Chapter 1731 : A Shield of Life and Cosmic Law

The Verdant Sun Ancient God's gaze grew profound and distant, only now realizing with a start that the Eldrin Chen before him was no longer someone to be easily intimidated, but a Celestial Immortal Great Power whose might shook the Myriad Heavens.

Faced with such a situation, even the Golden Crow Ancient Immortal had no choice but to swallow his anger.

It was not that he lacked the power to suppress Eldrin Chen, but rather that Eldrin Chen owed a debt of Merit Golden Light [a tangible manifestation of karmic merit] to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. As the saying goes, the debtor holds the upper hand. Who would dare to slay Eldrin Chen within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain? The moment they tried, they would likely be struck down by the Heavenly Path of the Immortal Domain [the cosmic laws and guardians of the Immortal Domain].

At this moment, with Eldrin Chen using his very life as a shield for the Nine Great Grotto-Heavens, not even two Ancient ImmortalAncient God [a being of immense age and divine power] dared to truly make a move.

"You are all Immortal DomainSovereign [a supreme ruler of a domain]. Why trouble yourselves with anger over a newly ascended Celestial Immortal?"

Just then, a soft, clear radiance emanated from the depths of the Heavenly Vault, a surge of boundless vitality illuminating the Myriad Heavens.

From the edge of the Void Heaven, a peerless beauty, veiled in immortal mist, strode forth. In the blink of an eye, she had arrived amidst the gathered figures.

The woman surveyed the assembly, her expression serene as she spoke. "With the protection of the Heavenly Path [the cosmic law and order], you cannot kill him. If you truly destroy the Nine Great Grotto-Heavens, Fellow Cultivator Eldrin could just as well go to your own Path-Field [a cultivator's personal domain of influence and cultivation] and slaughter your disciples and followers."

"In my view, rather than forcing a mutual devastation, it would be wiser to set aside your grievances for now. Settle accounts when the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle] erupts."

"Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal." Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel . com.

The moment he saw the newcomer, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle tremor in his heart, instantly recognizing the figure's origins.

Among the five great Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have transcended mortality and cultivated for eons] of the Purple Seal Realm, it is difficult to definitively rank their strength, yet Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal has undoubtedly lived the longest.

Furthermore, Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal was an Innate Ancient Tree [a primordial tree born with innate spiritual nature] that achieved enlightenment and subsequent nirvana. He possesses a unique Tribulation Evasion Art [a mystical technique to avoid heavenly tribulations], allowing him to remain outside the cycles of Kalpa Tribulation [the cataclysmic cycles of cosmic destruction and renewal]. Thus, he is the most long-lived among the five great Ancient Immortal.

According to rumors, Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal has cultivated for over one billion years, making him the most profound and unfathomable existence among the five.

Now, with Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal urging reconciliation, both Verdant Sun Ancient God and Golden Crow Ancient Immortal frowned slightly.

They were already finding Eldrin Chen difficult to deal with. Seeing Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal step in to mediate, they immediately seized the chance to back down gracefully.

The Verdant Sun Ancient God turned his gaze towards Eldrin Chen, his eyes profound as he spoke, "Since the Evergreen Ancient Progenitor has spoken, I shall grant you a sliver of life today."

"When the Kalpa Tribulation arrives and the Heavenly Path [the cosmic laws and principles of cultivation] can no longer shield you, I will return to settle today's Karma [the spiritual cause and effect governing actions and their consequences]."

As the words of the Verdant Sun Ancient God faded, the Primordial Era Azure Luan [a mythical azure bird from the dawn of time] pulling his war chariot took to the skies, vanishing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Simultaneously, the primordial Solar Sun [the essence of the supreme yang sun] at the edge of the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens] trembled faintly. With a roar that shook the cosmos, it flew towards the direction of the Southern Pole Six Heavenly Domains.

Watching the two depart, Eldrin Chen let out a slight sigh of relief.

It was undeniable that while these two Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have transcended mortality through immense cultivation] could not kill him, a true mutual devastation [a battle where both sides inflict catastrophic losses upon each other] would likely have forced Eldrin Chen to pay a tremendous price.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen relaxed further. He rose and, cupping his hands in a respectful salute towards Primordial Solar Patriarch and Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal, said, "My gratitude for your assistance, esteemed seniors."

Upon hearing this, both Primordial Solar Patriarch and Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal accepted his gesture of respect with composure.

The reason the Ancient Immortal from the Demonic and Divine Clans [a collective term for powerful demonic and divine factions] had not intervened this time was not solely due to their fear of Eldrin Chen fighting to the bitter end. More importantly, even if they had acted, Primordial Solar Patriarch and Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal would not have stood idly by.

After all, among the five great Ancient Immortal of this realm, two belonged to Divine Clan [clans of beings with divine heritage] and one to the Demon Race [a race of powerful demonic beings]. If the Demonic and Divine Clans were to join forces, any single faction of the Human Race or the Spirit Race [a race of nature spirits and elementals] would find it difficult to withstand them alone.

Under such circumstances, it was only natural that Primordial Solar Patriarch and Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal had formed an unspoken alliance to jointly counterbalance the Demonic and Divine Clans.

As these thoughts drifted through Eldrin Chen's mind, Primordial Solar Patriarch spoke with a gentle smile, "You have performed admirably in forcefully overcoming this Path Tribulation [a trial of fate that tests a cultivator's path]."

"Setting aside the debt my disciple owes you, even simply as a senior of the Human Race, lending you aid was the right thing to do."

Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal also gave a slight nod and spoke calmly, "Your talent is truly Extraordinary. Given time, you will undoubtedly stand among our ranks. Continue your cultivation diligently."

Eternal Verdancy Ancient Immortal and Primordial Solar Patriarch, both of exalted status, did not linger long in the Returning Abyss Sea Region. After exchanging greetings, they departed in haste.

Watching the crowd disperse, Eldrin Chen fell into contemplation. "The Frost Soul Ancient God did not make a move," he mused inwardly. "It seems the Divine Clan is not a monolithic bloc."

"..."

Meanwhile, deep within the Northern Pole, inside the Frost Soul Heavenly Domain, the scene unfolding in the Returning Abyss Sea Region was projected upon an ethereal light screen conjured by a Path Void cultivator.

Before this shimmering screen stood two figures of peerless grace and majesty.

Of the two, the first was the formidable Frost Soul Ancient God who commanded awe across the realms. The other was the master of the Frost Soul Grotto-Heaven, the Frost Shard Heavenly God, whose cultivation had reached the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm. Original publication: audio-novel.com (official site) - The source of this chapter.

Now, the Frost Shard Heavenly God watched the ethereal display. Seeing the Golden Crow Ancient Immortal and the Verdant Sun Ancient God depart, she could not help but ask, "Master, why did you not journey to the Returning Abyss Sea Region?"

"What purpose would it serve?"

The Frost Soul Ancient God shook her head, her voice calm. "Even if the Demonic and Divine Clans joined forces, shattered the Nine Great Grotto-Heavens, and exterminated all the Celestial Immortal Great Power of the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance, they could not slay that Returning Abyss Path Master."

"The sole outcome of such an action would be to provoke his wrath utterly."

"A Returning Abyss Path Master [a master of the profound and abyssal cultivation path] with no attachments or burdens might be even more terrifying than the current version of him."

"Moreover, with the interference of those two from the Human Race and the Spirit Race, unless we deploy the foundational treasures we've reserved for surviving a Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth], there is simply no chance of success in this battle."

Upon hearing this, Frost Shard Heavenly God fell into a contemplative silence.

The Opportunity and Fortune [a destined chance for great advancement] for Hundred Tribulations Rebirth [a legendary divine ability involving rebirth through countless trials] was approaching. Such an Opportunity and Fortune was enough to drive even high-level Ancient Immortal [immortals who have existed since ancient times] to madness.

The few Ancient Immortal within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain had cultivations that, at their peak, did not exceed the Third Tribulation. Obtaining these treasures would be sufficient for them to cultivate all the way to the level of a Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal or beyond in one fell swoop.

A Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal was incomparably powerful; even among Ancient Immortal, they were one in a hundred, with only the final few steps remaining before reaching the Great Encompassing Realm [the ultimate realm of cultivation, encompassing all].

In comparison, wasting such foundational treasures on a single Returning Abyss Path Master seemed a profound pity.

After all, a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a powerful being at the Celestial Immortal stage] typically required ten million years to advance a single minor stage in cultivation. Eldrin Chen had only just broken through to the Celestial Immortal Realm. Even if granted vast resources, by the time the Path Tribulation [the great calamity marking the end of an era] began, he would at most reach the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm.

With the combat power of a Mid Celestial Immortal Realm, he would pose no threat to the Ancient Immortal assembled here.

Even if Eldrin Chen possessed heaven-defying Opportunity and Fortune and managed to break through to the Late Celestial Immortal Realm after ten million years, he would still not be regarded as a significant concern by the gathered Ancient Immortal.

In their eyes, the true threat did not originate from within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast and ancient realm of cultivation], but rather from beyond its borders.

The Vast Azure Immortal Domain has existed for untold tens of billions of years, giving rise to countless Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm]. Although an Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived multiple heavenly tribulations] might emerge only once every hundred million years, across such an immense span of time, hundreds, even thousands, of Ancient Immortal have been born.

The vast majority of these predecessors, who cultivated to the Ancient Immortal Realm [the realm of ancient immortals who have weathered heavenly tribulations], ultimately perished within the Kalpa Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly tribulations that test and often destroy immortals].

However, a small number of Ancient Immortal Patriarch [ancient immortal patriarchs], upon realizing their path forward was blocked and lacking confidence to survive the Kalpa Tribulation, would choose to pledge allegiance to the Three Great Heavenly Courts [the three supreme celestial administrations] or the various major Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [ancient sects of immense power and heritage]. This chapter appears courtesy of audi0-n0vel.c0m.