holy Scion, whose Daoist title was Imperial Sun, was the strongest prodigy the Golden Crow Clan had seen in one hundred million years. He was one of the central figures of this Path Tribulation [a great cosmic trial or calamity] and was regarded by the Golden Crow Ancient Progenitor as the Great Encompassing True Seed [a destined individual with the potential to achieve the highest realms] of the Golden Crow Clan.

At this moment, the Crimson Crow Holy Scion looked at the figure seated above, his expression profoundly solemn as he spoke: "This Returning Abyss Path Master has already cultivated an Innate Physique [a supreme, heaven-defying bodily constitution]. His combat strength can no longer be measured by the standards of an ordinary Dual Primordial Unity Foundation."

"Elder Brother Imperial Sun, this individual is not to be underestimated." Official source: audio-novel . com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"Oh?"

The Golden Crow Holy Scion's eyes flickered slightly, yet his tone remained placid. "Cultivating an Innate Physique ahead of time indeed grants power surpassing even the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation."

"However, the mightier one's foundation, the lower the success rate of condensing a Leakless Path Fruit [a flawless cultivation fruit representing a major breakthrough]. Having cultivated a Supreme Innate Physique, his difficulty in achieving the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation would have increased tenfold."

"Even if he leverages the geomantic power of the five great Heavenly Domain [regions of immense spiritual power] to set up an array, carrying the Fortune [cosmic luck and momentum] of sweeping through the Western Pole Five Heavenly Domains to attempt his breakthrough, his chances of success likely do not exceed ten or twenty percent."

Upon hearing this, the Crimson Crow Holy Scion was momentarily taken aback.

A flicker of delight crossed his face before he inquired further, "According to your judgment, Elder Brother, we need not intervene in this matter?"

The Imperial Sun Holy Scion shook his head and stated, "Once this individual consolidates the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation method], he will at the very least be comparable to a Supreme Forbidden Domain [a legendary realm of power] cultivator who has transcended Twelve Tribulations. He might even surpass that domain entirely by leveraging his Innate Physique [a rare, heaven-bestowed bodily constitution]."

"Facing such a formidable adversary, even if he possesses only a one-in-ten chance of a breakthrough, we cannot allow him to attempt it."

Having said this, the Imperial Sun Holy Scion issued his command: "Crimson Crow, the conflict in the Southern Pole Six Heavenly Domains has now been settled. Take a contingent and go there."

"Crimson Crow obeys your command."

The Crimson Crow Holy Scion nodded. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "And what of you, Elder Brother Imperial Sun…?"

"I will not be going."

The Imperial Sun Holy Scion shook his head, his gaze turning distant and profound. "I intend to enter seclusion to reverse my Innate True Body [a powerful natural-born physical form] and cultivate the Innate Golden Crow Physique [the legendary constitution of the Solar Crow]."

"That is inadvisable!" The Crimson Crow Holy Scion's expression shifted slightly. "Although you have successfully cultivated the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation, you have not yet broken through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial immortals]."

"If you prematurely cultivate the Innate True Body [a primordial, flawless physical form], you will inevitably invite an additional Tribulation [a heavenly trial or calamity] when you later ascend your Universe [an inner world or personal cosmos]."

As the Crimson Crow Holy Scion spoke, Imperial Sun's gaze flickered slightly, a trace of solemnity coloring his expression.

An Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality] in the Primordial Unity Realm [a foundational cultivation stage] can refine Innate Energy [primordial, untainted cosmic energy] to reverse their constitution into an Innate True Body, thereby forging an Innate Foundation [a perfect, primordial spiritual root].

However, this path is fraught with hidden perils. Firstly, the difficulty of achieving the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme, threefold foundational cultivation method] becomes vastly greater.

Secondly, once the Innate True Body is attained, the Immortal is, in essence, already a pseudo-Celestial Immortal Great Power [a being approaching the power of a true Celestial Immortal]. Attempting to ascend a Great Universe [a vast, mature inner cosmos] at this stage would provoke a fierce backlash from the endless Dimensional Void [the chaotic, primordial space between worlds].

For the Dimensional Void, an Earth Immortal [an immortal anchored to a world] elevating their Universe represents a sublime evolution of both self and world. While it may resist, it does not fundamentally block the ascent.

But if a Celestial Immortal Great Power were to attempt to ascend a Universe within the Dimensional Void, it would be akin to stealing the very essence of the Void itself. This would incur its wrath, summoning a terrifying Dimensional Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial born from the Void's fury].

Such a Great Tribulation is utterly dreadful. Even the most peerless genius with a Triple Primordial Unity Foundation would face near-certain annihilation, a path of nine deaths for a single chance at life.

Thus, since ancient times, it has been exceedingly rare for a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [one on the verge of becoming a Celestial Immortal] to refine Innate Energy and reverse their constitution into an Innate True Body before their formal breakthrough into a full Celestial Immortal.

The Imperial Sun Holy Scion naturally understood this. Yet, after a moment of silent contemplation, his resolve solidified. "Nevertheless," he declared, his voice firm.

"In this era of the Path Tribulation [a grand, world-shaking trial of fate and destiny], heroes rise from all corners. More than one Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [an ancient and immensely powerful sect] has made its move on the board. Relying solely on my current strength, I fear it may not be enough to safely and decisively dominate this Path Tribulation."

"If I can reverse my foundation to the Innate [the Innate Realm, a state of being one with nature from birth] and cultivate the Innate Golden Crow Physique [a legendary divine body akin to that of the sun-carrying Golden Crow], my confidence in dominating the Path Tribulation would increase by several degrees."

"Even though the Dimensional Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic tribulation that reshapes worlds and dimensions] is perilous, by that time, if I possess the power to have dominated the Path Tribulation, I would still have great confidence in overcoming it." For the best reading experience, visit audio—novel.com.