Chapter 1728 : Forging the Stellar Grotto-Heaven

The commonality among these five Grotto-Heaven [a self-contained pocket realm of immense spiritual energy] is that each is guarded by an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a cultivator who has transcended the Celestial Immortal realm and survived multiple heavenly tribulations]. If Eldrin Chen were to truly establish a sixth Supreme Grade Grotto-Heaven [the highest possible grade of a Grotto-Heaven], he would instead be inviting calamity by possessing a treasure beyond his means to protect.

The current concentration of primordial energy within the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven is already sufficient to rank within the top ten of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. The dozen or so Celestial Immortal Great Power [cultivators who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] of the Chen Clan can still barely defend it, and it is ample enough to support Eldrin Chen's cultivation all the way to the Late Celestial Immortal Realm.

"If the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven is sufficient, then we shall forge another Stellar Grotto-Heaven [a Grotto-Heaven aligned with stellar energies]."

With these words, Eldrin Chen once again activated the Thirty-Three Heavens Grand Formation [a grand formation encompassing the power of thirty-three heavenly realms].

Using the Stellar Glazed Boundary [a defensive formation with stellar and crystalline properties] and the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a formation that channels the power of stars and cosmos] as his foundation, he took the three Innate Stellar Pearl [naturally formed pearls containing pure stellar essence] from the Three Maidens of Sun, Moon, and Stars and performed an act of Creation [the supreme act of shaping reality from primordial chaos] to bring forth a Stellar Grotto-Heaven.

He then channeled vast amounts of heaven and earth's Creation into it, elevating the Stellar Grotto-Heaven to a Middle Grade Grotto-Heaven in the blink of an eye.

This Grotto-Heaven, Eldrin Chen intended to serve as the Grotto-Heaven for the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance, sustaining the cultivation of the Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the Celestial realm] within the Immortal Alliance. Some Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality] from the Chen Immortal Clan might also cultivate there. Therefore, Eldrin Chen planned to elevate its quality to an extremely high level.

Behold, Eldrin Chen continued his efforts, directly plundering the heaven and earth's Creation from formidable enemies like the Myriad Demons Ancestral Domain and the Bifang Demon Domain, ultimately advancing the Stellar Grotto-Heaven to an Upper Grade Grotto-Heaven.

"You audacious thief, how dare you act so brazenly!"

Witnessing Eldrin Chen plunder their Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy [the fundamental creative energy that forms heaven and earth], both the True Dragon Grotto-Heaven and the Bifang Demon Domain could no longer remain seated. Read, share, and discuss at audio - novel . com.

Within the True Dragon Grotto-Heaven [a hidden realm of immense spiritual energy, often the domain of powerful dragon clans], a Grotto-Heaven Lord [the sovereign ruler of a Grotto-Heaven] who had attained the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm] was utterly enraged, his roar nearly shaking the heavens: "I swear upon my draconic lineage, I will not rest until you are slain!"

At that moment, the gazes of countless Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm] turned towards the commotion, their expressions etched with shock and disbelief.

From the depths of the Primordial Solar Grotto-Heaven [an ancient Grotto-Heaven associated with the primal power of the sun], a White-robed Man cast his gaze, a note of intrigue in his voice: "To simultaneously plunder the Creation [the primordial creative energy that forms the foundation of worlds] from multiple Heavenly Domain [vast celestial territories] belonging to both Demonic and Divine Clans [powerful clans of demonic and divine beings]... truly, only the supremely skilled dare to be so bold."

"With the Creation of these major Heavenly Domain stolen, their Fortune [the metaphysical luck and destiny of a place or being] will inevitably wane for the next million years. Consequently, the Immortal Spirit Essence [the concentration of pure spiritual energy vital for high-level cultivation] within their associated Grotto-Heaven will also diminish."

"One can imagine those lords are utterly furious by now."

"Fascinating."

Beside the White-robed Man, a woman of peerless beauty smiled gracefully and said, "During this Path Tribulation [a great trial or calamity faced by cultivators on their path to ascension], he had already offended several Grotto-Heaven. Now, with the Merit [a metaphysical currency representing accumulated good karma and virtuous deeds] and protection bestowed by the Heavenly Path [the supreme, righteous Dao or cosmic law], he naturally fears nothing."

The White-robed Man nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Under the aegis of the Heavenly Path, as long as he remains within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a specific, vast region of the immortal realms], who could possibly touch him?"

As for the reactions from the various powers, he had long anticipated them, yet he paid them no mind.

During this Path Tribulation, Eldrin Chen had slain the Verdant Sun Imperial Scion, beheaded the Imperial Sun Golden Crow, and even the Primordial Era Thunder Dragon [an ancient and immensely powerful dragon from the dawn of time] had fallen by his hand. Irrevocable enmity with these great powers was already forged.

Since there was no longer any room for reconciliation, it was better to simply seize Opportunity and Fortune while the major Grotto-Heaven [a self-contained pocket realm of immense spiritual power] were sealed away.

After elevating the Stellar Grotto-Heaven to an Upper Grade Grotto-Heaven, Eldrin Chen did not continue to push for its further advancement. Instead, he once again seized the world's Creation [the primordial force of genesis and formation], using it to open seven Supreme Grotto-Heaven within the Hundred Seas of Returning Abyss.

Among these seven Grotto-Heaven, three were Middle Grade Grotto-Heaven: the Glazed Grotto-Heaven, the Myriad Spirit Grotto-Heaven, and the Violet Mystery Grotto-Heaven.

The four Lower Grade Grotto-Heaven were the Blazeflame Grotto-Heaven, the Heaven Abandoned Grotto-Heaven, the Path Palace Grotto-Heaven, and the Seven Mysteries Grotto-Heaven.

After consecutively opening Nine Grotto-Heavens, the reserves of Creation power within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, though still considerable, now largely resided within the territories of his various allies.

If Eldrin Chen were to plunder that power, for the Heavenly Domain [a vast, spiritually rich region] being robbed, this Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial faced by powerful cultivators and realms] would have been weathered for naught.

Such an act of offending allies was something Eldrin Chen naturally would not do. He abandoned any further plans to elevate the Grotto-Heaven.

Instead, he positioned all Nine Grotto-Heavens to encircle the entire Hundred Seas of Returning Abyss, weaving them into a single, monumental Polarity Northern Dipper Stellar Grand Formation [a supreme defensive array based on celestial polarities and the stars of the Big Dipper].

Within this super-formation, the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven occupied the position of the Solar Sun [the Yang, or active, solar principle], the Stellar Grotto-Heaven held the position of the Supreme Lunar [the Yin, or receptive, lunar principle], while the other seven Stellar [star-aligned] grotto-heavens took up the positions of the Big Dipper.

With this Nine Grotto-Heavens array in place, even if a cultivator from the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm came looking for trouble, they would be forced to retreat in disarray.

"It is all over."

By the time the Creation [the foundational act of world-creation] succeeded in the Nine Grotto-Heavens [nine primordial pocket realms], Eldrin Chen discovered that less than a thousand years remained until the conclusion of the Path Tribulation [a great cosmic calamity that tests all cultivators].

He let out a slow, relieved breath, ordered the dismantling of the Thirty-Threefold Heavenly Domain Grand Formation [a grand defensive array spanning thirty-three heavenly layers], and then returned to the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven [his personal pocket realm]. It was only then that Lior Chen presented him with a dossier of information.

Eldrin Chen opened the dossier and found it contained intelligence on the state of affairs following this Path Tribulation.

The intelligence detailed the current landscape of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast realm of immortal cultivators].

Since the beginning of this Path Tribulation, the Vast Azure Immortal Domain had seen the ascension of two hundred and sixty-three new Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful immortals who have transcended mortality]. Among them, ninety-seven were Immaculate Celestial Immortal [those who achieved a flawless ascension], while the remainder were Flawed Celestial Immortal [those whose ascension was imperfect]. Find this and other novels at audio-novel .c om.

Over seventy percent of these newly ascended Celestial Immortal Great Power belonged to the Human Race.

Of the ninety-seven Immaculate Celestial Immortal, eighty-two were Celestial Immortal Great Power of the Human Race.

Given the Human Race's decisive victory in this conflict, their dominance in claiming the majority of Celestial Immortal slots was expected. However, to Eldrin Chen's surprise, the intelligence also contained several names that were familiar, yet somehow distant.

"Antiquity-Tracing, Future, Eastern Pole... They actually broke through as well? And as Immaculate Celestial Immortal?"

Upon hearing these three names, Eldrin Chen was rather astonished.

Antiquity-Tracing Great Emperor, Future Great Emperor, and Eastern Pole Great Emperor were all once among the Ten Directions Great Emperors within the Small Universe.

At that time, the three of them were Imperial Lord who had laid a Single Primordial Unity Foundation. Although their combat prowess was Force Extreme and they were considered Extraordinary, they were ultimately still denizens of a mere Small Universe.

After Eldrin Chen brought them out of the Small Universe back then, the trio left the Returning Abyss Sea Region to venture across the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. He had assumed they might have long since faded into obscurity among the masses.

He never imagined they would not only break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm, but also cultivate Path Fruit and achieve the state of Immaculate Celestial Immortal.

"Was that their only Opportunity and Fortune?"

Eldrin Chen murmured, still feeling a profound sense of surprise.

Energy Abyss Chen glanced over from the side and spoke, "Although the Path Tribulation is a Tribulation, it is also an Opportunity and Fortune. There will always be extraordinary individuals who can seize the Opportunity and Fortune presented by the upheaval of heaven and earth to rise to prominence."

"For them to ascend during the Path Tribulation, they must be such extraordinary people."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could only nod in agreement.

He put away the list and spoke again, "With this Path Tribulation [a grand cosmic calamity that reshapes fate and destiny], the number of Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm] within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain has increased by one-fifth. I fear it has already surpassed one thousand."

"Furthermore, there are nearly one hundred Immaculate Celestial Immortal [celestial immortals who have achieved a flawless, perfected foundation]. It seems the next ten million years will be one of the most glorious epochs for the Vast Azure Immortal Domain."

Exquisite Jiang nodded slightly, a smile gracing her lips as she spoke. "The Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity [a rare cosmic event offering a chance for rebirth and transcendence after enduring countless trials] approaches. All the great ancient sects and Grotto-Heaven [a blessed, secluded paradise realm for cultivation] are making their moves. That such splendor has been forged is well within expectations."

"I heard that during the last Path Tribulation, only slightly over one hundred cultivators ascended to become Celestial Immortal, and the Immaculate Celestial Immortal numbered a mere twenty or so."

Having spoken thus, the group fell into a contemplative silence, no further words necessary.

In the time that followed, the members of the Chen Immortal Clan returned to their lives of secluded cultivation.

Having recently broken through to the Celestial Immortal Realm, and with the great conflicts across the heavens and earth now concluded, this was the perfect moment to consolidate their newfound power and solidify their foundations.

Time flowed onward, measured only by the rhythm of their deep meditation and cultivation.

Thus did the years fly by like fleeting shadows. In the blink of an eye, a full millennium had passed. The pervasive calamitous energy that had haunted the world finally began to dissipate completely, fading into the annals of history. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio–novel.com.