Chapter 1720 : A Vow to Purify the Nether Abyss

However, the incense of faith is a double-edged sword [a source of power with inherent risks and potential backlash]. To achieve the Path Fruit Attainment by refining over one hundred million Incense Offering Celestial Silver would likely sow the seeds of future calamity.

"Fortune and Merit [the metaphysical currencies of auspicious fate and virtuous karma], these are the superior path."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly. Recalling that Fortune and Merit carried no such hidden perils, he finally drew a deep, resolute breath.

His gaze turned towards the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, and he slowly extended a finger, swearing a solemn oath to the heavens.

"By the Heavenly Path [the supreme cosmic law and principle of cultivation] above, I, Returning Abyss Path Master, having attained immortality for over a million years and walked the lands of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, have witnessed the rampant tyranny of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea and its True Demon [a classification of powerful, malevolent demons]. They plunder the essence of heaven and earth, corroding the very Creation [the foundational creative force of the cosmos] of this Immortal Domain. All living beings, all myriad spirits, suffer under their shadow."

"Now, as I seek to prove the boundless Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation path] of Fortune and Merit, I hereby make an immeasurably great vow."

"Upon the day my cultivation reaches its zenith, I shall sweep clean the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, deliver the souls lost upon the Heavenly Path, and restore purity to this world, washing it clean to its very foundations."

"For as long as a single day passes where the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea remains unconquered, I shall not advance to the realm of Great Encompassing [a supreme cultivation realm signifying omnipresence and ultimate power]!"

"BOOM! CRACKLE-RUMBLE!"

As the words of Eldrin Chen's vow fell, heaven and earth trembled violently, shaking with a deafening roar. For more chapters, visit audio-novel`com for the complete novel.

Throughout the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, a profound and ineffable Heavenly Path Will [the conscious will of the cosmos itself] stirred from its slumber.

The Heavenly Path Origin [the foundational cosmic energy of a realm] of the Thirty-Threefold Heavenly Domain slowly converged, as if a gaze had pierced through the veil of Space-Time to arrive.

It looked upon Eldrin Chen, seeming to see through his physical form, his Path Principle [the fundamental laws he embodies], and his Path Fruit [the culmination of his cultivation journey]. After a moment of profound silence, it delivered its response.

From the boundless ends of the heavens, an immeasurable, inexhaustible power of Merit [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and cosmic karma] began to descend.

A full one thousand strands of Merit Violet Light [the radiant manifestation of supreme virtue] drifted down, coalescing bit by bit behind Eldrin Chen's head. They finally condensed into a single, dazzlingly brilliant golden divine halo.

"Merit Golden Light!"

At that very moment, the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain trembled.

Countless Celestial Immortal Great Power [immortal beings of immense power] who had been in secluded cultivation within their Grotto-Heaven [personal pocket dimensions] opened their eyes. Gazing towards the Thirty-Threefold Heaven Grand Formation [the grand defensive array of the heavens], their expressions were ones of utter astonishment.

Deep within the Golden Crow Grotto-Heaven, a being akin to an eternal Solar Sun dimmed its radiance slightly. From within its core, a figure the color of Dao Gold [a mythical metal symbolizing perfected enlightenment] opened its eyes, its gaze blazing with an intensity that could sear the heavens.

"I had intended to settle accounts with you after the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial]. I never imagined you would swear a Great Vow and borrow the Merit Golden Light from the very heavens."

"With this Merit Golden Light [a protective aura formed from accumulated virtuous deeds] shielding your body, you are under the protection of the Heavenly Path of the Immortal Domain [the cosmic order and laws governing the immortal realms] until you have repaid your Karma [the spiritual debt of cause and effect accrued through one's actions] to the Heavenly Path [the fundamental law of the cosmos]. No one would dare strike you down within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain."

"A mere junior, yet capable of such intricate scheming. That lad Imperial Sun died not without cause."

Having spoken thus, the ancient existence dwelling within the primordial Solar Sun [the essence of the primal sun] fell into a profound silence.

A moment later, he spoke again, his voice measured. "However, the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea is a contingency left by *that one*. To utterly purge the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea is to inevitably wage a war to the death against that being."

"When the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth [a legendary rebirth technique requiring survival through a hundred calamities] occurs, *that one* will surely awaken and return."

"That being is an Eight-Calamity Ancient Demon [a primordial demon lord who has weathered eight cosmic calamities]. To make an enemy of Him is to court your own demise."

With those final words, the golden figure slowly closed its eyes.

Simultaneously, deep within the Verdant Sun Grotto-Heaven, the Verdant Sun Ancient God gazed through the veils of dimensions. He finally drew a deep breath and murmured, "The Fortune and Merit Boundless Path Fruit [a supreme cultivation achievement representing boundless luck and accumulated virtue]. The last to cultivate such a Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivated Dao, representing mastery over a fundamental law] was *that one*, was it not?"

The Verdant Sun Ancient God whispered softly to himself, then inhaled deeply once more.

The last cultivator to achieve the Fortune [divine luck and favorable destiny] and Merit [accumulated virtue and spiritual credit] Path Fruit was the Purple Seal Immortal Lord [a title for a supreme immortal lord], whose might once shook the Three Thousand Immortal Domains.

That Purple Seal Immortal Lord [a title for an immortal of profound cultivation] attained the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation] in a mere few million years, becoming an unprecedented legend within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of immortals].

Meanwhile, deep within the Evergreen Grotto-Heaven [a secluded paradise realm] in the Eastern Region, a peerless figure clad in a verdant long skirt turned her gaze slowly.

After a moment of contemplation, she murmured softly to herself, "The Heavenly Path [the fundamental laws and principles of the cosmos] was willing to lend him a strand of Merit Golden Light [a manifestation of immense virtuous power]. Could it truly believe he can cleanse the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a sea of torment and demonic energy] and restore the origin of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a major immortal realm]?"

"..."

The thoughts of the supreme beings residing within the various Grotto-Heaven [paradisiacal realms of immortals] were unknown to Eldrin Chen.

At this moment, sensing the Merit Golden Light Divine Halo [a radiant halo formed from concentrated merit] behind his head, he could not help but let out a slow sigh of relief. Continue reading this story at audio - novel . com.

To make a grand vow and borrow a strand of Merit Golden Light from the Heavenly Path had always been part of his long-prepared plan.

After all, the Fortune Power [the power of destiny and good fortune] Eldrin Chen had obtained by forcefully overcoming this Path Tribulation [a major trial on one's cultivation path] was simply too staggering. Relying on ordinary means to accumulate Merit [virtuous power accrued through righteous deeds] would never be sufficient for him to cultivate the boundless Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivation journey].

Thus, using a grand vow to borrow a strand of Merit Golden Light was precisely according to Eldrin Chen's design.

Of course, the Merit Golden Light was not something one could borrow casually. The Merit power the Vast Azure Immortal Domain could bestow was finite. The Heavenly Path would not lend its power to just anyone who asked.

If you lack the capability to fulfill a Great Vow yet recklessly swear one, the Heavenly Path [the cosmic order and natural law] will not bestow Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds]. Instead, it will reclaim Merit as punishment.

Even if one, like Eldrin Chen, manages to borrow the power of Merit, failure to fulfill the vow means he will never be able to break through to the Great Encompassing Realm [the ultimate stage of cultivation, representing unity with the cosmos]. This is an immense price to pay.

Of course, for Eldrin Chen, given his nature, he would have inevitably clashed with the Ancient Demon [primordial beings of immense evil power] of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a legendary sea of torment in the demonic realms] sooner or later, even without incurring a Merit debt.

Using this inevitable conflict as the basis for a Great Vow to borrow Merit power is a multi-faceted bargain. Not only does it allow him to cultivate an immeasurable Path Fruit [the condensed essence and achievement of a cultivator's chosen Dao], but it also grants him the protection of the Heavenly Path.

Returning to the main thread, after obtaining the Merit Golden Light [a divine radiance born of accumulated Merit], Eldrin Chen immediately fused it into his nascent Path Fruit.

In that instant, the Path Fruit underwent a startling transformation. Boundless violet Fortune [heavenly favor and auspicious destiny] and golden Merit converged, coalescing into a single, profoundly deep violet-gold Path Fruit.

"The Great Fortune and Merit Five Elements Primordial One Boundless Path Fruit."

The moment the Path Fruit fully solidified, a dazzling light bloomed within Eldrin Chen's pupils.

"Boom!"

As the Path Fruit took form, Eldrin Chen felt his Earth Immortal World [the inner world cultivated by an Earth Immortal] begin to expand at a breathtaking pace, swelling to several times its former size in the blink of an eye.

In the span of a single breath, his Earth Immortal World [the inner world cultivated by an Earth Immortal] expanded with terrifying speed, finally halting only after reaching a staggering nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand light-years.

If others were to learn that Eldrin Chen's Earth Immortal World was of such magnitude, even an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a formidable cultivator who has transcended the Ancient Immortal realm] would find it impossible to remain seated in calm indifference.

Generally speaking, when one breaks through from a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundation built upon the unity of two primordial forces] to a Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundation built upon the unity of three primordial forces], one's Earth Immortal World typically doubles in size.

Yet the chasm between three million light-years and nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand light-years cannot be described as a mere doubling. It is an increase of approximately twenty-sevenfold.

A world of such scale transcends the ultimate limits of an Earth Immortal World. To call it a nascent Universe would not be an exaggeration.

However, Eldrin Chen's Earth Immortal World still retained the form of a world; it had not yet begun the profound transformation into a boundless Universe.

"Once my Earth Immortal World successfully ascends, just how vast will it ultimately become?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a growing intuition that he had perhaps underestimated the potential of this Immeasurable Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of one's cultivated Dao, representing profound enlightenment and power].

He slowly clenched his fist. The void around it warped and twisted. Within the endless dimensions of Space-Time, millions upon millions of dimensional worlds could be seen swirling in orbit around his palm.

"My power has already transcended the dimensions, its influence now projected across the myriad realms of the Myriad Heavens [the infinite, layered cosmos containing countless worlds and planes of existence]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, for in this moment he largely understood the nature of his current form.

The Eldrin Chen within the Immortal Domain was not his complete self; his true original body was the fully manifested Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique.

That Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique was vast and boundless, spanning millions of light-years in size, its mass beyond description or measure.

If his true body were to appear within the starry void of the Great Universe, it would become a supermassive gravitational attractor, drawing in billions of light-years of space and causing thousands of great galactic rivers to orbit around it.

The influence of his true body was relatively minor within the Immortal Domain, but within Multidimensional Space-Time, it was sufficient to affect the endless Dimensional Void and even the operation of millions of worlds.

If he were to truly delve into the dimensions, a single finger could puncture ten-dimensional space, and his mere gravitational presence would be enough to cause the Oblivion and collapse of countless great worlds.

"No wonder dimensional Space-Time does not permit Celestial Immortal Great Power to open up Universe within it," he realized.

"If I were to undergo my ascension there, it would be a world-ending cataclysm for the billions of worlds within Multidimensional Space-Time."

"Can I restrain my own power, to not interfere with the workings of the multidimensional space?" Access the full story on audio~novel.com.