Chapter 1809 : A Realm of Harmony and Ascension

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor spoke up, "I must still consolidate my cultivation base and beg your pardon for not being able to accompany you further. Once my cultivation is stabilized, I shall host a banquet to properly entertain all of you Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for fellow cultivators]."

The assembled Ancient Immortals [powerful cultivators who have attained immortality] nodded, each replying with a smile, "Consolidating one's cultivation is indeed the priority. Please return and attend to it, Fellow Daoist."

Once the crowd had dispersed, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor returned to his Grotto-Heaven [a blessed, secluded realm for cultivation].

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but express a touch of envy, "I never imagined the Frigid Immortal Domain [a vast realm within the cosmos] to be so harmonious. Achieving a breakthrough to the Ancient Immortal Realm [a profound stage of immortal cultivation] here doesn't even seem to incur a Human Tribulation [calamities or interference from other cultivators]."

Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor smiled and calmly explained, "This realm was founded by an Human Race Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler among cultivators]. Furthermore, the paramount powers here are predominantly of the Human Race. As members of the Human Race, we naturally receive preferential treatment."

"Moreover, I have been in the Frigid Immortal Domain for less than ten million years. For most of that time, I have been wandering the primordial chaos, and thus have made no enemies at the Ancient Immortal Realm. Naturally, no one came to obstruct my path."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded slightly. "If this were the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [another major immortal domain], where the forces of various races are intricately intertwined, attempting a breakthrough to the Ancient Immortal Realm would inevitably invite unforeseen complications and strife."

Seeing his understanding, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor said nothing more on the matter.

He then turned to Celestial Maiden [a title for a powerful female immortal] and said with a composed expression, "I have already communicated with the Ancient Immortals Fellow Daoist who were just here. They will not hinder your ascension to the Dao. May I ask when Fellow Daoist plans to make your breakthrough?"

Celestial Maiden showed a rare flicker of excitement as she cupped her hands in reply. "The timing is auspicious now. This humble one shall borrow some of your celebratory fortune and undertake my breakthrough here as well." Original English translation available at https://audio-novel.com.

"Very well."

Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor gave a slight nod, then said calmly, "You may proceed with your breakthrough in peace. I shall stand guard for you."

Seeing this, Celestial Maiden said no more and immediately began her secluded cultivation to attempt the breakthrough.

After Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor's own breakthrough, it had become highly unlikely that anyone would dare come to obstruct Celestial Maiden's path to the Dao.

Thus, while waiting for Celestial Maiden's breakthrough, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor and Eldrin Chen began refining the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill within the confines of the Horizon Sea Grotto-Heaven.

This time, Eldrin Chen had procured two Ninth Rank Top Grade Primordial Chaos Beast—the perfect material for refining the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill.

With Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor's current cultivation level and Eldrin Chen's mastery of Alchemy, refining these Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill was a simple task. In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn [a conventional short duration, roughly fifteen to thirty minutes], they had successfully completed two batches.

From these two batches of Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill, a total of twelve pills were produced—six from each batch. This represented the absolute limit of energy that could be extracted from the flesh and blood of a Ninth Rank Top Grade Primordial Chaos Beast.

Unless one could obtain a Chaos Ancient Beast comparable to a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm cultivator, no amount of skill in Alchemy could yield more pills than this number.

"With this batch of Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill, the Great Perfection of my Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique is not far off."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then immediately entered seclusion to refine this Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill.

After refining five such Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill in succession, his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body finally shattered a certain limit, breaking through a formidable bottleneck.

"Now is the moment!"

Within the seclusion chamber, Eldrin Chen's eyes snapped open.

At that very instant, streams of Innate Qi [the primordial vital energy present at birth] flew from his body. Thirty streams in total swirled around him before finally merging completely into his Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [an ultimate, heaven-defying physical constitution].

"BOOM—"

The moment the Innate Qi fully merged, a violent, thunderous roar erupted from within Eldrin Chen's body, like the furious tolling of an ancient, primordial Ancient Bell, resonating with a divine power potent enough to suppress all realms.

Within his Physical Body, every inch of skin glowed, every cell thrummed with violent energy, as if ancient Heavenly Layers [the successive planes of heaven in cosmological myth] were being forged open within him, one after another.

Clad in a White Robe as pure as snow, he resembled a peerless Immortal Lord contemplating the Ethereal Void, or a primordial Divine Sovereign gazing down upon eternity. Merely seated there, he exuded an aura of profound, unshakable majesty, possessing the invincible bearing of one who could strike at the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms] above and purge the Nine Netherworlds below.

In a fleeting vision, a galaxy of stars seemed to orbit his form, with three thousand ancient worlds revolving around him. Each strand of his hair shimmered with a sharpness akin to the divine swords of the Primordial Era [the mythic age of creation].

When all had settled into tranquility once more, Eldrin Chen returned to his usual state, yet an indescribable aura of transcendence now subtly clung to him.

"Is this the power of a Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique that has reached its Great Perfection?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, slowly clenching his fist.

As his fist tightened, an unprecedented surge of divine energy began to churn, projecting a supreme force into the Dimensional Void [the empty space between dimensions].

In a fleeting moment, a brilliant expanse of Void [emptiness, the fundamental state of non-being] trembled violently, and countless majestic, ancient Cosmos [realms or universes] seemed to teeter precariously within the palm of his hand.

"Such staggering power!" Support the author by reading on audio-novel . com.

"As I am now, even without circulating my Mana [the refined spiritual energy used for cultivation], I could easily suppress a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm] relying solely on the might of this invincible Physical Body [the corporeal form strengthened through cultivation arts]."

Eldrin Chen whispered slowly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

The attainment of Great Perfection for his Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique had surpassed a certain limit, granting him the power to shatter the Great Luo Heavenly Pass [a formidable barrier or threshold within the Great Luo cultivation realm].

If breaking the Mana Heavenly Barrier [the celestial barrier for spiritual energy] nine times was the benchmark for a Mana that had transcended its limits ninefold, then Eldrin Chen's current Physical Body now rivaled a Physical Body that had also broken its limits nine times.

Such power of the Physical Body [the physical form cultivated to superhuman strength and resilience] is enough to roam supreme between heaven and earth, to shatter the Fleshly Body Celestial Passage [a legendary barrier in physical cultivation], and to rival the vast majority of First Calamity Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived their first Heavenly Tribulation].

"In my current state, can I rival an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a formidable figure among Ancient Immortals]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then shook his head after a moment. "Not quite."

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, upon reaching the Great Completion stage, the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary constitution granting an unbreakable body born from primordial chaos] was already comparable to a First Calamity Ancient Immortal who had broken through the Fleshly Body Celestial Passage.

However, a First Calamity Ancient Immortal possessed not only a mighty Physical Body, but also the augmentation of Mana [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by immortals], Dao Principles [comprehension of the fundamental laws of existence], Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path], and even the Primordial Spirit [the immortal spiritual core of a cultivator]. The combined power brought about a qualitative transformation.

By Eldrin Chen's reckoning, the weakest First Calamity Ancient Immortal should be a match for ten Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [Celestial Immortals at the peak of their realm] joining forces.

Yet Eldrin Chen's strength lay solely in his Physical Body. His Mana, comprehension of the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality], and Dao Fruit could no longer keep pace with his Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique, shattering the balanced power of Trinity Unification [the harmonious union of body, energy, and spirit].

Under these circumstances, relying solely on the power of his Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique, Eldrin Chen's combat prowess was roughly equivalent to five or six Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm combined.

"With the power of my Physical Body alone, I can rival five Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm joining hands."

"As I am now, even with insufficient Mana and Dao Principles, I should at least be able to put up a fight against a First Calamity Ancient Immortal, even if victory remains beyond my grasp."

Eldrin Chen spoke with a calm tone. With the strength of a Sixth Heaven Celestial Immortal [a powerful immortal who has transcended six heavenly tribulations] and this Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution born from chaos], he already possessed the qualifications to contend with a First Calamity Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived their first great heavenly calamity]. This alone could be considered a Myth [a feat of legendary proportions].

Most crucially, although Eldrin Chen's Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution born from chaos] had now reached a major completion stage, it still possessed immense room for further refinement.

The Innate True Body [a perfected physical form born from innate principles] was derived from the 'Taiyi True Body' [the True Body of the Supreme Unity] through the process of 'Reverse to Innate' [a profound cultivation method that reverses acquired traits back to their primordial, innate state]. Hence, its full title was the 'Innate Taiyi True Body' [the Innate True Body of Supreme Unity], which theoretically could be cultivated to the realm of Taiyi Perfection [the pinnacle state of Supreme Unity].

Beyond that lay the shattering of the Physical Body's [the fleshly form's] limits to cultivate the legendary 'Great Luo Physique' [the physical constitution of a Great Luo Golden Immortal]. That Great Luo Physique [the physical constitution of a Great Luo Golden Immortal] was the True Body [perfected physical manifestation] of a Great Luo Golden Immortal [the highest realm of immortal attainment, signifying one who has comprehended the Great Dao of the universe]. Those beings who had broken through the Fleshly Body Celestial Passage [the celestial tribulation focused on tempering the physical body] had mostly cultivated a Half-Step Great Luo Physique [a physique that has taken half a step into the realm of the Great Luo constitution].

Although the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution born from chaos] was overwhelmingly powerful, the path to breaking through to the Great Luo [the highest realm of immortal attainment] True Body [perfected physical manifestation] remained distant, a journey of countless eons.

However, once the innate Primordial Chaos [the primeval, undifferentiated state of existence before creation] Indestructible [the quality of being unbreakable and eternal] was cultivated to perfection, reaching the ultimate limit of the Innate Taiyi True Body [the Innate True Body of Supreme Unity], his combat power should nearly double once more.

By Eldrin Chen's estimation, if he continued to refine Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir refined through nine cycles of heavenly fire] without cease, bringing his Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution born from chaos] to its flawless completion, then even relying solely on his Physical Body's [fleshly form's] power, he could rival a First Calamity Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived their first great heavenly calamity].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen attempted to continue refining the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir refined through nine cycles of heavenly fire]. Yet, after refining one pill, the power of his Physical Body [fleshly form] increased by only the most negligible amount.

At this rate, even refining over one hundred Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir refined through nine cycles of heavenly fire] would likely be insufficient to bring his Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution born from chaos] to its flawless completion.

"My Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution born from chaos] is far too powerful," he mused. "Merely reaching the major completion stage has already made it comparable to a Half-Step Great Luo Physique [a physique that has taken half a step into the realm of the Great Luo constitution] that has broken through nine limits."

"Such a formidable Physical Body [the strength and resilience of a cultivator's corporeal form], it truly cannot be perfected merely by refining a Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir said to undergo nine cycles of refinement]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself, gaining a vague understanding. To achieve the complete and flawless perfection of his own Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [an innate, supremely durable body constitution], he feared it would likely require the flesh and blood of a Chaos Beast King [a monarch among the primordial beasts born from chaos].

"The flesh and blood of a Chaos Beast King?"

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, a slight frown creasing his brow.

How immensely powerful were the Chaos Beast King? Within the Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation], they were nearly invincible among beings of their own tier. With his current strength, he likely stood no chance against one.

Most crucially, Chaos Beast King were exceedingly rare within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective realm of three thousand immortal worlds]. Even if one were found in the Sea of Chaos [the boundless, turbulent expanse of primordial chaos], and even if Celestial Maiden and Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor were to join forces after their breakthroughs, they wouldn't dare claim absolute certainty in subduing even the weakest of Chaos Beast King.

"It seems the breakthrough for my Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique will require long-term planning."

"The immediate priority is to first break through to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [the Late Heaven stage of the Immortal Realm]. Afterwards, I must cultivate my Dao Principles [the fundamental laws and truths one comprehends] and Dao Fruit [the culmination of one's cultivation, a metaphysical fruit representing profound attainment] to the Great Perfection Realm [the state of flawless completion within a cultivation stage]. Only when my three foundational aspects [body, energy, spirit] reunite into one, granting me combat power truly comparable to an Ancient Immortals [immortals from ancient times], can I begin to scheme for that Chaos Beast King flesh and blood."

Holding these thoughts, Eldrin Chen refrained from refining the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill and instead emerged from his Seclusion Chamber [a chamber dedicated to isolated cultivation].

At this moment, Eldrin Chen perceived that Celestial Maiden's breakthrough was nearing its conclusion. Her Fleshly Body Celestial Passage [the Celestial Passage related to physical body refinement] and Great Dao Celestial Passage [the Celestial Passage related to comprehension of the Great Dao] had both been successfully breached. Her aura grew increasingly potent and vast, clearly indicating she was not far from shattering the third Heavenly Pass [a major bottleneck or gateway in cultivation].

"Hmmmm—" [a resonant, droning hum]

Indeed, as Eldrin Chen had anticipated, not long after he emerged from seclusion, Celestial Maiden finally broke through the barrier of the Threefold Heavens [the third major tribulation stage for Ancient Immortals] and ascended to the Three Tribulations Ancient Immortal realm.

Celestial Maiden only took a brief period to consolidate her newly advanced cultivation base before emerging from her closed-door cultivation. After accepting the congratulations of the gathered crowd and thanking them for their protection during her breakthrough, she joined Eldrin Chen, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor, and the others in a secluded chamber.

Within that chamber, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor was the first to speak. "Now that we have broken through to the Ancient Immortals realm, it is time we prepare to explore the Chaos Sea Fringe [the perilous borderlands where the ordered Immortal Domains meet the primordial Sea of Chaos]."

Upon hearing these words, solemn expressions settled upon the faces of all present.

Exploring the Chaos Sea Fringe after attaining the Ancient Immortals realm had been their long-agreed-upon plan.

The reason was simple: within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, every corner had been scoured by countless Heaven Immortal cultivators over Immeasurable Kalpa [an incalculable span of cosmic cycles]. The most precious Innate Marvels [naturally formed treasures of supreme rarity and power] had long been claimed. Even if a handful of Supreme Grade Chaos Nest [places of supreme chaos energy where ultimate treasures might form] still existed, they were invariably under the dominion of powerful entities.

Even with their status as Ancient Immortal Great Power, remaining within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains meant they might not encounter a single strand of Innate Qi [the primordial energy that forms the foundation of supreme treasures] in over a million years.

Their ambitions lay in the Great Luo Realm [a legendary realm of ultimate attainment], compelling them to seek another path.

Yet, beyond the Three Thousand Immortal Domains lay the Sea of Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse from which all realms were born], an environment so utterly hostile that even a Three Tribulations Ancient Immortal would face near-certain death venturing into its depths.

Thus, since time immemorial, countless Ancient Immortals [powerful beings who have transcended mortality] have sought shortcuts, choosing to venture into the borderlands where the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective realm of established immortal worlds] meet the Sea of Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse from which all creation emerged].

This border region is also called the Chaos Sea Fringe. Compared to the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, the Sea of Chaos there is akin to a shallow shoal. While still perilous, it is far safer than venturing into the Boundless Chaos Sea [the deep, uncharted heart of the primordial sea], as long as one does not delve too deeply.

Of course, this Chaos Sea Fringe is, in the end, still part of the vast Sea of Chaos. The slightest disturbance can stir up tempestuous waves. Without cultivation at the Ancient Immortal Realm [a profound stage of immortal attainment], venturing there is nothing but a fool's errand, a sure path to death.

Even for those Ancient Immortals who have weathered only one or two heavenly tribulations and are considered relatively weak, stepping into that Chaos Sea Fringe carries an immense risk of utter annihilation.

For that is the nature of the towering Sea of Chaos. A single, casually churning wave of Primordial Chaos [the undifferentiated state before creation] possesses power comparable to the rare and devastating Chaos Storm [a cataclysmic event of pure chaos] that occasionally ravages the Three Thousand Immortal Domains.

Most terrifying of all, the Sea of Chaos is boundless and directionless, lacking concepts of up, down, left, or right. Such waves are nearly infinite in number, ceaselessly surging and roiling.

While an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a supremely powerful figure among the Ancient Immortals] might barely withstand the onslaught of a Sea of Chaos wave, it demands their utmost concentration and exhaustive effort. A moment's lapse could see them swept away by the raging currents.

Even more dreadful are the countless Chaos Vortex [whirlpools of pure chaos] and hidden Chaos Undercurrent [subsurface flows of chaotic energy] that surge unpredictably throughout the sea, impossible to guard against fully.

Should even a three-tribulation Ancient Immortal Great Power be caught unawares and dragged into the depths of the Sea of Chaos by such an undercurrent, their fate would be sealed—utter destruction with no hope of a proper burial.

Therefore, generally speaking, only those Ancient Immortals who have weathered three, or more commonly four or more, heavenly tribulations dare to tread upon the Chaos Sea Fringe.

Powerful Ancient Immortals [beings who have transcended mortality and attained immense power and longevity], such as Heaven-Sunderer Demon Emperor and Ancestor Six Harmonies, also spent years exploring the Chaos Sea Fringe [the perilous, unstable border region between the ordered cosmos and the primordial Sea of Chaos].

For only such formidable Ancient Immortal Great Power [Ancient Immortals of extraordinary strength] possessed the power to barely ensure their own survival within that Chaos Sea Fringe.

As for those who dared to venture deep into the heart of the Sea of Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse from which all creation emerged], they were exceedingly rare. Such individuals were either invincible Ancient Immortals who had weathered seven or eight heavenly tribulations, or they journeyed under the direct protection of a Great Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has attained the pinnacle of cultivation, transcending the cycles of reincarnation].

Without the shelter of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, even a Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations] who dared to penetrate the depths of the Sea of Chaos would face a fate of certain death, with no hope of return.

Contemplating the sheer terror of the Sea of Chaos, the group's expressions grew profoundly solemn.

After a moment of silent deliberation, the Celestial Maiden spoke once more. "Even the Chaos Sea Fringe holds immense peril," she said.

"With our current strength, venturing into the shallowest fringes of the Sea of Chaos still carries significant danger."

"I suggest we wait a while longer. We should fully consolidate our cultivation bases and advance our Lifebound Immortal Treasure [a magical artifact intimately bound to a cultivator's life force and soul, growing in power with them] before we set foot within the Sea of Chaos."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, thoughtful nod.

Both Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor and the Celestial Maiden were Three Tribulations Ancient Immortal [Ancient Immortals who have survived three heavenly tribulations]. Having broken through the Great Dao Celestial Passage [a critical bottleneck in cultivation representing the passage to comprehending a Great Dao], it signified they had both successfully nurtured their own Great Dao Embryo [the nascent, conceptual seed of a cultivator's personal understanding of a fundamental cosmic principle].

Such beings are already qualified to elevate their Lifebound Immortal Treasure into Innate Ancient Treasure [a primordial treasure born of the world's essence, vastly more powerful than crafted artifacts].

For instance, Celestial Maiden's Innate Frost Soul Sword and Frost Soul Immortal Ribbon, as well as Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor's Horizon Sea Twin Swords, can all be elevated to the realm of Innate Ancient Treasure.

Elevating a treasure to Innate Ancient Treasure status generally requires fulfilling three conditions. The first is attaining the Great Dao Embryo [the nascent form of one's personal Great Dao, a profound cultivation milestone]. The second is possessing sufficient Innate Qi [the primordial energy that constitutes the foundation of the cosmos]. The third is that the material of the treasure being elevated must meet a certain standard.

Of these three conditions, the first two have already been met by the two of them.

The third is somewhat more troublesome, but it can be substituted with a Supreme Grade Taiyi Rare Treasure [a peak-grade treasure of the Taiyi rank, possessing immense latent potential]. A Supreme Grade Taiyi Rare Treasure requires fusion with Innate Qi to transform into a Supreme Grade Innate Marvel [a supreme-grade wonder born of innate essence].

Both Supreme Grade Taiyi Rare Treasure and Supreme Grade Innate Marvel are classified as Ninth Rank Supreme Grade Treasure. Yet, the single-word distinction between 'innate' and 'acquired' creates a value gap between the two types of treasures that spans more than tenfold.

Having Celestial Maiden and Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor purchase enough Supreme Grade Innate Marvel would certainly be beyond their means. However, procuring some Supreme Grade Taiyi Rare Treasure would not be overly difficult for them.

After all, both are now venerable Ancient Immortals [immortals who have transcended mortal limits and attained great age and power], their status and standing utterly transformed from what they once were.

Furthermore, Supreme Grade Taiyi Rare Treasure are rather superfluous for those in the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [a high immortal realm where one's cultivation is largely self-derived]. If they were to make the request, many would be willing to grant them this favor.

Considering this, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor spoke, "Elevating our Lifebound Treasures and consolidating our cultivation will likely require over a hundred thousand years. Let us set our departure for three hundred thousand years from now."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen nodded and then spoke, "This will also provide me with the perfect opportunity to make a breakthrough into the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Immortal Realm, representing a profound mastery over cosmic principles] in one decisive move." Original English translation available at https://audio-novel.com.